NEWS

*APC Meeting: Ngige Whisked Away As Violence Rocks Session*

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, was whisked away during a session that turned violent at a meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday. Some stakeholders of the party escaped being attacked by hoodlums, others, however, were not so lucky as they were attacked by disgruntled men in Akwa, the Anambra State capital, shortly after the party’s ward congress.

While some members of the party were expressing their displeasure over the outcome of the Congress, the tension got heightened when the Minister tried justifying the ward congress that was held at his ward but another party member; Tony Nwoye disagreed with him pointing out some issues. He noted the absence of the Congress panel, non-provision of party membership register for the Congress, non-availability of the result sheet which was reportedly due to the absence of panel as well as the alleged existence of an imposter.

A new panel was inaugurated despite the appeal and explanations by the state Publicity Secretary, Okelo Mmadukaife and the National Auditor of the Party, George Muoghalu. The meeting ended inconclusively as the new Congress panel had no chance to address the party or schedule a new date for a fresh congress.

To read full article - http://v.duta.us/QzSZQAAA

*Killer herdsmen, bandits are terrorists, says Shehu Sani*

Senator Shehu Sani on Monday declared the herdsmen and bandits killing in Northern Nigeria a terrorist group. The Senator representing Kaduna Central senatorial district made this known via his Twitter handle, as he reacted to the killings that took place in Birnin Gwari on Sunday. He said the people perpetuating the killings in the North are terrorists, except if the truth was not being told.

He said, "Herdsmen who commit massacre in Benue and Taraba and ‘Bandits’ who commit massacre in Zamfara and Birnin Gwari in Kaduna state, are nothing but terrorists;except if we want to call a spade a pestle or a spoon... I will support the President on the floor of the senate to fund and equip the DSS,Police and Civil Defence, as he did to the Military so that we can bring an end to all the excuses now ‘produced daily in an industrial-scale.’"

To read full article - http://v.duta.us/qznNmAAA

*Lawyers sue AGF, NASS over senators’ N13.5 M pay*

Two legal practitioners, Messrs Monday Ubani and John Nwokwu, have approached the Federal High Court in Lagos seeking an order compelling members of the House of Representatives and the senators to refund the N10m and N13.5m monthly running costs which they had respectively collected in the last three years.

The lawyers, in their suit, are contending that the N10m and N13.5m monthly running costs which the lawmakers fixed for themselves were illegal. They are urging the court to hold that only the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission had the power to determine salaries and allowances of National Assembly members and other political office-holders.

Joined as defendants in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation, the RMAFC, the Senate and the House of Representatives. In an originating summons filed before the court, the two lawyers are asking the court to determine whether by relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the National Assembly members have the power to fix their salaries, wages, remuneration or allowances.

To read full article - http://v.duta.us/nOuu6QAA

* FG has saved over N200bn by eliminating ghost workers –Osinbajo*

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said the Federal Government has saved more than N200bn after it eliminated ghost workers from the federal civil service. A tweet posted on the verified Twitter handle @AsoRock, revealed that Osinbajo said this during his keynote address at the on-going Open Government Week, which started on Monday (today).

The VP said the government had put in place the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit, which helps to keep a check on the federal payroll and pensions.

Osinbajo wrote: "The FG has also established the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit to clean up Federal payroll and pension systems across our ministries, departments and agencies and this has saved the FG over N200b by eliminating ghost workers. FG has saved more than 200bn naira by eliminating ghost workers."