TUC lauds FG on 10% housing equity waiver

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The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has commended the Federal Government on waiver of the initial payment of 10 per cent housing equity on mortgages below N5 million from housing offtakers.

Mr Bobboi Kaigama, TUC President gave the commendation on Monday in an interview with journalists  in Abuja.

The Federal Government had recently approved that henceforth mortgages below N5million (five million naira) will not attract the initial payment of 10 per cent equity from offtakers.

According to him, this is to demonstrate its commitment to the provision of affordable housing to Nigerians, especially the low income earners.

Bobboi noted that the waiver was a welcome development, especially in this period of economic recession being experienced in the country.

“The government is using the same fund contributed by workers to build houses for them, if it can as well give out houses at much lower rate it will be nice development because it is workers’ contribution.

“The Federal Government has no contribution in the fund and the worker’s representatives do not have a say on how the funds are being managed,” he said.

Commending the effort of the government, he said that it needed to do more in the course of delivering houses to Nigerians.

The TUC president said that the number of houses that have been delivered to workers since the constitution of the National Housing Fund (NHF) programme was not impressive compared to the percentage of workers contributing to the fund.

He, however, called for an urgent review of the NHF law, adding that the representatives of Nigerian workers should also be allowed to be on the board of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN).

According to him, being board members will make the representatives to be able to contribute and moderate the cost of housing units compared to the contributors’ salaries

 

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Osinbajo briefs Buhari, says President now in charge

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By Levinus Nwabughiogu
ABUJA-Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has formally relinquished power to President Muhammadu Buhari, saying he is now fully in charge of the affairs of the country.

Osinbajo had been acting on Buhari’s behalf since January 19 the President traveled to London on medical vacation.

Buhari however returned to the country last Friday after 51 days of sojourn abroad.

Speaking when State House correspondents approached him on his way from the President’s office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday, Osinbajo said that the president was in high spirit for work.

According to the Vice President, the meeting which lasted for about an hour was meant to bring the president up-to-speed on recent happenings.

The brief interview went thus:

Journalists: How is the President doing?

Osinbajo: He is very well. We just had a very long meeting where, basically, trying to bring the President up to speed as to some of the things we have done while he was away. And he has given a few directives on what we should be doing on so many areas; the north east, budget, the economy, a wide range of issues.

Journalists: So would you say he is ready for work?

Osinbajo: He held a meeting with me for over an hour where we discussed a wide range of issues. So his readiness for work is not in doubt at all. In fact he has over ready.

Journalists: Have you handed over back to him?

Osinbajo: Oh yes! I’m back to my regular position as vice president.

Journalists: Was he impressed with the way you handled the country while he was away?

Osinbajo: I think the president was reasonably satisfied.

Journalists: Some are saying because of his health we will see a lot of delegation of duty is that true?

Osinbajo: I think the president, as you know, has always given me several responsibilities. I think, what we must recognize is that the way this administration works is that it has always been a team work. Very little is done without the president’s clearance. So, generally speaking, even with responsibilities that are my constitutional responsibilities, we have full discussions on them. We have full agreements on all of those issues. It is not necessarily delegation. Yes in some cases delegation but by and large, practically everything, I discuss fully with him and have his endorsement before we are able to go on and do anything at all.

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Police probe panel arrives Osun to investigate ethnic clash in Ile-Ife

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The probe panel setup by the Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Idris, to investigate the communal clash which occurred in Ile-Ife between some ethnic groups, arrived  Osun on Saturday

Osun Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Folasade Odoro, confirmed the arrival of the Hammed Bello – led panel  in the state to newsmen in Osogbo.

Idris had appointed Bello, Commissioner in charge of Military Police at the Force Headquarters, to head the panel.

The panel is to look into the immediate and remote causes of the clash and submitted its findings to the police authorities for appropriate action to prevent future occurrence of the incident.

The team is expected to visit leaders of the ethnic groups involved in the conflict as well as pay courtesy visit on the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi in his palace, and other stakeholders in the city.

Odoro told newsmen that apart from investigating the cause of the conflict, the panel would also work out how to ensure cordial relationship between the groups in conflict.

She said detectives were still on the trail of some suspected culprits, adding that 10 persons had been arrested and were assisting the Police in their investigation.

According to her, relative peace has returned to the city, with anti-riot policemen and other security operatives fully on ground to ensure that there is no breach of the peace.

 

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Man Utd’s Ibrahimovic banned for three games

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Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic (C) reacts during the UEFA Europa League football Fenerbahce SK vs Manchester United at the Fenerbahce Ulker Stadium on November 3, 2016 in Istanbul. / AFP PHOTO / STRINGER

Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will miss the FA Cup quarter-final at Chelsea after accepting a charge of violent conduct and an immediate three-match ban, England’s Football Association said Tuesday.

Both Ibrahimovic and Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings were charged on Monday following two incidents in Saturday’s bad-tempered 1-1 Premier League draw.

Mings appeared to deliberately stamp on Ibrahimovic’s head as he jumped over him late in the first half at Old Trafford and the Swedish striker seemed to retaliate moments later by elbowing the defender in the head.

Bournemouth have until 1800 GMT Tuesday to decide whether to contest the charge against Mings.

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Don calls for legislation to check computer hacking in Nigeria

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Cyber attack

Dr David Dimoji, the Dean, School of Science and Technology, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba on Monday called for legislation to check and punish internet hackers in Nigeria.

Dimoji in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Aba noted that unless the trend was checked through legislation, it would soon cause crisis in the economic sector.

Dimoji, who frowned at the increasing trend in bank account device hacks, said that a law would reduce the rate at which some ICT compliant persons hacked into devices without authorisation.

“Some states are establishing laws to punish kidnappers and now that the issue of hacking is becoming a very common offence, I want to believe that the privacy act is not enough.

“The privacy act says that if you get access to a document or data you are not entitled to access, it is an offence. But I want Nigeria to go beyond the privacy act to make a special law that would punish hackers.

“This is because a part of our problems, especially in the economic circles today is resulting from the activities of hackers. They hack into anything including your bank accounts, and if nothing is done to stop them, they can cripple an economy,” he said.

The dean said that the government should learn to act immediately because of the menace which had increased lately in many countries, adding that Nigeria should not wait to be hit by big-time hackers before taking precautions.

He said that the only way to handle the problem of hacking was to make a law criminalising computer hacking and any person found guilty of the offence would be punished with imprisonment.

Dimoji also counseled governments and institutions in the country to invest more in digitisation and ICT development to meet the needs of the time.

He regretted the lack of foresights of current political leaders who had refused to budget enough for computerisation to equip youths to have access to computer-based jobs.

“Ask yourself, what percentage of our annual budget is allocated to digitisation or ICT? We are still doing things in the analog way.

“What I am saying is that the presidency and national assembly should make a special budget for computerisation, digitisation and ICT development. If we do that, we will move forward.

“Some of our youths are still analog while the world has long turned to digital, that is why most of our youths are not employable,” he said.

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Kane double keeps Spurs in title hunt

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Tottenham Hotspur's English striker Harry Kane (R) shoots past Everton's Scottish-born Irish midfielder James McCarthy during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton at White Hart Lane in London, on March 5, 2017.<br />Adrian DENNIS / AFP

Harry Kane extended his hot streak with a blistering brace as Tottenham beat Everton 3-2 to close the gap on leaders Chelsea to seven points on Sunday.

Kane opened the scoring with a thunderous first-half strike at White Hart Lane and netted again after the break to take his goal tally to 24 in 28 games this season.

Everton forward Romelu Lukaku, Kane’s closest rival in the race to finish as Premier League top scorer, got one back before Dele Alli struck for Spurs in the closing moments.

There was still time for Enner Valencia to score Everton’s second, but Tottenham held on for a third victory in their last four league games.

Kane’s prolific form puts a little more pressure on runaway leaders Chelsea, who must win at West Ham on Monday to restore their 10-point advantage.

Everton could have no complaints about their first defeat in their last 10 league games, a setback which dents their hopes of qualifying for the Europa League.

Tottenham had an early penalty appeal when Kyle Walker surged past Leighton Baines into the area, but the Everton defender recovered impressively, just getting a foot on the ball with his last-ditch challenge.

Although Spurs were monopolising possession, all the neat passing from Mauricio Pochettino’s men hadn’t forced Everton goalkeeper Joel Robles into action.

Sensing that his team needed to be more direct, Kane took matters into his own hands to break the deadlock in the 20th minute.

When Kane found himself on the ball 30 yards from goal, he quickly moved menacingly towards the penalty area and, with Everton midfielder Gareth Barry fatally failing to close him down, the Spurs star was free to unleash a superb strike that flashed past Robles.

– Knockout blow –

Kane should have netted again moments later when he collected Alli’s pass and cleverly cut inside Baines for a close-range effort that was straight at Robles.

Christian Eriksen smashed the rebound over the crossbar and the Tottenham midfielder was off target with another opportunity, this one steered wide after he broke clear.

After watching Merseyside boxer Tony Bellew’s win against David Haye in a heavyweight bout on Saturday evening, Everton boss Ronald Koeman took to social media to hail the Everton fan’s “warrior” spirit.

But there was little of that against-the-odds mentality from Everton, who failed to lay a glove on Tottenham in a one-sided affair.

Victor Wanyama nearly doubled Tottenham’s lead when his long-range effort cannoned off a post.

Pressing for the knockout blow after the interval, Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen stormed into the Everton area, but couldn’t beat Robles from an acute angle.

If Everton were to halt Spurs’ serene progress, they needed much better service for the isolated Lukaku.

Instead they shot themselves in the foot and gifted Kane his second goal in the 56th minute.

Robles rolled the ball out to Morgan Schneiderlin and, with two Tottenham players lurking nearby, he passed to Ashley Williams, but not quickly enough to stop Alli stealing possession.

A quick pass put Kane clean through and the England international kept his composure to slot a cool finish past Robles.

It took 80 minutes for Everton to give Lukaku a sight of goal and he snapped up the chance, taking Ross Barkley’s pass, accelerating away from the stumbling Vertonghen and firing home.

Tottenham were unfazed and Alli made a well-timed run to flick Harry Winks’s smart free-kick past Robles in the 90th minute.

Valencia’s close-range finish in stoppage time came too late for Everton to undo Kane’s latest heroics.

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Mugabe back home after medical review in Singapore

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Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe. PHOTO: AFP<br />

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe returned home Sunday from Singapore where he had flown earlier this week for a medical review, his spokesman said.

Mugabe returned “this morning”, spokesman George Charamba told AFP.

He had travelled to Singapore Wednesday, just days after he celebrated his 93rd birthday, for what his spokesman had described as a “scheduled medical review”.

“As for the review, well he resumes work tomorrow,” Charamba said.

The veteran leader who has been in power since 1980, appeared frail at his birthday party on February 25.

Two journalists were arrested Friday over a report that claimed Mugabe was “in bad shape”.

They were charged with undermining and insulting the office of the president, and released hours after their arrest. They have not yet been brought before a court.

Mugabe’s health has been subject of increased speculation in recent years, and he regularly flies to Singapore for medical attention.

Despite his advanced age, Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF party last year endorsed him as its candidate for the 2018 general elections.

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Arik Air gets better, says AMCON

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The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) said public confidence was gradually returning to Nigeria’s largest domestic carrier, Arik Air, barely two weeks after it took over the airline.

AMCON made the claim in a statement signed by its spokesman, Mr Jude Nwauzor, and obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

NAN reports that the airline was on Feb. 9 taken over by the Federal Government under the auspices of AMCON as a result of its debt profile of over N300 billion.

AMCON appointed Capt. Roy Ilegbodu, a veteran aviation expert, to manage the airline under the receivership of Mr Oluseye Opasanya (SAN).

Nwauzor said the new management were confronted with a barrage of challenges, they had surmounted the problems, adding that they had been stabiliseing airline’s operations with the few aircraft on the fleet.

AMCON said unlike what obtained before the takeover, average On-Time-Performance (OTP) of Arik Air to different destinations had improved.

The corporation also claimed that Nigerian banks that hitherto turned their backs to Arik now cooperated and supported the new management.

According to the spokesman, engagement with international and local creditors has also been successful while discussions with critical service providers and industry stakeholders have yielded the much desired positive results.

“Arik has also paid the insurance premium, which was on the verge of expiring and ommenced the payment of outstanding salaries, which has greatly boosted staff morale as well as performance.

‘’Arik is also in discussion with different creditors and stakeholders to recall a good number of aircraft into the fleet, as soon as possible, which will increase the number of daily flights,” he said.

The corporation said that a good number of passengers affected by the suspension of flights to some routes had been refunded, adding that efforts were on to reach out to those yet to get their refunds.

Nwauzor further said that with the positive developments being witnessed in the operations of the airline since its takeover, customers of Arik, especially from the corporate circle, were gradually coming back.

The corporation further said its efforts in ensuring improved performance within a short period it tookover Arik Air had resulted in stable and professional management of the airline.

The new management said their efforts at reviving the airline was boosted by the fact that Arik had unparalleled safety record that ‘’speaks for itself in the history of aviation in the country.’’

AMCON said it had also held series of fruitful engagements and agreements with major suppliers of aviation fuel for regular supplies of the product to Arik to guarantee regular flights.

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Mugabe talks of own death at 93rd birthday party

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Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe speaks during a private ceremony to celebrate his 93rd birthday on February 21, 2017 in Harare. Mugabe, the world's oldest national ruler, turned 93, using a long and occasionally rambling interview to vow to remain in power despite growing signs of frailty. / AFP PHOTO / Jekesai NJIKIZANA

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe celebrated his 93rd birthday with a lavish party on Saturday, addressing his own mortality in a speech, but showing no signs of stepping down.

Wearing a black cowboy hat, Mugabe, who is increasingly frail, paused for lengthy periods and mumbled at times as he spoke for more than an hour.

“It’s not always easy to predict that, although you are alive this year, you will be alive next year,” he said.

“It does not matter how healthy you might feel. The decision that you continue to live and enjoy life is that of one personality we call the Almighty God.

“We should thank the Almighty God that I was able to live from 92 years last year to 93, but much more than that I was able to live from childhood to this day — that’s a long, long journey.”

The birthday party, held in a large marquee outside Zimbabwe’s second city Bulawayo, was attended by thousands of officials and ZANU-PF party supporters.

Mugabe has held power since 1980 during a reign marked by repression of dissent, vote-rigging and the country’s sharp economic decline.

Now the world’s oldest national leader, his actual birthday on Tuesday has been honoured in a week-long extravaganza with state media filled with tributes and praise.

– Local criticism –
Saturday’s party included a feast and several vast birthday cakes, angering some Zimbabweans as the country endures severe food shortages.

One of the cakes was shaped like Mugabe’s official Mercedes-Benz limousine.

Holding the event at a school in Matobo has also riled locals as it is close to where many victims of Mugabe’s crackdown on dissidents in the early 1980s are thought to be buried.

At least 20,000 people are believed to have been killed in the massacres by North Korean-trained Zimbabwean troops, according to rights groups.

“This should not be a place for celebration,” Mbuso Fuzwayo, spokesman for the Bulawayo-based campaign group Ibhetshu Likazulu, told AFP.

“The whole area is a crime scene where the bones of victims of the massacres are buried.”

The state-owned Herald newspaper on Tuesday published a 24-page supplement of gushing congratulatory messages from government departments and regime loyalists.

“It’s written on earth and in heaven that our leader is R.G. Mugabe,” ZANU-PF national youth leader Kudzai Chipanga told the president in his speech.

“We find it hard and impossible to talk about any other leader except yourself.”

ZANU-PF has endorsed Mugabe as its candidate for general elections next year, and he remains widely respected as a liberation hero by other African leaders.

– ‘Mugabe must go’? –
Party guests — many dressed in clothing printed with Mugabe’s image — chanted “Long live the African icon”.

“Some in their little groups are saying ‘Mugabe must go’ and I ask ‘where must I go?'” Mugabe said, wearing dark glasses and a colourful jacket with a picture of himself on it.

“If ZANU-PF says ‘you should step down’, I will step down,”

He has avoided naming a successor, but his wife, Grace, 51, is seen as a possible candidate along with vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa.

A coalition of opposition activist groups said the event was “a mockery and a direct insult to the concerns of the citizens”, alleging that poor farmers were forced to donate cattle to feed guests.

Mugabe cut the cakes with the help of Grace as the crowd sang Happy Birthday.

Born on February 21, 1924, Mugabe trained as a teacher and taught in what was then Rhodesia and Ghana before returning home to join the guerrilla war against white-minority rule.

He became prime minister on Zimbabwe’s independence from Britain in 1980 and then president in 1987.

All schools around Bulawayo were closed on Thursday and Friday to prepare for the celebration, which was attended by some ambassadors and foreign dignitaries.

“Our children were told their classrooms have been turned into boarding facilities, and they (were) frogmarched to join the birthday party,” local poet and opposition activist Desire Moyo told AFP.

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Trump says will announce Supreme Court pick Tuesday

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US Supreme Court

US President Donald Trump said he will announce his nomination to the Supreme Court on Tuesday, a pick likely to tilt the court to conservatives on crucial issues such as abortion and gun control.

Trump’s choice will fill a vacancy left by the sudden death last year of conservative justice Antonin Scalia, which left the court evenly divided between four conservative and four liberal justices.

“I have made my decision on who I will nominate for The United States Supreme Court. It will be announced live on Tuesday at 8:00 P.M. (W.H.),” Trump said on his Twitter account.

Abortion, gay marriage, gun control — the Supreme Court is the final arbiter of many of the most sensitive issues of American life and law.

Its members, who must be confirmed by the Senate, are named to life terms so their influence is long lasting.

Trump has said he wants a candidate who is against abortion and firmly backs Americans’ right to own guns.

Among those tipped as frontrunners for the post are Neil Gorsuch, a respected appellate court judge who is considered an ideological match to Scalia, and William Pryor, an Alabama appellate court judge considered an opponent of abortion rights.

Trump had said he would announce his pick on Thursday, but has moved the date up amid a raging controversy and confusion over his order to temporarily bar travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States.

His Supreme Court pick is certain to set off another pitched battle with Democrats.

Former president Barack Obama had named Merrick Garland, an appellate court judge, to fill Scalia’s seat but Republicans used their control of the Senate to keep his nomination from being considered.

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