In Kogi, Gov. Bello dissolves all boards of Parastatals and Agencies...

Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Friday dissolved the boards of the state’s parastatals and agencies.

This is contained in a statement issued in Lokoja by the Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr Edward Onoja.

The statement noted that the dissolution takes immediate effect, directing the chairmen and Directors-General of the affected agencies to hand over government’s property in their possession to the most senior officers.

It explained that the dissolution was to pave way for the restructuring of the boards and to take stock of their state with a view to positioning them for greater efficiency and performance.

However, the statement added that the office of the Accountant-General and three statutory boards are not affected by the order.

They are: Judicial Service Commission, Civil Service Commission and the State Independent Electoral Commission.

Bello thanked all the chairmen and members of the dissolved boards for their services to the state and wish them well in their future endeavours.

Akpabio denies ownership of foreign accounts

The Minority Leader of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio on Friday in Abuja denied reports in the social media alleging he made an attempt to withdraw money from his foreign accounts.

In a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Anietie Ekong and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the senator said that he did not own any foreign accounts.

NAN reports that the social media was awash with news of an alleged foiled attempt by the Senator to withdraw 7.2 billion dollars from his foreign accounts in Dubai.

``The attention of the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio has been drawn to a report circulated in the internet linking him with ownership of houses/mansions in Dubai.

`` We state categorically that Senator Akpabio does not own any foreign account in any part of the world.

``If such account is found, the Federal Government of Nigeria should seize the money and investigate the origin of such account, and prosecute the owner.

``In addition, he does not own any property in Dubai or in any foreign country.

``Akpabio served his people diligently for eight years as the governor and the transformation of the State within this period, which has gained world acclaim, is there for all to see,” it said.

The statement said that two foreign groups ``Wikileaks” and The Global Peace Movement Group, UK had in 2010 cleared Akpabio of having any foreign account while he was governor.

It accused the opposition in Akwa Ibom of masterminding the reports of quest to withdraw money from his foreign account.

``That some people out of political mischief should publish a purported attempt by the senator to withdraw through a CBN source a phantom sum of 7.2 billion dollars is ridiculous.

``It is the height of character assassination. We challenge these purveyors of falsehood to publish the full details of the purported 7.2 billion dollars account.

``We urge the Federal Government of Nigeria to seize such sum and prosecute the owner if it does exist,” it said.

Anambra: S/Court sacks 3 senators, 11 H/Reps

The Supreme Court on Friday sacked the three senators and 11 members of the House of Representatives representing Anambra.

The senators are Andy Uba, Stella Oduah and Uche Ekwunife.

Delivering judgment, Justice Binta Ogunbiyi held that the lawmakers were illegally foisted on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by an unrecognised state executive of the party led by Chief Chukwudi Okasa.

Ogunbiyi held that the Chief Ejike Oguebego-led executive was the only constitutionally recognised leadership of the PDP to conduct the party’s primaries.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the decision prematurely terminates the tenure of the former Aviation minister Oduah in the senate.

It also quashed the legislative career of Sen. Andy Uba presidential aide to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Ogunbiyi ruled that the candidates who emerged from the primaries conducted by the Oguebego-led group were the true representatives from the state to occupy the vacant seats.

``The decision of the apex court is done to restore justice and discourage impunity in the polity.

``The judgment also lays out the proper procedures for selection of political parties legislative candidates,’’ she held.

Mr Chris Uba, Sen. Andy Uba younger brother and Prince John Emeka are expected to take over the seats vacated by Uba and Oduah respectively.

NAN further reports that a bye-election would be conducted to fill the senatorial seat occupied by Sen. Uche Ekwunife, who was sacked on December 2015 by the Court of Appeal.

In December 2014, the Federal High Court had ruled that the Ejike Oguebego-led executive was the only constitutionally recognised leadership of the party in Anambra that could conduct the PDP primaries.

Despite that ruling, the parallel state executive of the PDP led by Chief Chukwudi Okasa went ahead to conduct parallel primaries.

NAN reports that by this judgment, the apex court reaffirmed the verdict of the Federal High Court declaring that the Oguebego-led executive had the sole right to conduct the primaries in that State.

The National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) supervised the primaries conducted by Oguebego’s executive on Dec 6 and Dec. 7, 2014 .

At the end of the exercise, the NWC of the PDP and INEC declared Chris Uba winner for Anambra South, Prince John Emeka for Anambra North, and Annie Okonkwo for Anambra Central.

Court denied Nnamdi Kanu bail

A Federal High Court in Abuja has denied bail to the  leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra and founder of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, and his two other co-accused. Punch news reported.

Kanu and two others  are being prosecuted for treasonable felony and other offences bordering on their agitation for secession ‎of the Republic of Biafra from Nigeria.

‎Justice John Tsoho in rejecting the accused persons’ bail application on Friday held that they were not entitled to bail as they failed to show that they would not continue to commit the alleged crime for which they were being prosecuted.

The judge also upheld the contention by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Mohammed Diri, who had opposed the bail application, to the effect that the accused were likely to interfere with and intimidate prosecuting witnesses.

The judge also ruled that contrary to the contention by defence lawyers, the charges preferred against the accused were not trumped up.

The court held that rather than contradict the allegations levelled against the accused persons in the counter-affidavit filed by the prosecution in opposition to their bail application, the defendants only went on to insist that the agitation for the Republic of Biafra was within their right.

The judge also ruled that Kanu’s admission that he was a dual citizen of Nigeria and Britain further heightened the possibility of him jumping bail.

The judge ruled that rather than grant bail to the accused person‎, he would order an accelerated hearing of the case with the possibility of hearing it on daily basis.

The judge ordered that the accused persons should remain in Kuje prison throughout their trial.

He adjourned till February 9, 10, 11 and 12 for trial.

Kanu, David Nwawusi and Benjamin Madubugwu were being prosecuted on six counts of treasonable felony and unlawful possession of firearms preferred against them by the Federal Government.

Army/Shia Clash : Senate Begins Investigation

The Senate Committee on Defence, on Wednesday commenced investigation into the Army/Shiite clash in Zaria, Kaduna State, which occurred on Dec. 12, 2015. NAN Reported.

Chairman of the committee, Sen. Ahmad Lawal told newsmen in Kaduna shortly after a meeting with Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai, that their interaction with all interested parties would be in secret.

``We have come for a courtesy call and we have had a meeting with the Nigerian Army led by the General Officer Commanding, 1 Division.

``We are also meeting the Director DSS and also the Commissioner of Police, " he said.

Lawal added that the committee would proceed to Zaria, where it planned to visit the Shiite shrine among other engagements. He said for now, the activities of the committee would not be opened to the public.

 ``Public hearing will be better after our fact finding session. ``Most of the issues are very sensitive security issues and we believe we shouldn't play to the gallery," the committee chairman said.

He revealed that the committee had two weeks ago met with top ranking members of the Shia. 

``The session we had wasn't a conclusive hearing, because we still believe they have other issues that they believe we need to hear and we will give them that opportunity at a later time," he said.

Buhari to address European Parliament Feb. 3 - EU head

President Muhammadu Buhari is billed to address the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016, the Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria, Mr Michel Arrion, has said.

Arrion, who disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday at a news conference, said the President’s visit to the Parliament was at the invitation of the EU.

He explained that Buhari would deliver his speech to the over 750-member parliament from the 28 EU member countries. According to him, Buhari will afterwards, have personal sessions with the President of the European Commission.

He also input that the visit would centre on the President’s agenda of security, anti-corruption and economy development, among others. On security, he said the EU commended Buhari’s visit to Nigeria’s neighbours on regional collaboration against Boko Haram insurgency. He said the meeting would also discuss how the EU could cooperate with Nigeria to fight corruption and return stolen funds to Nigeria.

Arrion said the Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility signed between Nigeria and the EU on March 12, 2015, would be fine-tuned during Buhari’s visit. He said the EU would further put the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), with Nigeria on the front burner during Buhari’s visit.

The EU envoy declared that the signing of EPA would not be an invasion of the European products into the Nigerian markets. He said EU had signed the EPA agreement with ECOWAS while most African countries had ratified it but wondered why Nigeria had not. (NAN)

Abacha Loot : Switzerland to return $300m- FG

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has assured Nigerians that negotiations are ongoing with a number of countries on the modalities for the repatriation of some looted funds stashed abroad.

The minister stated that the Federal Government had been in touch with Switzerland, which he said, had earlier repatriated $700m to Nigeria. He noted that another $300m that was recovered would soon be repatriated to Nigeria.

Speaking in an interview with journalists in Abuja, Onyeama stated that the Federal Government was in discussion with the United Kingdom, the United States, among other foreign governments around the world, on how all looted funds could be recovered.

He said, “We are in touch with Switzerland; they have recently recovered quite a significant amount of money and I met last week with Swiss representatives to work out the modality for the repatriation of the funds.

“The Swiss government has already repatriated over $700m from (the late Gen. Sani) Abacha loot and that agreement has been reached on how the money would be applied.

“They have also now recovered in the same context another $300m of which there is ongoing discussion to have that repatriated as well. There are discussions with other countries; United Kingdom for instance, as you all know, is one of the countries we are discussing with on how to recover looted funds.

The minister explained that the goodwill generated by President Muhammadu Buhari’s visits to the US and other countries had helped in getting various nations to cooperate with Nigeria on the loot recovery drive.

 

Violent Crimes : We are not the perpetrators - Fulani Youths

Members of the Miyetti Allah Fulani Cattle Breeders Association have denied accusation of crimes being levied against them in different parts of the country.

Mr Bayero Ibrahim, the Secretary of Fulani youths nationwide, who spoke on their behalf, made the denial in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Wassa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

Ibrahim argued that Fulanis were mostly victims of communities where they settled rather than perpetrators of hideous crimes often ascribed to them.

He urged the government and Nigerians in general, to disregard the perception of Fulanis as ``bush people, violent people’’and see them as ``decent citizens’’.

The secretary urged the government to include Fulani youths in skill acquisition programmes that would capacitate them.

According to Ibrahim, many Fulani elites within and outside the country are professionals in different fields while some hold political offices and others work with international organisations.

``I will not dispute the fact that our major occupation and what the Fulanis are known for iscattle breeding, but aside that, we are not different from any other tribes that are regarded highly.

``I am a graduate of Geography from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and we have other educated Fulanis like myself.

``For those that are less educated, if they are given the opportunity to acquire skills as carpenters, mechanics and tailors, among other skills, I am sure that they will do well.

``We, the youths, have come together from different parts of the FCT to meet, discuss our plight, and make it known to the government and our elites, so that it could be addressed.’’

On the issue of security, the scribe said that most times they were the victims and not perpetrators of the crime.

According to him, most times, people infiltrate them in communities where they settle to graze, disguise themselves with their outfits and commit crimes, including killings.

Ibrahim added that when members of such communities react, they ended up killing innocent Fulanis.

In a separate interview, Mr Ahmed Abdullahi, the Chairman of the Vigilante Group in Wassa Community, said that the group’s task included watching out for infiltrators, with a view to protecting the community.

He urged the government to complement the group’s efforts by deploying troops to their settlements and also pay a little stipend to members of the group.

Meanwhile, Ardo Halilu Umar, the Chief of Fulanis in Karshi, urged the government to allocate grazing areas to pastoralists in communities they settle.

According to him, this will foster peace among them and members of the community where they settle, noting that they are most times accused of encroaching into farm lands.


NAN gathered that the FCT administration has allocated grazing areas at Paiko, Gwagwalada, Ruboushi, Pyakasa, Kuje, and Wassa. (NAN)
LIZ/NKO/NKO

Lassa fever outbreak: Senate summons Health Minister

The Senate on Tuesday directed that the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, should appear before the members to brief them on the outbreak of Lassa fever in 10 states of the federation.

This followed a motion by Sen. Olanrewaju Tejuoso (APC-Ogun Central), which was co-sponsored by five other senators.

Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever caused by Lassa virus.

The senate, just back from Christmas and New Year break, urged the Federal Government, health agencies and non-governmental organisations to carry out aggressive sensitisation in affected states.

It also suggested that the awareness on preventive measures of the scourge should be created at markets, restaurants, schools and other public places.

While condoling with families that had lost persons to the disease, the lawmakers advised Nigerians to adhere to rules of personal hygiene as well as report cases of persistent high fever to the nearest health centre.

Tejuoso, while moving the motion, expressed concern that since a similar outbreak in 2014, which claimed 20 lives, nothing had been done to check further outbreak of the disease.

He claimed that the fever had frequently infected people in Africa and resulted in 300,000 to 500,000 cases annually, and no fewer than 5,000 deaths each year.

He said that in spite of ``this awareness, health and corporate agencies in Nigeria, emphasise on awareness creation only after new cases appears.’’

The legislator expressed concern that if nothing urgent was done to curtail further outbreak and spread of the disease, it would reach a magnitude where it could be declared a national emergency.

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, called on the Federal Ministry of Health to provide adequate fund for the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

He said that it was expedient for the centre to be adequately funded to enable it function effectively in curtailing the spread and further outbreak of the disease.

He also called on the Senate Committee on Health to interface with the ministry in ensuring that the disease was properly managed.

``The most important issue is that the Committee on Health should do its oversight by engaging with the Minister of Health on how far the ministry has gone in tackling the problem,’’ he said.

A minute silence was, thereafter, observed for those who had lost their lives to the disease.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that states currently affected by the outbreak of the disease are Taraba, Rivers, Bauchi, Nassarawa, Niger, Kano, Edo, Plateau, Gombe and Oyo. (NAN)

Armed Forces Remembrance Day : Buhari Applaud Armed Forces, Urges Nigerians To Unite

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday called on Nigerians to build on things that unite rather than divide the country in spite of diverse cultures and religions.

He gave the advice at the Inter-Denominational Church Service to mark the 2016 Armed Forces and Remembrance Day at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.

Represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the President said the nation was proud of the contributions of the armed forces for ensuring peace, justice, freedom and prosperity of the nation.

``Let us renew our determination to build a strong and united nation where freedom, justice, peace and prosperity are easily within reach; a nation where we emphasise those things that bind us rather than those things that divide us.

``We are a country of diverse cultures and even religions but let us tap more into that diversity for strength rather than for strife.’’

According to him, the country today celebrates the families of the fallen heroes, their wives and children as well as their other family members.

``No one has suffered as much loss as you have and no one can truly understand your pain but today our nation commends you.

``Your great loss is the gain of millions of Nigerians and generations yet unborn.

``We applaud you and the heroic men and women of our armed forces and we thank God for the worthy lives they lived.’’

The President further applauded those who made contributions in various ways to support the military.

``On a day like this, we not only commend the gallantry of the armed forces; we remember in particular all those among them that have paid the supreme price.

``They belong to the distinguished company of those we refer to in our national anthem with the words, ``the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain.’’

``Today, we honour their service and their memories.’’

Buhari noted that the reputation of the armed forces for courage and service had often been noted not only at home but also abroad especially the military’s contributions to several international peace keeping missions.

He specifically mentioned Nigeria’s military and heroic operations in Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Dafur.

According to him, at the end of 2015, Nigeria had 2,972 troops active in various UN missions and Nigeria is one of the top 10 contributors of troops to the UN all across the world and top five on the African continent.

``The armed forces contribute and represent one of the most patriotic institutions in the land playing a leading role in nation building.

``It diligently attends to their traditional duty of defending and protecting our territorial integrity.

``Their remarkable efforts in particular at this time in combating insurgency in the north-east is greatly appreciated by the Nigerian people

``Boko Haram and insurgency in the north- east has now been degraded militarily; the insurgents no longer hold territory and can no longer launch military style attacks as they had done in the past.’’

He expressed gratitude of the nation to the military, adding ``we are confident and we pray that with God on our side, the armed forces of Nigeria will complete the work that they have started.

``They will also in due course continue to render the kind of service that they have rendered to our great nation and even better in the years to come.

``Our armed forces and military have been assisting and will continue to help our communities in the affected areas to recover and resume their normal lives especially in securing their communities, clearing land mines and keeping terrorists out.’’

Buhari acknowledged the support of Nigeria’s foreign partners in the fight against terrorism adding that their contributions and encouragement had been worthwhile.

He said the administration was confident that they would maintain the backing and even step up such support where needed as the nation advanced into the final stage of combating the insurgency. (NAN)

One dies as Shi’ites Protest Turn Violent

Media and Communications Officer of the Special Task Force, also known as ‘Operation Safe Haven’, Capt. Ikedichi Iweha, has said that one person was killed and several others injured in Jos as rival Muslim youths clashed with members of the Shi’ite movement who had protested the continued detention of their leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

Subsequently, Iweha said that the Commander of the task force, Maj. Gen. Tagbo Udeh, has ordered a ban on all forms of processions and rallies in the state, adding that such rallies or processions must get the permission of the police.

Hundreds of Shi’ite women, all clad in black, had staged a protest in Jos on Saturday, demanding the release of El-Zakzaky, his wife and members of the movement that were arrested when they clashed with soldiers on December 12, in Zaria, Kaduna State for proper medical attention.

They had also demanded the corpses of their members who were allegedly killed by the soldiers for proper burial according to Islamic tradition.

Iweha told our correspondent, in an interview in Jos on Sunday, that many members of the movement were also arrested when the otherwise peaceful procession turned violent at Bauchi road, leading to the death of one person.

He said the incident had created tension around Bauchi Road, Rikkos, Angwan Rogo, Dilimi, Nasarawa, Gwom and many other Hausa-dominated areas, leading to a clash between some rival Muslim sects.

He said that the timely intervention of security operatives saved what would have been a very ugly situation, stressing that the commander had also ordered an all-round patrol and surveillance by operatives of the task force.

The media officer said that many of those arrested were being interrogated to ascertain their level of culpability in the incident, adding that at the end of the interrogation those found innocent would be released.

On Sunday, STF rolled out tanks at strategic places in the metropolis, while there were heavy security presence around virtually all the churches and other worship centres in Jos and its environs. The security men were dressed in combat uniforms a situation that raised curiosity around Jos metropolis.

Iweha said, “The procession by the women later turned violent as rival Muslim youths clashed along Bauchi Road as the Shi’ite members were proceeding to the Central Mosque and the commander has ordered a round-the-clock security surveillance and patrol and we would not want to take chances.

“He has also ordered a ban on all forms of rallies, protest or procession in Jos and such rallies must get the permission of the police upon application.”

He said that the incident had been contained while security agencies had been placed on red alert to avoid further breakdown of law and order in the metropolis.

Health Minister: Lassa fever kills forty in ten states

Forty people have died in Nigeria in a suspected outbreak of Lassa fever in 10 states across the country, Health Minister Isaac Adewole said Friday.

"The total number (of suspected cases) reported is 86 and 40 deaths, with a mortality rate of 43.2 percent," Adewole told a news conference in the capital, Abuja.

The minister said that so far, laboratory tests have confirmed that 22 of the 86 suspected cases were Lassa fever and results were expected on the remainder.

Seven of the affected states are in the north -- Bauchi, Nasarawa, Niger, Taraba, Kano, Plateau and Gombe -- while the remaining three are in the south -- Rivers, Edo and Oyo -- he added.

The first case of the disease was recorded last November in Bauchi state. Cases were then reported in Kano and elsewhere.

According to the WHO, Lassa fever is an acute haemorrhagic illness which belongs to the arenarvirus family of viruses, which also includes the Ebola-like Marburg virus.

People with Lassa fever do not display symptoms in 80 percent of cases but it can cause serious symptoms and death in the remainder.

The virus, which is endemic in rodents in west Africa, is transmitted to humans by contact with food or household items contaminated with the animals' faeces and urine.

Person-to-person contact is also possible through bodily fluids, particularly in hospitals when adequate infection control measures are not taken.

The number of Lassa fever infections in west Africa every year is between 100,000 to 300,000, with about 5,000 deaths, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Adewole said recorded cases of Lassa fever in Nigeria peaked in 2012 at 1,723 with 112 fatalities but rates have declined since then.

In the latest outbreak, the minister said "most of the cases that we recorded are not through person-to-person contact" but the number of deaths was "unusual".

He expressed concern about disease notification systems, particularly in Niger state, where "unusual" deaths in August were not reported for up to four months.

Authorities in Lagos, Nigeria's most populous city of more than 20 million people, on Thursday alerted residents on the need to observe proper hygiene to curb the spread of the disease.

Lagos state, in the southwest, is some 80 kilometres (50 miles) from Oyo state, where suspected cases have been reported.

Primary School Teachers In Kwara Begin Strike.......

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Kwara says primary school teachers in the state will embark on strike on Monday to protest the non-payment of their four months’ salary arrears.

The Chairman of the union, Comrade Musa Abubakar, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Kaiama, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara .

NAN reports that the strike action will begin just when schools are expected to resume from their first term holiday.

Abubakar said that the union could no longer guarantee industrial harmony in the state following the non-payment of their four months’ salary arrears.

He said that the primary school teachers in the state had been loyal and dedicated to duty in spite of the failure of the government to pay them salaries for months.

``I want to believe they have tried. If the members of the National Assembly are not paid for four months, I doubt if you will see anybody in the red or green chambers.

``I recall in Oyo state; they were not paid for just two months and some House of Assembly members did not going to work.

``So for us to have worked for four months without pay, I think the teachers have tried and that is why we told the government that we cannot guarantee any industrial harmony again.

``We cannot guarantee any teacher going to class on Monday to teach with an empty stomach except the problem is addressed,’’ he said.

He explained that the union would start a sit-at-home strike action beginning on Monday to press home its demand.

According to him, workers from other sectors will soon join in the strike action in the spirit of solidarity.

The NUT leader criticised the state government for creating a dichotomy between primary schools teachers and their counterparts in the secondary schools.

He claimed that a Supreme Court judgment in 2002 had made state governments responsible for the management and funding of primary schools in the country.

``It is just unfortunate that a situation like this revolves around primary school teachers in the country.

``I want to say without mincing words that if that trend should continue, the primary school system will soon collapse,’’ the union leader stated.

Abubakar, therefore, urged the state government to live up to its responsibilities by doing the right thing.

``Education is the key and the bedrock of our development particularly at the grassroots.

``If this trend is not checked, honestly, this country will run into a problem.

``So I would, therefore, urge the federal, state, and local governments to ensure that the ugly trend is checked,” he said.


He said that once that was done, the proliferation of private primary schools due to the public’s loss of confidence in public schools would be checked. (NAN)

Aregbesola Stops Payment Of Doctors’salaries Over Strike

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state have stopped payment of salaries to the state government's medical doctors over a strike which started since September 28, last year, Punch reports.

The state government had threatened to sack all the striking doctors if they failed to resume work on December 25. The doctors dared the governor but the next step which would be taken by the governor was not known yet.

The President of the Association of Resident Doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osogbo, Dr. Adeyinka Owolabi, said that doctors had not been paid since October.

Owolabi said doctors would not accept half salaries like other workers in the state because their salaries were the least among doctors throughout the country and they were being forced to pay the highest tax.

The ARD president said it was dangerous to ask hungry doctors to be attending to patients, saying many doctors had become a laughing stock because of their inability to meet their obligations.

Owolabi said, “It is true that the state government has stopped our salaries. I am not sure if there was a circular to that effect but we did not receive the October and November salaries alerts like other workers.

“There is no end in sight to the strike. The salary is the main cause of this strike and we can never accept half salaries because we are not going to give our patients half treatment. The government is adamant and we are also not going to shift ground on this.”

Owolabi, however, stated that the doctors would reconsider their position if the state government could sign an agreement that it was owing doctors half salaries, stating when the balance would be paid.

The Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association in Osun State, Dr. Suraj Ogunyemi, said the striking doctors and the state government had remained adamant on the issues.

Ogunyemi, who said he thought the state government would have found a solution to the strike before the dawn of the New Year, said it was unfortunate that the action had dragged for over three months.

But the Consultant to the State Government on Information, Mr. Sunday Akere, when contacted said the state government had been making efforts to ensure that the strike was called off.

Akere said he believed “something better will happen this week.”

Police Reaffirm Ban on Street Carnivals And Fireworks

Police Public Relations Officer, Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos, CSP Adebowale Lawal, on Wednesday reaffirmed the ban on street carnivals and the use of fireworks during the Christmas and New Year cetebrations.

Lawal added that the ban on street carnivals and the use of fireworks would also help to avoid unnecessary bloodshed during the festivities.

He said,” Following instructions from the Inspector-General of Police, any form of street carnival and the use of fireworks still remain banned.

“The idea is to prevent undesirable elements from hiding under the guise of celebrating with fireworks to unleash mayhem on innocent members of the public.

“We don’t want anyone to lose his or her life in the cause of celebrating this period.
“The rivalry fights between cult members often start from some of these street carnivals and we do not want such incidences to happen during this year’s celebration.”

In the event that street carnivals must be held by any, the Divisional Police Officer must be contacted for approval, Lawal added.

The PPRO disclosed that policemen were regularly patrolling the markets to ensure that the sale of fireworks was not ongoing.

Lawal said, “We have our men everywhere, especially in the markets to ensure that fireworks were totally removed.

“This is because fireworks have the same sound as some of the guns these criminals use and people cannot differentiate them.

“The ban will help us to secure people during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.”
He was full of praises for the media over their contributions and for partnering with the police to curb crime in Ogun and Lagos State.

He added that the media had bridged the gap between the members of public and the police.


The Lagos State Police Command had on Tuesday, December 15, banned the use of fire works in the state during the Christmas and New year festivities, threatening to deal with any defaulter within the ambit of the law.

BREAKING: Explosion From Petrol Tanker Razes Filling Station In Ondo

A filling station, Giant IBK Oil and Gas petrol station and two petrol tankers were razed by fire on Ondo-Akure Expressway in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Wednesday.

According to an eyewitness, the fire which cause was still unknown as of the time of this report, started at about 1.40pm but no life was lost in the inferno.

Ten persons which included the drivers of the tankers and the workers of the filling station were said to have escaped unhurt.

When our correspondent visited the scene, men of the 323 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army were seen cordoning off the area to prevent the breakdown of law and order while men the state fire service personnel were busy putting off the fire.

The incident caused traffic gridlock on the expressway for several hours while some motorists took alternative routes to their various destinations.

One of the workers of the filling station, told our correspondent that the drivers and the assistants were offloading into the underground fuel dump of the filling station  when the tankers burst into flame.

He said the cause of the fire outbreak was still a mystery to him, explaining that all of them in the station had to run away from the scene when the flame became uncontrollable.

But one of the drivers, who identified himself as Victor also narrated that he arrived the station from Lagos deport one hour before the incident occurred.

He said, “Immediately I came from Lagos, I parked the tanker inside the fuel station and I was expecting the workers to start offloading the fuel into their reservoir.

“But an hour later, I discovered that the tanker started burning and I don’t know what  caused it , as of now, I am confused.”

However, a petrol dealer who identified himself as Lawal blamed the cause of the fire on the failure of the tanker’s owner to meet up with Department of Petroleum Resources safety precaution.

Men of the fire service and some residents were still trying to put off the fire as of the time of filing this report.

Picture Credit : Punch

Zaria killings: Reps Interrogate Buratai, Summon Arase

The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence met behind closed doors with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Tuesday over the recent clash between soldiers and members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria in Zaria.

The meeting took place at the National Assembly in Abuja.

Findings showed that members of the committee threw a barrage of questions at Buratai during the meeting, which was not opened to journalists.

However, the chairman of the committee, an All Progressives Congress lawmaker from Zamfara State, Mr. Aminu Sani-Jaji, later informed reporters that members grilled the army chief on what truly happened in Zaria on the fateful day.

Many lives were lost when soldiers engaged members of the group, better known as Shi’ite, in Zaria after the latter reportedly blocked a federal highway and tried to prevent Buratai’s motorcade from driving through.

He disclosed that a similar meeting had already been held with the Director General of the Department of State Services, Mr. Lawal Daura, also in secret.

Sani-Jaji added that the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, was next in the line.

He said the meeting with Arase could come up any time before Christmas or after the festivities.

However, as for the leaders of the Shi’ite, he claimed to have made fruitless efforts so far to reach them.

He stated that a delegation of members sent to Zaria in a bid to hear the side of the sect returned to Abuja without making any headway.

Nonetheless, he gave the assurance that everything possible would be done by the committee to hear from the sect.

The House had on Wednesday last week, directed the committee to begin investigations into the clash.

The Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, had specifically asked the committee to “unearth the cause of the clash with a view to finding lasting solutions.”

Dogara had further instructed the committee to do a “through job, considering the sensitive situation in the country at the moment.”

He had appealed to Nigerians to remain calm, assuring them that they would be “fully briefed in due course when the committee must have concluded the assignment.”

NLC Rejects Increases In Electricity Tariff, Subsidy Removal

The National Working Committee of the Nigeria Labour Congress has restated its opposition to the removal of the fuel subsidy in the country.

The President of the NLC, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, who read the communique of an emergency meeting of the NWC in Abuja on Tuesday, said that the congress also rejected the new tariff regime for electricity and the reintroduction of toll gates in the country.

Wabba stated also that the congress decided that the minimum wage was due for review and would soon commence the process for the emergence of a new minimum wage.

The NLC President said that the opposition of the NLC to the clamour for the removal of the petroleum subsidy as was contained in the report submitted to the government in 2010 had not changed.

He said that it would be wrong for the government to transfer the brunt of the mismanagement of subsidy to Nigerians.

He said that the government must give the requisite attention to develop the nation’s capacity to refine crude oil which would give Nigerians the opportunity to even pay lower than the current pump price.

He said, “Two issues have been on the table; one was the outright removal of the subsidy and the other, the move to increase the price of petroleum products and you know the position of the congress on these has not changed.

“We are also saying that we should also benefit from the falling prices of crude oil.

“We must think out of the box: why must we be importing. If we are not importing, we should be paying lower.

“We call on the government to look at the report of the NLC in 2010; it would not be proper to transfer the brunt of the subsidy issue to Nigerians.

“It is the decision of the CWC that we must first develop the capacity to refine crude oil in the country before talking about the issue of the subsidy.

“We should not continue to import products for domestic use. Nigerians must not be made to bear the brunt of the falling price of crude oil and the difference in the exchange rate.”

Speaking on the issue of the increase in the electricity tariff, Wabba said that incessant increase in the tariff was unacceptable to the congress.

He said that the decision of the NWC to reject the new tariff would be conveyed to the National Executive Committee for workers to be mobilised against it.

He called on the Federal Government to cancel the entire process of the privatisation of the power sector, as it had not been able to achieve its objectives.

Wabba also called for the provision of prepaid meters to all electricity consumers as a way of stopping the issue of estimated billing in the country.

“This position of the government is worrisome. The increase is incessant. This is the fourth time they are increasing the tariff. I have seen their template and it is designed to increase the tariff every year.

“The regime of estimated bill should be brought to an end. NLC demands that the entire process of privatisation should be reviewed because the objective of the exercise has not been achieved.

Government must ensure that prepaid meters are made available to the consumers,” Wabba said.

On the raging issue of the moves by some governors to reduce the minimum wage, Wabba said that the Act was part of the nation’s constitution which could not be violated by the governors.

He added that violators of the Minimum Wage Act would be violating the constitution and should be sanctioned.

He also condemned the delay in the payment of workers’ salaries in some states and urged the workers to get prepared to engage the governors.

Commenting on the government’s plan to reintroduce the toll gates in the country, he said that the congress was dismayed by the move as the toll gates had been used in the past to settle a few individuals.

He said that they were dismantled with public funds because they failed to realise the objective for setting them up.

FG DECLARES DEC. 24, 25, 28 PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

The Federal Government has declared Dec. 24, Dec.25 and Dec. 28 public holidays to mark Eid el-Maulud, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, respectively.

The Minister of the Interior, Retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, made the declaration on Thursday in Abuja in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Bassey Akpanyung.

"The Federal Government has declared Thursday, 24th December, 2015 as public holiday to mark Eid-El-Maulud celebration.

"Friday, 25th and Monday 28th December, 2015 have also been declared as public holidays to mark Christmas and Boxing Day celebration," the statement said.

The minister enjoined Muslim and Christian faithful to use the unique occasion to‎ pray for the peace and unity of Nigeria.

He also advised Nigerians to cooperate and join hands with President Muhammadu Buhari in his efforts to build a peaceful, united and virile nation.

Dambazau wished Nigerians, home and abroad, happy celebrations.


Eid-Maulud is the celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammed in Islam, while Christmas is celebrated by Christians to mark the birth of Jesus Christ (NAN)

FG Directs Issuance Of Single Identification Numbers To Citizens

The Federal Government has directed all agencies capturing the biometrics of Nigerians to urgently aggregate their records so as to provide a unique identity for each citizen.

Director General of the National Identity Management Commission, Alhaji Aliyu Aziz, disclosed this to NAN State House Correspondents after a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday.

He said that the vice president gave the presidential marching order at the meeting.
According to Aziz, all the agencies that are in charge of capturing biometrics are expected to aggregate all the data bases and subsequently give every Nigerian and legally resident persons a unique identification.

The director general said such unique identification number would allow every person to have a single identity and can be easily traced.

``The number will also make it easy for government to reach the citizen with certain benefits that would soon be provided.

``Through the identification number, everyone will get his/her own share’’, Aziz added. (NAN)