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Everton’s Celebration Sparks Backlash from Liverpool’s Van Dijk

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Everton’s Celebration Sparks Backlash from Liverpool’s Van Dijk

The captain of Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk, has voiced his displeasure with an Everton player’s attempt to incite Reds supporters during Wednesday night’s Merseyside derby on February 12.
Mohamed Salah appeared to put Liverpool on track for victory in the 76th minute of the Merseyside derby. James Tarkowski’s spectacular equalizer late in injury time, however, lifted the Everton supporters’ enthusiasm.
Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure celebrated in front of the traveling Liverpool fans after the score, which resulted in a 2-2 draw, causing some noticeable tension and a tense moment.

Curtis Jones and Doucoure were red-carded after the heated exchange.
Speaking to TNT Sport after the incident, Van Dijk said, “We appreciate their celebrations, as they have every right to celebrate a goal like that.” But Doucoure’s behavior seemed offensive, and Curtis thought it was improper.

He emphasized the need for both teams to manage such situations, adding, “It’s important to acknowledge that both teams must navigate these challenges. I told the referee how worried I was about the match’s management.

Read Also: Anyanwu Unshaken, Holds Office as NWC Endorses Ude-Okoye

Ultimately, the result kept Liverpool seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table, ahead of Arsenal in second place. Liverpool will get ready for their Sunday matchup with Wolves at Anfield.

Anyanwu Unshaken, Holds Office as NWC Endorses Ude-Okoye

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Anyanwu Unshaken, Holds Office as NWC Endorses Ude-Okoye

The National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is still employed in the party’s Wadatta office in Abuja, according to Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
Lere Olayinka, Special Media Advisor to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, said on Thursday during a video conference that Anyanwu was collaborating with his team and keeping an eye on anyone who could try to jump the fence.
Following an Enugu Appeal Court decision, it was reported that the PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT), presided over by Senator Adolphus Wabara, directed the National Working Committee to formally install Sunday Ude-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary.

On Wednesday, the party’s NWC swore in Ude-Okoye as its National Secretary, despite Senator Anywanwu rejecting the BoT’s order.
The NWC overwhelmingly recognizes, acknowledges, and confirms Rt. Hon. S.K.E. Udeh Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP in full compliance and obedience to the Court of Appeal’s judgment after giving careful consideration to the memo and its attachments. It also acknowledges that there isn’t a preceding or superseding judgment or order from any court of higher authority or hierarchy.

Read Also: FG Freezes Registration of New Polytechnics, Monotechnics for One Year

The statement, which was signed by Debo Ologunagba, the PDP’s national publicity secretary, stated that the NWC had begun transmitting its Resolution/Decision affirming Rt. Hon. S.K.E. Udeh Okoye as the PDP National Secretary to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other pertinent bodies for recognition in accordance with the Court of Appeal’s ruling.

Aynanwu still holds the office, though, according to the video call between Olayinka and Anyanwu that Olayinka shared on his X Twitter on Thursday.

FG Freezes Registration of New Polytechnics, Monotechnics for One Year

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FG Freezes Registration of New Polytechnics, Monotechnics for One Year

The federal government announced a one-year ban on new registrations for polytechnics and monotechnics across the country.
The announcement was announced in a statement issued Thursday in Kaduna by the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Cooperation.

Education professor Idris Bugaje.
However, Tunji Alausa, the minister of education, stated that health institutions were exempt from the ban due to low enrollment concerns, as Bugaje had pointed out.

According to the announcement, polytechnics currently awaiting ministerial clearance will be required to pay a processing charge of ₦2 million and an application cost of ₦4 million for each program of study. In contrast, each program of study will cost monotechnics ₦2 million plus a ₦1 million processing fee.
The registration process will end if the banned fees are not paid within 30 days.

He stated that each program of study will need polytechnics seeking ministerial clearance to pay an application charge of ₦4 million and a processing cost of ₦2 million.

Read Also: Just In: Customs Intercept Large Shipment of Weapons in Lagos

Monotechnics, on the other hand, will cover the ₦2 million application fee and the ₦1 million processing fee for every program of study.

If applicants fail to pay these fees within the 30-day period, the registration procedure will be terminated.

“New health institutions will pay the same registration fees as Monotechnics, despite being exempt from the moratorium.”

According to the NBTE executive secretary, the new initiative attempts to ensure that postsecondary Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions have a sufficient number of employees within their permitted carrying capacity.

Just In: Customs Intercept Large Shipment of Weapons in Lagos

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Just In: Customs Intercept Large Shipment of Weapons in Lagos

Security concerns have been raised by the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) seizure of a sizable amount of illegally obtained weapons and ammunition in Lagos.

Authorities have verified that a significant amount of guns have been seized, albeit the precise value and quantity have not yet been made public.
After arriving in Lagos, Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi is scheduled to brief reporters at the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone “A” in Ikeja on the latest developments.

Read Also: JUSUN Warns FG: 7 Days to Act on Minimum Wage or Face Strike

We’ll have more information soon.

JUSUN Warns FG: 7 Days to Act on Minimum Wage or Face Strike

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JUSUN Warns FG: 7 Days to Act on Minimum Wage or Face Strike

The Federal Government has seven days to implement the new national minimum wage and other perks, or face an indefinite strike if their demands are not satisfied, according to the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
This limit was reportedly declared in a statement issued on Wednesday after an urgent meeting at the JUSUN Secretariat in Abuja.
Beginning on Thursday, February 13, 2025, and ending on February 19, 2025, the seven-day countdown will begin.

An indefinite strike will begin on February 20, 2025, JUSUN has warned, if the Federal Government does not respond to their requests within this time frame.
In addition to other perks, the union is demanding that the new ₦77,000 national minimum salary be fully implemented for judicial staff.

The Federal Government and JUSUN have been at odds over the failure to implement the increased minimum salary for judicial staff, even while other public sector workers have begun to receive the revised wage.

Read Also: 2027 Election: Gov Uzodimma Says APC Has No Fear of Opposition

The administration was given a 21-day ultimatum by the workers to address their requests, but nothing was done in that time.

“The end of the twenty-one (21) day ultimatum given to the heads of federal courts, FCT courts, and judicial bodies was the main topic of the discussion.

That following lengthy discussions, the following decision was made. That the subject matter be fully implemented in accordance with the applicable rules regulating labor disputes and the prompt intervention of Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, with an extra seven (7) days’ notice.

Accordingly, the seven-day period will begin on Thursday, February 13, 2025, and conclude on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

“If our demands are not implemented within the allotted time, the union will not be able to ensure industrial harmony.” The strike will therefore start on Thursday, February 20, 2025, and last indefinitely, according to the statement.

The Federal Government has been encouraged by JUSUN to take immediate action to avoid interfering with judicial operations across the country.

2027 Election: Gov Uzodimma Says APC Has No Fear of Opposition

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2027 Election: Gov Uzodimma Says APC Has No Fear of Opposition

Hope Uzodimma, the governor of Imo State, has stated that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would not be alarmed by any resistance or meetings of opposition figures.
According to reports, Governor Uzodimma, the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, stated that Nigerians alone would determine the winner of the 2027 election.
The National Working Committee (NWC) signed a deal with Tunmef Global Limited to start the party’s digital membership registration process, the APC Governors Chairman said on Wednesday at the party’s national office in Abuja.

The beauty of democracy is still up for debate, he underlined, and the APC was prepared for it.
“We don’t fear the opinions of the opposition. It is our responsibility to set up our party such that it is respected globally.

“We anticipate elections, and the APC is not a party founded on the idea that there won’t be any competition. No democracy in the world can exist without competition. “Nigerians will make the decision,” he stated.

Umar Ganduje, the national chairman of the APC, stated during the ceremony that the digital registration process would assist the party in keeping track of its members and resolving issues with membership lists in court.

“We are basically skirting the issue in the absence of such documentation. However, we are certain that this activity will yield scientific data that we may utilize at any time. Sometimes, when searching for a membership list during litigation, you come into a contentious one, which makes your case more difficult to prove in court. We can simply get our data in its original form using e-registration,” he stated.

President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the digital registration was praised by Ganduje.

As a party, we are always creating history. I express my gratitude to Mr. President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for endorsing our digital transition. He said, “This program was conceived a long time ago but hasn’t been implemented yet.

He asked state party chairmen and governors to back the project company and the exercise during the implementation stage.

“As governors and state chairmen, you are the only ones who can carry out this project.

Read Also: Babachir Lawal Joins Forces with El-Rufai to Block Tinubu’s 2027 Bid

“I’m glad you’re here to sign the contract and view the specifics. In order for us to have all of our data, you must cooperate completely,” he continued.

Babachir Lawal Joins Forces with El-Rufai to Block Tinubu’s 2027 Bid

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Babachir Lawal Joins Forces with El-Rufai to Block Tinubu’s 2027 Bid

Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has stated that President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms and the resulting hardship will never be forgiven by the North.
This claim was made by Lawal, a former Tinubu ally who is now a critic, in an interview with Punch. It echoed worries expressed by Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, on growing unrest in the north.
Tinubu’s measures, which Lawal characterized as “nail-biting reforms,” have exacerbated poverty and economic distress throughout the region, and the North feels deceived by their effects.

Nasir El-Rufai recently warned that President Tinubu would experience a political uprising in 2027 such to that which befell Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, and Lawal’s remarks are consistent with his predictions.
An opinion by APC member Uche Diala titled “2027: South West, Tinubu’s supporters playing with fire – Part 1” was shared by El-Rufai via his verified X profile (previously Twitter).

The post implied that in the two years since taking office, Tinubu’s relations with the North had substantially worsened.

Speaking on behalf of the former governor, Lawal said, “There is broad agreement in the North that Bola Tinubu must step aside in the 2027 election. The consensus on this is undeniable. There is no dispute over that. Perhaps I wasn’t endorsing El-Rufai’s viewpoint. However, I’ll work with him on this one to see if we can prevent Bola Tinubu from winning the 2027 election. Because you know there will be a big camp for refugees if he does win.

Thus, that consensus exists. It’s clear to everyone that northern Nigeria would turn into one big refugee camp if we keep up these policies for another four years. It is generally agreed that we need to choose a different candidate for the sole sake of self-preservation.

Babachir said the state of origin of the candidate doesn’t matter, noting that the important thing is for the candidate to understand the need for one Nigeria.

He added, “Now, that is where quite a number of people think that it is only right to find someone who is patriotic and sees Nigeria as one, even if it’s from the South or the North. Some want it to come from the South while others are saying we cannot take the risk of bringing a southerner for self-preservation
alone. So, that is where the divergence is.

“But we all agree that we must look for a substitute for Bola Tinubu. Unfortunately, quite a lot of people like Ganduje and other northerners benefiting directly from this government are just irritants. They are people who are talking to justify their positions in this rogue government. So they are justifying their place in it not caring what the other parts of northern Nigeria are going through.

“So, if we can get a good southerner that can rule with equity, we are okay. It’s not actually about the elite consensus. It’s about the masses and what they are saying at the bottom. Even if some elite pretend to be supporting Bola, they will not vote for him because they are the ones at the receiving end of this thing. They are also the ones directing us, political elites of northern origin, to make sure this man doesn’t have a second chance.”

Unpaid Salaries: LAUTECH Lecturers Embark on Strike

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Unpaid Salaries: LAUTECH Lecturers Embark on Strike

On Wednesday, clinical lecturers at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso began an indefinite strike because they were not paid according to the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure.
The LAUTECH Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria’s secretary, Abraham Akinbola, and chairman, Ruth Ilori, issued a statement confirming the strike action.
The instructors explained that this step was made after a 21-day ultimatum to the university management expired without the salary structure being fully implemented.

After the ultimatum, the authorities failed to comply with our demands, hence the action was required. Only South-West universities have not complied with the payment structure, which has resulted in medical education failures and brain drain, the statement said.

The academics warned that if their requests are not met, medical education in the nation may become even more unstable. They urged pertinent parties to act immediately.

But last week, the Edo State Government denied allegations that a crisis in the councils was causing local government employees to be unpaid.

Fred Itua, the Chief news Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, called the rumors “false, mischievous, and meant to mislead the public” in a news release on Monday.

Read Also: NLC Opposes 50% Telecom Tariff Hike, Threatens Nationwide Shutdown

He told Edo citizens to disregard the rumors, blaming them on thugs jealous of the achievements the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo has made since taking office in November 2024.

Itua reiterated that no government employee, including those employed by local governments, is entitled to a pay, reaffirming the state government’s dedication to workers’ welfare.

He underlined that all payments, including the one from January 2025, had been made in full.

The administration said it has paid local government employees consistently, even if the ongoing legal struggle between the state and some struggling local government chairs has made allocation payments difficult.

NLC Opposes 50% Telecom Tariff Hike, Threatens Nationwide Shutdown

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NLC Opposes 50% Telecom Tariff Hike, Threatens Nationwide Shutdown

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) demanded that the recent 50% pricing increase by telecom firms be immediately reversed in order to avoid serious economic repercussions.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Federal Government, and telecom providers reached an agreement, but corporations have gone ahead with the rise. As a result, the NLC has set a deadline of March 1 for the complete closure of telecom operations if the tariffs are not brought back.
The NLC has issued the following directives to employees and citizens in order to oppose the hike:

Every day from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM beginning Thursday, February 13, 2025, until the end of the month, boycott MTN, AIRTEL, and GLO services.
Put a stop to all data purchases from these businesses.

NLC state councils and affiliate unions can be used to raise awareness and mobilize the people.

Complaints Against Telecom Companies
In a statement signed by General Secretary Emma Ugboaja and President Joe Ajaero, the NLC charged telecom companies with violating due process and breaching confidence by enacting the raise before the agreed-upon assessment was finished.

Additionally, the government’s failure to shield citizens from corporate exploitation was chastised by the Congress.

The Tax Reform Bills were also examined by the NLC, which cautioned against measures that would put further strain on Nigerian workers. In order to avoid overtaxation, the Congress pledged to promote equitable and worker-friendly tax laws while admitting the necessity of economic changes.

As of March 1, 2025, the NLC has threatened to start a statewide communication shutdown if the tariff hike is not overturned by February 29, 2025.

Additionally, the Congress called on civil society organizations and Nigerians in general to join forces in opposition to exploitative economic practices.

NSCDC Pledges Stronger Security for Schools Across Nigeria

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NSCDC Pledges Stronger Security for Schools Across Nigeria

The NSCDC’s dedication to safeguarding the nation’s schoolchildren has been reaffirmed by Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, the organization’s commandant general.

CSC. The Corps was tasked with protecting critical national assets and infrastructure (CNAI), according to Babawale Afolabi, Public Relations Officer, NSCDC National Headquarters, Abuja, who also called children Nigeria’s greatest asset.

In a keynote address at a one-day capacity building program for State Coordinators and Desk Officers selected from the North Central geopolitical zone, organized by the National Safe School Response Coordination Centre (NSSRCC) and held at the Corps’ national headquarters, NSCDC Commandant General Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi issued the directive, according to the statement.

Audi gave state commandants instructions to help the Safe Schools Project in order to help cascade the training programs for capacity building to more stakeholders in their respective domains.

Through the fundamental component of any organization, training and retraining, he reiterated his administration’s dedication to the goal of safer schools for kids, instructors, and host communities.

Speaking on behalf of the Deputy Commandant General Technical Services, DCG Zakari Ibrahim Ningi, the Corps’ helmsman stated that the training, which has as its theme “Ensuring safer schools for all,” is intended to increase the ability of NSSRCC staff at all levels in order to meet the government’s Safe Schools Declaration goal.

Following the Corps’ 2021 vulnerability evaluation of schools, he insisted, the organization has remained dedicated to making learning spaces safer for kids, educators, and host communities.

The head of the NSCDC praised the efforts of other stakeholders, including the ministries of interior, finance, and education, as well as civil society organizations like Save the Children International, for their steadfast dedication to fulfilling the center’s mission. The NSCDC chief also encouraged participants to network and learn from experts.

In a welcome speech earlier, Commander NSSRCC ACC Rabiu Ibn Muhammad stated that the center sees opportunities for cooperation, innovation, and growth in the face of emerging insecurity trends, such as drug abuse, cultism, and cyber threats, among others. As a result, it is necessary to train its staff on the newest advancements and technologies in the security sector.

To help participants better address the numerous issues pertaining to school safety throughout the federation, specialists in a variety of fields have been carefully chosen, according to Muhammad.

Read Also: Nigeria’s Mining Sector Gets a Boost as FG Commissions First ICP-MS Lab

He made it clear that before the first half of the year, more training phases would be held in the other geopolitical zones.

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