Nationwide Strike: Akpabio, Govs Summon NLC, TUC In Last Ditch Effort To Stop Labour

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June 2, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

Former Senator who represented Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has lent his voice to autonomy for Local Governments in the country saying their autonomy is the only way to strengthen governance at the grassroots and save Council Areas from paralysis.

Sani, who spoke in an interview on Sunday had served in the Eight National Assembly as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts.

He pointed out that the step by the Federal Government has the potential to restore development at the grassroots and strengthen the local government system.

“Local Government autonomy is the only way to save the LGs from bankruptcy and paralysis.

“Poverty and insecurity in the country is rooted in the destruction of the local government system.”

According to him, most council chairmen only go to their offices when federal allocations are released.

He said the lack of financial and administrative autonomy for the local government affected the performance of the third tier of Government.

He described Federal Government’s proposal that State Electoral Commissions (SIECs) should be scrapped as a good move, saying scrapping SEICs would deepen democracy at the grassroots.

“The scrapping of SIECs is a step in the right direction. It has become impossible for opposition parties to win elections at the local councils level because of the institutional rigging and imposition of candidates by State Governors.

“The Chairmen of SIECs and staff of SIECs are all agents of the state governors and of the ruling party in their respective states.”

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of justice, Lateef Fagbemi is currently in court seeking legal backing for the 774 Local Councils in the country.

Cóntróversy Träils Deäth of Män In Ondo As Police Step In

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June 2, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

There is cóntróversy over the deäth of a young män in Akoko area of Ondo State over the weekend.

The deceased, Seidu Jamiu, was found in his pool of blood early Saturday at Akungba Akoko, fueling speculations that he was attacked while asleep.

The deceased’s wife, Omolara Oluwakemi, is being suspected to have attacked the deceased with pestle while asleep following disagreement between them over infidelity.

An elder from Ibaka community of Akungba and the Seriki Musulumi of the town, Awesu, who was among first set of sympathizers that visited the scene of the incident, said Jamiu was met unconscious and had to be rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead.

Chief Awesu confirmed that there was a misunderstanding over a side chick between the couples.

Police in Akungba Akoko have arrested Omolara and the case has been referred to Police Headquarters in Akure.

However, while confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Ondo Police command, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami said the deceased’s wife reported at the police station in the morning that some people killed her husband in the midnight on Saturday.

She however, could not confirm the allegation that the wife murdered the deceased, insisting that the wife was the complainant of the incident.

She also noted that no arrest has been made on the matter adding that “I can’t confirm that the victim’s wife killed him because it was the woman that reported the matter at police station.

“We have not made any arrest now but investigation has began into the incident “

Kano Royal Stool Crisis; NLC May Stall Judicial Resolution

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June 2, 2024

Aminu Bayero and Sanusi Lamido — Emirs Aminu Ado Bayero and Mohammad Sanusi II

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Hopes of an early resolution of the lingering struggle for the control of the soul of the Kano Emirate Council appear to be receding.

Reason: The hearing of the motion on notice filed by Emir Aminu Ado Bayero challenging his dethronement, and upon which a restraining order was slammed on the kano state authorities scheduled for hearing on June 3, 2024, may not after all hold if the organized labour makes good its threat to proceed on a nationwide strike action on same day .

Justice Mohammed Liman of a Federal High Court Kano had on Thursday May 23 ,while ruling on an ex parte application issued an order restraining the Kano State Government from, dethroning Emir Bayero and four others, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice on June 3.

However, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, despite the restraining order, had gone ahead to remove Emir Bayero and those of Gaya,Karaye, Rano,and Bichi ,after signing into law,the 2024 Emirate Council amended bill,as earlier passed by the state’s law makers.

The Kano State Governor also proceeded to reinstate Emir Muhammed Sanusi four years after he was dethroned by the immediate past administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Gadunje ,who based on the 2019 Emirates law went ahead to partition the kano Emirate into five in 2020 .

The development has since precipitated a stalemate with the Kano Emirate for the first time in recent memory now playing host to two Emirs – Ado Bayero and Muhammad Sanusi.

Although Emir Bayero had earlier, in deference to the 48-hour dateline given by Governor Yusuf for the five dethroned Emirs to vacate their various palaces, left the ancient city,he was however returned on Saturday May 25.

His return, was courtesy of security agencies’ insistence on respecting the restraining order as issued by Justice Liman.

Four other subsequent conflicting Court pronouncements from both the Federal High Court and Kano State High Court on the Royal face off, have since ensured that Emir Bayero and Emir Sanusi continue to hold court at parallel palaces in the last few days.

The peace and security of Kano, have, however, been at the receiving end of the unprecedented development, with the strength and capabilities of the Police and other Security Agencies almost overstretched.

But hopes of any possible disentanglement from the judicial front may have to wait for a little longer, as the impending Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, propelled nationwide industrial action is set to abort the hearing date at Justice Liman’s Court .

Hearing on one of the motions filed by the Emir Sanusi camp via the Kano State Government scheduled before a Kano State High Court presided over by Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu scheduled to hold on June 4 ,may also be stalled by the NLC strike.

Perhaps, only two other hearings, one each at the Federal High Court and Kano State High Court scheduled by Justices S A Amobeda and Aminu Aliyu for June 11 and 14 respectively may survive the NLC strike.

But before then, gladiators in the royal rumble and Kano residents in particular may have to continue to endure the political heat,unless they decide to explore political options to navigate out of the crisis.

“Mr President, Remove Or Redeploy Ministers For Defence, Police” – Major General Alli

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The Source

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June 2, 2024

By Gideon Njoku

As anxiety and speculations reign over the fate of President Bola Tinubu’s Cabinet members, a retired Army General has weighed in with an advice to the President on which Ministers to do away with.

Major General Danjuma Alli, rtd, after a comprehensive look at the performance of some of President Tinubu’s Ministers, especially those whose Ministries have something to do with the Security of Nigeria, advised the President to remove, especially, three Ministers and redeploy them short of sacking them from his Cabinet.

General Alli, who spoke in a recent interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show, advised President Tinubu to relieve the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, and the Minister of State Defence, Bello Matawalle, of their portfolios.

Both Ministers were the Governors of Jigawa and Zamfara States respectively before their appointments.

While Badaru was appointed after his full, two tenures as Jigawa Governor, Matawalle was appointed after he was denied a second term in office by the Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dauda Lawal, who roundly defeated him in the 2023 Governorship Election.

However, Alli said he couldn’t understand why, or how, the two former Governors were appointed Ministers for Defence, considering the security situation in the Country. To him, both Ministers have performed well below average.

He said President Tinubu needs to appoint very strong personalities to those offices. His suggestion: Retired Military Generals who would properly take charge or, at worst, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

He, also, asked the President to remove and/or redeploy the Ministers for Police and Interior, Margarito Dingyadi and Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo respectively.

While not a few Nigerians agree with the General on the removal/redeployment of the Ministers for Defence and Police, they disagree with that of Tunji-Ojo. They say, so far, Tunji-Ojo, a member of the House of Representatives until his appointment as Minister, has done quite well, especially, for clearing the backlog of International Passports not issued by the Immigration Service, and making the issuance easier than before. They, however, agree that he has not been active on internal security, a part of his job as Minister for Interior. “He carries on as if his only brief is the Immigration Service”, said a commentator.

They, also, disagree with General Alli’s suggestion of appointing Wike a Minister in the Defence Ministry. “No, never, impossible”, said another commentator, without saying exactly why not.

Recall that Matawalle, as the Governor of Zamfara State, was very helpless against rampaging Bandits in his State. It was during his tenure that (his) Government physically negotiated with terrorists, allegedly, gave them a lot of money. And yet, situation became worse than before the negotiations.

Killing Of Soldiers In Abia: “We Will Come Down Heavily On Perpetrators” President Tinubu Vows

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June 2, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi.

President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has declared that his administration will come hard on the perpetrators of the heinous killing of five soldiers at a military checkpoint at Obikabia Junction in Obingwa local council of Abia state.

The Source reports that gunmen, on Thursday, May 30, while enforcing a sit-at -home order imposed on the southeast region by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, to mark the death of Igbos during the Nigerian civil war, mowed down the soldiers, and razed their operational vehicles.

The President while reacting to the sad incident on his official site on Saturday, June1, 2024 , charged security agencies to fish out and punish those behind the unfortunate attack on the soldiers.

He warned that the Federal Government will respond strongly to the activities of those who have formed the habit of attacking members of the Armed Forces of the country on lawful duties.

President Tinubu who, also, described as treason, the sit-at-home order being imposed on the people, said the killings of the soldiers, while on lawful duties, is unwarranted, evil and totally condemnable and should not be tolerated.

“The slain Soldiers were on peacekeeping duty in Aba, Abia state on Thursday May, 30, when they were murdered, just two months after a similar tragic incident happened in Okuama ,Delta state.

“These unwarranted, barbaric and evil acts are condemnable and should never be condoned or tolerated in our country.

“Our Soldiers and Police have the onerous duty to protect all of us from aggressors and criminal non-state actors . Hundreds of them have paid the ultimate price in fulfilment of their duty,while some have experienced the indignity of being manhandled by the people they protect .

“They do not deserve the mindless attacks by unruly elements in our society .

“The Federal Government will come down heavily on those who have made it a habit to needlessly attack the officers and men of our armed forces.

“On no account should anyone, under any guise, have the audacity to kill agents of state. I want to make it clear that the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the armed forces have the capacity to crush violent non state actors making our communities unsafe .

“The fact that security forces are exercising restraints when attacked should not be mistaken for weakness” President Tinubu warned.

The President, while condoling with the families of the fallen soldiers, further warned that nobody should be under the illusion that Government will not act appropriately when security operatives are mindless killed.

Osun PDP Demands For Oyetola’s Sáck As Minister Over Non Performance

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June 1, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

The People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), in Osun State has called for the sáck of Mr Gboyega Oyetola as Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.

The party believes that the call is necessitated by non performánce of Oyetola as a Minister.

This was contained in a statement on Saturday signed by the Party’s Chairman, Sunday Bisi who described him as a wasted nominee and a very bad signpost for the President’s administration.

“Mr Gboyega Oyetola has been a subject of consistent poor ratings amongst the Ministers working with President Tinubu thereby attracting anger of the citizenry against the judgement of Mr President to appoint him despite his bad record while in office as the Governor of Osun state.”

The chairman described the seeming verdict of incompetence hammered on Mr Oyetola as a succinct vindication of electorates in Osun, who overwhelmingly rejected him at the last governorship election in the State.

“The poor ratings of Mr Oyetola as a Minister from Nigerians comes as no surprise to us as a party and Osun people in general.

“During his tenure as Osun Governor, he displayed his lack of leadership acumen much to the disdain of Osun people. His penchant for shying away from responsibility is legendary.”

“Oyetola streams of disgrace got to a head when he was named as principal among the five worst Ministers with no record of performance since assumption of office after blackmailing other APC leaders to claim the ministerial slot.

“The commentaries and assessment of Minister Oyetola’s performance is reminiscent of his better forgotten and uninspiring performance as the Governor of Osun.

“He has successfully exported his lack of administrative prowess to the entire country. The public outcry calling on President Tinubu to expunge him out of the federal cabinet, barely eight months in office, has vindicated the people of Osun state who voted him out of office.”

Bisi who apologized to Nigerians on behalf of the people of Osun state, stated further that Mr Oyetola’s poor representation of the State at the National level is an exception, rather than the norms as Osun State can boast of eminent achievers, who have represented the state as Ministers in different capacity in the past.

“It is sad that Mr Oyetola is disgracing himself at the National level with his abysmal performance as a Minister of the Federal Republic, his cluelessness is fast becoming an identity.

“Osun is known for sending out the best performers until Mr Oyetola fought tooth and nail to hijack the Ministerial slot reserved for the state. Check the list of past Ministers from Osun, Oyetola is just a sorry exception from the list of those wonderful performers.

“What is more worrisome is that Nigerians predicted this outcome. His inclusion in the cabinet is more about his personal relationship with the President than his credential as a public officer.

“He has shown to his most optimistic supporters that he is not only clueless about the knowledge of the Ministry he is meant to lead, he also lack the required administrative capacity or the mental stamina to direct the affairs of the Ministry.”

Oyetola is the immediate past Governor of Osun State. He was defeated by the Peoples Democratic Party’s Ademola Adeleke when he contested for a second term in office. He was, thereafter, appointed a Minister by President Bola Tinubu.

Abia Traders Condemn Killing Of Soldiers, Sue For Peace

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June 1, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

With public outrage and condemnation still trailing the gruesome killing of five Nigerian Soldiers on Thursday May 30, by suspected enforcers of the Indigenous peoples of Biafra, IPOB, declared sit-at-home order in the South-east region to mourn hundreds of thousands of Igbo victims of the Nigerian Civil war, Abia traders have unreservedly condemned the ugly incident.

This is even as they have appealed to the Nigerian Military to continue to exercise restraint and avoid a situation whereby innocent and law abiding citizens suffer unjustly.

The Abia traders, under the aegis of Abia State Amalgamated Traders Association, ASMATA, in a statement jointly issued on Saturday, June 1, by Chief Alphonsus Udeigbo and Comrade Akwarandu Anyim President-General and Secretary respectively, and made available to The Source, extended their deepest sympathy to the Chief of Army Staff, the entire Military high Command, and Officers and men of the service over the regrettable incident.

The Abia traders similarly expressed their unflinching solidarity with the families of the victims in the face of the excruciating pain the unfortunate development has visited on them.

Particularly, ASMATA noted that it is internally grateful to the State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, for his prompt and pragmatic response which has contributed immensely to the restoration of peace, security and order in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the State.

“The Abia state Amalgamated Traders Association ASMATA, stand totally in condemnation of the dastardly killing of five soldiers of the Nigerian military on Thursday May 30 2024 at Obikabia junction in Obingwa local Government Area of Abia while performing their lawful duties .

“We believe that there is no justification for such a heinous crime, more so against those only out to protect and secure the lives and property of the people.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Chief of Army Staff, the entire Military High Command and all members of the Nigeria Army over this unfortunate development.

“We appeal to the Nigerian Military to continue to exercise restraint and professionalism in the face of this unmerited provocation.

“We appeal passionately that all actions capable of causing pains and, suffering to otherwise innocent persons should be avoided

“Abia traders are in complete solidarity with the families, friends and relations of the fallen heroes at this trying moment in their lives .

“Our sincere gratitude goes to the traders- friendly Governor of Abia state ,Dr Alex Otti for his prompt response and uncommon brave steps to restore peace, security and stability to Aba” part of the statement reads

Nationwide Strike: Seaports, Jetties, Terminals, Oil And Gas Platforms To Be Shut – Maritime Workers Declare

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June 1, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Baring any last minute change of mind by the leaderships of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, on their decision to call out Workers for an industrial action, effective Monday, June 3, all Seaports, Jetties, Terminals ,Oil and Gas facilities across the country will be shut down.

Maritime workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, has signaled its readiness to ensure total compliance with the directives of its parent-bodies, NLC and TUC, for workers to embark on an indefinite strike action due to the inability of the Federal Government to reach an agreement with the Organized Labour on minimum wage and other related matters.

The Source reports that on Friday ,May 31, the Comrade Joe Ajearo-led NLC had, in the wake of the collapse of talks with the Federal Government over a new minimum wage, called on all affiliate bodies to brace up for a show down.

In a statement issued on Saturday, June 1, 2024, MWUN Spokesperson John Kennedy Ikemefuna ,said the Maritime workers are set to comply fully with the NLC/TUC declared industrial action, noting that it has become more imperative in the face of Federal Government’s failure to attend to Workers’ demands,which also include the reversal of the hike in electricity tariff .

“In view of the forgoing, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria has directed its members at all Ports Nationwide, Jetties Terminals, Oil and Gas Platforms to effectively ensure total compliance with the strike as directed by the NLC and TUC .

“This is also to serve as a notice to all our concerned stakeholders in the Maritime sector” the statement further reads .

The Source reports that the Organized Labour, at its Friday meeting with a Federal Government’s delegation, flatly rejected a N60,000-monthly minimum wage offer, thus setting the stage for the commencement of a Nationwide strike action beginning Monday June 3.

Disrespect To New National Anthem Has Legal Consequence – Ondo Attorney General

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June 1, 2024