Beyonce rumoured to have 'given birth to twin boy and girl' at Los Angeles medical centre

 Jay Z has been spotted leaving the Beverly Hills mansion he shares with Beyonce amid

The Hip Hop mogul, 47, was seen leaving their home after Twitter went into overdrive over rumours his 35-year-old wife was in labour on Tuesday.

The day marked the Lemonade hitmaker's due date, and saw increased security at the medical centre.

Jay Z was seen talking on the phone as he left their home in the back of a chauffeur-driven Escalade

 

With his face partially obscured, he looked in deep thought, perhaps anxious to be reunited the new additions to his family- rumoured to be a boy and a girl.

The 99 Problems star, who married Beyonce in 2008 after five years of dating, was reportedly headed in the direction of the Westwood-based medical facility.

An insider told Hollywood Life: 'Beyonce’s security was seen leaving her Beverly Hills home this morning carrying two baby seats to a hospital in West LA

Beyonce fans first sparked a Twitter frenzy amid fevered speculation the heavily pregnant star is finally in labour in the early hours of Tuesday.

Heavy security was spotted at a Los Angeles hospital, while it was also reported her security staff were carrying two baby seats to a medical facility earlier in the day.  

Arsenal FC visits Nigerian Breweries with their FA Cup trophy (Photos)

A delegation from Arsenal Football Club on Thursday paid a courtesy visit to the Iganmu House, the head office of Nigerian Breweries with the Emirates FA Cup recently won by Arsenal.

The visit comes on the heels of a recent partnership deal between the London-based club and Nigerian Breweries.

See more photos below

Asset declaration: Appeal Court quashes Orubebe’s conviction

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Wednesday set aside the conviction of a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, for false asset declaration.

The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) convicted Orubebe for failing to declare some of his assets during his stint as minister. Orubebe was initially arraigned on November 9, 2015 on a four-count charge of false asset declaration.
He was accused of failing to declare the Asokoro land and accepting bribe. A three-man panel of the appeal court held that the tribunal headed by Danladi Umar, was wrong to convict Orubebe for false asset declaration when he had sold the property he was accused of not declaring.

Justice Abdu Aboki, who read the lead judgment, faulted the CCT’s conclusions in its October 4, 2016 judgement and proceeded to discharge and acquit Orubebe.

The judge held that the issue before the tribunal was not declaration of title, but false declaration of assets and as such the unregistered instrument of transfer are admissible in proof of the payment of purchase price, which showed that Divention Properties Limited had acquired the property.

The CCT had dismissed Orubebe’s claim that he sold the plot of land to the Managing Director of Divention Properties Limited, Akinwumi Ajibola, for N10 million in 2011 and deployed the proceed to pay his rent.
Umar, in the lead judgment said after analysing all the testimonies given by Orubebe, it was difficult to understand why the property he claimed to have sold about six years ago still remained registered in his name at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Land Administration.

Umar said: “To the tribunal, this is very absurd and not credible. The tribunal observed that under the Lands Instrument Registration Law, the DW1 (Ajibola) was under obligation to register/document his right over Plot 2057.”

"Nigerians are divided, hungry, angry, unemployed"

Former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, has lamented the state of the economy.

The former Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, in a statement titled, ‘Deprivation and Agitation: A Reflection on Nigeria’s Late 2017 Budget,’ decried the living conditions of Nigerians.

Okogie said, “Some people do not want to hear of restructuring. However, for how long shall we fail to see the urgent need for far-reaching constitutional reforms in this country? The current arrangement is not serving Nigerians. The relationship between the government and the citizens places the citizen at gross disadvantage and the politicians at an undue advantage.

“Our young people are the worst hit. They are unemployed, hungry and angry. They are venting their anger on one another while we, their elders, are silent. Could it be that some of us, their elders, are stoking the embers of violent disintegration?”

The retired bishop stated that the level of poverty in the country was not acceptable.

He charged Nigerians to question those who managed the resources of the country.

“To say that the quality of life of the average Nigerian is low is to state the obvious. Whether one talks of education, medical service delivery, security or the economy, every aspect of our life in this country is in downward motion. The extent of poverty experienced by our people is simply unacceptable.

“This country has more than enough resources to make life livable. If there is so much discomfort, we must interrogate those who manage the affairs of our country. Why is it that the government – federal, state and local – has failed Nigerians?”

Okogie lamented that the 2017 budget was presented to the legislature in the twilight of the 2016 and was just passed on May 14, 2017, which was “more than five months into the year and close to six months after it was presented.”

He said, “For a country that should be in a hurry to exit the Destitution Avenue, this is simply unacceptable. It is another instance of failure of governance. Failure of governance is when government fails to serve the people. Nigerians should be worried about the way the budgetary process runs in this country.

“In the period when the budget has yet to be passed, how is government carrying out its functions? Who is accountable to who when it comes to how money is spent?

“Does this reflect a country that really wishes to put an end to corruption? But while there was delay in passing the budget, there is an early bird approach to the politics of 2019. The budget was not passed but politicians were positioning themselves for the 2019 presidential elections.

“Now, deprivation has turned into agitation. In the absence of a budget, the economic conditions in which we live continue to bite. Nigerians are hungry and angry. In their anger, they turn against each other on the social media, using unprintable language, threats and violence to sort out their differences. Young Igbo insult the Yoruba, young Yoruba insult the Igbo, the North and the South have suddenly realised that they cannot live together.

“In all this, instead of facing their common enemy – politicians who abuse their offices and steal the wealth of the land, thus depriving us of decent living – young Nigerians tear each other apart in a society where civil discourse has become an unwanted alien.

 “We have said it before that we live in clear and present danger. We said it when herdsmen went on the rampage and arms were being brought into Nigeria by ‘ghost importers.’ Now, we should ask ourselves: is there a correlation between illegal importation of arms into Nigeria and the drumbeats and dance steps of war we are currently witnessing?”

Salary arrears: Teachers give 19 states 30-day ultimatum

The Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, has given a 30-day ultimatum to 19 states owing its members several months of salary to either settle the backlog of salary arrears or face an indefinite strike.

The ultimatum was given yesterday, by the National President of the union, Mr Michael Alogba Olukoya, during a National Executive Council, NEC, meeting held at the Teachers House, Oluyole, Ibadan.

The NUT leader named the states and what they owe as salaries. According to him, Benue owes 10 months, Ekiti and Cross River owe six months each, Kogi which has been paying half salaries since 2013 owes15 months while Ondo owes five months.

Others include Taraba which owes four months. Niger, Delta and Oyo owe three months each.

Also Abia owes five months, Osun has been paying its teachers half salary for 23 months, Nasarawa has paid half salary for 18 months, Plateau, half salary since 2010, Adamawa, four months, Bayelsa eight and a half months, Imo (paying 70% monthly salary, Kwara owes four months), Borno, yet to pay minimum wage, and Zamfara (yet to implement national minimum wage).

He said: “We hereby give a 30-day ultimatum to all the above-mentioned states to pay all outstanding salaries being owed teachers. They will soon collect another Paris Club money and we hope they will pay all the backlog of salary arrears.”

” If any State fails to pay up within this stipulated time, we shall converge again and give a notice of action. There is going to be total disconnect between us and such governments”, Olukoya threatened on behalf of his members, nationwide.

Yesterday Abdusalami 75 ,President Buhari his boss claims he is 74-Reno Omokri comes for PMB.

Reno Omokri, the ex-aide to former President, Goodluck Jonathan, has described the Presidency led by Muhammadu Buhari as dishonest and untruthful over its statement on the dismissal of the charges of false asset declaration brought against the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

It could be recalled that the Presidency tagged the judgement as a ‘mockery of the anti-corruption war’, ‘a travesty of justice’ ‘pedestrian’ and ‘outrageous.’ 

However, in a statement issued on Thursday morning by Omokri on his Facebook page, the erstwhile Presidential aide said going by the records of lies and dishonesty the current federal government has on its trail, having the guts to point accusing fingers at Saraki is the real ‘travesty and outrage.’

He said: “The Presidency calls the discharge of Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki by the Code of Conduct Tribunal an ‘outrageous travesty of justice’.
“This is the same Presidency that was quiet when a Kano court freed the killers of evangelist Bridget Agbahime after the Kano state Attorney General withdrew the charges against them. I guess that was not a ‘travesty of justice’ to them. 

“This is the same Presidency that sees nothing wrong with President Muhammadu Buhari hiring 13 SANs for his defense in the case challenging the authenticity of his WAEC certificate. I do not need even one SAN if someone accuses me of not having my WAEC certificate. All I have to do is present it.
“If it is lost all I have to do is apply to WASC or Cambridge University for a letter acknowledging that I sat for and passed my WAEC/GCE.
”This is coming only two days after the National Judicial Council exposed the Buhari Presidency as liars who lied about their appeal in the case of reinstated Justice Adeniyi Ademola and five other judges. 

“That Presidency with such a record of dishonesty has the guts to point fingers at Saraki is the real outrage and travesty! The only thing good about this Presidency is Professor Yemi Osinbajo. 

“Yesterday General Abdulsalami Abubakar turned 75 years old. Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari, his former boss and military senior (who joined the army years before Gen. Abubakar) says he is 74.
“If I talk they will say I am a wailer! In any case, we have a President who told us last October 1st that (and I am using his exact words), ‘Investors from all over the world are falling over themselves to come and do business in Nigeria.’
“This is despite the fact that under Buhari, foreign investment into Nigeria has fallen to a nine year low.
“Well I guess a man who can tell such a blatant lie can be relied upon to state his real age.
“Inconclusive age; Inconclusive certificate; Inconclusive elections; Please, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, find time to advise your ‘younger’ brother to be more honest during this year’s October 1 speech.”

 

Billionaire kidnapper Evans reveals how his Anambra juju failed him

Billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudemeje George Onwuamadike also known as Evans, has blamed his arrest on his charm which he claimed failed him.
Speaking with newsmen, kidnap kingpin said he was assured by a Chief priest in Anambra State that he would never be apprehended by law enforcement agents.
Evans disclosed that he didn’t know what went wrong with his charm that made it possible for the police to arrest him.

According to Evans, “The native doctor resides in Nnewi, Anambra State.
 “He is a traditional ruler. After police busted our Igando hideout, he told me to have no fear. He said nothing would happen. He told me that nobody would be able to catch or arrest me. I believed him. I don’t know what went wrong.”

The 36-year-old father of five was last Saturday arrested in Lagos by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.
Following his arrest, Evans father, Stephen Onwuamadike had alleged that his estranged wife manipulated Evans into crime. 

Eid-El-Fitri: Senate goes on 3 weeks recess

The Nigerian Senate, on Thursday, adjourned plenary for 3 weeks, to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of the 8th Assembly and Eid-El-Fitri festival.

Recall that, both chambers of the 8th National Assembly marked the 2nd anniversary on Friday, 9th June 2017, where past presiding officers and leaders of political parties were in attendance.
It is also expected that, Muslim faithful across the world would be celebrating the feast of Eid-El-Fitri on 25th and 26th June 2017.
After the routine session of Thursday, the Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan moved for an adjournment which was seconded by the Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio.

The Senate, therefore, adjourned plenary to Tuesday, 4th July, 2017, for legislative activities.

Biafra: Turkish diplomat visits Nnamdi Kanu (PHOTOS)

The President of the International Nations Commercial Association in Turkey, Abdulkadir Erkahraman has visited the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, in his hometown in Isiama Afara, Umuahia, Anambra State.

Kanu, while receiving Erkahraman said the Turkish citizen’s visit was in line with IPOB’s plan to solidify the actualization of Biafra.

The IPOB leader said the agitation of the freedom of Biafra has become so loud that the international community cannot fail to recognize the efforts by the group.

Kanu said, “There will come a time when they will say, please come and take these people and go.”
Reacting to the quit notice by Northern youths asking Igbos to vacate their region, the IPOB leader said, “I said it in August 2009, I told you people they will tell you people to leave the north, now it is happening.”
“Biafra must come; Biafra has risen never to fall again. This kingdom has risen never to fall again.”

See photos below…

SERAP faults Saraki’s acquittal, seeks UN-backed Commission against Impunity in Nigeria

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has faulted the acquittal of Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal charges, saying the acquittal “suggest serious shortcomings” in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.

The CCT on Wednesday dismissed the 18-count of false asset declaration against Saraki following his no-case submission. But SERAP, in a statement by its deputy director Timothy Adewale on Thursday, said that the acquittal seriously weakened the notion that high-ranking public office holders accused of corruption would be held accountable.

It said, “The acquittal yesterday of the Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) of corruption charges suggests serious shortcomings in the criminal justice system, and means that a complementary and supportive mechanism in the form of a UN-backed commission against corruption and impunity in Nigeria is urgently needed to achieve President Muhammadu Buhari’s oft-stated anti-corruption agenda.”

SERAP, therefore, urged the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, “to urgently and proactively pursue the establishment of a UN-backed International Commission Against Corruption and Impunity to assist our criminal justice system to effectively and efficiently investigate and prosecute high-level corruption cases in the country, like it happened in Guatemala, for example. This government needs help in its fight against corruption, and strong leadership is now needed to urgently design a complementary and supportive plan.”

According to SERAP, a UN-backed commission would help to improve our criminal justice system in the short, medium and long terms so that it would be better able to prosecute complex grand corruption cases.

The group further argued that the Commission would also meet the longstanding and legitimate demands of the Nigerian people for vigorous and meaningful action against corrupt leaders, past or present.

“Supporting a strong partnership between Nigerian prosecutors and international law enforcement experts would show that the authorities have the ability and political will to chip away at the country’s corruption and impunity of perpetrators, and help address Nigerians’ scepticism about the viability of the anti-corruption agenda.

“Further, to end a culture of corruption and impunity of perpetrators, we urge the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN to urgently take over the prosecution of the corruption case against Mr Saraki by ensuring that the CCT decision is urgently appealed and that the case is diligently prosecuted within the limits of the rule of law.

“The outcome of the Saraki’s case sends a damaging message that suspected corrupt leaders can get away with their crimes while keeping their stolen assets. Many would-be corrupt leaders may now see engaging in acts of corruption a risk worth taking.

“The Guatemalan commission established by the UN in 2006 has a strong record of fighting organised crime and high-level corruption and the Nigerian authorities can learn valuable lessons from its operation and achievements in the efforts to take the fight against corruption in this country to another level.”

China Kindergarten Attack: 7 Killed in Explosion

An explosion rocked a kindergarten in eastern China on Thursday, killing at least seven people and injuring dozens, authorities said, as state media published images showing bloodied and unconscious victims.

The blast occurred near the kindergarten and victims were taken to hospital, according to the Fengxian county government in Jiangsu province.

Images circulating online showed that the force of the blast tore people’s clothes off and one woman was seen clutching her child, who is in tears.

Xinhua news agency, citing the emergency office of Xuzhou city, said the explosion happened at the gate just as children were leaving the school in the afternoon.

An official at the police station in Fengxian county told AFP that the cause of the blast was under investigation.

At least seven people were killed and 66 injured, including nine seriously, according to Xuzhou city government. Two died at the site of the explosion and five while being treated.

Pictures of the scene showed more than a dozen people outside a building, many lying on the concrete and some appearing to be unconscious, including a small child.

Another video posted by the People’s Daily shows emergency workers arriving at the scene with gurneys. Another shows people lying in a hospital.

Online media reports cite a business owner near the kindergarten as saying that around 5:00 pm (0900 GMT) he heard a “bang”, and found that there had been an explosion at the kindergarten entrance only 100 metres away.

It is the latest tragedy to strike a kindergarten in China in recent weeks.

A school bus packed with kindergarten pupils erupted in flames inside a tunnel in eastern Shandong province on May 9, killing 11 children, a teacher and the driver.

Officials later said the fire was intentionally set by the driver, who was angry at losing overtime wages.

There have also been knife attacks at schools in recent years.

In January a man armed with a kitchen knife stabbed and wounded 11 children at a kindergarten in southern Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

In February last year, a knife-wielding assailant wounded 10 children in a schoolyard in Haikou, in the southern island province of Hainan, before committing suicide.

In 2014, state media reported that a man stabbed three children and a teacher to death and wounded several others in a rampage at a primary school that refused to enrol his daughter.

That followed a March 2013 incident in which a man killed two relatives and then slashed 11 people, including six children, outside a school in China’s commercial hub Shanghai.

15-year-old son of Super Falcon’s coach, Florence Omagbemi dies

Coach of the Super Falcons of Nigeria, Florence Omagbemi has lost her 15-year-old son, Samson.

Samson and one of his classmates reportedly got drowned in a swimming pool at a hotel in Effurun, Delta State, where they had gone to for an after exams party.

Media officer for the Nigeria U-23 team, Timi Ebikagboro, announced the boys’ death via a Facebook post.

The Facebook post explained how a teacher took JSS 3 students of Challenge International School, Kolokolo Udu Road, Warri, to Golden Tulip along PTI junction Effurun for “an after exam party.”

He wrote, “Am just in a sad mood, how on earth will a teacher take JSS students to a hotel in Effurun for an after exam party and in the end 2 of the innocent students got killed and thrown into the hotel pool, one of two dead kid is the “son” of our own Florence Omagbemi, Super Falcons head coach.

Please, I beg all of you to put her in your prayers, she needs all our support in this her trying times, I hope the Delta State Ministry of Education will act on this?”

Meanwhile the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has joined in the mourning and also sent condolences to Coach Omagbemi who last year led Nigeria to her seventh Africa Women Championship title in Cameroon.

The Federation, through its official Twitter handle, @thenff, wrote, “Our prayers are with @NGSuper_Falcons Head Coach, Florence Omagbemi who lost her son, Samson, on Wednesday. May his soul rest in peace.”

One wife is not enough! S. African polygamist urges men to emulate him .

Musa, a 43-year-old businessman from Port Shepstone, KZN, has declared that one wife is not enough. 

Speaking to Daily Sun he said his four wives – Busisiwe MaCele, Nokukhanya MaYeni, Thobile Mseleku and Mbali MaNgwabe are happy to be married to him.

He said although some people have criticised him, he wanted to change people’s perceptions of polygamy. “I want to show men that you can be in a polygamous relationship and also be considerate.

My wives impose restrictions on me. I have to be home an hour earlier than them so I can prepare to spend time with all of them,” he said. His wives have nothing but love and praise for him.

Thobile said: “I knew what I was getting into and didn’t have a problem with it. I also come from a polygamous family.” She said the other wives are like sisters to her and they all rely on each other for advice and help.

Photos: Female student electrocuted by high tension wire at Rivers State University

A yet to be identified student of the Rivers State University was electrocuted on Tuesday, June 13, by a high tension cable. She was found lying near the school main gate shuttle park and and rushed to the Health Care Centre where she was confirmed dead.

According to an eyewitness, the young lady was trying to cross over an erosion following a heavy rain that began in the early hours of that fateful day.

"The erosion  she was trying to to get across had a high tension wire in it as a result of a pole that fell on Monday, June 12th. The deceased had no idea that there was wire in the water."

It was gathered that the school authorities reportedly contacted officials of the PHED to inform them of the fallen cable.

Kano APC expels suspended Reps member, Jibrin

Suspended House of Representatives member, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has been expelled by the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chapter in Bebeji local government area of Kano state.

The local government chapter of the ruling party explained that the former House of Representatives Chairman on Appropriation was expelled due to anti-party activities.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Chairman of the party in the local government, Sani Ranka, accused Jibrin of promoting divisive tendencies.

According to Ranka,“The party will not condone indiscipline and disrespect to leaders or duly constituted authority. We hereby inform the world that Jibrin has been expelled from our great party.”

The party executives at the briefing affirmed that stakeholders decision to expel Jibrin was a unanimous one.

Jibrin had in 2016 accused the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara and other principal officials of padding last year’s budget.

The allegation which is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, led to his suspension for 180 days.

NASS has powers to alter budget – Dogara

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, on Thursday said that the National Assembly has powers to alter national budget according to the desire of the citizens.

He stated this during plenary after Rep. Abubakar Lawal (APC- Adamawa) drew the attention of the lower chamber to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo’s remarks.

Osinbajo’s was reported in the media to have said that the power of appropriation was vested with the executive.

According to Dogara, it is left to the judiciary to interpret which arm of the government has the powers to alter the budget according to the Constitution.

“This issue is left to the judiciary to interpret to us as to what arm of government has power to do what. For me, this is not an issue we should dwell so much on.

“I don’t want to believe that the Acting President made that statement because when it comes to the budget, the power of the purse rests with the parliament.

“The executive is just one man; every other person in the executive arm is answerable to the president alone. The relationship is that of master and servant, but for the parliament, it is that of equals.

“Even, when the president hasn’t said anything, everyone is trying to read what the body language is; the basis of democracy is collaboration.

“In the case of the budget, if the parliament disagrees with the executive, the worst that would happen is that they will refuse to sign the budget.

“In that case, we can override the veto of the President and pass it into law.

“The worse the Executive can say is that they will not implement. The question then will be, is that the law of the land? Anyone with honour, who is in the seat, should know the right thing to be done.

“In case of the executive, everyone knows the consequence and I don’t want to mention it by its name.

“This house is not going to be a rubber stamp to the executive arm.

“In the United States where we borrowed our Constitution from, once the president walks into the chamber with the budget proposal, it becomes dead on arrival.

“It is therefore what the parliament decides that brings it back to life.

“The priority of the people may not be that of the executive. This kind of talk is not helpful, so we shouldn’t even take a debate on the issue,” Dogara said.

Earlier, mover of the motion, Lawal, stated that the acting president’s speech had undermined the powers of the national assembly.

“I read in the media where the acting president was quoted as saying that the national assembly does not have the powers to alter the country’s budget.

“This will undermine the powers that sections 4, 5 and 9 of the Constitution have given the National Assembly, the power to make laws.

“Order 12(19) spells out the procedure, so for someone to come out and say that we have no power, it’s a breach of our privilege,’’ he said.

Osibanjo had while signing the 2017 Appropriation Bill on Monday stated that the alteration of the budget by the national assembly had distorted the plans of the executive in implementing the 2017 budget.

Senate vows not to concede powers to executive

The Senate on Thursday vowed that it would not concede its powers to the Executive.
This followed a Point-of-Order raised by the Deputy Leader of the Senate, Sen. Bala Na’Allah at plenary.

Quoting Order 43 of Senate Standing Rule, Na’Allah said that there were media reports credited to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to the effect that the National Assembly did not possess any power to alter the budget.

He expressed concern that such statement was attributed to the acting president, saying that he was knowledge enough in law.

”We have operated the Constitution from 1999 to date and I have had the privilege to work with the Acting President while I was practicing in Lagos as a lawyer.

”We did a lot of things together. So, he is somebody that I know so much.

“I will rather believe that what was alleged to have been said could not have been said by him and even if he spoke on the matter, he was misquoted.

”For the avoidance of doubt, this same Constitution we operated from 1999 to date has section 80, and the title of section 80 is `Power and Control over Public Funds’,’’ he said.

He read out the provisions of sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Constitution to support the argument, adding the Constitution recognised that Nigeria operated a federal structure.

Na’Allah said that the Constitution also recognised that Nigeria was multi-lingual, multi-ethnic and multi-religious and that that was the reason issues of domination were raised in the constitution-making process.

He explained that it was the fear of domination that made framers of the Constitution to provide for representation on the basis of population and land mass and on the basis of equality of states.

”This is what gave birth to a bi-cameral legislature – the Senate and the House of Representatives. The House provides representation based on population and land mass while the Senate is based on equality of states.

”So, I know that the Acting President who is a Professor of law is sufficiently trained in law to know that the National Assembly has powers to tinker with the budget.

”I am not making a case for him and I do not want to believe that he said what has been alleged that he said.

”I also want to assuage the fears of my colleagues that what was alleged to have been said does not represent the spirit of the framers of our Constitution,” Na’Allah said.

He said that the explanation was necessary to allay the fears of the lawmakers.

In his remarks, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, said that there was no ambiguity in the Constitution on the responsibility of the National Assembly.

He commended the deputy leader of the senate for raising the point, and said that he also sure that the acting president must have been misquoted on the issue.

“This matter has been cleared and settled by the Constitution. So, I don’t think there are any issues here that are vague.

”I will like to believe too that the Acting President must have been wrongly quoted,” he said.

Saraki said that the leadership of the national assembly has had consultations with the Executive.

According to him, those consultations did not in any way suggest that we will give up legislative powers as contained in the Constitution.

”I want to reassure our members on this because it is very important. Based on what we have heard, you may be concerned that one way or another, the leadership has given up some of these powers.

”That is not the case. I believe that as responsible statesmen, there are times we consult and do our best to work with the Executive and assist them.

”But, as we bend backwards, I don’t think that it should be misrepresented that powers given to us in the Constitution do not exist.

”That is not the case, and this Senate will continue to defend the Constitution and ensure that anything we do is in line with the laws of the land,” Saraki said.

He announced the adjournment of plenary until July 4.

Amputated Upcoming Nollywood Actress Plays Her First Lead Role (Photos)

Amputated upcoming Nollywood actress Doris Samuel Akonanya played her first role as the 'lead act' in a movie "Susanna". The actress who studied Theatre arts at Nnamdi Azikiwe university is very talented and has much to offer.

Doris lost her right leg as a teenager from an accident. In spite of this tragedy she hasn't let it stop her from achieving her dreams of becoming a top actress. Already she can claim to have worked with Chinwe Owoh, Chinwtalu Agu and Harry B. The movie "Susanna" is her first in a leading role.

For her coming this far is testament to her mental fortitude, family support as well as her faith in God. For many people tragedy breaks their spirit but for others its builds their character. 

Read more here - http

FIRS seals Golden Tulip hotel over N15m tax debt

The Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, has sealed the premises of the Golden Tulip hotel, owned by Kenneth Gbagi, a former Minister of State for Education.

The hotel, located at Effurun, in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta state, owes Value Added Tax totalling N15.6m incurred between 2014 and 2016.

Anita Erinne, who led the FIRS enforcement team, showed the hotel officials a distraint warrant before ordering the premises sealed until the debt is paid. Effort by Gbagi to plead that the hotel should not be sealed was rebuffed by the FIRS officials.

Similarly, the FIRS team sealed Kevwe Construction Company, Okwokoko, for unremitted VAT, totalling N84.4m.

However, Ishaka Hotels and Tebelos Hotels also in Delta State wrote an undertaken to pay their tax debt, a wish the tax enforcers granted them.

Nathaniel Bassey's Hallelujah Challenge Featured On CNN

It is perhaps an unlikely setting for a praise and worship session. But every day at midnight, thousands of worshippers around the world have logged on to Instagram to lift their voices in praise and prayer, united by one hashtag: #HalleluyahChallenge.

More than 60,000 people have joined in the Instagram praise and worship in an hour long midnight gathering, which is the brainchild of Nigerian gospel singer Nathaniel Bassey.

It all started with a simple post on his Instagram page on the 31st of May, where Bassey signaled his intention to start a 30-day midnight praise challenge throughout the month of June.

Even Nigeria's expensive internet data costs have seemingly not deterred eager worshipers who have flocked to the livestream on his Instagram and Facebook pages.

At it's peak on Monday, CNN observed that around around 68,000 people joined the Instagram livestream, while over 50,000 joined the Facebook livestream.

Statistics from Evolve Press reveal 10,000 posts with the hashtag "#HallelujahChallenge" and over 18,000 with the hashtag "#olowogbogboro" making it the number one trend in Nigeria.

Bassey said he did not imagine the movement would become so popular on Facebook and Instagram.

"I had a sense which is the leading of the spirit to praise God the whole of this month," Bassey told CNN

"Against the b

ackdrop of the challenges in the world today especially in our nation, with the scourge of terrorism and the recession ... it has brought a sense of hope and respite. It is a reflection of the desire and hunger for answers and for hope," he said.

Bassey frequently shares testimonies of participants who say taking part in the challenge has yielded results and a change in their circumstances.

"He's on course to build the largest congregation ever with 1 phone and Instagram /Facebook" said Facebook user OO Nwoye.

"One lesson I have taken away from the success of this #hallelujahchallenge is have a specific/consistent theme and go live at a time the audience would not be distracted.

This has helped in the pulling together the mass compared to others who have tried adhoc live streaming." he added.
The #Halleluyahchallenge has also gained the attention of popular Nigerian celebrities like Funke Akindele, Don Jazzy and Toke Makinwa who have also shared the hashtag with their followers.

The movement has however not been without criticism. Media entrepreneur, Joy Isi Bewaji criticized it in a Facebook post calling it a "cute online revival."

"This... will change nothing... We have had too many spiritual revolutions. What we need is a mental one."

"You cannot pray Nigeria to greatness... It is not up to God to save the rot in our educational institutions or fix the drainage on our roads. It's up to us. And we can't do any of that on our knees. " she added. 

Source: CNN/JT connect. 

FG to recruit 7,500 graduates as tax advocates

The Federal Government says will recruit 7,500 graduates as Community Tax Liaison Officers to raise tax awareness among citizens.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, along with the Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr BabaTunde Fowler made this known at a joint press briefing on Thursday in Abuja.

Adeosun said that the recruits would be expected to go to schools, churches, mosques, markets and other social places to educate people on the tax system and let them know their obligations.

She said that through this initiative, the government expected to increase the number of tax payers by 35 per cent, from 14 million to about 17 million in two years.

“We will be recruiting them through N-Power and they can apply through the website of the Federal Ministry of Finance or through the N-Power website.

“It’s a two year fixed contract and they will be deployed to states, attached to state Internal Revenue Service or FIRS.

“Their job is to improve the level of education on the Nigeria’s tax system.

“Our tax system is progressive, meaning those who earn less should pay less and those who earn more should pay more.

“A lot of people don’t know that. So it’s a chance to get people on ground to answer all these pertinent questions,” she said.

Adeosun said that graduates of accounting, economics, mathematics and other relevant courses would be given priority under the programme.

She, however, encouraged intelligent graduates interested in a career in tax administration to apply as the government planned to sponsor the recruits to become tax professionals.

“This exercise is extremely important for the fiscal sustainability of states because as you know, most of the revenue for states apart from FAAC is supposed to come from tax.

“So if we improved the number of tax payers, we will be improving the fiscal health of our state governments as well as the Federal Government.

“It’s an important initiative for the nation as we undertake reforms to reduce our over dependence on oil.

“We have to make sure that everyone who is economically active pays tax, no matter how little, they have to contribute to the pool,” she said.

On the remuneration, Adeosun said the recruits would be paid N30, 000 monthly and they stood to receive performance-based incentives measured by the number of people they enrolled during the two year period.

The FIRS chairman reiterated that tax evasion was a punishable offence in the country.

He said that the tax tribunal was being reconstituted as tax dodgers would be prosecuted.

Fowler encouraged citizens to be law abiding and pay their tax. (NAN)

Man assaults estranged lover over ante-natal bills

Court

A 40-year-old man, Kunle Kuti, who allegedly assaulted his estranged lover, was on Thursday in Lagos granted a N50, 000 bail.

A Surulere Magistrates’ Court which gave the ruling, asked Kuti to provide one surety as part of the bail conditions.

The Magistrate, Mrs Ipaye Nwachukwu, said the surety must be gainfully employed and should show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

Kuti, who resides at No. 31, Prophet Adeoye St., Ijeshatedo, Lagos is facing a four-count charge bordering on assault and child abandonment.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Anthonia Osayande, told the court that the accused committed the offences between July 5, 2016 and June 1, 2017 at Ijeshatedo area of Lagos.

She said the accused deserted his lover, one Kemi Afolabi, when she was pregnant with his child.

“During her pregnancy, the accused failed to take care of the complainant’s ante-natal bills and he also failed to supply the necessary things for his baby.

“The complainant decided to go to the accused to tell him to take-up his responsibilities but he beat her up and she was rushed to the hospital.’’ She said.

Osayande said the offences contravened Sections 279, 247(1), 249 and 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

The magistrate adjourned the case until July 26, for mention.

Lesotho first lady shot dead hours after inauguration

•Lesotho Prime Minister Tom Thabane.

The wife of Lesotho Prime Minister Tom Thabane was shot dead late on Wednesday, just hours after her husband’s inauguration, raising fear of another wave of political violence in the country.

Police spokesperson Clifford Molefe said Lipolelo Thabane, 58, was travelling home with a friend when both women where shot by an unknown assailant in the town of Masana, just outside the capital, Maseru.

Molefe said Lipolelo died on the scene while her friend was taken to a nearby hospital. He said the motive of the shooting was unknown and investigations were ongoing.

Lesotho, which has been on a political knife-edge since an attempted coup in 2014, held elections last week, the third in five years, after then-prime minister Pakalitha Mosisili lost a no-confidence vote in March.

Thabane’s All Basotho Convention won 48 parliamentary seats, compared with 30 won by Mosisili’s Democratic Congress.

Thabane and Lipolelo had been living separately since 2012 after Thabane filed for a divorce, which had yet to be granted by the courts.

Thabane’s office could not be reached for comment. (Reuters)

Ingrate: Nigerian steals €6,500 from pastor who accommodated him in Austria

A Nigerian man of God based in Salzburg, Austria, who thought he was doing his homeless country a world of favour by accommodating him, is now in pains after the man absconded with his money running into €6, 500.

The thief identified as Taiwo Abayomi, according to Anthony Titus who sent the story to Pulse, had approached the fellow Nigerian Pastor, claiming he was a born again Christian who was stranded and had nowhere to stay.

Out of pity for a fellow Nigerian and Christian, the man of God decided to accommodate him with the approval of his wife and children but after staying in the household for two weeks, Abayomi decided to pay back the pastor's kindness in the most callous way by stealing his money and absconding while they were away in church.

This is how Titus captured the incident:

"A Nigerian pastor who lives in Salzburg, Austria, accommodated this young man in his house because he claimed to have no home.

Last Sunday, he was told to come along to the church service but he claimed he had an appointment and when they left him, he made away with the Pastor's €6, 500.

When they called him, he said God had directed him to another place and up till now, no one has heard from him... Please if you can help rebroadcast."

The aggrieved Pastor himself also posted this appeal for anyone who knows Abayomi to forward to him:

"Hello everybody; I want everyone to take a proper look at this young man. He identifies himself as a Christian and as someone who needs help. So I decided wit the audience of my wife and children, to accommodate him in our home.

After staying for two weeks, he took the money I kept in my bedroom and ran away with it. Please if anyone knows him, tell him to restore what he has stolen from me.

His name is Taiwo Abayomi."

 

Ingrate: Nigerian steals €6,500 from pastor who accommodated him in Austria

A Nigerian man of God based in Salzburg, Austria, who thought he was doing his homeless country a world of favour by accommodating him, is now in pains after the man absconded with his money running into €6, 500.

The thief identified as Taiwo Abayomi, according to Anthony Titus who sent the story to Pulse, had approached the fellow Nigerian Pastor, claiming he was a born again Christian who was stranded and had nowhere to stay.

Out of pity for a fellow Nigerian and Christian, the man of God decided to accommodate him with the approval of his wife and children but after staying in the household for two weeks, Abayomi decided to pay back the pastor's kindness in the most callous way by stealing his money and absconding while they were away in church.

This is how Titus captured the incident:

"A Nigerian pastor who lives in Salzburg, Austria, accommodated this young man in his house because he claimed to have no home.

Last Sunday, he was told to come along to the church service but he claimed he had an appointment and when they left him, he made away with the Pastor's €6, 500.

When they called him, he said God had directed him to another place and up till now, no one has heard from him... Please if you can help rebroadcast."

The aggrieved Pastor himself also posted this appeal for anyone who knows Abayomi to forward to him:

"Hello everybody; I want everyone to take a proper look at this young man. He identifies himself as a Christian and as someone who needs help. So I decided wit the audience of my wife and children, to accommodate him in our home.

After staying for two weeks, he took the money I kept in my bedroom and ran away with it. Please if anyone knows him, tell him to restore what he has stolen from me.

His name is Taiwo Abayomi."

 

Former Chief Press Secretary to ex-Kogi Speaker, David Ehimoni kidnapped, ransom demanded

Former chief press secretary to a one time Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, David Ehimoni , has been kidnapped by some gunmen.

According to a source , Mr Ehimoni was abducted on his way to Ikare in Ondo State to pick up his kids who are on their mid-term break.

A source said that Ehimoni was taken to an unknown destination by his abductors who later demanded Forty Million Naira ransom.

The source said, “ Several hours after the abduction, the kidnappers contacted the family of the former Chief Press Secretary to Clarence Olafemi and demanded N40m as ransom, saying they would not release him if the money is not paid. ”

The state Police Public Relations Officer , Mr . Femi Joseph , is yet to confirm the incident , as calls put across to him went unanswered as at press time.

Another Kidnapper: Army arrests wanted bandit, on Kaduna-Abuja road

The  Nigerian Army confirmed that troops from the 1 Division in Kaduna State arrested a notorious and wanted leader of an armed banditry, Sani Ibrahim, alias “Burtu”, on the Kaduna-Abuja road on Wednesday.

Brig. -Gen. Sani Usman, Director of Army Public Relations, who confirmed the arrest in a statement on Thursday said, the suspect was picked up when the troops cordoned “armed bandits’ camp at Rijana forest.”

According to Usman, Ibrahim has been on the wanted list of the security agencies in Kaduna State for a long time.

He explained that due to disturbing resurgence of armed banditry and kidnappings along Abuja-Kaduna road, the troops carried out clearance operation at the Rijana forest.

He said one motorcycle and 25 goats were recovered from the camp.

Similarly, the army spokesman said the troops mounted ambush on Zamfara border with Kebbi and neutralised three armed bandits and recovered 134 cows and 13 sheep.

He said that operations were ongoing. 

Daniel Saroh: Senator calls for unity, tolerance

Sen. Daniel Saroh, a former Senator, on Thursday said Nigeria must exploit its diversity to fastrack the social and economic development of all sections of the country.

Saroh, who represented Benue North-East in the Senate, said current secessionist agitations would only roll back what was built for decades and would not augur well for the country.

“No one stands to gain by instability,” he said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria [NAN] in Kaduna.

He noted that recent quit notices issued by various groups across the country were recipe for instability and must be stopped.

Saroh said what Nigeria needed was unity of purpose and political stability to be able to address its developmental challenges.

“We do not know where this destabilisation action will lead us; let us allow our diversity to strengthen our unity, let us be our brother’s keeper.”

He stressed the need for leaders to speak out against violent tendencies that would create instability in the country.

The senator also spoke on calls to develop grazing reserves and ranches to support herdsmen and reduce current stripe involving free movement of livestock.

According to him, what is most important is for government to evolve a deliberate policy to develop pasture to feed livestock.

“I mean Nigerian should grow suitable grass for pasture and also conduct research, buy seeds from other countries, Brazil, Australia, Canada, USA and other countries in East Africa."

“The government doesn’t need to import the grass, but should get the seeds and grow it in Nigeria and allow it to sterilize."

“It will take several years, but that should be a step in the right direction."

“The commitment should be to develop the land, plant the grass and provide dams, boreholes, so that herdsmen don’t have to travel hundreds of miles away from their area, because this is the problem that Nigeria has."

“We have more than 20 million cattle in Nigeria and more coming from other countries and no food for them."

“Nigeria must also develop a system to support the herdsmen and help them to raise food for their herds.'

“We must develop an industry to produce dry grass and sale it; we should not be killing ourselves for cattle to get access to grass.”

Saroh, however, commended the Federal Government for its efforts to ensure improvement in the area of Agriculture.

According to him, the support should be sustained, so that farmers can improve their yield, expand their production base by acquiring more land to invest.

Government passes death sentence on Facebook user over series of anti-government posts.

A Pakistan government crackdown on freedom of speech online has reached worrying new levels, activists say, after a young man was sentenced to death over a series of Facebook posts.

On Saturday, 30-year-old Taimoor Raza became the first person to receive a death sentence in a Pakistan anti-terrorism court for "using derogatory remarks ... in respect of the Holy Prophet" on social media.

Amnesty International's Pakistan campaigner, Nadia Rahman, said in a statement the conviction set a "dangerous precedent."

"No one one should be hauled before an anti-terrorism court or any other court solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief online," she said.

Human rights advocates said 2017 has seen an unprecedented crackdown by the government on Pakistanis' freedom of speech on the internet and in social media.
In January, the government shut down the websites and blogs of four online activists who regularly campaigned for humans rights and religious freedom, according to Human Rights Watch, right after they were went missing simultaneously.

They were later released. There is no proven involvement of the government in their abductions.

Pakistani demonstrators take part in a protest the killing of journalism student Mashal Khan in Karachi on April 22.

Pakistan Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said in March "nothing can be greater than our religion to us" in stopping blasphemy on the internet.

"If social media platforms do not cooperate with us despite all our efforts, then we will take the strictest of measures against such platforms in the country," he said.

In May, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority sent millions of citizens a text message warning them against sharing blasphemy online.

"The uploading and sharing of blasphemous content on the internet is a punishable action under the law. Such content should be reported for legal action," the alert said.

Usama Khilji, director of the freedom of speech NGO Bolo Bhi, told CNN asking citizens to report each others actions online encouraged "mob justice."

"Asking people to record cases of blasphemy online (means) the state's responsibility is being transferred onto citizens," he said.

Laws 'open to abuse'

It isn't just the freedom of speech laws in the spotlight after the Facebook ruling -- blasphemy laws in Pakistan have long been controversial, including a mandatory death sentence for insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

A 2016 report by Amnesty International found the laws are "open to abuse" and anyone who is accused is usually presumed to be guilty, leaving them open to mob retribution.

There were 91 blasphemy cases concerning the Prophet or his companions registered between 2011 and 2015, the report said.

Specific blasphemy laws which punished perceived insults to Islam were introduced between 1980 and 1986, during a period of martial law under the military government of General Zia-ul-Haq. They were never removed once martial law ended.

Pakistani cellphone users reads a text message circulated by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority on May 10.

The laws have been recently extended to acts committed on the Internet and social media. In March, three people were arrested for posting allegedly blasphemous content online.

No one has ever been executed under the law, but in the past year violent public responses to accusations of blasphemy have raised further concerns from activists.

In April, a young man was brutally beaten to death by his fellow students at a university in Mardan, after being accused of blasphemy on campus. Fifty-seven people were arrested after the lynching. The man himself was later acquitted by authorities two months after he was killed.

In her statement, Rahman said the government should instead be holding to account those who have lynched alleged blasphemers rather than arresting young men accused online.

'Miscarriage of justice'

Prosecutor Shafique Qureshi told CNN Taimoor Raza was accused of regularly sharing "blasphemous pictures and status updates" on his Facebook page, which criticized the companions of the prophet and the prophet himself.

Raza was arrested on 5 April at a bus stop where he was listening loudly to blasphemous content on his phone, according to Qureshi.

The images were found on his phone and his Facebook page and were examined by Islamic studies professors and found to be blasphemous. Raza is now being held in a so-called high treason jail in Sialkot.

But Raza's lawyer Fida Hussain Rana said his client was innocent and had been set up on social media.

"Two individuals ... instigated Taimoor on Facebook Chat to get him to say things against the Prophet Muhammad. Taimoor never said anything blasphemous," he said in a statement.

Rana said the trial was a "miscarriage of justice" and that there would be an appeal within two days.

A spokesman for Facebook said in a statement the social media site was "deeply saddened and concerned" by the sentence. "We do not provide any government with direct access to people's data," he said.

CNN's Spencer Feingold and Zahra Ullah contributed to this report.

Culled from CNN

Singer, Kiss Daniel now Goes on Braids (photos)

Singer, Kiss Daniel, is really defining his style both in music and in fashion and whatever style he brings out, he still has that large fan base that still admires him.

The singer has been doing well for himself when it comes to good music and outside the studio, he is thinking how to brand himself which he possibly is getting right.

Kiss Daniel got his fans talking recently when he shred photos of his new hair do as he now goes on lovely braids.

Not many are in support of his new looks but it has come to stay but you can also share your opinion about it though.

Source: Nathan Nathaniel Ekpo/Nollywoodgists.com

CCT Decision : "I harbour no grudge against anyone, regardless of the role they might have played in the persecution that I had endured in the last two years"- Saraki.

Today, June 14, 2017, the Code of Conduct Tribunal sitting in Abuja discharged and acquitted me on a case of false declaration of assets, which started in September 2015.

You would recall that at the beginning of the trial, I maintained that I will clear my name. The conclusion of this trial has vindicated my position. With the outcome of this case, our faith is renewed in our courts and our hope is restored that the judiciary in our country could indeed provide sanctuary for all those who seek justice.

I thank the Almighty Allah, the ultimate Judge and the repository of all powers. He alone has brought about this victory. I am immensely grateful to all my colleagues in the National Assembly for their abiding support. All through my trial, they demonstrated their strong conviction about the choice we all decided to make two years ago. I thank members of my family for their unflinching support. I thank all friends and supporters back home in Kwara State and across the length and breadth of our country for their prayers and their sacrifices. My gratitude also goes to all members of my legal team for their tireless efforts to ensure the cause of justice is served.

After undergoing the crucible of a tortuous trial, my vindication today calls for celebration. It is my belief however that if there should be any celebration at all, it should be a celebration of the hopes that this judgment gives us as citizens that despite all the challenges that we face as a country, we are well on our way to building a country where the innocent needs not be afraid. I therefore urge all my supporters to refrain from any unbridled triumphalism. The challenges that our country faces today are enormous and do not allow for wanton celebration. Instead, we should all reflect on the significance of this moment and what it meant for our democracy.

On a personal note, I harbour no grudge against anyone, regardless of the role they might have played in the persecution that I had endured in the last two years. I believe that If my trial had in anyway given hope to the common man that no matter the forces arraigned against him, he can still get justice in our courts, then my tribulation had not been in vain.

Once again, I thank my colleagues in the 8th Senate for standing firm. Regardless of the distraction of my trial, we have achieved more as legislators than the previous Senates. Now that this distraction is over, we can even achieve so much more. We must now proceed from here with greater vigour to deliver on the expectations of Nigerians and show that this 8th Senate can indeed play a central role in improving the quality of lives of our people.

Lastly, I thank all the gentlemen of the press for your abiding interest in this case, which I believe had contributed in no small measure in ensuring that truth and reason ultimately prevailed.

Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON
President of the Senate

Listen to ‘Man Of God’, one of the many songs OJB Jezreel never released!

OJB died at the age of 49

This is surely the BEST song you’ll listen to today!
It’s the first song by the late OJB released after his death.
The song titled ‘Man of God’ was first played during his wake service on July 7, 2016 at the National Stadium, Lagos.
The song is an inspirational one written, composed and produced by OJB Jezreel himself.

Listen to the song HERE.

Industrial unrest looms in Ministry of defence, others over N290bn unpaid arrears

•A cross section of pensioners protesting unpaid benefits . Inset is Ivor Takor of Centre for Pension Right Advocay.

INDICATIONS have emerged of a looming industrial unrest in the Ministry of Defence, MoD, Education, and others following workers’ restiveness over unpaid salaries, and other benefits including promotion arrears totaling N290billion.

Secretary General of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, Mr. Bashir Alade Lawal, told Journalists at the ongoing 106th session of the International Labour Conference, ILC, in Geneva, Switzerland, that Labour leaders could no longer control workers’ restiveness.

He contended that the situation in the ministries especially defence and education was getting out of control and lamented that the N10billion released by the government was grossly inadequate, judging that the total indebtedness was N290billion.

According to him: “If you look at the ‎entire problem you will agree that government is not sincere with workers. This indebtedness is dated back to 2007, and you want to imagine that workers who are working are being promoted as at when due but government is refusing to pay them their promotion arrears. Somebody that has been promoted from level 8 to 9, from 9 to 10, from 10 to 12 and so on, is still earning level 8 salary because the employer, which is the federal government, has refused to do the right thing.

“So, this issue has brought this arrears that runs to N290billion. And the insincerity of the federal government is demonstrated in the first instance, when the federal government gave out the bailout funds to states totaling about N734billion, the federal government took 52.2 percent of the amount as a result of the revenue sharing formula. Then, the states took their shares. The federal government is asking the states to use their share to pay arrears of workers’ salaries. But the federal government took its share and diverted it into other use without using it to pay salaries. That is the height of insincerity. So, now the federal government has accepted that there is a problem. I speak with you , the situation is very tensed, workers are very restive and no labour leader can guarantee that the situation will not go out of hand.

“We are just trying to manage the situation, knowing some of the other challenges facing the country. Now we have come together, including the National Assembly on the issue of this N290billion, the National Assembly has offered a window that we should utilise what is currently in the budget. What is in the budget is N30billion and so the two side would then meet and look at the possibility of packaging a sort of loan or bond to be able to sort this out. So, this N10billion released by the government is just in the interim, to just start doing something. The N30billion in the budget is not what is readily available because of the process involved before it can be accessed.

“However, the agreement we have with the National Assembly and other stakeholders is that as soon as the budget becomes law, the money will be released immediately. So, from the N290billion, you would have sorted out 40billion, remaining N250billion. With the National Assembly, we are hopeful with the kind of interest shown. Because most of the lawmakers saw what happened during May Day in Abuja where they were evacuated into their vehicles during workers’ reaction as a result of frustration. So, let us see the result of all these initiatives and hopefully the way we are looking at it that we will be able to sort it out this year. Anything short of that or should they decide to foot drag on this, I bet you even with the leadership of the union, peace will not guaranteed. ”

DJ Lambo Becomes President Of Choc Boi Nation

Dj Lambo

Olawunmi Okerayi popularly known as DJ Lambo has been appointed as the first female president of Choc Boi Nation, one of the flagship labels under Chocolate City Music.

The announcement was made yesterday on their Instagram page with a special video. They wrote:

Congratulations DJ Lambo (@djlambo_) on your appointment as President Choc Boi Nation. We believe in your commitment and ability to lead.
Chocolate City Music raises its glasses to you as you make history as the first female President. CBN #ControltheEconomy

Runtown Welcomes Baby With His Girlfriend

Runtown Welcomes Baby

Douglas Jack Agu known by his stage name Runtown and his US based baby mama, Selena Leath yesterday welcomed their baby boy, Zamar in Los Angeles.

The singer shared the good news on his Instagram page with a short video of his new born captioning it thus:

“May the good Lord place a shield of protection around you,keep you healthy and guard you as you grow into a man your mom and dad wud be proud of ❤️
My bestfriend and my son Zamar ❤️”