The Federal Government through the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, PTAD, has begun the payment of the consequential adjustment to pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme, DBS.
The Executive Secretary of PTAD, Chioma Ejikeme, disclosed this development through a statement by the Directorate’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Gbenga Ajayi, informing that the payment was in fulfillment of the promise she made following the announcement of President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of the implementation of the consequential adjustment to the pension benefits occasioned by the new minimum wage increase of 2019.
Ajayi recalled that Ejikeme promised that the upward adjustment of pension benefits would take effect from May 2021.
He said that while reacting to the messages of gratitude received from some pensioners, the Executive Secretary assured them of PTAD’s commitment to the welfare of the DBS pensioners.
Ejikeme, however, cautioned them against fraudsters who called pensioners pretending to be staff of PTAD, saying that no staff of the directorate would request for gratification before processing their pension payment.
She urged the pensioners to report such phone calls and other activities of the scammers to PTAD for adequate investigation and possible prosecution.
Pensioners under the Civil Service Pension Department, CSPD, Parastatals Pension Department, PaPD, Police Pension Department, PPD, and Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Department, CIPPD, have begun receiving their accrued arrears.
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has called various parties’ calls for Nigeria’s breakup “idiotic.”
He said this at the luncheon and investiture of Kehinde Isijola as the new chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Ogun State branch, on Wednesday in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
He criticized proposals for secession at a time when Africa is working to reintegrate its political, social, and economic systems.
While stating that disintegration is not the solution, Obasanjo warned that if the country splits up, minority groups would suffer.
Pakistan, Yugoslavia, and Sudan, he said, are instances of countries that have split away but have yet to find long-term answers to their problems.
“If there is any Nigerian who does not feel worried about the country’s position, that person is a human being without being human,” Obasanjo stated.
“Any Nigerian who is human will be concerned, if not outraged, by the country’s current position. We’re concerned about the security situation, the economic situation, and our political position, and the drum we’re hearing is one of disintegration.
“I am a strong believer of one Nigeria, but not one Nigeria at any cost, but one Nigeria where every Nigerian can feel proud that he or she has a stake in this country.
“No Nigerian is born a slave in this country. No Nigerian is born to be oppressed in this country and those of us that have shed part of our blood and sweat for this country, we did that because we wanted a country where every Nigerian can claim as his or her own.
“I believe that if we talk among ourselves the way we should and if we change the narrative, I believe this is a great country. That we are not making Nigeria what God wants it to be is not the fault of God, but the fault of ourselves, particularly our leaders.
“One thing that gives us strength is our diversity. If all that we have is Republic of Oduduwa for those who said so, their position is understandable. If that is all we have, members of that country will be diminished compared to be a citizen of Nigeria. Citizens of Oduduwa Republic or any other republic from Nigeria will be diminished compared to citizens of Nigeria.
“In this age and time that we are talking about the reintegration of Africa for economic development, disintegration of any country will be almost idiotic. Even if we have Igboland as an independent country, Yorubaland an independent country and Fulani/Hausaland an independent country.
“And as a friend of mine in the military used to say then, what will become of the over 300 minorities – the Jukuns, the Gbasamas? Where will they belong? The only reason they can raise up their heads is because they belong to Nigeria. Are we thinking of them or are we are just being selfish? It doesn’t matter what we do, we will still be neighbours.
“We had seen it before, India was broken into India and Pakistan, they are still at war till today. Yugoslavia was broken into how many countries, they haven’t sorted it till today. Sudan was broken into Sudan and South Sudan, I don’t believe South Sudan is better for it and that is the truth.
“I believe it will cost us less to work for our unity, there are many things wrong, but those things are correctable if we make efforts to correct them and hold us together than what it will cost us to break up and be perpetually at war and all our money will be spent in building an army. I know what an army contains, I know what it means to keep an army, an army that may not be productive, let us think about it.”
According to a news that was posted by Linda Ikeji Blog this morning, it was alleged that the operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have successfully apprehended two robbers, whose names were given as Fidelis Francis, 28 and Lukman Jimoh, 40, for allegedly robbing a branch of RCCG in Ogun State.
According to what police said concerning their arrest, it was made known that when they received distress call about the activities of the robbers, the D.P.O of Sagamu Police Division, CSP Okiki Agunbiade, mobilized his men to the scene, but the robbers have escaped through the fence before their arrival. When police arrived and were combing the surrounding bush near the church, they saw a Lexus Saloon car with registration number KJA 469 EP, parked at a get away position, which is not too far from the church vicinity.
Police suspected that the vehicle might belong to the suspects, and due to that, they mounted surveillance around it and waited for the owner to come for it, and after waiting for five hours, the suspects came and police apprehended them.
While police were searching the vehicle, two iron bars similar to the ones recovered at the scene of crime was recovered from the car. This further increased their suspicion and the two men were taken to the church, where the CCTV footage was played and the two suspects were seen in the footage as they were breaking into the church.
The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, says it has no objection to the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN’S, request for Ecclesiastical courts as long as Muslims are not dragged there.
Recall that the Bauchi State chapter of CAN had called on the Federal Government to establish Ecclesiastical courts for Christians, equivalent to the Sharia court for Muslims.
The Christian body had said the courts would ensure that disputes among Clerics and domestic and civil issues concerning Christians would be resolved amicably.
Reacting to the call in a statement issued on Wednesday, the Director of MURIC, Ishaq Akintola, described the request from CAN as fair.
The director said: “Christians are free to demand for their own courts so long as Muslims are not to be dragged to such courts.
“We know Christians already have Christian law in the country. We could have opposed their new demand but we do not have to be petty.
“Let them have as many Christian courts as they wish.
According to the statement, all courts in Nigeria are Christian courts because they originate from the common law introduced by the British in the colonial days.
The statement said: “The Bauchi chapter of CAN cannot tell us that there are no Magistrate courts, High Courts and a Court of Appeal in the whole of Bauchi? Now, what are those courts? Are they not Christian courts?
“We know that nobody can stop Oliver Twist from wanting more. Neither do we need a Charles Dicken to identify the disciples of Oliver Twist in 21st century Nigeria.
“But we want Nigerians to know that Christians already have Christian law in the country because the common law which we have been using since colonial days to date is Christian law.
“Our contention that common law is Christian law is based on vehement declarations of British judges on the subject.
“For instance, in the case of Bowman versus Secular Society Limited (1916 – 17), the learned judge said, ‘Ours is, and has always been, a Christian State.
“The English family is built on Christian ideals and if the national religion is not Christian, there is none. English law may well be called Christian law.’ (Bowman versus Secular Society Limited, 1916 – 17, United Kingdom Appeal Case 406).
“Lord Finlay, the then Lord Chancellor, also remarked in the same case, ‘There is abundant authority for saying that Christianity is part and parcel of the law of the land.’
“There is no doubt, therefore, that the Christians already have Christian law which was the same law that the Christian colonial masters brought to Nigeria and forced on all of us (including Muslims).
“Both the criminal and civil aspects of Islamic law were totally abrogated in the South West while only criminal law was abolished in the North.
“How beautiful would Nigeria have been if Nigerian Christians, particularly CAN, had been equally objective when reacting to demands forwarded by Muslims?
“But instead of being constructive, CAN always rejects any idea moved by Muslims even when it does not affect Christians in any way.
“As we speak, Christians have opposed the demand of Muslims in the South West for Shariah even though they know quite well that the Muslims are only asking for civil Shariah, not the criminal Shariah which they fear involves amputation.
“They also know that Shariah will only be applied on Muslims alone. Shariah is the law of the Muslims, by the Muslims, for the Muslims.
“Let it be on record that although Christians have always opposed Yoruba Muslims who have been agitating for civil Shariah, Nigerian Muslims raised no objection when Bauchi Christians asked for Christian canon law.
“Posterity will judge who is more liberal, more accommodating, more understanding and more tolerant.
“The Muslims demanded Shariah, CAN screamed blue murder.
“To date, no single Christian has been taken to Shariah court even after two decades of the reintroduction of Shariah in Northern Nigeria.
“The Muslims demanded Islamic banking, CAN threatened hell and brimstone. Islamic banks have been operating in Nigeria since January 2012 and the country has not been Islamised.
“Our neighbours are fond of crying wolf where there is none.
“All the noise about Islamisation is therefore sheer propaganda, a mirage, a phantom, a sham. CAN is chasing shadows,” the statement concluded.
Looks like superstar Wizkid just subtly announced that he’s going to change his name.
While at this point, it’s all speculations, all clues point to that. Wizkid is finally changing his name.
The 30-year-old singer hasn’t always gone by the name Wizkid. As a kid, he used to be part of a gospel group and at that time, he went by the name Lil Prinz.
He released his debut studio album, “Superstar” as Wizkid though.
It’s not common for artists that are as big as Wizkid to change their names after so long at the top. 2face did, though, when he changed to 2baba, years ago.
Recall that in 2019, while the anticipation for “Made in Lagos” was building up, Wizkid tweeted that after dropping MIL, he would only release one more album as Wizkid.
Of course, that could only mean two things. Either he’s gonna change his name or he’s gonna retire. Retirement doesn’t seem likely though.
Earlier today, he changed his display name on Instagram to “Big Wiz” and this has got fans talking.
Is he going to start going by the name Big Wiz now? Well, guess we gotta wait and see.
A Child molester known as Amandi Levinus has met his waterloo after an investigation has revealed that he repeatedly defiled about three minors in his compound in Lagos.
Information made available to this publication has it that this young man has been perpetrating this act for many years without been caught, and probably threatening his victims not to tell anyone about it.
The revelation wouldn’t have been gotten if not for the mother of one of his victims who went to her daughter’s school where a counselling programme was held for the students with the parents in attendance.
The counselling session was to educate the pupils about sex and when to voice out whenever anyone touches them in sensitive parts of their body. During the session, pupils were allowed to talk about their experience, which led to her daughter confessing to having been molested by a known face.
When speaking to this publication, the mother expressed shock at the revelation because she never thought something of such could happen to her daughter. She made it known that it was later discovered that her daughter was not the only victim.
Angered by this development, the culprit was questioned and arrested but claimed that he never penetrated with his manhood but makes use of his finger to perpetrate the evil act.
Meanwhile, the mother went to the hospital to do a general checkup on her daughter and it was revealed that the anal and vagina system has been tampered with.
‘’It happened at home, it was not once, I don’t know what he threatened the children with because he didn’t do this with just my daughter, he does it with two other kids. it has been going on for couple of years and according to my daughter, the first incident happened in 2018 when they just moved here. The most recent one according to her happened in June/July 2020.
We just discovered, she has not been feeling fine so I came home because I don’t live here, I had to come because she was sick, immediately I came I decided to go to her school. They invited counsellors to their school and they were able to talk to the kids, a lot of them confessed but I concentrated on my daughter, it’s really bad, I’m yet to recover from the whole thing.
We went to Idimu police station yesterday, they gave us a letter to go to Ikeja hospital to run a general test on her, He’s been claiming that he has not penetrated but from the test, He has tempered with her anus and Vagina, I’ve been crying, still in shock.
The man is still in the police station and we were asked to come back on Friday’’
Neymar on target as Brazil win at Paraguay for the first time in 35 YEARS as table-toppers increase lead in the South American World Cup qualifying table – and maintain their 100 per cent record – after Lionel Messi’s Argentina throw away a two-nil lead vs Colombia
Brazil won 2-0 at Paraguay on Tuesday thanks to Neymar and Lucas Paqueta
They are now six points clear of Argentina at the top of the World Cup standings
Argentina took a 2-0 lead in Colombia after eight minutes but could only draw
It was mixed fortunes for South America’s premier nations during the latest round of World Cup qualifying matches on Tuesday night.
Five-time champions Brazil continued their 100 per cent record with a 2-0 win over Paraguay, while their bitter rivals – and two-time winners – Argentina were held to a 2-2 draw at Colombia.
Neymar and Lucas Paqueta scored Brazil’s goals, marking the team’s first win at Paraguay in World Cup qualifiers in 35 years.
Brazil had not beaten Paraguay away from home since 1985 but they took the lead as early as the third minute when Neymar controlled an awkward cross from Gabriel Jesus and side-footed home from close range.
The Paris Saint-Germain striker came into this match with four goals and three assists in Brazil’s five qualifying games so far, the best haul in the tournament, and the goal was his 66th in 105 games for his country.
Wearing their change blue strips, Brazil were on top throughout and should have added to their total before the fourth minute of injury time when Paqueta scored with a splendid left-footed shot into the bottom corner.
Paraguay were unbeaten in five games in the South American qualifiers but rarely threatened the visitors, and even when they did they found Manchester City’s Ederson, a surprise choice to replace Liverpool’s Alisson Becker in goal, equal to their efforts, with one flying save from Omar Alderete right out the top drawer.
The clean sheet was Brazil’s fifth in their six games and they are off to their best start to a World Cup qualifying campaign since 1969, when they also won their first six games.
The result leaves them top of the South American qualifying group for Qatar 2022 with a maximum 18 points.
‘It was a game where we scored early in the first half and that really settled us down and allowed us to play the ball about and Paraguay had to chase the game and we killed it right at the end,’ said Brazil defender Marquinhos.
‘We knew how hard it is to come here,’ Marquinhos said. ‘We’re delighted to open up a gap with the second placed team in the table.’
Brazil have stretched their lead to six points after Argentina threw away a two-nil lead to be held by Colombia.
Argentina, captained by Lionel Messi, scored twice in the first eight minutes but could not withstand Colombia’s second-half pressure as the hosts rallied for a 2-2 draw in a thrilling World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni made five changes from the team that drew 1-1 with Chile last week and his side got the best possible start when Cristian Romero, playing in just his second international, headed home from a free-kick inside three minutes.
Leandro Paredes made it 2-0 five minutes later when he dribbled through a pack of Colombian defenders and slipped the ball past the keeper.
Argentina controlled the first half but their dominance waned just before half-time after Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was taken off the field on a stretcher with a possible head injury following a goalmouth clash.
Argentina struggled to contain Colombia’s Juan Cuadrado as the hosts started to create more opportunities, with Luis Muriel and Duvan Zapata both missing chances.
But they did get on the board five minutes into the second half after Argentine defender Nicolas Otamendi used an arm to flatten Mateus Uribe and Muriel converted the penalty.
Argentina too had chances but found Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina in inspired form, twice making great saves to thwart Lionel Messi.
Just when it looked like Argentina would hold on, substitute Miguel Borja grabbed a deserved equaliser when his header squirmed under the body of replacement goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin deep into stoppage time.
‘I think we had the chances,’ said Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul. ‘They have a great goalkeeper. We’re not happy with a draw.’
His sentiments were echoed by Scaloni who said: Unfortunately, we leave with one point when we deserved all three.’
Elsewhere Chile drew 1-1 at home to Bolivia, Peru won 2-1 at Ecuador and Venezuela played out a goalless affair with Uruguay.
The top four teams qualify automatically for Qatar (currently Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador and Uruguay) and the fifth-place side (at present Colombia) go into an intercontinental play-off.
Mr Joe Igbokwe has today taken to his verified facebook profile to share what the Governor of Lagos state told agitators about counting Lagos out of their secession plan.
In Governor Sanwoolu’s own words he said ”It is not by saying that we want to go (our separate ways). Oduduwa nation, when they come, they will now realise that even Egba, Lagos, Ijebu and Ekiti, they also want to break away, they will never see an end to that because every clan and every race will also want something and that is where it is difficult”.
The Governor made it clear that in Yoruba, there are still some minority groups that may want to be on their own even after getting the Oduduwa republic, therefore, the solutions to the nations problem is not dividing the country, rather to find better ways to unity every ethnic group that make up Nigeria and allow everyone have equal opportunities.
He concluded by saying that when you allow one ethnic group to separate , others may want to follow and then the system will collapse. He pleaded that everyone shields his or her sword and give peace a chance.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has alerted Nigerians of the many risks involved in accessing social media contents using the Virtual Private Network (VPN).
The party raised the alert in a statement issued by Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, the National Secretary of its Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), on Tuesday in Abuja.
It explained that VPN is vulnerable to the heinous activities of criminal hackers, who could steal data and monies in bank accounts.
”The APC warns legitimate private and public entities operating in the country to avoid the many dangers of exposing themselves to cybercrimes through the use of VPN, which is not adequately secured.
”This advisory is necessary because despite the massive compliance by Nigerians to the Federal Government’s suspension of Twitter operations in the country, some individuals in the country have resorted to VPN to assess Twitter, whose unwholesome activities are detrimental to the peace and public order in the country,” said the party.
It therefore advised those using the VPN to desist in their own interests in order to avoid the following risks: data theft, illegal access to strategic company documents and possible economic espionage.
According to the party, VPN users expose their devices to vulnerabilities, because the network allows third-party access to personal data.
It said VPN could also change users’ location to another country, thus compromising data integrity.
”Your record can be traced to another country that is not yours, with all the risks that entails.
”Many individuals and organisations using VPN have lost their investments after compromising the security of their devices,” APC said.
It, therefore, advised Nigerians to avoid installing or using VPN to access social networking sites to protect their privacy and security online.
”This is in our individual and collective interest,” it said.
Contrary to the video making the rounds of an attack on Ikorodu police station, Igbogbo, Lagos by hoodlums, the state police command has refuted the claims, stating that there was no attack on any of its facilities.
According to the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, there was no attack on Ikorodu police station, Igbogbo, Lagos State or any of its police formations in the state.
“There is no Ogijo police station in the state command but in Ogun State, and the same station, Ogijo, was never attacked as speculated in the news. The video in circulation was a portion of the scene of the recent bank robbery attack in Ikire, Osun State,” he said.
The Lagos State Police Command, therefore, urged the public to dismiss the viral video as fake and mischievous, adding that the command remains committed to providing adequate security in Lagos State.
Meanwhile, the command yesterday commenced investigation into Tuesday’s killing of a suspected kidnapper and burning of a golf car at Mulero bus stop, Agege, Lagos at about 8 a.m.
The police operatives attached to Elere division of the command, said upon a distress call of some suspected kidnappers being mobbed at the bus stop, by Omotoye estate, men of the police force moved to the scene where a white gulf car and a male suspect have been set ablaze.
According to CSP Olumuyiwa, the police operatives moved in to rescue the other male suspect who had been injured severally with a machete by an angry mob.
“In the bid to rescue the other male suspect, the agitated crowd also attacked the policemen. The suspect was subsequently rescued and taken to hospital for treatment,” he said.
Also, the Lagos state commissioner of police, Hakeem Odumosu, has condemned jungle justice and called for a discreet investigation into the case.
