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Plateau civil servants embark on five-day warning strike

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Plateau civil servants embark on five-day warning strike

Plateau civil servants embark on five-day warning strike

Civil servants in Plateau State have embarked on a five-day warning strike which started on Monday.

The workers decided to temporarily stop work following the government’s inability to pay their salaries for three months.

The workers also decided to go on strike due to the failure of the government to release third-party deductions such as their contributory pension.

At a press briefing at the conference hall of the Labour House in Jos, the state capital on Monday, the Chairman of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Titus Malau, said they decided to embark on strike after it became clear that the government was not doing enough to pay them their outstanding salaries.

The decision by the workers to go on strike comes a day after the state’s Head of Civil Service, Sunday Chong, promised that government will pay them their outstanding salaries.

Last Thursday, the leadership of the various workers’ unions wrote a letter to the state government warning it that workers will go on strike if their outstanding salaries are not paid on Monday.

The unions said the action became necessary due to the government’s failure to fulfil an agreement reached with them.

He said: “This became imperative because the Government reneged in fulfilling our demands and particularly, the agreement reached on November 11, 2022, with the intervention of the Secretary to the Government of the State (SGS).

“The demands of the JNPSNC are as follows: Nonpayment of salaries for 3 months from September 2022 to date; Lack of release of Salary Structure to guide salary computation; Non-release of third party deduction from August 2022 to date and Non-release of promotion and annual increment with its arrears in full respectively.

“Others include Nonpayment of January and February 2022 annual increment arrears; Inability of Government to properly constitute and inaugurate the Joint National Service Negotiating Council in the state among others”, Mr Malau highlighted.

JNPSNC also faulted the White Paper report of the high-powered staff audit committee headed by Nde Gobak for failing to upgrade staff who were due for promotions.

“We expected them to have fulfilled the agreement on or before November 14, 2022, and August salary was supposed to be paid in full and September/October salaries also were to be paid on or before the end of November, but here we are in December.

“Automatically, of all we have discussed and agreed on, nothing has been done. That goes to say that they disrespected our agreement since even the August salary dropped in half. So, we can start counting from August, September, October, November and ideally, we are equally qualified for December salary by now”, the Plateau State Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Eugene Manji, said

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Zulum, Two Other Governors To Receive Arewa Humanitarian Award

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Zulum, Two Other Governors To Receive Arewa Humanitarian Award

By: Our Reporter

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi and Umar Bago of Niger State, have been nominated for the distinguished Arewa Humanitarian Awards, 2024.

THISDAY newspaper reports on Sunday that the recognition is to highlight their exceptional contributions to humanitarian efforts and the well-being of their respective states.

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State celebrated for his leadership amidst one of Nigeria’s most challenging humanitarian crises, has consistently demonstrated resilience and compassion in addressing the needs of displaced persons, providing essential services and rebuilding war-torn communities.

The Arewa Humanitarian Awards set to take place in December 2024 is a prestigious event that recognises leaders and changemakers across Northern Nigeria that have made substantial impacts in their communities. The nomination of these three governors is a testament to their dedication to serving the people and contributing to the overall development of the northern region.

Their leadership and humanitarian work will be honoured in the upcoming ceremony which will bring together political leaders, humanitarian advocates, and stakeholders to celebrate the collaborative efforts that continue to uplift communities across Northern Nigeria.

Zulum, Two Other Governors To Receive Arewa Humanitarian Award

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EU, GiZ Provide Electricity to Cross River Community

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EU, GiZ Provide Electricity to Cross River Community

By: Michael Mike

After six years without electricity, residents of Etomi community in Cross River State now enjoy reliable, clean, and affordable electricity through the European Union (EU)-funded solar mini-grid project.

The solar project, which provides 119.5kW of electricity to over 600 households and businesses in the community, was implemented by GIZ.

Head of Green and Digital Economy Section, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Inga Stefanowicz, explained that the grid is managed under a public-private partnership arrangement to ensure its sustainability and long-term maintenance. A private company is overseeing the operations of the grid, in partnership with the Cross River State Government.

Stefanowicz said the project is part of the EU’s Global Gateway initiative, and is aimed to ensure that Nigerians have access to clean, renewable, and affordable energy.

He said: “The provision of reliable, clean, and affordable electricity for domestic and commercial use will boost the social and economic development of the people. I am also glad to say that we are taking electricity to a cocoa-producing community. This will help their farming activities and processes greatly.”

The Cross River State Commissioner for Power and Renewable Energy, Eka Williams, explained that the solar mini-grid project is an off-grid system, and expressed the conviction that it would serve the Etomi community very well. “I want to say a very big thank you to my Governor, in partnership to the EU, who have made this possible. We have a replication of this in about four communities in Etung Local Government Area (LGA).”

John Okpa, a resident of Etomi community, expressed excitement, as his community had been without electricity for over six years. He said, “Residents of the Etomi community are happy because the EU has provided us with electricity after six years of darkness. We are grateful to them, and pray that God continues to bless them.”

Precious Jeremiah, another resident of Etomi community, revealed that for seven years, she used a generator to run her hair styling business. This, according to her, comes at a high cost of fueling, repairing, and servicing the generator. “Before the installation of the solar plant, I managed my business using a generator. The cost of fueling the generator is very expensive.

“Since the installation of the solar plant, my customers can come into my shop to get their hair done and enjoy a cool and clean atmosphere devoid of generator smoke and noise. Also, I am able to make enough profit to take care of my household, including paying for the school fees of my children,” she said.

EU, GiZ Provide Electricity to Cross River Community

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UMTH: Why the people should take ownership after the flood

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UMTH: Why the people should take ownership after the flood

By: Balami Lazarus

The extensive damages at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital as a result of the flood that ravages the city of Maiduguri remain a thing of concern to visitors, patients, and administrators who are eagerly awaiting to see that services return to normal and all machinery is working as it should for proper administration of quality health services.

As people show sympathy and calls for spirited individuals and organizations to turn their helping hands toward bringing back the hospital to its state of affairs before the flood, one thing that keeps coming from the people is to ensure that those expensive machines and equipment are put in place.

NEWSng observed recently the damages and calls for actions. The extending of heartfelt concern to the government and people of Borno State, especially as a result of this unfortunate situation, is highly encouraging, and the pace at which individuals and organizations are taking to support the hospital at this time is also appreciated.

For the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), it is of tears for the losses in billions of Naiira. But courage and determination shown by the excellent leadership efforts of the management and the wonderful works of the CMD, Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo, have been creating waves and still making significant marks in this great reputable hospital, even in the face of needs.

Professor Ahmed Ahidjo has demonstrated unequal leadership. He has shown that a large heart, kindness, selflessness, seeking progress, and peace are part of the needs to ensure stability amongst the patients, their relatives, and the staff that are providing immediate services in this traumatic and unorganized situation that accompanied that aftermath of the Maiduguri flood.

He has been preaching the message of considering the people first as the hospital battles many faces of challenges during and after the flood submerged the walls that house his hospital. This, according to the people who spoke to our team, is commendable, as inconsideration of public interest in regards to medical services has denied many hospitals the public and community calls as UMTH is getting at this time when voices are speaking on its behalf for succor and support.

“I believe with the many calls for action, the hospital will soon attract more and better equipment and materials in kind and in cash as an attempt to take ownership by individuals and organizations for public interest.” Auwal Mohammed, a resident of Maiduguri, told NEWSng in a chat.

“Anyone that might have come close to the CMD must have known that medicine and providing good healthcare of quality and standard are his top priorities for the people. Without reservation, permit me here to say after his family is medicine/radiology and UMTH.” A staff member of the UMTH who did not want to be mentioned said.

UMTH is the most affected. NEWSng findings revealed that the modern, sophisticated state-of-the-art medical equipment and materials in the main hospital and other medical centers, departments, wards, and units are water-soaked.

UMTH has the best specialized equipped medical centers staffed with professionals and medical health personnel. It is believed that other members of the public will attest to this and hence contribute with their resources.

To take ownership of a public facility situated and being in a particular locality by the people’s concern is simply giving back to the community by contributing, sponsoring projects, and making donations in cash and in kind to enable the likes of UMTH to deliver efficient medical services. And for UMTH, Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo and his management team, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
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