AHEAD of next year’s centenary celebration, Will and Wiser Nigeria, a youth re-orientation and development outfit, has concluded plans to use the country’s national flag as a symbol to strengthen the unity of the country.

There were serious and persistent complaints by stakeholders against the abolition of gratuity under the PRA 2004. The issues was extensively discussed and there was consensus among stakeholders that a provision should be inserted in the PRA that would allow the employer and the employees to agree, through collective bargaining, on payment of additional benefits upon retirement or cessation of employment. The amendment in the 2013 Bill seeks to address this agitation of labour for a provision on gratuity in addition to the pension.

THE need to reposition the Nigerian movie industry known as Nollywood for it to be able to promote the nation’s cultural diplomacy, was the focus of the 4th Annual Public Lecture organized by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO).

However, companies wishing to employ foreign nationals in Nigeria must first obtain the consent of the Director of Immigration, while persons entering into Nigeria for business purposes must obtain the consent of the Minister of Interior in writing.

ORGANISED Labour in Delta State, has reaffirmed the validity of the Memorandum of Understanding,MOU, reached in April 2013 with the management of the state Direct Labour Agency, DLA, and Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, AUPCTRE, unit of the agency on some labour issues.

What needs to be restated immediately is that several statutes and legal instruments contain age restrictions with regard to certain matters or transactions. A few examples will suffice. The Electoral Act which is extant provides for eligibility considerations with regard to registration of a person as voter. Aside from being a citizen of Nigeria, the prospective voter must be ordinarily resident, work in, and originate from the local government area council or ward covered by the registration centre. Apart from other considerations stated in the Act, a person who has not attained the age of 18 years cannot be registered as a voter.

Barely 24 hours after the ruling houses in Osogbo disowned the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, king-makers and traditional chiefs of the community rose in his defence, declaring that the traditional ruler’s appointment was in line with the tradition and statutory authorities governing the appointment of Ataoja.

THE family of one Mr. Jolly Olotu, who has been in detention for over three months for alleged kidnapping at the Department of State Service, DSS Asaba, Delta State, has appealed to the State Director of the Department, to release him or charge him to court if found culpable of the offence.

Twenty-five lecturers drawn from five universities in the country’s North Central zone have been trained in the 4th edition of the University Assistance Programme (UAP) training workshop, sponsored by Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL), a subsidiary of ExxonMobil in Nigeria.

THE war against kidnapping in Edo State recorded success, as the state police command, Wednesday, paraded 44 suspected kidnappers including those involved in the recent kidnap of three primary school teachers.