The Federal Government has declared Monday October 2 as a public holiday in commemoration of the 63rd independence celebration.

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the declaration in Abuja on behalf of the government.

He congratulated all Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora on the occasion.


He assured Nigerians of government’s continued commitment to tackling challenges facing the country.

“It is today a known fact that difficult Socio-Economic and Security challenges are global, and Nigeria is not isolated,”the Minister said in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade.

The Minister said that government is making efforts to confront the numerous challenges with all the might available until respite comes the way of the country.

Tunji-Ojo reiterated that the eminent position of Nigeria in the comity of Nations and the greatness ahead of the country is achievable if we all work together in unity.

He said the nation’s warm welcoming spirit and love as well as its unbounded human capital and the richness of the land makes Nigeria unarguably the leading black Nation in the World.


The Minister maintained Nigeria would remain Africa’s pride and beacon of hope for the Renewed Hope of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-political group, has expressed displeasure at former President Olusegun Obasanjo treatment of the tribe’s monarch Institution.

Recall that during the commissioning of a road project in Oyo on September 15, Obasanjo had instructed the traditional rulers who were present at the occasion to stand to greet Seyi Makinde, governor of the state.

The development elicited outrage on social media with some Nigerians accusing the former president of denigrating the monarchs.

Commenting on the matter, Afenifere asked the Obasanjo to tender a public apology to Oyo monarchs, describing the incident as “avoidable and unwarranted incident”.

In a communique issued on Wednesday, Afenifere said the former president’s action was as if a military commander was giving orders to his troops.


The group stated that the monarchs are a reflection of the Yoruba tribe hence must be shielded from disrespect and humiliation.

“We Yorubas respect our traditional institutions, the arrowhead of which, are our traditional rulers, who traditionally and spiritually, have acquired the status of deities. It’s not surprising that they are referred to as ‘Igbakeji Orisa’!” the communique reads.

“In view of the attempt to ridicule the respected Obaship institution in Yorubaland, Afenifere hereby demands an unreserved Public Apology to Obas from former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

“Our tradition describes who we are. As such, no effort must be spared to prevent the rubishing of our noble tradition.

“In that wise, it’s hereby recommended that Royal Fathers are spared the trouble to stand up at public functions as obtained in the United Kingdom among others.”

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has approved the immediate termination of the appointments of 21 heads of parastatals, agencies, and government companies of the FCT Administration (FCTA).

Wike, in a statement by his Director of Press, Office of the Minister, Anthony Ogunleye, on Wednesday, ordered the affected appointees to hand over the affairs of their offices to the most senior officers in rank.

See the full statement below:

FCTA PRESS STATEMENT

The Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike CON, has relieved the heads of the following parastatals, agencies and government companies of the FCTA of their appointments with immediate effect.

They are:

1. Group MD/CEO, Abuja investment Company Ltd

2. CEO/MD, Abuja Markets Management Ltd

3. MD/CEO, Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company

ADVERTISEMENT
4. CEO/MD, Abuja Property Development Company

5. CEO/MD Abuja Technology Village Free Trade Zone Company

6. CEO/MD Abuja Film Village International

7. CEO/MD Powernoth AICL Equipment Leasing Company Ltd


8. MD Abuja Broadcasting Corporation

9. MD, Abuja Enterprise Agency

10. GM, FCT Water Board

11. DG, FCT Emergency Management Agency

12. Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Healthcare Board

13. Director General, Hospital Management Board

14. Director, Abuja Environmental Protection Board

15. Director, FCT Scholarship Board

16. Director FCT Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board

17. Director, Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board

18. Coordinator, Abuja Infrastructure Investment Center

19. Director, FCT Health Insurance Scheme

20. Coordinator, Satellite Towns Development Department

21. Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council

They are to hand over the affairs of their offices to the most senior officers in rank.

Appointments into the offices will be made in due course.

ANTHONY OGUNLEYE
DIRECTOR OF PRESS
(OFFICE OF THE MINISTER)

Last modified on Thursday, 28 September 2023 12:46

The Nigeria Labour Congress has said that it does not have any agreement with the government to shelve its planned strike.

NLC’s Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah said this in a statement on Tuesday.

Countering a statement by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr Upah also said the NLC did not have any date for a meeting with government that may lead to the suspension of the proposed strike.

“We do not have any agreement with the government to suspend the planned strike action. Neither do we have any date for a meeting with government that may lead to the suspension of the proposed strike,” he said.

“While we do not intend to demean or minimise the office of the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, this  matter is beyond the Ministry. This  should have been obvious to them during our most recent meeting”.

 

The NLC also faulted the position of the Ministry of Labour and Employment on the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers.

“While we appreciate the role played by the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Barrister Simon Lalong in securing the release of the executives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers from unlawful/illegal police detention, we take exception to the Ministry describing these executives as factional leaders,” it said.

“They were lawfully elected into office. We still find it necessary to advise the police and those elements  behind their travails to desist from this  despicable and shameful conduct. They are advised to retrace their steps.

“If democracy is to be of meaning to us, then we should resist the urge or temptation for impunity. Enough is enough”.

See full statement below:

WE HAVE NO AGREEMENT WITH GOVERNMENT TO SUSPEND STRIKE

The press statement issued by the Director of Press, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr Olajide Oshundun on our proposed strike action and illegal occupation of the secretariat of the National Union of Road Transport Workers has been brought to our attention. We note some inconsistencies.

Accordingly, we find it necessary to make clarifications. Firstly, we do not have any agreement with the government to suspend the planned strike action. Neither do we have any date for a meeting with government that may lead to the suspension of the proposed strike.

While we do not intend to demean or minimise the office of the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, this matter is beyond the Ministry. This should have been obvious to them during our most recent meeting.

Secondly, while we appreciate the role played by the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Barrister Simon Lalong in securing the release of the executives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers from unlawful/illegal police detention, we take exception to the Ministry describing these executives as factional leaders.

They were lawfully elected into office. We still find it necessary to advise the police and those elements behind their travails to desist from this despicable and shameful conduct. They are advised to retrace their steps.

If democracy is to be of meaning to us, then we should resist the urge or temptation for impunity. Enough is enough.

 

Benson Upah
Head of Information and Public Affairs

Last modified on Thursday, 28 September 2023 12:30

The Labour Party has urged its supporters across the country to stock their homes with necessary items ahead of the proposed indefinite strike by organized labour.

DAILY POST reports that the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, may be shutting down the country’s economy on October 3 to press home their demands for better working conditions.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the Labour Party leadership also declared support for the proposed indefinite strike.

According to the party, President Bola Tinubu’s administration does not care about the hardship bedevilling the nation following the removal of fuel subsidy.

The party lamented that the economic reality of the country has led to the withdrawal of some students by parents who are unable to remit their children’s school fees.

Part of the statement reads, “The party fully supports the resolution of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, to embark on an industrial action slated to commence on Tuesday, October 3rd.

“Labour Party is surprised that the government claims that it has removed subsidies on petroleum products and that it now generates over a trillion naira monthly, yet finds it difficult to address workers’ demands.

“Daily, Nigerians are subjected to harsh economic realities where the inflation rate is nearing 30 per cent, where a dollar is sold above N1000, and where per capita income has depreciated.

“Many families are withdrawing their wards from schools over a hike in school fees, while criminal activities are surging daily.

“We think the Nigerian workers have shown enough patience and understanding. We are also using this medium to inform all our members and supporters to stock their homes with their necessary needs, ahead of a long-drawn mass action until victory is ascertained. No retreat, no surrender.”

Nigerian rapper, Azeez Adeshina Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, has said he would turn himself in to be investigated over allegations linking him to the death of his former signee, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, aka Mohbad if the security agencies can guarantee his safety.

DAILY POST recalls that there have been calls for Naira Marley to be investigated over Mohbad’s death for allegedly sponsoring hoodlums to bully and threaten the late singer after he exited his record label, Marlian Music controversially in 2022.

Speaking in an interview with Reno Omokri on Wednesday night, Naira Marley said he was ready to submit himself for investigations on the condition that his safety is guaranteed.

He said he has been out of the country since August 31, 2023, and only found out about Mohbad’s death on social media.

He said, “I was out of Nigeria from the 31st of August. I’ve been with my family up till date. I haven’t been to Nigeria [since then] that’s one.

“Two, He [Mohbad] has left Marlian Music since… I don’t know the particular date but since 2022, he has left Marlian Music. We’ve not stopped him from dropping music or anything. He has been working with one PR [firm] or something like that ever since.

“So, when I heard about his death, it was shocking to me. I was out of the country as well. So, I have to find out what was wrong with him just as much as everybody is trying to find out. So, I’m just finding out what was wrong with him online. I’m seeing all the lies too. But we’ve to focus on the fact that: who was he with? How did he die?

“If you’re blaming me, how did I kill him? I have nothing to do with his death or whatsoever. I was so hurt when I heard that. I’ve nothing whatsoever to do with his death.”

Naira Marley added: “I am willing to return to Nigeria to answer questions if the police can guarantee my safety.

“I don’t belong to any cult. I don’t know what a cult is. I have been running away from all these people. I’m actually anti-cult.”

The police have launched an investigation into Mohbad’s demise.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said he has also invited the Department of State Services to join the investigation.

Ebonyi and Abia states led as food prices jumped by 31 per cent within in 12 months from July 2022 to July 2023.

This is according to an analysis of the ‘Selected Food Price Watch,’ a report published on a monthly basis by the National Bureau of Statistics.

The selected food items include staples such as rice(1kg), beans(1kg), bread (500g), tomatoes, beef, wheat (2kg), garri(1kg) and palm oil (1 bottle).

According to the reports, the highest food price increase was recorded in the price of yam, which jumped by 42 per cent, from N389.75 in July 2022 20 N539.41 in 2023.

This was closely followed by the price of one kilogram of rice, which increased from N467.80 to N653.49 within 12 months.

In the same vein, the price of palm oil went up by 35 per cent, from N890.67 to N1208.62 during the period in review.

Other staple foods which contributed to the food price hike included Garri (1kg), which increased by 33 per cent, from N323.17 to N429.89. 500g of sliced bread also increased from N486.27 to N651.78 (+34 per cent).


A kilogram of tomato (N446.81 to N557.96), Wheat (2kg) (N1094.72 to N1419.14), and Beef (N2118.84 to N2758.13), also accounted for some of the staple food items which recorded significant price spikes.

Further analysis of the report showed that South-Eastern states, led by Abia and Ebonyi recorded the highest food prices during the twelve-month period.

On the other hand, states within the North Central (Kogi, Niger, Benue) recorded the lowest food prices during this time.

In its latest Consumer Price Index, a report which measures inflation, the NBS had said food inflation rate in August, which was 29.34 per cent, was the primary factor which pushed headline inflation from 24.08 in July to 25.80 in August.

The NBS said, “The rise in food inflation on a year-on-year basis was caused by increases in prices of oil and fat, bread and cereals, fish, fruit, meat, vegetables and potatoes, yam and other tubers, vegetable, milk, cheese and eggs.

The legal team of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is set to file a motion to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s plea for Chicago State University not to release privileged documents in his academic records.

Recall that Tinubu, through his lawyers, had asked Ms Maldonado to delay the order of Judge Jeffrey Gilbert, a magistrate, that ordered the university to release his academic records to Atiku.

Tinubu asked the judge to save him from suffering severe and irreparable damage by placing an emergency hold on a recent order for his university records to be released.

According to the President, the damage he would suffer would be impossible to mitigate if the order directing the release of his academic records to Atiku is not delayed for possible vacation.

“There is harm in allowing discovery on issues and documents outside the diploma,” Tinubu’s lawyers said in their full briefing to the court seeking a review of Judge Jeffrey Gilbert’s order by Ms. Maldonado, a district judge.

The request for a review and delay of the order till Monday was eventually granted by the US district judge.

Earlier, Jeffrey Gilbert had ordered Tinubu’s alma mater to provide all relevant and non-privileged documents to the applicant, Atiku, within two days.

Speaking to The PUNCH, the Special Adviser to Atiku on Public Communications, Phrank Shaibu, said the legal team had up to 48 hours to respond to the motion in the US court.

When asked on Wednesday to confirm if Atiku has filed the suit as he earlier threatened on Monday, Shaibu reassured that the former vice president would submit the motion before midnight.

He said, “I am sure you have seen his application. We are working on our response. We have up till midnight today (Wednesday) to respond to them. And we will.”

On when they expect the court to rule over the matter, Shaibu stated, “It is after we have responded to the court that it will fix the date and inform the parties.”

...as NIDCOM congratulates appointees

 

 

United State of America President Joe Biden has appointed two Nigerian-Americans as advisers.

The appointees – Osagie Imasogie and Chiney Ogwumike – are part of the 12 members of the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States.


Congratulating the duo on the appointment, the Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said their recognition and appointment into the 12-member advisory council is a motivation for other Nigerians and Africans in general.

“The nomination of the two great Nigerians into the advisory council is a welcome development,” she said on Wednesday in a statement by the commission’s spokesman, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.

Chinenye Ogwumike is a two-time WNBA All-Star for the Los Angeles Sparks and a full-time, multi-platform ESPN commentator and NBA analyst.


She is one of the only full-time professional athletes to also currently hold a full-time regular national sports media broadcast position.

Ogwumike was the 2014 WNBA Rookie of the Year and is a two-time WNBA All-Star (2014, 2018). She is proudly Nigerian-American and graduated from Stanford University with an International Relations degree under the mentorship of Dr. Condoleezza Rice.

In August 2020, she became the first Black woman to host a national daily sports-talk radio show.

The 2021 Forbes 30 under 30 honoree also holds the title of Executive Producer, producing an ESPN Films documentary “144” on the 2020 WNBA season.

Osagie Imasogie, on the other hand, is the Chairman of the Investment Bank and SEC/FINRA registered Broker-Dealer, Quoin Capital and Quoin Advisors.


In addition, Imasogie is a co-founder of PIPV Capital, a private equity firm that is focused on the life sciences vertical and has invested over $1 billion into that industry.

Prior to co-founding PIPV Capital, he established GlaxoSmithKline Ventures and was its founding Vice President.

Imasogie has held senior commercial and R&D positions within pharmaceutical companies such as GSK, SmithKline Beecham, and DuPont Merck. He has also been a Price Waterhouse Corporate Finance Partner as well as a practising attorney with leading U.S. law firm, Schnader, Harrison, Segal & Lewis.

Imasogie is a serial entrepreneur and investor who serves on the board of a number of financial institutions such as FS-KKR Capital Corp and Haverford Trust, institutions that cumulatively manage over $28 billion. He is an adviser to Brown Advisory, a firm that manages in excess of $140 billion.

Imasogie is the Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and a member of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Nominating & Governance Committee of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center.

In addition, Imasogie is a Trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, a member of the Executive Committee of the University, and is also the Chairman of the Board of the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, where he is an Adjunct Professor of Intellectual Property.

Imasogie holds LLM degrees from the London School of Economics and the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, and is a member of the New York State Bar in addition to being admitted to practice in other jurisdictions.

Last modified on Thursday, 28 September 2023 06:42

National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi  Ganduje, has said his former boss and presidential candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, would remain a serial loser in presidential contests because he is always driven by personal ambition.

Ganduje spoke in Abuja, Tuesday night, when he received the Bauchi State NNPP governorship candidate in the 2023 general election, Senator Haliru Jika, who formally returned to APC during an event at the national secretariat of the party.

In a symbolic act to mark the political shift, Ganduje, while receiving Jika and his group into APC, removed the characteristic red cap of the Kwankwasiyya group and replaced it with President Bola Tinubu’s signature cap bearing the unbroken chain insignia.

Alleging that Kwankwaso’s personal ambition had seen him change political parties a number of times, Ganduje stressed that the founder of Kwankwasiyya would prefer to be “a king in hell than be a servant in paradise” because he prioritised his personal ambition over national interest.

The APC national chairman said when he learnt Jika was coming to see him at his residence to discuss the way forward, he knew he was about to meet a formidable politician and a household name in Bauchi State.

According to Ganduje, Jika is returning to a party that is very progressive and focused, “when we look at where he is coming from. He is coming from a party that used to be a decent party and highly respected but was later hijacked and polluted by the Kwankwasiyya group”.

Ganduje said they were happy that the original NNPP was taking back its proper position and leaving the Kwankwasiyya group deserted and thrown out completely.

He stated, “The Kwankwasiyya group headed by the former Kano State governor was forced to go into a sabbatical leave for eight years before it found its way back to Government House in Kano.

“The Kwankwasiyya head, who wears a red cap, is the person, who prefers to be a king in hell than be a servant in paradise. He specialises in deceiving people. He was first in PDP and came back to APC, when it was formed. That was when the nPDP merged with the legacy parties to form the APC.

“Instead of staying in APC, because of his ambition, he decided to leave APC, after failing to pick the presidential ticket, to go back to the PDP. He could not stay there, again, when he failed to pick up the ticket.

“He still went on his own to contest the presidential poll and was defeated twice.

“He is a professional contestant for presidential elections and would remain a professional failure. He loves himself so much. I am happy you have dumped the red cap. It is a very sensible action that you have taken.”

Ganduje assured the returnees of inclusiveness in the running of APC in Bauchi State as part of an ongoing effort to reposition the party ahead of the 2027 polls. He said the party regretted its performance in the state at the last general election.

Addressing newsmen after meeting with Ganduje, the former NNPP candidate said the interest of his teeming supporters in Bauchi State was behind his decision to return to APC.

Jika stated, “My dumping NNPP for APC has nothing to do with the presidential candidate of NNPP. I have no issue with Kwankwaso. The interest of Bauchi State informed my returning to APC.”

Jika, a ninth National Assembly senator, disclosed that Vice President Kashim Shettima and the first lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, also influenced his decision to return to the APC fold.

He pledged to remain loyal to APC and ensure its victory in 2027, both in the state and at the federal level.