TOP STORIES: I will increase salary, pay workers Iiving wage –Tinubu.

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President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has vowed to give more than a minimum wage to Nigerian Workers, promising instead, to give them a “living wage”. A pledge to embark on wage increase in the middle of the year.

“In the Nigeria I shall have the honour and privilege to lead from May 29, workers will have more than a minimum wage. You will have a living wage to have a decent life and provide for your families”, Tinubu stated.

The President-elect made the pledge in a statement issued Monday in Abuja on the occasion of this year’s Workers’ Day celebration.

Noting that workers would find in him a dependable ally and co-labourer in the fight for social justice, the President-elect also extended a hand of friendship to them, recalling decades of close collaboration between workers and nationalists as well as pro-democracy activists.

He said; “Since 1945 when the railway workers and 16 other public service unions led the first General Strike to demand for better wages as a result of rising cost of living, the Labour Movement in Nigeria has always fought on the side of the masses of our country. It was no surprise that the Labour Movement added fillip, zest and energy to the struggle for independence by partnering with nationalists such as Nnamdi Azikwe, Herbert Macaulay, Ahmadu Bello, Obafemi Awolowo, Ernest Ikoli and Anthony Enahoro among others.

“The Nigerian Labour Movement was also not found wanting during our struggle for the restoration of democracy. The Nigerian Labour Congress and its affiliate organisations – NUPENG, Textile Union, PENGASSAN, among others collaborated with the pro-democracy leaders and groups to restore democratic governance in Nigeria in 1999 after almost two unbroken decades of military dictatorship.

“On this special day, as your President-elect, I extend my hands of friendship to the Nigerian workers through the two central Labour unions – Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress. In me you will find a dependable ally and co-labourer in the fight for social and economic justice for all Nigerians, including all the working people.

“Your fight will be my fight because I will always fight for you. My plans for better welfare and working conditions are clearly spelt out in my Renewed Hope Agenda for A Better Nigeria. It is a covenant born of conviction and one I am prepared to keep.

“At this point, I must remind Nigerian workers that we all have a common battle to wage, one which we must win together. And it is the fight against poverty, ignorance, disease, disunity, ethnic and religious hate and all negative forces that contend against the stability and prosperity of our country

May Day: Sanwo-Olu restated commitment to staff welfare.

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to the welfare and working conditions of the workers in the state, saying that the state government led by him was not unmindful of the challenges of the time.

Governor Sanwo- Olu gave this assurance whil0e speaking at the 2023 Worker’s Day Celebration, themed “Worker’s right and Social Economic Justice,” held at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos, adding that his government remained committed to resolving all outstanding issues affecting the welfare and service entitlements of all workers in the state.

Sanwo-Olu, who was represented at the occasion by the Deputy Governor, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, noted it was on record that his administration had always prioritized the payment of workers’ salaries and emoluments in addition to improving their welfare generally, declaring that it would go down in history as one of the best workers-friendly administration in Lagos.

“Given our commitment and disposition to meeting workers’ and labour’s requests in matters of welfare and security, we will go down in history as one of the best workers-friendly administrations in the state.

“I wish to place on record that our administration has always prioritized the payment of workers’ salaries and emoluments in addition to improving their welfare generally,” Sanwo- Olu said.

Governor Sanwo- Olu disclosed that his administration, in the last four years, had continued to ensure that the state workers were provided with the right tools and environment to excel with robust welfare packages.

Buhari govt. trains 25,000 Community Policing Officers – Presidency.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has trained 25,000 Community Policing Officers in Police Colleges across the country.
Adesina, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said the interventions of the Buhari’s government had imparted on nearly all sectors of the national landscape.

Recall that the Presidency had on Sunday in a 90-page special write-up, listed the achievements of the Buhari administration in the last eight years.

Adesina said the Community Policing Officers were to serve as liaisons between the police and their local communities and to assist in intelligence gathering.

He said the administration, in June 2019, signed into law, the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Bill, establishing the Nigeria Police Trust Fund. Adesina said the idea was to mobilise financing and resources to equip the police and improve their welfare.

According to him, the president, in September, 2020, assented to the Nigeria Police Bill, 2020; the first fundamental reform of police enabling legislation since the colonial Police Act of 1943.
He said the administration approved the Presidential Roadmap on Police Reform, establishing the Police Reform & Transformation Office (PORTO), in the office of the Chief of Staff (COS) to the President, to coordinate police reforms.

“This Team has also developed a Presidential Roadmap on Police Reforms which captures the President’s vision for legitimate, accountable and community-involved policing in Nigeria.

“The Buhari Administration is rolling out the Police Specialized Services Automation Project (Po-SSAP) to block financial leakages and deepen fiscal accountability within the Force,” he said.

Adesina said the administration also granted Presidential approval for commencement of Community Policing Initiative nationwide and release of take-off funding. He said the Community Policing Initiative had also,m been enshrined into the Police Act, 2020.

The presidential spokesman man said the administration also approved the recruitment of 40,000 new police officers.
“The recruitment is ongoing in tranches of 10,000 recruits. So far, 20,000 new officers have been recruited, while the recruitment of the third batch of 10,000 is ongoing.
“Nigeria Police Force launched a new National Command and Control Center in Abuja in 2019,” he added. (NAN)

Police to demolish, renovate dilapidated structures in barracks.

The Inspector General of Police Usman Baba has commenced efforts toward renovation, demolition and rebuilding of dilapidated structures in police barracks across Nigeria.

CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, the force public relations officer, made this known to journalists on the sidelines of the fourth-anniversary Dinner/Award Night of Kemsan Acres Global Ltd. in Ibadan.

Adejobi was reacting to the recent collapse of a building at the Police Barracks in Sango, Ibadan and some derelict structures scattered across police barracks in the country.
He said the IGP has mapped out strategies to ensure that policemen and their families live comfortably in a very decent environment.

The Force Public Relations Officer described the incident at the police barracks in Sango, Ibadan, as very unfortunate, efforts were on to map some of them for adequate renovation.
“In fact, there are some of them that we are thinking of demolishing outrightly. The IGP is discussing with the Police Trust Fund and relevant MDAs – Ministry of Police Affairs.
“At times, there is no how we want to have an adequate and proper renovation of police barracks without having interventions.

“So, the IGP has taken the bull by the horn to make sure that we access most of these things and discuss with relevant MDAs to see what we can do,” he said.

Adejobi also said the IGP had in the last 18 months renovated some and built no fewer than 125 new police stations with adjoining standard barracks.

“As I speak with you, we have built nothing less than 125 new police stations, with adjoining standard barracks, that when you live in such a place, you will feel honoured.
“You will have that self-esteem that you are living in a very decent place. So, it is a gradual thing. We cannot finish all at a time.

“Do not forget that we have thousands of barracks across the country. It is not a day thing. It is a process we have commenced,” he said.
He Adejobi said the IGP was thinking outside the box to see how the problems at the barracks could be adequately addressed.

He expressed displeasure at the state of some of the barracks, saying that it was the reason for consistent talks with policemen to keep the barracks neat. The force spokesperson said they were looking at many things to ensure that the barracks were rejuvenated, protected and maintained.

“There are so many internal things that police are considering to make sure that barracks are adequately managed because there are rules.

“When you reside in barracks, there are rules you must follow. Are we still following the rules? So, we need to actually follow the rules and enforce these rules.

“Apart from that, we are also reaching out to MDAs and National Assembly to seek intervention on how we are going to holistically address these problems of accommodation in the Nigeria Police Force,” he said.

The event featured the distribution of awards to no fewer than 70 outstanding staff members by the Managing Director of the company, Oluwaseun Owoseni.
NAN .

CBN Speaks On Phasing Out Redesigned Naira Notes.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has distanced itself from reports claiming it plans to phase out the newly redesigned naira notes.
This News platform reports that the CBN debunked the report in a statement on Sunday by its Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Isa Abdulmumini.

In the statement posted on Twitter, CBN stated that speculations about the withdrawal of the new notes is unfounded and a ploy by some interests to cause panic among members of the public.

The apex bank reiterated that the new and old currency notes have been circulating side by side just as the Bank has taken delivery of a good quantity of the redesigned Bank notes.

JAMB reveals date to announce 2023 UTME results.

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said it would be releasing the results of candidates who have taken the examination so far on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.

A statement by JAMB’s Head of Publicity and Protocol, Fabian Benjamin, Monday, said the board had delayed the release to ensure that all necessary screening were concluded besides ensuring that the mean and standard deviation were reasonably obtained before releasing the results.

“As candidates check their results on Tuesday, 2nd May, 2023, those who sat the examination but had challenges without being aware of such, would not see their results but would instead see their notification for rescheduled examination.

“Consequently, all candidates who sat the examination are urged to check their results on or before Thursday, 8th May, 2023,” the statement said.

Four suspected Notorious Armed Robbers Arrested in Sango Ota.

Operatives of Ogun state Police Command have arrested four elusive members of a robbery syndicate terrorizing Sango-Ota and its environs in recent time.

The suspects are;

Sherrif Kamoru 28, Rabiu Seyidu 37,

Opeyemi Adebayo 26

and Ajibola Fakolade 21.

The command spokesperson, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed their arrested following a report lodged at Sango divisional headquarters on the 20th of March 2023 by one Adeleye Sunday, who reported that he was attacked by some armed hoodlums at about 5:30 am at Joju area of Sango Ota.

“He stated further that the hoodlums dispossessed him of his two phones after inflicting matchet cut on his neck.

“Having taken away his phones, the hoodlums siphoned the sum of six hundred thousand naira from his account through the Bank’s app on the phone.

“Upon the report, the DPO Sango ota division, CSP Saleh Dahiru detailed his detectives to technically trace the suspects and bring them to justice.

“The detectives swung into action, and acting on credible intelligence, the hideout of the suspects was located and four amongst them were apprehended.

“Recovered from them are; one cutlass, one techno POP 2f belonging to the victim and a nose mask used by one of them during the operation”, Oyeyemi stated.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olanrewaju Yomi Oladimeji has directed that the suspects be transferred to State Criminal Investigation Departments for discreet investigation and diligent prosecution.

Why Buhari postponed population census — NPC

The National Population Commission, NPC, has said that the postponement of the May 3rd, 2023 population and housing census, was due to the federal government’s wisdom to conduct census when nerves have been calmed and the next President has been inaugurated.

Director, Public Affairs Department, NPC, Dr Isiaka Yahaya at a media chat in Abuja on Sunday, said having a census is an event that needs enough planning that follows due process.
This was as he urged Nigerians to dismiss misconceptions that the census was postponed due to lack of funding and preparation by the Commission.

According to him, “The census was not postponed but was rescheduled, because preparations for the census have begun already.
“Some are having the misconception that the census was postponed due to the Commission’s lack of preparation. I want to let Nigerians know that we are prepared and we have done everything that we need to do to deliver this census starting from the enumeration/demarcation, first and second pre-test and the trial census. So the issue of our preparedness is out of it.

“The responsibility for the funding of the census is that of the federal government of Nigeria and they have lived up to expectations in financing all the preparations. And I know that if there was a consensus to proceed with the census, the money will come. We should be very clear that it’s not an issue of funding.

“The federal government has the power to decide whether the census will take place or not, this is a massive exercise and the decision cannot be only for the Commission to make. Hence, the federal government has felt in its wisdom to postpone it.
“The federal government might have thought that the conduct of the census is a process. If the nation uses the data for planning then it has to be done well. If the Census is conducted by one government and another government will have the responsibility of utilising it, it won’t be a smooth synergy and transition.

“Fixing the census after the election, we felt the healing process that we hoped after the election everyone must have accepted the fate. But the rescheduling of the governorship election, limited the period available for this healing process to happen. The federal government in its discretion must have felt to carry out the census after the inauguration of the new administration and after nerves have been calmed.”

Yahaya noted that the nation was not loosing anything by postponing the census but gained a lot by having extra time to continue preparations to have an effective data that will aid planning.
He said, “The kind of preparations we have made for census are so effective to the extent that if we don’t conduct the census now, those infrastructures and facilities we have put in place, will make it successful. The nation is not loosing anything substantial from the census postponement.”

In the same vein, the NPC Census Manager, Dr. Inuwa Jalingo, said the Commission was technically ready to implement the census and that preparation for the exercise continues.
“We have created the necessary system that is required to implement a digital census. Starting from our software development, which we have developed for the enumeration area
demarcation. For the success of the census, we have developed systems whereby it doesn’t allow the enumerators go beyond the boundaries in which they are expected to enumerate. So the issue of overlap or under coverage has been taken care of in our planning for this census” he explained.
Jalingo further disclosed that salaries of the adhoc staff of the Commission have been put on hold.

Why LASBCA Demolished 13 Illegal Structures in Ajao Estate.

Lagos State Government has said the demolition of 13 residential buildings at Rockview Street, Ajao Estate, occurred because they were illegally constructed along fuel pipelines.

The houses which were close to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport did not have planning permits before they were built.
This was revealed by General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, Gbolahan Oki, during a press briefing on Friday.

According to Oki, the buildings did not have the required approvals and were cited around Airport restricted areas while some are cited on aviation fuel pipelines.
Oki, who described the situation as a disaster waiting to happen, expressed fear of a possible fire outbreak from the pipeline in future which he said could result in loss of lives and properties.

He said the builders also lacked the necessary documents as approvals for construction in that area. According to the LASBCA boss, the buildings were illegally constructed out of clear disregard for the requirements of extant laws.
He said, “Nobody in his right thinking mind will go and buy a plot on a pipeline and build on the pipeline.”

He stated that due consultations and communications have been made with enough time off over eight years, 2016, given to the occupants of the affected buildings to evacuate the structures.

Oki lamented over the spate of building collapse in Lagos, blaming it on basically, “attitudinal problem.”
He described the buildings on the land as a “National risk” to the airport being “extremely close”, stressing that “no life of a Nigerian is worth being lost to the dangers that the citing of the buildings pose.”

Lagos State Government has said the demolition of 13 residential buildings at Rockview Street, Ajao Estate, occurred because they were illegally constructed along fuel pipelines.
The houses which were close to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport did not have planning permits before they were built.
This was revealed by General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, Gbolahan Oki, during a press briefing on Friday.

He said the builders also lacked the necessary documents as approvals for construction in that area.

According to the LASBCA boss, the buildings were illegally constructed out of clear disregard for the requirements of extant laws.
He said, “Nobody in his right thinking mind will go and buy a plot on a pipeline and build on the pipeline.”

He stated that due consultations and communications have been made with enough time off over eight years, 2016, given to the occupants of the affected buildings to evacuate the structures.

NDLEA Intercepts 126 Parcels Of Canadian Loud In Imported Car.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted some parcels of drugs concealed in a car over the weekend in Lagos.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday by the spokesperson of the Agency, Femi Babafemi.
He explained that at least 126 parcels of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 63 kilograms, were concealed in a used Toyota Corolla car imported from Toronto, Canada, at the Tincan port.

The agency also thwarted an attempt by a freight agent, Chukwuemeka Samuel Mordi, to export 900 grams of the same substance, Loud, hidden inside the walls of a travelling bag containing food items, to Kenya.

The suspected was reported cornered by NDLEA officers at the SAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Saturday, 29th April.

‘No Need To Fear’ – Sanwo-Olu Tells Lagosians, Takes Delivery Of First Electric Buses In Nigeria

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced the delivery of the first electric buses in the Lagos Mass Transit master plan.
Gov. Sanwo-Olu, in a statement via Instagram on Sunday, said the latest development is part of his administration’s increased efforts to modernize every sector in Lagos.

The governor said there is no need to panic about the vehicles stopping on the road as the buses not only reduce carbon emissions but also increase efficiency.
Sanwo-Olu added it is the beginning of his administration’s efforts to transform Lagos into an even smarter city as they continue to increase the fleet of electric vehicles, further modernizing the Lagos transportation system.

2023 Elections: SERAP Sues INEC.

The Socio-Economic Rights And Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over events during the 2023 general elections.

The Rights group was challenging the electoral commission over its failure to investigate allegations of election violence and other electoral offences, including bribery against some state governors and their deputies during the just concluded elections.

In a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday, SERAP warned the electoral commission to promptly identify and arrest perpetrators of electoral violence or risk lawsuits.
The SERAP, in a statement made available on Sunday, April 30, said it was asking the court for “an order of mandamus compelling INEC to seek the appointment of an independent counsel to investigate allegations of electoral offences against state governors and their deputies during the 2023 elections.”

In a suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/583/2023 before the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP is also seeking “an order of mandamus compelling INEC to promptly, thoroughly and effectively investigate reports of electoral violence and other electoral offences committed during the elections, identify suspected perpetrators and their sponsors, and ensure their effective prosecution.”
The organisation argued that suspected perpetrators and their sponsors had “clearly” acted in violation of constitutional provisions, international standards and the Electoral Act by allegedly engaging in electoral violence and other electoral offences “in so blatant a fashion.”
SERAP reiterated that prosecuting politicians and their sponsors suspected involved in electoral offences would end the impunity of perpetrators.