TheNewsGuru

Tag: Monday

  • Feyenoord to unveil former Arsenal striker, Robin van Persie Monday

    Feyenoord to unveil former Arsenal striker, Robin van Persie Monday

    Robin van Persie will officially sign for Feyenoord on Monday after agreeing to rejoin his boyhood club.

    The former Arsenal striker has sealed a move back to where his senior career began after Turkish side Fenerbache allowed him to terminate his contract, which was set to expire in June 2019.

    Feyenoord announced the Van Persie deal in style, by posting a video on their Twitter page of the striker’s best moments for the club

    Van Persie joined Eredivisie outfit Feyenoord back in 1999 when he was just 16, going on to make 78 appearances for the first team before signing for Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal in 2004.

    The Dutch striker has enjoyed a fine career since leaving Feyenoord, netting 132 goals in 278 appearances for the Gunners before making the unfamiliar move to rivals Manchester United, where he won the Premier League in his first season.

    However, since leaving the English top flight to join Fenerbahce, Van Persie’s career has failed to reach the same heights.

    The 34-year-old failed to win any silverware in Turkey and has fallen down the pecking order at Fenerbahce.

    But now, the former Premier League man has been given another chance to showcase his abilities once again with Feyenoord.

    The reigning Eredivisie champions will be hoping that the return of Van Persie, Holland’s all-time top goalscorer, can revitalise their season after a disappointing campaign to date.

    Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side currently sits fifth in Eredivisie, 14 points behind league leaders PSV Eindhoven.

     

  • Bleak yuletide as PENGASSAN insists on nationwide strike Monday

    Bleak yuletide as PENGASSAN insists on nationwide strike Monday

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria on Saturday insisted that its planned industrial action will commence on Monday.

    The group however, noted that it was ready to discuss with the government and other concerned organisations on the strike.

    According to PENGASSAN, nothing has changed since it issued a statement to announce that its meeting with the Federal Government to avert the strike ended in a stalemate.

    This is coming as the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Ndu Ughamadu, told newsmen that the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Maikanti Baru, has been meeting with the unions in the oil sector to ensure stability in the industry.

    Ughamadu was optimistic that the NNPC would be able to persuade the association to rescind its decision to embark on strike by Monday, as the planned industrial action had led to panic buying in Abuja.

    He said long queues of motorists had been noticed at the few filling stations that dispensed petrol on Saturday.

    PENGASSAN on Friday announced that it would embark on an indefinite strike on Monday, following a stalemate in the peace meeting which the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, brokered between the union and Neconde Energy Limited.

    The oil union and Neconde had been embroiled in crisis over allegation of anti-worker practices.

    The union alleged that the management of Neconde wrongly terminated the employment of some of its workers, and threatened to go on strike if the sacked workers were not recalled within 72 hours.

    The issue made the government to initiate a meeting between the two parties in Abuja last week, but the meeting ended in a deadlock.

    When asked if the union would halt the strike should the government meet with its officials on the matter, the Public Relations Officer, PENGASSAN, Fortune Obi replied, “One thing you should know is that at PENGASSAN, we are a body of professionals and we are open to discussion at all times because we believe in dialogue. We keep our doors open for effective discussions and that has been our style.”

    Meanwhile, many motorists queued for petrol on Saturday, as some users of the commodity said they were stockpiling fuel in order to have enough should PENGASSAN embark on strike on Monday.

    “It’s better to stockpile fuel now because PENGASSAN is going on strike by Monday, and once that happens, the fuel scarcity situation will worsen,” said one of the motorists at the largest NNPC mega station along the Kubwa-Zuba Expressway identified only as Sam.

     

  • Lagos gets new Commissioner of Justice Monday

    …As Justice Atilade bows out of service

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State will,on Monday, swear-in Justice Opeyemi Oke as the Acting Chief Judge of the State.

    Justice Oke, who is the most senior judge of the State Judiciary, is taking over in an acting capacity following the retirement of Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade who will attain the statutory retirement age tomorrow, September 24, 2017.

    Justice Atilade on Monday paid a visit to the Governor at Lagos House to officially announce her retirement from the State’s judiciary.

    Receiving the outgoing CJ, Governor Ambode pledged his administration’s determination to prioritize the welfare of serving and retired judges in the State to enable them continue to give their very best to the economic prosperity of the State.

    He said that over the last two years, concerted efforts have been put in place geared towards reforms in the judiciary to improve on their service delivery, noting that the Lagos State Judiciary had become a reference point of how the judiciary should run.

    “Reforms in the judiciary is a continuous thing and in areas, in which we have not done utmost well as you so much envisioned, we would improve on them and we would also ensure that we make life comfortable for our retired judges as you move into that club. I am very particular about the welfare of judges, that is a very sacred institution that we must continue to ensure that even in retirement there is so much for them to look back for the efforts they have made,” Governor Ambode said.

  • Eid-el-Kabir: FG declares Friday, Monday public holidays

    Eid-el-Kabir: FG declares Friday, Monday public holidays

    The Federal Government has declared Friday, September 1 and Monday, September 4, 2017 as public holidays to mark the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

    The Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.), made the declaration on behalf of the government in a statement on Monday in Abuja by the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Rufa’i Attahiru.

    Dambazau congratulated Muslims and urged all Nigerians to use the occasion to pray for peace, unity, prosperity and the stability of democracy.

    He admonished the citizens to join hands with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari “in its avowed determination to build a peaceful and harmonious country, where the rights of every citizen are protected and guaranteed,” as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    The minister assured Nigerians of their safety in all parts of the country, emphasising that security agencies have been directed to maintain the peace and protect lives and property.

    “He condemned in strong terms the prevalence of hate speeches in the country and warned that the government would henceforth deal with perpetrators according to the law, while emphasising that the government would continue to foster peaceful coexistence, national cohesion and stability in its march towards actualizing the full potential of Nigeria,” the statement said.

    Dambazau wished all Nigerians a rewarding and happy celebration.

  • Buhari’s Monday broadcast: Three key things to know

    President Muhammadu Buhari addressed Nigerians in a nationwide broadcast on Monday morning, two days after returning to the country from the United Kingdom.

    The President had been in London for 103 days to treat an undisclosed ailment, before returning to Nigeria on Saturday.

    Buhari in the nationwide broadcast to the nation today, gave us three major hints about how he will react to some of the national issues [Restructuring, security, and secession plans by some ethnic groups] bothering Nigeria as a country.

    1. Buhari frowns at separatist movements, those making hate speeches

      Prominent in the Buhari’s first speech to Nigerians today is his preparedness to deal with separatist movements, as well as those who are making inflammatory statements which threaten Nigeria’s unity and stability.not mincing words as regarding those making hate speeches and separatists movement, he said while in London, he kept in touch with Nigeria, but was distressed to notice that some of the comments, especially on social media, have crossed national red lines by daring to question Nigeria’s collective existence as a nation.

      His words “2003 after I joined partisan politics, the late Chief Emeka Ojukwu came and stayed as my guest in my hometown Daura. Over two days we discussed in great depth till late into the night and analyzed the problems of Nigeria. We both came to the conclusion that the country must remain one and united.

      Nigeria’s unity is settled and not negotiable. We shall not allow irresponsible elements to start trouble and when things get bad they run away and saddle others with the responsibility of bringing back order, if necessary with their blood.

      Every Nigerian has the right to live and pursue his business anywhere in Nigeria without let or hindrance.

      I believe the very vast majority of Nigerians share this view.”

    2. Buhari not ready to lead talks on restructuring

      In the national broadcast which lasted approximately six minutes, Buhari communicated that he is unwilling to lead or welcome talks on the restructuring of Nigeria.

      Though the President admitted there are grievances in some quarters of the country, he, however, refused to take responsibility for leading the talks to act on the agitations for restructuring by pushing the topic back to Nigerians and the National Assembly.

      He said, “ This is not to deny that there are legitimate concerns. Every group has a grievance. But the beauty and attraction of a federation is that it allows different groups to air their grievances and work out a mode of co-existence.

      The National Assembly and the National Council of State are the legitimate and appropriate bodies for national discourse.

      The national consensus is that it is better to live together than to live apart.”

    3. Intensify fight against terrorism

      Another key area where President Buhari again stated what he will do clearly is on security. The President acknowledged Nigeria still suffers setbacks in his anti-terrorism fights.

      Buhari speaks, “I am charging the Security Agencies not to let the successes achieved in the last 18 months be a sign to relax.

      Terrorists and criminals must be fought and destroyed relentlessly so that the majority of us can live in peace and safety.

      Therefore we are going to reinforce and reinvigorate the fight not only against; elements of Boko Haram which are attempting a new series of attacks on soft targets, kidnappings, farmers versus herdsmen clashes; in addition to ethnic violence fuelled by political mischief makers. We shall tackle them all.

      Finally, dear Nigerians, our collective interest now is to eschew petty differences and come together to face common challenges of; economic security, political evolution, and integration; as well as lasting peace among all Nigerians.

      I remain resolutely committed to ensuring that these goals are achieved and maintained. I am so glad to be home.”

     

     

  • 2019: PDP holds expanded national caucus, BOT, NEC meetings on Monday

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has fixed its expanded National Caucus, Board of Trustees (BoT), and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings for tomorrow, Monday, July 17.

    The National Secretary of PDP National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ben Obi and the National Secretary of the BoT, Ambassador Aminu Wali, in a joint notice said the meeting of the expanded National Caucus will take place at 8 a.m, at PDP National Secretariat (Wadata Plaza), Abuja.

    Those invited to attend the meeting are former presidents and vice presidents, PDP governors, NEC members, BoT members, National Assembly members, former PDP governors, former PDP ministers and all former national officers of the party.

    The BOT and NEC will also separate meetings on Tuesday, July 18, at the same venue.

     

  • Melaye: INEC begins recall process Monday

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday, insisted it would go ahead with the recall process of Senator Dino Melaye, as the Commission is yet to be served any court ruling to halt the recall.

    The recall process is expected to begin on Monday, July 10.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja had on Thursday, rejected Melaye’s ex-parte motion for a temporary injunction to restrain INEC from proceeding with the recall process.

    Tsoho only asked the parties to maintain the status quo, pending the hearing of the Motion on Notice.

    A top official of the electoral commission who spoke to The Nation, stated that the recall process will go ahead.

    “As at the close of work, we were not served any order, ruling or a process from the Federal High Court.

    “Even if we had received any order from the court, our legal unit will still advise us on what the status quo means. We cannot act in vacuum.

    “Certainly, we are adhering to our timetable on the recall process. We are going ahead from Monday.

    “Any time we get a court order to stop the process, we will comply immediately,” the source said.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the timetable released by the INEC for Melaye’s recall process will run from July 10 to August 19.

     

  • Eid el-Fitr: FG declares Monday, Tuesday public holiday

    The Federal Government has declared Monday, June 26 and Tuesday, June 27 as Public Holiday to mark Eid el Fitr.

    Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau made the annnouncement on behalf of the Federal Government on Thursday in Abuja.

    He‎ enjoined all Muslim faithful and Nigerians in general to use the occasion of the celebration for sober reflection and pray for peace, unity and progress of the nation in its march to nationhood.

    Dambazau urged all Nigerians to shun hate speeches and divisive tendencies and join hands with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to build a peaceful, strong and united Nigeria.

    He assured of a Nigeria, ‎which guarantees fundamental freedoms, including the right of residence in any part of the country, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    ‎The minister reaffirmed the determination of the Federal Government to protect all lives and property of Nigerians.

    He warned hoodlums not to test the will of the administration.

    The minister said the government has the capability to deploy security agencies to deal with any individual or group that may threaten the corporate existence of the nation, as well as the peaceful co-existence of the people.

    He ‎further assured Nigerians of the government’s resolve to be just and fair to all.

    The minister wished Nigerians a peaceful and rewarding celebration.

     

     

    NAN

  • Democracy Celebrations: FG declares Monday public holiday

    The Federal Government has declared Monday, May 29,2017 as a public holiday to celebrate the 2017 Democracy Day.

    Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.) in a statement on Thursday in Abuja congratulated Nigerians for witnessing yet another Democracy Day which marked the second anniversary of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

    Dambazau in the statement by the Director Overseeing the Permanent Secretary’s Office, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido assured Nigerians of the government’s continued efforts towards guaranteeing security, revitalizing the economy and tackling corruption.

    He noted that a lot had been achieved in the area of security, particularly in the northeast, and in tackling corruption, adding that recent statistics by the National Bureau of Statistics indicated tremendous improvement in the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.

    The minister said, “No doubt, the nation is closer to getting out of recession, particularly with the recently launched Economic Recovery and Growth Plan which seeks to revitalize the nation’s economy soonest.

    “With the recently signed Executive Orders on Ease of Doing Business, we have opened our doors wider for both domestic and foreign investors.”

    Dambazau admonished the citizens to join hands with President Buhari “in his sustained efforts in building a peaceful and enduring democratic legacy.”

    He wished all Nigerians a happy Democracy Day celebration.

  • Tankers drivers’ strike will hold as scheduled on Monday – NUPENG

    Tankers drivers’ strike will hold as scheduled on Monday – NUPENG

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has said its Petroleum Tanker Drivers had been mobilised to ensure no movement of petroleum tankers as their nationwide strike begins on Monday.

    Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, the South-West Chairman of NUPENG Lagos Council, made the assertion on Sunday in an interview with the newsmen in Lagos.

    According to Korodo, all the tanker drivers have abandoned their trucks in respect of the indefinite strike which will begin on Monday unless the Federal Government intervenes.


    The chairman said the drivers were forced to down tools due to unresolved issues concerning their welfare, poor remuneration, insecurity and bad roads.

    “The tanker drivers for the past three years have been appealing to the Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to increase their salary but they refused on the ground that spare parts had increased.

    “NARTO said that government has not increased their fares, so they will not increase their salary.

    “Apart from this, most of the roads they ply are bad and this has resulted in accidents or damaging their trucks.

    “The activities of the official of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on the roads is not helping the matter,’’ Korodo told NAN.

    “The tanker drivers are forced to break the seal of their product on the pretext that they were carrying adulterated product.

    “Most of these drivers are harassed by these officers, at times the tanker and the driver will be detained for close to a month,’’ he said.

    Korodo also said that more than 2,000 staff of Capital Oil and Gas Ltd., were on the line due to their closure by the Federal Government due to some issues between the company and NNPC.

    He said that the union wanted the government to resolve the matter so that the company would be opened and the staff and tanker drivers would resume duty.

    The chairman, however, said that the strike would not affect activities in filling stations, depots or refineries across the nation.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the PTD branch of the NUPENG had on Friday (March 31) said they would begin a nationwide strike on Monday (April 3).

    NUPENG’s President, Mr Igwe Achese, announced this in a communique in Lagos at the end of its Central Working Committee meeting held at the union’s secretariat in Yaba.

    The communique said the strike would draw the attention of the Federal Government and other stakeholders to some unresolved issues bordering on the welfare of workers, bad roads, poor remuneration, insecurity and the alleged excesses of some security agencies.