Lagos APC to PDP: Sanwo-Olu is prepared (Nation)
The Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday objected to the remark by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that its governorship flag bearer, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is “an emergency candidate that is unprepared for the job”. The party insisted that Sanwo-Olu is more qualified to rule the state than the PDP candidate, Jimi Agbaje, who it said, lacked a public sector experience. Read more
Labour suspends strike, tripartite panel submits report to Buhari today (Punch)
Organised labour has called off the nationwide industrial action scheduled to commence on Tuesday (today) to press home workers’ demand for a new national minimum wage. The National Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba, announced the suspension at the end of the 10pm meeting of the tripartite committee set up to come up with the new minimum wage on Monday. Read more
Navy seizes N46m worth of contraband rice (Nation)
Men of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory, Calabar, have seized 3039 bags of contraband foreign rice worth about N46 million in Bakassi Local Government of Cross River State. The Commander of NNS Victory, Commodore Julius Nwagu, who said the seizure is the largest so far by the Navy in the state, vowed that they would not relent in their war against importation of foreign rice. Read more
Court declines Labour’s request to compel payment of N30,000 (Nation)
Labour’s plan for a strike suffered a setback in court as its request for an order to compel the government to pay N30,000 minumum wage was turned down. Besides, air traffic controllers declined to join the strike. Senate President Bukola Saraki and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar cautioned Labour leaders. Read more
Withdraw from politics or be withdrawn, Wike warns monarchs (Vanguard)
Governor Nyesom Wike yesterday warned traditional rulers in Rivers State to desist from what he described as involvement in politics, saying he would not hesitate to move against any monarch found to be partisan. He also said traditional rulers would be held responsible for the conduct of operatives of the newly constituted Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Agency. Read more
Gana seeks Donald Duke’s nullification as SDP candidate (Nation)
FORMER Information Minister Prof. Jerry Gana has approached the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, seeking Donald Duke’s nullification as Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) presidential candidate. They argued that the process that produced the party’s flag bearer violated the SDP constitution. Duke, a former Cross River Governor, polled 812 votes to defeat his closed rival, Prof. Gana, who polled 611 votes at the party’s national convention held at Old Parade Ground, Abuja, on October 7. Read more
Union laments dearth of teachers in Niger (Vanguard)
Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Niger State, has appealed to the state government to embark on recruitment of teachers to save the education sector from total collapse. State Chairman of the union, Ibrahim Umar, who made the appeal in Minna yesterday, said the appeal became necessary because of shortage of teachers at the primary and secondary levels in the state. Read more
Government taken to West African court over ban on independent candidacy (Guardian)
A Group of Nigerians has taken the federal government to the Community Court of Justice, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Court) over its ban on independence candidacy. The Suit marked ECW/CCJ/APP/48/18 dated October 18 and filed the same day, was brought pursuant to Article II and IV of the supplementary protocol and Article 33 of the rules of the community court of justice. Read more
UN, others urge governments to end crimes against journalists (Guardian)
The unlawful detention, constant harassment, threats to life and intimidation media practitioners face across the globe is becoming more worrisome, and global, local groups and organisations have called on governments at all levels to ensure the safety of journalists. A report by UNESCO shows an increase in the number of journalists killed around the world in the last 12 years, saying this is a critical time to ensure journalists’ safety, as over 1,000 journalists were killed, with only 10 per cent of those responsible for the killings facing any trial. Read more
US vows ‘relentless’ pressure as sanctions resume (BBC)
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned that the US will exert “relentless” pressure on Iran unless it changes its “revolutionary course”. His comments came hours after the Trump administration restored all sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal, targeting core parts of Iran’s economy. Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani earlier struck a defiant tone, saying the country will “continue selling oil”. Read more
Bendel Insurance beat 3SC, edge closer to Premier League (Vanguard)
After eleven years in the lower league, Bendel Insurance Football Club, yesterday in Benin City, took a giant step towards a return to the top tier of Nigerian football, with a 2-1 victory over 3 SC Football Club. With the 2-1 Bendel Insurance secured three points to top their end of the NNL table but still have one more hurdle to cross to guarantee their place in the Premier League. Read more
Huddersfield end goal drought (BBC)
Huddersfield boss David Wagner says the win over Fulham – the club’s first of this Premier League season – is one of the most important they have achieved during his three years at the club. Timothy Fosu-Mensah’s headed own goal was Town’s first at home this season and lifted them off the bottom of the table at their opponents’ expense. Read more
USA Gymnastics ‘to be stripped of status’ (BBC)
The United States Olympic Committee is seeking to strip USA Gymnastics (USAG) of its status as a national governing body, saying “athletes deserve better”. In January ex-USAG team doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced to up to 175 years after nearly 160 women accused him of sexual abuse. His victims included Olympic champions Aly Raisman and Simone Biles. Read more
Seven jailed for rape in Akwa Ibom (Nation)
Seven persons have been jailed for rape in Akwa Ibom State, while 30 rape cases are ongoing in courts, Women Affairs and Social Welfare Commissioner Dr. Glory Edet has said. Edet, who disclosed this yesterday to our correspondent in Uyo, said the feat was achieved by the government between 2017 and this year. Read more
Truck crushes 2 primary school pupils in Makurdi (Vanguard)
Two pupils of LGEA Primary School, Low Cost, Makurdi, were yesterday crushed to death when a truck loaded with bags of beans fell on them, while on their way to school. The accident also left the mother of the children, who was taking them to school, in critical condition at the North Bank General Hospital. Read more