The Labour Party (LP), on Monday, issued a stern warning to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) cautioning it against involving the party and its leadership in political maneuvers aimed at satisfying their purported sponsors.
The warning came from Marcel Ngogbehei, Director General of the LP Directorate on Mobilisation and Integration, during a statement in Abuja. Ngogbehei responded to remarks attributed to the NLC National Transition Committee, which allegedly mischaracterized Julius Abure as a former LP national chairman and advised stakeholders to boycott upcoming congresses in Anambra, Imo, Delta, and the Federal Capital Territory.
Describing the NLC’s circular as “childish, malicious, and misleading,” Ngogbehei asserted the NLC lacks authority to establish transition committees for political parties in Nigeria. He reaffirmed Peter Obi as their presidential flagbearer and Julius Abure as LP’s national chairman.
Ngogbehei criticized the NLC’s actions, accusing them of acting as a tool to undermine opposition structures and distract from critical issues affecting Nigerian workers and citizens. He urged the NLC to prioritize constructive engagement with the government to protect worker rights rather than interfering in political party affairs.
Read also: Naira sheds N14, trades N1,577/$1 at official window
“The NLC is positioning itself as a disruptive force, seemingly aligned with government efforts to dismantle opposition structures,” Ngogbehei stated. “Instead of learning from past leadership, like Oshiomhole’s, and advocating for workers’ interests, they are engaging in unwarranted political meddling.”
He concluded by advising the NLC to either respect reconciliation efforts led by Peter Obi or seek legal recourse if they have grievances, emphasizing that destructive actions only serve to benefit the current government at the expense of genuine opposition.
The LP’s stance underscores their commitment to maintaining internal integrity and resisting external interference in their party affairs.
The post LP warns NLC against meddling, affirms Obi, Abure as leaders appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
LP warns NLC against meddling, affirms Obi, Abure as leaders
JUST IN: Trump picks US senator JD Vance as running mate
Republican candidate Donald Trump has selected Ohio senator JD Vance as his running mate in the 2024 US elections.
The former president made the announcement on the social media platform, Truth Social, on Monday evening.
“After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio,” Trump wrote
More details later…
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No fresh recruitment into Immigration Service -FG
The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board has disowned an online publication on recruitment into the Nigeria Immigration Service.
This is contained in a statement by the board’s Secretary, Ja’afaru Ahmed, on Monday in Abuja.
Ahmed stated that the board was only currently carrying out recruitment in the Federal Fire Service and not with NIS as claimed by the online publication.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to inform the general public that the board is currently carrying out a recruitment process in the FFS only.
“It will commence the next stage of the exercise in August and will conclude the same before the end of September,” he said.
Recall that the Federal Government had on Sunday stated that the next stage of the recruitment exercise for the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Federal Fire Service would begin in August.
Ahmed in a statement added that the Board would conclude the recruitment exercise, which was billed to end on June 15, 2024, will now end before the end of September.
Ahmed said: “The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board wishes to inform the general public that it will commence the next stage of the recruitment exercise in August, and will conclude the exercise before the end of September 2024.”
He announced that all shortlisted candidates would be duly notified of the next stage of the recruitment exercise through their contact details.
The Secretary, however, apologised for the inability to complete the exercise as earlier scheduled due to manpower audits carried out by Services under the Board.
He added, “The board wishes to apologise for its inability to complete the process by 15th June 2024, as earlier intended.
“This is due to a nationwide manpower audit exercise carried out in the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, which was just recently concluded.
“All shortlisted candidates will be duly notified of the next stage through their phone numbers and email addresses.”
NAN
Naira sheds N14, trades N1,577/$1 at official window
The Nigerian currency, the naira started the week with a slump against the American dollar on Monday, July 15, 2024.
The domestic currency shed N14 to trade at N1,577/$1, data from the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) has shown.
This is against the rate of N1,563/$1 it traded on Friday July 12, 2024.
The intra-day high and low recorded during the day were N1,590/$1 and N1,470/$1 respectively, representing a very lean spread of N120$1.
The naira lost N5 against the dollar at the parallel section of the market to trade at N1,565|$1, as against the rate of N1,560/$1 it traded the previous trading day.
READ ALSO: Naira recovers marginally to trade N1, 554/$1 at official window
The naira crossed the N2,000 mark as it lost N10 against the British Pound to trade at N2,050£1 as against the previous trading day’s rate of N2,040£1 representing a loss of N10 for the local currency.
The Canadian dollar continues to close flat against the naira to trade at N1,200| CA$1 same as the previous trading day rate of N1,200| CA$1.
The naira lost N15 against the Euro to trade at ₦1,690/€1 as against the previous trading day’s rate of ₦1,675/€1.
By: Babajide Okeowo
The post Naira sheds N14, trades N1,577/$1 at official window appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
LG Autonomy: Enugu LP ex-guber candidate, Edeoga seeks urgent abrogation of SIECs
The governorship candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in Enugu State during the 2023 general election, Barr Chijioke Edeoga has urged the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to expedite action on a constitutional reform towards towards scrapping State Independent Electoral Commissions, SIECs.
Edeoga said this in a statement he made available to TVN on Monday, days after the Supreme Court granted financial autonomy to local government areas.
The LP chieftain had earlier last week while reacting to the landmark judgement, urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, to closely monitor the finances of the local government areas.
He has now followed it up with an advice to the AGF, urging him to ensure that the SIECs were abrogated to allow for credible elections in the LGAs.
Edeoga said that an Executive Bill to excise Section 197 1(b) of the Constitution which created the state Independence Electoral Commissions should be initiated by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
According to him, the responsibility should be taken off SIECs and pushed to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
His statement reads in full: “Following the July 11, 2024 judgement of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which affirmed full financial autonomy to the 774 local government areas of the country, Nigerians from across political, social, and economic divides have praised the courage and vision of the Federal Government team, led by the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, to take further steps towards rescuing Nigeria’s third tier of government from the stranglehold of many state governors in the country.
“The profound joy and palpable relief expressed by Nigerians were indicative of the belief people have about local councils as efficacious catalysts of local administration and also speak to the avoidable quiescence in grassroots development occasioned by the chokehold which state governors exercise on their political and financial autonomy.
“It must be stressed at this point that local government administration is to national political and infrastructure development what micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSME) are to national economic development – just as MSMEs represent the biggest employers of labour in most economies, council administration touches more lives on the aggregate than both states and federal government. In Nigeria for instance, where MSMEs are said to be capable of employing an equivalent of 84 percent of the population, the 774 local government areas in the country, if granted full financial and administrative autonomy, will have the potential to not just employ more people than all the 36 state governments, but also spike the incubation and growth of more businesses at grassroots level.
“The impact of emasculated local councils has been the subject of academic and developmental research for many years. In one, titled, “Causes and Consequences of Rural-Urban Migration in Nigeria” conducted by Omonigho T. Okhankhuele and Olaniyan Z. Opafunso, it was established that rural areas in Nigeria are being affected by several incapacities at various levels of severity such as: inaccessibility, seclusion, underdevelopment, poverty, drabness, boredom, ignorance, depopulation, hunger, and all types of sicknesses. It was also held that migration from rural to urban areas leads to a reduction in the number of rural populaces, with direct consequences on agricultural output and overall GDP of the communities in the area and thus hinders the pace of development in the rural areas.
“As a former Local Government Chairman, I am aware of the impact an empowered council can have on all the indicators of economic well-being, including income, unemployment, infrastructure, healthcare delivery, urban migration, and education. The autonomy as is now being fully restored to duly elected officers of local governments will spark off rural development in ways that have not been witnessed in Nigeria since 1999.
“While the Supreme Court judgement has been greeted with loud celebrations by a large segment of the population, it is important to note that only one in a series of steps towards the liberation of local councils in the country has been taken.
“For this reason, I am calling on the Attorney Generation of the Federation to initiate, without further delay the process that will secure this hugely reassuring autonomy to firmly cement the authority of local councils to develop to the full extent of the resources legitimately available to them.
“This is given the clear and present possibility that the intendment of the judgment which is transparency and accountability in the use of local government resources by duly elected officers of local governments might still be manipulated by governors in whose powers it still is to determine who gets elected as Chairmen of the councils.
“Riding on the wave of nationwide acceptance of the judgment of the Supreme Court therefore, the National Assembly should be made to initiate and fast-track amendments to the 1999 Constitution to delist all mentions of state electoral commissions and push the responsibility for this to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“Thankfully, so many governors have pledged to comply with the Supreme Court judgement, but the National Assembly should note that while Nigerians welcomed the judgment, they have equally pointed out that the judgment would be ineffectual without a corresponding amendment that guarantees relatively fairer and freer council elections.
“Such pessimistic views should not be dismissed with a wave of the hand because, their public show of support for the judgment of the Supreme Court notwithstanding, it would not be out of place to find lots of Governors continuing to pressurize their respective state Houses of Assembly to withhold assent to any Bill for such important constitutional amendment to sustain the stranglehold on local councils and the resources due to them from the federation account. This is where the onus lies on the president as a notable deal maker, consensus builder and statesman to convince everyone to work together for the greater good of our country.
“While it is true that an amendment process of some critical sections of the Constitution is going on, the particular section that affects local government autonomy should be isolated and its amendment fast-tracked now that a national consensus is already in place.
“If this is not done, the judgment of the Supreme Court on that matter will be seen as inchoate, thus providing a lacuna that would be further exploited to the detriment of the functional financial fate of local governments.
“To this end, an Executive Bill to excise Section 197 1(b) of the Constitution which created the state Independence Electoral Commissions should be initiated by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation. Section 153 (1) which created the INEC should also be amended to fully vest the national elections management body with the powers to conduct elections to local government councils.
“Efforts should be made to isolate the sections relating to local government elections from the basket of other amendments that have been proposed to the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly and give it immediate attention to attain quick passage and Presidential assent.
“Speed is of the essence given that at least 22 of the 36 states currently run the local government areas in their respective states under undemocratic caretaker arrangements.
“This means that if the amendment is fast-tracked and approved by the President, elections in the local councils can be arranged to fall into a single calendar.”
LG Autonomy: Enugu LP ex-guber candidate, Edeoga seeks urgent abrogation of SIECs
Stand up against Nnamdi Kanu’s rendition – Ejimakor challenges Britain
Aloy Ejimakor, lead counsel of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, called on Britain on Monday to stand up against the rendition of the Biafra agitator.
He made the call in response to reports by United States lawmakers urging the U.S. State Department to secure the release of Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s head of Financial Crime Compliance.
Gambaryan was arrested on allegations of money laundering and tax evasion alongside his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, but Nigerian authorities dropped the tax evasion charges in June. The money laundering case is still ongoing.
The U.S. lawmakers are claiming that Gambaryan’s detention has become a hostage situation, citing concerns over his deteriorating health and human rights violations.
They demanded the immediate release of Gambaryan and urged the US government to declare him “wrongfully detained by a foreign government.”
Reacting, Ejimakor posted on X: “In 1984, Great Britain treated Buhari’s attempt to rendition Umaru Dikko as a hostage case. Now, US is doing the same for its citizen.
“What’s stopping Great Britain from standing up for her renditioned citizen: MAZI NNAMDI KANU? Whither the ‘greatness’ in Great Britain? #FreeMNK.”
Stand up against Nnamdi Kanu’s rendition – Ejimakor challenges Britain
US Secret Service under pressure after Trump shooting
Facing growing criticism over a massive security failure, the US Secret Service on Monday vowed to cooperate with an independent review after a shooter was allowed to open fire on Donald Trump.
The 78-year-old former president was injured but survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, a brazen attack that shocked a nation already deeply polarised ahead of the November election.
“The Secret Service is working with all involved Federal, state and local agencies to understand what happened, how it happened, and how we can prevent an incident like this from ever taking place again,” the agency’s director Kimberly Cheatle said in a statement.
“We understand the importance of the independent review announced by President (Joe) Biden yesterday and will participate fully,” Cheatle added.
Trump was speaking at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania when multiple bangs rang out.
He clutched his ear, with blood visible on his ear and cheek, then ducked to the floor as Secret Service agents swarmed onto the podium, surrounding him and rushing him to a nearby vehicle.
The shooter and a bystander were killed, and two spectators were injured.
Biden ordered a full review of security at the rally, as well as at this week’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Trump will be crowned the party’s presidential nominee.
Heightened risk
The Secret Service faces intense scrutiny over how a gunman aiming an assault rifle was allowed to take position on a roof some 500 feet (150 meters) from one of the most protected political figures on the planet.
And the questions grew louder when phone footage emerged of people sighting the gunman and trying to warn security before he opened fire.
With Trump set to star at the convention, Cheatle said the agency was working to toughen security at the event.
The Secret Service designs plans for major events “to respond to a kinetic security environment and the most up-to-date intelligence,” her statement said.
Trump added to the concerns on Monday, calling for Secret Service protection for independent presidential Robert F. Kennedy “in light of what is going on in the world today.”
“Given the history of the Kennedy Family, this is the obvious right thing to do!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social website.
Kennedy, who has no chance of winning the election, comes from America’s most famous political clan.
His uncle, President John F. Kennedy, was assassinated in Dallas, Texas in 1963. Five years later, the candidate’s father, Robert, was shot to death in Los Angeles.
The US Secret Service is responsible for the safety of the president, vice president and former presidents, and their families, as well as major election candidates and visiting foreign heads of state.
AFP
Oyebanji orders integrity test on Ekiti NYSC Camp buildings
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has instructed the state’s Bureau of Special Projects to conduct a thorough integrity test on all structures within the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp located at Ise/Orun Emure Ekiti.
The directive was issued during a meeting in Ado Ekiti on Monday, where Governor Oyebanji met with members of the NYSC Governing Council, led by Ekiti State Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr Gold Adedayo.
The decision comes in the wake of an incident where a wall of a bathroom collapsed, resulting in injuries to two corps members.
Governor Oyebanji emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of NYSC members by assessing the structural integrity of the camp’s buildings.
Following the incident, the governor had previously ordered the immediate construction of 45 units of toilets and bathrooms within the camp, with construction work commencing on Monday. Additionally, he directed the state electricity board to install solar-powered electricity at the camp.
Read also: NGX: Equities market begins week on positive note as investors gain N172bn
Governor Oyebanji stated, “The first step we are taking is to conduct a comprehensive integrity test on all the buildings in that camp. The results will inform our decisions on improving the camp facilities to enhance living conditions.”
He emphasized the urgency of upgrading the infrastructure at the NYSC camp, pledging ongoing support from his administration to improve facilities and welfare for corps members.
In response to the NYSC State Coordinator, Alhaji Riko Shuaibu, expressed gratitude for the governor’s commitment to safety and welfare,
Gov Oyebanji assured swift action. He said, “Regarding your request, immediate steps will be taken. Solar lighting will be installed, and I will instruct the electricity team to assess and implement this without delay.”
The visit by the NYSC Governing Council aimed to highlight challenges faced at the camp and seek intervention from the state government to address them effectively.
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Oba of Benin receives two looted artefacts from US
The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II on Monday, received two artefacts, a mother hen and a bronze plaque from the University of Iowa Museum, United States of America.
The returned artefacts were part of the ones looted at the Benin palace when it was invaded in 1897 by the British.
The Oba, while receiving the items in his palace, said the immediate past president of the federation, President Muhammadu Buhari made the ownership of artefacts very clear through his recent gazette before he left office.
The monarch, who was elated over the return of the artefacts, referred to some of the earlier ones returned to the palace. He noted that his forebears started the process but he was able to accomplish the feat when he ascended the throne.
The royal father said that artefacts were not mere items, noting that they have spiritual implications which mere mortals cannot understand.
He further appealed to the political leaders to help preserve the traditions and customs of the land.
The Oba said, “I must commend the immediate past president of the country, President Muhammadu Buhari who made the ownership of artefacts very clear through his recent gazette before he left office.
“My forebears started the process of ensuring the artefacts are but I can accomplish the feat when I ascended the throne.
“The artefacts are not mere items, they have spiritual implications which the mere mortals cannot understand, he added.
He appealed to the political leaders to help preserve the traditions and customs of the land.
Earlier, Cory Gundlach, a curator from the African Art in the US Museum, on behalf of others lectures in the university apologized to the Oba of Benin for using the artefacts as teaching materials in the university.
He assured the monarch of his determination to ensure that others who were kept elsewhere were returned to their original abode.
Adamawa council chairmen elect officers
The newly inaugurated chairmen of local government councils in Adamawa State have elected officers to lead their association.
The chairmen who are to relate collectively as the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, picked their officials on Monday, hours after they were sworn in at a ceremony in the state capital, Yola.
The new officials include Suleiman Ahmed Gangkuba, chairman of Toungo Council who became chairman of ALGON,
Danbiyu Paul Tumba of Michika Council, who was elected the vice chairman, and Idris Yahaya of Song Council, who became the secretary of the association.
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, who has congratulated the new ALGON officials, charged them to ensure transparency and accountability in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The governor told them that under him, council chairmen had enjoyed autonomy to run their various councils, stressing that his administration had allowed them the autonomy that the Supreme Court declared only last week.
“Utilise this independence to build on what your predecessors have achieved and serve your communities effectively,” he told the chairmen and their new leaders.
Adamawa council chairmen elect officers