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Tag: Sen. Chris Ngige

  • Labour must reinvent its unity -Aremu

    Labour must reinvent its unity -Aremu

    The National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, on Thursday called on all labour unions to unite for the common good of the labour movement in Nigeria

    Mr Issa Aremu, the General Secretary of the union made the call in a press statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

    According to him, the current division in the labour movement over fuel hike will spell doom for the unions.

    He said that labour unions must reinvent and return to the vibrant movement they used to be, instead of undermining each other.

    “If we operate separately, we will be defeated separately, but if we operate in unity, we will triumph as one.

    “The recent 70 per cent fuel increase is indiscriminate in its impact on transport cost and cost of living in general.

    “The response of organised labour must, therefore, be inclusive and uniform, not disjointed as we recently witnessed.”

    Aremu stressed that worsening poverty, rising inflation, job losses and bad governance must task the imaginations of labour leaders to work as one instead of seeking for recognition from governments and employers.

    He added that the current divisiveness in the movement would not deliver tangible results for the working men and women in the country.

    “It is commendable and reassuring that Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, says government had no intention of factionalising the labour movement.

    “Therefore, we call on the minister of labour and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to initiate another round of all inclusive engagement with NLC and TUC on the recent fuel price increase.

    “Textile Union is not happy that NLC could not have a common collective action on the fuel price increase just as we could not organize a joint May Day in spite of the joint resolutions of all the parties to put the past behind.

    “Its time we close ranks to ensure we have a labour movement that commands the confidence of workers, that is trusted by the public, respected by the government and employers.

    “We need a united NLC to fight the issue of unpaid salaries, the struggle for improved minimum wage, the war against corruption, revival of industries and creation of mass decent employment among others,“ Aremu said.

  • Ngige gets more time to present witnesses

    Ngige gets more time to present witnesses

    •Drama unfolds at tribunal

    The Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka, Anambra State, yesterday gave the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Chris Ngige, three more days to conclude with his witnesses.

    Three witnesses appeared yesterday, including APC’s woman leader in Awka Ward 5 Mrs Chidiebere Augustina Muoghalu and Chibuzor Obiakor, who said they only voted on November 30.

    There was a mild drama when PW10 Mrs. Muoghalu brought out her voter card from her brassiere, which Chief Emeka Ngige, described as “inner chamber.”

    Lead counsel to Willie Obiano, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu refused to touch the card.

    He deferred to the counsel of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Patrick Ikwueto.

    Ikpeazu’s action caused a stir at the tribunal.

    Before then, the tribunal had ruled in favour of Ngige when Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), queried that the days given for APC witnesses had elapsed.

    But Emeka Ngige challenged what he called a gang-up among the respondents’ counsel; Ikpeazu, Awomolo and Ikwueto, faulting their objections.

    After the arguments from counsel, the tribunal gave Ngige three more days, beginning from Monday, to conclude with his witnesses.

    Justice Ishaq Bello said: “Our concern is what happens to us when we go to God, we are here on national assignment and we must discharge it with seriousness and the fear of God.”

    “This will make us sleep well in our homes anytime we leave Anambra State at the end of the case, we are not here to favour anybody but to dispense Justice,” he said

    Also yesterday, Chibuzor Obiakor told the tribunal during cross examination by Awomolo, Ikpeazu and Ikwueto he did not vote on November 16 and 17.

    He said in his Ogidi Ward I, Unit 015, Iyienu 2, Idemili North Local Government Area, there was no election.

    Asked if he was present at other councils, Ikpeazu quoted: ‘’Obiakor said he was not physically present but was in contact on his phone in those areas.’’

    They were Ayamelum, Oyi, Anaocha, Njikoka, Ihiala, Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Awka North, Orumba North and Orumba South.

    Yesterday, the tribunal refused to grant Ngige’s request to admit an e-copy of INEC objects and hard disc, as opposed by counsel to the respondents.

    Another drama yesterday was a rehash of the alleged double registration by Governor Obiano, which the tribunal refused to reopen, having ruled on it during pre-trial conference.

    The tribunal adjourned till today.

  • NIPP: FG to announce shortlisted bidders in August

    The Federal Government on Wednesday said the shortlisted bidders for the purchase of 10 National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) power plants would be announced on August 8.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Chigbo Anichebe, Head, Public Communications of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), in Abuja and made available to NAN.

    It said the Director-General, BPE, Mr Benjamin Ezra Dikki, said this in a presentation in Hong Kong at a road show jointly organised by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), and the BPE.

    The D-G said that besides the power, transport and housing sectors, development finance institutions and the Abuja Security and Commodities Exchange were up for sale.

    According to Dikki, local and international investors are all welcome to bid.

    He advised prospective bidders to be aware of some of the observed lapses by prospective bidders in the previous bid processes.

    “They involve bids failing to substantially comply with the Requests for Proposal (RFP), failure to meet the threshold of required tangible net worth, and failure to submit bid bonds.’’

    He also said such lapses include failure to submit audited accounts and failure to submit bids on time, among others.

    He said the intension of the Expressions of Interest (EOI) process for sale of the10 power plants was to improve on the rigorous requirements of the PHCN successor companies’ privatisation transactions.

    He said that it was critical that all interested potential investors went through the EOI guideline document.

    He told the potential investors that the deadline for the submission of expressions of interest remained July 19, and that the date would not be extended.

    Governor of Benue State, Mr Gabriel Suswan, said that power was the bedrock of the development agenda of the current administration in Nigeria.

    He said the three tiers of government, had invested well over $8 billion (about N1.25trn) in building the 10 power plants.

    Suswan noted that with a population of over 160 million, Nigeria is the largest market for investors in Africa and its atmosphere conducive for investments.

    The Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Sen. Chris Ngige, said the $2.6 billion (about N405.6bn) raised by the privatisation of PHCN Successor Companies, was the largest transaction ever in Africa.

    Ngige assured potential investors that their investments were safe in Nigeria and money well spent.