Cloned Nigerian Anchor

Author: Doris Israel Ijeoma

  • Breaking: FG Shuns ASUU, Announces Date For Inauguration Of Universities Governing Councils

    Breaking: FG Shuns ASUU, Announces Date For Inauguration Of Universities Governing Councils

    The Federal Government has announced that the Governing Councils of Federal universities, polytechnics and other tertiary institutions will be inaugurated on July 4, 2024.

    This comes amidst the rejection from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) regarding the composition of the newly constituted governing councils for federal universities across Nigeria.

    According to Prof Osodeke, the new list of council members is dominated by retired politicians rather than experts in academia or relevant fields.

    ASUU’s national President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, expressed concerns last week in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, highlighting a worrying trend in the appointment process.

    Recall that President Bola Tinubu approved the reconstitution of the Governing Councils and Boards of federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

    In an earlier statement, the Permanent Secretary, General Services, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Nnamdi Mbaeri, noted that the approval was given for the effective management of Nigerian tertiary institutions across the country.

    According to Punch, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Aisha Maikudi, announced the inauguration date during her acceptance speech on Monday, while assuming the institution’s affairs.

    A total of 560 individuals were appointed to the governing councils and boards of Federal Government-owned tertiary institutions.

    For the University of Ibadan, the President appointed Chief Bisi Akande as the Chairman of the governing council. The board members are Alexander Ajipe, Nelson Alapa, Ifeoma Nwankwo, and Prof. Emmanuel Alo.

    Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) was appointed as the Chairman of the governing council of the University of Lagos. The council members are Bello Kumo, Prof. Idowu Mark, Niyi Akande, and Bola Njoku.

    Isa Yuguda chairs the board of the National Open University. The council members are Goddy Etta, Yomi Balogun, Deborah Apah, and Hingah Biem.

    Siyan Oyeweso was appointed to head the governing council of Obafemi Awolowo University, while Edward Sarki, Joseph Abaagu, Wahaab Owokoniran, and Abubakar Kachaalla are members of the council.

    Adebayo Shittu, Muiz Banire, and Senator Florence Ita Giwa were appointed as the chairpersons of the governing boards for David Umahi University of Medicine in Ebonyi State, Federal University of Transportation in Katsina State, and Federal Polytechnic in Ugep, Cross River State, respectively among others.

  • 2024 BET Awards: Tems, Tyla win big, See Full List of Winners

    2024 BET Awards: Tems, Tyla win big, See Full List of Winners

    Tems was the only Nigerian on the winners’ list at this year’s BET Awards held at Los Angeles’s Peacock Theater on Sunday night.

    Tems’ “Me & U” saw off competition from Gospel giants like Kirk Franklin, Shirley Caesar, Maverick City, and others to win the Dr Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award.

    Her compatriots, Ayra Starr and Asake, lost the coveted Best International Act to South Africa’s Tyla. Starr also lost Best New Artist to Tyla and BET Her to Victoria Monét.

    Similarly, Seyi Vibez lost the Best New International Act to South Africa’s Makhadzi.

    Another Nigerian, Burna Boy, lost Best Male R&B/Pop Artist to Usher and Best Hip-hop Artist to Kendrick Lamar.

    Here is the full list:

    Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
    Chris Brown
    Drake
    Fridayy
    Brent Faiyaz
    Bryson Tiller
    Usher (WINNER)
    Burna Boy
    October London

    Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
    Doja Cat
    H.E.R.
    Muni Long
    SZA (WINNER)
    Beyoncé
    Coco Jones
    Tyla
    Victoria Monét

    Best Group
    2 Chainz & Lil Wayne
    41
    Flo
    ¥$, Ye, Ty Dolla $ign (WINNER)
    Maverick City Music
    Blxst & Bino Rideaux
    City Girls
    Wanmor

    Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
    Drake

    Future

    Kendrick Lamar (WINNER)
    21 Savage
    Burna Boy
    Gunna
    J. Cole

    Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
    Nicki Minaj (WINNER)
    Cardi B
    Doja Cat
    Megan Thee Stallion
    Sexyy Red
    GloRilla
    Ice Spice
    Latto

    Best New Artist
    4Batz
    Ayra Starr
    41
    Bossman Dlow
    Sexyy Red
    Tyla (WINNER)
    Fridayy
    October London

    Album of the Year
    Drake, For All the Dogs (Scary Hours Edition)
    21 Savage, American Dream
    Usher, Coming Home
    Victoria Monét, Jaguar II
    Killer Mike, Michael (WINNER)
    Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday 2
    Chris Brown, 11:11
    Gunna, A Gift & A Curse

    Best Collaboration
    Lil Durk feat. J. Cole, “All My Life” (WINNER)
    Lil Durk feat. J. Cole, “All My Life” (WINNER)
    Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice (With Aqua), “Barbie World”
    Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion, “Bongos”
    ¥$, Ye, Ty Dolla $ign feat. Rich The Kid, Playboi Carti, “Carnival”
    Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA, “Rich Baby Daddy”
    Lola Brooke feat. Latto & Yung Miami, “Don’t Play With It (Remix)”
    Nicki Minaj feat. Lil Uzi Vert, “Everybody”
    Beyoncé feat. Kendrick Lamar, “America Has a Problem (Remix)”
    Usher, Summer Walker & 21 Savage, “Good Good”

    Video of the Year
    Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice (With Aqua), “Barbie World”
    Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion, “Bongos”
    Drake feat. J. Cole, “First Person Shooter”
    Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA, “Rich Baby Daddy”
    Usher, Summer Walker & 21 Savage, “Good Good”
    Victoria Monét, “On My Mama” (WINNER)
    Doja Cat, “Agora Hills”
    Lil Durk feat J. Cole, “All My Life”

    Video Director of the Year
    Benny Boom
    Child.
    Offset
    Tems
    Tyler, The Creator
    Cole Bennett (WINNER)
    Dave Meyers
    Janelle Monáe & Alan Ferguson
    Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
    Shirley Caesar, “Award All of the Glory”
    Kirk Franklin, “All Things”
    Tems, “Me & U” (WINNER)
    Kirk Franklin, “Try Love”
    Erica Campbell, “Do You Believe in Love?”
    Maverick City Music, Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore, “God Problems”
    Halle Bailey, “Angel”
    CeCe Winans, “Come Jesus Come”

    Viewer’s Choice Award
    Doja Cat, “Agora Hills”
    Lil Durk feat. J. Cole, “All My Life”
    Muni Long, “Made for Me”
    Victoria Monét, “On My Mama”
    Beyoncé, “Texas Hold ’Em” (WINNER)
    Tyla, “Water”
    Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA, “Rich Baby Daddy”
    Chris Brown feat. Davido & Lojay, “Sensational”
    Gunna, “Fukumean”
    Jack Harlow, “Lovin on Me”

    Best International Act
    Ayra Starr (Africa)
    Bk’ (Brazil)
    Asake (Africa)
    Aya Nakamura (France)
    Karol Conká (Brazil)
    Raye (UK)
    Tiakola (France)
    Tyla (Africa)
    Cleo Sol (UK)
    Focalistic (Africa)

    Viewer’s Choice: Best New International Act
    Duquesa (Brazil)
    Holly G (France)
    Jungeli (France)
    Makhadzi (Africa) (WINNER)
    Oruam (Brazil)
    Bellah (UK)
    Cristale (UK)
    Seyi Vibez (Africa)
    Tyler Icu (Africa)

    BET Her
    Megan Thee Stallion, “Hiss”
    Victoria Monét, “On My Mama” (WINNER)
    Beyoncé, “16 Carriages”
    Nicki Minaj feat. Tasha Cobbs Leonard.

  • FG Kicks Off 2024 National Environmental Sanitation Day In Abuja

    FG Kicks Off 2024 National Environmental Sanitation Day In Abuja

    The Federal Ministry of Environment has called on Nigerians to prioritize environmental hygiene to curb the spread of cholera. 

    This appeal was made by the Permanent Secretary, Mahmud Adam Kambari, during the launch of the 2024 National Environmental Sanitation Day activities in Piwoyi, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Represented by Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Kambari emphasized the crucial role of hygiene in disease prevention. 

    “Currently in the country, we are faced with the challenge of a cholera outbreak, which is caused by bacterial infection spread through contaminated water or food due to unhygienic practices,” Kambari stated.

    The theme for this year’s event, “Environmental Sanitation in the Era of Climate Change: Go Greener, Stay Clean, Climate Change is Real,” underscores the importance of maintaining clean environments amidst changing climate conditions.

    The Permanent Secretary highlighted open defecation as a primary cause of cholera and urged communities to adopt better sanitation practices.

    The Ministry’s commitment to partnering with communities for a cleaner environment was reiterated by Kambari. Piwoyi was chosen to kick-start the 2024 NESD activities, with a series of events including a school debate on June 25 and the main event on June 28.

    In his goodwill message, Mr. Jonathan Duku of Breakthrough Action Nigeria stressed the importance of cleanliness to prevent cholera and Lassa fever. 

    He noted, “Mitigating environmental challenges will not only eradicate cholera but also other diseases like Lassa fever, as dirty environments attract rats that cause Lassa fever.”

    Mr. Edwin Isotu Ede, representing the World Health Organization (WHO), encouraged the community to use the opportunity to promote sanitation and hygiene. He advised landlords to leave space for trees and ensure the availability of toilets.

    The Director of Environment, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Mrs. Hannatu Ibrahim, pledged continued collaboration with the Piwoyi community to prevent cholera. 

    The Etsu of Piwoyi Community, Mr. Tanko Lazarus Bahago, appreciated the Ministry’s efforts and vowed to maintain clean environments.

    To engage students and inspire future generations, a quiz competition on environmental issues was organized. Participating schools included Federal Government College Wuye, Model Junior Secondary School Maitama, Junior Secondary School Area 10, Junior Secondary School Area 11, P-E-M International Academy Lugbe, and First Kingdom Kids Academy Mararaba. JSS Area 10 emerged as the winner, with prizes to be awarded at the main event on June 28 in Abuja.

  • How I still get paid as a civil servant in Nigeria, UK cab driver confesses

    Despite leaving Nigeria for the UK two years ago, Sabitu Adams gets paid each month as a junior official at a government agency back home.

    Adams, who now works as a taxi driver in the UK, had his name changed by a BBC report to protect his identity.

    The taxi driver has yet to resign from his job in Nigeria.

    Adams is one of the thousands of ghost workers, a rampant issue in the Nigerian civil service.

    Each year, the government carries out biometric verifications and reels out numbers representing discovered ghost workers, and money saved.

    But no one is ever announced to have been arrested or prosecuted.

    Last week, President Bola Tinubu directed that all civil servants drawing salaries from the government after relocating abroad should be made to refund the money.

    Tinubu also ordered that the culprits’ supervisors and department heads be punished for aiding and abetting the fraud while they were in charge.

    Adams told the BBC that he was not worried about the president’s directives because he earned better as a taxi driver in the UK.

    “When I heard about the president’s directive, I smiled because I know I am doing better here – and not worried,” the 36-year-old said.

    The cab driver said he did not resign “in case I choose to go back to my job after a few years”.

    Adams was quoted as saying he had an arrangement with his boss in Nigeria who is a “relative”.

  • Shehu Sani Speaks On El-Rufai Working With Atiku In 2027

    Shehu Sani Speaks On El-Rufai Working With Atiku In 2027

    The former lawmaker representing Kaduna Central senatorial district, Shehu Sani, in a recent interview, spoke on ex-vice president, Atiku Abubakar working with ex-governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai in the 2027 presidential election.

    Sani, in an interview with Sunday Sun, said he does not know if the duo will work together, but he is sure there will be a realignment of forces.

    He claimed that the North would play a card that would bring northerners together and also work on getting an alliance with a section of the country.

    Speaking on the possibilities of the 2027 presidential election, Sani said, “Well, I don’t know whether they are working together or not, but I know that there will be a lot of realignment of forces and the ace, the card that will be played by the North is that of bringing all northerners together and then, getting an alliance with a section of the country other than the Southwest and then, see how that can garner votes to remove Tinubu out of power because in the equation of the North, out of the eight million votes which Tinubu has gotten, five million comes from Northern Nigeria.

    “So, they want to see how they can pull off these votes from him and there are a lot of issues which they are going to put forward in the build-up to the 2027 campaign.

    “And they are going to use so many issues like the shifting of the CBN offices to Lagos; like the issues of appointments of many people from the South-western part of Nigeria; like the issue of insecurity which has not been solved in Northern part of Nigeria; these are all fundamental issues which they are going to take very seriously.”

  • Minimum Wage Dilemma: States May Go Bankrupt, FEC Delays Decision

    Minimum Wage Dilemma: States May Go Bankrupt, FEC Delays Decision

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently postponed a decision on the new minimum wage report from the tripartite committee, opting for further consultations amid concerns that many states could go bankrupt if the proposed wage increases are implemented.

    The FEC’s hesitance comes as President Bola Tinubu prepares to present the minimum wage bill to the National Assembly, an announcement that has stoked tensions across various states.

    Last week’s discussions at both the National Economic Council, chaired by Vice President, Kashim Shettima, and the Southern Governors’ Forum failed to yield a consensus on the wage structure, with the governors suggesting that wage negotiations should be state-specific.

    The labour unions have criticized the Nigeria Governors’ Forum for their significant sway in the wage negotiations, arguing that the proposed wages could push states towards financial insolvency.

    A report from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat highlighted that increased recurrent expenditures have already strained budgets, leaving states like Abia, Ekiti, and Kogi in deficits as of 2022.

    The proposed ₦62,000 minimum wage, more than double the current ₦30,000, could destabilize state finances further, potentially leading only ten states, including Lagos and Rivers, to remain financially stable.

    According to the documents, sighted by Punch, Abia, with an employment size of about 58,631 workers, pays ₦5,837,899,980.40 as wage monthly. Anambra has a 20,541 employment size and pays ₦1,824,851,308.96 monthly as wages, apart from ₦894,480,399.62 as pension obligation and ₦579,694,680.33 for debt servicing.

    Bayelsa boasts of 48,213 workforce, paying ₦5,802,435,178.58 monthly, with ₦1,194,528,784.40 as pension obligation and ₦3,535,787,992.48 as debt servicing, totalling ₦10,532,751,955.46 as total recurrent expenditure monthly.

    Benue has about 13,366 workers in its workforce and pays ₦2,040,184,471.85 as monthly wage, ₦76,838,634.62 for pension, and ₦64,685,126,826.08 for debt servicing, totalling ₦66,802,149,932.56 monthly.

    Delta has about 50,871 workers, offering ₦8,973,081,853.50 as wages ₦1,499,886,303.39 as pension, and ₦72,417,433,139.00 as debt servicing, accumulating to ₦82,890,401,295.89 in a month.

    Jigawa has about 44,831 workers in its employ and pays ₦2,795,662,113.02 as wages, and ₦345,987,843.12 as a pension, totalling ₦3,141,649,956.14 monthly on recurrent expenditure.

    Katsina, Kwara and Niger have 19,062, 36,048 and 22,225 workers, with accumulated ₦139,294,944,565.27, ₦4,457,268,675.54 and ₦2,653,614,213.35 monthly recurrent expenditure respectively.

    According to the document, Abia has a total recurrent expenditure of ₦111,983,979,958.62, against a total revenue of ₦147,637,730,867.73.

    For Adamawa, the recurrent expenditure stands at ₦70,369,399,885.57, against a total revenue of ₦109,722,949,684.65, while Akwa Ibom boasts of a high revenue of ₦444,288,683,000, with recurrent expenditure of ₦235,144,539,000.

    Of the states, Lagos has the highest total revenue, amassing ₦1,243,778,878,170 in 2022, with a recurrent expenditure of ₦621,043,036,000, followed by Delta, with ₦702,020,717,460.08 and a recurrent expenditure of ₦377,905,100,451.83.

    Rivers amassed ₦525,588,159,714.88 in 2022, with recurrent expenditure of ₦186,974,715,774.87; Kaduna had a total revenue of ₦222,349,875,000 and expenditure of ₦95,987,999,472.10; Ogun, ₦297,249,009,626.83, recurrent expenditure of ₦178,519,010,628.42 and Oyo, with total revenue of ₦247,156,776,739.70 and recurrent expenditure of ₦152,077,804,384.65.

    Kebbi State had the lowest total revenue in 2022, raking in ₦92,132,444,588.16 and spent ₦57,601,464,374.96 on recurrent expenditure, followed by Taraba, with a total revenue of ₦101,177,283,069.87 and recurrent expenditure of ₦75,055,201,412.62.

    Aside from FAAC allocation, some states recorded poor IGR in the 2022 data compiled by the NGF S

  • Minimum wage: Why Govs can’t take over negotiations, Labour

    Minimum wage: Why Govs can’t take over negotiations, Labour

    Organised Labour, including the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, has rejected the proposal of the Southern Governors’ Forum to decentralise minimum wage negotiations to state governments.

    The NLC condemned the proposal as “unfriendly and anti-worker”, noting that allowing states to determine their minimum wages would be detrimental to workers’ welfare.

    On Friday, The PUNCH had reported that the Southern Governors’ Forum sought for states to be allowed to negotiate the minimum wage for workers independently. At the end of a meeting held on Monday at the Ogun State Presidential Lodge in Abeokuta, the forum resolved that wages should be reflective of the cost of living.

    This was revealed in a communique issued from the meeting and signed by the newly-appointed Chairman of the forum, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State; and Vice-Chairman, Prof Charles Soludo of Anambra State.

    The meeting was attended by Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos; Godwin Obaseki of Edo; Hope Uzodinma of Imo; Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti; Duoye Diri of Bayelsa; Ademola Adeleke of Osun; Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom; Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers; and Bassey Otu of Cross River.

    Other attendees included Governors Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State; Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo; Peter Mbah of Enugu; Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State; and Alex Otti of Abia State.

    “The forum discussed the minimum wage demanded by Labour and unanimously agreed that the minimum wage should be reflective of the cost of living, and that each state should be allowed to negotiate its minimum wage,” the communique stated.

    Meanwhile, the Presidency had on Monday appealed to Nigerians not to put unnecessary pressure on the President, assuring them that the Federal Government would transmit the proposed bill on the new minimum wage to the National Assembly once it was ready.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the plea in a terse statement sent to The PUNCH on Thursday.

    “People should be patient,” he stated.

    While Organised Labour is adamant about its N250,000 minimum wage demand, the state governors said that paying even the N62,000 proposed by the Federal Government would plunge many states into debt.

    This was even as President Bola Tinubu demanded more time for consultation on Wednesday.

    Reacting to the proposal of the governors, the National Treasurer of the NLC, Akeem Ambali, in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, insisted that the governors had no power to negotiate the new minimum wage.

    He added that the governors were compelled by law to implement the new national minimum wage. Ambali advised the governors to stop trying to strong-arm the Federal Government and labour with their request to negotiate with labour individually, and rather focus on how they would implement the national minimum wage when it is approved.

    Ambali noted that it was regrettable that labour had to always resort to strike actions to get the government to yield to its demands. He asked the governors make public how much they earn, and subject it to negotiations.

    He said, “Traditionally, the minimum wage is a national issue; it is not a sub-national negotiation. That is the essence of the Minimum Wage Act, and the law is clear. Governors don’t have the power to negotiate the minimum wage. What they can only negotiate are other allowances, but the minimum wage is a social protection content, and it is not only applicable to Nigeria.

    “My advice for the governors is that they should prepare their balance sheet and look at how to implement the national minimum wage once it is approved. They should not stress themselves with the issue of negotiating with Labour on a state level. After all, we have seen what happened in Zamfara, where they refused to pay the current minimum wage (N30,000) until Labour issued an ultimatum, and they quickly started paying. Some states are still not paying the current minimum wage. We know what happened i

  • Why I won’t return to Aso Villa – Patience Jonathan

    Why I won’t return to Aso Villa – Patience Jonathan

    Former First lady, Dame Patience Jonathan says if she is requested to return to the presidential villa to function as Nigerian First Lady, she would decline.

    In a viral video clip, Mrs Patience, who spoke on Friday at a public function, said “the stress of Nigeria is too much”, stressing that she looks younger than when she was in office.

    According to her, “If you call me now for villa, I wouldn’t go there. I won’t. Don’t you see how young I am? The stress is so much.

    “The stress of Nigeria is so much. If God manages to bring you out of it, you should glorify Him. He has taken you there once, why do you want to go there again”?

    The former president, Goodluck Jonathan exited the presidential villa in 2015 after losing the presidential election to Muhammadu Buhari.

    During her reign as the First Lady of Nigeria, Patience Jonathan was popular for creating memes in her usual pidgin English such as “na only you waka come”.

  • JUST IN: Two Officers Killed As Gunmen Attack Police Checkpoint In Abia

    JUST IN: Two Officers Killed As Gunmen Attack Police Checkpoint In Abia

    Two officers of the Nigeria Police Force were reportedly murdered on Friday night when a group of dangerous criminals attacked a police checkpoint at the well-known Opobo Junction, near the Aba-Ikot Ekpene Expressway in Abia State.

    Another officer reportedly sustained some injuries from the attack, which unsettled residents of the area.

    It was reported that the police were stationed at the junction for their regular evening patrol before the assailants attacked them.

    A witness described how the attackers, who were armed and dangerous, arrived in a Sienna SUV.

    He explained that just a few minutes into the police officers’ regular night shift, multiple police squads arrived in the area as people began to evacuate the scene.

    SaharaReporters quoted the witness as saying that the event led to widespread panic, forcing local businesses and market vendors to shut down, with some even leaving their goods behind to find safety.

    The latest attack on security officials is coming a month after gunmen attacked a military checkpoint at the Obikabia Junction in Aba, Abia State.

    The attackers, who also set fire to the military vehicle, were believed to be carrying out the sit-at-home order issued by IPOB across the Southeast region to commemorate Biafra Day, a holiday celebrated in the area every year.

    The heavily armed individuals, dressed in black, were reportedly spotted firing at the junction intermittently.

  • After Lagos assault, EFCC arrests 27 suspected internet Fraudsters

    After Lagos assault, EFCC arrests 27 suspected internet Fraudsters

    Operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday June 26, 2024 arrested 27 suspected internet fraudsters at different locations within Benin City.

    The suspects were arrested following actionable intelligence on their suspected involvement in computer- related fraud.

    Items recovered from them include the sum of N590,000, nine exotic cars, laptops and phones

    The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

    This is coming after the operatives of the anti-graft agency assaulted a member of staff of Regional Hotel in Lagos in a night raid.