The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has suspended Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, the Senior Pastor of the City of David parish of the church.

It was gathered that Iluyomade, who is also the head of the Apapa Family of the RCCG, was reportedly suspended over the weekend.

Iluyomade was said to have been suspended for three months by the Governing Council of the church. A panel has also been set up to investigate some of the allegations against him and the parish.

A top pastor, under anonymity, in the church said the decision to suspend Iluyomade was a response to the public outcry against the extravagant birthday party of his wife shortly after the death of former CEO of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe.

Iluyomade has since been replaced by Pastor Charles Kpandei of RCCG Resurrection Parish of Region 11 of the church.

It was gathered that Kpandei resumed at the City of David on Sunday, June 2 and was given a cold welcome.

The sources said: “Those in the City of David had been expecting Pastor Kpandei. Some top RCCG officials had to meet with some top people in the parish and confided in them that Pastor Idowu would have to be removed from the parish.

“They needed to get the confidence of these top people because of the great influence of Pastor Iluyomade in the parish. The RCCG was not sure of the outcome of its move, so it had to be discreet. He may not be returned to the parish after the suspension.

“We have just three months to the convention. It may be a way of taking him away from the place permanently. He has spent many years in that parish. He needed to be moved.

“It was not Pastor Adeboye that suspended him. The governing council decided to suspend him. I think it’s a decision in the right direction. Though some believe it is coming late. They needed to investigate some of the things people were saying against him and the church.”

Fondly called PID, Pastor Iluyomade has been in the eyes of the storm following the 60th birthday of his wife, Siji Iluyomade.

Many people believed the birthday which was celebrated just about a week after the unfortunate death of Wigwe in a helicopter crash in the US was in bad taste.

Wigwe had been of immense blessing to the church before his transition. But the birthday party suggested the church had no emotional attachment to him.

Credit: The Nation

Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, has shut down port operations across the country in compliance with the strike directive from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC).

It was gathered that besides Lagos ports, all other port formations in Port Harcourt, Warri, Onne, Calabar, and others have been closed till further notice.

More to come…

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has joined the ongoing strike by the organised labour comprising Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress.

This is coming after the Federal Government failed to meet the unions’ minimum wage demand.

In a statement addressed to the branch chairpersons and zonal coordinators of ASUU on Monday, the association’s President, Emmanuel Osodeke, directed lecturers in universities across the country to join the strike as an affiliate of the congress.

The statement read, “The NLC has declared an indefinite strike action beginning from Monday, 3rd June, 2024, as a result of the failure of Government to conclude the renegotiation of minimum wage for Nigerian workers and reversal of hike in electricity tariff.

“Our branches are hereby enjoined to join in the strike action as an affiliate member of Congress.

“Consequently, branch chairpersons are to mobilise all members to participate in the strike action. Yours in the struggle.”

More to come…