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CSJ Calls on FG to Ensure Proposed Strike is Averted
CSJ Calls on FG to Ensure Proposed Strike is Averted
By: Michael Mike
The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has advised the Federal Government to ensure that the proposed indefinite industrial action by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) is averted in public interest.
The non-governmental organisation (NGO) gave the advice on Wednesday in a statement signed by its Lead Director, Eze Onyekpere
He stated that the strike slated for October 2 by the workers unions could have been averted through more considerate and humane engagement by the Federal Government in the post petrol subsidy removal and floating of the Naira negotiations, but noted that: “It is still not too late for the Federal Government to act in the public interest.”
The CSJ acknowledged the importance of President Bola Tinubu’s policy reforms, notably the removal of fuel subsidies and the floatation of the Naira, but nevertheless, the Lead Director of CSJ, Eze Onyekpere, insisted that: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu missed an opportunity to gain widespread support for his two main policy reforms – the fuel subsidy removal and the floatation of the Naira – by not adequately addressing the hardships that followed these policy pronouncements. The expectation was that President Tinubu would announce corresponding relief programmes alongside these policies, and these programmes should have been implemented either simultaneously or immediately after making the policy and reform declarations. Unfortunately, this has not been the case.”
He added that: “For instance, the proposed salary increase for workers, which has been pending for three months now, remains unresolved in a country where the minimum wage is Thirty Thousand Naira ($30) per month. This starkly contrasts with fellow African nations like Algeria, South Africa, and Morocco, where minimum wages are $170, $242, and $360, respectively.”
He noted that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed concerns that the government-appointed committee responsible for negotiating cushioning measures for workers has either intentionally delayed or neglected to commence negotiations, a situation deeply troubling to CSJ.
CSJ argued that the deployment of the Minister of Labour as the chief negotiator with the organised labour is misplaced, considering the financial nature of the negotiations. High-level discussions involving significant political and financial decisions should be chaired by the President, Vice President or in their absence, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), insisting that the team must include the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Labour, etc.
The NGO said in such situations, the Minister of Finance is in the best position to present the government’s financial standing to labour representatives and to recommend decisions including wage increase based on affordability.
The CSJ firmly placed responsibility on the government for the current developments, asserting that the decision to announce the removal of fuel subsidies without proper consideration of the consequences reflects an unacceptable level of arrogance towards the Nigerian people,
while acknowledging that these policy reforms were intended to address issues like fuel subsidy corruption, petroleum smuggling, foreign exchange market manipulation, and fiscal constraints, but stressed that such reforms cannot exist in isolation. “They should be accompanied by strategic interventions across various economic sectors to alleviate hardship, boost productivity, and curb fiscal leaks.”
CSJ also contended that the Federal Government should have taken swift action to combat rampant oil theft and prosecute those responsible for subsidy fraud, as revealed in recent reports by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and previous reports of the Auditor General for the Federation.
Meanwhile, it called upon the Federal Government to engage in meaningful dialogue with the NLC/TUC to resolve the proposed industrial action and implement measures to mitigate the impact of recent policy reforms on the Nigerian populace.
Onyekpere said: “CSJ remains unwavering in its commitment to advocating for social justice and equitable policies that prioritize the well-being of all Nigerians.”
CSJ Calls on FG to Ensure Proposed Strike is Averted
Police arrest suspect for killing 28-year-old in Yobe
By: Yahaya Wakili
Yobe state police command has arrested prime suspect Yunusa Isa, AKA Abba, 24 years for the gruesome killing of Lawan Adamu, 28 years of Nayi Nawa bypass, Damaturu, Yobe state capital.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, MNIPR, disclosed this to newsmen in a crime update report. He said the command has condemned the gruesome killing of a young man, Lawan Adamu, at the outskirts of Nayi Nawa bypass, Damaturu.
“On September 15, ‘A’ Division Police Headquarters Damaturu received a distress call reporting a corpse with deep cuts. Police arrived to find the victim with deep throat cuts and multiple stab wounds; a bloodstained knife was recovered at the scene.
The body was removed to General Hospital Damaturu, where it was confirmed dead by a medical doctor. The corpse has been deposited at the hospital morgue.
Deliberate efforts by the Division led to the arrest of the prime suspect, Yunusa Isa, AKA Abba, 24 years of Nayi Nawa bypass, Damaturu.
Yobe State Commissioner of Police, CP Garba Ahmed, has directed detectives to expand their investigation to unravel the circumstances behind the incident.
He further assures the public that the investigation will be swift and thorough, as justice will certainly be served accordingly.
Police arrest suspect for killing 28-year-old in Yobe
Maiduguri Flood: Zulum Flags off Distribution of Relief Materials to Victims
…Acknowledges Donations from Agric Ministry, NEMA, NNPC
By: Michael Mike
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has flagged off the distribution of relief materials to victims of the devastating Maiduguri flooding taking refuge in about 36 camps across the state capital Maiduguri and environs.
Maiduguri and parts of Jere and Konduga local governments were left submerged in water as a result overflowing water from Alau Dam due to massive rainfall, leaving about 2 million people displaced and properties put at several billions of Naira destroyed.
The flag-off ceremony took place on Monday, at Bakasi camp along Damboa Road in Maiduguri.
The relief materials shared include a bag of 25kg of rice, a carton of pasta and N10,000 cash.
Speaking to journalists at the venue of the distribution, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum decried the fact that many people not affected by the flood are troupling to the IDP camps, thereby making it difficult for smooth distribution of the palliatives to the people who were actually affected.
He said: “We observed that it is no more sustainable to continue receiving people in the camps because many people that were not affected are troupling to the camps.”
In addition to distributing relief materials, the governor also announced plans to comprehensively assess the affected areas, which will inform future interventions.
He stated: “So we decided to mobilise the resources and ensure that each affected victim had the relief items.
“We have also concluded arrangements that we shall do the assessment at the communities to verify the actual number of those that were affected.”
Also speaking, the senator representing Borno Central, Kaka Shehu Lawan, commended the governor for his leadership.
He said: “Let me commend the governor for providing leadership since the flooding started; he was out with his entire team trying to carry out search and rescue and assisting his people. I also joined His Excellency in commending our donors and urging others to complement the government in assisting victims.”
The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, highlighted her agency’s interventions for victims of the flood disaster.
She said since the flooding started the agency has been providing shelters and mobile water purifiers to provide clean drinking water to those affected.
Meanwhile, Zulum has acknowledged the receipt of a food donation from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to support the victims of the recent flood disaster.
The occasion was attended by the Senator representing Borno North, Barrister Mohammed Tahir Monguno, members of the House of Representatives, and Borno State Executive Council.
Maiduguri Flood: Zulum Flags off Distribution of Relief Materials to Victims
Gov. Buni Condoles With Sen. Musa Mustapha Over Loss of Brother
By: Our Reporter
Yobe State Governor Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, has condoled with Sen. Musa Mustapha, over the death of his senior brother, Alh. Tijjani Mustapha.
Gov. Buni who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Baba Malam Wali Mni, described the passage of late Tijjani as a very sad loss.
He said the death of Alh. Tijjani is a huge loss not only to the family but his community and the state.
Gov. Buni prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased “May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Al Jannatu Firdaus.
“May He grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss” Governor Buni further prayed.
The SSG was accompanied by the the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alh. Abdullahi Yusuf Gashua, Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious Affairs, Ustaz Babagana Malam Kyari, Permanent Secretary Protocol Alh. Kashim Kalli, the PPS Alh. Liman Ibrahim and DG Press Malam Mamman Mohammed.
Gov. Buni Condoles With Sen. Musa Mustapha Over Loss of Brother
Police arrest suspect for killing 28-year-old in Yobe
Tinubu Reaffirms Commitment to Transformation of Service Delivery to Nigerians
Maiduguri Flood: Zulum Flags off Distribution of Relief Materials to Victims
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