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The Nigeria Labour Congress has insisted that the so-called palliatives provided by the President Bola Tinubu-led government are an insult to Nigerians, as each legislator went home with N100million while hundreds of thousands of Nigerians in each local government grapple with few bags of rice.

 

The organised labour on Tuesday threatened to begin an indefinite strike should the Federal Government fail to meet its demands at the end of a 21-day ultimatum which will expire in approximately one week’s time.

The workers union said the proposed strike was necessary following the failure of the Federal Government to provide palliatives to assuage the Nigerians hardships as a result of the fuel subsidy removal.

 

The Nigeria Labour Congress said the industrial action which may commence any day from next week would lead to an indefinite shutdown of commercial and economic activities across the country.

Speaking with The PUNCH on Tuesday, the National Assistant General Secretary of the NLC, Mr Christopher Onyeka, said the FG was wrong to share a bag of rice to a dozen citizens while reportedly giving N100m palliative to each member of the National Assembly

 

The union had on September 1 handed down a 21-day ultimatum to the FG over the delay in sharing of palliatives, saying it might be compelled to declare an indefinite labour action if its demands were not met.

 

“If the government fails to provide the appropriate responses to our demands, we encourage you to maintain your steadfast resolve. The same passion and determination that fuelled this warning strike will be crucial if we find ourselves compelled to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike,’’ the labour body said in a letter to the FG.

 

To demonstrate its seriousness, the NLC mobilised workers for a two-day warning strike on September 5 and 6, partially grounding social and economic activities in several states with banks, ministries, agencies and departments closed to the public in some states.

 

The NLC leadership had said the action was in preparation for a total shutdown which would start at the expiration of the ultimatum next week.

 

Among other demands, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress were asking for wage awards, implementation of palliatives, tax exemptions and allowances to the public sector workers and a review of the minimum wage.

 

Giving an update on the planned walk out following the lukewarm attitude of the government, Onyeka insisted that the FG had absconded from the negotiation table, noting that it had also failed to meet the workers’ demands.

 

The union leader hinted that the strike would not notify the government before carrying out any action it deems fit.

 

He said, “We sent the letter to the Federal Government on September 1, 2023, so by September 22, 2023, the 21-day ultimatum will end.

 

“We have made it clear that the Federal Government has abandoned and absconded from the table for negotiation; that government is no longer negotiating with Nigerians and there is no good faith negotiation that is going on.’’

 

President Bola Tinubu promised Nigerians on his own on the television with the President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, that he was going to restructure the committees, but he did not do that, and since then the committees have not met and there has been no negotiation that is on-going. As it is, NLC is not negotiating with the government,” Onyeka said.

 

The Assistant General Secretary said Nigerians were insulted by the inadequate palliative being given.

 

He lamented, “Can you see the insult that a ward would share a bag of rice and the government calls that a palliative? It is an insult to Nigerians, whereas the government gave legislators N70bn and each of the legislators gets over N100m in a country where Nigerians are suffering.

 

“The FG is buying cars and houses of over N100m for each person and Nigerians are keeping quiet as if what is going on is a normal thing. NLC calls Nigerians to join hands together because they cannot do it alone.

 

‘’When NLC calls for action, people should come out, they should because it is a collective effort to make the government yield to the desires and the interest of Nigerians.

THE Lagos State Government, yesterday, issued a 24 hour ultimatum to truck drivers along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, to vacate the road or face the consequences.

The state government also vowed to impound vehicles and prosecute any violator caught in the act after the expiration of the ultimatum.

The Head of Operations, Lagos State Special Committee on Apapa Gridlock, Mr Hassan Adekoya, who handed down the directive, said the committee recently, engaged stakehokders in series of meetings on the need to steer off Oshodi-Apapa Expressway as well as Apapa Road by Area B axis inward Nigeria Port Authority, NPA.

 

Adekoya said: “Our men are on ground, to ensure free flow of traffic, and i can assure you that our enforcement team shall restore sanity on Mile-2 tincan Road.

 

“We have called their union leaders to call their members to order within 24 hours after which we will launch enforcement exercise by towing any of the truck found obstructing free flow of traffic, particularly, along Mile-2, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

 

“We are committed to reducing the traffic incidence around Apapa axis according to the mandate given by Govermor Bababjide Sanwo-Olu.”

 

 

 

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has confirmed the clearance of about 60,000 passport backlog in four days out of over 200,000 pending passport applications.

This is consequent upon the directives given to the immigration service by the minister to ensure clearance of all pending passport applications within two weeks.

Tunji-Ojo made this known when the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, paid him a courtesy visit on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to a statement by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Alao Babatunde, Tunji-Ojo said he would clean up the passport crisis in the country.

“When we came on board, the passport crisis was an embarrassment to the country and we said there is no way it can continue.

“As at this morning, I can tell you that about 60,000 passport backlogs have been cleared specifically, 59,906.

“On Sept. 6, when I gave the 2-week ultimatum, we had over 200,000 backlogs. However, we have recorded tremendous progress, and I still maintain my words, those backlogs must be cleared.”

The humanitarian affairs minister had earlier said that the visit was informed by the need for the two ministries to collaborate in reducing human trafficking.

The minister added that the collaboration would also include other related challenges such as the poor welfare for veterans, underemployment and poverty reduction.

Edu said that the interior ministry was in the best position to solve issues of human trafficking as it plays supervisory role on the Nigeria Immigration Service.

Responding, Tunji-Ojo said that the ministry welcomes such initiative as it was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’.

He recalled that the President had directed ministers to see partnership as agent of his agenda, as such the interior ministry was fully prepared for any meaningful collaboration.

The minister assured Edu of his support, adding that her initiative was germain and commendable, especially at this crucial time in the history of the country.

“There is a lot of work to be done and we cannot work in silos as the President has directed.

“We are not just working on humanitarian endeavours such as human trafficking, NIS must help us change the story completely,” he added.

Tunji-Ojo assured that they would work together to find thoughtful and progressive solutions to human trafficking and other issues raised by the humanitarian affairs minister.

“We may only have to expand it to include the welfare of inmates in our correctional centres as they are Nigerians as well.

“Let’s see how they can benefit from your welfare packages. Of course, there is a lot we can achieve together,” he added.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, of Ondo state, has sacked the media aides attached to his deputy, Hon Lucky Ayedatiwa.

This is coming as Vanguard gathered that the fear of possible dissolution of the State Executive Council has gripped the commissioners and other members of the council.

 

Recall that while the governor was away in Germany on medical vacation, the EXCO became polarised.

 

Since the return of the governor last week, some members of the EXCO, have expressed fear that their days are numbered going by the body language of the governor.

 

Meanwhile, the sack of the aides to the deputy governor was coming ahead of the possible dissolution of the state executive Council.

 

The sack of the deputy governor’s aides was contained in a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, in Akure.

 

Akeredolu said the affected aides should submit all government properties in their possession to the acting Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor

 

The affected aides include Press Secretary to the Governor, Kenneth Odusola; Special Assistant to Governor (New Media) Okunniga Oladipupo; and Special Assistant to the Governor (Photography) Abayomi Samson Adefolalu.

The statement reads:”All media aides appointed by the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, and seconded to the office of the deputy Governor, have been relieved of their appointments.

They are to submit all government properties in their possession to the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor.

 

“Similarly, the Press Crew attached to the office of the deputy governor has been disbanded.

 

“Consequently, all members of the Press Crew are to report back to their various ministries and stations.

 

“Equally, the Ministry of Information and Orientation is directed to provide adequate coverage for the activities of the deputy governor office henceforth.

Findings by Vanguard showed that the aides were sacked following alleged insubordination and flagrance disregard to the appropriate authority.

 

A top government source said that one of the aides of the deputy governor allegedly abused the governor on his WhatsApp status and the screenshot was shown to the governor’s friends while he was away in Germany on a medical vacation

 

According to the source, another aide was said to have engaged in the planting of some stories against the governor.

 

Efforts to get the reaction of the deputy governor proved abortive as he was said to have travelled out of the state capital for an official assign

ment.

 

Engr Agoro Charges Government On Encouraging Research, Rather Than Giving Palliative

By Adewale Owoade

The Vice – President, Nigeria Society of Engineers in charge of Collaboration and Linkages, Engineer Ademola Agoro, has said government should encourage people that want to research into any area of life, rather than sharing palliative.

Engr Agoro stated this while speaking with National Association of Christian Journalists (NACJ), Oyo State Chapter in Ibadan.

He stated further that giving foods and cash as palliatives will not go far in alleviating the suffering of people, as fallout of fuel subsidy removal.

“The major problem we have in Nigeria is that we are not a manufacturing economy, everything we do in Nigeria we import , and the irony is that there is nothing you want in this world that is not resident in Nigeria.

“But Nigerians most of us the Engineers, researchers, scientists were not doing any research, so when government is talking about palliative if you give people food or money today that is the end.

“But if you encourage people that want to research into any area of life it covers for all citizens. You will put some standby money, there is a lot of money need to be going to research.

“The problem in Nigeria is that most of this fund is being siphoned, even, if you looked at Tetfund and any others funds, is not that Nigeria does not have these funds but is the utilisation

“We must make everything open, so that there would be some certain criteria, everything must be transparent, as long as the process is transparent people would come out of their shell.” Agoro said

Speaking on empowerment, Agoro said government should empower people in the area of Artificial Intelligence, AI, as the new trends of technology will prepare people for future challenges

Engr Agoro gave a clue on his plans to establish a vocational school for youths in his village, that will be offering programmes on Artificial Intelligence, AI, and that the training will be free, including accommodation.