News

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has directed Muslims to look out for the crescent of Dhul-Hijjah 1445 AH on Thursday, June 6.

This is equivalent to the 29th day of Dhul-Qidah 1445 AH.

In a statement signed by Prof. Sambo Janaidu, the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs of the Sultanate Council, Sokoto, the Sultan requested Muslims to report any sighting of the new moon to the nearest District or Village Head, who will then communicate it to the Sultan.

The Sultan prayed for Allah’s continued support for Muslims in their religious duties.Dhul-Hijjah is the 12th month in the Islamic calendar and one of the four sacred months in Islam.

During this month, Muslims perform the Hajj pilgrimage and celebrate Eid-El-Kabir.

The month begins with the sighting of the new moon, and Muslims gather in Mecca for Hajj from the 8th to the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah, celebrating Eid-El-Kabir on the 10th to 13th.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Kaduna State House of Assembly has recommended that former Governor Nasir el-Rufai be prosecuted for alleged abuse of office and money laundering during his administration.

An ad-hoc committee led by Henry Zacharia investigated and found that loans obtained under el-Rufai’s administration were not used for their intended purposes, and in some cases, due process was not followed.

According to the report submitted by Zacharia on Wednesday, the committee discovered that most of the loans obtained were not used for their intended purposes, and in some cases, due process was not followed in securing the loans.

The committee, therefore, recommended the investigation and prosecution of the ex-governor and some other indicted members of his cabinet by security and anti-corruption agencies for abuse of office through the award of contracts without due process, diversion of public funds, and money laundering.

This recommendation follows an investigation by the ad-hoc committee set up by the House to investigate the activities of the previous administration.

The committee’s report has been submitted to the House, and the recommendation for prosecution has been made.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigerian Senate has given the green light to a bill that would substantially increase the salaries of judicial officers across the country.

The proposed legislation, which was forwarded by President Bola Tinubu, aims to improve the remuneration of judges and other judicial personnel at both federal and state levels. 

The Senate’s approval of the bill is a major boost for the judiciary, recognizing the critical role that judicial officers play in upholding justice and the rule of law.

The proposed pay increase is expected to enhance the attractiveness of careers in the judiciary, enabling the sector to retain and attract top talent. 

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) has thrown his weight behind the president’s proposal, urging the Senate to pass the bill.

The move is seen as a significant step towards recognizing the valuable contributions of judicial officers to the country’s justice system. 

The approval of the bill is a positive development that is expected to have a positive impact on the judiciary and the country as a whole.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

A landlord, Benjamin Apeh, has tragically died after collapsing during an argument with his tenant over unpaid rent. 

The incident occurred on Sunday at Arigbabu Village, Sotubo, in the Sagamu local government area of Ogun.

“The suspect fled the scene, but efforts are underway to apprehend him,” said SP Omolola Odutola, the Public Relations Officer, Police Command, Ogun.

According to the police, the argument started on Saturday evening and continued on Sunday morning, with the tenant threatening to kill the landlord. 

“At around 6:30 a.m., on Sunday, she (the daughter of the deceased) heard her father again arguing with the tenant, who threatened to kill him,” said Odutola.

Unfortunately, the landlord collapsed and was rushed to NNPC Hospital, Mosimi, where he was pronounced dead. “He was later confirmed dead by the doctor on duty,” said Odutola.

The body of the deceased has been deposited at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) Morgue, Sagamu.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have suspended their industrial action, just one day after it began. 

The strike, which started on Monday, was called to protest the recent hike in electricity tariff and the lack of agreement on a new minimum wage.

However, following an emergency meeting on Tuesday, the labour unions agreed to suspend the action for one week. 

“The strike is suspended for now, but we will resume if our demands are not met,” said Festus Osifo, TUC President. 

The strike had caused widespread disruptions, with schools, businesses, hospitals, and airports shut down. The national grid was also affected, leaving many without power. 

The suspension of the strike provides a temporary reprieve for the government, but the labour unions remain resolute in their demands.

A communique is expected to be issued soon, outlining the next steps in the negotiations. 

The outcome of the talks will be closely watched, as the nation waits with bated breath to see if a resolution can be reached.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Federal Government and the organised labour have reached an agreement on the minimum wage, ending the strike action that started on June 3, 2024.

The agreement was signed on Monday night after a meeting that started at 5:00 pm and ended at 11:00 pm.

Although the details of the agreement are not yet public, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, confirmed that the government is committed to paying a minimum wage higher than N60,000.

He also assured that no worker would be victimized for participating in the strike.

The national tripartite committee on minimum wage will meet daily for the next week to finalize the details of the agreement.

The labour leaders and government officials expressed optimism that the agreement would bring an end to the strike and restore normalcy to the country.

The strike, which started on June 3, had paralyzed economic activities in the country, with many businesses forced to shut down.

The agreement is seen as a positive development, and many are hoping that it would bring an end to the strike and restore normalcy to the country.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The ongoing strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) has stalled the hearing on the Kano emirate tussle at the Federal High Court in Kano.

The court had previously granted an order restraining the implementation of the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, which dissolved the five Kano Emirates and reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir of Kano.

According to the court order, “parties are hereby ordered to maintain status quo ante the passage and assent of the bill pending the hearing of the Fundamental Rights application.”

The hearing was scheduled for June 3, 2024, but due to the strike, the matter has been postponed until further notice.

The suit involves the Kano State Government, Kano State House of Assembly, the Speaker of Kano State, Attorney General of Kano State, Commissioner of Police of Kano State, Inspector General of Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Department of State Security (DSS).

As a result of the strike, the court was unable to hold the hearing as expected, and a new date has not been announced.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged the Organised Labour in Nigeria to reconsider their planned strike action scheduled to commence on Monday, June 3, 2024.

In a statement released by his media team on Sunday night, the Sultan appealed to the labour leaders to consider the potential hardships their action may cause Nigerians.

“The Labour leaders should consider the overbearing effects of the strike action they plan to embark upon on the wellbeing of the same Nigerians, whose interest they are fighting to protect, and therefore shelve the industrial action,” he said.

The Sultan emphasized the importance of negotiation, encouraging the labour leaders to continue engaging with the government.

“We appeal to Labour not to take the nation through another leg of hardship… They should try to listen to the government while the government should listen to them and both parties arrive at a conclusion that will be beneficial to all Nigerians, with the working class inclusive,” he said.

Drawing from his personal experience in past negotiations between labour and government, the Sultan acknowledged the labour leaders’ efforts to advocate for better welfare for their fellow workers.

However, he cautioned them to consider the potential consequences of their actions and to prioritize compassion.

“You are doing what is right for your class of fellow workers, but you should do it within the ambit of compassion and see strike always as the last option,” he said.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

Former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar expressed his satisfaction with handing power over to a democratically elected president in 1999.

Abubakar made this disclosure during an interview with journalists over the weekend. 

He stated, “Not at all! Not at all! Not at all! I am happy with what is going on. Yes, everything is not perfect, but here we are today, celebrating 25 years of unbroken democracy.”

Abdulsalami, who handed over power to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, acknowledged that while there are still challenges, Nigeria has made significant progress since 1999.

“We are not yet there but have come a long way since 1999. The only drawback we have in the system is people still sell their votes, and they do all types of things; they allow the politicians to use them in ballot box snatching here and there – unnecessary things that we should have overcome at this age.”

He emphasised the importance of voters holding elected officials accountable and lamented that some individuals still engage in vote-buying.

“Unfortunately, I still maintain, there are some very few people who abuse the process and they allow their votes to be bought. 

“And if they are buying these votes, certainly they cannot be called to be accountable, the people who are being so elected.”

Despite these challenges, Abdulsalami expressed optimism about Nigeria’s democratic progress and the growing awareness among citizens that their votes matter.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Federal Government has stated that it cannot meet the labour unions’ demand to increase the national minimum wage from N30,000 to N494,000.

According to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the demand would result in a total wages bill of N9.5 trillion yearly for federal workers alone, potentially destabilizing the economy and jeopardizing the welfare of over 200 million Nigerians.

The government offered a 100% increase to N60,000, which has been accepted by the private sector.

However, labour is seeking a 1,547% increase to N494,000.

The minister appealed to labour to return to negotiations and embrace realistic wages.

The government prioritizes affordability, sustainability, and the overall health of the nation’s economy, considering the welfare of all Nigerians, not just workers.