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Tag: Nigerian news

  • UCH doctors solicit stakeholders to avert another strike

    UCH doctors solicit stakeholders to avert another strike

    Resident doctors in University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, on Tuesday urged stakeholders to compel the tertiary hospital management to pay their salary shortfalls as directed by the Federal Government.

    Dr Segun Olaopa, the President, Association of Resident Doctors (NARD),said that the association would continue further dialogue with the management on non-payment of the salary shortfalls.

    “We are weary of going on strike after the 10 days notice of strike issued to management lapsed on the Monday, Oct. 23.

    “We implore management to do the needful in order to avert another strike.

    “At the Congress held on the evening the notice lapsed. It was agreed that we should engage management in further dialogue till October salaries are paid to avoid loss of patients’ lives and to prove to the public that we are willing to show more restraint.

    “It has become imperative to draw the attention of the press and the public to the brewing issues in UCH. These issues if not addressed, may impact negatively on the existing industrial harmony at the hospital.

    “These issues include: non-payment of our September salary, 28 per cent shortfall in August salary, 2016 shortfalls of 11 months till date and work overload due to management’s refusal to employ new residents.

    “Presently, the number of residents stands at 525; this has reduced to 454, as some of them have completed their residency. By this October, 40 among us will also finish the residency.

    “The implication of this is that the remaining few residents are given work overload and this should not be; management should employ more residents to make the workload easy and to achieve maximum productivity.

    “Resident doctors’ accommodations need to be rehabilitated. The conditions of those flats are nothing to write home about.

    “The hospital has witnessed major burglary attacks recently and we are more concerned about the security of resident doctors’ quarters.

    “Further investigation by our association to press home our demand on security of our members and families, revealed that management still owes them salaries,” he said.

    The association on Friday, Oct. 13 gave the hospital management another 10-days strike notice to protest unpaid salaries.

    The 10-days strike notice expired on Monday Oct. 23.

    Part of the outcome of the dialogue, which led to the suspension of the strike, was that government would release money to pay the doctors’ backlog of salaries.

    The NARD claimed that the Federal Government had released the funds to clear the backlog salary arrears but UCH management was yet to pay these arrears.

    NAN

  • NEMA seeks approval of hazard allowances for workers

    NEMA seeks approval of hazard allowances for workers

    The National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA ) has reached some agreements with its workers including the introduction of a life assurance policy for its employees.

    The agency is also expected to seek approval from the Federal Government for the payment of hazard allowances.

    The acceptance of the agreements  led  to the suspension of a nationwide strike  by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria( ACSN ).

    The Federal Ministry of Labour had on Friday brokered peace between NEMA management led by its Director-General, Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria( ACSN).

    The agreements are as follows: “An Implementation Committee comprising the ASCN, NEMA Management to be chaired by the Director, Finance and Account ( DFA),  Federal Ministry of  Labour was constituted to facilitate the verification and commence payment of staff claims by  October 24. 

    “It was agreed that the management should work with the ASCN to conclude the process of acquiring life assurance policy for the staff within one week.

    “It was also agreed that the management should come up with a compensation package for the families of the deceased staff in line with the provisions of the Public Service Rules ( PSR).

    “That a training Schedule using existing template should be drawn to accommodate all the staff and the training needs of all the departments within two weeks. An implementation committee comprising Director, Human Resources, Director, Special Duties and a representative of the union is to be constituted to monitor and report the level of compliance.

    On the fate of some redeployed staff, the two parties agreed that “the management should issue the letters recalling the two unit executives by 20th October, 2017.”

    Regarding hazard allowances for NEMA workers, the management explained that it was seeking approval from the Federal Government for the payment.

    The agreement added: “The meeting noted that the management has already initiated the process and the DG was advised to fast-track the process with the relevant government agencies.”

    Both parties also resolved not yo victimize workers who participated in the strike action.

    Other issues to be addressed are proper placement if staff, voluntary redeployment and promotion.

    The agreement said: “The meeting agreed that the affected individuals should apply for redeployment in line with the Public Service Rules ( PSR ).”

    The meeting was informed that the list had been submitted to the Committee set up to look into the issue. Management was therefore advised to speed up the implementation process holistically across board.

    “The Association was requested to submit all promotion-relayed issues to the management within two weeks.

    “The meeting agreed that no member of the association shall be victimized or involved in any vindictive/punitive posting as a result of this industrial action.”

  • Court remands four ritual suspects

    Court remands four ritual suspects

    An Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun, on Tuesday ordered the remand of four men accused of ritual killing, in prison.

    The accused, Jeremiah Ademola, 32; Samuel Babatunde,77; Obaniyi Michael, 32 and Haruna Afolabi, 44, whose addresses are unknown are facing a three-count charge of unlawful possession of human parts, conspiracy and murder.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs B.B. Adebowale, ordered that the accused should be remanded in prison pending legal advice from the state’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on the matter.

    Adebowale adjourned the case until Oct. 25.

    Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Cpl. Abdulkareem Mustapha, had told the court that the accused, with others still at large, conspired among themselves to kill two children for ritual.

    He said that the accused, after killing the children, buried parts of their bodies in a church in Ota.

    Mustapha told the court that the offences were committed on Aug. 13, 2017 at about 9.30 p.m. at Egan Road, Iyana-Iyesi, Ota.

    He said that the offences contravened Sections 210(f), 324 and 516(1) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006.

    NAN

  • Mugabe would have rejected WHO role, says spokesman

    Mugabe would have rejected WHO role, says spokesman

    Robert Mugabe would have rejected the role of WHO goodwill envoy had he been formally asked, his spokesman said on Tuesday, days after state media cheered the Zimbabwean president’s appointment.

    WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus named Mugabe as a goodwill ambassador on Wednesday at a conference in Uruguay that both men were attending.

    The appointment was rescinded on Sunday following a backlash from Western donors, rights groups and opposition parties.

    On Friday, the state-owned Herald celebrated the largely ceremonial appointment as a ‘New feather in President’s cap’, adding that Mugabe, 93, had accepted the role.

    His spokesman told the same newspaper on Tuesday that Zimbabwe’s sole leader since independence from Britain in 1980 had only heard about the appointment via the media.

    “Had anything been put to the President … (he) would have found such a request to be an awkward one,” Charamba was quoted as saying.

    “The WHO cannot take back what it never gave in the first place, and as far as he is concerned, all this hullabaloo over a non-appointment is in fact a non-event.”

    Charamba did not respond to calls seeking further comment.

    Mugabe’s critics were outraged by Tedros’ announcement, saying he was rewarding a man whose government had presided over the collapse of Zimbabwe’s health system.

    Charamba said the fact that Zimbabwe was a producer and exporter of tobacco, mostly to China, would have meant Mugabe campaigning against a crop that underpins the economy.

    Tobacco is Zimbabwe’s single largest foreign currency earner, bringing in an average $800 million annually in the last four years, according to official data.

    “To be seen to be playing goodwill ambassador in respect of an agency which has a well-defined stance on tobacco growing and tobacco selling, that would have been a contradiction,” Charamba said

    NAN

  • Police sanction 20 personnel for corruption

    Police sanction 20 personnel for corruption

    The Nigeria Police Force, says it has sanctioned 20 personnel involved in corruption between Jan. 2016 and Jun. 2017 in four states.

    A report obtained from the Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit indicated that those sanctioned served in Enugu, Abuja, Ogun and Lagos commands.

    It indicated that 10 policemen were dismissed during the period, one given severe reprimand, one demoted, and eight given other forms of punishment.

    The report showed that 4, 342 complaints were received by the unit during the period under review, out of which 3,602 were amicably resolved and 318 pending.

    It added that 422 complaints received by the unit were discovered to be false.

    Read also: Police to conduct autopsy on Kogi’s Soje

    According to the report, the 106 distress calls received by the unit during the period under review were not part of the complaints captured in the report.

    The unit was established in November 2015 to receive and resolve cases of professional misconduct brought against police personnel.

    NAN

     

     

  • Court remands three men over murder

    Court remands three men over murder

    An Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court, on Tuesday ordered the remand of three men in an Ilesa Prison over alleged murder.

    The defendants: Jimoh Sheriff, 20, Saidu Aliu, 25, and Yusuf Taofiq, 21, were docked on a five-count charge, bordering on murder, conspiracy, false pretense and unlawful possession.

    The Magistrate, Mr Ashiru Ayeni, ordered the remand of the defendants due to the magnitude of the alleged offence committed.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Elisha Olusegun, had  told the court that the accused persons committed the offences between May and Sept. 20 at about 7:45p.m. within Osogbo and Ifon area in Osun.

    Olusegun said the defendants conspired and killed and behead one Sanusi Isiaka .

    He said that the defendants were also in possession of charms, and obtained money under false pretence from innocent citizens.

    The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 324, 319(1), 516, and 213, punishable under Section 509 of the Criminal Code cap 34 Vol.11 Laws of Osun, 2003.

    The pleas of the defendants were not taken, while the case was adjourned until Dec.21 for mention.

    NAN

  • HEARTS…a story of love, heartbreak and life [PART TWO]

    HEARTS…a story of love, heartbreak and life [PART TWO]

    In pretence, he would gloat with his shoulders raised high in the presence of his goons. However, deep within him was the ensnared little man in manacles and chains of addictions; crying for help. The heaps of adulations from his friends were millstones and burdens weighing heavy on his soul. He felt lost, empty, finished and dry.

    Fast forward into the seminar hall where she is conveniently seated with other participants and of course, the charmer – “Mr Femi”.

    Femi, on the other hand just could not help himself because the innocent-looking, gregarious, and adorable Amarachi had caught his fancy. His mind was so busy with thoughts and plots to win her heart that he unconsciously voiced the words – “I must get her!”. The person seated next to him quickly turned to Femi’s direction and shook is head…he must have muttered – “i am so sorry for you”. Femi quickly comported himself and at least pretended to be listening to the facilitator.

    Read also: HEARTS…a story of love, heartbreak and life [PART ONE]

    Now Femi hasn’t always been a serial womaniser, in fact, he was a well brought up and cultured young man from a well-to-do family. He was an only son amongst three female siblings who were always in the boarding school. His early childhood was not so different from an average child that lives in Lagos. He played on the streets under the sun and in the rain, enjoyed comic books and videos games, displayed some caricature Jackie Chan moves after watching one of the classic movies, and hated to have his bath twice daily; he did what boys his age would normally do.

    However, his days of innocence were coming to an end rather too early at the age of 11 when his entrepreneur dad and banker mom decided to employ Edidiong as a house help. As part of her chores, she was responsible for tending to Femi – from feeding, bathing, down to bringing him from school daily. Femi hardly saw his parents even on weekends. They are usually out of the house before he’s astir in the morning and arrived very late at night when he’s already asleep. He’s always in the company and tutelage of the housemaid who cared less about him, save for her monthly emolument.

    One very unfortunate day, the unexpected happened to Femi. “Femi come here”, Edidiong said with her airy-low voice. She took him to her room, turned the key twice in a clockwise direction to lock the door, and closed the window blinds.

    Read also: HEARTS…a story of love, heartbreak and life [CONCLUDING PART]

    Femi stood transfixed in the centre of the room not having the slightest idea or premonition of what was about to go down. Aunty Edidiong, he said. What are you doing? Why are you locking the door and windows? She walked slowly towards him, drew him close to herself and said “let me show you something!” That was the beginning of the end of the affable and morally cultured Femi. She abused him sexually and threatened to take his life should he report the incident to anyone, especially his parents.

    Edidiong stayed with his family as their housemaid for another seven years. These years were a gestation period into sexual addiction and inordinate foray for Femi. His mind and body had been re-engineered, reconditioned and tampered with by the housemaid so much so that his profligacy and womanising tendencies had reached astronomical proportions before he was 18 years old.

    Now Femi is 29, every night he reminisces about his life – the scores of relationships he had been in, the hearts he had broken and other “touching” stories better left untold. He sheds tears sometimes because he knows that he could be a better man and live a better life instead of the bestial adventure that reeks from his being.

    Femi is the happening guy, the man of the moment, the ladies man, the “oshomo one” of Nigeria etc. These are some of the alias and praise names his friends would usually heap upon him. In pretence, he would gloat with his shoulders raised high in the presence of his cohorts. However, deep within him was the ensnared little man in manacles and chains of addictions; crying for help. The heaps of adulations from his friends were literally millstones and burdens weighing heavy on his soul. He felt lost, empty, finished, and dry.

    Now the program was over and Amarachi had packed her seminar materials and was heading for the bus stop when Femi quickly drove his Mercedes-Benz C-Class beside her, wind down his side window and offered to give her a lift. Please milady, can i give you a ride?

    Watch out for the concluding part…

    By Moses Emorinken

    Email: brandphase@yahoo.com

    Twitter: @memorinken

    Instagram: @memorinken

  • 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

  • Gov. Tambuwal advises FG to handover roads to states

    Gov. Tambuwal advises FG to handover roads to states

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State on Tuesday advised the Federal Government to handover Federal roads to states governments for effective management of the roads.

    Tambuwal gave the advice when he received the Senate Committee on Works led by its Chairman, Sen. Kabiru Gaya, in Sokoto.

    He said: “There is the need for the federal government handover the roads to states, because states governments are closer to the people and we have more efficient methods of supervision.

    “If this is done, it will go a long way in ensuring that the vast majority of major roads and highways in the country are well maintained.’’

    The governor pledged to work with all stakeholders to ensure proper management and development of infrastructure in the state.

    He solicited the support of the National Assembly to facilitate the reimbursement of fund spent by the state government spent on the repairs of some federal roads.

    Earlier, Gaya said they were in the state as part of the committee’s oversight functions and lauded Tambuwal’s administration for providing basic infrastructure that would enhance the wellbeing of people in the state.

    Gaya assured that his committee would facilitate the reimbursement of the funds used by the state government in developing federal roads.

    He thanked the governor for his commitment towards the completion of the Sokoto-Jega-Yauri -Kontagora road, which is currently under construction.

    The roads to be inspected by the committee included Sokoto-Illela and Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Yauri-Kontagora roads.

    NAN

  • Nigeria, Indonesia agree to reinforce economic ties

    Nigeria, Indonesia agree to reinforce economic ties

    Nigeria and Indonesia have agreed to increase the level of economic cooperation between both countries, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said.

    The agreement was reached on Tuesday at a bilateral meeting Osinbajo held with his Indonesian counterpart, Jusuf Kalla, a release issued by Mr Laolu Akande stated.

    The meeting was on the sidelines of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative ( EITI ) Beneficial Ownership Transparency Conference in Jakarta, Indonesia.

    According to Osinbajo, Nigeria is open for business and more investment and recalled the partnership reached with members of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce on Monday.

    “We are looking forward to more Indonesian investments especially in the manufacturing sector in Nigeria, trying to exploit our local raw materials,” he said.

    The vice president also informed his counterpart that the Muhammadu Buhari administration had implemented reforms that had made the Nigerian business environment “a more favourable environment”.

    Osinbajo expressed appreciation to the Indonesian government and extended greetings to President Joko Widodo.

    In his own remarks, the Indonesian Vice President said his country was also ready for more economic cooperation with African countries, especially Nigeria.

    Other issues discussed by the two Vice Presidents included areas of collaboration in the Agriculture and agro-allied sector including palm oil research and production.

    NAN