 and we're about counting down into February. Yes, January is almost over the longest month of the year as people like to say. Anyways, welcome to the breakfast. We have a lot in store for you. But first, my name is Romeo Paulson. My name is Romeo Paulson, but I must say that this January is the fastest January of every month. Generaries have always had January and then January full marks. Very long, the longest month. This January is quite short and I don't know why I'm trying to wrap my head around what it is. This January is supposed to be the longest of all the January's I've experienced because of the economy. Yes, but it just happened that it was so fast and everybody's talking about the fact that it was so fast. We thank God for small nurses. We don't hope that as fast as it is, that's how the pockets will be replenished. Amen to that. Amen. I mean, we're only that right now. We need to save it. But yes, anyways, we'll be looking at what the national dailies are saying as well as some hot topics. But and also some top trending stories. But first, let's take our quotes of the day. The great myth of our times is that technology is communication and that is by Liby Larson is a composer. The great myth of our times is that technology is communication. So a lot of time we think that's really deep. That's really deep. Very, very deep. I think that's one of our deepest quotes on technology. You know, technology, we just feel okay because we can talk to another person. That's communication and it's good enough. Nothing beats physical contact, nothing beats true friends, nothing beats physical friends that you can laugh with, cry with and all that and know that they're just there for you. You could have like a million or five million likes or a hundred million likes and some of the people that commit suicide are high profile people with so many likes. So imagine if they had half of that number as true friends. I really like them. I really love them. I'm sure they will never have to go through whatever they go through. So communication gives us, it bridges the gap, but it's not really the technology, sorry. It's not really the communication that we need to survive and be human as we should be. It's really deep. It's quite a very deep quote because when I saw that I was just like, oh wow, that's quite profound because it's so true. Most times we think like, don't get me wrong, technology is good. Technology is what is, you know, brought us. In fact, the reason why we're here right now and people are watching us on TV, online as well is technology. So technology has its perks, but then it's when you start to think that that's all that there is. That's the only way you can communicate with other people, but that's not it. There's something wholesome about having someone next to you. You can see their eyes properly. You can see their body language. You can tell how they feel about you and it just makes you happy and glad that you have these people in your corner. So technology is great for you to communicate, but that's not all that there is to communication. And what are, what the person who wrote this quote is saying, it's just a myth that you think technology is, you know. I mean, as you grow older, you find out that the communication you get through technology does not really do you any good. When you get older and all your children, for instance, are grown up and you're left alone and they gave you a phone every once in a while they call you and they never get to come home after all we are communicating with him. It just depresses you and you know that you spent your youth, that you have spent building relationships, physical relationships in just using technology and thinking that that is communication. Communication has to do with the physical and somewhat spiritual. Let me say soon something deeper than just what you're seeing outside. And if we're spending time not building that kind of communication, then technology will take away the chunk of the real communication that we need in the later years. Because at the end of the day, it's really about spending moments or rather creating moments with the people that you love. And when you're creating a moment, most times you really can't have that wholesome moment when you're doing it over the phone or over a laptop or something. But when someone is there, you're creating those awesome moments that you would cherish forever. And like you said, there are people who commit suicide, but they have all the likes, they have DMs, they have all the messaging, and obviously they are haters and there are still people that say, oh, well done champ, you're doing so well. But sometimes it's never really enough because you want that whole and the key is the wholesome moments with people. Well, you see, I think China or so is developing an app or they have already developed an app where you can kiss, you know, from afar. You know, you attach a device to your phone and you're doing a video call and something simulates it and you're kissing over the phone. And I'm like, what is that? How does that even work? I mean, technology is good, but please. Yeah, but okay, so our hot topic today is about technology where the security people are saying that lack of gadgets is making them not able to track down criminals and do what they're supposed to do. I just asked myself when I saw the topic, you know, what happened when we had no tracking devices where the police not investigating and arresting people. Well, we'll have an expert to talk about that, but let's go to the top trending. You take first. So our first top trending today is reverse police rescue one day old baby from child traffickers. The operatives of the river stick police have killed a notorious sea pirate cultist and gun runner, John Togo, who allegedly terrorized the coastal communities along Bonny Potacot waterways. The commission of police in the states, Mr Olatunji Disu, said the suspect Togo the second was a member of the dreaded Iceland court, adding that he ranged terror on residents of the state sea travelers. Disu noted that the police operatives in collaboration with the C4I intelligence unit and the Bokiri police division while acting on credible intelligence had stormed the camp of the criminal gang. He noted that on sighting the police, the group had opened fire adding that the kingpin was brought down in the process. Disu disclosed that before Togo's death, he operated an illegal or bunkering camps engaged in armed trafficking, killings and robberies. According to him, John Togo's criminal career began in the Bokiri area of Potacot where he initially engaged in cult related activities, gradually graduated from petty crimes and evolved into a full-fledged kidnapper and sea pirate, assembling a gang of ruthless criminals along the way. He adopted the alias of ex-militant John Togo who had been killed in July 2011 and he and his gang gained notoriety in 2021 due to their involvement in a series of sea piracy and kidnappings which ignited the NC piracy protests and campaigns that reverberated throughout Bonny Island in January 2021. He targeted commercial boats mercilessly killing drivers and throwing passengers into the sea as he stole the vessels. In one such encounter on the 17th of July 2023, Togo engaged security forces in a shootout, compelling them to abandon their gunboat. In another development, Disu said police rescued a day old baby and apprehended two suspects involved in a case of human trafficking. Disu hinted that if the incident happened on Monday, the 22nd of January 2024, when some diligent officers from the C4I Intelligence Unit of the command conducted a routine stop and search operation along the Iguuruta and Nekarod. The CP said the officers intercepted one Daniel Destiny on Yegbule, a 28-year-old male from Umoye in a chair local government area and Uzo Dima Eze, also known as Thank God, a 33-year-old male from Omanwa, Ikwere local government area of the state. Daniel allegedly disclosed that he had been contacted by a woman known as Madame Destiny, Mamat Destiny, a pastry vendor in his locality who enlisted his services to transport the sack bag containing the baby to Nekar Junction with instructions to await further contact from an associate who would receive the bag in exchange for the payment of 10,000 Naira. 10,000 Naira. I mean, first things first, there is no amount of money that is worth any life. And then how do you kidnap a day old baby or traffic a day old baby and you're selling or you're exchanging for 10,000 Naira? My brother is of the NDLEA and he sent a video on the family group not too long ago where there were like so many sacks and guess what, inside those sacks were children. Oh my goodness. Some of them, maybe 10, 9, some of them toddlers and all that, they were inside sacks that were tied at the top. How are you breathing? I just wonder and they were trying to traffic these people and I was just thinking how the thought process of these people, when they do things they do and when they're trafficking these people, it's not as if all of them are going to end up in forced labor. Some of them might end up in one ritualist altar and they don't just care and you're selling someone for 10,000. They basically sold their souls. I just don't know. Could us today to the police that they were able to do this and I hope that more of these terrible people will always be apprehended like this. I don't know why this keeps happening but well thank God for them. Yeah, thank God for them. The second top trending story is that EFCC arrange impeached Ogun speaker Luamo through others, the impeached speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, alongside two other principal career officers of the assembly, Dario Samuel and Adeyomo Adedigi, were on Monday arranged before a federal high court sitting in Okemoson at Biokutach, the capital of the state. Oluomo and the duo were dragged before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged misappropriation of public funds running into 2.5 billion naira. Oluomo allegedly committed this financial fraud while he was the speaker of the House of Assembly in 2022. The former speaker was last week removed by 18 out of the 26 lawmakers over allegations, bordering on financial misappropriation, high handedness, gross misconduct, arrogance, poor leadership style, lack of focus and transparency and pitching themselves against themselves or pitching members against themselves. Oluomo has however described his removal as illegal, saying that he had already instituted a suit at the state high court to challenge his impeachment. On Monday shortly after the trial entered the dock, the court discovered that the counsel for the anti-graft agency could not make it to the court. The presiding judge, Justice Agatha Okeke, however adjourned the case to February 29 and March 1. The EFCC had in September 2022 arrested and later arraigned Oluomo for allegedly diverting 2.5 billion belonging to the Assembly. Oluomo was arraigned alongside the clerk of the House, Taiwo Adeyamo and the director of finance, Ola Dayo Samuel. Anti-graft agency had the accused speaker and others forging receipts and signatures to divert billions of Naira from the legislative house. They were there after a granted bail, after pleading not guilty, even as they were asked to submit their travel documents at the court. Okay, he's been arraigned. Just on a lighter motor, the case was adjourned to February 29. They are making use of the extra day. Yeah, it's a leaky year. So if they had adjourned it last year, it couldn't have reached 29. I just saw that. Okay, but you know this person has been arraigned. Sometimes when, I'm not saying this is what happened, but sometimes when the Assembly members say someone is high-handed, he is non-cooperative with the people, you just know that the money is not changing hands. It's not yes, it's not flowing. So this 2.5. I wonder if he took the money himself or he really took it. Maybe there was money that was misappropriated. Maybe there's also a percentage that got to the other people and it was not big enough. We'll find out. I hope that whatever it is, he speaks out the truth and we find out where the money is. And EFCC even like investigates more. Well, that's their job to investigate and be sure of what exactly happened. Because like you said, most times it's always, you know, when someone comes in. It's 2022 and now it's because he has been removed by other members of the Assembly that EFCC has stepped in again. What were they doing since then? That's what I'm saying. They have to do their due diligence. They can't just arraign him because of suspicion or because some members came out to say these things. They need to investigate to see what exactly happened. Because most times, you know, when someone comes into power or any leadership role, when you are not doing the bidding of the people, they start to look for ways to bring you down. Now, I'm not saying you are innocent because, you know, they even say who must come with equity, must come with clean hands. So when you don't have those clean hands, they look for something to just use to index you. So it's possible that there's been some form of money. Yes, it's possible that something had happened and then they just use that to drop him here in and just say, oh, this is what he has done. Paul leadership style, you know, misappropriation of funds and all of that. But yes, let's just see how the story goes. It's also possible he was ruling with impunity and all they were saying was true. Well, we are going to find out. But the thing that I'm worried about is that we should stop defining things according to how we like them in Nigeria. Yes. Whatever is the definition should be kept as the definition and you follow through. Impeachment means accusation. That's all. But here, once you hear impeachment, the person has been removed. Impeachment is you are accusing someone that he did something. So if he has done something and you are accusing him, take him to court, find him guilty and then remove him. You don't remove him before you find him guilty or not guilty. So what if he's not guilty and you already removed him? What happens? You're instating him? I don't know. So the guy will now win the case if that is, if he's found not guilty, he will win the case. He will get all his entitlements as the person who was the speaker. If he was paid double of what he's supposed to be paid as a member, you will still have to pay him because you removed him illegally. So we should follow the process. We should define words the way they are. Impeachment is not removal. It should never lead to removal. Donald Trump was impeached. I was just about to see that as well. Impeachment is okay. He had some case answer. So he answered it and he was still president. But here, once you hear he has been impeached, that means he has been removed. We need to know what the terminologies are and use them appropriately. All right. So I'll find out top training story. We have federal government to inaugurate 37 member committee on the new national minimum wage. The federal government is assembled at 37 person committee, taxed with proposing a new national minimum wage on Tuesday, January 30. At the council chamber, presidential villa, state house, the spokesperson for the office of the secretary to the state, to the governor, to the government, rather, of the federation, disclosed this in a statement. The existing minimum wage set at 30,000 naira per month was approved in 2019, following the passage of the minimum wage bill by the national assembly. The labor unions demanded an increase on the 30,000 naira minimum wage, citing rising inflation and the naira's depreciation. President Bolatini, after his swearing into office, promised that his administration would provide a leaving wage for Nigerian workers because the existing national minimum wage was not enough, in quotes. The committee to be is to be inaugurated on Tuesday, January 30, which is today both a diverse list of members, including representatives from the federal and state governments, the private sector and organized labor. The former head of civil service of the federation, Buka Adji, will chair the group taxed with navigating the complex and often contentious issues of the minimum wage. Members are urged to arrive early to process their clearance at the security gate and to be seated in the council chamber by 11.30am. In addition, a shuttle bus will be available at the pilot gate to transport attendants to the venue. Also, members of the committee should contact the head of secretariat, Chia Adiogu director compensation, international salaries, incomes and wages commission for information. Well, I'm waiting to see what happens here. 37 members, that's fine. So, why do we need 37 members to just discuss what the minimum wage will be? Okay, the seven members are talking about minimum wage and... First, you're already going to be paying digital money. Like, there's money I've located for this stage. All the people that are going to become, aside the 37 members, even people that might come there would get something or another. Then now, how much, I'm not sure it's going to be less than, I don't know, whatever amount. But those monies that are... Five million. I was about to even say one million. I was trying to be... Five million times 37. And those monies can actually be used for a better cause. We're talking about minimum wage. Why not add it to the budget of the, you know, amount you want to pay people? Some governors will be giving 500 naira to pregnant women. Yeah, we've seen that in the last administration. But, you know, if things are working, if the system is working, we don't need committees upon committees. They keep setting up committees and all that. So, whatever happens to the Ministry of Labor and Productivity, for instance, having a dialogue with the labor, labor has a plan, the labor has demands, and they have all this worked out, and they have formed their own committee to argue for this minimum wage and all that. What is the Ministry of Labor doing, Labor and Productivity, was the relevant ministries doing... These 37 people, where are they coming from? Are they paying them as people that are part of the committee, or they are doing that as part of their job? Because if it's from the Ministry that is involved, then you don't have to, you don't need to pay them extra. Even if you are giving them something, it wouldn't be as much as some people who are coming from outside to do this. But bottom line is, we like committees too much. I think India defends because of the fair that I saw of people that are coming. Maybe India defends, they want it to be as holistic as possible, in the sense that they want people from different walks of life, different sectors. So it's not just people from the government, it's not just people from the organized private sector. So they want everybody just for inclusion. Why are you looking at me like that? I'm just saying, I'm trying to defend India. So maybe that's what it is. But still, you know there are times like, for instance, if you have to do jury service, I think that's what it's called. You have to do that for free. For instance, in America, it's like part of your civic duties. Exactly. So except that's what this is here. Like that's what's happening here. In Nigeria, don't even think it. Don't even think it. Don't think it. Don't think it. Land where? Where are you landing? There's no place. There's no helipads. There's no airport for you. Don't land. Wait, hold on. I'm saying maybe that's the case for these 37 members. It is not. They are doing it. It is not so high. Don't even use a maybe. It's not. It's not. They will be paid. They will be given money to do this. They're not volunteering. They're not volunteering. They are going to be paid. Even if they're not calling it pay, they will tell you that, okay, they are coming to Abuja to stay somewhere and then. Do you understand logistics? Everything. Welfare. So don't even think about it. They will be paid. But the thing is, even if they are paid, what kind of amount they are going to be paid, I hope the committee will have recommendations that will be followed. And when they follow these recommendations, then we won't find the problems we are finding. But I think a basic and fundamental question that should have been asked is, why do people even need this minimum wage to go up? Because as I always say, if everything is working, a lot of people will not be complaining about what they're earning. If everything that I'm paying for can go under what I'm earning, then that's fine. Even if the minimum wage is 20,000 Naira, as long as I can afford every other thing. Let it be paying you in January last year, for instance. If they're still paying you that, or even double of it, the transportation, whether you have a car or not, the transportation will take like half of that money. You've not talked about if you have responsibilities. Everybody has responsibilities. Even the very irresponsible people have a lot of girlfriends. You have to ease it. They have a lot of boyfriends. They have a lot of people that help them to do the irresponsible things. So you still need to spend. So you find out what you were earning in January even last year. It's not even enough. It's not double of that. It's not even enough now. Yeah, I know the NLC is proposing about 200,000 Naira, which I'm not sure the government will go there. But even 200,000 Naira is 200,000 Naira enough to live in Nigeria right now. Even if you propose 500,000 Naira, the landlords are listening. The people selling at the street corners are listening. Once it is done, they up their price. The inflation goes up. What if a law works everywhere that, you know, remove money from society, there's no inflation, or when there is a lot of things, whatever law they've been using to fight inflation does not work in Nigeria. It doesn't seem to work. I may not be an economist, but everything they say, if you do this, inflation will stop. It doesn't stop. So you pump in more money by paying people more, a section of the people anyway, because it's not everybody that is working. You pay them and the landlords are listening. So, like I said- And they will tell you that they buy there the- Even when the house was built in 1958- They will still increase it. They will still increase it. What they, all they need to do is the landlords come together and fabricate a gate, put in the street. It becomes an estate. And then the price goes up. Because they have tried to do security themselves. They have tried to get light themselves. They have tried to do a lot of things themselves. That the government is supposed to- Good. So things will always happen like this. So why not just do the needful? And then gradually it is in the law that a civil servant gets paid upgrade after a certain number of years. You get your promotion after a certain number of years. Why not just follow that? And make sure the things that are making people want more money are provided as simple as that. Well, let's see what happens with their 37 member for the Committee of the Minimum Wage. Anyways, we'll go on a quick break. Congratulations. Political appointment. Wanna say something? We'll go on a short break. And when we return, we'll be looking at what the National Dailys are seeing this morning. But first, let's check out the weather. Stay with us.