The Nation Newspaper

Tag: sack

  • Theft, sack gale threaten N10b GGW project

    Lack of community ownership and theft of submersible machines (popularly known as borehole pumping facility) is threatening the success of the Great Green Wall (GGW) programme, The Nation has learnt.

    The project being implemented by the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), an agency under the Federal Ministry of Environment got N10 billion approval from the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration for its implementation.

    It is saddled to plant wall of trees across the 11 northern states severely threatened by desertification, provide potable water and empower the host communities among other targets. The benefiting states include Borno, Sokoto, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Adamawa and Bauchi. Others are Gombe, Zamfara and Yobe States.  It was gathered that 157 boreholes have been constructed in the states since 2013.

    But the project according to a top source in the agency is suffering various setbacks including allege sack of over 700 forest guards by the ministry. The guards were reportedly engaged and were being paid stipends as part of job creation window of the project.

    The source, who did not want his name in print, explained that aside from theft, iron wires used to cordon the borehole facilities were destroyed in order to access the facilities especially at night. He explained that the contractors had to improvise by hiding the submersible machines away from the main spot of the borehole.

    “They went to the borehole digging and looking for the submersible pumping machines. They usually go in the night to dig the pumping machine that is normally underground, remove and sell. They had stolen so many on the sites and we have replaced several.

    “So what the engineers do now is that they don’t fix it close to the place, they hide it away. Some people have been arrested and the cases are in court while some are with the police.”

    The source blamed community leaders and youth representatives, who ought to have taken active ownership of the intervention projects such as repairing faulty parts of the machines but depended on the government to fix the minor problems.

    However, he noted that few communities from the project site who recognised importance of the project volunteered to provide local security, thus safeguarding the equipment.

    “In some areas where the people have realised importance of the programme, they come out on their own like vigilante in the night and because most of the sites have security post with lights. Some of them set up camps under the lights safeguarding the projects,” he added.

    The NAGGW Katsina State Field Officer, Umar Yusuf during a phone interview affirmed the situation saying Katsina has the highest number of projects among the 11 States. He acknowledged the re-occuring cases of pumping machine thefts and damaged borehole systems but could not provide details of replaced borehole machines in the state.

    “There is a lot of reluctance on the community to really take care of the investment in their custody. That is what leads to the stealing of the submersible pumps. The community left it in the night without anyone watching.

    “There are some boreholes having technical fault while some have been stolen,” Yusuf added.

    The agency’s Director-General, Goni Ahmed warned over gradual spread of desert encroachment to other parts of the country. He said about 43 per cent of the nation’s landmass is currently threatened by desert encroachment.

    In his reaction, the Environment Minister, Ibrahim Jibril denied claims of machine thefts. He said his recent visit to few of the states showed contrary, adding that that the communities appreciated the interventions.

    However, Jibril explained that the forest guards were not sacked but government terminated their involvement in the project to improve it and ensure steady payment.

    Describing the forest guard recruitment as ‘job for the boys’, Jibril noted that the process of recruitment was faulty, not credible and enmeshed with irregularities, adding that there was no budgetary provision.

    “This issue of engaging people, in the first place, you must know that there must be a budgetary provision for them. You don’t recruit people and don’t pay them. We must plan for this; remember we inherited this programme and at the time we came, those so called engagement you are talking about, i don’t even know the figure and i won’t tell you a lie, is like creating jobs for the boys, and then anything you link to politics in those days, you are not going to get the results.

    “It doesn’t make sense for me to recruit someone who will not go to the field to take care of the trees. I went to Sokoto and Kebbi states last year and I asked the leaders of the communities not the commissioner or the permanent secretary, I went to see the village heads and ward heads and when they came, the first question I asked is that are you using this water for you domestic use? He said yes in fact they are most grateful and they would have starved without this water,” Jibril stated.

    However, the minister said plans are ongoing to structure the recruitment process in the Head of Service (HoS), include it in the budget and ensure there is steady payment of salaries and other benefits.

    “At that time, the idea was not to get them permanently engaged, it was to give them just a period of months to sustain the trees and even at that a lot of them were not reporting, so when the time expired and there was no budgetary provision for them they had to stop.

    “We will address that issue. We have written to the Head of Service and also the Office of Budget and National Planning; we must have to get people properly structured in the payroll and have budgetary provisions to pay them.

    “If you employ and you don’t pay it is a recipe for disaster. If the man is hungry and takes away the pump what are you going to do about it? We will be getting unintended results. So what we are planning now is to make sure that what has happened before will not be repeated now. Once we engage you, we will make sure that you stay and you are employed properly, the community will be involved; we will get people from the community,” Jibril added.

    NAGGW Director of Information, Mrs. Larai Daze in her reaction said the agency already intensified sensitisation campaign on need for host communities to own the projects.

    She said aside from 600 kilometers of Shelterbelt which serves as wind breakers, over 200 kilometers of woodlots have been planted as alternative to felling of trees.

    “We have almost 600 km of Shelterbelts already established all over the states. We have over 200km of Woodlots and almost 300 hectares of fruit trees such as Guava, Orange, Mangoetc planted across the 11 states,” she stated.

  • Filmhouse: Kene Mkparu pre-empts sack, resigns

    Following a tussle with the Board of Filmhouse and FilmOne Distribution, its CEO, Kene Mkparu, has resigned his position with both companies.

    The companies confirmed this in a statement released by Filmhouse Cinemas and FilmOne Distribution and Production signed by Kene Okwuosa.

    “It is with a heavy heart that I announce the decision of the Board of Directors of Filmhouse Cinemas and FilmOne Distribution and Production, to part ways with Mr. Kene Mkparu, in his position as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of both companies,” according to the statement.

    “Mr Mkparu, as we all know, was a co-founder of both companies, and instrumental in building them from scratch to becoming the leading cinema chain, theatrical distributor and production company Group in Nigeria. We are most thankful to him for this and for the opportunity to have worked with him. He was and remains a true visionary, and we wish him all the very best in his future endeavours.

    “Filmhouse and FilmOne are entering a new phase, thus the Board has decided to appoint new Managing Director(s) to steer the affairs of both companies. In the meantime, I, Kene Okwuosa will function as the interim Managing Director of Filmhouse Cinemas and Moses Babatope will function as the Interim Managing Director of FilmOne Distribution and Production, pending the appointment of a substantive Managing Director.

    “Contrary to some news being peddled in the public domain, the Board wishes to assure everyone that the company is in good health, and there is no cause for alarm.”

    There has been a rumoured tussle among the top hierarchy of Filmhouse Cinema/FilmOne Distribution, leading to the owners of the company, African Capital Alliance weighing in in the last few months.

    Mkparu had left Genesis Cinema in similar manner to co-found Filmhouse six years ago.

  • Court okays sack of ex-NTA official

    The National Industrial Court, Abuja, yesterday, ruled that the sack of Obba Obiechina from Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) was lawful.

    Obiechina was dismissed from NNRA, when it was discovered that he drew salaries from NNRA and the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) simultaneously for two months.

    Justice Rakiya Haastrup, in her judgment, said the issues for determination by the court were:

    “Whether the dismissal of the claimant’s appointment was unlawful.

    “Whether the claimant could take up a permanent and pensionable employment with another government agency at the same time.

    “Whether the claimant is entitled to the reliefs sought?”

    She said the evidence before the court showed that the claimant’s retirement from NTA took effect from September 5, 2008.

    Justice Haastrup noted that the claimant assumed duty at the NNRA on July 9, 2008, while his retirement benefits were being processed, and his employment with the NTA was subsisting.

    She said the claimant’s action was unlawful, and contravened the Public Service Rule.

    The judge said this deceit had made termination of his appointment lawful, as due steps were taken by the defendant before his sack.

    The court, therefore, dismissed the suit and reliefs sought by the claimant.

    Obiechina had urged the court to declare his sack unlawful, reinstate him and award him N500,000 damages.

    The claimant joined the Ministry of Petroleum Resources as co-respondent.

  • Monkeys sack Gbagada community

    MANY residents of Soluyi/Sosanya Community in Gbagada have fled their homes following an ivasion by monkeys.

    Some of the residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos yesterday that they could no longer withstand the situation.

    They called on the  government for help, saying  the animals forced their way into their rooms by destroying window and door nets.

    Chairman of the  Landlords’ Association Mr Adigun Olaleye said it had become difficult for the community to curtail the monkeys.

    He said the invasion might have resulted from the community’s closeness to a swamp forest.

    According to him, the monkeys come around at any time, including early morning, and gain entrance into rooms even if the houses are locked.

    Olaleye said the community had written to the Ministry of Agriculture over the matter,  but had yet to get a relief.

    “They said we would have to pay for them to come and pack the monkeys,” he said.

    He said the invasion had been on for years but  ‘’is now intense’’.

    Narrating her ordeal, a journalist who lives in the community, Mrs Funmilola  Gboteku, said the monkeys had forced her family to flee the community.

    “Many times, these monkeys come to the neighbourhood to destroy our property. Once they see food items inside a house, they direct all their energies at gaining entrance forcefully.

    “The monkeys are in the habit of tearing the protective nets on windows to gain entrance and eat whatever they find in the house. I have had to replace the protective nets several times;  I am tired of doing it.

    “I have been locking my windows but locking of windows has disadvantages; there is no cross ventilation in the house, and as a result, we suffer heat,’’ she said.

    Another resident, Mr Gabriel Omopariwa, said he was tired of the monkeys and had looked for ways to stop them, to no avail.

    “Several traps have been set to capture and kill these demonic animals to no avail.

    “One of my neighbours, while trying to pour chemical on a monkey, fell in the bowl of the chemical; she had to be rushed to a hospital. “She still lives with the scars from the unfortunate incident,”  he said.

    A landlord, Mr Joshua Folowosele, said the monkeys entered his wife’s shop on many occasions to eat gala, biscuits and other foods.

    “We have tried to poison them on many occasions, but those monkeys are too smart; once they perceive the smell of the food, they usually detect it has been poisoned. Some of them have been killed with guns, but we cannot keep shooting in a residential area; it is very risky. Those of us who are landlords can testify that these monkeys have been disturbing us for years.

    “One of the landlords here had to sell his house to move to another place when he got tired of the disturbance,” Folowosele said.

    Another landlord, Mr Oluwatosin Aregbesola said:  “The monkeys enter kitchens to eat our soups and any food stuff on the shelf. The day I tried to catch one of them, the monkey attacked me by using its long nails to punch a hole on my neck and scratch my face,” he said.

    Aregbesola appealed to the  government to save the community from the menace.

  • Sack, jail randy lecturers, says don

    EX-Sole Administrator of Delta State University, Abraka, Prof. Abednego Ekoko, has decried the upsurge in sexual harassment by lecturers.

    He attributed it to low morality and indiscipline.

    Ekoko urged the Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC) to enact policies to check sexual harassment and plagiarism.

    The don, who spoke in Asaba, Delta State capital, said ‘sex-for-grades’ had lowered academic standards and debased the value and honour of the girl-child.

    He advocated dismissal and jail term for culprits, saying it would restore the dignity of womanhood and academic excellence.

    Ekoko said the standard of education had fallen, describing it as abysmal and deteriorating.

    He urged universities to live up to expectation.

    The lecturer said plagiarism was rife, adding that discipline should be revisited, as “academics who plagiarise are imparting academic leprosy to students.”

  • NJC recommends sack of Abia Chief Judge Uzokwe, one other

    •Set up committees to Supreme Court Justice, 2 state Chief Judges •Issues warning to Justice Aladetoyinbo, Williams •Dismisses petitions against 31 judges .Appoints 60 judges for 24 states

    The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State the compulsory retirement of the state’s suspended Chief Judge, Justice Theresa Uzokwe and Justice Obisike Oji, who was picked in her place.

    This formed part of the decisions taken at the NJC’s 85th meeting held on March 14.

    The NJC had earlier suspended Justice Uzokwe, and  queried  Justice Oji (of Abia State High Court) for allowing himself to be sworn-in as Acting Chief Judge when the Abia State House of Assembly purportedly sacked Justice Uzokwe.

    According to the NJC, Justices Uzokwe and Oji were found guilty of misconduct.

    NJC’s Director, Information, Soji Oye, said in a statement that the council also set up committees to Supreme Court Justice, two state Chief Judges.

    The statement was silent on the identity of the judicial officers involved.

    The NJC  warned  Justice S. E. Aladetoyinbo (of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Justice Olusola Ajibike Williams of the Lagos State High Court.

    It referred a petition against Justice Mwada Balami of the FCT High Court to the Police for investigation into the allegation of N5, 000,000million bribe to the Judge for granting bail to an accused.

    The NJC dismissed petitions against 31 judges for being without substance and approved the appointment of 60 judges for 24 states.

    On  Justice Uzokwe, the NJC said she was recommended for compulsory retirement following the findings of two investigative committees set up to examine the petitions against her by Abia State’s  Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice,  Umeh Kalu (SAN).

    NJC said Kalu, in the petitions, accused Uzokwe of  illegal constitution and working with a parallel Judicial Service Commission (JSC) instead of the one constituted by the  Governor and confirmed by the House of Assembly.

    It added: “Hon. Mr Justice Uzokwe was also found to have misconducted himself in a suit in 2005, wherein he delivered judgement in the sum of N825, 000 (eight hundred and twenty-five thousand naira) only in favour of a litigant, but subsequently signed a garnishee order of N109, 612, 500 (one hundred and nine million, six hundred and twelve thousand, five hundred naira) only.”

    As it relates to Justice Oji, the NJC noted that it had earlier queried him “for allowing himself to be sworn-in as acting Chief Judge, and thereby colluding in, and aiding an unconstitutional process.

    “His (Justice Oji’s) reply was unsatisfactory and the Council recommended his compulsory retirement.

    “The NJC reprimanded, seriously warned and placed on the Watch List Hon Justice S. E. Aladetoyinbo of the FCT High Court for impropriety in a case between U.L.O. Consultants Ltd v BIL Construction Nigeria Ltd, sequel to a petition by one Uche Luke Okpuno.

    “Council would have sanctioned the judge more severely, but had to take into account the fact that aspects of the case are appealable.

    “Council also seriously warned Hon Justice Olusola Ajibike Williams of the Lagos State High Court for grave errors of judgment in her level of involvement in a family business. “Council found that the judge, as a judicial officer, should have been more circumspect and conscious of her office.

    “Council’s sanction was as a result of a petition by Chief Ladi Rotimi-Williams, SAN.

    “Council at the meeting also considered various petitions written against thirty-one (31) judicial officers and resolved to empanel three investigative committees against one Justice of Supreme Court and two state Chief Judges.

    “Petitions against various Justices were dismissed either for lack of merit, lack of evidence of misconduct, being sub judice or that the subject of such petitions were matters for appeal.”

    The dismissed petitions were those written against Justices Abdu Aboki, Theresa Abadua and Ahmed Belgore (all of the Court of Appeal); Justices J. T. Tsoho, Ayo Emmanuel, Sabiu Yahusa, Zainab B. Abubakar and B. O. Quadri (of the Federal High Court).

    Others are Justices A. N. Ubaka and B. B. Kanyip (of the National Industrial Court); Justices Bello Kawu, S. C. Orji, A. N. Talba (of the FCT High Court); Justice K. C. Nwankpa (High Court Abia State); Justice D. A. Onyefulu (High Court Anambra State); Justice W. I. A. Effiong (High Court Akwa-Ibom State), and Justice A. M. Ikpambese (High Court Benue State).

    Equally affected are Justice G. E. Gbemre (High Court Delta State); Justice A. O. Onovo (High Court Enugu State); Justice Idi Apollos (High Court Gombe State); Justice G. O. Ogunsanya (High Court Ogun State); Justice A. B. Abdulkarim, (High Court Osun State); Justice K. A. Ojiako (High Court Imo State); Justices A. M. Lawal;  L. A. Okunnu and L. B. Lawal Akapo (all of High Court  Lagos State).

    The statement also said the NJC “decided to advise Hon. Mr. Justice J. E. Ikede of Delta State High Court and Hon. Mr. Justice Yusuf Halilu of FCT High Court to be more careful in the course of their judicial duties.

    “Council decided to refer a petition by Prince Adesina Okuneye against Hon. Mr. Justice Mwada Balami of the FCT High Court to the Police to investigate the allegation of N5, 000,000 (five million naira) bribe to the judge for granting bail to an accused person.

    “Council decided that the petition should be put in abeyance until the outcome of the investigation by the Police.

    ”Council at the meeting also recommended 60 judicial officers to Governors of twenty-four (24) for appointment as High Court Judges, Sharia Court Kadis and Custo.

     

     

     

  • NUPENG vows to shutdown sector over sack threat

    NUPENG vows to shutdown sector over sack threat

    Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has warned that it will shut the oil sector if the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) sacks its members as threatened in a recent ultimatum to the Federal Government.

    The marketers have given the government a 14-day ultimatum to settle the N650 billion debt allegedly owed its members.

    In a statement by its Executive Secretary, Olufemi Adewole, DAPPMAN said if the government failed to meet the deadline, it would direct its members to shut all the depots the NNPC uses to store imported products as well as disengage their over 10,000 workers.

    However, NUPENG President, Igwe Achese, who addressed the  reporters after the NUPENG Elders Stakeholders Meeting in Lagos, said the union would protect its members from the threats.

    Achese noted that there was an urgent need to call for dialogue with the marketers, adding that if the issues were not promptly addressed, NUPENG would be at the receiving end.

    “The problem will not only affect workers, but also tanker drivers. Hence, if it happens, we will react to protect our members. If workers are sacked, the union will react accordingly,” he said.

    The NUPENG chief said the government should wake up to the reality that NNPC alone could not sustain petroleum supply in the country.

    “We have always said it that, for fuel crisis to end, our refineries must come back on stream. If we are importing, that should only be a stop-gap,” he said.

    The union, he said, would give the Federal Government maximum support to ensure that all the refineries got back to their full working capacity, but that the government must ignore those that were calling for privatisation of the refineries. Instead, it should look for a way to upgrade the facilities.

  • Ex-Daily Times workers ‘not queried before sack’

    Ex-Daily Times workers ‘not queried before sack’

    The National Industrial Court in Lagos yesterday heard that two former workers of Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN) Plc – Patrick Nduka Uzuakpundu and Babatunde Scott – were not issued queries before they were disengaged by the firm.

    DTN’s Group General Manager, Innocent Nwankwo, spoke yesterday during cross-examination by lawyer to Uzuakpundu and Scott, Samuel Ogueri.

    Uzuakpundu and Scott, both journalists, prayed the court to compel DTN to pay them arrears of N910,000 each.

    They are seeking an order compelling the firm to pay them N40,000 each as one month salary in lieu of notice of disengagement.

    Nwankwo said he became the firm’s group general  manager last year.

    But when Ogueri confronted him with a copy of a December 4, 2017, edition of the paper, Nwankwo said: “My name falls in there as the Technical Adviser to the publisher.”

    Nwankwo said the claimants were not issued a query by DTN.

    Following further cross-examination, the witness read out two letters of employment and two letters of disengagement, allegedly issued by DTN to the claimants.

    Both disengagement letters referred to Uzuakpundu and Scott as copy editors.

    Justice Mustapha Tijani adjourned till April 19 for adoption of final written addresses.

  • Suspected herdsmen sack Akure council workers

    Suspected herdsmen sack Akure council workers

    Over 30 herdsmen brandishing weapons reportedly invaded Akure South Local Government secretariat yesterday and chased away the workers.

    The invasion of the herdsmen disrupted official activities at the council secretariat on Ilesa Road in Akure, the state capital, including marriage ceremonies at the council’s registry.

    Council workers were reportedly driven out of their offices by the herdsmen, who allegedly threatened to kill anyone who looked into their eyes.

    Sources said trouble started when a council worker warned a herdsman to take his cows away from the Agriculture Department’s vegetable farm behind the secretariat.

    The herdsman, a boy of about eight years, reportedly ignored the warning and allowed the cows to feed on the vegetables.

    It was learnt that when the local government worker attempted to make the boy direct the cows off the farm, the boy fell down.

    A source said an older herdsman, who was suspected to be the father of the boy and following him behind, saw what transpired.

    The older herdsman allegedly pulled out a sword and engaged the local government worker.

    It was learnt that the council worker, who also had a cutlass in his hand, engaged the herdsman.

    The source said while both men tussled, the herdsman was injured.

    The injured Fulani herdsman was said to have mobilised over 30 of his colleagues, who stormed the local government secretariat and sacked the workers from their offices.

    The herdsmen also reportedly went to the secretariat’s registry and sent away some couples holding marriage ceremonies.

    The Caretaker Chairman of Akure South Local Government Area, Mrs Margaret Atere, described the situation as scary.

    She called for prompt security action.

    The council workers fled their offices and vowed not to return until their security would be guaranteed.

    Police Commissioner Gbenga Adeyanju led men of his command to the secretariat to assess the situation while soldiers were also sighted on the scene.

    The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Security, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo, was also at the secretariat to assess the situation.

    The police reportedly arrested the council worker and the herdsman who allegedly started the trouble.

  • ASUU criticises Kogi, Lagos over ‘illegal sack of varsities’ teachers, others

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nsukka Zone, has flayed what it described as the consistent degradation of standards by the Visitors to the Kogi State University (KSU) and the Lagos State University (LASU), Governors Yahaya Bello and Akinwunmi Ambode.

    ASUU Nsukka Zone comprises Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM), Kogi State University, Anyigba (KSU), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu (ESUT) and Federal University Lokoja (FUL).

    Addressing reporters in Ayingba, Kogi State, the ASUU chairmen in the zones called on Nigerians to prevail on the governors to call the management of the state-owned institutions to order; reverse the “illegal sack” of their colleagues and payment of their outstanding entitlements.

    The union’s zonal coordinator, Prof. Ukooh David Ikoni, was supported by the Acting Chairman, ASUU-KSU, Dr. Daniel Aina; chairmen of ASUU-UNN Dr. I. M. Abada, ASUU-FUAM Dr. Veronica Jummai Ojogbane, ASUU-ESUT Dr. Chinedu Aguba and ASUU-FUL Dr. Anselm Oyem.

    They said they decided to address the news conference in line with the NEC’s resolution at its meeting at the University of Abuja, from Saturday 11 to Sunday November 12, “to draw the attention of the public to the continuous breach and infringement of the fundamental human rights and threat to life and properties of our members in Kogi State University (KSU), Anyigba and Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo by the university administrations and visitors to these institutions”.

    Prof. Koni said: “The continuous sack, throw out, humiliation, termination of appointments, the use of students to threaten the life and destruction of properties of our members in KSU, persistent use of security agencies to arrest and intimidate our members in LASU, have indicated the deplorable state and total mismanagement of these state universities…

    “If at all our colleagues in KSU and LASU have committed any sin, it is the sin of insisting that there must be quality education for the citizens of this country and that quality education can be achieved without increase in school fees.”