Suspended Alimosho LG Chairman Seeks Assembly Lawmakers’ Forgiveness

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October 29, 2024

Sulaimon Jelili Alimosho Local Government Chairman

By Akinwale Kasali

Jelili Sulaimon, the suspended Chairman of the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, has made a U-turn. His seeming ego has vanished. He has just written a letter to the Lagos State Assembly Lawmakers seeking forgiveness for his shortcomings.

He was suspended by the House for non-compliance, defiance and unyielding attitude to the Assembly. And, sought legal intervention when he was suspended.

But in a ‘Letter of Apology’ personally signed by the embattled Chairman, addressed to Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, and read on the floor of the House on Tuesday, Sulaimon agreed that his actions may have caused disrespect to the House.

While expressing regret, he promised to, henceforth, show maximum respect to the House and work closely with the Legislators.

He also informed the House, through a letter by his lawyers, that he had withdrawn the suit he filed against the Assembly before a Federal High Court, Abuja.

“I am writing to express my most sincere and heartfelt apology for any actions or inactions, misrepresentation or conduct on my part that may have contributed to the recent misunderstanding between myself and the esteemed Lagos State House of Assembly under your leadership.

“Upon reflection, I realised that my conduct and certain decisions I made might have been perceived as disrespectful or contrary to the standard of leadership and the mutual respect that defines the relationship between the Assembly and the local government leadership.

“This was never my intention. I deeply regret any discomfort or displeasure this may have caused your personality as well as the entire House.

“I have always held the Lagos State House of Assembly and your esteemed office in particular, in the highest regard.

“Any action or miscommunication that may have suggested otherwise was an unfortunate oversight on my part. I am committed to fostering a more constructive and respectful relationship going forward.

“Once again, I sincerely apologise for any inconveniences caused by my actions or inactions,” the letter reads.

The House is yet to debate on the letter.

Kano Opts For N 71,000 As Minimum Wage

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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October 29, 2024

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Abba Yusuf - Governor of Kano State — Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Kano State workforce is to be paid N71.000 as new minimum wage, Governor Abba Yusuf announced on Tuesday, October 29, 2024

The Source reports that the Organized Labour and the Federal Government had, in August, mutually settled for N70,000 as the new minimum wage.

Before then, N30.000 was the wage benchmark which the petroleum subsidy removal and floating of the country’s currency in the foreign exchange market combined effectively to render insignificant.

Only in August, the kano State Governor had approached the State Lawmakers with a supplementary appropriation bill of N99 billion to enable his administration meet with the new minimum wage and other issues.

Writing on his official site, Governor Yusuf noted that the decision to pay N71,000 is in sync with his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of workers in the State.

“The decision is in line with my administration’s commitment to social justice and the improvement of the living standards of our workers.

“In line with our commitment to social justice and enhancing the standard of living of our workers, we have approved the sum of N71,000 as the new minimum wage in Kano State.

“Additionally, following the promotion of 20,737 teachers by our Government, a total increment amounting to over N340 million has now been reflected in their respective salaries.

“Once again, I commend the State Minimum Wage. implementation Committee for its work”, the Governor stated.

The new minimum wage ,according to him ,will take effect from November ,2024 ,with the state’s monthly wage bill at the state level amounting to N6 billion.

Staff salaries and emoluments at the Local Government level ,he stated will come up to N7 billion.

Ekiti Gov Oyebanji Presents N375.7B For 2025

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Ayodele Oni

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October 29, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has disclosed that his administration did not borrow any internal or external loan to run government during the outgoing year.

The Governor stated this on Tuesday while presenting a budget estimate of N375,790,077,618.15 for the 2025 fiscal year with special focus on food security, employment generation and wealth creation.

Presenting the Appropriation Bill before members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly at the Assembly Complex, Ado- Ekiti, Oyebanji explained that the budget estimate was prepared in line with global best practices to drive the Shared Prosperity agenda of his administration.

The Governor received a special applause from the state legislators led by the Speaker, Adeoye Aribasoye, for executing the outgoing 2024 Budget without borrowing either internally or externally and recording a commendable budget performance for the year.

According to the 2025 budget estimate laid before the state parliament, N192,326,570,488.61 representing 51 per cent of the total amount budgeted was set aside for recurrent expenditure, while N183,463,507,129.54 representing 49 per cent of the estimate was earmarked as capital expenditure.

This was in contrast to the size of the Budget for the 2024 fiscal year of N150,575,481,915.00 out of which N88,952,583,682.410 was recurrent expenditure and N70,619,898,233.20 was capital expenditure.

The Governor explained that the preparation of the budget was equally in line with the inclusive governance policy of his administration after receiving inputs from all communities during the town hall meetings in the three senatorial districts of the state.

According to him, the 2025 budget estimate was carefully prepared to consolidate on the gains of the 2024 Budget by improving the agriculture sector to enhance food security, provide grants to business owners and boost micro, small and medium enterprises.

The Governor further assured that provision has been made in the 2025 Budget to accommodate the proposed new minimum wage, while attention would also be given to the completion of ongoing infrastructure projects embarked upon by his administration in different parts of the state.

Governor also listed some of the projects to be given top priority in the 2025 budget to include some road projects and water and sanitation projects.

“The proposed 2025 Budget will focus on food security, wealth creation and welfare of our people. It is important to reiterate that our Shared Prosperity agenda is hinged on six strategic pillars, which cut across all the sub-sectors of the economy.

“Our objective is to create sustainable prosperity and grow the economy by equipping our people with the requisite skills, creating jobs for our youths and women, and exposing them to information communication technology and expanding the range of opportunities available for everyone.

“We are poised to sustain and create more conducive environment for investors and make Ekiti State the preferred destination to live, work, and invest.

“While we are making concerted effort to bridge the infrastructure deficit, we are also poised to create the enabling environment for investors in the State to increase our Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

In his remarks, the Speaker, Aribasoye, said the consideration of the Appropriation Bill provides the legislators ample opportunity to align their fiscal decisions with the aspirations and welfare of the people they represent urging them to commit themselves to the task in the interest of the people.

He said: “We must ensure that every Naira allocated serves the interest of the people of Ekiti State and we must be champions of accountability and stewards of public trust. We must ensure that the Budget represents the aspirations of Ekiti people.”

“It’s Callous To Insist Vice President Continue To Fly Rickety Aircrafts” – MURIC

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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October 29, 2024

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, joined in the call for the purchase of a befitting aircraft for Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The Source reports that the Vice president’s scheduled trip for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samao was aborted as a result of his faults detected in his aircraft in the United States of America, USA.

Vice President Shettima who was billed to represent President Bola Tinubu ,at the meeting was forced to return returned to the country.

Last week, the Speaker, Borno State House of Assembly speaker ,Rt Hon Abdulkariim Lawan, appealed for the replacement of Shettima’s aircraft.

He insisted that the life of the Vice president is in danger as far as the present aircraft attached to his office is concerned.

Shetima Aircraft — Vice President Kashim Shettima .

In a statement, Founder of MURIC, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, noted that Nigeria should not be “Penny wise ,and pound foolish” as regards the safety of the life of the Vice president.

He then called on the Presidency and National Assembly to prioritize the procurement of a new aircraft for the office of the Vice President.

” A nation that plays with the lives of its leaders cannot be taken seriously. A rickety plane should not be the best we can offer our Vice president if we are serious as a nation,and if we value the lives of our leaders .

“It is also an infringement on Allah given fundamental human rights of anyone who is our President or Vice President if he has to live in constant fear of danger to his life .

“Our leaders also have the right to the safety of their lives . Anyone who is serving his country, particularly at that high level, should not be subjected to fear for his own safety.

“Those who fly regularly know how traumatic it is to sit for hours on an aeroplane that gives signs of faults.

“It is callous ,petty ,and mean to insist that your leaders should continue to use rickety planes that pose serious danger to their lives .

“We may be facing economic challenges at present but Nigeria should not be penny wise ,pound foolish”, MURIC cautioned.

House Of Reps Says It Will Not Suspend Lawmaker Who Disgracefully Slapped A Bolt Driver

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James Orji

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October 29, 2024

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The lawmaker who assaulted a cab driver in Abuja, Mascot Ikwechegh will not be suspended by the House of Representatives.

The Speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu made this known on Tuesday even though a committee has been set up to probe his disgraceful action.

The House took the position barely few hours after the aggressive lawmaker from Abia state said he regretted his disgraceful assault on the cab driver, Stephen Abuwatsheya asking for forgiveness from Nigerians.

The lawmaker has since been arrested by the police over the incident, as furious Nigerians insist that he must be prosecuted for his unruly action.

Not a few angry Nigerians have also demanded his immediate suspension from the House to allow for thorough investigation.

According to this set of Nigerians, being a lawmaker does not confer on him the right or privilege to trample on the rights of those below his status.

The magazine reported the anger that followed the assault on the Bolt Cab driver who went to the home of the lawmaker to deliver a package.

In the now viral video , the lawmaker was heard threatening to “make’ the driver ‘disappear’ after slapping him many times, accusing him of disrespecting him, a member of the House of representatives.

He also told the driver to report him to the ‘Inspector General of Police’ because nothing will happen.

Ikwechegh has since apologised to Nigerians even though this appears not to have assuaged the feelings of those seriously angry with him over the incident.

The lawmaker should be charged to court for his shabby treatment on the cab driver, according to those following the issue, they said punishing him for the act will serve as deterrence to other highly placed government officials who may want to commit similar disgraceful behavior in the future.

Over 15,000 Medical Doctors So Far Out Of Nigeria – NMA

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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October 29, 2024

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Failure on the part of Nigerian authorities at both State and Federal levels to value and respect Doctors accounts for part of the reason for the “Japa” syndrome plaguing the Health Sector.

This is even as over 15,000 Medical Doctors have exited the country as at the third quarter of 2024.

This much was revealed on Monday, October 28, 2024, by the Kano Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Dr Abdulraham Ali

At a Media briefing in Kano, Dr Ali majorly blamed the ugly development on the very poor remunerations for Medical Doctors, at all levels in the country.

According to him, Doctors in the country are seriously discouraged by not just unfair salary packages, but also the complete absence of a conducive working environment.

Such unhealthy situation has inevitably engendered lack of professional fulfilment among not a few Doctors, leading to most of them preferring to seek greener pastures abroad he noted .

The result, the NMA Chairman insisted, has been devastating to the sector, particularly in the last few years.

According to him, for the Country to effectively stem the tide of exodus of Medical professionals, including Doctors, there is the need for a fair remuneration package ,as well as attachment of value to the professionals within the sector.

The NMA Chairman who spoke on the theme of this year’s physician week, “Ensuring Universal Applicability in Remuneration : A Panacea To Talent Retention in the Healthcare System”, maintained that Governments at all levels and other stakeholders should take more seriously the issue of the welfare package of Doctors, if the Country should have any chance of retaining its best hands in the health sector .

“Fair remuneration is more than just a salary figure. A motivator for excellence and a safeguard against burnout in any industry, particularly in the healthcare system.

“Adequate compensation reflects the time, emotional energy and personal commitment healthcare professionals invest.

“When a healthcare worker is fairly and equitably respected, it in turn fuels their dedication, strengthens their commitment to patient care, and fortifies the larger health ecosystem”, he noted .

The NMA chairman ,warned that it will not be in the overall interest of the country if the authorities continue to gloat over the serious challenges posed to the health sector by the exodus of health workers owing to poor conditions of service.

He called on the Kano State Government to urgently respect the terms of agreement which it entered into with NMA as it pertains to the issue of hazard allowance for health workers in the State.

Asari Dokubo Laments Scrapping Of Niger Delta Ministry, Discloses He Rejected Pipeline Contract

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Akinwale Kasali

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October 29, 2024

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By Akinwale Kasali

Ex-Militant, Asari Dokubo has frowned at the decision of President Bola Tinubu to scrap the Ministry of Niger Delta.

He said that he has been betrayed by President Tinubu, and noted that he campaigned massively and spent a lot of money for Tinubu during the electioneering campaign for the 2023 Presidential Election.

The former Niger Delta militant leader, revealed that President Tinubu asked him if he wanted a pipeline contract, but he rejected it because he didn’t campaign for him because of personal gains, but he wanted him to succeed.

Dokubo made this disclosure in an interview on Arise TV, saying that President Tinubu betrayed the trust he had in him by scrapping the Ministry of Niger Delta.

According to him, “I met President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, both in camera and behind camera, and he asked me, ‘Are you interested in the pipeline?’ I told him I’m not interested in the pipeline contract; he’s alive.

“I told him I’m not interested, but I can assist those who are doing the pipeline contract in any way I can for your government to succeed.

“I never said that it was personal gain I was looking for. I clearly said in all my broadcast that my needs are very small.”

Dokubo’s comments is coming after a video surfaced last week where he accused President Tinubu of betrayal and mentioned he might support Northern candidates in the next elections instead of those from the South-West.

Amotekun Corps To Participate In Ondo Gov Election

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Ayodele Oni

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October 29, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

Contrary to the ban on Local Vigilante Group by the Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, during the Governorship Election in Edo state, Amotekun security corps in Ondo has announced participation in the November Poll in the state.

Commander of the Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, said on Tuesday that

Amotekun officials will take charge of ensuring that miscreants and thugs are not imported from other areas into the State.

“Coming to the issue of elections, the era of thuggery in electioneering process is gone and in the first place, as embedded in the law of INEC governing elections in Nigeria, areas of crisis where thuggery becomes prevalent most of the time, those election results are cancelled. So, thuggery is no longer the order of the day.

“However, all security agencies in the state, the police, the civil defense, the DSS, the army, and of course, Amotekun, are on hand to curtail any excesses of such.

“But specifically, Amotekun will take charge of ensuring that miscreants and thugs are not imported from other areas into the state.

“Therefore, the Amotekun rangers will be at all the borders to check commuters 48 hours before the election to be sure that miscreants don’t come into the state to foment trouble from outside the state.”

Saying there has been relative peace in the state of recent, Adeleye stated that what the security situation as enumerated, is telling us is that as a result of the harsh economic situation in the country, there are more cases of house breaking.

“A 30-year-old man who engaged in malicious damage, cultism, and attempted murder of law enforcement agents.

“We have a 42-year-old man who attacked Amotekun officers in a bid to cover his nefarious activity by the name Gbenro.

“We equally have Samuel Peter, 21-year-old man, who engaged in an attempted murder and one Akimade Friday, who outrightly murdered and killed a 65-year-old man. This is a 20-year-old boy.

“In the same way, we narrowed down on one Segun Owolabi, 20 years old, that engages in stealing motorcycles and robbing to dispossess rightful owners.

“We have a gang that specializes in burgling houses, especially when owners of such houses are not in their houses. We have Toba, Pelumi, Ogumade, Oriade, whose age bracket ranges between 22 and 25. We equally have Shegwo Yusuf, who engages in malicious damage of household properties.

“A cross-section of this showed that more than before, the state is getting more peaceful.

“I want to assure the residents of Ondo State that the Ondo State Security Network Agency will continue to engage criminals, both within the town and in the forest, towards ensuring that people can sleep with their two eyes closed in their houses, farmers can go to their farms and commuters can travel without fear, especially as the yuletide period is coming in.”

Fmr Governor Aregbesola Suspended By Osun APC

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Ayodele Oni

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October 29, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, (APC) Umar Ganduje, has received a resolution from the Osun State Chapter of the Party, affirming the suspension of a former Governor of the State, Rauf Aregbsola.

The Osun Chapter stated that the Aregbesola, who served as Minister for Interior under the President Muhammadu Buhari Government was suspended for alleged anti-party activities.

In a resolution submitted to the APC National Secretariat and addressed to Ganduje, the Osun APC accused Aregbesola, of fostering divisions within the party by forming a splinter faction.

This action, the Party said, is viewed as detrimental to its unity, particularly during a crucial time in Osun’s political landscape.

The APC claimed that Aregbesola’s conduct has exacerbated internal conflicts, with party leaders noting that his influence over certain groups has led to significant discord.

“This suspension represents a firm step by the state chapter to address perceived disloyalty and to realign its leadership in anticipation of upcoming elections.”

Further responses from Aregbesola’s camp are expected as the situation develops.

RCCG Leadership Suspends Two Pastors As Weird Scandal Rocks Church

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Akinwale Kasali

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October 29, 2024

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, is enmeshed in alleged weird relationship scandal. It has led to its General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, allegedly ordering the immediate suspension of the accused Pastors, as well as a thorough investigation into the allegations.

In a letter dated 28th October, 2024, signed by the RCCG National Overseer, Pastor Sunday Akande, and addressed to the Special Assistant to the General Overseer on Administration, titled “Investigation and Suspension Regarding Allegations of Homosexuality”, the National Overseer informed of serious allegations of homose£uality made against a Pastor and a Deacon (names withheld by us).

“In accordance with our mission’s commitment to upholding the teachings of the Bible, we must address these allegations with the utmost seriousness it deserves.

“As you are aware, the doctrine of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) does not allow or tolerate any act of homos£uality,” the letter reads.

Pastor Akande referenced Leviticus 18:22: “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination,” and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the se£ually imnmoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homose£uality,” as ground for the direction.

“In light of these allegations, you are now directed to conduct a thorough investigation,” the letter reads.

Further to this, the Church directed the two Priests and other accused persons to be temporarily relieved of all of their responsibilities in all mission organs pending the outcome of this investigation.

The exercise is expected to be concluded within two weeks.

The letter, however, mandated the probe to be handled “with care and integrity, and in accordance with our values as a Church.”

It further urged those saddled with the task to ensure that the investigation is conducted confidentially and with respect for all parties involved.