The Nigerian Embassy in Washington, DC, has disengaged some 15 local workers at the embassy.

Senior officials at the embassy told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the benefits of the 15 local workers would be paid soon.

They said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, approved the disengagement of the workers due to some ongoing rationalisation of workers at the embassy.

The officials, however, said the ministry had also approved the payment of gratuities to the workers, some of whom had worked with the embassy for more than 30 years.

Some of the affected workers had alleged that the decision to lay them off was arbitrary.

They also alleged that the embassy had no plans to pay their gratuity and other severance benefits.

Further, the local staff, who are mostly Nigerians, accused the Mission of retaining the non-Nigerian employees at the expense of those who are of Nigerian nationality.

However, the embassy officials denied that there was no prior notice to the disengaged workers, saying they actually agreed to the arrangement since February 2017.

They also assured the workers that the processes for the payment of their entitlements had reached an advanced stage.

One of the officials said: In February 2017, there was a decision to disengage some of the local staff.

However, they pleaded to an arrangement to be on contract for another one year, which lapsed in February 2018. The ministry from Abuja approved their disengagement.

As I am talking to you, we have received approval from Abuja to pay their benefits and they would be paid very soon. It is true that some of them have put in up to 30 years of service.

They were engaged on contracts and it is the decision of the government to either continue to renew their contract or to terminate it if their services are no longer needed.

Some whose contracts were terminated in 2013 were not paid in full but we are working out their benefits to make sure that those whose appointments were terminated receive their full benefits.

It is also not true that they were arbitrarily disengaged; they were aware of the contract and they signed on to it since last year.

The embassy in 2017 had disagreements with the local workers over the non-payment of salaries spanning several months, leading to protest at the embassy at the time.

Some of the workers also embarked on work to rule, which disrupted consular services at the embassy before they were paid following approval of three months salary by the ministry. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Militias have stormed a UN base in Southern Central Africa Republic (CAR), killing one peacekeeper and 21 civilians.

The UN confirmed on Wednesday that the attack happened on Monday.

Abbording to a statement from the UN, at around 5 a.m. (0400 GMT), armed anti-balaka militants attacked the base in Tagbara, about 300 km (190 miles) northeast of the capital Bangui.

The UN said ensuing gunfight lasted hours, and 22 anti-balaka were also killed.

It added that peacekeepers discovered 21 dead civilians, including four children, near a Church in Tagbara.

It was not immediately clear who was responsible for those deaths.

Nothing can justify such acts that can be considered war crimes.

An investigation will be conducted and will leave no room for impunity, the UN said.

CAR was torn apart after mainly Muslim Seleka rebels ousted president Francois Bozize in 2013, provoking retaliation killings by the anti-balaka.

A 12,000-strong UN peacekeeping mission has struggled to restore order to the countryside where attacks on civilians are frequent.

The UN Security Council approved an extra 900 peacekeepers in November to help to protect civilians.

The mission has become a deadly one: more than a dozen UN peacekeepers were killed there in 2017. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN

The Federal Government has reacted to the barrage of attacks by some of the named treasury looters and has gone further to name 23 others, most of them members of the Peoples Democratic Party.

In a press statement, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said the list of alleged looters which Government released on Friday was based on verifiable facts, including the amount involved, the date the amount in question was collected and from where it was taken.

Mohammed, also said those complaining that the list was too short apparently did not understand that it was strategically released as a teaser.

”At the press conference where the list was released, I did say it was a tip of the iceberg. Apparently, this does not mean anything to people whose style is to comment on issues they barely understand, or
just to shoot down anything coming from the government,” he said, adding that the Federal Government has a large number of alleged
looters on its list.

Alhaji Mohammed slammed the PDP for daring to challenge the Federal Government over an issue that the party knows is its weakness: Looting
of public treasury.

”What was the PDP expecting when it challenged the FG to name the looters of the public treasury under the party’s watch? Did the PDP actually believe that the massive looting under its watch was a joke?
Did they think it is April Fool?” he queried.

The Minister said the PDP’s reaction to the looters’ list has shown that its recent apology is an election-induced act, contrived to deceive unsuspecting Nigerians to vote for the party in the 2019 general election, even when it has not come clean on its looting spree during its time in office.

”The hysterical and panicky reaction from the PDP has shown that the party is not at all sincere about its choreographed apology. Were it not the case, the party would have followed in the footsteps of one of its leaders, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, who simply owned up to his role in the party’s rigging in the past elections and said he had turned a new
leaf.

”It is said that a true confession is done in humility with an attitude of repentance. It is clear that the PDP does not know this,
hence its resort to hubris instead of humility and genuine penitence,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said the Federal Government will neither be intimidated nor blackmailed into silence, adding that it will also not
rest until all those who looted the public treasury have been brought to justice.

SECOND BATCH OF ALLEGED LOOTERS AND THE AMOUNT ALLEGEDLY EMBEZZLED

1. Former NSA Sambo Dasuki: Based on EFCC investigations and findings
   alone (this is beside the ongoing $2.1billion military equipment
   scandal), a total of N126 billion, over $1.5 billion and 5.5 million
   British Pounds was embezzled through his office. A good number of
   these monies were simply shared to persons and companies without any
   formal contract awards.

2. Former Petroleum Resources Minister Dieziani Alison-Madukwe: In
   just one of the cases the EFCC is investigating involving her, about
   N23 billion is alleged to have been embezzled. She is also involved in
   the Strategic Alliance Contracts of the NNPC, where the firms of Jide
   Omokore and Kola Aluko got oil blocks but never paid government taxes
   and royalty. About $3 billion was involved. The Federal Government is
   charging Omokore and Aluko and will use all legal instruments local
   and international to ensure justice.

3. Rtd. Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah: N13.9 billion. N4.8 billion
   recovered by EFCC in cash and property

4. Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika: N4.5 billion. N29m recovered by the EFCC so far.

5. Alex Barde, former Chief of Defence Staff: N8 billion, and EFCC recovered almost N4 billion in cash and property already.

6. Inde Dikko: former CG Customs: N40 billion, and N1.1 billion in cash recovered in cash and choice properties.

7. Air Marshal Adesola Amosun: N21.4 billion. N2.8 billion recovered in cash. 28 properties and 3 vehicles also recovered.

8. Senator Bala Mohammed, former FCT Minister: N5 billion. Interim forfeiture order on some property secured.

9. Senator Stella Oduah: N9.8 billion. Interim forfeiture order on some property secured.

10. Former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu: N1.6 billion – from NSA.

11. Senator Jonah Jang, former Plateau State Governor: N12.5 billion.

12. Bashir Yuguda, former Minister of State for Finance: N1.5 billion. $829,800 recovered.

13. Senator Peter Nwaboshi: N1.5 billion

14. Aliyu Usman: Former NSA Dasuki’s aide: N512 million

15. Ahmad Idris: Former NSA Dasuki’s PA: N1.5 billion

16. Rasheed Ladoja: Former Oyo Governor: N500 million

17. Tom Ikimi: N300 million

18. Femi Fani-Kayode: N866 million

19. Hassan Tukur, former PPS to President Goodluck: $1.7 million

20. Nenadi Usman: N1.5 billion

21. Benedicta Iroha: N1.7 billion

22. Aliyu Usman Jawaz: Close ally of former NSA Dasuki: N882 million

23. Godknows Igali: Over N7 billion

Source: NAN

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who is eyeing the presidency in 2019, has stressed the need for the youths to be properly mentored before venturing into politics.

He spoke as a special guest of honour at a symposium tagged The Man Atiku organised by Turaki Youth Ambassadors (TURAYA) on Saturday in Abuja.

The Vice President from 1999 ft0 2007 on the platform of PDP, identified poor quality of education as one of the factors affecting youths participation in high quality politics in Nigeria.

The presidential aspirant who defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to his former PDP again, was represented by the Chairman, All Atiku, Support Group, Mr Oladimeji Fabiyi, at the Symposium with the topic Politics qua politic: Atiku Abubakar, the Youths and the Nigerian state.

Abubakar said that in developed countries, young people who had the potential of being politicians were identified in schools and exposed to political activities along their academic programmes.

By the time they graduate from school they have mastered the political terrains of their countries. They also try to empower themselves before going full blast into politics.

Abubakar, however, said that in Nigeria, a large chunk of youths get involved in politics by accident, adding that they ventured into politics because politics was seen as a quick way to make money.

He said that a lot of them crashed in and crashed out of politics because they failed to achieve their targets within a short period.

I have come to realise that the damage that poor quality of education has done to Nigerian youths.

This is a matter that has to be addressed to raise high number of intellectually sound youths to play high quality politics.

They also need exposure and financial empowerment in their quest to wrestle power from the older generation who have mastered the game over time.

Remember, the older generation of Nigerian politicians ventured into politics when they were young and since politics is addictive it is not usually easy to quit.

The reality is that young persons must work hard and should device superior arguments and strategies to send the older generation into retirement and to achieve their political targets, Abubakar said.

He noted that a lot of mentorship is required in the countrys clime to come out of smoky political terrain.

I did mine with the late Shehu YarAdua just as am impacting my knowledge, skills and experience on young persons I come across.

He advised Nigerian youths interested in politics to subject themselves to mentorship.

Earlier, the president TURAYA, Mr Ayo Akinrimisi, said that Abubakar has paid his dues to be the next president of Nigeria, saying he has empowered many Nigerian youths.

He pledged that TURAYA formed in 2003 would work with over 500 support groups now working and other available groups to elect Abubakar in 2019. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Mr Kayode Fayemi, defeated in the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti state, is to contest for the position again on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The current Minister of Mines and Steel Development was defeated by incumbent Ayo Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Fayemi said on Sunday that he will contest the July 14 gubernatorial election.

He made his ambition known at a news conference at his Isan-Ekiti country home in Oye Local Government Area of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Fayemi had hosted leaders and scores of members of the party from all the 16 Local Government Areas and the 177 Wards of the state.

He said he was driven by his past records of positive achievements, especially for workers, retirees and pensioners while in office in the state.

He explained that his decision to seek re-election was to deliver the state from incompetent and dubious hands and take her to where it is supposed to be.

NAN reports that the former governor becomes the 35th person to formally indicate interest in the governorship poll in the APC alone, aside the dozen others whose campaign posters and billboards are already out on the streets without formal declaration.

Fayemi said he would formally submit his letter of intent to the state secretariat of the APC as soon as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lifts ban on campaigns on April 15.

On the issue of a White Paper, indicting him for corruption and consequently banned him from seeking public office for 10 years, Fayemi said he was not bothered.

He declared that the said White Paper cannot stop his ambition, describing the document as final result of several months of political witch-hunt launched against him by the Ayo Fayose-led administration that cannot stand the test of time.

Regardless of whatever anybody may think, I know I am eminently qualified to contest the election. If I am not qualified, I would never have come to tell you I want to contest.

Most of the negative things Fayose and his government said or alleged of me were deliberately concocted out of malice to either malign my character or score cheap political goal; but the truth will always prevail.

Same goes for the manipulated debt profile of the state which was a clear case of exaggeration and distortions.

Can you imagine, Fayose said he issued White Paper banning me from holding public office, but today, I am giving him red card. By the end of the gubernatorial poll exercise, we will know who is right between the two of us, he said.

The Minister vowed to dislodge Fayose and his deputy in the poll if picked at the May 5, 2018 gubernatorial primary of the party in Ado Ekiti.

He advised other aspirants against divisive tendencies by their followers, stressing that whoever that eventually emerges from the coming primary must be embraced by all since the national secretariat of the party had promised that the whole exercise would be open, free and fair.

He promised to use his second-term to correct all past mistakes and improve on the good ones, saying he had learnt his lessons since leaving office about four years ago as governor.

Fayemi, therefore, asked all those he offended while in office as governor to forgive him, while also saying he had forgiven all those who erred against him, in the interest of the party.

He warned Fayose not to attempt to remove or destroy his campaign posters and billboards the way his government was currently doing to some opposition posters.

Source: NAN

Jury selection for the retrial of US comedian Bill Cosby on sexual assault charges was set to begin in a Pennsylvania court on Monday.

The 80-year-old is charged with three felony counts of aggravated indecent assault for allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting accuser Andrea Constand at his home in 2004.

He was originally tried in June last year but the court case ended with a mistrial after the 12-member jury was unable to agree on a verdict.

Cosby, a household name in the US, hired a new legal team for the re-trial, including Tom Mesereau, who is best-known for his part in Michael Jacksons acquittal on child molestation charges in 2005.

More than 50 women have come forward to publicly accuse Cosby of drugging and raping them, but the trial is focused solely on accusations from Constand, a former employee at Temple University in Philadelphia, Cosbys alma mater.

She alleges that Cosby gave her pills and sexually assaulted her as she drifted in and out of consciousness.

At a pre-trial hearing last month, the judge said the testimony of five other women who allege similar misconduct by Cosby would be allowed, local media reported.

The African-American actor started his career as a stand-up comic in the 1960s.

His biggest success was the television sitcom The Cosby Show, which ran from 1984-92, in which he played obstetrician Cliff Huxtable, the wise and loveable patriarch of an affluent black family in New York.

The trial is scheduled to start on April 9 in Norristown, Pennsylvania.(dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo has called on families to teach their children to be God-fearing, truthful, persevering, and honest to save their future.

Badejo in his Easter message on Monday said that no matter what people were passing through in the course of life, they should be steadfast.

Christianity teaches us to be truthful, peaceful, forgiving, generous and God fearing, otherwise we cannot be salt of the earth and light of the world.

Trouble must come and tribulations may occur but through it all we must not allow anything to take all that goodness away from us, he said.

The cleric said that through the sad abduction and non-release of teenager Leah Sharibu, God was reminding the people what it really meant to know him.

He said this had shown how wicked some people could be to an innocent teenager in the name of religion?

No matter how things go, Leah has become a blessing and model to her family and to our generation. May she be released soon and unharmed to a glorious Easter.

He urged both Muslims and Christians to shun false religion that could force people to believe anything saying that God is not violent or wicked.

He urged the political leaders, business men, civil servants and everyone to emulate Jesus Christ through the example of teenager Leah.

Be courageous in doing what is right and pleasing to God. At the end of it all, God will vindicate you.

May God hear the prayers of Nigeria for the release of all who are in captivity! May God release all Nigerians from greed, wickedness and false religiousity.

May our land come to know peace and victory which Jesus Christ won for us on the cross of Calvary so that we all go from this Calvary of sin to the glory of Easter, he said.(NAN)

Source: NAN

By Chinyere Joel Nwokeoma

An economist, Prof. Sheriffdeen Tella, on Monday advised Nigerians not to expect much from the nations economy in the second quarter following continue delayed in the passage of 2018 budget.

Tella, a Professor of Economics from Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye in Ogun, spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

According to him, the economy will not witness meaningful growth unless the budget is passed on time to complement the monetary policy to be introduced by the newly inaugurated Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

It takes time for implemented policies to have effect on the economy. Therefore, we should not expect much improvement in output of the capital market and the economy at large, Tella said.

He said that the capital market was largely bearish in the first quarter of the year, while the economy remained sluggish in spite of positive indices.

Both are symptomatic of an unsettled economy where governments macroeconomic policy is unpredictable.

This was so because both fiscal and monetary policies have not been put in place due to the perilous activities of the legislature.

We can recall that up till now, the 2018 budget has not been passed.

So, fiscal policy and fiscal actions were put on hold throughout the period.

The Central Banks Monetary Policy membership committee was not properly constituted to meet and fashion out monetary policy due to failure of the legislature to approve new members submitted for consideration by the Executive.

Where you have such situation, the policy environment cannot be conducive for business activities to thrive, Tella said.

NAN reports that the National Assembly had on March 27 postponed the approval of 2018 until May.

This is contrary to the expectations that the 2018 budget estimates of N8.612 trillion would be passed by April.

The Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations, Rep Mustapha Dawaki, had on Tuesday explained that if the budget was not passed by April 24 then, the N2.06 trillion 2017 capital budget would run until May 31.

Dawaki made this known at the 2018 National Budget Hearing in Abuja, which was jointly organised by the Senate and House Committees on Appropriation.

NAN recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari had, in his presentation of the 2018 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly on Nov.7, 2017, called for speedy passage of the budget.

The President said that this would allow for implementation of the January to December budget cycle.

However, the two chambers of the National Assembly had attributed the delay in the budget passage to refusal of heads of Ministries, Departments and parastatal Agencies (MDAs) to come forward and defend their respective budget proposals. (NAN)

Source: NAN

A leaner and lighter Anthony Joshua weighed in some six pounds heavier than Joseph Parker on Friday for the battle of the undefeated heavyweight world champions in Cardiff.

The Briton tipped the scales at 17 stones four pounds and two ounces at the weigh-in, attended by a crowd of more than 4,000, compared to the New Zealanders 16 stones 12 pounds and seven ounces.

Joshua, the reigning WBA, IBF and IBO world champion, is also taller and with a six inch reach advantage over Parker, who will be bringing his WBO belt to the Principality Stadium for Saturday nights unification fight.

The Briton had stepped into the ring against Cameroonian-French opponent Carlos Takam in Cardiff last October, for a defence he won in 10 rounds, at a career-high 18 stones and two pounds.

Ive been running well, training well, said the 2012 Olympic champion, who has a 20-0 record with all his fights won by knockout.

Losing that little bit of extra weight has made things that little bit easier.

I feel betterif everything goes to plan, youll see Ill be a lot sharper and my reactions and timing will be a lot better, the Briton told the crowd.

Joshuas camp had made much of just how seriously the 28-year-old was taking training, his obsession with shedding the pounds and how that had been paying off in his ringcraft and training.

Parker, 24-0, took it as a compliment ahead of what will be the biggest fight of his career, with an 80,000-strong crowd expected through the doors on Saturday.

It makes me think that hes taking this fight really seriously, hes trained very hard, he said after standing face to face and staring into the eyes of his opponent for the last time before they meet in the ring.

Hes in good shape, Im in good shape. Theres not much of a weight difference, which is good. were both going to be fast for tomorrow night, were both going to move well and throw some big bombs.

Parker said he saw confidence in Joshuas eyes, and was ready for anything.

Im here for a good fight, Im here for war, he declared. Youre going to have to give me everything to beat mehes got a bigger crowd but that doesnt matter, that doesnt faze us.

Saturdays fight will bring the heavyweight title a step closer to undisputed status and put the focus even more on American Deontay Wilder, who holds the WBC crown and is undefeated in 40.

Source: NAN

American John Isner outplayed Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro 6-1, 7-6(2) to reach his first MiamiOpen final and fourth career Masters 1000 final.

It was the first semi-final match of the day, with the American dominating proceedings and del Potro, playing out-of-sort.

Big serving Isner will know his final opponent after the the match betweenPablo Carreno andAlexander Zverev later today.

The final match will be played on Sunday.

As ATPWorldTour.com reported the American did little wrong against Del Potro, who was on a 15-match win streak and leads the ATP World Tour with 21 wins this season.

Isners serve, as usual, was dominant, but his groundstrokes and volleys carried him to victory.

He swung freely and played aggressively on serve and return. The American finished with 39 winners, including 16 aces, to only 10 from Del Potro.

The last time Del Potro lost was more than a month ago, on 23 February against #NextGenATP American Frances Tiafoe at the Delray Beach Open.

Since then, the Argentine had captured back-to-back titles in Acapulco and Indian Wells. Del Potro had to save three match points against No. 1 Roger Federer in the BNP Paribas Open final to win his maiden Masters 1000 crown.

Isner broke in the third game, pounding Del Potros backhand before hitting a forehand volley winner at net. After only 27 minutes, he had a one-set lead, thanks to his 19 winners, compared to zero from his opponent.

Del Potro, behind a boisterous Argentine crowd on Key Biscayne, recovered in the second set. But Isner was too strong, too aggressive, too confident. He never faced a break point all match, and in the tie-break, his volleys were the difference. A backhand dropper pushed him into Sundays final.

Source: NAN