05/29/18

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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.
Minister of Labour Chris Ngige

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has said that the new national minimum wage may not materialise in September as being speculated.
Ngige, who disclosed this to newsmen on Tuesday at his residence in Abuja, said that the September date was just a date to conclude negotiation on the issue of minimum wage.
“The committee on the new National Minimum wage is expected to conclude its work by the end of September and present its report to the government for deliberation and approval before an executive bill is sent to the National Assembly on the issue”.
The minister, however, said that the issue of capacity to pay was also paramount in the deliberations on the minimum wage.
According to him, it is to get the input of all those concerned including state governments and the organised private sector that the committee embarked on zonal public hearing across the country.
The minister said further that in the course of the zonal public hearings, many state governments made different submissions ranging from N22,000 monthly to N58,000.
He added that the governors were also of the belief that for the new minimum wage to become effective, the current revenue allocation formula would have to be reviewed in favour of the states and local government.
He said that some other states were also of the view that the minimum wage should be maintained at the current N18,000 in view of the inability of some states to pay the current wages.
According to Ngige, when the minimum wage committee concludes its report, it will be submitted to the National Council of State and the Federal Executive Council for approval before a bill is sent to the National Assembly to legalise the work of the committee.
He said even though it was not an easy task, the committee was making progress in its assigned responsibility.
He pointed out that six governors were elected to be members of the committee as well as representatives of the private organised sector in an effort to carry everybody.
On the threat of non-teaching staff of universities to resume their suspended strike as a result of government failure to honour the terms of their agreement, the Minister said the government was sourcing for the N6 billion needed to pay them their earned allowances as contained in the agreement.
He said with his experience as Minister of Labour, majority or about 95 per cent of agreements currently being paraded by trade unions in the country were signed before the Buhari government came into office in 2015.
Based on this, he noted that most of such agreements had no timeline for implementation.
He also said many of the agreements signed by the past governments were not implementable because of the amount involved.
He added that the principles of the International Labour Organisation allowed employers to renegotiate agreements, when they feel they cannot implement.
“What is important in all collective bargaining agreement is the ability to pay what is being demanded and what is agreed upon.
He appealed to striking health workers to return to work while negotiations continue on their demands.
According to the minister, the delay in the implementation of their signed agreement was as a result of failure of the National Salaries, Wages and Income Commission to defend the two different figure presented to a government high powered committee. LR News
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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.
Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, French President Emmanuel Macron and UN special envoy for Libya Ghassan Salame at a press conference in Paris after four Libyan leaders agreed to hold elections in December 2018

Four Libyan leaders agreed Tuesday to hold elections on December 10 after a peace conference in Paris aimed at unifying the war-torn north African country.
The four men, who represent most but not all of Libya’s rival factions, also agreed to “accept the results of elections, and ensure appropriate funds and strong security arrangements are in place”.
The commitment to holding parliamentary and presidential polls this year came after four hours of talks in Paris where the leaders faced pressure to agree on a political roadmap to end seven years of conflict.
European leaders see stabilising Libya as key to tackling jihadist threats and migration from the fractured country, which has become a departure point for hundreds of thousands of Africans trying to reach Europe.
“I’m optimistic,” UN envoy Ghassan Salame told AFP at the end of the talks which he called “historic” because they had brought together the main Libyan protagonists as well as regional countries for the first time.
The Libyan invitees were Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, head of the UN-backed unity government in Tripoli, and 75-year-old military strongman Khalifa Haftar, whose rival Libyan National Army dominates the country’s east.
Also present were Aguila Saleh Issa, the parliament speaker based in the eastern city of Tobruk, and Khalid Al-Mishri, the newly-elected head of the High Council of State.
“There is no solution other than via you,” Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi told the Libyan leaders at the opening of the talks. “If things go badly, it’s your responsibility.”
In a further complication, the main political and military representatives from the western city of Misrata boycotted proceedings after not being offered the same status as other invitees in Paris.
“There are some positive points in this agreement, which ultimately is not worth anything because it hasn’t been signed,” a senior military figure in the Misrata militia, Ibrahim Ben Rjab, told AFP.
Instead of signing the deal, the leaders in Paris gave their approval for a joint statement to be issued and later committed verbally to implementing it when explicitly asked to do so by Macron during a group photo.
“So we are all working on this common basis, bravo!” Macron told them.
Years of mediation by the United Nations, as well as Italy, have failed to bring stability to the nation which descended into chaos after the ousting of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.
Previous peace agreements have come to nothing.
“It went well. Afterwards, it depends on the implementation,” one diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Representatives from 20 countries including Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, attended the talks, as well as Libya’s neighbours Algeria and Tunisia.
AFP/LR News
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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.
Prince Dayo Adeyeye

Prince Dayo Adeyeye, one of the aspirants for the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State, has dumped the party to join the All Progressives Congress.
Adeyeye, a former spokesperson of the Makarfi faction of the PDP, announced his defection and those of his supporters to the APC on Tuesday.
The lawyer-journalist, who was former Minister of State for Works during the PDP regime of former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, lost the primaries of the party to the Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka.
He accused Governor Ayo Fayose of having given undue advantage to Olusola-Eleka.
Adeyeye said he left to support the candidate of the APC, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, in the bid to rescue Ekiti State from the maladministration of Fayose.
Adeyeye, told a news conference at his Ado Ekiti residence that he defected because he could no longer operate on the same pedestal with the state governor, Ayo Fayose.

He claimed that Fayose was too dictatorial and overbearing in his handling of internal affairs of the PDP in the state.

He said he had consequently directed all his teeming supporters across the state to follow suit and join the APC.

He said he preferred to work with the APC and its gubernatorial candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who he described as “better equipped”.

Adeyeye, who was also the former National Publicity Secretary of the PDP Caretaker Committee and former spokesman of the Pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, said his defection to APC was his Democracy Day gift to the nation.

He, however, denied that he defected because he had reached an agreement with Fayemi purposely to become his running mate in the July gubernatorial poll.

”Nothing can be farther from the truth in that regard. I never planned to leave PDP so as to become Fayemi’s deputy.

“As far as I know, Fayemi will announce his deputy tomorrow or the day after, and as far as I know, I will definitely not be the one to be so announced.

“Leaving the PDP was not an easy decision to make. That was a party to which I have rendered invaluable service at the most trying period of its history.

“Expectedly, patriotic leaders of the party appealed to me to reconsider my decision in the light of my previous service and loyalty to the party.

“But the issue was never about me as a person. It was about the interest of the very many people who associate with me and more importantly the collective interest and future of Ekiti people.

“For me, politics has always been an opportunity to serve and make contributions toward the development of my community and the nation.

“Therefore, when I am compelled to make a choice between loyalty to a political party and loyalty to my community, l will readily choose my community or state.

“Political parties come and go but the community remains. I cannot change my state or hometown but I can always change my party if I feel that it can no longer serve as a vehicle for our collective good as a people.

“As a thorough bred Ekiti person with a deep love of this land and the people, it is incumbent on me to resist and stop the evil agenda of one man to put our people in perpetual enslavement,” he said.

He said that Fayose “does not believe in reconciliation,” adding that no effort at reconciliation would work with him.

”My supporters and I have decided to leave Egypt, which the Fayose administration represents and join hands with patriotic Ekiti people to board the train of the APC for the onward journey to our promised land.”

He said his defection was to set Ekiti land free and entrust the land unto the hands of Fayemi, who had come to right the wrong and not on a vengeance mission as being touted by Fayose and his cohorts.

”Fayemi is now better equipped, well focused and better prepared to move Ekiti forward,”Adedeye said.

Latest Reality Metro reports that Ekiti governorship election will hold on July 14.
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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.
CG Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad-Babandede

Due to measures taken by the Kogi government, more than 200 expatriates are now doing various legitimate businesses in Kogi with ease and paying taxes, an official of the state government says.
In and interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Alhaji Yakubu Oseni, the Executive Chairman, Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS), attributed the positive development to the determination of the Alhaji Yahaya Bello-led administration to fight crime and criminality in the state.
‘’As at today, no fewer than 200 expatriates are in the state, doing one legitimate business or the other without any fear of being kidnapped, murdered or any other crime of sort.
‘’The credit goes to the Executive governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who is fighting tooth nail to ensure that no more kidnapping, armed robbery, murder among other crimes that rear their ugly heads few months ago in the state,’’ he said.
According to him, the security in the state had strengthened the determination of people within and outside the state and the country, to engage in business and other social activities.
Oseni expressed delight that the return of peace in the state had also led to increased human activities boosting its economy with the multiplier effect on the revenue profile of the state.
The executive chairman said the revenue generation of the organisation, which stood between N250 million and N300 million monthly in 2015, had increased by about 300 per cent as at 2016 that he took over the leadership of KGIRS.
Oseni said increased revenue was also due to the various measures initiated by his management such as blocking of revenue leakages, employment of professionals as well as fresh graduates to strengthen staff capacity and expand expertise in KGIRS.
He said KGIRS had also established tax education unit to enlighten tax payers on the need to pay tax, as and when due, to enable government develop the state in terms of infrastructure and provide quality services for the welfare of the people.
The executive chairman commended many tax payers for responding promptly to the clarion call from the organisation for them to perform their civic responsibility to the state.
Oseni also lauded the present administration in the state for the judicious use of tax payers’ money to improve infrastructure such as road construction, education, health and security.
Latest Reality Metro reports that Kogi, which shares border with 11 states in the federation, experienced series of crime and criminality, including kidnapping of expatriates, armed robbery and murder few months ago.
However, the state government rose to the occasion, leaving no stone unturned to checkmate the trend by arresting and prosecuting suspected kidnappers, murderers, armed robbers and other criminals.
It went further by destroying houses, cars and other property belonging to known kidnappers in the state while efforts are on to arrest and prosecute more suspects.
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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.

Mr. Abubakar Tsav, ex Commissioner of Police in Lagos, has advised the federal government to change the colour of the currency, a strategy to win the war against corruption.
Tsav and former Speaker, Benue House of Assembly.Mr. Terhile Ayua spoke to NAN in Makurdi on Tuesday..
Reacting to President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2018 Democracy Day address, Tsav urged the Federal Government to adopt new ways of fighting corruption.
Tsav said: “If we truly want to defeat corruption in Nigeria; let the Federal Government consider changing the colour of our currency.’’
This, he noted, would compel all the corrupt people and other thieves to bring their money out of hiding. “This will work magic”.
“I appreciate the good job being done by President Muhammadu Buhari but I also frown at the foot dragging of his aides in the fight against corruption.
“There are many good and honest people in this country that can assist Buhari to get to the promised land. He should try to discover them to move this country to the promised land.”
He said the fight against corruption appears tortoise and one sided, adding that “some known corrupt elements appear to be treated and branded as Sacred Cows.”
On the ongoing killings in the country, the Tsav said the government had not done enough in addressing the security challenges in the country.
“Quite comprehensive but it is my view that the government has not done enough in the area of security.
“There are still killings here and there in the country and none of the perpetrators or their sponsors have been arrested and brought to justice.
“We hear of many arrests and recovery of arms and weapons but none of the arrested culprits has been brought to justice. This is frustrating,” Tsav said.
Ayua said the three years of the “APC administration has not witnessed any remarkable federal presence in Benue, except for the recent ecological fund projects and the promise to rebuilding villages destroyed by rampaging herdsmen.
Ayua further said that the economic successes claimed by the Federal Government were yet to translate into the economic life of the electorate as many families were still struggling to afford basic necessities of life.
He, however, called on Nigerians to elect a “more credible, focussed and result-oriented leadership, particularly in Benue, that would impact on the lives of the citizenry, address infrastructure deficit and put in place a sustainable economy”. LR News
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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.

Jigawa Governor Alhaji Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar on Tuesday in Dutse laid the foundation for a prototype six-bedroom bungalow to accommodate the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members posted to the state.
Governor Badaru is building 27 of the bungalows, which he called, Corps Members Lodge, in the 27 local councils at a cost of N9.614million each. The total cost is N259.6 million.
Badaru said the gesture was meant to provide security and comfort for corps members posted to the state.
“We want to guarantee the safety of NYSC members posted to the state hence the need to construct the lodges.
“We want every corps member posted to the state to feel at home and be secured.
“I urged the contractors handling the projects to start and finish the work simultaneously in 27 local government areas and finish within three months.
“I cautioned the contractors handling the project to be transparent and the work must to be perfectly done.
Mr. Nuhu Kwage, Director Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development NYSC National Headquarters Abuja, who represented the Director General of the NYSC, Brig-Gen Zakari Kazaure, said that the initiative by Jigawa government to build Youth Corps lodges in all local government areas was the first of its kind in the country.
Kwage lauded the idea since about 95 per cent of corps members are posted to rural areas for primary assignments.
He apologised for the absence of the NYSC DG who is an indigene of Jigawa.
Kwage urged other states to copy Jigawa and build lodges for youth corps members. LR News
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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.


President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said he would approve a new law to reduce the age limit for political office, raising the prospect of younger candidates at next year’s general election.

“In (a) few days to come, I will be joined by many promising young Nigerians to sign into law the ‘Not Too Young To Run’ bill,” he said in a speech to mark the annual Democracy Day public holiday.
The bill was passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives last year and later received the constitutionally required approval of two-thirds of state legislatures, leaving the final step of presidential assent.

It reduces the minimum age for presidential candidates from 40 to 35, and state governors and senators from 35 to 30.

The minimum age for national and state assembly members will now be 25.

The overall aim of the change in the law is to increase the participation of young people in politics. More than half of Nigeria’s estimated 180 million people are under 30.

The Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement organisation, which has backed the bill, has said youth inclusion was “a constitutional imperative for democratic development”.

Buhari, 75, is hoping to be re-elected to a second, four-year term at elections in February next year, which will be Nigeria’s sixth since the restoration of civilian rule on May 29, 1999.

But there have been lingering question marks about his health after he spent several months undergoing treatment in London for an undisclosed illness.

Political candidates are currently jockeying for position to oppose him, but one declared hopeful is former vice-president Atiku Abubakar, 71. LR News
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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.


President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said the measures being put in place by his administration to rid the country of corruption have begun to receive applauds from Nigerians.

The President, who revealed this while addressing the nation in Abuja, pointed out that fighting corruption headlong is the second primary object of his administration.

“Like I have always said, ‘if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will destroy the country.’ Three years into this Administration, Nigerians and the international community have begun to applaud our policies and determination to fight corruption.

“We are more than ever before determined to win this war, however hard the road is. I, therefore, appeal to all well-meaning Nigerians to continue to support us in this fight,” President Buhari said in his Democracy Day speech to the people.

He listed the various measures to include the Whistle-Blowing Policy which he said has helped the Federal Government to recover more than N500billion.

The President disclosed that the Treasury Single Account (TSA) has realised billions of naira being saved from maintenance fee payable to banks, adding that N200billion has also been saved from elimination of ghost workers in public service.

He noted that another measure to fight corruption was the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit which was set up with a mandate to validate controls, assess risks, prune personnel costs, and ensure compliance with Public Financial Management reforms.

President Buhari revealed that this initiative has helped the government to identify and remove more than 52,000 ghost workers from its Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) payroll.

He further explained that the Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) was aimed at expanding tax education and awareness among the people.

According to President Buhari, this has “Offered the opportunity for tax defaulters to regularise their status in order to enjoy the amnesty of forgiveness on overdue interest, penalties, and the assurance of non-prosecution or subject to tax investigations.”


“The Sovereign Wealth Fund project portfolio has been expanded with an injection of US$650 million so as to strengthen its investment in local infrastructure, power, health, re-construction of Abuja-Kano road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, East-West Road (Section V) and the Mambilla Hydro-electric Power, project as well as the construction of the Second Niger Bridge,” he added.

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