LASUTH resident doctors embark on warning strike (Punch)
Resident doctors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, on Monday embarked on a three-day warning strike, following the failure of the state government to recruit more house officers and resident doctors. The President, Association of Resident Doctors, LASUTH, Dr. Balogun Fatai, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Monday that the strike was total, involving both emergency and clinical operations in the hospital. He said that in spite of the agitations of the association and its meetings with the government and management officials, there were no signs that new resident doctors would be engaged in the hospital. Read more
Onnoghen: CCT adjourns trial indefinitely (Punch)
The Code of Conduct Tribunal has adjourned hearing in the case of false assets declaration filed against the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, indefinitely. The CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar, who announced the adjournment on Monday said it was in obedience to the interim order granted by the Court of Appeal, Abuja. The appellate court had on Thursday ordered the tribunal to stay proceedings pending ruling on an application to stay proceedings filed by Onnoghen. The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the tribunal had, on January 14, ruled that it had original jurisdiction to try the defendant. Read more
Buhari meets Mbaka in Abuja (Punch)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Ministry Enugu, at the State House, Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mbaka, who came into the villa in a private maroon BMW car, was accompanied by a lady. The outcome of the meeting between the president and Mbaka, which lasted about 35 minutes, was unknown at the time of filing this report. Mbaka, who did not speak to newsmen after the meeting, was once quoted as saying that “President Buhari is change, but former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is `bureau de change’.’’ Read more
JOHESU threatens strike on Jan 31, if FG fails to meet demands (Punch)
The Joint Health Sector Unions on Monday gave the Federal Government a January 31 deadline to resolve all disputes, and meet the unions’ outstanding demands, or face industrial action. JOHESU’s National Chairman, Mr Josiah Biobelemoye, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the government had failed to adjust college skills for its members. Biobelemoye also said that the government had withheld April and May 2018 salaries of some union members that participated in the last strike. Other demands by JOHESU include the age-long struggle for recognition of consultancy cadre for eligible health workers and other outstanding allowances. Read more
2019 polls: Corpers reject posting to Ohaji/Egbema – REC (Vanguard)
Members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, serving in Imo State, are reportedly refusing to serve as ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Ohaji/Egbema local area of the state, for security reasons. The Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Professor Francis Emeka Ezeonu, disclosed this yesterday, while addressing scores of youths and elites, who stormed the INEC Office, Owerri, on a peaceful demonstration. “I got very apprehensive when I heard that a lot of serving members of the NYSC in the local council area have refused to serve as INEC ad hoc staff. They cited lack of security as their reason for refusing to be posted to Ohaji/Egbema”, Professor Ezeonu said. Read more
UAE mocked over gender balance awards tweet featuring only men (BBC)
The UAE has been mocked over a tweet announcing the winners of awards for gender balance that featured only men. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s ruler, was shown congratulating the recipients of Best Personality Supporting Gender Balance, Best Federal Authority Supporting Gender Balance, and Best Gender Balance Initiative. The sheikh insisted women were “central to shaping the future of the country”. But many Twitter users questioned their apparent absence from the ceremony. Read more
Greek PM announces minimum pay rise as elections loom (Guardian)
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Monday announced an 11-percent rise in the minimum wage, the first after a decade of austerity and months ahead of legislative elections. Tsipras, whose party is trailing in opinion polls, said the minimum wage would increase from 586 euros ($668) to 650 euros from February. “Crushing workers is not the way to sustain growth and boost the economy,” he told the cabinet. “On the contrary, it’s a proven recipe for bankruptcy.” Read more
Celibacy not ‘optional’ for priests, says Pope (Vanguard)
Pope Francis said Monday celibacy for priests was a “gift to the Church” and not “optional”, nixing the prospect of married men being ordained. “Personally I think that celibacy is a gift to the Church,” the pope told journalists aboard his plane returning to the Vatican from Panama. “Secondly, I don’t think optional celibacy should be allowed. No,” he said. The pope nevertheless conceded “some possibilities for far flung places”, such as Pacific islands or the Amazon where “there is a pastoral necessity”. Read more
Will.i.am reveals tinnitus battle will eventually lead to irreversible hearing loss (Metro)
Will.i.am has opened up about his long battle with tinnitus. The Black Eyed Peas star has revealed doctors told him that the chronic condition, which causes a constant ringing sound in the ears, will eventually lead to irreversible hearing loss. He said: ‘I’m 43. When I went to the doctor and got an ear test, they said, “Your ears are that of someone a lot older.” In 2007, 2013 and this year, I got all my frequency tests and the curve … it’s proper loss.’ Read more
African Nations Cup adjusted for Ramadan, to begin on June 21 (Punch)
The dates for the 2019 African Nations Cup finals in Egypt have been moved back by a week, the Confederation of African Football said on Monday. The shift was reportedly to allow players to rest after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan is likely to begin on the evening of May 5 and end around June 4. Muslims observe fast during daylight hours over this period, which can have an effect on the performance of athletes. The expanded 24-team tournament will now kick-off on June 21 and run through to the final on July 19. Read more
Italy’s Salvini slams ‘mercenary’ Higuain for Chelsea move (Guardian)
Italy’s interior minister Matteo Salvini on Monday branded Argentina international Gonzalo Higuain a “mercenary” for leaving AC Milan for Premier League club Chelsea. “I’m glad that Higuain has gone and I hope we’ll never see him again in Milan because he really behaved in an unworthy manner,” Salvini, a staunch AC Milan supporter, told Italian radio. “I don’t like mercenaries in politics or football,” continued Salvini, who is also Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister. Higuain was loaned early in the season to AC Milan from Juventus following Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival in Turin. Read more
Juventus defender Bonucci doubt for Champions League with ankle sprain (Vanguard)
Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci could miss the Italian team’s Champions League last 16 first leg tie against Atletico Madrid after the club confirmed on Monday he has suffered an ankle sprain. The 31-year-old went off injured after half an hour in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Lazio in Rome. “Bonucci suffered a sprained right ankle … around the joint capsule,” Juventus said in a statement. According to reports the defender could be out of action for up to a month. The Italy international has already begun treatment but could miss the Champions League tie in Madrid on February 20. The second leg will be in Turin on March 12. Read more
Bale back with a bang as 10-man Madrid beat Espanyol (Guardian)
Gareth Bale needed just two minutes to mark his return from injury with a goal as 10-man Real Madrid held on for a 4-2 victory over Espanyol on Sunday. Bale had been out since January 3 with a calf strain but made an instant impact off the bench at the RCDE Stadium, where Karim Benzema continued his own rich vein of form by scoring twice. Sergio Ramos was also on target with a brilliant header before Leo Baptistao kept Espanyol in sight. Bale and Benzema seemed to have wrapped things up but Raphael Varane was sent off with 18 minutes left and substitute Roberto Rosales drove in to set up a nervy finish. Read more
Two in court for allegedly slapping policeman, tearing uniform (Punch)
Two men — Ifeanyi Uzoma, 33; and Chukwendu Njoku, 33; — charged with tearing a policeman’s uniform, were on Monday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court. Uzoma, a businessman, resident in Oshodi, and Njoku, a civil servant, who resides in Mushin, Lagos State, appeared before the Magistrate, Mrs M.O. Tanimola, on a two-count of obstruction of duty and conspiracy. Both men, however, pleaded not guilty and were admitted to a bail of N80,000 each with one surety each, who should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government. The prosecutor, Inspector Aondohemba Koti told the court that the accused committed the offences on January 21, at Papa-Ajao Street, Mushin, Lagos State. Read more
Suspected vandal suffers burns while stealing electric cables (Punch)
A suspected vandal, Saifullahi Sa’idu, of the Kadangaru Quarters, Dutsin-ma Local Government Area of Katsina State, is now in police custody after suffering serious burns while allegedly attempting to steal cables from a power transformer in Dutsin-ma town. Sa’idu was initially admitted to the General Hospital, Dutsin-ma before he was arrested by police detectives from Katsina. Confirming the arrest, the spokesman for the Katsina State Police Command, Gambo Isah, said Sa’idu was almost electrocuted while attempting to steal the transformer cables. Read more