Category: SouthEast

• NLC, TUC suspend strike

Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) has resumed full operations in Imo State, following the suspension of a week-long industrial action embarked on by organised labour, comprising Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).

A statement yesterday in Enugu by the Head, Corporate Communications, Emeka Ezeh, said the suspension followed an agreement between Imo State Government, NLC and TUC, “to enable peaceful resolution of outstanding issues in an atmosphere of mutuality.”

Consequently, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the primary source of power supply to EEDC, has been directed to restore supply, to enable EEDC distribute electricity to its customers. 

By this development, Ezeh said power supply was on Monday restored to Owerri metropolis and most parts of the state, while effort was being made to gradually restore electricity to the remaining areas. 

EEDC said it thanked its esteemed customers in Imo State for the calm and understanding they displayed while the strike lasted.

“We are excited that this issue is being addressed and we are already gradually picking supply and distributing to our customers across the state.”

“We remain committed and consistently working to deliver improved services to our esteemed customers,” EEDC said.

Last Monday, organised labour, after its joint Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting, directed affiliates of NLC and TUC in Imo State to withdraw their services effective midnight on Tuesday, over alleged “violent disruption and unprovoked assault on Imo State workers by agents of Imo State Government during the May Day celebration.”

• Over unpaid salary, pension arrears

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said it would shut down all state and local government institutions in Abia State indefinitely, barring any last minute change.

The strike, it was gathered, was to pressure the state government to pay salary arrears.

NLC in a statement issued yesterday by its state Chairman, Nweke Iheme and Secretary, Emma Alozie, directed all NLC affiliates in the state to begin indefinite strike over unresolved issues surrounding unpaid salaries and benefits of workers and gratuities of pensioners.

The statement, which disclosed that the decision of the NLC came at the end of the council meeting in Umuahia, said the union frowned at the flagrant refusal of Abia State Government to implement the agreement signed with the NLC leadership, adding that it was a clear show of insensitivity on the part of the government. 

The union, which accused the Abia State Government of not showing interest in peaceful and amicable resolution of the concerns of workers and pensioners, said the rights of Abia workers and pensioners had been trampled upon by the state government. 

The government at press time did not respond to the decision of the labour union.

• ’Monday’s work suicidal’ 

Civil servants in Anambra State yesterday stayed away from office in defiance of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s directive that they should resume work every Monday.

Soludo had during last May Day rally described as deliberate, absence of civil servants from duty under the excuse of ‘sit-at-home’, threatening to slash the salaries of those absent on Mondays.

A visit to the state secretariat in Awka yesterday and other public institutions, including schools, banks and markets across the state showed low turnout of workers, as most of the facilities were shut.

Workers seen in few offices said they came to office because they had vehicles, while others said they lived in Awka, the capital.

The Chairman, state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Emeka Nwafor, had asked Soludo to provide workers coming to office in Awka on Mondays with vehicles and security, in view of the sit-at-home order.

He described as suicidal, workers coming to work in Awka on Mondays from areas such as Ihiala, Onitsha and Aguata in commercial vehicles, without government’s assured security arrangements.

He said by so doing, workers would feel safe and confident to shun Monday’s sit-at-home, as directed by Governor Soludo.

Nwafor said the vehicles would not only convey workers to their offices, but would also take them back to their destinations at the end of work.

He added: “Commercial transporters are still afraid of plying roads on Mondays, for fear of being attacked by hoodlums enforcing the illegal sit-at-home order.”

The Chairman of Nigerian Civil Service Union (NCSU), Paul Uwaeze, said government should refurbish dilapidated office furniture and equipment, to enhance productivity on the part of the workers, adding that government should stop imposing contractors on the workers to come and calculate their payroll for the workers.

State Chairman of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Chinedu Nwabueze, solicited government’s support in improving their services in the state.

He noted that the association had introduced ambulance services for accident victims along the federal and state highways, to save lives and property.

The Southeast Zonal Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Dr. Austin Udeozor, appealed to Governor Soludo to recognise them as partners in progress, particularly in assisting the government to increase its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

The Director General, Bayelsa Government New Media, Dr. Kola Oredipe, has dismissed allegations of rift between Governor Douye Diri and ex-Governor Seriake Dickson.

Oredipe, who is also the Special Adviser (Media) to Governor Diri, said government’s attention had been drawn to a mischief-induced report circulating online, purporting a rift in the relationship between Diri and Dickson. 

He said in a statement yesterday that the obviously orchestrated and sponsored report credited to Mr. Christopher Orukeme, who claimed to be a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Bayelsa, was a product of the warped imagination of a political jobber doing the bidding of an opposition political party and his desperate sponsors.

Oredipe said the fresh attempt to create imaginary disaffection between the two prominent Bayelsa PDP leaders would fail like other previous efforts.

He said the faceless author of the report claimed, albeit falsely that social media aides of the two leaders were engaged in an imaginary media war. 

Oredipe said: “It is indeed devilish for anyone to be promoting hatred between Governor Diri and Senator Dickson.”

“The truth remains that the two leaders enjoy a great relationship. It is, therefore, evident that the opposition in the state, which are still bruised after the shellacking they got in the recent general election, are uncomfortable with this chummy relationship. 

“They equally know that the coherence and team work of the two leaders spell further political doom for them in the coming governorship election.

“Significantly, Governor Diri has repeatedly acknowledged the unflinching support of Senator Dickson for his administration and has no reason whatsoever to engage in any political war with him, contrary to the mischievous claims of the sponsors of hatred and division.

“It is even more embarrassing that a radio station in Yenagoa aired such a concocted content promoting hatred during its news bulletin, against the broadcast principles enunciated by the National Broadcast Commission (NBC).

“For the umpteenth time, we urge all ‘Bayelsans’ and the public to disregard such reports, whose objective is to create an impression of disaffection where there was none. Governor Diri and Senator Dickson’s relationship remains robust and cordial.”

From Bassey Anthony, Uyo

Newly inaugurated Akwa Ibom State Waterways Surveillance/Security Team yesterday combed waterways in search of pirates.

The marine security outfit set up by Governor Udom Emmanuel was led by the Chief Security Officer of the team, Mr. Akpan Ubak. It is to rid waterways of pirates.

The team launched out at Ikot Ebidang jetty in Onna Local Government with about 15 speed boats, over 100 personnel and supported by gunboats of combined security personnel.

Speaking to reporters, Ubak said they were inaugurated by Governor Emmanuel to tackle attacks on marine business operators by pirates.

He said the governor was committed to ensuring that business operators in the marine sector enjoyed a sanitised waterway devoid of hoodlums, who paraded themselves as owners of the riverine area, molesting, robbing and killing business owners.

Ubak thanked Emmanuel for providing equipment and mobilising the personnel for the task.

He promised to deliver on the mandate so that marine business could thrive to further boost Akwa Ibom’s economy.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State and a member of the Presidential Campaign Council, Ejiro Etaghene, has rallied support for Senator Godswill Akpabio as the president of the 10th Senate.

Etaghene, in a statement made available to reporters in Warri, described the former Akwa Ibom governor as the most qualified for the position. 

He said besides Akpabio’s pedigree as ex-governor, he had also demonstrated that he was a core progressive.

Etaghene recalled that Akpabio had at a time, relinquished his position as Minority Leader and left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when Sen. Bukola Saraki and his cohorts were bent on sabotaging the Buhari administration by stifling the progress of the government through unnecessary legislative hurdles.

He said since his defection to the APC, Akpabio had remained steadfast and committed to the ideals of the party with strong conviction that only the APC could salvage the country with the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the President.

The APC chieftain said: “Sen. Akpabio believes so much in Asiwaju Tinubu’s vision. You all saw him at the Eagle Square in Abuja during the APC primaries when he stepped down and declared his support for President-elect Tinubu. This is the vision I am talking about.

“Akpabio has the requisites of being a leader of the Red Chambers as a lawyer and a former Minority Leader of the Senate. There is no doubt that he will be a bridge between the Senate and the Executive if given the mandate to lead the Senate at the 10th Assembly.

“I therefore appeal to all senators- elect to rally support for Akpabio, as he has sacrificed greatly for APC by delivering for the party in his senatorial district, unlike his counterparts.”

Members of Petrol Dealers Association of Nigeria, Ebonyi State branch, yesterday shut down their stations, following what they described as high taxation and fines imposed on them by the Board of Internal Revenue.

Residents woke up to witness the shutdown of the stations.

The situation led to hike in transport fares, as transporters bought fuel from black market dealers at exorbitant rates.

It was observed that commercial motorcyclists, tricycle operators and commercial bus drivers plying within and outside Abakaliki, the capital, increased their fares by over 100 per cent.

The shutdown, which created apprehension, according to the state Chairman of the association, Mr. Silas Njaka, was necessitated by a suit filed against some members of the union by the board.

He said trouble started when the leadership of the Board of Internal Revenue wrote the association, requesting its members to begin the payment of Pay As You Earn Income Tax, which was resisted, while others complied.

The union chairman regretted that while other states in the Southeast gave waiver for the payment of the income tax for its members, “Ebonyi State Government imposed the tax on us despite several agitations.”

He said: “Our members in Enugu, Abia, Imo and Anambra states do not pay the Pay as you Earn Income Tax. So why must Ebonyi case be different? More so, we don’t have permanent workers. Someone you employ today may decide to resign tomorrow, yet they expect us to file their names annually to the Board.

“It is also not constitutional for those earning below N30,000 to pay tax and most of the workers on our payroll earn less than N30, 000. Just recently, the Board fined our members N500,000 for non- compliance with the payment and thereafter took us to the state High Court in Abakaliki.”

Njaka noted that members of the union in solidarity shut down all stations, to enable them appear in court to witness the proceedings.

“The matter came up today for hearing and was adjourned till next Monday. We have resolved to shut down the stations across the state any day we are appearing in court. 

“Our task force team from Enugu will also be in the state at every appearance date, to ensure all stations in the state remain shut, pending the determination of the matter,” he said.

The Ethiope East local government council chairman, Hon. (Pharm) Victor Ofobrukueta, weekend lauded the Delta state Governor-elect, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, on his Appeal Court victory at Abuja.

On Friday 5th May, 2023, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, had dismissed a pre-election appeal filed by Chief Ikie Aghwarianovwe, seeking the disqualification of Delta State Governor elect, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori.

Chief Ikie had filed a suit sometime in October 2022, alleging that Rt. Hon. Oborevwori submitted false documents to INEC to aid his qualification for 2019 House of Assembly election in Delta State. Chief Ikie further claimed that as a result of the alleged forged documents, Rt. Hon. Oborevwori was not qualified to contest the Delta State 2023 gubernatorial election.

The council boss in a congratulatory message, said the judgement delivered by the Appeal Court affirms that the rule of law is meant to protect the will of the people in a free and fair electioneering process.

The Ethiope East council boss, Ofobrukueta has also appealed to the governor-elect to work with former PDP aspirants and candidates of other political parties who are willing to support him for the development of the state.

Ofobrukueta said the Appeal Court decision stood for the vital proposition that the rule of law serves to protect the sovereign will of the people when expressed in free and honest elections.

He congratulated the Delta state Governor-elect, Sheriff Oborevwori and his Deputy, Monday Onyeme, for the Appeal Court judgment, adding that the Oborevwori’s overwhelming victory is the one for the entire state.

Ofobrukueta explained that by this judgement, the appellate court has shown that Governor-elect, Oborevwori was eminently qualified as PDP candidate who the people of Delta state gave their mandate to rule them.

The entire Ethiope East rejoices with Governor-elect, Oborevwori, our teeming PDP members in Delta and, indeed, the good people of the state over this court victory.

The national leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has disowned moves to “discontinue” the petition of its Delta governorship candidate, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, against Delta Governor elect, Sheriff Oborevwori.

Its National Legal Adviser, Aderemi A. Abimbola Esq., in a letter dated Friday 5th May 2023, warned that any step to discontinue the petition at the tribunal would be “vehemently opposed”.

Former SDP state chairman, Mr. Oke Idawene, had in a letter dated 19th April 2023 signed by E.S Ogbomade Esq., moved to “take steps to file appropriate papers for the withdrawal of the Social Democratic Party and to strike out its name as a petitioner in the aforementioned petition.”

The party described the plot by the sacked Delta SDP Chairman as a sham and unworkable.

It said, “We hereby wish to inform you that Delta State Social Democratic Party did not initiate the petition at the tribunal and the State chapter has no authority whatsoever to discontinue the said petition.