The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has named Setonji Koshoedo the party’s acting National Secretary. Until his appointment, Koshoedo was the Deputy National Secretary of the party. PDP acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, announced the appointment after the NWC meeting on Tuesday, Damagum explained that Koshoedo’s appointment is pending the determination of the case before the Enugu High Court. “We decided that the Deputy National Secretary should take over in an acting capacity pending the resolution of the Court case. We also direct parties involved in the Court case to stand down action for the party’s due process, Damagum stated. Damagum disclosed that there conflicting Court Orders. An Enugu High Court had ordered Sam Anyanwu to stop parading himself and directed Damagum to recognise Sunday Udeh-Okoye as party National Secretary

  The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has condemned an online report attributed to its Head of Public Affairs that there would be a national blackout on account of the ongoing nationwide labour strike, describing the report as false and totally misleading. In a statement by its management on Tuesday, the company also said the report was “mischievous and baseless,” adding that “TCN, through the Public Affairs Head, did not make such statement.” FALSE PUBLICATION BY DAILY POST ON NATIONAL BLACKOUT The Transmission Company of Nigeria hereby states that the publication by Daily Post alleging that the Head of Public Affairs of TCN said that there will be a national blackout is false and totally misleading. pic.twitter.com/h97DGV15MN — TCNNIGERIA (@TCN_NIGERIA) November 14, 2023

  Nineteen unions have so far directed their workers to comply with the directive of the two labour unions to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike. The PUNCH reports that the National Executive Council meeting of the labour unions, held on November 13, 2023, in Abuja, resolved to embark on the strike. The development was a result of the alleged failure of the Federal Government to address issues affecting workers, such as the minimum wage, insecurity, corruption, and poor governance. Also, unions had made some demands, which the government had allegedly failed to address following the recent crisis in Imo that resulted in the alleged brutalisation of the NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, and other members of the labour unions. Some of the unions that have complied with the directives include, 1. The Academic Staff Union of Universities. 2. The Senior Staff Associations of Nigerian Universities. 3. The College of Education Academic Staff Union. 4. The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics. 5. The National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees. 6. The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics. 7. The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria. 8. National Association of Academic Technologists. 9. National Union of Postal and Telecommunication Employees. 10. Nigeria Union Of Local Government Employees. 11. Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria. 12. Nigeria Union of Public Service Reportorial, Secretarial, Data Processors and Allied Workers. 13. National Union of Textile Garments and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria. 14. National Associations of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives. 15. National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees. 16. Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria. 17. The National Union of Electricity Employees. 18. Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria. 19. Nigeria Union of Railway Workers. The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Monday, directed all zonal coordinators and chairpersons of the union to instruct their members to embark on the nationwide strike in line with the directive from the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress. This was contained in a letter which was signed by ASUU’s National President, Emmanuel Osodeke, was issued on Monday night. The letter read, “The Nigeria Labour Congress at a Joint National Executive Council of NLC and TUC directed all affiliate unions to commence the withdrawal of services with effect from 12 midnight today November 13, 2023. “As an affiliate of NLC, all members of our union are hereby directed to join this action of NLC to protect the interest of Nigerian workers and the leadership of the union.” Also, the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees directed its staff to join the strike, saying, “We hereby direct all our members in all Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions to stay off duty as from 14th November 2023 until otherwise directed by the Congress.” Our Correspondents who went round to observe the compliance of workers to the strike, observed that some schools were shut down in Ondo state, while some banks, and hospitals suspended their operations in other states. In the same development, the Federal Capital Territory High Court officials complied with the strike declared by the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress.

  Tuesday 14 November 2023 Strike: FG threatens Labour with contempt charge, NLC adamant Street sweeper bags life jail for defiling teenage girl Lagos drivers protest LASTMA extortion, commuters stranded Police nab fleeing Rivers landlord for assaulting tenant Diri Defeats Sylva, Clinches Second Term As Bayelsa Gov Tinubu Congratulates Diri, Uzodimma, Ododo On Governorship Victories Senate Quizzes Accountant-General Over Medium-Term Expenditure Framework WAEC To Conduct Computer-Based Exams For Private Candidates UNIPORT Student Remanded In Prison Over Murder Of Girlfriend Three Immigration Officials Dead In Car Crash. NNPC Restores Production of 275,000bpd Production Shock as Saudi Arabia cancels visa on arrival for 264 Nigerians FG moves to check excessive borrowing by states 20 fishermen drowned in Taraba Presidency Rejects Labour Strike, Blames Ajaero For Imo Assault Melaye: There was no election in Kogi — INEC only allocated votes Anyanwu, Achonu reject Uzodinma’s victory, say irregularities marred Imo guber poll Salihu Lukman: APC must do away with money politics Doctors, patients bemoan diabetes epidemic, 200% spike on treatment Outstanding NIMC debts threaten national identity card project Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  A 400L Petrochemical Engineering student of the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Damian Okoligwe, has been remanded in prison custody over the murder of his girlfriend. Damian has been accused of killing her some weeks back. He was arraigned at the Magistrate court in Port Harcourt – where he is standing trial for murder – on Monday. When the case was called, the prosecution made an application for remand proceedings, praying the court to consign him to the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS). He further prayed the court that the case file be sent to the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for future advice. This application went unopposed by the defense counsel. In her ruling, the magistrate Obiageri Anugbum said the accusations were very grievous and as such remanded Damian in prison custody even as she ordered that the case file be removed to the DPP’s office. She further adjourned the case to 15th December 2023 for legal advice Damian is accused of killing and dismembering Justina Otuene, a 200L of Biochemistry who is believed to have been his lover

  Justice Abiola Sholadoye of the Ikeja Special Offences and Domestic Vilence Court on Monday arraigned and sentenced a 32-year-old street sweeper, Damilola Omojolowo, to life imprisonment for defiling a 14-year-old girl. Omojolowo was convicted on one count of defilement of the girl, whom he claimed was his girlfriend. The offence committed contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State. According to the prosecution, the convict defiled the victim by having unlawful sexual intercourse with her. The convict was arraigned and he pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against him. According to the prosecution counsel, A.R. Abolade, the convict committed the offence between June 2022 and July 2022 at No. 3 Church Street, Ajegunle, Ikorodu Road, Lagos. The prosecutor also stated that the incident came to light on August 6, 2022, after the convict gave the victim a white tablet to ingest which made her start bleeding after which she was taken to the hospital. The convict admitted to having unlawful intercourse with the victim, stating that she was his girlfriend. He however denied giving her any tablet to ingest. Justice Soladoye sentenced Imoh after the prosecutor read the facts of the case. “It is right that a minor cannot consent to any sexual activity. Even if she did, it is of no use. “He denied giving any tablet to the victim to ingest. It is important to stress that the only charge to this case is that of defilement of the child; so, the issue of the swallowing of the tablet by the child is of no importance. “Since the offence of defilement is a strict liability offence with a mandatory sentence, the defendant, Damilola Omojolowo, is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment for defilement, contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. “The defendant, Damilola Omojolowo, male, is to have his name registered in the sex offenders registry as maintained by Lagos State Governmen

  National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has attributed the current financial distress being faced in the country to bankruptcy inherited by the administration led by President Bola Tinubu. Ribadu, however, said despite the financial constraint that has affected budgetary allocations, the federal government would do everything within its power to ensure that there is a robust and viable defence management and apparatus in the country. The NSA stated these in Abuja when he spoke at the Chief of Defence Intelligence Annual Conference 2023 themed: “Leveraging Defence Diplomacy, and Effective Regional Collaboration for Enhanced National Security”. Daily Trust reports that the conference, which held in Abuja, was attended by Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru; Minister of State, Bello Matawalle; Permanent Secretary in the defence ministry, Ibrahim Kana; the Chief of Defence Staff, and other service chiefs.   “I assure you that the federal government will not rest on its oars in ensuring a robust and viable defence management and security apparatus to address contemporary challenges even in the face of enormous budgetary constraints. “Yes, we’re facing budgetary constraints. It is okay for me to tell you. Fine, it is important for you to know that we have inherited a very difficult situation, literally a bankrupt country, no money, to a point where we can say that all the money we’re getting now, we’re paying back what was taken. It is serious! “But this administration is doing its best to meet our requirements, particularly the armed forces, and I believe that you leaders will be able to testify to that,” the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission told the gathering. According to him, the armed forces under the current leadership has shown serious commitment in addressing the prevailing security challenges bedeviling the country, adding that there were positive changes and improvements both in and outside Nigeria. “Let us come together as one and continue to support our armed forces and other security agencies with this work of securing our country for peace and stability. “They have done an amazingly good job without talking and I believe that with the support and the resolve of the leadership we have today in our country, things will only be better. “We are just four or five months old, but certainly things have changed and we believe that what they are doing, they are doing it right. We want to encourage them, stand by them and support them 100 per cent and hopefully this country will be okay in a short time,” he said. The NSA added that the coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gabon, and Guinea had led to sudden reversal of democratic fortunes in those countries. He noted that the essence of defence diplomacy was to pursue strategic engagement with allies and partners at bilateral and multilateral levels while ensuring the attainment of national security objectives. On his part, the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye, said the agency was determined to harness the capabilities of the defence attaché system for the attainment of national security objectives. Undiandeye said the current and emerging threats facing Nigeria were numerous, complex, integrated, multifaceted and diverse in nature with attendant security implications for national security. These threats, according to him, have both internal and external perspective, and range from terrorism, high force secessionist agitation, armed mandatory kidnapping, herders-farmers clashes and cyber threat

  Donald Trump’s older sister, a former judge who fell out with him during the later stages of his presidency, has died in New York at the age of 86, US media reported Monday. Maryanne Trump Barry passed away at her home in Manhattan, the New York Times said, describing her as “both his protector and critic throughout their lives.” Barry was selected by President Ronald Reagan to serve on the Federal District Court in New Jersey in 1983, reportedly after the intervention of Donald Trump’s then-personal lawyer and fixer Roy Cohn. She was appointed to the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit by President Bill Clinton in 1993.   Barry was close to Donald Trump for decades and was one of the few people whose advice he sought. ABC said the siblings were in touch over recent years and met this summer at one of Trump’s golf clubs. But in 2020, the last year of Trump’s term in the White House, his niece Mary Trump released recordings of Barry speaking critically about the then-president. “Donald’s out for Donald,” Barry said in the recordings. “His goddamned tweet and lying, oh my God. “I’m talking too freely, but you know. The change of stories. The lack of preparation. “He has no principles. None. None.” Trump was reportedly furious and deeply hurt by the comments. A probe into Barry’s alleged judicial misconduct was dropped when she retired in 2019, in the middle of an investigation into the family’s tax records. She denied any wrongdoing. Trump, 77, who hopes to win back the White House next year, lost his younger brother Robert S. Trump in 2020, while his first wife, Ivana Trump, died in 2022. He made no immediate comment on Barry’s death.

  Saudi Arabia authorities have cancelled the visa of all the 264 passengers airlifted by Nigeria’s major carrier, Air Peace on arrival at the country from Kano. They insisted that the airline should return them to Nigeria.   Vanguard gathered that the flight took off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, via the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano on Sunday night and arrived in Saudi Arabia’s major city, Jeddah, today without issues. However, on landing, the Saudi Arabian authorities announced that all the passengers’ visas were cancelled. A source who pleaded anonymity told Vanguard that all the passengers and the airline personnel were shocked at the cancellation of the visas because during check the passengers went through the Advanced Passengers Prescreening System, APPS, which was also monitored by the Saudi Arabia authorities before the flight left Nigeria. The source wondered whether what happened was a strategy to discourage the airline from operating to the destination because since it started the operation it has been recording a high load factor and even the flight expected to leave on Tuesday to Jeddah was already fully booked. When the Nigerian embassy waded in Saudi authorities were said to have reduced the number of passengers that would be returned to 170 from 264. Saudi Air has been operating directly from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia and since Air Peace started flight service to the Middle East nation at relatively lower fares, it has been receiving high patronage and as a Nigerian carrier, it helps to conserve foreign exchange for the country. A source from the Nigerian embassy in Jeddah said that even the Saudi immigration personnel said that they didn’t know who cancelled the visas but that they were cancelled when the airline was already airborne to Jeddah. According to the source, “The airline was exonerated in all this as the APPS, which is live between both countries would have screened out any invalid visa and its passenger. The system accepted all affected passengers and passed them on.   “Those deported were 177 passengers and Air Peace has already left with them back to Nigeria. They are on their way to Nigeria now.” Meanwhile, stakeholders in the sector have attributed the development to aeropolitics. Stating that it is a way to force the Nigerian operator out of the route; unless the government intervenes, adopting the principle of reciprocity. According to industry experts and the Chief Executive Officer, Centurion Aviation Security and Safety Consult, Nigeria, Group Captain John Ojikutu, the action of the Saudis is aero politics and diplomacy. He also requested that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should step in immediately and intervene in the case. He said that what happened showed why it is important for the Nigerian government to stand strongly with any Nigerian carrier designated to operate international destinations. Ojikutu said that Nigeria should designate Nigerian airlines approved to operate out of the country as flag carriers, noting that the United States has no national carrier but all the airlines are supported by the government and are designated as flag carriers. “The action of the Saudi Authorities is shocking. There is geopolitics there and there is also diplomacy. There is the need for the Nigerian government to stand firmly with Nigerian carriers and also designate them as flag carriers; so that other countries will know that they represent Nigeria. “Government must come out and intervene. The government must be behind Air Peace now to ensure that it is not denied its rights as contained in the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between the two countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must not keep quiet. Nigeria must not keep quiet. Ideally, the government is expected to stand behind any of the country’s airlines that it designates to fly overseas,” Ojikutu said.