Gov Sanwo-Olu Approves Wage Award, 50% December Bonus For Civil Servants

Gov Sanwo-Olu Approves Wage Award, 50% December Bonus For Civil Servants

Sanwo-Olu further approved the implementation of the Wage Award (PALLIATIVE) pending the review of the National Minimum Wage

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved payment of wage award and 50% of basic salary as a December bonus for all civil servants in the State.

The Head of Service, Bode Agoro, disclosed this in a circular titled, ‘2023 End of Year Bonus and Implementation of Wage Awards,’ and dated 14 December 2023.

Sanwo-Olu also approved the payment of 50% of basic salary as an end-of-year bonus for all political appointees and public servants, including employees of Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) and the Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps (LNSC).

Upon approving the implementation of the Wage Award (PALLIATIVE) while awaiting the review of the National Minimum Wage, Agoro announced that the state government would not tax the 50% bonus and wage award.

As part of the present Administration’s continuous appreciation of the contributions of all Public Servants towards the advancement of the State and its unrelenting commitment to the welfare of its workforce, it is hereby notified for general information that Mr. Governor has graciously approved the payment of 50% of Basic Salary as End-of-Year Bonus for all Political Appointees and Public Servants, including employees of Local Governments & Local Council Development Areas, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) and Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps (LNSC),” the statement read.

“In the same vein, Mr. Governor has further approved the implementation of the Wage Award (PALLIATIVE) pending the review of the National Minimum Wage.

“Therefore, the 50% of the Basic Salary as an End-of-Year Bonus, as well as the Wage Award (PALLIATIVE), will be paid alongside the December 2023 salary as a ‘NON TAXABLE ELEMENT.’

“Sequel to the foregoing, Public Servants are implored to continually strive for excellence in providing qualitative service delivery to the people of the State in line with Mr. Governor’s THEMES+ Agenda.

“Accordingly, all Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are hereby enjoined to the content of this Circular and give it the Service-wide publicity it deserves.”

Israel Strikes Gaza As Pressure Grows To Free More Hostages

Israel Strikes Gaza As Pressure Grows To Free More Hostages

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced protests on Saturday by relatives of hostages who called for an urgent deal to secure their freedom.

Israel carried out fresh strikes on Gaza Sunday as its leaders came under growing pressure to secure the release of hostages still held in the Hamas-run territory more than two months after the October 7 attacks.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced protests on Saturday by relatives of hostages who called for an urgent deal to secure their freedom after the army admitted mistakenly killing three captives in Gaza.

The trio were among an estimated 250 people taken hostage during Hamas’s October 7 raids into Israel, which also killed about 1,140 people, according to the Israeli authorities’ latest figures.

According to Hamas, Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed 18,800 people, mostly women and children.

At a protest in Tel Aviv on Saturday, relatives of hostages gathered to plead with the government for a deal.

“Take us into consideration and come up with a plan now (for negotiation),” said Noam Perry, daughter of hostage Haim Perry, at the protest.

More than 100 of the Israelis and foreigners seized by Hamas and other militants on October 7 were released in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners during a week-long truce last month, mediated by Qatar.

Netanyahu doubled down on his war effort on Saturday, telling reporters of the three hostages’ deaths: “It broke my heart. It broke the whole nation’s heart.”

“With all the deep sorrow, I want to clarify: the military pressure is necessary both for the return of the kidnapped and for achieving victory over our enemies,” he added.

On Sunday, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, at least 12 people were killed in Israeli strikes on the central city of Deir al-Balah.

Witnesses also reported Israeli air and artillery strikes on the southern municipality of Bani Suhaila east of Khan Yunis, the Gaza Strip’s second city.

On Saturday, Netanyahu appeared to address Qatari efforts towards a new truce.

“We have serious criticisms of Qatar, about which I suppose you will hear in due course, but right now we are trying to complete the recovery of our hostages,” he said.

In a statement, Qatar reaffirmed on Saturday its “ongoing diplomatic efforts to renew the humanitarian pause”.

But Hamas said on Telegram it was “against any negotiations for the exchange of prisoners until the aggression against our people ceases completely”.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said late Saturday he was travelling to Israel, Bahrain and Qatar to highlight Washington’s “commitments to strengthening regional security and stability”.

News platform Axios said Israeli spy chief David Barnea met Friday in an unspecified European location with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who helped negotiate the earlier truce.

 

 ‘Hunger, disease, weak immunity’

 

Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has left much of the territory in ruins, with the UN estimating 1.9 million Gazans have been displaced by the war.

The UN said this week that hunger and desperation were driving people to seize humanitarian aid being delivered to Gaza, warning of a “breakdown of civil order”.

International aid organisations have struggled to get supplies to desperate Gazans.

“I would not be surprised if people start dying of hunger, or a combination of hunger, disease, weak immunity,” said Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

The agency reported a “prolonged communications blackout” across Gaza that started on Thursday night and has continued over the past 48 hours.

US President Joe Biden, whose administration provides billions of dollars in military aid to Israel, has voiced growing concern over civilian deaths.

UK Foreign Minister David Cameron and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock wrote in The Sunday Times that the “need is urgent” for a “sustainable ceasefire” in Gaza.

In the face of mounting international pressure, Israel announced a “temporary measure” to allow aid deliveries directly to Gaza through the Kerem Shalom border crossing.

Fierce fighting raged in Gaza on Saturday, with the Israeli army saying it had raided two schools which it said were Hamas hiding places in the northern Gaza City.

The Israeli army said Sunday two more soldiers had been killed in Gaza, bringing the total to 121 since ground operations began in late October.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said a Christian mother and daughter were shot dead by an Israeli soldier on the grounds of the Gaza Strip’s only Catholic church.

In the city of Khan Yunis, dozens of journalists took part in a funeral for Al Jazeera cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa, who was killed in an Israeli strike, according to his news organisation.

More than 60 journalists and media staff have died since the war began, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

 

Red Sea disruption

 

The war continues to be felt across the Middle East and has raised fears of a broader conflict.

Israel has exchanged regular fire with militants, mainly the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah, across its northern border with Lebanon.

The Israeli army said on Saturday a soldier was killed and two others wounded in the Margaliot area on the Lebanese boundary.

A spokesperson confirmed to AFP the casualties were caused by a “hostile aircraft”.

The conflict has also caused major disruption to the key Red Sea shipping lane between Asia and Europe, with two more major firms announcing they were redirecting their vessels following repeated attacks by Yemeni rebels allied with Hamas.

The action by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and CMA CGM follows similar moves on Friday by Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd.

It comes after Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels launched repeated attacks on passing vessels in recent days.

The rebels also launched a wave of 14 one-way attack drones on Saturday, all of which were “shot down with no damage to ships in the area or reported injuries”, the US military’s Central Command said.

Osimhen Goal Helps Fire Napoli Past Cagliari, Into Top Four

Osimhen Goal Helps Fire Napoli Past Cagliari, Into Top Four

Osimhen, who was recently crowned Africa's best player, opened the scoring in the 69th minute when he powered a header through the hands of Cagliari's despairing goalkeeper Simone Scuffet.

Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia combined to give Napoli a 2-1 win over struggling Cagliari on Saturday and send their side into Serie A’s Champions League places.

The inspiration behind last season’s stunning league title triumph, Napoli’s attacking stars struck a goal each as the reigning champions moved up to fourth.

Kvaratskhelia swept home the decisive strike in the 75th minute, six minutes after Osimhen’s headed opener and shortly after Leonardo Pavoletti had equalised for the away side.

Walter Mazzarri’s side are two points ahead of fifth-placed Roma and Bologna, who face off on Sunday, following their third league home win of what has been a troubled season to date.

Napoli’s title defence already looks over as they are 11 points behind Inter Milan ahead of the league leaders’ match at Lazio on Sunday night.

Claudio Ranieri’s Cagliari stay 16th, one point above the relegation zone and Empoli who are at Torino in Saturday’s late match.

Napoli won a match whose kick-off was delayed by 30 minutes after strong winds in Naples led to concerns over stadium safety.

Turnstiles at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona were left closed longer than usual while inspections to the ground’s roof were carried out.

No major damage was found, and once the match got underway Napoli pushed forward but struggled to break down resilient Cagliari.

After a series of wasted half chances Amir Rrahmani headed onto the base of the post just before the half hour, but Cagliari were in the game and dangerous on their forays forward.

Osimhen opened the scoring in the 69th minute when he powered a header through the hands of Cagliari’s despairing goalkeeper Simone Scuffet.

Pavoletti, who shot Cagliari out of the relegation zone last weekend, bundled in his fourth goal of the campaign three minutes later.

But the home crowd was soon back on its feet for Kvaratskhelia’s winner, which came after superb hold-up play from Osimhen led to the Nigerian drilling over a low cross which his Georgian strike partner crashed in off the post.

That was Kvaratskhelia’s second goal in nearly two months and gave Napoli their second straight home win after beating Braga midweek to reach the Champions League knockouts.

Tony Abbott: Climate action can't come at the expense of humanity

The anti-fossil fuel fixation has become a Trojan horse that's sapping the West’s prosperity and security

Taking place in one of the world’s fossil-fuel hubs, a city sultanate so prodigal in its energy use that it boasts indoor ski slopes in the desert furnace, the just-concluded climate jamboree in Dubai could hardly avoid a note of climate realism.

Saudi Arabia’s energy minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, in refusing to allow the Conference of the Parties to endorse any prescriptive language about the “phase down” or “phase out” of fossil fuels, declared: “I assure you that not a single person — I’m talking about governments — believes in that.… I would like to put that challenge to all of those who … comes out publicly saying we have to (phase down.) Ask them how they are gonna do that. If they believe that this is the highest moral ground issue, fantastic. Let them do that themselves. And we will see how much they can deliver.”

Earlier, in a pre-conference exchange, the COP28 president, Sultan Al Jaber, declared: “Show me the roadmap for a phase out of fossil fuel that will allow for sustainable socioeconomic development, unless you want to take the world back into caves.” The Emirati prince, who is also chief executive of the state-owned oil company, was in a tetchy debate with the former Irish president and United Nations climate envoy, Mary Robinson, who’d earlier observed that, “We’re in an absolute crisis that is hurting women and children more than anyone … and it’s because we have not yet committed to phasing out fossil fuel.”

The conference’s eventual call for “transitioning away from fossil fuels … in a just, orderly and equitable manner” could be called a “historic achievement” by Al Jaber precisely because it was so heavily qualified; a commitment to do nothing specific any time soon.

Leaving aside the bizarre contention that a commitment to ending coal, oil and gas power will somehow ease whatever hurts are being uniquely suffered by women and girls, and ignoring for a moment any issues with climate’s “settled science,” this exchange crystallized the tension between climate evangelism and climate realism. It’s fair enough wanting to reduce emissions, to rest as lightly as possible on the only planet we have, but to what extent should we burden economies, and change people’s lifestyles, in order to do so? This is an especially acute question for Canada, that’s one of the world’s main fossil fuel exporters, like Australia, and now with a cost of living crisis exacerbated by climate policy.

In Canada, a rapidly escalating carbon tax is already estimated to be costing families upwards of $700 a year, and is legislated to rise fast, on top of soaring expenses for housing and food. And unlike most other price rises, this one is wholly and solely the doing of the federal government. In Australia, the only time retail power prices have fallen in more than a decade was by nine per cent in 2014, when our domestic carbon tax was abolished. But other climate policies, especially the new Labor government’s 82 per cent renewable energy mandate by 2030, have contributed to driving up power prices by 20 per cent in the past year alone. And the planned closure of the country’s biggest coal-fired power station in about 18 months time,  producing almost 10 per cent of Australia’s electricity, is certain to lead to widespread blackouts or power rationing.

For several decades, climate activists got away with claiming that countries could reduce emissions without any real pain-in-the-pocket because wind and solar power were virtually free. What was always glossed over was the need to “firm” intermittent, renewable power because modern life requires power 24/7, not just when the wind blows and the sun shines. Again, this was relatively easy when renewable power was under about 15 per cent of total electricity generation because hydro-electric or gas-fired “peaker” plants could scale up or down, almost instantaneously, when the wind dropped or dusk fell. But at greater levels of renewable penetration, that’s become much harder because coal-fired generation takes much longer to power up or down. The changed economics of part-time coal-fired power, plus green restrictions on new coal and gas fields, and also shareholder activist campaigns against any fossil fuel investment, mean that many countries are now on the threshold of an energy crisis. Especially since the green phobia for fossil fuels normally extends, for different reasons, to nuclear power, too.

Across much of the developed world, there’s now enough renewable energy to badly damage the reliability and affordability of power supplies; but not enough to substantially dent the world’s reliance on fossil fuels — still about 80 per of total global energy. This is the dilemma we now face. We can have the abundant affordable energy on which almost every aspect of modern life depends. Think transport, housing, heating, cooling, transactions, mobile phones and even greenhouse farming. Or we can have lower emissions.

Then there’s the quite literally astronomical cost. Even the current Australian government, that’s legislated for 82 per cent renewables by 2030, admits that this will require the installation of 20,000 new solar panels every single day, and 40 wind turbines every single month, for the next seven years, plus the construction of at least 10,000 kilometres of new transmission lines. Quite apart from the need for “firming.” This is simply not going to happen given genuine conservationist fears about the impact of onshore and offshore wind farms on bird life and whale migration, plus the desecration of farm land and national parks.

In Australia, a tri-university study headed by our former chief scientist has estimated that the cost of reaching net zero will be AU$1.5 trillion (C$1.3 trillion) by 2030 (or about 60 per cent of annual GDP) and up to AU$9 trillion by 2060. As Bjorn Lomborg has just reported, a new study puts the annual global cost of achieving net zero at between four and 18 per cent of global GDP. A recent British study by Royal Society fellow Prof. Michael Kelly puts the cost of achieving net zero for the United Kingdom at over 3 trillion pounds (C$5 trillion), or 180,000 pounds per household, with, he said, a “command economy” on a “war footing.” And even if the physics and the economics of “green hydrogen” could be made to work, the aesthetics of much of the globe carpeted and forested with solar panels and wind turbines would be a modern version of William Blake’s “satanic mills.”

Contrary to the climate zealots, the real “tipping point” is less likely to arrive when barely perceptible global warming becomes unstoppable but when fed-up electorates revolt against policies that don’t seem to be helping the climate but are badly hurting voters’ cost of living. So far, the strong green element in centre-left parties and the strong duty-to-the-planet element in centre-right parties has prevented any wholesale abandonment of the emissions-reduction imperative or much-shaken the narrative Perhaps this has now started with at least some of the COP attendees pledging to triple nuclear power by 2050. The U.K. government has recently extended the time frame for compelling people to stop installing gas boilers and to stop buying petrol- and diesel-powered cars. And the European countries, like Germany, that had been green virtue-signalling with their shift to renewables, suddenly discovered their vulnerability when they had to do without the Russian gas needed to make their power grids work. When the German chancellor recently pleaded with the Canadian government to increase its supplies of gas, was it really a “lack of a business case” or more green fundamentalism that caused Canada to decline?

While voters have been happy to support “more climate action” when it doesn’t cost them anything, it’s a different matter when they are given a clear choice between saving the planet, maybe, in a few decades time, and having their power bills skyrocket now. In Australia, three recent elections — 2010, 2013 and 2019 — have largely been fought over climate and energy policy. In every case, the party that made it a hip-pocket issue rather than a moral one did best. In 2013, my government won a thumping majority promising to abolish a carbon tax that I said was socialism masquerading as environmentalism. There might be a message here for Canadian politics, too.

It’s all very well wanting to save a planet, that’s been considerably colder and warmer in the past without any human contribution, by limiting mankind’s carbon dioxide emissions. But what about the morality or otherwise of putting massive additional pressure on family budgets; and what about the morality of economically weakening the western democracies against Russia, China and Iran that urge “climate action” on us while doing nothing about it themselves? Of course China wants western countries to transition to renewables because nearly all the solar panels, wind turbines and EV batteries are made there. Far from being “the right thing to do,” the obsessive focus on emissions and the anti-fossil fuel fixation has become a Trojan horse dangerously sapping the West’s prosperity and security.

FG Should Give N50bn To Students As Grants Not Loan – ASUU

FG Should Give N50bn To Students As Grants Not Loan – ASUU

ASUU cited the burden of paying back the loan in a country where jobs are not guaranteed after graduation as the reason for the Union's suggestion. 

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged the Federal Government to covert the 50 billion naira budgeted for student loan scheme to grants.

President of ASUU, Emmanuel Osodeke, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Hard Copy on Friday, cited the burden of paying back the loan in a country where jobs are not guaranteed after graduation as the reason for the Union’s suggestion.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu signed the student loan bill into law on June 12.

The law is to provide easy access to higher education for indigent Nigerians through interest-free loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.

Tinubu in October announced that the scheme would commence in January 2024, with the Federal Government voting N50bn for the programme in the 2024 budget.

However, the ASUU president suggested that allocating the 50 billion naira as grants would have had more impact and be a humane investment in the education of Nigerian students.

“If the issue is just N50 billion, why can’t we convert that N50 billion as a country like Nigeria to grants for the children of the very poor?

“Let’s give to those who cannot afford it, not give them as a loan that becomes a liability for them before they even graduate and not sure of getting a job.

“We are thinking of the Nigerian people, those who cannot afford it, those children who are in the villages whose parents earn less than N30,000 a month,” he said.

“If it is just about 50 billion, the Nigerian government should give that 50 billion as grants to the students rather than giving it as a loan that will encumbrance them in the future and could make them start going to crime, in order to pay for this loan.”

Reflecting on past attempts to introduce a student loan, Osodeke questioned its success, pointing out that such initiatives had failed twice before.

He faulted the conditions attached to the loan, lamenting that it is economically disadvantaged for students in rural areas.

“In such a country where you easily have access to Job after graduation cannot pay it back and they are suffering, or people committing suicide. Is it in Nigeria where the children are sure that even in 10 years, you might not get the employment that they can pay back the loan?”

Addressing the budget allocation for the year, Osodeke raised doubts about the impact of a 50 billion naira loan, asking, “How many people will 50 billion go to as a loan?”

“Look at the conditionality, which level 12 officer will sign for the children of the poor in the village to get access to the loan? How much was budgeted this year? — 50 billion…how many people will 50 billion go to as loan?” he queried.

Kuwait Emir Sheikh Nawaf Dies At 86

Kuwait Emir Sheikh Nawaf Dies At 86

Given his age, concerns about his 

health were commonplace during his rule.

The ruling emir of oil-rich Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, died on Saturday aged 86, the royal court said, after three years in power marked by repeated political disputes.

“With great sadness and sorrow, we mourn… the death of Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait,” said a statement aired on state television.

The channel had cut its regular programming and switched to a broadcast of a Koranic recital before the announcement.

In November, Sheikh Nawaf was hospitalised “due to an emergency health problem”, according to the official KUNA news agency. It did not provide details about his illness, but he was later declared to be in stable condition.

Given his age, concerns about his health were commonplace during his rule.

Sheikh Nawaf ascended to the role of crown prince in 2006, appointed by his half-brother Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. He assumed the position of emir upon Sheikh Sabah’s death in September 2020 at the age of 91.

In 2020, Sheikh Nawaf faced the challenge of navigating the economy through a crisis triggered by a fall in oil prices.

The current crown prince, Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, another half-brother, is 83 years old. Attention is now focused on whether the family will appoint a younger generation ruler.

Around 14 months after he was appointed emir, Sheikh Nawaf transferred key constitutional duties to Sheikh Mishal.

 ‘Emir of pardons’

Sheikh Nawaf’s reign, though not the shortest in Kuwait’s history, was notable for issuing numerous amnesties, earning him the title “emir of pardons”, according to Bader al-Saif, an assistant professor of history at Kuwait University.

Last month, Kuwait’s Council of Ministers approved a draft royal decree calling for pardons for political prisoners convicted during the past decade. Similar pardons were also issued in 2021.

Sheikh Nawaf would also “be remembered for his unique personal attributes: soft spoken, devout, modest, low profile”, Saif said.

Kuwait, a conservative country where sovereign powers are concentrated in the hands of the ruling Al Sabah family, is home to the most active and powerful parliament in the Gulf.

But repeated standoffs between elected lawmakers and cabinet ministers installed by the ruling family have hindered development efforts and discouraged investors.

Following a succession of resigning governments and dissolved parliaments, Kuwait’s current cabinet is its fifth in a year.

Sheikh Nawaf’s rule also saw the Gulf country hold three parliamentary elections in as many years.

The political deadlock has delayed necessary reforms and blocked development projects, leaving infrastructure and education in disrepair and much of the population disgruntled.

Born in 1937, Sheikh Nawaf was the fifth son of Kuwait’s late ruler from 1921 to 1950 Sheikh Ahmad al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

He started his political career at the age of 25 as governor of Hawalli province, remaining in the position until 1978 when he began a decade-long tenure as interior minister.

Inflation Forces Turkey’s Central Bank Chief To Move In With Parents

The central bank last month pushed up benchmark lending rates to 40 percent in a bid to get inflation under control.

The new head of Turkey’s central bank said she has been priced out of Istanbul’s property market by rampant inflation, leaving no choice for the former finance executive but to move back in with her parents.

“We haven’t found a home in Istanbul. It’s terribly expensive. We’ve moved in with my parents,” 44-year-old Hafize Gaye Erkan, who took up her post in June after two decades in the United States, told the Hurriyet newspaper.

Erkan previously worked at firms including Goldman Sachs and First Republic Bank — and is now getting a crash course in the soaring prices that have seen many young people struggling to find lodgings.

“Is it possible that Istanbul has gotten more expensive than Manhattan?” she said.

Year-on-year inflation stood at 61 percent in November as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has allowed the lira currency to weaken while promising that a new team of economists with Wall Street experience would tackle years of economic crisis.

To quell growing anger, officials also capped rent increases at 25 percent — though experts say that has only amplified the housing tensions, as owners try to push out occupants, sometimes fraudulently, in order to set new and higher rents.

The central bank last month pushed up benchmark lending rates to 40 percent in a bid to get inflation under control.

“We’re nearing the end of our monetary tightening measures,” Erkan told the paper.