The Nation Newspaper

Tag: activities

  • Activities of hoodlums worry community

    Residents of wasimi Onipanu in Ota, Ogun State have urged the police to patrol the area regularly to check night marauders.

    The hoodlums, they claimed, are threatening the residents’ security.

    The Oremeji Wasimi Onipanu Community Development Association chairman, Mr Babalola Ebofin told The Nation yesterday that the call became necessary as the festive period approaches.

    Ebofin said a fortnight ago, armed robbers operated in the area for about two hours, raiding five houses and carting away unspecified sums of money and valuables.

    He urged the Divisional Police Station at Obasanjo Junction to arrest the situation forthwith.

    Ebofin urgedOgun State Government and Ado-Odo Ota Council to rehabilitate the roads in the community.

    “Residents in the community are farmers and traders who have found it difficult to ferry their items to markets. It has also become impossible to transport sick children and expectant women to nearby hospitals,” he said.

  • Road contractor’s activities worry residents

    Residents of Ilamose Estate in Ejigbo, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State, yesterday protested the “disturbing” activities of a Chinese construction company, CCECC, handling a road construction in the area.

    The residents accused the construction company of insensitivity to their suffering, which they said, was caused by its construction works.

    The Chairman of Oriade Akinsanya Community Development Association (CDA), Mr Clement Adegbite, who led other community leaders and residents at the protest, accused the company of cutting them off from the other parts of the state.

    He said all major link roads to the communities in the estate had been blocked by the company and about seven internal roads with culverts within the estate allegedly damaged by the company.

    He said the only culvert left was destroyed by the company’s heavy equipment three days ago, adding that efforts to make the company rebuild it failed. His worry was shared by another resident, who lectures at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Dr Kehinde Ayoola.

    Adegbite said the company should have provided alternative routes for residents before blocking the available ones.

    Ayoola said the company did a shoddy job on the damaged Prosperity Road Junction culvert, thus making it difficult for vehicles to pass through.

    Mr Emmanuel Egbeniyi, who chairs January 27 CDA, said the company destroyed existing culverts and internal roads, notably: three culverts on Peter Agar Road and culverts on Prosperity and Adebiyi streets, among others.

    Another resident, Alhaji Umar Makki, said they wanted urgent restoration of their culverts and roads.

    He appeals to Governor Babatunde Fashola to call the company order. A official of the company, simply identified as Mr Mike, pleaded with the residents, saying: “Ours is a caring organisation. We will take immediate palliative measures to make the roads motorable, while a permanent solution will be in place soon.”

  • Protesting NIPOST ex-workers paralyse activities over unpaid benefits

    Protesting NIPOST ex-workers paralyse activities over unpaid benefits

    •Govt processing N1.7b entitlements, says NIPOST

     

    Retired workers of the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) yesterday disrupted activities at the headquarters of the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST), Area 11, Abuja.

    The ex-workers were protesting the non-payment of their entitlements.

    The protesters, who came with foods, bags of pure (sachet) water as well as personal effects, blocked the main entrance of NIPOST headquarters, carrying placards with various inscriptions.

    They vowed not leave until their benefits were paid.

    They accused the management of NIPOST of neglecting them after they had earlier tabled their demands before the Postmaster General of the Federation, Malam Ibrahim Mori Baba.

    Aminu Adamu, leader of the protesters, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the Kaduna State chapter of the National Union of Pensioners, NIPOST chapter, quoted the Postmaster General of the Federation as saying that the benefits would be paid when the budget is passed, noting that nothing has been done since February when they (pensioners) held a meeting with him.

    He said they would not leave the NIPOST headquarters until their demands are met, adding that the protest is a warning as other branches of the union will join nationwide.

    Said he: “NIPOST management has refused to pay us our benefits: arrears, pension, severance salary, harmonisation and others since 2011.

    “The 2011 salary has not been paid to us as I’m talking to you. We are all retired workers; those who retired in 1997, 2004, 2005 and 2007 are all here.”

    Addressing reporters on the demands of the protesters, the Postmaster General said actions are being taken by the NIPOST management to ensure that the pensioners’ entitlements are paid.

    The Assistant Postmaster General, Territorial Operations, Yacim Bitiyong, said the NIPOST management expressed surprise at the protest, noting that his team held a meeting with the leadership of the National Union of Pensioners, NIPOST chapter, last week over the demands of the pensioners.

    He said a circular was issued at the end of the meeting. He expressed surprise about the protest, which according to him, ought not to have come up.

    The Postmaster General said NIPOST was aware of the contentious nature of pension in the country and lamented that the organisation incurred loss that ran into millions of naira when aggrieved pensioners shut down its offices nationwide.

    He, however, assured that the Federal Government would ensure that pension-related problems were solved.

    The Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Pension Administration, Habila Tanko, said the severance allowances of NIPOST, right-sized in 2006, have been paid, noting that those shortchanged in the payment exercise would be adequately paid.

    He said the N1.7billion budgeted for the payment of entitlements of the pensioners is with the Budget Office, adding that NIPOST has facilitated the processes that will lead to the payment.

  • College dedicates activities to God

    The Bayelsa State College of Health Technology (BYCOHTECH) has held a solemn assembly to thank God for seeing the college through the past year. The management used the occasion to dedicate the college to God in the current year.

    The event, which was jointly organised by the management and the Joint Christian Campus Fellowships (JCCF), BYCOTECH chapter, started with an opening prayer by Dr Memory Queensoap, who is the Dean of the college’s School of Foundation Studies. Hymns were also rendered by the congregation.

    The Provost, Dr Teddy Charles, said it was imperative that the college handed over its programmes and activities to God in 2013. “As an institution, it is only wise that we offer ourselves anew every year, month, week and day to our creator. We set aside today to offer ourselves new unto God and to seek for His mercies and pray that He lead us through the rest of the activities of the year,” he said.

    In his homily entitled God is able, the guest minister, Dr Patrick Awotula, reiterated God’s capability to do everything beyond human imagination. Reading from Ephesians 3:14 and Luke 5:11, the pastor advised the congregation to always hold unto God’s unchanging hand for the desired solutions to their problems.

    According to him, man could only be saved if he accepted Jesus Christ as his saviour.

    The JCCF president, Europe Stephen, who is a final year student of Environmental Health Technology, said: “Except the Lord builds the house, the builders build but in vain. We felt that beginning the New Year with a dedication service isn’t a bad option for the college.”

    Dr Awotula led the congregation into a session of prayers dedicating the college management, members of staff and students to God. A brand new set of musical instruments acquired by the college were also dedicated to God.

    Prince Stephen, 200-Level Environmental Health Technology, praised the management and the JCCF for organising the programme. Officials at the event included Deputy Provost (Administration), Dr Precious Oru-bo, Bursar, Mr Kiereseiye Aseria, Registrar, Chief Yousuo Iruo, directors and heads of departments.

     

  • Cross River ACN holds activities

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Cross River State has outlined its end-of-the-year activities.

    A statement by the Chairman, Hillard Etta, said there will be a city walk in the morning on December 29 and lectures will be delivered by Prof Afolabi Jacobs of the University of Calabar and Dr Vincent Asor.

    There will be a thanksgiving service at the Delightsome Ministries in Calabar, the following day.

    The programme will be rounded up with a dinner/fund-raiser in the evening of the same day.

    Deputy National Chairman Boss Mustapha is the guest of honour. National Vice-Chairman, Southsouth, Pastor Ize-Iyamu, is the chairman.