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Tag: labour

  • Labour, CSO delegates reject elders’ committee

    Labour, CSO delegates reject elders’ committee

    Delegates on the platform of labour and civil society organisations (CSO) at the ongoing National Conference have protested the reversal of a decision of the Conference. The protesting delegates are insisting on restoring the powers of the conference to appoint the leadership of standing committees rather than the selection committee headed by the Conference Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi.

    The bone of contention was Order 6 rule 6 (a), (b) that. “The Chairman shall, in consultation with the Deputy Chairman and Secretary, appoint the Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of Committees. The Chairman shall have the powers to review the performance of Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of Committees and remove them in consultation with the Deputy Chairman.”

    The Conference had, on March 20, rejected the proposal but the 49-member elders’ committee, after consultations with the conference leadership, later overturned the decision in favour of the proposed order. The elders’ committee was formed earlier by the Chairman to resolve the impasse generated by the controversial voting method of 75 percent or three quarter of members present and voting if consensus cannot be reached on an issue.

    However, while the recommendation of the elders was brought before the delegates on the voting method, it was adopted. The question on the selection of Committee leadership was also put and the elders’ recommendation was carried, despite protest from a delegate that the elders were not mandated to deliberate on the matter.

    At a press briefing yesterday morning, the protesting delegates said they would insist on the reversal of the adopted decision. Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President, Abdulwaheed Omar, who was flanked by other labour and CSOs delegates, said the conference was manipulated by the leadership on the issue. He said though the reversal would be contested on the floor, Nigerians should be alerted to the fact that the outcome of the Conference might be manipulated after all. “This protest is not an afterthought because we raised an objection just before the vote was put, but we were ambushed. Even the question was ambiguously put with many not understanding what they voted for.

    “Conference leadership has manipulated us on this subject but we need to inform Nigerians that such conduct of deception is dangerous and can affect the report of the Conference. With this singular act, we need to look at the character of the leadership of this conference and this showed that we have to be very careful in trusting them. We need to watch out as Nigerians because it is possible that the outcome of this conference is manipulated already.

    “Why should this conference be different? In the 2005 conference, it was the delegates that picked the leadership of Committees. We demand the restoration of the original decision of the plenary session that committees should choose their leaders. The leadership should desist from taking the taking for granted delegates to the conference,” he added. But reacting yesterday, Confab leadership said due process was followed in all that was done, saying it breached no rules on the adoption of Order 6 rule 6 (A), (B) as contested by labour and CSO delegates. According to Akpandem James, Assistant Secretary, Media and Communications, the delegates were fully involved in the adoption of the recommendation of the 50-member elders’ committee that intervened on the matter.

  • Labour urged to fight for minimum wage implementation

    Labour urged to fight for minimum wage implementation

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have been charged to go beyond the mobilisation of workers against the Senate’s decision to move the national minimum wage from the Exclusive to the Concurrent List of the Constitution.

    The unions have been urged to declare a national protest against the attempt by employers, in the private and public sectors, not to implement the minimum wage.

    The organised labour has also been called to begin the mass mobilisation of workers and the poor for a 48-hour solidarity strike with mass protests and rallies to compel the Federal Government to immediately implement its agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and adequately fund education.

    Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN), a new party for Nigerian workers and masses, made the call in its reaction to the communiqué issued at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the NLC in Abuja.

    According to the communiqué, the NEC resolved to, among other issues, mobilise against the Senate resolution to move Minimum Wage from Exclusive List to Concurrent List; participate/mediate in the current negotiation between the federal government and striking lecturers under ASUU; and take up labour issues in Anambra State.

    The group, in a statement issued by its National Chairperson, Segun Sango, argued that many workers might not warm up to NLC’s mobilisation against the Senate’s decision on minimum wage, having not really benefited from the national minimum wage.

    It therefore called on the labour leadership to start conscious mobilisation of workers against not just the Senate attempt to make minimum wage voluntary for governments and private sector, but also against attempt of various governments to rubbish the minimum wage law.

    “The issue of minimum wage goes beyond issuing threats to the Senate. Therefore, for the labour leadership to effectively mobilise workers against the anti-worker Senate, it must link this with the struggle to ensure full implementation of the national minimum wage.

    “Given the unsatisfactory way the labour leadership had handled some struggles in the past, especially the cancellation, at the midnight of July 20, 2011, of the strike on minimum wage that had been adequately mobilised for and planned to begin on that day and the January 2012 struggle on fuel price hike, it is most likely that any call by labour for a general strike and mass action will be trailed by mass skepticism, even among workers and pro-labour activists.

    “We therefore urge the labour leadership to immediately begin holding mass meetings with workers and pro-labour activists to assure them of their commitment to struggle as part of the preparation for the suggested strike which should also include mass rallies and circulation of leaflets. This must also include immediate resuscitation of Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) that must come to stay as a fighting platform against all neo-liberal capitalist attacks on the working people and youth,” the group added.

    On ASUU strike, the group kicked against the decision by the NLC to mediate in the current negotiation between the Federal Government and the striking lecturers, stating that the ‘negotiating’ approach of the Congress will lead to unwarranted compromise rather than helping the striking lecturers achieve their demands.

    It argued that the NLC does not seem to be much interested in compelling the government, through direct support to ASUU and mobilising its members for solidarity action, to accede to the demands.

    “With the terrible conditions of education vis-à-vis collapse of infrastructure and falling standards, it is only appropriate for NLC to mobilise its massive support for ASUU and its demands. To limit the issue of ASUU strike to the “interests of students” is like helping the government to pile up pressure on ASUU and force it to raise compromises that will neither end the agitations of ASUU nor resolve by any means, the monumental problems facing education sector.

     

     

     

  • Education: JAF, ERC urge Labour to call for protest

    The Joint Action Front (JAF) in collaboration with the Education Rights Congress (ERC) has called on the organised labour, under the aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), to support a mass protest against the rot in the education sector by calling out workers on a two-day strike

    JAF’s Secretary, Comrade Abiodun Aremu, who led the rally in Lagos, said his group would collaborate with other civil society groups in Nigeria to shut down the nation if concerned authorities fail to give urgent attention to its yearning.

    He said: ’’Top civil servants and those close to the corridors of power were the beneficiaries of public education, even as some of them established private universities and private schools in Nigeria and abroad with looted funds.”

    ‘’That explains why they are not bothered when Public primary, secondary and tertiary institutions are shut, and pupils and students have to remain at home for a long as the unions are frustrated to resume without government acceding to their legitimate demands’’

    Aremu, who lamented that Nigeria is funding education with less than eight per cent,in contravention international standard of 26 per cent for same, said: “The unions in the education sector are on strike because the Federal and state governments in the country refused to implement agreements reached with them.”

    According to him, teachers and non-teaching staff are the poorest paid in the world, while the nation’s politicians received the fattest pay among their contemporaries.

    The rally, which kicked off at the NLC’s office, Yaba, Lagos and ended at Maryland , had personalities, such as Treasurer of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Comrade Ademola Aremu, President of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUUP), Comrade Chibuzor, former Governorship aspirant in Lagos, Comrade Ayodele Akele and union heads in College of Educations.

    The National Coordinator of the Education Rights Congress (ERC), Comrade Hassan Taiwao-Soweto, while commending the stakeholders in the education sector for their doggedness to uphold the struggle to free education sector from poor funding by the state, noting that the ongoing strike is a Nigerian concern and not that of ASUU alone.

    He, however, appealed to the leadership of the NLC and the TUC to also lend a voice to the agitation by calling out workers on a 48 national strike in solidarity with students, lecturers and the public.

  • NLC hails Reps for retaining Labour on Exclusive List

    NLC hails Reps for retaining Labour on Exclusive List

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday hailed the House of Representatives for voting that labour matters remain on the Exclusive List.

    NLC’s President Abdulwahed Omar, in a statement in Abuja, said: “The decisions of the House were bold, patriotic and people-oriented. It sent a signal that the House could be independent-minded and could be relied upon to support the interest of the working people and other poor Nigerians.

    “It is instructive that the House did not only retain the National Minimum Wage on the Exclusive List but also gave its word to ensure it remains there.”

    Umar noted that the House of Representatives voted according to the wishes of members’ constituencies during the just-concluded constitution amendment, which covered 85 clauses.

    The NLC President described the voting as a mark of selflessness, courage and patriotism, which should be emulated by those who elect to serve the public in whatever capacity.

    Umar said the “House should also be commended for observing due process by way of stepping down two clauses because public hearing had not been conducted on them”.

    He added: “This further illustrates the openness of the House and their determination not only to do what is right but to lead by example.

    “The Congress holds the view that if the example of the House is followed in subsequent amendments, it would be possible to have a people- constitution.

    “We seize this opportunity to renew our call to political combatants in the country to play by the rules, for in the long run, the rule of law and respect for the wishes of the people are what will advance the cause of our nation and not impunity or brigandage.”

  • Labour to Fed Govt: embrace dialogue

    The President-General of Trade Union Congress (TUC),Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, has warned the Federal Government of a revolution in the country if it fails to embrace social dialogue.

    He stressed the need for partnership among the three tiers of governments to address problems of the nation.

    He also said the three tiers of government must work together to pursue the ongoing Federal Government’s transformation agenda so that its effects would rub off on the economy

    Speaking with reporters in Lagos, Comrade Bobboi urged the nation’s leaders to resolve their differences and work towards good governance, or risk an imminent revolution in the country. When it happens, he warned, the leaders would be the first target of hungry Nigerians.

    He said: “Economic growth and jobs creation are the ultimate goal of the economic transformation, which forms part of the key role that government has to play in helping to address the challenges of job creation and other challenges that Nigeria faces.

    “Our position is that, Nigeria needs the enabling environment and other economic measures with an immediate impact, to help create jobs, to spur economic activity as well as preserve social stability and human dignity.

    “We are ready to be partners with the government to address the crisis, with an emphasis on decent work, promoting enterprises, good governance, investment and social justice because TUC believes in the power of universal norms and standards. Our position is that it is only by working together that we can truly achieve our goals.”

    On the passage of a bill to deregulate wages in the country, he said TUC’s position on it is claer. He said the congress was worried that the senators did not take the private sector under consideration while legislating on minimum wage.

    “They voted that the state should have a national minimum wage different from the Federal Government. It is a laughable position taken by the Senate because the senators have no regard for the private sector, widely acclaimed as the engine of growth in any economy.

    “And so, the Senate having concluded that the private sector in the economy, acclaimed to be the engine of growth should pay N5, or any amount to workers as national minimum wage while the state governments can as well pay any amount is unfortunate,” he said.

    According to him, TUC has resolved that since the essence of the National Assembly is to legislate on laws that will bring about law and order, that would enrich and not to impoverish the citizenry, or the senators have not put into consideration that the minimum wage is a bench mark, which no employer in the country should go below in their wage review and implementation, the workers in the country should be prepared to take their destiny in their hands when the time comes.

    He said: “We are more worried that the national minimum wage does not preclude the fact that the employers in the country can pay over and above the N18,000 that is prescribed in the minimum wage. And so, the TUC is not aware about how the Senate came about deregulating the minimum wage.

    “I am pretty sure that they have not done the in-depth study of the national minimum wage before taking a laughable position that is exposing them as anti-workers and Nigerians that voted for them in the 2011 general elections.

    “We only use this opportunity to advise them in the interest of good governance in the country to take a second look at the provision and allow the issue of the National minimum wage to be on the Exclusive Legislative List.”

    Comrade Kaigama said TUC would develop the capacity of the workers and give the secretariat an international status.

    “I plan to develop and improve on the TUC’s transport project that was started by (my predecessor) Comrade Peter Esele, because I said in my mission statement that other viable state capitals in the country need to benefit from the transportation services of the TUC,” he added.

  • Boroffice: why I dumped Labour Party for ACN

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Senator Robert Boroffice, yesterday explained why he defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    Boroffice, who represents Ondo North, told reporters in Abuja that he left LP for ACN when it became obvious that he had become a stranger in the party.

    He said although he won his Senatorial election convincingly, the LP did not give him the support he needed for the election.

    Said he: “It is true that in 2011, I won election to the Senate on the platform of the Labour Party and by December 2011, I defected to ACN and the reason is obvious.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • ‘Labour issues yet to be resolved in PHCN privatisation’

    The National Union of Electricity Employees, (NUEE) has refuted claims by the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, that labour issues with the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) workers has been resolved.

    Recently, the minister said the Federal Government had resolved outstanding contentious issues with the workers.

    But the Lagos State Chairman of NUEE, Comrade Adeleke Ibrahim, maintained that the core labour issues had not been settled, noting that the minister had made similar pronouncements in March, this year.

    He said: “In March, this year, the Minister of Labour said Labour issues have been settled with PHCN workers, but we have not seen anything yet. None of our members have been settled.

    “Recntly, we saw the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo on national television saying that labour issues have been settled and severance payment will be made by the end of July.

    “We will watch and see if government will fulfill their promise at the end of this month (July),” he said.

    Ibrahim, however, admitted that the Federal Government is looking into the severance payment of PHCN workers before handing over assets to investors.

    It would be recalled that the Federal Government had disclosed that it would hand over 15 of the successfully privatised successor companies heaved off the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to their winning investors by the end of this month.

    Meanwhile, Minister of State for Power, Hajia Zainab Kuchi, had earlier hinted that labour issues have been addressed, adding that payment of severance would commence at the end of last month.

    “We are finalising on labour, the labour is what is standing between us and the handing over and all the issues that were there had been addressed. We are about to begin payment, as soon as the payments are finalised by June ending, we will definitely be handing over to the successor companies by the end of July; that is the projection we have here and that is the stance of the BPE which has a timeline which was created with the labour issues in mind.

    “We have taken over all the problems and addressed all the issues, the funding is there for the payment of labour and all we are doing is data computation and as soon as we are done with that the handing over will be done,” Kuchi said.

  • Labour to Senate: minimum wage should remain on exclusive list  

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have raised concerns over efforts by the Senate to remove the national minimum wage law from the exclusive list to allow state governments decide how much to pay their workers.

    Currently, the national minimum wage, which is on the Exclusive List, is determined by the Federal Government and has been pegged at N18, 000.

    In separate statements, President of the NLC Abdulwahed Omar and his TUC counterpart said the removal will unnecessarily expose Nigerian workers, especially, those in the low-income bracket with grave implications for security, productivity and national well-being, as most state governments if given the latitude, will pay wages as low as one thousand Naira per month in spite of the relative enormous resources available to them.

    “This fear is justified or underscored by the reluctance or refusal of some of them to implement the N18,000 minimum wage law. Even for some of them that implemented the law, it took a heroic struggle,” he said.

    Theyu said: “the question we ask when issues of this nature arise is: do Nigerian workers and lawmakers buy from different markets? The answer is “no”. How do we send our children to school? How do we pay our rents? How do we pay our fares to work, market, church, mosque, etc or how do those who are privileged to have a car fuel it? It is wrong for politicians to attempt to toy with the destinies of Nigerian workers.

     

     

     

  • ‘8.5m youths to enter active labour force by 2015’

    NO fewer than 8.5 million Nigerians are expected to emerge as new entrants into the active labour force by 2015, figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have revealed.

    NBS said the active labour force, which ranges from persons of 15 to 64 years, is the age group of able bodied persons available for paid employment in the country.

    Constitutionally, only persons who have attained 18 years are allowed to seek employment in the country.

    In a statement, the NBS explained that the inclusion of persons, aged 15 was deliberate, especially in view of the need to capture the reality of population growth and to adequately advise the government on the trend.

    According to the projections made in the General Household Survey Report (1999-2011), 92,384,738 out of an estimated Nigerian population of 164,385,56 in 2011 were economically active. This was in contrast to 89,520,095 million who were economically viable in 2010.

    The statistics further showed that while 1,505,997 million Nigerians were newly employed in 2010, the figure doubled in 2011, reaching 2,127,691 in 2011.But the figure of the unemployed indicated that 13,946,515million people were unemployed in 2010, whereas, in 2011, it rose to 16,074,205.

    Those who were employed, the data showed, were 51,224,115 in 2010, but it reduced slightly in the following year (2011) with 51,181,884.

  • Ogun 2015: Is Labour Party really a threat?

    Ogun 2015: Is Labour Party really a threat?

    Against the backdrop of its claim that it is now the party to beat in Ogun State ahead of the 2015 governorship election, Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, examines the chances of the Labour Party (LP) in the forthcoming election.

     

     

    Alhaji Rafiu Ogunleye, a former deputy governor in the state and a politician from the eastern senatorial district of Ogun State, recently spoke about the possibility of the Labour Party (LP) defeating the Action Congress of Nigeria (AC N) in the 2015 poll in Ogun State.

    The pronouncement sums up the feeling within the camp of the relatively new LP in Ogun State. Ogunleye is the known leader of the party in the state. But the statement elicited resentment from the ruling AC N which described such as mere wishful thinking.

    Indeed, the LP is sparing no effort in its quest to announce itself as a serious contender in the politics of the state ahead of the 2015 general election. With claims of mass defection into its fold by members of other political parties in the state, leaders of the party seek to create the impression that it is being seen as an alternative.

    But pundits and politicians say the party may not have what it takes to dislodge the ruling party just as the AC N says the LP cannot offer the people of the state anything as it is a party peopled by disgruntled mischief makers who are fond of playing politics with development issues.

    Before now, much couldn’t be said of the LP in the politics of Ogun State other than it fielded Chief Jide Awosedo as its gubernatorial candidate during the last election and came a distant fourth in the race. Senator Lekan Mustapha who flew the party’s flag in Ogun East senatorial district also lost woefully.

    Awosedo and Mustapha remained the biggest political figures to be associated with LP in the state until a few weeks back when Ogunleye led some aggrieved members of the ruling party into the party (LP) and emerged as its new leader and financier.

    They were soon joined by a splinter group within the Otunba Gbenga Daniel’s (OGD) faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) allegedly led by the former governor’s political son and gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) in the state, Mr. Gboyega Isiaka.

    Indications that Isiaka may have pitched his tent with the LP came to light during his 51st birthday ceremony at his home in the Ibara Government Reservation Area, GRA, Abeokuta, the state capital.

    Labour Party members and officials, led by party chairman in the state, Olabode Simeon, and secretary, Sunday Oginni, witnessed the event, where posters and leaflets of LP were being distributed to guests. Isiaka’s supporters from both Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) participated in the distribution of the LP campaign materials

    When asked by our reporter if the presence of the LP chieftains symbolises his next political move, Isiaka said, “my friend, you can see things for yourself, but I will speak at the appropriate time.” He is yet to deny or confirm his membership of the LP in spite of rumours surrounding his alleged romance with the party.

    Rumours are also rife that OGD himself may have made up his mind to dump the PDP for the LP to re-launch and actualise his failed dream of installing Isiaka as Governor of Ogun State during the 2015 governorship election.

    According to sources, OGD has convinced himself that the only way he can ensure the election of his long-time associate, is to repeat the 2011 experiment of moving his supporters from the PDP to another party, this time the LP.

    Other PDP heavyweights who are rumoured to be preparing to dump their party and join the LP in the state include Alhaji Sarafa Ishola, Chiefs Jubril Martins Kuye, Alani Bankole, Hon. Biodun Akinlade, Tunde Alabi and Waliu Taiwo. But beyond the rumours, none of the named politicians has come out to confirm their membership of the party.

    The Nation learnt that the movement to the LP is not a generally accepted one even among political associates of OGD. While some are currently boasting that the impending move will signal their return to power, others are strongly expressing their objection to the purported defection.

    But the party says it will spring a surprise in 2015. According to Ladi Adebutu, one of the leaders of the party, seventy per cent of the electorate in Ogun State will actually support and vote the Labour Party in 2015.

    “I can tell you that all the 20 local governments of this state, particularly the three local governments of Remo (Sagamu, Ikenne andRemo North), the effect will be very well-felt.

    “I am not the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). I have not conducted the counting, but I know the number of people will be enough to make the difference between winning and losing at an election situation.

    “We have eighteen months or thereabouts to the 2015 elections and I can assure you that in the next ninety days, it will be clear to everybody that Ogun State is a Labour Party state,” he said.

    But Adebutu’s claim has received knocks from many quarters. In the opinion of Akin Adegbite, state treasurer of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), the LP is no threat to the ruling party ahead of the 2015 general election.

    “We have on our hand a band of propagandists who think they can fool all the people at all times. Isn’t that funny? You can only fool some people at some times. Not all people at all times. I hear of thousands and millions defecting to LP in Ogun State. Where are the defectors?

    “In my own view, the LP is just making noise so as to attract some attention to it. The party lacks any known credible leader. Most annoying is the fact that all the people they claimed have joined their party are yet to publicly confirm being members of LP. How can a political party exist on rumours?

    “Scavenging for disgruntled members of other political parties to beef up your own unknown party cannot win election anywhere in the world. Politics is serious business and should be seen as such. When a party declares millions of members on the pages of newspapers and have nothing to show for it on its registers, then such party is unserious,” Adegbite countered.

    In his own opinion, a chieftain of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the state, Deinde Ifarajimi, said the LP is not on ground in Ogun State. According to him, it is strange that a party that is actually unknown to the voters is making so much noise ahead of a crucial election.

    “I am even beginning to suspect foul play in the whole thing. I think this is a ploy by the ruling party to deceive serious opposition parties into relaxing and thinking that the LP can truly confront Amosun and the AC N.

    “Otherwise, I don’t see anything on ground to suggest that LP can win even a councillorship seat anywhere in Ogun State. Those following them should be prepared to labour in vain.

    “There is no way a handful of disgruntled politicians who left their various parties sadly will converge in one new party and immediately win the governorship. They are strange bedfellows and soon, they will start bickering and fighting over crumbs. That is when all their lies will crumble.

    “I want to see OGD, Osoba, Martins-Kuye, Akinlade, Oladunjoye, Remmy Hassan, Adijat Oladapo, Salmon Adeleke, Job Akitan, John Obafemi and others they claim have joined them line up and declare for LP publicly. Until then, I will not waste my time discussing the chances of the party in the governorship election. How can they win? Where are the people to campaign for them? There is no LP in Ogun State for now,” he declared.

    The Chairman of the PDP in the state, Engr. Bayo Dayo, also rated the LP low when he described the party as a mushroom party without any electoral value among the people of Ogun State.

    “They ought to have learnt their lessons when they went to the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) in the last general election and lost woefully. They should know that the popularity of their principal, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, is waning by the day and it is better they retrace their steps back into the PDP.

    “Daniel wants a party that has no structure on ground like the Labour Party which he can hijack and manipulate as he likes, reminiscent of what he did in the PPN. It would be politically suicidal for him to repeat the same mistake he made when he misled his associates to the PPN,” he said.

    For the AC N, there is no reason for it to be scared of the LP or any other party at that because the people of the state appreciate the ongoing developmental projects in the state. Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the LP is ignorant and its leadership has lost touch with the people, and as such cannot be a threat to the ruling party.

    He said the ongoing infrastructural development programme was a response to the inadequacy and old-fashioned state of the facilities, many of which have not witnessed government touch in the last 20 years.

    “The 16 road projects being constructed across the state is an attempt by the Amosun administration to modernise our state and prepare it for the envisaged role as the investors’ destination. That is why we have set a standard for our roads to be six-lane with accompanying road furniture.

    “The administration has also been very frugal and transparent in the award of its contracts. We can boldly say that with the quality of roads that we are constructing, nobody can fault our contract costing. Our people know what they want and who is serving their interest. They will not listen to mischief makers who are pretending to be critics,” Olaniyonu said.