NLC Suspends Strike, Seals Deal For Workers

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September 28, 2020

The Nigeria Labor Congress has suspended it’s planned strike on Monday 28th September 2020 over the recent hike in petroleum product and electricity tariff by the Federal Government.

The decision came following an agreement reached with the Federal Government.

Briefing journalists in Abuja at the end of a Bipartite Meeting that lasted for over seven hours between the Federal goverment and the organized labour, the President Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said the both parties have agreed on incentives that will help cushion the hardship that comes with the rising from recent cost – reflective Electricity Tariff adjustments and deregulation of the downstream sector. Ayuba pointed out the need for social dialogue as a viable tool in solving industrial dispute.

“This meeting which has been concluded this night after about eight hours of discussions, the details of this communique is captured in this five paged document. Specifically, we have been able to look at the issue of fuel price hike and what is needed to be put in place on this perennial issue of fuel pump price.”

“It is therefore the decision of organized labour as presented here to suspend the action and we are going to convey our central working committe to convey the detail of this information to them”

In his remarks,the Minister of labour and employment Sen. Chris Ngige enumerated some of the agreements reached.

“After exhaustive deliberations on the issues raised by Labour Centres, the FGN stated that it has fashioned out palliatives that would ameliorate the sufferings that Nigerian workers may experience as a result of the cost – reflective Electricity Tariff adjustments and deregulation of the downstream sector of the Petroleum Industry. The palliatives will be in the areas of transport, power, housing, agriculture and humanitarian support.”

It could be recalled that Labour had recently announced its planned strike following the hike in petroleum products and electricity tariff.

Housing: FCTA To Partner With Competent Developers, Says Aliyu

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Toyin Adebayo

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September 26, 2020

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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has expressed the intentions of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to partner with any developer who has the capacity and competence to deliver an affordable housing aimed at bridging the housing deficit in the nation’s capital.

She made this intention known during a meeting with the management of Tayan Group, an Estate Developer in Abuja, while stressed that such partnership would fast track the execution of the presidential mandate to deliver 5000 affordable housing units to residents of the territory.

Aliyu, also, warned that all development in the nation’s capital must comply with all engineering rules and regulations of construction within the Federal Capital Territory, just as she reiterated the commitment of the administration to complete all abandoned and ongoing projects.

The minister stated that the administration would only partner with companies with financial muscle to execute a project within 18 months period in order to avoid the mistakes of the past of littering the city with abandoned projects.

Her words ; “I have seen your beautiful projects, but hoping that the property has valid documents and certified by the Federal Capital Territory Administration. All property in the territory must comply with all engineering rules and regulations of construction within the Federal Capital Territory.

“I want to use this opportunity to inform you that under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, and under the 13 presidential deliverables given to the Federal Capital Territory Administration, affordable housing is given priority. And in this affordable housing project, we intend to carry along competent companies of repute whose integrity have been proven by the various jobs they have executed within the nation.

“Also one of the areas we are looking at is the financial muscles to execute a project going by the paucity of funds in the country, and any project awarded must be executed within a certain period of time.

She continued; “As student of history, when a project is being initiated by any administration and it is not completed, then it becomes an abandoned project. But under the leadership of our indefatigable president Muhammadu Buhari, he has insisted that we must complete all abandoned and ongoing projects.

“Besides that, the only new projects we can execute now are projects that will have meaningful impact on the citizenry; mainly the road construction, housing to give shelter, water, healthcare and transportation. So, housing of course is Mr. President priority”.

Aliyu also noted that one of the cries and challenges of people who work in the Federal Capital Territory was a place of abode, stressing that in order to ease that burden and to reduce the difficulties, the president has ordered the provisions of affordable housing.

Earlier, the Managing Director of Tayan Group, Mr. Tola Ayanlola, used the occasion to unveil the company’s “Project 10,000 Smiles Home for All” located in Kuje, adding that the project was planned to accommodate all classes of people in line with the vision of the company.

Ayanlola, revealed that the shortage within the housing industry has prompted higher affordability certainties, stressing that the involvement of Tayan Group was to provide a bridge in the gap and provide benefiting and affordable accommodations that would be made available to all.

korean Govt’ Donates 3 Smart Walk-through Booths For Covid-19 Sample Collection

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Toyin Adebayo

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September 26, 2020

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Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnibe Mamora

The Republic of Korea donates 3 Smart Walk-through Booths for COVID-19 Sample collection to Federal Government of Nigeria.

Receiving the 3 Smart Walk-through Booths for COVID-19 sample collection, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora expressed appreciations to the Government of Korea for the donation.

While saying that, the 3 Smart Walk-through Booths for COVID-19 sample collection to fast-track the fight against COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

He said the gesture has shown that Republic of Korea is a true friend of Nigeria “because a friend in need is a friend indeed.”

The Minister of State said that these Smart Walk-through Booths are expected to provide medical staff with effective protection during sample collection, support mass screening for COVID-19 in a timely and efficient manner and reduce the usage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) during test sample collection.

Mamora told the gathering that the Booths will be put into effective use at the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja, the Central Public Health Laboratory, and the Nigerian Institute for Medical Research in Lagos. He charged the beneficiaries to ensure decency in the use and also cultivate maintenance culture for the Booths.

His Excellency, Maj. Gen. Lee In-tae (rtd), the Ambassador of The Republic of Korea, who was represented by Mr. Woochan Chang, the KOICA Country Director extended his deepest condolences to the families and victims of COVID-19 pandemic, and also commended all the frontline health workers and professionals for their resilience in the battle against COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ambassador stated that the donation of the 3 Smart Walk-through Booths for COVID-19 sample collection marks another milestone in the bilateral relations between his Country and Nigeria which has been established since 1980, adding that as a key bilateral partner, Republic of Korea have continually engaged in the advancement of existing excellent cooperation projects for Nigeria in maternal and child health, education, amongst others, and recently the COVID-19 response. “I believe the donation of the Smart Walk-through Booths has further consolidated the bilateral relations which marks the 40th Anniversary this year’’, he said.

He, however, explained some key features of the Booths which include High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filter, High Efficiency Bi-directional Fan Module, Air Conditioning and Heat System to make the environment conducive for Medical Staff to collect sample, Intercom System and LED Control Panel.

The Ambassador requested the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to ensure efficiency and good maintenance of these Booths at the deployed locations in the country.

FCTA To Partner NEPC On Export Promotion

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Toyin Adebayo

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September 26, 2020

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) , Malam Muhammad Musa Bello on Friday revealed the intention of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to partner with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) towards the realisation of all export promotion businesses.

He, however, appealed that the forthcoming Technical Meeting of the National Committee on Export Promotion be hosted in Abuja.

The Minister Gabe this revelation when he played host to a delegation from the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, (NEPC) led by its Executive Director/CEO, Mr Olusegun Awolowo paid a courtesy visit on the FCTA.

Bello, also, called on NEPC to use the FCT as a place to implement all the Committees suggestions on export promotion , while urging him to leverage on his in depth knowledge of the FCTA to achieve this objective.

He urged the NEPC boss to take advantage of the potentials of the Abuja airport as a major export hub as well as the Abuja train corridor for the movement of goods.

The minister urged NEPC to expand its scope to accommodate more value chains rather than just end products and also pay more attention to price stability.

Mr Olusegun Awolowo who served in the FCTA as the Secretary for Social Development, Area Council and Transportation under three Ministers, briefed Bello that the Committee on Export Promotion was established by the National Economic Council to implement the Zero Oil Campaign, a document envisioned in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan as part of the economic diversification agenda of the Federal Government.

He also reiterated the expediency of diversifying sources of the country’s foreign reserve to insulate the economy from incessant economic shocks arising from the volatility of crude oil prices and other global geo-political and socio-political dynamics.

He explained further that this is premised on the potential of every state including the FCT in realising an export-led economic revolution to earn foreign exchange and generate employment.

The NEPC boss added that the Technical Committee Meeting would enable all state governments and the FCT to present their export programmes and activities and match them with institutional export facilitation agencies.

Although the FCT has shea butter and handicraft as an alternate product with competitive and comparative advantage to promote for export in line with the One State One Product initiative.

Also present at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu, the NEPC Director, Export Development and Incentives, Mr Abdullahi Sidi Aliyu amongst other staff of the FCTA and NEPC.

Gunmen Killed Five Persons in Plateau.

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Ola Akinola

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September 26, 2020

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Five persons have been shot dead by gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen in K/Vom community of Vwang District in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau state.

Our correspondent gathered that the gunmen stormed the peaceful community at about 10:30pm on Thursday night shot sporadically on the locals who were relaxing in a Cool spots Joint after a hectic days job.

Information reaching us from the restive community hinted that four persons were shot dead in a relaxation spot while a student of the School of Animal Health Production Vom, Plateau state was shot dead close to his shop.

Eyewitness said the gunmen escaped through the surrounding hill around the community

According to him; “After I heard the gunshots and people were crying for help, I was inside my house and I heard the footsteps of the gun men climbing the hills to escape and I didn’t know that they are the perpetrators.”

Meanwhile, Plateau State Police Commissioner, Edward Egbuka , however, confirmed the incident at the scene, described it as a set back to peace effort in the state.

“Last night, some yet to be identify gunmen attack a drinking joint in K/Vom community and shots five persons, we are here and the situation is under control. This is a setback to the peace all stakeholders, the Police Military and state government have being trying to manage here in Plateau.”

Similarly, Member representing Jos South Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Dalyop Fom described the incident as ugly and barbaric and called on the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators.

He lamented that five members of his constituents were killed and one injured. “This is a sad moment and time for my peaceful constituents; our people are not happy because we have being having these incidences over and over and we are asking ourselves when will the next one happen.

Fom described his people as hopeless and do not know where to run to as the level of insecurity increases on a daily basis and consoled the people to continue to put their trust in God for safety.

The District Head of Vwang, Da Gyang Balak condemned the killings and described it as unfortunate and barbaric.

He noted that he was informed at about 10:30pm that gunmen invaded K/Vom and shot five people death but the perpetrators are yet to be identify.

He called on the community to be calm and remained law abiding to constituted authorities and pursue their lawful business.

The affected community is housing the National Veterinary Research Institute Vom (NVIR) and the neighbouring National Institute for Policy and Strategy Study (NIPSS) among others prominent Federal Agencies was thrown into mourning mood since the attack.

Disturbed by this ugly incident, youths in the community staged a peaceful protest to demand for more security presence in their community to carry out their constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property.

Buhari Renews Appointments of PTDF, PEF, NCDMB Bosses

By

Ola Akinola

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September 26, 2020

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Muhammadu_Buhari,_President_of_the_Federal_Republic_of_Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari has renewed the appointments of Chief Executive Officers of Agencies under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

This was following recommendations to the President by Chief Timipre Sylva, Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Dr Bello Aliyu Gusau gets another nod as the Executive Secretary of Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF); Ahmed Bobboi as Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF), while Engineer Simbi Wabote is reappointed Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

Dr Gusau is credited to have run the PTDF successfully in the past four years, keeping faith with the Seven Strategic Priorities he had introduced in January 2017. These are: Domestication, Cost cutting, Sustainable funding, Efficient internal processes, Linkages with the industry, Utilization of centers of excellence, and Pursuit of home-grown research.

Mr Ahmed Bobboi gets his reappointment for having run PEF in a way that made it a key and strategic player in the administration’s oil and gas reforms, especially in stabilizing the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country, among others.

Engineer Wabote won his pips for managing the Nigerian Content Development Fund prudently, completing the headquarters building of NCDMB, and also initiating many landmark projects that are widely commended by industry players.

All the appointments take immediate effect.

Boko Haram Attacks Gov. Zulum’s Convoy, 15 soldiers, policemen, others Killed – AFP

By

Ola Akinola

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September 26, 2020

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Jihadist fighters linked to the Islamic State group on Friday killed several security personnel in an ambush on the convoy of the Borno State governor, the Agence France Presse (AFP) reported Friday night quoting sources.

Sources told AFP that eight policemen, three soldiers, and four members of a government-backed militia were killed in the attack on vehicles carrying Borno state governor, Babagana Umara Zulum near the town of Baga on the shores of Lake Chad.

The insurgents opened fire with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades as the convoy was passing through a village close to the headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task Force, a military coalition of troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameron

“The governor escaped unhurt but 15 security men on the convoy were killed in a fierce battle with the terrorists”, one source said.

Zulum was on an assessment tour of Baga in preparation for the return of thousands of residents displaced from the town by the jihadists in 2014, the sources said.

The governor flew on a helicopter into the garrison town of Monguno, 60 kilometres (40 miles) away, and headed to Baga in a convoy under tight security, one of the sources said.

All three sources were talking on condition of anonyonimity.

The IS-affiliated Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) group maintains most of its camps on islands in Lake Chad and the region is known as a bastion for the jihadists.

The militant group has recently intensified attacks on military and civilian targets in the region.

In July Zulum’s convoy came under gun attack from ISWAP outside Baga, forcing him to cancel his trip to the town

Aviation Unions Join TUC, NLC To Shutdown Airspace

By

Ola Akinola

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September 26, 2020

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As the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) mobilise for indefinite nationwide strike starting from Monday, unions in the aviation industry have thrown their weights behind the unions.

The unions; National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) in a circular signed by their General Secretaries, Comrades Ocheme Aba, Umoh Ofonime, Frances Akinjole and Abdul Rasaq Saidu, respectively, said that there was no going back on the impending strike.

They said the country’s airspace would be shutdown indefinitely until the government reversed its decision on the increased pump price and hike tariff of power supply.

The unions , therefore, directed all workers in the aviation sector to withdrawal their services at all the airports nationwide as from 00:00hrs on September 28, 2020.

The circular stated that ; “As you are aware, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have declared indefinite nationwide strike action with effect from Monday 28, 2020.

“Our unions as above named are in full support of the strike. As such, all workers in the aviation sector are hereby directed to withdraw their services at all aerodromes nationwide as from 00:hrs of 28th September, 2020 until otherwise communicated by the NLC/TUC or our unions.”

The closure of the airspace by the unions would affect airlines especially foreign carriers from coming in or departing of the country, thereby leading to chaos nationwide.

Also, it is anticipated that air travellers would be stranded nationwide as domestic flight operations would be affected.

Both NLC and TUV had on Friday said that there was no going back in its planed strike, following the failure of the Federal Government to reverse the increases in electricity tariff and fuel price.

The unions had met with the National Executive Council in Abuja, but both parties refused to reach a truce.

The labour had said that the decision to go ahead with the strike was unanimously taken by the chairmen of the 36 states and FCT chapters of the NLC.

FG Charges Regulatory Agencies To Check Exploitation At Seaports

By

Ekaette Ibuot

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September 25, 2020

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The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has charged regulatory agencies to reduce the cost of doing business by checking exploitation of operators at seaports.

Amaechi gave the charge in Lagos at the 2020 World Maritime Day Celebration.

He pointed out that the objective behind the Secured Anchorage Area (SAA) has been defeated with the exorbitant charge of $1500 a vessel per day.

In a keynote address, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s), Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said that it’s been five years since President Buhari, joined other world leaders at the 70th Session of the UN to adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of 17 SDGs on universal call to end poverty, safeguard the planet and ensure peace and prosperity by year 2030.

She, however, called on stakeholders in the sector to capitalize on available local resources and invest in infrastructure and machinery that are economically and physically in line with the aspirations of the SDGs.

Meanwhile, the Director General, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashiri Jamoh, in his presentation assured International community that with the Anti-piracy Act, Nigeria is now repositioned to fight piracy and change the narrative following recent statistics by IMO that the country’s waters are the most dangerous to trade in.

Other presenters encouraged development and coordination of the Blue Economic policy, use of scientific and verified information for development of the maritime sector.

They further pointed out that the major threat to marine life emanates from land, adding that the country should consider turning the land wastes into recyclable and reusable energy.

The participants came out with a communique which among other things emphasised that SDGs are germane to the maritime industry and in this regard, urgent measures towards diversifying the economy away from oil revenue is apt.

They also reiterated the need to develop regulations for the implementation of relevant IMO instruments to forestall effects of climate change and pollution on marine environment.