News
Protesters invade the house of God in Lagos
The crisis rocking the Diocese of the Lagos Anglican Communion deepened with a serious protest during the Good Friday Easter service at the Church of Christ on Marina, Lagos.
The information was said to have caused serious tension in all the parishes of the church in Lagos.
The church service had started at about 9:00 am with the hymn and followed by the prayers.
The Bishop of Lagos Diocese and Dean Emeritus of the Anglican Church at the Marina, Most Rev. Adebola Ademowo, as a statutory duty, was to deliver the day’s sermon.
However, as he was entering the church, Ademowo was greeted by a serious protest by some elders and members of the church who were against him and his role in the succession plan.
They protested against the election and translation of the Rt. Reverend Humphrey Olumakaye as the new Bishop of the Lagos Diocese, overseeing the Church of Christ, Marina.
The protesters promised their anger on the fact that Olumakaye was recently translated from the Osun East Diocese to Lagos and was billed to take over from Ademowo.
The protesters were led by a popular Lagos politician, Chief Yomi Finnih, who also doubled as their Spokesperson.
The placards bore inscriptions such as “Enough is Enough . . . no to looting of Lagos Diocese”, “No to Bishop looter”, “No to women organisation looting”.
An Indication that something unusual was in the offing was noticed early in the morning through the condoning off of the Marina Road which was occupied by several members of the Lagos security outfit, the Neighbourhood Watch and the unusual huge presence of policemen in and around the church premises.
Shortly after Ademowo delivered his sermon, an unidentified member of the church walked towards the altar and angrily threw copies of a published document detailing Ademowo’s alleged sins and walked out.
The Marina Road stretch was closed to traffic for several hours while the protest lasted.
The protest also affected proceedings at the church as members were seen discussing the development and the way forward.
Many of the elders and members of the church had through several letters to the Primate of the Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, rejected Olumakaye’s election on the grounds that it was an imposition by the outgoing Ademowo to “cover his tracks” in an election they also criticised to have been influenced by distribution of huge sums of money.
They have also accused Ademowo in a letter to Primate Okoh dated February 26 2018, alleging that his tenure was “a period of disaster filled with economic and financial recklessness.”
The protest letter was signed by eminent elders including Asiwaju Fola Isibo, Mr. Modupe Alakija, Chief Femi Adeniyi Williams and Chief Layi Ajayi-Bembe.
Others are Mrs Laide Sasegbon, Mrs. Dupe Sagoe, Mr. Ade Abisogun, Mr. Bukola Meadows and Ms Molara Otuyelu.
News
Badaru on Operational Tour of 82 Division, other Military Installations in Enugu and Imo States
The Honourable Minister of Defence H.E Mohammed Badaru Abubakar CON mni is currently in Enugu on operational tour of 82 Division of Nigerian Army and other military platforms in Enugu.
He was received on arrival by the General officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army / Commander JTF SE of operation Udoka Major-General H.T Dada and other senior military officers.
The Minister is expected to meet with South East stakeholders on the way forward.
Details later…
Tinubu has granted full oversight responsibilities to Ministers of State over agencies under them amongst whom are Minister of State for Defence Dr. Bello Matawalle, Water Resources and Sanitation, Minister of State for Agriculture and others will henceforth enjoy full oversight responsibilities over such agencies.
President Bola Tinubu at FEC Meeting has approved that ministers of state be given full powers to supervise the agencies under them, the cable reported.
Until now, files pertaining to departments and agencies under their supervision were sent by their permanent secretaries to the senior ministers.
With the new dispensation, ministers of state can now grant all necessary administrative approvals on the governance process of these agencies and departments.
According to a source in the office of the head of service of the federation, “the president was not pleased with the prevailing governing framework in which ministers of states were just ministers in name”.
This, Tinubu reportedly said, led to the “underutilisation of the expertise and capabilities” of most ministers of state.
“The president believes ministers of state should have the right to make decisions and direct action within their areas of responsibility,” the official added.
According to the Cable report, the source said the idea, first mooted by Hadiza Bala Usman, special adviser to the President on policy coordination and head, central delivery coordination unit got an instant buy-in from the President.
With the new directive, the administration hopes “to unleash” the potential of all the ministers, the source added.
News
Enugu: Mbah Approves N80,000 Minimum Wage for State, LG Workers and Primary School Teachers
…It’s unprecedented to earn above minimum wage in Enugu- Labour
… We’ll commence implementation immediately- ALGON
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has approved N80,000 minimum wage for the state’s work force, including local government workers, effective October 2024, noting a direct link between a motivated workforce and his administration’s vision of growing the state’s economy from $4.4bn to $30bn.
The new minimum wage covers all state employees, primary school teachers, and local government workers.
Organised labour has described the wage as unprecedented, as it was the first time that Enugu workers would be earning above the national minimum wage.
Mbah announced the new minimum wage on Thursday after a meeting with the Enugu State Minimum Wage Implementation Committee headed by the Head of Service, Kenneth Ugwu and labour leaders, including the state’s labour leaders.
Mbah said, “Few weeks ago, I inaugurated a committee with the responsibility to oversee the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage in Enugu State. Today, I’m happy to announce a new minimum wage for workers in Enugu State, reflecting our fidelity to their welfare, in regard of which we have been resolutely committed.
“We have approved the sum of N80,000 as the new minimum wage in Enugu State. This underscores our commitment to bequeathing lasting legacies of improved living conditions.
“Our commitment to improved workers’ welfare runs deep, and is rooted in the firm understanding of the inextricable link between an inspired workforce and the audacious economic targets we had set our sights on.
“We clearly understood that reducing poverty to the barest minimum and achieving an unprecedented economic growth target were contingent on the output of the workforce. Therefore, for us, the best way to acknowledge that labour creates wealth is by ensuring that the workforce, which creates the wealth that oils the wheel of government, is sufficiently motivated.
“We have similarly demonstrated our commitment to workers welfare through the consistent payment of the wage awards, a gesture we had pledged to sustain until a new wage structure took effect.”
Speaking, the Chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Fabian Nwigbo, thanked governor Mbah for always prioritising the welfare of workers, describing the new minimum wage as “a great one for Enugu workers.”
“In the past, when minimum wage is announced, it takes up to one or two years for anything to happen; and when it did, we took anything they gave us as we saw it. But today, you have even given us something much higher than national minimum wage.
“But I am not totally surprised because when other governors were paying N12,000 wage award, you were paying us N25,000. When others paid for some months and stopped, you continued paying it until the new minium wage as you promised. So, we have enjoyed wage award for 11 months and today you announced the minimum wage which is the first of its kind since my 32 years in service,” said.
Speaking to Government House correspondents, the Chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Ben Asogwa, said, “We are so happy. The governor did not just announce ₦80,000 minium wage, but said that it cascades down to even local government workers. He said that he does not want disparity in salary implementation in Enugu State anymore because we all go to the same market.
“This is the first time in history we are seeing the implementation of minimum wage above the approved amount by the federal government. Actually, when we entered into the negotiation, we were afraid because we know quite well that we are not among the states that share in dividends of oil money. We know quite well that we are at the back when it comes to federal allocation, but His Excellency actually surprised us.
“One thing we have seen is that he understands the impact of motivation on productivity. The governor has set a pace and we know that any other person coming after him will have the challenge to meet up with the target set by His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah.”
On his part, Chairman of the Association of Local Government Workers, ALGON, Enugu State, Hon. Okechukwu Edeh, pledged the commitment of council chairmen to implementing the new minimum wage.
“When you motivate workers, they become more productive. What I am promising on behalf of the Enugu ALGON family is that we are going to cascade the new minimum wage to the local government level. Implementation begins immediately,” he said.
-
Spotlight3 days ago
Concerned citizens appeal to Gov Sanwo-Olu, Dangote Foundation, Banks, MTN Foundation, NNPC, others to assist journalist for brain surgery
-
Politics3 days ago
President Tinubu Restructures Media and Communications Team
-
Travel2 days ago
Defence Minister in S’Arabia to Discuss Counter-Terrorism
-
GRPolitics3 days ago
With Commitment, Resilience We’ll Defeat Banditry and Terrorism – Badaru
-
Energy16 hours ago
Boost for Nigeria’s Oil Production, As NNPC’s Utapate Crude Grade Hits Global Oil Market
-
News10 hours ago
Badaru on Operational Tour of 82 Division, other Military Installations in Enugu and Imo States