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Strike: Partial compliance in Sokoto, Kebbi

Strike
By Habibu Harisu
Sokoto, Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN) The nationwide strike called by Organized Labour has recorded partial compliance in Sokoto and Kebbi States, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

In Sokoto, NAN reports that work is going on at federal and state government owned hospitals, as well as higher institutions.

Although courts visited were not sitting, primary and secondary schools were operating while some offices remained opened at the federal secretariat.

NAN further reports that commercial banks had opened for business in spite of attempt by labour leaders to make them stop operations.

However, Aminu Umar, State Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), said the trike had recorded substantial compliance and would be total in next coming days.

Umar told NAN that  substantial compliance has been ensured in government agencies including the state Secretariat.

He said a team had been constituted by labour leaders in the state to monitor compliance.

Meanwhile, in Kebbi public schools have been shut in compliance with the strike order.

A teacher in one of the public schools in Birnin Kebbi, Mrs. Richeal Ngozi told NAN that they had to send back pupils after the state branch of Nigeria Union of Teachers ordered teachers to remain at home.

A student of Gwadangwaji Government Secondary School, Birnin Kebbi, Aliyu Bello said,” the reason we are going back home is that we have been waiting for our teachers to come and non of them came, and we were later told by an official to go back home.”

When NAN visited a branch of Keystone Bank, normal operations were going on.

However, a staff of the bank, who sought anonymity, said,” we are just waiting for an email message from the bank head office in Lagos,  by 12 noon, we will close and join the strike.”

Also, activities at the Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, have been paralysed as staff joined the strike.

At the state secretariat, normal official work was going on as at the time of this report. (NAN).

IBI/HMH/MZA

College

By Mohammed Lawal

Zaria (Kaduna State), Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN) The authorities of Shehu Idris College of Health Science and Technology, Makarfi, Kaduna, on Thursday said that plans were ongoing to commence degree programmes in Community Health and Environmental Health.

The college’s Sole Administrator, Malam Yusuf Yakubu-Arrigasiyyu, made the disclosure to newsmen in his office in Makarfi, the headquarters of Makarfi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the administrator spoke after an interactive session with members of staff aimed at seeking their contributions, suggestions and criticism towards lifting the college to greater heights.

Yakubu-Arrigasiyyu said the management of the college was already discussing with some universities to actualise the dream of becoming a degree awarding institution.

“Already, we have gone a long way in talking with some universities to commence degree programmes in Community Health and Environmental Health the moment we satisfy their requirements.

“Again, since we have a state-owned university in Kaduna, we are also going to discuss the possibilities of affiliating to them to run the courses, and if it doesn’t materialise, then we have no option than to go out.

“Insha-Allah (By the grace of God), we are going to start with two degree courses; other courses will follow later because we don’t want to start with many courses that will at the end be difficult for us to cope with,’’ he said.

On the essence of organising the interactive session, Yakubu-Arrigasiyyu observed that a good leader should not assume that his decisions were better than others.

“As a leader, you have to accept advice from others bellow you because nobody has the monopoly of knowledge, you cannot be knowledgeable in everything in life.

“Other people may have excellent ideas far better than what a leader has; this is what influenced my decision to call for this interactive session.

“It will enable us to generate ideas, suggestions, observations and criticisms among others, and most importantly, to identify challenges of the college and possible solutions to address them,’’ he said.

He said that all the Directors of Schools were invited to present papers on prospects, challenges and way forward in their respective schools since March 2018.

Apart from that, he said, the interactive session with members of staff yielded positive results as many of them contributed to the challenges of the entire college and possible ways to tackle them.

“I can assure you that this is the biggest College of Health Science and Technology in Sub-Saharan Africa, hence the need to portray good examples for others to cope,’’ he said.

On disciplinary measures against erring lecturers, Yakubu-Arrigasiyyu said: “As long as I am here, we will never allow parents to send their daughters to school, only for a lecturer to take that advantage and abuse them.

“Again, any lecturer found extorting money from students to aid them to pass examinations will be severely dealt with.

“This is because, a school is supposed to be a place for character moulding and certification of sound and good health workers.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a lawmaker representing Makarfi at the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Alahji Bello Sani-Gimi, had told journalists last year that the state government was collaborating with Egypt firms to upgrade the college’s facilities to a degree awarding institution. (NAN)
KLM/FF/PDE
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(Edited by Fela Fashoro/Peter Ejiofor)

Strike : Ministries, banks shut down in Umuahia and Makurdi

Strike

Abuja, Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN) The first day of the warning strike declared by the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC), has already taken its toll on businesses, government offices, schools and banks in Umuahia and Makurdi.

All public and some private offices, including banks in Umuahia and Makurdi were on Thursday, shut down in line with the strike order by the Nigeria Labour Congress.

In most of the places in the two state capitals monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the offices were not opened for the day’s activities.

Bank customers were stranded at all the commercial banks visited, as the security guards told them the banks were not opened for business.

The ATM points were however, over crowded as some of the stranded customers resorted to them for their transactions.

All the state ministries were equally shut down, and the secretariat virtually empty when our correspondent visited.

A worker, who spoke to our correspondent in Umuahia said that they received a directive on Wednesday to join the strike.

Public schools in Umuahia were also shut down, pupils and students in various schools, including Community Primary School, and Comprehensive Secondary Umuda, who were probably not aware of the strike, were sent home.

A teacher at Central Primary School, Ugwunchara, Umuahia, told our correspondent that she came to monitor the exercise and as well inform the pupils who might not be aware of the development.

Activities were on at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia, as the health workers were attending to the few patients seen at the hospital.

In Makurdi, the Benue State capital, the local government secretariat, the main entrance gate was firmly locked with fresh leaves hanging on it.

Some staff were also seen with leaves and placards with inscriptions such as:.
“We Deserve Better Pay, Minimum Wage Increase A Necessity, FG, Listen To Our Pleas.”

Also at the High Court, Appeal Court and Judiciary Service Commission in Makurdi,  the premises were empty as a few lawyers walked in and out of them with no sign of  any administrative staff to attend to them.

NAN reports that few banks were however opened for transactions while most others complied to the ” stay at home” directives of the NLC.

Both the Urban Development Board and Chief Magistrates’ court were under lock and key, but officers of the immigration service were seen at work.

Speaking on the strike, the NLC chairman in Benue, Comrade Godwin Anya, said the state would adhere strictly to the order from its National Body of the union.

He said it was a known fact that civil servants deserved the best and insisted that the demand for enhanced pay package was in order.

“We will ensure all offices comply to the warning strike,”he said.

NAN reports that while government establishments complied wholeheartedly to the directives of NLC, the private sector did not comply.

Union officials were seen picketing offices within and around Makurdi, the officials also disrupted the official inauguration of the Benue Micro Finance House scheduled to hold at 10a.m in Makurdi.

Banks such as Access Bank and Zenith Bank were opened while Polaris Bank, Union Bank, Ecobank, UBA, First Bank, were closed.

Also, markets such as High Level Market and Wurukum were opened.

NAN reports that the organised labour had on Wednesday, ordered total shut down warning strike across the country, following the deadlock of the meeting with the Federal Government, over minimum wage. (NAN)

Reporters/PD/ IFY
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Edited by Philip Dzeremo/ Ify Omowole

Election

By Muftau Ogunyemi

Igbokoda(Ondo State), Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN) Mr Oladeji Ebisemiju, a State House of Assembly aspirant under the platform of the Young Democratic Party(YDP), has promised to use 25 per cent yearly of his annual basic salary to provide educational support to primary and secondary school pupils in the area, if elected.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ebisemiju is vying to represent Ilaje constituency 1 in Ondo State House of Assembly.

He made the promise on Thursday in Igbokoda,Ilaje Local Government Area of the state, while declaring his ambition to run for the position of member of the assembly.

“If elected as member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, I will use 25 per cent of my annual basic salary to provide educational support and train unemployed youths on vocational skills in Ilaje constituency 1.

“Last week at Ugbo-nla and Ode-ugbo, we distributed school kits to about 85 primary school students.The school kits include a branded school bag, water bottles and school sandals.

“To consolidate on what we have been doing, we are ready to continue to do more until development comes to us in Ilaje Local Government Area,” he said.

“Let me assure our people that, if elected, we will liase with relevant authorities to ensure that riverine communities are connected to the National Grid after 10 years of being in darkness,” Ebisemiju said.

Mr Aye Georgina Dakpokpo, the National Chairman of YDP, said that the party was established based on ideology of youths and women to rescue the country during the 2019 general election.

Dakpokpo, who was represented by Mr Leye Ogunseyi,State Chairman of YDP in Ekiti, said that youths and women comprised 65 per cent of electorate strength to achieve the objective.(NAN)

OMA/AMY

Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

Strike

By reporters

Okitipupa (Ondo State), Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN) Government workers in Okitipupa, Ondo State have downed tools in compliance with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) warning strike which began on Thursday nationwide.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NLC gave the directive after its meeting with Federal Government over the minimum wage hit deadlock.

Okitipupa Local Government Secretariat, Nigeria Postal Service, State Specialists Hospital, Ondo State University of Science and Technology, state primary and secondary schools, Customary, Magistrates and High Courts were under lock and key.

Some of the secondary school students who said they were unaware of the strike went back home disappointed as their schools were locked and keyed.

On the contrary, some private schools and banks in Okitipupa opened for business while bank customers trooped to the banking to withdraw cash.

Dr Dipo Komolafe, the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), told NAN on telephone that the union complied with NLC directive.

In the same vein, Mr Olayinka Olademi, the Secretary, Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Okitipupa told NAN that the union joined the strike.

In Ibadan,Oyo state, Public primary and secondary schools also remained paralysed while students who turned up for learning went home disappointed.

Some of the schools visited include, Community High School, Mokola, Eleyele Grammar school, and Obanday Grammar school, Eleyele, Baptis high school, OKe Ado and Basorun Ogunmola high school, ring road.

Others are People’s Primary School Adeoyo ring road, St. Leo’s Primary Orita  challenge,  Anserudeen Secondary school 1and 2 Liberty road, and  St. Louise Grammar school Mokola.

Workers in Kano State joined their counterparts in the country by complying with NLC strike as they deserted their places of work.

The main entrance of the Audu Bako Secretariat which houses most of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) was shut.

Some senior officers who attempted to go to their offices were prevented by officials of the union monitoring the situation.

Private and public schools as well as public hospitals also joined  the strike.
However, markets, filling stations and some commercial banks in the state like UBA, GTBANK and Jaiz banks were opened for business.

Mr Ado Minjibir expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance on the strike by the civil servants in the state. (NAN)

Reporters/ DUA

Strike

By Suleiman Shehu and Fatima Adebisi Shittu

Ibadan, Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN) Activities at the different courts in Ibadan were on Thursday paralysed, following the directive of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that workers should commence warning strike.

Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who visited the Federal High Court, the Court of Appeal and the National Industrial Court, observed that litigants, lawyers and court officials were locked out.

NAN recalls that NLC had earlier given the government a 14-day ultimatum to reconvene the meeting of the tripartite national minimum wage committee to enable it conclude its work on the proposed new minimum wage.

The NLC is proposing a N66, 500 minimum wage from the old N18,000.

NAN reports that members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Oyo State Chapter, were at the various courts as early as 7:30 a.m. to ensure compliance by the judiciary workers.

Mr Kayode Martins, JUSUN Chairman, Oyo State, said the union had to move round the courts to ensure that the order was strictly complied with.

He said it was surprising that workers came to work, hence the need to chase them out of their offices.

Meanwhile, Mr Waheed Olojede, Oyo State NLC Chairman, said workers in the state complied with the directives of the union, saying the union had been to the state secretariat and other offices to ensure compliance.

Speaking to NAN, Mr Emmanuel Akinbamidele, a litigant, said he feels very bad because he came to the court as early as 7:00 a.m., expecting that judgment would be delivered on his matter on Thursday.

Akinbamidele blamed the government for not yielding to the demands of the union at the right time.

Another litigant, Mr Mattew Ovu, said he had travelled down from Lagos to Ibadan only to discover that the court was not sitting because of the strike.

Ovu said he intended to wait to see the court registrar in order to know when his case would be adjourned to.

Also, a lawyer, Mr Olasoji Salau, who came to the Chief Magistrates’ Court, Iyaganku, Ibadan, said he expected the union and the government to settle their differences.

“The strike is effective, as it is a weapon in the hands of labour unions.

“I, however, think it is proper for the government and the labour union to at least agree on the way forward given the level of economy. (NAN)

SYS/SAF/MAS/AFA

Edited by Moses Solanke/Felx Ajde

Strike
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN) In spite of the total shutdown proposed by the organised labour unions in the ongoing nationwide strike, normal activities continued on Thursday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

NAN reports that normal flight operations are smoothly ongoing at both the arrival and departure sections of the airports.

NAN also observed that all major airlines were booking and boarding passengers with airport staff fully on ground for normal services.

Mr Abdulahi Saroke, Station Manager for Max Air, told NAN the strike had not affected flight operations in all airports, adding that he had received flights from Lagos and Kano and boarded passengers to those airports.

However, Saroke said he had heard the news that airports could be shut anytime to join the strike.

When contacted, Mr Francis Akinjole, General Secretary, Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN), said that all aviation unions in the country were currently attending their national delegates conference at Asaba, Delta.

Akinjole explained that the delegates conference, at which a new leadership of the National Union of Air Transpirt Employees (NUATE), would be elected, had been planned before the decision by the labour unions to embark on a nationwide strike.

He said the reason why the strike had yet to be enforced at the airports was because all aviation union leaders were out of their stations.

According to him, aviation unions are strongly with the NLC on the strike even though we are not on ground to enforce it today.

“We are currently in Asaba for NUATE’s national delegates conference for today and tomorrow and we shall enforce the compliance in aviation sector as soon as we finish from here,” he said.

A staff of Abuja Airport, who pleaded anonymity, said their various unions had not mobilised them to join the strike.
He said a lot of airport workers were willing to support the strike to press home the demands for a new minimum wage in the country.

According to him, what the labour is fighting for is for the benefit of all workers which is why every worker must be part of this agitation. (NAN)
OYS/NKO
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Edited by Nkechi Okoronkwo

Tourism

By Taiye Baiyerohi/Islamiat Olaitan

Lagos, Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN) Some stakeholders in the tourism sector on Thursday appealed to the Federal Government to market and advertise Nigeria’s tourism sites on various internet platforms for easy accessibility by international tourists.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Lagos that the three tiers of government should engage digital tools in transforming the nation’s tourism industry.

They said that when one considered the theme of 2018 World Tourism Day: “Tourism and Digital Transformation” one could say that the private sector had made some significant contributions to the sector.

They said that each heritage site ought to have its own website, twitter, Instagram handle where they would showcase their unique selling points or potential.

NAN reports that the World Tourism Day is usually celebrated annually on Sept.  27 and the theme for the 2018 edition is — “Tourism and Digital Transformation”.

Mr Ikechi Uko, the founder of AKWAABA Travel Tourism Market, said that there had been a sporadic digital transformation in the Nigerian tourism industry.

He said this was because most domestic tour operators had been using the internet to drive tourism.

He said that the only area where operators should engage digital tools was in advertising Nigeria’s heritage sites.

Uko said that most of the sites were supposed to have elaborate websites through which tourists could connect.

The tourism stakeholder, however, appealed to the Federal Government to make available the digital tools which the stakeholders could use to harness the heritage sites.

“We have success stories in Nigeria; there has been positive transformation because the domestic tour operators use the twitter handle, Instagram and other internet facilities to drive tourism.

“The drawback is that the products which are on some of the sites are not being aligned with the digital evolution.

“ Most of the tourist destinations do not have applications or elaborate websites through which people can connect.

“ Our sites have not travelled so much because of this deficiency,” he said.

Uko said that Nigeria had the biggest internet emersion in the world because many Nigerians used to connect to the internet through their smart phones on regular basis.

He said this had signaled the possibilities and opportunities that the country would soon take over the world through her tourism potential.

“The easiest way to reach more people is through digital transactions, and we need to explore this to take Nigerian tourism industry to the next level,” he said.

Also, Dr Omatshola Iseli, popularly known as Tee Mac, said that the Nigerian tourism industry was not as buoyant as it should be due to lack of basic infrastructure that could drive it.

The flutist said that government must ensure that the road networks to most tourist sites were in good conditions to attract tourists and visitors.

He said electricity and security challenges must be worked on to adequately boost in-bound tourism.

“The Federal Government must realise that the tourism industry has the potential to generate huge revenue for the nation, as a matter of fact, it is bigger than oil,” he said.

Also, a renowned art collector, Dr Yemisi Shyllon, said that tourism practitioners and government should explore the digital world to effectively promote the nation’s tourism industry.

He said that it was sad that most tourist sites in the country had not been adequately marketed to the international communities using digital tools.

Shyllon said that the Federal Government and stakeholders in the sector should deploy digital tools in marketing the nation’s heritage sites before the international community.

“I am sorry to tell you that tourism has not started in Nigeria as we cannot explore the digital world to promote our own endowment to the rest of the world.

“This is sad but we must have a rethink, create functional websites for each of these sites and we will marvel at the rate this will boost our in-bound tourism.

“The Obudu Cattle Ranch, the Idanre Hills, the first story building in Nigeria located in Badagry, the Olumo Rocks and many others should have their own individual websites and other social media platforms,” he said.

PTB/ IOI/AOS/PAD

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Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Peter Dada

Cricket

Sydney, Sept. 27, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Paceman Josh Hazlewood and all-rounder Mitch Marsh were named joint vice-captains of the Australia test team on Thursday under a new leadership structure installed in the wake of this year’s ball-tampering scandal.

Hazlewood and Marsh will support Captain Tim Paine and be the permanent replacements for David Warner, who was stripped of the post and banned from international and state cricket for 12 months for his role in the incident in South Africa.

Previous captain Steve Smith was also banned for a year, while batsman Cameron Bancroft was suspended for nine months for trying to alter the condition of the ball during the third test against the Proteas in Cape Town in March.

“We are extremely fortunate to have such terrific young men charged with responsibility of upholding the high standards and values, we and Australian cricket fans expect of their test team,” chief selector Trevor Hohns said in a news release.

“Josh has shown he is a leader among the playing group, and we felt it was important to have a representative from the bowling group.

“He’s calm under pressure, communicates well and leads by example on and off the field.

“He is an extremely popular member of the team, he has great humility, and given his lineage, he understands and respects the responsibility which comes with representing Australia and Australians.”

Marsh’s father Geoff played 50 tests for Australia and was a test selector, while his batsman brother Shaun is a regular test player who was included in the squad for next month’s test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

Hazlewood will miss the trip to the Gulf of Arabia because of injury, but is certain to return for the home series against India and Sri Lanka later this year and early next.

Marsh has sometimes been a divisive figure among Australian cricket fans and his disciplinary record is not unblemished, his most recent indiscretion coming when he was fined for using offensive language during the second test against South Africa.

A former captain of Australia A, the Australia under-19s and Western Australia, Marsh is, however, a popular figure among the players and has been tipped as a future test captain by several luminaries of the game. (Reuters/NAN)
ERO/PDE
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(Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Peter Ejiofor)

Strike: African students support group solidarise with labour

Strike

Abuja, Sept. 27, 2018(NAN) The African Students Education Support Initiative (ASESI), has expressed its support to the ongoing strike embarked upon by organised labour to press for a new national minimum wage.

ASESI’s Executive Director, Chinoso Obasi, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, said that the strike over demand for review of the national minimum wage was long overdue.

He regretted that in spite poor salaries paid to Nigerian workers, the salaries did not come as and when due in most cases as it seemed to be a privilege instead of the right of workers.

“The present working condition of workers in Nigeria is not acceptable.

“ The present minimum wage doesn’t conform to economic condition of Nigeria, therefore the demand for an increase is a right course that has general solidarity and support of ASESI.

“When workers are not paid well, parents find it hard to sponsor their children efficiently, therefore the demand for increase in minimum wage is also indirect demand for better welfare for Nigerian students.

“It is important that teachers and lecturers in all institutions of learning join the strike as their condition seems to be the worst.

“ A teacher who cannot feed well cannot have anything to offer to students, a lecturer that is not well paid will end up extorting the students to make ends meet.’’

He said that most people who were qualified to teach would rather look for well paid jobs because of the poor salaries teachers earned in Nigeria.

According to Obasi, who is the immediate past President of the National Association of Nigerian Students(NANS), said that teachers are assets that deserve good welfare, as Nigerian students need to be taught by well-motivated teachers.

Organised labour had directed its members to embark on a nationwide strike effective Thursday over Federal Government’s failure to adopt a new national minimum wage.

The Minister of Labour and Employment,  Sen.  Chris Ngige, on Wednesday met with labour leaders who were part of the Tripartite Committee on the new National Minimum Wage to give them an update on government’s position.

The minister and the leadership of  organised labour agreed to reconvene the meeting of the National Minimum Wage Committee on Oct. 4. (NAN)

CJ/OU

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Edited by Obike Ukoh

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