Osinbajo Senate gives Acting President 2-week ultimatum to submit budgets of 38 agencies - Pulse Nigeria

The Nigerian Senate has given Acting President Yemi Osinbajo a two-week ultimatum to present the budgets of 38 revenue generating agencies, corporations and parastatals.
The resolution was sequel to a motion by Deputy Senate leader, Bala Na’Allah on Wednesday, May 17, 2017.
The Senate expressed displeasure over the failure of government agencies, corporations and agencies to submit their budget for approval – a move which contradicts Section 21 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act .
The agencies include: Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASEI), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), National Maritime Authority (NMA), Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Nigerian Postal Service (NPS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC),.....

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OPEC wild cards: Libya, Nigeria oil output stokes concern, but geopolitical risks still simmer - CNBC

Rising oil production in Libya and Nigeria is raising concerns about OPEC's ability to boost crude prices, but conflicts in the two nations may still keep a lid on their output.
Both OPEC members are exempt from the cartel's deal to remove 1.2 million barrels a day from the oil market in the first six months of this year. But with OPEC poised to extend the agreement at least through the rest of 2017, the conflicts that sidelined Libyan and Nigerian crude supplies appear to be easing.
Libya's output rose above 800,000 barrels a day for the first time since 2014, when a second civil war broke out, the country's National Oil Corp. reported last week. Meanwhile, Nigeria is restoring major infrastructure damaged in militant attacks that nearly halved its output last year.

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‘Wealth of five richest Nigerians can end extreme poverty in the country’

The combined wealth of five richest Nigerians could end extreme poverty in the country, the Inequality report released by Oxfam International says.

The report, released on Wednesday, puts the combined wealth at $29.9 billion.
Entitled ‘Inequality in Nigeria, Exploring the Drivers,’ it highlights the large and growing gap between the rich and poor in Nigeria.

It attributed the inability of the poor people to benefit from Nigeria’s wealth to the “high high level of corruption and the excessive influence big business and some wealthy elite has over government and policy making”.

The report said that the benefits of the nation’s economic growth “had been captured by a few wealthy elite” at the expense of the ordinary Nigerians.

It also noted that this “economic inequality” is a key factor in the conflict in the north-eastern part of the country.

“Nigeria’s richest man earned 8,000 times more in one day than a poor Nigerian would spend on basic needs in a year,” the report said.

“More than 112 million people were living in poverty in Nigeria, yet the country’s richest man spent one million dollars a day for 42 years to exhaust his fortune.

“Despite a rapidly growing economy, Nigeria is one of the few countries where the number of people living in poverty increased, from 69 million in 2004 to 112 million in 2010 – a rise of 69 percent. The number of millionaires increased by 44 percent during the same period.

“69 per cent of people now live below the poverty line in North-Eastern states, compared to the 49 per cent in the South-West.”
Oxfam’s report also states that women represent between 60 per cent and 79 per cent of Nigeria’s rural labour force “but are five times less likely to own their own land than men”.

According to the report, public office holders stole “estimated 20 trillion dollars” from the treasury between 1960 and 2005, while multinational companies receive tax incentives estimated at 2.9 billion dollars a year.

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BREAKING: Rebel chief escapes in DR Congo prison break

Rebels from an outlawed political -religious group attacked Kinshasa’ s central prison on Wednesday, breaking out their leader and about 50 other prisoners , the Congolese government said .
“ Followers of the Bundu Dia Kongo ( BDK ) attacked Makala prison at dawn and broke out around 50 prisoners including their guru, Ne Muanda Nsemi , ” government spokesman Lambert Mende said , indicating that police had given chase.
A lawmaker , Nsemi is the spiritual leader of a movement which has called for an insurrection against Kinshasa.
The government has accused BDK followers of a string of violent attacks in western DR Congo since the start of the year .


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Photos: See what a heartless father did to his 3-year-old child for defecating in the bedroom

A 3-year-old child, Kwabena has been left with a swollen mouth and scars on his body, after his 45-year-old dad, Mr Anokye from Oseikwame in Asunafo North, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana, reportedly assaulted him. The heartless dad who has been arrested by Mmim Police, was said to have 'caned the little boy mercilessly for allegedly defecating in the bedroom.'



Here are more photos of the assaulted child, shared on Facebook by Nana;

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[News Headline] VIO ban on Lagos roads is permanent ' Ambode

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, has said that the ban of Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) from Lagos road is permanent.
Governor Ambode who disclosed this Tuesday at the commissioning of Pedestrian bridges, layby and slip roads in Ojodu Berger axis also asked officers of the Federal Road Service Corps, (FRSC) to stay off all state roads...

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APC women leader hails Buhari over Chibok girls release

The National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu has commended President Muhammadu Buhari over the rescue of additional 82 Chibok school girls.

In a statement yesterday, the APC chieftain said  "it is with unconfined joy and relief that Nigerians greeted the news of the release of 82 of our Chibok daughters.

"We commend the fatherly efforts of our dear President in his steadfast commitment towards the return of our girls," she said.

She also commended the role played by all stakeholders who facilitated the release of these children of destiny.

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Rescue Remaining 113 Girls, BBOG Tells FG

Following the release of 82 kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls by Boko Haram insurgents, a member of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) and the Vice Chair, Board of Trustees, International Crisis Centre, Mrs. Ayo Obe, has called on the federal government to do all within its powers to free the remaining 113 girls still being held by the insurgents.

But Obe said until the remaining 113 are freed, the minds of Nigerians will not be at rest, adding that all the girls should be accounted for and brought back alive.

Speaking on Arise Television last night, she said: “Even though there are reports that some of the girls are unwilling to come along with the 82 freed girls because they may have been radicalised, the government should not be discouraged. It should rather do its best to recover them. When they have been recovered, deradicalised and no longer under coercion, that’s only when they can be judged by their action.

“For now, they all should be freed and reunited with their families. Government owes its citizens a duty of security. It is government’s duty to free the girls. Though we have passed the half way mark. What we need to understand is there are still 113 unaccounted Chibok girls out there,” she added.

She said government should do its best to see that the 82 freed girls were given full rehabilitation so that they can be reintegrated into the society.

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We swapped B-Haram suspects for 82 Chibok girls – FG

President Muhammadu Buhari (standing) speaking during a reception for the 82 Chibok girls. ABOVE RIGHT: A cross-section of the girls. BELOW RIGHT: Members of the BBOG jubilating yesterday. Apart from releasing some Boko Haram suspects, as confirmed by President Muhammadu Buhari and Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign and Local Debts, Senator Shehu Sani, Vanguard gathered that some money was also spent to ease the process. The release brings to 103 the number of Chibok girls so far freed, apart from those who escaped on their own since abduction on April 14, 2014. The development, which elicited celebrations in Chibok community of Borno State, is generating commendation for President Buhari, whose Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, received the girls in Abuja, yesterday. Among those who expressed joy and saluted the President for the feat were Senate President Bukola Saraki; House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara; former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State; All Progressives Congress, APC; Bring Back Our Girls group, BBOG; Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF; Geneva- based Industrial Global Union; and President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Mrs Laura Boldrini among others. 

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To those wishing the president dead, he will not die- Olumba

Spiritual leader of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari will not die in office as predicted by some people.
He disclosed this in Calabar when cautioning those praying and wishing Buhari dead to desist, saying God purposely chose him as president of Nigeria to wage war against corruption.
According to Olumba, Buhari’s government has succeeded in the battle to retrieve Nigeria’s stolen money; but that he must work towards peace and unity of the country.....

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Fani-Kayode threatens to sue Amaechi, seeks N5bn as damages

The former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has threatened to sue the Minister of Transportion, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, his comments on ChannelTV on two billion naira allegedly transferred by the former governor of Rivers state, Dr. Peter Odili to the Ministry of Aviation to fix Port-Harcourt runway.
Fani-Kayode through his lawyers on Monday demanded apology and N5billion as damages saying that Amaechi disparaged Fani-Kayode by ‘his remarks, in the eyes of right thinking members of the society; and these remarks have been found to be false and slanderous.’

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Voters registration: Stakeholders urge INEC to take exercise to hinterlands

—STAKEHOLDERS in Aba have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to move the continuous voters registration exercise to the polling units to ensure effectiveness.
They said that it would not be easy for people in the hinterlands, especially young people, to pay for going to the local government headquarters to do the registration.
The stakeholders made the call at different fora organised by INEC in different local government councils in Aba to sensitize people about the ongoing exercise.

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MTN sacks 280 workers

Telecommunications giants, MTN has sacked 280 of its employees in Nigeria and were were given a severance of 75% of their gross monthly income multiplied by the number of years with the company.
Staff affected include some 200 permanent employees and about 80 contract staff across various cadres, ranging from new graduates to senior managers .
Many had 15 years with the company having joined MT N after it opened office in Nigeria in 2001.
“Given that the company is about 16 years old in Nigeria, the severance package brought pain and discontent among the affected staff,” a source told Premium Times.....

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#WhereIsBuhari: President Buhari Absent From May Day Rally

Speculation surrounding President Muhammadu Buhari's health once again surfaced on Monday after the president failed to attend a May Day rally.

Mr. Buhari’s absence from the annual Workers’ Day celebration comes less than a week after he missed last Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. The Office of the Presidency and Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, explained that the president missed the meeting because he needed rest.

Nigerians on Twitter have questioned the president’s whereabouts using the hashtag #WhereIsBuhari. While the president’s media aides have not yet provided an explanation for his absence, many Nigerians on social media have assumed that his illness prevented him from attending the rally.

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Soldiers Kill Militant Leader, Gang Members

In what the military designated to fight criminalities in the Niger Delta described as a major victory on Monday, ‘General’ Ossy Ibori, a wanted criminal suspect, and several of his lieutenants were killed in a gun duel with soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe.
The leader of an inter-state gang which operated from the creeks of the Niger Delta through Ondo, Ogun and Lagos States, it was gathered, died from bullet wounds during the encounter when he attempted to attack a military location in Ese-Odo, Ondo State.
Ibori, 40, THISDAY learnt on Monday, planned and executed the much publicised abduction of some staff and students of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, Epe; masterminded others in Ogun and killed a pregnant woman and her child in Festac Town last year.....

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Saraki, Dogara, others harassed out of May Day rally

…We’re frustrated, says Wabba as Buhari assures on minimum wage bill
…We’ll pay N56,000, says Gombe gov; N96,000 more like it — ULC
ABUJA — THERE was pandemonium, yesterday, at the Eagle Square, Abuja venue of National May Day celebration, organised by leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and their Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, counterpart, as aggrieved workers disrupted proceedings over absence of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo.

The workers were infuriated that President Buhari had not attended a Workers’ Day celebration since he took over power in 2015 and had not deemed it necessary to send the Vice President to represent him.
They expressed angst that the President kept sending the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, to represent him, an official they feel could not take responsibility or make categorical statements on matters affecting workers....

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Workers deserve a better deal

May Day of 2017, which was celebrated yesterday all over the world by the working class was perhaps, the gloomiest in our recent history. Apart from the good news that the economy would likely exit recession later this year, the catalogue of woes reflected in the banners and placards at the rallies of the Labour unions seemed longer than usual.

The recession has wreaked widespread havoc in the lives of workers in the past two years. Unemployment was exacerbated by large-scale retrenchments, with the banks, factories and the construction sub-sectors being the most hard-hit. Most employers of labour, both in the private and public sectors, owe their workers for many months, while some resorted to pay cuts just to remain afloat.

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Gombe to pay N56, 000 minimum wage, if the Federal Government approves it.

Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, has assured the state civil servants that his government would immediately implement the proposed N56, 000 national minimum wage, if the Federal Government approves it.
Dankwambo gave the assurance at the commemoration of 2017 Workers’ Day in Gombe on Monday.
The governor was represented by his deputy, Mr Charles Iliya, who is also acting Governor.
‘’As soon as the Federal Government approves the new minimum wage, our administration will implement it within the limit of our resources.’’
He, however, called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Nigerians to be resilient and support government efforts aimed at moving the country out of current economic recession.
“Our administration accords top priority to the welfare of civil servants whose selfless service contributed immensely to the socio-economy development of our dear state.’’
Earlier in his remarks, Mr Aliyu Kamara, the State Chairman, NLC, appealed to the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency approve the new minimum wage submitted by the Technical Committee....


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Police Arrest Sule Lamido over His Utterances

Operatives from the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 1, Kano, yesterday arrested the former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido.
Lamido was alleged to have been arrested over plans to scuttle the forthcoming local government elections in the state slated for July 1.
The spokesman of the police in the zone,
Sambo Sokoto, confirmed the arrest, stating that he was invited to answer questions.
It was further gathered that the state government had written a petition to the zone 1 headquarters of the police to investigate the former governor over his utterances that could undermine the peace of the state in the forthcoming local government elections in the state.
Sources revealed that Lamido was alleged to have addressed his supporters on April 8 in a rally recently held at the PDP headquarters in Dutse where he urged them to make sure the party won the election at all cost.
Another source also hinted that the arrest of the former governor might not be unconnected with the programme aired in one of the Kano local radio stations where he was alleged to have directed his people to make sure they win the local government elections by all means.
Lamido was said to have been arrested at his Sharada Kano residence yesterday morning by the Zonal Investigative Bureau Unit (ZIB) of Zone 1....

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Once Rejected by Nigeria, How Anthony Joshua Became Champion of the World

The new IBF and WBA heavyweight champion of the world, Anthony Oluwafemi Joshua, could have fought Vladimir Klitschko, as world boxing champion, under the green white green banner of Nigeria rather than the British Union Jack.
But for one small and now ultimately significant rejection by Nigerian boxing officials in 2008, when he wanted to represent the country of his parents at the Olympic Games, was to alter the course of history, ESPN reported on Sunday.
Maybe his career would have taken an entirely different fork at the crossroads if he had been flying the green and white colours nearly a decade ago.
Joshua makes no secret of his Nigerian heritage. If anything, he embraces it. His middle name, Femi (short for Oluwafemi), is as Nigerian as they come. On numerous occasions he has not been shy to speak about his Nigerian roots.
Joshua was born in Watford to a Nigerian mother and a British father of Nigerian and Irish descent. He made his professional debut in 2013...

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