A Chinese court on Thursday sentenced Zhang Zulin, former vice governor of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, to life imprisonment for accepting bribes.

According to the verdict of the Intermediate People’s Court of Chongqing Municipality, Zhang will deprived of his political rights for life; his personal property will be confiscated, and his illegal gains from bribery will be recovered and turned over to the state treasury.

READ ALSO:JUST IN: Gospel Singer Sentenced To Death For Killing Girlfriend

The court found that Zhang had taken advantage of his positions in Yunnan between 2001 and 2023 to assist individuals and organisations in matters related to real estate development, project contracting, project approval, and obtaining loans.

The court stated that he accepted money and valuables worth more than 122 million yuan (approximately $ 17.03 million) in return.

Zhang’s case was presented to the court in an open trial on April 10.

The Federal Capital Territory Chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) says it is mobilising to shut down the territory after President Bola Tinubu concludes his projects’ inauguration on July 3.

The Chairman, Dr Stephen Knabayi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

Knabayi explained that the move was to draw the attention of the FCT Administration to address the area council workers’ lingering strike.

NAN reports that primary health care centres were under lock and key, primary school teachers had been at home while the six area councils’ secretariat were abandoned by the workers for months.

Primary school teachers and other area council workers embarked on a series of strikes over non-payment of minimum wage and 40 per cent peculiar allowance.

READ ALSO:Sealing Spree: FCTA Sledge Hammer Hits FIRS Office, Bank, Fuel Station, Others

Other unresolved issues included the non-implementation of 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases, and the N35,000 wage award, among other benefits.

The NLC chair, who described the development as “very unfortunate”, said that the area council chairmen left the union with no option but to shut down the FCT.

He recalled that the union had on June 13, issued a seven-day ultimatum to the FCT Administration to address the demands of the teachers, health workers and other area council workers.

He explained that the ultimatum followed the resolution of the executives of the joint unions of the NUT, the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees and the National Association of Health Workers Union.

He noted that the ultimatum had expired on June 20 and the NLC was yet to take any action.

READ ALSO:Tinubu Orders 14-day Grace Period For FCT Ground Rent Defaulters

Knabayi explained that the union backpedalled to allow President Bola Tinubu to complete the inauguration of projects executed by the FCT Administration, as part of activities to celebrate his second year in office.

“We had to extend the ultimatum because of Tinubu’s movements to inaugurate the FCT executed project.

“Members of the union will take over the streets of Abuja as soon as Tinubu concludes the inaugurations, hopefully on July 3.

“We are waiting for it to end and we will come together to step up our planned action,” he said.

He added that the NLC had already informed the FCT Administration and security agencies of the planned protest to shut down the territory as the last resort to press home their demands.

He said it was very unfortunate that up to this moment nothing has been done to address the lingering welfare cities in the area councils.

READ ALSO:FCT Doctors Begin Warning Strike Over Sack Of Health Workers

He noted that although the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage began across the six area councils in May, it was stopped the following month with no explanation to the workers.

“Like you know, strike or protest is always the last option, but we were left with no other opinion.

“We are not happy and it is not going to be a small thing if they don’t do the needful,” he said.

Knabayi alleged that the area council chairmen were spending huge resources in preparations for the 2016 February FCT Area Councils’ Election.

According to him, the funds being expended will be enough to settle all the workers’ outstanding entitlements.

He called on the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, to take a more decisive action to compel the area council chairmen to settle the council workers welfare concerns.

READ ALSO:FCT Unveils Committee To Monitor Influx Of Almajiri, Others

Recall that Wike had made several efforts to resolve the crisis, including the recent release of N4.1 billion to the area councils to support the payment of minimum wage to the workers.

The minister had explained several times that primary school teachers and primary health care workers were under the purview of the area councils and not FCT Administration.

The NUT Chairman in FCT, Mr Abdullahi Shafa, during a protest on April 24, acknowledged Wike’s intervention to resolve the lingering strike, including the release of the N4.1 billion to the area councils to pay the striking teachers.

On their part, the chairmen of the area councils had in a press conference on May 13, urged the primary school teachers and other council workers to call off their ongoing strike.

Mr John Gabaya, Secretary of the FCT Chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, who addressed the journalists, particularly appealed to the primary school teachers to return to the classrooms.

Gabaya said that the appeal became necessary for the interest of the pupils while negotiation continues.
(NAN)

…Akpabio named Managing Director, 15 others confirmed; Kaura not cleared over screening no-show

The Senate on Thursday confirmed Hon. Chibudom Nwuche, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, as Chairman of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC).

Also confirmed was Usoro Offiong Akpabio from Akwa Ibom State as the Managing Director of the commission.

However, Tijani Yahaya Kaura, the nominee representing the North-West, was not cleared after failing to submit necessary documents and refusing to appear before the screening committee. The committee noted that the window remains open should he eventually present himself for the process.

The Senate also confirmed the following nominees as members of the SSDC board:

READ ALSO: Senate Confirms Olubunmi Adetunmbi Chairman Of South-West Development Commission, MD, Others

Rt. Hon. Larry Odey – Member, Cross River

Charles Zuofa – Member, Bayelsa

Dr. Nkereuwem Ebong – Member, Akwa Ibom

Engr. Chika Chinedu – Member, Rivers

Barr. Femi Oise – Member, Edo

Dr. Charles Sylvester Enukhowhate – Member, Delta

Tabitha Iliya Sallah – Member, North-East

Alh. Yusuf Rasaq Amao – Member, North-Central

Joseph Mmamal – Member, South-East

Hon. Bukonola Braimoh – Member, South-West

Confirmed executive directors include:

Hon. Marcus Nie Eji – Executive Director, Projects (Rivers)

Engr. Aganaba Preye Steven – Executive Director, Social and Human Capital Development (Bayelsa)

Dr. Timi Alari Ayibatonye – Executive Director, Corporate Services (Delta)

Hon. Joseph Ugheoke – Executive Director, Commercial and Environmental Development (Edo)

READ ALSO: Uproar As Senate Okays Non-indigene As Rivers Electoral Commission Chairman

Amb. Sony Abang – Executive Director, Finance (Cross River)

The confirmations followed the presentation of the report of the Senate Committee on South-South Development Commission, chaired by Senator Benson Konbowei (PDP, Bayelsa Central).

Presenting the report, Senator Konbowei stated: “That the Senate do receive and consider the report of the Committee on South-South Development Commission on the confirmation of the nomination for appointment as Chairman, Managing Director, and Members of the Board of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC).”

It will be recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had, last month, submitted the list of nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the president’s request during plenary and referred it to the appropriate committee, which was tasked to report back within one week.