No Money In Acting, I Need Money To Survive After Loosing N2.8 Million – Sola Sobowale

Veteran Nollywood actress Sola Sobowale, who many would remember as Toyin Tomato in Wale Adenuga’s hit TV series, Super Story, has admitted that there is no money in acting and that she needs money to survive just like every other working Nigerian because actresses and actors are not well paid. She also said she lost N2.8 million 2 years ago, after shooting a movie for N5.8m and only made N3m back. Her words below…

On why they produce quantity movies instead of quality movies, she said;
It’s a pity because you know the answer yourself. We need to feed ourselves. I shot a movie about 2 or 3 years ago called Adayeba Ote Part 1, 2, 3. When I was tired of recording, I had spent about N5.8 million and we had not finished editing. After editing, I did not make up to 3 million. I thank God I did not borrow any money to do that, if I had borrowed money what would have happened to me? I lived in England, I do all the jobs and I bring the money back to Nigeria to shoot a movie because this is me, this is my passion. When you talk about quality, where are you going to get the money for the quality?

If she is fulfilled as an actress, Sola said;
I am not talking about money but you know something in life? When you enjoy doing what you love, you will be fine. I am fine but I need money to survive. I want all my effort to be crowned because I work very hard so I can’t just be doing it in vain.

Credit: goldrushnews

Buhari Will Not Last In Power—Apostle Johnson Suleiman

Auchi-based preacher and senior pastor of Omega Fire Ministry, Apostle Johnson Suleman, has predicted that the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari will not last in power.

It could be recalled that Suleiman had predicted the emergence of the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate but warned that he may not be allowed to rule.

In an interview with Punch, the cleric said: I read in the paper and even online that I said President Jonathan would win the election. That to me was a lie that was concocted from hell because I don’t understand where that came from.

“I never said that. Even the Sunday (a day after the presidential election) while the results were still being collated, I said these people would not win but let’s hope (Gen. Muhammadu) Buhari (retd.) will rule because I don’t see Buhari ruling and even if he rules, I don’t see him lasting in power.

“I repeated it and some of the APC leaders contacted me, I told them verbatim that God told me this man is not well and that you people are evil. You could have brought somebody else. Don’t drain life out of this man because you have an agenda to push this man forward.

“Nobody should die for Nigeria. Nigeria will keep being Nigeria no matter how many lives are lost. So those pastors who gave the prophecies know where they heard them (from). It’s a spiritual matter which is very dicey.

“Some of the pastors said he would win, some even said what would happen after he wins. I think they have the public to face for an answer. And I will not expect the people to judge them because some of these pastors have given prophecies that came to pass before.

“Before people now believe them to that extent, there must have been some things they said that came to pass. When certain things are not going the way some people prophesied, they shouldn’t be judged. People should only know that ‘this time, he missed it, so let’s hope next time he gets it right.”

Suleiman also shed light on the implications of President Jonathan’s concession, saying “I saw him a month before the election and we talked one on one. All I told him was that he wouldn’t win. I personally told Jonathan to concede defeat.

“I told him he would save a lot of heads if he conceded defeat and left. I saw not less than half a million people without their heads.

“We have a President who has had two problems– he is politically naive and he doesn’t understand the concept of power. We have had a President who has a media team that doesn’t understand what they call ceasefire.

“I told the President one on one that his media team didn’t manage him well. I told him, he would not come back. I said the other people had not just got the will of the people, they had got the will of some ministers of God in the place of prayer and few of them had contacted certain ministers of God and we had sat down and discovered we needed change.”

Credit: Icon Weekly Tabloid

Why We Chose Omotola For ‘Poverty Is Sexiest’—Dr Moyo

Nollywood actress, Omotola Ekeinde, was recently picked as one of the celebrities to grace the global campaign for women empowerment.

Because of it, the sexy mother of four travelled to Johannesburg, South Africa, where she had a photo session for the ONE campaign's ‘poverty is sexist’.

ONEinAfrica Executive Director, Dr Sipho S. Moyo, speaking on why the actress was picked as the choice for the campaign, stated that it was because the actress is a respectable woman both within and outside the continent.

Dr Sipho explained that there was no hassle in picking Omotola for the job.

The campaign will see Omotola be on the frontline for women empowerment globally. The African Union has declared 2015 as the Year of Women Empowerment (YWE).

‘We Are The World’ African Remix Gets More Knocks

More criticisms have trailed the remix of the late Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie’s 1985 classic song, ‘We Are The World’.

Some select African acts had come together to wax their own version of the single to kick against Xenophobia in South Africa and Ebola in Africa.

Artistes like Don Jazzy, Sean Tizzle, Banky W, Tiwa Savage, Diamond Platinum, Harry Songz, Mafikizolo, Yemi Alade and many others partook in the song.

But some critics have given the effort knocks.

The latest is Ghana-based Nigerian radio presenter, Darlington Smile, otherwise known as Smile Baba.

The radio presenter said the artistes put up a woeful performance and disgraced the continent. He also said the remix destroyed the song’s reputation as a classic and urged the artistes to go back to the studio for a better one.

"Saw the ‘We Are The World’ song done by Africa all stars and I think they destroyed the good reputation the song had.

"Off key, off beat and flat notes all through. It is a disgrace that Africa All-Stars messed up that great song written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie.

"Their version cannot be considered as 'Africa's best'. We can do better than what they did. What a shame. ?Smile Baba? say please go back to the studio and redeem the continents image,” he said.

Presidency expels German Radio correspondent from Aso Rock for asking “embarrassing question”

President Goodluck Jonathan

The Nigerian State House Media accreditation was on Monday withdrawn from a German Radio Deutsche Welle correspondent, Ubale Musa, by handlers of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Mr. Musa’s accreditation tag was withdrawn by security operatives attached to the Presidential Villa, for asking a visiting Chadian President, Idriss Deby, a question they found embarrassing.

Confirming the withdrawal, Mr. Musa said the Chief Security Officer to the President appears not to be comfortable with the question he asked the visiting Chadian leader.

Mr.Musa had asked the Chadian President the link between the troops of the Multi-national Task Force and mercenaries from South Africa that are currently fighting in the Sambisa forest.

He said the Chadian leader responded that he was not aware of the presence of mercenaries in Sambisa fighting alongside the multi-national troops.

Mr. Deby had simply responded that he had no information concerning any mercenaries from South Africa.

However, shortly after the departure of the visiting President, Mr. Musa was invited by security operatives and his tag withdrawn. He was then driven in a vehicle out of the forecourt of the president’s office through another entry known as 'the Service Chiefs’ Gate.

Mr. Musa said he told the operatives that some of his work tools were still inside the press gallery where journalists usually operate from. He was then escorted to the gallery where he picked his belongings and led to where his car was parked.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, however assured a delegation of State House correspondents that the matter would be resolved.

As at the time of filing this report, Mr. Musa’s accreditation had not yet been restored.

Source: premiumtimes

Ihedioha blames executive for failing to curb corruption

Emeka Ihedioha

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Emeka Ihedioha, yesterday blamed the executive arm of government for failing to curb the wide spread corruption in the country.

Ihedioha made the accusation in Benin, Edo State capital, when he led other members of the House to condole with the House Minority Whip, Mr Samson Osagie, over the demise of his father.

The deputy speaker, who was responding to questions from newsmen, said that the 7th assembly had done its best to expose corruption in the country.

“It is unfair for anybody to indicate that the assembly did nothing about corruption.

“First, the leadership of the House and the entire 7th assembly discharged itself as a House that leads by example throughout.

“We led the house transparently and we kept our books open for any group or individual to appreciate how we ran the affairs of the house.

“That is why, in the 7th assembly, there is no banana pills.

“We also did everything that we could to expose corrupt practices by any branch of government and by any member of the society.

“We have done all we need to do and we have asked the executive to do its own part.

“If the executive failed to do its own part, that is not the responsibility of the house and it is not an indictment on the legislature.

“We have exposed corruption where necessary,’’ he said.

Ihedioha disclosed that the House had completed work on the Petroleum Industry Bill and would table it for passage this week.

“We have slated it for passage and we have mentioned it and we said we have to accomplish it before the end of this 7th assembly.

“As we speak, copies of the bill for consideration have been distributed to all members of the house to enable them to study it so that they can make informed input.

“So, come this week, we invite all Nigerians to join us as we take clause by clause consideration of the bill.

“We believe that its passage will do the Nigeria economy and the petroleum industry a lot of good,’’ he said.

Source: Newswatch

Ebube Nwagbo’s Posh Hair Picked As Official Hair For 2015 Miss Tourism Nigeria

Star actress, Ebube Nwagbo, in her usual style, is throwing her weight behind the 2015 edition of Miss Tourism Nigeria, (TheDivasEdition).

The beauty contest, which is slated to hold on Saturday, June 6, 2015, decided to work with the delectable screen goddess and her Posh Hair brand because of the quality of her brand of hair.

Ebube, the self-motivated and fashion conscious lady behind the well-acclaimed premium brand, which has become a household name, has promised to play a huge role towards the aspiration of each of the contestants at event.

Recall that the actress was one of the judges at the last edition of the Miss Global Nigeria, another pageant she has been supporting for some years now.

Having noticed her sense of resourcefulness in the fashion and beauty business, most especially the pageants she has thrown her weight behind, the management of Miss Tourism Nigeria quickly grasped the opportunity to establish a working relationship with the young entrepreneur, Ebube.

Not resting on her oars, the silent achiever, whose sense for fashion is legendary, is set to deliver more than promised.

Not only that, the showbiz personality has been making grand plans for the beauty contest so as to fully register her presence as a great supporter of pageantries in Nigeria, having been commended for her past supports to other pageants; and she hope to surpass what she had done in the past for the overall success of the contestants of the pageant.

The brand, Posh Hair, like a thief in the night, took the hair extension market by storm, aside being 100% natural human hair, Posh Hair, has been giving other hair extension brands a good run for their money.

One of its uniqueness is its affordable luxury that cuts across every class of people in the society.

There is something for everybody, no matter the class you belong. Thus enjoying brand loyalty and patronage from the lovers of the brand, little wonder most women wear Posh hair with glowing pride.
Ebube, to a lot of her fans across the globe, has not only held sway in the movie world, she has also shown and proven her entrepreneurial skills.

Other varieties of Posh products such as, Posh Panache, Posh Divo, Posh Glam, Posh Luxury and Posh Belle are hot cakes doing well in the market. No beauty pageant is declared complete or successful without the collaboration or support of Posh range of beauty products, such has been the acceptance given to the premium brand.

"I derive pleasure seeing ladies and women adorning Posh Hair and indeed any other product under the label of Posh Hair by Ebube, and, satisfaction from men commending my efforts towards making their women beautiful, this has always spurred me on to do more in making people happy beyond movie productions", she said in one of her interviews.

PDP Chair, Lagos zone sacked

Captain Tunji Shelle

The Lagos Chairman of the People Democratic Party, Captain Tunji Shelle was on Monday sacked by 34 members of the state working committee.

This could be traced to the incessant crisis internal crisis rocking the PDP across segments of states.

He was however, immediately replaced by the current Secretary, Wahab Owokoniran.

The committee accused Shelle of mismanaging election campaign funds and manipulating the party’s primaries last year which ultimately led to the defeat of the PDP at the polls.

Kerosene now costs N200 per litre in Yola

 

Due to the scarcity of kerosene in Yola, Adamawa, the commodity is now selling at N250 per litre.

A survey conducted by NAN in Yola on Monday showed that the development had forced many residents to rely on firewood for cooking and other domestic needs.

According to the investigation, the commodity is scarce in most filling stations in Yola metropolis and its environs.

NAN reports that the commodity is only available at the black market where it is sold between N200 to N250 per litre.

The only filling stations occasionally selling the commodity at the government price of N50 per litre were the NNPC mega station along Bank road, Jimeta, and other affiliated stations.

A cross section of the residents, who spoke to NAN, described the situation as worrisome.

Mrs Hannatu Zira, a civil servant and resident of Jimeta, complained that the scarcity and high cost of kerosene had brought hardships on the people.

"We are buying a four-litre gallon of kerosene between N800 and N900, and we are using two gallons in a week.

"The situation is seriously affecting our living and economic conditions," Zira said.

Another resident, Malam Adamu Kofare, said that he stopped using kerosene for the past two years in his house due to acute scarcity and high cost of the commodity in Yola.

Kofare, who described depending on kerosene to cook as "trickery", added that he preferred firewood and charcoal, despite their effects on environment.

"Unlike kerosene, firewood is cheaper and available, even though it has serious effect on our environment like deforestation," he added.

The residents, who expressed concerned over the high cost of the commodity, attributed the scarcity to hoarding of the commodity by petroleum marketers.

They urged the president-elect, retired General Muhammadu Buhari, to adopt measures that would end scarcity and ensure adequate supply of the commodity.


Source: NAN

APC to Jonathan: Only the guilty should be afraid

Jonathan and Lai Mohammed

The All Progressives Congress on Monday said only those who are guilty of crimes against the Nigerian people need to be afraid of the incoming administration.

It assured Nigerians that the incoming Buhari administration will not persecute anyone, contrary to statements credited to President Goodluck Jonathan.

This was contained in a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

APC said, “Those who have played poker with the nation’s destiny must be willing and eager to clear their conscience before man and God.

“That the President-elect is a man of integrity is not an issue for debate, and he has made it clear that he will not be bogged down by endless probes.

“However, the hands of the incoming government will not be tied by those who have chosen to play the victim and exhibit a persecution mentality.

“Whoever has any reason to be afraid must lay bare such reason before Nigerians.

According to the party, under the climate of change which Nigerians have ushered in with their votes, only the guilty needs to be afraid. Those with a guilty conscience, on account of their actions in the public sphere, must clear such so they can be at peace with themselves.

“The last time we checked, this does not fit the definition of persecution,” APC said.

The party wondered why the President chose a public forum to express his fears when he could have done so privately during his meetings with the President-elect.

It noted that since the presidential election was won and lost, the President and the President-elect have met privately a number of times. He therefore wondered why President Jonathan failed to express his apprehensions during those meetings.

The party also said, “Even if the two have not met, the President could have reached out to the President-elect over any fears that he may be nursing, instead of engaging in an action that seems like he was being pre-emptive and seeking to curry public sympathy.”

APC insisted that the priority of the incoming government will be the welfare and security of the long-suffering people of Nigeria. He enjoined all citizens to support the administration in charting a new path for the country – away from the rapaciousness and impunity of the past years.

Credit: The PUNCH

I won’t tell you where Shekau is hiding – Chadian President

President Idriss Deby Itno of Chad

Chadian leader, Idriss Deby Itno, who once said he knew where Boko Haram leader was hiding and demanded his surrender, is no longer sure, he know again. "I cannot tell you today that I know where Shekau is hiding and even if I knew I wouldn't tell you," he said.

He spoke in Abuja with newsmen after talks with Nigerian leader, Goodluck Jonathan, during which he poured out his frustrations on the ongoing campaign against Shekau's forces.

Deby said the fight against islamist Boko Haram insurgents was being hindered by failure of the two countries' troops to work together.

He said there were plans to form a rapid response force for the African Union from troops of the four countries around the Lake Chad basin – Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

Deby said he was disappointed that a joint agreement with Nigeria was not working.

"It is regrettable that the two armies, that is the Nigerian army and the Chadian Army, are working separately in the field. If they were operating jointly, they would have achieved more results," President Deby said.

Having defeated al Qaeda in Mali two years ago, Chad's military believes it could finish off Boko Haram alone. It has notched up victories that have pushed the Nigerian militants back from the Cameroonian border.

Islamist militant group Boko Haram seized control of a swathe of northeast Nigeria last year, killing thousands in an unprecedented land grab while increasing incursions on neighbouring countries.

Nigeria has managed to roll back most of the group's gains since the start of the year with the help of offensives launched by Chad and Niger into Nigerian territory while Cameroon has repeatedly repelled attacks on its border towns.

Credit: Reuters

Unpaid salaries: Civil servants beg for money, foodstuffs

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Civil servants in Oyo, Osun, Cross River, Rivers, Abia, Benue, Plateau and Bauchi states have adopted different strategies to survive months of unpaid salaries in their states.

The strategies include begging for money from friends and relatives, securing loans from different sources and doing   menial jobs to survive.

Some state governments, especially those led by the opposition All Progressives Congress and the Federal Government have been trading blame over the unpaid salaries of workers.

While the states attributed the development to the drop in federal allocations to them, the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, accused them   of not prioritising salary payments.

In Oyo State, for instance, where the government has not paid salaries for three months, some civil servants skip their lunch daily.

A few others, it was gathered, however report to their duty posts with garri and groundnuts which serve as their lunch.

One of them told The PUNCH at the state secretariat in Ibadan   that the state government   gave them reasons for the non-payment of   their salaries.

He said, “My colleagues are not happy because of the situation. Some of them now skip   lunch break because they have no means to observe it.

“I have seen some junior workers taking garri and groundnuts as lunch. We have been told that   dwindling allocation from the Federal Government was responsible for the salary delay. We hope for a change when(Muhammadu) Buhari takes over.”

A vice-principal in one of the secondary schools in Ibadan also   told one of our correspondents that it had become a habit for some teachers to ask him   for money every day.

He said, “My teachers come to me for money every day but I don’t have enough to give to them. I rely on my wife’s business to keep my home running.I have three children in tertiary institutions and one of them is now at home.

“We only hope that the Federal Government will sort out whatever the problem is and increase what the states get as allocations.”

A secondary school teacher   also lamented the development, saying that   some of her colleagues who have cars no longer drive them to school.

She said, “Those of us who do not have   cars used to   rely on our senior colleagues who have to take us to our nearest bus stops. But now,   we   walk to the bus stops   because they no longer   bring their cars to school due to the high cost of   fuel.”

A non-teaching staff in one of the schools in the city, said he had resorted to taking loans   from a cooperative society which he is a member.

“I took a loan from my cooperative society for the repair of my roof but when salaries did not come, I started spending   it on transport to my office.”

The non-payment of salaries by the Osun State Government for the past six months has also forced many civil servants into ‘forced fasting’ and selling   jewellery as well as household appliances.

Our correspondent in the state gathered that some of the workers who had part time business were now paying more attention to them than before.

Some of the workers also do not go to work more than twice or three times in a week due to lack of funds.

A local government worker, who identified herself simply as Kemi,   said, “ We have a roster in my office. We rotate it among ourselves, some would go on Mondays and others on Tuesdays.   I don’t go to the office more than once in a week because of lack of transport fare.”

The case of Cross River State workers is no less different.   Some of them, who are owed between two and six months’ salaries, told The PUNCH  that apart from getting loans from private individuals and financial institutions, they beg for foodstuffs from their relatives and friends.

A director in the state Ministry of Information, said, “It is different strokes for different folks. Some people get support from their relatives and the well-to-do who understand their plight. Others borrow to make ends meet, especially to pay the school fees of their children and wards.

“For instance, the state government is guaranteeing soft loans from one of the new generation banks in the state. We apply for the loans and the government guarantees them.”

Also, the chairman of the state University of Science and Technology   branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities,   Steve Ochang, said lecturers   were given soft loans to   survive the almost six months of unpaid wages.

A worker with the state Ministry of Education, who asked not to be named, said, “ They have turned us to beggars. We have not been paid for   months now and this has made some of us to be begging for food items. This government has not been treating us well. They are making us to lose our dignity as breadwinners of our families.”

The Chairman of the state Trade Union Congress,   Clarkson Otu, said it was regrettable that the outgoing Liyel Imoke administration did not keep to its   promise of paying all outstanding salaries on May 5.

He said, “Part of our agreement was that government would pay the March salareis on or before May 5. The governor promised to do all within his power not to leave any wage unpaid. He said this during the Workers’ Day on May 1.

“Unfortunately, he has not kept to his promise. How can he now meet up all the payments before May 29? We will ensure they feel our anger if they fail to pay us our accumulated wages.”

Otu also confirmed that many civil servants had become debtors following the development.
In Plateau State, striking civil servants said that their survival had been at the mercy of God.

It was gathered that some of   them   had taken to menial jobs to raise money to feed their families while some had turned their children and wards to hawkers.

One of the workers said, I work in the Ministry of Health but it has not been easy for many of us who are not professionals to survive because we are being owed for many months. Some of us have taken to doing menial work like cleaning the homes of some rich people in order to maintain our families. But I help my big friends to do laundry work every weekend in order to raise money.”

The Chairman of the state chapter of the NLC,   Jibrin Bancir, said that some of them had borrowed beyond their limits from different sources.

He said, “We are in the hands God. It is not true that government is making efforts to pay.   In the last six months, they have been going to Federation Account Allocation Committee meetings and they have not   paid for even one month salary . They have defaulted six months in a row.”

Some workers in Abia State parastatals also expressed displeasure over their unpaid wages   and appealed to the outgoing Theodore Orji government for quick intervention.

An employee of the state Universal Basic Education Board   in Umuahia, who said they had not been paid for the past six months, stated that they had been surviving “by the grace of God.”

He said he had to start up a “ small business centre where I do some photocopying works to keep body and soul together.’’

Similarly, another worker with the ASUBEB   said she   had been “living on credit.”

She said, “I have a huge debt and more than four members of my colleagues have died because they could no longer cope.”

When contacted, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Anthony Agbazuere, said the government had always rationalised its   resources in such a way that no civil servant in the Ministries was being owed.

He however pleaded with workers in the parastatals to exercise a little patience as their salary arrears would be paid as soon as the state’s revenue improved.

A civil servant in Benue State who identified himself simply as Mr. Agber said the state government only paid workers in the state in January this year.

Agber, who described the non-payment of salaries as unprecedented, said many workers had resorted to part-time jobs to make ends meet.

He said , “We started collecting half of our initial salaries; and it got worse this year as we have not been receiving other entitlements.

A teacher with the State Universal Basic Education Board in Makurdi, who identified himself as Akpen Peter, said, “This year, we have not received any salary. The government is also owing us the salary of May last year. We have been doing our work. We would have protested but this has not proved to be a good strategy.We are hoping and praying that the incoming government would address our plight.”

In Rivers State, a worker, who identified herself as Happiness, said she was being owed eight months salary arrears.

Happiness,   an assistant to a top state government functionary, explained that she tried selling   clothes to make ends meet.

“It has not been easy because even my clothes business has collapsed because civil servants, who are mostly my customers could not pay me. The government is owing them two-month salaries.”

But Mr. Christian Naku, who is a teacher in one of the state-owned model schools, said teacher were being owed two months salaries.

She added that she had been relying on her brothers and other relatives in the private sector to survive.

In Bauchi State, civil servants described as demoralising, the failure of   the     government to pay them.

They wondered why the government   claimed not to have money   when it   was collecting its allocations from the federal account regularly.

A civil servant with the state Ministry of Information, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “It is wrong for the state government not to have paid us.

“Sincerely,   the situation is too difficult for us to bear because we usually get our salaries before the end of every month but there are no signs now that we will be paid soon.

“This is strange to us; we don’t know what is happening. We can hardly survive.”

He called on “Governor Isa Yuguda to please pay us our April salaries and the arrears of our January salaries before the end of his tenure.”

He explained that the   government   “divided our January salaries into 10 parts and has so far paid us in only two instalments.”

A secondary school teacher, who decried the situation,     said, “We are not finding things easy because we can barely feed our families.

“In fact, I have taken my family to the village for now until the situation becomes better. I can’t cope with the high cost of living in the town.

“How much   do the entire teachers in the state earn that they can’t pay? What are they doing with our money?

Another   teacher   said he had resorted to borrowing money from people close to him.
“I’ve been expecting salaries and since they are not forthcoming, I have to go to business people that I know to lend me money,” he said.

The   NLC in the state   said it had issued an ultimatum to the   government to pay the workers on Tuesday(today).

Its chairman,   Hashimu Gital, said, “Workers deserve to be paid their salaries and the government has up to Tuesday (today) to do so, otherwise, we will be left with no choice but to withdraw our services.

“We will embark on an indefinate strike until all workers in the state are paid their salaries including the 2, 700 SUBEB teachers who were disengaged and re-engaged. Their nine-month salaries must be paid.”

In Edo State where some   employees, under the Coalition of Unions of State-owned Tertiary Institutions and the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria are presently on strike, the   government said on Monday that it was “up-to-date” in salary payments.

The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Louis Odion, in a statement made available to one of our correspondents on Monday,   described a   report   which listed Edo as one of the states owing its workers as “shocking, misleading and mischievous.”

Odion’s   statement read, “We read with deep shock, claims that the government of Edo State owes workers five months salary arrears. Nothing could be more misleading and mischievous.

“For the records, Edo State Government does not owe workers salary arrears, as the government has fully discharged its obligations. As a matter of state policy, since   2008, pensioners receive their pay first, followed by workers who get paid not later than the 25th of every month. The policy has not changed.”

Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Government has said it will begin the verification of its 48,977 workers   on Tuesday(today).

It said the exercise would end on Monday next week after which the payment of April salaries   would begin on Wednesday.

The Special Assistant to the State governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, made this known in a statement on Sunday.

Olayinka explained that the   verification was aimed at saving about N500m   being lost to ghost workers monthly through the e-payment system.

The statement read in part, “Those insinuating that the verification was meant to delay payment of April salaries are just playing cheap politics because the arrangement is such that the moment the verification is concluded on a daily basis, salaries of those cleared would be paid.

“The implication of this is that those verified on Tuesday, May 12 will receive their April salaries on Wednesday, May 13 while those verified on Wednesday will get paid on Thursday. By Friday, May 14, 70 per cent of the workers would have received their April salaries.

“From Tuesday to Wednesday, staff of core Ministries, Departments and
Agencies, Health Management Board and six local councils will be verified at designated venues.

Buhari may inherit N50bn salaries, allowances

Meanwhile, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria has called on   President Goodluck Jonathan   to ensure that “all outstanding salaries and allowances owed public servants are settled before   his   exit on   May 29, 2015.”

The association, in a statement titled “Pay Outstanding Workers Salaries/Allowances,” faulted the claim by   Okonjo-Iweala that the government was not owing its workers.

Although the   ASCSN statement did not contain the amount owed the workers, The PUNCH gathered exclusively from the association’s   Secretary-General,   Alade Lawal, that it was in the range of N50bn.

The ASCSN said the demand for the payment was to allow the incoming administration to start on a clean slate in terms of payment of staff emoluments.

Some of the allowances and arrears were inherited from successive governments and have not been settled since 2007.

For example, the salaries of some workers in federal   ministries, departments and agencies   for the months of July, August, September and October 2013 have not been paid because their names were omitted on the payrolls.

“In the Federal Ministry of Education alone, the arrears of allowances are running close to N2bn while that of Ministry of Defence are close to N1bn,” the association said.

The ASCSN said, “We urge Mr. President to do the needful by ordering thorough investigation with a view to paying all outstanding salaries and allowances to the affected officers before he leaves office on May 29, 2015.

“This will not only allow the incoming administration start on a clean slate in terms of payment of staff emoluments but also further boost the image of Mr. President as a statesman.

“The outstanding allowances owed thousands of public servants include promotion arrears since 2007 to date, first 28 days in lieu of hotel accommodation, Duty Tour Allowance, mandatory training allowance organised by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation in 2010, burial expenses and repatriation allowance.

“We believe that if Mr. President can pay these outstanding legitimate salaries and allowances to thousands of public servants, he would not only endear himself to the public service employees but also leave his footprints on the sands of time. If he leaves office without paying, public servants will surely have a different impression of him.”

NLC dispatches task force   to states

The NLC has however dispatched members of its task force to states   to ascertain the number of states owing workers.

Its General Secretary,   Peter Ozo-Esan, told one of our correspondents   on Monday that the members of the task force entrusted with the responsibility of resolving the issue of   outstanding   salaries were   sent out   on Monday.

Ozo-Esan said   the NLC would decide the next line of action after getting reports from the members in the states.

He said that the National Administrative Council set up a task force entrusted with the responsibility of looking into the   payment of workers’ salaries in the states in each of the six geopolitical zones.

The NLC chief   said, “ Several teams have been dispatched to the states to verify those that are owing. Until we get feedback from the team members, we cannot give you the states that are owing.

“We don’t speculate on issues like this and that is why we are saying that we should hold on briefly for the team members to do their work and give us feedback.

“It is after the teams have done their work and submitted their reports that the NLC would decide on the next line of action.”

Credit: The PUNCH

I didn’t embezzle N400m, says Enugu APC gov candidate

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The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Enugu State, Mr. Okey Ezea, on Monday denied allegations that he embezzled about N400m meant for the campaign of President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, in the state.

The alleged embezzlement has been cited as one of the reasons behind the party’s poor outing in the 2015 general elections in Enugu State.

The allegation has also led to a major crisis in the Enugu State chapter of the APC.

But, refuting the allegations, Ezea has forwarded a financial report, which detailed how funds made available to him for the campaigns were disbursed, to the National Chairman of the party, Chief Odigie Oyegun.

The report was titled ‘Financial report on monies disbursed through the office of the gubernatorial candidate – Barr. Okey Ezea’.

Ezea made copies of the report available to journalists in his campaign office in Enugu.

According to him, only a total sum of N133m from the APC was handled by his campaign organisation before, during and after the polls.

Giving a breakdown of the funds received by his campaign organisation, and how the sums were disbursed, Ezea explained that, as the leader of the party in Enugu State, he received the sum of N38m on January 8, 2015, for Buhari’s rally in Enugu on January 10, 2015.

According to him, N12m was already deducted at source for a live telecast of the rally on a private television channel.

Ezea added that the N38m was signed from a former governor of Anambra State, Sen. Chris Ngige.
He added that another N45.250m, also signed from Ngige, was collected by his campaign committee on January 11, 2015, as campaign support for the APC governorship, senatorial and House of Representatives candidates in Enugu State.

“As directed by His Excellency, Senator Chris Ngige, in writing,” the N45.250m was shared among the candidates, he said.

The sharing formula was 50 per cent for the governorship candidate, and 50 per cent for the National Assembly candidates, Ezea added.

He said the 50 per cent allocated to the National Assembly candidates was subsequently shared, “40 per cent to senatorial candidates, and 60 per cent to the House of Representatives candidates.”

Ezea added that another N50m was received from Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, through bank transfer.

He disclosed that, out of the N50m, the sum of N500,000 was given to each of the party’s 24 state assembly candidates – a total N12m.

In addition to that, the sum of N8.6m was budgeted for “tours and gifts” in the 260 wards in the state.
The balance, N29.4m, was subsequently disbursed as follows – presidential campaign council, 10 per cent, senatorial candidates, 25 per cent; House of Representatives candidates, 35 per cent, and governorship candidate, 30 per cent.

“From the foregoing, it becomes very clear that the total sum of money handled by the governorship candidate was the sum of N133m, all of which was disbursed to individuals and candidates who clearly signed for the respective sums, or the finance committee of the party in the state,” Ezea said.

The governorship candidate, who admitted that political party’s do not disclose the money they spend on campaigns to the public, said he decided on the action because of the allegations being levelled against him.

Ezea went ahead to allege that some prominent members of the APC in Enugu State, who he refrained from naming, did not help the party’s cause during the elections.

“A lot of party members contributed to the downfall of the party in the state because while we were campaigning, some party members were busy going to Abuja to spread false information that we are not identifying with Buhari.

“They abandoned the role they should have played in their communities, where they were expected to get their people to vote for the party’s candidates,” Ezea said.

Calabar Call Girls Beat Pastor For Dumping Regular Client

A funny scenario, which could be likened to that of Nollywood recently played out in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, when a supposed Pastor was beaten to a pulp by some women of easy virtue because he was impatient and went after another woman apart from his regular customer.

It was gathered that the’man of God’, simply identified as Pastor Effiong, had been secretly patronizing the ladies of the night at a popular brothel, located around the Watt area and had one of them as his regular client.

According to an eyewitness, the pastor got what he deserved.

"Trouble brewed for him when he went to the hotel with his bible on the pretext of preaching as he always does. But unfortunately for him, his regular woman was engaged with another man and instead of waiting for her, he went to another lady's room and was busy enjoying himself when his regular woman came out and was told that the pastor had gone to another woman.

“I never knew that prostitutes could be jealous o. The lady went to her colleagues room and banged on the door, accusing the woman of snatching her man.

“The one inside was not happy with the accusation and opened her door in anger and engaged the first one in a fight. Other call girls, on hearing what happened, grouped and descended on the Pastor and beat him blue black.

“It took the intervention of other patrons of the hotel to get him out of the clutches of the women who were busy insulting him, calling him unprintable names. It was a show of shame indeed," the source told Pulse.

Oge Okoye’s Short Gown Causes Uproars

Sultry actress, Oge Okoye is truly a movie star that can make a man forsake his lover just to be with her for at least a second. This is because her sexiness is what some men cannot resist.
To say Oge Okoye oozes radiance and beauty is stating the obvious. No wonder some men cannot take their eyes off her and would try everything possible to have her for keeps.
Recently, the mother of two was at the birthday bash organised in Lagos to celebrate another sexy actress, Ini Edo.
Her dress to the occasion, a short and sexy gown, caused some dudes at the party have factory resets. The actress was truly looking angelic in her outfit.
Oge Okoye was all smiles at the event as she rocked the dance floor with her high footwear.

Regina Askia's Daughter Stephanie Involved In A Ghastly Car Accident

Last Updated: 2 days ago

Former beauty queen/actress Regina Askia's first child, Stephanie Regina Hornecker, have been involved in a ghastly car accident. It happened in Ivory Coast last Wednesday where Stephanie was interning in her father's company and catching a vacation.
She was on the way back home with friends driving when her car took a full side impact from a truck in an intersection Thankfully, Stephanie was in the back seat and had her seat belt on. Read the story Regina Askia posted on her Facebook:

Another Earthquake rocks Nepal

Two weeks after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked Nepal in which over 8,000 people died, another earthquake rocked the Eastern region of the country early this morning. According to the US Geological Survey, this morning's earthquake had a magnitude of 7.3. The one on April 25th which happened in western Nepal had a magnitude of 7.8.

People ran for safety after the tremor was heard. There are no immediate reports of casualties. The tremor from this morning's earthquake was felt as far away as the Indian capital Delhi, as well as Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Four people have been confirmed dead so far!

 

Adoke’s friend leaked plot to abduct me – Kashamu

Ogun-East senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu, has said that he got wind of the plot to abduct and take him to the United States to face charges of illicit drugs through a friend of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN).

He said this in a petition dated April 15, 2015, to the National Human Rights Commission, seeking the commission’s intervention.

Buruji said in the petition that the plot to forcibly extradite him to the US was leaked to his lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede, by another lawyer (name withheld) who was Adoke’s friend while on a flight from Lagos to Abuja.

According to Oluyede, who authored the petition on behalf of Kashamu, the friend of Adoke witnessed an occasion when former President Olusegun Obasanjo was mounting pressure on the minister to extradite the senator-elect to the US.

The petition read in part, “On a flight to the Federal Capital, Abuja, from Lagos sometime in October 2014, a colleague and friend of our principal partner, R. A. Oluyede, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who is also very close to the AGF, informed Mr. Oluyede of the tremendous pressure that Chief (Olusegun) Obasanjo was bringing upon the AGF for the extradition of Prince Kashamu and that, in one discussion between the AGF and Chief Obasanjo, witnessed by him (the SAN), Chief Obasanjo had boasted that he was making arrangements with some US officials in the region to have Prince Kashamu abducted and flown in a private plane to the US.

“He advised that Mr. Oluyede tells Prince Kashamu, known widely to be his client, to be very careful. Prince Kashamu’s enquiry about this information revealed that indeed, there had been moves made by US officials within the region to secure the assistance of the Head of the INTERPOL division in Nigeria, Mr. Solomon Arase, a Deputy Inspector General of Police, (now acting Inspector General of Police) for the arrest and delivery to the US officials of Kashamu for transport to the US without following the due process required by the Nigeria Extradition Act.”

Kashamu had since sued the Chairman, National Drug Laws Enforcement Agency and 11 others to court over the alleged plot to extradite him to the US.

In a fundamental rights enforcement action he filed before a Federal High Court in Lagos, the senator-elect is seeking a declaration that the move to abduct and forcibly transport him to the US amounted to a violation of his right to liberty, freedom of association and freedom of movement as protected by sections 35, 40 and 41 of the Constitution

But Adoke, in an exclusive interview with one of our correspondents, said the alleged extradition move only existed in Kashamu’s imagination. Adoke said the PDP chief was only being pre-emptive in his approach to the matter because there was no extradition request concerning him currently before the Federal Government.

The minister also explained that if and when such a request was received, the government would only send such to the court for a decision to be taken.

He said, “Kashamu is only being pre-emptive by his claims. His claims are based on imagination. As of now, there is no extradition request on his case before the Federal Government. Even when such request is received, it is not the Federal Government that will take a decision on it. Such request is usually forwarded to the court for a decision to be taken.’’

Source: The PUNCH