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2019: Kalu denies presidential posters

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2019: Kalu denies presidential posters

[dropcap]F[/dropcap]ormer Abia State governor and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Orji Kalu has distanced himself from fake campaign posters pasted along airport road, Abuja, with the inscription : Vote Orji Kalu for President on the platform of the APC.According to Kalu, who is also a staunch supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari, the posters are the handiwork of political jobbers and speculators.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday and signed by his Special Adviser, Kunle Oyewumi, Kalu insists that he is solidly behind the candidature of President Muhammadu Buhari if he so desires to run in 2019, adding that the North should be allowed to complete their eight years before Igbo their rightful turn in 2023.He said, ” after a two-week business trip to China, to my surprise on my way from Nnamdi Azikwe International airport, Abuja this morning, I sighted the malicious posters in my name with the caption: ‘Kalu for President’.It is definitely the handiwork of some politicians who are either afraid of my political capacity or enemies of the present administration as I have continually maintained my support for Mr. President.

The action of these jobless politicians is a ploy to damage the robust relationship I have with President Buhari and the top hierarchy of the APC.‎ Such political blackmail is not only disheartening but unhealthy for Nigeria’s growing democracy.
While I call on the unsuspecting public, especially members of the APC, to disregard the vicious posters, I am also reaffirming my unflinching and unaltered support for Mr. President.
” I will contest in 2019 by the grace of God but definitely not for President”, Kalu declared.
The APC chieftain while appealing to the political class to play the game by the rules, called on the electorate to be wary of desperate politicians, adding that the collective interest of Nigerians is paramount and should be placed above selfish ambitions

Buhari to appoint more ministers, reshuffle cabinet

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Buhari to appoint more ministers, reshuffle cabinet
President Buhari

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]  he President announced this on Tuesday in his speech at the ongoing National Executive Council meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja. He is also to make more board appointments in response to demand from members of his party, as well as analysts across the country. “Last year I said we would re-constitute the Boards of Parastatals. I must regret the fact that we have not done so, for many reasons,” President Buhari said. “Some of us in this meeting may know I had given instructions since October 2015 for this exercise to start.”

“But there have been inordinate delays through several committees in an attempt to get the balance right and to make sure all parts of the country are equitably represented. On the other hand, I am keenly aware that our supporters are very eager for these appointments to be announced. “By the grace of God, these appointments will be announced soon, especially now that the economy is improving; we will have the resources to cater for the appointees.

“By the same token the compressed Federal Executive Council will be expanded to bring in more supporters at Federal Level, with fresh ideas to be injected into the government,” he added. The President further listed the progress made so far by his administration in the implementation of its programmes and APC manifesto, saying Nigerians were already experiencing the change the party promised.

He, however, said they would not rest on the achievements until they fulfill their campaign promises, noting that he was aware of the challenges facing the country. “We can be proud of our achievements in the last two years – Boko Haram, Niger Delta, regular fuel, improved power, TSA, agriculture, and fertiliser; above all, the knowledge that corruption will not be tolerated in this government. We all know there is change.

“Nigeria’s prestige has gone up, Nigeria is now creditworthy, a clear testimony of which was the over-subscription of the Euro-Bond by four times,” he said.

President thanked the APC leadership and party members for their prayers and good wishes, as well as for helping to keep the government running smoothly while he was on medical leave. He also asked them to remain united and rise above petty or personal quarrels to achieve the desired change the party has promised Nigerians.

Total transformation of NUPENG by Comrade (Dr) Igwe Achese and his proactive team

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Total transformation of NUPENG by Comrade (Dr) Igwe Achese and his proactive team
Comrade (Dr) Igwe Achese
NUPENG National President

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]rue leaders discover and understand who they are and what their purposes are; they influence their environment more than their environment influence them. Even though every human being on this planet has an indication of leadership, most of us do not have the courage to cultivate it but smart ones like Comrade (Dr) Igwe Achese(JP) do. He can be described as a man who cuts on aura. A diligent man who is always focused on the things he wants and knows exactly how to achieve them.He is an excellent Icon of accountability , a result oriented fellow, who has passion for excellence and known for his dedication.

Since Comrade Igwe Achese and his proactive team assumed office to pilot the affairs of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG)in the past seven years and six months, this proactive team have been able to achieve alot of results based on team work.When the team assumed office , they started on a very frosty note with little or no working capital but they were able to get out of the woods by paying all the huge bank loans they met with Oceanic Bank. Comrade Igwe Achese and his team took a bold step to renovate the National Secretariat and the building of zonal offices; today they have a functional zonal offices in Lagos, Warri and Port -Harcourt and the union no longer pay rents to shylocks landlords in these zones.The union has just completed a Hotel complex in Kaduna.

Com. Joseph Ogbebor
NUPENG General Secretary

It was on records that before these proactive team came on board, this great union cannot boast of functional operational vehicles ,but today Comrade Igwe Achese and his proactive team bought alot of operational vehicles for zonal chairmen and new buses to complement the old one at the National Secretariat. Under Comrade Igwe Achese leadership of NUPENG, the union made another laudable achievement through the acquisition of 774 hectares of land for Tanker park in Eleme, Port Harcourt with certificate of Occupancy given to the union by Gov. Wike administration.The land has been fenced and access roads with security park been constructed as discussion for investors are on-going presently. This when completed will take trucks out of the Port-Harcourt Refinery road and the entire complex will boast of modern day facilities like banks, restaurants, fire house, Hotels, Police Station etc. This project will cost the union N4billion (Four Billion Naira only) .

Under the able leadership of this administrative Icon Comrade Igwe Achese, the union has been able to send all the National Executive Council members to one or two course abroad and they have also organised zonal and National workshops annually with massive attendance by members.Not too long ago,the National Executive Council members attended oversea training in Great Britain and Dubai.
The leadership of NUPENG added another laudable efforts to further diversify in view of reducing revenue coming from union dues, they have acquired another massive land for the building of a gas plant in Okrika, Rivers State and the project construction will commence as soon as the documentations are perfected. The union also establishes and carry on or participate (financially and otherwise) in the business of the printing or publishing of a general newspaper or of journals, books, pamphlets or publication of any other undertaking, industrial or otherwise, in the interest of or with the main purposes of furthering the interest of the union or trade unionism generally. NUPENG also involved in advocacy for good governance with international best practice policies that will sustain the nation’s oil and gas sector worker and the nation at large.

The union is also involved in the advancement of education and training of members. NUPENG also provide members with benefits and other assistance as provided for in the constitution. The union also encourages the participation of members in decision making both at industrial and national levels.It is also involved in the protection and advancement of the socio–economic and cultural interest of the community, and such other objectives as are lawful and are not inconsistent with the spirit and practice of trade unionism.Another service the union renders is to promote and encourage International fraternal relations with bodies having the interest of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers.

Comrade (Dr) Igwe Achese  have turn the name NUPENG into a brand and household name in Nigeria. It is a trade union affiliated to the Nigeria Labour Congress. The public relations activities of the union are varied.The union believes in social dialogue as a tool to reaching out and resolving industrial crisis. Most of the disputes that arise are resolved through this method of social interaction. NUPENG believes that the drop in oil prices in the International market with other attendant factors like pipeline vandalism , inflation have contributed to the down-turn in the industry and the hardest hit by the current right sizing, retrenchment,downsizing are workers under the aegis of NUPENG.

Comrade Igwe Achese outstanding contributions and performance as an industrial relations practitioner, a motivator, a human resource expert who believes in capacity building and infrastructural development of Nigeria cannot be over emphasize because he has taken this union to the next level since he assumed office as the National President of this great union. He believes that Nigeria as a nation is presently at a cross- road and that we never had it rough, as the economy is in shambles while the recovery efforts is very slow. He believes that the major challenge facing oil and Gas workers in Nigeria today is the spate of redundancies. The union is presently saddled with negotiating redundancies almost on a daily basis but with the commendable efforts of this proactive fellow and his team, it can be resolved that the story will gradually be a history.

By: Grassroots Publishers

29-Year-Old Man Rapes 85-Year-Old woman to Coma in Osun

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29-Year-Old Man Rapes 85-Year-Old woman to Coma in Osun
CP Olafimihan-Adeoye

[dropcap]A[/dropcap] 29-year-old man, Kehinde Ariyo, has been arrested by the Osun State Police Command for allegedly raping an 85-year-old woman to coma at Ilesa town in the state.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Fimihan Adeoye, disclosed this to newsmen on Monday in Osogbo.
Adeoye said the incident happened at Ogudu area in Ilesa, where the suspect forcefully had canal knowledge of the old woman after gaining access to her residence around 11pm on October 27.
He added that the woman sustained various degrees of injuries on her body, including her private organ, and eventually passed out in the process before she was resuscitated at a private hospital.
According to Adeoye, the suspect lives in the same area where the victim resides, and had gone on errands for the old woman several times in the past.
He said: “The woman passed out during the rape, but came back to life after some hours.
“The suspect was arrested the next day.
“This is the height of wickedness in our society.
“The boy injured the woman in the process, but she has been treated.”
The suspect admitted to have committed the act, claiming to have been drunk at the time of committing the heinous act.
He said: “Mama asked me to sleep on a couch in the passage.
“I was already drunk and did not know what happened afterwards.”

Zenith Carex Int’l Staff Cries Out After She Was Stabbed While Driving Along Oshodi/Ladipo- Toyota under Bridge, Lagos

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Zenith Carex Int’l Staff Cries Out After She Was Stabbed While Driving Along Oshodi/Ladipo- Toyota under Bridge, Lagos
The Injured hand of the Traffic victim

[dropcap]A[/dropcap] Nigerian lady and staff of a popular Courier firm Zenith Carex International, Lagos  , has recounted how she was stabbed by traffic robbers along Oshodi -Ladipo under  bridge by Toyota (Cliford Oriji under Bridge spot) in Lagos.

According to her, she and her colleague were coming from an official assignment at about 3.30pm on 28th october 2017 when the sad incident happened along Oshodi -Ladipo under  bridge by Toyota (Cliford Oriji under Bridge spot) in Lagos. She added that her official company car window was smashed by the men of the underworld in traffic as they started stabbing her with knife and requesting for her phone and bag at the same time and she finally lost her personal effects , mostly her cherished  wedding ring to the traffic robbers.

 

By: Grassroots Publishers

NAFDAC reduces product registration fee by 50%

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NAFDAC reduces product registration fee by 50%

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control ( NAFDAC ) has reviewed its registration fees by 50 per cent as part of new measures to ease the production of foods and drugs in Nigeria. This was disclosed by the acting Director General, Mr. Ademola Mogbojuru the decision of the agency on Monday in Minna at a NAFDAC Stakeholders Consultative Forum for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in support of the Federal Government’s initiative on the ease of drug business.

The DG said, “We have arrived at some measures. Now, discount will be applied to companies with staff strength of five and below. The discount is 50 per cent of the original tariff on product registration and this takes effect from the date of approval.

“The registration fee for sachet water which was N31,750 is now slashed by 50 per cent, making it N15,875, while that of food which was N52,750 is now N26,375 after 50 per cent slash.

“The entire process of attaining NAFDAC registration licence should not exceed 90 days; the registration process of bakery should not exceed 30 days and products registered under this scheme will be granted registration listing licence for operation.” Represented by the agency’s Director of Special Duties, Abubakar Jimoh, the acting DG said the measures were aimed at promoting small and medium enterprises and to assist businesses to grow in the country.

Mogbojuru said the agency had begun the listing of products for a period of two years renewable afterwards. He warned members of staff of the agency to stop frustrating registration processes by clients. In his remarks, the Niger State Coordinator of the agency, Mr. Anikoh Ibrahim, stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to enable the issue of health safety to succeed.

Ibrahim also promised to operate an open-door policy that would enable people to register their products as and when due.

Grassroots Publishers

IPOB members on trial overstretching prison facilities —NPS

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IPOB members on trial overstretching prison facilities —NPS
IPOB members

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]HE authorities of Nigeria Prisons Services, NPS, have said the large number of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, members clamped in prisons in its Zone E area of operation has further stretched the already challenging logistics in the prisons. Over 100 IPOB members are currently remanded in various prisons in the zone from where they go to court to face trial following the clash with soldiers who invaded the home of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, last month.

According to Assistant Comptroller General in charge of Zone E, comprising of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Imo and Rivers, with headquarters in Owerri, Mr. Alloy Uchenwa, members of IPOB being remanded in the prisons have further stretched the inadequate facilities in the prisons.

Uchenwa, who spoke to journalists, yesterday, in Umuahia, after meeting with the officers of the Abia State Command, said: “It was a miracle yesterday how we were able to convey 100 IPOB members to court.” Uchenwa, who explained that he was in Abia State as part of his routine inspection of facilities in commands under his zone, identified inadequate logistics as one of the major challenges of the prisons and appealed to individuals, organisations and governments to come to the assistance of the zone.

The Assistant Comptroller-General also identified prison congestion as another challenge confronting the service, saying a situation where “more than 90 per cent of inmates are awaiting trial was worrisome.”

He called for the building of more prison yards to ease the challenge of overcrowding, adding that a situation where cells for 500 are being occupied by 1,000 inmates was not conducive.

Uchenwa said he had raised the issue of prison congestion with Abia State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Umeh Kalu (SAN), who he said promised to do something.

He commended the leadership of Abia prison command for the reforms being carried out, especially effort to enroll inmates in classes, which will enable them to write West African School Certificate Examinations, WASCE, while some are taking courses in National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN.

Lagos Danfo buses will be replaced in January 2018 – Commissioner

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Lagos Danfo buses will be replaced in January 2018 – Commissioner
Mr. Steve Ayorinde
The Lagos State commissioner for Information and Strategy

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Lagos State commissioner for Information and Strategy Mr. Steve Ayorinde was a special guest at The Other News, a comic-talk show which was hosted by Okey Bakassi.

The commissioner talks about the future of Yellow Buses and what the future holds. According to him, As from January 2018, the danfo buses will be replaced with the new white and blue AC buses.

By: Grassroots Publishers

Jonathan Replies Metuh, Gives me N1bn if you want me in court

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Jonathan Replies Metuh, Gives me N1bn if you want me in court
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

[dropcap]F[/dropcap]ormer President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has listed conditions that must be fulfilled before he can appear in court.Jonathan gave this condition through an application he filed before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, asking for an order to set aside the issuance and service of the subpoena ad testificandum issued to him by the court on October 23, 2017, for the purpose of compelling him to appear in court to give evidence in proceedings of a charge delineated FHC/ABJ/ CR/05/2016.

The suit was filed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria against Olisa Metuh and Destra Investment Limited with a seven-count criminal charge.

Jonathan, therefore, asked in the alternative for an order mandating Olisa Metuh to deposit the sum of one billion naira with the court in line with the provisions of Section 241 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

The one billion naira according to Jonathan is to cover his travel expenses and that of his security personnel from Otuoke to Abuja and for logistics as well as the provision of tight security to cover the period of time he might spend appearing before the court as former President and any other order the court may deem fit.

The Motion on Notice dated October 27, 2017, and signed by his counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) was brought before the court pursuant Section 37 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as altered, Section 241(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, Section 183 of the Evidence Act 2011 and the inherent jurisdiction of the court as preserved in Section 6 (6A&B) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as altered.

The grounds given by the former President in his Motion on Notice includes that the evidence being sought from him is an invasion of his personal privacy and family life as provided in Section 37 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as altered.

He further stated that the evidence being sought from him is likely to expose him to a criminal charge, penalty and forfeiture, adding that the subpoena is vague and applied for on a frivolous ground. According to him, the application for issuance of a subpoena for him to appear and give evidence in the charge against Metuh was in bad faith as it was meant to embarrass him and subject him to public ridicule, odium and obloquy.

Former President Jonathan argued further in his application before the court that Olisa Metuh was not his personal aid or appointee while he was the President of Nigeria and could not have dealt with him directly under any circumstance to warrant his invitation to give testimony in the criminal charge against him.

He added that the seven-count-charge against Metuh before the court for which he was invited to testify has no nexus or connection to him as during his tenure, he appointed people to different positions of authority to carry out the day to day running of government activities and he believed in their competence that they discharged the duties to the best of their ability in the overall interest of the nation.

This he said, indicates that it is these appointees that related with him directly and not any third parties, adding that it is these appointees that are in the best position to explain or give testimony on the daily activities of government under their supervision.

Explaining his request for an alternate order mandating Metuh to deposit one billion naira for his travel expense with the court, Jonathan stated that by provisions of Section 241(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, he is not bound to attend court except Metuh pays for his travel expense.

The Motion on Notice filed by the former President was supported by a six-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Usman Salihu, a litigation officer with the law firm of Mike Ozekhome and a written address in which former President Jonathan argued his points in support of the motion.

FG APPOINTS NIWA MD,BOSS MUSTAPHA, AS NEW SGF

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FG APPOINTS NIWA MD,BOSS MUSTAPHA, AS NEW SGF
 

Mr. Boss Gida Mustapha
New Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Federal Government on Monday named Mr. Boss Gida Mustapha as the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). Until this appointment, Mustapha was the Managing Director/CEO of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

Mustapha’s appointment came just as the government announced the sacking of the former SGF; Mr. Babachir Lawal who was accused of unwholesome practices while in office.

Mustapha, a lawyer, management consultant, politician, businessman and boardroom expert of considerable repute was named to step into the shoes of Lawal after several months of cries by the Nigerian masses to do the needful.

Born in Adamawa State, Mr Mustapha attended Hong Secondary School, in Hong Adamawa state and North East College of Arts and Sciences Maiduguri Borno state, crowning it with WASC and HSC in 1976. He earned his Bachelor of Law (LL.B) from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1979 and was called to Bar in 1980.
From 1980 to 1981, Mr Mustapha did the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) – Directorate of Legal of legal Services at the Army Headquarters and was in charge of review of Court Marshall Proceedings.

After his National Service, he joined Sotesa Nigeria Limited, an Italian consultancy firm, as an Executive Director in charge of Administration, leaving in 1983 to join the prestigious law firm Messrs Onagoruwa & Co in Lagos.

With his law practice fully taken off, the MD was appointed Principal Counsel in the firm Messrs Mustapha & Associates, His legal interests and expertise included privatization commercialization and Liberalization of Public Companies/Corporate and Government Parastatals. He was also involved in preparation of varied and miscellaneous banking documents such as Debentures, Guarantees, Mortgages, Bonds and Loan Syndications.

One of Mr. Mustapha’s career highlights was his appointment as a member of Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the defunct Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund (PTF), serving meritoriously from 2000 to 2007. At the PTF, he was responsible for production of an up-t0-date comprehensive project and programme report, including location, coverage and whether performed, performing or abandoned production of final report of Assets and Liabilities, examination of the Administrative structure and cost effectiveness of PTF Projects and Services among other duties.

Mr. Mustapha also played key leadership roles at the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) serving as Social Secretary and Chairman at the Yola branch.

After his stint at the PTF in 2007, Mr. Mustapha was appointed Principal Partner of the law firm, Adroit Lex. His law practice and the burning desire to serve the larger society conspired to attract the MD into politics, at various times, he was member Federal Republic of Nigeria Constituent Assembly (1988-1989), Chairman People’s Solidarity Party-Gongola State (1989-1990), state chairman, Social Democratic Party-Gongola State (1990-1991); he was even a gubernatorial candidate for SDP in Adamawa state in 1991.
He was the Deputy National Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria from 2010 to 2013.

In 2007, he again played a prominent role, serving as the Deputy Director General of the party’s Presidential campaign Organization. His services remained in high demand after the fusing of CAN joined forces with other parties to form the All Progressive Congress (APC). He was a member of NCC and Secretary APC Presidential Campaign Organization Mobilization (2015) and member, APC Transition Committee (2015). He is also a member, APC Board of Trustees.

In addition to the NBA, the MD is a member of various professional bodies including African Bar Association (ABA), Commonwealth Lawyers Association, International Bar Association (IBA) and Human Rights Institute (HRI). But Mr. Mustapha’s accomplishments go beyond politics and the Bar; he is respected boardroom guru, having been appointed into the boards of several companies in the manufacturing financial services as well as oil and gas sectors.
He is the National Vice President, Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship international Nigeria.

The MD has travelled extensively visiting no fewer than 30 countries, and always taken interest in how waterways assets are managed in those countries. His address to management staff on assuming office set the tone style and direction of his administration. He stressed teamwork and the need to focus on the Authority’s vision and mission. He is also said: “Just call me Boss, there is no need calling me Manager; I don’t have nicknames.”

Mr. Mustapha who is married with children, enjoys golf, lawn tennis, travelling, documentary films, charity work and meeting people.

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