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Tag: Monday

  • Ekiti governorship election: Tribunal to deliver judgement on Monday

    Ekiti governorship election: Tribunal to deliver judgement on Monday

    The Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja will on Monday deliver judgment in the petition by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and one other.

    The PDP and its candidate in the last governorship election in Ekiti State, Kolapo Olusola are, by their petition, challenging the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kayode Fayemi, winner of the election.

    It was learnt on Saturday that parties to the petition, marked: EPT/EKS/GOV/01/18. – PDP, Olusola, INEC, APC and Fayemi, have been informed about the date of judgment via notices of hearing, issued by the tribunal’s Registry.

    The tribunal, led by Justice Suleiman Belgore had, on January 9 this year, adjourned indefinitely, but told parties they would be informed 48 hours before the day to be set for the delivery of the judgment.

    Justice Belgore announced the adjournment after parties adopted their final written addresses and prayed the tribunal to grant their prayers.

    The tribunal Chairman praised the conduct of lawyers and parties in the case. He particularly noted that the senior lawyers were professional and mature in their conduct.

    Charles Edosomwan (SAN), Akin Olujinmi (SAN) and Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) adopted the final addresses of INEC, APC and Fayemi, while Yusuf Ali (SAN) adopted the petitioners’ address.

    Edosomwan, Olujinmi and Fagbemi urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition by the PDP and Olusola.

     

  • Strike: ASUU, FG resume talks on Monday

    Barring any last minutes change of plans, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government are to resume talks Monday (tomorrow) on how to resolve the the over two-month-old strike embarked upon by lecturers.

    The National President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, confirmed the development in an interview with The Punch on Friday.

    He, however, said the union was not optimistic about the prospects of an early resolution of the industrial dispute.

    In response to a question on whether there had been any fresh development with regard to the resolution of the dispute, Ogunyemi said, “I’ am afraid nothing new. I understand they will be meeting us on Monday. Let’s wait and see if they take a reasonable step; it will determine our next line of action. Until then, let’s wait and see.”

    Recall that the ASUU president had in an earlier interview said members of the union were tired of government’s failed promises.

    He said, “Last year, they promised to release the funds but they did not until November when the strike began. Our members are saying they do not want promises again; what they want is action, implementation or disbursement of funds.

    “The government must act in a way to convince the union that the agreement has not been set aside. To show that the government has not set aside the agreement, they should release one tranche.”

    He explained that in order to forestall a situation where ASUU and the government would restart negotiations on arrears of earned academic allowances, both sides had agreed that “it would be mainstreamed into the 2019 budget.”

    Ogunyemi also said, “We are going to have a discussion on when to commence renegotiation because there are still grey areas. If the government can substantially address these issues, we will be more confident to face our members on the way forward. For now, the signals we are getting is that our members do not actually want to accept this government proposal from us.”

    Members of ASUU went on strike on November 4, 2018 to demand for improved funding of universities and implementation of previous agreements with the government.

    The union is also seeking the implementation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreements, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU; 2012 and 2013) and Memorandum of Action (MoA, 2017), among others.

    The union is also asking the Federal Government to expedite action on the release of funds to revitalise public universities in accordance with the FGN-ASUU MoU of 2012, 2013 and the MoA of 2017.

    The university teachers are also demanding the release of the operational licence of the Nigerian University Employees Pension Company.

    The Director of Press at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Samuel Olowookere, could not be reached when one of our correspondents tried to get the reaction of the Federal Government on the issue

    But a source in the ministry, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told SUNDAY PUNCH that ASUU should be blamed for the delay in reopening the universities.

    The source added that the FG had showed commitment to the ASUU’s demands and that it was better to start from what the FG had offered than to halt negotiation.

    “The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, had told the leadership of ASUU that the FG would accept many of their demands but flexibility is needed to implement the rest. They left the meeting happy and said they would discuss the progress with their other organs. But they had delayed in moving forward. The blame is no longer in on the FG. ASUU should come forward with what they think of the FG’s commitment so far.”

     

  • BREAKING: FG orders CJN to vacate office, to be arraigned before CCT Monday

    The Federal Government has asked the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, to immediately vacate his exalted office as Head of the Nation’s judiciary over alleged sundry asset declaration issues.
    In a move to force Justice Onnoghen out of office, the Federal Government will on January 14, 2019 arraign the CJN before the Justice Danladi Yakubu-led Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja on charges of failure to declare his assets as required by law and for operating Domiciliary Accounts.
    The charge, sighted by PRNigeria against Justice Onnoghen, has already been filed and served on him on Friday at his official residence in Abuja, preparatory for his appearance at the tribunal.
    The Federal Government among others is accusing Nigeria’s Head of the Judiciary of refusal to declare his assets in breach of the provision of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act.
    He is also being accused of maintaining domiciliary accounts made up of Dollars, Pound Sterling and Euro Accounts, which are alleged to be contrary to relevant laws, especially for public office holders.
    Justice Onnoghen, whose appointment suffered unprecedented delay by President Muhammadu Buhari over undisclosed issues, may be the first CJN in Nigeria to be arraigned for criminal charges by the Federal Government.
    Apart from putting the Chief Justice in the dock on Monday, PRNigeria learnt that a motion on notice is to be filed against him, praying the tribunal to order him to vacate office and recuse himself of the office so as to prevent alleged interference in his arraignment and trial.
    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who sought anonymity, has been engaged by the Federal Government to lead the onslaught against Justice Onnoghen, while PRNigeria could not ascertain the names of those who will lead the defence team for the CJN.
    It was gathered that eminent lawyers have volunteered to put their services at the disposal of Justice Onnoghen in the bid to rescue him from the claws of the government.
    It would be recalled the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, was in 2015 shortly after he emerged the head of the legislature arraigned at the tribunal.
    But the charges against him were quashed and he was discharged and acquitted by the tribunal on the ground that the charges against him by the government were based on hearsay that could not stand in the face of the law.
    Saraki’s discharge and acquittal was upheld by the Supreme Court under the leadership of Justice Onnoghen.

  • Minimum wage: FG, Labour meeting inconclusive, to reconvene on Monday

    Negotiation between the Federal Government and organized labour on the N30,000 minimum wage remained inconclusive at the end of another round of meeting last night in Abuja.

    Both sides are scheduled to reconvene on Monday to take a final decision on the grey areas.

    Labour Minister, Chris Ngige, told reporters at the end of a five -hour long meeting yesterday that substantial progress had been made in the discussion and that all that is left is a final resolution.

    Ngige said there was no deadlock as the two sides agreed on most of the issues tabled for discussion and only adjourned to allow for further consultations.

    He said President Muhammadu Buhari wanted the issue thrashed out and he would not have set up the tripartite committee on the minimum wage if he was not interested in the matter in the first place.

    Also speaking, NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, dismissed any idea that the meeting was deadlocked.

    His words: “The meeting decided to adjourn and reconvene on Monday for us to do further consultations before the issues are concluded. We have discussed all the issues and all the grey areas, particularly how we can ensure that the issue is put behind us.

    “That is why we took such a long time, including having a timeout to consult. But we have not been able to conclude and we have agreed to reconvene to tidy up the process.

    “The issue at stake is to make sure that the bill is transmitted and also other auxiliary issues that government says they are trying to put together. We also want to see how the money gets into the pocket of our workers because a lot of economic factors have affected the current wage.

    “But the major issue is that we have been able to have a meaningful social dialogue. But the process is not conclusive and will reconvene on Monday.

    “Monday is not too far from now since today is Friday.”

    He said the outcome of Monday’s meeting would determine whether labour would proceed with its planned rallies on Tueday.

    Continuing, he said: “Part of the report that was submitted is all inclusive of the main report and draft bill. But those processes which they need to ensure that a clean bill is transmitted to the National Assembly and what they now termed some physical issues are what we will tidy up on Monday. So, let us wait for that Monday.”

    The meeting started at about 12.50 pm with several breaks in between to allow for consultations with stakeholders including President Buhari.

    The labour leaders insisted on a definite date when the government will transmit the minimum wage bill to the National Assembly, a decision the three ministers present could not take on their own.

    Addressing the meeting earlier, Ngige said the President was committed to giving Nigerian workers a new minimum wage.

    He said however that in addressing the issue, the government wanted to ensure that the new minimum wage was sustainable.

    He said “I do realise that this is still part of the Christmas period and that people are still on holiday. You can see the two ministers in charge of government resources. The Minister of Budget and National Planning and the Minister of Finance. Mr. President specifically asked them to be part of this meeting. We had to cut short our vacation because of the need for us to discuss.

    “You know that people can go to war when there is lack of information and in the process, people can misconstrue and speculate. We called this meeting as a result of the communique issued by the Joint Labour Centres after your executive meeting in Lagos when you informed government that you are not happy with the implementation processes of the report of the tripartite committee.”

    President of the NLC, Comrade Aruba Wabba said the organised labour has always wanted all issues of industrial relations resolved through dialogue, adding that the issue on ground has nothing to do with money, but the process leading to the final outcome.

    Wabba said “Clearly, we have always believed in social dialogue in resolving industrial relations issues. From the beginning of the issue of this new national minimum wage which was legally due in 2016, labour has demonstrated enough patience and understanding and has followed all the processes to make sure that we are able to dispense with this issue.”

  • Christmas: 201 FRSC mobile courts to begin sitting Monday – Corps Marshal

    The 201 mobile courts set up by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), nationwide to prosecute traffic offenders during the yuletide season, will begin sitting on Monday.

    Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshal of the FRSC, was on a nationwide tour , disclosed this on Saturday in Ibadan during his visit to Oyo State, in an effort to ensure free flow of traffic nationwide during the yuletide season.

    The Corps Marshal said all his personnel would be mobilized to ensure motorist obey traffic rules and urged road users to comply with traffic regulations so as not to spend their Christmas and New Year in prison custody.

    He called for maximum punishment for any motorists that assault any of his personnel, saying 71 of his officers were assaulted by motorists from January till date as a result of malicious behaviour of some road users.

    Oyeyemi advised motorists to cooperate with FRSC personnel as we move towards the end of year 2018.

    He said the commission has been able to bring down the number of road traffic crashes to single digit in 2018 compared to 2017, saying this was an indication that an appreciable achievement had been achieved.

    Oyeyemi said the FRSC was embarking on critical assessment of key federal roads nationwide in which Lagos-Ibadan Express way tour-gate, Iwo road express way were among in order to ensure free flow of traffic during yuletide period.

    “I am satisfied with the level of operation so far and we are complying with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure free flow of traffic and reduce road crashes.

    `I have set down full enforcements to ensure removal of obstruction from high ways, proper manning of all diversion areas so that we don’t experience gridlock and rescue team fully activated among others,’’ Oyeyemi said.

    Oyeyemi urged road users to plan their journey and not to be in haste to complete the journey of four hours in two hours, saying most federal roads were now undergoing repair and motorist may not spend the normal time they spent when traffic was light.

    He promised prompt response of the commission whenever there was traffic obstruction or road crashes and appealed to motorists to cooperate adequately.

    Oyeyemi also urged the FRSC personnel conduct themselves in a professional manner.

     

  • Strike: FG meets with ASUU again on Monday

    The federal government will meet with the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) on Monday December 10, over the ongoing nationwide strike.

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, made this known in a statement signed by the Director of Press in the Ministry, Samuel Olowookere, in Abuja.

    Mr Ngige said that all further discussions between the Ministry of Education and ASUU would now reconvene at 4 p.m. at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

    The minister also condemned a statement credited to a lawyer, Femi Falana, who was alleged to have described as illegal the enforcement of section 43:1 of the Trade Dispute Act 2004 on the’’ No Work No Pay’’

    Mr Falana was also said to have asked the federal government to immediately withdraw what he termed an “illegal order”.

    The minister, however, said that the law of ‘’No Work, No Pay,’’ was a fundamental axiom in labour and industrial relations all over the world.

    He said that the ministry would investigate the media report credited to Mr Falana to ascertain whether he actually quoted the Supreme Court judgments.

    “That is knowing that they are tangential and that they neither anchor nor dwell on provisions of section 43 of Trade Dispute Act T8(LFN 2004) before it will take further necessary action, ” he said.

    On December 4, the meeting between the Federal Government and ASUU ended without any conclusio.

    Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU National President, while speaking with reporters at the end of the meeting in Abuja noted that negotiations were still ongoing. He said both parties were yet to reach a concrete decision.

    “For now, we have started to discuss. We are yet to reach any concrete decision. Once we have more information, we will make ourselves available to the press.

    “The union will reconvene very soon to continue negotiations,” he said.

    The meeting held at the instance of the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu was to find lasting solution to the ongoing strike by the university lecturers.

    ASUU had on November 4, embarked on an indefinite strike over poor funding of Nigerian universities and non-implementation of previous agreements by government.

     

  • FAAN to temporarily redirect arrival vehicular movements at Lagos Airport Monday

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says vehicular movements on the arrival floor of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos will be redirected effective 8:00 a.m. on November 26, due to ongoing construction works.

    FAAN made the announcement in a statement signed by its General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Henrietta Yakubu, in Lagos on Friday.

    Mrs Yakubu said the construction was aimed at enhancing facilitation and improving travel experience at the nation’s busiest airport.

    She said: “To this effect, a temporary Arrival Pick Up Zone in the old car park (opposite the terminal building), will be opened.

    “Consequently, arriving passengers will, as usual, exit the halls through Arrival Gate D but will no longer be able to turn left, as the left axis will be closed, due to construction.

    “All passengers after exiting from Arrival Gate D, will now turn right and proceed to the old car park (opposite the terminal building), where a temporary pick up zone has been created.’’

    Mr Yakubu noted that to ensure seamless vehicular movement as this phase of the construction was going on, FAAN had already mobilised relevant security agencies to assist in ensuring improved landside facilitation.

    “While we appeal to all airport users to cooperate with the security agencies on ground and ensure compliance to driving/parking rules, we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause them,’’ she said.

     

  • BREAKING: ICPC to arraign OAU’s sex-for-marks professor in Osun on Monday

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission is set to arraign a former lecturer of the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Prof. Richard Akindele, at the Federal High Court, Osogbo, for allegedly demanding sex from one of his students, Ms. Monica Osagie, in order to upgrade her academic result from fail to pass.

    The ICPC said in a statement that Akindele will be arraigned on Monday on three charges having been accused of using his position as a lecturer in the Department of Management and Accounting to demand sexual benefit from a student and fraudulently upgrade her result in Research Method course which she supposedly failed in 2017.

    The commission said that his actions were contrary to Sections 8 (1) (a) (ii), and 18 (d) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and are punishable under the same sections.

    One of the counts reads, “That you, professor Akindele, on or about the 16th day of September, 2017 at Ile-Ife did corruptly ask for sexual benefits for yourself from Ms. Monica Osagie on account of favour to be afterwards shown to her by you in the discharge of your official duties as a lecturer in the Department of Management and Accounting, Obafemi Awolowo University, to wit; altering her academic grades in the course with code MBA 632- Research Method from fail to pass; and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 8(1)(a)(ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

    The 57-year-old professor has asked for plea-bargain having admitted guilt. He also cited ill-health as a factor that may make him unable to stand the rigours of prison life, notifying the Commission through his lawyer, Omotayo Alade-Fawole.

  • Minimum wage: Economic management team, governors meet on Monday

    Members of the Economic Management Team will on Monday meet state governors on the issue of new National Minimum Wage.
     
    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, disclosed this in an interview with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
     
    The meeting will hold ahead of the November 6 commencement date of a nationwide industrial action called by labour unions on the matter.
     
    Ngige insisted that no final decision has been taken on the matter.
     
    The minister also threatened that the government will not hesitate to implement the ‘No work, no pay’ rule which he claimed started during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

  • Alleged N6.3bn fraud: Ex-Plateau gov, Jang appears in Court on Monday

    Alleged N6.3bn fraud: Ex-Plateau gov, Jang appears in Court on Monday

    A former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, will be arraigned on Monday at the Plateau State High Court in Jos, after he would have spent 168 hours (one week) in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Abuja, a family source has said.

    “Jonah David Jang has not been released. The case is coming up on Monday and he will be arraigned before Justice Daniel Longji of Plateau State High Court in Jos on the 12 counts filed against him by the EFCC,” the source said.

    The EFCC had preferred 12 charges against him over an alleged fraud amounting to about N6.3bn.

    The ex-governor, who currently represents Plateau-North Senatorial District, allegedly embezzled some special funds released to the state by the Central Bank of Nigeria. He was said to have perpetrated the fraud two months to the end of his tenure as governor in 2015.

    Jang, in a motion on notice filed by his team of lawyers led by Christopher Eichie, Yakubu Philemon and Kola Oseni, before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja to enforce his fundamental human rights, said he was diabetic.

    He asked the court to order the EFCC to pay him N500m in damages for his detention without trial and to offer him public apology in two national newspapers.

    In a related development, the General Overseer of the Evangelical Outreach Ministries International, Prophet Isa El-Buba, has said that Nigerians seeking to contest the Presidency in the 2019 general elections with President Muhammadu Buhari should expect mass arrest.

    He also warned that Nigeria would soon cease to exist if the trend of killings and attacks on Christians by suspected Fulani herdsmen in different parts of the country continued unchecked.

    El-Buba said this in an interview with journalists in Jos, while reacting to the continued detention of Jang by the EFCC, without trial.

    He said, “The continued detention of Jang without trial is jungle justice. One thing I know about Jang is that he can fight injustice and oppression. The Bible is very clear; a government that establishes itself on the seat of righteousness and justice will live.

    “But a government that establishes itself on injustice and unrighteousness will be taken off and this is what we are going to see. As we prepare for the 2019 elections, Nigerians should expect mass arrest. Anybody seeking election should be ready for arrest.

    “I don’t see any reason why the EFCC should continue to keep Jang without arraignment. There is no reason for the confinement of Jang because he has always shown up whenever he is invited.”