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Tag: work

  • Senators at work

    Senators at work

    UNKNOWN to its army of critics, the Eighth Senate is methodically writing its way into the history books. In other words, by the time it winds down and becomes history, it would have entered history – as the most memorable assemblage of our best.

    The pace of legislative work is breathtaking. It is unprecedented. The Bill to prohibit tribal marks is almost ready. So also is the one on genital mutilation. Many resolutions and motions have been passed,  including the one for Nigerian men to be allowed to marry two wives, moved by Senator Ali Ndume, the fellow who got into trouble by suggesting, perhaps against all known ethical standards of the Senate, that Senate President Bukola Saraki and Senator Dino Melaye be investigated.

    All this and more are targeted at eliminating all those ideas, thoughts and practices that have held Nigeria hostage.

    But will the hunter’s enemies ever concede to him that he has killed a big game? Will they ever stop saying, “See the little animal he has killed and he celebrates himself as a great hunter?”  The Senate, like the hunter, keeps attracting critics who will never appreciate its huge contributions to the survival of our democracy.

    Consider the simple matter of the Customs chief Hameed Ali who has been honoured with a summons to appear before the Senate in the uniform of the Comptroller General (C.G.). He has refused to oblige. He says the matter has become the subject of a legal dispute and any further move, thought, action and statement on it would be prejudicial to the proceedings. The Senate stands its ground, insisting that Col. Ali must comply with its resolution or face sanctions.

    From a small Committee Room at the National Assembly where Col. Ali was turned back on account of improper dressing, the matter has become the subject of major discussions in restrooms, newsrooms, staffrooms and courtrooms. Everywhere.

    Some say Ali should just have respected the institution of the Senate – not necessarily the senators – by wearing the uniform. By so doing, say those who belong in this school of thought, he would  be contributing his own quota to building institutions, an ideal which we all must pursue to nurture our democracy to maturity. Individuals will pass on but institutions will remain, perhaps forever, they say.

    Others disagree, saying: “Uniform or no uniform, is the Customs Service doing well or not? Those who wore the uniform in the past, what did they do? Why make a mountain out of a molehill? Na uniform we go chop?”

    Contrary to what some people have been alleging without proof, the Senate did not embark on the Ali-must-wear-Customs-uniform debate out of idleness or to kill boredom.

    One usually knowledgeable source has told me exclusively that, after what he described as a long, tortuous, painstaking and rigorous intellectual brainstorming, after considering all the facts available to it, the Senate came to the firm conclusion that if  all key government officials wear uniforms, there would be a dramatic improvement in our standards of living. Life expectancy would skyrocket, infant mortality would be a thing of the past, and poverty would get a final farewell. Besides, corruption would be checkmated in its desperate bid to kill Nigeria.

    Senators, in other words, have discovered that our problem as a nation lies essentially in our mode of dressing.

    Imagine the Works, Power and Housing Minister going to work in a workman’s boots, overalls or a pair of jeans and a helmet. This, going by the exotic wisdom and logic of the senators’ formula, will surely make everybody sit up. The  epileptic electricity supply will give way to a new era of abundance in which more ECOWAS countries will enjoy uninterrupted supply – courtesy of Nigeria. All the potholes on our roads will simply disappear and we will all be driving with great pleasure. Old, rickety bridges will be smashed and in their place new, glittering edifices that will make many of the world’s big cities envious. What is more, every Nigerian who desires to own a house will have his dream fulfilled.

    The minister of Health, needless to say, should always deck out in a doctor’s white coat, a stethoscope dangling on his neck like a hip hop star’s golden necklace. All the challenges that have ailed that sector – strikes, obsolete equipment, fake drugs, fake personnel and poor funding, will, of course, vanish like ice cream under the scorching sun.

    Aviation has been in the news recently, with the closure of the Abuja Airport and the rehabilitation of the alternative Kaduna Airport. Would all the noise over the repair of the Abuja Airport’s runway be necessary if Minister Rotimi Amaechi had adopted the uniform formula? Imagine the honourable minister showing up in a pilot’s uniform. There would have been no such problem as safety concern, grounded airlines, inadequate navigational aids and shortage of funds. Above all, no aircraft will drop from the sky.

    The controversial matter of Senator Dino Melaye’s educational background seems to have been settled somehow. He did everything to convince the world that he at a certain time was a student of the famous Ahmadu Bello University(ABU). He posted on the internet a picture of his NYSC days, with the senator wearing just a blue shirt while others turned out in the NYSC uniform. In fact, the Vice Chancellor was at the National Assembly to testify that Melaye was, indeed, a former student who went by the name Daniel Jonah Melaye.

    Melaye, fearing that all this might not avail, stormed the National Assembly in an academic gown. And all the noise subsided. Ah, the power of a uniform. His action, many have said, was a denigration of the academic culture. He is not qualified to wear the particular dress he wore as it is not for holders of first degrees.

    Another source, no less reliable, has just told me how, long before the uniform issue became the subject of a national debate, a minister had discovered the astounding gains of wearing a uniform. He designed one for himself and has been wearing it for official and private engagements.

    Those ignorant fellows who hide under dubious appellations, such as analysts, public affairs commentators and social critics, descended on the minister. Some described him as a new Civil Defence recruit awaiting his first set of uniforms. Others said he was an overzealous member of the Boys Scout. Yet, others dismissed him as an ex-serviceman-turned-doorman.

    But, nobody, not even the most virulent of his critics, will deny that his ministry has recorded some marvelous achievements that have made him the envy of his peers. Again, the wonders of a uniform.

    Step forward Solomon Dalong, the Honorable Minister of Youth and Sport.

    Now, those who have seen the senators’ fixation with uniforms as an aberration may have a rethink. Among them are those who turned it all into jokes to deride the lawmakers. I recall one of such jokes, which a colleague sent to my mobile: “PHCN. So una  finally increase una tariff after the Senate directed otherwise. Your MD must appear in uniform to explain.”

    The Senate has suspended the confirmation of 27 Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) because, according to them, Ibrahim Magu, the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is still at his desk after failing to clear the confirmation hurdle, following a damning report from the Department of State Services (DSS).

    Magu denies any wrongdoing and is contesting the report.

    Senators are angry also that Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal shunned their invitation to answer questions on the N1.3b Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE) contracts. He should be fired, the lawmakers said.

    President Buhari remains quiet. Magu continues to press the throttle of investigations of alleged financial misdemeanors of some Senate President Bukola Saraki’s aides. At issue is about N3.5b said to be part of the Paris-London Club loan refund to states.

    An unconfirmed source, whose maternal uncle is close to an aunt of a senator’s friend, has just told me that if the Executive still remains unyielding after the suspension of the confirmation of the RECs, the distinguished fellows will simply pass a resolution to disband it.

    A senator of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will stand up and plead to be allowed to raise “a matter of national importance”. The Senate President, presiding, will recognise him.

    He begins to scream, his right hand pumping the air, the left holding his babaringa dress that keeps falling off his shoulders, the rage that has seized the hallowed chamber etched on his visage:

    “Considering the fact that Nigeria must not be allowed to be a greedocracy, a government of the greedy, by the greedy and for the greedy. And whereas I am ready to say the truth rather than toe the line of lies like the Executive, I hereby move that we, this distinguished Senate, suspend the Presidency until further notice. All those being persecuted for alleged corruption are hereby asked to go about their businesses in peace. President Buhari has 14 working days to report here and address distinguished senators on why Magu and Lawal are still in office. Buhari is hereby ordered to appear in the full regalia of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And I so move.”

    A stampede to second the motion follows.  Then, a brief debate, spiced with exceptional bitterness.

    The motion is put to the vote

    Verdict:  “The ayes have it”.

    No prize for figuring out the mover of this motion.

     

  • BRF: How not to work

    It was like a shuttle in a projectile – let’s call it the BRF projectile. Of course, BRF being Babatunde Raji Fashola, the three-in-one federal minister in charge of Power, Works and Housing. He has been on a blitzing visit of major road projects across the country. Starting a few weeks back with on-going roads in the southeast zone of Nigeria, his last run was across seven states of the Niger Delta – in three days.

    As one of the reporters in the shuttle, my verdict is: how not to work. Imagine starting a trip by road from Calabar to Uyo, then Aba to Yenegoa, Port Harcourt to Sapele and then Benin City – in just three days!

    On paper, it may look easy and straight forward, but out there on the poorly kept and dangerous Nigerian roads, it surely is an excruciating way to carry out a task. Of course, there are modern digital mapping devices that can locate projects even in the most remote outposts and highlight them with real life high definition. But understandably, such facilities are not available to the ministry right now but that must be the way forward.

    The first call of the inspection was the over 200 kilometres Calabar – Akampa – Ikom – Ogoja – Ugep – Katsina Ala highway. A long-winding, seemingly interminable and indeed treacherous road. After travelling for about two-hours of twisting and turning and side-tracking endless streaming of heavy-duty trucks, it turned out that one of them had upended ahead before the project site. BRF had to make a U-turn, missing the first target.

    This road which connects about four states and leads up to Makurdi in Benue State is as strategic as highways go. It is a single-carriage road, which is bad enough; but it is dilapidated and derelict in many sections. When the rains come, according to Cross Rivers State deputy governor, many sections are flooded impassable.

    The contractor, Messrs Sermatech that had abandoned site for over two years for lack of payment is back at work. He was mandated to commence remediation work quick before the rains. Important too is that hundreds of people are back to work once again: goods and service will move and zonal economy will flourish.

    From the Akwa Ibom axis, the Ikot-Ekpene – Aba Road has suffered total collapse at Umuakpo. The minister had to do a detour through bush paths and remote village tracks to re-enter the highway. This road that connects two very important towns of Ikot-Ekpene in Akwa Ibom State and Aba in Abia State was also awarded but unfunded. The contractor abandoned site. They are back now.

    On the Aba – Port Harcourt section of the now notorious Enugu – Port Harcourt highway, BRF and his team did on foot, a very long stretch of the project under-going massive renewal and expansion on foot. It has numerous on-site workers and as we learnt, is generating hundreds of auxiliary jobs in material supplies, food and drinks vending.

    A much reported and indeed maligned road, it is the scrawny signature of the last government’s insouciance. This most important road covering about 10 states of the Southeast and South-south had been in decline for many years. The heedless Goodluck Jonathan administration played game with it during his time. Contractors abandoned site for many years due to poor funding and corruption.

    In Rivers, the most compelling job apart from the expressway is the Bodo – Bonny 39km road with a bridge across the Opobo channel. This is the Saro-Wiwa country, the heart land of Ogoni. A most serene and idyllic land but for the evident crude curse. It is part of the area an environmental cleanup is on-going right now.

    The contractor had abandoned project for many years. A new one has been raised and work has started. Bonny Island is the home of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and Nigeria’s, if not Africa’s gas hub. It can only be accessed by speed boats and choppers. But when this road is completed, that island is bound to come alive with all the attendant socio-economic activities.

    While Bayelsa has the Yenegoa – Okaki – Kolo road (if we discountenance the shoddy show piece known as East-West Road) Delta and Edo States hold very big road projects recently getting much attention.

    A marble plaque decorates a roundabout where the big ticket Sapele – Ewu – Agbor highway begins. It bears the marker, “This road is flagged off today 12th February, 2015”. It must have been an elaborate ceremony denoted by drumming, dancing and much fun fare. But no sod was turned thereafter. The road never got started. What happened was a ceremony for the 2015 general election; cruel symbolism.

    Work only started November 2016 after a mobilization of N1.3 billion was paid by the Buhari administration. Work is ongoing now on the 110km road by Messrs CGC as contractors.

    It is the same story with the 47.4km Lokoja – Benin City road dualization project. Awarded in 2012 but work didn’t start until 2016. These two roads spanning Delta, Edo, and Kogi states apart from easing commuters’ pains, are currently providing jobs to thousands of Nigerians among other benefits.

    As stated at the beginning, three days of dawn to dusk shuttle across a vast area of land may not be the best way to work, and not many previous ministers are known to have subjected themselves to such punishing rigor.

    At every capital city, BRF paid courtesy call on the state governor in his domain. At every state boundary, he would pick up the next state’s Controller of Works. He has rechristened them federal government ambassadors in their states of operation. He introduced them to the state governors as such and urged them to cooperate as partners and not as competitors. Even the states’ commissioners of Works are co-opted at every point by BRF, winning their buy-ins.

    The state Controllers of Works are the key and indeed crucial to the success or failure of most projects especially in far-flung areas of the country. As they joined the BRF train, they were armed with well-documented report on the project in question. Faced with BRF’s grilling, some answer some stutter some suffer butterflies in the tummy, but eventually, he makes them take the lead, showcasing the projects to press; presenting to governors.

    There were a total of 12 road projects in seven states of the Niger Delta visited by BRF in three days. While these are by no means the only abandoned roads being reactivated by the current administration in the zone, it is no mean task either.

    At an average of 1,000 jobs per site, that would be a minimum of 12,000 jobs. If we multiply this by six zones, we have roughly 72,000 mainly direct jobs created by the works sector of the ministry alone.

    “The president has told me not to embark on any new road projects until the numerous abandoned ones are completed”, BRF said to reporters at one stop. “How could so many roads have been abandoned in a time of boom when crude oil sold for $100 per barrel?” He asked rhetorically.

    Finally, it was relatively easy for BRF to hop from state to state in the Southeast and South-south zones. How would he do it in the vast lands of the northern zones? A tough road to travel indeed.

  • Work stops on Third Mainland Bridge repair

    The Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has been criticised for abandoning  work on the Third Mainland Bridge and other adjoining roads.

    Last month, the agency began repairs on both carriage ways, scrapping asphalt on some sections, but vacated site for over two weeks.

    Motorists attributed several accidents on the bridge in recent times to the uncoordinated method in which FERMA was carrying out the repair.

    Investigations showed that though N10billion was voted for FERMA in the 2016 Budget of the Federal Ministry of Works, the contractor was yet to be mobilised.

    With the March 31 deadline for the implementation of the 2017 budget fast approaching, FERMA hurriedly moved the contractor to site. But its failure to mobilise led to work being stalled.

    Some motorists are calling on Minister of Works Babatunde Fashola to rise up to the challenge and ensure that the agency completes the repair.

    A motorist, Babajide Kasali, who plies the axis daily, decried the long hours of traffic occasioned by the slow pace of work, saying  it was gradually taking a toll on his health and productivity.

    Another motorist, Mrs. Abidemi Otegbola, said FERMA’s inability to carry out its duties was due to lack of proper monitoring by the parent ministry.

  • Work begins on Lagos model school

    With the turning of the sod for a new model school building at Awori College, Ojo on Friday, last week, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State kick started the construction of what promises to be a state-of-the-art facility.

    Ambode, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, said on completion, the building, which would have 36 classrooms, 12 laboratories, offices, library and multipurpose hall, staff rooms, principal/vice principal’s offices and modern toilet facilities, would compete with the best high schools in other parts of the world.

    The school, which sits on a land area of 16,172 square metres, would also boast of a football pitch, basketball and tennis courts, as well as car parks that can accommodate 42 cars.

    Ambode said his administration’s efforts were geared towards ensuring that all learners, irrespective of their socio-economic background, accessed quality education to boost self-reliance and enhance their productivity.

    “I wish to assure our students that our commitment is to build for you a future of great opportunities, possibilities and prosperity through the provision of qualitative education that is consistent with the demands of the 21st century. I therefore enjoin you to fully embrace this opportunity by showing serious commitment to your studies and shun all negative values that will not make you realise your dreams,” he said.

    Ambode also expressed joy about the improved performance of public school pupils as a result of the government’s investment.

    “I am happy to note that the results of these efforts are becoming manifest in the improved performance of public school students, particularly in the last West African Senior School Certificate Examination. This development is most assuring and a measure of what to expect when the various performance-enhancing programmes being put in place are fully implemented,” he said.

    In her welcome speech, as the Commissioner for Education, read by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr Adesina Odeyemi, Dr Adebule shed more light on the results of the government’s investment in education.

    She said: “Within the spate of one year of our administration, 22,233 out of 44,108 presented for the 2016 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) passed with at least five credits including English and Mathematics against the 15,542 out of 41,697 who passed with the same grade in 2015.”

    Dr. Adebule added that Lagos State public schools emerged the overall best in the 2016 Robotics Competition and would represent Nigeria at the World Robot Olympiad in New Delhi, India; while its Science Competition team was the overall “Best State Team” at last year’s National Festivals of School Science Competition, and represented Nigeria at the International Science Exhibition Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix, Arizona, United States last May.

     

  • How to make PPP work, by experts

    For Public Private Partnership (PPP) to work for infrastructure delivery, there is need for stakeholders to prioritise the review of existing legal framework, address adaptive and social challenges, experts have said.

    The experts who spoke at a two-day colloquium organised by the Centre for Ethics and Sustainable Development (CESD) at the University of Lagos, stressed the need for effective communication and stakeholder management, as well as gender and social inclusion.

    The theme of the forum was: ‘Reshaping the Infrastructure Delivery Landscape for Sustainable Development in Nigeria.

    Some local and international bodies, include Australia Awards Africa, Access Bank Plc, Globacom  and Keystone BankPlc, supported the forum.

    A PPP expert and Professor at the University of Queensland Business School, Brisbane, Australia, Neil Paulsen, said communication among all parties must be effectively carried out in order to foster easier and faster infrastructure delivery. He also emphasised the need to identify potential stakeholders and involve developmental institutions to facilitate proper delivery.

    “One of the key success points of ensuring effective communication is consensus-building and stakeholder engagement. Again, in all PPP initiatives, there must be clear and visible benefits for all stakeholders. That is why effective communication must be a two-way street in which the stakeholders must be kept abreast of information. Above all, infrastructure projects must make good sense to stakeholders,” Prof. Paulsen said.

    While emphasising the importance of feedback mechanisms, the university don identified tools which provide effective communication to include information, consultation involvement, collaboration and empowerment. He added that communication for diverse audiences must be taken into account.

    Earlier, the convener of the initiative, Dr.Olajumoke Akiode, who spoke on Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) in Infrastructure Delivery, said gender and social inclusion was a collaborative and inclusive means of infrastructure delivery that caters to the concerns and needs of all stakeholders- men, women, the disabled, and other vulnerable groups. A 360 degree way of thinking that leads to better practice and outcomes should foster inclusion and empowerment of women and other vulnerable groups.

    “Infrastructure delivery is essentially about the people, their concerns, issues and needs should be incorporated into the project design. It is essential  that  policy makers, financiers and  project  designers  become GESI aware,” Akiode said.

    She added that GESI mainstreaming begins with the government and its inclusion in infrastructure delivery would ensure that policy makers, project designers and other stakeholders wear the “others” shoes.

    A Lagos based legal practitioner, Mr.Babatunde Ogala, urged the government to review laws relating to infrastructural development in the country, arguing that most of the existing laws are outdated.

    He said legislative decisions that prevent development and implementations should be amended in order to achieve sustainable legal framework for infrastructure delivery.

    Ogala said security, law and order are key items which ensure good delivery of infrastructural projects and a holistic approach to reshaping infrastructure delivery is essential.

  • It will be a privilege to work with Emordi, says Biffo

    It will be a privilege to work with Emordi, says Biffo

    •Arrives Nigeria Nov. 4

    Coach Abdullahi Biffo has distanced himself from a media report credited to him that he is not ready to assist Okey Emordi at Abia Warriors.

    Biffo, who is currently in the United States for a coaching course told SportingLife on telephone that the club is yet to discuss with him on the recent appointment in Abia Warriors.

    “I was shocked when I heard about the report. When the club’s chairman, Emeka Iyama called me to ask when I will be coming back. I told him on November 4. So I did not tell anybody that I won’t work as Emordi’s assistant.  I have worked with so many coaches like Kadiri Ikhana, Justin Tenger and John Obuh and it will be an honour for me to work with Okey Emordi as well,” Biffo disclosed to SportingLife.

    “Emordi is a coach any club will wish to have anytime any day because of his experience and I believe Abia Warriors will be great under his leadership,” he said.

  • Workers seek action against precarious work conditions

    Nigerian workers, under the aegis of Nigeria Council of Industrial Global Union, have called for concrete action against precarious work conditions which workers have been subjected.

    Precarious work, according to the union, refered to work relationship with no distinct terms of employment such as letter of employment stating the terms and conditions of the employment relationship. The result is that the workmen are hired, supervised and remunerated by a contractor.

    Lamenting what they described as “increasingly precarious work conditions,” the workers urged for concrete economic, political, and institutional framework and policies that will bring about decent work for the working class.

    Leading the call during activities to commemorate this year’s ‘World Day for Decent Work,’ the Chairman, Nigeria Council of Industrial Global Union, Comrade Igwe Achese, said all over the world, particularly in Nigeria, workers were becoming increasingly precarious and endangered.

    Achese said: “One of the strategic actions of Industrial Global Union and, of course, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), was to fight against precarious work through joint actions of the affiliates to reduce or limit the use of precarious work and to ensure labour rights to precarious workers.

    The other, he said, was to ensure that government and employers do the needful in making sure that workers’ rights were guaranteed, and that workers were giving their due rights.

    Achese noted that poverty level was rising sharply, with workers at the receiving end, as cost of living continues to skyrocket almost on daily basis.

    He lamented that Nigerian workers in all the sectors have been subjected to precarious work conditions marked by widespread casualisation, widening poverty circle and increasing inequality.

    Achese, who doubles as President of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) as well as factional Deputy President of the Joe Ajaero-led Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), decried increasing job insecurity, poor health of workers and absence of safety provisions, long work hours, lower wages and low quality of jobs.

    According to him, studies showed that women are worse victims in the categories of precarious work conditions, and are more deprived of basic workers’ rights with regards to working hours, medical, holiday, safety at work, and maternal care.

    Achese enumerated the grave impacts of precarious work to include inferior job status, lack of job security, absence of basic trade union rights, poor health and safety conditions, long hours of work, low and uncertain wages.

    Others are casual nature of engagement, reduction in life expectancy, widening inequality and increased poverty, social disequilibrium and crime as well as breakdown of family structure and value.

    Represented in the activity marking the annual global decent work agenda were members of various                                                    labour groups of NUPENG, PENGASSAN, Textile Union, National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), NLC Lagos State Council and Delta State Council.

  • LCCI: diversification without sustainability’ll not work

    LCCI: diversification without sustainability’ll not work

    For the ongoing economic diversification effort to yield the desired results, there is the need for sustainability, Trade Promotion Board Vice President/Chairman, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Sola Oyetayo, has said.

    He said while the oil and gas sector could be said to be sufficiently diversified, the nation had failed to sustain its diversification in terms of maintaining the refineries and the value chain in the sector.

    Oyetayo recalled earlier Nigeria was not importing refined products, as it had sufficient products. He, however, regretted that because of lack of maintenance and sustainability, Nigeria had become one of the highest importers of refined petroleum products.

    He said with what happened in the oil and gas sector, the government should sustain the growth in the agric sector. His words: “We should aim for sustained growth with a clear cut sustainability road map. This cannot be possible except through the implementation of the right policies.”

    On the Lagos International Trade Fair, Oyetayo called on the government to speed up the handing over of the Trade Fair complex to the Chamber like the Kaduna Trade Fair complex, which the government had transferred to the Chamber.

    He regretted that the complex had been embroiled in controversy since it was concessioned, wondering the reason behind the deal.  He said fair grounds were purpose –built and that a megacity, such as Lagos, should have a befitting fair and exhibition ground.

  • No work, no pay, varsity warns workers

    Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi (UAM), Prof Emmanuel Kucha, has warned striking unions in the university of the Federal Government’s policy of “No Work no pay” policy.

    The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) of the university have been on an indefinite strike to demand for the immediate implementation of all components  of earned allowances.

    The strike started last week after the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum.

    Leaders of the unions turned back all non-academic and senior members of staff that showed up for work from the gate.

    Most of the offices were locked to enforce compliance with the strike.

    At the Vice chancellor’s office, which also houses the Registrar, Bursar, and General Administration, no worker was seen on duty.

    A page of the bulletin of the UAM, signed by the Registrar, Mrs Helen Nyitse the university administration cited a circular from the Executive Secretary of the National University Commission (NUC) dated  13th July, 2016, where the VC stated that he has been directed to strictly implement the “No Work, No pay“, rule as contained in section 43 of  the Trade Dispute Act Cap T 8, laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004.

    The circular advised all staff of the university to be mindful of the consequence of participating in any strike which will disrupt the service of the university.

  • Fashola: work on four power plants to be accelerated

    Fashola: work on four power plants to be accelerated

    The Federal Government yesterday said it will accelerate work on four hydropower plants in order to boost electricity supply in the country.

    Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), said government will increase work on Gurara hydropower plant phase one and phase two, Zungeru, Dadin Kowa and Mambilla power plants to solve the energy problem.

    Fashola said continuous vandalism of gas pipelines and infrastructure across the country had forced government to explore other alternative sources of energy.

    The minister, who spoke at the launch of Building Energy Efficiency Guideline (BEEG) for Nigeria, assured that developing alternative source of energy by government would make it impossible to hold Nigeria to ransom in future by controlling any particular source of fuel for electricity.

    Fashola said: “We have seen from events that started from around the 14th of February this year, repeated acts of vandalism on our gas pipelines and infrastructure that renders us clearly vulnerable to one source of fuel for our energy development.

    “That has challenged us to develop options, alternatives – solar in particular and of course hydropower plants in more quantitative response. So we will be accelerating work on project like Gurara hydropower plant phase one and phase two. Work has started on Zungeru hydropower plant. We will also be accelerating work on Dadin Kowa power plant, as we will on Mambilla power plant which will give us the biggest single electrification source over a period of seven years that it is estimated to take to conclude it.