NEWS
NLC suspends planned strike for 30 days
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Tuesday, have agreed to suspend its nationwide strike for 30 days.
This followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Government after a marathon meeting that ended around 11pm on Tuesday at the Chief of Staff Conference Room of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
However, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the unions would revisit the agreement if the FG failed to fulfil their demands.
The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, revealed this to State House correspondents at the end of a four-hour marathon emergency meeting with the leaders of Organised Labour.
The compromise was reached to avert the proposed indefinite nationwide strike declared by the organised labour.
The meeting came hours after the President in his Independence Day broadcast announced the approval of a N25,000 provisional wage increase for a certain category of federal workers for the next six months.
Depots deserted as petrol landing cost hits N720/litre
Many petroleum products depots are currently deserted due to lack of products caused by foreign exchange rate volatility, as the landing cost of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, has increased to N720/litre, oil marketers said on Thursday.
Petroleum products’ dealers also stated that filling stations were shutting down daily in large numbers, as it was becoming increasingly tough to run the business. They said this could lead to widespread fuel scarcity in coming months.
It was further gathered that the landing cost of PMS into Nigeria had increased to N720/litre, up from N651/litre in August this year.
Speaking at the National Executive Council meeting of the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria, in Abuja on Thursday, the National President, NOGASA, Benneth Korie, said a lot of depots were presently dried up or out of stock.
WAEC appoints new Head of National office
The West African Examinations Council has appointed Dr. Amos Josiah Dangut, as the Head of the Nigeria National Office.
Dr Dangut who is the Deputy Registrar/HNO’s office until appointment succeeds Patrick Areghan, whose tenure ends this month.
In a statement made available to newsmen, Dangut joined the service of WAEC in 1998 as an Assistant Registrar II and rose through the ranks to become a Deputy Registrar in April 2018.
He won the Nigeria Examinations Committee’s commendation for transparent conduct of examination between 2000 and 2006.
“Dangut is an astute scholar with various educational publications in international and national journals. He has also presented numerous keynotes and other papers at international and national conferences/fora.”
Trump appears in court today for fraud trial
Donald Trump faces fresh legal danger on Monday as a civil fraud trial against the former president and two of his sons begins in New York, threatening the Republican frontrunner’s business empire as he campaigns to retake the White House with four criminal cases looming.
In Monday’s case, Judge Arthur Engoron has already ruled that Trump and his sons Eric and Don Jr. committed fraud by inflating the value of the real estate and financial assets of the Trump Organization for years.
Trump said late Sunday night he planned to be present for the start of the trial Monday morning.
In the New York civil case, Engoron ruled that Trump, his two eldest sons and other Trump Organization executives lied to tax collectors, lenders and insurers for years in a scheme that exaggerated the value of their properties by $812 million to $2.2 billion between 2014 and 2021.
As a result, the judge revoked the business licenses that allowed the Trump Organization to operate some of its New York properties.
Actually enforcing such penalties would be “a major blow to Donald Trump’s ability to do business in the State of New York going forward,” Will Thomas, a professor of business law at the University of Michigan.
Ooni implores Nigerians to be patient with Tinubu
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with President Bola Tinubu’s administration given the current economic situation.
The Ooni made the appeal during the visitation to his family compound as part of activities to mark the grand finale of the Olojo Annual Festival in the Oketase area, Ile-Ife on Monday.
The monarch admitted that Nigeria is currently at its trial period when the citizens are facing a lot of challenges in all ramifications of life.
The royal father admonished all and sundry to endure more and ensure their support for their leaders, saying by doing this, there would be great achievements.
Chicago University confirms diploma Tinubu submitted
The Chicago State University (CSU) has insisted that the diploma certificate submitted by President Bola Tinubu to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was valid.
CSU’s Registrar, Caleb Westberg, who stated this, also insisted that Tinubu graduated from the institution on June 22, 1979.
According to Westberg, whatever discrepancies that may exist in either date, font, signature or seal in the earlier issued copy of the certificate and the certified copy issued later are immaterial as they could have occured owing to human errors.
The CSU Registrar stated these in a seven-paragraph affidavit he swore before the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois.
He said in the U.S., diplomas are considered merely ceremonial documents, even though some other countries may consider more.
In the affidavit marked: 2023 L. 006854 expressed his readiness to testify in relation to the fact stated in the affidavit.
SPORTS
Falcons, NFF disagree over unpaid bonuses and allowances
The Super Falcons and the Nigeria Football Federation disagree after the players stated that they were treated like “slaves” following their unpaid bonuses and allowances over the years.
Before the start of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Nigerian Ladies had an agreement with the NFF that they would receive a $100 daily camp allowance, a $3,000-win bonus and $1,500 bonus for a draw.
FIFA later announced that each player at the tournament would receive a minimum of $30,000.
According to The Athletic, the players claimed they had received less than half of their daily camp wages and no match bonuses from the NFF.
Reacting, NFF Head of Communications, Ademola Olajire, said FIFA was yet to pay the promised World Cup money to the federation but insisted that all daily allowances for the World Cup had been paid. He added that bonuses owed the players before the World Cup had been paid.
