The General Secretary, Textile Workers Union, Mr Issa Aremu, has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for declaring June 12 as democracy day.

Aremu commended the President in Kaduna on Thursday and said the organized labour had saluted what it called the courage and sensitivity of President Muhammadu Buhari for ensuring democratic consolidation.

By posthumously honouring Chief MKO Abiola, acclaimed winner of June 12 1993 Presidential election long demanded for by democratic forces for the past two decades.

The Buhari has rekindle faith in sustainability of democracy by conferring the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on late Chief MKO Abiola.

The President gave the correct signal that never again would any group of people violate the mandate of Nigerian people through mandate annulment .

President Buhari on Wednesday directed that henceforth Democracy Day will be marked every year on June 12, rather than May 29 which had been observed as Democracy Day since 1999 when the current democratic dispensation began.

Though the results of the election were not fully announced before it was annulled, Abiola was believed to have won the election based on collations from all the states, Aremu said.

He said that the honour reserved for President, would be conferred on the late politician posthumously on June 12, which is the 25th anniversary of the election.

He also hailed the President for honouring Abiolas running mate, Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, and late human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN.

Aremu said President Buhari had brought integrity to governance by shunning the hypocrisy and shameless denials of past leaders of Nigeria that June 12th was truly a watershed in the struggle for democracy in Nigeria.

He said labour agrees with the administration that June 12, 1993 was far more symbolic of democracy in the Nigerian context than May 29 as it was June 12, 1993 that Nigerians in millions expressed their democratic will in what was undisputedly the freest, fairest and most peaceful elections since our Independence.

Aremu recalled that in 2015, organized Labour urged President Buhari to offer leadership and build a groundswell of national consensus to posthumously accord acceptable deserved national and global Honour to the winner of the June 12.

The honour for Abiola and others is honour for the nation adding that by dignifying the victims of June 12, Nigeria has invariably damned those behind the decades of impunity in Nigeria.Aremu said (NAN)

Source: NAN

China Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the sale of a new drug for the treatment of HIV-1 infection, the maker of the drug said.

Aikening, or albuvirtide for injection (ABT), can be used with other antiretroviral drugs to treat infected patients who have been treated with antiviral drugs but still suffer from viral replication, according to Frontier Biotech, a pharmaceutical company based in the east Chinese city of Nanjing.

Data from clinical trials showed that Aikening was effective against major strains of HIV, including resistant viruses, and the efficacy was long-acting, according to the company.

"As a long-acting injectable drug with a new mechanism of action, ABT has the potential to be a significant addition and improvement to the currently all oral drug regimen," said Xie Dong, chairman of Frontier Biotech.

Patients who used Aikening didn't show severe symptoms of side-effects, and they only have to take one injection every week, according to the company.

"It is expected that Aikening will have a big potential in markets at home and abroad," said Li Taisheng, an AIDS expert with Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

Official data showed that as of June last year, China had about 718,270 people living with HIV/AIDS and 221,628 people had died of AIDS-related diseases.

See Also New Chinese anti-HIV drug has fewer side effects on liver

Source:ECNS, NAN

The recent tradition of breaking Ramadan fast by President Muhammadu Buhari continued on Thursday when he hosted some popular entertainers.

Those who broke the fast with Buhari were popular musician, Temitope Adekunle (Small Doctor), Ali Jita, and Olanrewaju Fasasi (Sound Sultan)and
former BBNaija housemate Tobi Bakare.

President Buhari has been breaking the daily Ramadan fast with players from different sectors of the country.

The President had previously hosted the leadership and members of the National Assembly, Africas richest man Aliko Dangote and members of the business community, and traditional and religious leaders to break the Ramadan fast.

The bank of 21-year-old Small Doctor is a unique brand known for its unique sound and style which does appeal to all age and class group home and abroad.

Small Doctor has been signed on as the latest brand ambassador for gaming and entertainment platform, Western Lotto

FCT Commissioner of Police Sadiq Bello, has vowed to rid Abuja of illegal firearms ahead of the 2019 general elections.

The commissioner represented by the Police Public Relations Officer, Mt. Anjuguri Manzah, made the vow at a briefing on Operation Finger off the Trigger National Disarmament and Peace Campaign.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference was organised by: Nigeria Salute Initiative and Finger off the Trigger a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that educates youths on peaceful coexistence

Bello called on those in possession of illegal firearms in the FCT to voluntarily submit them as directed by the Inspector General of Police

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, recently directed Commissioners of Police of all the state commands to commence the recovery of illegal firearms in the country.

Bello said: The command is still calling on all those who possess firearms illegally to surrender them before the expiration of the time given.

`We want the residents to know that the submission of the illegal firearms is still open.

So anyone who is in possession of these firearms can go to any nearest police station or come to the FCT Command to surrender them because the IG has given an extension grace for the submission.

Because after the expiration of the grace anyone found in possession of illegal fire arms would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

He said that the FCT Command recovered a number arms and ammunition in March.

In March we recovered 778 illegal arms, 222 live cartridges that were voluntarily surrendered in the FCT as part of the efforts to ensure that we dont have firearms in the command.

Bello lauded the coordinator of the initiative, and stressed that the campaign could not come at a better time than now when the nation is preparing for 2019 elections.

The Coordinator, General Salute Nigeria Initiative, Amb Chielo Ojirika, said that the campaign was targeted at local communities, schools, churches, mosque, market places, motor parks, among others.

He said that the present ethnic-religious violence and insecurity in the country had prompted more the need for proactive programmes like the campaign.

He stated that Thus we need virtuous programmes that provide sustainable unity in Nigeria as a whole

Nigeria remains the biggest market in Africa, but this is being hindered by insecurity thereby slowing down her economic growth and development.

Boko Haram has been pushed back, but other tensions are also growing. For example, frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers, robbery and kidnapping are threatening the existence of Nigeria

It is therefore important to propagate socio-cultural cooperation among Nigerians. We believe that the yearning of the average Nigerian is that of peace, unity and stability hence Finger off the Trigger, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The U.S. State Department has brought a group of diplomats home from Guangzhou, China, over concern they were suffering from a mysterious malady that resembles a brain injury and has already affected U.S. personnel in Cuba, a spokeswoman said.

After confirming one government employee had suffered a medical incident in the southern Chinese city, the department deployed a team to screen employees and family members at its consulate there, spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement on Wednesday.

As a result of the screening process so far, the department has sent a number of individuals for further evaluation and a comprehensive assessment of their symptoms and findings in the United States, Nauert said.

Medical professionals will continue to conduct full evaluations to determine the cause of the reported symptoms and whether the findings are consistent with those noted in previously affected government personnel or possibly completely unrelated, she said.

The New York Times reported that the State Department had evacuated at least two Americans who fell ill after hearing strange noises in China.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Thursday that as far as she was aware, the government had not had any formal communication with U.S. officials on any new cases, and that it had investigated an initial incident.

At present, theres been no discovery of clues or the reason causing the situation the United States mentioned, Hua told a regular news briefing in Beijing, adding that China protected diplomats according to international convention.

If theres really a problem then the U.S. side can directly contact the Chinese side and communicate, and China will continue to conscientiously investigate and coordinate with a responsible attitude, Hua said.

Four American members of staff at the U.S. consulate in Guangzhou referred Reuters to the Beijing embassy press office when asked about the situation.

A U.S. government official there reiterated that there had been only one confirmed case in China, announced last month, and the State Department was offering screening to anyone in the U.S. embassy or consulates in China who requested it.

In addition to the Beijing embassy and Guangzhou consulate, the United States operates consulates in the mainland Chinese cities of Chengdu, Shanghai, Shenyang and Wuhan.

Last year, 24 U.S. government employees and family members in Cuba displayed the symptoms, which were similar to those related to concussion and mild traumatic brain injury, according to the State Department.

The illnesses among the American diplomats stationed in Havana heightened tension between the old Cold War foes.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo released a statement on Tuesday saying the department established a task force last month to direct a multi-agency response to the unexplained health incidents.

The precise nature of the injuries suffered by the affected personnel, and whether a common cause exists for all cases, has not yet been established, Pompeo said.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Shehu Malami to take immediate steps to gazette the Presidential Order awarding the nations highest honours to Chief MKO Abiola and two others.

The order will be publishedin the Federal Gazette as announced yesterday by President Buhari :

Chief MKO Abiola Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (Posthumous)

Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger

Chief Gani Fawehinmi -Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (Posthumous)

The President also directed that this should be done so that the awards slated for June 12, 2018 can go on as planned.

President Buhari in an earth-shaking move on Wednesday declared that henceforth, June 12 will be observed as Democracy Day in Nigeria and that some heroes of democracy be given national honours,

Babagana Kingibe was Abiolas running mate in the annulled June 12 election in 1993, while Chief Gani Fawehinmi, was the human rights crusader who campaigned for the actualisation of June 12.

The presidents action has been roundly applauded even by his political opponents.

Source: NAN

Lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Thursday were divided over the declaration of June 12 as National Democracy Day by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The division followed a motion by Rep. Wale Raji (APC-Lagos) brought under Urgent Matter of National Importance on the need to commend Buhari for the June 12 democracy day initiative, at the plenary.

Buhari had on Wednesday declared June 12 as National Democracy Day with effect from 2019.

Buhari also said that the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 election, Chief Moshood Abiola, would posthumously be awarded the highest award of the land, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).

He added that Abiolas running mate in the election, Amb. Babagana Kingibe, and late human rights lawyer, Gani Fayehinmi (SAN) would be vested with Grand Commander of the Niger (GCON).

Moving the motion, Raji called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release the result of the 1993 election and declare Moshood Abiola, President-elect.

Raji said that the 1993 presidential election was widely acclaimed as the freest, fairest and most credible election in the nations history.

He lamented that the result of the election was however annulled by the then military Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

According to him, since the return of democracy in 1999, successive governments had failed to recognise June 12 as National Democracy Day.

He urged the house to commend Buhari for the courageous step, adding that it was a sign that he listened to the voice of the people.

Also, Rep. Chris Azubogu (PDP-Anambra) commended the mover of the motion, saying that it was a worthy initiative.

He, however, drew the attention of the house to the exclusion of the electoral umpire, Mr Humphrey Nwosu, who conducted the election, from the list of those honoured.

Azubogu said that Nwosu was a key actor in the June 12 election and risked his life to conduct a free and fair election.

He said that Nwosu should be given due recognition for the role he played in the election as it would encourage future umpires of the electoral process to be free and fair.

In his contribution, Rep. Edward Pwajok (APC-Plateau) drew the attention of the house to the Public Holidays Act which stated that May 29 should be recognised as National Democracy Day.

Pwajok said that for the declaration of the president to take effect, the Public Holidays Act had to be amended.

He said that for a contestant to be referred to as President-elect, he had to be declared winner of the election by the National Returning Officer.

Pwajok, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), also said that there was a court order prohibiting INEC from releasing the result.

He explained that until the courts decision was stepped down by the same court or a higher court, the decision remained.

In his contributions, Rep. Mojeed Alabi (APC-Osun) said that there would have been no May 29, 1999 without June 12, 1993.

He said that prior to the presidential declaration, only Osun recognised June 12 as Democracy Day.

Alabi commended Buhari and urged the house to support the motion.

A rowdy session, however, erupted in the chamber when Rep. Nicholas Ossai (PDP-Delta) challenged the presidential declaration.

He said that the usurpation of the powers of the Legislature by the Executive was becoming too rampant.Ossai argued that an Act of Parliament could not be changed by a presidential declaration and that if June 12 must stand, it should follow due process of amendment of the Public Holidays Act.

Members roared in disapproval and tried to shut him up while others waved at him to sit down.

Supporting him, Rep. Toby Okechukwu (PDP-Enugu) said that the country must be ruled by law and not by persons or groups.

He said though the intention of the president was good, the declaration needed to be guided by the law, explaining that it was necessary so that nobody would in the future challenge the honour to Abiola.

After he spoke, the rowdiness in the chamber became intense and members left their seats to engage one another in shouting matches.

This lasted for over 20 minutes and when the Speaker of the house, Mr Yakubu Dogara, restored order, he referred the motion to the Committees on Justice and Rules and Business for further consultation.

He mandated the committees to look into the matter and make recommendations to the house before a decision would be taken.

Source: NAN

The Federal Government has promised to pay promotion arrears and backlog of allowances owed public servants.

The Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs, Winifred Oya-Ita, gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja at a Peer Review Mechanism (PRM), meeting for Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Civil Service.

Public servants can now breath a sigh of relief as backlog of outstanding liabilities, such as promotion arrears would soon be addressed.

The Ministry of Finance has begun the disbursement of promotion arrears to some civil servants, she said.

Speaking on the PRM, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence Mrs Nuratu Batagawara, said the programme had provided a veritable platform for the exchange of ideas and Information to strengthening public policy implementation.

According to Batagawara, through the mechanism, participants have identified the nexus between foreign and security policies, and the need to strengthen both.

Participants at the meeting also gave recommendations on measures required to improve and strengthen public policy implementation.

They also undertook a tour of the Ship House, headquarters of the Ministry of Defence with specific emphasis on the crche and the medical centre.

Source: NAN

U.S. President, Donald Trump says on Thursday that everything was ready to go for the next week summit with the Korean Leader Kim Jong-un.

Trump made the remarks when he welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the White House for preparatory talks before the summit.

The summit is all ready to go, Trump told reporters. Its all going along very fine. I hope it continues on this track.

Trump and Abe were to hold a joint press conference at the White House at about 2:00 pm local time before heading to Canada for what promises to be a tense Group of Seven (G7) summit clouded by the US leaders controversial trade tariffs.

But before tackling the thorny trade issue, Trump expressed unbridled optimism about his June 12 summit with Kim in Singapore.

His enthusiasm to hold the meeting with Kim has reportedly prompted concerns in Tokyo that a hasty deal between the US and North Korea would leave Japan exposed to a perceived North Korean missile threat.

Japan has been anxiously watching ever since a thaw began first between Pyongyang and Seoul and then between North Korea and the US.

Japan also reportedly fears that Trump could eventually agree to reduce US military forces in South Korea, leaving Japan which has been highly dependent on US military protection since Tokyos defeat in World War II to fend for itself.

Source :

Source: NAN

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chinyeaka Ohaa, has said that the coming into operation of the Abuja Light Rail service would accelerate FCT economy by boosting investments and creating job opportunities.

Ohaa gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja when he led directors and management staff of the Administration on an inspection of the 78km Abuja Light Rail.

He reaffirmed FCT Administrations commitment to ensuring that the Mass Transit service was inaugurated in a matter of weeks.

According to him, already the FCT Administration has written to the Presidency for a convenient date for its inauguration.

The benefits of the project include the potential for over 20,000 jobs, aside boosting the economic fortunes of the Territory.

He said the Abuja Rail project which started in 2009 would help to curtail drastically traffic congestion in the nations capital city.

Ohaa added that all the necessary infrastructure and human personnel have been put in place for a successful event.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tour of the project from the Metro Station up to the Airport Terminal station up to Kubwa station showed that about 98 per cent of the work had been completed.

The permanent secretary, who described the project as a new experience in Africa, added that he wasmpressed with the level of work done so far.

He further revealed that the facility has ample escalators and lifts for physically challenged and adequate security devices for protection of passengers.

Ohaa said that both President Muhammadu Buhari and FCT Minister have shown tremendous commitment to ensure the Abuja Rail Mass Transit comes on stream while calling on residents to own the project.(NAN)

Source: NAN