NEWS
Ex -Govt House Workers: Osun Government Denies Allegations In Viral Video
The attention of the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has been called to a viral video of former adhoc staff who claimed they are owed three months’ salary despite their disengagement.
This admittance was contained in a government house statement under the signature of Spokesperson to the State Governor, Olawale Rasheed.
According to him, they also alleged that all efforts to get the government to pay them have proved abortive including the false claim that they were snubbed by the Secretary to the State Government, Hon Teslim Igbalaye.
He maintained that the multiple allegations from the ex-workers are false and laced with political propaganda especially considering that an opposition activist arranged and distributed the video with the fake news content.
He averred that, “After thorough investigation, the facts of the situation are hereby stated below:
“The adhoc staff were laid off by the consultant who hired them under the former Governor Gboyega Oyetola. By the time Mr Governor assumed office, they were no longer adhoc staff at the Government House;
“Despite the termination of their contract, the former workers remained at their duty post for three months awaiting possible reabsorption by the new government even as there is no evidence that they worked during those period;
“The new consultant at the Government House, Genuine and Classy Cleaning Services Limited, met the ex-workers on ground without any contract with the state government and after a review, re-absorbed 15 out of the 35 who till date remain in the service of the state as contract staff;
“Of the old and new contract staff engaged by the firm, none of them is from Ede area of Osun State based on verified records in their engagement forms;
“The disengaged staff then demanded the payment of the salaries for the three months they waited at Government House without any contract with the Government;
“In the magnanimity of Mr Governor, he directed the Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Teslim Igbalaye to engage the new consultant and the disengaged staff with a view to pay the reported salary arrears. The former workers however refused to relate with the consultant who in effect has the records for effecting the directive of Mr Governor;
“The SSG however went ahead to effect the directive of Mr Governor for the payment of the ‘salaries’ by raising necessary requests for approval, a process that is now at the final stage.
“The SSG is also working on the directive of Mr Governor that the 20 former workers not reabsorbed by the new consultant should be engaged under the Imole Youth Corps that will soon be unveiled by the government;
“It is therefore not true that the Adeleke administration sacked the said adhoc staff. They were disengaged by the former consultant and the new consultant actually re-engaged 15 of them while the rest are due to be taken in under the Imole Corps.
“It is also false to assert that the SSG or any other official snubbed the former workers as his office has been working round the clock to ensure the matter is amicably resolved in line with the directive of Mr Governor.
“We reassure members of the public that the present administration under Governor Adeleke is committed to fair play and equitable treatment of all residents. Mr Governor will not stop to demonstrate and manifest magnanimity in state governance even when as in this case, the issue was inherited and touches the seat of government, the Government House.”
To address Nigeria’s ₦9.7 trillion budget deficit for the 2024 fiscal year, the Senate has approved President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request to secure a ₦1.77 trillion ($2.2 billion) loan.
The decision was made during Thursday’s plenary session, where a voice vote confirmed the approval following the presentation of a report by the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts.
RELATED NEWS: Tinubu Seeks ₦1.767tn Loan to Tackle 2024 Budget Deficit
Chaired by Senator Wammako Magatarkada (APC, Sokoto North), the committee endorsed the loan request as a vital step in managing the country’s fiscal challenges.
Recall that President Tinubu had submitted the proposal earlier in the week, outlining the loan as a crucial component of his administration’s external borrowing strategy.
Details shortly…………..
Simon Ekpa, a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, has been arrested by Finnish authorities on allegations of inciting terrorist activities.
The Päijät-Häme District Court ordered his detention following an incident that reportedly occurred in Lahti on August 23, 2021.
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The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is also seeking the arrest of four other individuals in connection with the case. Officials say the charges involve public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent.
“The detention demands are related to a preliminary investigation in which a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, born in the 1980s, is suspected of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent,” the police said in a statement.
Details regarding the additional suspects or the specifics of the alleged crimes remain unclear as the investigation continues. Authorities have emphasized the sensitive nature of the case, stating that further information will be disclosed as the inquiry progresses.
This development marks a significant step in Finland’s efforts to combat terrorism and ensure public safety.
International News
COP29: Climate Summit Faces Deadlock Over Vague Funding Proposals For Vulnerable Nations
As the 29th United Nations Climate Change Summit (COP29) nears its conclusion, tensions are rising over a newly published funding proposal aimed at assisting developing nations in addressing climate-induced crises.
The proposal, released by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on Thursday, has sparked widespread debate among delegations, activists, and observers at the summit.
The document, spanning ten pages, outlines funding options to support developing countries in implementing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the 2015 Paris Agreement.
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However, it fails to specify how much wealthier nations are required to contribute annually—a key sticking point that has drawn criticism from the Global South and climate advocates.
Ambiguity in Funding Commitments
Critics argue that the absence of concrete figures undermines the credibility of the proposed framework.
Mohamed Adow, Founder and Director of Power Shift Africa, described the proposal as “a blank piece of paper,” highlighting the lack of clarity on financial commitments.
“This is the ‘finance COP.’ We came here to talk about money. The way you measure money is with numbers. We need a cheque, but all we have right now is a blank piece of paper,” Adow remarked during an interview.
The Global South, led by African delegations, is demanding at least $1.3 trillion annually by the end of the decade to adapt to climate change impacts and transition to sustainable energy systems.
Yet, developed nations have yet to commit to a specific annual figure, raising concerns over the summit’s ability to deliver tangible outcomes.
Key Provisions and Concerns
The new text acknowledges the disproportionate impact of climate change on developing nations and the financial barriers they face, including high costs of capital and limited fiscal space.
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It proposes the establishment of a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance, suggesting a framework of “at least USD [X] trillion annually” from 2025 to 2035.
However, the absence of defined numbers has led to frustration among negotiators.
David Tong, Global Industry Campaign Manager at Oil Change International, emphasized the critical role of finance in achieving meaningful progress.
“Without finance, there is no phase-out [of fossil fuels], no energy transition, no adaptation. The ambitious options are simply missing,” Tong stated during a press briefing.
Rising Frustration from the Global South
Delegates from the Global South have expressed dissatisfaction with what they perceive as weak commitments from developed nations.
Many fear that without concrete financial pledges, the summit’s outcomes may fall short of expectations.
“This summit is about delivering justice to those who suffer most from climate impacts. Wealthy nations must step up and provide the necessary funding,” said an African negotiator, speaking on condition of anonymity.
A Critical Juncture
With less than 48 hours remaining in the summit, the stakes are high. The COP29 negotiations in Baku, dubbed the “finance COP,” are expected to set a precedent for addressing the financial needs of vulnerable nations.
Delegates are calling on world leaders to finalize an ambitious NCQG target and bridge the growing divide between developed and developing nations.
JUST IN: Senate Approves Tinubu’s ₦1.77trn Loan Request
Finnish Police Arrest Simon Ekpa Over Terror-Related Allegations
COP29: Climate Summit Faces Deadlock Over Vague Funding Proposals For Vulnerable Nations
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