KICNEWS

Tag: politics

  • I regret campaigning for Tinubu in 2023 – APC chieftain

    I regret campaigning for Tinubu in 2023 – APC chieftain

    Kano-based politician and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Alhaji Abdulmajid Dan Bilki commander, has said he regrets campaigning for President Ahmed Bola Tinubu during the 2023 general election.

    In a telephone chat with Daily Trust, Commander said based on the performance indicators available to every Nigerian, President Tinubu has failed many Nigerians who voted for him in 2023.

    He explained that in his entire life, he had never regretted an action the way he is regretting campaigning for President Tinubu.

    “It pains me, but it is the truth and let the truth be told. I am an active member of APC, but I must admit that Nigeria’s administration under APC has failed Nigerians and as an individual who had dedicated his time and resources in convincing people to vote for the party, I want to state here that I am regretting my action,” he said.

    Commander also stated that as a representative of the masses, he has to seek for their forgiveness as what he had promised them from the APC-led government were not been delivered to them.

    He explained that Nigerians were suffering and their expectations from the APC government were not met.

    “Nigerians are hungry and angry. Their security not guaranteed and governance lopsided, they couldn’t afford two square meals per day,” he said.

  • Trump agrees to debate Kamala Harris September 4 

    Trump agrees to debate Kamala Harris September 4 

    Trump agrees to debate Kamala Harris September 4

    Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said late Friday that he had agreed to debate his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, on Fox News on September 4.

     

    “I have agreed with FoxNews to debate Kamala Harris on Wednesday, September 4th,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

     

    It was not immediately clear if Harris had agreed to the debate.

     

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    Trump’s post came hours after the vice president had secured the Democratic Party’s nomination as standard bearer in the November presidential election.

     

    Trump’s White House bid was turned upside down last month when 81-year-old President Joe Biden, facing growing concerns about his age and lagging polling numbers, abandoned his re-election bid and backed Harris.

     

    His decision to bow out followed a disastrous debate performance against Trump in June on CNN.

     

    A second Trump-Biden debate had been slated for September 10 on ABC.

     

    That was expected to go ahead as planned, with Harris replacing Biden, but a spokesman for Trump last week said it would be “inappropriate” to schedule a debate before Harris was formally the Democratic nominee.

     

    The 78-year-old Republican nominee had previously said he would not debate Harris, who is nearly two decades his junior, departing from political tradition.

     

    The former prosecutor and ex-California attorney general last month dared Trump to debate her face-to-face.

     

    “Well Donald, I do hope you’ll reconsider to meet me on the debate stage, because as the saying goes, if you’ve got something to say, say it to my face,” Harris said at a campaign rally in Atlanta.

     

    In his post, Trump said the debate will be held in Pennsylvania, and moderated by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum in front of a full audience.

     

    Fox News confirmed that the debate would have “spectators” and follow similar rules to the June 27 CNN debate between Trump and Biden.

     

    The news channel said it had invited Trump and Harris to participate in a debate in Pennsylvania in September.

     

    “I look forward to meeting and debating Kamala Harris on September 4th,” Trump said, adding the date was “convenient and appropriate” as it comes just before the September 6 start of early voting for the presidential election.

     

     

  • EU transfers €1.5bn raised from Russian assets to Ukraine

    EU transfers €1.5bn raised from Russian assets to Ukraine

    EU transfers €1.5bn raised from Russian assets to Ukraine

    EU transfers 1.5bn Euros raised from Russian assets for Ukraine

    A Ukrainian serviceman poses before being sent to the front line at an unspecified location in the Donetsk region, on July 22, 2024. Photo by Anatolii STEPANOV / AFP.

     

    The EU on Friday said 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) had been made available to support Ukraine. It is the first chunk of money earned from profits on Russian frozen assets.

     

    EU member-states had agreed in May to use billions of Euros in profits from frozen Russian central bank assets to help arm Ukraine and fund its post-war reconstruction.

     

    The EU froze around 200 billion euros of Russian central bank assets held in the bloc. The move was part of sanctions imposed on Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

     

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    About 90 percent of the funds frozen are held by Belgium-based international deposit organisation Euroclear.

     

    “The EU stands with Ukraine. Today we transfer 1.5 billion euros in proceeds from immobilised Russian assets to the defence and reconstruction of Ukraine,” EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement.

     

    “There is no better symbol or use for the Kremlin’s money than to make Ukraine and all of Europe a safer place to live,” she added.

     

    The money comes from interest generated from the frozen Russian funds, not the funds themselves. The funds themselves remain locked away from Moscow.

     

    Brussels said 90 percent of the money would go to a central fund used to pay for arms for Ukraine, known as the European Peace Facility.

     

    The other 10 percent would go to the EU’s separate Ukraine Facility to support the country’s reconstruction needs.

     

    Ukraine reacts

    Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shymgal thanked the EU for its support.

     

    “Thank you von der Leyen and the EU for your steadfast support and this significant contribution to Ukraine’s defence and reconstruction,” he said on social media.

     

    “We are grateful to the EU for taking this vital step. This transfer will help us strengthen our defence capabilities,” the Ukrainian defence ministry said.

     

    However, Russia condemned the “illegal” move.

     

    “This is reason, of course, for thoughtful actions in response to such illegal decisions, which are implemented by the European Union,” Dmitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman told journalists.

  • FG doles out N150,000 grant for small businesses in Jigawa

    FG doles out N150,000 grant for small businesses in Jigawa

    FG doles out N150,000 grant for small businesses in Jigawa.

     

    FG doles out N150,000 grant for small businesses in Jigawa

    FG doles out N150,000 grant for small businesses in Jigawa

    The Federal Government, on Tuesday, offered N150,000 grants to outstanding Micro Small and Medium Enterprises in Jigawa.

     

    Vice President Kashim Shettima announced the offer while launching the 4th edition of the Expanded National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Clinic in Dutse, Jigawa.

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the expanded National MSME Clinics is one of the federal government’s strategies for ease of doing business in Nigeria.

     

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    This will be achieved through a series of business forums organised across the country to provide on-the-spot solutions to challenges confronting MSMEs.

     

    The first, second, and third editions were launched in Benue, Ogun, and Ekiti States, respectively, earlier this year.

     

    Shettima, who reiterated the federal government’s support for MSMEs, noted that the N150,000 grant “is an outright grant that does not require beneficiaries to repay.

     

    “Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to announce that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has mandated that a grant of N150,000 each be awarded to outstanding exhibiting MSMEs at today’s event.

     

    “Rest assured that this is an outright grant, and the beneficiaries will not need to repay it.”

     

    Shettima said that, as the very foundation of the nation’s economy, the MSMEs sub-sector had remained a top priority of the Tinubu administration.

     

    He noted that the MSMEs did not only represent 96 per cent of all businesses in Nigeria but contributed more than 45 per cent to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

     

    Shettima added that MSMEs provided a crucial lifeline to 80 per cent of the nation’s workforce.

     

    “We recognise your essence, and that’s why we are establishing MSME clinics across the nation.

     

    “These clinics will act as incubators for small businesses and offer alternative financing. They will also ensure that you have the support and resources you need to compete and thrive,” he noted.

     

    He observed that the prosperity of small businesses was the prosperity of Nigeria, and their downturn was the downturn of Nigeria.

     

    Shettima urged the business owners not to harbour any fear, assuring that the Tinubu administration would not rest until each of them “is in a vantage position to access the support and capital made available for them.”

     

    Earlier, Gov. Umar Namadi thanked the federal government for providing dividends of democracy to the people of the state through the MSME Clinics and related projects scattered across the area.

     

    Namadi urged the existing and aspiring small business owners in the state to take advantage of services provided through the clinics.

     

    He described the initiative as a rare opportunity for operators in the sector in Jigawa.

     

    He said the state government was aligning with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda through the ‘Greater Jigawa Initiative’ that provides social protection services and projects for the people.

     

    The high point of the event at the Malam Aminu Kano Triangle was the inspection of exhibition pavilions by MSMEs in the state and the commissioning of the Jigawa Retail Empowerment Shops.

     

    Earlier, on arrival in Dutse, Shettima commissioned the 10-hectare solar-powered irrigation farm at the Sumore Farm in Madobi.

     

    He also commissioned 1,435 J-AGRO Agricultural Extension Agents and the distribution of agricultural inputs under the NG-CARES Fadama Programme.

     

    NAN reports that the inputs will benefit more than 26,000 individuals, of whom 30 per cent were women.

     

    Similarly, Shettima inaugurated the Palliative Shop initiative at Yalwawa before proceeding to the Dutse Ultra Modern market, where he commissioned a 120KVA solar plant.

     

    Shettima said the solar unit would ensure that the entire market receives a minimum of eight hours of electricity per day during market hours. (NAN)

     

     

     

  • What Nigerian politics has done to women – Akpoti-Uduaghan

    What Nigerian politics has done to women – Akpoti-Uduaghan

    What Nigerian politics has done to women – Akpoti-Uduaghan

    What Nigerian politics has done to women

    Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, (PDP, Kogi Central), has said politics in Nigeria has robbed women of their femininity.

     

    She spoke during the ECOWAS Female Parliament Association spotlight initiative titled: “Rethinking Women’s Proportional Representation in Governance: Case Study of Nigeria”, in Abuja, yesterday.

     

    Sen Akpoti-Uduaghan used the opportunity to highlight the high cost of politics in Africa’s most populous nation which she said puts women at a disadvantage because most men are more financially stable than women in Nigeria.

     

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    She said, “Politics is extremely dangerous in Nigeria. In Nigeria, you can’t be gentle as a woman.

     

    “ I honestly wish politics in Nigeria would not be so tough because when a woman who is born to nurture becomes too tough, it’s not good.

     

    “I am so tough now that I rarely cry except maybe something totally touches my heart that I pushed myself.

     

    “That is what violence teaches you, so I have to constantly tell myself, do not let your experiences change you because I don’t want to be like those who attacked me.”

     

    The federal lawmaker emphasised the financial strain playing politics in Nigeria places on politicians noting that running for office in Nigeria is a very expensive venture.

     

    She, however noted that as a public spirited individual who cares about the welfare of the greater number of people in soceity, she has not allowed these challenges dissuade her from running for office.

     

    While going down memory lane, the Senator narrated her intentional move to join politics in 2018, the challenges she faced during elections, and her determination to serve her community.

     

    Sen Akpoti-Uduaghan stressed the need for a less financially burdensome electoral process and expressed her interest in studying the independent candidature system in Liberia as a potential solution.

     

    She also recalled the personal sacrifices she made for her political career, including surviving accidents and enduring physical hardships while running for office.

     

    In her address at the event, she addressed the challenges women face in Nigerian politics, including the loss of dignity and the cultural barriers they encounter.

     

    She urged male leaders to be mindful of their words when addressing women in politics, adding that they should rather support and encourage women in their political endeavors.

     

    Akpoti-Uduaghan further advised women to carefully craft their political agendas and be mindful of overpromising during their campaigns, sharing her own experiences and the toll it took on her health.

     

    She also mentioned her collaboration with Senator Ireti Kingibe to present a bill for gender equity, focusing on 45 percent women inclusion.

     

     

  • Shelve protest, opt for dialogue, NOA appeals to youths

    Shelve protest, opt for dialogue, NOA appeals to youths

    Shelve protest, opt for dialogue, NOA appeals to youths

    The National Orientation Agency has warned Nigerian youth against the unpredictable nature of the planned protest.

     

    • The state director of NOA Bauchi State, Mrs Theresa Omaga, issued the warning in a statement on Friday in Bauchi State, while appealing to the youth to shelve their planned nationwide protest slated for August.

     

    She proposed dialogue as the path to peace and meaningfully engaging the government over the youth grievances.

     

    Omaga said, “While Nigerians have a constitutional right for peaceful protest, experience had thought that it does not always end as intended, hence the need for a rethink.

    The government is not insensitive to the plights of Nigerians and will not fail to give a listening ear to the youths if they resort to meaningful dialogue.”

     

    PUNCH Online understands that the planned protest by Nigerians over economic hardship is currently gaining traction in different parts of the country and has not only triggered concerns but also trailed mixed reactions.

     

    Meanwhile, security operatives from across the country are said to be mobilizing against the intended protest slated between 1st to 10th August 2024.

     

     

     

  • Hunger Strike: Zulum, Shehu, CAN Oppose Planned Hunger Protest

    Hunger Strike: Zulum, Shehu, CAN Oppose Planned Hunger Protest

    Zulum, Shehu, CAN Oppose Planned Hunger Protest.

     

    Borno State governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, alongside the Shehu of Borno, Dr. Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Elkanemi and the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Rev Dr John Bogna Bakeni have appealed to the citizens of Borno and the country at large to shelve the planned hardship protest and embrace dialogue.

     

    At a stakeholders meeting convened by Governor Zulum at the Government House Maiduguri, the governor said he is appealing not only to the people of Borno State but also to Nigerians to shun any protest that would cause them hardship.

    Reports says that some Nigerians, under various bodies, have planned a nationwide protest between August 1st and 10th against the rising cost of living and the economic hardship facing the country at the moment.

     

    But during the stakeholders meeting, which comprised, the members of the state executive council, traditional rulers, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), National Association of Nigeria Students ( NANS ), National Youth Council of Nigeria, the Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ ) , the Nigerian military, the police among others, the governor noted that the government and people of the state who have been bearing the brunt of the Boko Haram insurgency cannot afford to participate in any protest that could result to destruction of property and maiming of innocent citizens.

     

    “I appeal not only to the people of Borno State, but to all Nigerians to shun any protest that will bring hardship to Nigerians. And there is a need for us to maintain law and order in the state. Any breakdown of law and order would be a disaster to the state. Let us engage in positive dialogue.

     

    The federal and state governments are doing everything possible to ensure that the current hardship that the people are facing is well reduced.

     

     

  • NLC kicks against calls for different minimum wage for states

    NLC kicks against calls for different minimum wage for states

    NLC kicks against calls for different minimum wage for states

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has opposed the call by some politicians for decentralizing minimum wage negotiations allowing states to have different minimum wages.

    In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Ibadan, the Secretary of NLC in Oyo State, Mr. Adebayo Aribatise, stated that decentralizing minimum wage negotiations would disadvantage workers in some states.

    Explaining the broader implications of a centralized minimum wage, Fayemi noted that only a small percentage of the population benefits directly from minimum wage negotiations.

    However, Aribatise strongly opposed decentralizing minimum wage negotiations, stating that it is not ideal for the country.

    He pointed out that some states have not yet fully implemented the old N30,000 minimum wage despite the efforts of the NLC at both the national and state levels.

    He said, “The fact remains that the law binds states to pay national minimum wage. It is expected that the federal government will continue to set the minimum wage. If not, some governors will continue to do as they like.”

    “Some governors will bastardise the agreement if we allow it and junior workers will continue to earn nothing worthwhile,”

    Backstory

    Former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, had earlier emphasized the need for states to conduct wage negotiations with their labour unions independently from the Federal Government.

    Fayemi explained that the position of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, which he once chaired, was that states should be allowed to negotiate with their labour unions separately, as “fingers are not equal.”

    What you should know

    The negotiation for a new minimum wage has lingered on in the past months due to the difficulty of different stakeholders in reaching a consensus.

    While the federal government and the private sector have agreed on a new minimum wage of N62,000, organised labour led by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) are proposing N250,000.

    According to organised labour groups, a N62,000 minimum wage is not enough for the average worker in light of the significant increase in the cost of goods and services across the nation.

    The federal government had earlier stated that it cannot sustain the proposed minimum wage by organised labour which would amount to around N19 trillion yearly.

    On the other hand, the private sector led by NECA had also complained that it cannot meet the demands of labour unions now or any time soon stating the goal of the tripartite committee is to focus on job creation.

    The negotiation for a new minimum wage has been thorny leading to strike action that nearly crippled the economy with the shutting down of the national grid.

  • Explosion: ‘Don’t Transfer Suspect To Abuja’

    Explosion: ‘Don’t Transfer Suspect To Abuja’

     

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has called on the Nigerian Police to resist the pressure to transfer the prime suspect in last Tuesday’s explosion in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, to Abuja.

    The suspect, whose limb was severely damaged after he attempted to detonate an explosive near the President Hotel in the state capital, is currently receiving treatment at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, under the watchful eyes of operatives of the State Police Command.

     

    The suspect, whose limb was severely damaged after he attempted to detonate an explosive near the President Hotel in the state capital, is currently receiving treatment at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, under the watchful eyes of operatives of the State Police Command.

    Eze, in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP in Port Harcourt yesterday, expressed fears that investigations into the incident may be marred by undue interference as he has it on good authority that the Force Headquarters is under pressure to transfer the prime suspect in the explosion to Abuja.

    He therefore called on the Inspector General of Police to resist any pressure on him to scuttle investigation into the incident to unravel the masked-man of influence fueling armed conflict in the state to topple the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

    The APC chieftain condemned attempts by former council chairmen and some lawmakers to turn the political playground in the state into an unsavory scene of carnage and bloodbath to justify their call for an emergency rule.

     

     

  • Labour Politics: Govs Meet Over Minimum Wage, LG Autonomy

    Labour Politics: Govs Meet Over Minimum Wage, LG Autonomy

    Governors of the thirty-six states under the umbrella of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) are currently meeting to address the ongoing debate surrounding the new minimum wage proposal and local government autonomy.

    Previously, the governors expressed concerns about the Federal Government’s proposed ₦60,000 minimum wage, deeming it unsustainable.

    They argued that implementing such a wage would result in many states allocating their entire monthly federation account disbursements solely to salary payments

    The governors have urged the tripartite committee to agree on a fair and sustainable minimum wage.

    In response to these concerns, the Federal Government announced on Tuesday that President Bola Tinubu would engage in further consultations before reaching a decision on the new minimum wage.

    Another key item on the agenda is the unresolved issue of local government autonomy.

    The governors are also set to deliberate on other critical matters of national importance, covering a wide range of pressing issues that impact the country’s socio-economic and political landscape.

    This high-level meeting aims to foster collaborative solutions and develop strategic initiatives to address Nigeria’s challenges, with the goal of ensuring a unified and effective approach to governance.