MURIC to Govt : Pay retired teachers, contract workers and retirees’ entitlements before election – Newstrends
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MURIC to Govt : Pay retired teachers, contract workers and retirees’ entitlements before election

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Director of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Lakin Akintola

An Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), on Monday appealed to the Zamfara State Government to pay the entitlements of retired teachers, contract workers, and other retirees before the gubernatorial elections are held in February 2023. According to the group, it is only by doing so that the state government can claim to be responsible and humane.

This was disclosed in a statement sent to Newsbreak.ng by the director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

This news medium understands that some retired teachers and contract workers who worked in Zamfara State are facing hunger, starvation and abject poverty. They now live in inhuman conditions with nothing to eat from morning till evening. They found themselves at the bottom of the towering pyramid of misery and became executive beggars overnight.

Men and women who have worked in the state for more than twelve years under the Zamfara State Teachers Service Board, Gusau, are being disengaged without notice since 2020 till today. Those disengaged even at the end of the month are not paid salary for that month.

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“This practice is illegal, illegitimate and unconstitutional. Apart from the legal angle, Islam as a religion lays emphasis on good treatment of workers, empathy and kindness. Disengaging workers without notice and for no professional anomaly is an infringement on their Allah-given fundamental human rights,” MURIC said.

“Besides, welfare package in Zamfara State civil service appears to be non-existent. The education sector is the worst hit by this poor treatment of workers. There is no promotion for teachers, no annual salary increment, no minimum wages, no pension and no compensation of any kind.

“The classroom scenario is worse than what obtains in refugee camps. A single teacher handles more than a hundred pupils in a poorly ventilated classroom. The libraries are so badly equipped that teachers have to go on internet to source for materials for their notes of lesson. Science subjects receive little or no patronage from students because the laboratories are fit only for the Stone Age.

“The problem can be traced to the low percentage allocated to education in the state’s budget every year. For instance, although Government House alone received N21.8 billion of the N142.7 billion budget in 2021, education, health and works together got a paltry N19.36 billion. Whereas the amount and percentage of the N159.5 billion 2022 budget is still not well known, education still featured very low in the 2023 budget as the crucial zone received a meager N21.2 billion out of a robust figure of N188.8 billion which translates to 11.2%.

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“MURIC appeals to the state government to pay its retirees before this coming gubernatorial election. The education sector must put on a human face and prepare for urgent overhauling. Economic progress in the state depends on the seriousness with which the state government approaches education matters in the state. The time to do this is now.

“The case of serving and retired teachers need urgent attention if only the state government appreciates the role teachers play in the lives of those who are benefiting from education today. It was teachers who taught those who are in positions of authority today, from the permanent secretaries to the state governor. Who among them did not pass through teachers?

“We are aware that the case of Zamfara may not be an isolated one as there may be worse situations in other states. We, therefore, urge all state actors to borrow a leaf from this advocacy.”

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AKAMARA host retracts “ihram for fetish claims”, says conversations staged

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AKAMARA host retracts “ihram for fetish claims”, says conversations staged

 

… as Muslim scholars warn against anti-Islamic contents

 

* It’s unfortunate, example of disinformation: Media expert

 

A veteran broadcaster and anchor of the controversial radio programme AKAMARA, Mr. Ibrahim Adesola (popularly known as Akamara), has retracted all the allegations made regarding the use of ihram (pilgrims garment) allegedly for rituals or diabolical means, saying that all the purported phone calls during the conversations were STAGED!

 

Akamara made the retractions in a video recorded during an urgent meeting convened by the Wakeelul Muslimeen of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta, Sheikh Iskeel Lawal Sugar, on Saturday, 26th April to address the topic which has sparked uproar among the Nigerian Muslim community.

 

Held in his office, the meeting was attended by stakeholders from Yewa Land, Owode Idiroko as well as journalists and lawyers.

 

Also in attendance was a representative of the President of League of Imams and Alfas in Ogun State, The Chief Imam of Owode Yewa, The Ad-hoc Chairman of Ogun State Muslims Pilgrims Board, Sheikh Ishaq Olorungbebe, Sheikh Fasasi Akeukanwo among others.

 

In a statement issued on Sunday, 27th April 2025 by Alhaji Lawal Abu Mordiyah, the Administrative Officer at the Office of Wakeelul Muslimeen of Yorubaland, the scholars warned bloggers like the host of Akamara who are attempting to use Islam or Islamic content to trend on social media for quick money to desist or be ready to face prosecution and risk going to jail.

 

The stakeholders, however, urged Muslims across the world to overlook and forgive the misdemeanor of Mr Ibrahim Adesola and continue to be good Muslims that they are.

 

The Beginning

 

Muslim News Nigeria gathered that a man, who identified himself as Najeem Ajisafe appeared on the radio programme alleging that one Alhaji Lukman Owokomago from Owode Onirin was sponsoring people of the area to Hajj only to collect their Ihram (hajj garment) after returning from hajj, supposedly for ritual.

 

The man, in a recorded viral audio, especially on Tiktok, claimed that when it was the turn of his father, Sulaiman Ajisafe, who went for the 2024 hajj under the sponsorship of Alhaji Owokomago, he decided to buy another cloth to give him instead of the one he allegedly used for hajj.

 

“To my father’s surprise, Alhaji Owokomago was able to tell that it wasn’t the original cloth and insisted that he wanted the original cloth used to perform hajj”, the man narrated the incident to the host of Akamara, promising him to release the suspect’s phone number to hear his own side of the story.

 

Follow-up story

 

In a bid to confirm the authenticity of the claim, the Akamara host brought the accused person Alhaji Owokomago to his programme, allegedly through a phone conversation, who confirmed the story, adding that the demand for Ihram was part of their agreement before the trip and it was his right to collect it.

 

“I have a right to demand the Ihram from them. In fact, it was part of the agreement before I sponsored them for Hajj. ₦10m per person isn’t small money. I sponsored five people. I must collect the Ihram. If I didn’t collect it before the next hajj, one soul will give up for another”, Alhaji Owokomago threatened the host of Akamara during their heated conversation.

 

Investigation leads to the truth

 

The audio clip has since sparked uproar on social media with many Islamophobes attacking Islam and hajj institutions, questioning the intentions of many philanthropists who sponsor underprivileged Nigerians to hajj.

 

But as the news got to the Office of Wakeelul Muslimeen of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta, he invited the host of Akamara to his office on Saturday, 26th April 2025 where it was revealed that the whole episode was STAGED!

 

Mr Adesola fondly called Akamara told the leadership of the community who attended the meeting that the story was a hoax, and a fiction, saying all the people involved in the audio recordings, including Owokomago and Ajisafe with his son, Najeem, do not exist in reality. It was all engineered and stage-managed by the host of Akamara himself.

 

In a recorded video shared on the official social media handle of the Wakeelul Muslimeen of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta, the host of Akamara has been mandated to do a two-minute retraction audio to explain what really happened. He was also mandated to dedicate his next radio programme to admit the story was STAGED, which he agreed to.

 

Despite the widespread backlash, the scholars urged Muslims worldwide to forgive the veteran broadcaster for his actions and continue to practice Islam with integrity and righteousness.

 

It’s unfortunate, example of disinformation: Media expert

 

The controversy surrounding Akamara’s staged broadcast drew sharp criticism from notable Nigerians, including Dr. Jamiu Folarin, a varsity lecturer, journalist and fact-checker.

 

Dr. Folarin described the incident as a prime example of disinformation, calling out content creators who prioritize monetary gain over ethical reporting.

 

“It is one thing to make a mistake, but it is entirely another to deliberately fabricate a story for financial profit,” said Dr. Folarin.

 

“What Ibrahim Adesola did – scripting a live broadcast involving false characters and events – is a high level of unprofessionalism. In a more regulated environment, such broadcasters would likely face severe penalties, including having their licenses revoked.”

 

Dr. Folarin also reiterated the urgent need for better regulation of content creation, especially concerning social media and the growing trend of skits, pranks, and satire that often mislead the public. “We must implement proper training for content creators, label satirical content clearly, and invest in media literacy programmes to prevent the spread of disinformation,” he emphasized.

 

The AKAMARA incident highlights the growing need for ethical conduct in media, especially at a time when misinformation and disinformation can easily spread across platforms.

 

As for Akamara, he has been given a chance to make amends and restore his credibility by publicly admitting his mistake and re-aligning his future broadcasts with the values of truth and responsibility.

 

AKAMARA host retracts “ihram for fetish claims”, says conversations staged

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Police arrest 16-year-old boy with gun in Lagos

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Police arrest 16-year-old boy with gun in Lagos

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 16-year-old boy, Solomon Ibiwoye, after he was found in possession of a firearm in the Ebute-Ero area of the state.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, announced the arrest in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, praising alert residents for their role in the incident.

“Kudos to observant Lagosians who noticed 16-year-old Solomon Ibiwoye with a firearm and discreetly alerted Ebute-Ero Police Division,” Hundeyin wrote.

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According to Hundeyin, a subsequent search of the teenager’s home led to the recovery of a locally made firearm and an unexpended cartridge.

“One more firearm off the streets,” he added, assuring that investigations into the case are ongoing.

Hundeyin further emphasized the importance of community vigilance in helping to curb crime, urging residents, “See something, say something!”

While the police spokesperson did not reveal how the teenager came into possession of the weapon or whether he is connected to any criminal gang, he assured the public that a thorough investigation is underway.

 

Police arrest 16-year-old boy with gun in Lagos

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Tinubu tried to silence me with EFCC – Ex-NHIS boss Yusuf

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Former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Professor Usman Yusuf

Tinubu tried to silence me with EFCC – Ex-NHIS boss Yusuf

Former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Professor Usman Yusuf, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of weaponising the EFCC to silence him, alleging he was treated like a criminal for criticising the government.

Speaking in an interview with Arise Television on Sunday, Yusuf alleged that his recent detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was part of a deliberate attempt to silence him. “This government deliberately denied me bail to shake me up… all to try and silence me. But I am not someone who can be silenced,” he said.

In February, the EFCC arraigned Yusuf before the Federal Capital Territory High Court on a five-count charge of alleged fraud. He pleaded not guilty.

Recounting the events that led to his detention, Yusuf said EFCC operatives stormed his home on 29 January without presenting an arrest warrant. “They walked into the house and said they wanted to see me, claiming I was expecting them. They only later showed their badges,” he said.

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He described how the operatives prevented him from changing clothes and blocked his wife from providing him with alternative clothing. Yusuf also recounted how, during transport, officers treated him “as if they had captured a notorious criminal like Kachalla Bello Turji,” a notorious bandit leader.

Yusuf spent six days in EFCC custody before his arraignment and was subsequently denied bail, a move he said was unconstitutional. “Bail is a constitutionally guaranteed right for any accused person, except in cases of capital offences or terrorism, and my case was neither,” he said.

The denial of bail forced Yusuf to spend an additional 24 days at Kuje Prison. He characterised his imprisonment as a period of “retreat for rest, prayers, and reflection,” insisting it only strengthened his spirit.

“The whole purpose was for the government of President Bola Tinubu to try to silence any form of dissent,” Yusuf said. “This is coming from a president who himself was once a NADECO activist — someone who fought against the military dictatorship.”

He warned that the current administration is attempting to stifle democratic criticism and create a “one-party dictatorial state.”

Yusuf was appointed executive secretary of the NHIS in 2016 by former President Muhammadu Buhari. He was suspended in 2017 and again in 2018 by the health minister and the NHIS board over allegations of corruption, and was eventually removed from office in 2019.

Tinubu tried to silence me with EFCC – Ex-NHIS boss Yusuf

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