Business
Benue lawmakers ignore critics, okay bogus pensions for ex-govs, deputies
Benue lawmakers ignore critics, okay bogus pensions for ex-govs, deputies
Benue State House of Assembly has passed the controversial executive pension bill, giving bogus entitlements to ex-governors and their deputies of the state.
The lawmakers passed the bill on Thursday after receiving an alert of three out of six months’ salary arrears owed by the state government.
The lawmakers had suspended sitting following non-payment of six months’ salary arrears and three months’ overhead.
The bill, which received condemnation from some people in the state including the governor-elect, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, is to provide for the governor a permanent residential accommodation in any place of their choice in the country, make provisions for four new cars every four years for the former governors and two new cars every four years for former deputy governors.
It also provides for six personal staff for the former governors and three for the former deputy governors to be paid for by the state, while it also provides for free medical treatment for the past governors, their spouses and at least four children under 18.
Having received the alert on Thursday, members were said to have convened a plenary session where the bill was passed with some adjustments.
The minority leader of the house, Bem Ngutyo, confirmed that the bill had been passed with ‘some adjustment’.
He said, “Yes the house passed the bill just now but we reduced the contents badly; the four cars to governors were reduced to two, two to deputies reduced to one, the portion to provide accommodation to past governors at any place of their choice was expunged.
“So also the portion of medical trips abroad twice a year was reduced to once.
Asked if the governor had cleared the six months salary arrears and three months’ overhead, Ngutyo said, “We have received an alert of three months salary out of six” adding that the three months’ overhead had also been paid.
Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Tertsea Gbisea, who also confirmed the passage, said that the house passed the bill but with ‘extensive changes made’.
Gbisea said, “Yes, a version of the Maintenance of Former Elected Governors of Benue State Bill was passed today (Thursday), extensive changes were made on the version sent by the executive.
“We had in mind the dire financial situation of the state and did the needful. The auditor general report was also adopted two days ago.”
Business
Naira depreciates again, trades at N1,402/$
Naira depreciates again, trades at N1,402/$
The Nigerian currency, naira, on Thursday slightly depreciated at the official market, trading at N1,402.67 to the dollar.
Data from the official trading platform of the FMDQ Exchange, a platform that oversees the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM), showed that the naira lost N11.71
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This represents a 0.84 per cent loss when compared to the previous trading date on Tuesday April 30, when it exchanged at 1,390.96 to a dollar.
However, the total daily turnover increased to 232.84 million dollars on Thursday, up from 225.36 million dollars recorded on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, at the Investor’s and Exporter’s (I&E) window, the naira traded between 1,445.00 and N1,299.42 against the dollar.
Naira depreciates again, trades at N1,402/$
Auto
Appeal court takes over NURTW case as NIC withdraws
Appeal court takes over NURTW case as NIC withdraws
The National Industrial Court has withdrawn from a case involving Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin, Board of Trustees chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa’s ambition to return as president of the union over lack of jurisdiction.
The industrial court’s decision was made to avoid conflict with the Court of Appeal, where the matter is already being heard.
Before the NIC announced its decision to hands-off the case, the defendants’ counsel, Mr. O.I. Olorundare SAN, had informed the court that the matter is currently before the Court of Appeal, Abuja division, and that the industrial court could not continue to adjudicate on the same matter.
The counsel cited authorities to support his claim, adding that the National Industrial Court does not have concurrent jurisdiction with the Court of Appeal.
The presiding judge, O.O. Oyewunmi, struck out the case, stating that the Appeal Court had taken over the matter and that the Industrial Court must respect the hierarchy of courts.
Alhaji Yasin and six others took the case to the Appeal Court, challenging the decision of the industrial court recognising a delegates’ conference held on May 24, 2023, where Baruwa was proclaimed as President of the union for a second term in office.
With the latest NIC judgement, both parties will now proceed to defend their positions at the Court of Appeal and await the final judgement.
Business
Multichoice shuns court order, proceeds with increase of DSTV, Gotv packages
Multichoice shuns court order, proceeds with increase of DSTV, Gotv packages
Despite the intervention of the CCPT, Multichoice Limited has proceeded to increase packages price for DSTV and GOTV as announce on Wednesday last week.
Newstrends had earlier reported that the corporation announced that the new rates will go into effect on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in a statement.
Meanwhile, on Monday, MultiChoice Nigeria Limited was ordered by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) in Abuja to suspend the planned prices and tariffs hike on packages and services.
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The three-member tribunal, presided over by Saratu Shafii, gave the interim order following an ex-parte motion moved by Ejiro Awaritoma, counsel for the applicant, Festus Onifade.
News prices includes: DStv, Premium bouquet, the price moved from N29,500 to N37,000; Compact+ from N19,800 to N25,000; Compact from N12,500 to N15,700; Confam from N7,400 to N9,300, among others.
For GOtv users, Supa+ increased from N12,500 to N15,700; Supa moved from N7,600 to N9,600; Max from N5,700 to N7,200; Jolli, from N3,950 to N4,850, among others.
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