Just In: NLC to proceed on warning strike September 5

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has fixed September 5, 2023, to proceed on a warning strike over the unbearable suffering faced by Nigerians after the subsidy removal policy.

President of the NLC, issued the threat on Friday after the Union's National Executive Council.

Labour also berated the Federal Government for interfering in the affairs of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), saying it would do anything to resist such undue interference.

Umahi, Minister of Works announces closure of Third Mainland Bridge for emergency maintenance

 The Minister of Works, Mr David Umahi has announced the emergency closure of the third mainland bridge in Lagos.

 Umahi, disclosed this on Wednesday during the second day of his tour of Lagos/Ogun State ongoing road projects, said the federal government would resurface the Third Mainland Bridge.

According to him, N60 billion had already been approved for the maintenance of the top and underneath. 

Umahi, a team of engineers and top directors of the Federal Ministry of Works took a boat from Ebute Ero Jetty to see structural members of bridges on the Lagoon.

The boat took Umahi who is a civil engineer and his team to inspect the Third Mainland Bridge, Carter Bridge, and Eko Bridge, the oldest of the three bridges linking the Lagos Island to the Mainland.

The minister also inspected the top of the Third Mainland Bridge. 

Need for emergency intervention 

Addressing journalists, the minister gave technical details of the deterioration of various underwater structural members of all the bridges and the need for emergency intervention to save them.

The minister said the government was concerned about the structural integrity of components underneath the three bridges linking the mainland and the Island

Tributes Pour as Nigerian Flag Designer Taiwo Akinkunmi Dies at 87

Nigerians across different social media platforms have continued to heap praises on the designer of the Nigerian Flag, Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, who passed on today, August 30 2023 at the age of 87.

His son, Akinkunmi Akinwumi Samuel, announced his demise via his Facebook page on Wednesday.

He wrote, “Life is indeed transient; I can say boldly you live a life with a landmark. Continue to rest on, my father! Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi (O.F.R) Great Man has gone.”

 Akinkunmi was awarded 100 pounds by the government when his design was selected as the Nigerian flag.

He has also been honoured with the MON (Member of the Order of the Niger) Award by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Following the news, Nigerians across their social media platforms have continued to commend his efforts across diverse social media platforms.

Read some reactions:

May he find rest in the bossom of our Lord Jesus Christ. But how well was he taken care of when alive by d Nigerian state with utmost respect and dignity? Just asking 🤷 @olumide61939198 

The national flags should be at half mast to mourn their creator 

@farouq_SG

Tinubu Will Not Intervene in Gabon's Political Crisis-Bashir Ahmad

 

Following the multiple reports that the Gabonese president, Ali Bongo has been deposed, Bashir Ahmad, a former social media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not intervene in the political crisis in Gabon.

There have been concerns about how Nigeria, who is the leader of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) would handle the situation in the country.

Recall that ECOWAS and African Union (AU) have rejected the coup in the Niger Republic and have been deliberating on moves to resolve the removal of a democratically elected president in the country.

In a post via Twitter, Bashir urged Nigerians to avoid any panic or concern about the ECOWAS leader, the Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu.

According to him, Gabon is not part of ECOWAS but a member of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS); hence, Nigeria will not intervene in the crisis.

He tweeted, “Calm down. Gabon is not part of ECOWAS; the country is a member of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). So Nigeria, which is a leader of the ECOWAS, will not be intervening in the political crisis in Gabon, regionally.”

Meanwhile, Ahmad had earlier said it is disheartening that Africa faces a resurgence of political instability following a fresh coup in Gabon.

He said while Africa is simultaneously grappling with the ongoing crisis in Niger Republic, Burkina Faso and other nations, the pursuit of progress is being tested.

The former presidential aide added that the recent coup in Gabon serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of political transitions in Africa, adding that such coup incidents raise concerns about the continuity of progress in Africa.

Tinubu Attends NBA Conference

President Bola Tinubu on Sunday attended the MKO Abiola Stadium for the National Conference of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA).

Bola Ahmed Tinubu,Former Secretary to the Government of Federation,Bar Boss Mustapha and Tony Elumelu,during 63rd Annual General Conference Of Nigeria Bar Association, (NBA),at Capital City, Abuja.

At the event, the President declared that Nigeria will not sustain failed economic theory that sees to the wastage of 90% of its scarce revenue in the servicing of external debts in the midst of many challenges facing the country.

The conference was attended by the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Minister of Sports, Senator John Enoh; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, past NBA Presidents and many senior government officials.

Why I Parted Ways With 9ice- ID Cabassa Reveals After 14 Years

 Popular Nigerian producer, Olumide Ogunade, better known as ID Cabasa, has finally revealed why he and former signee 9ice, fell out about 14 years ago.

Speaking with media personality Chude Jideonwo, Cabasa said that 9ice, born Abolore Akande, was upset by his decision to continue working with the latter’s ex-wife Toni Seun Payne.

Payne managed the artists under Cabasa’s Coded Tunes Record, a label that housed her estranged husband at the time 9ice, and rapper, Olamide.

Cabasa’s decision to continue working with Payne following the couple’s messy breakup did not sit right with 9ice, who eventually severed ties with the producer.

In a video shared Sunday on Instagram, Cabasa disclosed why he chose to keep Payne in his team.

According to the producer, he did it for 9ice and Payne’s son, Zion, who was born in 2008. 

“When I started pushing Olamide, you notice I brought Toni Payne, 9ice was angry but, he had no idea why I brought Payne in.

I have brought Payne in because I needed to keep Payne and Zion close to 9ice.

“I had my networks. Mr. Kupuloyi was my publicist. if I need anyone to move my artists around, I can find someone but I saw Payne and I noticed she wanted a reconciliation.

“I felt if she takes Zion abroad, 9ice may never see his son.”

Minister of Culture keeps Mum As NYSC Confirms She's A Serving Corps Member

Ms Hannatu Musawa, a lawyer, who was among the 28 Nigerians nominated by President Bola Tinubu as ministers last Thursday reportedly ignored calls and messages from pressmen today.

 

Following the confirmation by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)  that Musawa, the minister of art, culture and creative economy, is a serving corps member.

This follows a claim by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), a civil society organisation, that Musawa is undertaking the one-year mandatory youth service scheme while she is still a member of President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.

Eddy Megwa, director of press and public relations at the NYSC headquarters, confirmed to newsmen today, that the minister is a corps member.

“Yes she is a serving corp member,” Megwa wrote in a message to TheCable when he was contacted for enquiries.

On Monday, President Tinubu swore in 45 ministers, including Musawa as members of the federal executive council (FEC).

But in a statement on Wednesday, HURIWA claimed that the culture minister is a member of NYSC, whose place of primary assignment is a law firm in Abuja.

When contacted by newsmen the minister did not answer calls put through her mobile phone, nor did she reply to messages sent to get her response.

The rights group asked the management of the NYSC to compel Musawa to focus on her national youth service or the ministerial appointment.

“HURIWA wondered why the correct status of Musawa wasn’t made known to the members of the public before the senate sensationally failed to screen her as it should,” the statement reads.

“HURIWA wonders about the kind of scrutiny being conducted by the Department of State Services so much so that it wasn’t disclosed that the minister is actually a youth corper.

The rights group alleged that years back, Musawa abandoned her NYSC in Ebonyi state but later showed interest in completing it.

The organisation added that the minister was mobilised this year and got posted to a law firm in Abuja before President Tinubu picked her as a nominee.

“She was confirmed by the senate without proper screening and sworn in by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as minister of arts, “HURIWA further alleged.

 The minister who hails from Katsina State, could not control her emotions on Tuesday when she broke down in tears while appearing before the Senate for screening.

Ms Musawa, a lawyer, was among the 28 Nigerians nominated by President Bola Tinubu as ministers last Thursday.