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Staff members of the National Assembly are currently protesting over unpaid wages and lack of due promotion. Some of the workers claim they are being owed wages from as far back as 2010. They also alleged that funds meant for training had been diverted. Carrying banners and placards, some of the workers were heard chanting “no pay, no sitting”. The workers also alleged the diversion of training funds by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Muhammed Sani Omolori.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) again says it is on a mission to rescue Nigerians from the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government come 2019. This is according to the PDP National Chairman, Mr Uche Secondus, and former President Goodluck Jonathan who spoke on Monday at the flag off of the party’s presidential campaign in Sokoto State. “It is important as we are here to let you know that the PDP is on a rescue mission,” Secondus told a large crowd of party supporters at the rally. “We are on a rescue mission with the best candidate in the next election. We present to you by the grace of God, the man that will come and wipe your tears; the man that will provide food for all of you, the man that will provide security in our nation.” The PDP chairman alleged that the Muhammadu Buhari administration has failed the people, stressing that their presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, was a better alternative for the people. A cross-section of PDP leaders at

Some of the defectors Twenty-six aspiring members of the Ogun State House of Assembly have announced their defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Allied People’s Movement (APM). They claimed to have won the party’s ticket after the primary held on October 7 but were denied by the National Working Committee of the APC. Despite efforts by the party’s national leadership to resolve the issue, the aggrieved members announced their defection during a press briefing on Monday. According to them, their action became imperative as a result of the injustice meted out to them by the national office of the APC. They, however, reaffirmed their resolve to work for the re-election of president Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 general elections. ChannelsTv

File Photo Sierra Leone have been disqualified from the 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifying competition, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said on Monday. Football’s world governing body FIFA had suspended the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) in October due to “government interference”. CAF’s decision means Kenya and Ghana are assured of first and second place in Sierra Leone’s Group F and have therefore booked their place in next year’s finals. “Sierra Leone is disqualified from the qualifiers and all its matches are annulled,” CAF said in a statement. The row stems from the decision of Sierra Leone’s anti-corruption commission to sack SLFA president Isha Johansen and general secretary Christopher Kamara during an ongoing probe into corruption and mismanagement. In October, CAF cancelled two matches pitting Sierra Leone against Ghana due to the dispute between Freetown and FIFA. The 2019 finals have been plunged into uncertainty chaos after CAF l

 FC Barcelona president Josep Lluis Nunez stands during a religious ceremony at Barcelona Cathedral for late former FC Barcelona’s coach Tito Vilanova on April 28, 2014. Former FC Barcelona president Josep Lluis Nunez, 87, died on December 3, 2018. Josep LAGO / AFP Former Barcelona president Josep Lluis Nunez, the club’s head for 22 years and during the success of their iconic 1992 team, has died aged 87, the Catalan club announced on Monday. “FC Barcelona expresses its pain after the death of Josep Lluis Nunez (1931-2018), president of the club between 1978 and 2000,” Barca wrote in a statement. Nunez recruited several star players over his tenure, from Argentina’s Diego Maradona to Brazilian duo Rivaldo and Ronaldo. But it was in 1988 that he made one of his most influential signings, by appointing Holland´s Johan Cruyff as coach, prompting a radical overhaul of Barcelona’s playing identity. Under Cruyff, the Catalan club won four La Liga titles in a row, from 1991 to 1

In this file photo taken on November 11, 2018 Rennes’ French coach Sabri Lamouchi looks on during the French L1 Football match between Rennes (Stade Rennais FC) and Nantes (FC), at the Roazhon Park, in Rennes, northwestern France. JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER / AFP Rennes have effectively sacked their coach Sabri Lamouchi after he was suspended in the wake of poor recent form, the French Ligue 1 club announced on Monday. In a statement, Rennes said Lamouchi had been “suspended” and reserve team coach Julian Stephan been put in temporary charge of the first team. Lamouchi is unlikely to return, meaning Sunday’s chastening 4-1 home defeat against Strasbourg will be the last of his year-long spell in charge in Brittany. Rennes are currently 14th in Ligue 1, four points clear of the relegation zone before Wednesday’s trip to Lyon. The 47-year-old former French international midfielder — who has previously coached the Ivory Coast national team and in Qatar — took over in November last

Video Assistant Referees will be used in the Champions League from the knockout stages of this season’s competition and in the Nations League finals in June, UEFA confirmed on Monday. European football’s governing body had previously stated its intention to introduce VAR only from the start of the 2019/2020 season. “If we can do it before, why wait? We cannot afford any mistakes if we can do it earlier,” said UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin after a meeting of the European football body’s Executive Committee. “We are ready to use VAR earlier than initially planned and we are convinced that it will be beneficial for our competitions as it will provide valuable help to match officials and will allow to reduce incorrect decisions.” VAR is already used in a number of Europe’s top leagues, including Spain’s La Liga, Germany’s Bundesliga and Serie A in Italy and was widely seen as a success at this summer’s World Cup. The Europa League final and the under-21 Eur

In this file photo taken on September 17, 2018, Southampton Welsh manager Mark Hughes has been sacked as manager of Southampton, the struggling Premier League club announced on December 3, 2018. Glyn KIRK / AFP Mark Hughes has been sacked as manager of Southampton, the struggling Premier League club announced on Monday, despite an improved performance in a 2-2 draw with Manchester United. “We would like to express our thanks to Mark and his staff for all of their efforts during their time at St Mary’s,” the club said in a statement. “The search for a new manager to take the club forward is already underway.” Assistant first team manager Mark Bowen and assistant first team coach Eddie Niedzwiecki have also left the club. Southampton, who were 2-0 up against Jose Mourinho’s United at home on Saturday at one stage, are 18th in the Premier League, just one point ahead of bottom club Fulham. AFP

The coach of Mexican second division football team Dorados, Argentine Diego Armando Maradona, arrives for the second leg match of the final against Atletico San Luis, at the Alfonso Lastras Ramirez stadium in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, on December 2, 2018. Ulises Ruiz / AFP Diego Maradona’s new club, Dorados, fell just short of winning the Mexican second-division final and a shot at promotion on Sunday, abruptly ending the Cinderella story of the Argentine legend’s latest foray into coaching. Dorados, from the western state of Sinaloa, lost their second-leg final to Atletico San Luis, who pulled off a 4-2 victory in extra time at home to win the title series 4-3 on aggregate. Maradona raised eyebrows when it was announced in September he was taking the managing job at struggling Dorados, who was then in 13th place in their 15-team league. Skeptics questioned what interest the 1986 World Cup champion from Argentina, who has publicly battled drug addiction and alcoholism, co

Olympique Lyonnais’ Norwegian forward Ada Hegerberg brandishes her trophy after receiving the 2018 FIFA Women’s Ballon d’Or award for best player of the year during the 2018 FIFA Ballon d’Or award ceremony at the Grand Palais in Paris on December 3, 2018. FRANCK FIFE / AFP Norwegian striker Ada Hegerberg was rewarded for her prolific form with Champions League winners Lyon as she took the first ever women’s Ballon d’Or prize at a ceremony in Paris on Monday. The 23-year-old saw off competition from the likes of Danish star Pernille Harder, of German club VfL Wolfsburg, and Brazil’s Marta — winner of FIFA’s best player prize — to take the prize organised by France Football magazine following a vote by journalists from around the world. Hegerberg was one of seven players from the all-conquering Lyon side to feature among the 15 nominees, but she won out thanks to her prolific form in front of goal. She was the top scorer with 15 goals as the French side won the Ch

Paris Saint-Germain’s French forward Kylian Mbappe (R) reacts after receiving the Koppa Trophy from past former French footballer and host David Ginola during the 2018 FIFA Ballon d’Or award ceremony at the Grand Palais in Paris on December 3, 2018. FRANCK FIFE / AFP Kylian Mbappe was named winner of the Kopa Trophy for young player of the year at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris on Monday. The Paris Saint-Germain forward, who does not turn 20 until later this month, starred as France won the World Cup and also won the best young player award in Russia. The new award — named after French former Ballond’Or winner Raymond Kopa — was voted for by 33 living former winners of the main Ballon d’Or prize. Mbappe was also among the 30 nominees to win that award. Mbappe — who was accompanied at the ceremony by his father and his younger brother Ethan — scored four goals at the World Cup, including one in the final as France beat Croatia 4-2 in Moscow. In doing so he beca

Real Madrid’s Croatian midfielder Luka Modric kisses the trophy after receiving the 2018 FIFA Men’s Ballon d’Or award for best player of the year during the 2018 FIFA Ballon d’Or award ceremony at the Grand Palais in Paris on December 3, 2018. FRANCK FIFE / AFP Luka Modric’s journey from Croatian war child to the world’s best footballer was celebrated Monday when the Real Madrid midfielder hoisted the Ballon d’Or. A national hero in his home country and crowned the best player on the planet, Modric was rewarded for his key role in Croatia’s historic run to the World Cup final and his club Real Madrid’s third straight Champions League trophy. “It’s a unique feeling. I’m happy, proud and honoured,” said Modric, who also won the FIFA Player of the Year award in September. The star-studded Paris ceremony could hardly be further removed from Modric’s early years as a child refugee, fleeing the burned-out shell of a remote Croatian cottage where he spent part of his childhood.

David Villa.//Image: Wikimedia   F ormer Spain and Barcelona striker David Villa announced Saturday that he has signed with J-League’s Vissel Kobe, joining his former teammate Andres Iniesta. Villa tweeted a video, showing his successful work with New York City FC, before receiving a phone call that took him to Japan. “Hola Japon. Hola Vissel Kobe,” he said in the clip, which showed him in the J-League club’s crimson jersey. The 36-year-old forward is the latest high-profile acquisition by Vissel in the western Japanese port city of Kobe. The outfit — owned by Japanese tech billionaire Hiroshi Mikitani — acquired Iniesta earlier this year after signing former  Arsenal  striker Lukas Podolski in 2017. Villa, the all-time leading goalscorer in Spanish national team history, joined New York City in 2014 from Atletico Madrid following successful seasons with Barcelona and Valencia. AFP

Deontay Wilder poses during the Deontay Wilder v Tyson Fury weigh-in at Los Angeles Convention Center on November 30, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP Harry How / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP Deontay Wilder, weighing in at 212.5 pounds for his WBC heavyweight world title  defence  against Tyson Fury on Friday, vowed to knock out the British challenger. Wilder wore a black leather facemask to the weigh-in outside of Staples Center, but that was as menacing as it got as the two fighters were kept several feet apart for the traditional stare-down in the wake of an explosive final press conference on Wednesday. Britain’s Fury, who finished that event stripped to the waist and offering to engage with Wilder, tipped the scales at 256.5 pounds. Wilder, meanwhile, said he was looking forward to getting down to business in the ring on Saturday night. “Talk is cheap,” the American said. “Tomorrow is the time. Actions speak louder than words. It’s defini

Football’s world governing body FIFA is looking into claims of sexual and physical abuse on the Afghanistan national women’s team, it confirmed in a statement Saturday. The allegations against officials including the Afghanistan Football Federation’s president Keramuddin Karim were reported in Britain’s Guardian newspaper. The AFF has “vigorously” rejected claims. “The serious subjects mentioned are being looked in to by FIFA,” the global body said in a statement, adding that it has a “zero tolerance policy” on such violations. Given the sensitivity of the allegations, particularly in deeply conservative, patriarchal Afghanistan, it said it was addressing the matter in a “do no harm” way and working with reputable entities to establish the facts. The Guardian cited what it described as senior figures associated with the women’s team who said the abuse had taken place in Afghanistan, including at AFF headquarters, and at a training camp in Jordan last February. It quotes fo

FIFA president Gianni Infantino/ AFP FIFA President Gianni Infantino lamented that “idiots ruined the party” for everyone after the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final was moved to Madrid following fan violence. The match between Buenos Aires arch-rivals Boca Juniors and River Plate was originally scheduled for November 24 at River’s Monumental stadium but was postponed after Boca players were injured when their team bus was attacked by home fans throwing projectiles. “I was here last Saturday,” Infantino said at a  press conference at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires. “It was a sad moment for everyone. It is a football match. It is not a war, not even a battle.” “We have to work to find out who are the people to blame. You have to identify them and get them out (of football),” said Infantino. “I hope this does not happen any longer,” he said. “This story must mark the end of one chapter and the start of a new one.” South American football’s governing body Conmebol on

Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola looks on as Manchester City’s Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero goes down with an injury during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on February 10, 2018. Paul ELLIS / AFP Pep Guardiola admits Sergio Aguero is a doubt for Manchester City’s Premier League trip to Watford on Tuesday because of a muscle problem. Aguero missed City’s 3-1 victory over Bournemouth on Saturday with a muscle strain, Argentina forward watching from the stands as Guardiola’s team moved five points clear at the top of the table. Gabriel Jesus was given a first league start since September 1 as Aguero sat out, but the Brazilian did not score, with Raheem Sterling the key figure as City secured a sixth successive league victory. Sterling restored City’s lead with a close-range finish early in the second half after Bournemouth had gone in level at the inter

Tottenham Hotspur’s Argentinian head coach Mauricio Pochettino                          Glyn KIRK / AFP Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is not going to let the north London derby clash on Sunday affect his friendship with Arsenal boss Unai Emery. The two old friends will meet for the first time in the Premier League with third-placed Spurs three points better off than the Gunners. Pochettino is especially touched by the memory of Emery, who at 47 is a year older then the Tottenham boss, recommending he replace him at Valencia when the latter left for Spartak Moscow in 2012. Pochettino declined the offer, preferring to remain at the less prestigious La Liga outfit Espanyol, and insists that their roles at the head of such big rivals will not affect their friendship. “The opposite I think,” said Pochettino “Of course we are in different clubs and it is a derby we are going to play. “In the moment we are going to compete, we are going to try to find the way to b

Manchester City’s English midfielder Raheem Sterling (R) scores their second goal for 2-1 past Bournemouth’s Bosnian-Herzegovinian goalkeeper Asmir Begovic (C) during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north-west England, on December 1, 2018. Oli SCARFF / AFP Manchester City moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League as Raheem Sterling inspired a 3-1 win over Bournemouth, while Crystal Palace clinched a crucial 2-0 victory over relegation rivals Burnley on Saturday. Pep Guardiola’s side racked up their sixth successive league win thanks to a second-half surge after Bournemouth shocked the Etihad Stadium. City hold a significant lead over second placed Liverpool, but they can close the gap back to two points if they beat Everton in the Merseyside derby at Anfield on Sunday. Guardiola left City’s record goal-scorer Sergio Aguero out of the squad, but even the Argentine star’s absenc