Workers in Rivers State have expressed jubilation following the state government’s implementation of the newly approved N85,000 minimum wage.

The development came after public school teachers and other state employees received their November salary alerts, revealing the wage adjustment had been fully applied.

In July 2024, President Bola Tinubu approved a N70,000 national minimum wage, a decision influenced by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in response to the country’s economic challenges.

However, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara opted for a higher rate of N85,000, which he promised to sustain through the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Governor Fubara also announced a significant increase in the state’s IGR, which surged from N11 billion under the previous administration to N27 billion under his leadership.

Chukwuma Osunna, Chairman of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (Rivers State chapter), confirmed the payment of the new wage. He expressed satisfaction, stating: “The governor has fulfilled his promise. As of today, November 27, 2024, workers have received the N85,000 new minimum wage and are very happy.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kano State have both commended the local government for its approval of the N71,000 minimum wage.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano announced this wage increase in October, with a commitment to implement it with November salaries.

The NLC Kano State chapter extended its appreciation to the state government for fulfilling its promise, while the NMA, represented by Dr. Mohammed Aminu Musa, applauded the upward revision of the CONMESS structure for doctors working in state hospitals.

Kabiru Inuwa, the NLC chairman in Kano, praised the decision, noting that the wage increase is a crucial step towards improving the welfare and living standards of the state’s workforce.

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Jamiu Abiola, the son of the late MKO Abiola, as his Senior Special Assistant on Linguistics and Foreign Affairs.

The appointment was officially announced on Wednesday by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, in Abuja.

According to the statement, Jamiu’s appointment took effect from November 14, 2024, in accordance with the provisions of the Certain Political and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc.) Act 2008, as amended.

Before this new role, Jamiu served as the Special Assistant to the President on Special Duties in the Office of the Vice President.

President Tinubu urged Jamiu to collaborate closely with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and leverage his extensive experience in his new role.

Jamiu Abiola’s father, MKO Abiola, was the winner of the 1993 June 12 presidential election, which was annulled by the military government.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi State has suspended Hon. Habibu Umar, the lawmaker representing Kirfi Constituency in the Bauchi State House of Assembly, for alleged insubordination.

The suspension was officially communicated in a letter signed by Samaila Burga, the PDP State Chairman, and sent to the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly.

The letter stated that Umar was found guilty of insubordination following an investigation carried out according to the party’s constitution.

The party had issued Umar a query on November 5, citing violations of sections 58 (9)(1) and (f) of the PDP Constitution (2017, as amended).

The allegations stemmed from a report by the executive committee of his ward in Beni, accusing him of actions contrary to the party’s rules.

In response to the report, the PDP formed a disciplinary committee on November 11 to investigate the matter.

Burga explained that the committee’s findings led to Umar’s indefinite suspension, in line with sections 59 (4) and (5) of the party’s constitution.

As a result, Umar was prohibited from engaging in any party activities from November 25, 2024, until further notice.

Lawmaker Denies Fair Hearing

Hon. Habibu Umar has since spoken out against the suspension, accusing the party of denying him a fair hearing.

In a phone interview, he expressed dissatisfaction with the process, claiming that despite receiving a query and responding to it, he was not invited to present his side of the story before the disciplinary committee.

“I have not been given a chance to explain myself,” Umar stated.

“I am currently consulting with key stakeholders on my next steps. Normally, a fair hearing would require that I be given the opportunity to defend myself before any decision is made, but that did not happen here.”

The Supreme Court has resolved the prolonged leadership crisis in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), ruling in favor of Barrister Sly Ezeokenwa as the legitimate National Chairman of the party.

In a unanimous decision on Wednesday, a five-member panel of the apex court declared that Edozie Njoku’s claim to the APGA chairmanship was unfounded and without legal merit.

The court specifically stated that its earlier judgment, which Njoku had relied upon to assert his claim, did not grant him any enforceable rights over the party’s leadership.

Justice Stephen Adah, who delivered the lead judgment, clarified that matters concerning party leadership are internal issues for the political party itself and cannot be adjudicated in court.

The Supreme Court further set aside a previous ruling from the Court of Appeal, which had controversially recognized Njoku as the party’s chairman.

In addition to its ruling, the court awarded a total of N60 million in costs, with N20 million awarded against two individuals from Njoku’s faction, following the three appeals in the case.

Reacting to the judgment, Barrister Sly Ezeokenwa, who has now been fully affirmed as the party’s rightful chairman, expressed his appreciation to the judiciary for putting an end to the dispute and reaffirming his position.

The Supreme Court’s decision has sparked celebrations among APGA members nationwide, many of whom have consistently supported Ezeokenwa as their true leader throughout the course of the leadership crisis.

The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Sly Ezeokenwa as the legitimate National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), dismissing an appeal by Edozie Njoku.

The court’s decision, delivered on Wednesday, also included a N20 million fine against Njoku for filing a frivolous lawsuit at the FCT High Court in Bwari.

This ruling follows a Federal High Court decision in Abuja, which had previously restrained Njoku from claiming the title of APGA National Chairman.

Justice James Omotosho, in his judgment, emphasized that there was no valid court order or judgment recognizing Njoku as the party’s leader.

Ezeokenwa and APGA had filed the lawsuit in response to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) replacing the names of Ezeokenwa and his executive team with those of Njoku’s faction on the INEC website in July 2024.

The lawsuit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/966/2024, challenged this action, claiming that the Njoku-led faction’s recognition by INEC was not supported by any court ruling.

In delivering the judgment, Justice Omotosho criticized INEC for accepting the Njoku-led faction, stating that there was no valid court order supporting their recognition.

He referred to a previous ruling by the Supreme Court in 2023, which clarified that Victor Oye had been legally recognized as APGA’s National Chairman, and that following the expiration of Oye’s term in 2023, a national convention in Awka produced Ezeokenwa and his executive as the rightful leaders of the party.

The court further ruled that INEC must correct the records and recognize Ezeokenwa and his team as APGA’s national leadership.

Justice Omotosho also noted that the Supreme Court had already settled the issue in a case between Njoku and Oye in March 2023, reaffirming that internal party matters, including leadership, were not subject to judicial interference.

He criticized Njoku’s claim and the actions of INEC, stating that there was no legal basis for recognizing him as the party’s chairman.

As a result of the ruling, INEC has been ordered to restore the names of Ezeokenwa and his executive team as the duly recognized leaders of APGA.

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Maryanne Anenih, has ordered the remand of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The court also adjourned the case until December 10, 2024, to decide on his bail application.

Bello, along with two co-defendants—Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu—faces 16 charges brought against them by the EFCC, including conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of unlawfully obtained property.

The trio pleaded not guilty to the charges when read to them in court.

The charges stem from allegations that the defendants misappropriated state funds to acquire properties, including several properties in Abuja, and transferred substantial sums of money to TD Bank in the United States.

The accused are also said to have unlawfully obtained N677.8 million through Bespoque Business Solution Limited.

During the hearing, Bello’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu, filed a bail application, arguing that his client should be granted bail in accordance with the law, which presumes innocence until proven guilty.

The EFCC opposed the application, citing a previous bail request that had expired in October.

EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro further argued that Bello’s position as a former governor and the ongoing charges at the Federal High Court posed a risk of him committing further offenses.

After hearing both sides, Justice Anenih adjourned the decision on the bail application until December 10, 2024.

In the meantime, Bello, along with his co-defendants, will remain in the EFCC’s custody. Oricha and Hudu have been granted administrative bail by the EFCC.

This case is one of several legal challenges facing Bello, who is also facing a separate charge at the Federal High Court related to a different alleged financial crime involving Kogi State funds.

Governor Francis Nwifuru has appointed three special assistants as acting commissioners following the suspension of three government officials over allegations of gross misconduct and neglect of their duties.

In a move aimed at ensuring the smooth continuation of government operations, the Governor directed Franklin Ukah, Special Assistant on Water Resources, to assume the role of Acting Commissioner for Water Resources.

Patrick Enyi, Special Assistant for Housing and Urban Development, will now serve as Acting Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development. Dr. Sabinus Nwibo, Special Assistant on Primary Health, will take on the responsibilities of Acting Commissioner for Primary Health.

The suspended officials include Chinedu Nkah, the former Commissioner for Water Resources, who was indefinitely suspended, along with Engr. Francis Ori, the former Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, also suspended indefinitely. Dr. Moses Ekuma, the former Commissioner for Health, was suspended for three months.

Engr. Jude Okpo, the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, made the announcement during a press briefing following the state executive council meeting in Abakaliki.

He emphasized that the Governor’s decision was to ensure that the day-to-day functioning of the ministries would not be hindered in the absence of the suspended commissioners.

The appointments take immediate effect.

Yahaya Bello, the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, along with two co-defendants, has pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of fraud brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Bello, who is the first defendant, strongly denied the allegations when they were read to him before Justice Maryann Anenih at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday.

Following the plea, Bello’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu, filed a bail application. However, EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, objected, stating that the application had expired in October.

Daudu clarified that the only relevant bail application before the court was one filed on November 22 for Bello, supported by an affidavit and written address.

He emphasized the significance of “Exhibit A,” the public summons, and argued that Bello’s appearance in court demonstrated his respect for the law.

While the EFCC sought to proceed with the trial immediately and call its first witness, Daudu requested more time, explaining that they had only received the charges at 11 pm on November 26 and needed time to prepare.

On the matter of bail, Daudu stated that Bello, as a defendant, had the right to enjoy his liberty until proven guilty.

He also argued that the EFCC’s objection was based on issues from another court and should not affect the proceedings before the FCT High Court.

The EFCC countered Daudu’s submission, asserting that its objection was based on three grounds: the competence of the application, the factual content, and adherence to judicial principles.

The court adjourned the matter to December 10 for a ruling on the bail application. In the meantime, the defendants were ordered to remain in EFCC custody.

The other two defendants, Umar Shoaib Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, had earlier been granted administrative bail by the EFCC.