Cloned Nigerian Anchor

Author: Doris Israel Ijeoma

  • New Minimum Wage Committee Holds First Meeting

    The 37 man National Minimum Wage Committee has held its first meeting in Abuja.

    The meeting was held shortly after the committee was inaugurated on Tuesday, 30th January, by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the council chamber of the Aso Rock Villa.

    The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the committee’s first meeting in a short statement via his X account in which he reacted to the inauguration of the committee by Vice President Shettima.

    According to him, the committee held their first meeting at the State House Banquet Hall.

    The presidential aide also commended Tinubu for fulfilling his promise of setting up the new minimum wage committee.

    He wrote: “Promise kept: Vice President Kashim Shettima inaugurates the 37-man National Minimum Wage Committee in Abuja. The committee members, among whom are six governors, held their first meeting at the State House Banquet Hall.”

    Membership of the Committee, which cuts across Federal Government, State Government, Private Sector and Organised Labour are as follows:

    From the Federal Government, the members include Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Hon. Minister of State, Labour and Employment (Representing Hon. Minister of Labour and Employment); Mr. Wale Edun, Hon. Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister of the Economy;Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, Hon. Minister of Budget Economic Planning; Dr. (Mrs) Yemi Esan, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Dr. Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri, Permanent Secretary, GSO. OSGF and Ekpo Nta, Esq, Chairman/CEO, NSIWC – Member/Secretary.

    Also from the State Government, Alh. Mohammed Umar Bago, Governor, Niger State- representative from North Central; Sen. Bala Mohammed, Governor Bauchi State- representative from North East; Alh. Umar Dikko Radda, Governor Katsina State- representative from North West;Prof. Charles Soludo, Governor, Anambra State- representative from the South East; Sen. Ademola Adeleke, Governor, Osun State- representative from South West; Mr. Otu Bassey Edet, Governor, Cross River State- representative from South South.

    From the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA)- Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, Director-General, NECA; Mr. Chuma Nwankwo; Mr. Thompson Akpabio with also members from the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA)include Asiwaju (Dr) Michael Olawale-Cole, National President; Hon. (Dr) Ahmed Rabiu, National Vice President and Chief Humphrey Ngonadi (NPOM), National Life President.

    The membership from the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprise (NASME) are Dr. Abdulrashid Yerima, President & Chairman of Council; Hon. Theophilus Nnorom Okwuchukwu, Private Sector representative;Dr. Muhammed Nura Bello, Zonal Vice President, North West and also from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) are
    Mrs. Grace Omo-Lamai, Human Resource Director, Nigerian Breweries;Segun Ajayi-Kadir, mni, Director-General, MAN; Lady Ada Chukwudozie, Managing Director, Dozzy Oil and Gas Limited.

    From the organised labour, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Joe Ajaero, President, NLC; Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, mni; Comrade Prince Adeyanju Adewale; Comrade Ambali Akeem Olatunji; Comrade Benjamin Anthony and Prof. Theophilius Ndukuba.

    Also, membership from the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) include Comrade (Engr) Festus Osifo, President, TUC; Comrade Tommy Etim Okon, PhD, Deputy President I, TUC; Comrade Kayode Surajudeen Alakija, Deputy President II;Comrade Jimoh Oyibo, Deputy President. III; Comrade Nuhu A. Toro, Secretary-General and Comrade Hafusatu Shuaib, Chairperson Women Comm.

  • Kogi Governor Usman Ododo Speaks On Creating “Office Of The Immediate Past Governor”

    Kogi Governor Usman Ododo Speaks On Creating “Office Of The Immediate Past Governor”

    The government of Kogi State has swiftly dismissed a piece of fake news making the rounds on some social media platforms insinuating that the Governor Usman Ododo has created an office for Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the immediate past governor of the state.

    According to the press release signed by
    Oladele John NIHI, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ododo, the story is nothing but a “concoction of psychotic mischief makers”.

    The statement reads in full:

    “The attention of the Kogi State Government has been drawn to a mischievous report that the Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has approved the establishment of the “Office of the Immediate Past Governor” to be domiciled in the Government House.

    “The fake news should be disregarded as the handiwork of psychotic mischief makers, who have been thrown into confusion by the unprecedented achievements of our former Governor, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, CON, and the realisation that the good people of Kogi State sincerely appreciate this.

    “The laughable report was concocted to create disaffection and mislead the public but the authors failed woefully to confuse intelligent Nigerians.

    “We thank the media for exercising restraint and detecting, on their own, that the report was fake.

    “We, however, urge the general public to always fact-check before spreading fake news.”

  • Peter Obi Visits Family Of Nabeeha Who Was Killed By Kidnappers

    Peter Obi Visits Family Of Nabeeha Who Was Killed By Kidnappers

    The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has visited the family of late Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, a young Nigerian lady who was kidnapped and later killed by her abductors.

    Speaking during the visit on Tuesday, Obi said he visited the family to commiserate with them on the loss of their loved one and called on the government to see to it that criminality in Nigeria is contained.

    He said it is traumatic for any parent to lose a child and again stressed the need for the security agencies and the government to be alive to their responsibilities.

    Nabeeha was one of the victims kidnapped in a series of abductions that took place in the Sagwari Estate Layout in the Dutsen-Alhaji area of the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    In a tragic incident that shook the community, about 19 abductees were taken by bandits, with the kidnappers demanding a colossal ransom of N700 million for nine victims.

    Among those kidnapped was Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, a 400-level Biological Science student at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

    Four hostages, including Nabeeha, were killed by the kidnappers. Nabeeha was abducted with six other siblings, along with their father, Alhaji Mansoor Al-Kadriyar, from their home at Zuma 1, on the outskirts of Bwari town in Abuja, on January 2.

  • Supreme Court Delivers Judgment On Suit Seeking To Sack Tinubu As President

    Supreme Court Delivers Judgment On Suit Seeking To Sack Tinubu As President

    The appeal filed by Hope Democratic Party presidential candidate Ambrose Owuru against the administrations of President Bola Tinubu and the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari, was struck out by the Supreme Court on Monday.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney General of the Federation are joined as the respondents in this appeal.

    Owuru’s appeal was turned down by the lower court.

    In dismissing the appeal, the appeal court found that Owuru had engaged in egregious procedural abuse by inciting the respondents with a pointless, vexatious, and vexing lawsuit.

    The appellate court further stated that Owuru’s attempt to revive the Supreme Court matter that had died in 2019 was intended to put subordinate courts in direct conflict with the supreme court’s authority.

    After that, the court mandated that he give N10 million to Buhari, Tinubu, the AGF, and INEC.

    Owuru had argued that Buhari, the outgoing president, had infringed upon his tenure in 2019 when the Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal contesting Buhari’s designation as the election’s victor.

    In addition, he requested another order barring any sort of handover inauguration that Buhari had planned or approved for May 29, 2023, until his appeal before the highest court had been decided.

    Dissatisfied with the judgment, Owuru approached the Supreme Court for redress.

    The appellant’s attorney, Olawuyi Olaoluwa, asked the court to adjourn the hearing when it was summoned on Monday. He added that he had just called early on Monday to represent the appellant.

    Justice Okoro questioned Olaoluwa about his knowledge of the case’s facts, to which he replied that he had not looked over the procedures.

    AGF attorney, Adedayo Ogundele urged the court to dismiss the appeal, claiming it constituted a misuse of the legal system.

    Okoro cautioned him against pursuing a similar case in the future.

    He said, “There is no substance in this matter. If it were a SAN that brought this matter, he would have been fined. As a young lawyer don’t take this kind of case again. It is not good for your career.”

    Olaoluwa afterward, applied to withdraw the matter.

    The five-member panel led by John Okoro dismissed the appeal.

  • Ibadan Explosion: Atiku Reacts As Seyi Makinde Accuses Him Of Not Calling 

    Ibadan Explosion: Atiku Reacts As Seyi Makinde Accuses Him Of Not Calling 

    Former Vice President and 2023 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has revealed that he commiserated with victims, people, and the Government of Oyo State following the Ibadan explosion.

     Atiku stated this in reply to a statement by Governor Seyi Makinde, who claimed that the former vice president failed to call him over the unfortunate incident.

    Recall that Makinde had berated Atiku over his failure to show concern regarding the explosion in Ibadan.

    Makinde stated this on Monday when he received the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, at his office in Ibadan.

    The governor said the former vice president has neither called nor sent a condolence message to commiserate with him and the people of his state over the explosion.

    He stated that President Bola Tinubu, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had called him over the incident, but Atiku, a member of the same political party as him, had not reached out to him.

    Reacting in a statement on Monday, Atiku’s Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, stated that the former Vice President released a statement to commiserate with victims and the people of Oyo State.

    According to him, Makinde has been too busy to take track of media reports on the incident.

    The statement reads: “With due respect to Governor Seyi Makinde, we wish to correct his expression about the response of His Excellency Atiku Abubakar to the recent explosion in the city of Ibadan.

    “Atiku Abubakar made a condolence message about the Ibadan explosion, less than 24 hours of its occurrence, where he shared his commiseration and empathy with the good people and government of Oyo State over the incident.

    “Perhaps the Governor has been too busy to take track of media reports on the incident. But we wish to put on record that on the 17th of January, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar did make a widely available message on the Ibadan incident, which reads as follows:

    “‘I wish to express my condolences to the good people and government of Oyo State over the explosion that rocked the capital city of Ibadan late yesterday night.

    “‘While the government continues to provide humanitarian support to victims of the explosion, I commiserate with the families of those who might have lost their lives and property to the explosion. -AA’”

  • Tinubu Mourns As Ex Nigerian President Loses Sister

    Tinubu Mourns As Ex Nigerian President Loses Sister

    President Bola Tinubu has condoled with Nigeria’s former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, over the death of his sister, Hajiya Salamatu Asabe.

    Tinubu’s message to the General on Monday on the passing of his younger sister was contained in a statement.

    According to the statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale: “It is with a heavy heart that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu receives the news of the passing of Hajiya Salamatu Asabe, the younger sister of former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd). 

    “President Tinubu condoles with General Abubakar, the family, and all those who mourn this painful loss.

    “The President prays that her family is comforted by her legacy and the beautiful memories she left behind.”

    Ngelale quoted President Tinubu as having said: “General, please accept my sympathy and condolences. 

    “My prayers are with you at this time of mourning. 

    “May Almighty Allah grant Hajiya Asabe Aljannah firdaus.”

  • President Tinubu’s Minister, Dele Alake Speaks On Contesting Governorship Election

    President Tinubu’s Minister, Dele Alake Speaks On Contesting Governorship Election

    Dele Alake, minister of solid minerals development, says he has no interest in contesting to become the governor of Ekiti state.

    In a statement on Monday, Segun Tomori, the minister’s media aide, said Alake has nothing to do with the campaign posters circulating on social media, describing them as fake.

    He said Alake is committed to his current national assignment as a minister.

    Tomori added that Alake supports the current administration of Biodun Oyebanji, the governor of Ekiti.

    The minister, an indigene of Ekiti, served as a commissioner of information and strategy in Lagos from 1999 to 2007.

    “The attention of the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Oladele Alake has been drawn to a poster that is circulating on social media and across WhatsApp groups where he is positioned as a gubernatorial aspirant in Ekiti State with the inscription ‘Take it Back’,” the statement reads.

    “The general public is hereby informed that Dr Alake has no interest in running for the governorship election in Ekiti State, either now or in the future. 

    “The poster in circulation does not have his approval as he does not know the people behind it. It is fake and should be discarded.

    “It is unconscionable that the Honourable Minister who is busy with the onerous task of reforming and revamping the Solid Minerals sector in Nigeria, a responsibility committed to him by President Bola Tinubu will leave that to be plotting for an election in Ekiti State. 

    “The Honourable Minister is a busy man, working tirelessly on how to make the solid minerals sector a major revenue earner for the country and for the sector to create thousands of high-paying jobs for Nigerians.”

  • Impeached Ogun Speaker docked over Alleged N2.5bn fraud

    Impeached Ogun Speaker docked over Alleged N2.5bn fraud

    The impeached Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, was on Monday docked in a Federal High Court sitting in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.

    The former Speaker was docked alongside two other officers of the state Assembly, Dayo Samuel and Adeyemo Adedeji.

    Oluomo and the duo were dragged before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged misappropriation of N2.5 billion.

    Oluomo allegedly committed the fraud while serving as the Speaker of the Assembly in 2022.

    Aside from the N2.5 billion fraud case, 18 out of 26 lawmakers signed for his impeachment over allegations bordering on high-handedness, gross misconduct, arrogance, poor leadership style, lack of focus and transparency, and pitching members against themselves.

    This former Speaker has, however, vowed to fight back as he told journalists that he had instituted a legal battle against the members of the Assembly.

    On Monday, shortly after the trio entered the dock, the court discovered that the counsel to the EFCC was absent.

    The Judge, Justice O.O Okeke, however, adjourned the case to 29th February and 1st of March.

  • Supreme Court Reserves Judgment On Binani’s Suit Challenging Fintiri’s Victory

    Supreme Court Reserves Judgment On Binani’s Suit Challenging Fintiri’s Victory

    The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the appeal by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Aisha Dahiru, popularly called Binani, against the governor of Adamawa state, Ahmadu Fintiri.

    The tribunal and Court of Appeal had dismissed Binani’s petition challenging the victory of Finitiri in the governorship election held last year.

    The five-member panel led by John Okoro adjourned the matter for judgment after listening to the arguments of the parties involved in the matter.

    The main contention of Binani, through her counsel, Akin Olujimi, at the day’s proceeding, is that the controversial declaration by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Ari, was lawful.

    Monday’s decision came months after the Court of Appeal affirmed the victory of Fintiri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as Governor of Adamawa State and dismissed Binani’s challenge as lacking in merit.

    It also awarded the cost of N500,000 in favour of Fintiri and the PDP against Binani.

    That judgment aligned with the verdict of the tribunal on October 28, which dismissed Binani’s petition for failing to prove her allegations of over-voting by not tendering documents to prove her case faulting the outcome of the election.

    Before the legal tussle, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Fintiri as the winner of a dramatic governorship poll.

    Fintiri polled 9,337 votes besting Senator ‘Binani’ who scored 6,513 votes.

    But in a controversial move, Ari, while collation was going on, prematurely declared Binani as the winner of the election. This was contrary to the provisions of Section 25 of the Electoral Act, 2022, which gives only the returning officer the right to declare election results for governorship polls.

    Immediately after the announcement, INEC declared the pronouncement as of no effect. It thereafter suspended the collation of results of the supplementary election in Adamawa and invited the REC, Returning Officer, and all officials involved to report to the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja.

    Later on, police authorities arrested Ari, confirming that the INEC REC was in their custody. He is still in court facing charges.

  • Kidnappers Release Abducted Lagos PDP Chairman 

    Kidnappers Release Abducted Lagos PDP Chairman 

    The chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Philip Aivoji, who some yet-to-be-identified gunmen abducted along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, has been released.

    The  Lagos State PDP Chairman had spent four days in captivity after he was abducted last Thursday.

    News of his release was disclosed by the State Publicity Secretary, Hakeem Amode, in a short statement issued around 1.15 am on Monday.

    Amode said, “Lagos State PDP Chairman released by the kidnappers.

    “Hon Philip Olabode Aivoji, the Lagos State PDP Chairman, is free at last after four days in the kidnappers’ den.

    “We use this opportunity to appreciate your prayers, most importantly because God’s mercies was visible all the way.

    “Thank you all for your concerns and prayers.”

    Recall that Aivoji and some other party chieftains were abducted at the Ogere area of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Thursday while returning from the party’s Stakeholders’ Zonal Caucus meeting convened by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and held in Ibadan, the state capital.