The Chairman of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, on Sunday called for an urgent upward review of the national minimum wage. Mr. Osakwe made the observation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Auchi, as part of activities to mark this year’s Workers’ Day. His call comes days after the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress asked the federal government to increase the minimum wage to N56,000. The journalist described the current national minimum wage of N18, 000 as “a non-living wage, which was now too small to accommodate…
Author: David Folami
The Federal Government on Sunday in Abuja assured workers that it would tackle all socio-economic ills that have troubled the nation. President Muhammadu Buhari gave this assurance at the 2016 May Day celebration with the theme: “The Working Class and The Quest for Socio-Economic Revival”. Mr. Buhari, who was represented by Chris Ngige, the Minister Labour and Employment, said that the government would evolve solutions to the emerging threats to the well-being of Nigerians and the realisation of sustainable development. “For us whose main foreign exchange comes from oil, the global decline in the price of oil has further exacerbated…
The absence of the Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, at Onikan Stadium on Sunday annoyed workers who had turned out in their hundreds for the May Day rally. Dozens of affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress marched round the stadium before Olabowale Ademola, the Lagos State Head of Service, who stood in for Mr. Ambode. Idowu Adelakun, the NLC Chairman, Lagos State, said he felt “very bad” at the governor’s absence. “This government promised us a government of inclusiveness, but for the governor not to be here today, I don’t think it’s inclusive,” Mr. Adelakun…
Nigeria’s organised labour on Sunday in Abuja called on the Federal Government to constitute a tripartite committee to discuss the proposed N56,000 new national minimum wage. Ayuba Wabba, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, made the call at the 2016 May Day celebration with the theme: “Working Class and The Quest for Socio-Economic Revival.” The NLC and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, had on Tuesday submitted a formal proposal of N56,000 new National Minimum Wage to the Federal Government. Mr. Wabba said that the tripartite committee should comprise government (federal and state), the organised private sector,…
Nigerian troops on Friday discovered a Boko Haram factory bomb making factory, an official has said. The spokesperson of the Defence Headquarters, Sani Usman, said soldiers from the 3 Battalion, 22 Brigade, discovered the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) factory in Ngala town, North East Nigeria. Mr. Usman, a Colonel, said the insurgents continued to use IEDs to attack civilians and soldiers despite being losing the battle. “Despite ongoing clearance of the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists, they persistently hid the IED-manufacturing factories location,” he said. “However, that would be no more, thanks to the efficient intelligence and resilience of…
Massimiliano Allegri and Roberto Mancini have hailed Claudio Ranieri’s achievements with Leicester City as their fellow Italian coach stands on the brink of an astonishing Premier League title triumph. Leicester, 5,000-1 outsiders at the start of the season having recovered to a late escape from relegation last term, will be English champions for the first time in their history if they beat Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. Even if they fail to beat Louis van Gaal’s men, defeat for nearest rivals Tottenham at Chelsea on Monday would hand glory to Leicester. “I offer my congratulations to Ranieri. I…
Massimiliano Allegri remains hopeful that Alvaro Morata will stay at Juventus as he predicts a turbulent transfer market ahead of next season. The future of Spain international Morata remains shrouded in doubt, with speculation that Real Madrid will exercise their buy-back option on the striker before selling him to bolster their own transfer plans. Morata has admitted that leaving Juve remains “a real possibility”, even though he has professed a desire to stay with the Serie A champions, for whom he has scored 11 goals in all competitions this season. But despite Juve being linked with possible deals for Valencia…
Arsenal closed in on another season of Champions League football with a 1-0 win over strugglers Norwich City in the Premier League on Saturday but it was another uncomfortable evening for manager Arsene Wenger amid protests from fans. Arsenal moved into third place thanks to a Danny Welbeck goal but it did not stop the discontent inside and outside the Emirates Stadium from supporters grumbling about perceived under-achievement in Wenger’s long reign. Yet the Gunners’ fans cannot have been as miserable as supporters of visiting Norwich, whose side were plunged into even deeper trouble amid the dog-fight at the foot…
Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo should miss at least three weeks due to his hamstring injury or risk aggravating it, a former Portugal team doctor said. Ronaldo has been out of football since late April but the La Liga giants remain hopeful he may be ready to face Manchester City on Wednesday. However, former Portugal doctor Nuno Campos said if reports were true, the 31-year-old needed a full-time rest or risk a setback that would rule him out of Euro 2016. “If the diagnosis is indeed a micro-tear, he needs between 18 and 21 days,” he told newspaper Record. “They…
Defending champions Chile announced their preliminary squad for the upcoming Copa America Centenario, with Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal headlining Juan Antonio Pizzi’s team. There were no surprises from Pizzi, who named an initial 40-man squad, which will be culled to 23 on May 20, before the Copa America gets underway in the United States on June. Arsenal forward Sanchez, who is third on Chile’s all-time goalscorers list, Bayern Munich midfielder Vidal and Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo – the nation’s most capped player with 100 appearances – are looking to claim back-to-back titles after winning South America’s prestigious tournament last…
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has warned Real Madrid he has “many friends” watching them ahead of their Champions League clash. The Premier League outfit head to the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday for the return leg of their semi-final, having drawn 0-0 at home. Pellegrini said he knew the injured Cristiano Ronaldo would miss the first leg at the Etihad Stadium and warned Madrid he was well-informed about his former club. “I have many friends in Spain,” the Chilean said, via The Mirror. “I always try to have as much as information about the opposition before every game. And when…
Sven-Goran Eriksson has joined the long list of people heaping praises on Diego Simeone, insisting the Atletico Madrid coach is an “example to follow” in world football. Simeone played under Eriksson at Lazio for two years and the Argentine boss has since gone to turn Atletico into a resolute and genuine European powerhouse. After taking the reins in 2011, Simeone has guided Atletico to La La glory, as well as Europa League, Copa del Rey, UEFA Super Cup and Supercopa de Espana titles. Atletico – second in the league and in the Champions League semi-finals – are once again vying…
Paulo Dybala’s former experiences in Italian football meant he did not doubt Juventus would be crowned Serie A champions this season. Dybala has featured with 20 goals in all competitions for Massimiliano Allegri’s side following a close-season switch from Palermo. Juve were off the pace during the opening weeks of the season as they adapted to life without key men Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal, who moved on after the Champions League final defeat to Barcelona at the end of last season. Dybala and his team-mates were confirmed as champions this week – Juventus’s fifth successive Scudetto -…
Jurgen Klopp might now regret fielding Liverpool’s youngest ever Premier League starting line-up as Swansea demolished them to secure their own survival in England’s top flight. Liverpool struggled against the pace of Andre Ayew. The Ghanaian scored twice, first with a powerful header from a 20th-minute corner and then with a 66th-minute shot after the Reds failed to clear their lines. Jack Cork also found the net with a curling right-foot shot on 33 minutes. Klopp had made eight changes from the Liverpool side beaten by Villarreal, starting with an average age of just 23. But, with Liverpool two down…
Kelechi Iheanacho’s brace yielded no point for Manchester City as they lost 4-2 away at Southampton. Sadio Mane bagged an incredible hat-trick in a vibrant display of attacking football from Southampton that swept aside Manchester City 4-2 and left the visitors facing a scramble to secure Champions League qualification. The defeat, just three days before their semi-final second leg against Real Madrid, was never in doubt from the moment Shane Long capitalised on a Dusan Tadic assist in the 25th-minute. The Serb also set up two of the goals for Senegalese striker Mane who pounced after 28, 57 and 68…
Argentina legend, Sergio Aguero’s brother Gaston del Castillo has made his eagerly awaited professional debut for Independiente on Saturday. The 18-year-old, also known as “Puchi”, is a striker like his older sibling and came off the bench during the second half of a 1-0 defeat to San Lorenzo in the Argentinian Primera Division. Manchester City star Aguero also made his debut for boyhood club Independiente against the same opposition aged 15 and 35 days – breaking Diego Maradona’s record as the youngest player ever to feature in Argentina’s top flight. Aguero took to Twitter to first wish good luck to…
Awaiting EPL champions, Leicester City must see at least one more day go by for their first-ever Premier League title after drawing 1-1 with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. Claudio Ranieri’s side could not galvanize a victory that would have brought the silverware but they will be crowned champions on Monday if second-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who trail them by eight points, fail to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, where they have not won since 1990. Hopes of a Leicester triumph on Sunday suffered an early setback when striker Anthony Martial put United ahead with a neat right-foot finish…
Muno Oriero, the first artiste signed to Paul Okoye’s Rudeboy Recordz, has cleared the air on speculations that he is a potential replacement for Peter Okoye, one half of the P-Square. Muno, who is still basking in the euphoria of the success recorded by his debut singles (Never Regret & Slow Slow), reiterated that irrespective of what people say, Peter remains an integral part of P-Square, and no one can take his place. “For crying out loud, Peter and Paul are not just brothers –they are twins, so it is reasonably impossible to come in-between them. Twin brothers may quarrel,…
Following the unabated rumour that he is the one funding his musical projects as an act under pop star Wizkid’s StarBoy Records, fast rising Afro-pop singer, L.A.X has dispelled the insinuation. In a release by his PR representatives, the young singer stated that contrary to the rumour swirling around that he spent million of his money to fund his project, rather, he has a proper recording deal with Starboy Entertainment, which as part of its obligation, solely handles the funding of all his projects. “I am an artiste signed under Wizkid’s label. It is the recording label that takes care…
For about a week, the news surrounding the business relationship between rap star, Olamide and his protégé, Ololade Keshinro, better known as Lil Kesh as been making the rounds. While some reports suggest there’s a frosty relationship between Lil Kesh and the YBNL Nation, forcing his immediate departure from the label to float his own, YAGI Records, others say it’s a case of a protégé becoming his own king. But the act at the centre of the issue, Lil Kesh has come out to clear the air stating that there’s no issue at all but a matter of contract expiration…