Tag: Soludo

The face-off between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Anambra Governor Chukwuma Soludo over minimum wage has taken a new dimension.

Few days ago, the national President of NLC, comrade Joe Ajaero, wrote a letter,accusing Soludo of inciting other Governors not to pay N70,000  as minimum wage.

Ajaero issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Anambra Governor to address the issues of workers in the state or face industrial action

He further alleged that Soludo is implementing anti-worker policies, accusing him further of  failure to pay the 2019 National Minimum Wage of N30,000, unresolved contributory pension deductions and the cessation of a N12,000 special palliative allowance. 

But the State Government debunked the allegations, while highlighting the commendable strides Soludo has made in improving the welfare and working conditions of Anambra workers since he assumed office in March, 2022. 

Soludo summoned the Labour leaders to a meeting next Wednesday to discuss the way forward and avoid the looming danger

Speaking with The Nation at the weekend, some of the Labour leaders who did not want to be mentioned, said Soludo should not start what he can’t finish.

They said: “We’re going to hear from the Governor and what he has to say. Our national President has given us the mandate already ” 

“What he will tell us will either make us to shift ground or proceed with the strike. If he fails to tell us what suits the ear, it will be disastrous for the state.”

Reacting on the allegations, Soludo’s Press Secretary, Chris Aburime, at the weekend, said  at no time did Soludo incite or influence other Governors against paying the proposed N70, 000 minimum wage.

“Instead, he has always been sensitive to the welfare of workers. Even as the former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, he was quite responsive to staff wellbeing.

“Efforts are already underway to resolve the issue of contributory pension deductions while the agreed 2019 National Minimum Wage of N30, 000 is already being paid.

“The state government is open to meaningful dialogue and collaboration with the NLC to address any concerns amicably. 

“We assure the NLC and all Anambra State workers that their demands and issues are being diligently addressed,” Soludo said.

Anambra state governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has ordered the management of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Amaku, to dispose all the abandoned corpses in the hospital.

The hospital was asked to conduct a mass burial for all the abandoned corpses in the hospital’s morgue between 2014 – 2023 in July 2024.

This was contained in a statement by the hospital through its public relations officer, Henrietta Agbai, and made available to reporters at the weekend

The statement quoted the Chief Medical Director of COOUTH, Josephat Akabuike, and the chairman of the medical advisory committee of the hospital, Dr Emmanuel Mba.

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It was gathered that the hospital had become a dumping ground of all health emergencies in and around the state capital, especially in cases of road accidents and gunshot injuries, among other cases

The statement read: “His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has approved the disposal of abandoned corpses at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Coouth Amaku-Awka.

“To this end, the management wishes to inform the general public that COOUTH Amaku-Awka intends to conduct mass burials of the abandoned corpses in its mortuary from 2014 to December 2023.”

Agbai called on those whose relatives were missing to visit the hospital’s mortuary for possible identification and collection of such corpses within one month of the announcement.

The workers in Anambra state expressed their anger over the absence of Governor Charles Soludo at Dr Alex Ekwueme square in Awka, the venue for the commemoration of the 2024 workers’ day on Wednesday, May 1.

The deputy governor, Onyekachukwu Ibezim, who represented Soludo, was not welcomed by the organized labour as he was booed by the workers.

The workers refused to listen to the masters of ceremony and labour leaders, led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), saying that the governor’s action was deliberate.

According to them, the governor was afraid of addressing the organized labour, describing him as ‘not worker’ friendly

The workers who initially refused to file out for the usual match past which has become synonymous with the rally, said Soludo’s absence was deliberate.

They repeatedly shouted “No” to appeal for the match-past, insisting that their morale was low.

Recall that last year’s rally did not witness any match past, with the workers citing hot weather as the reason.

Some of the workers who spoke to the Nation described the absence of the governor as a slap on them.

One of them who spoke in confidence, said: “The governor deliberately dodged the rally because of the long list of the workers’ demands.

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“Sending his deputy doesn’t make any sense as he will definitely not address our demands.”

Another worker, a woman, said: “Workers’ Day is too important a day for any responsible government to ignore. What else could have kept the governor from honouring his workers?”

Though the march-past eventually held, but those who filed out to participate in the exercise, reportedly did so reluctantly.

The deputy governor, who later addressed the protesting workers after several efforts to calm their nerves, assured the workers that their grievances would soon be addressed.

Describing the Soludo-led administration as people oriented, Ibezim assured the workers of better days ahead.

“Governor Soludo as a worker-friendly governor is aware of your plights. You will definitely hear from him soon,” he said.

Earlier, workers in the state have called on Governor Soludo to suspend the deduction of the contributory pension from their salaries to ensure industrial harmony in the state.

Presenting their long demands contained in a joint address by Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, through NLC chairman, Comrade Humphrey Nwafor, workers expressed worry over what they called improper introduction and implementation of the contributory pension scheme.

He said: “From the beginning of the scheme, monies deducted were rarely remitted to the Pension Fund Administrators (PFA).

“Before the present administration came on board the state was deducting only the workers’ part of the contribution even without remitting the same to the various PFA’s and refused to pay the Government part.

“The organized labour is dissatisfied with the continued deduction even after the reoccurring May Day prayers by organized labour requesting for the suspension of the scheme.

“We call on the Governor, who we believe is not only worker-friendly but hates injustice with passion, as a matter of urgency, to suspend the deduction of the contributory pension from the workers’ salary to ensure industrial harmony in the state.”

Appreciating the governor over the N12,000 wage award for them and pensioners for four months, the workers called for the re-introduction of the removed wage award.

“We are also grateful for the absorption of National Light staff into various ministries and parastatals. We cannot thank you enough even for resolving the problems of Anambra Water Corporation and ANSEPA which lasted for over 17 years,” they said.

Gov. Charles Soludo of Anambra, on Friday, joined his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde, to flag off the construction of a 32.2-km circular road infrastructure in Ibadan.

Soludo also inaugurated three junction improvement projects at Agodi-Gate, Civic Centre and Idi Ape, all in Ibadan metropolis.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 32.2km road is the South-East segment of the 110-km circular road, designed to encircle Ibadan, the state capital.

NAN also reports that the road, named after a former governor of the state, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja, is aimed at easing flow of traffic within the city.

Soludo, in his remarks, urged Nigerians to play their parts in making the country one of the powerful nations on earth.

This, he said, could be achieved by each individual getting involved in life-changing and transformative development of the country for the generations to come.

“It has pleased God to make Nigeria the greatest and largest black nation on earth, and we have to learn from each other and support each other to move it forward,” he said.

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Soludo, a former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), commended Makinde for deeming it fit to construct for a project like the circular road, saying it would fast-track economic and infrastructural development of the state.

“I’m here to thank you and encourage you. Politicians think about next elections but statemen think about next generations.

“What we are witnessing today, the flag-off of this circular road and the junctions improvement inauguration, were good projects, particularly, this circular road project, is a project for the future,” Soludo said.

Also speaking, the host governor, Makinde, said that the project was targetted at enhancing the economic development of the state, when completed.

“This is not time to focus on things that divide us. Rather, we should be interested in things that will unite us and things that will be used for further development.

“It is also time to think sustainably. This project is a product of thinking sustainably because about 20 years ago, past leaders dreamt of it but our administration is actualising the dream by taking action that will secure the future.

“This is a project that will make a better future for us in Ibadan land and Oyo State in general,” he said.

The governor said that the 34km North-East wing of the circular road would be awarded for clearing in the next few weeks.

He said the wing would lead to Moniya where Ibadan dry port and Ibadan train station are situated.

Makinde further stated that 60 per cent of the contract sum had been paid to the two construction companies handling the projects.

The Commissioner for Public Works, Prof Daud Sangodoyin, in his address, said the first section of the road, starting from Lagos end to Jagun village, totalling 15.5km, was contracted to Craneburge Construction Company .

Sangodoyin also said the remaining 16.7 kilometers, from Jagun village to Ife road junction, was contracted to Kopek Construction Company.

He said the both contractors had 18 months to complete the project.

(NAN)

Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, will on Friday receive the Anambra State governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, to flag off the road infrastructure component of the Ibadan Circular Road project.

The flag-off of the 32.2 kilometre-road infrastructure component of the 110 kilometre-project, named after former Governor Rashidi Ladoja completes the first phase of the important project started by Governor Makinde after previous administrations mulled the idea to no avail.

The 32.2km South-East Wing of the four-section project comprises six bridges and two interchanges, which have all been completed since 2023.

Governor Makinde and his guest will also commission three Junction Improvement Works in the Idi-Ape-Civic Centre-Agodi Gate axis, which were constructed to ease the flow of traffic in the city.

The Makinde administration took the initiative to drive the important but overlooked Ibadan Circular Road Project as part of the government’s commitment to building infrastructure that targets the economy of the state.

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Segmented into four sections – South-East Wing (32.2km), North-East Wing (20km), North-West Wing (33km) and South-West Wing (24km), the 110km project was designed to encircle Ibadan, the state capital and ease flow of traffic in the city.

It will also strategically link Ibadan-Ife Expressway, the Moniya train station and Ilutuntun Business District being constructed by the state government as well as the Oluyole Free Trade Zone being proposed by the government, among other benefits.

Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has assured the people of insecurity-ravaged Azia community that they will get traditional ruler of their choice.

He spoke at the weekend when the leaders of the community stormed the government in a peaceful protest over the traditional stool. 

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Azia, in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, is one of the six communities held hostage by the gunmen in a long time.

The traditional ruler elected in the community, Prof Titus Eze, died before his swearing-in in and since then, the community ha , been without a monarch.

 Already, 12 persons have indicated interest in succeeding the late monarch elect. 

However, the leaders of the community, led by Odu, Chike Muoghalu, and Ichie Benneth Abaniwu, said the community was ready for election with the help of the state government.