TheNewsGuru

Tag: Monday

  • Buhari scheduled for another foreign trip Monday

    Buhari scheduled for another foreign trip Monday

    President Muhammadu Buhari will attend the inauguration of the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, for a second five-year term in office, the Presidency has said.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

    Although the event is scheduled to hold on Monday in Addis Ababa, the President will depart Abuja for the Ethiopian capital on Sunday.

    According to Adesina, the Nigerian leader is scheduled to deliver a goodwill message at the inauguration ceremony, after which he will attend a State Banquet in honour of visiting Heads of State and Government.

    “President Buhari will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

    “He is expected back in Abuja on Tuesday,” the President’s spokesman said in the statement.

    Prime Minister Ahmed secured another term in office following the victory of Ethiopia’s governing Prosperity Party in the country’s parliamentary election held on June 21.

    In his earlier congratulatory message to the Prime Minister, President Buhari had assured him that Nigeria would continue to support the unity and territorial well-being of Ethiopia and all African states.

    “On behalf of the Nigerian people, I send you and the people of Ethiopia our well wishes for your courage and commitment to the democratic process, and urge you to continue with the good policies of your government that endeared you to the people,” the President was quoted to have said in his congratulatory message to the prime minister.

  • IPOB sit-at-home: ‘They are invisible voices’; Obiano orders banks, markets in Anambra to operate fully from Monday

    IPOB sit-at-home: ‘They are invisible voices’; Obiano orders banks, markets in Anambra to operate fully from Monday

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has ordered markets, banks, transport business owners, among others to ignore the sit-at-home order and go about their businesses from Monday, September 13.

    The governor gave the order on Saturday after a meeting with stakeholders and members of the State Security Council.

    Heads of commercial business operations including markets and transport leaders were also at the meeting held at the governor’s lodge in the state.

    He urged residents of the state to ignore the Monday (weekly) sit-at-home order by the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    “The markets should open, if they do not open, I would sack the leadership of the market and shut the market.

    “Invisible voice says ‘sit at home?’ And, you just comply and loose money. You don’t know who says sit-at-home, you just loose money,” the governor said while addressing the business leaders.

    He also urged them to help the government to solve the menace of continuous sit-at-home compliance.

    Governor Obiano said it is totally unacceptable as it has become inimical to the state’s economy.

    “You need to help us to solve this nonsense. It is absolute nonsense. That’s a warning. If you don’t do that, we will change your leadership,” the governor said.

    Governor Obiano also at the meeting welcomed the new Commissioner of Police, Tony Olotu, who will take over from the former CP, Chris Owolabi.

  • Resident doctors commence fresh nationwide strike Monday

    Resident doctors commence fresh nationwide strike Monday

    The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has directed its members across the country to embark on a total strike from Monday, August 2.

    This directive was issued on Saturday at the end of the executive meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union held in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

    Briefing reporters at the end of the meeting, NARD National President, Dr Okhuaihesuyi Uyilawa, disclosed that members have been asked to proceed on a nationwide indefinite industrial action.

    “We are embarking on a total and indefinite strike on August 2, 2021. You can recall we had a memorandum of action on March 31, 2021, and had an addendum to it on April 9, and since then, we still have had irregularities in the payment of salaries to the house officers.

    “We had issues with them being non-regular payment and as part of the memorandum of action, it was said that they should be captured back into the IPPS platform,” he said.

    Uyilawa added, “You are aware that we lost 19 members to COVID-19 and death in service insurance was supposed to be paid to their next of kin.

    “The last time we met the minister of labour and minister of health, we were told that our members are part of those to be given the insurance benefit, but we found out that their names are not even their.”

    He cited the inability of the Federal Government to meet the demands of the doctors as part of the reasons for the decision to go on strike.

    The NARD president, however, apologised to Nigerians for the decision which he insisted was a result of the government’s failure in its responsibilities.

    The resolutions reached at the end of the meeting read,

    After critical appraisal of the performance of both Federal and State Governments on all the issues affecting the welfare of our members as observed above and the insincerity of government in implementing the memorandum of action after One Hundred and Thirteen (113) days, the NEC unanimously resolved by vote to resume the total and indefinite
    strike action from 08.00hrs Monday 2nd August 2021.

    The NEC in particular demanded the immediate withdrawal of the circular removing House Officers from the scheme of service.

    Finally, the NEC stated unequivocally especially to the members of the public that the NARD is committed to the smooth running of the health sector; however, can only do so when our welfare is given the desired attention.

    The doctors had embarked on industrial action in April, leaving many patients unattended across various government-owned hospitals in the country.

    They later suspended it 10 days later following a virtual meeting with members which lasted about 15 hours on April 10.

    Some of the issues raised by the medical practitioners as of then included the immediate payment of all salaries owed to all house officers, including March salaries (regardless of quota system) before the end of business on March 31.

    They also sought an upward review of the hazard allowance to 50 per cent of consolidated basic salaries of all health workers and payment of the outstanding COVID-19 inducement allowance, especially in state-owned-tertiary Institutions.

    The doctors called for the abolishment of the exorbitant bench fees being paid by their members on outside postings in all training institutions across the country.

  • Tokyo Olympics: Buhari hosts Team Nigeria on Monday

    Tokyo Olympics: Buhari hosts Team Nigeria on Monday

    President Muhammadu Buhari will on Monday host members of Team Nigeria to the Tokyo Olympics at the Presidential Villa before the final batch of the contingent departs for the Games.

    Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at a brief send-forth ceremony for the first batch of the team which left for Japan.

    He said the contingent which would leave in four batches would be formally “sent forth” by the President on Monday as is the tradition.

    The minister explained that the ceremony would also afford the President the opportunity of officially handing over Team Nigeria to the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) in line with age-long tradition.

    He added that President Buhari would also be unveiling the official Team Nigeria uniform to the Games.

    “We are keeping to the tradition of unveiling the team to the President who will in turn hand them over to the NOC.

    “The unveiling of the official wear/equipment will also be done by Mr. President. This is a very symbolic event meant to officially send forth the team to the Games.

    “This should also inspire the athletes and reinforce the fact that the Federal Government and the entire country are behind them,” Dare said.

    The minister also commended the President for the enormous support and resources in preparing and ensuring the athletes do well at the Games.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Team Nigeria, comprising of 58 athletes and 22 coaches, will compete in nine sports at the Tokyo Olympics.

    NAN reports also that the first batch of Team Nigeria comprising athletes, coaches and other officials in canoeing, rowing and table tennis departed Abuja for Japan on Tuesday.

    The second batch comprising those in athletics, taekwondo and wrestling will depart on July 13.

    The third batch are those in gymnastics and badminton and will leave on July 17.

    The last batch comprising members of the male and female basketball teams will depart on July 19.

    NAN reports that the rescheduled 2020 Olympic Games holds from July 23 to Aug. 8 in Tokyo, Japan.

  • COAS Attahiru: Buhari directs National Flag to fly at half-mast, declares Monday work-free day

    COAS Attahiru: Buhari directs National Flag to fly at half-mast, declares Monday work-free day

    President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast in all public buildings, facilities, and official residences across the country.

    The directive is with effect from Monday (today) to Wednesday, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, announced in a statement on Sunday.

    He explained that the presidential directive was to honour the memory and services of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, as well as the senior military officers and service members who died in a plane crash on Friday last week.

    Mustapha added that the President has approved Monday as a work-free day for members of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the remains of the late Attahiru and 10 other officers who died in the plane crash in Kaduna were laid to rest on Saturday at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja.

    Other officers and who lost their lives included Brigadier-General MI Abdulkadir, Brigadier-General Olayinka, Brigadier-General Kuliya, Major LA Hayat, Major Hamza and Sergeant Umar.

    Flight-Lieutenant TO Asaniyi, Flight-Lieutenant AA Olufade, Sergeant Adesina, and ACM Oyedepo also died in the crash

    Meanwhile, President Buhari spoke with Mrs Fati Attahiru, the wife of the late Chief of Army Staff, on Sunday evening.

    Details of his conversation are highlighted in the statement below signed by the President’s spokesman, Garba Shehu.

    PRESIDENT BUHARI SPEAKS WITH FATI ATTAHIRU, PRAISES MILITARY’S EFFORTS TO FIGHT TERRORISM AND BANDITRY

    President Muhammadu Buhari has described Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru, the late Chief of Army Staff as an outstanding soldier and an institution builder, who fought valiantly for Nigeria until he breathed his last.

    In a telephone conversation Sunday evening with Mrs. Fati Ibrahim Attahiru, the wife of the late COAS and the spouses of the other deceased officers through her, President Buhari hailed the sacrifices of the military men who lost their lives and the Armed Forces in general, saying that Nigerians will continue to appreciate and support the fearlessness with which our courageous soldiers are confronting the threats facing the nation.

    He gave the grieving spouses assurances that the nation will never forget the supreme sacrifice of their spouses, urging them to take solace in the surge of extraordinary feelings of emotions across regions, religions, and tribes all over the country in appreciation of their sacrifices.

    The President who had earlier given directives to the Defense headquarters and the Ministry of Defence to do everything a government can do to provide comfort and ease the hardships of the families of the deceased prayed to Almighty God to repose their souls and grant their families the fortitude to bear the losses.

    Mrs Attahiru, on behalf of the rest of the families, thanked the President for the love and care he has shown to them.

    Garba Shehu

    Senior Special Assistant to the President

    (Media & Publicity)

    May 23, 2021

  • Uber, Bolt drivers threaten strike on Monday

    Uber, Bolt drivers threaten strike on Monday

    Some Uber and Bolt e-cab drivers in Lagos on Saturday asked the e-hailing companies to immediately increase fares being charged by the operators, failing which they would go off the roads on Monday.

    The e-cab operators, under the aegis of Professional E-hailing Drivers and Private Owners Association (PEDPA), threatened to embark on the strike if their demands were not met.

    Mr Idris Shonuga, National President of PEDPA, at a news conference in Lagos, called for immediate upward review of e-cab fares to reflect the current economic reality in the country.

    According to Shonuga, over 95 per cent of e-hailing transactions are consummated through Uber and Bolt platforms.

    He said that the companies had refused to review its pricing despite unprecedented increases in the price of fuel, vehicles spare parts, food items and other essential commodities in the country.

    “In a quest to work and harmoniously at resolving some issues, the association wrote several letters to the companies which was not attended to, showing nonchalant attitude towards our plight.

    “Your companies have failed, refused and neglected to honour our request for a meeting to discuss issues beneficial to all e-hailing drivers in Nigeria.

    “And to fashion a harmonious relationship that will benefit, dignify and improve the standard of living of e-hailing drivers, private car owners and the general standard of e-hailing business in the country.

    “Instead of fixing a new and reasonable fare in line with inflation, the companies have recklessly continued to maintain the low fare, thereby, impoverishing hard working young Nigerians who are diligently and lawfully trying to make a decent living,” Shonuga said.

    The e-cab operators also demanded adequate welfare package for drivers and compensation to the families of those that lost their lives or are permanently disabled in the line of duty,

    The association said that more than 15 drivers had lost their lives, while some had been permanently disabled in accidents in the course of the service.

    More than 20 others have also lost their lives through kidnapping or killed by ritualists without any compensation from the operators, the association said.

    Shonuga said that the association was considering taking legal action to seek remedies against the e-hailing companies if their demands were not met.

  • University workers to call off strike latest Monday – Ngige

    University workers to call off strike latest Monday – Ngige

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, says the Federal Government has reached an agreement with the leadership of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU), to call of their strike.

    Ngige said agreements were reached by both parties with timelines, which were documented as Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

    The minister said the MoU was given to leaders of the two unions to go and consult with their members with a view to calling off the strike latest by Monday, February 15, 2021.

    The unions, under the Joint Action Committee, commenced an indefinite strike last week Friday over the failure of the Federal Government to resolve issues in the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System.

    They are also protesting the sharing formula of the N40 billion earned academic allowances and non-payment of arrears of the new minimum wage, among others.

    The minister, in a statement by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Charles Akpan, denied media reports that yesterday’s (Thursday’s) meeting ended in a deadlock.

    “The meeting did not end in deadlock. Rather, agreements were reached on some issues with timelines and these were documented as Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and given to leaders of the two unions to go and consult their people with a view to calling off the strike latest by Monday, February 15, 2021,” Ngige said.

  • UK orders closure of all travel corridors Monday

    UK orders closure of all travel corridors Monday

    All travel corridors to the UK will be closed from Monday, the Prime Minister has announced, ending the quarantine exemption for arrivals from selected nations.

    The announcement comes after it was confirmed that a new variant of COVID-19, which emerged in Brazil, had been discovered in the UK.

    The new policy, which comes into effect from 4am on Monday, means that arrivals from every destination will need to self-isolate for 10 days, or receive a negative result from a coronavirus test taken at least five days after they enter the UK.

    It had already been announced that travellers arriving in England and Scotland from Monday will need to have a negative test taken up to 72 hours before leaving the country of departure.

    Boris Johnson told the Downing Street press conference: “It’s precisely because we have the hope of that vaccine and the risk of new strains coming from overseas that we must take additional steps now to stop those strains from entering the country.

    “Yesterday we announced that we’re banning flights from South America and Portugal and to protect us against the risk from as-yet-unidentified strains we will also temporarily close all travel corridors from 0400 on Monday.

    “Following conversations with the devolved administrations we will act together so this applies across the whole of the UK,” he said.

  • COVID-19: Niger Government orders workers to stay home from Monday

    COVID-19: Niger Government orders workers to stay home from Monday

    The Niger State Government has directed all workers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state to remain at home from Monday, 21st December 2020.

    The workers were asked to remain at home in a circular to MDAs signed by the Head of Service, Salamatu Abubakar in order to remain safe from the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The circular was titled, “Stay Free from 2nd Wave of Coronavirus Pandemic stated that only officials on essential duties were exempted.

    It stated, “Please, refer to the subject matter above. I write to inform you that in view of the 2nd wave of coronavirus pandemic being experienced in the country, His Excellency, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, Executive Governor of Niger State has approved for all workers in Niger State to stay at home with effect from Monday, 21 December 2020 until further notice, except Officers on essential services.”

  • Youths threaten ‘second wave’ of #EndSARS protests from Monday

    Youths threaten ‘second wave’ of #EndSARS protests from Monday

    Nigerian youths are threatening a second wave of the #EndSARS protests from Monday 9th November 2020, in some parts of Lagos and Abuja.

    Some aggrieved youths have taken to social media to show their displeasure following a court order granting the Central Bank of Nigeria, the right to freeze the accounts of 19 individuals and a public affairs company linked to the #EndSARS protests.

    The ex-parte request to freeze the accounts granted by Justice Ahmed Mohammed, of the Federal High Court in Abuja was filed by the apex bank on October 20.

    In reaction to the move to freeze the accounts, Nigerians have taken to social media to backlash the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, for freezing the bank accounts of #EndSARS protesters and promoters across the country.

    This has birthed fresh threats from youths especially, to resume the #EndSARS protests on Monday at the CBN headquarters in Abuja and its Lagos office while attributing this move to Emefiele’s involvement in the freezing of accounts.

    See some of the reactions below:

     

    https://twitter.com/extrasheeter/status/1324834860658266112?s=20