The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ultimatum

  • Oyo rejects workers’ 24 hour ultimatum

    Oyo rejects workers’ 24 hour ultimatum

    THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Oyo State has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the government, vowing to go on strike, if it is not allowed to meet Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    The Chairman, Waheed Olojede, who spoke in Ibadan yesterday, said Labour would converge for an executive council meeting today.

    He said:”You will recall that on March 29, Labour unions, comprising NLC, Trade Union Congress (TUC) and negotiating council held a meeting where we expressed our displeasure about government’s insensitivity to workers.

    “Before then, we have sent three letters to the government, but only one was replied where the government did not show concern and that was why we issued a seven-day ultimatum.

    “The government responded to the ultimatum by inviting us for a meeting on March 31, where we presented our position. The governor did not attend.

    “At our last meeting on Monday, the decision taken was that the money in the government coffers should be used to pay November salary.

    But we realise that what will become of January, February, March and April salary?

    Reacting to the governor’s threat, Olojede said: “We are surprised that the governor can say no-work-no-pay if we go on strike. This is a moral question for a governor who owes us five months salary.”

    The union leader noted that the government has the opportunity to meet them today after which labour leaders will pass their resolution to members.

    “We demand for a meeting with the governor where we shall deliberate and brainstorm on the way out of this logjam.

    Reacting on behalf of the government, former Secretary to the State Government Olalekan Alli described the ultimatum as shocking, uncalled for and improper.

    He said they ought to have a meeting yesterday to sign a communique before meeting the governor, but the union leaders failed to show up on the excuse that they have a unit meeting of union executives.

    “This is a government that has once ensured prompt payment of salaries and for three years Ajimobi paid workers 13th month salary, increased pension, provided free bus, and ensured massive training of workers.

    “The governor has mad a pronouncement that anybody who embarks on illegality will be punished.

    “There is a labour law that backs no-work-no-pay and this will be implemented if theygo on strike.”

  • Nigeria league clubs get 14-day ultimatum to pay up

    Nigeria league clubs get 14-day ultimatum to pay up

    Nigeria players’ union, the National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers (NANPF), have issued a 14-day ultimatum to clubs in the country’s top divisions to pay up their players and coaches.

    “As a result of the failure of the affected clubs to comply with the arbitration decisions as communicated to them by the Nigeria Football Federation and the League Management Company, the Nigeria players’ union have issued the indebted clubs 14 days within which to pay the affected players and coaches or be ready to face the consequences of their non-compliance,” warned a statement by the NANPF.

    Having failed to secure the necessary statutory sanctions of the clubs for non-compliance by both the Nigeria Football Federation and the league bodies, the NANPF have commenced discussions with the leadership of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria to carry out strategic plans in ensuring full compliance by the affected clubs after the expiration of the 14 days deadline.

    Furthermore, the union is also aware of the clandestine moves of some indebted clubs in the Nigeria National League, to register for the 2016 league season, without complying with the decisions of the NFF Arbitration Committee to pay the affected players and coaches as communicated to the NNL by the NFF, the union urged such clubs to do the right thing by paying the affected players and coaches or be ready to face the consequences of such unholy moves.

    In the meantime, the union has commended the government of Kwara State and management of Kwara United for paying their debts to the players and coaches in compliance with the arbitration decision.

  • Oyo State workers issue 7-day ultimatum over unpaid salaries

    Organised labour in Oyo State has issued a 7-day ultimatum to Oyo State Government to settle over five months arrears of salaries owed workers.

    The ultimatum was issued on Tuesday in Ibadan by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Negotiation Council (JNC).

    Mr Waheed Olojede, the State NLC Chairman, who spoke at a news conference, said that the 7-day ultimatum would commence on Wednesday, March 30 and lapse on Thursday, April 7.

    He said that the unions had considered the prevailing condition of workers and pensioners with five months unpaid salaries and the failure of government to accede to previous requests.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the government and the unions in 2015 signed a memorandum of understanding on how the salaries would be paid.

    Olojede said that the unions had written to the state government requesting for a meeting, which he claimed the government failed to accept.
    Olojede said that the situation had reduced workers to state of poverty, adding that their productivity, diligence and absolute commitment would be hinged on how the workers were treated.

    “If government fails to meet the leadership of the labour movement in the state, we may not be able to guarantee continued industrial peace beyond the stipulated time,” he said.

     

  • Lagos gives 7-day ultimatum to residents on gated streets

    Lagos gives 7-day ultimatum to residents on gated streets

    Lagos State Government has given seven days ultimatum to residents to keep to the directives that gates or barricades leading to major roads in the state, is locked between 12 mid night and 5am with manned security guards to allow free flow of vehicular movement.

    State Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Muslim Folami, who revisited the directive yesterday at a press conference, said the government will not hesitate to remove gates of streets where residents fail to comply.

    According to him, “this is a serious issue and we are not taking it likely with anyone, residents have within seven days to comply with this directive or have their gates remove.”

    He assured residents of security, saying that government officials will go round to make sure that people comply with the government directives.

    Earlier, Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Affairs, Mr. Tajudeen Quadri, who addressed journalists alongside the commissioner and Special Adviser to the Governor on communication and Community Affairs, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan said recent trends revealed that some residents have abandoned the directives.

    He said the development have given rise to come back of street gates even streets that never had them before are now erecting theirs fortified with all manner of objects.

    Quadri recalled that before 2009 when the government came up with the directive, it was observed that streets where gates are under lock and key constitutes serious bottleneck and makes it difficult for police, fire service and vehicle on emergency to go through when carrying out their legitimate duties.

    He said it also constitutes obstructions to traffic, especially in areas where such streets gates or barricades are on the roads meant to serve as thoroughfares or alternative links.

    Also affected are pregnant women in Labour and sick people of which some has lost their lives because they were unable to get through to hospitals because their gates where lock with no security guards to attend to them.

    He recalled the inconveniences the situation has cause, stressing that henceforth leaders of community must ensure that residents comply with the directives to avoid pulling down their gates.

    He recalled the inconveniences gated streets have caused residents who have to walk round to access their area, while adding that some gates are deliberately locked for purposes of allowing roads to be used for parties.

    He said government is revisiting the directives on the gates and barricades, with the aim of solving the challenges posed by the unrestricted erection of street gates all over the state.

  • Seven-day ultimatum for Osun’s striking doctors

    The Osun State government has given striking medical doctors seven days to resume or be sacked.

    In a public service announcement on behalf of the government, the Permanent Secretary, Human Resources and Capacity Building,  Sunday Festus Olajide, said whoever failed to resume at the end of the ultimatum, which started last Friday, would be considered to have voluntarily resigned from the public service.

    The government berated the doctors for what it called their inconsideration.

    According to the announcement, despite series of appeals from the government to doctors of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (Lautech) Teaching Hospital, Osogbo and other government health institutions, the striking doctors have remained adamant.

    The government lamented that the doctors have received their salaries in the last two months.

    Declaring the strike is illegal, the government said it did not follow due process, thereby breaching the professional Hippocratic Oath.

     

  • Ayade gives ministry ultimatum to fix potholes in Calabar

    Ayade gives ministry ultimatum to fix potholes in Calabar

    The Cross River State Ministry of Works yesterday commenced the implementation of the directive of the state governor, Professor Ben Ayade that every road in Calabar should be made pothole free.

    Ayade had given the ministry a seven-day ultimatum to fix all potholes identified in the 120 internal roads in the Calabar metropolis to ensure free flow of traffic during the 2015 Calabar Festival celebrations that herald Carnival Calabar in December 28.

    Speaking at Ikot Eyo Street, in Calabar where the ministry has commenced rehabilitation work, Director of Civil Engineering Godwin Akeke, said the ministry was working round the clock to deliver on the mandate of ensuring that all potholes in the metropolis were fixed within seven days as directed by the governor.

    His words: “As we speak, we are fully mobilized to site, we are ready and all our contractors have subsequently been deployed to sites. As segmented for timely completion, we have put everything in place to ensure that we deliver and give our visitors and residents good roads for easy and pleasurable movement round the town.

    “The governor has warned that he does not want to see any pothole in the entire metropolis and we will do our very best to put the roads in good shape before the celebrations. From here we are tackling the Carnival routes while work on other spots will be going on simultaneously.”

    He sought the cooperation of all road users, particularly motorists, notifying that some of the roads will be blocked in the course of the exercise to effect some major repairs and regret any inconveniences that will cause them.

    On the standard of work to be executed especially at spots that needed rconstruction, a Consultant to the Ministry, Mr. Ita Ikpeme, said the required standard practice will be adhered strictly, saying: “You should not expect anything less, because my work here is to ensure that the right materials are used at the right time at all location.”

    Ikpeme disclosed that the maintenance work was not only for the Carnival but that it is now a routine as directed by the governor.

    He said that never again shall we have potholes on the streets of Calabar during the life of this administration.

    Some of the residents at Ikot Eyo, Parliamentary Village, praised Governor Ayade for his timely intervention to save the street dwellers of the ordeal of long delays on the road.

  • Hotels, night clubs, event centres get ultimatum

    LAGOS State Safety Commission (LSSC) has given hospitality businesses owners a week ultimatum to show evidence of their compliance with safety regulations or risk sanctions.

    Those who fail to comply with the directive would be barred from operating during the Yuletide, the commission’s Director-General, Fuad Oki, said, pointing out that the directive became imperative to avert disasters.

    He said it had become compulsory for managers of hospitality business, especially those in highbrow areas, to come up with their safety emergency plans for assessment of their compliance with Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) regulations.

    Warning that the era of business as usual was over, Oki said erring operators would be prosecuted and their business premises shut.

    According to him, school and event centre operators have also been given a January deadline to comply with the OSH regulations. The government, he said, would not compromise on its commitment to ensure safety standards in public institutions.

    His words: “Let me make it very clear that LSSC will not be shy in its use of the General Duty Clause (GDC) even in cases where a standard exists but an employer could have provided more protections to its employees.

    “The night clubs on Victoria Island and in Ikeja are under watch for gross non-compliance with emergency preparedness, lack of correct occupancy requirement, egress identification and among others. These establishments are given one week to comply with all safety extant regulations.”

    Failure to display LSSC safety certificate by any operator within the business premises would be deemed as flouting the OSH regulations, he said, reminding the operators that the commission has been empowered by the LSSC Law No. 6 of 2011 to enforce OSH.

    He said: “Our event centres, entertainment halls and amusement parks are enjoined to apply for safety compliance certificates as they will not be permitted to operate during the Yuletide without appropriate safety compliance certificates.”

    Oki said the commission’s scheduled tours of premises were not yielding results, accusing business managers of organising make-shift OSH compliance whenever they have a foreknowledge of the visits. They slide back to their non-compliant status after the LSSC inspectors’ exit, he added.

    According to him, the new unscheduled strategy has paid off as stop work orders were issued to some managers who were caught unawares. Some premises were sealed outright,” Oki said, adding:  “So far, a total of 20 factories have been inspected and 10 of them were sealed off for various infractions and substantial violations of OSH laws.

    “In the same vein, 120 residential dwellings found to be very distressed and on the verge of collapse or for very unsanitary and unhygienic reasons have been sealed.”

    He, however, informed that 78 of such premises have since been reopened after complying with the OSH laws and extant regulations.

    “It is pertinent to state that the intention of the commission is not to punish but to correct. Hence, when any company is sealed off, the objective is to ensure that such company makes the necessary correction, the order to reopen is issued,” the LSSC director said.

     

  • Volkswagen Emissions Scandal: CPC gives seven-day ultimatum for report

    Volkswagen Emissions Scandal: CPC gives seven-day ultimatum for report

    The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Volkswagen Nigeria to provide information on the status of its vehicles in relation to the emissions cheating software, which has reportedly affected 11 million cars worldwide.

    CPC, in a letter to the automaker signed by its Director-General, Mrs Dupe Atoki, said “the attention of the Council has been drawn to some publications wherein Volkswagen has admitted the allegation that certain illegal “defeat device” software was installed in Volkswagen vehicles to cheat emission test. The resultant effect of this on the environment and quality of these cars is of great importance to the CPC.

    “The publications also indicated that Volkswagen had admitted that vehicles with 1.2, 1.6, and 2.0 litre EA 189 engines are all affected, (i.e. Golf, Beatle, Jetta and Passat models).”

    CPC noted that Volkswagen has a huge market in Nigeria, with many customers who may currently be in possession of the affected models.

    The council requested Volkswagen Nigeria to within seven days of the receipt of its letter make available to it the number of affected vehicles in Nigeria (if any), steps taken to inform and sensitise consumers and efforts being made to facilitate quick recall of such vehicles in the country.

    CPC said its directive was pursuant to the powers of the council to compel manufacturers to give public notice of any hazard inherent in their products.

    CPC’s action came on the heels of a scandal that the auto manufacturer’s diesel car engines were found to contain software that can cheat pollution tests, making them seem cleaner than they actually are.

    Around 11 million vehicles worldwide manufactured between 2009 and 2015, including 5 million VW cars, 2.1 million Audi, 1.2 million Skoda, 700,000 Seat and 1.8 million vans, are confirmed to have been built with these so-called “defeat devices.”

  • FCT gives Area Council ultimatum on refuse 

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration has given the chairmen of the six Area Council one week deadline to clear all the heaps of refuse littering the area councils.

    FCT Permanent Secretary, John Chukwu expressed disappointment over the huge volume of waste in all the area councils and satellite towns.

    Chukwu who reminded them of the statutory responsibility of maintaining the environment, added that the ugly trend of heaps of garbage must immediately be reversed according to the change mantra of the Federal Government.

    Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary FCT, Muhammad Sule said this  in a press statement. He said  Chukwu gave the instruction during an emergency meeting on the state of environment in the Area Councils and Satellite Towns.

    He added: “Chukwu during the meeting expressed disappointment over the poor state of environment as well as the huge volume of waste in all the Area Councils.

    “The Permanent Secretary reminded the Council Chairmen of their statutory responsibilities of 100 per cent maintenance of the environment; stressing that cleanliness is next to godliness.

    “He reiterated that the ugly trend of heaps of garbage in all the Area Councils and Satellite Towns must immediately be reversed in line with the change mantra of the Federal Government.

    “Chukwu warned that the Chairmen are elected leaders; noting that Councils’ elections are around the corner and therefore the people are going to hold them accountable.

    “He insisted that enough is enough; saying that the Council Chairmen must sit up as this sorry state cannot be allowed to continue in the Territory.

    “The Permanent Secretary emphasised that Abuja is one of the most important places in the country, being the abode of Mr. President, members of the National Assembly, highest ranking judicial officers in the country as well as members of the diplomatic community; and therefore the window in which the world sees Nigeria.

    “All hands must be on deck to keep the environment of the entire 8,000 square kilometres of the Federal Capital Territory very clean to showcase the city to the world.”

  • Business owners issue one month ultimatum to DISCOs

    Piqued by the eratic power supply, Business owners in the South East have issued electricity companies one month ultimatum to either improve or face court action.

    They argued that the outage was not as a result of shortage in power generation, but due to incompetence on the part of the companies.

    Speaking at the weekend, Chief Sam Nwosu, Chairman, SACON Group who spoke on behalf of business owners in the South East, also called on the Federal Government to probe activities of the Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) operating in the country.

    The group said they have been left with no other choice, adding  that businesses have continued to suffer untold economic hardship as a result of poor power supply despite the improvement in power generation.

    Nwosu in a petition noted that businesses have not been able to enjoy up to one hour power supply in the East compared with other parts of the country.

    Calling for the urgent intervention of the Federal Government, he said the power companies in the East have not displayed any level of competence.

    Nwosu also said that from close observation, it is obvious that due diligence was not carried out on most of the companies. He therefore called on the  government to look into the contract sales of the DISCOs and should any one fail the integrity test, such a contract should be revoked.

    The petition which was made available to Journalists reads: “we are also aware of the remarkable improvement in electricity supply across the country.

    “But unfortunately, we are not enjoying any of it here in Akwa, Anambra state. Yet at the end of the month your company sends us heavy bills including your “fixed rate” charges for services not rendered.

    “We are therefore constrained at this time to speak out and alert the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the federal ministry of power, the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Human Rights organisations, the newly appointed senate committee of inquiry on the activities of DISCs on our prolong and seeming intractable and insurmountable hardship.”