On a two-day trip to Lagos, President Muhammadu Buhari is there to commission the “Lagos Festival of Projects.”
At 3:33 p.m., the presidential plane landed down, and the president was welcomed by Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and other members of the State Executive Council.
The President was also welcomed by the governors of the states of Ekiti and Ogun, Biodun Oyebanji and Dapo Abiodun, as well as the former governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, service chiefs, and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Lagos State Cultural Troupe performed a grand entrance for President Buhari at the Presidential Wing of the Lagos International Airport.
He inspected the guard of honour at the Parade Ground before he flew out of the airport in a helicopter for commissioning of projects in some parts of Lagos State.
The projects to be commissioned by President Buhari during the two-day working visit are Lekki Deep Seaport, Lagos Rice Mill, Imota, 18.75killometers Eleko-Epe rigid pavement six lane Expressway, First Phase of the Blue Light Rail from Mile Two to Marina and the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History.
President Buhari will also commission a private project, MRS Lubricant, Apapa.
Five general hospitals in the state’s five divisions have been requested to be upgraded to tertiary level by members of the Lagos state House of Assembly.
The five general hospitals are those located in Badagry, Alimosho, Ikorodu, Epe, and Lagos Island.
After discussing the report provided by Hon. Olusola Sokunle, chairman of the House Committee on Health Services, the lawmakers passed the resolution on Monday.
In the report, the chairman stated that the committee visited general hospitals all around the state to gather information about which ones were appropriate for being raised to the tertiary level.
Sokunle said that the upgrading of the general hospitals would reduce the pressure witnessed by the facilities of the Lagos state University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), calling for the establishment of Renal and Neuro Department in the proposed five general hospitals.
He also called for the overhauling of the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) by the state government, adding that the local governments should intensify awareness and sensitisation about the usefulness of the centres in the Councils.
The Chairman explained that the land mass, high tech equipment and quality of the medical personnel were part of the consideration before the five general hospitals were chosen.
Debating the report, Hon. Wahab Jimoh (Apapa 2), observed that there was need to consider other general hospitals within the Lagos Island Division, saying that general hospital within the Lagos Mainland axis should be considered.
Jimoh argued that Lagos Island has been saturated with general hospitals that could attend to the medical needs of the people on the Island, adding that general hospitals in Surulere and Lagos Mainland could be considered for the upgrade.
The Chief Whip, Hon. Mojisola Meirada (Apapa 1), argued that aside the establishment of renal department in the upgraded general hospitals, there should be a trauma and bone department in each of them, saying that it would help in reducing the pressure on the Gbagada hospital trauma facility.
Meanwhile, Hon. Moshood Oshun ( Lagos Mainland 2), made case for the establishment of more general hospitals across the state, saying that instead of converting the five hospitals to tertiary level more could be established to allow easy accessibility by the residents.
Oshun argued that the funds that could be used to upgrade the hospitals could be used to establish new general hospitals in the local governments.
However, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, said that there was need to sustain the glory of the five general hospitals by upgrading them to tertiary level. Obasa said that there was need to create synergy among general hospitals, saying that there was need to collate data to know whether there is need to establish Renal Specialist hospital to address renal diseases.
Two alleged rapists who are accused of defiling youngsters in their respective localities have been paraded in Ibadan.At the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Command Agodi Ibadan, the state capital of Oyo, the accused were paraded on Monday.The suspects’ names were given by the State Public Relations Officer of the Corps, DSC Oyindamola Okuneye, who briefed journalists on the development, as Tunde Kareem, age 33, from Ede, Osun State, a resident of Papa, Idi Osan Olodo road, Ibadan, and Amos Micheal, age 46, from Ikwo Local Government Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, who lives at RoadOyindamola maintained that Tunde Kareem, was arrested for defiling his 11-year-old daughter. While Amos Micheal defiling a minor aged 10 years on the 15th of January 2023 by taking her to a lonely road with his bike in the vicinity and using his finger to penetrate her till she was defiled.She said, “Amos used to go to the girl’s mother’s shop to drink locally made herbs and used the opportunity to get closer to the girl.””Tunde Kareem upon interrogation admitted to have had the carnal knowledge of his daughter once before his arrest on 17th January 2023.” Oyindamola said.Oyindamola however said that the state Corps Commandant, CC Adaralewa Micheal insisted that the corps will maintain its stand on zero tolerance for misuse of children and protection of girl children in the State. While speaking with journalists, Tunde Kareem denied the allegation of having canal knowledge of his daughter.He said, “this is the handiwork of my ex-wife, she is the one that reported me and levelled that such allegation against me because she want to the girl to be in her custody. I don’t rape her, she is my daughter, she is the one I’m hustling for, this is pure lie against me, I have remarried and I can’t leave my daughter for her.” In his words, Amos Micheal who was accused of defiling a minor confirmed to have touched the private part of the girl in question but denied raping her.He said, ” I don’t penetrate into her as I was accused of, but I touched her, I actually took her to a private place to do that while taking her to her mother who sells local herbs for us.” DSC Oyindamola said that, “both suspects pleaded guilty to the offense committed.” Stressing that the suspects would be charged to court immediately after the completion of their investigation.”
In order to prevent President Muhammadu Buhari from appointing the current Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali, to continue in office as of March 1, 2023, Maxwell Opara, a lawyer and rights activist with a base in Abuja, has filed a motion on notice before the Court of Appeal, Abuja.Opara’s motion asks the appeal court to rule on whether the IGP can continue in that position after he retires as a police officer.In particular, the Appellant/Applicant wants to stop the Respondents from continuing to flagrantly disregard established legal principles that are inscribed in various National Assembly statutes. Opara is referring to is Buhari, abusing the power of his office to contradict the standing law of the land which is that a non-serving police officer can not hold an office under the Nigeria Police Force, talk more of a very sensitive office such as the Inspector General Office. The Applicant holds the position of the law that, once the Alkali retires, a serving police officer who can serve as the Inspector General of Police, and as such the constitution must be protected from it being violated. the court held”The Courts must stand out strongly to protect the Constitution from the vagaries and impunity of those clamouring for power at all costs.”Your Lordship, the question of whether an application of this nature should be granted by this Honourable Court is a matter of discretion; same being an equitable relief. “In other words, this kind of application is not granted as a matter of course; neither does the court exercise its powers arbitrarily, but upon sufficient, correct and convincing reasons. Therefore, the applicant is praying the court to restrain the President from extending the tenure of IGP Usman Baba Alkali as whatever document he (Alkali) signs after March 1, would be a nullity.Opara, in a motion exparte, informed the court that he has a pending appeal on whether the President has the power to allow any occupant of the office of Inspector General of Police continue to stay in office after he is no longer a serving Police Officer.He said, while the appeal is pending and adjourned for hearing, the President announced his intention to allow the current occupant of the office of IGP to continue to occupy the office after he is no longer a serving Police Officer.While praying for urgent hearing of the matter by the appellate court to avoid destroying the subject matter, the lawyer said, in his affidavit in support of the motion for interlocutory injunction that he filed the suit that gave rise to the appeal at the Federal High Court, Abuja.He averred, in the affidavit that the trial court dismissed his suit in a judgement delivered on June 18, 2021. “That the appeal has been adjourned to February 16 for hearing and while the appeal is still pending and adjourned for hearing, the 1st respondent, (Buhari), through the Minister for Police Affairs announced that he intends to allow the current IGP, who will cease to be a serving Police Officer on March 2023 to continue to occupy the office of the IGP. END.
On Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari praised Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed for his effort to rebuild the state by making significant investments in infrastructural development.
When he paid the Emir of Bauchi, Dr. Rilwanu Sulaimanu Adamu, the customary homage, Muhammadu Buhari offered praise.
At the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi, President Muhammadu Buhari attended the APC Presidential Rally.
Muhammadu Buhari congratulated the governor of Bauchi State for creating a fair playing field for political activities in the state and challenged politicians throughout the nation to play politics by the rules of the game.
Additionally, he valued the Emir and conventional institutions in the state for complementing government’s efforts towards promoting peaceful coexistence in their domains.
While receiving the President at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, Bauchi and Palace of the Emir of Bauchi, Governor Bala Mohammed said that although the President was in the state for APC activities, he was honoured by the President’s commendation.
Bala Mohammed assured the President of his commitment to consolidate on the efforts put in place to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free 2023 general elections.
The Governor also commended the Federal Government for its sincere fight against insecurity and insurgency in the North East subregion saying that the area is gradually regaining its sanity and safety.
Those present in the company of the President were the Party’s Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, the Speaker House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, APC Governors, aspirants and supporters.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) reported that in 2022, the largest tax collection ever seen in its history, it collected over N10 trillion in tax revenue.
The figure was included in the “FIRS 2022 Performance Update” report, which was signed by the organization’s executive chairman, Mr. Muhammad Nami, and made available to the public on Monday following his briefing with President Muhammadu Buhari, according to a statement by Johannes Oluwatobi Wojuola, the special assistant to the executive chairman of FIRS on media and communication.
The report reads: “The FIRS, in the year 2022 collected a total of N10.1 trillion in both oil (N4.09 trillion) and non-oil (N5.96 trillion) revenues as against a target of N10.44 trillion.
“Companies Income Tax contributed N2.83 trillion; Value Added Tax N2.51 trillion; Electronic Money Transfer Levy N125.67 billion and Earmarked Taxes N353.69 billion.
“Non-oil taxes contributed 59% of the total collection in the year, while oil tax collection stood at 41% of total collection,” the report noted.
It is the first time that the FIRS will cross the 10-trillion Naira mark in tax revenue collection.
The Performance Update Report further clarified that included in the total revenue sum is the sum of N146.27 billion which is the total value of certificates issued by the Service to private investors and NNPC for road infrastructure under the Road Infrastructure Development Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme created by Executive Order No. 007 of 2019.
The report also stated that the N10.1 trillion is exclusive of tax waived on account of various tax incentives granted under the respective laws, which amounted to N1,805,040,163,008.
Providing perspective to this unprecedented tax collection, the FIRS noted in the Performance Update that the Muhammad Nami-led management upon assumption of office came up with a four-point focus, namely: administrative and operational restructuring; making the service customer-focused; creating a data-centric institution; and automation of administrative and operational processes.
It further noted that over the period of 2020 to 2022, the management had introduced reforms bordering around these four-point focus which were producing results.
“The reforms introduced at different times from 2020 are gradually yielding fruits. By the close of 2022, the Service had fully restructured the administration of the Service for maximum efficiency and achieved internal cohesion such that all functional units are working in unison towards the achievement of set goals.
“As a result of conducive environment created for staff, officers of the Service are pulling their weight on the global stage with international recognitions and awards;
“The Service had also automated most of the administrative and operational processes. A major leap was the full deployment of the TaxPro Max for end-to-end administration of taxes in June 2021. The module for the automated TCC went live 1st January 2023 while taxpayers had already downloaded over 1,000 TCCs this year without having to visit FIRS office,” the report read.
It also noted that the Service had operationalised its data mining and analysis system thereby allowing for data-backed taxpayer profiling.
Other reforms the Service introduced in this period focused on the detoxification of the tax environment by ridding it of mutual mistrust, negative tax morale, and tax evasion, through effective taxpayer education, open engagement with stakeholders and improved services.
It noted that it is courtesy these reforms, framed around the four-focus points that the Service was able to achieve this collection.
Mr. Muhammad Nami, Executive Chairman of the FIRS, commenting on the N10.1 trillion record tax collection achieved under his leadership stated that this was made possible through “dogged implementation of strategic reforms over the past two years; a renewed commitment by officers of the Service, accompanied with a boosted morale; as well as the innovative deployment of technology for automation of both tax administration and operational processes.
“This collection was possible through collaboration with our stakeholders, from our colleagues at the Executive branch of government, to the members of the judiciary, to our brothers and sisters at the National Assembly, as well as the tax advisory committee, professional bodies, unions, and most crucially our taxpayers.”
Speaking on the outlook for 2023, Mr. Nami stated that the Service would build on the current reforms, achieve full automation and continue to establish a resilient Service that would continue to provide sustainable tax revenue to fund the government.
“We intend to maintain, and even improve on the momentum in 2023,” he stated.
“We have peaked, but this is not certainly our peak. In fact, my hope is that this would be the least sum the Service would ever collect going forward.
“Our goal is to identify more areas where we can improve on in the delivery and efficiency of our collection; and plug loopholes, while deploying innovative reforms in data and artificial intelligence.
“Ultimately, we believe that the FIRS can shoulder the responsibility of providing revenue needed for the governments across the Federation to cater for the needs of the Nigerian people through taxes.
“This is feasible once we get the much-desired support from the three tiers and arms of government, as well as all stakeholders.”
The FIRS appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for his support, as well as the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed and the Minister of State, Mr. Clem Agba.
“FIRS Management uses this medium to commend all patriotic taxpayers who paid their taxes correctly, stakeholders for their support, and officers of the Service for their dedication to duty.
“The Service equally owes its achievements in 2022 to effective leadership of the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning – Mrs Zainab Ahmed, her brother, the Minister of State – Mr Clem Agba, members of the National Assembly and the fatherly support of the President and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria – Muhammadu Buhari.”
This is the second consecutive year that the Service will be recording unprecedented tax collection.
In 2021, the Service achieved a record tax collection of N6.405 trillion, being over hundred percent of its collection target for the year, as well as the first time that the Service will cross the six trillion mark.
In 2022, building on the success of the preceding year, the Service achieved a record collection of N10.1 trillion, being over 96% of its collection target for the year, and the first time the Service will cross the ten trillion mark.
This collection represents an over one hundred percent leap from the tax collected by the Service in 2020 the first year of the current management of the Service.
Dele Momodu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council’s director of strategic communications, has revealed how Atiku Abubakar will triumph in the upcoming presidential election, which is set for February 25, 2023.
Atiku will rule the North East, North West, North Central, and South South, according to Momodu’s analysis.
He said: “Tinubu may pick a few states in the North and South West but won’t have enough to win. The bridges required to cross to victory has taken Atiku 30 years to build. Tinubu has not been able to lock down the entire South West not to talk of the whole of Nigeria. Over-reliance on bribing the electorates will fail. Hoping to rig brazenly will also fail spectacularly.”
Analysing further, Momodu sais that a Presidential candidate cannot depend totally on votes from outside his home base to win this election, adding, “it is a fact of history that whenever the South produced two strong candidates, the dominant Nothern candidate won, such as in 1979 and 1983, Obafemi Awolowo and Nnamdi Azikiwe versus Shehu Shagari.”
Stating why the APC presidential candidate will not win, Momodu said, “Bola Tinubu is far weaker today in the South West and Awolowo was by far more formidable, while Obi is the new Azikiwe (the first Governor General and President of Nigeria) in the South East, and Kwankwaso is the current Aminu Kano.”
He hinted how Atiku will win the election, Momodu said, “I repeat, the entire North and the South South will make Atiku the next President. Atiku will still be competitive in the South East and South West. Wherever Obi is number one in the East, Atiku will be number two. Wherever Tinubu is number one in the South West, Atiku will be number two or vice versa.
“Atiku will be the first to cross the line of recording 25 percent in 24 states. He will get 25 percent automatically in the 19 states of Northern Regions and will pick six in South South automatically. He will pick more 25 percent in all of the five states in the South East, a traditional base of PDP, and same in the South West.
“Wherever Obi is number one, Atiku will be number two or vice versa. I do not know of any state PDP will not record 25 percent and eventually win the overall popular votes. Nigeria has become so polarizingly divided (pardon my tautology) that the ‘peoples’ are going to vote majorly along ethnic lines as well as primordial sentiments.
“The North will not vote a ‘fake Muslim’ in the name of a pretentious and mischievous Muslim/Muslim ticket. The scam is dead on arrival. The North East will never vote for a number two position when they’ve been chasing the number one since 1966. The North West will not abandon an Atiku for a Tinubu who’s well known for his iron grip on Lagos State since 1999.”
Speaking further, the Director of Strategic Communications of PCC said, “the South West itself knows it has the most controversial and palpably weakest candidate in this race this time and would humbly and readily accept its fate with equanimity. It will also dawn on the South East that Obi’s raving popularity alone cannot carry him across the winning line and many of their traditional voters will willingly settle for Atiku Abubakar and Ifeanyichukwu Okowa, the cerebral man and gentle giant of Igbo ancestry.
“I predict that former President Atiku Abubakar will be the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is the most prepared, experienced candidate in the race who’s ready to hit the ground running from day one… Nigerians will experience real politicking in the days ahead.”
The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has announced support for the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) senatorial candidate in the Kogi Central senatorial district, Barr, as the PDP continues to revel in the influx of defectors. Missy Akpoti-Uduaghan
The party announced this over the weekend when Mr. Sunday Denis Ozomata, the state party chairman, and Prof. Aliyu Otaru, a member of the party’s national board of trustees, led the party’s executives, candidates, and other notable PRP members to Barr. Natasha Akpoti-hometown Uduaghan’s to make the announcement.
Prof. Otaru said that the Ebira Nation should be proud that they have a daughter leading a democratic revolution to change the condition of the people of Ebiraland.
“I and my people have come here to identify with you and support the revolution to change our story through the ballot”, he said.
The state party Chairman of PRP, Mr. Sunday Denis Ozomata, averred that they decided to pitch tent with the PDP senatorial candidate because they were convinced by her antecedents that she is the best amongst all the candidates jostling to represent Kogi Central senatorial district in the Senate.
“If a woman can stand and fight for our people even when men are afraid to talk, such a woman deserved every support and we will work for you with utmost sincerity to emerge as the next senator of Kogi Central”, he said.
Natasha appreciated the support given to her and promised not to disappoint them when she gets to the Senate.
“My courage is rooted in the love I have for my people and the quest to liberate our people from the bondage of bad governance.
“As our father said, we are in dire need of a democratic revolution to change the bad situation and we are going to do that on February 25, 2023, with our thumbs, to be free once and for all.
“We need to get to the stage where there will be less tension to carry out our daily activities. Thanks for this support, and the collaboration to rewrite our story”, she said.
N95 Billion (Ninety-five billion Naira) worth of unlicensed pharmaceutical products were destroyed in Cotonou by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
This was announced at a meeting by Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, Director General of NAFDAC at a press conference on Monday in Abuja, Nigeria, saying, combined international destruction of five 40-foot containers of unlicensed pharmaceuticals, including tramadol 200 MG and higher potency.
A group of NAFDAC officers, including those from the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, traveled to Cotonou on December 21 and 22, 2022, for the purpose of destroying the five containers. They were led by Prof. Adebayo, Director of Ports Inspection Directorate.
Going down memory lane, she said, “Following an intelligence report from the Presidency in August 2018 , I directed the Director of Ports Inspection Directorate, Prof. Samson B. Adebayo on the intention of some unscrupulous importers to ship thirty-one (31) containers of unregistered pharmaceutical products including tramadol 200mg and above from India. The containers were labelled building materials and for bonded terminal.
“The Director, Ports Inspection Directorate, working with his Intelligence & Monitoring Unit commenced the surveillance and monitoring of the reported containers from the ports of loading to the successive ports where they were transloaded along the sea routes. The first approach was to collaborate with the Nigeria Customs Service under the leadership of Comptroller General (Col.) Ahmed Ali (rtd.).
“Eventually, twenty-one of the containers were discharged at the Apapa port in Lagos, Nigeria as manifested. One container couldn’t be tracked because of a missing container number. Out of the 21 containers, only two had building materials.
“However, as the importers of the containers became aware that NAFDAC was tracking and monitoring the containers on arrival at the Apapa port and intercepting them, they decided to change their strategy by diverting the remaining away from the Nigerian port.
“Four containers never got to Nigeria but were discharged at transhipment in Malaysia. One container was transferred to the Cotonou port in the Republic of Benin while the remaining four were initially diverted to the Tema Port in Ghana but later diverted them to Cotonou having met resistance from Ghana Food and Drug Agency that NAFDAC already contacted for collaboration to stop the four (4) containers.
“Director-General of NAFDAC Prof Mojisola Adeyeye then liaised with the Ambassador of Nigeria to the Republic of Benin at the time, His Excellency Kayode Oguntuase, who worked tirelessly to ensure that the port authority in the Republic of Benin effected the seizure of the five containers on the request of NAFDAC. His successor His Excellency Olukayode O. Aluko never relented in his effort at ensuring that all these five (5) containers are released to NAFDAC for destruction.
“Meanwhile the other twenty-four containers Some entity took the case to court in Benin that the containers should be brought back to Nigeria. This took about one year plus but Ambassador Aluko stayed on the case until the court made the judgement that the containers can be destroyed in Benin. Alas, the government of the Republic of Benin eventually agreed to engage with the Nigerian counterparts to carry out the destruction of these containers in Cotonou. The following products were found in the five containers during the joint physical examination.
Brand name generic name details:Tamral 225 tablets tramadol hcl 1,276 CTNSX50 ROLLSX10X10 TABS; Tamral 250mg Tablets tramadol HCL 571 CTNS X50 ROLLSX10X10 TABS; Tramadol 120mg Capsules tramadol Hcl 129 CTNS X30ROLLSX20X10 CAPS; Tramadol 225mg Tabs tramadol Hcl 415 CTNSX50 ROLLSX10X10 TABS; really extra diclofenac tablets 50 mg diclofenac & caffeine 58 CTN X 50 X 10 X 10 tabs; and relity extra diclofenac tablets 50 MG diclofenac 24 CTN X 50 X 10 X 10 tabs
“The street value of the drugs was estimated at N95 Billion (Ninety-five billion Naira). A team of NAFDAC officers (including Investigation & Enforcement Directorate officers), led by Prof Adebayo, the Director of Ports Inspection Directorate travelled to Cotonou where the destruction exercise of the five containers took place on 21st and 22nd December 2022.
She continued: “This international landmark achievement (that had never been recorded in the history of the two countries and NAFDAC) did not come without the unflinching efforts of the staff of Ports Inspection Directorate in Apapa and Seme Border.
“The Management and Governing Council of NAFDAC would like to recognize the support of the following partners in the fight against misuse and abuse of drugs: The a) Government of the Republic Benin; b) Nigerian Embassy in the Republic of Benin, c) Nigeria Customs Service, and d) Ghana Food and Drug Agency Finally, our appreciation goes again to all individuals who have contributed in a significant way to ensure that today becomes a reality. More importantly, to the gallant officers of Ports Inspection Directorate (Seme and Apapa) who refused to be compromised by ensuring that the Agency continues in her efforts at safeguarding the health of the nation.
“Thank you all for believing in us as we continue to safeguard the health of the nation”, she stated.
Adeyeye thanked President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) for returning NAFDAC to the ports in May 2018 after seven-year absence.
Saying, it was the return of NAFDAC to Nigerian ports that made the four and a half years monitoring of unregistered pharmaceuticals including tramadol to be possible.
She also thanked Comptroller General (Col.) Ahmed Ali (rtd.) whose leadership fostered the collaboration and the success of NAFDAC’s regulatory activities.
The Agency is grateful to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Ambassadors to Benin Republic – Excellency Oguntuase and Excellency Aluko for their resilience and professionalism over the period of monitoring.
I want to thank the staff of Ports Inspection Directorate of NAFDAC who doggedly ensured that the Agency’s mandate was carried out, i.e., regulating and control of importation of regulated products.
On Monday morning, the majority of Nigeria’s international airports experienced severe turmoil as a result of a strike by the employees of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc.
It was discovered that the workers went on strike because the management had ignored their Condition of Service (CoS), which had been on the table for more than four years.
Numerous NAHCO-managed airlines’ passengers were left stranded as a result of this move, particularly at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), where one of the airlines had to fly back to its base.
According to our source, Qatar Airways, which was already in the air, had to return to Doha because of the signal it received that it would not be handled by the ground handling company.
The workers it was learnt embarked on the strike action 12a.m on Monday when their request for upward review of CoS was unattended to for years.
The workers were backed by their unions; Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE).
However, it was learnt that the unions had issued the management strike notice with deadline to comply with their demands, but failed.
Rather for the management to comply, the management approached the court in an attempt to stop the workers from embarking on the strike.
Other foreign airlines that may also be affected by this action include Kenya Airways, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, KLM, Delta Air Lines, Air France, AKSY, Egypt Air and Rwandair.
