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Tag: Chris Ngige

  • Talking too much

    Talking too much

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, probably thought it was a good opportunity to play politics, but he has found out that political opportunism can bring problems.

    When he visited the hometown of the late former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, on January 28 “to inspect the facilities in preparation for his burial,” Ngige said things to impress members of the public and promote the ruling party.

    He was quoted as saying at Ekwueme’s hometown in Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State: “I can tell you authoritatively that Mr. President (Buhari) is committed and passionate in ensuring a befitting burial for Ekwueme. If he does not come for the burial himself, I am sure the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, will be here for the burial, as a matter of right.”

    He continued: “I can tell you that I am satisfied with the progress of work. The Federal Government is doing rehabilitation works on Amawbia/Ekwulobia road, up to Uga and Akokwa, in Imo State. We are also doing road rehabilitation on Oko/Umunze road, up to Ibinta in Abia State. I know the cost of all this, not less than N480 million. The Federal Government is building the mausoleum, which will contain a modern library and other facilities, and I also know the cost of that too.”

    Ngige didn’t say why it took Ekwueme’s death to get the government interested in fixing the mentioned roads. Why must road rehabilitation be tied to the burial of a VIP?

    Ngige added: “And remember that the Federal Government took up all the medical bills of flying him abroad and bringing him back to Nigeria from London, upon his death. The cost of hiring an air ambulance is not a joke. So, Buhari has honoured this Igbo son in all ramifications. He has committed not less than a billion naira in this project, because he is passionate about it.”

    This figure attracted public criticism, and the minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Nwachukwu Ngige, needed to defend his boss. A defensive statement said:  “For the avoidance of doubt, what he did as a member of the Burial Planning Committee was to give the details of the road rehabilitation projects from the Awka end of the state and from Abia and Imo State axis, all leading to Ekwueme’s hometown of Oko, as well as the medical services, the mausoleum and others.  But at no time did the minister attach a figure of one billion naira.”

    Was Ngige misquoted? Or did he talk too much, perhaps unthinkingly?

  • Reports on Ekwueme’s burial plans misleading – Ngige

    Reports on Ekwueme’s burial plans misleading – Ngige

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige has described media reports quoting him as saying that the Federal Government has spent about N1 billion on the burial plans of the former Vice President,  Dr. Alex Ekwueme, as misleading.

    He said controversy generated by the report were needless.

    The minister said he didn’t attach any figure to plans being made by the government to ensure that the former vice president gets “a deserving national tribute to one of Nigeria’s foremost statesman.”

    In a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Nwachukwu Ngige, the minister said he only gave a summary of the number of projects the  federal government has undertaken to ensure that a man who was Nigeria’s beacon of democracy was given a decent burial.

    The statement said: “Perhaps the Hon. Minister has preempted the rhetorics of cynics and detractors who could have easily run to town to claim the federal government has abandoned Ekwueme in death.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, what he did as a member of the Burial Planning  Committee was to give the details of the road rehablitation projects from the Awka end of the state and from Abia and Imo State axis , all leading to Ekwueme’s home town of Oko, as well as the medical services, the  Mausoleum and others.  But at no time did the minister attach a figure of one billion Naira.

    “An unedited video and audio tape of the interview as recorded by both broadcast and print reporters is easily within reach.

    “The minister is an Igbo man and knows full well that just as a count is not taken of the number of children a parent is blessed with in Igbo tradition, the same tradition holds the burial rites and attendant expenses even more sacred to warrant such display of figures.

    “However, it is important to add that such pieces of information in an administration such as ours that is anchored on openness, and bouyed by the Freedom of Information could be at the fingertips of any investigative reporting.”

    The statement added that the Burial Planning Committee was satisfied with the progress of the work and looked forward to a very successful event which has already kicked off beautifully and successfully in Lagos, Abuja and Enugu.

     

     

     

  • Ekwueme had impeccable integrity, courage, selflessness – Osinbajo

    Ekwueme had impeccable integrity, courage, selflessness – Osinbajo

    *Ngige: Ekwueme rejected Senate President offer from Obasanjo
    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday said that the late Vice President in the Second Republic, Dr. Alex Ekwueme had impeccable integrity,  courage and selflessness.
    Ekwueme had died in a London hospital last year. 
    Speaking at the Night of Song service organized by the Federal Government in honour of the deceased, Osinbajo said that the late Ekwueme worked tirelessly to build and maintain bridges across the country.
    According to him, Ekwueme understood the symbolism of leaders of the nation to honour God.
    He said,  “Dr. Alex Ekwuene is perhaps  one of the most remarkable persons who have served our nation. Despite being probably one of the most thoroughly educated persons anywhere in the world with degrees in disciplines as distinct as architecture, philosophy, sociology and law. 
    “He possess the profound humility that comes from understanding how much more there was to learn and he demonstrated it by his willingness to listen and to learn at all time.
    “As Vice President he set an excellent example with loyalty, discipline, team spirit and fidelity to the nation. 
    “He was fearless and with the courage of his conviction, he led the G-34, a group of eminent Nigerians who confronted military dictatorship in its darkest and most fiercesome days in Nigerian history.
    ‘In public discourse nationally and regionally as an elder in ECOWAS even in the most emotive subject, he spoke truthfully but maintaining a forthful balance ensuring that his words built rather than destroyed.
    “He worked tirelessly to build and maintain the bridges established across ethnic and religious lines. He never once doubted the validity of one indivisible Nigeria.” he added 

    Also speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige disclosed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo, offered the late Ekwueme, Senate Presidency, after the later lost the Jos primaries of the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ).

    Ngige said he personally advised the late Ekwueme to reject the offer as he was sure that the former Vice President was too rigid to be a Senate President and that he would be impeached within three months.

    He said, “I told Ide (Dr. Ekwueme) that he was too rigid and that he would not be able to do that job.  When the committees come to you and say do this and do that, you will not agree and the next thing they will go and gather signatures and in no time, the will impeach you.

    “Ide was very strict on accountability.  Even when we were campaigning, whenever we returned, he would call you and ask you to give account of how you spent the campaign money.  He will have his paper and pen in his hands.  You know politicians don’t like that.  They don’t like accountability.” he said 

    Ngige also disclosed that the late Vice President, lost the Jos PDP presidential primary ticket because he refused to bribe the delegates.

    He said that Ekwueme failed in bribery and corruption and refused to give false promises, which were the hallmark of typical politicians.

    Stressing that the late former VP was not a religious bigot, as his father was an Anglican pastor, Ngige said that Ekwueme never discriminated against people of other faiths.

    The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, urged Nigerians to learn from late Dr. Ekwueme’s courage, which made him confront late dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha, with the G34 initiative.

    He also urged Nigerians to imbibe Dr. Ekwueme’s patriotic zeal.

    He said “We must first see ourselves as Nigerians, irrespective of our religions and tribes.”

    Former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, who was also the former Secretary of the G34 and political ally of the Late Dr. Ekwueme, said that Ekwueme was “a great son of Nigeria, a loving leader, creative designer, first class architect, wise counselor, elder statesman, a great patriot, defender of the people, an advocate of social justice, fairness and equity.”

    He said that Dr. Ekwueme led the G34 which confronted Late Gen. Sani Abacha to stop his self-succession bid, and was at the vanguard of the return to democracy after more than two and half decades of military dictatorship.

    Prof. Gana also revealed that the letter by the G 34 was written by himself and Dr. Iyorchia Ayu but that Dr. Ekwueme, who was the chairman of the group  personally edited and submitted it at the Aso Rock Villa, to ensure it got to Late Gen. Abacha.

    Prof. Jerry Gana described the late Ekwueme as a defender of the people, a political colossus and an advocate of social justice and equity.

    The President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo said he didn’t come to mourn rather to rejoice for the gift of nature from God to Igboland.
    He said, “He was multi disciplinary and distinctive in what he set out to do and loyal in his convictions and believed in his intellectual perception.
    “I haven’t come here to mourn on behalf of the Igbos, I have come here to rejoice that God gave us an exemplary son. 
    “On a night like this what is important is to christenize the distinctive achievements and characteristics of Dr. Alex Ekwueme and I’m the process hope that those of us who are living will derive example from it and create a better society.” 
    He said that Dr. Ekwueme was very loyal to Shehu Shagari.
    He said “Dr. Ekwueme never thought of leaving PDP.  What was important to him was his sense of contribution.  Whether or not he made money from it or not.  Ekwueme was a very humble man.  Chief Nwodo urged Nigerians politicians to emulate.”
    Also speaking, Prof. Uzodimma Nwala who worked closely with the late Vice President said he respected him for his great intellect and not the typical Nigerian politician, adding that he had the carriage.
    He said that Ekwueme came up with the establishment of six geopolitical zones as basis for optical and resources sharing. 
    “We are celebrating a man that had contributed in laying the foundation of unity in Nigeria.

    “The true components of Nigeria is the ethnic nationalities.  We must come back to a loose federation.”

    “Dr. Alex Ekwueme was not a typical Nigerian politician,” and urged Nigerian politicians to take lessons from the departed VP.” he said 

    The former President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari represented by his son,  Aminu Shagari said late Ekwueme lived a simple and uncomplicated life and that his father’s choice of Ekwueme as his Vice President was a right choice.
    He said the late former Vice President exhibited tolerance and total loyalty, describing him as patriotic and a statesman.
  • Ekwueme: Fearless, integrity epitome – Osinbajo

    Ekwueme: Fearless, integrity epitome – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday described late former Vice President Alex Ekwueme as fearless and an epitome of integrity.

    He said this in his remarks at the Service of Songs and Night of Tribute in Abuja for the late Second Republic Vice President who died in a London Hospital on November 19, 2017 at 85.

    Osinbajo noted that Ekwueme was the most remarkable person to serve the nation and believed in its indivisibility.

    He said that while alive, the late octogenarian possessed profound humility that came from the understanding of how much there was to learn and demonstrated it by his evident willingness to listen and learn always.

    “As Vice President, he set an excellent example of loyalty, discipline, team spirit and fidelity to the nation.

    Read also: All for Ekwueme

    “He was fearless and with the courage of his convictions, he led the G-34, the group of eminent Nigerians who confronted military dictatorship in its darkest and most fearsome days in Nigeria’s history.

    “He contributed significantly to the return of democracy in 1999,’’ he recalled.

    Osinbajo stated that in national and international discourse, as an elder in ECOWAS even on the most emotive subjects, the deceased spoke truthfully and ensured that his words built rather than destroyed.

    He also said that late Ekwueme worked tirelessly to build and maintain the bridges established across ethnic and religious lines by many through the years.

    “He never for once doubted the validity of one indivisible Nigeria,’’ the vice president said.

    He recalled the late vice president’s incarceration for about 20 months after the Shagari administration was toppled but that he was cleared as having never abused his office.

    Osinbajo said that Ekwueme’s principled and fearless leadership in confronting the military dictatorship of late Gen. Sani Abacha, especially when it chose to succeed itself, was unequalled.

    According to him, the late Ekwueme had principled interventions in many national debates and in all, he epitomised impeccable integrity, courage and selflessness.

    “His values, like himself, remain relevant in every age and time.’’

    Osinbajo said that Ekwueme had remarked that he would like to be remembered as someone who came into public office to render service and rendered it selflessly.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that other dignitaries, including the President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo and Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, paid tribute to the late octogenarian.

    Nwodo said he was not mourning Ekwueme, but was rejoicing because God gave Nigeria such a man.

    For Ngige, Ekwueme was a political master who did not disappoint the nation during the 1994/1995 Constitutional conference.

    Former President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, represented by his son, Aminu Shagari, in a tribute said he would continue to relish the memorable time he had with his late former Vice President.

    “He lived a simple and uncomplicated life,’’ he said, adding that he nominated to run with him twice because of his high level of discipline and integrity.

    President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Prof. Jerry Ghana, Prof Uzodimma Nwala, and the deceased’s younger brother, Prof. Laz Ekwueme, extolled his virtues.

    A representative of the Ekwueme’s Community, Oko, Anambra, Mr Handel Okoli, thanked the Federal Government for putting all structures in place for the burial of their son.

    He, however, requested that the late former vice president’s name should be immortalised for his vision of nationalism and patriotism to be exemplified.

    NAN

  • Anambra rerun: Ngige threatens to sue INEC over inclusion in candidates’ list

    Anambra rerun: Ngige threatens to sue INEC over inclusion in candidates’ list

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, may head to court over his inclusion in the list of candidates for Saturday’s rerun election in the Anambra Central Senatorial District.

    Ngige threatened to sue the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for “deliberately listing his name with a view to humiliating him.”

    The minister said he had, in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, informed INEC of his withdrawal from the rerun election on January 11, 2016 when the election was originally scheduled for March 2016.

    He wondered what the Commission was up to after rejecting the name forwarded to it by the All Progressives Congress (APC) as his replacement after monitoring the primary that produced the candidate.

    He accused INEC of working for the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to emerge unopposed.

    He also described Saturday’s election as a charade.

    He said: “I’m not participating in the said election which can be described as a charade.

    ‘I have since by a letter dated  January 11, 2016 withdrawn from this rerun  election when it was earlier scheduled for March 2016 in accordance with the provisions of sections 33 & 35 of the Electoral Act 2010 for personal and family reasons.

    ‘My party, the APC, accepted and promptly wrote INEC for my substitution. It went ahead and communicated its intention to organise a primary election for my substitution.

    “The primary monitored by INEC was organised at Awka and the name of a new candidate that emerged was promptly submitted, only for INEC to reject the new candidate on January 29.

    “My party, the APC and INEC are in the Court of Appeal Abuja over this obnoxious and illegal action of INEC with hearing on the matter fixed for January 23 which is still within the ambit of 90 days ordered by court, only for the INEC to fix an ‘election’ for 13th in order to give an unfair advantage to the APGA candidate to go ‘unopposed.”

     

  • Ekwueme: We have lost a political colossus – Ngige

    Ekwueme: We have lost a political colossus – Ngige

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige said on Monday that the death of the former Vice President. Dr. Alex Ekwueme is an exit of an unrivalled colossus at a time Nigeria is in dire need of his wisdom, knowledge, discipline, courage and patriotism.

    The Minister said it will be difficult to replace the late statesman for his quality, pointing out that as Vice President, the late Ekwueme left office poorer than when he was not in the office.

    In a condolence message to the Ekwueme family signed by the Minister, Senator Ngige said he “received with a great jolt, sadness and deep sense of loss, the news of the exit of my political boss, friend and teacher. I was jolted by this sad news because even as I learnt that Ide had slipped into a coma some days ago, I kept praying for him and hoping against hope that he would return to us from the land of coma,” Ngige said in a condolence personally signed by him.

    “For Ide, the curtain has been drawn. He ran his race here on earth starting as a provincial boy who came to Kings College Lagos, dazzled everybody with his brilliance, soaring in his School Certificate and proceeded to acquire strings of academic degrees across disciplines, the record of which is yet to be beaten by any Nigerian.  Ekwueme epitomized brain and handsomeness. He was highly industrious, a big silent philanthropist especially in education.

    “With the passing on of Ide Aguata, the curtain has fallen on a glorious chapter in the history of Nigeria.  With the death of Dr. Ekwueme, Nigeria has been assailed by a huge gap that will be difficult to fill. With the passing away of Ide, the sky-high iroko, where then shall the birds of great flight take to? In the contemporary, Nigeria has lost her best in all ramifications- politics, professionalism in disciplines such as Architecture, Law and Business. In the contemporary world of politics, business, Nigeria has lost one of her greatest.

    “In an age of narrowness, how will Nigeria find a perfect replacement for Ekwueme, the epitome of learning? Whose deeper thought, whose insight will spring solutions to extant national problems like Ekwueme did when he proposed the six-geopolitical zones and other constitutional issues taken in the 1994 constitutional conference? 

    “In an age where uprightness has taken flight, who can replace Ekwueme’s conduct in public office? Which African can leave office as Vice President, poorer than when he entered office?  In an age of bread and butter politics, who can replace Ekwueme’s urbane consistency? Democracy is surely in danger without statesmen and Democrats with an incorruptible conscience, such that Ekwueme represented.

    “Am personally in deep grief. We have lost a father, a mentor, a leader whose briefcase some of us the contemporary leaders of the South East, Viz Prof. A.B.C Nwosu, Dr. Okey Udeh, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, Dr. Okwy Nwodo,  struggled to carry in 1998 during the formative years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  at Professor Jerry Gana’s house. 

    “Ide was a man whose wisdom, I, like many others depended at the outset of this 4th republic. I mourn a man whose shining examples have largely shaped my thought and belief in politics as service to the people.  We shall pick the gauntlet and march on to preserve the legacy Ekwueme bequeathed to Nigeria. We can’t afford to renege.

    “On behalf of my family and the entire Umu-Ngige clan of Alor in Idemili South Local Government, I wish to send our heart-felt condolences to Beatrice, his beloved wife, his children- Dr. Helen who was with him in the London Clinic, Ochiliozua, the immediate junior brothers, Profs. Larz and Obumneme Ekwueme and other family members as well as Ndi-Anambra, Ndi-Igbo home and in the diaspora and Nigerians in general

    “Our leader is gone but his indelible footprint is in the political and professional firmament of Nigeria and shall suffer no erasure.”

  • NAICOM workers resume after three-day warning strike

    NAICOM workers resume after three-day warning strike

    Workers at the National Insurance Commission ( NAICOM ) resumed duty on Thursday in Abuja after putting off their  three-day warning strike to press for improved welfare.

    Mr Ibrahim Abdullateef, the Chairman, Association of Senior Civil Servants, NAICOM, confirmed the resumption in an interview on Thursday in Abuja.

    Abdullateef said the strike had been put on hold pending the implementation of all the demands made by the union from the commission.

    “We did not call off the strike, we suspended the strike and any time any of the agreement is breached, it will call for another industrial action without any further notice.

    “Each and every agreement reached has a time line attached to it; however, we are hoping that the management will be able to implement all the agreements that we reached soonest.

    “Since the Minister of Labour has called us and the management has signed the MoU , we expect not only the signing but also implementation of the demands.

    He explained that there was an MoU between the management of the commission and the union which the management allegedly failed to endorse,   leading to the three-day strike.

    He expressed optimism that the relevant agencies of government would look into the various demands and expectations of the union and take due action.

    Mr Rasaaq Salami, the Head, Corporate Affairs, NAICOM, on Nov. 1, confirmed that the strike was called off following an agreement between the management and staff in a peace meeting brokered by the Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige.

    Salami said,“ an MOU was signed by both parties. Normal work resumes tomorrow in the office as the staff have unlocked the gates and offices.”

    NAN reports that the  staff laid down their tools over welfare and other labour matters.

    They staged a peaceful protest at the Commission’s head office in Abuja to announce the strike and called for payment of their entitlements.

    The issues at stake include payment of promotion arrears, improved working environment and working tools such as laptops, desktops, inverters and inspection vehicles.

    NAN

  • NLC calls for review of minimum wage

    NLC calls for review of minimum wage

    Kwara State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ), Mr Abdulyekeen Agunbiade, has called on the Federal Government to review the minimum wage in the country.

    The NLC chairman made the call in Ilorin on Tuesday while speaking with newsmen on the state of the nation.

    He added that according to Labour law, workers salaries should be reviewed every ten years.

    The labour leader explained that Nigerian workers would not settle for any amount less than N50, 000 as minimum wage.

    He declared that labour has not abandoned the call for upward review of the minimum wage for workers in the country.

    The NLC boss said that it was disheartening that Nigeria workers earn the lowest minimum wage among it contemporaries in the world.

    He said that the Labour Minister, Dr Chris Ngige, was not in control of the ministry because the spate of trade disputes across the country couldn’t have been that viral if he had been in charge.

    The NLC chief added a number of strike actions embarked upon by various trade unions were suspended out of sheer patriotism on the part of the labour leaders.

    Agunbiade stressed the need for Dr Ngige to consider his pronouncement as the Labour Minister, which according to him showed clearly that he could handle national trade disputes.

    Agunbiade said NLC was in full support of the call for autonomy of local governments in the country as well as true federalism of the country.

    According to him, for the local governments to be truly autonomous, it must take full control of its fund and appoint its personnel.

    NAN

  • NEMA DG appeals to NASS to amend agency’s act

    NEMA DG appeals to NASS to amend agency’s act

    Mr Mustapha Maihaja, Director General, National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA ), has appealed to the National Assembly to pass the bill seeking to amend the act establishing the Agency.

    He made the appeal in a statement signed by Mr Sani Datti, Head of Media and Public Relations, NEMA, on Monday in Abuja.

    Maihaja said that he was appealing for the amendment on the agency’s act in order to improve on the working conditions of the staff and enhance effective disaster management in the country.

    He was said to have made the appeal at the National Assembly when he led the management of the agency to the House of Representatives’ Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness in Abuja.

    Maihaja told the committee that the misunderstanding between the management and union had been resolved, saying that it was not the wish of the management to allow such matters to degenerate into strike action.

    The director-general added that some of the issues in the disputes could be properly handled with the amendment to the NEMA establishment Act.

    He appreciated the concerns of the Committee members and thanked the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige for intervening in resolving the issues.

    Datti said that the meeting was at the instance of the committee, which had invited the NEMA management and its staff union leaders to resolve the recent industrial disputes that resulted in a one day strike by the staff on Thursday.

    NAN

  • Airports concession: NASS to meet Sirika, aviation unions on Wednesday

    Airports concession: NASS to meet Sirika, aviation unions on Wednesday

    The National Assembly ( NASS ) on Monday summoned State Minister for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika and other stakeholders in the industry over the concession of four major airports in the country.

    The General Secretary, National Union of Air Transport Employees ( NUATE ), Mr Olayinka Abioye, confirmed the development in Lagos.

    The Federal Government plans to concession Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt Airports to enable them meet international standard.

    “The NASS has invited us for a meeting on Wednesday. It is a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

    “They have invited the minister, the unions and other civil society groups to deliberate on issues surrounding the concession of the airports,’’ Abioye said.

    He also noted that the unions had suspended their 15 days ultimatum over the concession issues following the intervention of the Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige.

    Abioye said: “the minister of labour has intercepted that ultimatum. He invited us to Abuja for a meeting last week including the minister of aviation.

    “Each party laid bare their own side of the story and the minister has now agreed that workers and the unions will be fully carried along because we also alleged that we were not in the know of so many things he was doing.

    “He has promised that they will expand the scope of their operations and carry everybody along.’’

    The NUATE secretary general said at the meeting, Sirika explained that the issue of concession was his own idea but that the transaction advisers who had been appointed would determine the type of models for the concession process.

    According to him, the unions were informed that the three of the transaction advisers were from the United Kingdom, one from the United States, and one from Nigeria to serve as local content partner.

    NAN