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Reps summon FCC chair, Muheeba Dankaka for ‘feigning sickness’ to evade panel invitation

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There was a mild drama on Tuesday at a sitting of the house of representatives committee when some of the commissioners from the Federal Character Commission (FCC) accused Muheeba Dankaka, the executive chairperson, of evading the invitation by the lawmakers.

The ad hoc committee is investigating ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs), parastatals, and tertiary institutions on personal recruitment, employment racketeering, and the management of the integrated payroll and personnel information system (IPPIS).

Armaya’u Abubakar, FCC federal commissioner representing Taraba state, told the panel that Dankaka asked him to stand in for her because she was “indisposed” and has a medical appointment with a doctor.

“That is why she has dedicated us (federal commissioner from Taraba, Bayelsa, Abia, Gombe, Anambra, Niger) and me to be with the leader of this delegation to make a presentation,” Abubakar said.

Wole Oke, a member of the committee from Osun, raised a point of order, demanding his colleagues to mandate Dankaka to present evidence substantiating her medical appointment.

However, Moses Anaughe, the federal commissioner representing Delta state, told the committee that Dankaka had been untruthful in her letter to the panel, adding that she was at her office and had not scheduled any medical appointment.

“I want to inform this house that the federal character commission chairman as we speak, is in her office. This has been her usual way of dodging committee invitations,” Anaughe said.

“I just want you people (lawmakers) to know. This has been her usual practice because if the federal character is doing their job very well, this issue of audit and inviting FCC will not arise.”

Anaughe asked members of the committee to ensure that the FCC chair appears before them to “tell her stewardship of the FCC”.

The federal commissioners representing Osun, Kaduna, Delta, Lagos and Enugu corroborated Anaughe’s position, insisting that Dankaka is employing medical excuses to evade appearing before the committee.

‘YOU CAN’T LIE TO THE COMMITTEE’

Oke accused Abubakar of lying to the committee, asserting that he falsely claimed the FCC chairperson had a medical appointment, adding that there should be repercussions for such dishonest behaviour.

“You have come to this parliament to lie before us, you cannot just go away like that,” he said.

“You came before the Nigerian parliament, before the Nigerian people to lie to us when you know that your chairman is in the office.

“A colleague of yours is telling you that your chairman is in the office. But you brought a letter here to mislead the committee — to lie before us. If she is tired, she should throw in the towel.”

THE RULING

In his ruling, Yusuf Gagdi, chairperson of the committee, said Dankaka must appear before the committee on Wednesday alongside all the federal commissioners in the FCC.

The committee chairperson said the parliament will recommend the sacking of government officials who take taxpayers’ monies “for granted”.

“The 10th house of representatives will be one of the best because if it gets to a level of recommending for your removal — to the best of my ability, this committee is going to do that. We will ensure the right thing is done,” he said.

“For the first time, we are going to recommend to the house of representatives and to the executive arm of government — Mr president to sanction MDAs that are taking taxpayers’ money for granted, I swear.”

Early this month, the house had set up the ad hoc committee to investigate MDAs over their alleged mismanagement of IPPIS, following the adoption of a motion moved by Oke.

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Cross-River workers embark on warning strike over non-implementation of minimum wage

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Civil servants in Cross River state have commenced a strike over the non-implementation of the new minimum wage.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) had slated November 25 and 26 for the warning strike.

They warned that the industrial action would be followed by a total strike should the government fail to do the needful before December 1.

Bassey Otu, governor of Cross River, appealed to the unions to shelve the plan and “support the government in its quest to improve the lot of our people”.

The governor made the appeal at the 5th edition of the state solemn assembly at U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

Otu said his administration is committed to the welfare of workers.

“I appeal to the leadership of organised labour and all affiliates of the NLC and TUC to suspend their planned strike,” he had said.

“I enjoin them to support the government in the quest to improve the lot of our people.”

On July 29, 2024, President Bola Tinubu signed the minimum wage bill into law. The legislation increased the country’s minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000.

On November 11, NLC announced November 30 as the deadline for all state governments to implement the new minimum wage.

The union ordered its members to embark on an indefinite strike in states where the new minimum wage is yet to be implemented.

However, several states have begun implementation of the new wage.

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Driver escapes death as 40ft container falls on car in Lagos

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A yet-to-be-identified driver luckily escaped death on Monday morning when a 40-foot-laden container fell onto a Toyota Camry, with registration number LSR 293 HJ, at Mile 2, en route to Apapa Ports, Lagos.

The accident, according to an eyewitness, happened at about 8 a.m.

Fortunately, the driver of the car was rescued by the prompt intervention and coordinated response of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and other emergency services, including the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).

The victim received immediate medical attention after being rushed to the hospital by the joint rescue team.

Security during the operation was effectively maintained by officers from the Kirikiri Police Division, who ensured a secure and orderly environment for the emergency responders.

Following the rescue, the Toyota Camry was successfully removed from beneath the container.

As of 9.30 am, efforts to evacuate the fallen container were in full swing, while LASTMA officers managed the scene to ease traffic congestion and restore normalcy.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, reiterated the critical importance of proper container securing by truck drivers and owners.

He stressed that negligence in this regard endangers lives and property, urging strict compliance with road safety protocols to avert such catastrophic occurrences.

“LASTMA remains unwavering in its commitment to ensuring the safety and efficiency of Lagos roadways and continues to work collaboratively with relevant stakeholders to uphold traffic laws and enhance public safety,” Bakare-Oki stated.

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Lagos state government removes illegal shop extensions blocking drainage channels in Lagos Island

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The Lagos State government has cleared illegal shop extensions obstructing drainage systems and a government-provided water tap in Lagos Island.

The exercise was conducted by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), led by its General Manager, Arc. Gbolahan Oki.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by Adu Ademuyiwa, Director of Public Affairs at LASBCA, via the agency’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday.

The enforcement operation focused on Idi-Oluwo Street, where shop extensions had blocked critical drainage channels and access to potable water, leaving the community without essential resources.

Arc. Gbolahan Oki highlighted the adverse impacts of these illegal structures on residents, noting that several shop owners had constructed extensions over public drains and a government-provided water tap, causing significant disruptions to the area.

“In a proactive effort to ensure public safety, orderliness, and the smooth flow of traffic, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has taken decisive action by removing illegal shop extensions obstructing drainage systems and community water supplies along Idi-Oluwo Street, Lagos Island.

“Leading the LASBCA Enforcement Team, the General Manager, Arc. Gbolahan Oki, highlighted the adverse impacts of these illegal structures on residents. He noted that several shop owners had built extensions over public drains and water tap, causing significant disruptions,” the statement read in part.

The statement revealed that one of the removed extensions had blocked access to a government-provided water tap, cutting off the entire community’s supply of potable water. The swift removal of these illegal structures restored water access to the affected area.

Arc. Gbolahan Oki emphasized the need for residents to respect public infrastructure and take collective responsibility for preserving community resources.

Furthermore, the statement noted that Arc. Gbolahan Oki issued a one-week ultimatum to traders at Idi-Oluwo, directing them to address the identified violations or face stringent legal consequences.

At Mankanra Market, the LASBCA team uncovered several environmental infractions, including shanties obstructing walkways, which compromised the market’s functionality and safety.

Additionally, the statement highlighted that Hon. Princess Lara Oyekan-Olumegbon, representing Lagos Island Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, praised LASBCA’s proactive efforts.

She urged market leaders to ensure their members adhere to state regulations on sanitation and structural integrity, warning that defaulters would face penalties as prescribed by law.

The LASBCA team also visited Bombata Market, where Arc. Oki advised market leaders to prioritize cleanliness and foster an orderly trading environment.

He assured them of a follow-up inspection within three months to confirm compliance with required standards and maintain the improvements.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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