Friday, January 4, 2019
Lagos Budget: Allegation by state govt baseless — Lawmakers (Vanguard)
The Lagos State House of Assembly, yesterday, described the allegation by the state government that its refused to form a statutory quorum to receive the 2019 Appropriation Bill as baseless and does not hold water.
Recall that the State Government had accused the Assembly for delaying the presentation of 2019 Appropriation Bill.
Reacting to the allegations, some lawmakers, who spoke with Vanguard on the condition of anonymity, said the House has not relented to discharge its statutory obligations in the business of law making. Read more
Labour begins consultation, mobilisation ahead of Tuesday’s strike (Punch)
The organised labour on Friday said it has started mobilisation of members ahead of the January 8 strike over payment of the agreed N30,000 New Minimum Wage.
A News Agency of Nigeria correspondent who visited some of the labour unions in Lagos gathered that workers had been informed on the strategic roles to play while awaiting further instructions. Read more
Dino Melaye leaves residence, meets IG (Punch)
Eight days after holing up at his residence to avoid arrest by policemen for alleged culpable homicide, Senator Dino Melaye has left his Maitama home to meet with the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, at the Force headquarters.
It was gathered that senators who visited the lawmaker at his residence on Friday went with Melaye to see the Police boss, apparently to resolve his issues with the Force. Read more
Falana: No Federalism in Minimum Wage (ThisDay)
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana, has said there is no federalism when it comes to the payment of living wages to workers in the country, stressing that it is wrong for state governments to insist that each state should be allowed to pay what they can afford as minimum wage.
The senior lawyer has also urged the senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, to submit himself to the police for arrest without further delay so as to end the needless drama and the unwarranted inconvenience to which his family members and neighbours have been subjected for the past six days. Read more
General Poll: INEC REC Tasks Electoral Officers On Best Practise (Independent)
Dr Frankland Briyai, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in Cross River, has urged Electoral Officers (EOs) in the state to maintain international best practice during February’s general election.
He made this known on Friday, in Calabar, at the opening of a one–day workshop for INEC staff and EOs from the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state. Read more
We want to handover power to the poor in Kwara – Amaechi (DailyTrust)
The Director General, Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Organisation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi has said that the 2019 elections in Kwara and by extension, Nigeria are between the rich and the poor.
He added that the rich and thieves have ganged-up against the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government in the country.
Amaechi said this in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital at the inauguration of APC ward canvassers ahead of 2019 general elections in the state. Read more
Buhari, IGP in a closed door meeting (Vanguard)
President Muhammadu Buhari, Friday, met with the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris. Idris who has worked for thirty-five years, was supposed to retire yesterday, 3rd of January. Read more
Oshiomhole, Amaechi, others in Jos to flag-off Plateau APC gov campaign (Vanguard)
Mr Adams Oshiomhole, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Mr Chibuike Amaechi, the Director-General of Buhari Campaign Organisation on Friday `stormed’ Jos, Plateau, to flag-off the re-election campaign of Gov. Simon Lalong. Sen. George Akume and Mr Hadi Serika were also at the campaign. Oshiomhole-amaechi Dame Pauline Tallen, a one-time Deputy Governorship of the state led a delegation from the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari to the event. Read more
Police arraign 2 boys for stealing phone at Sabo (DailyTrust)
Osun State Police Command on Friday arraigned an 18-year-old boy, Mogaji Shuaibu and his 22-year-old brother, Muhammed Tasu for stealing a phone at Sabo in Osogbo, Osun state.
Police prosecutor Fagboyinbo Abiodun explained that the accused persons committed the offense on 1st of January 2018 at about 6:30pm.
Fagboyinbo said the accused conspired among themselves to steal a Nokia phone valued N10,000 and a cash sum of N9,500 property of one Miss Sham Shiya. Read more
HIV/AIDS: Nigerians tasked on Mother-To-Child-Transmission prevention (Vanguard)
The Federal Ministry of Health has tasked Nigerians on the need for collective efforts to prevent Mother-To-Child-Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV/AIDS.
Dr Olugbenga Ijaodola, Assistant Director, Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) at the Ministry said this in an interview with newsmen on Friday in Abuja. Ijaodola said that the United Nations Secretary-General had affirmed that everyone must ensure that pregnant women have a success story in the course of their journey through pregnancy. Read more
Weak dollar, Saudi supply cuts push oil price to $55 (ThisDay)
After early slide, crude oil prices rebounded Thursday as dollar weakness and signs of production cuts by the world’s top crude exporter, Saudi Arabia, eased concerns about excess supply in the global market.
The dollar was said to have added support as it slipped against a basket of currencies, making dollar-denominated oil cheaper for holders of other currencies. Read more
Buhari will transmit minimum wage bill to N’Assembly, Ngige assures Labour (ThisDay)
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, has told organised labour that President Muhammadu Buhari will definitely transmit the minimum wage bill to the National Assembly.
He said that the federal government is presently trying to iron out a few issues regarding the new minimum wage in order to ensure that there is no hitch in it its implementation. Read more
LMC insists on Jan 13 kick off date for NPFL (DailyTrust)
The League Management Company (LMC) says the proposed January 13 kick-off date of 2018/2019 Nigeria Professional Football League will stand, even as the NNL Super 8 will now hold in Aba on January 5 and end January 8.
The new season has been postponed twice before the new January 13 date was fixed and the new date was under threat due to the disagreement between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and eight NNL teams who are expected to participate in the Super 8 billed for the commercial city of Aba. Read more
Pinnick: We’re Perceived as Criminals over World Cup Budget (ThisDay)
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick, has lamented that the leadership of the federation was harassed like bunch of criminals following accusation that it failed to account for the N1. 6 billion 2018 World Cup budget.
Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, a week ago, threatened that government would not release more funds to the Pinnick-led NFF until it duly accounts for the money granted it for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Read more
Kwara United FC unveils 18 new players (DailyTrust)
Kwara United Football Club has unveiled 18 new players ahead of the 2018/2019 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.
Among the newly recruited players are Oki Olaoluwa from Kwara United Feeders Team, Kehinde Olajuyin from Ekiti United, Yusuf Muhammad from Kano Pillars, Kenneth Okoli from Ifeanyi United, Muhammad Hussaini from Katsina United and Sunday Emmanuel from Sunshine Stars Football Club. Read more
Ahmed Musa Opens 2019 Goal Chart with a Brace (ThisDay)
Ahmed Musa scored twice as Al Nassr spanked hosts Al Jandal 6-0 in the King’s Cup yesterday in Saudi Arabia.
The 26-year-old Super Eagles star last scored in the Saudi topflight league in November.
He has now netted five goals in 14 league appearances and his club is second on the table with 33 points from 15 matches, three points behind leaders Al Hilal. Read more