News
Breaking: Finally, William Ruto declares winner of Kenya presidential election
About a week after Kenyan citizens voted in a presidential election, the country’s electoral body has declared Deputy President William Ruto as winner with a marginal victory over his close rival ex-Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Ruto polled over seven million valid votes while Odinga scored a little below seven million, according to the results as announced in major global TV channels including Al-Jazeera and our own (TV) Arise News watched by NewsTrends correspondent.
Ruto won the race to be the fifth president of the East African nation, according to results announced by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Before Monday’s declaration, results of 141 of the 292 constituencies had earlier been confirmed, according to a report with Ruto winning about 51 per cent against Odinga’s 48.
Ruto in his acceptance speech dedicated the victory to the Kenyan people and congratulated the electoral body for doing a good job.
“There are no losers. The people of Kenya have won because we raised the political bar,” the president-elect said after the announcement on Monday.
“I want to promise all Kenyans that I will run a transparent, open democratic government,” he added, pledging to build on the good foundation laid by the outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The electoral commission head had earlier admitted that announcing the result of Tuesday’s election had been too slow as the verification of results was stopped several times after complaints by supporters of the two main candidates.
On Saturday night, Odinga’s supporters entered a restricted area and accosted electoral officials, accusing them of tampering with the vote.
His chief campaign manager was able to get to the lectern used by top electoral commission officials, where he criticised the result verification process.
“I want to announce to the nation that Bomas of Kenya is a scene of crime,” said Saitabao Ole Kanchory, before the microphone was switched off and he was led away. Bomas is the name of the cultural centre in the capital, Nairobi, which is being used as the main tallying centre.
Ruto’s supporters accused their opponents of interfering with the tallying process.
Riot police were deployed inside the building to reinforce security.
There have been calls for peace from several leaders and bodies including the Catholic Church which asked for “patience and civility” and urged the main candidates to show “restraint and statesmanship” as anxiety grows.
“I want to become an instrument to bring peace, to heal, unite and keep the hope alive in our country,” Odinga said on Sunday morning at a church service in Nairobi, his first public remarks since election day.
Ruto also attended a church service on Sunday, and urged Kenyans to exercise restraint, saying, “We ask all of us to be patient with all the processes that are going on at the moment and to pray for the IEBC [electoral commission] so that they can complete this exercise in the manner in which we voted.” he
Media organisations have been releasing provisional tallies using official data from the 46,000 polling stations. They also show a tight race. About 14 million votes were cast – a turnout of 65%.
News
May Day: A’Ibom gov increases minimum wage to N40,000
May Day: A’Ibom gov increases minimum wage to N40,000
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has said henceforth, the least paid worker in the state will go home with N40,000 monthly, instead of N30,000.
He made this announcement in his address to workers when they celebrated this year’s Workers’ Day at UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar.
He said he increased the wage based on economic reality as well as the lean federal allocations accrued to the state, and not out of sentiments.
Otu said his government was very appreciative of workers even though their industrial output was only 5 per cent which was very poor.
He said, “Government considers its workforce as the driver of lofty projects and programmes for the common good of the people. Workers in the State are always held in high esteem to achieve good results, which reason prompt payment of salary and pension has been up to date.”
“The State Government is presently on the verge of concluding necessary arrangements for the staggered payment of outstanding gratuity to its retired workers. I therefore sue for a little patience from the pensioners in this regard.”
READ ALSO:
- El-Rufai ignored us for 8 years, Kaduna NLC praises Gov Sani
- Umahi replies Obi over Lagos-Calabar coastal project criticism
- Appeal court takes over NURTW case as NIC withdraws
However, the Organised Labour in the State have have accused the state government of neglect and deceit, calling for open recruitment of employable youths to fill up various vacant positions.
Chairman of TUC, Comrade Monday Ogolodom, said the administration deceived the senior citizens when it failed to deliver its promise to clear off backlog of gratuities since 2013.
Addressing workers, Ogolodom said, “Payment of gratuity in the state has become a mirage. I recall on the 4 of October, 2023, during the swearing-in of the Head of Service, Innocent Eteng, His Excellency, the Governor made a very welcoming, sweet and promising speech, saying “before the end of December, 2023 all backlog of Gratuity in the state shall be cleared”.
“Today is 1″ May 2024, 4 (four) months after, nothing has started”, adding that this has portrayed the governor in bad light and appealed to him to set up machinery towards actualizing the promise as some of our elder statesmen and women were dying due to lack of funds for medications.
He alleged that bribes for promotion were now rampant, adding that it was appalling and discouraging for industrious and qualified workers.
He described as unending the verification exercise that was supposed to weed out ghost workers in the state, saying this has denied workers overdue promotions.
He called on government to officially embark on recruitment exercise instead of secret recruitments.
May Day: A’Ibom gov increases minimum wage to N40,000
News
El-Rufai ignored us for 8 years, Kaduna NLC praises Gov Sani
El-Rufai ignored us for 8 years, Kaduna NLC praises Gov Sani
The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kaduna state, Comrade Ayuba Magaji Suleiman, has hailed Governor Uba Sani for personally attending the May Day rally in Kaduna.
Speaking at Murtala Square, Kaduna, on Wednesday, Suleiman said the last time a governor personally attended the rally was nine years ago.
“Your Excellency, we want to thank you for personally attending the May Day Celebration. Labour has not witnessed the presence of a governor at such an occasion in the last nine years,” he said.
Malam Nasir El-Rufai, Sani’s predecessor, spent two terms of eight years as governor.
While commending the governor for prioritizing workers’ welfare through prompt payment of salaries and allowances, as well as involvement of the labour unions in decision making in the state, the NLC Chairman expressed hope that workers would enjoy favorable working conditions.
In his speech, the governor assured the workers of his support, saying development is about the people, just as governance is also about the people.
READ ALSO:
- Umahi replies Obi over Lagos-Calabar coastal project criticism
- Appeal court takes over NURTW case as NIC withdraws
- Inspector arrested with snatched car
He said governors were working with NLC to come up with decent and acceptable pay for workers.
The Government under my leadership will continue to prioritize workers’ welfare and equip them appropriately within available resources, conscious of the fact that a committed and motivated workforce is critical to the achievement of our Rural Transformation Agenda. Human capital development and poverty reduction will continue to receive robust government attention through investment in education, health, agriculture, housing, micro, small and medium enterprises, as well as support to security agencies as they tackle terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.
“Nigerian Governors, under the platform of Nigeria Governors Forum, are in consultation with Labour Unions at the federal and state levels in order to come up with a decent and acceptable salary increase for state and local government workers. As a comrade and veteran of the struggle for better working conditions for Nigerian workers, I will not rest on my oars until we agree on a wage package that will put smiles on the faces of our workers.
“As we ramp up our Rural Transformation Drive and implement innovative programmes to reinvent our economy, we seek the cooperation and total commitment of Kaduna State workers. Increased productivity and sustained industrial harmony will help reposition our economy and put our government in good stead to frontally tackle our myriad security and developmental challenges.”
El-Rufai ignored us for 8 years, Kaduna NLC praises Gov Sani
News
Umahi replies Obi over Lagos-Calabar coastal project criticism
Umahi replies Obi over Lagos-Calabar coastal project criticism
The Minister of Works, David Umahi has said that Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra, is inciting the southeast to rebel against the federal government over the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project.
Umahi disclosed this on Wednesday at a road project stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos.
The Lagos-Calabar coastal road, which will pass through eight other states including the beach resorts along Lagos’ beachfront, has had its construction processs commenced by the federal government.
The project has generated controversy and concerns about funding and the businesses that would be affected during construction.
On Tuesday, Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, criticised the federal government over the project, describing it as a misplaced priority.
READ ALSO:
- Appeal court takes over NURTW case as NIC withdraws
- Inspector arrested with snatched car
- Policeman chops off wife’s hand over N20,000 dispute
The former Anambra governor said the “insensitive” demolition of structures for the project was “heart-wrenching”.
Responding to Obi’s comment, Umahi said Obi supported the demolition of structures for road infrastructure while he was the governor of Anambra.
The minister condemned Obi for criticising the federal government over the project, adding that affected property owners are already being compensated.
“When you condemn people you bring judgment upon yourself and that is what he has done,” Umahi said.
“I think he is inciting some of the south-east people that are not well informed.
“He is inciting and getting them into trouble and he does not go to fight for them.
“Wisdom is a defence. It gives light to those that practice it. I want our people to have wisdom because I’m involved.”
Umahi added that the federal government did not destroy the facilities of Landmark Beach, noting that only shanties on the right of way were removed.
He said the owners of Landmark Beach were not unfairly treated in the construction of the project.
The minister accused Paul Onwuanibe, chief executive officer (CEO) of Landmark Africa Group, of politicising the issues arising from the project.
Umahi replies Obi over Lagos-Calabar coastal project criticism
Terrorists release video of kidnapped palace servant in Zamfara
Man who has lived in America for over 13 years says he’s tired, wants to return home
May Day: A’Ibom gov increases minimum wage to N40,000
-
metro1 day agoLabour Day: Nigerian workers are dedicated, resilient, says NURTW leader
-
Education2 days agoBREAKING: JAMB releases 2024 UTME results
-
News2 days agoSeun Kuti retracts allegation on P&ID fraud, tenders apology
-
News2 days agoTerrorist negotiator Tukur Mamu seeks transfer out of DSS custody to Kuje prison
-
metro2 days agoBREAKING: Suspected herders kill 3 mourners, farmers in Enugu
-
News2 days agoGanduje probe: Kano commission invites public for information
-
Auto6 hours agoAppeal court takes over NURTW case as NIC withdraws
-
Sports2 days agoApologise or face legal action, Enoh warns Bash Alli