The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights, CDWR, has called on Ogranised Labour to immediately mobilise and declare a nationwide strike over the minimum wage and the recent hike in electricity tariff.

According to CDWR, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, as the next step in the minimum wage struggle, should declare and mobilise widely for a 48-hour general strike and mass protest to demand a minimum wage not less than N200, 000 and the reversal of all anti-poor policies (privatization, deregulation, subsidy removal, electricity tariff hike etc).

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chinedu Bosah, CDWR recalled that NLC and TUC had been at loggerheads with the government and private sector over a new minimum wage, and negotiation has been deadlocked for over three weeks and still counting, saying Government and Private Sector insistence on paying N60, 000 provoked the declaration of an indefinite strike which started on June 3rd 2024 but was suspended on the 4th of June, 2024.

The group contended that “The mass protest of mostly young people has just forced the Ruto-led government in Kenya to withdraw the IMF/World Bank-inspired tax increment policy. This example shows that it is also possible for Nigerian working people and youth to force the Tinubu-led government to reverse the prices of petroleum products, electricity tariffs, fee hikes in public schools, and all other neo-liberal capitalist policies, policies which would give some immediate respite to most Nigerians.

“CDWR calls on the leadership of NLC and TUC, as the next step in the minimum wage struggle, to declare and this time mobilise widely for a 48-hour general strike and mass protest to demand a minimum wage not less than N200, 000 and the reversal of all anti-poor policies (privatization, deregulation, subsidy removal, electricity tariff hike etc).

“However, given the recent failures of the NLC and TUC to seriously mobilise trade unionists and activists must themselves take steps to organise a campaign at grass roots level to both build support for the struggle and for the trade unions to have leaders who take their responsibilities seriously.

“Amongst the immediate demands should be the call for the inclusion of a demand that the minimum wage must be automatically adjusted in line with the rate of inflation and rising cost of living, minimum wage need not wait for four or five years before adjustment.”

This may forestall needless long negotiations and ensure wages do not fall behind the inflationary rate and poverty line. However, we should add that it will require a serious struggle to force the capitalist elite to agree to this and actually implement it as they will try to take back any concessions they have been forced to make.”

Twelve out of the 25 students of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, brought before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan for alleged murder were on Monday discharged.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 25 students, arraigned on June 5, were charged with conspiracy, murder and negligence.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olabisi Ogunkanmi, had ordered the students to be remanded in a correctional facility in Ibadan, pending the outcome of legal advice.

The 12 discharged students are: Kehinde Martins, Samuel Okorie, Mustapha Khalid, Yusuf Adeniran, Joseph Areoye, Iyanuoluwa Oyelakin, Obaloluwa Olalekan, Emmanuel Adejumobi, John Daudu, Moses Abiola, Hammad Tijani and David Kolawole.

Ogunkanmi, while discharging them, held that the legal advice was out, which indicated that the 12 students should not be charged with any offence, as there was no evidence linking any of them with the offences alleged to have been committed.

One of the 25 defendants, who is a security guard at the university, Femi Oladoye, earlier charged with negligence of duty, was also granted bail in the sum of N250,000, with two sureties in like sum.

Ogunkanmi, thereafter, adjourned the case till July 8 for mention.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, CSP Funke Fawole, had told the court that the defendants committed the offences on May 24 at about 9 p.m. at the afore-mentioned university.

Fawole said that the defendants unlawfully caused the death of one 22-year-old Jefry Akro, a student of the university, by beating him with planks and electrical wire.

She said that Oladoye, as a security guard, however failed to prevent the aggrieved students from beating Akro to death.

She said that the offences contravened Sections 516, 515 and 324 of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has established a disciplinary committee, a key component of its internal oversight system, to investigate two operatives accused of assaulting a woman during a raid at a hotel in Lagos last Thursday. Our correspondent reports that the commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, announced this in a press release on Monday in Abuja, stating that the officers in question were scheduled to appear before the committee on Monday, demonstrating the transparency of the investigation.

Oyewale mentioned that the Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, formed the disciplinary team to address the serious incident involving the two officers who reportedly assaulted a female employee of the Regional Hotel in Ojo, Lagos.

The officers were captured in a viral video engaging in the assault during an early morning operation on Thursday.

“Olukoyede ordered the arrest of the two officers and has directed them to appear before a joint Disciplinary Team comprising the Appointment, Promotion and Disciplinary Committee, APDC and the Department of Ethics and Integrity.

“They are billed to appear before the Team on Monday, July 1, at the Corporate Headquarters of the Commission, Abuja.

“The team would look into the case of the officers and recommend appropriate disciplinary measures to be taken against them,” he said.

According to him, the EFCC boss stressed that no stone will be left unturned in getting the officers to account for their unprofessional conduct.

A tragic incident happened on Monday morning involving a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter crashing in Tami village of Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

According to reports, the crash occurred around 5 a.m., prompting first responders to rush to the site upon hearing a loud sound.

Residents, who claimed to have witnessed the pilot emerging from the wreckage, told reporters that a team of military officers from the Nigerian Air Force arrived promptly to secure the area and carry out an initial investigation.

“They cordoned off the crash site to prevent unauthorized access and to ensure the safety of the villagers. The officers also began preliminary assessments to determine the cause of the crash, which remains unknown at this time,” our reporter quoted one of the locals saying.

However, the Nigerian Air Force is yet to release an official statement regarding the incident, as at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, around 20 travellers were reportedly abducted by gunmen along the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode Expressway on Sunday at approximately 9 p.m.

Our correspondent gathered that the attackers ambushed the travellers between the Sagamu Area Command of the Nigeria Police and Ilisan township.

Chairman of the Ilisan Development Council, Wemmy Osude, informed newsmen that the incident took place between the Area Command and Ilisan City Gate.

Osude stated, “A resident of Ilisan was reportedly shot in the knee and is currently receiving treatment at Babcock Teaching Hospital. The other victims were taken into the bush. Please contact your loved ones who might be travelling on that road to exercise caution.”

Confirming the incident, Osude mentioned that he had communicated with the Sagamu Police Area Commander regarding the abductions.

“I have spoken to the Sagamu Area Commander about this incident, and we hope that all security agents will pursue these criminals and rescue the victims,” Osude added.

An International Security Organization “CONACCE CHAPLAIN” has arrived Owerri, Imo State to contribute in the war against crime, and to promote peace across states in Nigeria.

The state Commandant of the organization, Prophet Gerald Agbakwuru, while inaugurating the state chapter of the outfit in Owerri over the week, said recruitment of its officers had already commenced and that their training would start from October 15-26 this year.

Prophet Agbakwuru who is also the founder of House of Prayer Healeth Ministry of God Church, Owerri, with its headquarters in South Africa, and branches in other countries, disclosed that the recruitment and training of men and women of various professions would produce experts in  evangelism, anti-drugs, judges of peace, mediators, diplomatic agents, defenders and promoters of Human Rights, for the purpose of promoting peace, equity and international cooperation.

The organization, he said, was legally established by diplomatic treaties, under the Vienna Convention Treaties, and that it was accredited by the United Nations  Organization, and other international organizations

Commandant Agbakwuru made it clear that the outfit is non-governmental, and that it will also engage sharing of love and commitment, in the process of restoring the mental, physical, social and spiritual health of humanity, especially the needy.

The world leader of the outfit, according to him, is Mr Carlos Arroba, Mr Kamdem is its Commandant for Africa, Rev Dr. Kalu Anya is the Nigerian Commandant, while Bishop Innocent Erimujor of Healing the Nation Ministry, Owerri serves as her Patron.

Late wife of the second President of Biafra General Philip Effiong who passed on in May is set for burial 12 July, 2024.

A church service for Mrs Josephine Effiong holds at St Vincent De Paul Catholic Church Ikot Ekpene.

Born 1935, Mrs. Effiong is survived by her sister Nelly and seven children.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), “to account for and explain the whereabouts of the over N100 billion ‘dirty and bad notes’ and ‘other large sum of cash awaiting examination’ which are kept in various branches of the CBN.”

SERAP said the allegations are documented in the latest annual report recently published by the Auditor-General of the Federation.

SERAP also urged him to “explain the whereabouts of the N7.2 billion budgeted for the construction of the CBN Dutse branch in 2010 and the N4.8 billion budgeted for the renovation of the CBN Abeokuta branch in 2009, and to publish the names of the contractors who collected the money but failed to complete the projects.”

SERAP urged him “to explain the whereabouts of the allegedly missing outstanding loan of N1.2 billion granted to the Enugu state government in 2015 and the outstanding loan of N1.9 billion granted to the Anambra state government between 2015 and 2016 and to fully recover and remit the public funds to the treasury.”

SERAP also urged him “to refer these grave violations of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the CBN Act and the country’s national and international anticorruption obligations to appropriate anticorruption agencies for investigation and prosecution, as appropriate, and the recovery of the public funds.”

In the letter dated 29 June 2024 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “These grim allegations by the Auditor-General suggest grave violations of the public trust, the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, the CBN Act, and national and international anticorruption obligations.”

SERAP said, “These grave violations also reflect a failure of CBN accountability more generally and are directly linked to the institution’s persistent failure to comply with its Act and to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability.”

According to SERAP, “These grave violations have seriously undermined the ability of the CBN to effectively discharge its statutory functions and the public trust and confidence in the bank. The CBN ought to be committed to transparency and accountability in its operations.”

The letter, read in part: “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and the CBN to comply with our request in the public interest.”

“Explaining the whereabouts of the missing public funds, publishing the names of those suspected to be responsible and ensuring that they are brought to justice and the full recovery of any missing public funds would serve the public interest and end the impunity of perpetrators.”

“According to the recently published 2020 audited report by the Auditor General of the Federation (AGF), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has since 2017 been keeping over N100 billion [N100,672,999,000.00] ‘dirty and bad notes’, and other large sum of cash awaiting examination in various branches of the CBN.”

The Auditor-General feared that the ‘dirty and bad notes’ initially planned to be destroyed may have been ‘be diverted and re-injected into the economy.’”

“The CBN in August 2010 also reportedly budgeted N7.2 billion [N7,286,500,476.76] for the construction of Dutse branch building. The Dutse branch was due to be completed in November 2012 but the contractors have failed to complete the project.”

“The Auditor-General is concerned that the project may have been ‘awarded to incompetent contractor,’ and wants the ‘job completed without further delay.’”

“The CBN in 2009 reportedly budgeted N4.8 billion [N4,812,608,028.10] for the renovation of the CBN Abeokuta branch. The Abeokuta branch was due to be completed in 2012 but the contractors have failed to complete the project.”

“There is no significant renovation work on the site, several years after the proposed completion date. The Auditor-General is concerned that the project may have been ‘awarded to incompetent contractor,’ and wants the ‘job completed without further delay.’” The CBN also reportedly failed to account for the missing outstanding loan of N1.2 billion [N1,294,453,887.83] granted to the Enugu state government in 2015 and the outstanding loan of N1.9 billion [N1,994,383,561.64] granted to the Anambra state government between 2015 and 2016.”

“The Auditor-General fears the public funds may have been diverted. He wants the money fully recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

“Paragraph 708 of the Financial Regulations 2009 provides that, ‘on no account should payment be made for services not yet performed or for goods not yet supplied.’”

“Section 35(2) of the Public Procurement Act 2007 provides that, ‘once a mobilization fee has been paid to any supplier or contractor, no further payment shall be made to the supplier or contractor without an interim performance certificate.”

“Section 16(6) of the Public Procurement Act states that ‘all bidders shall possess the necessary professional and technical qualifications to carry out particular procurements; the financial capacity and adequate personnel to perform the obligations of the procurement contracts.’”

“SERAP noted that Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution requires public institutions to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.” Section 13 of the Constitution imposes clear responsibility on the CBN to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution.”

“Paragraph 3112(ii) of the Financial Regulations 2009 provides that, “Where a public officer fails to account for government revenue, such officer shall be surcharged for the full amount involved and such officer shall be handled over to either the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).”

“Nigeria has made legally binding commitments under the UN Convention against Corruption to ensure accountability in the management of public resources. Articles 5 and 9 of the UN Convention against Corruption also impose legal obligations on the CBN to ensure proper management of public affairs and public funds.”

“Nigerians have the right to know the whereabouts of the public funds. Taking the recommended measures would advance the right of Nigerians to restitution, compensation and guarantee of non-repetition.”

“The Nigerian Constitution, Freedom of Information Act, and the country’s anti-corruption and human rights obligations rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding their public institutions’ activities.”

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently postponed a decision on the new minimum wage report from the tripartite committee, opting for further consultations amid concerns that many states could go bankrupt if the proposed wage increases are implementeThe FEC’s hesitance came as President Bola Tinubu prepares to present the minimum wage bill to the National Assembly, an announcement that has stoked tensions across various states.

Last week’s discussions at both the National Economic Council, chaired by Vice President, Kashim Shettima, and the Southern Governors’ Forum failed to yield a consensus on the wage structure, with the governors suggesting that wage negotiations should be state-specific.

The labour unions have criticized the Nigeria Governors’ Forum for their significant sway in the wage negotiations, arguing that the proposed wages could push states towards financial insolvency.

A report from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat highlighted that increased recurrent expenditures have already strained budgets, leaving states like Abia, Ekiti, and Kogi in deficits as of 2022.

The proposed ₦62,000 minimum wage, more than double the current ₦30,000, could destabilize state finances further, potentially leading only ten states, including Lagos and Rivers, to remain financially stable.

According to the documents, sighted by Our correspondent, Abia, with an employment size of about 58,631 workers, pays ₦5,837,899,980.40 as wage monthly. Anambra has a 20,541 employment size and pays ₦1,824,851,308.96 monthly as wages, apart from ₦894,480,399.62 as pension obligation and ₦579,694,680.33 for debt servicing.

Bayelsa boasts of 48,213 workforce, paying ₦5,802,435,178.58 monthly, with ₦1,194,528,784.40 as pension obligation and ₦3,535,787,992.48 as debt servicing, totalling ₦10,532,751,955.46 as total recurrent expenditure monthly.

Benue has about 13,366 workers in its workforce and pays ₦2,040,184,471.85 as monthly wage, ₦76,838,634.62 for pension, and ₦64,685,126,826.08 for debt servicing, totalling ₦66,802,149,932.56 monthly.

Delta has about 50,871 workers, offering ₦8,973,081,853.50 as wages ₦1,499,886,303.39 as pension, and ₦72,417,433,139.00 as debt servicing, accumulating to ₦82,890,401,295.89 in a month.

Jigawa has about 44,831 workers in its employ and pays ₦2,795,662,113.02 as wages, and ₦345,987,843.12 as a pension, totalling ₦3,141,649,956.14 monthly on recurrent expenditure.

Katsina, Kwara and Niger have 19,062, 36,048 and 22,225 workers, with accumulated ₦139,294,944,565.27, ₦4,457,268,675.54 and ₦2,653,614,213.35 monthly recurrent expenditure respectively.

According to the document, Abia has a total recurrent expenditure of ₦111,983,979,958.62, against a total revenue of ₦147,637,730,867.73.

For Adamawa, the recurrent expenditure stands at ₦70,369,399,885.57, against a total revenue of ₦109,722,949,684.65, while Akwa Ibom boasts of a high revenue of ₦444,288,683,000, with recurrent expenditure of ₦235,144,539,000.

Of the states, Lagos has the highest total revenue, amassing ₦1,243,778,878,170 in 2022, with a recurrent expenditure of ₦621,043,036,000, followed by Delta, with ₦702,020,717,460.08 and a recurrent expenditure of ₦377,905,100,451.83.

Rivers amassed ₦525,588,159,714.88 in 2022, with recurrent expenditure of ₦186,974,715,774.87; Kaduna had a total revenue of ₦222,349,875,000 and expenditure of ₦95,987,999,472.10; Ogun, ₦297,249,009,626.83, recurrent expenditure of ₦178,519,010,628.42 and Oyo, with total revenue of ₦247,156,776,739.70 and recurrent expenditure of ₦152,077,804,384.65.

Kebbi State had the lowest total revenue in 2022, raking in ₦92,132,444,588.16 and spent ₦57,601,464,374.96 on recurrent expenditure, followed by Taraba, with a total revenue of ₦101,177,283,069.87 and recurrent expenditure of ₦75,055,201,412.62.

Aside from FAAC allocation, some states recorded poor IGR in the 2022 data compiled by the NGF Secretariat.

Zamfara State generated ₦6,513,960,477.20; followed by Kebbi, with ₦8,630,767,122.96; Taraba, ₦9,744,331,840.01 and Yobe State, with ₦9,940,554,642.00.

The IGR of Katsina (₦12,821,119,042.64), Adamawa (₦13,175,774,969.53), Niger (₦14,427,373,136.00), Benue (₦15,021,223,729.38), Plateau (₦15,927,001,739.90) and Imo (₦16,711,346,111.18) also showed a poor revenue standing.

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has handed over an electronically-powered  tollgate at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, to the authorities of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

He did that yesterday where he said that the facility will enable the FAAN operatives provide quality service to Imo people, who patronise the airport in particular, and their Nigerians counterparts, in general.

Preforming the brief, but important ceremony, the Governor said that “the facility was provided by the state government to, not only to beautify the airport and it’s ambience, but to enable traffic management into and out of the airport, and also as an encouragement to FAAN to be able to provide quality service to the people.”

He acknowledged that the road to the airport had earlier been commissioned by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu in his last visit to Imo State, when the digital facility was in the works.

“Now, I found it expedient to hand it over to FAAN on behalf of the President, when the facility was ready for use,” Governor Uzodimma said.

The Governor thereafter inspected the facility to ascertain it’s optional functionality.

Earlier, the airport manager, Mrs Nkechi Ihekwuaba had welcomed the Governor and his entourage for finding time to formally hand over the facility to the agency.

She used the opportunity to thank Governor Uzodimma for “providing the beautiful structure that beautifies the airport,” and humbly requested him to “approve that FAAN goes ahead to start the use of the tollgate.”

The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie and some members of the State’s expanded Executive Council joined the Governor in handing over the tollgate to FAAN officials.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Professor Lilian Salami, has lamented the heavy toll the recent over 300 per cent electricity tariff hike has taken on Nigerian universities with most of the public institutions on the verge of bankruptcy.

Salami, who doubles as the Chairman of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, said the new rate announced by the regulator, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has increased her university’s bill from N80 million, it was finding it difficult to pay, to 280 million per month.

Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress as well as experts had opposed the tariff hike, arguing that this would drive manufacturers out of business, worsen inflation, and stifle small and medium enterprises.

Speaking with our correspondent in Abuja, she said the university has been painfully disconnected from the national grid because it could not afford to pay about N300 million monthly for electricity alone.

She said the development has led to a situation, where light is being rationed for about four hours a day in the university in view of the high cost of diesel.

She observed that this was however not going down well with the students who hitherto had been enjoying an electricity supply, sometimes 24 hours a week long.

“Right now what we going through is an electricity problem. Before now University of Benin could boast of at least 20 to 22 hours of light and that could run for weeks without a blink.

“But as soon as the tariff was up 300 per cent, we went from N80 million which was very difficult for us to pay per month to N280 million per month. That even came when the students were on vacation.

“So, we were looking to hit N300 million per month, no institution can survive paying that kind of money without declaring bankruptcy; we were on the verge of that, so we are saying to the students we can’t pay.

“Of course, the reaction we got from the power distribution company is to cut off the light, so right now, the light has been cut off. We are trying to use diesel and so we are now rationing light and the students are not happy; definitely, they can’t be when they used to have light 24/7, running into weeks, months and now you are saying to them you can only give them for four hours.

“So, they are not happy. If the students tomorrow go to the streets, it is not because we don’t want to give them, we cannot afford. Yes, we’ve gotten unrest for one reason or the other but it’s not deliberate on our part, that will be outside our own control,” she stated.

She highlighted some of her key achievements in the last four years, including massive infrastructure development with funding support from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund reduced cult-related activities to the barest minimum improvement in the welfare of staff and students, and introduction of new programmes among others.

In the same vein, Prof. Salami commended the Tertiary Education Trust Fund for its numerous intervention programmes in public universities and other beneficiary tertiary institutions.

A Superintendent of Police, Ibrahim Sini has said he turned down a N150m bribe allegedly offered to him by a Lagos-based businessman, Akintoye Akindele to have peace of mind.

Akindele who was arraigned for the offence at the Federal High Court in Abuja in August 2023 was remanded in the Kuje correctional centre.

According to the charge sheet, the bribe was offered to allow police to permit him to escape abroad and to write a favourable report for him after the investigation.

Sini was said to have led the Inspector General of Police’s team of investigators handling the case against the businessman.

Speaking at a dinner organised to honour him on Friday, Sini said, “I am very happy to be here and I want to appreciate the organisers of this programme. They have beat my imagination and they have added more grease to my elbow.

At the event, Sini was given a plot of land in Abuja.

“Yes, I remember when the incident happened, the person in question asked me, do you want to be rich?  He said, this is an opportunity for you to be rich.

“So what I said was that it depends on the kind of riches.  I would like to have money that I can lay my head down and sleep at night.  I don’t want to have something that will make me think twice and be running from one hole to another. So, I would like to do justice and have peace of mind.

“So, I decided to do the right thing so that I can have peace of mind and also stand to do what is right for myself, for my organisation, that is, the Nigeria Police and also for the country at large.”

He advised youths in the country not to trade their integrity for anything.

Presenting the document of the land to Sini, the Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh said SP Sini’s conduct has brought pride to the Nigerian Police Force.

Former Director-General of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council , Dr Doyin Okupe, has faulted  Federal Government on its court case against states  over  local government autonomy.

Okupe, a former Presidential spokesperson ,expressed the position in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Sunday.

The former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC), described the Federal Government’s legal battle against the states  for autonomy as needless and unfortunate.

According to him, in a true federal system, there are only two component units- the federal and the states.

“We should run a true federal system in which there are two bodies coming together for a union: the Federal Government and sub-nationalities.

“The local governments are principally and completely issues of the state, it is absolutely has nothing to do with the federal government and it (the idea of LG as a third tier)should be expunged from the constitution.

“Let the nation’s money be shared between the Federal government and the states. The Federal government asking for local government autonomy in a  federal system is an aberration.

“I t is becoming so sad that we seem not to know what is right and what is wrong in the country.

Then, the state government can decide to have as many local governments as it desires for grassroots development and fund it as they like,” Okupe said.

Recall that the Federal Government has instituted a legal action against the governors of the 36 states of the federation at the Supreme Court over what it calls their interference in the  administration of local councils in their respective states.

The suit filed by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, is seeking full autonomy for all local government areas in the country.

In suit, the Federal Government specifically prayed the court to issue an order, prohibiting state governors from embarking on unilateral, arbitrary and unlawful dissolution of democratically elected local government leaders.

The suit is also asking for an order permitting the funds standing in the credits of local governments to be directly channelled to them from the federation account in line with the provisions of the constitution as against the alleged unlawful joint accounts created by governors.

FG also prayed the Supreme Court for an order stopping governors from further constituting caretaker committees to run the affairs of local governments as against the constitutionally recognized and guaranteed democratic system.

It equally applied for an order of injunction restraining the governors, their agents and privies from receiving, spending or tampering with funds released from the federation account for the benefits of local governments when no democratically elected local government system is put in place in the states.

The lawmaker representing the Ikwuano, Umuahia North, and South federal constituency, Obi Aguocha, has approached former President Muhammadu Buhari to advocate for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

During a visit to Buhari’s country home in Daura on Saturday, Aguocha extended an apology for Kanu’s actions, which have been a point of national contention.

“For the missteps, utterances, and ill gestures of the past, especially on the part of my constituent and brother, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, I am deeply sorry,” Aguocha expressed.

This meeting follows a recent appeal on June 23 by about 50 members of the House of Representatives, who have called on President Bola Tinubu to facilitate Kanu’s release.

These legislators, under the banner of Concerned Federal Lawmakers for Peace and Security in the South-East, urged the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to utilize Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution to secure Kanu’s release, highlighting a growing legislative push for a resolution to this longstanding issue.

In response, the former president appreciated Aguocha’s efforts and expressed his openness to a political solution for Kanu’s situation.

Buhari’s stance reflects a potential shift, considering his previous statement in January, where he described the extradition of Kanu to Nigeria to face trial as a “favour” by the federal government, which had other more severe options at its disposal.

Nnamdi Kanu, a central figure in the call for the secession of the Southeastern regions of Nigeria, was extradited to Nigeria in 2021 after he jumped bail and fled the country.

He was initially arraigned on charges including terrorism, treasonable felony, and incitement. Since his extradition, Kanu has expressed a willingness to negotiate with the federal government, seeking a peaceful resolution to the issues raised by the IPOB movement.

A UK-based taxi driver has admitted to receiving salary as a Nigerian Civil servant after relocating for two years During an interview with BBC, the UK-based taxi driver narrates how he scale through the salary system without resigning and relocating.

Earlier, President Tinubu ordered a crackdown on these cases, stating that the culprits must be made to refund the money they have fraudulently collected.

When asked why he didn’t make it clear to the civil service that he had left, in his response he replied he never resigned with the hope to return to his job after some few years

“To be honest I didn’t resign because I wanted to leave that door open in case I choose to go back to my job after a few years.”

Tinubu said he was “struck by the revelations the head of the civil service shared regarding employees who had relocated abroad while drawing salaries without formally resigning”.

The president said that not only should the money be repaid but those who were complicit in allowing it to happened should be investigated too.

“Their supervisors and department heads must also be punished for aiding and abetting the fraud under their watch,” he said.

In the case of the UK-based taxi driver  he admitted that he continued to be paid thanks to those in his department.

“I had a good understanding with my boss and he just let me leave, in my case my boss was a relative.”

A fire outbreak has occurred at the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals company located at the Lekki free trade zone in Lagos.

It was  learnt that the incident occurred yesterday  morning.

The cause of the outbreak could not be ascertained at the time of this report.

Confirming the incident to our correspondent on Wednesday afternoon, the company’s Group Head, Corporate Communications, Anthony Chiejina, said a minor fire occurred at the company’s effluent treatment plant.

“We have swiftly contained a minor fire incident at our effluent treatment plant (ETP), today Wednesday 26th of June. There is no cause for alarm as the refinery is operating and there is no recorded injury or body harm to all our staff on duty,” he said.

The 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Petroleum Refinery commenced production of diesel and aviation fuel in January.

The first crude delivery was done on 12 December 2023, and the sixth cargo was delivered on 8 January.

Some civil servants have decried the delay in payment of approved salary adjustments for civil servants on the consolidated salary structure, as well as the prolonged minimum wage negotiations.

The civil servants spoke newsmen yesterday  in Abuja.

Dr Uche Anune commended President Bola Tinubu for approving the increase of between 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increase for civil servants on the six consolidated salary structures.

He urged the government to expedite action on its implementation to help the workers ameliorate the present economic hardship.

“It is a good thing the president appreciates that there is the need to provide some palliatives by way of adjustment and harmonisation of salaries of public sector workers at the federal level.

“However, I wish the president could expedite action in that regard because, as it is now, many Federal Government workers are passing through difficult times arising from certain policy adjustments.

“I know that it is usually not very easy to negotiate and agree on sensitive issues like the minimum wage, the two parties, the Federal Government and the labour unions, have sound arguments.’’

According to him, the president can consider the implications of salary adjustment and its sustainability, as well as the ability of state governments to pay.

“It is good that they are driving an inclusive approach to the negotiation process.

“But salary adjustment for workers is long overdue; I call on the president to take urgent steps to ensure that the minimum wage impasse is resolved as quickly as possible.

“While workers continue to wait for salary adjustment, issues bothering on family expenses are not waiting; they are daily requirements.

“The long wait for a living wage in the midst of rising cost of goods and services is actually affecting the productivity of workers,” Mr Anune said.

He said that the N250, 000 minimum wage figure of the labour unions should be acceptable to all workers since the unions represented the workers.

Another civil servant, Joseph Edeh, said that the delay in implementation of the salary adjustment and the prolonged minimum wage negotiations were unfortunate.

According to Mr Edeh, what Nigerians are going through presently does not warrant such delay.

“And the communication gap is fuelling a lot of suspicion; nobody knows the reason for the delay.

“There is the need for better communication so as not to put Nigerians in the dark.

“The labour unions have done well and they need to be encouraged as they try to negotiate a decent wage for the workers,” he said.

Dorcas Jonah appealed to the Federal Government to “try and do the needful” by effecting payment of the salary adjustment.

According to her, the prevailing economic hardship is taking its toll on civil servants and their families.

“A lot of civil servants would have planned on the money and it would have gone a long way to help those who have children going back to school.

“So many civil servants now survive on loans; delaying the payment is not helpful at all,” she said.

She urged the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, not to relent in their struggle for a decent living wage for the Nigerian worker.

“There is a plethora of things to agitate for; the price of everything has skyrocketed; the labour unions should not relent,” she said.

Angela Atabo, another civil servant, said that the delay in implementation of the various increases in salaries was counterproductive to the workers.

“On workers’ day, we had hoped that a new minimum wage would be announced but our hopes were dashed because the issue was not even mentioned.

“The 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary adjustment was announced, and civil servants have been planning on it

“We can only urge the government to expedite action on implementation,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Director of Press, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), Mr Bawa Mokwa, said that the wage adjustment had been approved.

Mokwa said that its implementation was awaiting a directive and cash backing by the Federal Ministry of Finance and National Planning.

He urged civil servants to exercise a little more patience as all issues relating to salary adjustment and minimum wage would soon be resolved.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, University of Uyo branch, has issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to honour the 2009 renegotiated agreement it had with the union or risk industrial action.

In a public sensitization protest on Wednesday at the University of Uyo town campus, the Chairperson of ASUU, Prof Opeyemi Olajide, recalled that in 2022, public universities embarked on eight months strike over the outstanding issues and had to come back to classrooms in obedience to the rule of law.

He expressed regrets that two years after, the Federal Government is not willing to honour the agreement and attend to their demands.

The chairperson explained that the union reached out to relevant authorities to intervene and make government do the needful to avert any disruption to academic activities, but, there was no positive result stressing that if after two weeks nothing was done, the union will shut down the universities and send the students home.

He said, “In year 2022, ASUU was on strike for eight months, public universities in Nigeria were shut down, students were sent home because federal government of Nigeria refused to address ASUU demands as contained in renegotiated 2009 agreement which Academic Staff Unions of Nigerian Universities had with them.

“ASUU suspended the strike because our union is very civil, law abiding and has respect for rule of law. This is two years after, the Federal Government has refused to sign that agreement with our union.

“We are telling government and the public that if in the next two weeks nothing is done, ASUU is going to embark on yet another strike and students will be sent home.”

The Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Calabar Zone, Dr Happiness Uduk, addressing the protest, disclosed that the Federal Government still owe lecturers in public schools three and half months salary.

She noted that public universities are not functional as expected when compared with the private universities urging the Federal Government to make deliberate efforts to resuscitate public educational system.

“Enough is enough! the government is not taking care of public institutions yet they are establishing their own private universities where they are taking our resources to, where they are taking our tax payers monies to.

“Federal Government has about two weeks to do something and if not so, ASUU will down tools, that is what we want to tell people that it is not well with us.

“The Federal Government has not treated us well and to say the least, we are very hungry, whatever we are getting is not taking us home, we are requesting government to pay us what they owe us, we are calling on government to make the university system functional, we are asking government to pay us our EAA, they should carter for universities they brought and not to bring up more universities without taking care of them.”

On his part, the former Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Prof Aniekan Brown, said the union over the years had been clamouring for “education for all”.

He noted that the workload of lecturers is not commensurate with their pay and called for salary increment.

Brown lamented that despite the meagre and static salaries, the rate of taxation by the Federal Government was unbearable as a lecturer pays upto 90 per cent of his/her salary as tax.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has projected that Nigeria’s inflation will moderate in the coming months as its reforms attracted a $24 billion inflow into the country in the first quarter of 2024 alone.

CBN governor, Olayemi Cardoso disclosed this in an interview with Bloomberg TV on Tuesday.

He noted that recent reforms by the apex bank have helped firm up the country’s liquidity by 40-50 percent more than the figure recorded in 2021.

“In terms of liquidity, especially on the foreign exchange side, we have seen an increase.

“The first quarter of this year has resulted in a total inflow of about $24bn. Now, this is almost 40 to 50 percent more than the quarters up to about 2021.

“The tools are having a positive impact. So we believe that continuing on this trajectory, we believe that liquidity will continue to grow,” he noted.

Recall that In April, Nigeria recorded a total foreign portfolio inflow of N93.37 billion against a foreign outflow of N119.81 billion, marking a 415 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023.

Speaking further, Cardoso said there was a deceleration in Nigeria’s inflation rates which rose to 33.95 percent in May 2024.

According to him, the Monetary Policy Committee will continue to do everything to bring down the country’s inflation rates.

He projected the likelihood of inflation moderation in the coming on the back of MPC decisions.

“So far from what we’re seeing, there’s a deceleration in inflation rates, which is good news.

“And my intuition is that with the measures that have been taken in the recent past, and with the confidence of the MPC members to watch the interest rate trajectory very closely. We should see a continuation of the moderation in the inflation rate,” he said.

Six secondary school pupils have drowned in the Mbang river in Ribang (Mbang) village, Kauru Local Government Area, Kaduna State.

The teenagers, according to report drowned while returning from a Junior WAEC exam at about 5:30 p.m on Tuesday.

The victims were identified as Manasseh Monday (16 yrs), Musa John (16 yrs), Pius David (15 yrs), Monday Ayuba (16 yrs), David Danlami (19 yrs), and Yahuza Audu (16 yrs) were students of Government Secondary School Fadan Chawai writing the West African Junior School Examination.

The National Public Relations Officer of Ribang Development Association, Pastor Simon Ishaku, who confirmed the incident to newsmen on Wednesday.

Ishaku said three dead bodies have already been recovered and buried.

He added that there are still three missing as locals have not been able to recover them out of the river.

Ishaku said, “The school children left their homes full of hope and excitement while their parents went to the farm with the hope of reuniting with them after writing their papers of the day, only to meet their untimely death.

“The Mbang river has been a death trap for our people over the years, noting before the community can access any school or any hospital facility they’ve to travel for about 8 kilometres.

“We’re calling on the Federal Government, Governor Uba Sani, Senator Sunday Katung and our House of Representative members as a matter of urgency, to kindly assist us with school, hospital, access road and bridge in order to bring succour to our community,” Ishaku said.

The Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, has yet to issue an official statement on the incident.

But, the Zonal Coordinator, of Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency Zone One, Mubarak Muhammad, said he would confirm the incident and make official statement known to the public.

Following the death of a 39-year-old woman, Afusat Ololade, in the Ita Baale area of Ifo, Ogun State, the state Police Command has begun an investigation into the incident.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident happened at about 4:07pm on Tuesday 18, 2024.

Our correspondent learnt on Monday that the deceased was allegedly given an unknown injection, which led to her death.

A police source familiar with the incident, but not authorised to speak officially, informed our correspondent that the deceased woman had been receiving treatment at the house of someone, identified as Alabede Libagi, who claimed to be a native doctor, following a brief illness.

Suspecting that he could no longer treat the victim’s ailment, Libagi allegedly consulted with an auxiliary nurse in the community, known as Oyin Israel, who is alleged to have administered the fatal injection.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the 39-year-old woman reportedly passed away shortly after receiving the injection, resulting in the arrest of the native doctor, the auxiliary nurse, and the motorcyclist who transported them to the location.

Responding to the incident, the command spokesperson, Odutola Omolola, stated that an investigation had begun to uncover the details of the incident.

She said, “Our Ifo Division has arrested the three suspects after the matter was reported by the deceased daughter. The deceased was taken to the general hospital in the area which confirmed her dead. Three persons have been arrested in relation to the crime.”

PUNCH reported a similar incident in 2018 when a native doctor, Olawale Raji, and a nurse, Funmilayo Olusegun, were arrested for allegedly causing the death of a pregnant woman through an abortion.

The woman, reportedly two months pregnant, sought the services of the two suspects who worked at a private hospital for the procedure.

However, she began experiencing complications shortly after the abortion and died en route to a Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta for treatment.