Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Monday 28th September 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 28/09/20
Read also
E2%80%99s-convoy Again, Boko Haram Terrorists Attack Borno Governor’s Convoy
Governor Zulum
Boko Haram terrorists have again opened fire on the convoy of Babagana Zulum, Governor of Borno State.
Zulum’s convoy was attacked along Monguno-Maiduguri axis on Sunday evening.
Governor Zulum
See Also
Boko Haram
UPDATE: 30 Confirmed Dead From Attack On Borno Governor’s Convoy
0 Comments
1 Day Ago
The attack is coming barely 48 hours after the terrorist group ambushed the governor’s convoy along Cross Kauwa-Baga Road, leaving over 30 people dead including 10 policemen and four soldiers.
SaharaReporters gathered that a soldier was injured during Sunday’s attack.
The governor has since arrived Maiduguri, the capital city, after successfully performing the resettlement issue that took him to Baga.
See Also
Breaking News
BREAKING: Boko Haram Attacks Convoy Of Borno Governor, Zulum, In Baga
0 Comments
2 Months Ago
Boko Haram
Insurgency
Military
Police
Terrorism
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
Health, Railway Workers, Journalists, Others To Join NLC, TUC In Nationwide Strike
The Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, Nigeria Union of Railway Workers, Nigeria Union of Journalists as well as some other groups in the country will join the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress in nationwide strike action starting from Monday.
The action is aimed at forcing the government to reverse the recent increment in the prices of petrol and electricity tariff in the country.
Also joining the strike action are the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria; Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnic; Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria; National Union of Electricity Employees; and Non-academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, and several others.
The Nigerian Government has warned civil servants not to join the planned strike by labour unions across the country.
The government said all officers on grade level 12 and above and those on essential services were strongly advised to be at work to perform their official duties.
SaharaReporters had reported that the National Industrial Court of Nigeria on Thursday ordered organised labour not to embark on its indefinite strike scheduled to commence on Monday.
Justice Ibrahim Galadima gave the order in a ruling on an ex parte application filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Peace and Unity Ambassadors Association through their counsel, Sunusi Musa.
Despite the court order, the NLC had said that it was not going back on its plan to embark on a strike action on September 28 over government’s refusal to reverse the increase in the prices of petrol and electricity tariff.
ACTIVISM
LABOR/WORKERS’ RIGHTS
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
Nigerian Lecturers Accuse Office of Accountant-General Of Federation Of Misleading Public On 2019 FGN-ASUU Agreement
The Academic Staff Union of Universities has accused the Office of Accountant-General of Federation of misleading the general public and Federal Government on the core issues contained in the ‘FGN-ASUU agreement of February 7, 2019’.
The Kaduna State University chapter of ASUU disclosed this in a statement by its Chairman, Comrade Tukur Abdulkadir, and Secretary, Comrade Peter Adamu, on Sunday.
According to the lecturers, instead of government to addressed its demands, it was misled by the OAGF by emphasising solely on Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.
The statement reads, “It is sad that the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation is misleading the general public from the core issues contained in the FGN-ASUU agreement of February 7, 2019 by emphasizing solely on IPPIS.
“Specifically, the outstanding issues in the crisis include the funding for the revitalization of public universities based on the FGN-ASUU memoranda of understanding, MoU, of 2012, 2013 and the MoA of 2017 and 2019.
“Others include provision of a platform by the federal government for ASUU to engage state governors on the proliferation of universities, underfunding of university education and undue interference in the affairs of state universities.
“The main highlights of the MoU also include the resumption of full implementation of the MoU of 2013, strengthening the consultative committee on state-owned universities (CCSOU), inaugurated on Monday, 28th January, 2019 to look into the issues of proliferation, underfunding and governance to consistently deliver on its mandate.
“And indeed, the visitation to all federal universities which was scheduled to commenced tentatively by by 11th March, 2019, as well as the provision of documented guidelines on procedures and roles of parties in the process of renegotiating FGN-ASUU agreement of 2009 which supposed to have commenced not later than 18th February 2019 and end by Friday 29th March 2019, respectively.”
On KASU, the statement added that the pending issues in the university stemmed from undue interference in the governance structure of the institution as can be seen in various folds, including, among others, the 60 per cent outstanding September, 2017 salary payment.
“Other pending issues include discrepancies in salary payment from October 2019 to date due to migration to BATMIS, Kaduna State’s version of IPPIS, non-payment of SIWES supervision allowance, obnoxious tax system, non-remittance of pension and group life insurance.
“Others are non-implementation of promotion/promotion arrear, non-payment of excess work load, devious health insurance scheme, 50 per cent COVID-19 compulsory deductions (April and May, 2020), respectively,” it added.
Education
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
Laycon Wins 2020 Big Brother Naija Show
Olamilekan Agbeleshe better known as Laycon has emerged winner of the 2020 BBNaija Lockdown edition.
Laycon beat 19 other housemates to emerge winner of this year’s reality television show.
He becomes the fifth winner of the show since its inception.
The rapper, who had been in the spotlight since his first day on the show, led by 60 per cent votes followed by Dorathy with 21.85 per cent votes.
However, Nengi had 15.03 per cent votes while Neo and Vee had 1.94 per cent and 1.18 per cent votes respectively.
Following his victory, Laycon is expected to go home with N85m worth of prize.
The breakdown of the grand prize of the competition includes N30m cash prize; a two-bedroom apartment courtesy Revolution Plus; Sports Utility Vehicle from Nigerian automaker, Innoson Motors; a trip to Dublin courtesy Guinness; home appliances courtesy Scanfrost.
Others are a trip to Dubai packaged by Travelbeta; a year’s supply of Indomie noodles, Munch it, and Colgate toothpaste; a year’s supply of Pepsi, a branded chiller, trip to watch the UEFA Champions League final; and a brand new Oppo mobile smartphone.
Entertainment
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
E2%80%93vice-president-osinbajo Nigeria To Reopen Land borders Soon –Vice President Osinbajo
Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo.
Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has said that government may reopen the land borders soon.
Osinbajo disclosed this while speaking during a webinar organised by The Africa Report.
Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo.
The webinar, which was themed ‘Bouncing back: Nigeria’s post-pandemic recovery plan’, focused on issues regarding government frameworks to be adopted towards economic recovery following the Coronavirus pandemic, which affected countries globally.
Reacting to a question on the continued closure of the land borders despite preparations for the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), the Vice President said the government was working with neighbouring countries on the terms of reopening the border.
He said, “We are working with our neighbours to see on what terms we would reopen those borders. At the moment, we are undertaking joint border patrols to control smuggling along the borders and we think it is working and I am sure that soon enough we should have the borders opened.
“We are committed to the AfCFTA but we are concerned about threats to security and the economy and we had to take certain actions that would satisfy the immediate needs of our country. It (border closure) certainly wasn’t meant to be permanent and we are looking forward to reopening as quickly as possible.”
President Muhammadu Buhari had in October 2019 ordered the closure of the borders to check the menace of smuggling goods and arms and ammunition into the country and protect local businesses.
The closure was, however, greeted by mixed reactions from professional organisations, economists and individuals.
Heads of countries like Ghana and Benin Republic had also appealed to the President to reconsider the closure, but Buhari maintained that the borders would remain closed until the final report of the committee set up on the matter was considered.
Politics
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
E2%80%94gana I Fought Corruption As Acting Registrar Of NECO —Gana
Abubakar Gana
Abubakar Gana, a former Acting Registrar of National Examinations Council, has debunked allegations that he siphoned N368m belonging to the organisation.
SaharaReporters had reported how Gana connived with some senior officials of NECO to divert about N368m generated by the council from the 2018 June/July SSCE registration fees between June and December 2018.
Abubakar Gana
A source said the former Acting Registrar in collaboration with the Director of Finance and Accounts, Jacob Samuel Ekele, and the then Acting Director of Examination Administration, Mustapha K. Abdul, diverted the money away from the council’s coffers under the pretence that the amount represented a revenue loss as a result of ‘missing’ 32,500 units of 2018 June/July SSCE registration cards (worth N368,875,000) in NECO office Ibadan, Oyo state.
See Also
Exclusive
EXPOSED: How Former Acting Registrar Of NECO, Gana, Siphoned N368m Registration Fees In Six-month
0 Comments
2 Days Ago
But Gana in a statement on Sunday said he fought corruption in the examination council and the alleged misappropriation was officially reported to him on assumption of office in 2018, a development that led to the setting up of both management and board committees to carry out investigations.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I was appointed as Acting Registrar of NECO on May 10, 2018 while the purported incident occurred on December 18, 2017, at least, five months before my appointment. It must, however, be put on record that the infractions were uncovered by the council in 2017 under the watchful eyes of former Registrar, Prof Charles Uwakwe, but nothing was done to bring the perpetrators to book.
“Upon our investigations, two officials of the council were indicted and thereby recommended for dismissal. Not satisfied with the outcome of the investigation, the officials petitioned the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges in the eight Assembly, which also found them culpable of misappropriation but however pleaded for leniency, a request that was rejected by the board.
“How could I have stolen money before my appointment as Registrar? My administration fought corruption to a standstill by ensuring that monies generated by the council went straight to the Treasury Single Account of the Federal Government. Under my administration as Acting Registrar of NECO, the council carried out major reforms and recorded significant strides. Between 2010 and 2017, NECO generated N900m but in two years, we returned over N2bn, generated as proceeds from the conduct of examination, to the federation account with outstanding states indebtedness to the council for 2018 and 2019 growing up to N1,045,047,140.00bn.
“The council also abolished the use of scratch cards to ensure that monies generated go directly to the treasury single account. It also worked to ensure reduction of examination registration fee from N11,350 to 9,850. My administration generated N600m per annum from checking of result, from an initial N30m. For the first time, the council audited itself and dismissed over 100 staff with fake certificates.
“The only sin I committed was to carry out a presidential directive by dismissing the erring staff, who have now made me a target of their campaign of calumny.”
Corruption
Education
Scandal
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
Survey Scores Nigerian Government, Lagos Low On COVID-19 Response
A survey conducted by Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) among Nigerians has scored the federal and Lagos State governments low on COVID-19 response.
HEDA said the survey revealed Nigerians’ dissatisfaction with various responses from both governments.
According to the people, public officials did not do enough on public health needs, sharing of palliatives and constructive engagement of the critical sectors.
“Respondents were drawn from the Lagos labour force while the survey weighed on gender.
“The survey which targeted 1300 respondents recalled a success 1150 responses. 50 per cent of respondents above 50 years of age said the Federal Government did not handle the pandemic well while 50 per cent of female respondents said the Federal Government badly handled the responses.
“For instance, out of 420 respondents, with 262 male and 155 female, 104 respondents said the governments fairly badly handled the response while 104 female, 231 male said the responses were badly handled. The report contains analysis and evaluation of the various citizen perspectives on government responses. Most people from 34 to 64 years old felt the responses of the government were bad. The survey was conducted on August 7 and 8, this year.
“The action was informed by the need to understand, with empirical fact, citizen’s perception of governments at the federal and state levels, with special focus on Lagos as pilot, to determine what level of trust is placed on the governments to represent and reflect citizens’ interest in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes. Other considerations included the the allegations of misapplication and secrecy surrounding the utilisation of resources and funds mobilised to combat the COVID-19 by these governments.
“Also, the survey will help mobilise citizens for popular participation in government and demand for accountability in the implementation of policies and programmes. Governments are ultimately forced to adopt the consultation strategy in designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating its programmes and imbibe people-oriented initiatives,” HEDA said.
PUBLIC HEALTH
News
Reports
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
E2%80%94shiite-group Buhari Responsible For Sheikh Zakzaky’s Deteriorating Health —Shiite Group
The Academic Forum of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria has called on the Nigerian Government to release Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, its leader from detention.
The group said El-Zakzaky’s health was fast deteriorating and he could die if urgent steps aren’t taken.
El-Zakzaky has been in custody for years despite court orders for his release.
He was arrested in December 2015 after the Shi’ites and the Nigerian army clashed in Zaria, Kaduna State.
In a statement on Sunday, Abdullahi Muhammad Musa, spokesperson for the AFIM, accused President Muhammadu Buhari of toying with the health of El-Zakzaky by denying him urgent medical attention.
Musa said, “Inalienable as fundamental rights are, Buhari has practically violated all against Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife, Malama Zeenah. From the right to personal liberty, to dignity, to whatnot; even the inviolable right to life is threatened, day after day. The sanctity of their lives is under serious threats and danger as the poisoned bullet shrapnel which give rise to highly concentrated lead pellets continue to wreak some havoc after the other.
“Irresponsible government leadership has no more than impunity to usher in the territory under its control. By doing so, encroachment and infringement of the rights of citizenry become the order of the day. This writs large with the health condition of Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife in the unhealthy, overcrowded Kaduna prison. The couple are seriously sick, and gradually dying in Buhari’s goal. As their health continues to deteriorate without any sign or an iota of getting better, it is apposite to firmly state that Buhari is responsible for its getting worse. For, no human right as enshrined in the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) upon which Buhari has not trampled against the duo.
“The Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the massacre chaired by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, discovered that “the oral order for the cordon and search operation issued by GOC 1 Div which led to the deployment of officers and men of the Nigerian Army for operational use, was in contravention of the provisions of Section 8 of the Armed Forces Act No. 24 of 1994. The JCI recommends the prosecution of the perpetrators. Four years after the report, not one single individual has been prosecuted by the Buhari regime.
“The public is not unaware that after the 2015 massacre, Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife, through their chief counsel, Femi Falana (SAN), approached the Federal High Court, Abuja, for the enforcement of their fundamental rights. On December 2, 2016, the court delivered a historic judgement, ordering Buhari to release the couple, unconditionally. The regime ignored the order and spent the next year to come up with a way to provide legal cover for their continued detention. With the full support of Kaduna State governor, Nasiru el-Rufa’i, they brought forth concocted charges.
“The cooked-up charges at Kaduna High court centre on aiding and abetting his followers for culpable homicide, and the same state judiciary had discharged and acquitted those accused of committing the homicide. Therefore, the arraignment and continuous detention of the two is a manifestation of the Buhari regime’s commitment to rule with impunity, to disregard the rule of law, to impose the whim of Buhari and his inner circle and to protect their personal interests at all costs and to quash all opposition by any means necessary.
“Obviously, Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife are in serious need of proper medical attention, their health condition is deteriorating, yet Buhari denies them the inalienable rights to it. In consequwnce, whatever happens to either of the couple, he will be held responsible. Finally, we demand unconditional release of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife.”
Human Rights
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
E2%80%99s-nationwide-protest Lawyers Declare Support For NLC, TUC’s Nationwide Protest
File Photo
The Radical Agenda Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association has hailed the decision of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and the Joint Action Front to embark on nationwide strike and mass protest on September 28 against the recent increases in the pump price of petrol and electricity tariff.
RAMINBA in a statement by its Chairman, Adesina Ogunlana, and Secretary, Ayo Ademiluyi, warned security operatives against infringing on the rights of Nigerians to peaceful protest.
File Photo
The statement reads, “RAMINBA reiterates the rights of peaceful protesters to freedom of movement and peaceful assembly. However, where the state security agencies embark on their usual line of violation of these rights through arrest, detention, arraignment and prosecution of peaceful protesters, RAMINBA will not hesitate to provide legal representation on their behalf.
“Members of the Radical Agenda Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association across the states of Nigeria are hereby put on notice to be contacted to provide legal representation for such cases.
“RAMINBA will also open a Legal Assistance Observation and Response Room at the National Secretariat of the Radical Agenda Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association at 185, Ikorodu Road, Palmgrove, Lagos State, from 7:00am on Monday, 28th September, 2020 to coordinate the organisational response to these cases.”
See Also
LABOR/WORKERS’ RIGHTS
Judicial Workers To Embark On Two Weeks Strike
0 Comments
2 Days Ago
ACTIVISM
Legal
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
10 Nigerian Ladies Barred From Leaving Lebanon By Employers
Ten Nigerian ladies, who migrated to Lebanon for domestic work, have been barred from leaving the country by their employers.
The ladies are part of 130 Nigerian young women stranded in Lebanon and billed for evacuation.
It was gathered that their employers connived with the Lebanese Police to stop them from leaving the Asian country.
A source in Lebanon, who spoke with SaharaReporters, said the employers of the 10 ladies might be using them for prostitution, hence the reason they do not want them to return to Nigeria.
“It seems the employers of those Nigerian girls who do not accept their return are using those girls for prostitution and their voices has not been heard,” the source hinted.
In a letter to Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, by the Nigerian Ambassador to Lebanon, Goni Modu Zanna Bura, obtained by SaharaReporters, it was stated that the Office of the General Security in Lebanon had withheld the exit clearance of the ladies and an arrest warrant had been issued on them.
“May I however regrettably, report also that the host office of the General Security had withheld exit clearances in respect of 10 ladies out of the returnees.
“This sad development was predicated on a report filled by their Lebanese employers to the police, in so doing, the 10 Nigerians were placed on stop list and subsequently a warrant for their arrest was issued by the authorities,” the letter by the ambassador reads partly.
See Also
CRIME
Trafficking: Nigerian Woman Recounts One-Month Experience In Lebanon Jail After Her Employer Sponsored Illegal Arrest
0 Comments
1 Week Ago
The Nigerian ambassador, however, promised that the mission will continue to follow up the case with a view to obtaining necessary legal approval and clearances to enable the safe return of the 10 ladies.
With the evacuation set to begin from Sunday (today) through September 30, the ambassador said the mission will continue to monitor the case.
The 10 ladies stopped from leaving Lebanon include Ajara Kehinde, Alliu Kaothar Adeola, Aremu Idowu Elizabeth, Azeez Funmilayo Afusat, Fatokun Oluwadunsin Deborah, Olomohugbe Ifeoluwa Ebun, Oluwafemi Damilola Oluwaseun, Yisah Kafayat Adetutu, Ojelabi Christianah Adenike and Sunday Rosemary Christopher.
Human Rights
Travel
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
Read also
You can also check
