News
Varsity technologists want FG to implement MoA on minimum wage arrears, others
The National Association of Academic Technologists has asked the Federal Government to honour the Memorandum of Understanding and Memorandum of Action signed last year with the leadership of the union.
The union said it may resume its suspended strike by September, if the Federal Government failed to implement the MoA and MoU.
The President of NAAT, Ibeji Nwokoma, alleged that the Federal Government has abandoned the MoU and MoA it signed with the union last November and February this year on payment of minimum wage arrears and consequential adjustment.
According to him, a final decision on the failure of the government to implement the MoA and MoU will be taken next month during the National Executive Council meeting of the union.
Nwokoma stated this during a chat with journalists after a meeting with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Executive Secretary, Prof Suleiman Bagoro, in Abuja.
The NAAT President accused the government of serially failing to honour agreements, saying this was responsible for the ongoing strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors.
He said: “That’s why they are having issues with the striking doctors. We signed one (agreement) in November and another in February; and till now, the government has abandoned the MoU or MoA.
“The government told us in August last year they were going to pay minimum wage arrears and consequential adjustment; till now nothing has happened. They also told us that our circular for commencement of payment was going to be released; till now they have not done anything about it.
“Our renegotiation should have started by now but government has done nothing about that even after signing the MoU.
“We are having our NEC meeting in September and if between now and that period, especially now that they have released the supplementary budget, the government refuse to do something about our minimum wage arrears and the renegotiation does not start, our NEC will come up with a position paper on the next line of action.
“However, the only language the government understand is strike; I hope it doesn’t get to that,” Nwokoma stated.
On the meeting with the TETfund boss, the NAAT leader revealed that the agency would soon sponsor 30 university technologists for training in France as part of plans to strengthen the health sector against the COVID-19 pandemic.
He added that TETFund agreed to include university technologists in its 162-member Research, Innovation and Development Committee set up last year.
News
Late COAS Lagbaja gets CFR honour, buried amid tributes
Late COAS Lagbaja gets CFR honour, buried amid tributes
The late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, was on Friday laid to rest in Abuja, amid tears and tributes.
President Bola Tinubu conferred a posthumous award of the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) on the late Chief of Army Staff.
The burial took place at the National Cemetery in Abuja to end two days of funeral rites that began in Lagos earlier in the week.
His body was lowered into the grave at exactly 4:41pm after the ceremony that lasted over two hours.
Lagbaja’s casket, draped in Nigeria’s green and white colours, arrived at the cemetery around 3pm in a white funeral wagon after a funeral service at the National Christian Centre in Abuja.
Dignitaries were led to the event by President Bola Tinubu. Others are Vice President Kashim Shettima; the Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa; Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, and other top government officials and military brass.
President Tinubu announced the conferment of the CFR on the late COAS during the interment at the National Cemetery in Abuja.
The President extolled the virtues of the late warrior, especially his contributions to national security.
According to him, the appointment of Lagbaja as the COAS was one of his finest made so far.
“As an eternal symbol of our appreciation, I have granted the late Chief of Army Staff, the posthumous national honour of the Commander of the Federal Republic of the Niger (CFR),” Tinubu declared.
He thereafter invited the wife of the late COAS, Mariya, to collect the award on behalf of the Lagbaja family amid applause from the congregation.
News
Supreme Court dismisses 16 govs suit challenging EFCC legality
Supreme Court dismisses 16 govs suit challenging EFCC legality
The Supreme Court has dismissed the suit by 16 states challenging the constitutionality of the acts establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and two others.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the other agencies are the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
In the lead judgment by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji delivered on Friday, the Supreme Court resolved the six issues raised for determination in the suit against the plaintiffs.
The court held that the laws establishing the anti-corruption agencies were validly enacted by the National Assembly within its legislative competence.
It faulted the claim by the plaintiffs that the EFCC Act, being a product of the United Nations convention on corruption, ought to be ratified by majority of the state houses of assembly.
Delivering judgement on Friday, Justice Abba-Aji ruled that “the EFCC Act, which was not established from a treaty but a convention, does not need the ratification of the houses of assembly.”
News
Executive Secretary FCDA Hadi Ahmad suspended indefinitely
Executive Secretary FCDA Hadi Ahmad suspended indefinitely
Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad, has been suspended indefinitely.
His suspicion was on the order of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Minister, Lere Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday evening.
No reason was given for the suspension.
Ahmad was directed to hand over to the Director, Engineering Services in the FCDA.
The statement read: “The Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad, has been suspended indefinitely.
“According to a statement on Thursday, by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike, the suspension of Engr Hadi Ahmad is with immediate effect.
“The suspended Executive Secretary has consequently been directed to hand over to the Director of Engineering Services, Engr in the FCDA.”
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