The Joint National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, have suspended the ongoing strike over the battering of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, among other pending issues.
The strike was suspended following the intervention of the Federal Government through the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA.
However, discussions on the labour demands would continue.
The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia said the visas of Air Peace passengers were cancelled because they did not meet the entry requirements of the country.
The Saudi Embassy disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday.
It said the applicable rules and regulations of Saudi Arabia were not met, as they submitted incorrect information.
Recall that on Monday, 264 passengers on an Air Peace flight arrived in Jeddah after leaving Nigeria on Sunday, but Saudi authorities cancelled their visas, ordering the airline to take them back to Nigeria.
However, 87 passengers were later allowed to remain in Saudi, while 177 passengers were flown back to Nigeria by Air Peace.
The Saudi embassy said upon the passengers’ arrival in Jeddah, it was discovered that incorrect information was submitted to obtain a category of visa that doesn’t apply to them.
“The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Abuja would like to make a clarification about the media reports and Social Media releases concerning the deportation of Nigerian citizens at the point of entry into the Kingdom,” the embassy said.
“The passengers whom were denied entry, and subsequently deported to their initial destinations, didn’t fulfill the entry conditions and requirements in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of the Kingdom, as they submitted incorrect information to obtain a category of visa that doesn’t apply to them, which was discovered upon their arrival.
“The Royal Embassy would like to stress the importance of following the procedures and laws enacted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for all visitors.
“Furthermore, all passengers should review all the documents to determine their conformity with the conditions prior departing from their countries to the Kingdom.”
The Saudi embassy said the procedure was not limited to Nigerian citizens only, but rather to citizens of other countries.
Patients at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, Ogun State, were on Wednesday left unattended to by doctors and nurses.
This is as staff of the hospital complied with the directives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) that workers should embark on an indefinite strike.
On Wednesday, doctors, nurses, midwives, laboratory officials, record keepers and other staff of the OOUTH were seen returning home, saying, “we have joined the strike, no work today.”
Patients and other individuals who visited the facility were sent back.
Also, those on admission may need to move to another hospital as doctors and nurses were being chased out of their offices by union leaders.
The union leaders had stormed the hospital with canes, ready to flog out anyone who might want to resume work against the strike action.
As of the time of filing this report, one of the main gates at OOUTH is under lock and key.
One Mrs Abiola Ade, who was at the hospital, said, “I came from Abeokuta this morning to pick the result of a test I did last week, but they told me they have joined strike. So, I will have go to back. This is so annoying.”
Also, one of the nurses, who did not want her name mentioned, stated that the hospital joined the strike on Wednesday and may remain without activities until further notice.
Our correspondent reports that some patients are still sitting within the hospital premises, hoping help could come their way.
National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, on Wednesday, said that some suspected political thugs that brutalized the National president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero have been arrested.
recalls that the NLC president was attacked in Owerri, Imo State capital on November 1 when workers in the state staged a protest over unpaid salary.
The NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, had declared nationwide strike, demanding the arrest of the suspected thugs and their sponsors.
Following the commencement of the strike, which has relatively crippled economic activities in some parts of the country, Ribadu, in a statement signed by the Head of Strategic Communications in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari U Mijinyawa, urged the organized labour to halt the ongoing nationwide strike.
He confirmed that some arrests had been made regarding the brutalization of the NLC president, pledging that the outcome of the investigation would be made known to the general public.
The statement reads partly, “The NSA is particularly worried about the implications of the strike action on the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians and its potential impact on economic security and other strategic national interests.
The NSA regrets the incident and condemns it in its entirety as it was against the rule of law and the principles of freedom of association and expression subscribed to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration.
“The Federal Government will never condone such an act.
“As a fallout of the incident, relevant authorities were directed to conduct thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the assault and bring to book the culprits.
Available update indicates that some arrests have already been made in this regard. The outcome of the investigation will be made public as soon as it is concluded
The rapper’s management announced his death on his official Instagram page on Wednesday.
The statement from the management reads: “We are saddened to inform the general public that Oladipupo Olabode Oladimeji aka 0LADIPS has passed away yesterday Nov’14th Tuesday evening, at exactly 10:14 pm. We are still in shock as we speak! For over 2 years he has kept his battles within himself, his body is now with his family & funeral services will be announced as it is concluded!
The family asked that we respect their privacy in this trying time. May God give us all the fortitude to bear this great loss. (amen).- Management.”
APPRECIATION! APPRECIATION!
I, Engr. Dr Man Yahaya Sani, the Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Ede, profoundly express my deep appreciation and heartfelt gratitude to all the staff’s unions of the institution, (ASUP, SSANIP & NASU)for their show of selflessness and commitment to the success of our students.
The resolve of these unions to continue with the ongoing second semester examinations, for 2022/2023 academic session, despite the nationwide strike called by the NLC is a pointer to the exceptional attributes of love and compassion on their part.
Obviously, this great gesture will remain indelible in the minds of the management and the students; as I consider it a privilege to work with noble men and women of this enviable character.
On behalf of the Management, entire staff and students , I say thank you so much to our unionists for their relentless efforts in sustaining smooth and excellent academic activities on our campus.
E-Signed
Engr Dr Man Yahaya Sani
Rector
![[JUST IN]: Ede Poly lecturers finally state position on nationwide strike](https://flowerbudnews.ng/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Federal-Polytechnic-Ede-1.jpg)
The Members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, (ASUP), Federal Polytechnic Ede Chapter have said they would not join the ongoing strike called upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress, (TUC) yet due to the ‘ongoing examination’.
This disclosure was made by the Ede Poly ASUP chairman, Barr Azeez to the PRESS Club during the week.
He, however expressed their readiness to comply with the strike action directed by the organised labour after the completion of the examination.
According to him “The Chapter isn’t joining the strike for the sake of the ongoing examination, but a decision will be made after the conclusion of the semester examination.”
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Tuesday denied reports of nationwide blackout occasioned by the commencement of the strike actions by the National Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress(TUC).
It said the national grid is intact and currently supplying bulk electricity to distribution companies.
The TCN Spokesperson, Mrs Ndidi Mba stated this in a statement issued in Abuja.
She noted that the National Control Centre Osogbo which controls bulk power transmission nationwide, is actively operational.
“We hereby note that the nation’s grid is intact and supplying bulk electricity to distribution load centres nationwide,” she said.
The two major labour unions, NLC and TUC, had declared the strike, following the brutalisation of the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, in Imo State on 1 November. Ajaero was attacked in Owerri, the state capital, during an NLC protest against the Imo State government over alleged maltreatment of workers in the state.
The unions on Monday directed their members to down tools across the country as from Tuesday.
(NAN) The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has inaugurated a Task Force on the issuance of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for mass housing and the recovery of land use contravention fees.
Wike explained while inaugurating the task force in Abuja on Tuesday that the measure was to ensure that each of the houses in mass housing estates has its own C of O and pay for it.
He lamented that virtually all the residential areas have been turned to commercial, adding, “something must be done about it.”
He said that those who contravened the Land Use Act must be recertified and pay the appropriate penalties.
Wike explained that those given approval for residential buildings have converted to commercial structures, while those given for commercial also contravene by building residential houses.
“So, there must be a recertification and there must be penalties.
“The only way people can be deterred from doing this is to make sure that we discourage them and discouraging them means that if you want to build, you have a penalty to pay, and that penalty must be severe.
“In as much as we want to generate revenue, we also want to control the development of areas.
“Abuja has to go back to the original Master Plan. If there is need to have some amendment, it is the government that will do such amendment, it is not for the allottees to do so on their own,” he said.
The minister said that government agencies in charge of land administration in the FCT were part of the problem, adding that the agencies were included in the task force to solve the problem they created.
He said: “Part of the problem we are having is the agencies: development control is part of the problem; the land registry is part of the problem; Abuja Geographic Information System AGIS is part of the problem.
“That is why they are part of the task force to face the problem they have caused and solve the problem. No outsider will do it.
“So, you must be diligent. Of course, you know, I will monitor what you are doing, and this assignment will not last more than one month from today.
“Whatever fund you require, let us know, Zenith bank will provide you the fund, but I must approve the fund.
“You write to me, and I will tell Zenith Bank what I need.*
Wike directed the task force to open two dedicated bank accounts for the assignment, saying, “one for non-compliance with the land use act and the other for the C of O.”
He also asked the task force to include people who were given land by the Area Councils but without C of O, adding that those concerned should be asked to apply and be informed about the amount to pay.
Wike explained that Abuja depended on Internally Generated Revenue to execute projects in the FCT.
“I am not interested in who did not comply and I don’t want anybody to write to me that the task force came. All I need is results. I don’t want excuses,” he added.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee would be chaired by Mr Michael Chinda, Senior Special Assistant to Wike on Lands, Urban and Regional Planning.
The Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority, Mr Shehu Ahmad, would serve as the secretary.
Other members of the taskforce include the Director, Department of Development Control, Director, Department of Land Administration and the Director, Department of Surveying and Mapping.
Others are the Director, Department of Mass Housing, Director of AGIS, and Director, Department of Urban and Regional Planning.
Also included are two estate surveyors, Dr Emmanuel Mark and Mr Emma Okas.
Responding on behalf of the members, Chinda expressed the readiness of the task force team to get to work and promised not to disappoint the minister.
The chairman further promised to deliver on the task within a month.
He described C of O as an “indispensable requirement” for land ownership, adding that the land belongs to the government and the people using it must pay.
“We will not spare anyone that has contravene and we will do the needful
“I can assure you that we will do this job with precision, diligence and a high level of professionalism so that we will meet your expectation and possibly exceed