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Labour Threatens to Shut Down Economy, Plans Strike

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The Nigeria Labour Congress and its affiliate unions on Tuesday defied warnings by the Federal Government and took to the streets of major cities in the country to protest against the failure of the Federal Government to resolve the five-month strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

Specifically, the NLC said the money the two major political parties – the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party – generated from the sale of forms to aspirants could address ASUU’s demands.

In Akwa Ibom, Uche Nweke who represented the NLC National Chairman, Ayuba Wabba, faulted excuses that there were no funds to meet the demands of the university workers.

“The money the two major parties realised from the sale of nomination forms would be enough to put ASUU, universities on their feet. We the Nigerian workers are the most understanding people. We call on the national leadership to listen to voice of reason, whatever it takes they should send our children back to school” he said

Apart from Akwa Ibom, other states which witnessed protests included Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Kwara, Enugu, Benue, Sokoto, Lagos and Plateau.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, last week had claimed that a security report also sent to his office by the Department of State Services, strongly warned against holding the protest.

Also, Ngige had in an interview with Channels Television in March said government did not have money to meet ASUU’s demands, which included revitalisation funds for universities.

He stated, “The N1.3trillion you are talking about was promised by the (Goodluck) Jonathan government. Oil was selling between $100 to $120 per barrel then and the revenue of the federation was rich.”

However, the unionists expressed their anger over the Federal Government’s inability to address their grievances, adding that it had become necessary for the current government to leave.

The university lecturers had shut down public institutions on February 14 over the inability of the Federal Government to implement the agreements it made with ASUU in 2009 as well as the refusal of the current administration to exempt lecturers from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.

ASUU had also asked the government to increase funding of tertiary institutions and pay outstanding allowances.

The NLC president during a chat with journalists in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom, had earlier said the protest would be against government actions that led to the strike.

On Tuesday, labour union members, National Union of Air Transport Employees and Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, civil society groups, and other affiliate unions  gathered under the Ikeja Bridge in Lagos causing traffic congestion.

The teeming protesters expressed their concerns in songs and placards, some of which read; “Stop importation of petrol. Revive the refineries”; “IPPIS destroys our refineries. Adopt UTAS now”; “Reduce the cost of governance. Save the masses from poverty and hunger”; “Stop the looting”, “Tax the rich and subsidise the poor”; among others.

The Lagos NLC Chairman, Agnes Sessi, accused the Federal Government of neglecting education.

“It’s been almost a year. Our children are still at home. An idle hand is the devil’s workshop. Children who are not engaged will become internet fraudsters and prostitutes,” she added.

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), who also took part in the protest, asked the Federal Government to invest the recovered loot in education.

“We are telling the government, enough is enough. Let them stop deceiving our people, they have money. Buhari should collect money from 10 looters to resolve this problem. Just last week, one of them stole N119bn and others have stolen more.

“In Abuja, they are using dollars to pay delegates and are distributing millions of dollars under the Central Bank of Nigeria’s watch.”

Falana said rather than stay at home to fix the country’s problems, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), continued to engage in irrelevant travel like his recent trip to Liberia.

Also speaking, ASUU Zonal chairman, Dr Adelaja Odukoya, said Nigerians must join hands to force the government’s hand.

The protesters, who marched from the Ikeja Bridge to the Lagos State Governor’s office, submitted a letter – which contained all their demands – to the governor

The Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Mrs Ponle Ajibola, received the letter from NLC Chairman, on behalf of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Others who took part in the protest were: The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Educational Institutions, Nigeria Union of Teachers, The Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers’ Union of Nigeria and other affiliate unions of NLC were at the protest.

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Akwa Ibom Gov Clarifies, Says I Didn’t Appoint My Daughter First Lady

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Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has refuted reports suggesting that he has appointed first daughter Mrs. Helen Obareki as the First Lady of the State following his wife death recently.

He clarified that his daughter was appointed as the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, a point he made clear President Bola Tinubu’s wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu during her condolence visit.

Speaking at the All Nations Christian Ministry International, Eket, on Sunday, the governor explained that his decision was a natural outcome, not one motivated by political considerations.

The governor maintained that first ladies are not appointed. However, following the passing of his wife, it was appropriate and comforting for his daughter—who had been her mother’s closest assistant—to oversee and implement the programs of the office.

He noted that priority attention would be given to his late wife’s pet project, Golden Initiative for All (GIFA), as well as other support programs for women, the elderly, the vulnerable, and the less privileged. He added that these activities could only be sustained with Mrs. Obareki as coordinator due to her experience, exposure, education, and access.

His said: “Appointing our daughter, who had worked closely with her late mother, as the coordinator is not an appointment as First Lady. You don’t appoint a First Lady. The Office of the First Lady has responsibilities to the women of this state, and my wife had programs she was running—the GIFA, the support for the elderly, and other programmes.

“As long as I remain governor, those programs will not die. There must be a coordinator, and it must be someone I see on a daily basis, someone who can walk into my room and brief me, not a distant person.”

Governor Eno further explained that, by the appointment, his daughter would be addressed as the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor and Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, stating that this decision was one way to bring healing to the family and comfort to himself.

While expressing gratitude to the wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and her entourage, the governor also thanked the church for their words of comfort and encouraged them to find solace in the word of God.

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Glo Unveils Festival of Joy Promo, Rewards Customers with Toyota Prado, Kia Cars

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As the year begins to roll towards the festive end, Glo customers are in for a great time as the company on Tuesday unveiled a delightful new season of its Festival of Joy promotion. The promotion is parading Toyota Prado SUVs and other delectable prizes.

The end-of-year promotion, which began on October 1, will run until January 31, 2025, according to a statement released by Globacom in Lagos. The prizes up for grabs by customers include five Toyota Prado SUVs, five Kia Picanto vehicles, 15 tricycles, 150 power generator sets, 200 sewing machines, and 300 grinding machines.

The Glo Festival of Joy offer was packaged in keeping with the company’s pledge to empower Glo customers and make them happy as the holiday season draws near. Globacom explained that all consumer segments, including high net worth individuals (HNIs), professionals, business people, employees, and students, will find the incentives appealing.

The company also disclosed that it has chosen to spend enormous amounts to give its customers life-enriching prizes, at a critical time that other businesses are cutting expenses as a result of the current economic troubles.

Prize-presentation ceremonies will be conducted in various locations around the nation, including Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Benin, Warri, thereby giving Nigerians in all parts of the nation the opportunity to win any of the incredible items up for grabs.

Globacom stated that both new and current customers  on the prepaid and postpaid platforms are eligible for the Festival of Joy promotion. “To be eligible for the draw, a customer must simply select the prize they want to win, opt into the promotion by dialing *611#, and recharge up to the required amount for that specific item during the promo period,” the statement read.

To be eligible to be drawn for any of the Prado, a subscriber is required to recharge up to N100,000 cumulatively during the promo period, while the requirement for the Kia Picanto is N50,000 cumulative recharge during the period. For the tricycle, the customer needs to recharge up to N10,000 cumulatively in a month, just as N5,000 total recharge in a month will qualify the customer to win a generator. For the sewing machine, a total recharge of N2,500 in a month is required, while a recharge of N500 in a day will be eligible for the draw for the grinding machines.

“All recharge types – physical and electronic – count towards the qualification. The higher the recharge amount, the higher the chances of winning,” Globacom concluded.

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Glo Celebrates Nigeria on 64th Independence Anniversary

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Globacom, digital solutions company, has congratulated Nigerians on the nation’s 64th independence anniversary.

In a statement released to commemorate the occasion, the company lauded Nigerians for their tenacity, industry, passion, patriotism, and enterprising spirit over the years, all of which have helped the nation persevere even in the face of hardship.

Globacom praised Nigerians who have consistently elevated the nation’s standing in a variety of endeavour and exhorted every Nigerians to adopt a mindset of excellence, dedication, diligence, and alertness to help the nation soar.

“Our people remain the country’s greatest assets,” Globacom noted and added that “there is a remarkable Nigerian making waves around the world in every field of human endeavor”.

It urged the youth, who comprise the majority of the population, to avoid vices and actions that can tarnish Nigeria’s reputation.

It reiterated its commitment to empowering its customers and advancing Nigeria’s development via the ongoing provision of top-notch telecommunications products and services at the most affordable costs

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