Buhari Govt Files Fresh Charge Against IPOB’s Nnamdi Kanu.
The Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has filed fresh terrorism allegations against the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu.
WEEKDAYS reports that the Federal Government filed the amended process before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday.
The government increased the counts in the initial charge it preferred against Nnamdi Kanu.
The IPOB leader who was facing a seven-count treasonable felony charge, will now enter his fresh plea to a 15-count amended charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, and signed by the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, M. B. Abubakar.
FG amended the charge, barely 24 hours to the scheduled commencement of hearing by trial Justice Binta Nyako.
ASUU, NMA not recognized labour unions, says FG:
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, on Monday, said the Nigerian Medical Association and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, as well as their affiliates, were not recognized labour unions in the public service.
She also stated that the Federal Government was considering creating two additional councils in the education and health sectors.
Yemi-Esan stated this during the opening of the separate and joint meetings of the national public service negotiating councils, which was attended by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, and the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba.
The HoS said, “Sustaining industrial harmony in any sector of a country’s economy, including the public sector, is strategic and cardinal to national development. This is because there cannot be meaningful development in any country where the grievances of workers, who are the drivers of development, are ignored.
“In line with the principle and practice of collective bargaining, the government, particularly in recent times, has had to engage organised labour unions in constant dialogue.
Thus, it is pleasing to note that such effort has not been in vain, as we can appreciate the evident harmonious industrial atmosphere in the country.
“Of course, this would not have been possible without the understanding and support of the organised labour unions for the policies and programmes of the government.
Hence, our gathering here today is one of our relentless efforts towards ensuring the sustenance of this cordial relationship.
“As you know, the public service is the instrument of government for the formulation and implementation of policies, programmes and projects, leveraging on efficient aggregation and deployment of human and material resources.
This role, over the years, necessitated reforms that redefined, restructured and repositioned the public service to enable it respond to the socio-economic and political dynamics of public administration.”
APC Governors Forum DG, Salihu Lukman Resigns:
The director-general of the Progressives Governors Forum, Salihu Lukman has resigned from his position on Monday.
Lukman terminated his appointment amids the controversy surrounding the National Convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
It was gathered that some governors elected on the platform on the party called for his resignation during the meeting held in Abuja on Sunday night.
SSCE Too Low To Become President Of Nigeria: – Gbajabiamila.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has advocated a review of the minimum educational requirement necessary to become the President of Nigeria.
According to him, the senior secondary school certificate or its equivalent as currently required by the constitution is too low. Gbajabiamila, therefore, called for a constitutional review by the National Assembly to raise the academic qualification requirements for the position of president and other elective offices in Nigeria as it will strengthen the nation’s democratic process.
The Speaker made his view known on Monday while speaking at the convocation ceremony of the University of Lagos.
“I also sincerely believe that the national assembly needs to look into section 131 (d) of the 1999 constitution with a view to increasing the minimum educational qualification for persons aspiring to be future presidents of Nigeria and other top offices including the national assembly as against the current minimum requirement of a secondary school certificate or its equivalent,” Gbajabiamila said. “As we have reduced the age for eligibility to contest those offices, so also, we should increase the minimum educational requirement.
It will be another step in reforming our electoral system and providing strong leadership for the country.”
Section 131 (d) of the 1999 constitution states that “A person shall be qualified for election to the office of the President if he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent”.
However, for review of the constitution to be done as proposed by the Speaker, on the minimum, members of 24 state houses of assembly out of the 36 (two-thirds) must support it.
“An Act of the National Assembly for the alteration of this Constitution, not being an Act to which section 8 of this Constitution applies, shall not be passed in either House of the National Assembly unless the proposal is supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of all the members of that House and approved by resolution of the Houses of Assembly of not less than two-thirds of all the States,” the constitution states.
PDP Governors Release 9-point Communique After Meeting In Rivers State.
Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have concluded their meeting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital.
At the end of the meeting held on Monday, 17th January, the PDP Governors have released a communique containing their resolutions.
Among other things, the party commended its leadership for the successful conduct of its national convention and the emergence of new leaders led by Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, it also called out the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for its inability to tackle the security challenges facing the nation.
As part of the communique, the PDP Governors also urged the National Assembly to pass the Electoral Act Amendment Bill either by overriding Mr. President’s veto or deleting areas of complaints.
The opposition Governors also countered President Buhari for rejecting state police while also knocking him for the mismanagement of the country’s economy which has plunged many citizens into poverty while the government continues to amass loans by borrowing both locally and internationally.
The party called on the citizens to get their PVCs and be ready to vote out the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 general elections.
What Buhari Told Me About Bandits In Zamfara – Matawalle.
The Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle has disclosed details of his conversation with President Muhammadu Buhari after their meeting on Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
WEEKSAYS u
nderstands that Matawalle had visited Aso Villa today to discuss security issues in his state with the President.
According to Matawalle while sharing details of their meeting with state house correspondents, President Buhari has motivated him and assured him that the federal government will take decisive actions to reduce to zero, the activities of criminal elements in the state.
The governor though feared that there is no end in sight for banditry in his state.
He, however, boasted that there will be notable changes in the state as regards security, starting from Wednesday, January 19.
He assured residents that his government is doing all it can to fish out those collaborating with bandits in the state.
APC: Buhari Meets Buni Over Party Convention, Crisis.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met with the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Committee and Extraordinary Convention Chairman and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, at the State House in Abuja.
WEEKDAYS gathered that Buni was in the presidential villa to brief President Buhari about the outcome of the governors’ meeting held on Sunday night at the Kebbi state Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro in Abuja.
Recall that the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, had said the APC governors have agreed to go ahead with the party’s national convention slated for February.
Bagudu, who refused to give a specific date for the convention, told reporters that the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) would announce a suitable date for the event.
He added the convention committee would also meet with other stakeholders to harmonize all positions that will be contested at the convention.
APC: Buhari Meets Buni Over Party Convention, Crisis.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met with the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Committee and Extraordinary Convention Chairman and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, at the State House in Abuja.
WEEKDAYS gathered that Buni was in the presidential villa to brief President Buhari about the outcome of the governors’ meeting held on Sunday night at the Kebbi state Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro in Abuja.
Recall that the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, had said the APC governors have agreed to go ahead with the party’s national convention slated for February.
Bagudu, who refused to give a specific date for the convention, told reporters that the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) would announce a suitable date for the event.
He added the convention committee would also meet with other stakeholders to harmonize all positions that will be contested at the convention.
Shoot To Kill Any Prison Attackers – Aregbesola.
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has directed operatives of the Nigerian correctional centre to shoot dead anyone who attempts to attack the facility in the country.
The former Governor of Osun State stated this while inspecting the facility at the Agodi Custodial Centre, Ibadan.
According to Aregbesola, officers must make it difficult for criminals to gain access to the facility because it is a red zone.
He further stated that an attack on the correctional centre is an attack on the state and such must never be allowed again.
Unvaccinated Workers, Visitors Barred From Entering Abuja Secretariat.
Unvaccinated civil servants and visitors were barred from gaining access into the Area 11 Garki Secretariat in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
WEEKDAYS reports that officials of the FCT Administration started enforcing the policy of the Federal Government of ‘no vaccination, no entry’ into any of its establishments as of 7 am.
<span;>Speaking with reporters on Monday, Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the FCT Minister, Ikharo Attah, said that the enforcement would be sustained to ensure maximum compliance.
He said there was no going back on enforcement of the directive, adding that pictures of vaccination cards on phones and photocopies would not be accepted. Attah said that an enforcement team had been deployed at the premises of FCTA and secretariats and departments to monitor compliance.
My Presidential Ambition Is Not Threatened In APC
<span;>– Umahi.
The Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, on Monday stated that his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress does not pose a threat to his presidential ambition.
He further stated that he feel happy rather than being threatened for joining the ruling party.
According to Umahi, the more Governors the party has, the more chance the APC has to win the forthcoming general election.
Umahi stated this while speaking during an interview on Channels TV on Monday.
Those are the top Nigerian newspapers headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on:
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