News
Aregbesola Breaks Silence After Losing Ward To Oyetola
The Minister of Interior Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has broken his silence after losing his ward in the ongoing All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary to Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
Aregbesola, was absent at his Ifofin Ward 8, Ilesa East Local Government for the exercise on Saturday.
Oyetola won in Aregbesola’s ward with 309 votes against 146 recorded for Moshood Adeoti, the candidate anointed by the Minister.
In a statement by his media’s aide, Sola Fasure, Aregbesola claimed results of the governorship primary were “farcically counted in favour of the Governor.”
He said: “On behalf of the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, I will like to thank you most sincerely for heeding the call earlier this morning to participate in our party’s governorship primary and conduct yourselves most peacefully. You adopted a non-violent posture, even in the face of sore provocation.
“You have demonstrated your loyalty to the party and democratic ideals. You have comported yourselves as Omoluabi in the true essence.
“We have received and continue to receive the reports of the shenanigans of the officials who conducted the sham of an election.
“We have been inundated with reports state-wide of how your names were expunged from the party’s voters register, which was not made available until this morning, contrary to the convention of making the list available to the candidates before the election.
“We have heard of how party registration cards were being hawked this morning to the supporters of the state Governor.
We have also received reports of how accreditation was not done at all in many wards and how people without the party identification just participated and queued behind the governor in many polling units.
“We have received the report from our members and independent observers, how government officials and notable supporters of the governor officiated in the election, how votes were farcically counted in favour of the governor and how the votes recorded for him were more than the number of voters accredited ab initio in many units.
News
Pensions and other Military Entitlements: Matawalle Commends President Tinubu for Prompt Payment
The Honourable Minister of State for Defence, H.E. Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle MON, has expressed his gratitude to H.E President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for his decisive action in ensuring the prompt payment of military salary increase with three months arrears and also today’s release of funds for the payment of Pension and other owed entitlements of retired military Personnel
Dr. Matawalle confirmed that alerts regarding the three-month salary increase for military personnel have begun to be received.
The Minister commended President Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to the welfare of both serving and retired military personnel, emphasizing that the payment of pension arrears owed to retirees will continue to receive critical attention. This initiative reflects the President’s dedication to enhancing the living standards of those who have served the nation.
Furthermore, the Hon minister acknowledged the efforts and support of the Honourable Minister of finance and Coordinating minister of Economy Mr Wale Edun who was very committed in the actualization of these payments.
Dr. Matawalle urged the Nigerian military to remain steadfast in their duties, reassuring them that President Tinubu is fully committed to boosting their morale and providing the necessary support to combat insecurity in Nigeria. “Despite initial setbacks, be rest assured that Mr. President will do everything within his power to uplift our military forces as they confront the challenges of insecurity,” he affirmed.
Highlighting the significant contributions of the Nigerian military in combating insurgency, terrorism, and other forms of criminality, the Minister reiterated the vital role that these brave men and women play in ensuring the nation’s security.
He assured the officers and personnel of the Nigerian Armed forces of President Tinubu’s unwavering resolve to eradicate insecurity in Nigeria, bolstered by the readiness and resilience of the military.
The Organised Labour in Enugu State has refuted the media reports that the new minimum wage was yet to be paid in the state, saying that the implementation of the N80,000 minimum wage, which is above the N70,000 national minimum wage, commenced in November 2024.
The workers also said that they had no plan to go on strike since. They said that observed discrepancies in consequential adjustment in the implementation of the N80,000 minimum wage had already been conveyed to Governor Peter Mbah and nursed no doubts that it would be addressed subsequently, as he had already earned workers’ trust by his commitment to their welfare since his assumption of office.
This was made known in a joint statement in the state capital on Tuesday by the Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Enugu State Council, Comrade Fabian Nwigbo; Chairman of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Ben Asogwa; and the Chairman of the state’s Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, JNC, Comrade Ezekiel Omeh.
The statement read, “The Orgaised Labour in Enugu State wishes to make clarifications in several media reports, which wrongly project Enugu among the states that are yet to pay the national minimum wage.
“We want to acknowledge the fact that the Enugu State Government paid the N80,000 minimum wage approved by the governor in the November 2024 salary.
“However, the minimum wage paid did not reflect the consequential adjustments inherent in minimum wage implementation.
“As labour leaders, we have already communicated to His Excellency the observed discrepancies and in his usual magnanimity to the welfare of workers, we strongly believe that he will address this subsequently.
“Our confidence in the governor remains intact, considering his usual dispositions to the wellbeing of workers.
“It is worthy of note that he continued to pay wage award of N25,000 he approved for workers from December 2023 till October 2024 when the new minimum wage of N80,000 was approved and consequently reflected in the November salary.
“We also recall his good faith in ensuring that local government employees were included from the onset in the new minimum wage of N80,000, having earlier upgraded them to full N30,000 minimum wage upon assumption of office after several years of waiting.
“Likewise, he approved the payment of the N1.9bn four-year accumulated leave allowances owed to teachers of public primary schools in the state and eight-month salary arrears valued at over N467m, which were also owed the academic, non-academic, and casual staff of the Enugu State College of Education Technical, ESCET, Enugu, before his assumption of office.
“Consequently, in the same culture, we trust him to address all the concerns regarding consequential adjustments in the implementation of N80,000 minimum wage.
“So, we have not gone on strike. We do not also contemplate or foresee any strike in the near future because there is no need for that yet.”
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…
Beer Sectoral Group and FRSC Warn Drivers on the Dangers of Drunk Driving
Matawalle Commends President Tinubu for Positive Economic Reforms
Gbenjo, Alaseyori, Olaoba, Chigozie Wisdom Headline SIFAX Group Thanksgiving 2.0
LASG Acquires New Outboard Engines For Optimum Boat Performance
Elon Musk builds Hotel in Mars, Sets to launch soon at $5million per night – Photos
