Only Lagos can afford N30,000 minimum wage — Govs (Vanguard)
The thirty- six state governors under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, met last night in Abuja, saying only Lagos State Government can pay the new minimum wage of N30,000. The governors also resolved to downsize, if they must pay the new minimum wage. They, however, at the meeting the NGF emergency meeting, resolved to send another delegation to President Muhammadau Buhari to canvass their position on the new Minimum Wage. Read more
FG, ASUU hold crucial meeting over strike today (Punch)
The Federal Government through the Ministry of Labour and Employment and leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities are expected to meet in Abuja on Thursday over the strike in public universities since November 5. Our correspondent confirmed on Wednesday’s that the Federal Government delegation led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, would meet with ASUU executives led by the National President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, in Abuja to review the September 2017 Memorandum of Action. Read more
APC distracting attention from Osinbajo indictment – Atiku (Punch)
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday, faulted the ruling All Progressives Congress over the APC’s “contradicting” statements about him recently. Atiku’s position was contained in a statement by the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation. Read more
Oshiomhole has lost moral right to remain in politics – Saraki (Punch)
Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki on Wednesday hit out at the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, saying that he had lost moral right to remain in politics. Speaking with journalists in Ilorin during the sixth remembrance prayer for his father, Saraki said Oshiomhole had ‘no locus standi to talk about morality in today’s Nigeria’s politics. Read more
Sen. Uzodinma denies arrest, remains focused on governorship race (Nation)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, has denied reports of his arrest. Some sections of the media have reported that the Special Presidential Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Property arrested the lawmaker on Sunday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja. The reports indicated that the chairman of the Panel, Okoi Obono-Obla, said Uzodinma was arrested for failure of his company to execute a contract of 12 million dollars for dredging of Calabar channel. Read more
INEC designing special card readers, result sheets for APC – PDP chair (Punch)
National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus, has warned the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to know that history would be unkind to him if he failed to conduct free and fair elections in 2019. Secondus also said that manipulation of election in 2019 would be a recipe for crisis in the country, adding that the INEC chairman would be held accountable. Read more
Sex-for-Marks Scandal: Ex-OAU professor to be docked, seeks plea bargain (Vanguard)
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, is set to arraign a former lecturer of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Richard Akindele, at the Federal High Court, Osogbo, for allegedly demanding sex from one of his students, Monica Osagie, in order to upgrade her academic result from fail to pass. Read more
Residents flee Rivers community after cultists behead two (Guardian)
Some residents have reportedly fled Choba Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State for fear of reprisal attack by gang group whose two members were beheaded on Tuesday morning in a farm near University of Port Harcourt. The Guardian gathered that a renewed supremacy battle between two rival groups in the community led to the latest attack. Read more
Police intercept bombs, arrest suspects in Imo (Punch)
Operatives of the Imo State Police Command have arrested two suspects, who were allegedly on their way to bomb a community in Orlu town. The state Commissioner of Police, Dasuki Galadanchi, who paraded the suspects on Wednesday in Owerri, said they came from Ebonyi State to carry out the planned bombing. Read more
Brexit draft agreement a ‘decisive’ step (BBC)
The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier says “decisive” progress has been made in reaching a final agreement on the UK’s departure from the bloc. Mr Barnier said a 585-page draft withdrawal agreement published on Wednesday represented a “crucial step in concluding these negotiations”. He also said provisions were included to avoid a hard border with Ireland. Read more
Rooney to captain England during farewell (BBC)
England’s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney will captain the side and wear the number 10 shirt when he comes on to make his farewell appearance. Rooney, 33, retired from international football in 2017 but will win his 120th and final cap in a friendly against the United States at Wembley on Thursday. Fabian Delph will start the match as captain but will hand the armband to Rooney when the DC United striker comes on as a substitute in the second half. Read more
Man City defender Mendy has knee surgery (BBC)
Manchester City full-back Benjamin Mendy has had surgery on the cartilage in his left knee. No timescale has been given on the 24-year-old’s return to action. Mendy missed seven months of City’s Premier League-winning campaign last season after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Read more
‘Fake’ lawyer remanded for false pretence, perjury (Nation)
A Federal High Court in Lagos Wednesday remanded an impersonation suspect, Bada Azeez Ayoola, in prison custody following his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo made the order after Ayoola, 38, pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge of impersonation, false pretence and making of a false statement to the EFCC. Read more
Tipper driver crushes motorcyclist to death in Lagos (Punch)
A tipper driver, Yakubu Kelani, has been arrested for crushing a commercial motorcyclist, Adisa Ekundayo, to death in the Oke-Odo area of Lagos State. PUNCH Metro gathered that Kelani, who was driving a tipper with number plate LSR 831 XC, had gone to deliver a tipper-load of sand at a customer’s site. The tipper driver, who was on his way back to the garage after delivering the sand, was said to have lost control of the vehicle and rammed into the motorcyclist, who died as a result of the impact. Read more