9th Senate: PDP Works On Goje-Ekweremadu Ticket
The horse-trading for the leadership of the 9th Senate intensified yesterday with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spearheading negotiation with some aspirants from the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the office of the President of the Senate. The PDP is plotting a joint ticket by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Sen. Danjuma Goje and the outgoing Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu. But some leaders of PDP are suggesting either Sen. Ali Ndume-Ekweremadu mandate or Sen. Abdullahi Adamu-Ekweremadu ticket. But most PDP senators-elect, especially loyalists of the outgoing Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, have
Implementation of New Minimum Wage Suffers Set Back
The implementation of the new National Minimum Wage bill signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari has been hit by some bottlenecks, Saturday PUNCH can reveal. Officials of some state governments told Saturday PUNCH that they had yet to receive the documents containing the implementation guidelines from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, almost 10 days after the wage bill was signed into law. The development is said to be hindering the commencement of negotiations between officials of state governments and the organised labour in the various states. The Trade Union Congress Chairman, Bobboi Kaigama, had last week told
Buhari Donates $500,000 To Guinea Bissau To Support Elections
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the donation of $500,000 to Guinea Bissau to support the country’s election process. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement on Friday. He explained that the approval was in response to an urgent request for assistance by the Government of Guinea Bissau. Shehu added that the President supported the country with 350 units of electoral kits, 10 motorcycles, five Hilux vans, and two light trucks. According to him, this will ensure that legislative elections, which should help in stabilising Guinea Bissau, hold in
Buhari Jittery Over Confirmation of Existence of INEC Server By Top Official – PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that presidency is jittery over the media interview granted by a top official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), confirming the existence of a central election results transmission server in the commission, further exposes its nerviness, as the guilty is always afraid. According to a report by the Vanguard, the PDP says the interview, which has already gone viral, speaks volumes about the reported denial by INEC of the existence of such a server for the 2019 general elections as well as the frenzy by President Muhammadu Buhari’s team to distract the
Gov. Okowa Reveals When Nigeria Will Breakup
The Delta State Governor, Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, on Thursday revealed when Nigeria will breakup. Igbere TV reports that Okowa said Nigeria as a country will divide the very day the South-South region decided to join struggle for the actualisation of Biafra Republic. In his words: “Nigeria will divide the very day the South-South agrees to join Biafra". Igbere TV reports that Governor Okowa made this known at the Niger Delta Peace and Security Summit held in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area. Governor Okowa, who was represented by his Executive Assistant/Directorate of Orientation, Barr. Eugene. A. Uzum, said some parts
Joe Ralls suffers injury during last Sunday’s 2-0 home loss to Liverpool
Joe Ralls will miss the final stages of Cardiff City's battle to avoid Premier League relegation because of a torn hamstring. Ralls suffered the injury during last Sunday's 2-0 home loss to Liverpool. A calf injury means Cardiff could also be without Harry Arter for the trip to Fulham, managed by the Bournemouth loanee's brother-in-law Scott Parker. "You just don't know with Harry from one day to the next," said Cardiff boss Neil Warnock. "His brother-in-law's Scott Parker. So we're banning him from watching us train this week, just in case he's going to Fulham next year! "Joe will be
Falana laments Buhari’s disobedience to court orders
Human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), has said he is planning to write to the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), to demand answers on why the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has been disobeying court orders. The activist lawyer said he recalled that even when Buhari ruled the country in the 80s as a military dictator, orders of court were never disobeyed. Falana said this in Lagos on Thursday during the public lecture marking the 30th anniversary of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights. The lecture, with the theme, ‘Chronicling the struggle, identifying
Why Danbaba Suntai’s plane crashed — AIB
The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has released final reports of investigation into four accidents and two serious incidents with no fewer than 24 safety recommendations released. Among the report was the accident involving Cessna 208B Caravan aircraft piloted by the late Governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai which went down on October 25, 2012 near Yola Airport. Commissioner of AIB, Engr. Akin Olateru at a briefing on the final reports said investigation into the accident involving Suntai showed that the late Governor was not certified, qualified and competent to fly the aircraft. It would be recalled that late Suntai survived
Anti-graft agency arrests FIRS official for alleged N2b fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the Coordinating Director, Support Service Group of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Peter Hena, for an alleged N2.1 billion scam. Nine officials of the revenue agency were recently interrogated by the anti-graft body in relation to the matter.A source told The Guardian that the director reported at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja yesterday.EFCC’s acting spokesperson, Tony Orilade, confirmed the investigation, but could not authenticate the veracity of Hena’s presence.
Police arrest three for stealing female pants in Lagos, Ogun
Operatives of the Lagos and Ogun states police commands have arrested three suspects for allegedly stealing female pants. The police in Lagos arrested two of the suspects – Friday Emmanuel and Obiora Nwabueze – in the Mile 2 area of the state. The state police spokesperson, DSP Bala Elkana, in a statement on Wednesday, said the suspects were arrested after they had a disagreement over the pants. He said, “Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command, Satellite division, on Saturday, April 20, 2019, arrested two suspects who gave their names as Friday Emmanuel, 21; and Obiora Nwabueze, 29, at the
