The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have backtracked on their initial declaration to commence indefinite strike scheduled for October 3, 2023, in response to the elimination of fuel subsidies.
The two trade unions have agreed to suspend the strike action.
It will be recalled that the NLC had directed its affiliate member unions across the country to mobilize and shut down the country in response to the government’s refusal to adhere to the seven points demand made by the NLC and the TUC to alleviate the suffering of the country’s teeming Nigerian workers and impoverished masses.
The President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade (Prince) Dr. Adewale Adeyanju also issued directives that all the nation’s seaports, jetties, Oil & Gas platforms, and terminals be shut down accordingly for operations.
However, following the outcome of emergency meeting summoned on Monday, October 2, 2023, between the federal government and labour leaders, the NLC and TUC had jointly agreed to suspend the strike to allow for implementation of the NLC demands.
Consequently, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NLC had directed that all its affiliate members should direct their members to return to work tomorrow, October 3, 2023 as the planned indefinite strike has been suspended.
Comrade Adeyanju, the Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, had equally directed that all members of the Maritime sector should resume work Tuesday as instructed by the NLC.

***Condemns sacks of 10,000 civil servants

The national body of the All Progressives Youths of Abia, on the platform of Abia Youths Interest Group (AYIG), has cautioned the state governor, Alex Otti to stop funding presidential court case of Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Otti is the only elected governor on the platform of the opposition Labour Party (LP).

Peter Obi, who came third in the 2023 presidential election, is challenging in court the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Addressing a press conference at the weekend, leaders of the Abia Youths Interest Group said if the state governor continue the funding of the presidential case it will have negative effect on the economy, welfare and development of the state.

A speech read by the head of media AYIG, Henry Chigozie, said the funding of Peter Obi’s case has led to the retrenchment of about ten thousand civil servants in the state, thereby depriving Abians of the dividends of democracy.

The statement reads: “We, the Abia Youths Interest Group, a National Umbrella Body of all progressive Youths of Abia irrespective of political affiliation, has observed with dismay the following dangerous developments, that if not immediately checked will plunge our dear state into avoidable socio-political crisis and financial quagmire:

“That Mr. Alex Otti is funding the Presidential Court case of Mr Peter Obi with Abia money, leading to massive retrenchment and sacking of citizens, thereby depriving Abians of the dividends of democracy. So far, in less than 3 months, over 10,000 Abia workers have been retrenched. This is unacceptable.

“In Otti’s Abia, transparency and accountability have been relegated to the background. No one knows the costs of projects nor contractors working on projects in Abia. This is to continuously siphoned and inflate projects cost so that Mr Alex Otti can be using Abia funds to sponsor Labour Party operations across Nigeria in his nefarious desire to destabilize the progressive government of Nigeria under the able leadership of President Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu. 

“That Mr Alex Otti is creating crisis and instigating political unrest in Imo state, thereby creating political instability in the Southeast. By asking a sister governor to immediately write his handover note, such an unguarded and reckless statement that is capable of creating disunity amongst these states can also lead to crisis amongst unsuspecting citizens.

“In view of the foregoing we wish to draw the attention of the nation,  well meaning Abians and the relevant security agencies  to these sinister activities and urge all concerned to take necessary steps to ensure that the interest of our great  State and Nation is not jeopardized.”

Also speaking, Spokesperson of the group, Dr. Stephen Ukpai Ukwa said the LP-led Abia government should bear in mind that the youths of the state are watching and will resist any act that will endanger the wellbeing of Abia people.

“Mr. Governor should know that Abia youths will resist any act that will cause problems between we and the President of Nigeria. We will resist any act that will endanger the lives of Abia people. So, any act that will lead to the mismanagement of Abia state fund should stop forthwith.”

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.

KOGI State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) has flagged off renovation work on the 75-year-old Leprosarium, now known as Holey Memorial Hospital, Ochadamu.

Chief Dauda Momoh, General Manager of the Agency presented a cheque for the first stanche of the N15 million intervention on Wednesday at Ocharamu, Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi.

He said the intervention was part of the 16 micro project interventions under the Basic Services Infrastructure of the Nigeria Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Programme.

Represented by Engr. Bayode Oladipo, Operations Manager of the Agency, the General Manager hinted that the Leprosarium which was established 1948 as a leprosy and rehabilitation centre with a twin male and female colony now enjoys support from Kogi State NG-CARES Programme.

Chief Dauda Momoh said the renovation work entailed renovation of Ward, Toilets, Pharmacy building with Supply of drugs and equipment and was expected to cost ₦11,193,546.00

He said that renovation of classroom s and furnishing would take ₦3,803,887.50 bringing the total projects cost to
N14,997,433.50.

He said that the projects would reinvigorate the leprosarium with healthcare and sanitation facilities.

Momoh added that the Group Development Plan (GrDP) had revealed that the intervention also aimed to revamp the educational facilities provided for the children of the affected persons.

The General Manager explained that the GrDP would be implemented through the Group Project Management Committee of the Association of Persons Affected by Leprosy in Ochadamu.

He charged the group to ensure quality and timely completion of the intervention projects as he assured them that quality delivery would attract further intervention especially, in the area of termite eradication, to the hospital.

The Holey Memorial Hospital Administrator, Rev. Uduak H. Mmah who resumed duty barely a month ago, pledged seamless collaboration and support of the management with the implementing team and the Agency.

Mr Mark Abu, Finance and Administration Manager of the Agency, tasked the Community Projects Monitoring Committee (CPMC) on proper book keeping saying that various monitoring teams would be coming to monitor the projects from time to time.

Mr Akpa Adaji, Chairman of the Community Projects Implementation Committee assured of due diligence in the project implementation as he pledged the committee’s resolve to deliver within the stipulated time frame.

In his vote of thanks, the Hospital Secretary, Mr Daniel Ameh thanked God for the intervention and commended the CSDA, management of the hospital and the CPMC for making it a reality.

Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of a cheque of of N3.274 million to the committee as first tranche of the total project sum of N14,997,433.50. (Ends)