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Author: Okon Okon

  • 11-year old student urges effective use of natural resources

    Miss Oluwateniola Olowoporoku addressing participants at the event.

     

    Resources

    By Okon Okon

    Abuja, June 7, 2024 (NAN) Miss Oluwateniola Olowoporoku, an 11-year old pupil  on Friday urged concerted efforts towards effective management of the nation’s natural resources.

    She made the call in Abuja during sensitisation tagged ‘Head Girl Initiative Capacity Building’ which she organised in partnership with Springhall British Primary School Abuja.

    An initiative with the theme: ‘Natural Resources Governance’, is meant to educate students on importance of protecting the nation’s natural resources.

    “Our school has always been a beacon of knowledge and leadership, and today we embark on a journey that reinforces our commitment to sustainability and responsible stewardship of our environment.

    “Nigeria is blessed with so many natural resources like trees, water, minerals, and even fresh air. They’re super important because they help us live our lives every day.

    “We use trees to make paper for our books, water to drink and grow food, and minerals to make things like cars and phones.

    “But here’s the thing, these resources aren’t endless, that means we have to be careful about how we use them. And that’s where natural resource governance comes in’’, she said.

    Olowoporoku said the Head Girl initiative was aimed encouraging young persons’ participation in protecting God-given natural resources

    Some participants at the event.

    Mrs Juliet Ukanwosu, Executive Director Extractive 360 in a presentation on, ‘All about Natural Resources in Nigeria’, urged more sensitisation of young persons on effective use of resources.

    Ukanwosu explained that the knowledge the children had received in the course of the programme would go a long way to shape their adulthood and prepare them for desired leadership roles in the future.

    “The amount of values and knowledge that we impact on them is what will shape the adult and the leaders that they will become tomorrow

    “So it’s important that we begin to catch them young and to imbibe in them the right values and the right knowledge as they grow,” she said.

    Mrs Etareri Dekpe, Olowoporoku’s mother, expressed gladness over daughter’s passion to share her knowledge with her peers and school mates.

    “Anything natural resources is my sector However, she is inquisitive about natural resources; their uses, among others.

    “She came up with the idea to also extend the knowledge to her school mates and I said why not, she created the whole road map for the initiative.

    “I just had to help her as her mother by sponsoring it,” she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    MZM/KUA

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    Edited by Uche Anunne

  • Civil servants resume work in FCT as labour relaxes strike 

    Resumption
    By Okon Okon
    Abuja, June 5, 2024 (NAN) Most civil servants working in Abuja, the nation’s capital resumed work on Wednesday, as organised labour
    relaxed its indefinite nationwide strike declared on Monday.
    The indefinite strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) was relaxed for one-week, to allow for continuation of negotiations on the National minimum wage and electricity tariffs increase.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the strike, which was successfully held for two days had paralysed the critical sectors of the economy.
    NAN correspondent who monitored the resumption at the Federal Secretariat, however,  observed that the level of compliances by the workers was encouraging.
    NAN also observed that businesses within the Secretariat were booming including banking services.
    Some of the civil servants interviewed by NAN, said they were still hopeful of positive responses by the Federal Government over the minimum wage demands.
    Mr Ibrahim Musa, said civil servants had no option than to obey the labour leaders directive on resumption, since they were the ones that ordered the strike in the first place.
    Musa expressed optimism that there would be positive results at the end of the deliberation between the government and the organised labours before the expiration of the one week relaxation of the strike.
    “I strongly want to believe that President Bola Tinubu is a human being with human feelings, and he knows quite well the plight of the workers and other Nigerians over the economic situation at this present time in Nigeria.
    “We don’t need to say much about the situation, it’s very clear to everyone one that it is hard for Nigerians and it’s only reasonable salaries that can give us a little hope, ” he said.
    Mrs Helen Kudirat appreciated the labour leaders for their efforts at ensuring that civil servants receive better wages.
    She said it was a wise idea to relax the industrial actions for further negotiation with the government.
    She, nevertheless, used the medium to appeal to the Federal Government to consider the fact that, many workers were the breadwinners in their families, hence the need for improved wages so as to cushion the effects of the hash economy.
    “Someone like me, I know what I usually go through whenever I receive salary at the end of the month.
    “I have to settle my younger ones in schools, my parents who are still alive, my children’s feeding, upkeep and school fees and other financial obligations, ” she explained.
    Similarly, Mr Ebong Attah, said reasonable salaries for the civil servants would go a long way to reduce hardship in Nigeria.
    According to Attah, a civil servant who is the breadwinner in the family receiving up to N500, 000 in a month could solve some problems in his immediate family and even among his extended family members.
    “If for example, I get such money in a month, what stops me from sending my siblings to school, assisting a poor relative by giving him/her money to start up businesses.
    ” You will agree with me that if civil servants are treated well by the government, there will be a multiplier effects in the society and it will go a long way to reduce poverty in Nigeria,” he said
    Attah said he believed in the government of Tinubu, but urged the administration to create history in the nation’s civil service to reflect what was obtainable in other countries of the world.
    According to Attah, enhanced welfare package for the civil servants, will contribute positively to the nation’s economy and as well  enhance better working conditions of the workers.
    NAN  suspended their industrial action over a lack of consensus on a new minimum wage and the hike in the electricity tariff for one week for further negotiation with the F(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    MZM/ROT
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    Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

  • Minimum Wage: FG shifts ground on N60,000 

    Wage
    By Okon Okon
    Abuja, June 3, 2024 (NAN) The Federal Government says, in the national interest,  it is ready to offer higher than N60,000 national minimum wage it earlier proposed to the tripartite committee deliberating on the issue.
    The government decision was disclosed at a meeting of the committee convened Monday night by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, after the organised labour embarked on indefinite strike to press its demand on the national minimum wage.
    In a circular jointly issued by the committee members at the end of the meeting, and made available to newsmen, it was disclosed that President Bola Tinubu expressed his commitment to a national minimum wage that is higher than N60,000”
    “Arising from the above, the Tripartite Committee is to meet everyday for the next one week with a view to arriving at an agreeable national minimum wage”
    ” Labour in deference to the high esteem of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria’s commitment in above undertakes to convene a meeting of its organs immediately to consider this commitment.
    “The committee also resolved that no worker will be victimised as a result of the industrial action,” the circular read in part
    In attendance at the meeting  were: Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State for Labour and Employment.
    For the Organised Labour: Joe Ajaero, President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Festus Osifo, President, Trade Union Congress (TUC)
    It will be recalled that following the negotiation by the tripartite committee on national minimum wage  and subsequent withdrawal of Labour from negotiation and it’s indefinite strike, the government had convened the meeting with labour  (NAN) (www.nanews.ng)
    MZM/ROT
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    Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi