Author: Chronicle Editor

Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), says the Federal Government is committed to ensuring that the new National Minimum Wage meets the present economic realities. Mustapha said this at a dinner and award night organised to mark the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) 40th Anniversary celebration. The theme of the anniversary is: “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, National Unity and Social Justice”. According to him, the Federal Government is conscious of the need to bring wages to meet economic realities. “It is in this regard that the Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage was inaugurated to review the…

President Muhammadu Buhari’s son, Yusuf, who was involved in motor-bike accident in Abuja, has returned from medical treatment abroad. Mrs Buhari, who expressed her appreciation on her Twitter handle on Thursday in Abuja, said the Buhari family remained grateful to all Nigerians for their constant prayers for recovery of Yusuf Buhari. “We thank God for the return of our son Yusuf today after his medical trip. “On behalf of the family I wish to express our appreciation for the goodwill and prayers since the unfortunate accident. READ: Child Trafficking: NAPTIP arrest 11 for selling children “May God Almighty bless all…

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on Wednesday said it arrested 11 persons over suspected child trafficking, abduction and sale of children in Anambra. Mr Josiah Emerole, the NAPTIP Head of Press and Public Relations, said this in a statement in Abuja. Emerole stated that the suspects were nabbed in different parts of Anambra in a combined operation carried out with the support of operatives of Department of State Services (DSS). He noted that the suspects, comprising eight women and three men, were said to belong to a criminal syndicate which specialised in kidnapping and…

Nigeria’s people are getting poorer despite the country’s slow recovery from recession, and economic reforms are urgently needed, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in a report seen by Reuters on Wednesday. IMF expects the government to “muddle through” in the medium term, and any progress could also be threatened if elections next year consume political energy and resources, the report said. Since emerging from recession in the second quarter of 2017, Nigerian officials have repeatedly boasted that they have set the economy back on track. But critics say much of the recovery comes from a return to oil dependence…

A long-lost portrait of a Nigerian princess dubbed the “African Mona Lisa” sold at auction in London on Wednesday for £1.2 million (1.4 million euros, $1.7 million), exceeding estimates and setting a record for the artist. The 1974 painting of Adetutu “Tutu” Ademiluyi, by Nigerian artist Ben Enwonwu, was expected to fetch up to £300,000 (339,000 euros, $414,000) when it went under the hammer at Bonhams auction house. It described the painting of an Ife royal princess which recently turned up in a London flat after not being seen in decades as “rare and remarkable”. “The portrait of Tutu is…

The national executive committee of the All Progressives Congress has passed a vote of confidence in its leaders including President Muhammadu Buhari, it said on Wednesday. The committee, whose decisions determine the direction of the Buhari’s reelection, held a one-day meeting which concluded late on Tuesday. In an emailed statement it said the body had approved a one-year extension for party executives, including Buhari. “By this decision, all affected officers will continue in acting capacity for another period of 12 months after the expiration of their current term,” it said in the statement. Nigeria’s parties must select their candidates for…

Paris St-Germain forward Neymar will have surgery after suffering a fractured metatarsal and sprained ankle in Sunday’s Ligue 1 win over Marseille. It means the 26-year-old Brazilian will miss Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 second-leg tie against Real Madrid. PSG coach Unai Emery initially said Neymar had a “small chance” of facing Real, before Neymar’s father said he would be out for “six to eight weeks”. The club said Neymar will be operated on in Brazil at the end of the week. PSG added that after “three days of planned care” it was a joint decision by the club’s medical staff…

By Adrian Awoyele I read Pa Ayo Adebanjo’s interview in The Punch newspaper on 25 February with so much relish. But it was the elder statesman’s submission on President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration that caught my attention. It is wise that when an elder speaks, the younger generation listens. This is because, not only does Pa Adebanjo have loads of experience and wisdom but also because he has a vast knowledge of Nigeria, past and present. It is with that respect that I would like to tackle the issues Pa Adebanjo raised in his submissions not just because it…

Swansea City reached the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1964 after overcoming Sheffield Wednesday at the Liberty Stadium. “1964 is a long time ago,” said Swans boss Carlos Carvalhal. “I know because I was born in 1965. “Swansea have now made the best path in the cup since then so it’s a little part of history and we are happy about that. I’m very proud of my players.” In a tie short on quality played out in freezing conditions in south Wales, Jordan Ayew’s tap-in after Tom Carroll’s fierce drive struck both posts set the Swans on…

Gerard Moreno scored an injury-time winner as Espanyol beat Real Madrid for the first time in over a decade. The Catalonia club last won Madrid in 2007 winning 2-1 at the Cornellà-El Prat now the RCDE Stadium. Real had won five games in a row but rested Cristiano Ronaldo and were made to pay for a below-par performance. Espanyol probably edged the game and Moreno had a first-half goal ruled out for a marginal offside call. Real defender Sergio Ramos was playing as an extra striker at the end as Moreno controlled Sergio Garcia’s cross before smashing the ball home.…