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Tag: shut down

  • Arrears: Unions vow to shut down MDAs

    Organised Labour under the aegis of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), will  shut down  Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) at the federal level unless the government pays promotion arrears, outstanding salaries and other allowances owed public servants in the next few weeks.

    Giving this indication in Lagos on Tuesday, the ASCSN Secretary-General, Comrade Alade Bashir Lawal, regretted that more than a year after the promotion arrears were computed by a Presidential Committee and report submitted to the Presidency, the government has continued to ‘dilly-dally’ on the payment.

    “The issue of unpaid entitlements of workers have remained unattended to for some years now and was indeed brought to the attention of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buahri, sometimes ago for necessary action.

    “Thereafter, a circular was issued by the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation directing all MDAs to compile the total sum involved in respect of the unpaid entitlements of their employees for settlements,” the union added.

    According to Lawal, the debts owed some categories of federal public officers include promotion arrears outstanding in some cases since 2007; first 28 days in lieu of hotel accommodation; and Duty Tour Allowance (DTA).

    Others are mandatory training allowance for training organised by the Office of the Head of the Federation (OHCSF) in 2010, burial expenses, and repatriation allowances, among others.

    “He said the reason for this statement is to alert the general public that the nation may be witnessing series of industrial actions in the public service if no concrete steps are taken to commence the payment of these indebtedness as the general feeling amongst workers is that government is not prepared at all to pay what it is owing them and that its only interest is to pay what it owes contractors.

    “Moreover, the Federal Government had bailed out state governments more than three times in the past one year including the recent one courtesy of the loan refund from the Paris Club to be able to settle their workers’ entitlements.  The same Federal Government has decided to leave its own workers in the cold for no just reason.  This is strange,” he said.

  • GenCos may shut down facilities over N156b debt

    GenCos may shut down facilities over N156b debt

    The electricity generation companies (GenCos) have threatened to shut down over N156 billion debts owed them by consumers, especially government agencies.

    Investors that bought the six power generating companies unbundled from the state firm, Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) said they would shut down their power plants if the N156 billion debts about $485 million owed by government agencies were not paid. They also said banks were recalling loans advanced to them.

    In a joint statement yesterday, the GenCos said they will shut down power supplies unless the government pays longstanding bills it owes them and improves gas supplies.

    The GenCos, which include Transcorp’s power and Forte Oil’s power, said they struggled to repair their networks because imports of spare parts had become too expensive due to naira devaluation. “In 2013, when we bought the power plants, exchange rate was N150 per dollar. Today it is N310  per dollar. How can we repair, equip, acquire new turbines at this rate of N310 per dollar and yet still operate with an old tariff?A shutdown is, indeed, imminent,” they said.

    If the companies make good their threat, most industries and residential homes will be in darkness except for those that rely on expensive diesel generators.

    The government has paid arrears of N186.7 billion. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has stepped in with a N213 billion loan to keep the system afloat and allow the power firms to access credit, but more is needed as the oil price slump puts pressure on Nigeria’s currency.

    The naira has lost 40 percent of its value since Nigeria ditched its 16-month-old peg of 197 naira to the dollar in June in a bid to lure back foreign investors who fled both the equities and bond markets after the plunge in crude prices.

    After the privatisation of the PHCN assets, the government pledged to review tariffs as more power is generated and upgrade the transmission network to give more people access to the grid. But tariff reviews have not kept pace with rising cost, worsened now by the naira devaluation.

    In February, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) increased tariffs by 45 percent, triggering protest from consumers, already under pressure from rising inflation, which hit a 10-year high in June. But the tariff increase was not enough to cover their cost, the generating companies said.

    As of last month, the generating firms have received only 28.6 percent of their April invoices, they said.

    Chronic power shortages are one of the biggest constraints on investment and growth in Africa’s largest economy. Producing less than 4,000 megawatts (Mw), Nigeria’s requires ten times the amount it currently produces to guarantee power to its 170 million people.

    However, the generating firms are holding off on expansion. Generating companies have around 5,000Mw of spare capacity which has no access to gas, they said.

    In 2013, the government privatised the power sector to attract private sector investment into it and boost supply but the improvement is yet to be seen as militants and vandals continue to destroy the gas pipelines.

  • Lagos gives illegal abattoir operators two weeks to shut down

    Lagos gives illegal abattoir operators two weeks to shut down

    THE Lagos State Government yesterday gave unauthorised abattoirs operators two weeks to shut down.

    Commissioner for Agriculture Toyin Suarau said the measure was to guarantee wholesomeness in meat processing.

    He said there was need to monitor meat processing from the animal markets to the abattoir, and transportation.

    The government, he said, was significantly handling distribution by introducing the Eko Refrigerated Meat Van which is now used to transport meat.

    “Government will continue to close down illegal abattoir and slaughter Slabs which are not hygienic and not in compliant with the relevant laws governing meat slaughtering in the state,’’ Suarau said.

    He said animal slaughtering was still a big issue because a lot of animals must be inspected before and after slaughtering according to the meat inspection law.

    “The danger with unrecognised abattoir is that the animals slaughtered there are not inspected by veterinary professionals to detect the one that has diseases or pregnant ones because it is illegal to slaughter pregnant animals,’’ he added.

    According to him, operators of illegal abattoirs located within military cantonments and barracks in the state, where veterinary officers are denied access are to close down within two weeks, stressing that government can no longer tolerate such illegal practice.

    “We have veterinary officers deployed to all recognised abattoir in the state to inspect and certify the meat hygienic for human consumption and that is why we are advocating that all illegal abattoirs in the state should be shut down,” he said.

    The authorised abattoir, according to Suarau, are Abattoir and Lairage Complex in Agege, Achakpo Mechanised Abattoir in Ajegunle, Ologe Mechanised Abattoir Badagry (under construction), Matori Slaughter Slab, Itire Slaughter Slab, Ilaje Slaughter Slab, Ikorodu Slaughter Slab, Badagry Slaughter Slab and Epe Slaughter Slab.

  • Day Okene shut down for Wada

    Day Okene shut down for Wada

    The event was scheduled for mid October. Consistent with the Kogi State Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP’s governorship re-election campaign schedule for its flag bearer, Capt Idris Ichalla Wada, all zonal rallies were to be held in the political headquarters of the three senatorial zones in the state, before the local government rallies.

    The zonal rallies for Kogi East and West had been held in Anyingba and Kabba, respectively, drawing impressive crowds which signaled mass support for the party and its candidate.

    A day before the scheduled zonal rally for the Central Zone, however, it became expedient to postpone the event, amidst security concerns.

    It was a major statement and a morale booster for PDP and Governor Wada, Saturday October 31, 2015, when the rally eventually held.

    Amidst colour and fanfare, the massive, rowdy, expectedly noisy event came with a gridlock which brought the ancient city of Okene to a standstill. At moments during the rally, the police were forced to use tear gas in order to restrain the surging crowd.

    The sea of heads at the flag-off ceremony of the Idris Wada campaign in Kogi Central Senatorial District, without mincing words, was unprecedented since the beginning of electioneering activities ahead the November 21 governorship election in Kogi State.

    A random estimation put the number of people in attendance at over 100,000, at the rally which took place at the Ohinoyi Square, abutting the palace of the revered Ebira monarch, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim.

    On a day when the rival All Progressives Congress, APC, had its “Grand Rally” in the state capital, Lokoja, the PDP refused to be relegated and instead stole the day in Okene, the most populous and second largest city in Kogi State.

    Wada and his deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, were joined at the grand event, by Governors Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Deputy Governors of Ebonyi and Cross Rivers States, Kelechi Igwe and Ivara Esu, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and 10 serving senators, former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, PDP Acting National Chairman, Uche Secondus and one-time National Chairman of the party, Senator Ahmadu Ali,

    Political Adviser to immediate past President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, founder of Afican Independent Television (AIT), Chief Raymond Dokpesi, former Governor Ibrahim Idris, Chief Olisa Metuh, Husseini Maibasira, President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Tijani Usman Shehu, and a host of others.

    Abubakar Yusuf, a media practitioner, affirmed that the large turnout of people of the Central Senatorial District is a clear indication of the acceptability of Governor Idris Wada among the Ebiras and spoke volume of what to expect from the zone on November 21.

    According to him, the Ebiras are non-pretenders and have come out to cheer the ticket which genuinely appeals to their conscience. He said the hospitality accorded Wada and his campaign train at the weekend is real and a warning signal to other candidates.

    “Inside the venue the turnout is massive as one can see. Outside the venue, the chorus is: Sai Wada!, Wada-Yomi carry go. Win with Wada Insha Allahu.”

    He pointed to the victory of the PDP in the Central Zone, in four of the six state constituencies during the April State House of Assembly elections, held two weeks after the national elections.

    “What you see here is a case of a group of psychologically wounded and oppressed people but who are politically savvy. They know what they want, no doubt about that. They have come out to make a statement”.

    Wada has, without mincing words, kept faith in working assiduously to ensure justice, fairness and equity in resource and infrastructure appropriation as enjoined by the blueprint.

    Taking into cognizance the Central Senatorial District for example, the zone in addition to the state chairman of the ruling PDP and Speaker of the House of Assembly, boasts of the Secretary to the State Government, with each of the five local government areas having a commissioner.  Other appointees such as Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants are evenly and equally spread to local government areas in the district. This also goes for memberships of boards and commissions.

    Highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the PDP flag to Governor Idris Wada by Secondus.

  • Youths threaten to shut down NDDC over N1.05bn contract

    Youths threaten to shut down NDDC over N1.05bn contract

    Hundreds of aggrieved youths from coastal communities in the nine states of the Niger Delta region, yesterday, threatened to shut down the Port Harcourt headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Rivers State.

    The angry youths said they would shut down the office to protest the refusal of the NDDC to release the balance payment of a N1.05billion contract for clearing of water hyacinth along the creeks and waterways of the region.

    The youths said they completed the job of clearing hyacinth along the coastline and creeks, but wondered why NDDC officials continued to withhold their payment.

    Some of the youths from the Peremabiri and Koluama communities of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, explained that the hyacinth clearing project was awarded by the last administration to over 700 youths from the region.

    They said the contract was part of measures adopted by the last administration to empower youths from the region, and gave the NDDC a14-day ultimatum to release the project fund or risk shutdown of its activities.

    “All the affected youths and representatives of their communities will invade the NDDC office and will not vacate the place until the money is released,” they said.

    But an ex-militant leader and President of the Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiatives (LPDCI), ‘General’ Pastor Reuben Wilson, sued for calm, and advised the NDDC to listen to the youths and release the money.

  • Niger Delta youths threaten to shut down NLNG over plan to build dry-dock shipyard

    Niger Delta youths threaten to shut down NLNG over plan to build dry-dock shipyard

    Youths in the Niger Delta region have said it would mobilize youths in all Niger Delta states to protest against the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG), if the company fails to reverse its decision to build a dry-dock shipyard outside its operational base.

    The youths, under the aegis of Niger Delta Youth Organizations, spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt, saying that it would shutdown NLNG facilities if all peaceful modalities failed to convince the company to reverse its decision.

    Over 30 youth organizations, including the National Youths Council of Nigeria; Rivers State chapter; Ijaw Youths Council; Bonny Youths Federation; Niger Delta People Volunteer and Salvation Front and Rivers Ethnic Youth Leaders Coalition, were in attendance at the press briefing.

    They said their grievances was predicated on the fact that NLNG decided to construct a dry-dock shipyard worth $1.5 billion dollars in an area outside its operational base and region.

    Speaking on behalf of the youth organizations, the leader of Bonny Youth Federation, Comrade Simeon Wilcox, said the NLNG did a kangaroo feasibility study without the knowledge of the stakeholders from Rivers State and the Niger Delta at large whose interest were not considered.

    He said the decision taken by NLNG was seen as a clear case of insensitivity and a provocative corporate plan, adding that the company has failed to consider the colossal unemployment rate in the Niger Delta region, especially in Bonny Kingdom.

    Comrade Wilcox said: “We are calling on President Mohammadu Buhari, Chief Nyesom Wike and honourable members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to intervene on this all-important matter in order to avert a serious anarchy.

    “We are going to shutdown the NLNG facilities if the company fails to do the needful. The youths of Rivers State and that of Niger Delta would mobilize to protest across every NLNG operational community until the company considers the interest of the region.”

  • FG proposes shut down of open drug markets July 1

    FG proposes shut down of open drug markets July 1

    The federal government has declared it will shut down open drug market to check abuse and ensure organised distribution system.

    The shutdown is expected to commence on July 1.

    The federal government added that it has set up a Presidential Committee on Pharmaceutical Sector Reform to develop strategies towards the institutionalisation of a well ordered drug

    distribution system.

    The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Linus Awute, who made the announcements at the weekend in Abuja, foreclosed the possibility of postponement of the proposed shutdown.

    He also said that the latest development was in line with the implementation of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDGs).

    Awute explained that regulatory agencies like the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have been directed to ensure full compliance.

    He said: “We are hopeful that the existence of open drug markets in the country will be a thing of the past as the drug distribution system of the country has remained uncoordinated, chaotic and resulted in the circulation of fake, adulterated, substandard and counterfeit drugs.”

    The Permanent secretary also said that the chaotic drug distribution poses a very big challenge to the pharmaceutical sector and the federal government considering the negative impact the situation has on the entire health care delivery system.

     

  • Youths shut down crude oil production in Bayelsa

    Youths yesterday shut down crude oil production at two flow stations of the OML 29 (oil mining licence) oil block near Nembe, Bayelsa State.

    The protesters, who are opposed to the sale of the block, stormed the flow stations at 10am in about 30 speedboats, climbed the fence at one facility with no resistance and dodged security at the other. It was not yet clear how much production was shut in.

    Royal Dutch Shell Plc sold its stake in OML 29 and the accompanying Nembe Creek trunk line in late March to Aiteo Eastern E&P Co for about $1.7 billion.

    French oil major Total SA and Italy’s Eni SpA also agreed to sell their minority stakes in both assets, giving Aiteo a 45 percent stake.

    A spokesman for Shell said he could not immediately comment and Aiteo could not immediately be reached.

    The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as: “Sale of our wealth by Shell is theft against mankind”; “We are angry” and “Nembe people reject sale of oil field”.

  • APC, Amaechi shut down Port Harcourt

    APC, Amaechi shut down Port Harcourt

    •All APC’s presidential aspirants honour Governor at seventh anniversary of Supreme Court victory

    Tumultuous crowd and all the presidential aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, to honour Governor Rotimi Amaechi. The occasion was the seventh anniversary of his Supreme Court victory, leading to heavy traffic in the Garden City.

    The Rivers Solidarity Convention, with theme: “Seven Years of Change We Can See,” took place at the 40,000-seater Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Igwuruta-Ali, at the Greater Port Harcourt City, near the Port Harcourt International Airport, along the ever-busy Port Harcourt-Owerri Federal Road, recently dualised by Amaechi’s government.

    Yesterday’s anniversary was also used to inaugurate the stadium, constructed by the Amaechi administration to boost sports in Nigeria, while thousands of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State, led by a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Emmanuel Deeya, who defected to the APC.

    The elaborate celebration was transmitted live on the Africa Independent Television (AIT), Channels Television; the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Silverbird Television (STV).

    The APC’s presidential aspirants at the event were a former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.); ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; the Governor of Kano State, Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso; his Imo State counterpart, Rochas Okorocha and Sam Nda-Isaiah.

    Also in attendance were the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed and his predecessor, Senator Bukola Saraki, as well as a former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and his predecessor, Segun Oni, an engineer, who is also the Deputy National Chairman, South, of the APC, lawmakers and other eminent personalities.

    Buhari said the APC, from next year, would provide security and development in Nigeria, while Atiku urged Nigerians to vote for APC in 2015 to eradicate poverty and ensure steady electricity, good roads and good schools, among others, with Kwankwaso noting that Amaechi is ensuring peace and stability in Nigeria, as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

    Okorocha assured that the APC would provide the best presidential candidate with vision for Nigeria, not based on religion or tribe, while Nda-Isaiah stated that God gave Rivers people good governor Amaechi, declaring that he had never seen the kind of crowd at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium before.

    Odigie-Oyegun assured that the APC would wipe out corruption in Nigeria and that APC is in charge of Rivers State, contrary to the claim of the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stating that the progress in the state could be replicated at the centre and all over Nigeria.

    Amaechi, who danced so well, while addressing the unprecedented crowd, urged Nigerians to punish out the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan with their votes in 2015, in order to bring about the much-desired change.

    The former head of state said: “I do not think there is anything remaining. All that needs to be said has been said, but I stand here to congratulate the Governor of Rivers State and you the good people of Rivers State. You have been lucky for seven good years and you are going to remain lucky for one more year, God willing.

    “I assure you that the coming together of APC of the major opposition so-called political parties is to make sure that we consolidate what is lacking in Nigeria, security and development, and God willing, APC from next year, will provide them. God will answer our prayers.”

    The former vice-president noted that he had been associating with the state since 1985 and had not seen the kind of progress in those years, like he had seen in the last seven years.

    Atiku said: “Do you want the progress to continue? Do you want to feel the projects? Do you want to eradicate poverty? Do you want to go to good schools? Do you want good roads? Do you want power? Vote APC. Vote APC. Vote APC.”

    Kwankwaso, while also speaking, said: “Let me start by congratulating my friend, my brother, my Chairman, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi. Let me congratulate him for the projects and programmes he had executed in this state in the last seven years, one of which is this very big stadium.

    “Let me also congratulate you for being a good Chairman for Governors of this country and let me also congratulate you for ensuring peace and stability in this country. We are very much aware of the relationship that existed between this part of the country with the Northern part of the country and other parts.

    “This governor (Amaechi) has worked so hard in the last seven years to ensure good relationship between us. I want to assure you that many of us from the other parts of the country will continue to work together with you and the other good people of this state and also this part of the country.”

    The governor of Imo State spoke so passionately about the crowd at the stadium and the massive support Rivers people gave the NGF chairman.

    Okorocha said: “My people, my people, let me say that today (yesterday), my eyes have seen the good works of a gentleman. I am simply tantalised, mesmerised and flabbergasted. Today (yesterday), we have seen a sign of change; the change has come and the change must be.

    “Let no one contest on the platform of tribe or you can become a tribal leader. We need a national leader that can move this nation forward. My prayer is that may the Almighty God, who has started the good work in Amaechi, may He continue with him in Jesus’ name.”

    Nda-Isaiah said: “Exactly this day, seven years ago, God gave you a good governor, who vaunted the life of the people. He built schools and did other good things. The best thing he did for you is to move from PDP to APC.

    “I hope you heard what the governor (Amaechi) had said. In 2015, I hope the other parties are watching. I have never seen this kind of crowd before and whoever is planning to rig will have to contend with this crowd.”

    The national chairman of the APC also berated President Jonathan for describing Rivers APC as a party that existed only on billboards and posters.

    Odigie-Oyegun said: “Like your governor (Amaechi) said, in Benin, during the PDP’s Southsouth campaign, he (President Jonathan) told the whole nation that APC does not exist in Rivers State. That it is only a poster party. We were worried and we were concerned. Your governor, a fantastic man, was challenged.

    “So, today, he (Amaechi) brought all of us here. The entire leadership of the APC is lined up here today. .

    “Those of you who believe that the progress in Rivers State can be replicated at the centre and all over Nigeria, say yeah. Those who believe that APC will wipe out corruption in this nation, Nigeria, give me one gbosa. Those who believe that APC will guarantee better security for this country, give me another yeah.”

    Amaechi, who was so relaxed, in spite of the intimidation and persecution by the Federal Government and President Jonathan, said he was at the stadium to test his popularity.

    The NGF chairman said: “They (PDP leaders) have made too much noise. The President (Jonathan) says we exist only on posters and billboards. So, we brought a large billboard for him. If the President is not watching (the rally), they will give him security report.

    “This stadium is 40,000 sitting capacity. I built it. It was built by me. One of them campaigning for Rivers governorship (Chief Nyesom Wike, the immediate past Minister of State for Education) was the contractor to do the roads. He abandoned the roads and took N3 billion and left. Now, he wants to be governor.

    “I challenge them to an integrity test. Any of them from Abuja to Rivers State, I challenge them to an integrity test. I have worked with them. I have their records and their (records) are in the Office of the Governor.

    “We have developed 750 megawatts, but the problem is Federal Government not allowing us to distribute electricity.

    “We were to give Port Harcourt water. As I am talking to you today, the Minister of Finance (Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala) has refused to move the file again back to Executive Council for approval, so that you can have water. They do not care for you. They want you to die of water-borne diseases. Punish them with your votes. Punish PDP with your votes. He (Jonathan) is our son, why can’t we have water?

    “The problem we have is that the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) is no longer working. Corruption is at its industrial scale. Thieves are thieves because we now have an industry called corruption.”

    The Rivers governor also lauded all the members of the National Assembly for standing by his government, stressing that eight of the members of the House of Representatives from the state came with him to the APC, while the rest betrayed him, declaring that they would be punished by Rivers people with their votes in 2015.

    The NGF chairman also thanked Rivers people, for keeping him as governor and standing by him, stressing that he had no choice, but to deliver on his promises

    Amaechi also stated: “They said the reason why the President (Jonathan) is not performing in Rivers State is because he is quarrelling with the Governor of Rivers State. Okay, what is the quarrel between the Governor of Akwa Ibom State and the Governor of Cross River State that the roads from Akwa Ibom State to Cross River State is abandoned? Are they quarrelling too? It is more of lack of performance.

    “When the President (Jonathan) spoke in Benin, he spoke in a stadium that was less than 20,000-sitting capacity. When TAN (Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria) held their rally in Port Harcourt, they held it at the 16,000 capacity Elekahia stadium and this was a Southsouth rally. The rally in Benin was Southsouth. The rally in Port Harcourt was Southsouth. This one (APC mega rally) is Port Harcourt rally.

    “Do you remember Ebola? To show you how much the President hates us, he visited Lagos, did he visit Rivers State? He did not care. He wanted all of us to die, but I took it as a challenge and said none of us would die. Whatever it will take, I will do what I can by God’s grace to protect Rivers people.

    “Can you see our airport (Port Harcourt International Airport)? The president lands at the airport. But see how we look like refugees. They say there is no light at the airport. What did we do to them? We gave him the highest votes in the country and the punishment we get for giving him the highest vote is operation nothing. So, APC is the solution to protect our interest. We must go there to vote out the PDP. It is not about our son.

    “They tell you that you should not vote for these people, because they are Hausa people, they are Muslims, but the refinery in Rivers State was built and commissioned by Tafawa Balewa, he is a northerner. Shehu Shagari started NAFCON, Ibrahim Babangida commissioned it. IBB started the Eleme Petrochemical Company, Sani Abacha completed it. They are all northerners; they are all Muslims. NLNG was started and completed by Abacha and he is a northerner and a Muslim. Bonny NLNG, NDDC, Niger Delta Ministry were established by northerners.

    “In fact, when Yar’Adua was alive, Niger Delta Ministry was working, Now it is only one item: East-West Road, and they say he (President Jonathan) is our brother. He is not my brother. My brother is the man who delivers on his services for me. If the President says he is our brother, let him call one project (his administration has embarked upon in Rivers State).”

    The representative of Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, Magnus Ngei Abe, while speaking, stressed that yesterday’s rally was better than any of the rallies in Nigeria during the 2011 campaigns, stating that anybody Amaechi supports would do well.

    Abe, who is also the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), declared that the charlatans and noisemakers (PDP leaders) that Nigerians were seeing now, they would no longer see them from May 29, 2015.

    While speaking on behalf of the members of the House of Representatives, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, who represents Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro constituency of Rivers State and the Chairman of the Rivers APC Contact Committee, described Amaechi as a man of integrity and character.

    Peterside, who is also the Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), noted that with the trust Rivers people have in Amaechi, they would go for APC, all the way, while assuring that Rivers people are solidly behind the youthful governor.

    The Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, Otelemaba Dan Amachree, stated that Amaechi had brought change to the state and transformed Rivers, as well as being the face of modern democracy, with 25 of the 31 lawmakers “solidly” behind him.

    The Rivers Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Dr. Chris Oruge, maintained that labour is in support of Amaechi, while expressing surprise that just last Wednesday, some PDP leaders sent thugs to his office to kill him for supporting the NGF chairman, declaring that Amaechi is performing and Rivers workers are behind him.

    The Chairman of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Rivers chapter, Chika Onuegbu, described Amaechi as a listening and performing governor.

    In his welcome address, the Rivers Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru, an engineer, who is also the Chairman of the Central Organising Committee of the seventh anniversary, stated that the giants Rivers people and other Nigerians are seeing today, they will see them no more from May 29, 2015, but to stand for progressive change and have the courage to sweep them into oblivion.

  • SSANU-LASU threatens to shut down varsity over members outstanding promotions

    SSANU-LASU threatens to shut down varsity over members outstanding promotions

    The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities, Lagos State University (SSANU) Lagos State University chapter, has threatened to shut down the university if the management fails to resolve the lingering outstanding promotion of its members.

    The union, which is seeking promotion of its members for the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 sessions respectively, is alleging double standard by the Governing Council in its approach to the union’s ongoing strike action.

    The Nation gathered that discussions between SSANU-LASU and management have been rosy until ASUU-LASU suspended the strike on Monday, with SSANU now hinging its fate on the Council meeting, which was supposed to hold last week Tuesday. The Chairman, SSANU-LASU Comrade Saheed Oseni, had earlier told our reporter that the Council’s decision  would determinate the union’s next line of action. Prior to that, the members had been involved in skeletal services.

    However, the matter took a turn for the worse following the cancellation of the Council meeting. Our reporter gathered that neither the Vice Chancellor, Prof John Obafunwa, nor the Registrar, Akin Lewis, attended the meeting. They were said to have sent representatives, a decision, which The Nation gathered further infuriated the Chairman of Council, Mr Olabode Augusto.

    With the development, SSANU-LASU called a congress where the Registrar,  who is also a SSANU member, reportedly addressed the gathering, saying Council could not address the issues because the Congress representatives of SSANU were not in attendance.

    Oseni said the union smelled a rat, adding that their members, whom the Registrar claimed were not in attendance, called him on phone to intimate him of the VC and Registrar’s absence.

    ”We felt bad and cheated,” Oseni said. Speaking further, he said: “We believe that if there are similar issues affecting every union on campus, all should be treated equally. If the Council attended to ASUU issues, then it behoves on them to attend to SSANU too. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

    “We suspect the Council is trying to use divide and rule tactics here. But we are giving them till Thursday next week to address our issues; otherwise we will shut down this university. It is going to be a full blown battle. Nobody should marginalize us, because we are as important as ASUU. We are also going to draw the attention of all stakeholders to our cause.”

    LASU PRO, Kayode Sutton, said: “It is true that some members of SSANU scored over 65 (benchmark for promotion) in the 2011/2012 promotional exercise; but Council looked into it and realised the university did not have enough vacancies to fill them in. Besides, Council observed it had no financial muscle to cater for them. So they have been advised to sit for the 2012/2013 exercise.

    “Unfortunately, many of the members did not sit for the exam based on advice from the union leadership, which claimed the 2011/12 promotion was yet to be treated. Those who went and passed have been promoted accordingly. Therefore, Council advised that those who did not make it should sit for the 2013/2014 promotional exercise. Nonetheless, we are urging SSSANU members to resume to work in the interest of all.”