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Minimum Wage: Schools, Courts, Govt offices remain closed in Ilorin, Port Harcourt, Akure

Strike
By Reporters
Abuja , Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN) Government offices, courts and public schools were on Thursday shut in Ilorin, Akure and Port Harcourt in compliance with the organised labour’s directive on the ongoing strike.

The organised labour began its strike midnight, Wednesday, following the delay by Federal Government in concluding negotiation on a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers..

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondents, who went round reports that public schools, courts and government offices were closed.

In Ilorin, there was minimal traffic very early in the morning, unlike before the strike when there is always rushing of workers and students, as the roads were less busy.

Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) offices, Ministries and Agencies at the Secretariats had their staff members locked out.

Also, pupils and students of primary and secondary schools were sent back home by their teachers, who were seen hanging around.

Magistrate courts and High court gates were also locked with their staff seen loitering around the gates.

NAN also reports that for the first time, telecommunications operators also joined the industrial action making their customer service inoperative.

However, banks were still operating as they continued their normal business transactions.

In Port Harcourt, public schools children were also denied entrance into their schools on Thursday following the nationwide strike declared by the Organised labour.

NAN reports that the situation around the Ogbogoro, Rumuolumeni, Old GRA and Port Harcourt Township areas where students were refused to enter the school premises.

Most of the schools visited were under lock and key, even as both teachers and non-teaching staff were absent.

A security guard at the Community Secondary School, Ogbogoro, who gave his name as James Acheru told NAN that he was directed not to allow the students into the school premises.

“They told me not to allow students into the school because of the strike, So all the students who came today were asked to go back,’’ he said.

Some of students who spoke with NAN at Government Secondary, Rumeme, expressed concerns at the ongoing disagreement between labour and the government.

One of them, Miss Sharon Nwika said the government ought to be committed to issues bothering on workers’ welfare.

“With this strike, we are the ones to suffer, my prayer is that they resolve quickly so that we can continue academic activities,’’ she said.

Workers in Ondo State on Thursday complied with the directive of the Organised Labour to begin strike over government’s failure to implement a new national minimum wage.

Government offices, public schools, banks, hospitals and government’s owned media organisations in Ondo state were under lock and keys to comply with the strike order.

Public offices in Akure were observed to be under lock and keys as workers shunned their duty posts.

Banks and other offices at Alagbaka area of Akure were closed for business activities, but ATMs were working with some staff of the banks rendering skeletal services.

At the state High Court, National Industrial Court, Appeal Court and Federal High Court and Magistrate Court located at Oke-Eda, Alagbaka and Igbatoro road in Akure gates were also under lock and key when NAN visited.

The Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), Mr Abel Oloniyo led other labour leaders to move round public offices to enforce the strike in the state.

The Ondo State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Soladoye Ekundayo, Mr Tayo Ogunleye of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) represented by the state Secretary, Alhaji Adewale Sanusi were also on tour to monitor the compliance of workers.

In an interview with newsmen, Ekundayo commended workers in the state for complying with the directive on the strike, saying that public institutions/offices would remain closed until government yield to the demands of the workforce.

Ogunleye disclosed that leadership of all labour unions in Ondo state should ensure all workers stay away from their duty posts until further notice.

However, the labour leaders forcibly moved out some workers, who were working at the state owned Orange FM, a government owned media organisation in Akure and Comprehensive Health Centre, Arakale, Akure.(NAN)
BAY/AZU/GSD/AFA
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Edited by Felix Ajide

Tourism

By Martha Agas

Jos, Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN) As part of efforts to re-position Plateau as a tourism hub, the state government is set to organise its maiden tourism conference.

The Commissioner for Tourism, Culture and Hospitality, Mrs Tamwakat Weli, said this in her goodwill message to mark the 2018 World Tourism Day on Thursday in Jos.

The commissioner represented by the Director of Tourism in the ministry, Paul Danbaba, said that the conference would chart a roadmap for the socio-economic development of the state.

She said that the conference, schedule to hold in November, would help draw up a tourism policy for the state which would facilitate the production of a tourism master plan.

Weli said that the 2018 theme, ‘ Tourism and Digital Transformation ‘ would highlight the need for investment in digital technologies.

“The digital technology will help improve inclusiveness, local community empowerment and efficient resource management,” she said.

Earlier in her remarks, Mrs Nanna Yakubu, the Zonal Coordinator, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), said that the theme was apt with the current global technological trend.

She said that digital technology would enable tourists globally access information on tourist sites, products, investment opportunities and ease travel preparations.

The coordinator said that social media platforms facilitated by technology would further promote the tourism sector and boost economic activities in the country.

In his goodwill message, Dr John Makwal, the District Head of Batura, in Bokkos Local Government Area, commended the NTDC for the tremendous progress it had recorded in the tourism sector.

He said that the NTDC had assisted his district to exploit its tourism potential, especially, its annual cultural festival ‘Nahwai’ which is getting national recognition.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the world tourism day celebrated annually on Sept. 27 is to raise awareness about the contribution of tourism to sustainable development.

NAN also reports that part of the event was the launch of camp tents by the NTDC, and cultural dances by the various indigenous ethnic groups in Plateau.

There was also a drama presentation by the tourism group of the National Youth Service Corps members serving in the state. (NAN)

MAA/BOLA/PAD
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Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Peter Dada

Zoonotic diseases: Don’t leave children with pets – Expert warns
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Pets
Abuja, Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN) Dr Victor Fayomi, a General Medical Practitioner with a private hospital in Gwagalada, FCT, as warned that leaving children unsupervised with pets could lead to zoonotic diseases.

Fayomi gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja ahead of the World Rabies Day scheduled for Sept. 28.

According to him, zoonotic diseases are diseases transmitted between animals and man.

He said the diseases are usually transmitted through contact either by way of keeping pets, poultry and animal farming, hunting and eating animal products, adding Ebola virus disease is currently the most deadly of them all.

Fayomi said diseases that could be transmitted from pets are rabies, ringworm, cat scratch disease and toxoplasmosis, among others.

“While asthma is not a zoonotic disease, it is important to note, that the fur, that is hair from cats is a major trigger for asthmatic attacks.

“It is advised that where cats and dogs are kept as pets, or cats kept as predators of rats, and dogs raised for security purposes, they should be given rabies vaccine up to date.

“Veterinary attention should also be ensured with symptoms of illness in them,” he said.

Fayomi said children should not be left with cats, dogs and other pets no matter how familiar and friendly these pets are with members of the house.

He said in case of inadvertent bites, bite sites should be thoroughly washed with soap under running water and then such a child should be taken to the hospital.

“Vaccination of dogs and cats should be done regularly and vaccination cards taken to the hospital in cases where a bite occurs,” Fayomi said.

NAN reports that World Rabies Day is celebrated annually to raise awareness about rabies prevention and highlight progress in defeating the horrifying disease. (NAN)
OEO/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

By Martins Abochol
Primaries
Yola, Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN) Gov. Mohammed Bindow of Adamawa on Thursday said that he had no preferred candidate for the forthcoming primary elections in the state.

Bindow made this known when he received Omar Suleiman, APC aspirant for Adamawa Central Senatorial District and a former Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

The aspirant led hundreds of his supporters on a courtesy visit to the Government House, Yola.

He said that he was ready to work with whoever would emerge during the primary elections.

According to him, as the leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, I have no preferred aspirant but ready to work with anybody that emerges as the candidate of the party during the coming primaries.

The governor urged the delegates to vote for credibility and not to sell their votes to the highest bidders.

Bindow described the aspirant as a person, who had been endowed with all the prerequisites to be a senator.

“If it is all about me, I will nominate you as the candidate of the party in the central senatorial zone because of your credibility, capacity and capability but I am not the one to decide; rather the delegates.

“I advise you and all other aspirants to know that power and authority belong to God Almighty and he gives to whom He wants at the time He wants. So it should not be a do or die affair, ‘’ Bindow said.

The governor called on the people of the state to live in peace and ensure peaceful political activities in the state devoid of rancour and violence.

Earlier, Suleiman said that the purpose of their visit was to register their support and that of his campaign organisation to the governor and to solicit his support.

Suleiman said that he was motivated to vie for the position in order to bring development which was presently inadequate in the zone.

The former NPA boss explained that 75 per cent of capital projects in the 2017 budget went to the southern zone of the country because their senators were good in lobbying and more determined than senators from the north.

Suleiman promised to attract more dividends of democracy from the Federal Government to the zone if given the chance.

According to him, when elected I will work with the governor and other stakeholders to bring development not only to the central senatorial zone but the entire state. (NAN)
MK/AJA
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Edited by Adeleye Ajayi

Appliances
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN) The Association of Dental Technology of Nigeria (ADTN) has commenced efforts toward improving the quality of dental appliances and other rehabilitative procedures for dental patients.

The association’s National President, Mr Benattah Ocheke, made this known in Ibadan on Thursday.

Ocheke said that members of the association, as part of their efforts, would converge in Ibadan to brainstorm and design methods of achieving the objective.

He said that the gathering in Ibadan would discuss “Ergonomics and Workplace Safety in Dental Technology Practice’’ aimed at ensuring proper design, health and safety of workplace environment.

Ocheke said that the gathering would enhance performance and productivity as well as prevent fatigue and injuries, especially in the long term.

“Dental technologists are highly skilled professionals trained in the art and science of replacing loss or missing teeth from one tooth to the entire dentition (set of teeth) in the mouth.

“They fabricate appliances to correct or rearrange malplaced and malposed tooth or teeth that are either too forward (protrusive) or too backward (retrusive).

“They also replace loss or missing organs of the face like artificial eye, ear and nose for victims of accident, diseases or congenital deformities,” he said in a statement.

Commenting, Mr Raji Kazeem, the Chairman, Local Organising Committee of the conference, said that the association would hold its 31st Annual Scientific Conference and General Meeting from Oct. 10 to Oct.12 in Ibadan.

Kazeem told NAN that dental technologists from the 36 states and Abuja would participate in the conference.

According to him, it will also involve dental surgeons, dental therapists, health professionals and the general public.

Kazeem said that the theme of the conference entitled: “Ergonomics and workplace Safety in Dental Technology Practice’’ would be handled by Prof. Lawoyin Olujare, an erudite scholar and accomplished academic guru. (NAN)
TAA/GOK
Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

Championships

London, Sept.27, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Men and women cyclists will join forces in a new event being introduced at next year’s Road World Championships in Britain, as part of a move by the sport’s governing body (UCI) to “encourage gender equality”.

The event, called the team time-trial mixed relay, will be contested by national teams consisting of three men and three women, and replaces the trade team time-trial featuring professional outfits.

The mixed relay will be run over two laps of a 14 km Harrogate circuit in Yorkshire, with the men riding the first loop.

The women will set off once the second rider in the men’s team crosses the line, with the final time being taken when the second female rider finishes.

The team with the overall quickest time wins the race.

“The Championships will be taking place less than a year out from the Olympic Games, with riders seeking to earn precious qualification points for Tokyo 2020,” UCI president David Lappartient was quoted as saying by the BBC.

“I cannot wait to witness this first-ever race, which is part of the UCI’s drive to further increase the attractiveness of our Road World Championships, encourage gender equality, and showcase National Federations and their riders.”

The 2019 Road World Championships, being held from Sept. 21-29, will also include para-cycling for the first time. (Reuters/NAN)
ERO/AFA
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Edited by Felix Ajide

Strike: Labour cripples govt., banks, schools’ operations in Lagos

Strike

By Chinyere Bassey and Grace Alegba

Lagos, Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN) Government offices, banks and public schools were on Thursday closed in Lagos as the organised labour began its strike over delay by Federal Government in concluding negotiation on a new minimum wage.

The enforcement teams of the organised labour set out from Ikeja to the State Secretariat, Alausa, at about 7:20 am and workers who arrived for work were being turned back.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondents who went round the Lagos metropolis reported that the United Bank for Africa (UBA) on Lagos-Ibadan express way and Wema Bank in Alimosho were closed.

NAN reports that the enforcement team of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) led by its President, Oyinkan Olasanoye prevented staff from gaining access to Stanbic IBTC Bank, Ikeja branch.

The ASSBIFI team stormed Polaris Bank (former Skye Bank) on Awolowo Way, Ikeja, as its gate was locked by the union, while workers and customers were prevented from accessing the premises.

Olasanoye said the enforcement was in compliance with the directive of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), which ASSBIFI was affiliated to.

She had on Wednesday at a news conference told journalists that ASSBIFI had dispatched letters to all its members in banks across the country, to join the strike.

However, Access Bank in Dopemu and First Bank in Iyana-Ipaja opened for business with many customers carrying out various transactions.

Meanwhile, fuel stations were seen attending to customers, while major roads, including Iyana-Ipaja to Ikeja and Ikorodu Road, were busy with the usual heavy traffic.

It will be recalled that labour demanded N65,000 national minimum, up from the current N18,000.

The wage was subject to negotiation by the 30-man tripartite National Minimum Wage Committee set up by the government in November 2017.

NAN reports that the Minister of Labour, Sen. Chris Ngige, said the tripartite committee would reconvene on Oct. 4, 2018.

Ngige said the meeting would enable the committee continue the negotiation, assuring that the current administration was labour-friendly and would pay the minimum wage once agreed upon. (NAN)

CHIN/GA/KTO/SA

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Salif Atojoko

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Madrid to host first two revamped Davis Cup finals

Tennis

Madrid, Sept.27, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Madrid has been selected to host the first two revamped Davis Cup finals in 2019 and 2020, the premier international men’s team event organisers announced on Thursday.

The revised week-long, 18-team finals are scheduled to be held at La Caja Magica, the current venue for the Madrid Open, in November 2019.

While the following edition will be held at either the same location or the WiZink Center.

“We are delighted to be bringing the 2019 Davis Cup… finals to Madrid,” International Tennis Federation (ITF) President David Haggerty said in a statement.

“The city is a fitting location to stage the highest quality tennis… We look forward to working with the city to realise our ambitions of elevating the Davis Cup to a new level.”

The new format will see a group stage take place over the first four days, with the participating countries split into six groups of three.

Each tie consists of two singles and one doubles match over a best-of-three set format, with the six group winners and two best second-placed teams qualifying for the quarter-finals.

Teams who finish fifth to 16th in the group stages will participate in qualifiers the following year, while the teams who finish 17th and 18th will be relegated to their respective Zone Groups.

The announcement comes a day after Argentina and Britain were handed wild cards to compete in the 2019 finals. (Reuters/NAN)
ERO/SA

Edited by Salif Atojoko

================

Fund
By Leonard Okachie
Umuahia, Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN) Dr Chinagozi Adindu, the Executive Secretary, Abia State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, says the state government has concluded plans to launch Basic Healthcare Provision Fund to revitalise the primary healthcare sector.

Adindu, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Umuahia, said that the fund was expected to be launched early next month.

He said the fund, which would be launched by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, was part of Federal Government’s measures to  improve healthcare services in the country.

According to him, the fund will enable people to have access to free medical services at primary health care facilities.

The executive secretary said that the  project would be assisted by the World Bank, the Bill and Melinda Gates and other donors agencies.

He added that Abia was among the six pilot states selected for the project, explaining that “in
the 2018 budget, Federal Government, in line with Act number 11 of the National Health Act, complied and accepted to be paying one per cent of the consolidated revenue into the fund.

“Abia has met all the conditions. We have paid our counterpart fund of N100 million.

“It is a programme that will help us to access fund directly from Federal Government.

“The money goes straight to the health facility, not to the state or the local government, so that there will be no interference.”

He said that the agency had already set up ward development and ward management committees to make sure that various communities bought into the project.

As part of the measures, the executive secretary disclosed that the agency had decided to rehabilitate and  upgrade at least one health centre from each each of the 292 wards before the end of the year.

He further explained that those that would enroll in the state health insurance scheme would access the services freely from any of the accredited 292 primary healthcare centres.

“You don’t need to pay any money, the health insurance will pay. Just register and have your health insurance identity card and go to a nearby centre out of the accredited ones. It is for everybody,” he maintained.

He commended Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his efforts towards the development of primary healthcare sector in the state.  (NAN)
LEO/HA
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Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Strike
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN) Workers deserted both the Federal and State Secretariats in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday in compliance with the seven-day warning strike declared by the organised labour.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some commercial banks in Ibadan metropolis also shut down their activities in compliance with the directive by the labour groups.

NAN reports that the three labour groups: Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and United Labour Congress (ULC) had directed workers to proceed on a seven-day warning strike effective from Thursday.

The labour unions had issued the directive after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum given to the government to announce and implement the new national minimum wage as promised.

A NAN correspondent, who visited the federal and state secretariats in Ibadan reported that both secretariats were deserted as workers obeyed the sit-at-home order.

NAN reports that the entry gates of the secretariats were locked.

A security operative in one of the banks told NAN that customers could only use the ATMs, saying that activities in the banking hall had been shut down in compliance with the warning strike.

However, some commercial banks and filling stations across the metropolis went on with their normal duties. (NAN)
TAA/FF/AJA
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Edited by Fela Fashoro/Adeleye Ajayi