Category: South East

The leadership of Abia State College of Education Technical, Arochukwu (ASCETA) has issued a three-day warning strike to the Abia State Government.

The strike, according to a statement by ASCETA Chairman Kelvin Egesi and Secretary Chinyere Nwoke said the union, after their meeting last week, decided that the strike would begin on Monday (today).

The union listed non-implementation of the approved COMPCASS/CONTEDISS salary structure and non-payment of over 25 months’ salary arrears as some of the reasons for the strike.

It also listed non-remittance of arrears of over 40 months deducted check-off dues.

The union said it was equally embarking on strike because of non-reversal of 10 per cent to 15 per cent deductions from workers’ salaries, non-implementation of promotion with financial benefits in 2008 and non-payment of pension and gratuity to retired members.

The statement said: ”We refer to our letters dated May 26 and June 30 where we gave the college management a 21-day and 47-day ultimatum to address some issues of industrial concerns.

”Regrettably, upon the expiration of the ultimatum, including further extension of time, the management neither considered our letters worth its response nor made any effort towards the resolution of the demands contained therein.

“This is a brazen height of negligence, insensitively and an administrative aberration by the estimation of the union, which held its congress on August 17 at the Old School of Business Hall.

“We submit, therefore, after extensive deliberations on the dehumanising working conditions our members are subjected to, the resolve of the union to embark on a three-day warning strike effective August 22 to press home our demands.

“Our earnest expectation is that these issues will be resolved within this warning strike period, failure which the union will be compelled to proceed on an indefinite strike.”

Nine local governments in Akwa Ibom State have lamented their omission from the list of oil producing communities.

The councils, namely Etim Ekpo, Ukanafun, Uyo, Uruan, Abak, Oruk Anam, Nsit Ibom, Ibesikpo Asutan and Etinan blamed the state government for their situation.

Addressing a news conference at the weekend, Comrade Kufre Emmanson, speaking for the local governments, said they were not involved in a recent meeting by the Ministry of Power and Petroleum Development.

The meeting was held with oil and gas producing councils on the issue of Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Emmanson, the coordinator of gas pipeline communities of the nine local governments, described the issue as unacceptable, saying monarchs of the affected councils have written to the ministry regarding the matter.

He appealed to the indigenes to remain calm and wait for government’s response to the paramount rulers’ letter.

Emmanson said: “We are demanding inclusion of 58 communities in Etim Ekpo, Ukanafun, Uyo, Uruan, Abak, Oruk Anam, Nsit Ibom, Ibesikpo Asutan, and Etinan local governments  as oil and gas host communities in Akwa Ibom State.

“This is sequel to the meeting held in Uyo last month between the Ministry of Power and Petroleum Development with the oil producing local governments concerning the Petroleum Industry Act.”

The people of Ibagwa Nike community in Enugu East Local Government of Enugu State were shocked yesterday after their anticipated cultural day celebration was disrupted by the police allegedly drafted from the police command.

It was learnt that the celebration was an annual new yam and masquerade cultural festival organised by the Umuanaekeodo family in the community to make merry.

Some of the members of the community, who spoke with reporters, said the problem started on Saturday when the preliminary activities towards the Sunday festival began with other cultural events, which the police interrupted, causing confusion.

The police were alleged to have swopped on the celebrants yesterday morning with teargas and dispersed them. They took their canopies to the Unity Police Division.

Our correspondent, who visited the scene of the crisis, saw police vehicles stationed at the market square.

Police Commissioner Abubakar Lawal said the problem was that some members of the community holding a parallel new yam festival, had issue with the State Criminal and Investigation Department (SCID), which the police needed to deal with.

A leader of the community from Umuanekeode clan, Mr. Valentine Eke, however, said the problem was that the community was divided between those loyal to the traditional ruler, HRH Igwe Emmanuel Ugwu and his own clan, who were of the opinion that the monarch was draconian in his leadership.

Eke said if the community was at peace with the monarch, there would not have been any issue of a parallel new yam festival.

Igwe Ugwu said if it was an individual feast, there wouldn’t have been any problem, but that the community had celebrated new yam festival in the year, adding that the celebrants were causing crisis.

He said there was a perpetual court injunction against the individuals holding the parallel new yam festival.

The former president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and founder of Word of Life Bible Church, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has urged the government to ”bring back the dignity of labour” among Nigerians.

The cleric, who spoke yesterday in Warri, Delta State at the first coronation anniversary thanksgiving of the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwaste 111, said there should be a paradigm shift in the orientation of youths towards hard work, which he described as the springboard for sustainable success in life.

The cleric also advised indigenes, especially politicians to “pool resources together and restore the old glory of Warri metropolis as an investment-friendly city, thus checking the high rate of graduate unemployment.”

He said Warri had the potential of becoming the Dubai of Africa if stakeholders and government at all levels contributed towards the peace and development of the oil city.

He enjoined political leaders to spread dividends of democracy to the populace by developing the tourism potentialities across the state through partnership with global investors, many of whom he said were ready to give technical support.

Stressing the need for thanksgiving, he noted that it opened avenue for more blessings.

Oritsejafor, congratulating the Olu on his first coronation anniversary, urged him to lean on God for divine direction, to enable him take the kingdom to enviable heights.

Deputy Senate President and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, former governor of Delta State Chief James Ibori and incumbent governor and vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, were among top politicians that attended the first coronation anniversary.

It was held at the palace chapel in Warri, Delta State,  to mark the end of the five-day celebration in honour of the king.

Delta South senator, James Manager;  Delta State House of Assembly, Speaker Sheriff Oborevwori; the Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate and Delta governorship candidate, Mr. Adewale Adebayo and Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi; Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, represented by his wife,  Roli and Labour Party governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru, were among other personalities who graced the ceremony.

The Dein of Agbor Kingdom, HRM Benjamin Ikenchukwu Keagborekuzi l and the Orodje of Okpe, Orhue I, were also present.

The ceremony also witnessed special prayers for the Olu of Warri, Delta State and Nigeria.

Ogiame Atuwaste lll ascended the throne on August 21 last year as the 21st monarch of Warri kingdom.

Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Information and Strategy Comrade Ini Ememobong has extolled Governor Udom Emmanuel for his consistent human capacity development of public servants.

Ememobong commended the Governor at the weekend while receiving some staff of his ministry, who recently undertook a short study course at the London School of Public Relations, United Kingdom.

According to the Commissioner, the foreign trainings for staff in the ministry wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Governor.

“I am a servant, and my duty is to interpret the desires of His Excellency. You are the beneficiaries of the Governor’s drive for a better workforce,” he said.

The information helmsman, who also praised the ministry’s ambassador to the LSPR for conducting themselves well while undergoing the short course at the globally recognized institution, observed that “learning helps to keep the heart and mind straight. And more knowledge humbles”.

Assuring that another set of staff would soon be sent to the LSPR, he promised more trainings for staff, including Post Graduate programmes; specialised trainings in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; the Administrative Staff College, ASCON, Lagos; and pre-retirement trainings for senior staffers of the ministry.

The team leader and Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Akparawa James Edet, said that going to LSPR was like a dream, which became a vision and later turned to a mission accomplished.

Akparawa Edet affirmed the ministry’s UK ambassadors were proud recipients of Diploma from the London School of Public Relations, a leading school of media studies and Public Relations in the world, courtesy of the visionary leadership of a government that believed in capacity building of staff.

The Dean, College of Directors in the ministry, who is also the Director of Information, Mrs. Blessing Urua thanked God for making things better in the ministry than they were, through the help of Comrade Ememobong.

Workshops and trainings, both local and foreign, have become regular features for staff of the Ministry of Information and Strategy since the coming on board of Comrade Ememobong as Commissioner in 2020.

Apart from the training of staff in Chinese and Sign languages, a number of staff were sponsored for the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations Certificate and Diploma programmes at the Uyo, Study Centre.

In April 2022, a cross section of staff were at the Elegant Professional and Management Development Training Cenre, Dubai, UAE, to acquire skills relevant to their areas of responsibilities in the Civil Service. Others have also been sent in batches, to the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Topo, in Badagry, Lagos State.

THE Anglican Primate, Henry Ndukuba, has led other 15 Bishops in the country to pray for Nigeria over insecurity in Anambra State.

Also, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, called for additional prayers to save the country from collapse.

It was during the 2022 National Convention of the Evangelical Fellowship of Nigeria in the Anglican Communion EFAC, held at the Paul University field in Awka, Anambra State Friday.

Ndukuba, who did not stay long, in his brief remarks, said the programme came at the right time when the country was facing serious security challenges.

He called on the faithful to pray ceaselessly to save Nigeria from the numerous troubles being faced from kidnappings, to killings and other sorts of crimes.

The National Chairman, EFAC National Convention, Most Rev Samuel Ezeofor, said the security challenges had been given people sleepless nights in the country, adding that people were being slaughtered like goats.

For Venerable, David Ezeobi, the EFAC Chaplain, Awka zone and Vicar, St Lawrence Mbaukwu, said they were expecting about 15,000 people from the country, adding that the record showed that about 9,000 attended because of security issues.

He said the aim was to lift the spirit of the Clergy because a lot of crimes like idolatry and other crimes had taken over the space, adding that the men of God needed to move into the society to curb those challenges through prayers.

Obi, who visited the arena, in his not more than two minutes remarks, told the crowd to focus their prayers on how to make Nigeria great again.

GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, on Friday, granted approval to the request made by the OHA Ibagwa-Aka community in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of the state for the creation of Ndioke Ibagwa-Aka Autonomous Community.

Ugwuanyi gave the approval when the people of OHA Ibagwa-Aka community visited him at the Government House, Enugu, to thank him for the appointment of their illustrious son, Comrade Dr. Peter Andy Omeje as a commissioner in his cabinet as well as his “towering and exemplary achievements in the areas of peace building, security, infrastructural development, education, health, human resources development, women and youth empowerment.”

The people of Ibagwa-Aka also paid glowing tributes to the governor for the establishment of the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS), Igbo-Eno, Enugu State, stressing that the medical university is one of the landmark achievements the governor will be indelibly remembered for.

Speaking on behalf of the community, Prof.  Ikenna Omeje stated that this is the first time in the history of Enugu State that an indigene of Ibagwa-Aka was appointed a commissioner, expressing profound gratitude to Ugwuanyi for breaking the jinx.

Prof. Omeje added that the people of Ibagwa-Aka are equally delighted at the ongoing road construction in the community, adding that they are impressed that the standard of the road project will stand the test of time.

While further expressing their gratitude, Omeje told Ugwuanyi, who is the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Enugu North Senatorial District, that “you have liberated us from our political suppressors,” and declared their unanimous support for his senatorial bid in 2023.

SIXTEEN National Assembly candidates of the Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) have called on a Federal High Court judge, Justice Stephen Daylop Pam, to recuse himself from a case filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to disqualify them from contesting the 2023 election.

They said their outcries became expedient following the refusal of Pam to withdraw from the case despite all their petitions asking him to withdraw from the matter.

Speaking at the APC Secretariat, Port Harcourt at the weekend, the candidates declared that they had no confidence in the “outcome of suit number FHC/PHC/CS/127/2022 as long as it is allowed to be determined by Justice Pam.”

In a written address read by one of the candidates and 12th defendant, Ezemoye Ezekiel Amadi, the candidate wondered why Justice Pam was saddled with the sole responsibility of handling all cases of PDP seeking to bar all other political parties from the 2023 elections.

Amadi recalled that on July 25th he appeared in person before Pam and brought his attention to his pending application requesting him (Pam) to recuse himself from the suit.

He said: “In response to my oral application, the judge in informed me that he was aware of my application but that it would be taken subsequently at the hearing of the suit.

“Since the judge being aware of my application and neither mentioned it in the open court as he should have, not agreed to hear it on that day but rather chose to adjourn the suit for hearing despite my repeated protestation, I sensed a trap and addressed the press on that same day to alert the whole world of the pendency of my application for the judge to recuse himself.”