These are the stories that drove the conversation today:

Pubish asset declarations details submitted to you since 1999 or meet us in court – SERAP tells CCB

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent a Freedom of Information request to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), urging the body to provide information on specific details of asset declarations submitted to it by successive presidents and state governors since the return of democracy in 1999.

According to the request, the body which said it welcomed the judgment by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Justice Walter Onnoghen, added that the CCB can use the opportunity presented by the Onnoghen judgment to increase the accountability of politicians through the asset declaration provisions if it is not to be accused of witch-hunting the judiciary.

“While judicial corruption is bad, the level of corruption involving many politicians since 1999 and the entrenched culture of impunity of perpetrators is equally appalling. Publishing the asset declarations of elected public officers since the return of democracy in 1999 to date would improve public trust in the ability of the Bureau to effectively discharge its mandates. This would in turn put pressure on public officers like presidents and state governors to make voluntary public declaration of their assets,” the request read in part.

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Nigeria is under siege, pray for her – PDP urges Nigerians 

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has urged Nigerians to use the occasion of the Easter celebration to intensify prayers for the nation, stressing that Nigeria is under siege.

In a statement on Friday by Prince Uche Secondus, its National Chairman, the party said Nigerians should not allow the “prevailing hardship in the country and the unjust outcome of 2019 election” affect their spirit of love, brotherliness and peaceful co-existence, adding that the period of Easter provided good opportunity for Nigerians to pray more to God to send succour to alleviate their sufferings.

“We must allow the spirit of this season embedded in love, charity and forgiveness to control our thoughts and actions as we seek God’s face for our country,” the statement added.

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Organised Labour calls for immediate implementation of new Minimum wage

Following the signing into law of the minimum wage bill by the President, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), umbrella body of workers in the country has asked employers of labour in the country, especially states and federal government to immediately commence the implementation off the N30, 000 minimum wage

In separate statements issued on Friday, the NLC and TUC who commended the President for the assent said that the new wage would in no small measure give workers a sense of belonging.

According to the TUC, while organised labour appreciates the approval of the new wage, it was also instructive to note that its gains have been eroded by inflation, adding that prices of commodities have gone up even when employers have not commenced payment.

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In a related development, Edo Government has said it would pay the new minimum wage of N30, 000 just signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, stressing that it has been paying N25,000 minimum wage before the increment.

As reported by The Nation, Crusoe Osagie, Media aide to Governor Godwin Obaseki who confirmed the development said that the state government is labour friendly.

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Senator representing Borno South and frontline aspirant for the office of Senate President in the 9th National Assembly, Senator Ali Ndume, has dismissed insinuations that he turned down Vice President Yemi Osinbajo intervention to drop his Senate presidency ambition, saying nothing can be farther than the truth.

“It was misinformation. The truth is,  it is usual for me to meet with the vice president to discuss issues of common interest, especially the humanitarian crisis in the North East, of which the vice president has shown exceptional interest in helping out,” the Senator said in a statement on Thursday.

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