Minimum wage: Why Nigerian workers may not get demand – APC chieftain

Second republic senator, Chief Olorunnimbe Farukanmi, on Saturday said the N50,000 minimum wage being demanded by Nigerian workers may not be realised soon.

 The former lawmaker noted that the labour unions have been asking for N50,000 minimum, which he said would be 250 per cent increment based on the current N18,000.

Farukanmi, Chairman, Elders Assembly of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state, told Nation: “It is evidently clear that some of the various levels of governments in existence presently owe their workers over 10 months salary arrears.

“It means that if some local and state governments are unable to meet up the N18,000 especially as sources of revenue generation are dwindling, the proposed N50,000 per month demanded by the labour force, if acceded can never be met by these present government”

The APC stalwart said the negotiation on the demands of the labour unions for over N50,000 as the national minimum wage has been on for many years without any resolution.

The elder statesman warned that new minimum wage of N50,000 would cause another economic recession in the country, as it would lead to general increase in the prices of all commodities and food stuff.

He said: “The labour Unions should ensure that this nation does not slip into recession again since every Nigerian is aware of the fact that Nigeria derives majority of its revenue from oil and gas, but with the large scale reduction in the prices of oil in the world market, the country’s revenue has reduced drastically.

“At a time when the economy should be strengthened with a stable naira as against encouraging further inflation, to embark on a stable naira as against encouraging further inflation, to embark on a 250 per cent wage increase will be enormously detrimental to the successful growth of the economy.” - Daily Post

Aisha Buhari condemns APC primaries, says impunity happening under Oshiomhole

Aisha Buhari, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not fair to aspirants who partook in its primaries across the country.

President Buhari emerged unopposed in a direct primary election, but the exercise in some states was marred by controversies.

Commenting via Twitter on Sunday, the president’s wife expressed her disappointment over the way APC, led by Adams Oshiomhole, conducted the primaries.

“It is disheartening to note that some aspirants used their hard earned money to purchase nomination forms, got screened, cleared and campaigned vigorously yet found their names omitted on Election Day, these forms were bought at exorbitant prices,” she wrote.

“All Progressives Congress being a party whose cardinal principle is change and headed by a comrade/activist whose main concern is for the common man, yet, such impunity could take place under his watch.

“Given this development one will not hesitate than DISSOCIATE from such unfairness, be neutral and speak for the voiceless.

“It is important for the populace to rise against impunity and for voters to demand from aspirants to be committed to the provision of basic amenities.”

Halilu Ahmed, Aisha Buhari’s brother, is a governorship aspirant of the APC in Adamawa state. He has called for the cancellation of the primary election won by Muhammadu Bindow, governor of Adamawa.

In the same vein, Nuhu Ribadu, former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said the exercise was hijacked.

There have also been issues over the conduct of the party’s governorship primaries in Imo, Rivers, Zamfara, and Kaduna states. - TheCable

Board text warned me of reports - Jose Mourinho

Mourinho has revealed he received a text from a Manchester United board member ensuring him his job was not under threat. 

Reports emerged on Friday night that the Portuguese would lose his job regardless of Saturday's result against Newcastle, which saw United come from behind to win 3-2, followed by denials from the club the following morning.

Mourinho believes he is the victim of a "manhunt" that will "never stop", but he offered an insight into his continued relationship with the United hierarchy at full-time at Old Trafford.

"If I hadn't had an SMS from my board not to read (the papers), I would have been convinced too," he told talkSPORT.

Alexis Sanchez helped to ease the pressure on Mourinho with a late winner, after United went 2-0 down to the Mapgies inside 10 stunning minutes at the 'theatre of dreams'.

Juan Mata and Anthony Martial started the comeback, which happened inside the last 20 minutes, after Mourinho made a raft of substitutions, including swapping Eric Bailly for Mata after just 18 minutes.

The victory gave Mourinho the highest win percentage of any Manchester United manager, with 60.3 per cent above Sir Alex Ferguson's record of 60.1 per cent.

Further newspaper reports on Saturday night claimed ex-Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has been put on standby and told to reject all other job offers as United prepare for the future. - Sky Sports

2019: We didn’t step down for Buhari – APC presidential aspirants blow hot

A coalition of presidential aspirants on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has rejected the results of primaries of the party of September 28.

The results saw President Muhammadu Buhari emerged as the party’s presidential candidate.

The aspirants made their position known in a statement jointly signed by Alhaji Mumakhhai Unagha and Dr S.K Ogbonnia.

According to the aspirants, it was wrong for the party to declare Buhari as its sole presidential candidate.

Their statement said, “We, the presidential aspirants under the platform of All Progressive Congress, APC, in the 2019 general elections, henceforth, referred to as the Coalition Of The 2019 APC Presidential Aspirants, hereby reject the APC presidential primary election purportedly held on the 28th day of September, 2018.”

“The claim that Buhari is unopposed as the flag-bearer of the APC for the 2019 elections was not only grossly disingenuous but also a figment of the imagination latent lackeys grandstanding as presidential handlers.

“The truth is that we neither stepped down for the president nor suspended our ambition to be president on the platform of the APC in 2019.

“Buhari is merely being imposed, but such plot will fail,” the statement continued.

“Second, denying qualified citizens their right to seek public office is constitutionally ultra vires.

“Neither the Constitution of the Federal Republic nor the Constitution of the APC promotes prohibitive nomination fees, which the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Executive Committee is employing to exclude thousands of party faithful, particularly the youth and women, from exercising their right to seek public office.

“Neither the Constitution of the Federal Republic nor the Constitution of the APC recognizes the bogus clause, Right To First Refusal, which the party leadership assumed to sideline Buhari’s fellow aspirants from the presidential primary.

“It is also worthy of note that, while the idea of the ‘right to first refusal’ is promoted for the executive office of the president, the opposite is the case for the executive offices of the governors where notable relatives of party leaders, including Buhari’s in-laws, are aspirants.

“Third and very critically, there was no level playing ground in the party’s screening exercise.

“While serving ministers and governors were subjected to a rigorous screening exercise, no attempt was made whatsoever to re-evaluate President Buhari’s qualifications, with special attention to his educational and other certificates, state of health, fidelity to the party as well as national principles in context of the Nigerian multiethnic state, and much more.” - Daily Post

Sowore emerges AAC presidential candidate unopposed

Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, has emerged the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC).

Sowore emerged unopposed at the maiden convention of the AAC which held in Lagos on Saturday.

Addressing his supporters after the convention, Sowore called for more support.

“We must work to realise the dream of a new Nigeria, where we would be able to send our children to school and where the black man will be proud of the Nigerian nation. We must say enough is enough. Those who are taking Nigeria into the future are here with us,” he said.

In an interview with TheCable shortly after he declared for presidency, the known activist had listed things he would do differently if elected.

“I have a clear plan and my policy team is now in the process, tweaking detailed implementation plans for every sector of the Nigerian economy that we will soon be shared with Nigerians, he had said.

“Unlike President Buhari who did not elect a cabinet until after six months of taking office, I have begun to bring together a shadow cabinet of experts that are understudying what is going on right now in each sector of the Nigerian nation so that when we are voted in by the Nigerian people, we can truly hit the ground running from day one.

“Nigeria is truly blessed with a solid professional class at home and abroad. We can’t wait to unleash them on a Nigeria that we know is destined for prosperity and prominence.”

He added that he would provide outlines of his vision for the country. - TheCable

Nigerian humanitarian crisis: UN calls for closer collaboration

The United Nations (UN) on Friday called for stronger partnership with stakeholders to address humanitarian crisis caused by Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East region.

Achim Steiner, the UN Development Administrator and Mark Lowcock, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, made the call at a joint press conference in Maiduguri.

Steiner stressed the need for national and international partners to reinforce efforts toward addressing dire humanitarian needs in the conflict-ravaged states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

He noted that such partnership between humanitarian and development organisations was imperative to tackle humanitarian needs and root cause of the crisis.

Steiner said: “We have a unique opportunity to make real difference to communities across the North-East.

“Helping communities affected by the crisis requires us to work together; humanitarian and development organisations alike, to tackle immediate humanitarian needs and the root causes of the crisis.

“The government of Nigeria has launched recovery initiatives and efforts in the North-East aimed at rapid stabilisation.

“Early recovery and livelihoods activities implemented by UN agencies, international and local organisations seek to address the underlying causes of the conflict, lay foundation for sustainable development and prevent aid dependency.”

Steiner expressed satisfaction with rebuilding and resettlement of displaced communities in Borno, adding that proactive activities are necessary to ensure sustainability of the programme.

Also commenting, Lowcock said they were on a two-day official visit to Nigeria to appraise the humanitarian situation in North-East and Lake Chad region.

Lowcock reiterated UN commitments to support Nigeria to address humanitarian crisis, fast track recovery and stabilisation of communities affected by the conflict.

“We are committed to Nigeria and to the people of Nigeria.

“We are here to support the government’s leadership towards solutions in the North-East as humanitarian intervention can only be a temporary solution.

“I am pleased to be here with the UNDP administrator to help join up humanitarian and development efforts to save lives; help stabilise the situation, rebuild lives and communities for the future.

“We must do everything we can to prevent this crisis from continuing for years,” he added.

According to the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA), the visit was sequel to an international donor conference held in Berlin in September, during which donors pledged 2.5 billion dollars for humanitarian, stabilisation and recovery projects in Lake Chad region.

The UN agency said over 7.7 million people need humanitarian assistance, while food security and nutrition remained fragile in the war ravaged region.

Also, an estimated three million people face critical food insecurity and about one million children between the ages of six-months and 5-years face malnourishment while 440,000 others suffers severe acute malnutrition, it said. - PM News

Alaafin’s sons to battle eachother for Oyo Reps seat under APC, PDP

Two sons of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Prince Akeem Adeyemi and Prince Bayo Adeyemi will battle each other for the Afijio/Atiba/Oyo East/Oyo West Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives during the 2019 general election.

Prince Akeem Adeyemi fondly known as (Skimeh) is currently representing the constituency under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He was elected to represent the constituency in 2015.

The duo of Akeem and his brother, Prince Bayo Adeyemi popularly called (D-Guv), secured the tickets of APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Reps seat during the primary elections of the parties respectively.

DAILY POST reports that Akeem got the APC ticket while Bayo secured the PDP ticket during the primary elections held in Oyo town. - Daily Post