Here are the top stories that have grabbed the headlines and are shaping conversations into the start of 2019.
NLC tells workers to mobilise for prolonged strike over FG’s failure to implement new minimum wage
In yesterday’s New Year message, the president of the National Labour Congress (NLC) Ayuba Wabba appealed to the Federal Government to urgently commence the implementation of the new minimum wage. Labour bodies – Trade Union Congress, United Labour Congress – and the NLC gave the government a December 31 ultimatum and with the date already passed, an economic shutdown looms.
“This is in spite of the unimpeachable tripartite process leading to the agreement by the social partners on the new national minimum wage,” Wabba said in his speech, “It is unfortunate that the Federal Government is yet to transmit to the National Assembly an executive bill for the enactment of N30,000 as the new national minimum wage. We also like to use this same opportunity to urge workers to fully mobilise for a prolonged national strike and enforce their right.”
No date has been announced for the planned nationwide strike.
Aisha Buhari gets appointed as chairperson of the APC’s Women and Youth Presidential campaign
As the 2019 elections draws closer, the First Lady Aisha Buhari has been installed as the chairperson of the All Progressive Congress Women and Youth Presidential Campaign team. Appointed as co-chairperson is wife of the Vice President Dolapo Osinbajo. The main objective of these appointments is to facilitate and campaign for the reelection of Buhari and Osinbajo in February. Other executive team leaders include Adejoke Adefulire as vice chairman (South), Mairo Al-Makura as vice chairman (North), and Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagu as deputy national coordinator (South).
Why I haven’t criticised Buhari over security issues in Borno – Gov. Shettima
As the security situation in Borno worsens following recent coordinated attacks by Boko Haram, the governor of the state Kashim Shettima held an emergency security council meeting yesterday with the media, security agencies, and traditional rulers. In the meeting, he dredged up his strenuous relationship with former president Goodluck Jonathan when he said in February 2014 that the Nigerian military wasn’t well-equipped to fight Boko Haram. Shettima has now admitted that it was a spontaneous reaction resulting from frustration and it was in defence of soldiers being killed in the front lines.
Unlike Jonathan, Shettima is in good terms with Buhari which has granted him access to the president and he is now able to discuss the issues of the state with him.
Democrats move to end U.S. government shutdown, without wall money
Democrats in the House of Representatives are planning a vote on Thursday on a funding package to end the 10-day-old partial U.S. government shutdown without providing the $5 billion President Trump has demanded for a U.S.-Mexico border wall. As it is, Trump is using the government shutdown to try to force an extensive and ineffective wall upon Americans, but Democrats’s imminent legislative strategy will re-open government, although a temporary measure.
Toronto’s first baby born in 2019 delivered seconds after midnight
As Canada has since cemented itself as an immigration hot zone, the country has just welcomed its first 2019 baby Fatima, born to Dina and Mohammed Al-Ameri. Fatima was delivered eight seconds into the new year at Scarborough Health Network’s General Hospital and the mother Dina said it was moment she won’t forget.
When Bernard Dayo isn’t writing about pop culture, he’s watching horror movies and reading comics and trying to pretend his addiction to Netflix isn’t a serious condition.
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