Author: The Nation

President Bola Tinubu has pledged his administration’s commitment to the revival of the country’s health sector in order to restore public confidence.

The president stated this while having an audience with leaders of Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), an affiliate of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Monday in Abuja.

While harping on the importance of health and the professionals in the sector to humanity, he promised to resolve all the challenges facing the sector for optimum performance.

“The health sector is one with a commitment to humanity. We will resolve all the problems. Trust must be enshrined in all discussions.

Read Also: Call off strikes, Tinubu urges health workers

“I promise you, we will accelerate this. We will resolve all the issues. Please go back to work,” he said.

Acting Chairman of the union, Dr Obinna Ogbonna, said that members of the union were ready to go back to work for the benefit of all Nigerians.

Ogbonna pleaded with the president to pay attention to healthcare delivery system through investment in infrastructure and better welfare for workers so as to stop the brain drain currently plaguing the sector.

“Mr President, now that we have assurance from the top, we are encouraged to go back and talk to our members with a view to going back to work,” he said.

A member of JOHESU executive council, Mr Olumide Akintayo, urged the Federal Government to always respond to labour issues and nip them in the bud proactively.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that members of the union had, on May 25, embarked on an indefinite strike to press home their demands.

NAN also reports that the industrial action has hampered hospital services in federal government hospitals across the country.

The health workers are demanding for immediate approval and implementation of the technical committee report on Consolidated Health Salary Structure adjustment.

They are also demanding for immediate payment of the omission and shortfall in the COVID-19 hazard/inducement allowances of the affected health workers in federal health institutions.

The union is also seeking for payment of the new hazard allowance and peculiar allowance to its members, under the aegis of JOHESU/AHPA.

(NAN)

Kwara Governor AbdulRaman Abdulrazaq has approved the reduction of workdays from five to three days per week for the State civil servants.

The measure is a temporary palliative to bring some ease to workers following the removal of petrol subsidy by the Federal Government. 

Kwara Head of Service, Mrs Susan Modupe Oluwole conveyed the Governor’s directive to the state workers.

Read Also: Guide your adherents appropriately, Abdulrazaq charges Muslim clerics

 Mrs Oluwole directed all Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the State to immediately work out a format indicating the alternating work days for each worker under them.

She warned the workers not to abuse the magnanimity of the Governor, stressing that the regular monitoring of MDAs by her office would be intensified to ensure strict compliance.

The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) says the removal of fuel subsidy will pose negative effects on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) if not managed properly.

This is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by the President of ACCI, Dr Al-Mujtaba Abubakar.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that during the presidential inauguration on May 29, President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of the fuel subsidy.

Consequently, this resulted to increase in the prices of goods and services and long fuel queues at fuelling stations across the country.

Read Also: FG has a solution on subsidy removal- Oshiomhole

Also, the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited officially increased the fuel pump prices to over N500 per litre in different parts of the country which caused increase in transportation fares.

Abubakar, who spoke on behalf of the Executive Council and members of ACCI, commended the fuel subsidy removal but urged the Federal Government to provide SMEs with business palliatives to ease the pressure.

According to him, though the removal of the fuel subsidy may seem as the right step in the right direction, as it deregulates the oil sector and allows for competition in the industry but the government should provide such palliatives.

“If this is properly implemented, it will provide cushion for the effect this immediate removal will have on small business owners,” Abubakar said.

He said that ACCI will be available to work with the Federal Government in marshalling out support the SMEs would need to alleviate the pressure the subsidy removal may have on their businesses.

(NAN)

Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, the wife of President Bola Tinibu, on Monday in Abuja, assumed office as Nigeria’s First Lady.

Mrs Tinubu who arrived at the First Lady’s wing was accompanied by her security aides.

The first lady on arrival, was received by the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Mr Tijjani Umar and other Head of Units in the First Lady’s Office.

Mrs Tinubu was therefore guided on a tour of offices within the first lady’s wing, comprising the Administrative, ICT, Catering, Media and Protocol Units.

Read Also: My family doesn’t need Nigeria’s wealth to survive – Remi Tinubu

Mrs Tinubu was born on Sept. 21, 1960 to Itsekiri mother and Yoruba father.

She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from the University of Ife, and has  undertake several courses in some higher institutions.

She served as the wife of Lagos State Governor between 1999 and 2007 and thereafter was elected Senator representing Lagos Central in the Senate.

Mrs Tinubu executed many philanthropic activities to alleviate the plight of vulnerable people in her Constituency.

(NAN)