President Joe Biden emphasized his capacity to deliver results while acknowledging challenges with his mobility and speech during a campaign rally in North Carolina.

His remarks followed a heated debate against former President Donald Trump in Georgia, marking a significant moment in the 2024 election cycle.

At the campaign rally in North Carolina on Friday, President Biden addressed supporters stating “Folks, I don’t walk as easy as I used to, I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth, I know right from wrong.”

To downplay suggestions of being replaced in the presidential race, Democrat Joe Biden emphasized resilience, stating, “I know, as millions of Americans know, when you get knocked down you get back up.”

He also asserted his commitment to safeguarding democracy, declaring, “I won’t allow Trump to attack our democracy again, I don’t think so folks.”

Reflecting on progress made since his predecessor’s tenure, Biden remarked, “The US has come a long way from the mess that Donald Trump left,” highlighting the past “constitutional crisis and international embarrassment” caused by the former president.

Biden reaffirmed his belief that America embodies “honesty and decency” and serves as a “beacon of the world,” contrasting this with Donald Trump’s motives of “revenge and retribution,” which he criticized as never having “built a damn thing.”

Reflecting on the recent debate, President Biden remarked, “I don’t know what you did last night, but I spent 90 minutes on a stage debating with a guy who has the morals of an alley cat.”

He also commented on Trump’s performance, alleging, “Did you see Trump last night? My guess is he set, and I mean this sincerely, a new record for the most lies told in a single debate.”

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of eight new Federal Permanent Secretaries to fill current and upcoming vacancies in various states and geo-political zones within the top administrative cadre of the Civil Service of the Federation.

In a statement released by presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale on Friday, it was announced that the appointments were made following a rigorous selection process conducted by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

The newly appointed Federal Permanent Secretaries are: Dr. Emanso Umobong Okop from Akwa-Ibom; Obi Emeka Vitalis from Anambra; Mahmood Fatima Sugra Tabi’a from Bauchi; Danjuma Mohammed Sanusi from Jigawa; Olusanya Olubunmi from Ondo; Dr. Keshinro Maryam Ismaila from Zamfara; Akujobi Chinyere Ijeoma representing the South-East region; and Isokpunwu Christopher Osaruwanmwen representing the South-South region.

The President expressed confidence that the new Federal Permanent Secretaries will demonstrate unwavering dedication, diligence, and loyalty to the nation in the execution of their duties, ensuring optimal service delivery to the Nigerian people.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly criticized comments from several governors suggesting that states should set their own minimum wages.

The NLC described the proposal as authoritarian and contrary to the principles of a national minimum wage.

In a statement released on Friday, Benson Upah, the NLC’s Head of Information and Public Affairs, said, “This notion is not only dictatorial but also undermines the very essence as well as the model adopted for creating a national minimum wage in Nigeria.”

For months, labour unions, the government, and the private sector have been engaged in negotiations over a new minimum wage.

The tripartite committee has proposed N62,000, while organized labour is demanding N265,000.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu recently received the committee’s report, declaring to pay what he can afford.

He is currently consulting with stakeholders and plans to send a bill to the National Assembly to enact a new minimum wage.

Earlier this week, the Southern Governors’ Forum argued against a uniform minimum wage, insisting that states should pay what they can afford.

The governors said in a communique “The Forum discussed the minimum wage issues demanded by labour and unanimously agreed that the minimum wage should be reflective of the cost of living and ability to pay, and each State be allowed to negotiate their minimum wage.”

However, the NLC has faulted the governors’ move, stating it “threatens the welfare of Nigerian workers and the national economy.”