10/13/17

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Latest Reality Blog is a legal blog where you are updated on online latest news, gist, entertainment, events, motivational text, and genue articles.
Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara

Members of the House of Representatives warned on Thursday that a nationwide strike by workers over low wages could force the country’s economy back into recession.

They urged the Federal Government to consider an increase in wage to N30,000 as the new National Minimum Wage to avert an industrial action by workers.

The current minimum wage of N18,000 came into effect in 2011.

However, seven years after, the lawmakers said in Abuja that no Nigerian worker could survive on a monthly wage of N18,000.

The members, at a session presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, passed a resolution urging the government to implement its wage review plans immediately amid the threats of a nationwide strike by labour unions.

The motion was moved by a former oil and gas union leader, Mr. Peter Akpatason, a member of the All Progressives Congress from Edo State.

Akpatason had informed the House about how the government appeared unwilling to push the wage review plans.

He said that an agreement by the government and labour unions to begin the process was not being implemented.

Akpatason’s motion read partly, “The House is cognisant of the tripartite agreement between the Nigeria Labour Congress, the National Employers Consultative Association and the Federal Government to set up a joint review team to study and recommend an appropriate rate to the government.

“(We are) concerned that despite the labour unions having submitted names of their nominees and made several requests for commencement of the review process, the government has yet to respond positively to the requests.

“As such, an upward adjustment of the rate of the minimum wage will have similar positive effects on the nation’s economy.

“Concerned that a combination of high inflation and weak Naira exchange value have eroded the purchasing power of fixed income earners in the country, who happen to be the breadwinners of millions of jobless and aged dependants.

“Convinced that any nationwide strike embarked upon by workers at this time is capable of rolling back recent economic gains, thereby returning the nation’s fragile economy into recession that will further exacerbate the suffering of the masses.”

Lawmakers specifically urged President Muhammadu Buhari to “direct the Minister of Labour and Employment (Dr. Chris Ngige) to commence forthwith the process of negotiating an upward review of the current minimum wage rates.”

Debating the issue, lawmakers agreed that N18,000 was no longer realistic, suggesting at least N30,000 as the new minimum pay cheque.

One of the members, Mrs. Ayo Omidiran, argued that a government that was committed to fighting corruption and crime should consider paying workers realistic wages a priority.

 Omidiran, a member of the APC representing Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan Federal Constituency of Osun State, noted that the motion was a wake-up call to the government to avert a strike.

She added, “This N18,000 of today cannot take any worker home, if we really want to fight corruption and crime.

“This motion will reinforce the work of the wage review committee on the need to come up with a minimum wage that workers will appreciate.

“Our own House Committee on Labour and Productivity should also pursue this matter with all the attention that it will require.”

On her part, a Peoples Democratic Party member from Plateau State, Beni Lar, said she often felt bad when N18,000 was mentioned as the minimum wage for the country.

Lar, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Science and Technology, stated, “We should look at something not less than N30,000.

“Sometimes, I ask myself, a worker probably has a family; a wife and three children. How do they cope?

“They have bills to pay; there is rent to pay and the children have to go to school. Seriously, N18,000 is unimaginable.”

Speaking in the same line was an APC member from Kano State, Mr. Nasir Ali-Ahmad, who simply told the session that “no worker in Nigeria today can survive on N18,000 per month.”

Two Abia State PDP lawmakers, Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejeocha and Ms. Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, also supported the motion, saying a wage review for workers was overdue.

The motion was passed in a voice vote without any dissenting voice.

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The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, on Thursday, filed a suit before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja, seeking an order restraining the Senate and Senate President Bukola Saraki from going ahead with their plan to investigate allegations of malpractices against him.

The lawmaker, representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Isah Misau, of the All Progressives Congress, had alleged, among others, that the IG collected about N10bn monthly from some firms and highly-placed Nigerians for giving them security cover.

Misau, a former police officer before being elected to the Senate, also accused Idris of granting fraudulent promotions to undeserving police operatives.

Misau, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, had, on August 25 accused Idris of extorting money, ranging from N10m to N15m, from Commissioners of Police, State Mobile Commanders and Special Protection Units Commanders, for favourable postings.

He had argued that the level of corruption being perpetrated by Idris was so alarming and capable of undermining the anti-corruption stance of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The IG had denied these allegations while the Force Headquarters had accused Misau of leaving the force with forged retirement papers.

Idris had alleged that Misau was a deserter.

In his fundamental rights enforcement suit marked FCT/HC/CV/3158/17, the IG asked the court to declare both the Senate committee, set up to probe the allegations and the conduct of the committee as unconstitutional, null and void.

He also wants the court to make an order restraining the committee from inviting him, sitting, conducting any hearing on the allegation, discussing or making any report in respect of the planned investigation pending the determination of his suit.

Saraki had mandated the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate the circumstances surrounding Misau’s disengagement from the Nigeria Police.

Through his team of lawyers, led by Charles Ogolu, Idris contended that the Senate President, without regard to relevant constitutional requirements in respect of the role of the Senate in investigations of allegations, set up the committee “in reaction to “these frivolous allegations” by Misau.

As part of his grounds of the suit, the IG states, “The applicant is a law-abiding citizen and has fundamental right to dignity of person under Section 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) (as amended), and Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.

“The applicant occupies a hallowed office as the Inspector-General of Police in Nigeria and is thus in charge of all police officers in Nigeria.

“One Senator Isa Misau, a member of the 2nd respondent (Senate), while raising a matter of urgent national importance, had sometime between September and October 2017, alleged that the applicant instituted roadblocks across Nigeria with the purpose of extorting money from unsuspecting motorists.

“The said Senator, while commenting on his motion, equally alleged that the applicant collects illegal fees by way of security protection given to corporate organisations, eminent citizens and oil companies running into billions of naira.

“The said Senator equally rained a personal attack on the person of the applicant that the applicant is having unwholesome relationship with the female officers in the force.

“Without the 1st respondent (Saraki), having regard to the relevant constitutional requirements in respect of the 2nd respondent’s role in investigations of allegations, he, in reaction to these frivolous allegations, quickly constituted a committee consisting members of the 2nd Respondent to look into the matter.”

The IGP contended that “the act of the first respondent (Saraki) in constituting the committee is ultra vires, unconstitutional, null and void.”

He added, “The said committee so constituted is acting ultra vires, unconstitutional, null and void.”

The Senate President had named the Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Francis Alimikhena, as Chairman of the panel; and senators Joshua Lidani, Binta Masi Garba, Duro Faseyi, Nelson Effiong, Obinna Ogba, Abdul-Azeez Murtala-Nyako and Suleiman Hunkuyi as members.

But the Federal Government had, on Tuesday, through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, filed two separate sets of charges against Misau, accusing the Senator in one set of spreading injurious falsehood against the IG.

Faulting the constitutionality of the committee set up by the Senate to investigate him, the IGP is therefore seeking, “A declaration that the committee set up by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to investigate the allegations against Mr. Ibrahim Idris is unconstitutional, null and void.

“A declaration that the sitting and other conduct of such constituted committee to investigate the allegations against Mr. Idris are unconstitutional, null and void.

“An order restraining the Senate Committee howsoever designated from sitting, inviting Mr. Ibrahim Idris, hearing or taking a decision, against the current Inspector-General of Police, pending the determination of this suit.

“An order restraining the President of the Senate and the entire Senate from receiving and discussing any report submitted to it by the committee set up to investigate the allegation against Mr. Ibrahim Idris pending the determination of this suit.”

IG, Misau’s foreign trips frustrate Senate probe

Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, which is investigating alleged corruption and misconduct against the IG, explained why it had delayed invitations to Idris and Misau, the IG’s accuser.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Sam Anyanwu, told The PUNCH on Thursday that the panel had yet to start working as both Misau and Idris had not been around to answer its invitations.


“We understand that the IG is out of the country and, of course, Senator Misau is also on his way out of the country for the IPU. We cannot take off without both parties,” Anyanwu told one of our correspondents.

It was, however, learnt on Thursday that the police boss, who was at the VII Congress on the Fight Against Kidnapping and Extortion in Cartagena, Colombia, was back in the country.

Anyanwu had exclusively told The PUNCH, on Wednesday, that the committee would continue with the probe of the police chief since neither the panel nor the Senate was joined in the suit filed by the AGF against Misau.

When Anyanwu was asked through a text message if his committee would go ahead with the investigation, as the AGF had filed a suit against Misau, he replied, “The committee or the Senate is not a party to the suit.”

Meanwhile, Misau has declined to comment on the charges filed against him by the Federal Government through the Office of the AGF.

The lawmaker neither returned calls to his two mobile lines nor replied to a message sent to him.

When contacted at his office, his legislative aide, who confirmed that the lawmaker was in, said his boss was “busy.”

The aide, after listening to one of our correspondents’ enquiries, went into Misau’s office and came out to say his boss insisted that he would not talk to the press.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, who was asked for the chamber’s reaction to the suit filed by the Federal Government, said, “No comment.”

A member of the Senate, who declined to be named, however referred our correspondent to Orders 41(7) and 53(5) of the Senate Standing Rules, where it is stated that a matter that is pending in a court could not be treated in the chamber, while the lawmakers will continue with a case pending in the chamber before the case is taken to court.

“The truth of the matter is that we started the case first and whatever happens in the court does not concern the Senate. We are not a party to the case. Besides, if we have to stop work on every matter because it is before a court, it means an arm of government will be gagged,” the source said.
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PSC Chairman, Dr. Mike Okiro

The Chairman, Police Service Commission, Dr. Mike Okiro, has dismissed a letter from the commission purportedly demoting the Lagos State Acting Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police.

He stated that the letter was not authorised and should be ignored.

The commission’s Permanent Secretary, Musa Istifanus, had written to the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, about the demotion of Imohimi to his former rank of DCP.

The letter had generated confusion and consternation within the leadership of the police, as well as stakeholders.

But Okiro, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Thursday, explained that he had told  the IG to ignore the letter, adding that he would discuss the matter with Istifanus.

He said, “The letter was not authorised by the commission; Istifanus did not write on my behalf. I read the letter too like everybody and I have told the IG to ignore it. The letter was not authorised at all. I will meet with Istifanus about it and find out how the letter came about.”

A commissioner in the PSC also disowned Istifanus over the letter, insisting that the commission did not discuss Imohimi’s demotion at its last meeting on September 27 and 28, 2017.

The official expressed shock over the letter, noting that the commission chairman would address the issue after his resumption from a casual leave.

The source said, “Imohimi’s designation is Acting CP, Lagos State; nothing has changed. The chairman is not aware of the letter and the commissioners are also not aware. The commission gave the IG anticipatory approval to make Edgal the Acting CP and this stands.

“I remember vividly what happened at the meeting; the issue was not discussed, so the content of the letter was not our decision.”

Reacting to the development, the Nigeria Police Force said  Imohimi had no disciplinary matter that could lead to his reported demotion.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, said Imohimi remained the Acting Lagos CP.

He said, “The PSC has the power to appoint, promote and discipline officers, but  it does not have the power to demote. It can only demote an officer after the Force Disciplinary Committee has looked into what the officer has done and then recommend him for a disciplinary action, PSC can only authenticate what the police take to it.”

He added, “In this case, Acting CP Imohimi has not committed any disciplinary offence and the Force Disciplinary Committee has not recommended him for demotion.”
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The Police Command in Niger says it will intensify community policing to curb cattle rustling, kidnapping and other security threats in the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Austine Agbonlahor, disclosed this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) shortly after addressing stakeholders and officers and men of Suleja Area Command on Thursday.
Agbonlahor said this would enable residents to offer intelligence information about movement of miscreants in their midst.
He said the command would also continue to seek the support of wards and village heads in exposing bad elements in their domains.
”We have armed a Special Squad with basic facilities to fight cattle rustling, kidnapping and other forms of crime to a standstill,” he said.
The commissioner said Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers had also been briefed on various security measures to be adopted in their respective areas of jurisdiction to accomplish the task.
“We are battle ready to confront any form of security threats as long as residents will be kind enough to alert us,” he said.
He said the command had already made available all its telephone numbers to traditional, religious leaders as well as developmental associations to achieve the objective.
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Football Icon, George Weah

Football icon, George Weah, is in early lead, according to the official provisional results of Tuesday presidential elections in Liberia.
The results were released by Mr Jerome Korkoya, Chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC) at the commission’s headquarters in Monrovia.
The results of 1,232 polling units or 22.9 per cent of the total 5,390 polling units across the country were announced.
Weah of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) led other candidates in 11 out of the 15 counties that constitute Liberia in the results released so far. He won in Bomi county with 3,763 votes, while Vice President Joseph Boakai got  2807 votes. In Bong, Weah got 28,233 votes, while Boakai got 24,367.
Weah also beat Boakai in Grand Bassa with 6950 votes.  Boakai got 1786.
The county was won by Charles Walker Brumskine, the opposition leader and candidate of Liberty Party with 10,350 votes. He also won Rivercess county with 2970 votes. Weah came second here with 2873, while Boakai got 1089.
At Grand Cape Mount, Weah  beat rival Boakai, with 2,663 votes to 2,152. Grand Gedeh also cast their lot with the ex-footballer, giving him 4462 votes to Boakai’s 704. A similar result emerged in Grand Kru, where Weah polled 3983 to Boakai’s 742 votes.
In Gbarpolu, Weah won 3075 votes, narrowly beating  Boakai, who got 2768.
Vice President Joseph Boakai of the ruling Unity Party (UP) led in Lofa County, where he got a massive endorsement, winning 27,614 votes to Weah’s 2036 votes.
Former warlord and presidential torch bearer of the National Union for Democratic Progress, Prince  Yormie Johnson, defeated others  Nimba county. He polled 13786 votes. Weah won 1848 votes here and Boakai came out stronger here, with 4744 votes.
Weah won his highest vote of 38285 votes in Montserrado. His opponent, Boakai got 20,211 votes. Weah also led Boakai in Margibi with 13,270, Maryland, 3892, Rivercess 2873 and Sinoe 9391
While results of the remaining 4,158 polling units are being awaited, the NEC boss was quick to note that no winner has been declared yet.
“It is important to point out that results published by the National Elections Commission are the only official results.
“The Commission asks all other organisations to refrain from announcing anything other than the official results released.
“Candidates and political parties should also be patient and await the official results and not rush to premature conclusions.
“The Commission is committed to the timely release of the results, but this cannot be done at the expense of accuracy.
He advised the media against reporting results that have not been verified by the commission.
“This can lead to problems and expectations that cannot be met. It is important for all to be responsible at this point. This includes the media.
“The National Elections Commission also calls on any person or party that has a complaint to use the established legal channels.
“Our complaints process will investigate thoroughly any complaints and we ask aggrieved parties to submit evidence to support their claims.
“We also call on all parties to be responsible in any allegations they make,’’ he said.
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Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said on Thursday that his country would withdraw its membership from the UN cultural agency UNESCO.
“Netanyahu instructed the Foreign Ministry to prepare Israel’s withdrawal from the organisation in parallel with the U.S.,’’ the prime minister’s office said.
Netanyahu in a statement praised the U.S. decision earlier Thursday to pull out of UNESCO citing an “anti-Israel” bias.
“This is a courageous and moral decision, because UNESCO has become the theatre of the absurd and because, instead of preserving history, it distorts it,” he said.
Also, the U.S. withdrawal from UNESCO is the “price to pay for discrimination against Israel,” Israel’s UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, said in a statement in New York.
“UNESCO has become a battlefield for Israel-bashing and has disregarded its true role and purpose. Today’s decision is a turning point for UNESCO.
“The organisation’s absurd and shameful resolutions against Israel have consequences. Today is a new day at the UN, where there is price to pay for discrimination against Israel.
“The U.S. stands by Israel and is a true leader for change at the UN. The alliance between our two countries is stronger than ever.”
Washington has already withheld its funding for UNESCO since 2011, when the body admitted Palestine as a full member.
The U.S. and Israel were among just 14 of 194 members that voted against admitting the Palestinians. Washington’s arrears on its 80 million dollars annual dues since then are now over 500 million dollars.
Although Washington supports a future independent Palestinian state, it says this should emerge out of peace talks and it considers it unhelpful for international organisations to admit Palestine until negotiations are complete.
In recent years, Israel has repeatedly complained about what it says is the body taking sides in disputes over cultural heritage sites in Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories.
Netanyahu told world leaders at the UN General Assembly in September that UNESCO was promoting “fake history” after it designated Hebron and the two adjoined shrines at its heart – the Jewish Tomb of the Patriarchs and the Muslim Ibrahimi Mosque – as a “Palestinian World Heritage Site in Danger.”
An Arab-backed UNESCO resolution in 2016 condemned Israeli’s policies at religious sites in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Under UNESCO rules, the U.S. withdrawal will become effective as of the end of December 2018.

The U.S. move underscores the skepticism expressed by President Donald Trump about the need for the U.S. to remain engaged in multi-lateral bodies.
The president has touted an “America First” policy, which puts U.S. economic and national interests ahead of international commitments.
Since Trump took office, the U.S. has abandoned the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade talks and withdrawn from the Paris climate deal.
Washington is also reviewing its membership of the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council, which it also accuses of being anti-Israel.
“The absence of the U.S. or any large country with a lot of power is a loss. It’s not just about money, it’s promoting ideals that are vital to countries like the U.S., such as education and culture,” a UNESCO-based diplomat said, warning that others could follow.
Russia’s former envoy to UNESCO told RIA news agency the agency was better off without the Americans.
“In recent years, they’ve been of no use for this organisation,” Eleanora Mitrofanova said. (dpa)
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Latest Reality Blog is a legal blog where you are updated on online latest news, gist, entertainment, events, motivational text, and genue articles.
Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN)

Catholic bishops have embarked on prayers for peace and the reconsecration of Nigeria to ensure that the north and south are united.
The prayers are for God’s intervention for the north and south to see themselves as one and for the unity of the country.
“Muslims and Christians will live as brothers and sisters and ethnic groups will live in harmony harmony,” the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), said.
The bishops called for the rededication of the country to God to allow for a nation where everyone will live as united people.
Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, the President of CBCN and Archbishop of Jos, unveiled the agenda of the bishops when he led a delegation of Archbishops and Bishops on a courtesy visit to Edo state Gov. Godwin Obaseki, in Benin on Thursday.
Kaigama said the bishops were in Edo to mark the centenary of Lady Fatima’s Apparition.
He said the catholic clergy would use the opportunity to seek God’s intervention for the country and pray for leaders in positions of authority.
He said that during the First World War, Lady Fatima appeared and preached a message of peace; hence the Catholic Church would use the event to pray for unity of various religious and ethnic groups in the country.
‘’We will always engage in good works, supporting it with prayers in order to excel.”
Obaseki commended the church for its pivotal role of reconciliation and stabilising the society.
He also expressed delight that the state was hosting another religious conference as the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria had held theirs earlier in the year.
The governor used the occasion to seek collaboration with the church to strengthen basic education, healthcare and social welfare services in the state.
Obaseki said that with oil prices no longer what it used to be, Nigeria’s future economy would be knowledge-driven hence Edo was keen on collaborating with the church and other groups interested in contributing to society.
The highlight of the visit was presentation of a statue of the Virgin Mary to the governor as well as prayers offered for his administration, the state and the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that The Catholic Bishops are attending the 1st National Marian Year and 3rd National Marian Congress in Nigeria in Edo.
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