Dencia drags Burna Boy and his girlfriend, British rapper Stefflon Don

Taking to Twitter, the Cameroonian-born singer and beauty entrepreneur wrote:

"Burna Boy is one of the biggest haters in the industry. Like I get it, ugly people are ugly inside out but his own is disturbing, he tries to hate & bully everyone, him and his Fat Ass GF, match made in hate heaven. Like, imagine their conversations being hateful & about people."

Ayade suspends transport agency, orders for arrest of illegal tax collectors

The Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade, has ordered the arrest of illegal tax collectors in the state.

He gave the order on Sunday while announcing the suspension of the activities of the Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency for flouting the law banning the collection of levies from taxi operators.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser Media and Publicity to the governor, Christian Ita, said, “It has been observed that in spite of Ayade’s directives as well as the provisions of the Cross River State Tax Exemption Law, agents of the Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency were still engaged in the sale of tickets to bus, taxi, okada and tricycle operators in the state.

“Consequently, His Excellency has ordered the immediate suspension of the activities of the agency in the state.”

The governor also directed security agents to arrest anybody found selling tickets or collecting any form of tax from those exempted from paying tax in the state.

“His Excellency will henceforth, not tolerate the flagrant disregard of the tax exemption law which has been in place for over three years now.

On no account will any criminal and mischievous attempt to undermine and short circuit the noble effort of the governor, be allowed,” it added.

Governors seek peaceful coexistence

Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Kayode Fayemi ( Ekiti), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Godwin Obaseki ( Edo), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara), Hope Uzodinma ( Imo) and Simon Lalaong ( Plateau) have urged Nigerians to take advantage of Eid-el-Fitr to promote peaceful coexistence across the country.

In their separate congratulatory messages to Muslims for the end of this year’s Ramadan, the governors also called for continued belief in the country.

They also stressed the need for all Muslim faithful to obey all protocols provided by health authorities during Eid prayers to contain COVID-19 spread in the country. Sanwo-Olu said,

“I join millions of people around the world to wish our Muslim brothers and sisters in Lagos State and Nigeria happy Eid-el-Fitr. For Muslims, today’s celebration is very unique. It is a feast to mark the end of a month-long spiritual renewal following thirty days of fasting and other religious acts.”

He urged Muslims to continue on the path of spirituality, respect for one another, and peaceful coexistence among all Lagosians.

Ganduje stressed the need for Muslim faithful to join the fight to contain coronvirus spread. He said,

“While social distancing is necessary, face masks and hand washing with soap around the designated places for Eid-Fitr prayers, among other protocols, must also be observed strictly."

According to Okowa, this year’s celebration has come at a time the world is plagued by the coronavirus pandemic, urging Muslims to celebrate in their homes.

Fayemi urged Muslims and adherents of other religions to live in love, peace and harmony.

Sule urged Muslim faithful to comply with the government preventive guidelines on COVID-19 by observing social distancing, wearing of face masks, among others to contain the spread of the virus.

Abiodun called on Muslims to keep the faith and rededicate themselves to finding a solution to the pandemic. He advised against claims that could aggravate the pandemic.

Obaseki said his administration was committed to promoting peaceful coexistence in Edo. He said,

“I urge all Muslims in Edo State to sustain these values even after the Holy month to build a prosperous and peaceful Edo State where everyone can actualise their dreams.”

AbdulRazaq called on Muslims to observe their Eid prayers at home to contain COVID-19 spread.

Uzodimma commended Muslims for their resilience, dedication, patience, and self-sacrifice in the face of the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the global community.

In his message, Lalong urged Muslim brothers and sisters to reflect on the spiritual benefits accruing from their fasting and prayers, and apply them to their lifestyle for a better society.

Oyetola said the situation in the country had made it more compelling for people to reach out and show love to the poor. He said Muslims must continue to reflect on and sustain the lessons and virtues of the Ramadan and replicate the same.

Saraki urges Muslims to sustain the good values imbibed during Ramadan

A former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has congratulated Muslims on the successful completion of this year’s Ramadan fast and urged them to sustain the good values they imbibed during the holy month.

Saraki in a statement by his media aide, Yusuf Olaniyonu, on Saturday noted that the holy month taught the Muslim faithful piety, self-denial, good neighbourliness, discipline, empathyn and caring for the underprivileged in the society.

He said if all the values were permanently sustained by Muslims, they would help to build a great country for the benefit of all.

He urged Muslims to continue to pray for Nigeria and the entire world in view of the challenges posed by the raging COVID-19 pandemic, including its impending socioeconomic implications. He said,

“This last Ramadan was very unique in that we observed it without all the normal gathering for Iftar, tarawih prayers, listening to tafsir and going for lesser hajj.

Also, as advised by both health and religious authorities, there will be no gathering for Eid prayers.

We all must, therefore, cooperate and work together to eliminate this pandemic and restore good health to our society.

I enjoin all Nigerians to use this period of the Eid-el-Fitri to rededicate ourselves to our country, pray for good health and a stronger economy that can withstand the post-COVID-19 socioeconomic challenges.”

NASS management insists on tenure elongation for clerk

A fresh crisis is imminent at the nation’s apex legislative institution over the insistence of its management to implement a document which approved extension of tenure for the clerk, Mr. Mohammed Sani-Omolori and other directors.

The immediate-past board of the National Assembly Service Commission had carried out a review of the condition of service of the parliamentary bureaucracy and approved tenure elongation for Sani-Omolori and other senior management staff.

Some official documents sighted by our correspondent on Saturday, indicated that the condition of service of National Assembly staff was amended shortly before the end of the 8th National Assembly.

It was titled, ‘Retirement age and conditions of service’ and was allegedly adopted and approved by the immediate past leadership.

But the management of the federal parliament through the Director of Information, Rawlings Agada, has said the arrangement was in order and would be implemented accordingly.

Agada said contrary to argument of some people, the amendment of the service rule was not a Bill and does not need a presidential assent to be effective. He said,

“The rules applicable to civil servants don’t apply to National Assembly staff. The staff are regarded as public servants. The parliament is an independent arm of government.”

The controversial document increased the retirement age for civil servants in the National Assembly from 35 to 40 years. It also extended the retirement age from 60 to 65 years.

Some aggrieved senior management staff of the nation’s parliament are currently grumbling that the ‘amended’ rule was being implemented without the assent of President Muhammadu Buhari, as required by law.

The implication of the new rule is that Sani-Omolori and others would remain in office for another four to five years, despite attaining the legal age for retirement.

Findings by our correspondent revealed that Sani-Omolori was born in June 1961 and joined the civil service in February 1985.

Going by the new rule, he is expected to stay for another five years, despite attaining the compulsory 35 years in service.

Further findings also showed that the clerk was the Legal Officer of the Ajaokuta Steel Company in 1985, before he transferred his services to the National Electric Power Authority in 1989.

He also transferred his services to the National Assembly in February, 1991 as a Principal Legal Officer on Level 12. His antagonists argue that he ought to have proceeded on retirement leave last year but remained in office. They said those who joined the civil service in February 1985 had already retired.

Meanwhile, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, were said to have instructed the chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission, Ahmed Kadi Amshi, to act on the allegation that amended Service Rule was forged.

Contractors appeal to Ekiti Government over unpaid balances

Some contractors with Ekiti State government have appealed to Governor Kayode Fayemi to pay their outstanding contract sums to enable them to repay their debts with banks and survive the hardship occasioned by the raging coronavirus disease.

The contractors, numbering about 10, who pleaded anonymity for the fear of incurring the wrath of the government, noted that the government had made efforts to pay them but that it had overdrawn its account in the bank where their claims were submitted. This, they said, had made the bank not to honour the state’s instruction to pay them.

One of the contractors, who executed a contract for the State Universal Basic Education, told our correspondent that the state’s refusal to pay them despite executing the contract successfully had made life difficult for them, their employees and family members, especially in the face of the COVID-19. They added that the interest on the loans they took from banks had continued to rise. The contractor said,

“I did some work for SUBEB in the state and we understand that the names of those of us to be paid had been given to a bank in the state since March 16. But we understand that the state government had also overdrawn the account by about N900m, which made the bank to decline honouring the payment instruction.

While we are thankful for government’s patronage, we are also dying in silence, which has made us to resort to this. We are never in doubt of the Fayemi administration’s dedication to excellence and good relationship with all. Thus, we decided to appeal to Your Excellency to use your good offices to look into our plight and ensure that we are paid.”

Another contractor told our correspondent that life was gradually becoming unbearable for him and his staff due to the pending payment.

“We therefore plead with the conscientious governor to intervene so we can be paid without further delay.”

When contacted, the state Commissioner for Finance, Mr Ayoola Owolabi, told Sunday PUNCH he was in a virtual meeting. Subsequent calls to his phone were, however, not answered till the time of filing this report.

"100 days later, Diri has stabilized Bayelsa" - Aide

The Director of Strategic Communications and Documentation in the Office of the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr Justice Joffa, on Saturday said Governor Douye Diri had brought stability to the state since assuming office 100 days ago.

Joffa also said the reduction in the number of active ministries, departments and agencies from 32 to 21 had brought about a sharp drop in the cost of governance.

He said that the stability was a conscious effort by the governor to ensure the steady development of the state. Joffa stated,

“A significant reduction in the number of active ministries from 32 to 21 helped to ensure a reduction in the cost of governance. The extra funds now suddenly available will help drive home other policies that tend to cater directly to the peoples’ needs.

The governor has managed to return an atmosphere of stability to the state at a time when many predicted a descent to low levels. This is credited to his ‘no enemy’ mentality in leadership and the penchant to carry everyone along. The stability of both political and economic structures is needed to be able to add any value and get everything and everyone working again.’

So stable is the vital structures of the state that it has improved both social and economic security levels in the state. A decreasing crime rate is being witnessed as the populace is seemingly looking forward with hope and the anticipation of a prosperous future.”

Speaking on the COVID-19 palliatives by the government to cushion the effect of the lockdown, Joffa said the government ensured that there was no bias or political affiliation in the distribution process.

“Provision and distribution of palliatives and support to people and businesses are being carried out without any consideration of political or otherwise affiliations. Indeed, the general handling of the issue thus far shows a government that knows what it is doing,” he added.

US set to announce travel ban on Brazil

The United States is poised to announce a travel ban from coronavirus-hit Brazil, a top aide to US President Donald Trump said.

“I think that we’ll have a new travel decision today with respect to Brazil and just like we did with the UK and Europe and China, and we hope that’ll be temporary,” Robert O’Brien, the US national security advisor, said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

“But because of the situation of Brazil, we’re going to take every step necessary protecting American people,” he said.

The United States had previously cut off travel from China, Europe and Britain as the virus surged in those countries. Brazil has emerged as the latest COVID-19 flashpoint, second only to the United States in the number of cases and with a death toll that has surpassed 22,000.

900 Britons stranded in Nigeria to be evacuated - UK

900 more British travellers who are stranded in Nigeria are set to return home on three flights chartered by the United Kingdom government. This was contained in a statement on the website of the UK government obtained on Sunday.

According to the statement, the new flights are scheduled as follows – May 29: Lagos – London, June 1: Lagos – London and June 6: Abuja – London.

The statement added that :

“The additional charter flights have been arranged for British travellers, and their dependants, whose primary residence is the UK. Priority is given to the most vulnerable travellers, for example people with health conditions.

Once completed, these additional flights will bring the total number of people flown back to the UK from Nigeria on government charter flights to around 2,000, following flights arranged last week from Lagos and Abuja to London.”

The statement also quoted UK’s Minister of State for Africa, James Duddridge, as assuring that the UK government would continue to work closely with its Nigerian counterpart. Duddridge said,

“Our next phase of UK government charter flights will mean another 900 British travellers are able to return home from Nigeria. We appreciate this has been a difficult time and will continue to work closely with the Nigerian authorities to support those wishing to return to the UK.”

It also urged British travellers to visit the Nigeria Travel Advice pages for further information.

“The UK Government is working with the airline industry and host governments across the world to bring British travellers home as part of the plan announced by the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on March 30.

There is up to 75 million Pounds available for special charter flights to priority countries, focused on helping the most vulnerable travellers.

So far, charter flights have returned British travellers from countries including India, the Philippines, Ecuador, Bolivia, Nepal, Ghana, Tunisia, Algeria and Peru,” the statement added.

Abia State Commissioner for Environment passes away

The Abia State Commissioner for Environment, Chief Solomon Ogunji, is dead.

The Commissioner for Information in the state, Chief John Okiyi-Kalu, confirmed his death in a statement on Sunday. The statement read in part,

“It is with great sadness and a deep sense of loss that we announce the demise of a member of Abia State Executive Council and the Honorable Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Solomon Ogunji, who passed away on Saturday, 23rd May, 2020, at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, after a brief illness related to high blood pressure.

Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, who received the sad news with shock yesterday (Saturday) has personally communicated and condoled with the family of the bereaved and is currently in mourning.

We pray that the Almighty God will give the family of Dr Ogunji the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss and rest his soul in the bosom of the Lord.”