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Anambra judiciary workers suspend strike

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Anambra judiciary workers suspend strike

The judiciary workers in Anambra State under the aegis of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, Anambra state Branch, have suspended their indefinite strike and directed all members to resume work on Friday.

The union had embarked on the strike two weeks ago, saying that the action became necessary because the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, ignored the 21-day ultimatum given by the members.

As a result of the development, the courts in the state have remained non-functional and activities paralysed with no cases calling for mention.

Our correspondent who went around the courts across the state on Thursday observed that people with various matters in court were stranded as the cases were stalled due to the strike.

However, it was gathered that a meeting between the state governor and the leadership of JUSUN had ended in a deadlock on Wednesday.

A top member of the Union, who craved anonymity for fear of being victimised, had said, “The Anambra state government had failed to comply with the agreements reached in 2011 and 2015 with the state JUSUN. The agreements centred on the full implementation of the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure, a peculiar allowance for judiciary staff in the state.

“However, during the meeting on Wednesday, instead of Soludo addressing the issue of strike, he threatened to sack the workers and recruit about 1,000 new staff of the body.”

But in a twist of event, the leadership of the union in a press statement on Thursday, signed by the Chairman, JUSUN, Ezeoke Ifeanyichukwu, and Secretary JUSUN, Nwezi Ugochokwu, said the decision to suspend the strike follows a meeting between the governor and JUSUN executives on July 24, 2024.

They said the meeting addressed the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure and the implementation of the new minimum wage in the state.

According to the statement, the governor promised to set up a committee to tackle the CONJUS issue, leading to the suspension of the strike.

The suspension came after paralysing court activities in the state for two weeks as a result of the protest.

A letter to Directors, Deputy Directors, Assistant Chief Registrars, Registrars-in-Charge and Staff of Anambra State Judiciary announcing the suspension, read in part, “Sequel to the meeting held between the Governor of Anambra State and the Executives of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, Anambra State Branch on the 24 of July, being in respect of the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure.

“Mr. Governor promised to set up a committee to address the issue of CONJUS after the implementation of the new minimum wage in the state.

“After much deliberations and consideration of the matter by the congress in her emergency meeting held on the 26 of duly, 2024 at the Judiciary Headquarters, High Court of Justice, Awka, the congress reached a decision to suspend the ongoing indefinite strike by the branch.

“In accordance with the decision of the congress, all staff of Anambra State Judiciary are by this notice directed to resume work tomorrow being Friday, the 26 day of July, 2024.

Nationwide Protest: Afenifere calls for caution, appeals to organizers to shelve plan

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Nationwide Protest: Afenifere calls for caution, appeals to organizers to shelve plan

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organization, Afenifere, has appealed to Nigerians to be circumspect on the issue of the nationwide protests coming up in August.
A Press Statement by the organisation’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi stated that while the people have an inalienable right to protest, consideration should be given to the general atmosphere surrounding the planned protest.
“Information at the disposal of Afenifere is that the planned protest is to draw the attention of the government to the excruciating situation in the country. As the saying goes, those who feel it, know it.
“In other words, Nigerians consider protest as a way of registering their displeasure, perhaps disenchantment over what many are going through. It’s in order.
“But there are some factors that need to be put into consideration. First is whether protest is the only means by which the government’s attention can be called to the perceived hardship in the land. And, if the protest path is to be taken, what form should it take?”
Afenifere spokesman stated that protest is certainly not the only way to draw attention to the situation in the land.
“Engagement is a very potent instrument not only to call attention to the situation on the ground but to decide on what the ways should be.
“Incidentally, the federal government has not only expressed its awareness of what is going on in the country, it expressed a commitment to engagements with Nigerians to find solutions to the myriad of challenges that the country is facing. Challenges that are the basis for the planned protests.”
“Since dialogues would be employed to resolve conflicts, it’s better to engage in dialogues rather than allowing conflicts to degenerate into street protests that stand the chance of being hijacked by irate mobs.”
Afenifere concluded by calling on the planners of the protest to level up with the government that has expressed its readiness for engagements.
“We also call on relevant arms of government not only to meaningfully engage the people but to make manifest steps being taken to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians within the shortest possible time”, Ajayi added.
Nationwide Protest: Afenifere calls for caution, appeals to organizers to shelve plan

16 more state-owned institutions onboarded for student loan 

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16 more state-owned institutions onboarded for student loan 

Sixteen more state-owned tertiary institutions have been onboarded for the student loan scheme under the coordination of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.

In a post on X, the fund via its official handle, @NELFUND noted on Thursday that the addition of the 16 institutions brings the total number of registered state-owned institutions to 86.

NELFUND tweeted, “Following our previous announcements onboarding 70 state-owned tertiary institutions to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund Student Loan Applications Portal, we are delighted to share that an additional 16 state-owned institutions have now been added to the portal.

“This brings our total to 86 state-owned institutions, further expanding the reach and impact of our student loan program.

“Again, we are urging institutions that are yet to submit their accurate and complete student data to do so timely for their students to benefit from the program.”

No fewer than 1.2 million students are expected to benefit from the cardinal programme of President Bola Tinubu administration.

The President approved N35bn for the take-off of the scheme after signing the law backing the scheme on  April 3.

Deborah Tolu-Kolawole

Deborah, has three years of experience covering the education sector, trade unions, politics and international affairs, and is a journalist with The According

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Ex-SGF Babachir Lawal warns Tinubu’s govt against arresting Obi over #EndBadGovernance protest

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Ex-SGF Babachir Lawal warns Tinubu’s govt against arresting Obi over #EndBadGovernance protest

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has warned the Federal Government against any attempt to arrest the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, over the planned strike against bad governance in the country.
He was reacting to the recent face-off between the former Anambra State governor and one of the presidential spokesmen, Bayo Onanuga, over the planned #EndBadGovernance protest slated to begin across the country on August 1.
Onanuga had in a statement during the week alleged that the protest organised by some unknown persons to express their displeasure over the myriad of problems confronting the country was sponsored by Obi and his supporters
Lawal, who addressed journalists on Thursday in Abuja, also warned the government against using force against the protesters.
He said: “Bola Tinubu should not use a forceful approach with the protesters. They mean well for the country. If they go out to protest and there is an attempt to stop them forcefully, that will be the catalyst for chaos.
“Tinubu should remove Bayo Onanuga from his position because he doesn’t mean well for his government. His outbursts are inflaming Nigerians rather than pacifying them. When you are in government, you don’t insult the people.
“I don’t know if Onanuga was the Motor Park Touts Association spokesman before he got his current appointment. They said he is educated, but it doesn’t show in his behavior. He has an in-built disdain for people, and it shows in the way he talks.
“I don’t expect a presidential spokesman to come out and say the planned protest is being organized by Peter Obi. If Obi had the character that Onanuga is ascribing to him, this government would have been down a long time ago.
“How can you say Obi has anything to do with the protest? Even to complain, Obi will not let you accompany him.
“It is one of the reasons why some of us just kept away from him. When you insult him, he will not reply. He will just go about doing his own business.
“Let them arrest him if that is their plan and see the consequences. I know that is what Onanuga is working towards. Anyone asking Tinubu to arrest Peter Obi doesn’t mean well for him. It is like they took cyanide with their own hands and swallowed it.
“I don’t know what Onanuga’s problem with Igbos is. Igbos are good people. They are our classmates from primary and secondary school to university. They are our business partners; they are our neighbors.”
The post Ex-SGF Babachir Lawal warns Tinubu’s govt against arresting Obi over #EndBadGovernance protest appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

Hardship protest may be hijacked by people with ulterior motives – Ooni of Ife warns

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Hardship protest may be hijacked by people with ulterior motives – Ooni of Ife warns

The Ooni of Ife, His Majesty Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi on Thursday said the greatest concern facing the traditional institution is the possibility of unscrupulous persons hijacking the proposed protest to foment crisis.
Recall that President Tinubu first met with governors elected under the platform of the All Progressive Congress, APC, before having another closed-door meeting with the Council of Traditional Rulers.
Their discussions also centred on the prevailing challenges which the country has been facing since Tinubu assumed office and the need for Nigerians to understand where the government stands in trying to make amends for the woes.
Recall that since some unidentified Nigerians gave a notice to stage a protest on August 1 over economic hardship in the country, there has been a series of criticism over the move.
The Ooni said, “People that are planning to go out there to protest, it’s their civic right, but let them put a face to it and don’t let it be hijacked by people that have ulterior motives.
“That is our stand. We condemn such acts fully, we the traditional rulers are more engaged with the people, especially the youth, coming out to start looting, to start breaking down law and order. We are parents, we are traditional rulers, we are closer to them, we are going to go back home and continue to engage them”.
Speaking further, the Ooni said today it’s a new twist and a new spin from the political leadership of our dear country. For the very first time, the traditional rulers were properly engaged in terms of the plans of government and governance, their achievements so far, and where they were having challenges. This is long-awaited. We’ve been waiting for it, but today we’re very excited because we’re closer to our people and we can bring that feedback back home.
“Stewardship from the Federal Executive Council, directly to the traditional rulers has never happened in our nation before, never. This is the first time we’re all experiencing it. We have traditional rulers that have been on the throne for 40, or 50 years. Today is the very first time we will be addressed properly by the Federal Executive Council. So there is a proper bridge and closure of governance from the governed and the people that are in charge of government.
“So it’s a very beautiful take home for us because we don’t lock our palaces, we are more exposed to the people that we actually rule over. So it’s a different twist and spin from our dear President and I want to use this medium, on behalf of all traditional rulers, to appreciate him, no leader in Nigeria has ever done it. So for us, it’s all-encompassing”
The Ooni also cautioned those planning to embark on the protest saying it is very difficult to build, but easy to destroy. We are all stakeholders of this country, we should be stronger as a nation together, than stronger individually.
He continued, “The President has said it and he will continue to say it, any leader that you don’t like, wait and vote him out. He is open to dialogue. We know that challenges are so many in Nigeria, we know that, but are we going to destroy our nation by ourselves? Is that what we’re all after?
“We should talk to ourselves. It’s important for us to know that today, it’s a completely different spin. The government, ably led by the President, is willing to engage and dialogue and bring governance very close to the people”.
Corroborating the Ooni of Ife, the Dein of Agbor, HRM Benjamin Ikenchuku Gbenoba said the government at the centre was finally coming to terms with the reality of governance in the country.
Asked what his take-home from the meeting at the presidency, he responded, “The take-home message for me, hearing from Mr. President directly, I can see the passion.
But at the same time, I think the government is finally understanding we are at the precipice. Our youths are our future and I think today we’ve demonstrated that the government, with the officials, we do have the hearts of the nation in our minds, we will listen to our youths because they lead the future.
“The power, the strength of Nigeria is certainly with the young people. We feel your pain, I’m a young person myself. It’s been 24 years I’ve been back and it’s been 24 years that I’ve started seeing the nation going in a very unpalatable direction, but by God’s grace, I think if you give us the chance, this protest, I know that it’s catching very high in your neck, but if you give us the chance, let us not destroy our own country.
“I’ll ask you to think of Libya. Libya was a beautiful country, what has happened to Libya, we don’t want it to happen here. Let’s go home, let’s continue to strive the best that we can and continue to work with the government to see if we can proffer some solutions. I think that that would be best rather than to destroy property or injure ourselves”.
Hardship protest may be hijacked by people with ulterior motives – Ooni of Ife warns

Ondo residents protest attempt to impose prince on community

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Ondo residents protest attempt to impose prince on community

The residents of Ode Irele community, the headquarters of Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State on Thursday staged a protest over an alleged attempt by the state government to impose a prince on the community as a monarch.

The stool of the town became vacant after the demise of the Late Oba Olanrewaju Lebi, who passed away in January 1993. Since the death of the monarch, the case of whom to appoint as the next Oba has not been resolved.

The protesters who gathered in front of the state High Court, Okitipupa, chanting various solidarity songs, urged Governor Luck Aiyedatiwa, to follow due process in the selection and appointment of a new monarch of the town.

The protesters had placards with inscriptions, such as, ‘Irele people demand justice’, ‘All we are saying is to give Irele people justice,’ and ‘Attorney General cannot protect the law of the state’, among others.

Leader of the protesters, Solomon Idowu, said the protest was just for justice to be done on the chieftaincy matter of the community.

He said, “We are here to protest over the position of Obas in Ode-Irele, some years ago, one person invaded the shrine and installed himself as king of our community, we informed the government about his action, and he was thereafter charged to court.

“Our reliable sources told us that the person has gone behind us to Akure and met the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa on the matter to truncate the due process so that all cases against him must be withdrawn.
“We are seriously against that, law must take its course on him, anyone who is against the law of the land must face the music, and imposition is not acceptable to the people of Irele kingdom. The ruling must be done without any form of compromise.”

Another protester, Odunsanmi Morebise, said some community leaders were behind a plot to truncate the case and declared that the ancestors would not give room for any imposition while urging the state government to allow the kingmakers to follow the due process to select the new Olofun.

However, in his reaction, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Amidu Takuro, denied the allegations, saying the government did not have any plan to impose kingship candidates on any community.

“I am not aware of any plan to impose candidate on any community. Every community has its laid down rules and regulations on how it handles its chieftaincy matters and the government does not interfere in the process.

“All we do is follow due process in the selection and appointment of obaship candidates. So nobody is imposed on any community to be king,” the commissioner explained.

Tinubu’s Rice: DSS reportedly recovers 2,000 bags diverted in Katsina

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Tinubu’s Rice: DSS reportedly recovers 2,000 bags diverted in Katsina

No fewer than 2,000 bags of rice allegedly stolen from the 20 trucks donated to Katsina State by the federal government have been recovered by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS.
TVN recalls that President Bola Tinubu had in a bid to tackle the hardship in the country, donated 20 trucks of rice to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
However, according to NAN about 2,000 bags of the donated rice were diverted by government officials in Katsina State.
The DSS officials in the state, who confirmed the negative development to NAN on Thursday, however, declined further comments on the issue and preferred to be anonymous.
An investigation conducted revealed that the 25kg bags of rice were deposited in a store at the Central Market, Katsina, however, some people alerted the DSS on Wednesday night, about the theft and swung into action.
The Chairman, Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, in the state, Mr Abdulrahman Abdullahi, expressed shock over the issue.
Abdullahi lamented how the Federal Government donated the palliatives to the vulnerable but it was allegedly diverted by some unpatriotic people.
The chairman vowed that they would continue to follow the case up to its logical conclusion.
He, therefore, advised the government to investigate the matter with a view to punishing those behind the diversion.
Also commenting on the matter, a resident of Katsina, Suleiman Kofar-Durbi, said it was an unfortunate development.
“It is unfortunate that I received the information yesterday night that the President provided relief to the vulnerable and some people diverted it.
“People are experiencing hardship due to the current economic situation in the country, the government should investigate the matter thoroughly and bring culprits to book,” he said.
Tinubu’s Rice: DSS reportedly recovers 2,000 bags diverted in Katsina

Politicians, security agencies take advantage of Nigerians’ ignorance of law – Prof Uwaoma

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Politicians, security agencies take advantage of Nigerians’ ignorance of law – Prof Uwaoma

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State, Prof Uwaoma Uche, has noted that law enforcement agencies in the country take advantage of the fact that most Nigerians do not know their rights.
The Professor spoke on the topic, ”the Nexus between Political Leadership and Human Rights at the 2024 National Human Rights Lecture of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA on Thursday.
He said many citizens view the Constitution as a mere document rather than a binding or implemented law, largely because of the challenges in the implementation of the Constitution, especially on certain persons who are seen as the political class in Nigeria.
Prof. Uche pointed out that under international law, the political class are primarily responsible for ensuring the protection of human rights within their jurisdictions.
According to him, the political class has three levels of obligations towards Nigerians with regard to their fundamental rights which include respect, refraining from interfering with the enjoyment of the rights, protecting the right from intrusion or interference by third parties and to fulfil, provide resources to facilitate the enjoyment of the rights.
He said, however, that the “question that begs for answers is – how far has the Nigerian Political class fared in undertaking these three obligations with respect to the Nigerian Fundamental Rights?”
“Using the Niger Delta area of Nigeria, one of the 10 most important wetland and coastal marine ecosystems in the world and home to some 31 million people, the IDP camps littered in some states in Nigeria and the actions of the Nigerian Police force in their dealing with Nigerians as indices, one would be right to say that the Nigerian political class has failed woefully in undertaking these obligations.
“In the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, oil pollution has ravaged the environment for the last 50 years.
“The majority of the people of the Niger Delta do not have adequate access to clean water or health care.
“Their poverty, and its contrast with the wealth generated by oil, has become one of the world’s starkest and most disturbing examples of the “resource curse”.
The human rights implications are serious, under-reported and have received little attention from the political class or the oil companies.
However, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Commission) and the UN Human Rights Committee have expressed serious concern about this state of affairs and have called on the Nigerian government to take urgent action to deal with the human rights impacts of oil pollution and the consequent environmental degradation.
The professor added that ”The level of human rights abuse in the IDP campus is worrisome. Ranging from physical, sexual and economic abuse of the rights of the displaced persons.”
Speaking further on incessant brutality by securing agencies, he said the level of alleged brutality of the citizenry by the security agencies is quite abysmal.
“It is either on the road with multiple roadblocks, dehumanization, attack on communities and even razing down communities based on not defined causes. There is a need to improve the level of civil-military, police relationship…”
Politicians, security agencies take advantage of Nigerians’ ignorance of law – Prof Uwaoma

‘Today is a bad day for Ndigbo,’ Ohanaeze mourns Iwuanyanwu 

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‘Today is a bad day for Ndigbo,’ Ohanaeze mourns Iwuanyanwu 

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo has mourned the loss of its President-General, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who died on Thursday.

The Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Alex Ogbonnia, confirmed the death to journalists on Thursday in Enugu.

“Today is a bad day for Ndigbo. It’s true! Ahaeji aga Mba is gone.

“Ohanaeze is yet to issue an official statement on the demise of our President General, Chief Iwuanyanwu, but he is gone,” he said.

Aged 82, Iwuanyanwu was elected the President General of the apex Igbo cultural organisation on April 20, 2023, following the death of his predecessor, Prof George Obiozor.

NAN reports that Iwuanyanwu is the second President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to die in office after Obiozor, who also died in office.

Iwuanyanwu was a prominent Nigerian businessman, politician, and philanthropist known for his significant contributions to various sectors.

NAN

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PRP condemns Bauchi govt’s ‘unconstitutional’ attempt to stop protest

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PRP condemns Bauchi govt’s ‘unconstitutional’ attempt to stop protest

The Bauchi State chapter of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), has condemned what it describes as the unconstitutional attempt to intimidate people of the state by the state government.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its Secretary in the state, Hon. Abdulazeez Haruna, the party expressed shock at the recent statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ibrahim Kashim, advising those planning a peaceful protest in the state to “think twice” before embarking on the adventure.
The PRP noted that the statement was an attempts to stop the people from exercising their fundamental rights as entrenched in the 1999 Constitution.
Haruna said: “This response is nothing but a clear attempt to stifle freedom of expression and suppress the rights of citizens to demand good governance.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the rights of citizens to protest are enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and affirmed by our courts as Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution unequivocally guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and association.
“It is outrageous that the government would resort to intimidation and threats rather than engaging in constructive dialogue with those who have genuine concerns about the well-being of our nation.
READ ALSO: Buhari’s ex-aide, Ahmad opts out of #EndBadGovernance protest over Nnamdi Kanu
“The people of Bauchi State have every right to express their opinions and grievances, and it is the duty of their elected representatives to listen and respond to their needs.
“We view this statement as a clear indication that the government is afraid of the people’s voice and is willing to use coercive measures to silence them. This is a betrayal of trust and a violation of the fundamental human rights of our citizens.
“We call on all citizens of Bauchi State who are concerned about the direction our nation is headed to continue planning and preparing for their peaceful protests.
“We urge them not to be deterred by the threats and intimidation from government officials, but rather to stand firm in their resolve to demand better representation and accountability from their leaders.
“The PRP, Bauchi State Chapter, will continue to support and stand with these patriotic individuals who are willing to speak truth to power. We will not be cowed by attempts to silence us, and we will continue to advocate for democracy, transparency, and good governance in our state.
“Let us stand together and demand a better Bauchi State and Nigeria at large!”
The post PRP condemns Bauchi govt’s ‘unconstitutional’ attempt to stop protest appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

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