Make good use of your office – Workers tell Amaechi

Mr Innocent Ajiji, the President General of Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NUR) on Wednesday tasked the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, to address the poor welfare of railway workers.

Ajiji, who disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said railway staff receives the lowest remuneration among the transport parastatals.

He said that Amaechi should use his good office to review the welfare of staff, the way Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) staff remuneration was improved.

“The railway union has a lot of challenges, our workers’ welfare is very poor and that is what I keep talking about since I came on board.

“I want the minister to do what he did in NPA by improving our salaries. I want him to at least upgrade our salary even above the thirty thousand naira minimum wage,“ he said.

Ajiji said that government had improved on railways infrastructure across the country and urged it to complete all the projects for the benefit of Nigerians.

Why Ngige was absent at May Day rally, by Aide

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has explained that his absence at the 2019 workers day celebration in Abuja has nothing to do with his current faceoff with organised labour over the headship of the board of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

The Minister who has had series of disagreement and altercation with President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba and other Labour leaders in recent times was conspicuously absent at the annual event to celebrate workers which was attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

NLC President had in his address to workers alluded to the fact that the Minister was absent because of their disagreement over the NSITF board.

But in a two paragraphed statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Nwachukwu Obidiwe, Senator Ngige said he was absent as a result of ill health.

The statement reads: “Contrary to uncivilized attitude and barefaced lies contained in the address of the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba, I wish to state for the avoidance of doubt that the Hon. Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige was absent at Wednesday’s Worker’s Day rally for reasons of ill health.

“The Minister has been down with flu since last Sunday. He met his doctors last Monday and has since been at home recuperating.”

The Nation gathered that workers had planned to boo the Minister at the event.

His address to workers was however delivered by the Minister of state, Prof. Stephen Ocheni.

JAMB speaks on crash of server, release of 2019 UTME results

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says its server did not crash.

It said results of candidates who participated in its 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination ( UTME) are intact.

The board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.

Benjamin reacted to speculations in some quarters that the board issued a press statement, explaining that the release of the UTME results was being delayed because its server crashed and that candidates should prepare for another examination.

”We want to distance ourselves from such malicious and wicked rumours by fraudulent persons, as there is no truth in them.

”We did not issue any press statement concerning crashing of server. All these are antics of desperate persons trying to cause panic and confusion among candidates and the general public.

”We are not going to succumb to such rumours as we remain focused in ensuring that we achieve what we have set out to do.

”After the examination, the board embarked on a screening to determine any form of examination malpractice and infractions by both candidates and examination centres. This is what has been delaying the release of the results,” he told NAN.

The official said that the board had almost completed the screening and would soon releaseresults of deserving candidates.

”What we are trying to do is to ensure that innocent persons are not punished, but I can assure you that we are going to punish all those found wanting,” he said.

Benjamin appealed to Nigerians to believe in the board’s ability to rid of what he described as ‘criminal elements’

According to him, Nigerians should appreciate what the board is doing as it is for the benefit of the Nigerian child and the national large.

”We want to correct so many things might have been taken for granted in the past.

”When fraudulent individuals get away with their mischievous acts, it is because the society is in a hurry to run to a conclusion, not mindful of the fact that certain acts should be pursued painstakingly to a logical conclusion.

”I want to let you know that the board has secured conviction of some UTME fraud suspects in Kebbi.

”Therefore, we equally want to seize this opportunity to thank the judiciary for doing a good job, as we urge others to key into what has been achieved in Kebbi in an effort to get rid of fraudulent persons and sanitise the system,” he said.

Benjamin urged candidates to be calm and wait for their results to be released soon.

”I want to urge candidates not to entertain any fear. Their results are intact,” he said.

Tackle poverty among disabled persons, NAPWPD urges Sanwo-Olu

The National Association of Persons Living with Physical Disabilities, Lagos State chapter, has urged the Lagos State governor-elect, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to put a specific programme in place to tackle the high poverty rate among persons living with disabilities in the state.

The group noted that the United Nations had estimated that people living with disabilities accounted for 80 per cent of the people affected by chronic poverty in developing countries.

It said by tackling poverty among the physically-challenged people after coming on board, the Sanwo-Olu administration would have solved more than 50 per cent of the poverty problem in the state.

The NAPWPD said this on Tuesday in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Dare Dairo; General Secretary, Toyin Salami; and Publicity Secretary, Ojo Oluwole.

It urged the governor-elect not to address the problem by giving handouts to the people living with disabilities or promoting charity, but to empower them through training and skills acquisition.

The NAPWPD said it had realised that developing enterprise among the persons living with disabilities was the viable way of tackling poverty among them.

It said, “Last year, in conjunction with the Disabilities Foundation and Professor Awosika, we provided entrepreneurship training for some of our members in the transport business.  Based on that training and business evaluation, they were recommended to a microfinance bank.  Seven of our members got a Keke Marwa each, for which they have almost completed the repayment.   Nobody should be unproductive on account of disability.”

The group urged Sanwo-Olu to provide a concrete mechanism of inclusion for people living with disabilities to shield them from local government officials and others, who, they alleged, often frustrated them.

“Most local government authorities in Lagos State are not even aware of the disability law, or the existence of an agency like the Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs.

“Starting from LASODA to local government administration, the incoming government in Lagos State should see to it that the structure for inclusion is properly enshrined in critical areas like education, health, sports, poverty alleviation, and political participation,” the NAPWPD said.

The group said judging from his campaign promises, it had confidence that the Sanwo-Olu administration “would make Lagos State more conducive to people living with disabilities to thrive with dignity and have a sense of belonging.”

“We appreciate Governor Akinwumi Ambode for his bold initiatives in tackling poverty and unemployment among persons living with disabilities in Lagos State.  We are no less grateful to Mr Babatunde Fashola and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu before him. Their vision, compassion and good work sustain the spirit of inclusion in Lagos State that is the envy of other states in the country,” the group said.

NDLEA prosecutes four Mexicans, others for producing illicit drugs

Methamphetamine is regarded as a hard drug and its unlawful production is prohibited by the authorities as it poses grave danger to humans and the environment.

The NDLEA, along with other relevant agencies, also destroyed forfeited 89,652.84 kilogrammes of assorted narcotic drugs worth over 100 million Naira estimated street value.

The narcotic exhibits seized within Delta State were jointly set ablaze in accordance with orders of the Federal High Court to all relevant agencies and the state government, Tuesday, at the NDLEA office in Ogwashi-Uku, headquarters of Aniocha South Local Government Area.

Chairman of the agency, Col Muhammad Abdallah (rtd) described the destruction as symbolic and strategic both to the agency and drug control policies of the government, stressing that seized drugs remained a threat until they are destroyed.

He said: “In 2012, a total of 54,879.53 of drugs were destroyed and today, a hug numbers of drugs will be destroyed. It is regrettable that despite all the efforts of the federal and state governments to address the scourge of drug cultivation and production in the country, criminals have continued to carry out these nefarious activities.”

‘The collapse of Nigeria will happen soon’ – Nnamdi Kanu reveals

Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has revealed that Nigeria will soon collapse and Biafra will rise regardless.

Kanu who made this known yesterday while addressing Biafrans in Germany said IPOB is a relentless group.

In his words;

“I thank the good people of IPOB for the huge turnout yesterday in Bavaria Munich Germany.

“Not minding the short notice, you proved your determination to restore Biafra so that we can all return to our beloved homeland.

“The world is aware that we IPOB are the most organised, peaceful and largest freedom movement on this earth. Biafra shall be free.

“Our victory over the multitude of the forces of darkness is assured. We are relentless, resolute and determined. The collapse of Nigeria is imminent as the rise of the nation of Biafra is inevitable. All enemies within and without shall be put to shame” Kanu stated.

Life Lessons From Author Partners Mudi Africa

Author of the much anticipated and soon-to-be-launched book, Life Lessons from Mudipapa, Francis Ewherido, has gone into a strategic partnership with Africa’s top clothiers, Mudi Africa, to kit the author at the presentation of the book on May 5 and subsequent guest appearances.

 The author who is also a Newspaper columnist while confirming the partnership said, “the implication is that during the presentation, subsequent media appearances, book readings and other engagements involving the emergent Mudipapa brand, my outfits will be from Mudi Africa.”

Corroborating Ewherido the founder and Chief Executive of Mudi Africa, Mr. Clement Mudiaga Enajemo, said even though the Mudipapa brand is new, the brain behind it has been around and will be a good ambassador of the Mudi Africa brand, which recently celebrated its 25^th anniversary. “Moreover, we are friends and home boys, so it was not really a difficult decision to make.”

The unveiling of Life Lessons from Mudipapa, the first major literary work of multiple columnist and chartered insurance broker, Francis Ewherido, comes up on May 5 in Lagos and will attract many prominent people from the insurance, business world, media, academia and Delta State, the home state of Ewherido. The event commences at 2pm with red carpet.