Don't drag us into your dispute with FG, NURTW tells NLC – Newstrends
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Don’t drag us into your dispute with FG, NURTW tells NLC

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Don’t drag us into your dispute with FG, NURTW tells NLC

The leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers( NURTW) has warned the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) not to bring them into its tussle with the Federal Government over fuel subsidy issue.

The NURTW said its internal crisis should not be used as bait to hold government to ransom.

It will be recalled that the NLC had in a press statement credited to the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, threatened that the labour movement would not attend any meeting called or involving Minister of Labour, Simon Bako Lalong, premising its stand on the ground that the minister was plotting to thwart the agreement reached with the Federal Government concerning the resolution of the crisis rocking the NURTW.

Ajero accused the minister of taking sides with a faction of the NURTW.

But reacting to the NLC statement, the Acting General Secretary of the union, Comrade Kayode Agbeyangi, berated the NLC leadership, accusing it of crying more than bereaved.

“We would have ignored the NLC president, but there is a need to put the record straight.

“For record purposes, there is no more factions in the NURTW. We are intact and indivisible and this was demonstrated with various resolutions of our CWC and NEC meetings and with successful hosting of our 10th quadrennial delegate conference on 25th October, 2023.
“It has become the stock in trade of the NLC to blackmail everybody trying to find amicable solution to the union problems. They began with President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who they accused of providing security cover for the union and now it is the turn of Hon. Minister of Labour and Employment to be blackmailed.

“To Ajaero, it must be Baruwa by all means and nothing more.”

He explained that the minister, in his efforts at resolving the Baruwa-induced crisis, invited all the parties and each party presented their position paper to the ministry, but after the first meeting, Baruwa refused to attend subsequent meetings.

He added that the ministry felt a single individual could not hold the union to ransom, hence he gave the directive that the process of getting new leaders for the union should commence.

Agbeyangi warned the NLC leadership not to drag the NURTW into its problem with the Federal Government.
“Our union wants the NLC to handle its problems with the Federal Government without necessarily dragging our union into it.

He said, “NURTW is a registered body with its own constitution and we are conducting our affairs in conformity with the union constitution.
“We are therefore using this medium to appeal to the NLC to desist from using NURTW issues as a bait in its dispute with the Federal Government.”

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Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

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Yahaya Bello

Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has requested an adjournment in the new case against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, stating that the 30-day window for the previously issued summons is still active.

The commission has granted administrative bail to his co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, and asked the court for an extension of time for Bello to appear.

At the resumed hearing before Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, EFCC Counsel Jamiu Agoro noted that the court’s order from October 3rd had not yet expired.

“In that wise, we feel it will not be appropriate for us to take proceedings while that 30 days is still running. So we have discussed and agreed to come back on the 27th day of November, 2024, my lord,” he told the court.

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He also mentioned that the previously set date of November 20th was not convenient for the prosecution counsels.

Counsel to the second defendant, Aliyu Saiki, SAN, confirmed that his client had been granted administrative bail by the prosecution and had no objection to the adjournment request. The third defendant’s counsel, ZE Abass, concurred.

The prosecution counsel also requested the court to allow the notice of hearing to be pasted on the last known address of the first defendant.

After hearing from all counsels, the judge granted the EFCC’s application for adjournment and the issuance of the hearing notice.

“I have considered the application for adjournment by the complainant and issuance of hearing notice and the submission by the second and third defendants. The application is granted,” she said.

Justice Anenih then adjourned the case to November 27th for arraignment.

The former governor, alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are being prosecuted as 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively, in a fresh 16-count charge instituted against them by the EFCC.

Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

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We are understaffed, ICPC boss laments

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Chairman of the ICPC, Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN

We are understaffed, ICPC boss laments

Musa Adamu Aliyu, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has stated that the Commission is understaffed and under-resourced. Aliyu says this is limiting the commission’s efficiency.

According to a statement on the ICPC website published on Wednesday, Aliyu made this known on Monday while presenting the Commission’s performance scorecard to the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes.

“Currently, we have 21 state offices, but they are severely understaffed and under-resourced, which affects our efficiency nationwide,” he said.

Aliyu mentioned that the ICPC suffered from inadequate funding, which hampers the pursuit of investigations, legal proceedings and public education efforts.

Cases involving politicians, where external influences can challenge the impartiality and integrity of investigations, are also some of the challenges bedevilling the ICPC.

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Aliyu cited slow court processes as one of the factors preventing the swift resolution of corruption cases and undermining public trust in anti-corruption efforts.

“Our work requires diverse expertise, from forensic analysis to psychology, yet rising living costs make it increasingly difficult to maintain high morale among staff. Reviewing salaries and welfare benefits is essential for sustainable productivity,” Aliyu said.

“Additionally, ICPC personnel face security risks, especially during high-stakes investigations, making it critical to provide them with adequate security measures similar to those granted to other agencies.

“We urge you to consider the Commission’s requests for adequate funding to strengthen operational resources. Such support will enable us to pursue a more effective, inclusive, and resilient fight against corruption in Nigeria.”

 

We are understaffed, ICPC boss laments

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Wike claims Adeyanju became activist after he rejected request to be PDP Publicity Secretary

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Wike claims Adeyanju became activist after he rejected request to be PDP Publicity Secretary

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, has disclosed how rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, had approached him, seeking his blessings to become the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, a plea he turned down.

Wike said Adeyanju who became jobless on account of the rejection has now become an emergency activist, using every opportunity to attack the FCT Administration under him.

The minister spoke on Wednesday evening during a live media chat in Abuja.

Adeyanju who had recently attacked Wike for allegedly concentrating development on the city centre, an allegation that has been severally denied by the Administration, with video and pictorial proofs.

Adeyanju also last week led a protest against Wike over the demolition of Ruga, a settlement along Metro line corridor in Wuye District.

Reacting, Wike said; “I saw one young man, they call him Adeyanju. He is from Kogi State. This young boy came to me that he wants to be the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP and I said ‘No’..

“I said he won’t be, and he was not. I have no regrets about it. He has suddenly become a civil society activist. He has no job and that is why he decided to turn to a civil society activist”.

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Shortly after the live media chat, Adeyanju had posted on his Facebook page that he was too busy with clients that he would not be making any response until Friday. He however did not explicitly mention the Minister’s name but rather used expletives.

Wike had on Sunday vowed to go ahead with demolitions of shanties and illegal structures in the territory, saying government will not succumb to blackmail by few individuals who would rather that the status quo be maintained.

Wike who had held an emergency security council meeting on Sunday evening had in company of the security chiefs and journalists visited the Ruga community in Wuye District where town planning officials and security personnel had earlier gone on clearance operations.

There were reports that a handful of the squatters had protested alongside a lawyer, but spokesman of the community, Abba Garu conceded that they were illegal squatters and that previous administrations had carried out at least 22 demolitions of the area but the people always returned.

While he noted that the community was a mini-Nigeria as it had people from different tribes, Garu begged the administration for compassion.

In response, Wike asked him to nominate four other members of the community to meet with officials of the administration in order to come up with a humane solution.

Wike claims Adeyanju became activist after he rejected request to be PDP Publicity Secretary

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