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Tag: Close ranks

  • IGP urges security agencies to close ranks

    The Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris has urged men and officers of all the security agencies to close ranks in the interest of peace and security of the country

    The IGP said the need to close ranks had become necessary as the country prepares for 2019.

    The IGP made the call yesterday during the closing ceremony of the inter-agencies training of men the police, military and para-military held at the police staff collage Jos, Plateau State.

    IGP Idris emphasized that the training was expected to put an end to the issue of inter-agencies rivalry in the course of duty.

    Represented by the Commandant of the college, AIG Dorothy Gimba, IGP Idris charged the 179 graduating personnel on advanced Detective Course to remain committed to the service of the country especially to the success of the 2019 general elections in the country.

    “Advanced Detective Course is primarily designed for junior officer’s cadre and their counterparts in other organizations to train and equip them with contemporary method of detecting, investigating and prosecuting emerging crimes in our society.

    “It is an opportunity for reinvigorating the need for a symbiotic working relationship with other agencies leading to the ultimate result of strengthening the internal security of our dear country Nigeria.

    “As law enforcers, you must always work and uphold the unity of this nation, I urge you to ensure that the impact of the course is reflected on your professional conduct and duties. All hands must be on deck for a successful 2019 general elections.”

    The College Commandant, AIG Dorothy Gimba in her speech through the Deputy Commandant of the Police Staff College, CP. Haruna Mshelia pointed that the Advanced Detective Course is systematically structured to enhanced the “professional skills and intellectual capacities of participants in the areas of intelligence gathering, collation, processing and sharing as well as detection, prevention, investigation and eventual persecution of criminal cases that abound in our society.”

    She added that the curriculum had been developed and expanded to accommodate new grounds in the art of crime detection and handling, including counter-terrorism investigations.

    The commandant added that the officers were equipped about respect for the fundamental rights of all citizens in the discharged of their duties toward upholding the democratic ideals that form the fulcrum of good governance as law enforcement officers.

    The Course Officer, CSP Adeyemi Olaolu thanked the IG for giving them the opportunity  to participate in the course and pledged to remain good personnel in their respective Commands, formations and organization.

  • ‘Labour ’ll close ranks on minimum wage review’

    ‘Labour ’ll close ranks on minimum wage review’

    The President of United UnitedLabour Centre (ULC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, has assured workers that despite the differences between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the newly-launched United Labour Centre (ULC), the three federations will unite and work together to harmonise their different positions on the new national minimum wage.
    Comrade Ajaero, who defended ULC’s N96,000 national minimum wage demand for workers, declared that the workers deserved even more.
    The NLC and the TUC have jointly presented N56,000 national minimum wage demand to the Federal Government; while the ULC has demanded for N96,000.
    Comrade Ajaero said the different figures presented by the ULC and the combination of NLC and TUC, will not create any problem as the three labour centres have found themselves in a worst situation, and overcome it. He said this happened during the last fuel price increase and the palliative committee later set up to negotiate with the government.
    “I don’t think we are going to have problem with either 96 or 56 as figures, we will harmonise it. Just like before we went for palliative committee, we had different positions,” Ajaero said.
    But Ajaero said the issue of national minimum wage is an inclusive one, and therefore, warned that minimum wage cannot be negotiated without the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) who handles the private sector.
    He pointed out that all workers, both in the private and public sectors should be adequately represented, as well as the state government.
    Ajaero said: “The issue of minimum wage is an all-inclusive one; you can’t negotiate the minimum wage without Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) that handles the private sector and majority of our unions, not all are from the private sector based unions, so you can’t shave their heads in their absence.
    “What has happened in the palliative committee even after flexing of muscles, both my centre and the NLC and the TUC have to sit together in the interest of Nigerians and the workers, they held meetings together and come up with a uniform position.”
    The Technical Committee on Palliative and Minimum Wage headed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige had submitted its report to the Federal Government and advised the government to immediately set up the Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage, which will negotiate a desirable national minimum wage for the country.
    The committee also recommended a 29-member committee chairmen comprising the eight each from the Federal Government, labour, and the NECA with civil society groups; three governors representing the states and Governors’ Forum and a chairman and secretary.

  • ‘APC must close ranks to recapture Ekiti’

    ‘APC must close ranks to recapture Ekiti’

    Former House of Representative member Hon. Bimbo Daramola is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State. He spoke with reporters, shortly after his declaration for governor in Ado Ekiti, the state capital. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA was there.

    What’s your comment on Governor Ayo Fayose’s recent assertion that the APC has no capacity to win in 2018?
    This is just an empty boast. Let me start by saying that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the first instance, has no sellable candidate that can easily win the election. This is because Governor Ayodele Fayose has successfully destroyed the party by his anti-democratic conduct and poor performance in governance. The factional crisis in the party has also weakened it; two factions are laying claims to the control of the Ekiti State Working Committee. The court has recently declared the faction loyal to Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, the authentic owner of the party. The group loyal to Fayose has been bellyaching. The PDP is not in a position to win the 2018 election; I don’t see the party performing any magic. All the APC needs is to do the right thing, by being fair to all contestants.
    Are you not worried that many of your party members are still being detained for murder cases?
    Yes, I am a bit worried, because our party is not getting it right. Our members are being detained on mere trumped up charges and the party leadership is not doing anything about it. I’m surprised that our party could get it so wrong to the extent that the likes of Niyi Adedipe (Apase), Sola Adenijo (Solar), Mr Bayo Aderiye (Ojuigo) and Rotimi Olabiwonu (Mentilo) and others are still being detained in prison custody over the murder of the former Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Chief Omolafe Aderiye, and Mrs Julianah Adewumi in 2014, even when no investigation linked them to the murder incidents. I want to say that our party leaders are not doing the right thing. They are not doing enough in this matter. If you check properly, they have spent two Christmas in that place without celebrating with their families and our leaders are keeping quiet; this is not fair to these members who worked tirelessly for our party.
    Are you saying this was part of the reason there is disquiet in the party?
    That is the main issue destabilising the party. You can’t be talking of peace and unity when there are glaring injustices against some people and the leaders are feigning ignorance about the matter. I don’t think it is fair. We have to be fair to all members, no matter how lowly-rated they may be. We have to show that everybody in the party is relevant and worth our respect. The APC lost the 2014 governorship election due to some technical mistakes, and we are still making the same mistakes today. But, I promise that I would correct the mistakes of the past and make the party stronger, if given the opportunity to serve as the governor. Every member of the party will be treated with utmost respect, because I know the history of the APC.
    You say you know the history of APC in Ekiti; in what sense?
    Let me explain it this way: I have been an active member of this party since 2006. I was active in the era of the Action Congress (AC) and later the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). We fought the battle for Kayode Fayemi to become governor for three and half years and I later went to the House of Representatives. So, I know the party in and out and I can say authoritatively that what we stand for is justice and fair play. I can also say that there are three ‘P’s in any party structure: the party, the people and politics. Out of the three ‘P’s, the people are the most important, because without the people, the party and its politics are useless. So, the APC must have respect for its people. They must be fair to them and treat them with respect and that is what I am talking about. This party has a rich history and as an insider, I know where we got it wrong and I know how we can correct past mistakes and forge ahead stronger. If our members are not united or get what they deserve, then politics and party become useless and irrelevant. We must continue to build this party and be hopeful that we will return to power in 2018.
    With all the ill-feelings, how can your party defeat Fayose and the PDP in next year’s election?
    This is very simple. For the APC to defeat Fayose and his party, I implore the State Working Committee to handle the primary with caution and to also take cognisance of the records and the contributions of each of the aspirants. The Exco members must join hands with stakeholders to unify the party for effective mobilisation of people at the grassroots. All we need is fairness and unity. That is why I am assuring that I will be accountable to the leaders and treat them with utmost respect, if given the ticket.
    What do you think stands you out from other 33 governorship aspirants?
    Just as I said the other time, I am a critical stakeholder in this party. So, I know where we got it wrong. Don’t forget that I was the Director-General of Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation in the 2014 election against Governor Fayose. There was nothing Dr Fayemi’s government did not do to put us in a vantage position to win that election. But, let me tell you, we failed to address some little, little things within our party. We are going to address all these by the grace of God. I have the education, I have the pedigree, I have the experience which will come in handy, if I am elected by the good people of Ekiti State as their governor. I gave my people the best representation during my time in the House of Representatives where I sponsored bills that changed lives and there are life-changing projects to show in my constituency. I am a grassroots politician who is very close to the people, because our party, the APC, is about the people. By the grace of God, I am going to serve Ekiti better, if my party chooses me as its candidate and the electorates elect me as their governor. I believe I am the best candidate for the job and facts are there for all to see.
    The leadership has declared that all the aspirants will be weighed to know the best. Do you agree with this?
    Why not; I am a team player and I respect the party leadership a lot. But, I will implore them to be fair to all, while doing this. They must be transparent in their approach. They should rate us based on our antecedents, loyalty and contributions to this great party, because we must not take chances in this forthcoming election. It is an election we should devote our time and energy to win.

  • Close ranks, inter-party council tells Kogi legislators

    Close ranks, inter-party council tells Kogi legislators

    The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Kogi State, has called on members of the House of Assembly to close ranks in the interest the people.

    In a statement in Lokoja, the state capital, Comrade Ibrahim Itodo, the chairman of the IPAC, called on the governor to solve the problem.

    He said the governor should embark on a fence-mending initiative across the political divides to bring about the change promised by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He berated members of the G-5 over their purported impeachment of Momohjimoh Lawal as the Speaker, stressing that the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, put paid to their shenanigans.

    He said: “We are using this channel to demand that all the bills passed from the inception of this administration by the minority members of the House of Assembly should be declared null and void, until the House is one house for unity and progress of the state.

    “Emphatically, to redress the ugly trend, we are urging Governor Yahaya Bello to make efforts to unite the House and resolve the impasse for accelerated development, because this is a test of his leadership quality and capacity to be tracked.”