It was a day of reproof in the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) as staff members across the country protested lingering and unbearable working conditions.

The protests spread through Abuja, Ibadan, Akure, Enugu, Kaduna and other stations as the aggrieved staffers bared their grievances at the organisations operations.

Members of staff trooped out in black outfits to register their protest.

Some of the workers demands included replacement of obsolete equipment and operational vehicles.

Others were payment of outstanding allowances, expansion of manning levels to enhance promotion of staff, regular training for optimum performance as well as improved staff welfare.

Mr Nofiu Busari, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), FRCN Ibadan Chapter, said the essence of the peaceful protest was to draw attention to the state of facilities in the organisations stations across the country.

Busari said the protest was being held simultaneously across all FRCN stations in the country.

We want the Federal Government to hearken to our plea. Our facilities are over 16 years old.

No doubt, salaries are being paid as at when due but we want to justify what we are being paid for.

Members of staff are using their personal funds to facilitate the running of FRCN and this must stop, he said.

Adewunmi Faniran, the Chairman of the state council of the NUJ in Oyo State, said there was an urgent need for government intervention in redressing the challenges facing the organisation.

We are the hen laying the golden egg and as such shouldnt be killed. Weve realised that they are eating both the hen and egg.

NAN, VON, NTA, FRCN and others need help. That they are not talking doesnt mean all is well in their operations. They are suffering in silence.

All equipment here at FRCN are obsolete, they are nothing to write home about. In Ibadan here, there are over 20 media outfits.

We are operating in a competitive environment but with little or no facilities to aid production. We have equipment here in Ibadan that had been in use since the 80s and 90s.

We want the government without delay to look into our needs and I must emphasise that this protest is not targeted at anyone but for the benefits of members of staff, said Faniran who is also a member of staff.

Mrs Bolanle Owoyemi, Deputy Director Marketing, on behalf of the management commended the workers for the peaceful protest, saying it was for the good of all members of staff of FRCN.

She said that the Director was away to the Abuja headquarters of the organisation over the issues raised.

The management is on top of the development and a meeting is scheduled for today in Abuja over this matter.

No management wants a down turn in operations; everyone wants a good working environment and I believe everything will be put back in place as soon as possible, she said.

In Akure, workers in the organisation also embarked on a peaceful protest at the poor working conditions and obsolete equipment.

The Chairman of FRCN, Akure Chapel, Mr John Ebiofini, said no improvement had been made on the equipment at the station since its debut 16 years ago.

Ebiofini said the equipment at the station could not cover the nooks and crannies of the state.

Today, due to deplorable condition of our outdated equipment, we cannot boast of covering Ondo State where we are located.

We should be ashamed of ourselves being a Federal Government establishment that is supposed to set the pace for state and private broadcasting houses to follow suit, he said.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Radio and Television Theatre and Arts Workers Union at the station, Mr Gabriel Afolabi, said the protest was to send signals to the Federal Government through the management.

There is a big one ahead unless it does everything possible to avert that before the 21-day ultimatum ends, he said.

Also speaking, the NUJ Chairman in the State, Mr James Sowole, urged the Federal Government to send a delegation to assess the deplorable condition under which the workers were carrying out their duties.

Sowole described FRCN as a leading radio station in the country which must not be allowed to collapse due to obsolete equipment and poor working conditions.

At the same time their colleagues shut down the Kaduna station, staff at the FRCN in Abuja staged a protest against non payment of their allowances and Insurance levy.

All of them wearing black clothes, the workers decried poor treatment of the corporation and its staff by the federal government.

We dont have power and water in the building. We have not been paid our Transport Allowances and arrears since 2010, we dont even have insurance, the worker said.

Also, no seats in the office, reporters dont have office equipment like midgets, staff are to buy equipment and fund assignments themselves without getting paid. We also dont have office materials like papers to print in the office.

The Radio Television Theatre and Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) secretary in the office, Ishaku Musa, said that the situation at the headquarters was bad beyond control.

We are mourning today and the protest is tagged Black Monday. Things have gone bad beyond control, when you look at the staff welfare, it is nothing to write home about, he said.

The working condition at FRCN is something that you can never agree that FRCN is like this. When you look at the staff themselves, they dont have working materials, they dont have seats to use in the offices. Most of the allowances are not being paid, and that is why we have called for this Black Monday and started this protest, Mr Musa said.

The permanent staff have not been paid since 2010 their T

British Prime Minister Theresa May appointed Jeremy Hunt as foreign minister on Monday after predecessor Boris Johnson resigned in protest at the governments plans for a close trading relationship with the European Union.

The appointment of Hunt, the long-serving health minister, sees a close May ally replace the maverick Johnson, and could alter the Brexit balance of Mays top ministerial team.

While Johnson was one of the most high-profile Brexit campaigners, Hunt backed Remain during the 2016 referendum campaign.

Hunt told LBC Radio in October 2017, however, that he had changed his mind on the issue, in part because of what he said was disappointing arrogance in the EUs behavior during negotiations.

Last month, Hunt said it was inappropriate for businesses like Airbus to issue warnings about moving jobs because of Brexit and that they should instead be getting behind May in her push for a good deal on leaving the EU.

Huge honour to be appointed Foreign Secretary at this critical moment in our countrys history, he said in a tweet after his appointment.

Time to back our PM to get a great Brexit deal its now or never

Hunt, 51, had served as health minister for more than 5-1/2 years, the longest term of any in the history of the state-funded National Health Service, weathering doctors strikes, public discontent with funding levels and other challenges.

Hunt said it was a massive wrench for him to leave the department, adding: I know some staff havent found me the easiest Health Sec.

Matt Hancock replaced Hunt as health secretary, while Attorney General Jeremy Wright was appointed as minister of digital culture, media and sport, Hancocks old job.

Mays office said Geoffrey Cox would be the new attorney general.

*Reuters/NAN

Source: NAN

Desperate to recover stolen wealth, President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya has taken after President Muhammadu Buhari, clamouring for repatriation of loots stashed overseas.

Buhari, African Union (AU) anti-corruption czar, has led the way for other African countries to fight corruption in its facets.

Kenyatta and his visiting Swiss counterpart, Mr. Alain Berset on Monday in Nairobi oversaw the signing of an agreement that clears the way for the recovery of assets.

These assets were acquired through corruption and crime in Kenya, and stashed in foreign countries.

The agreement, called a Framework for the Return of Assets from Corruption and Crime in Kenya (FRACCK), is also supported by the United Kingdom and the Jersey Island.

It would create a mechanism for Kenya to recover money stolen by corrupt individuals and hidden in the three countries Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Jersey Island.

Kenyatta said the signing of the agreement at State House in Nairobi was part of his resolve to eliminate corruption in the country.

The framework, which is in line with the United Nations Convention against Corruption, provides the principles to guide the recovery of stolen assets.

In the spirit of the Global Forum on Asset Recoverys Principles for Disposition and Transfer of Confiscated Stolen Assets in Corruption Cases, returns should proceed in a transparent and accountable manner with the mutual consent of both Kenya and the partner offering the return, said the new agreement .

To avoid complications of asset recovery, the framework says that recovery should follow executable judgments.

A steering committee comprising the Executive Office of the President, the Attorney General, the National Treasury, the Assets Recovery Agency, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Agency and envoys or representatives representing the partner countries will be established to implement the deal.

The agreement also has a provision to allow other nations willing to cooperate with Kenya in the recovery of stolen assets to join.

Source:

Source: NAN

As Nigerias 2019 general election draws near, the UN said there is the need to reactivate the National Peace Committee, which played critical roles in ensuring a peaceful 2015 presidential election.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated this in the Report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), presented to the UN Security Council.

The National Peace Committee followed the signing of the Abuja Peace Accord on Jan. 14, 2015 by former President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, then All Progressives Congress candidate Muhammadu Buhari and other presidential candidates.

The Committee comprised of respected statesmen and women, traditional and religious leaders who include former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, Bishop Mathew Kukah, and Alhaji Saad Abubakar III, Sultan of Sokoto.

Guterres said his Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Mohammed Chambas, continued to support efforts to sustain peace in the region by promoting and supporting inclusive national political dialogues, constitutional and democratic reforms and transparent, credible and peaceful election.

The UN chief said: Cognizant of the politically active environment ahead of the Nigerian polls in 2019, he conducted consultations with political and religious leaders in Abuja from 18 to 21 March.

National stakeholders concurred on the need for the full reactivation of the National Peace Committee of Nigeria, which had been instrumental in facilitating dialogue prior to the countrys elections in 2015.

Through the Peace Accord, the candidates committed to take proactive measures to prevent electoral violence before, during and after the elections.

They also expressed determination to avoid any conduct or behaviour that will endanger the political stability and national security of Nigeria, to place national interest above personal and partisan concern.

They further reaffirmed their commitment to fully abide by all rules and regulations as laid down in the legal framework for elections in Nigeria.

The UN chief noted the preparedness for the 2019 presidential election and other political developments in Nigeria.

He said: In Nigeria, political developments centred on preparations for presidential and parliamentary elections set to take place in February 2019.

On 9 April, the President, Muhammadu Buhari, declared his intention to run for a second term. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar also announced his candidacy for the presidential election.

A demand made by the House of Representatives in April, following an increase in violence in the Middle Belt and the north of the country, to dismiss national service chiefs and security advisers, has not been carried out.

In addition, the decision of the National Assembly to summon Mr Buhari to provide a briefing on the increased insecurity in the country prompted a debate on whether the legislature had such power over the executive.

Guterres noted the Not Too Young To Run bill, which would reduce the age limits set for candidates for elected positions, and the adoption of the Electoral Act amendment, which would regulate the general elections.

On security trends, Guterres said asymmetrical attacks were carried out by Boko Haram terrorists against security forces, local authorities and civilians in Nigeria and other West African state.

The UN chief said extremist armed groups continued to harass civilians, carry out targeted abductions or killings, burn down schools and threaten teaching staff.

In Nigeria, multiple clashes between farmers and herders in the Middle Belt states, as well as in the southern states of Edo, Ebonyi and Kogi, resulted in numerous casualties, population displacement and destruction of property.

Guterres also noted the continued protests by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria over the detention of its leader, decreased violence in the Niger-Delta and Southeast regions, and militant groups threat to resume attacks.

Source: NAN

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, a conservative Federal Court of Appeals Judge, to the Supreme Court.

Kavanaugh, a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit would fill the Supreme Court vacancy created by Justice Anthony Kennedys retirement.

Trump, while announcing Kavanaugh, said: One of the most profound responsibility of the President of the United States selection of a Supreme Court Justice.

I often heard that other than matters of world peace, this is the most important decision a President would make.

The Supreme Court is entrusted with the safeguard of the crown juror of our republic the constitution of the United States.

The U.S. president paid glowing tribute to Justice Kennedy for a lifetime of distinguished service to the U.S. and for his assumption of senior status.

He said in nominating Kavanaugh, he took into account a Judge who would not allow his political views affect the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution.

Trump explained what informed his selection: I do not ask about a nominees personal opinions.

What matters is not a Judges political views but whether they can set aside such views those to do what the law and the Constitution require.

He said Kavanaugh had earned a reputation as a brilliant jurist with impeccable legal credentials, and universally respected for his intellect, as well as his ability to persuade and build consensus.

Judge Kavanaugh will protect our religious liberties, uphold the rule of law, and interpret the Constitution as it was originally understood by our founders, Trump said.

He pointed that this was the second time he would be faced with this task of nominating a U.S. Supreme Court judge.

In 2017, Trump nominated Justice Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court saying he knew Gorsuch would be a faithful servant of the U.S. Constitution.

The nomination of Kavanaugh came after a selection process marked by a historic public disclosure of a list of 25 highly qualified potential nominees to the Supreme Court.

Kavanaugh has served as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit since 2006, authoring more than 300 opinions, including 11 that have been affirmed by the Supreme Court.

Before becoming a judge, he served in the George W. Bush administration, first as an Associate Counsel and then Senior Associate Counsel, and subsequently as Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary.

A graduate of Yale College and Yale Law School, Judge Kavanaugh clerked on the Supreme Court for Justice Kennedy, and for judges on the Third and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals.

Kavanaugh thanked Trump for the nomination and vowed to interpret the Constitution as written.

However, Kavanaugh faces a bruising battle in the Senate, which voted 54-45 in April 2017 to approve Gorsuch.

Senate liberals know that we have the opportunity to reshape the Supreme Court for an entire generation, and they are ready to obstruct and unleash a smear campaign against our nominee, Trump said.

Source: NAN

The former Governor of Abia State Orji Uzo Kalu, has berated those accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of not doing enough to stop the killings in some parts of the country.

It is embarrassing when some people accuse the president of supporting one group to kill another. It is not possible for anyone directly elected by the people.

Leaders should stop backbiting about the killings and all the rest of it. Killing is not a good process, no president would want to see his people dying.

President Buhari has taken a new step, he was in Benue and Plateau the other time he is committed to make sure that this killing stop, he said.

Kalu condemned the unwarranted killings when he spoke at a party in honour of the outgoing Czech Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Pavel Mikes, in Abuja.

The All Progressive Congress (APC) Chieftain described the killings as a big challenge for the country after the Federal Government defeated the Boko Haram.

It is embarrassing to see human beings killing their fellow human beings. It is not acceptable by anyone created by God, he said.

He told the Czech Ambassador that his friendship with Nigeria goes beyond his stay in the country. We will remain friends after your departure.

He also thanked the envoy for his efforts, as Dean of European diplomatic corps, in ensuring that all levels of government in Nigeria maintain rule of law.

When government fails to put rule of law as an instrument that can be of a great change, is a problem because rule of law is more important.

It is a software of a democratic process. Once you have the software right, the hardware will also be right, he said.

Kalu expressed appreciation to the European Union for ensuring that Nigerias democracy stands.

In his remarks, the outgoing Czech Ambassador described Nigeria as a great, complex county and that he enjoyed every moment of his five-year duty tour in Nigeria.

Mikes extolled the virtues of the former Abia Governor, saying, he is passionate about the future of Nigeria, working hard to promote the country in the world.

He is a man for whom Nigeria lies dearly in his heart and does everything possible to improve the lives of Nigerians.

Source: NAN

Britains hope of exiting the European Union has been dealt a big blow with David Davis, the most senior official in charge of the negotiation resigning two days after Prime Minister Theresa May announced she had finally united her quarrelsome government to support the plan.

Davis who was Brexit Secretary told May in a letter that the governments proposals for future trade ties with the bloc will leave us in at best a weak negotiating position, and possibly an inescapable one.

His resignation Sunday night undermined Mays already fragile government, which has lost several ministers in the past year over sexual misconduct allegations and other scandals.

Davis was a strong pro-Brexit voice in a Cabinet divided between supporters of a clean break with the bloc and those who want to keep close ties with Britains biggest trading partner.

The staunchly pro-Brexit Conservative lawmaker Andrea Jenkyns tweeted: Fantastic news. Well done David Davis for having the principal and guts to resign.

Jenkyns said Steve Baker, a junior minister in the Brexit department, had also quit. There was no immediate comment from Baker.

Less than nine months remain until Britain leaves the bloc on March 29, 2019, and the EU has warned Britain repeatedly that time is running out to seal a divorce deal.

On Friday, Davis and the rest of Mays fractious Cabinet finally agreed on a plan for future trade ties with the EU.

May is due to brief lawmakers Monday on the plan hammered out during a 12-hour meeting at Chequers, the prime ministers country retreat.

It seeks to keep the U.K. and the EU in a free-trade zone for goods, and commits Britain to maintaining the same rules as the bloc for goods and agricultural products.

Some Brexit-supporting lawmakers are angry at the proposals, saying they will keep Britain tethered to the bloc and unable to change its rules to strike new trade deals around the world.

In his resignation letter, Davis said the common rule book policy hands control of large swathes of our economy to the EU and is certainly not returning control of our laws in any real sense.

He said he was worried the governments negotiating approach would lead to further demands for concessions from Brussels.

It seems to me that the national interest requires a secretary of state in my department that is an enthusiastic believer in your approach, and not merely a reluctant conscript, he wrote.

In a letter to Davis, May disagreed with his characterization of her plans, saying the deal she seeks will undoubtedly mean the returning of powers from Brussels to the United Kingdom.

Daviss resignation could embolden Brexit-supporting Conservative lawmakers to challenge Mays leadership.

Conservative lawmaker Jacob Rees-Mogg, a leader of the partys hard Brexit faction, compared Mays plan to an egg so softly boiled that it isnt boiled at all.

A very soft Brexit means that we havent left, we are simply a rule-taker, he said.

Some Brexiteers dream of replacing May with a staunch Brexiteer, such as Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who in the past has disagreed publicly with his boss.

Johnson has not commented publicly since Friday. But some senior pro-Brexit ministers have backed Mays plan.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove said Sunday that it did not contain everything he wanted but Im a realist.

All those of us who believe that we want to execute a proper Brexit, and one that is the best deal for Britain, have an opportunity now to get behind the prime minister in order to negotiate that deal, he told the BBC.

Source: NAN

By Ariwodola Idowu/Opeyemi Gbemiro

Ahead of Saturdays governorship election in Ekiti, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has assured the electorate that their votes will count.

Yakubu spoke at a stakeholders meeting held on Monday in Ado-Ekiti which had in attendance some of the gubernatorial candidates and their party officials.

He said the commission had trained all the ad hoc staff required for the election while it had made adequate arrangements for the delivery of personnel and materials to all polling units.

I wish to assure you that the choice of who becomes the next governor of Ekiti State is strictly in the hands of Ekiti people

Please, take my words; your votes will count, only the choice made by the Ekiti people will determine the outcome of the election.

We have listened to the views and concerns expressed by different political parties and their campaign organisations.

Please note that the commission would not take any action to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate.

Be assured that no election material will be tampered with; if anything, we have introduced additional safeguard measures of transparency to protect the integrity of our manual and electronic processes as well as procedures, he said.

The INEC boss added that three National Commissioners and five Resident Electoral Commissioners had been deployed in the state.

Also speaking, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, said the Force had put in place adequate security measures to tackle those who may want to disrupt the exercise.

Idris said the a security cordon was in place to check intrusion from the neigbouring states of Kogi, Osun, Ondo, Oyo and Kwara.

He warned that anyone caught fomenting trouble in any part of the state would be made to face the consequences no matter how highly placed.

Idris also warned politicians and their followers against attempting to bribe any of the police officers on election duty, saying adequate arrangements had been made for their welfare.

Dont arm your thugs, dont wear party insignia to voting venues, dont blow siren, dont ignore restriction order on human and vehicular movements, dont bribe any policeman.

Dont attempt to steal votes or manipulate the process. Whoever that does any of these will be made to face the consequences, he said.

NAN reports that high point of the event was the signing of a peace pact agreed to by the candidates.

Source: NAN

In an imitation of the formation of the All Progressives Congress in 2014, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today cobbled up together a loose alliance of about 30 political associations in readiness for the 2019 elections.

The new group, a replay of the alliance that toppled the Jonathan administration, was christened Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) at a meeting at the Shehu Musa YarAdua Centre in Abuja on Monday.

It was not clear whether they were going to seek INEC registration to run on the CUPP Platform as the alliance of ACN, CPC and ANPP did in 2014.

However, the collaborating partiessigned a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the aims of defeating President Muhammadu Buharis All Progressives Congress (APC) at the centre, states, and the Legislature.

PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar,former Senate President David Mark, and Chairman of the so-called R-APC Buba Galadima, were also present at the meeting.

Leaders of President Olusegun Obasanjo-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC), Social Democratic Party of Nigeria (SDP), National Conscience Party (NCP), Labour Party, and a host of other newly registered parties were in attendance.

That the new group was the brainchild of the PDP was not in doubt as the party summoned all its presidential aspirants, former ministers and legislators to attend what it called a crucial meeting at the Shehu Musa YarAdua Centre in Abuja.

Source: NAN

By Douglas Okoro

Forum for Good Leadership in Ebonyi (FGLE) has declared support for Dr Paul Okorie, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ebonyi.

Okorie is among leading APCs contenders for the governorship position in 2019.

The Group Coordinator, Mr Boniface Igwe, made declaration at a briefing in Abakaliki on Monday.

Igwe said that the group would throw its weight behind Okorie if given his partys nomination.

He said that the groups support for Okories emergence was predicated on his leadership track record and achievements as a Commissioner in the state.

Igwe said that the group is non partisan but that it is committed to promoting and entrenching good leadership and qualitative governance in all aspects of political leadership.

He noted that Okories leadership prowess manifested during his tenure as the General Manager of the Ebonyi Water Corporation, where he made epileptic public water supply regular and uninterrupted.

Igwe said that the APC governorship aspirant demonstrated similar sterling leadership quality when he was appointed as Commissioner for Works and Transportation under Gov. Sam Egwu led-administration.

He also said that former Gov. Martin Elechi appointed Okorie, as the pioneer Commissioner for Environment, which was created by the administration.

At a time our state is seriously in search of a leader to steer the ship of the state. The best man for the job is a man with right leadership skill, selfless and patriotic.

Okorie has demonstrated these qualities because of his achievements in those sectors that he had presided over.

The edifice housing the offices of Ebonyi Ministry of Water Resources was built by Okorie as a general manager of the defunct Ebonyi Water Corporation.

He also built the Works and Transportation office complex as Commissioner for Works, Transportation and Housing.

We have carried a discreet investigation into the political and leadership credentials of the other governorship aspirants and discovered that Okorie is the man fit for the job.

We are appealing to his party, APC to field him because he belongs to grassroots and remains the only person who can defeat the incumbent Gov. Dave Umahi.

We are sadden by leadership failure of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), hence our clamour for leadership change, Igwe said.

He said that the group had embarked on sensitisation in the 13 Local Government Areas to mobilise all eligible electorate to register and obtain their voter cards to enable them to vote.

Power belongs to the people hence we are persuading our people who are of voting age to take advantage of the ongoing voter registration to go and register and obtain their Permanent Voter Card (PVC).

We are committed to positive change in our state and we want every eligible adult voter to be part of the change we all need by participating in choosing who becomes the next governor of the state, Igwe added.

Source: NAN