Category: General News

Strike: Skeletal work ongoing at Yaba Psychiatric hospital

Strike
By Lilian U. Okoro
Lagos, June 3, 2024 (NAN) Skeletal works were seen ongoing at the Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital Yaba on Monday as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) begin a nationwide strike.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NLC, had ordered workers to begin an indefinite nationwide strike following the May 31 deadline for the Federal Government to approve and implement a new National Minimum Wage.

NAN also reports that last minute intervention on Sunday night by the National Assembly to prevent the nationwide strike was futile as the meeting with government representatives and labour leaders ended in a deadlock.

The Federal Government had insisted on N60,000 as the new minimum wage, while labour demanded N495,000 as what was acceptable to the unions.

NAN correspondent, who monitored the level of compliance at the hospital reports that few health workers including doctors and nurses were seen in the hospital rendering skeletal services to the patients.

The number of outgoing patients did not reduce due to the strike, as almost the same number of patients were seen on ground just like every other normal day.

A resident doctor with the hospital who pleaded anonymity told NAN that the resident doctors were at work irrespective of the ongoing nationwide strike.

The doctor explained that the residents doctor were at work because the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) was not directly under NLC.

He added that even other doctors like the consultant psychiatrists were at work because they too were not directly under Labour.

“Because the ARD is not directly under NLC, so we are at work, but, work and activities will not be as normal due to the ongoing strike because some other health workers like the nurses, who are under NLC are observing the strike.

“This is not something that started today; right from time, the resident doctors and even consultant psychiatrists normally are not directly under NLC.

“So, strikes like this; we don’t always fully observe it,” he said.

A psychiatric nurse with the hospital, who also pleaded anonymity, said that the nurses were at work despite the ongoing strike.

She explained that the nurses were working despite the ongoing strike because, they were not in union.

According to her, the Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Yaba Lagos, ceased to function since over two years ago when its major executives left the country for abroad in search of greener pastures.

“So, we the nurses are at work because we are not in union presently.

“If we join the strike, the management of the hospital may use that against us because we are not in union for now.

“The nurses’ union of the hospital ceased to operate over two years ago when its major executives left the country to operate abroad,” she said. (NAN)www.nannews.ng
LUC/VIV

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Edited by Vivian Ihechu

Brigade

By Isaiah Eka

Uyo, June 3, 2024 (NAN) Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), says the Federal Government has concluded plans to establish citizens brigade with the aim of promoting core values.

Issa-Onilu disclosed this while speaking at an advocacy visit to the Nigerian Christian Institute (NCI), Uyo on Monday.

He said that the citizens brigade was part of the National Value Charter billed to be unveiled by President Bola Tinubu during the year.

The D-G said that no fewer then 37,000 Nigerian children would be recruited into the brigade and raised as models to promote core values and good citizenship.

He noted that the Nigerian child must be nurtured from the cradle with core values to enable them grown into patriotic and productive adults.

“We have seven items on our plan to deepen national values, one of them is the establishment of citizens brigade.

“It is to give opportunities to our children to be nurtured from tender age, it is one of the voluntary institutions we intend to create

“It will be fashioned after what we knew those days as boys scout and girls brigade. They will be kitted and raised as model citizens,” he said.

He said that the expectation was to enlist hundreds of children into the brigade in the next fews years.

Issa-Onilu urged Nigerians to memorise and learn how to render the new national anthem as a way of demonstrating their patriotism to the nation.

“The new national anthem is a symbol of Nigerians’ allegiance and loyalty to the country. It is more impactful, more meaningful and capable of uniting us”, he said.

The D-G said that the new anthem not only brought back sense of patriotism and nationalism, but evoked the consciousness of Nigerians.

”The national anthem that we had in 1960 resonates more in comparison to the one we just changed.

”The lyrics are more impactful and more meaningful than the one that we just dropped. That is the real reason for going back to that,” he said.

In her remarks, Ms Mfon Nze, Principal, NCI, Uyo, expressed gratitude to the agency for finding the institution worthy of the advocacy visit.

Nze said that the impact of the visit would to be felt for a long time because it had revived the school’s value system

“I feel elated that in all the schools in Akwa Ibom and Uyo, you chose the NCI, this will remain indelible in the history of this institution,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

IE/DCO/AZU

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Edited by Deborah Coker and Azubuike Okeh

Gratuity

By Shuaib Sadiq

Gusau, June 3, 2024 (NAN) The Zamfara Government says it has paid about N5.3 billion to settle 13 years backlog of gratuity owed retired civil servants in the state.

Gov. Dauda Lawal, made the disclosure in a statement by his Spokesman, Mr Suleiman Idris in Gusau on Monday.

Lawal explained that his administration began the payment to state and local government retirees in February after a thorough verification exercise.

He said that so far, the state government had settled N5.3 billion out of about N8.1 billion owed the retirees.

According to him, 2,209 retired local government and primary school teachers have been settled while about 1,642 retired state workers were paid in five batches.

“No fewer than 1,382 retirees, out of the 4,198 verified state pensioners have been paid their gratuities totaling about N2.4 billion out of the N 8.1 billion owed them

”Another batch of 260 verified state pensioners with gratuity arrears worth N510 million have been paid recently,” he said.

The governor added that another 465 retired local government and primary school teachers also received their gratuities totalling about N500 million in the fifth batch.

”On the other hand, 2,209 retired local government and primary school teachers have been paid N2.5 billion in five batches,” he said.

Lawal said that the beneficiaries of the latest payments were those who retired between 2012 and 2019. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

SSA/DCO/AZU

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Edited by Deborah Coker and Azubuike Okeh

Airport
By Suleiman Shehu
Ibadan, June 3, 2024 (NAN) Some passengers trying to board flights from Ibadan airport, Alakia to Abuja were, on Monday, stranded due to the nationwide strike embarked upon by Nigerian workers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the main entrance of the airport was under lock and key, while no vehicular movement was allowed into the airport premises.

NAN also reports that the chopper carrying the Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Kayode Egbetokun, was billed to land at the airport on Monday morning, with the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Adebola Hamzat, scheduled to welcome him.

However, Hamzat’s convoy, which was almost denied access to the airport, was later allowed in to pick the I-G.

Speaking with NAN, one of the stranded passengers at the airport, Mrs Bolanle Ehinfun, said the strike should have been prevented by the Federal Government because the organised labour had given them enough time.

Ehinfun, a retired banker, said that she had been at the airport since 8 a.m., saying that she spent about N10,000 on her transportation to the place.

“Now, they are saying the flight is cancelled due to the strike and this will cost me another N10,000 to go back home.

“I have also spent N5,000 on feeding at the airport before they announced the cancellation of the flight.

“Government is not considering the masses,” she said.

Ehinfun, who noted that the strike had disrupted many businesses, said government should have considered the implication of the industrial action and prevent it.

Also speaking, one of the passengers who preferred anonymity, said she was going to Abuja for a training-the-trainer programme on Citizens’ Mobility and Mortality in Nigeria.

The passenger said that the programme could not start because he was the master trainer and could not go.

He said though the organised labour had a point on their demands for the new minimum wage, they should not have shut down the airport and other essential services.

“The N60,0000 minimum wage proposed by the federal government is too small; even N100,000 is small,” he said.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu is trying but the state governors are not helping matters by not using the resources coming to their states to better the lives of the masses.
SYS/MAM/WAS
Edited by Modupe Adeloye and ‘Wale Sadeeq

Hit-and-run driver kills woman in Sagamu

Accident
By Abiodun Lawal
Sagamu (Ogun), June 3, 2024 (NAN) An unidentified driver has hit and killed a female pedestrian, Mrs Elizabeth James on the Sagamu-Benin Expressway in Ogun.

SP Omolola Odutola, the Spokesperson for the police in Ogun, in a statement said the incident occurred at about 9:40p.m on Sunday near Dalof filling station, Sagamu axis of the expressway.

“An unidentified vehicle from Ijebu-Ode direction heading towards Sagamu interchange hit a male and female pedestrians beside the express road.

“Both victims suffered injuries and were taken to Live Well Hospital in Sagamu for treatment.

“Unfortunately, a 22-year-old female pedestrian named Elizabeth James from Sagamu died at the hospital,” she said.

The police spokesperson said that the deceased has been deposited at the Fakoya hospital mortuary in Sagamu.

“Police visited the accident scene with traffic authorities, collected evidence and are currently investigating.

“Further updates will be provided,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

LKA/KOLE/IKU

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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Tayo Ikujuni

Mutfwang inaugurates committee on revamping tertiary education in Plateau

Education

By Patience Aliyu

Jos, June 3, 2024 (NAN) Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, has inaugurated a nine-man committee to review and revamp tertiary education in the state.

The ceremony which took place on Monday in Jos, is aimed at kickstarting the process of reviewing the state of tertiary education in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the committee is tasked with the responsibility of re-aligning programmes and activities of all higher institutions in the state, towards meeting up with global standards.

The committee is made up of administrators of tertiary institutions Chaired by Prof. William Qurix, former Vice Chancellor of the Kaduna State University (KASU).

In his address to the team, Mutfwang commended them for agreeing to serve on the committee, and charged them to look into the future of education in the state.

The governor added that though the current ratings for Plateau tertiary institutions were poor, he was optimistic Plateau people were not unintelligent.

He therefore, called on the team to help reposition education in the state.

”We need to look at the future of education and also look at the education of the future regarding where we need to be in the years to come.

”So this periodic review has become very critical and necessary.

“Let me appreciate you distinguished ladies and gentlemen for agreeing to serve on this very important committee.

“We are confident that you will do your best. I believe your wealth of experience in diverse fields would give us the way forward to be able to reposition education in the state.

“Be at liberty to consult as widely as possible. I am sure there are people that you know in the course of your journey in academic excellence that can add value to the work of the committee.

“There’s no reason to be restricted if you feel it is necessary to reach out to them.

“We therefore have confidence that at the end of your assignment the tertiary education ratings for Plateau will be better.

“Though the current ratings are poor, I don’t think it is because Plateau people are unintelligent.

“We have produced many intelligent people from this state and so we need to get this back on track and see how we can reclaim our position,” he said.

In his remark, Quirix lauded the governor for his passion towards revamping every sector in the state.

He expressed confidence in the ability of the members to deliver on their mandate.

“I congratulate his excellency for the giant feat achieved in just one year of his administration.

“I think that if this continues we will be able to turn around things for our dear state.

“So the future of education and education of the future; I’m quick to grab those words from His Excellency, meaning that it is an indication of what kind of assignments that we have been asked to do.

“It is the complete evaluation, re-evaluation and reconnecting all sorts of things in order to be sure that we have the right education for the future.

“And I am very pleased that the calibre of persons that have been assembled here, are highly experienced people in their own rights and they will definitely be able to work together to deliver this assignment”, he said.

Earlier, the State’s Commissioner for higher Education, Mrs Kachallom Gang, noted that tertiary institutions in the state were currently not performing maximally.

Gang therefore, stressed the importance of revamping them for maximum performance.

Other members of the committee include; Hajiya Sadiya Yaro as Secretary, Prof. Theresa Gyang, member, Dr Solomon Gushibet, member, Prof. Stephen Mallo, member among others. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

PAM/DCO/DOR

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Edited by Deborah Coker/Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

Strike

By Reporters

Enugu, June 3, 2024 (NAN) There is total compliance in Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi states as Organized Labour paralyzed activities to ensure enforcement of the nationwide strike.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondents who monitored the situation reports that the State and Federal secretariat, Nigeria Television of Authority (NTA), Post Primary School Management Board (PPSMB) and others were under lock and keys.

NAN reports that the team went to Ministry of lands end chased out workers who were there before locking the gate .

Meanwhile at Parkline Hospital Enugu the gates were open but they were on skeletal services.

The team, according to the NLC Chairman, Comrade Fabian Nwigbo had shut down the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu and the passengers were chased away in compliance with the nationwide strike.

Nwigbo said that said there was also nationwide power outage by National Union of Electricity Workers.

NAN reports that both federal and state government agencies in the state were under lock and keys.

He advised workers to stay at home to ensure the success of the strike to enable the government yield to Labour’s demands.

It was a similar situation in Anambra as banks and government offices in state were closed for business and social activities.

NAN Correspondent who monitored the level of compliance in Awka in Monday, said that workers and major business centres complied with the directives.

NAN reports that the Enugu-Onitsha Roads and other links to the State roads, record few human and vehicular movements.

Major Motor parks and markets witnessed few activities due to the strike and the Monday sit at home.

The Anambra State Police Command reiterates the command’s commitment calls for caution in enforcement to prevent a breach of public safety and peace.

The Command said it understood the right of organised labour to engage in such actions to advocate for the interests of all workers, it however, noted the importance of adherence to the existing laws governing such activities.

The command said it had deployed Police Operatives to different strategic areas, tasked with the responsibility against any miscreants using the opportunity to cause any breach of public safety and peace in the State.

The Command encouraged the good people of the state to go about their lawful businesses and be law-abiding, vigilant and security conscious.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, urged members of the public requesting for security service to call the police on 07039194332 or report any security-related incident to the police.

Ikenga advised the public that the police ‘NPF rescue me app’ is also available for free download on both Android and Apple IOS, for Android and iPhone users respectively. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
JOY/IFOGOM/MNA

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Edited by Gregg Mmaduakolam/Maureen Atuonwu

Strike

By Nefishetu Yakubu

Benin, June 3, 2024 (NAN) Economic activities in Benin were paralysed on Monday following the indefinite nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Union (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that banks, federal establishments, state Ministries, Departments and Agencies did not open in compliance with the declared strike.

Air passengers were also observed stranded while the gate leading to the Benin Airport was under lock and key.

A statement by the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Emmanuel Osodeke, directed its branches nationwide to join the strike as an affiliate member of NLC.

In compliance, ASUU Chairman, University of Benin (UNIBEN), Mr Ray Chikogu, directed its members to join the strike.

“We have now received an official directive from our national secretariat to join the NLC indefinite nationwide strike over the failure of the Federal Government (FG) to conclude the upward review of the national minimum wage and reverse the hike in electricity tariff.

“We consequently direct all comrades at the ASUU UNIBEN branch to comply fully with immediate effect.

“While the strike lasts, there shall be no teaching, supervision, conduct of any examination, attendance of board or senate meetings,” Chikogu said.

Also, ASUU chairman, Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Mr Cyril Onogbosele, told newsmen that the strike was total, adding that all academic activities had been grounded in the institution.

A visit to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) showed that some workers resumed work, while they waited for further directives from the various unions in the hospital.

Patients were, however, still being attended to at the time of the visit on Monday.

A few workers were also observed rendering skeletal services to some patients at the Edo Specialist Hospital.

According to the Edo Chairman of TUC, Comrade Peter Asemota, organised labour has many demands that have not been met.

Asemota ascribed the strike to the inability of the FG to meet the N495,000 minimum wage and review the hike in electricity tariff.

He noted that the union arrived at N495,000 due to the high cost of commodity prices and hardship in the country, saying that the FG was insisting on N60,000

He explained that the union had to obey the national directive in the state despite the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage approved by the state governor.

“We are in solidarity with the Edo State Government, but this is a national directive from the national and we have to comply,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

NY/MAS

Edited by Moses Solanke

NLC strike: Courts, banks shut down in Kaduna