NEWS
Zamfara to Implement N70,000 Minimum Wage soon—HoS
The Zamfara Government says it will implement the N70,000 minimum wage very soon, the State Head of Service, Allhaji Ahmad Liman, has said.
Liman, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Gusau on Wednesday reiterated Gov. Dauda Lawal administration’s commitment to promoting the welfare of the civil servants in the state.
He said that Lawal has already promised to pay N70,000 minimum wage to the state civil servants.
“You know the state government set up a committee for the civil servants verification and that of the implementation of the 70,000 minimum wage.
“The two committees have been working day and night to complete the exercise,” he said.
Liman emphasised that the committee’s responsibility was to provide an accurate framework of civil servants data in the state for immediate implementation of the minimum wage.
“The welfare of workers is a top priority for our administration, I am very confident that the implementation of the new minimum is the top priority agenda of Gov. Lawal.
“The two committees conducting the ongoing exercises are expected to complete their work by the end of this month of November,” he stated.
Liman said that as soon as the committees complete their work and present their report to the governor he would approve the new minimum wage.
He said, “You know, the ongoing exercise is necessary to address various irregularities in the civil service sector inherited by the previous administration.”
The head of service mentioned ghost workers and over payment among the irregularities discovered at the ongoing verification exercise.
“We discovered a single general hospital in the state with 22 medical doctors receiving salary monthly,
“The ongoing exercise discovered only two doctors are real workers in that hospital, all the remaining 20 doctors were fake workers.
“There was also an issue of a secondary school teacher receiving N140,000 as his monthly salary, but the committee discovered that he was receiving N700,000,” he explained.
Liman further disclosed another issue of a medical doctor receiving N700,000 as his monthly salary but he was discovered by the committee receiving over N1 million.
“There are a lot of issues related to the civil service sector in the state, I believe at the end of the ongoing exercise, the details of the findings of the committee will be made available to the public.
“I am therefore appealing to the civil servants in the state to remain calm, the state government under Gov. Dauda Lawal is committed to their welfare,” he explained.(NAN)
NEWS
Okpebholo Freezes Edo Accounts, Orders Reversal of Ministry’s Name
Gov. Monday Okpebholo of Edo has ordered immediate freezing of all the state bank accounts until further notice.Okpebholo gave the directive in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Fred Itua, on Thursday in Benin.He warned that non-compliance by commercial banks as well as heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) would result in severe penalties.
“All bank accounts in all commercial banks are now frozen. Commercial banks must ensure strict adherence and prevent any withdrawal from government accounts until further notice,” the statement said. Okpebholo stated that necessary investigations and financial reconciliations would determine subsequent actions.He also ordered the reversal of the Ministry of Roads and Bridges to the old Ministry of Works with immediate effect.The governor cited what he called lack of completed bridges or significant road projects as a justification for changing the ministry of roads and bridges back to ministry of works.“It is ironic that despite its name, the ministry did not construct a single bridge, not even a pedestrian one,” he said.The governor directed immediate implementation and reflection of the new name across official documents and platforms. (NAN)NEWS
Breaking…….NNPC Ltd. Records 1.8mbpd Crude Oil Production
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC Ltd.) says it has achieved 1.8 million barrels per day crude production following continuous dislodgement of pipeline vandals and crude oil thieves.Mr Lawal Musa, Chief Production War Room Officer, NNPC Ltd., said this on Thursday in Abuja during a briefing on NNPC Ltd.
production.Musa, who is also the Senior Business Advisor to Malam Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), NNPC Ltd. , said that the achievement was based on the collaboration between the leadership of NNPC, stakeholders and security agencies. “We achieved this because of the clear mandate by President Bola Tinubu to ramp up crude oil production in the country,” Musa said. (NAN)NEWS
EFCC Admits Ex-Kogi Governor’s Alleged Co-defendants to Bail
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has admitted the co-defendants in alleged money laundering charge filed against the immediate-past Governor of Kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to administrative bail.EFCC’s counsel, Jamiu Agoro, informed Justice Maryann Anenih of an Abuja High Court on Thursday upon resumed hearing in the charge.
The former governor, alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are being prosecuted as 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively, in a fresh 16-count charge instituted against them by the anti-graft agency. Agoro also sought for adjournment in the fresh case the EFCC instituted against the ex-governor, saying the 30-day window was still running for the summons earlier issued. running.The EFCC, however, said, it admitted Bello ‘s alleged co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, to bail and prayed the court for extension of time for the Bello to appear.At the resumed hearing before Justice Maryann Anenih , Counsel for EFCC, Jamiu Agoro, said the order of the court, given on Oct 3 had not elapsed.“In that wise, we feel it will not be appropriate for us to take proceedings while that 30 days is still running.” So we have discussed and agreed to come back on the Nov 27,” he told the court.He also noted that the Nov 20 date earlier given was not convenient for the Prosecution counsel.Counsel to the 2nd Defendant, Aliyu Saiki, SAN, confirmed that his client had been granted administrative bail by the Prosecution.He said he had no objection to the application for adjournment.The 3rd Defendant’s Counsel, ZE Abass, concurred also.The prosecution Counsel also asked the court to grant an application to paste the notice of hearing on the last known address of the former governor.After listening to all counsel, the judge granted the EFCC’s application for adjournment, including the hearing notice.“I have considered the application for adjournment by the complainant and issuance of hearing notice and the submission by the 2nd and 3rd Defendants. The application is granted,” she said.Justice Anenih thereby adjourned the case until Nov 27.Report says that Justice Anenih had on Oct. 3, 2024 issued a public summon against Bello following his absence in a fresh arraignment on 16-count charges preferred against him by the EFCC.Justice Anenih issued the summon in a ruling following an ex parte application by EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN praying the court to grant leave that Bello should be served the charge via substituted means.The court ordered that the charge should be served on Bello at his known residence, No 4, Bengazi Street, Maitama, Abuja, through a public summons to be published in widely circulated national newspapers and also pasted within the premises of the court.(NAN)