The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, has said that it has refunded the sum of Seventy Four Million, Five Hundred and Forty Nine Thousand Naira (N74,549,000.00) to 2020 Intending Pilgrims who requested to collect back their deposit.
The Spokesperson of the Board, Muhammad Lawal Aliyu gave the revelation in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja.
According to him , a total of 74 intending pilgrims who made deposit to the Board in respect of the 2020 Hajj that could not hold due to Covid-19 pandemic have so far collected their money.
The Public Relations Officer, however, advised Intending Pilgrims who have made deposit and are still willing to collect their money to do so before the end of this month as the Board is finalizing arrangements for the commencement of registration for 2021 Hajj exercise from 9th of September as directed by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
He further stated that , the refund of money collected is a continuous exercise but emphasised the need for early declaration of interest in order not to derail preparation for the forthcoming Hajj operation.
He also disclosed that all deposits not claimed would automatically be rolled-over as deposit against 2021 Hajj exercise.
Lawal added that, prospective Intending Pilgrims who wish to perform the 2021 Hajj through the Board can deposit a minimum of N1,000,000.00 (one million Naira) only via a Bank Draft payable to the “FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board Abuja” before the release of the actual fare by the Federal Government.
The statement also warned all intending pilgrims who are yet to return their completed application forms or submit their International Passport to do so to enable the Board facilitate early registration formalities and process their travel documents.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has hinted that the Federal Government has beginning to see a situation where the number of those treated for Covid-19 and discharged exceeds the number of positive cases detected.
While these figures may seem reassuring, they may be deceptive, and we cannot assume that the curve is flattening, since we are yet to perfect due diligence on our side, he added.
The Minister gave this hint on Monday at the Presidential Task Force briefing on Covid-19 , in Abuja, saying, testing has, for example, dropped quite significantly, due to reduced sample collection across many States, for reasons that are not clear in all cases.
According to him; “Lagos, for example, tested over 35 thousand in July and just under 20 thousand in August, while Kano dropped from 23 thousand in July to just under 4 thousand in August. These are just examples that show that there is more work to do and many more challenges ahead. I shall commission a study group of the Ministerial Experts Advisory Committee to begin processes to examine this development, to bring up new knowledge which can guide response or may have an implication on government decision making.
“With a total of 1,013 deaths recorded so far, the case fatality rate has also dropped slightly to 1.88%, the gradual fall is possibly an indication of improvement in response and treatment strategies to contain covid-19 and also a common global trend. As long as we still record deaths from this disease, there is no room for complacency until we meet our goal to reduce fatality rate to less than 1%.
“Our target is to test 2 million Nigerians for covid-19, of which we have achieved barely a quarter and to scale up to 4 million persons. For this, collaboration with State and FCT health sector structures is crucial. We urge all State organs not to relent in strengthening surveillance and setting up sample collection sites in all LGAs, and even in all wards of the hotspot LGAs”, he further stated.
Ehanire stated that, in the past 24 hours, we recorded just 138 COVID-19 positive cases in Nigeria, one of the lowest numbers in many months, giving a total of 53,865 positive cases out of 403,347 tests conducted as of August 31, 2020. In the same 24 hour period, 199 persons were discharged from hospital, giving us total successful treatment of 41,513 patients.
He added that, the logistics for sample retrieval and testing must be assured, as the Federal government makes provision for at least one laboratory in every State, with only Niger, Kebbi and Taraba now outstanding. Most of the laboratories are, however operating well below capacity. Plans have been concluded to set up and optimize laboratories in all states.
He also said that, as plans for Lagos and Abuja airports to reopen for commercial international flights become reality, we must raise our vigilance level. It is our collective interest and responsibility to guard against new cases entering our country undetected. In this regard, we must review our protocols to ensure early detection, isolation and treatment of any positive case. While this protocol may cause inconvenience, like delays at the airport, it is a small price to pay for our safely and health, especially for travellers. Our contribution as individuals is simple: to keep each other safe by wearing our masks and observing social measures.
The Minister, they strive to bring COVID-19 under control, we endeavour to keep our eyes on other diseases that contribute to mortality, especially of women and children in Nigeria. Malaria is one such example, for which we continue to strengthen routine services in our primary health care facilities.
He added that, this morning, we disseminated the report of 2018 Malaria Therapeutic Efficacy Studies (TES) for three artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT), which were tested in Enugu, Kano and Plateau States. These studies are conducted at interval, to detect drug resistance to malaria parasite, early enough to have treatment that works.
According to him, the findings from the study show the three ACTs to be efficacious against uncomplicated malaria, though there have been reports of malaria parasite resistance to Artemisinin in some Asian countries. No resistance was observed in studies done in Nigeria. It is wise to test all fever cases and be sure it is malaria, and to treat only confirmed cases with Artemisinin Combination Therapies (ACTs).
The Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye has revealed that, there is possibility that chloroquine could effectively treat Covid-19 at the early stage of infection.
She buttressed her point, saying, a research shown that chloroquine is effective for the treatment of COVID-19 at the early stage of infection.
While adding that, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had earlier hinted that the drugs may not be effective for the infection.
The NAFDAC boss gave this hint, during a virtual news conference in Abuja, saying, “In June, the FDA withdrew its approval for the emergency use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19.
She added that; “chloroquine can be used prophylactically and that countries like Ghana and Senegal have also embraced the clinical use of chloroquine for treatment.
“It is not only one drug that is effective for COVID-19 treatment but that it depends on the stage and the phases of the disease.
“On March 20, this year, I had a press briefing. At that time, people did not understand what clinical trial treatment meant. Once they hear treatment, they think you can use it anyhow. But clinical trial treatment is a research study to see whether the drug will work or not.
“In the press briefing, I said I was going through literature to see what others have done and I saw in a particular literature, a reliable publication of an article, about chloroquine and remdesivir.
Adeyeye continued; “They said in the cell culture, remdesivir and chloroquine killed COVID-19 viruses, that is, invitro – in the laboratory. But you cannot translate that to humans unless a clinical trial is done.
“I kept looking. About two weeks or so later in early March; there was a publication where 100 patients were treated with chloroquine across ten hospitals in six cities, including Wuhan. It said that all of them recovered from the symptoms. They called it that time pneumonia symptom.
“In the cells; in the lab, remdesivir and chloroquine killed COVID-19. We did not know that the disease has four stages that include pre-exposure, early-stage, severe stage and post-infection.
“At what stage would they be more effective? We didn’t know at that point. Now, we are realising that chloroquine is effective at the early stage”, she explained.
Adeyeye added that reports have also shown that remdesivir works at the last stage of the infection.
She, however, noted that the cost of treating a patient with chloroquine was cheaper than remdesivir.
NAFDAC boss added that, “Now we are talking of remdesivir. We met with Gilead , the maker of remdesivir about two months ago and they came. They said they have licensed their drug to five Indian companies and one Pakistani company,” she said.
She revealed that, “To treat an average patient will cost about $10 with chloroquine and cost about $2,500 with remdesivir.
His Imperial Majesty, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has appealed to the Federal , State Governments, the National and State Assemblies to rise up to the new challenge by providing the needed funding, legislative and Policy support to jump start African Traditional Medicines (ATM).
The Oba also recommended to the National and State Assemblies nation wide to appropriate money for research and development of ATM in the 2021 Budget.
Saying, the current economic downturn occasioned by Covid-19 pandemic compels us to seek effective diversification of the economy, while enjoining the Central Bank of Nigeria and Bank of Industry to set aside special grants for the development of ATM.
He made this known at a press conference to celebrate the African Traditional Medicine Day and Launch of the Pan African Foundation for Traditional Medical Research and Development (PAFIMERD).
He, however, noted that Covid-19 pandemic has created a new opportunity and virile conditions for our Indigenous herbal medicines to thrive.
While hinting that, he sought ways of ameliorating the sufferings Nigerians and stop avoidable deaths of our People through promotion and Development of African Traditional Medicines.
According to His Imperial Majesty ; “I am happy to announce that My Virasol herbal Medicine is one of the over 40 herbal Medicines submitted to NAFDAC for registration as immune booster against Covid-19 disease. I am very glad the herbal remedy has passed NAFDAC Laboratory tests and the registration number will be out this week.
“The Virsol immune boosting herbal medicine is one of the series of herbal remedies developed under the aegis of my new initiative , Pan African Foundation for Indigenous Medical Research and Development (PAFIMERD) for which I am launching today to the glory of Almighty God.
“The PAFIMERD has the following noble objectives: To create a formidable and virile organisation and platform for the promotion and growth of African Traditional Medicine (ATM); To conduct and support research and development of African Medicine especially herbal medicines; To mobilise and create an African wide Intervention Fund for research and development of ATM.
“To initiate and support policies, laws and regulations for the growth of ATM; To undertake any other activity geared towards promoting the growth of ATM; andTo serve as a rallying point and clearing house for all private initiatives and Researches in ATM.”
Oba Ogunwusi added that, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has set aside 31st August for the Celebration of Africa Traditional Medicine every year. This year’s celebration is historic in the sense that the global covid-19 pandemic which ravaged the world in the last six months has brought to the front burner the significance and strategic importance of Africa Traditional Medicine to our healthcare delivery systems in Nigeria and Africa at large.
He further stated that, the Covid-19 pandemic has challenged and put on trial orthodox Medicines and repositioned African Traditional Medicines as credible alternative sources of therapy and cure for several illnesses and diseases.
He stated that , PAFIMERD is in the process of signing an MoU with National Institute for Pharmaceuticals Research and Development (NIPRD).
The NIPRD Director General, Dr Obi Adigwe has been a great source of inspiration for the Foundation and we shall be collaborating to harness the huge potentials of our Indigenous herbal medicines which should naturally be a major source of foreign exchange earning like in China and India, he added.
He, however, noted that he is optimistic that with a strong collaboration between PAFIMERD, NIPRD and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control ( NAFDAC) we shall soon change the negative narrative of our African Traditional Medicine and reposition it as a major foreign exchange earner to the Country.
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who is also the Chairman of the National Council on Nutrition has highlighted poverty as a major factor exacerbating malnutrition.
According to him, poverty has been worsened by COVID-19 pandemic and the displacement of large populations as a result of banditry and insurgency.
He made this known at the virtual National Nutrition Summit held yesterday in Abuja.
The Vice President, however, identified the 2016 review of the National Nutrition Policy and the 2017 reconstitution of the National Council on Nutrition as major steps that the government has taken to turn the tide on the issue of nutrition in addition to progressive increases in nutrition allocations.
He commended the conference for what he described as “important conversation on Nutrition”.
Earlier, the wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Oludolapo Osinbajo, who represented First Lady of Nigeria, Dr. Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari charged stakeholders to end the scourge of malnutrition ravaging Nigerian children so that they can survive, thrive and possess the requisite cognitive ability to handle the future. To ignore this, she said, is to mortgage our future, “because tomorrow, we would not have competent young adults to run government, businesses or even academia.”
While adding that; “By now we are certain that the Government and people of Nigeria are not oblivious of the nutrition situation in the country. We have also made some progress in recent years, especially having more stakeholders talking about Nutrition, and getting more nutrition-sensitive budget lines at Federal and State levels.”
Mrs. Buhari also drew attention to the current global pandemic, which has worsened the situation by moving all attention and resources towards the containment of the COVID -19 virus, and unconsciously excluding vulnerable children in the process. She stated that their lives are equally as important.
She, however, expressed hope that all stakeholders will strengthen their resolve to make and follow through with their commitments on Nutrition.
Other speakers at the event includes the Minister of Health, Prof. Osagie Ehanire and Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba; both stated that there is clear relationship between malnutrition and underdevelopment with Nigeria having the highest rates of malnutrition in Africa and second highest in the world, calling for more concerted effort to address this negative trend.
Dr Osagie Ehanire, the Minister of Health has revealed that suspected COVID-19 emergencies can now be diagnosed on site.
According to him, this will drastically reduce Turn around and waiting Time, and allow better utilization of Observation rooms.
Ehanire gave this revelation at the Presidential Task Force briefing on Covid-19 on Thursday in Abuja, saying, we are continuing with plans to reduce case fatality rate to less than 1%, by optimizing response activities and cooperation with States according to the challenges they have.
While adding that, a new state molecular laboratory is currently being optimized in Kebbi and Bayelsa States, while a Gene Expert machine have been set up at National Hospital Abuja and the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada, as was announced some weeks ago.
This means that suspected COVID-19 emergencies can now be diagnosed on site, which will drastically reduce Turn around and waiting Time, and allow better utilization of Observation rooms.
He stated that, this is a major advancement in handling distress experienced by patients arriving as emergencies in these hospitals. The UATH has also found access to supplementary medical oxygen supply, courtesy of the generosity of the Nigeria Air Force, who has a good oxygen plant in Yola.
As at today, 27th August, 2020, we have recorded 53,021 COVID-19 positive cases out of 391,502 samples tested while 40,281 persons have been treated and discharged. Sadly, we have lost 1,010 persons to the virus with a case fatality rate of 1.9%
Ehanire added, they be deploying material and human resource assets from the polio eradication to surveillance and fighting other disease outbreaks, including the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
While adding that, they shall sustain our interest in developments around covid-19 around the world and seek opportunities to exchange ideas with countries and organizations investing in new knowledge.
He further added that, training and retraining on infection prevention and Control is ongoing in all our facilities as well as ensuring availability of PPEs as an investment to continue the reduction in health worker infections. He also called on health workers to ensure judicious and prudent use of these PPEs materials, while observing full IPC measures.
Finally, I wish to remind all of us that COVID-19 is still with us and will be for the foreseeable future, till there is a vaccine available for it. We are exploring all options and opportunities to ensure that when vaccines are available Nigerians will be among beneficiaries. This includes assisting NAFDAC to reach the International Maturity Level to assure products and processes, and encouraging our researchers to work towards the development of vaccine candidates.
With the imperative to reopen our economy, relax local and international air travel to support restoration of livelihoods, the experience in other countries is that covid infection rates have gone up, in some cases, dramatically. We must strive therefore, not to lose our attention to preserving lives or lose the gains we have made over the months. The onus lies not only with the Ministry of Health, but is a shared responsibility with the populace.
Our safest, easiest and cheapest option of achieving a balance remains adherence to non-pharmaceutical measures, as we have preached so many times. With these measures, we can balance or uphold our indices.
The body of one Mr. Garba Joseph, 43 year old from Akoka-Edo of Edo State, has been recovered by the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA’s) Search and Rescue team after two days intensive search from a flooded river around TradeMoore Estate, Lugbe, in Abuja
This is as the Director General FCT FEMA, Alh. Idriss Abbas again warned FCT residents to avoid flooded areas to avert the dangers of falling victims of flood.
Saddened by the unfortunate incident, Abbas emphasised the need for residents to adhere to instructions and early warnings from relevant authorities, adding that attitudinal change is the key to reducing disasters to the barest minimum in the FCT.
An eye witness account (one of FEMA’s volunteer/vanguard Kenneth Chima) while narrating the incident said “they were four men that tried walking through the water and I kept warning them to go back, three of them went back but only this man insisted on crossing, unfortunately the water overpowered him and washed him away” he said
Abbas, however, decried the increasing rate of flood in the FCT which he attributed to residents’ apathy towards government’s directives and early warnings. This is also despite FEMA’s consistent sensitizations based on NIMET & NIHSA predictions of torrential rainfall and dangers of flooding.
The FEMA DG said NIHSA’s most recent predictions has warned of torrential rainfall and floodindings from August,2020 and that the Agency has been carrying out aggressive sensitization of residents to educate them on ways to prevent the impending flood. He said FEMA is conducting this exercise in five different indigenous languages in the FCT using different media channels.
“Furthermore, we recently organized a meeting with our Volunteers, Vangards and Divers from all the area Councils within the FCT to educate them on how they can sensitize their people on how to prevent disasters to minimize loss of lives and properties. We have embarked on community to community flood sensitization campaigns in the FCT and also mounted billboards at all the flood prone points warning off and cautioning residents from these danger areas.” The FEMA Boss asserted.
According to him “most of the deaths we have recorded in the past from flood in the FCT were as a result of non-compliance to instructions and early warnings. Alh.Idriss emphasized the Agency’s commitment to reducing disasters to a barest minimum in the FCT, and called on residents to complement the efforts of the FCT Administration by doing the needful.
He also advised residents not to underestimate the strength of water when it is flooded “what we are experiencing now is flash flood, the water builds up speedily and comes unnoticed hence very dangerous.” He explained.
Abbas appealed to residents to desist from unwholesome environmental practices especially indiscriminate waste disposal on water ways, building on flood plains, as these could block water ways and lead to flooding.He further called on community leaders, religious leaders to be charged with the responsibility of sensitizing their subjects, especially those who are living close to flood prone areas to move to higher grounds to avoid being washed away by flood water, adding that relevant authorities have been on their toes evacuating refuse around the FCT, distilling drainages and expanding narrow water channels to enable free flow of water for a safer FCT
He also urged residents and developers to always ensure they follow approved building plans and desist from manipulating the building plans to suit their own personal interest, in turn endangering their lives.
Saying, “Some of the houses affected by flood are Houses that their owners try to extend the fence of the house to the embankments of the rivers close to them, just to add a few meters to their originally approved plot” he said. He called on developers to respect the Abuja Master plan and follow due process before embarking on any building project to avoid endangering lives and properties in the FCT, stressing that disaster management is a collective effort from Government and the Governed
He added that, all hands to be on deck and that residents should complement the efforts of the FCT Administration to reduce disasters to the barest minimum. He also advised residents to always call the 3 digits toll-free emergency number 112 for prompt response to any emergency.
While sympathizing with the family of the victim, Abbas assured residents of the commitment of the FCT Administration in reducing disasters to the barest minimum, stressing that FEMA advocates prevention and mitigation rather than relief. The body of the victim has since been laid to rest at Lugbe cemetery by his family.
In another development a combined team of FEMA, NEMA, The Nigeria Police, NSCDC, and Spcial Force have successfully rescued the 3 trapped occupants of a truck loaded with breverage products, that crashed into a residential building in Madala FCT , in the early hours of Saturday. The victims who sustained several degrees of injuries have since been taken to the Zuba General hospital for treatment.
Speaking in reaction to the incident, the DG FEMA, Alh. Idriss Abbas has called on motorist plying the roads to apply more caution by reducing speed when driving ,to avert more accidents as the roads have become logged with water and very slippery due to the persistent and heavy rain falls in this rainy season.
The Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye has hinted that, the agency has taken the fight against importation of substandard and fake products to China and India.
She added that the agency had to remove two Clean Report Inspection (CRI) Agents because they indulged in facilitating illicit drugs to Nigeria.
She made this known at a press conference yesterday in Abuja, while saying, the agency would no longer tolerate importation of substandard goods anymore.
According to NAFDAC boss, “Last year, I was in India and China to examine some of their laboratories where goods meant for importation to Nigeria are tested.
“In these countries, they have Clean Report Inspection (CRI) Agents who certify these products before they are shipped to Nigeria. We had to remove two of the CRI Agents because we found them culpable in allowing substandard drugs to come to Nigeria. We told them in China and India that we don’t want substandard goods in Nigeria anymore”.
“For seven years when the agency was not at the ports, importers of fake and substandard drugs were having a field day bringing in dangerous products into the country. Our children were going wacko due to drug abuse that was almost becoming a normal thing in this country.
She continued; “In May of 2018, our officials returned to the ports and gave importers of these illicit drugs a run for their money. Many containers of Tramadol were impounded by NAFDAC and destroyed. To destroy a container of Tramadol cost between one million to two million naira.
“Importers of these illicit drugs, when it dawned on them that we are back at the ports, started diverting some of these shipments to neighbouring countries in the West African sub-region. We went after them in these countries and still seized their shipments.
“As I speak, five containers of Tramadol meant for the Nigerian market are in the Benin Republic. The Nigerian Ambassador over there is currently making efforts to bring those consignments here for destruction. The NAFDAC Directorate at the port is up and running”, she said.
In an effort to find safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines , countries in Africa are signing up to a ground-breaking initiative, which aims to secure at least 220 million doses of the vaccine for the continent, once licensed and approved.
Thus noble initiative was made known in a press statement made available to journalists in Abuja by World Health Organisation (WHO) Nigeria stated that, all 54 countries on the continent have expressed interest in COVAX, a global initiative which is co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The partners are working with governments and manufacturers to procure enough vaccine doses to protect the most vulnerable populations on the continent. Through the Gavi-coordinated COVAX Facility, the initiative seeks to ensure access for all: both higher and middle-income countries which will self-finance their own participation, and lower-middle income and low-income countries which will have their participation supported by the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC).
There are eight countries in Africa that have agreed to self-finance their vaccine doses through the COVAX Facility. This expression of interest will turn into binding commitments to join the initiative by 18 September, with upfront payments to follow no later than 9 October 2020.
The Vice Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Equatorial Guinea, Mitoha Ondo’O Ayekaba said, “Equatorial Guinea has signed up to COVAX as it’s the most effective way to ensure that our people can access COVID-19 vaccines”.
“We are concerned as some wealthier countries have made moves to secure their own interests. We believe that through this initiative we can access successfully tested vaccines in a timely manner and at lower cost.”
In addition, 46 countries in Africa are eligible for support from the financing instrument, the COVAX AMC which has raised approximately US$ 700 million against an initial target of securing US$ 2 billion seed funding from high-income donor countries, as well as private sector and philanthropists by the end of 2020.
Also, the WHO Regional Director for Africa , Dr Matshidiso Moeti said “COVAX is a ground-breaking global initiative which will include African countries and ensure they are not left at the back of the queue for COVID-19 vaccines” .
“By reaching beyond the continent to work together with other governments and manufacturers on a global scale and pooling buying power, countries can protect the people most vulnerable to the disease in Africa.”
CEPI is leading COVAX vaccine research and aims to develop up to three safe and effective vaccines which will be made available to countries participating in the COVAX Facility. Nine candidate vaccines are currently being supported by CEPI; two are currently being tested in South Africa, in addition to other regions around the world.
Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer, CEPI , Dr Richard Hatchett stated that, “It’s critical that countries in Africa participate in vaccine trials, in addition to the clinical trials taking place in other regions of the world,” “Testing vaccines on the continent ensures that sufficient data is generated on the safety and efficacy of the most promising vaccine candidates for the African population so they can be confidently rolled out in Africa once vaccines are approved. CEPI is investing in the research and development of a diverse range of vaccine candidates, with the aim of delivering safe and effective vaccines to those who need them most through COVAX.”
Through COVAX, vaccines that have passed regulatory approval or WHO prequalification will be delivered equally to all participating countries, proportional to their populations. Health workers and other vulnerable populations will be prioritized and then vaccine availability will expand to cover additional priority populations in participating countries.
African countries will need to have in place the right systems and infrastructure to define the regulatory and ethical pathways for a quick approval of a candidate vaccine. They will need to have logistics and supply chain systems which can reach not only the traditional target populations for routine immunizations and campaigns but be ready to vaccinate a much larger target population.
Programme Area Manager, Immunization and Vaccine Development, Programme Area Manager, Immunization and Vaccine Development, WHO Regional Office for Africa, Dr Richard Mihigo added that, “To roll out a vaccine effectively across countries in Africa, it is critical that communities are engaged and understand the need for vaccination” .
“It is important to already start working with communities to prepare the way for one of the largest vaccination campaigns Africa has ever experienced.”
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned in strong terms the deployment of violence against workers by Rivers State Government.
Addressing newsmen at a press briefing, the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said the attack on the leaders of NLC in Rivers State was a well calculated attempt to decimate the leadership of labour in Rivers State.
While adding that, workers will never succumb to the scare tactics. As we will continue to hold Governor Wike accountable and bring him to justice even after the expiration of his current tenure in office, should any slightest harm come to any worker during the planned protest.
According to him; “If by September 8, the Rivers State Government fails to do the needful, the labour union will be left with no other option than to shut down economic activities in Rivers State.
“The protest is to draw the attention of all to the following in Rivers State: Act of lawlessness by sealing off the NLC Rivers State Council; non payment of gratuity and pensions to pensioners since 2015; refusal to negotiate with workers’ organizations on salary adjustments consequent on the new national minimum wage and other labor issues in the state.
” Nigerian workers are not cowed and will never be cowed by the cowardly actions of Mr. Wike to cower our voices. Workers will never succumb to his scare tactics. We will continue to demand that the rights of our workers in the workplace, their safety and the sanctity of their lives must be respected always both by government and private sector employers”, Ayuba stressed .
