Check out today's newspaper headlines [Monday, May 2, 2016]

FG ignores N56, 000 minimum wage proposal by Organized Labour

The Federal Government on Sunday kept mum over the recent demand by the organised labour for a new minimum wage of N56,000.

The issue of the minimum wage was not mentioned by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari, at the May Day rally in Abuja. 

Officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress expressed disappointment at the failure of the President to personally attend the annual event which would have given him the opportunity to address some of the issues raised by the workers.

For instance, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Alhaji Ibrahim Khaleel, who doubles as the National Treasurer of the NLC, said that the President’s absence was a minus as he missed the opportunity to hear directly from the workers.

He said that Buhari would have had the opportunity to directly respond to the workers who believed in his cause as President.

The last time the President openly identified with labour unions was at the 11th delegates’ conference of the NLC in February, 2015, shortly before his election.

When asked that both the President did not mention the issue of the new proposed minimum wage, he said that the President’s absence caused it.

“That is one of the bad feelings we have as workers representatives on May Day. We believe that it was as a result of the absence of Mr. President. There is no way the President of the country would grace an occasion and salient issues like that would be raised, without Mr. President at least responding to them.”

Khaleel said that while the organised labour did not have the exact reasons for the government’s refusal to comment on the issues, it was a fact that labour had always achieved welfare demands for its members through sustained struggle.

“We cannot say sincerely or talk about the reasons behind the government side not to say anything about it. But we believe that nothing, absolutely nothing, comes to the working class in the history of struggle free of charge, so we are determined and we are ready to pursue our agenda because we believe in our cause,” he said.

There were high expectations that the Federal Government would comment on the issue of the minimum wage during the event.

The expectations of the President’s personal presence at the even reflected in the address read by the President of the NLC, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, who expressed gratitude to the “President for accepting our invitation to personally grace this May Day celebrations.”

NLC’s Deputy Director in charge of Press, Mr. Samuel Olowookere, had told our correspondent in a telephone conversation on Saturday to wait for the response of the Federal Government on the issue of the proposed new minimum wage on May Day.

In an address read on his behalf by Ngige, the President called on the workers to collaborate with the government in the fight against corruption in the public service.

He said, “In this fight against corruption, I need you all to be very willing partners. Fighting corruption in the public service in particular requires the workers to play major roles by cooperating with the government.

Senator Dino Melaye show off his wealth (Photo)

Just get your pen and do the maths, it doesn’t add up...It just doesn't!

In a country where about 100 million inhabitants survive with below $2 per day, it doesn’t just add up!

Those of you from his constituency, what questions are you asking him?

Paul Okoye's advice on public image came crashing on him

Following the major issue concerning celebrities and their failed relationship, one of the Psquare brothers paul okoye came out straight to advice other celebrities to stop making the media help them settle their dispute as their intimate issues serve as better entertainment for them.
However, fans have taken a harsh reaction calling out the musician to first remove the spec in his eyes before removing the log in his neighbour’s.

The psquare duo were once the biggest selling acts in Africa but have now sepearted,  doing music individually. See tweet below...

Albinos in Malawi may Face Possible Extinction – United Nations

                                          

A United Nation human rights council’s expert says that Malawian Albinos may face extinction. In other words the UN personnel implied that it has sadly gotten to that point where albinos will not be found in Malawi for all the wrong reasons.

Albinos all over the world face a certain level of discrimination. But in Africa, the experience is a lot worse. In different parts of the continent, albinism is viewed as taboo. As such people with albinism in the region go through a lot of ordeal.

According to the expert Ms Ikponwosa Ero, who is also an albino, there is an estimated   10, 000 albinos most likely to face “extinction”. This is because of the incessant and inhumane treatments meted out to them. Some are murdered. Others are mutilated for diabolical reasons. Ms Ero says that albinos in some parts of Africa are seen as a source of income.

In places like Malawi and Tanzani there have been cases where albinos lose a part or parts of their body to ritualists who want to be wealthy and influential. In a place like Tanzania there are local markets where charms made from albino body parts are sold. Desperate citizens who want to be rich go as far as exhuming the dead bodies of Malawian albinos from their graves.

“Malawi is one of the world’s poorest countries and the sale of body parts of persons with albinism is believed to be very lucrative.” Ms Ero says that if this hideous crimes continue to be perpetuated on Malawian albinos, then they are bound to go extinct.

Officials Ban From Accepting Gifts Above 60 Dollars in Burkina Faso

Officials in Burkina Faso will no longer be able to accept gifts above 60 dollars, that is gifts worth more than 35,000 CFA francs. The government just announced this yesterday in yet another move to curb the corruption that is seemingly rife in the nation especially among public officials.

Justice Minister Rene Bagoro told reporters while outlining the terms of the order which was made by the cabinet on Wednesday; "If an agent receives a present, a gift and other perks worth more than 35,000 CFA francs, it falls under the law.”

By that he referenced an anti-corruption law already adopted in 2015 which provides for a 20 year jail sentence for anyone charged with economic crimes. Under another new “appearance” decree, public officials are required to account for any apparently inexplicable increase in their standard of living. Bagoro said again; decrees were made under the anti-corruption law passed by the National Transitional Council set up after the fall of president Blaise Compaore who fled the country after a popular uprising in 2014.

The anti-corruption law criminalizes so-called appearance offences and prohibits gifts for public officials in a country where high-ranking government employees often receive donations and gifts. The new pronouncement will obviously encounter a lot of acceptance from the citizens of the country.

University of Port Harcourt announces resumption date

The school was shut down on April 11, following a protest embarked upon by students of the university.

However, Students have now been directed to return to the school as a statement was published on the school's information portal.

The statement said:

""Following Senate’s approval, the University Management wishes to inform all Returning Students that the Registration Portal will be open for two (2) weeks, from Tuesday, 3rd to Monday, 16th May, 2016. This is to enable the students concerned to conclude their registration for the 2015/2016 session.

The students concerned are to pay their School Charges at the designated Banks (outside the University environment). However, for the UniPort-Choba (U & C) Microfinance Bank, students concerned are to use the Branch at the College of Continuing Education, University of Port Harcourt, Nkpolu Orowurukwo, Port Harcourt."

Malia Obama is officially going to Harvard

After months of rampant speculation, The White House announced the Malia Obama has chosen to attend Harvard University. She will begin her freshman year at Harvard in the fall of 2017, graduating with the class of 2021.

She sparked rumors about her college choices after she went on a tour of the Ivies, Stanford and NYU last year. Many believed that demonstrated her interest in film studies and an internship in New York City on the set of HBO's "Girls," would lead her to choose NYU, which has a top-ranked film program.

Other top guesses were first lady Michelle Obama's alma mater of Princeton University or President Obama's undergraduate institution Columbia University. Her pick, however, still connects her to both parents, who attended Harvard Law School.

Unbelievable as Wizkid Reveals his long time crush

Wizkid made his thoughts known as guest artiste on the popular MTV Base & did not mince words, as he gave some exclusive revelation about himself.

He said; "I’ve had a huge crush on Chidinma for a long time… she doesn’t know it but it’s true".

I regret my open letter to Tiwa Savage- Freeze

See his post he shared on Instagram below...

See what a woman was seen carrying on her back

Lol!! Nigerian women no go kill person with laughter. She na fuel scarcity cause am ni?

Photos of Rita Dominic on a movie set with Chidi Mokeme

                        

Very cute behind the scene photos of Nollywood Actors, Rita Dominic & Chidi Mokeme playing the role of 'Sharon and Kobi', in a movie directed by Teco Benson.

Borrow to fund welfare programme promised by APC, Falana to Buhari

Femi Falana, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on Saturday called on the Nigeria Labour Movement to lead campaign for recovery of stolen wealth and the prosecution of all indicted looters. He made the call at the 2016 Pre-May Day Lecture with the theme, “The fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy’’, organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). 

According to him, government has continue to take toxic loans from foreign financial institutions to fund the escalating costs of governance. “Under an economy controlled by market forces, the majority of citizens have been denied access to security, welfare and happiness. “In an arrogant manner, the few public officers and their cohorts who have cornered the commonwealth go around freely. “The ongoing investigation into the mega looting of the treasury had shown that if the resources of the nation had been judiciously managed, an effective welfare programme could have been established. “This will run in the interest of the people, although the mega looting of the national treasury is being investigated.’’ 

Falana also noted that electricity tariff had been increased even though there was no improvement in electricity supply. He also said that Nigerians were being forced to pay more for education, health, fuel and other essential social services. “Since the Federal Government is in a position to borrow N600 billion every month to pay salaries, it should also borrow to fund the welfare programme promised by the APC. “It is therefore suggested that the stolen wealth being recovered should be channeled towards the funding of a welfare programme for the people,’’he added. He called on the Federal Government to review the National Minimum Wage as it was long overdue in line with the law. According to him, government is under obligation to provide a living national minimum wage and ensure that condition of work is humane. He said that government must ensure that the health, safety and welfare of all persons in employment were safeguarded and not endangered or abuse.

Dope new make-up selfie of Genevieve Nnaji

                      

Nollywood actress, Genevieve, shared Beautiful selfie of her make-up via her instagram page.

Fulani Herdsmen Killings: Soyinka slams Buhari

   

Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, yesterday, slammed President Muhammadu Buhari, over what he described as his government’s seeming inability to contain the violent activities of herdsmen across the country.

In his address to the National Conference on Culture and Tourism, Soyinka said the President Buhari-led government was yet to come up with an articulate solution to tackle the menace, reports Premium Times. This came as Fulani herdsmen on Monday unleashed terror on Ukpabi Nimbo, a community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, killing dozens of people. The attack came weeks after a similar wave of violence by herdsmen in Agatu in Benue State. Soyinka said: “I have yet to hear this government articulate a firm policy of non-tolerance for the serial massacres that have become the nation’s identification stamp.” 

“I have not heard an order given that any cattle herders caught with sophisticated firearms be instantly disarmed, arrested, placed on trial, and his cattle confiscated. The nation is treated to an eighteen-month optimistic plan which, to make matters worse, smacks of abject appeasement and encouragement of violence on innocents. 

“Let me repeat, and of course I only ask to be corrected if wrong: I have yet to encounter a terse, rigorous, soldierly and uncompromising language from this leadership, one that threatens a response to this unconscionable blood-letting that would make even Boko Haram repudiate its founding clerics.‎ “When I read a short while ago, the Presidential assurance to this nation that the current homicidal escalation between the cattle prowlers and farming communities would soon be over, I felt mortified. 

“He had the solution, he said. Cattle ranches were being set up, and in another 18 months, rustlings, destruction of livelihood and killings from herdsmen would be ‘a thing of the past’. 18 months, he assured the nation. I believe his Minister of Agriculture echoed that later, but with a less dispiriting time schema. “Neither, however, could be considered a message of solace and reassurance for the ordinary Nigerian farmer and the lengthening cast of victims, much less to an intending tourist to the Forest Retreat of Tinana in the Rivers, the Ikogosi Springs or the moslem architectural heritage of the ancient city of Kano. In any case, the external tourists have less hazardous options.‎”

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