Blog

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