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All categories of workers on the payroll of the Oyo State Government are now to get N25,000 wage award while pensioners are to get N15,000 for a six-month period effective from October.

 

Makinde made this announcement in the wake of a rally by the workers under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), at the state Secretariat, Ibadan, on Monday.

 

The workers had proceeded to the State Secretariat after a congress held at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Secretariat, Ibadan, hoping to have the governor attend to their yearnings for government to provide measures to cushion the effect of the petrol subsidy removal on workers, among other workers-related matters.

Addressing the workers, Makinde said the wage award would amount to an additional N2.2 billion to the wage bill of the State.

 

Though he noted that the N2.2 billion would greatly eat into the available resources of government, Makinde said he was determined to live up to his promise to the workers.

 

He said the payment would start with the October salaries and workers would start to get their wag award alerts on or before Friday.

He, however, called for cooperation and understanding of the workers and collective efforts to raise the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) as against a ‘we against them’ disposition.

 

Among others, it was gathered that the labour centres resolved to engage with the governor on an acceptable minimum wage before next March.

 

Makinde said: “We’re talking with your leaders, there are one or two things i want to point out and it should be concerning to us in Oyo state. How come that Lagos that is 120km away, their IGR is 60 billion naira and we’re struggling between N3.5 and N3.8 billion, it was N1.8 billion when we came in during our first tenure.”

 

“So, we must decide if we want to work together improve the economy of Oyo state. If we provided economic prosperity in Oyo state, it would reach everybody.

 

“We all understand that it’s a challenging period for us as a nation and as a state, you have to look at your pocket to see what we can do.

So for every pensioner in the state, we will give N15,000 monthly for the next six months and I guarantee it is starting from October.

 

“They are asking we start by September and I told them I don’t know if we had enough money.

 

“For workers, we’re doing N25,000 to cushion the effects of this economic challenges that we’re all going through.”

 

Earlier, the Chairman, Oyo NLC, Mr Kayode Martins said the governor’s gesture should put to an end all agitations for wage awards.

 

Among those present when the governor made his address were the Chairman, Oyo TUC, Mr Bosun Olabiyi, Chairman, Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), Mr Olaonipekun Oluwaseun and several government officials.

 

By Flowerbudnews

Enugu: Prof. Paul Nnamchi (LP-Enugu State) has assured his constituents of quality representation and more human and infrastructural development works within Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency.

 

Nnamchi, who is a Professor and philanthropist, gave the assurance after he was received by his constituents in a “Constituency Welcome” after his Court of Appeal victory on Friday in Lagos.

 

The Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituents, in their thousands, received Nnamchi at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, escorted him down Abakaliki Road, Abakpa-Nike Road down to Ugwogo-Nike Roundabout to his country home in Ako-Nike with dancing and cannon shots.

The lawmaker thanked God, the Court and his people for being on his side and standing firm with him for fairness and justice to prevail.

 

According to him, my people’s joy has been restored as the earlier judgment by the tribunal had been nullified by the Appeal Court and their mandate freely given to me stand. They are expressing their joy in a big way.

 

“I thank God that at this moment both God and the Law are on my side. And I can only thank them for upholding the people’s wish and the overwhelming votes the people have bestowed on us which was validated by the Appeal Court. It is a thing of joy.

“I cannot thank my constituents enough over the support they had been giving to me. They earlier demonstrated this during the election with their overwhelming votes.

“My constituents in their overwhelming numbers are here to thank the judiciary and embrace its final decision and that they are solidly standing with me and that people should not do otherwise again.

 

“And now is time to work. My reward for good work is more work. I cannot thank them enough but I will pay them back with quality representation. They will not regret electing me,” he said.

On his scorecard at the House of Representatives, Nnamchi noted that it was on record that he had sponsored more bills more than any other representative as well as “no representative from the South-East has moved more motions than me”.

 

“I have gone with national motions, state motions and constituency motions, which I have moved in the House. I can only thank God for His grace to do this for Nigerians,” he added.

 

Speaking, Mr Raymond Ugwu (LP), representing Enugu East Rural State Constituency, said that Nnamchi had remained a great blessing to people of Enugu State especially those within Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency as his philanthropic gestures know no limit.

 

Ugwu said: “I have known Prof. Nnamchi years back as someone that loves knowledge and learning and little wonder as at the last count, over 200 students are currently benefiting in his educational scholarship scheme”.

 

Mr Osita Oko, representing Enugu East Urban State Constituency, said that Nnamchi’s victory at the Appeal Court was a victory for the people and for modern development to enter into all parts of Nike in Enugu State.

 

“Through Prof. Paul Nnamchi Tech-hub and Youth Innovation (PPNTAYI) no fewer than 350 students have been trained in computer skills as well as other computer packages to facilitate soft skill learning meant for employment of youths in this constituency.

 

“Prof. Nnamchi through his extensive learning and international exposure is trying to retool our people with modern skills that will enable us tackle poverty and unemployment especially among the youths,” he added. (Flowerbudnews)

Parts of the building of the High Commission of Canada in Nigeria, situated at 13010G, Palm Close, Diplomatic Drive, Central Business District in Abuja have reportedly caught fire.

 

Vanguard reports that the cause of the inferno could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report but images circulating online disclosed billows coming from the building

.The fire was said to have begun around 11:30 a.m. on Monday, and the members of staff and vehicles were seen evacuated from the building.

 

The High Commission provides visa and immigration services for those seeking to visit or emigrate to Canada.

 

It offers services to Canadians visiting and living in Nigeria and to Canadians in Equatorial Guinea, and Sao Tome and Principe

 

The two in-house unions in the nation’s maritime industry have rejected the Ports and Harbour Bill at the National Assembly, seeking to repeal the Act that sets up the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA.

The unions are the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, and the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies, SSASCGOC, NPA, branch.

warned that the Bill, if passed into law as being proposed, would among others threaten the nation’s security, economy and many Nigerians, including NPA employees jobless

At a joint briefing in Lagos on Monday, the President-General of MWUN, Prince Adewale Adeyanju and his NPA counterpart, Akinola Bodunde, claimed that the Bill that was rejected and thrown away by the 8th National Assembly was being sneaked in for the legislation through the back door by some dubious and unscrupulous individuals.

They called on Nigerians to rise up against the Bill aimed at appropriating and handing over of national patrimony to a few individuals.

 

They recalled that the Bill was jettisoned in the 8th National Assembly through the intervention of well-meaning Nigerians, stakeholders, and the efforts of the two in-house unions.

 

According to them, “We wish to note that this said Bill, if allowed to be passed into law, will have far-reaching grave consequences on the security of the nation as it will cede harbour, jetty and terminal operations into private hands.

 

“We are therefore not surprised that the bill is being vigorously sponsored by certain unpatriotic individuals within the maritime sector, who are hell-bent on appropriating our commonwealth and cornering same into the lining of their individual pockets and that of their cronies.

 

“We would have thought that given our persistent cry and various notices pointing to the deplorable state of our various nation’s seaports, decrepit state of port access roads, collapsing quay aprons, and the general failure of infrastructures within our ports, the focus of this 10 National Assembly would have been to find solutions to the myriad of problems bedeviling our ports, terminals, Jetties and Oil and Gas platforms and even the need to dredge all the ports particularly Calabar, Warri, Onne etc for increased efficiency; and not to clandestinely and recklessly seek to misappropriate public infrastructure through unfriendly legislation for the benefit of individuals whose only interest is capital accumulation and not the general public.

 

“We are further surprised that the sponsors of this bill outrightly ignored our demand to call the International Oil Companies, IOCs, operating in our sovereign territorial economic zones, who have deliberately refused to obey our extant Maritime regulations, standards and laws but, find it expedient to sit in the comfort of their hallowed chambers to push for laws that will be detrimental and inimical to the welfare and wellbeing of the working class, Nigerians and our nation’ security and sovereignty.

 

“The Joint House Unions’, MWUN and SSACGOC use this medium to convey our views to the leadership, members of the National Assembly and the new Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy that this is certainly not the right way to go as this ploy by these selfish individuals in the maritime sector will cause chaos and anarchy in the industry which has enjoyed sustained peace since the idea of projecting the harsh Bill was killed in 2018 will not be allowed to come to fruition.”

The bill

According to the unions, a sneak peek into a copy of the Bill has revealed that it provides wholly, employment that will not be pensionable as well as not transferable and without access to terminal benefits.

This is the height of inconsideration by the proponents of the Bill to the right of workers to the necessary payment for services rendered by a worker, in accordance to known law, industrial relations practice, equity and good conscience.

 

“It is our belief that allowing this Bill to be passed into law will effectively institutionalize the evil concept of casualization of workers and as well negate the provisions of the Pension Reform Act 2004 as amended.

 

“This is in direct contrast to the avowed promises of Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to ensure the provision of about five million jobs for Nigerians through the newly-created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

 

“Having said this, We, the two in-house unions in the maritime sector; MWUN and SSASCGOC, will not fold our hands and allow a few unpatriotic Nigerians within the industry to rip off the nation’s commonwealth and render our sector unproductive via this infamous Bill that will only create poverty, hopelessness, hunger and generate avid bitterness amongst the already impoverished workers and Nigeria citizenry.

Consequently, we confirm our absolute vote of confidence on the Nigerian Ports Authority ACT as it currently relates to the Nigerian state and the well-being of the workers in the sector and we will vehemently resist all attempts to push this hellish bill further.

 

“We, therefore, demand its withdrawal in its entirety with the laid down laws.”

assures Bello of total support

In less than one week to governorship election in Kogi State, the Igbo Community Association (ICA) in the Confluence State has pledged 100 percent block votes, to ensure an overwhelming victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Usman Ododo.

This is coming as the group assured the State Governor, Yahaya Bello, of an unflinching support for his administration as the November poll approaches.

The Igbo community gave these assurances during the weekend while holding a meeting with Governor Bello and Ododo, during which they pledged total support for the APC candidate.

Speaking on behalf of the people of South East extraction, who are residents in Kogi State, the coordinator of Igbo Groups Backing Ododo (IGBO), Hon. Moses Okezie-Okafor, expressed gratitude for the Yahaya Bello Administration’s consistent friendship to the Igbo community while highlighting the great achievements of the administration.

Revealing that he has served for over 7 years in the Kogi State Executive Council courtesy of Governor Yahaya Bello’s merit-based leadership, Okezie-Okafor, a lawyer who hailed from Anambra State, emphasised that Ndigbo in Kogi State are equal partakers in the achievements, which he explained covers all sectors and constituencies in the state, especially education, infrastructure and healthcare.

He noted that the APC’s candidate’s slogan of ‘Continuity and Consolidation’ was therefore founded on solid realities and urged his people to vote to sustain the same.

On his part, the President of the ICA in Lokoja, Chief Sunday Nwachukwu, who doubles as the Leader of the Delegation, confirmed that the Igbo Community is a witness to the government’s great efforts in good governance across the state while expressing the group’s appreciation to the Governor.

Nwachukwu assured of the community’s support for Ododo, being a candidate that will maintain the momentum set by the Governor just as he noted that by his track records, Ododo has proved himself beyond doubt.

Other speakers in the delegation including the youth and women leaders concurred with the previous speakers, assuring that the Ndigbo in Kogi State will use their votes to speak with one voice on Saturday.

The APC candidate, Ododo, in his response, highlighted the long-standing friendship with Ndigbo and promised to sustain and enhance the administration’s accomplishments if elected. Ododo assured the Igbo leaders of continued delivery of democratic benefits to Kogi State and increased involvement of Ndigbo in the government.

The Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. Deedat Ozigis, who stood in for the Governor, responded positively to the Igbo Community’s requests, praising their contributions to the state’s progress and total absence from the crime scene in Kogi State. He urged them to maintain their focus and enterprise while urging them to vote for Alhaji Usman Ododo in the upcoming gubernatorial poll on November 11 in order to keep alive the accomplishments of the Yahaya Bello administration, for which they have shown themselves appreciative.

The meeting concluded with the delegation presenting a thank-you gift to the Governor on behalf of Ndigbo in Kogi Stat