As parts of its determination in changing the present political narratives and bad governance in the country, the Nigeria Labour Congress says it is forming a new political party completely different from the present Labour party that already has its issues.
The General Secretary NLC Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja disclosed this in Abuja at the 2nd NLC National Youth Conference.
He said the new political party which would be named All Working People’s Party will not only afford the Nigerian youth the opportunity to thrive, but will also deemphasize the current money politics that is trending in the nation’s political space.
He said with this newly formed political party and movement in place, a lot of lapses in the nation’s governance would be properly addressed.
He further said there is need for Nigerians to be allowed to express their grievances in the form of protest.
“We want to get a new political party that will deemphasize money politics so that real brains, real thinkers, real philosophers will be in the herm of affairs. No more cash and carry that has taken over the whole place”
Speaking earlier, the NLC National Youth Committee, Comrade Victor Ekpo called for the proper implementation of the NLC National Youth Policy by all affiliate unions to amend their constitutions to reflect the youth structures.
“We therefore call for the proper implementation of the NLC National Youth Policy by all affiliates as well as the resolution reached at the last NLC National Delegate Conference of 2019 that all affiliate unions should amend their constitutions to reflect the youth structures, create youth desks and budgetary allocation for the youth activities”.
Ekpo however lamented on some of challenges faced by young Nigerian workers which bother on victimization, intimidation due to age barriers/level of experience, and sexual harassment. The theme for the event is “Young Workers, the Trade Unions and the future of work”.
Dr Talemoh Dah, Senior Technical Adviser, Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON-PAS) has identified funding and policy as major factors affecting Family Planning (FP) services in the Nigeria.
While adding that; “there is the need to also pursue a multichannel engagement with key government stakeholders, especially the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and Federal Ministry of Finance as well as all levels of government to prioritise FP issues.
He made this known during his presentation on “Family Planning Financing”, at a media round table on the Proposed 6th Nigeria Family Planning Conference scheduled to hold on the 7th to 11th of December, 2020 in Abuja.
Dah also challenged the media to ensure that funds allocated to family planning services were released and programmes fully implemented.
Saying; “All partners involved should share comparative advantages and strong relationships to advocacy.”
The SOGON technical adviser noted that the Federal Government updated its commitment at the FP Summit in London on July 11, 2017 with the target of reaching 27 per cent maternal Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (mCPR).
According to him, the Federal Ministry of Health with the approval from the Federal Executive Council renewed the MoU with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to ensure provision of four Million U.S. Dollars annually from 2017 to 2020 for procurement of contraceptives for the public sector.
The commitment, he said is an increase from the three million dollars committed from 2011 to 2014.
He further stated that; “With the MoU, Nigeria was expected to contribute N1.2 billion annually to the basket fund over a period of four years from 2017 to 2020.
“However, as at November, there is a gap of N900 million not released in 2019 and the N1.2 billion also not released this year,” he added.
Dah, therefore, noted that the forthcoming biennial FP conference would provide the avenue for stakeholders to brainstorm, debate and exchange ideas, share experiences on the progress made so far.
He said the stakeholders would also identify emerging issues on FP/reproductive health, and chart the way forward toward improving the existing situation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti has hinted that, globally, there are 38 million people living with HIV and 67% of them are living in the African Region.
While adding that, in 2019, more than 1 million people in the Region were newly infected with HIV, accounting for 60% of the global total, and sadly, 440,000 people in the Region died from HIV-related causes.
She gave this hint in her message to commemorate the 2020 World AIDS Day that is celebrated every 1st of December where the global community comes together to mark World AIDS Day to show support for people living with HIV and to remember those who have lost their lives to AIDS.
The theme of this World AIDS Day is “Global Solidarity and Shared Responsibility” because in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic we are seeing how important it is for the world to come together, with determined leadership from governments and communities to sustain and expand access to essential services, including HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care.
Moeti added that, “the pandemic is making it even more challenging for countries to provide these services, particularly in areas affected by conflict, disasters, outbreaks and rapid population growth. This is on top of the fact that in the African Region new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths are not reducing fast enough to meet the Sustainable Development Goal target of ending AIDS epidemics by 2030. Children living with HIV are not being adequately identified for HIV treatment. Girls and women aged 15–24 years account for 37% of all new HIV infections, and stigma and discrimination especially against key populations continues to create barriers to service access.
“Despite these challenges, significant progress is happening in African countries. 2020 is a milestone year towards ending AIDS epidemics and 81% of people living with HIV know their status. Among them, 70% of adults and 53% of children are receiving lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART). Eighty-five percent of pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV are on ART, which protects their health and prevents HIV transmission to their newborn infants”, she said.
The WHO regional Director, however, commend the government’s, partners and communities who have contributed to the progress on HIV in the Region, and come up with innovative ways to keep services going during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Saying, for example, young people living with HIV in Zambia are advocating for the elimination of stigma, adherence to HIV treatment, access to sexual and reproductive health services, and mental health support. They are also contributing to the national COVID-19 response by creating and disseminating health messages, busting myths, and raising awareness.
Her words; “In Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Senegal, women living with HIV are serving as community pharmacists, visiting hard to reach semi-urban and rural areas to facilitate the home delivery of HIV treatment and medicines for other diseases. They are helping to ensure that no one is left behind during the COVID-19 crisis.”
To sustain and accelerate the gains made, she urgeo governments and partners to come together, with the same level of urgency and leadership demonstrated in response to COVID-19, to increase domestic funding and strengthen health systems.
Adding that, there must be global solidarity and shared responsibility among all stakeholders to ensure integrated, people-centred, quality care and an uninterrupted supply of essential commodities for HIV services.
The rights of women and girls, and gender equality, must be at the centre to stop new HIV infections among girls and young women.
She also urged communities, especially people living with HIV, to be proactive in your self-care and in understanding how to prevent the spread of infections.
Saying, in this World AIDS Day let us all demand global solidarity and shared responsibility to maintain HIV services during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond as we strive to achieve the 2030 targets.
The Country Director, Pathfinder International , Dr Amina Dorayi, has hinted that most Family Planning (FP) policies in Nigeria do not have clear Monitoring and Evaluation plans.
While adding that, there were inadequate guidelines or funding to support policy implementation, as the process was lengthy and cost-intensive.
She gave this hint during a Media Roundtable in Abuja over the weekend in preparation for the forthcoming 6th Nigeria Family Planning Conference scheduled for December 7 to December 11, 2020.
The theme of the conference is “Post 2020 Agenda and Safeguarding Investment in Emergencies: Adaptation, Innovation, Resilience.”
Dorayi opined that, the Federal Government need to decentralise her policies on implementation of Family Planning (FP) measures, considering the country’s cultural and religious diversity.
She, however, recalled that the Federal Government, in collaboration with partners, pledged to achieve a Modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (mCPR) of 27 per cent among women by 2020, relying on policies such as the National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDP) and the National Family Planning Blueprint.
She added that, other policies the government relied on to achieve the FP2020 were the National Task Shifting and Task Sharing Policy (TSTS), the National Policy on Health and Development of Adolescents and Young People, Strategic Plan for DMPA-SC Introduction and Scale-Up, as well as the National Private Sector Engagement Plan.
Dorayi further stated that, championing Family Planning policies at the sub-national levels would drive down costs of their formulation and fill the capacity gaps in their successful implementation across the country.
She added that the National Health Policies, Strategies and Plans play an essential role in defining a country’s vision, policy directions and strategies toward ensuring the health of its population.
While noting that “in order to prepare for, manage and learn from shocks and other emerging global and national threats; health policies need to be fully implemented. The policies are, however, at different stages of implementation.”
According to her, the national policies are collectively aimed at prioritising funding for Family Planning, increase demand for and access to services to all, including rural communities, and quality services in public and private health facilities.
The policies would also help in increasing national and state mCPR, reduce maternal and child mortality and ensure overall health and economic benefits, she said.
Dorayi, therefore, advised full implementation of the policies to “build back better” in the aftermath of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country, stressing the need for holistic inclusion of all actors, including subnational stakeholders and local CSOs in the implementation of policies.
She, also stated that the role of the media in advocating for full implementation of relevant policies cannot be overemphasised.
Pathfinder International, which has “sexual and reproductive health without fear or boundary” as its motto, is a global non-profit organisation that focuses on reproductive health, family planning, HIV/AIDS prevention and care, and maternal health.
The meeting between the Federal Government and the Organized labour on the battle of the recent twin increase on the price of premium motor spirit PMS and electricity tariff seems to be having a head way, as the Meeting has been adjourned to Monday 7th December 2020 to allowed the federal government do proper consultation on the pump price of petrol.
Briefing journalists after a long close door meeting that lasted till twelve midnight, the minister of labor and employment said that a lot of progress was achieved.
He said that the organized labor is insisting on the reversal of the new pump price to statusquo.
He said there was need to consult the principal players from the government side. ” we are going back to consult with our principal, will come back by Monday 7th December. The message from organized labour is clear, they want reversal of the pump price to what it was. No fixing of price of PMS anymore because its deregulated but its part of the economy, government side will consult everybody that needs to be consulted, the President as Minister of Petroleum and then the economic management team”.
On electricity tariff he said “The electricity industry, there is a committee that is working headed by the Minister of State for labour and Employment. Infact next week we will use the opportunity and take on fuel visit to different discos in Nigeria and come back with a more comprehensive report”
The President Trade Union Congress Comrade Quadri Olaleye who confirmed to journalists said that labour is insisting on the reversal of PMS Product.
“NNPC and Ministry of Petroleum to do proper consultation for reversal of fuel price to what it was before, the meeting has been adjourned till Monday 7th December”.
The Independent Corrupt Practices And Other Offences Commission (ICPC) has commended the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NiMet) for the structures and processes put in place to ensure the promotion of ethical standards and anti-corruption fight in the agency. In a statement Signed by the Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation James Odaudu, the Commission commended the agency for creating the right environment for the effective functioning of the Anti-corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), thus promoting the ideals of the ICPC.
A letter personally signed by the ICPC Chairman, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye stated that the agency scored 69.9% during the 2020 deployment of the Ethics and Compliance Scorecard and the ACTU Effectiveness Index (AEI).
“Recall that the Commission, under section 6(b) – (d) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, carried out the 2020 deployment of the Ethics and Compliance Scorecard (ECS) and the ACTU Effectiveness Index (AEI). “Your documents were analysed and the result revealed a score of 69.9 % which conotes partial compliance on the ECS and a Very Effective status on the AEI”. “The Commission commends your organisation for the structures and processes you have in place which promote efficiency”.
The ICPC Chairman urged the agency to maintain the standards and not derogate from them, while also improving on certain areas like; Ethics and Compliance training to identify corruption vulnerabilities and mitigation mechanisms and effective whistle-blowing mechanisms.
Other areas include the continued support for the Anti-corruption and Transparency Unit, development of a clear policy to guide acceptance of gifts, hospitality and donations by staff and putting in place a system for staff to understand the core values of the agency.
Reacting to the Commission’s commendation, the Director-General of NiMet, Professor Sani Abubakar Mashi described it as a good development that would spur the agency to do more in the area of anti-corruption fights.
According to him, the agency has been able to record major achievements with the encouragement of the Minister of Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika, whose commitment and leadership continues to propel the sector to higher altitudes.
“This is a new locomotive that has gone bad, even if we have the expertise to repair it and we do have this expertise, the truth is that NRC has sent engineers to fix it, but we should be worried that brand new locomotives that we bought failed. We are saying this is brand new, it shouldn’t fail by now, it should be failing after 3 to 5 years. There is a warranty and we have to call them back” On the pace of work he said “There is a need to increase the pace of work. They were doing well, but the pace of work has slowed down. Covid is no longer an excuse, they have worked for three months, we insist, the perm sec myself chairman of NRC, and MD Railway and agreed that the tech committee should meet with them Tomorrow to ensure that they put measures that the pace of work is increased so that by d next time we come here for inspection, we will see a huge improvement. They gave covid as an excuse for cutting down the number of workers but if you wear your mask and sanitize your hands, you will reduce the risk of infection”.
The Minister Of Transportation Hon. Rotimi Amaechi says that the newly acquired Abuja to Kaduna locomotives would be returned to China due to malfunctions. Amaechi gave the hint in Lagos at the inspection tour of Lagos-Ibadan rail line. He regrets that the newly acquired locomotives which are still under warranty are already developing faults within a short space of time. He said he has already ordered for the returned of the failed locomotives to its manufacturers China. The Minister apologized to Nigeria over the inconveniences this might cause. He commended the China Civil Engineering Construction Company CCECC for the job done so far, but task the contractors to increase their pace of work in order to meet up with the targeted date. He said himself, the permanent secretary, chairman of NRC, and MD Railway will be meeting with the technical committee tomorrow to ensure that they put measures that will increase the pace of work before the next inspection. On the faulty Abuja-Kaduna locomotives he said ” I will like to apologise to Nigerians over what’s happening at Abuja to kaduna line, Its worrisome in the sense that they are brand new locomotives, We may be forced to bring back our old locomotives, the locomotives are under warranty. We have called the chinese to come back for the locomotives that are bad or have failed more than two or three times and the response to that on behalf of government and on behalf of the ministry and NRC, we apologize to Nigerians and we have told NRC to either fix it or get the chinese to fix it. And if that is happening, then they should bring back the old locomotives. It may therefore affect the number of times we are able to run because we just brought those locomotives to increase passenger services”.
The Nigeria Labor Congress has accused the Federal Government of not being sincere and honest in finding a lasting solution to the lingering issue of petroleum price hike and electricity tariffs. In a speech jointly signed by the General secretary NLC Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja and his TUC counterpart Comrade Musa Lawal read to journalists at a world press conference.
They informed journalists that there is a breakdown in dialogue between government and organized labor. They said labour staged a walk out yesterday due to Federal government’s recalcitrant attitude towards the issue. He further said that the recent hike in petroleum product by government while negotiation is ongoing, is not only a violation of fundamental terms of its agreement with labour, but also in bad fait calculated to frustrate the process of an amicable resolution.
“it is clear that government is not prepared for a sincere and honest dialogue on finding a lasting solution to the twin issues of petroleum price increase and electricity tariffs. And this is in spite of the patriotic understanding of labour which has drawn the flak of the public which think we are not doing enough to protect their interests on the issues of petroleum products and electricity tariffs”.
“You may recall that following our notice to government to protest the increase in the pump price of petroleum products and electricity tariffs, government reached out to labour not to proceed on its nation-wide protest, that was slated for 28th September 2020”.
“Terms and conditions for putting the protest on hold were clearly spelt out in the Memorandum of Understanding. The conditions include fixing the existing refineries, entrusting them to efficient managements, creating an enabling environment for new refineries, and doing all positive things that would ensure enhanced and sustainable local refining capacity”.
“Nothing in the agreement gives government license to embark upon pain-inducing and life-crippling increase in pump price of products at this difficult time, indeed, the letter and spirit of the terms and conditions of the agreement presuppose that contemplation of an increase or an increase would constitute a breach of the dialogue process”.
“Whilst the Committee was still working the government had not taken any step to revitalise the local refineries and has flagrantly refused to discuss this with the unions in the oil and gas sector as agreed. At our meeting yesterday, we had prioritised as urgent this matter before delving into the issue of palliatives. However, the Honourable Minister of Labour, Dr Chris did not think it was important. All efforts to make him see reason failed. Given the tense situation and government’s manifest insensitivity, labour has no option other than a walk out.”
Despite the ongoing industrial action by the Nigerian Universities by members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Federal government has opted for the process of registering a rival union comprising of University lecturers.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, disclosed this in Abuja when the leadership of Congress of University Academics (CONUA), a faction of the ASUU led by its National Coordinator, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, paid him a courtesy visit.
Commending the university lecturers for initiating the process to register the union, the minister lamented the negative impact the ongoing strike by ASUU has had on the educational development of the country.
He revealed that he had earlier constituted a committee to review CONUA application for registration, he said the Committee has been given four weeks to submit their report to the ministry.
“We are receiving you in audience formally today in this ministry. We have the right to receive associations of persons that are workers, weather we have registered them or not, just as you have the right to apply for registration who is the lawful thing to do.
“We have the right to receive and hold meetings with you. They journey to have you registered have just started.
“You have done the right thing by applying and this ministry has also done the right thing by processing your registration.
“The review of your application for registration is ongoing now. I have put up a committee to look into that review. I would ask that Committee to wind up their work and we are giving them four week from today to turn in their report within four weeks from today to the ministry. Part of our jobs here is to register unions and part of our job is to also to make sure that unions that are not functional anymore can be helped.” Said Ngige
Earlier, the National Coordinator CONUA Dr. Sunmonu said that association has rapid growth of membership from various Universities across the country since it’s establishment in February 2018.
He explained that CONUA was established due to irreconcilable differences between its members and ASUU.
“CONUA members are not members of ASUU and we are not ready to be part of ASUU because of ill irreconcilable differences and modes of operation and because ASUU no longer represent our interest and aspirations rather CONUA fits to be described as group of people who are independent academics and who have decided to come together to form a union for our teaming members and solely for the purpose of advancement of education in Nigeria.” He said
Sunmonu further condemned in strong terms the prolonged strike in the university system noting that unions should choose to engage the government constructively rather than down tools every time considering the negative effect it has on the educational system of the country.
Accordingly, he noted that when CONUA is finally registered, constructive engage with the government would be their watch word
He said “the government cannot see what we see and we will not see what the government see but when we have our mind made up in a constructive manner we will come to a reasonable agreement to further progress our universities and for the advancement of the nation.
“We want to ensure seamless and uninterrupted academic calendar in the university system.
“This strike has done more damage than good. As academics and researchers, we are supposed to have evaluated the effect of the strike on our institutions and especially on our collective psychic.
“From the preliminary report that we have, the strike has done more harm than good to our universities. Nigerian Universities should rank comfortably with any other university in any part of the world.” Said Sunmonu
On the issue of IPPIS, he revealed that most of its members have indicated interest to register in the platform but due to series of threats they are unable to register.
He however, appealed to the Minister to provide a conducive environment for its members to undergo the registration process without any confrontation.
“There are some of our members who are interested in registering under IPPIS but they are being threatened.”
UNICEF in a new report released today, has warned of significant and growing consequences for children as the COVID-19 pandemic lurches toward a second year.
In a statement issued by UNICEF Communications Specialist, Mr Geoffrey Njoku shows that while symptoms among infected children remain mild, infections are rising and the longer-term impact on the education, nutrition and well-being of an entire generation of children and young people can be life-altering.
Released just ahead of World Children’s Day on 20 November, Averting a Lost COVID Generation is the first UNICEF report to comprehensively outline the dire and growing consequences for children as the pandemic drags on.
Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria hinted that, “Since the pandemic started, there has been a false belief that children are not affected by COVID-19.
“Nothing can be further from the truth, including in Nigeria. While children are less likely to have severe symptoms of illness, they can be infected – and the biggest impact by far is the disruptions to key services and increasing poverty rates, which are both having a huge impact on Nigerian children’s education, health, nutrition and well-being. The future of an entire generation is at risk – globally and in Nigeria.”
The new UNICEF report finds that, as of 3 November, in 87 countries with age-disaggregated data, children and adolescents under 20 years of age accounted for 1 in 9 of COVID-19 infections, or 11 per cent of the 25.7 million infections reported by these countries. In Nigeria, children in the same age group accounted for 1 in 10 infections, or 11.3 percent of total infections.
While children can transmit the virus to each other and to older age groups, there is strong evidence that, with basic safety measures in place, the net benefits of keeping schools open outweigh the costs of closing them, the report notes. Schools are not a main driver of community transmission, and children are more likely to get the virus outside of school settings.
COVID-related disruptions to critical health and social services for children pose the most serious threat to children, the report says. Using new data from UNICEF surveys across 140 countries, it notes that: Around one-third of the countries analyzed witnessed a drop of at least 10 per cent in coverage for health services such as routine vaccinations, outpatient care for childhood infectious diseases, and maternal health services. Fear of infection is a prominent reason. In Nigeria, the drop was between 17 percent and 22.5 percent for select services, compared to figures from 2019 in the same period, and is variable across the country.
There is a 40 per cent decline in the coverage of nutrition services for women and children across 135 countries. In Nigeria, that decline is estimated at 35 percent; 65 countries reported a decrease in home visits by social workers in September 2020, compared to the same time last year – including Nigeria.
More alarming data from the report include:As of November 2020, 572 million students are affected across 30 country-wide school closures – 33 per cent of the enrolled students worldwide.
An estimated 2 million additional child deaths and 200,000 additional stillbirths could occur over a 12-month period with severe interruptions to services and rising malnutrition.
An additional 6 to 7 million children under the age of 5 will suffer from wasting or acute malnutrition in 2020, a 14 per cent rise that will translate into more than 10,000 additional child deaths per month – mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Globally, the number of children living in multidimensional poverty – without access to education, health, housing, nutrition, sanitation or water – is estimated to have soared by 15 per cent, or an additional 150 million children by mid-2020.
To respond to this crisis, UNICEF is calling on all governments and partners to: Ensure all children learn, including by closing the digital divide.
Guarantee access to nutrition and health services and make vaccines affordable and available to every child.
Support and protect the mental health of children and young people and bring an end to abuse, gender-based violence and neglect in childhood.
Increase access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene and address environmental degradation and climate change.
Reverse the rise in child poverty and ensure an inclusive recovery for all.
Redouble efforts to protect and support children and their families living through conflict, disaster and displacement.
UNICEF Nigeria will commemorate World Children’s Day in Nigeria by amplifying the voices of children and young people calling for improvements in the situation of children in Nigeria, many of whom are playing an active role in their communities to help bring about that change.
UNICEF Nigeria will also introduce two new animated characters to Nigeria – “Lara and Ali” – who will bring regular messages to children about important child rights issues in a fun and educative way.
“World Children’s Day is an important day to commemorate but also recommit ourselves to addressing the rights and needs of children in Nigeria,” said Peter Hawkins. “We are asking the government, partners and the private sector to listen to children and young people about the Nigeria they want to see for themselves and their futures, and prioritize their needs. As we look ahead to a post-COVID-19 world, children must come first.”
