Judiciary strike frustrates elections tribunal in Delta

The strike embarked upon by judiciary workers in Delta State on Monday stalled the proceedings at the Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tribunal failed to sit on arrival at the venue designated for it, as the premises had been locked by the workers, who were on strike.

The striking workers pasted notices around the courts stating that the action would last indefinitely in the state.

The Secretary of the tribunal, Deborah Musa, told NAN that the strike had paralysed activities in the tribunal.

“We arrived for work this morning and found the whole place locked up and we saw the notice that judiciary workers in the state are on an indefinite strike.

“I quickly rushed to look for the leaders of the workers and for more than one hour I begged them to come and open the premises so that we can evacuate our files and other items,” she said.

Asked where she would put the files, Mrs Musa said, “I don’t really know where I am taking them to.

You know, we don’t know anywhere or anybody here. Maybe I will put them in my hotel room in the meantime.”

Harmonised salary

When contacted, the Vice-Chairman of the Judiciary Workers Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), James Onanowe, said, “the workers want to be included in the harmonised public service salary.”

He said that the union resorted to strike when the state government failed to respond to its letter on the issue dated April 4.

He added that the decision to embark on the strike was taken by the union’s leadership on Friday, adding that “before we took that decision, we exhaustively deliberated on the matter.”

Explosion rocks PPMC Warri depot

There was an explosion yesterday at the Tanker Loading Bay of the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC), near the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company, Delta State.
The explosion shook the complex and the nearby Ubeji and Ekpan communities.
Residents thought an attack by militants was on, particularly against the backdrop of last week’s threat by the Coalition of Niger Delta Militants to attack oil facilities.
The Joint Task Force (JTF) spokesperson, Lt-Col. Timothy Antigha, ruled out sabotage.
He said the Task Force was on top of the security situation in the Niger Delta.
Lt-Col.Antigha advised residents to go about their businesses while security agents ascertained the cause of the explosion.
The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the parent company of the PPMC and the Warri Refinery, was yet to make an official statement on the incident last night.
It was gathered that the explosion was caused by a petroleum tanker that caught fire while waiting to load at the facility.
Sources said the tanker, which had an electrical problem, was ignited by a spark from a component, when the driver started the truck.
The explosion led to panic particularly among other tanker drivers and agents of the various marketers in the vicinity.
A source said: “People started running helter-skelter because of the explosion and the fire.
“People who didn’t know the cause initially thought it was a bomb explosion.
“Those who ran away later came back to evacuate their vehicles and other belongings.”
Though there were no reports of any death, it was gathered that some workers around the facility suffered minor injuries during the stampede.
A combined fire fighting squad deployed from the Shell Petroleum Development Company, NNPC, and other oil firms were battling to put out the fire at the time of this report.

UCH begins free cancer screening

Following increasing incidence of oral cancer in the country, a week-long free dental screening for cancer of the head, neck and mouth commenced at the University College Hos-pital (UCH), Ibadan, on Monday.

The free screening, being organised by the Oral Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Initiative, in conjunction with Head and Neck Cancer Alliance, United State of America, Dr Ifeolu Akinmoladun said, would be extended to Idikan today and Bodija market tomorrow.

Dr Akinmoladun, who said the public needed to be aware of the menace, added that “many of the cases of oral cancer that we are seeing are not pleasant.”

He added that many of the cases came at a time when little or nothing could be done to help the patients.

“Many people do not recognise the symptoms of these cancers, which underscore the impor-tance of everyone getting screened properly, not just those at high risk, such as tobacco and alcohol users.

The oral cancer expert said common signs of oral cancer included red or white patches in the mouth, a change in voice or hoarseness, sore throat that did not subside, or pain or swelling in the mouth or neck.

He warned that if these symptoms were found to persist more than two weeks, such victims should report promptly at the hospital.

Dr Akinmoladun said cases of sore in the mouth, difficulty in speaking or swallowing, difficulty in breathing, ear pain and bleeding from the nose must be reported at the hospital for immediate screening.

Dr Akinmoladun, who warned against oral sex, use of various forms of tobacco and alcohol, added that “when you see oral cancer in younger people who do not smoke, oral sex could be one of the reasons.”

Women lobby for 15 ministerial positions, 35 per cent of federal appointments

VARIOUS women groups in the country are lobbying President Goodluck Jonathan to concede 15 ministerial posts and 35 per cent of other federal appointments to women.

Acting under the auspices of Gender Affirmative Action and the 100 Group Platforms, the women said the demand was based on the president’s pre-election campaign promises.

They noted that the president had unequivocally declared that he would give women 35 per cent of all appointments if re-elected following the massive support he enjoyed during the campaign.

“Nigerian women, who form the bulk of voters, translated their large turnout into massive votes for the president during the elections. It is now time for our president, who has proved to be a man of his words and integrity to honour his promise of 35 per cent appointments to women,”the women said.

Their demand is coming against the backdrop of last week’s retreat by Jonathan with PDP leadership at Obudu Cattle Ranch over zoning of offices and the new federal cabinet.

The women contended that the fulfillment of the promise would be in tandem with the commitment of President Jonathan to adequate representation of women in the structures of the newly elected government and parliament.This, they said,would be in line with the National Gender Policy, the 35 per cent Affirmative Action of the Beijing conference in China and international instruments, to which Nigeria is a signatory.

They requested that a minimum of 15 ministerial appointments should be given to women even as they insisted that the list of advisory personnel should reflect at least 35 per cent of women.

Yuguda dedicates Certificate of Return to slain NYSC members

Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State has dedicated his Certificate of Return to the nine NYSC members killed in the state during the recent post-election violence.

Yuguda announced this in Bauchi on Monday while addressing newsmen after he was presented with the certificate for a second term by INEC.

He described the slain NYSC members as heroes of democracy whose legacies must be kept alive.

Yuguda, who commiserated with the families of the affected corps members, said all suspects arrested in connection with the violence would be prosecuted and punished.

The governor also assured the families of the slain corps members of adequate compensation.

``However, there is no amount of compensation that will replace the lives of the deceased but we will only try to assuage the pains they are presently going through,’’ he added.

He also commended the parents of the deceased for their courage and fortitude in bearing their loss.

Yuguda said his administration was determined and ready to protect the lives and property of every resident in the state irrespective of ethnic, religious or political inclinations.

The governor said his administration would ensure that every corps member posted to the state had a memorable service year, adding that automatic employment would be offered to those ready to stay. (NAN)

Akala insists on paying N18,000 minimum to workers

The out-going Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, has insisted on implementing the N18,000 minimum wage for the workers in the state to the state workers before leaving office.

He spoke in response to the warning by the Governor elect, Senator Abiola Ajimobi that he should not sign the implementation of the said wage.

Ajimobi said doing so would be tantamount to undermining the in-coming administration and it would be unfair now that the Governor was at the twilight of his tenure.

Governor Akala, in a statement signed by his Special Adviserr on Public Communication, Prince Dotun Oyelade, regretted his inability to accede to the request under any circumstance, saying that the promise to pay the minimum wage, which he voluntarily made on Tuesday March 29, 2011, a clear 29 days before the gubernatorial election, had become a covenant between him and the workers.

The governor Akala took exception to the description of his action as suspicious and controversial adding that he gave the promise with a conviction that he would be the one to implement it.

“What kind of leader will I be, if I have to acquiesce to reneging on a promise I made to my people?
I wish to leave behind a legacy of policy consistency”, he said.

He disagreed with Ajimobi that it was morally wrong for him to initiate a project that he would not implement.
Akala said, “ while it is morally and legally correct for him to effect minimum wage, governance is a continuum and its entity remains potent until the last admissible date.

In any case, the former Governor Lam Adesina sealed a whooping N1.8 billion contract for an International Market and Water Projects in the dying days of his Administration, while Senator Ladoja increased workers’ salaries and allowances a few days before his departure.The workers in Oyo State will enjoy minimum wage of N18,000 from May 1, 2011 and it is their right to reject the offer.

Olorunsogo power plant to start operation in November

The federal government yesterday said it would deliver an additional 750 mega watts of electricity to the national grid from the multi-million dollar Olorunsogo Phase 11 National Integrated Power (NIPP) by November this year.

The construction cost of the Olorunsogo NIPP is pegged at about $600 million by the federal government.

Other onging NIPPs are Omotosho, Ondo State; Ihovbo, Edo state; Alaoje, Abia state; Egbema, Imo state; Gbaran, Bayelsa state; Calabar, Cross River state; Omoku, Rivers state; Geregu, Kogi state and Sapele, Delta state.

Fielding questions from journalists after a working tour of the project, in Olorunsogo, Ogun state, Vice President Nnamadi Sambo said the government was committed to delivering stable electricity supply to Nigerians before the end of President Goodluck Jonathan's administration.

"In another six months from now, the entire project would be completed and have 750MW added to the national grid," he told journalists.

Imo Poll - Police Deploy 10,000 Men

The inspector-general of police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, has deployed over 10,000 policemen and women for today's supplementary poll holding in four local government areas in Imo State.

The areas where election would hold are Ngor-Okpala, Oguta, Mbaitoli, Ohaji-Egbema and Orji ward in Owerri North LGA.

Addressing journalists yesterday in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, the representative of the IG and deputy inspector-general in charge of the South East, Mrs. Ivy Okoronkwo, flanked by AIG zone 9, Mr. Mike Abass and two other commissioners of police, said the number is made up of anti- riot personnel, anti-terrorism squad (ATS), conventional policemen and anti-bomb squad.

She disclosed that sister security agencies would also provide a good number of their men to complement the efforts of the police.

DIG Okoronkwo, who is also in-charge of the security for the election, assured that adequate measures have been taken to ensure a secure, free and fair supplementary election in the state.

She listed the measures to include restriction of vehicular movements on Thursday from 10pm to 6am and today from 8am to 10pm, though it excluded those on essential services and other duties relating to the conduct of the elections. Political office holders were barred from visiting polling stations accompanied by their security aides. They would also not be allowed the use of vehicles with tinted glasses, covered plate numbers and provocative inscription or slogan.

FG urged to proscribe NYSC programme

governorship aspirant in Delta State, Mr Sunny Onuesoke, has enjoined the Federal Government to proscribe the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, scheme.

Onuesoke who stated this in a chat with newsmen, yesterday, said the essence of the scheme had been defeated.

He decried a situation where corps members posted to the Northern part of the country were often target once there was crisis in the states they were posted to serve their father land.

Lamenting that the Southern part of the country had lost over 500 of their children, who were posted to serve in the North in the last 20 years, he described the actions of those behind the recent post-election crisis in Bauchi and Kaduna States as barbaric and inhuman.

He urged the Federal Government to take a hard stance against those behind the mayhem, which claimed the lives of corps members posted to the North.

Nass Power Game - Jonathan, PDP Back Mark

Abuja — Senate President David Mark and key officers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) returned from Obudu Cattle Ranch in Cross River State yesterday with assurance from President Goodluck Jonathan and national leaders of the PDP that the zoning status quo in the National Assembly would be retained.

Jonathan had invited the Senate president, members of the National Working Committee of the party and some members of the Board of Trustees for a crucial meeting over the unfolding power game at the National Assembly.


The meeting, according to an insider, was informed by the clash of interests of the party leaders across the six geopolitical zones. While the South-East governors and the party chieftains from the zone were said to have strongly canvassed having the office of the Senate president or the speaker of the House of Representatives, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other leaders of the South-West zone of the party insisted that the zoning status quo should be retained.

Also barring any last minute alteration in the existing status quo in the House, Muraina Ajibola (PDP Oyo) may replace Dimeji Bankole as the speaker.

However, one of the national officers of the PDP, who attended the meeting in Obudu, told LEADERSHIP last night that Jonathan and the NWC of the PDP have resolved that the status quo in the National Assembly offices be retained.

African Development Bank Recruitment for Young Professional Program (YPP) 2011.

Graduate Recruitment at African Development Bank

The YPP targets motivated and talented young professionals under thirty-two (32) years of age, who are committed to making a difference on the African continent and who will spend between two (2) and three (3) years of their professional career in a multicultural, and professionally stimulating environment at the African Development Bank.
Position Title: Young Professional Program 2011

Objectives
The Bank seeks individuals skilled in the areas relevant to its operations, such as infrastructure, regional integration, health, education, agriculture, climate change and environment, gender, finance and risk management, governance and private sector development.

The Bank hires approximately twenty (20) young professionals each year. These YPs complete yearly rotational assignments in different organizational units and sectors in the Bank, during a minimum of two and maximum of three rotational assignments.

Selection Criteria
Graduate Recruitment 2011 at African Development Bank
Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience

The following established eligibility requirements guide the recruitment of the Young Professionals, and at no time will the Bank make an exception for any candidate:
Citizen of a member country (regional or non-regional) of the AfDB
A maximum of 32 years of age by December 31st of the selection year (i.e 2011)
A minimum of a Master’s degree or equivalent in Economics, Engineering, Social Sciences, International Development, Business Administration, Finance, Banking or any discipline that is relevant to the business of the Bank
Multi-disciplinary background and a minimum of three years relevant work experience
Outstanding academic credentials
Demonstrated commitment to African development (field experience on the continent and/or in other developing countries is an added advantage)
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English or French with a working knowledge of the other language (working knowledge of a third language that is relevant to the Bank’s operation in the African continent is an advantage)
Ability/motivation to work in a multicultural work environment
Demonstrated leadership potential
Demonstrated strong analytical skills, dynamism, results-orientation, and problem-solving capability

Features of the Program
The program mandates completion of two (2) out of three (3) yearly rotations with a possibility of securing a regular staff position during the third term of the program.
Additionally, the program affords coaching and mentoring opportunities for each Young Professional.

Professional Experience:
The 1st rotational assignment will be a ‘stretch’ or ‘learning’ rotation, responsive to the Bank’s needs and priorities. It is intended to provide exposure to the Bank’s various departmental and developmental programs and processes. Individual work programs should reflect on-the-job learning that is central to the YPP.
Where possible, the 2nd rotational assignment should take place in the area of expertise or organizational unit in which the YP hopes to remain for the mid to long term if selected on a competitive basis.
The work program should provide a suitable bridge between the development focus of the 1st rotation and the specialist nature of the 2nd rotation and the level of responsibility required in a higher level position.
As required by their work programs, and at the request of the organizational unit hosting the rotation, YPs are expected to participate in missions and assignments in Field Offices for a certain period of time.

Application Deadline: 14th May, 2011

Method of Application
Interested candidates for the Young Professional Program 2011 should Click here to Apply Online

Sterling Bank Vacancy (Relationship Managers & Officers)

Job Title:

Relationship Managers & Officers

Department:

Lagos Mainland 1

Description:

Business Development

Liability generation

Risk asset creation

Remedial management

Recovery

Relationship Managament

Brand Ambassador

Mentoring

Job Conditions:

Normal Sterling Work Conditions

Reporting To:

Business Manager

Required Skills:

Good communication skills

Selling/Marketing Skills

Credit appraisal/analyses

Industry Analysis

Negotiation skills

Relationship Management

Accounting

Qualification:

B.Sc, B.A, HND

Location:

Type:

Any Type

Expiry Date:

Friday, May 13, 2011

follow this Link to apply

Jonathan seeks approval for new Justices

President Goodluck Jonathan has sent a list of three justices of the Court of Appeal for elevation to the Supreme Court. They are to replace three other retiring justices of the apex court.
The nominees are Ngwuta (South East), Mary Peter-Odili (South East) and O Ariwoola (South West).In a letter to the Senate dated April 19, 2011, President Jonathan stated that the appointments were necessitated by the recent retirement from the Supreme Court bench of Justices G. A Oguntade, J.O Ogebe and Niki Tobi.
Similarly, in a letter dated April 12, 2011, the President has written to seek the confirmation of Alhaji Lawal Inde Abdullahi (Katsina State) as a commissioner in the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) for a period of five years.
Another communication from the President to the Senate was for the approval of the 2011 budget proposal for the Federal Capital Territory which was conveyed through a letter dated March 15, 2011.
Also among the President’s communication to the Senate was a request for the confirmation of appointments of chairman and members of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

FCTA to investigate land allocations by area councils

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is set to reposition the six area councils to enhance efficiency and delivery of democratic dividends to residents.

The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed who disclosed this also said all land allocated by the area councils since inception of the FCTA will be investigated to determine their authenticity for subsequent issuance of Certificates of Occupancy.

He spoke while receiving the FCT elected political office holders in Abuja who paid him a thank-you visit in his office.

They also used the medium to send their congratulatory message to President Goodluck Jonathan on the success of the just-concluded general elections.

Mohammed stressed the need to reposition the area councils to make them responsive on delivering improved healthcare, qualitative education, sound environment, sanitation and well-coordinated transportation network.

The minister also disclosed that the FCTA had started issuing licences to new bus operators, adding that their services will be subsidised by the government to ensure effectiveness and sustainability.

He remarked that the administration has concluded plans to assist the FCT Command of the Nigeria Police Force by getting it re-positioned for greater challenges.

The Minister revealed that his administration had recruited over 1,000 informal informants who are usually paid stipends to nip criminal activities on the bud.

Senator Mohammed stressed that the FCT area councils will soon enjoy delegated powers to allocate certain categories of plots of land in the Territory to reduce the pressure on the centre.

NBA wants attack on Election Petition Tribunal in Bayelsa probed

The Yenagoa branch of the Nigerian Bar Association has called for the institution of a high powered investigative team with the required independence to probe last weekend attack on the registry of state Election Petition Tribunal within the High Court complex by suspected thugs who carted away documentary evidence before it and the sum of N70,000 belonging to the staff.

Chairman of the Yenagoa branch of the NBA, Barrister Stanley Ike Damabide who spoke to newsmen in Yenagoa at the end of the body’s deliberation condemned in strong terms what he described as the desecration and insult of the judiciary and the ignoble played by the state government security outfit, Operation Famou Tangbei which allegedly gave cover to the rampaging thugs.

He said, “it is with great concern that the Yenagoa branch of the Nigerian Bar Association is addressing you today, as an unprecedented crude and abominable conduct with desecrating effects on the sanctity of the judiciary in Bayelsa State, has just occurred.”

Akala stops Alaafin as Permanent Chairman of Council of Obas

The feud between the Alaafin of Oyo , Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III and the out-going governor Adebayo Alao-Akala has taken a turn for the worse with the signing into law a bill which stops the Alaafin from occupying the position of the state Council of Obas and Chiefs in permanent capacity .
The action of governor Akala came just less than two weeks after losing the governorship election to the opposition party , Action Congress of Nigeria { ACN} which was favoured by the royal father and this became evident in the victory of ACN in all the four local government covers made up Oyo town.
Before the election, there has been no love lost between the monarch and the governor , especially when the Alaafin raised an alarm that the governor was planning to terminate his life .
Adeyemi has hitherto been the permanent chairman of the council.
But a statement by Alao-Akala’s spokesman, Mr. Dotun Oyelade, on Tuesday indicated that the signing of the law tagged Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs Amendment Law 2011 supercedes similar law enacted in 2000 by the Alhaji Lam Adesina’s regime.
By this development, the chairmanship of the council has become rotational among the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Soun of Ogbomosoland and the Alaafin of Oyo in that order.
The council’s deputy chairmanship also becomes rotational among the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Eleruwa of Eruwa, Okere of Saki and Aseyin of Iseyin in that order.

NDLEA uncovers 3.2kg cocaine concealed in candles

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, have discovered 3.2 kilogrammes of high grade cocaine concealed inside some candles.
It arrested a 45-year-old suspect, Aina Fausat Olanrewaju, for carrying the drug, which street value was put at N30 million. NDLEA discovered the suspect’s “innovation” on Sunday during an inward screening of passengers on an Emirate flight from Brazil.
The drug was industrially packed inside six big candles, four of which were black and the other two green.
Answering questions from narcotic officers, Olanrewaju said the candles were meant for spiritual use.
But the curious NDLEA officers broke the candles and discovered that they contained cocaine.
The suspect was arrested following the discovery of the cocaine-laden candles in her luggage, which also contained female shoes, bags and clothes.
NDLEA said the single mother of two children might be working for an international drug cartel with stronghold in Brazil.
She has been taken on follow-up operations in Nigeria to arrest others linked with the crime.
Two persons have reportedly been arrested for the unlawful drug importation, but NDLEA said it has begun investigation to determine their level of involvement.
NDLEA Airport Commander, Alhaji Hamza Umar, said: “There is no limit to the tricks of drug trafficking syndicates. The candle mode of concealment is simply amazing.”
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Ahmadu Giade urged the officers to continue to expose drug barons’ tricks through meticulous search operations.

Nigeria budget office sees tighter 2011 budget soon

Nigeria's government is in talks with parliament over the country's 2011 budget proposal and expects to agree an amended version with a narrower deficit within weeks, the head of the budget office said on Tuesday.

President Goodluck Jonathan initially proposed a 4.226 trillion naira ($27.32 billion) budget in December but parliament inflated the spending plans, passing a 4.972 trillion naira version three months later.

Government has said the 2011 budget is supposed to mark the beginning of a period of fiscal consolidation in sub-Saharan Africa's second biggest economy and Finance Minister Olusegun Aganga described the amended version, which would push the deficit to over four percent, as "unimplementable".

He vowed in March to take the issue up with parliament.

"We are very, very deep in the negotiations, we have gone very far," Bright Okogu, director general of the budget office, told reporters on the sidelines of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) event in the commercial capital Lagos.

"We have both recognised in all our preliminary discussions that there is a need to come back to a more realistic budget deficit level," he said.

The original budget plan presented by Jonathan implied a deficit of around 3.6 percent. Okogu said the final version would push the deficit "back in that direction".

Presidential, parliamentar

Obi assists corps members, says aide

Senior Special Assistant to Governor Peter Obi on Media and Publicity, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, has assured the people of Anambra State that Obi would remain committed to the welfare of all the segments of the society, including the youth.
In a statement on claims by some people that he was not responsive to the plight of the stranded Anambra youth corps members in some parts of the country recently, Obienyem said it was statements made in ignorance.
According to him, once the post-election crisis started, Obi was the first to establish contact with security agencies and was working directly with the Director of the SSS and the State Commissioner for Police on the security situation as it affected not just the Corps members but Igbo people in the affected areas as the chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum.
He worked essentially with other South-East Governors. This, he said was his pattern, which saw him in the past visiting Jos twice to see Eastern victims of the crisis there and talk to them.
Obienyem contended that some people are making all sorts of claim, when they do not even know the genesis of the Dana flight that brought some of the corps members back.

Uduaghan assures workers on payment of minimum wage

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, basking in the euphoria of his victory at the April 26 governorship polls, has assured workers of the preparedness of his administration to implement the new minimum wage of N18, 000.
Uduaghan in his May Day address read on his behalf by his deputy, Prof Amos Utuama (SAN), told the workers at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) joint rally in Asaba on Sunday that once guidelines were worked out for the new minimum wage, he would start implementing it.
“The issue of N18,000 minimum wage has already become a law and we have approved it in principle but we are awaiting the necessary guidelines for its implementation.
“We have largely kept our promises to our workers having implemented promotion packages, employed new workers where necessary and paid salaries and allowances as at when due.
“We have fully implemented all salary structures, which include those of medical and health workers, the judiciary, colleges of education, polytechnics and universities and the main civil service. We will not let workers down believing that a worker is entitled to his wages. “Despite the tight financial environment under which we are operating, we will continue to meet our obligations to the workers of Delta State as at when due. All we expect from you in return is greater dedication, patience and loyalty to the government.” Uduaghan pointed out that his administration besides the major projects like the Asaba International Airport, the various road dualization, was working on its vision of creating a virile and strong Delta State that could survive without the vagaries in the international oil market.