Cloned Nigerian Anchor

Author: Doris Israel Ijeoma

  • PDP asks IGP to stop pro-Wike lawmakers from disrupting governance

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun to caution the 27 ousted members of the Rivers State House of Assembly against actions that could disrupt Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration.

    In a press statement on Wednesday, PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba noted that these lawmakers, who had pledged allegiance to former Governor Nyesom Wike, openly defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Ologunagba cited the 1999 Constitution, stating that their defection disqualifies them from holding legislative positions in the assembly, and therefore, they lack the authority to convene or issue directives to the governor.

    Ologunagba, in the statement, said, “The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for the umpteenth time, cautions the former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who lost their seats upon defection from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) @OfficialAPCNg to desist from actions and utterances that are capable of disrupting peace and governance in the State.

    “The Party counsels the former lawmakers to wake up to the reality that they are no longer members of the Rivers State House of Assembly by virtue of the self-executory provision of Section 109 (1) (g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and as such cannot gather or issue any notice to the State Governor in the capacity of members of Rivers State House of Assembly,” he explained.

    According to the party’s national spokesperson, the caution followed the former lawmakers’ purported seven-day ultimatum issued from an unknown location to the governor to re-present the 2024 state’s budget already passed and signed into law.

    Ologunlagba said the action by pro-Wike lawmakers’ seeking to assume the powers of the state assembly “is apparently with the intension to cause crisis, undermine and disrupt the Democratic and Constitutional Order in the State in clear violation of Section 1 sub-section 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”

    “Having irretrievably lost their seats upon their defection from the PDP, the political Party platform upon which they were elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly, they cannot enjoy the powers, rights, privileges, recognition and obligations of members of the Rivers State House of Assembly,” Mr Ologunagba insisted.

    The party, therefore, charged the IG “to note the subversive action of these former lawmakers and take immediate action to protect the Institution of Democracy, peace and security in Rivers State.”

    He also urged the state’s residents to stay vigilant, uphold the law, and collaborate towards maintaining stability, peace, and the delivery of democratic benefits under the party’s leadership.

  • Police release prankster, Zfancy on bail

    Police release prankster, Zfancy on bail

    The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the release of a skit maker and prankster, Zion Ubani, better known as Zfancy.

    Recall that the NPF-National Cybercrime Centre had on Thursday, July 4, arrested Zfancy in Abuja over prank videos accusing him of heinous crimes, including rape.

    However, the Force Public Relations Officer, FPRO, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi in an update on Wednesday, said the skit maker was released on bail.

    In a statement, Adejobi said the young man was released to the executives of the Practitioners of Content Creation, Skit-Making and Influencers Guild of Nigeria, PCCSIGN.

    According to him, the delegation was led to the Force Headquarters by Tokoni Peter Igoin, Special Assistant to the President on ICT Development and Digital Innovation.

    “The videos were later found to be scripted.

    “He has been warned to avoid pranks that could cause public unrest.

    “While encouraging positive creativity amongst the youthful populace, the NPF urges content creators to responsibly use social media and avoid spreading misinformation that may incite public disorder,” Adejobi said.

  • Terrorists Plan To Attack Critical National Infrastructures – Nigerian Military Reveals

    Terrorists Plan To Attack Critical National Infrastructures – Nigerian Military Reveals

    The Nigerian Military has unveiled plans by terrorists to attack some critical national infrastructures in the country.

    This revelation was made public on Thursday by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba.

    He, however, added that relevant security agencies have been put on standby to forestall such attacks.

    General Buba also called on citizens to rally support for security forces to defeat terror in Nigeria.

    Details later…

  • Body Of Ex-Senate President Joseph Wayas Arrives Nigeria After 33 Months

    Body Of Ex-Senate President Joseph Wayas Arrives Nigeria After 33 Months

    The body of Nigeria’s Second Republic Senate President, Senator Dr. Joseph Wayas arrived in Nigeria 33 months after his death in the United Kingdom.

    The remains of the elder statesman, who arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Wednesday morning, were received by his family members; Cross River North Senator, Jarigbe Agom; Hon. Peter Akpanke; kinsmen, and other stakeholders.

    The body was thereafter deposited at the morgue of the National Hospital, Abuja, after opening two years and nine months at a London morgue.

    Senator Jarigbe, Hon. Akpanke and the family members of the late former two-time Senate President, were full of praises for Cross River State governor, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, for his spirited efforts in facilitating the transportation of Wayas’ remains to Nigeria.

  • AGN introduces new laws on welfare, safety of actors

    AGN introduces new laws on welfare, safety of actors

    The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has introduced new bylaws for the Nigerian film industry as it presented as the final report on the 10 April boat mishap that claimed the lives of actor John Odonwodo popularly known as Junior Pope and four other crew members while returning from set of Adanma Luke’s “Other Side of Life’ movie

    The boat crash raised concerns over safety issues on movie sets, prompting calls for thorough scrutiny and higher standards in the industry.

    The president of AGN, Emeka Rollas, made this known via his Instagram account on Tuesday, July 9.

    According to Rollas, actor, Emeka Ike, led the bylaws committee, with Jude Orhorha serving as the secretary. Other members of the committee includes Bimbo Manuel, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Joke Silva, Francis Duru, Patience Ozokwor, Hilda Dokubo, Abubakar Yakubu, Gideon Okeke, Anthony Ogbetere, and Femi Branch.

    He wrote: “Earlier this morning 9th of July 2024 I received two important reports from two special Committees set up for the following: 1. AGN BY-LAWS 2. ⁠BOAT MISHAP OF 10TH APRIL 2024

    “The AGN bylaws committee led by its Chairman Amb Emeka Ike was set to draw up professional guidelines, standards work ethics, safety rules etc for members.

    “While the Boat mishap committee led by Mr Kevin Uvo was set to find out the immediate and remote causes of the boat accident which claimed the lives of 5 Nollywood practitioners including actor JNR Pope on the 10th April, 2024.

    “I commend members of the two commitees for the sleepless nights put into the committee work. I promised to speedily implement the recommendations of the committees. The reports were submitted by AMB. Emeka Ike, Chairman of the Bylaws committee and Kelvin Uvo Chairman of the Boat Mishap Committee,

    “The presentations were made in presence of the the chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chief Emmanuel Ogugua and the following members of the Bylaws committee and National Executive Council such as, Patience Ozokwor, Bimbo Manuel, Tony Ogbetere, The National Secretary of AGN, Abubakar Yakubu, Fin. Sec. Emeka Duru”

  • Minimum Wage: Tinubu To Meet With Organised Labour

    Minimum Wage: Tinubu To Meet With Organised Labour

    President Bola Tinubu will meet with the Organised Labour in Abuja on Thursday to further discussions on a new minimum wage for workers in Nigeria.

    A top labour source told Channels Television that the President invited the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to the meeting expected to be held at the Aso Villa in the nation’s capital city.

    The President is expected to make a decision on the ₦62,000 proposal of the government and private sector side; as well as the ₦250,000 demand of the Organised Labour.

    The Thursday meeting is coming about a month after the President said in his Democracy Day speech on June 12, 2024, that an executive bill on the new national minimum wage for workers would soon be sent to the National Assembly for passage.

    On June 25, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) chaired by the President stepped down from consideration and deliberation on the memo on the new minimum wage to allow for more engagement with stakeholders.

    Two days after, Tinubu and Vice President Kassim Shettima, at the 141st meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC), met with governors of the 36 states of the Federation and ministers to deliberate on a new minimum wage for workers.

    Long Walk To New Wage
    Talks for a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers have been on for a while. The Minimum Wage Act of 2019, which made ₦30,000 the minimum wage, expired in April 2024. The Act should be reviewed every five years to meet with contemporary economic demands of workers.

    President Bola Tinubu in January set up a Tripartite Committee to negotiate a new minimum wage for workers. The committee comprises the Organised Labour, representatives of federal and state governments as well as the Organised Private Sector.

    However, the committee members failed to reach an agreement on a new realistic minimum wage for workers, forcing labour to declare an indefinite industrial action on Monday, June 3, 2024. Businesses were paralysed as labour shut down airports, hospitals, the national grid, banks, National Assembly, and state assemblies’ complexes.

    The labour unions said the current minimum wage of ₦30,000 can no longer cater to the well-being of an average Nigerian worker, saying the government should offer workers something economically realistic in tandem with current inflationary pressures, attendant effects of the twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of the forex windows of the current administration.

    Labour “relaxed” its strike on June 4, 2024 following assurances from the President that he was committed to a wage above ₦60,000.

    Both the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) leadership subsequently resumed talks with the representatives of the Federal Government, states, and the Organised Private Sector.

    On Friday, June 7, 2024, the two sides (labour and the government) still failed to reach an agreement. While labour dropped again its demand from ₦494,000 to ₦250,000, the government added ₦2,000 to its initial ₦60,000 and offered workers ₦62,000.

    Both sides submitted their reports to the President who is expected to make a decision and send an executive bill to the National Assembly to pass a new minimum wage bill to be signed into law by the President.

  • Reps query minister over N45m spent on new year party, others

    Reps query minister over N45m spent on new year party, others

    The House of Representatives has queried the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, for spending unrelated expenditures, including N45m for a New Year party, N20m for sanitary pads, the News Agency of Nigeria reports on Wednesday.

    Others include N1.5m for vehicle fuel.

    NAN reports that Rep Kafilat Ogbara, Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs, led the interrogation of the minister, over the non-payment of N1.5bn to contractors despite the fund release in Abuja.

    She said that the investigative hearing was aimed at uncovering the truth and not witch-hunting the Minister and the officials of the ministry.

    The committee also investigated the alleged diversion of funds meant for contractor payments, following a petition from contractors.

    The committee also sought clarification on funds appropriated for the African First Lady’s mission and the whereabouts of the N1.5bn meant for contractor payments.

    The minister, however, denied the allegations of misappropriation, overspending, and non-payment to contractors.

    The procurement officer confirmed contractors’ claims, and the Director of Finance and Administration acknowledged only paying approved contracts.

    It would be recalled that the committee had at its last sitting summoned the minister to appear before it to explain the rationale behind the non-payment.

    The committee also ordered the stoppage of all 2024 contract processes by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs until the whereabouts of the money for the said contracts are determined.

  • Minimum Wage struggle not dead – TUC President, Osifo

    Minimum Wage struggle not dead – TUC President, Osifo

     

    President of the Trade Union Congress, Festus Osifo has written off criticisms that the struggle for a new national minimum wage may have waned.

    While reacting to the insinuations, Osifo said the Federal Government is still having conversations with all relevant stakeholders cutting across the Nigerian Governors Forum, Local Government Administrators as well as the Organised Private Sector and Labour Unions.

    Osifo noted that both Unions still insist on the N250,000 demand it made to the government which was part of the recommendations submitted to the President by the Presidential Tripartite Committee on New National Minimum Wage.

    He made reference to the existing minimum wage of N30,000 which took two years to be negotiated, assuring that the Tripartite Committee has made appreciable progress since January 2024 when negotiations started.

    His words, “minimum wage negotiations cannot be dead, you know when we started this conversation you asked us that in 2017 if you remember we started the minimum wage that was signed in 2019, it took about two years to see the light of day. We promised you when we started in January that we will ensure this one is fast-tracked for us not to be in the conundrum that we were as at 2019 which took two years.

    “So where we are today, we submitted the divergent position in June, when we did that you know clearly that Mr President came out to say that he wanted to consult across board which is the governors, local government chairmen, organised private sector and labour, so we are doing some level of reach out and conversations.

    “So that what will be submitted to the National Assembly will actually be a minimum wage that will cater for the poorest of the poor, so for the fact that in the media we are not shouting, we are doing some level of internal work so that this bill will be submitted in earnest soon. Of course, we still insist on the N250,000 benchmark as the ideal minimum wage”.

  • Tinubu Creates New Ministry 

    Tinubu Creates New Ministry 

    President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday announced the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.

    The President announced while inaugurating the Renewed Hope Livestock Reform Implementation Committee, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    But President Tinubu did not mention the name of the Minister for the new ministry as it is expected that he has to forward the name to the Senate for screening and confirmation if it’s a new nominee.

    Present at the Inauguration were the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila amongst cabinet members.

    Recall that President Tinubu on 15th September 2023, approved the establishment of the Presidential Committee dedicated to the reform of the livestock industry and the provision of long-term solutions to recurring clashes between herders and farmers in the country.

  • Missing Hyena Captured, Returned To Plateau Wildlife Park 

    Missing Hyena Captured, Returned To Plateau Wildlife Park 

    The Management of Plateau State Tourism Corporation has stated that after relentless search and rescue efforts, the missing hyena from the Jos Wildlife Park has finally been found, tranquilised, captured and safely returned to its enclosure at the Park.

    A statement issued in Jos, the State capital, and signed by the General Manager of the Corporation, Chuwang Pwajok, on Tuesday, said: “We deeply appreciate the general public for remaining calm and cooperative. This has greatly assisted in the search and rescue of the animal.”

    It will recalled that the Management of the Plateau State Tourism Corporation had declared that one of the Hyenas at the Jos Wildlife Park escaped, adding that the Hyena was being tracked by their dedicated team of game guards and Park Rangers with the assistance of drone technology.

    It assured the public that the corporation was taking all necessary measures to locate the escaped animal and ensure its safe return to its enclosure soonest.