Ondo State Government has clarified that one Idris Ojo that escaped during Kuje Prison attack I not among suspects being held in connection with the Cathic Church attack in Owo on June 5.
Government statement in Akure on Wednesday explained that the Owo Church attack preceded the Kuje Prison incident.
The statement reads: ‘The attention of Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Aketi, SAN, has been drawn to the announcement of Idris Ojo as one of the attackers of St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, arrested by the security agencies.
“Governor Akeredolu acknowledged the confusion the statement has created in the public space, considering that the ugly event of June 5 attack in Owo preceded the unfortunate incident on Kuje prison.
“The Governor said there was a mix up in the announcement by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor.
“Governor Akeredolu explained that Idris Ojo, who is number 14 on the wanted list of Kuje Prison Escapees was arrested in his brother’s house in Akure.
“The announcement of the arrest of Idris Ojo as one of the perpetrators of the June 5 attack on St Francis Catholic Church, Owo was a mix up from the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor.
“Idris Ojo, who is number 14 on the wanted list of the Kuje Prison Escapees was arrested in his brother’s house in Akure.
“His brother, Jimoh Rasheed Ibrahim, received and accommodated him after his escape from Kuje prison.
“He was thereafter moved and kept in the custody of the security operatives at the same time the attackers of Owo Catholic Church were arrested and brought into custody. Hence, the mix up.”
Governor Akeredolu urged members of the public to remain vigilant and give necessary supports to the security agencies in the State.
Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has said recent visit by Minister of state for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye to the Minister of works, Mr Babatunde Fashola on the deplorable condition of Ado/Akure road may likely yeild any result.
Governor Fayemi, in a statement explained various efforts by Ondo and Ekiti State governments to get the road fixed but frustrated by the federal government.
He blamed the federal government for the continued deplorable condition and delayed dualization of the road project, saying the Federal Government had refused to cede the project to Ekiti and Ondo States.
The Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, who assumed duty less than a month ago, had told the Minister for Works and Housing, Mr. Fashola, during a visit to him in Abuja that people of both states have been putting pressure on him about the road.
During the visit, Adegoroye urged Fashola to expedite action on the commencement of the dualization project.
Fayemi, while explaining his efforts on the project, said, “I have spent the last three years on the subject of this road. I finally got them to award the dualization in November 2019 at the cost of N30b. To date, the contractor has only received N2b.
“I then got money from the AfDB for the road through Adesina, and the federal government refused to cede the road to Ondo and Ekiti States and threatened us there will be no refund if we went ahead and tampered with their road.”
“In the end, we transferred the money to them and even helped them follow up with AfDB.
“Up till now, they can’t access the money because they have refused to follow AfDB procurement standards. After that, got them to put in Sukuk money, but the contractor has not been able to access this.
“We are now pursuing NNPC to include the road in their new tax credit roads they are funding, but we are still on it.
“There’s no month Fashola and I do not speak about this road for the past three years. It has even caused friction between the two of us. If we had been given clearance to do the road and toll it, we offered to do that, but the federal government refused.
“I wish Demola luck on his new venture. Senator Alasoadura did the same and even cried at FEC on account of the road. Maybe he will succeed where we have not.”
I, also, condemn the castigation of Igbo by my highly distinguished colleague, HE Oluremi Tinubu, done under whatever circumstances. The Igbo cannot apologise for exploring the limits of achieving the Trinity of her character
Bola Tinubu, the 12th Governor of Lagos State, was a co-Governor with me (1999–2007). As colleagues we worked together in pioneering the first meetings of Conferences of Southern Governors which we interchanged hosting the first and second and visited Enugu for the meetings.
That meeting brought to the front burner issues of Federalism both Physical and Fiscal. I still remember the educative contributions of Gov. Bisi Akande.I must confess of occasional envy as we interchanged ideas and implemented reform decisions.
He had more resources and quickly implemented the full requirements of ACCESS to Justice reform project. Making the Lagos State Criminal Justice System, one of the best in Africa.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu
The Judges stopped writing physical notes. More advanced vehicles were provided and participation in Conferences guaranteed. Our two Attorneys General worked closely. Mrs Gloria Egbuji steered us through Access to Justice Program, the now famous Dr Joe Abah assisted and supervised under the direction of DFID.
I recall a National Competition on Reform advances amongst States covering Governance, Transparencies, Budgeting and Ease of doing business supervised by the Economic Adviser to the President ( a guy from Benue State), DFID and other development partners also participated. Enugu emerged tops, followed closely by either Lagos State or the FCT. Enugu also established the first Poverty Reduction Study, Review, Guidelines and Implementation before the Federal Government or indeed any other State, verified by Dr Joe Abah, former DFID staff in Enugu.
Enugu tried considering our Financial dilemma. The Justice system also paid close attention to Women and Children welfare. Both governments pioneered Development Centers.
For obvious political reasons he was denied due Federal allocations for years. He kept ploughing on! His Justice sector also provided jobs to many spouses of non Lagosians working and residing in Lagos.
I had cause to engage with him on jobs for Enugu spouses. In the Education Sector he introduced Tutor General and raised the bar for earning by teachers. In Enugu we approved that Primary School Teachers could rise to level 16. We also approved elevation for those who obtained graduate qualifications. I also admired his pupil Governor for a day. Somehow I never got to it.
Tinubu also directly intervened in Enugu spouses who had issues as teachers.
In the Health Sector, I faintly recall a Soyinka heading his HIV program and later becoming Health Commissioner!
As a doctor I kept tab on his strides in my professional area. With a modern Disease Surveillance system and Emergency Medicine program in place. He put in programs cordinating health and Justice for abused women and children. Tinubu had first class social work response program. His reform advocacy was second to Enugu State.
I had the advantage of background but gravely limited by resources. He left a lasting legacy of hard work in Lagos State in infrastructure (roads and housing).
When Bola Ahmed Tinubu was governor, Lagos state’s IGR rose from 600 million Naira per month to over eight billion Naira per month. He had an impressive track record as a governor; his state contributed more than 30% to our country’s GDP, accounted for more than 65% of industrial investment in Nigeria, 80% of its international trade, and collected more than 60% of the country’s value-added tax.
In the area of Human capacity, his mentorship was first class and his mentees have spread out and like little acorns many have become giant oak trees in Nigeria’s political firmaments. Just like in Enugu we appointed non- Enugu people ( avoiding the meaningless and retrogressive anathema “non indigene “) I recall my brother, Ben Akabueze, being a repository of the financial and economic secrets of “Yoruba” Tinubu Lagos State Government. Fashola, Osinbajo, Aregbosola, Fayemi, etc. All first class with A-game always.
I vigorously oppose, protest and detest the shameless campaigns and parody targeting Tinubu’s health. As a Health worker, I am amazed by the ignorance, foolishness, wickedness and callousness of these idiotic operators. I believe they are unwarranted, extremely unprofessional, and have no place in our polity.
As the GenZ grow and Nigeria merges with the new world, they will cry at the foibles of their progenitors. Get it folks, life is turn by turn limited (apology Uncle Bode). These actions which bleed my heart personally are of public records.
History and The Almighty will be very harsh to these bad political comedians. Since we all desire a better Nigeria, our politics should be grounded in facts and reliable evidence. This is the only way we can advance this nation. Ahmed Bola Tinubu is the MOST successful Governor in modern Nigeria bar none. Result of combination of may truisms some beyond him.
Permit me to mention some past presidents who stood out for being able to contribute to the growth and greatness of their countries despite health issues. The first person on my lineup is:-
John F. Kennedy (JFK). JFK actually experienced almost daily discomfort, He had digestive issues, allergies, and a persistent back condition that necessitated several operations and was made worse by his participation in World War II.
He had medical sequelae of hypoadrenalism, anemia, low blood pressure, etc essentially later determined to be Addison’s disease.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) the longest serving President of the United States of America served his term as President on a wheelchair. This was as a result of polio diagnosis when he was 39yrs old in 1921. Despite his health, Roosevelt guided the country through the Great Depression and World War II, two of the biggest crises of the 20th century.
He significantly increased the Federal Government’s authority through a number of initiatives and reforms known as the New Deal. He was also a key figure in the successful campaign to eradicate Japanese militarism and German National Socialism.
Woodrow Wilson after World War I, Woodrow Wilson founded the League of Nations (1914–18). He oversaw the passage of laws outlawing child labor and the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. Wilson’s mouth was sagging on one end in 1919, a sign of a partial stroke, according to a doctor, by October 1919, he was partially paralyzed.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, elected in 1952, American remembered his era as the “happy days” one which they enjoyed nothing but a booming economy. It is important to note that he was already suffering from abdominal adhesions resulting from a 1923 appendectomy and in 1956 during his second term He was diagnosed for having Crohn’s disease, a severe digestive condition that called for surgery.
Eisenhower has a stroke shortly after that in 1957. Americans were able to enjoy a booming economy regardless of his health. Ronald Reagan Even though there isn’t much proof that the 40th president had Alzheimer’s while he served as commander in chief, suspicions of dementia followed Reagan during his first presidential campaign, where the 69-year-age old’s attracted a lot of attention as he was the oldest incoming president.
Regardless, being referred to as “the great communicator” By negotiating effectively with Congress, Reagan was able to pass legislation that boosted employment, reduced inflation, and strengthened the nation’s defense.
H.E. Bola Tinubu needs to work on improving relationships with many others especially my people the Igbo. He needs to lead by advocacy, example, practice and open mindedness in assuaging the feeling and ongoing hostility to the Igbo in Lagos.
I also condemn the castigation of Igbo by my highly distinguished colleague, HE Oluremi Tinubu, done under whatever circumstances. The Igbo can not apologize for exploring the limits of achieving the Trinity of her character. Igbambo (hustle) Njepu( Travel) and Ako na Uche( cot of reason).
The accomplishments (Ntoozu) and summation of the parts is irrevocable. The celebration of the Trinity and crescendo, ODENIGBO draws jealousy and hostility from those who claim to own Lagos. Guess what, the Igbo is not going anyway. Rather in the spirit of their fathers and fore fathers more are pouring into Lagos every day.
Tinubu is qualified to run for President of Nigeria in 2023 as there is no evidence that he has dementia.
While my vote is covered by the Umbrella per my Party PDP and our Candidate, HE Atiku Abubakar. I take a bow for the hardest working Politico of this generation. He patiently paid his dues. I pray he recovers from his alleged ailments as many humans do.
May God and posterity visit Ahmed Bola Tinubu with Mercy, Peace and kindness.
Nnamani(Ebeano) a, Former Executive Governor of Enugu State, now Senator, wrote this on 10th August, 2022
Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has said that any attempt to jettission power rotation in the country’s political arrangement may spell doom.
The Governor also condemned incursion of religion into the political arena of the country, adding that it portends danger for the polity ahead of the 2023 general election.
Governor Akeredolu, while delivering a lecture in Ibadan, Oyo state capital on Wednesday, stressed that the solution to the challenges faced in the country will not be found in the faiths of individuals, noting that a person’s religious persuasion is based on personal conviction.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Richard Olatunde, said in a statement that the Governor spoke at the first year Memorial Lecture and Celebration of Life of Professor Bankole Olusiji Oke, held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, (UI).
The title of the Lecture is “Nigeria: The Politics Of Religion In A Transitional Society.”
While pointing out that the public space must remain secular, the Governor noted that the current agitations for a faith-based political representation are anchored on certain misapprehension of the requirements for leadership in a multi-ethnic state such as Nigeria.
Mr Akeredolu, had earlier stoutly rose in support of Muslim Muslim ticket of presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, (APC), Bola Tinubu.
He pointed out that incursion of religious agitation is driven by mischief to set the people against themselves to attain political power, adding that any religious leader who ignores knowledge and competence as necessary criteria for measuring leadership capacity is an apostate.
The Governor, who warned that the earlier the people stop the dangerous and divisive faith-based campaign the better for country, added that any war fought to establish the supremacy of a faith over others can only end in tears.
“The manipulative skills of politicians as being currently put to use will aggravate an already bad situation.”
Governor Akeredolu explained that the clamour for the restructuring of the polity and agitation for power shift must gain prominence over the debate on representation based on religion.
“The military handed over power, eventually, in 1999 and there has been civil rule since that time.
“Nigerians celebrate the fact that the democratic experience remains unbroken ever since. There appears to be an understanding that power must rotate between the North and the South.
“This understanding witnessed the contest of two candidates from the Southwest for the Presidency. It was part of the unwritten agreement that the power equation must be balanced to allay the fear of domination harboured by the people of the South.
“There is a conscious attempt not to disrupt the extant agreement. There has been a seamless transition from one civilian regime to another since 1999, the longest in the political history of the country.
“The current political permutations raise strong suspicions about an undeclared motive to thwart the arrangement that has been working for the country.
“The rotation of the office of the President has always been between the North and the South since the inception of the Fourth Republic.
“The attempt to disrupt the process of democratic transition using all manner of subterfuge heralds forebodings of unpleasant consequences.
“But beyond the agitation for power shift is the quest for economic independence of the states under the current political arrangement.
“The clamour for the restructuring of the polity should gain currency more than the unprofitable noises made for representation based on religion.
“Those who overheat the polity for personal aggrandizement should lend their voices to the issue of resource generation and control by the federating units.
“As the country prepares for another transition in 2023, it is only reasonable to expect that the arrangement, which has engendered peace for almost two decades, subsists for the benefit of all.
“Any attempt to change this design to assuage personal ambition can only worsen the already bad situation.
“Our people must reject any overweening cravings which may impact negatively on the polity. The current noises made on the need to have people occupy offices on the basis of religion is not only dangerous, but, annoyingly, does not portray politicians as those who are interested in public good.
“Religion has always been a weapon of manipulation in a transitional society. Religious leaders rely on the gullibility of their followers to participate, actively, in politics, while presenting a façade of spirituality. A country in the process of evolution cannot afford to be distracted by the business of religion.
“Granted that it is expected of political gladiators to magnify even the most irrelevant of issues to score cheap political points, it is profitable for the leaders of thought, especially religious leaders, to act decently.
“The contestation for a political office and fight for relevance must not be used as an excuse to mislead the people.
“Most reasonable people will question the economic logic which propels a country, purportedly practicing Federalism, to run a monolithic economy.
“Let all those who agitate for representation do so on the basis of economic participation first. This should be the fundamental consideration.
“The warped mentality which predisposes the elites, both the clergy and political, to always indulge in permutation on the expectation of largesse sharing is deplorable.”
On controversy trailing the choice of the presidential candidate of the ruling APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a Muslim, to pick Senator Kashim Ibrahim Shettima, another Muslim, as his Vice-Presidential candidate, Akeredolu said it is most regrettable.
“This choice has generated needless controversies. Those who spearhead this apparent mischief either ignore or are oblivious of the fact that the position of the Vice President, as provided in the 1999 Constitution, as amended, is innocuous. The occupier of that office can only act as directed by the President who wields the real executive power.
“It appears that these protests are symptomatic of the level of distrust among the members of the political class who will do anything to grab power.
“The brazen incursion of religion into the political arena portends danger for the polity. Quality representation had absolutely nothing to do with the belief of a political office holder.
“The leadership of the two popular religions, Christianity and Islam, must avoid making inflammatory statements capable of causing chaos in the polity.
“This is the time all patriotic citizens must speak with one voice on the need for economic emancipation of the regions. We must begin to seek ways to remove the odious shackles of dependence which has almost run the whole country aground.
“We should all condemn and seek to end a system which promotes indolence. We must encourage all parts of the country to contribute to the economic development. We should all tap into our respective areas of comparative advantage as it was in the First Republic.
“And, consequently, we cannot afford to make the mistake of electing our leaders on mendacious and sentimental premises.
“Just as no reasonable person will choose to be driven by a driver on account of ethnicity and religion, only the competent aspirants with manifest capacity should be considered.
“A heterogenous society must have its affairs controlled by knowledgeable leaders with proven records of public service.
“Motivational speeches and copious quotes from the Holy writs can only inspire. The job of the President of a country in distress requires capacity, forthrightness and courage.”
The Terrorists who bombed an Abuja-Kaduna bound Train have, on Wednesday, August 10, 2022, released seven more of the hostages.
The terrorists had attacked the train on March 28, 2022, killing eight passengers, including a young female Medical Doctor, and a Lawyer. They also took 63 passengers hostage, and have been releasing them in batches.
Released on Wednesday are seven of the hostages made up of six family members of Major General Idris Garba, a former Military Administrator of Kano and Benue States.
The family members are the General’s son, Abubakar Idris Garba, his wife Maryama, and their four children, Ibrahim (10 years), Fatima (7 years), Imram (5 years), and Zainab, (one year). Zainab was only seven months old when she was kidnapped along with her parents and older siblings.
The other released person is a 60 year old woman, Hajia Aisha Hassan.
Mallam Tukur Mamu, Publisher of the Desert Herald and Media consultant to Sheik Abubakar Gumi, who has been mediating in the release of the hostages, apparently, on behalf of Gumi, confirmed the release, and explained that Gumi reached out to the terrorists after watching the video where they were mercilessly flagging hostages.
He said that the Garba family was released because two of the children were very ill while Hajia Hassan was released because of a life threatening illness which deteriorated in captivity.
It is not yet confirmed if any ransom was paid before their release, but the Terrorists are, allegedly, charging N100m per hostage before release.
Their negotiation with Government, apparently, broke down even after the Government, allegedly, released about 30 people who the terrorists asked to be released in exchange for the release of the hostages. They, now, obviously, prefer to negotiate with individual families.
So far, 35 of the hostages have been released in batches of one, 11, seven, four, five and now, another seven. The others are still languishing in captivity.
The Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, has reiterated its determination to make the State cleaner and healthier for all. Lagos, it pledged, will become the biggest recycling State in West Africa.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Ibrahim Adejuwon Odumboni, in a media parley at its Headquarters, Ijora Olopa, Lagos, Wednesday, August 10, 2022, said that the Commission is not resting on its oars in addressing the issue of waste retrieval and the indiscriminate dumping of refuse at the median of major roads in the State.
He said in spite of the efforts of the Commission in addressing the issue of waste management to make the state the cleanest, some Lagosians still see it as a way of life by dumping refuse indiscriminately.
Odumboni stressed that LAWMA has formed a synergy with the Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps Watch, to arrest Cart Pushers who dump waste on the streets and roads in the State.
He said these Cart Pushers, after retrieving waste from some Lagosians who do not patronize the Private Sector Participation, PSPs, who are Clients of LAWMA, dump it on the median road at land.
“In addressing this anomalies we have a good relationship with the Police and LNSC to arrest the truck pushers and are charge to Court.
“We want all Lagosians to have a sense of belonging and not disenfranchise anyone that is why the Lagos State Government has subsidized the price of Diesel so that we won’t over charge Lagosians.
“For areas that are not motorable and are in the hinterlands, we are partnering with some Companies to get us Tricycles that we can use to get to the unmotorable areas and hinterlands to evacuate their refuse”.
He urged Lagosians to stop patronizing Cart Pushers and sign up with the PSPs for their refuse disposals.
The LAWMA MD said that Waste Management is recurrent and is a collective responsibility to all irrespective of tribe, religion, political affiliation. He said there is need for attitudinal change in waste management, as every Lagosians have a role to play.
Speaking further, Odumboni lamented that the hike in the price of Diesel is really having a toll on the Commission stressing that the rising cost of operations has prompted the Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo Olu administration to subsidize Diesel for LAWMA and all its PSP Operators.
He added that as regards rehabilitation of Landfills, the Olusosun, Badagry, Ikorodu and Epe Landfills are working perfectly well now and have capacity to tip 120 in an hour.
He, also, stated that as from October 1st, 2022, any House that do not have Waste Bin would be penalized as the Commission is partnering with Health Officers to do effective monitoring all around the State.
LAWMA said that by January 1st, 2023, if every household do not have the Waste Bin after been warned, the abatement letter will automatically turn to a prosecution letter.
He appealed to all Lagosians to comply because it is mandatory and compulsory for all Lagosians to have the Waste Bin.
Odumboni also said that the price of Waste tenement will be reviewed and implemented as from September 1st, 2022.
He said that LAWMA is working on making Olusosun Dumpsite become a Waste to Energy for the economic development for the State, just like the LAWMA Medical Waste Management in Ibeju Lekki and Odogunyan.
As the Ninth Edition of the FIFA Under-20 Female World Cup begins in Costa Rica Wednesday August 10th-28th, 2022, the Falconets of Nigeria are upbeat of surpassing their runners-up feat achieved in 2010 and in 2012 editions of the World Showpiece.
Coach Chris Danjuma is optimistic that his Nigeria Under-20 girls have the strength, the savvy and the right spirit to cause a stir at the World Championships and make history as the first African nation to achieve the feat.
The Falconets arrived in the Costa Rican capital, San Jose, Saturday morning after travelling through Istanbul (Turkey) and Bogota (Colombia).
In the words of Danjuma on their arrival at San Jose, Costa Rica Capital, “We are finally here, and we are happy to be here at the FIFA World Cup. The World Cup is always an interesting experience for the coaches and the players, and I am sure it is the same for other professionals who get to be involved.
“We took a long route to get here, having to play four different teams in the qualifying series. I can tell you that we are prepared to do Nigeria and Africa proud. It is not about being here to make up the number; it is about being here to make an impact.”
The two-time runners-up are ensconced in the Intercontinental Hotel in San Jose, and already having training sessions.
On Sunday, the Falconets made use of the San Rafael Stadium for one hour, to knock off the jet lag, and then utilized the same facility for two hours on Sunday morning.
Organizers scheduled Africa’s top team to train at the Alajuela Stadium, and this has begun since Monday, while Tuesday training took place at the Stadio Piedades Santa Ana.
The competition begins, Wednesday with the Falconets set to play their first match against France at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose as from 5pm Costa Rica time (12 midnight Nigeria time) on Thursday.
Nigeria’s other group phase matches are against Korea Republic, as from 2pm Costa Rica time (9pm Nigeria time) on Sunday, 14th August and against Canada, as from 8pm Costa Rica time on Wednesday, 17th August (3am Nigeria time on Thursday, 18th August).
Both matches will hold at the Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium.
Africa’s other flagbearers Ghana are up against Cup holders Japan, The Netherlands and three –time champions United States of America in Group D.
The list of Falconets hoisting the nation’s flag at the World Soccer fiesta are;
Three Years after President Muhammadu Buhari signed the N30,000 National Minimum Wage Act into Law, over 14 States have failed to fully implement this directives, while some States have been dilly-dallying.
Most Teachers in Primary and Secondary schools are yet to enjoy the N30,000 minimum wage increase.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), disclosed that the States which failed to implement this law are; Abia, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Gombe, Niger, Borno, Sokoto, Anambra, Imo, Benue, Taraba and Zamfara.
While States that have fully implemented this directive, according to the NUT Data, are: the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers State and FCT.
Though Kogi, Cross River, Kaduna and Yobe also complied when it was first implemented but they later reverted to the N18,000 minimum of 2011.
Documents from the NUT read: “The following states are experiencing non-implementation of N30,000 minimum wage.
“They are Anambra and Imo with no reasons from their government; Benue, Taraba and Zamfara are due to paucity of funds.
“In Kaduna and Yobe states, the implementation of new minimum wage was reversed to N18,000 in April and November 2021 respectively.
“There is non-implementation of minimum wage in primary schools in Abia, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu and Nasarawa State and governments in these States have given no reason for their action.
“While Adamawa, Gombe and Niger States are experiencing the non-implementation due to either lack of funds or insufficient funds from their Local Governments.
“In Borno State, the government complained of insufficient funds but promised to implement it in July or August 2022 for primary school teachers.
“The Sokoto government is planning on carrying out a verification exercise to determine qualified teachers as NCE holders.
“States with non-implementation of the N30, 000 in both primary and secondary schools are Anambra and Imo with no reasons from their government; Benue, Taraba and Zamfara are due to paucity of funds.
“In Kaduna and Yobe States, the implementation of new minimum wage was reversed to N18,000 in April and November 2021 respectively.
In Abia State, the secondary school teachers are receiving N10,000 from the N30,000 minimum wage and no reason has been given for this.
“In Cross River State it has not been fully implemented due to insufficient funds by the State government.
“While in Nasarawa State, the senior cadre teachers in secondary school are waiting for their capturing exercise before partaking in the N30,000 minimum wage.
“Kogi State on the other hand has implemented only 40% to teachers handling primary 1-6 and JSS 1-3. The secondary schools in Kogi are under ASUSS.”
The document, however, detailed some of the steps taken by the State Chapters of the NUT to ensure the successful implementation of the new minimum wage for teachers.
The document stated: “NUT in Abia State has requested the Abia State government to implement the new minimum wage for teachers in the State with strike actions yet no positive action has been taken by the government.
“The NUT in Adamawa and Anambra State is negotiating with their state governments for the implementation of the minimum wage.
“The NUT in Bayelsa mounted pressure on the State Government which resulted in the setting up of a Special Committee to create a framework suitable for the implementation of the minimum wage.
“NUT Benue State Wing in collaboration with NLC met with the state government on the implementation yet no result.
“In Enugu State, strike action was embarked upon by the Union for one month by the primary school teachers in the state from 9th May-7th June, 2022. Also, dialogue is still ongoing with the state government.
“In Gombe, a committee was set up by the Deputy Governor on how to implement the minimum wage where the state NLC Chairman and NUT Chairman who doubles as the NLC Deputy Chairman were fully involved.
“All efforts by the NUT in Imo, Kaduna, Kebbi and Yobe to get their State governments to implement the minimum wage for teachers in their respective states have proved abortive.
“After the strike action declaration in Niger, the state government agreed to implement yet nothing has been done to date.
“In Taraba State, there is no room for an interface with the State government due to the ongoing problem between the union and the state government.
“All efforts of the NUT Nasarawa State wing to implement the New Minimum Wage has been difficult due to the Local Government Autonomy in the State.
“In Zamfara State, the union, NLC and the state government had met severally on the non-implementation of the minimum wage which the state government promised to implement but to date, no action has been taken.
“Hence, the Organised Labour have resolved to embark on a strike action to press home their demands.”
Reactions have trailed the failure of this States to implement the N30,000 Minimum Wage, as cross section of Nigerians lament the insensitivity of the State Governments to the plight of the Teachers.
Akinnugba Caroline, a Public Analyst, said that the prices of Commodities in the market have sky-rocketed with the nation experiencing economic downfall which has also affected the strength of the Naira, and the failure of implementing the Minimum Wage is impoverishing the Teachers who are impacting the younger generations.
He urged the affected States Government to do the needful adding that the N30,000 minimum wage wasn’t even enough to cater for the welfare of the Teachers at this present state and time.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is qualified to be president, and should not be mocked due to his alleged ill-health, former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu state, now senator representing Enugu East in the Nigerian Senate, has said.
Nnamani said “he detests the shameless campaigns and parody targeting Tinubu’s health.”
Senator Nnamani said there’s no evidence that the APC governorship candidate is suffering from dementia, referencing Tinubu’s critics who alleged that the Lagos strongman is not well. He said sickness is a natural occurrence for human beings, that Tinubu should not be mocked.
The former Enugu helmsman spoke not long after Nobel laureate, Professor Woke Soyinka criticised some members of Pirates Confraternity, which he belong for mocking the former Lagos Governor over his alleged ill-health.
Tinubu spent some months in London, last year treating an undisclosed ailment, making some Nigerians to suggest that he abandons his quest to contest for president in 2023 to take care of his health.
But speaking in series of tweets on his verified handle, Nnamani who is the founder of ‘Ebeano’ political group said the APC strongman is one of the most hardworking and successful Nigerians, and qualified to run for president.
He however said he will vote for Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the PDP which he belongs next year.
“As a health worker, I am amazed by the ignorance, foolishness, wickedness and callousness of these idiotic operators.
“I believe they are unwarranted, extremely unprofessional, and have no place in our polity. As the GenZ grow and Nigeria merges with the new world, they will cry at the foibles of their progenitors. Get it folks, life is turn by turn.
“Since we all desire a better Nigeria, our politics should be grounded in facts and reliable evidence.
” This is the only way we can advance this nation. Ahmed Bola Tinubu is the most successful Governor in modern Nigeria bar none.
“While my vote is covered by the Umbrella per my party PDP and our candidate, HE Atiku Abubakar, I take a bow for the hardest working Politico of this generation. He (Tinubu) patiently paid his dues.
“Guess what, the Igbo are not going anyway. Rather in the spirit of their fathers and forefathers more are pouring into Lagos every day. Tinubu is qualified to run for president of Nigeria in 2023 as there is no evidence that he has dementia”.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps,(NSDC) in Ekiti State is in custody of a 36-year-old man for, allegedly, parading himself as a Medical Doctor and defrauding Point of Sale Operators, (POS) in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital.
The State Commandant of the Agency, John Fayemi, who disclosed this, said the suspect, Ayodeji Ademiluyi, defrauded the operators by sending fake alerts after collecting cash from them.
According to him, the suspect used an application on his phone, which also triggered a call from his fake hospital that a patient needed his attention.
“The PoS operator will then consider his status as a doctor and allow him to go. Later, the PoS operator will discover that he or she has been duped.”
The Commandant paraded Ademiluyi and another suspected fraudster, Innocent Ekpako, 26, who was tracked down in Cross River State for allegedly defrauding his boss in Ekiti.
“The fake doctor had defrauded over 25 PoS operators before men of the Counter-Terrorism Unit launched a manhunt for him with their dragnet, which paid off when he was arrested early this week. Preliminary investigation shows that he is not a doctor but an okada rider.”
Fayemi said Ekpako, who was arrested in Ikom, Cross River State, ran away with a huge sum of money belonging to his master in Ado Ekiti.
“The suspect is a former employee of a store in Ado Ekiti where he worked as a sales representative before he was sent on an errand with some money and he did not return.
“He disappeared into thin air until he was tracked, traced and arrested in Cross River State. The two suspects have confessed to the crime.”
Fayemi cautioned PoS operators and shop owners in the state to be careful of their workers and customers as the state command has been inundated with complaints bordering on PoS fraud and stealing.
