Obama is ordering US federal contractors to give their employees paid sick leave

From 2017 on, any company that does business with the federal government must offer its employees up to seven days of paid sick leave annually, according to an executive order that US president Barack Obama will sign today.

This is the latest in a series of actions the Obama administration has taken to change rules and expectations in the American workplace, and one the president hinted at during his State of the Union address in January: “Send me a bill that gives every worker in America the opportunity to earn seven days of paid sick leave,” he told his fellow lawmakers. “It’s the right thing to do.”

No such bill ever made its way to Obama’s desk, let alone a congressional hearing, according to the New York Times. But as the president proved during the immigration debate and in the fight against cybercrime, it doesn’t necessarily take legislation to effect policy change.

The new executive order won’t benefit every worker in America, obviously; it directly affects only the approximately 300,000 people currently working on government contracts. But proponents and critics alike expect it to have a broader influence on the US workforce. And according to Reuters, Obama is still pushing for Congress to pass legislation requiring all businesses with 15 or more employees to follow suit.

Nigeria’s Brown Ideye joins Olympiakos

Nigerian striker, Brown Ideye, has joined Greek side, Olympiakos.

Ideye’s move to the reigning Greek champions was finalized in time for him to be registered in their Champions League squad, where they face Bayern, Arsenal and Dinamo Zagreb in Group F.

The Nigerian international, who has 25 caps to his name, fell out of manager Tony Pulis’ plans at West Brom after the recent arrivals of strikers Rickie Lambert from Liverpool and Salomon Rondon from Zenit.

The 26-year-old scored just four goals in 26 league appearances for the English club West Brom after joining in July 2014 from Dynamo Kyiv for a then club-record 10 million pounds ($15.4M), but failed to live up to his price tag at The Hawthorns.

Transfer windows has closed for all European clubs until January.

It officially closed Monday midnight.

Nigeria’s Quadri makes top eight at Czech Open

Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri has put the disappointment from previous matches behind him after his excellent performance aided him to make the last eight of the men’s singles at the just concluded International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour tagged Czech Open.

The 2014 ITTF Star Player was seeded number 30 in the tournament and he began his campaign from the main draw where he was pitched against Iran’s Nima Alamian.

True to his rating, Quadri fought well against the Iranian to clinch a tough 4-3 win to secure a place in the round of 32 of the championship.

In the round of 32, Quadri was up against Germany’s Patrick Baum who was tournament’s number eight seed.

In their two previous meetings, Quadri lost to the German but at the weekend, the records were tumbled as the Nigerian bashed the world number 25 9-11,11-7,3-11,14-12,6-11,6-11 (4-2) to progress to the last 16 of the competition.

Just like he did against the German, Quadri once again faced tournament’s number 10 seed, Japan’s Masataka Morizono, who defeated him at same stage last year.

Without much efforts, Quadri walloped the Asian 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-9 (4-1) to make the quarterfinal round of the match.

The leg injury sustained during the round of 16 match prevented Quadri from doing well in the quarterfinal encounter against France’s Simon Gauzy. The Nigerian was beaten by the Frenchman, the no.18 seed (6-11, 4-11, 11-3, 12-10, 12-10, 11-7) to exit the tournament.

  “I couldn´t move my leg, I have some pain on my knee, I couldn´t move on the right outside of the table. And it cost me a problem. Also I had some chances 2:1 on sets and 7:1 but I didn´t finish it. And since this moment my legs started. I didn´t want to stop, I had to finish the match.

“I have to find solution, to take a rest and cancel the tournament in Austria to take a rest and recover for African Games. The quarter-final is not bad but I lost a big opportunity 2:1 and 7:1, it was a little bit painful. But as my leg wasn´t good I couldn´t continue fighting,” Quadri said.

The performance at the Czech Open may rub off positively on Quadri’s world ranking in September

Taiwo Awoniyi joins Liverpool

English Premier League club Liverpool have confirmed the signing of 18-year-old Nigerian striker, Taiwo Awoniyi​.

But club immediately sent the striker out on a season-long loan to Frankfurt.

​I​n an official confirmation, Liverpool wrote on its website: “Liverpool Football Club have confirmed the signing of Taiwo Awoniyi”.

Awoniyi has previously represented Imperial Soccer Academy in Nigeria and reports say the sign on fee is in the region of £400,000.

Porto and Monaco were said to have been chasing the youngster, but Liverpool outflanked both teams.

The new Liverpool man does not qualify for a work permit yet hence his loan move to Germany.

However, Liverpool would still have sent him out on loan to aid his development.

Awoniyi has played for the U17, U21 and U23 Nigerian youth teams before completing his dream move abroad​.​

Segun Odegbami declares for FIFA Presidency, wants to succeed Blatter

Former Nigeria International, Segun Odegbami, has confirmed his interest to enter for the FIFA presidency race.

Odegbami, with his declaration, becomes the second Nigerian after ex-Governor Orji Uzor Kalu to declare his intention to succeed the current FIFA boss, Sepp Blatter.

Odegbami, like other aspirants, his professing the need for change in the world body even as he expressed optimism that he would get the necessary backing to take a shot at football’s most coveted administrative position.

A fresh election to select a new head for FIFA will be held on February 26, 2016 and despite the likes of Uefa President Michel Platini and South Korea’s Chung Mong-joon seen as early favourites, Odegbami said he is ready to take a shot at the hot seat.

The current scandal at Fifa is the organisation’s worst crisis in its 111 years of existence, Odegbami said in a statement.

“Moving forward, Fifa thus requires a new era of leadership that can restore the dignity of the noble sport.

“The world is very interested in who becomes the next president of Fifa, considering the present images and state of this institution.

“I see myself fitting into this role.”

Odegbami added that his bid will have the “highest sense of responsibility, integrity, transparency, probity and accountability”.

He also said he intends to create a “new and optimistic future for football that focuses on human, infrastructural, social and community development across the world”.

Like Liberia FA president Bility before him, Odegbami says it is high time Fifa was led by an African.

“The choice of an African, specifically a Nigerian, may look far-fetched in this pursuit, noting the international coverage of Fifa and the historical trend in its leadership reputation,” Odegbami said.

“However, a closer scrutiny of the international football environment reveals the real possibility of such change.”

Odegbami, who played for Nigeria between 1976 and 1981, says he has already informed the Nigeria Football Federation of his intentions.

Since hanging his boots as a professional player, Odegbami has remained in football circles with regular contributions as a journalist and football commentator.

“Football is what my entire life has revolved around,” he said.

“My life’s ambition has always been to use football to make a difference in my local space and across the world.”

Victor Moses completes move to West Ham

Nigerian international, Victor Moses, has completed a season-long loan move to West Ham thus ending speculations that he could be joining another London club, Tottenham Hotspurs.

The 24-year-old was winger is deemed a surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge and Jose Mourinho has sanctioned Moses to go out on loan yet again same way he did in the last two seasons at Liverpool and Stoke City.

Confirming the deal on Tuesday morning, West Ham in a statement on its official website wrote, “West Ham United are delighted to announce that Chelsea winger Victor Moses has signed for the Club on a season-long loan.”

Moses grew up in south London and he began his football career with Crystal Palace, making his debut aged just 16 in November 2007.

He has since then played for clubs like Wigan Athletics before heading to Chelsea.

The fleet-footed forward made 43 appearances in his first season with the Chelsea, scoring 10 goals – including four in the Club’s successful UEFA Europa League campaign.

However, he was on loan to Liverpool the next campaign and played 22 games for the Reds, before another loan and 23 appearances followed at Stoke City last term.

Aside Moses, the Nigerian duo of Taiwo Awoniyi and Brown Ideye have also been involved in late transfer moves.

While Awoniyi was snapped up by Liverpool before being sent out on loan to Frankfurt, Ideye has exited EPL side for Greek club Olympiakos. 

658 Lagos pensioners get N2.27bn

Lagos State said it had given out Retirement Benefit Bond Certificates worth N2.17bn to 658 retirees in the state as part of efforts to ensure comfortable future for them.

A statement obtained from the Lagos State Pension Commission on Sunday, said the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Idiat Adebule, made the presentation to the retirees.

“For retires in the state, Local Government and SUBEB, a total number of 428 retirees already had accrued rights for a total sum of N1.5bn credited into their RSA (Retirement Savings Account). In essence, for the 18th batch retirement bond presentation ceremony, the state has expended the sum of N2.27bn on a total number of 658 retirees,” he said.

He stated that since the inception of the Contributory Pension Scheme in the country, Lagos had continued to be in the forefront of ensuring efficient and effective pension scheme administration.

With the 18th retirement benefit bond certificate presentation, a total liability of N761.82m was absorbed by the State Government on behalf of 230 retirees from 12 State Government Parastatals, he said.

The Director-General, Lagos State Pension Commission, Mrs. Folashade Onanuga, said it was the practice of the Lagos State Pension Board to issue bond certificates to public servants who have retired from the mainstream service, primary and secondary schools and also from Local Government establishments.

She also noted that all those who had retired in the state but were yet to receive their entitlements would soon be paid.

“The Lagos Sate Government has consistently funded Retirement Bond Redemption Fund Account with an amount equal to five per cent of the total monthly personnel cost of the active workers,” she said.

According to her, the retirement benefit bond certificates indicate the accrued pension rights made up of gratuity and pension entitlements for active service rendered before the commencement of the CPS in April 2007.

Nigeria wins Tunisia 2015 Afrobasket

The Nigeria senior basketball team, D’tigers, has emerged the African champion after beating the defending champion Angola, at the finals of the 2015 Afrobasket with 65 – 74.

The team emerged champion of the tournament for the first time ever as they create a record for the Nation.

The game started on a low-key note for the Nigerian team when the first quarter ends 13 – 10 in favour of the Angolans, the game changed when Olumide Oyedeji was substituted for Chamberlain Oguchi after he was roughly tackled.

Nigeria bounced back with speed to win the second quarter after resisting the physically strong Angolans, they later played 24 – 37 to end the quarter. However, the Angolans nailed their own coffin in the game by conceding a lot of fouls which was twice as much as the D’tigers’.

Naij.com sports recalled, the Nigerian team were bundled out of the 2013 Afrobasket at the Quarter-finals after putting up a shambolic performance. The introduction of Will Voights, an American Coach seems to be the ace as the team which comprised of 80% of the same boys that  played in 2013 became triumphant.

Third Quarter ended 36 – 51 as the Angolans appeared demoralized. Fourth quarter ended 65 – 74 which dethroned the Angolans as Nigeria took over the basketball throne in Africa.

Nigerian guard, Chamberlain Oguchi was awarded the tournament MVP and best 3 Point shooter, while Minnesota Timberwolves and Senegal’s rebound machine Gorgui Dieng won the best Rebounder and Scoring titles.

100 days of Buhari

As President Muhammadu Buhari marks his first 100 days in office, we note with joy the positive atmosphere that has enveloped the nation and the renewed hope and optimism it has engendered among Nigerians that ‘change’ has indeed come and that we have begun the journey to achieving our deferred dream of making Nigeria a great country. Since after Nigeria’s independence in 1960, never has there been such a groundswell of optimism in our collective ability to resurrect the ‘crippled and sleeping giant’ of a nation and begin to position it to achieve its manifest destiny of being the voice of and leading Africa and the black world.

Right from the day of his swearing-in, President Buhari made it clear that this would be a new beginning for the country and that he would wage a relentless war against insecurity, corruption and impunity. True to his words, he set about almost immediately on a shuttle diplomacy to rally Nigeria’s neighbours to act in concert to defeat the Boko Haram insurgents that had been terrorising the country and, recently, neighbouring countries. He visited Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, and hosted a summit on the Lake Chad Basin Commission. These visits achieved the important aim of starting and deploying the Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) with headquarters in N’Djamena, Chad, to comprehensively tackle the Boko Haram menace. Between these, he also travelled to Germany, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States – all aimed at winning key supports, assistance and friends for the country in the fight against insurgency.

Expectedly, the president wasted no time in sounding the battle cry in the war against corruption and impunity, which many Nigerians have identified as among the main reasons for our national malaise. Through his body language and some concrete steps taken, like the change of guards at the NNPC and other institutions, the president indicated clearly that it would no longer be business as usual and that his administration would vigorously pursue and prosecute corrupt and erring officials. He has been particularly successful in building a national consensus against, and intolerance of, corruption and impunity encompassing the media, civil society groups and the general public. He is also determined to see to the recovery of looted funds stashed in foreign accounts/countries by corrupt government officials and has sought the help of the international community, particularly the United States and United Kingdom, to achieve this.

However, we are constrained to point out that despite the groundswell of support for the war on corruption and the posturing of the administration in this area, no one has as yet been charged to court for corruption. What appears to be happening is a carefully orchestrated campaign of calumny, terror, and media trial that may not conform to the rule of law.

For instance, there was a media blitz against the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, to the effect that he purchased fake military hardware and could not account for a large cache of funds meant for the purchase of military equipment. This led to a commando-like storming of his house in Abuja and his father’s house in Sokoto by the Department of State Security with all the drama that went with it. To our utmost shock, when he was charged to court, he was only charged over offences relating to possession of firearms without licence and not the corruption/mismanagement the administration had earlier touted. This is a dangerous signal. Government must stop the smear campaign and media trials on citizens and take its cases to the courts if there is evidence of corruption on anyone.

Again, even after several denials, and despite our best efforts to ignore the trend, the president’s appointments thus far have shown a tendency towards provincialism, and this is already generating tension among Nigerians, on social media and elsewhere. We are strictly in favour of merit-based appointments as sine qua non for the country to move forward. However, we urge the president to take into account the fragile nature of Nigeria’s unity and extend his searchlight to other sections of the country as he seeks to appoint only highly qualified people of good repute and integrity.

It can bear stressing that President Buhari is not the president of Northern Nigeria alone and must not allow himself to be seen as such. We recall the resounding line in his inaugural speech: “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody”. We, therefore, urge the president to live up to the letter and spirit of those words and not fritter the goodwill that came with his elections and the early days of his administration. Understandably, many people in his party are now angry and embarrassed at what they termed his unilateral and sectional appointments and actions. As one of the president’s backers recently commented on social media, “A president who ran for election on the mantra of change can’t continue the tradition of invidiously clannish appointments and expect to continue to enjoy national goodwill.”

All said, we agree with Gregory Kronsten, an analyst, that “the president has been very active in the three months since the handover on 29 May”. Even though he has not appointed his ministers, he has, however, “wielded the axe at leading public agencies and indicated policy preferences for a number of industries such as textiles and aviation”.

Going forward, we urge the president to seize the opportunity of the moment to build a national consensus and unite the entire country around the quest for growth and development. The clock is ticking.