National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has said that Nigerian government can afford living wage for workers, if stealing of public money is curbed.

He said non-payment of salaries by governors creates a vicious circle leading to low production and eventual loss of jobs.

Oshiomhole, a former trade union leader, said as a governor, he told his colleagues that payment of salaries was no burden, but a means of enhancing the development potential of the state.

He said that the countrys major problem is stealing of public resources.

The former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president spoke on a television programme.

His position is in clear contrast with that of state governors, who claimed they could not pay a national minimum wage of N30,000 being proposed, unless they downsized the staff force.

As a governor, Oshiomhole paid Edo workers a minimum of N25,000, which was N7,000 above the national minimum.

My views are clear, that payment of wages is not an act of kindness for an employer to pay the employees wages at the end of the month. Even the Holy Bible says that the labourer is entitled to its wages, Oshiomhole said.

I think, again, this is where President Buhari stands out clearly. He has publicly asked public sector employers; how do you sleep when you have not paid your employers for one year. But he did not stop at lamenting it, he went on to provide the much- talked about bailout fund and said, please use this money to pay your workers and pay pension arrears.

And even the deductions from states that was done under the PDP in the name of settling our foreign debts, they went into state treasury and they over deducted; that was done under the PDP. But under President Muhammadu Buharis government, even in spite of the huge financial challenges that he faces, decided that in order to assist the states to meet up with their social obligations, to begin to pay what is now referred to as Paris Club refund.

He has done that two, three instalments and each time the governors are told that you must use this money, among other things to settle pension arrears and be up to date in the payment of salaries.

But I am very proud that this President has rich conscience, he recognises that the Nigerian worker deserves his wages and that is why he has publicly lamented that there are governors who have not paid salaries as at when due, whether they are PDP or APC, it is immaterial. And in seeking to deal with it he has also provided support across party divide and I think that is statesmanship at its best.

As for my views on the minimum wage, I tried to deal with it as a governor. I told my colleagues then that wage is not a burden in the society. In economics, when people work and get paid, purchasing power is enhanced and because purchasing power is enhanced producers will respond to that by seeking to produce more goods and services. And in the process they will recruit more hands.

. My being in government or now chairman of a party cannot change what I believe in.

The real problem in the public sector is money being stolen in the name of salaries, I find it embarrassing when we talk about ghost workers. And I ask the question, who counts ghosts. It is only in Nigeria that ghosts are known.

*Reported by

Source: NAN

To boost Small and Medium Scale Enterprises(SMEs), Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says the Federal Government will soon establish People Money and Entrepreneurship Banks.

Osinbajo disclosed this while speaking with newsmen during a visit to Bodija and Oje markets in Ibadan on Thursday to monitor the Trader Moni initiative.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the initiative is a Federal Government intervention programme for petty traders under the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme(GEEP).

As part of efforts to institutionalise the social investment scheme process, this administration will soon establish the People Money Bank and along the line Entrepreneurship Bank, he said.

The vice president said the initiative was part of the APC agenda, adding that the People Money Bank would be devoted to giving credit to ordinary people.

Osinbajo said the Federal Government was committed to empowering traders toward improving the prospects of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises(SMEs).

He said that no fewer than one million traders had already benefitted from the Trader Moni.

The first phase of the Trader Moni was targeted at two million petty traders across the country but over a million have today benefitted from the scheme.

We have observed that nobody wants to give these traders credit because lenders believe they wont pay back.

The market traders represented the most significant percentage of those who engage in commercial activities.

Both the Trader Moni and Market Moni scheme seeks to address that large population or persons involved in commercial activities who usually dont have access to credit, he said.

Some of the traders, who spoke to NAN at the markets, lauded the initiative of the Federal Government.

Mr Saliu Delesolu, the Babaloja of Oje market, lauded the Federal Government for initiating the programme, saying it would enhance petty trading.

This is the first time a government in this country will be extending credit facility to petty traders. We appreciate this and thank President Muhammadu Buhari for this.

We assure our members that the money would go round. Not everybody could benefit from it at once but we have been assured that the programme will be institutionalised, he said.

Mrs Olajumoke Ajao, a petty trader, also corroborated Delesolus claim, saying the government must be commended for the gesture.

Source: NAN

Former Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has withdrawn from the 2019 presidential election on the platform of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). He will now seek to represent Ondo South in the senate.

National chairman of the party, Dan Nwanyanwu, confirmed Mimikos withdrawal at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.

He said the party would approach the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw his name and file same for the Senate.

According to Nwanyanwu, Nigerians have zoned the office of the president to the north.

He said the north has produced two powerful candidates President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Nwanyanwu said Mimiko has the records to show and the capacity to replicate what he did in Ondo across the country.

We are starting the process to persuade Mimiko to withdraw and take a senatorial ticket; after all, we need strong men at the Senate to pass the necessary laws after the election next year.

He is a loyal party member and I can assure you, with the discussions we have had, by tomorrow we should be filing his name as a senatorial candidate after withdrawing it from the presidential race.

ZLP will be part and parcel of the making of a new president, we shall support one of the big parties but that is left to the party to meet and decide.

We have to look at all the options and all that has happened since 2015, what is on ground and who is able to deliver for the common good, Nwanyanwu said.

In a move that appeared to have been well rehearsed, former Ondo State commissioner for works, Gboye Adegbenro, has dropped his senatorial ambition to allow Mimiko to replace him.

Adegbenro, who is the Ondo Central senatorial candidate of the ZLP, said in Akure on Thursday: It became imperative that I bring to a close, my aspiration to represent Ondo Central Senatorial District at the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at this critical juncture.

According to him, having consulted far and wide with his family, business associates, followers and constituents, he is bowing out before the full race commences in the interest of the party and state.

More than the above, I am convinced that the candidacy of our leader, Mimiko, will better serve the interest of the district now and the overall goal of the south-west.

Source: NAN

A U.S. judge has ordered the White House to restore access to a reporter of the CNN who was barred from the seat of power.

The White House suspended the press credentials of CNN reporter Jim Acosta on Wednesday, November 7, hours after President Trump took issue with questions Acosta asked at a news conference.

The Donald Trump-appointed Judge Timothy J. Kelly ruled in favor of CNNs Acosta, allowing the networks star reporter to temporarily regain access to his White house press credential.

I will grant the application for the temporary restraining order I order the [government] reinstate the pass. Judge Timothy J. Kelly said.

The move to punish Acosta by removing his access to the White House is believed to be unprecedented.

The Trump administration barred another CNN reporter from attending an open media event in July but until now has not gone as far as removing a credential, known as a hard pass, which enables a journalist to enter the White House grounds.

Press secretary Sarah Sanders cited Acostas brief confrontation with a White House press aide during Trumps midday news conference as the reason for suspending his press pass until further notice.

During the 90-minute session at the White House, Trump snapped at Acosta after the reporter asked whether the president had demonized immigrants by calling a caravan of Central American migrants an invasion.

After a long and tense back-and-forth, a female White House intern tried to take the microphone from Acosta.

Acosta held onto it and raised an arm to shield it, in the process making contact with the aide. Pardon me, maam, he said to her.

[Youre a very rude person. Thats enough. Sit down. Trumps news conference turns hostile.]

After their exchange, Trump told Acosta: CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them. You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldnt be working for CNN.

Youre a very rude person. The way you treat Sarah Huckabee is horrible. And the way you treat other people are horrible. You shouldnt treat people that way.

On Wednesday night, Sanders accused Acosta of placing his hands on a young woman and said it was on those grounds that Acostas press pass was being suspended.

President Trump believes in a free press and expects and welcomes tough questions of him and his Administration, Sanders said in a statement.

We will, however, never tolerate a reporter placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern.

This conduct is absolutely unacceptable. It is also completely disrespectful to the reporters colleagues not to allow them an opportunity to ask a question.

Video of the exchange showed otherwise. On Twitter, Acosta responded to the press secretarys statement with, simply: This is a lie.

Source: NAN

(Reuters/NAN) Family and friends of slain Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, offered funeral prayers in Saudi Arabia and Turkey on Friday for the repose of the soul of the late journalist, killed by agents of his own government.

The case sparked global outcry and mired the kingdom in crisis.

Reuters correspondent, Huseyin Aldemir, reported that people attended the symbolic funeral prayer for Khashoggi at the courtyard of Fatih Mosque in Istanbul on Nov. 16.

Mourners raised their hands in prayer outside Fatih Mosque asimam recited Quranic verses under a tent set up to protect them against rain, and Khashoggis friends eulogized him.

What we heard yesterday from the Saudi public prosecutor is not the justice we were expecting or waiting for, but represents injustice itself, said Ayman Nour, a liberal Egyptian politician.

Yasin Aktay, adviser to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan called on Saudi Prince Mohammed to distance himself from the legal proceedings, saying there is no chance to have a court proceeding that is independent from the crown prince in Saudi Arabia.

Also, thousands of worshippers at Meccas Grand Mosque and the Prophets Mosque in Medina, Khashoggis hometown, joined in prayers for the deceased, though the imams did not mention his name.

For weeks, Khashoggis family urged Saudi and Turkish authorities to find his remains and hand them over for burial, but the Saudi prosecutor said their whereabouts were unknown.

Islamic tradition places immense importance on proper handling of the dead, mandating quick burial.

The revelation that the body was dismembered had thus been particularly disturbing.

The decision to hold prayer services in the absence of a body suggests that the family does not expect it to be recovered.

Source: NAN

By Chimezie Anaso

The Police Command in Anambra has announced the sealing of Anambra Assembly (ANHA) complex over the impeachment crisis rocking the House.

SP Haruna Mohammed, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Anambra disclosed this in a statement in Awka on Friday.

Mohammed said the application to seal off the complex was contained in an official letter to the Commissioner of Police.

The Anambra State Police Command wishes to inform the public that it has sealed off the Assembly Complex with effect from 6:00pm of Thursday 15th November, 2018 as a proactive measure to avert possible breakdown of law and order in the Assembly, he said.

The command implored members of the public to stay away from the complex until further notice.

It also solicited the co-operation of Anambra people in its commitment to provide adequate security in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there was strong police presence at the complex on Nov. 15 when the House resumed after the impeachment saga that rocked it on Nov. 13.

The house was divided between former Speaker Rita Mmaduagwu who was purportedly impeached and Mr Ikem Uzoezie who was installed as new speaker.

Source: NAN

Mortuary Staff Union in Ghana has advised members of the public to wait until their strike is over on Nov. 20, before dying.

Richard Kofi Jordan, General Secretary of the union gave the advice whileindicating that the unions planned strike action would go on as planned unless the government listens to their concerns, reports.

He said, Those who intend to die during that period should wait. When mortuary men are back to work they die; simple.

Mortuary workers in Ghanas public health facilities are protesting their poor working conditions and are therefore demanding improved terms of service.

According to the aggrieved morticians, they are exposed to several diseases given their close contact with corpses and chemicals used in preserving them but each time they raise concerns, the government turns a deaf ear.

The chemicals we use give us five different kinds of cancers, the government is aware of this situation.

We are also at risk of blindness but nobody is addressing our challenges, he added.

Source: NAN

By Hafsah Tilde

Project Pink Blue (PPB), an NGO, has called for more awareness about support and treatment of cancer in the country.

PPB made the call at a Music and Comedy Fundraising show themed Show Love to encourage donations for cancer patients nationwide.

The Executive Director of PPB, Mr Runcie Chidebe said the show was organised to entertain, create awareness and support people battling with cancer.

We want a very strategic way to get people to come and laugh and enjoy the music today to see how they could touch lives, he said.

Chidebe said the contributions made, would assist cancer patients in need of funds to ensure their treatment and overall wellbeing.

The show had in attendance, Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Abubakar Bagudu, his wife Zainab Bagudu and other wives of governors, Mrs Amina Abubakar of Niger, Mrs Asia El Rufai of Kaduna and Mrs Betty Akeredolu of Ondo.

Governor Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi, praised the efforts of the Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, for her firm support to achieve better healthcare for women and children.

He said that this had empowered other non-governmental organisations to support the fight to eradicate cancer.

In the last two years, in a lot of states in Nigeria, almost all states, one seen effort at cancer awareness mobilisation, is that of Her Excellency, the Wife of the President.

Mrs Aisha Buhari with her Future Assured Programme, ably assisted by her husband President Muhammadu Buhari, has inspired all the wives of governors to do much more than they were doing before.

To re-mobilise and do things together with the government and in support of the government and in support of the populace that has not been done before.

I believe a lot of us are proud of what we have been seeing, Bagudu said.

Mrs Betty Akeredolu, Wife of Ondo State Governor and a breast cancer survivor, said that cancer was curable.

There is a misconception that people have on how cancer can be treated and the thinking that cancer is a spiritual attack; thus the need for awareness about cancer, she said.

Akeredolu said that people should be educated on the stages of cancer and how to detect it.

Similarly, Moji Makanjuola, a veteran journalist said she lost two people to cancer.

Therefore, creating awareness and supporting people with cancer is very crucial and humane. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Temitope Ponle

The Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Mr Moustapha Ciss Lo, says the parliament will support the G5 Sahel group to promote peace and security in the region.

Ciss Lo made the pledge at the opening of the Second Ordinary Session of the parliament on Thursday in Abuja.

Most of the countries are members of the ECOWAS as well so there is no competition and we cannot solve the security problem within ECOWAS if we do not solve the problem around the Sahel area.

Normally, we are supposed to have a resolution urging the Heads of State to support the G5 Sahel.

The G5 Sahel or G5S is an institutional framework for coordination of regional cooperation in development policies and security matters in West Africa.

The purpose of G5S is to strengthen the bond between economic development and security.

It was formed on Feb. 16, 2014, in Nouakchott and is made up of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger and is permanently seated in Mauritania.

The speaker said that most of the ECOWAS member states were part of the G5S and their contributions would complement the efforts of the group.

The Speaker of the National Assembly of Niger, Mr Yousouff Aya, urged members to support the fight against terrorism and illegal migration.

He added that the major challenges in the Sahel area were under the purview of parliamentarians.

The countries of the Sahel have fought vigorously by creating an intergovernmental framework of G5 Sahel.

For their part, the parliamentarians of these five countries have created an inter-parliamentary structure so as to follow the construction of this framework.

The objective of this is to make sure that they have good governance in the conduct of activities in terms of security and development.

The ECOWAS parliamentarians, on their part, should be spokespersons of this exigency for world peace.

On the issue of illegal migration, Aya called on members of the parliament to create conditions for citizens to migrate legitimately to encourage free movement of persons and good.

He also lauded the efforts the parliament in its fight against illegal migration

Mr Speaker, I want to hope that I can count on the involvement of your parliament so that we can create conditions for good migration that is free of mafia groups, that does not condemn our youth to death in the dessert or in the Mediterranean.

I hope that the members of ECOWAS parliament will actively involve themselves so that migration will be regulated by laws and other enactments.

I want you to commit ECOWAS so we can pull our efforts to organise more vigilant control at the borders more exposed in our community.

The Second Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament is to consider and adopt the 2019 Budget of the Community and also several work programmes.

The ECOWAS Commission President, Jean-Claude Brou will present the community report and members of the parliament will also present their various country reports at the session. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The Atiku/Obi Presidential Movement, a group for the actualization of the Presidential ambition of Alh. Atiku Abubakar has promised to deliver 10 million votes for the former Vice President.

Amb. Niyi Omoyele, Director General of the movement disclosed this when he led National and state executives on a courtesy visit to the wife of the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The group which also vowed to resist all forms of rigging in the Presidential election, said that the movement had structures at the grassroots and across the 774 local government of Nigeria.

Omoyele said that the movement has been in existence since the return of democracy in 1999 and had campaigned for Obasanjo-Atiku, Yar,adua-Goodluck, Goodluck-Sambo and was now going to campaign for Atiku-Obi.

He said that any attempt to rig the 2019 election would be resisted by members of the group as the electoral law now provides for the instant announcement and transmission of the result from the polling unit and wards level in the presence of all stakeholders.

Members of the Atiku/Obi Presidential movement are optimistic that 2019 election is the divine time for Atikus Presidency because of the overwhelming acceptance of his candidacy across the country.

Nigerians are desirous of change, the type of change that only Atiku Abubakar can provide, he said.

He reiterated that the group is targeting to mobilise at least 10 million voters in synergy with other like minds toward the successful outing of Atiku/Obi at the poll.

A member of the national executive of the group Prince Joshua Idowu described Atiku as a good product that was easy to sell to the electorate.

The National women leader of the group Mrs Amaka Ofor also said that their women across the 774 local government in Nigeria have concluded arrangement to stage a one million solidarity walk for Atiku in Abuja.

Responding to the group, Atikus wife, Hajia Titi Abubakar thanked them for the visit and appreciated them for their continued support and solidarity to her husband.

She assured them that Atiku Abubakar was a man of integrity and that he would keep his promises to Nigerians and would never forget them when he emerged.

Other members of the group who also featured at the visit include: Gomez Okpala, Director for National Mobilisation and Mrs. Jumai Gowon, Director for Special Duties.

Source: NAN

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has issued a fraud alert to warn traders against filling any forms to benefit from the TraderMoni Scheme.

Osinbajo issued this fraud alert while featuring at a question and answer session at Wazobia FM, 95.1, on Tuesday in Lagos.

TraderMoni is a Federal Governments initiative aimed at providing two million petty traders across the country with collateral-free loans before the end of the year.

The vice president, who spoke in Pidgin English, said that anybody carrying forms for TraderMini was a fraudster.

No form dey for TraderMoni, we no dey give anybody form to fill at all, the people wey get TraderMoni, many of them no fit fill form at all, so we no dey give anybody form.

The way we do it be say, enumerator -like person we dey do census go market, go all the places where we get all these traders outside market the roads wey dey lead to market.

Him go see wetin dem dey sell, e go take your photo, the thing wey you dey sell, your name, put everything down on his own tablet, na for phone dem go contact you.

The first alert wey you go get na for phone, anybody wey don get TraderMoni na for phone e dey get am, anybody wey carry form come say this one na for TraderMoni, na lie, that one na 419.

Everything is electronic, you get alert, you go cash your money, he said.

Osinbajo said that by the end of the year, two million petty traders would have benefitted from the scheme as it had covered more than 1.3 million petty traders nationwide so far.

The vice president had earlier activated the scheme at Obalende, Makoko and Oyingbo markets in Lagos. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Ifeanyi Nwoko

The Home Grown School Feeding Programme, one of the packages under the Federal Governments Social Intervention Programme (SIP) has created wealth for over 250,000 farmers, cooks and others involved in the scheme.

According to statistics made available during a joint press briefing on the progress of the Scheme, a total of N651million is being earned on a daily basis by farmers and cooks.

The SIP is an initiative of the Buhari led administration, supervised by the office of the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

Briefing newsmen on the successes of the scheme, Mr Ismaeel Ahmed, Senior Special Assistant to the President on SIP, said that a total of 9.3 million children were currently being fed in over 49,000 schools in 26 states.

Ahmed added that the government was currently engaging over 150,000 farmers across Nigeria and over 100,000 cooks in the 26 states at the cost of N70 per child every school day.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at N70 every school day for 9.3 million children, the Federal Government pays the farmers and the cooks N651 million.

The Social Investment Programme consists primarily of 4 units: The N-Power Programme which is targeted at unemployed young graduates; the Home Grown School Feeding Programme which seeks to feed all Nigerian children in public primary schools; the Conditional Cash Transfer which gives out 5,000 Naira monthly in cash to the poorest of the poor Nigerians in our innermost rural communities; and the GEEP comprising of Market Moni and Trader Moni, which is giving loans of N50,000 to N 100,000 Naira to artisans, market men and women, small

Ahmed explained that the money paid to farmers in the school feeding programme had gone a long way to change the lot of thousands of farmers, cooks and others involved in the value chain for the school feeding.

The Home-Grown School Feeding Programme is helping to create wealth in the rural areas. The School Feeding Programme requires about 6.8 million eggs, 594 cattle and 83 metric tons of fish to be supplied to the cooks, every week, for the purpose of feeding 9,300,892 children in 49,837 government schools in 26 States.

Try to imagine the impact of this demand among the rural farmers in the communities hosting these schools.

People who normally focused on subsistence agriculture for the sole purpose of feeding their families, have expanded into commercialized farming to meet the needs of the School Feeding Programme.

These same farmers have their kids in these schools, so that serves as added motivation to meet our demands of foodstuff because they know it is no gimmick.

For some of them, their wives are cooks in the programme, preparing the meals for the school kids, he said.

Source: NAN

Roger Federer staved off elimination from the ATP Finals as he eased to a 6-2, 6-3 win over Dominic Thiem on Tuesday.

After losing his opening match at Londons O2 Arena against Kei Nishikori, six-time champion Federer would have crashed out if he had been beaten by Thiem.

Only once before has Federer failed to qualify from his group for the knockout rounds in his 15 previous appearances at the prestigious season-ending event.

That lone flop came 10 years ago when the Finals were held in Shanghai and Federer is still in with a chance of avoiding that ignominious fate thanks to his comfortable 66-minute dismissal of Thiem.

Bidding for a record seventh ATP Finals crown and a first in the tournament since 2011 which would be the 100th singles title of his glittering career world number three Federer must beat South Africas Kevin Anderson in his last group match to make the semi-finals.

It feels good. I am very happy that I showed a reaction after the last match, Federer said.

Against Kei, instead of seeing things positively, I thought negatively. It was disappointing but it happens.

Today I was more positive and happy on the court. I love playing in London and I had to remind myself what a privilege it is. I hope I showed it.

Since winning his 20th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January, Federer has been stuck in a prolonged slump by his sky-high standards.

A quarter-final exit at Wimbledon, blowing a two-set lead against Anderson, was followed by a stunning US Open last 16 defeat to Australian journeyman John Millman.

Its never easy to play against him, especially indoors. He deserved that win at Wimbledon but hopefully Ill get my revenge, Federer said of his Anderson rematch.

The 37-year-olds defeat in his opening Finals match against Nishikori on Sunday marked the first time Federer had lost in straight sets in 46 group stage matches.

He responded to that setback by cancelling his practice session on Monday, sparking fears he was seriously hampered by a hand injury that has troubled him since the grass-court season in June and July.

Having cut a grumpy figure during his error-strewn loss to Nishikori, Federers spirits were lifted by this solid show, aided by Thiems 34 unforced errors.

After missing a break point in the opening game, Federer started to find his rhythm and he landed the first break for a 2-1 lead when the world number eight sent a forehand long.

Another break followed in the seventh game as Thiem netted a tame volley as Federer won the first set with ease.

While it wasnt vintage Federer, he was doing enough to take advantage of Thiems sloppy display as the French Open finalist double-faulted to gift a break in the opening game of the second set.

That was all the encouragement Federer needed as he cruised to the finish line.

Earlier, Anderson handed Japanese star Nishikori a humiliating 6-0, 6-1 thrashing as the South African moved to the brink of a semi-final berth.

Anderson won the first 11 games and needed only 64 minutes to demolish the woeful Nishikori.

Having also won his opening match against Thiem in his ATP Finals debut, Anderson is close to becoming the first African to qualify for the last four.

It was a landmark moment for the 32-year-old, who has set a new career-high of 47 victories in a calendar year.

He will rarely have had such an easy outing as this one throughout his memorable 2018, which saw him reach his first Wimbledon final in July.

Its amongst the best Ive played. I did a really good job constantly applying the pressure and not letting up, Anderson said.

Former US Open finalist Nishikori was at a loss to explain his performance, saying: I played one of the worst matches this year. Today was a terrible match.

Source: NAN

Indications have emerged that Alhaji Ahmed Sokoto the deputy governor of Sokoto State and the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has resigned from his position.

Sources said he resigned on Tuesday night, reported.

The resignation is long expected as he had fallen out politically since governor Aminu Tambuwal dumped APC for opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Tambuwal who was sure of clinching the presidential ticket of PDP failed in his bid and also could not secure the ticket for re-election in the state.

The deputy governor, is reported to have submitted a copy of his resignation letter to the states House of Assembly.

The House decided to make it secret as it was not read on the floor during Tuesdays plenary session.

The source said the sudden resignation might not be unconnected with unforeseen circumstances that might crop up in the build-up of the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

The 48-year-old former Commissioner for Health in Sokoto State had his primary school education at Magajin Rafi Model Primary School Sokoto from 1977 1983.

His secondary school education was at the Government Secondary School, Yabo where he was from 1983 1989 where he obtained his West African School Leaving Certificate.

He proceeded to the College of Administration of the Polytechnic of Sokoto State. He succeeded in obtaining a clerical officers certificate (Account and Audit) in 1991.

In the same vein, Ahmed Aliyu went back to the same institution between 1991 1992 where he obtained a certificate in Accounts and Audit (CPAA).

Ahmed Aliyus thirst for knowledge galvanized him to yet to back to the same polytechnic of Sokoto State between 1992 1994 where he obtained a Professional Diploma in Public Account and Audit (DPAA).

He was at the Abdu Gusau Polytechnic Talata Marafa in Zamfara State, from 1995 1997, where he successfully studied for and obtained a Higher National Diploma in Local Government Studies.

As an enterprising individual, Ahmed Aliyu was still yearning for more education, that was why he got admitted into the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto from 2000 2001 where he obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in management (PGDM).

Ahmed Aliyu again went back to the same Ivory Tower between 2002 2003 where he successfully crowned his search for knowledge with a Masters in Business Administration (MBA).

Source: NAN

The National President of the Ahmadiyya Youth Organization, Mr. Said Aina, has urged youths to be agents of change and development rather than agents of destruction.

Aina, the head of the Islamic sect, made the appeal when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on in Benin on the 2018 edition of the ride for peace (RFP) campaign held in 16 states of the federation.

He said the event, essentially a bicycle riding exercise, was aimed at showcasing the vibrancy of the Nigerian youth whose energies can be channeled to productive use if properly harnessed.

Against the backdrop of crime and criminality usually associated with youths, this program sought to emphasize the beneficial attributes of the dynamic force in todays youth.

Aina said that he led the leadership of the group at this years event to Auchi town in Etsako West LGA of Edo state as part of its campaign to help youths become actively engage in productive ventures rather than be allowed to be used as destructive agents.

According to him, the aim of the program is to sensitize youths that our viability and agility should be channeled towards meaningful causes and not for criminality or destruction hence the program was tagged Ride for Peace.

Meanwhile, Alhaji Ridwan Bonvis, coordinator of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), in the area, commended the Ahmadiyya youth group on its various strides and activities which he described as worthy of emulation by other youths.

He said that the goals which the Ahmadiyya youth strove to achieve through its programs, were congruent with the ideals of the NYCN and urged the group not to relent in its good work.

Over 50 youths participated in the bicycle riding exercise.

The participants commenced their ride from Warrake on a total distance of 4.9km, through AP and Uchi market road into Polytechnic road via I.C.E road onto Jattu road and culminated at the Otaru of Auchis Palace. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Martins Odeh

The Federal High Court on Wednesday in Abuja varied the bail conditions upon which the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu was admitted.

Justice Binta Nyako made the variation in a ruling on the conditions of the bail she had granted Kanu in April 2017.

Nyako therefore held that the three sureties, including Sen. Eyinnaya Abaribe, were compelled to within two months, pay N100 million each for their inability to produce the missing IPOB leader.

The three sureties had been made to sign a bail bond of N100m each which was backed by their landed assets whose documents were deposited in court.

The judge said with this amendment, the sureties were now required to deposit cash of N100 million into the courts bank account.

The order directing the sureties to pay the money is an order of interim forfeiture, she said.

The sureties had argued that Kanus disappearance was not unconnected with the invasion of his home by the military and not orchestrated by them.

The military had in a special operation clashed with IPOB members in Afara-Ukwu, Umuahia, in Abia State, on Sept. 14, 2017 leading to Kanus escape from the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Kanu and three others are been tried on charges of treasonable felony.

Source: NAN

By Grace Alegba

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), a rights group on Wednesday commended the Lagos State Government for approving the use of Hijab for female Muslim students in all public schools.

The Director, MURIC, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, gave the commendation in Lagos while reacting to a circular released by the state government on 13th Nov, in which the approval was given.

Akintola described the step as a monumental decision, and commended the patience and steadfastness of Muslim residents and associations in Lagos State.

The wind of change is sweeping across the South-West and no state government wants to be caught within the camp of reactionaries.

We call on all government agencies and employers of labour to note this development. It is a monumental decision. The patience exhibited by Lagos Muslims has paid off.

A quiet and peaceful revolution is ongoing and it is in the best interest of all men and women of goodwill to join the train before it leaves the station so that they may not be left behind.

Reports reaching MURIC headquarters say the Tutor-General Permanent Secretary (TGPS) of District 6 has also issued a circular directing all school principals within the jurisdiction to allow female Muslim students who wish to use the Hijab to do so.

We are yet to hear anything from Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. We are therefore calling on the remaining five TGPS to follow suit. Delay will simply mean insubordination and sabotage of governments good intention.

We congratulate the Lagos State chapters of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), the Muslim Congress (TMC), the Muslim Teachers Association of Nigeria (MUTAN) and the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN).

We commend them for their steadfastness, patience and forbearance.

In conclusion, we charge all the Islamic organisations in the state to immediately set up monitoring units for the successful implementation of the state governments directive.

Muslim parents should be mobilised to visit schools for the purpose of ensuring compliance, while we warn that nobody should take the law into his or her hands.

Defaulting principals and recalcitrant teachers should be reported to the nearest office of Islamic organisations, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that an appeal court in2016 overturned the judgement of a Lagos State High Court which banned the use of Hijab in public primary and secondary schools in the state.

NAN also reports that the Lagos State Government is currently at the Supreme Court challenging the decision of the appellate court.

Source: NAN

By George Odok

The Eastern Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy said it would on Thursday commence Ani-Oforifori exercise in Niger Delta creeks to rid the area of bad elements

Ani-Oforifori means Chase Thief in Kalabari language in Rivers.

The command announced this in a statement by its Information Officer, Commander Thomas Otuji, on Wednesday in Calabar.

According to the statement, the objective of the exercise is to assess the operational readiness of ships, gunboats, helicopters and other platforms of the Eastern Fleet.

The statement added that the exercise was also to test the skills of personnel in tackling maritime threats within the commands Area of Responsibility.

The Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Adm. David Adeniran, has announced that the Eastern Naval Command will commence exercise Ani-Oforifori meaning Chase Thief in Kalabari language.

In view of this, members of the public, particularly the good people of the Niger Delta, are advised not to panic but go about their normal businesses.

They should not panic when they see large body of war ships, gunboats, helicopters and other naval platforms in the area as the exercise is for routine purposes, the command explained.

Source: NAN

Interim Real Madrid manager Santiago Solari was appointed permanent coach on Monday after overseeing a startling upturn in the European champions fortunes since he stepped in to replace Julen Lopetegui.

Everything is in order. Real Madrid have worked out his contract and there are no problems, the Spanish football federation stated.

Solari has led Real to four wins out of four since being installed on a caretaker basis following Lopeteguis abrupt sacking last month.

And with 15 goals scored and only two conceded he has established the best ever start for a Real manager.

After thrashing Melilla in the Copa del Rey, they won 5-0 away to Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League, between victories over Real Valladolid and Celta Vigo in La Liga.

The upturn has left Madrid only four points adrift of league leaders Barcelona and on the brink of qualification for the last 16 in Europe.

Solari, who spent five years playing for Real, was promoted from his role in charge of Castilla, the clubs B team, after Lopetegui had overseen a miserable run that included just one victory in seven games.

The last of those, a 5-1 thumping at the hands of Barcelona, proved the final straw for club president Florentino Perez but the team have rebounded under their new coach.

Solari is Perezs 13th manager in 15 seasons across two seperate periods at the Santiago Bernabeu.

He has done excellently, Madrid club director Emilio Butragueno said on Sunday night. We are very happy with how things have gone.

Few could argue with the results, which have now earned Solari the chance to prove himself over a longer period.

Great opportunity

AFP/File / TORU YAMANAKA
Santiago Solari rejects comparisons with former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane
He indicated in his opening press conference that he was open to keeping the job full-time.

Its a great opportunity and its a great club, Solari said. I dont just say that now as coach of the first team. Ive been here with other teams, Ive played and sweated in the shirt of this club.

Madrid is bigger than all of us but it touches us all with its greatness. I want to be a part of it.

Zinedine Zidane also stepped up mid-season from coaching Castilla in 2016 and led the team to Champions League glory five months later.

Solari has played down the comparisons with Zidane, who commanded instant respect owing to his glittering playing career and long-established status at the club, enhancing his status as a Real legend by winning three consecutive Champions League crowns.

Hes one of the greatest things weve ever had at this club, Solari said last month. Hes very calm, a great coach and nobody can compare to him.

The challenge for Solari will be to manage the dressing room when results take a turn for the worse.

After the international break, Madrids generous run of games continues with league matches against Eibar, Valencia, Huesca, Rayo Vallecano and Villarreal before Christmas, none of whom currently reside in La Ligas top half.

They will also play Roma in Italy and CSKA Moscow at home in the Champions League, two games likely to settle who goes through top of Group G.

Solari was only allowed two weeks as an interim coach according to Spanish regulations, meaning Sundays trip to Celta Vigo was always likely to precede a decision on his future.

It proved an impressive final audition as Madrid struck a 4-2 victory, with Solari having to adapt to a handful of injury problems during the game.

Well go to the death with him, hes a great coach and of course we want him to continue, Madrid defender Alvaro Odriozola said afterwards.

This will be Solaris maiden job in charge of a first team.

Antonio Conte, Mauricio Pochettino, Jose Mourinho and Joachim Low had all been linked to the position, with fresh approaches still possible next summer.

Source: NAN

By Florence Onuegbu

Mr Aliyu Aziz, Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), says 33 million Nigerians have enrolled for the National Identification Number (NIN).

Aziz said on Monday said that the commission had stepped up its strategy to fast-track the enrolment of more citizens and provide them with legal identification.

NIMC has stepped up its operations, which has seen the enrolment figure with the unique National Identification Number (NIN) now at over 33 million, astronomically up from just seven million three years ago, he said.

The Director-General said that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) hadon Sept. 12, 2018 approved the immediate commencement of the implementation of a strategic roadmap for Digital Identity Ecosystem in Nigeria.

Aziz said that the step would further boost enrolment across the country, moreso as government had set the enforcement of the mandatory use of the NIN for Jan 1, 2019.

He said that the Digital Identity Ecosystem was a framework that leveraged on the existing capabilities and infrastructure of distinct government agencies and private sector organisations.

The Director-General said that the framework was to carry out enrolment of Nigerians and legal residents into the National Identity Database (NIDB).

Aziz said that the framework was to ensure issuance of digital identity, known as the NIN, to give Nigeria a credible and robust identity management system.

He said that the provision of digital identity to everyone in the country to be able to prove who is who was critical to accessing services physically or electronically.

According to him, one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the United Nations demands that nations provide legal identity for all including birth registration by the year 2030.

From the above, it is very clear that identification plays an important role in enabling the achievement of other SDG targets, such as social protection, rights to economic resources, land and property, as well as universal health coverage, he said.

Source: NAN