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We Have Ordered Our Workers to Join Strike, State NLC, TUC Say

Published

1 year ago

September 4, 2023

Eric

Following the declaration of a two-day warning strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress, some state chapters of the organised labour union have expressed their readiness to join the industrial action.

The leadership of the state chapters of the labour unions, in separate interviews with The Punch, said they have ordered their members to join the warning strike which is scheduled to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 5 and 6, 2023.

Speaking with our correspondent on Sunday, the Chairman, NLC Lagos chapter, Mrs Agnes Sessi, said Lagos NLC would join the nationwide strike.

“We are under the authority of our national leadership and whatever is decided at the national level is binding on us. So, yes, we are joining the strike,” Sessi affirmed.

The Sokoto State NLC chairman, Abdullahi Jungle, also told The PUNCH that the union in the state would mobilise members of the union in the state to join the two-day warning strike.

The chairman said members of the council are due for a meeting on Sunday on the modalities.

“Yes, we are joining the strike as we are already mobilising our members for the strike.

“We are holding a meeting today on how to go about it, but I can assure you that we will join the strike,” Jungle said.

The Kano State chapter of the NLC has said it will join the planned warning strike and protest called by the national body of the union.

The state NLC chairman, Kabiru Inuwa, who made the declaration in a telephone interview with The PUNCH on Sunday, said the decision to go on the warning strike was taken during the National Executive Council meeting in Abuja.

“We are going to hold our State Executive Council meeting today (Sunday) around 3pm to finalise the arrangements for the commencement of the warning strike on Tuesday.

“So, we are going to join the strike as directed by the national headquarters of our union because we attended the NEC where the decision was reached,” Inuwa said.

Also, the Ekiti State chapter of the NLC said its members would join the two-day warning strike declared by the national leadership of the union.

The state chairman, Kolapo Olatunde, said members in Ekiti State would join the two-day warning strike if the Federal Government did not do the needful to avert it.

Olatunde, who said members in Ekiti State already had the communication from the national body on the matter, said, “If the needful is not done before then, we have to mobilise members for it.

“There is correspondence towards the decision, there is communique to that effect from the national, that is already with our members. It is a collective decision.”

Similarly, the General Secretary of the NLC in Gombe State, Ibrahim Fika, said they had received notice of the strike, adding that they would join.

Fika disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent on Saturday.

According to him, the union in the state will only mobilise by Monday after its State Executive Council meeting.

He said, “This is national. Even if we don’t mobilise, the industrial union headquarters will mobilise them. But for us in Gombe State, we will possibly have our State Executive meeting on Monday because we just returned from Abuja on Friday and today is the weekend.

“I’m very sure the headquarters will communicate to them but nevertheless, we will have our SEC meeting on Monday so that immediately, which is the next day, we will go for action,” Fika added.

The Niger State chapter of the NLC said had gone into a crucial meeting with all its affiliate bodies.

When our correspondent got to the Labour House office of the council located on the IBB Road, around 3pm on Sunday, a worker at the gate said the members had gone into a crucial meeting preparatory to the warning strike.

He confirmed that the leadership of almost all the affiliate bodies were in attendance, including the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Medical and Health Workers Union, Hotel Workers Union, unions of the tertiary institutions as well as civil service unions, among others.

The PUNCH had earlier contacted the Niger State Secretary of the NLC, Mohammed Salihu, on the telephone asking about the plans the State Council had for the warning strike. He declined response saying that it was only the chairman that had the powers to speak on the strike.

The secretary later called to inform our correspondent that the strike would still be held as planned but there would be a press conference today (Monday) to present the modalities.

Also, the Bauchi State Chapter of the NLC has said that it has been informed of the strike by its National Secretariat and is prepared to join.

The State NLC chairman, Comrade Shu’aibu Dauda, stated this in a telephone interview with The Punch on Sunday.

The Punch

Featured

Okpebholo’s Campaign Convoy Crashes into Vehicle, Kills Five Occupants

Published

20 hours ago

September 14, 2024

Eric

Five people have reportedly died in an accident that involved the campaign convoy of Monday Okpebholo, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Edo.

According to reports, the accident occurred on Thursday at Warrake road in Uzebba of Owan west LGA, Edo state.

It was learnt that one of the vehicles in Okpebholo’s campaign convoy hit a Toyota Camry conveying five persons, killing the occupants, including the driver.

The victims were said to be returning home after attending a burial ceremony.

The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at a mortuary in Edo State University, Uzaurie, in Etsako west LGA of the state.

One of the victims was identified as Emmanuel Edionwe.

It was gathered that a relative of Edionwe, who did not want to be named, said the family is devastated about the news of their son’s death.

“We just learnt that five of them have died after the collision with Okpebholo’s convoy. There is just one of them who is in critical condition and is now being nursed to life at the hospital,” the family member said.

“We are devastated beyond words. Emmanuel was a good, easy-going boy who should not have died.”

A source said the lone survivor of the accident is in critical condition at the Irrua Specialist Hospital, adding that a delegation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state will pay the families of the victims a condolence visit today.

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Uneasy Calm in Zamfara As Turji’s N30m Protection Levy Deadline Elapses, Military Beefs Up Security

Published

3 days ago

September 12, 2024

Eric

Additional soldiers have been deployed in Moriki town, Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, as the deadline for payment of a N30m levy imposed on the community by the notorious bandits’ leader, Bello Turji, has elapsed.

Turji imposed a levy of N30m on the community following the killing of over 100 cows belonging to him, allegedly by the military personnel about three weeks ago.

The cows were reportedly intercepted by the soldiers at Dumfawa, a village between Moriki and Shinkafi town sometime in August.

Confirming the deployment, a resident of the area, Aminu Musa, said more soldiers were deployed to the area some days ago.

“Beside the soldiers, the state government also sent more personnel of its security outfit, Community Protection Guards (CPG) to the area to complement the conventional security personnel.

“We are happy because the presence of security personnel gives us a kind of relief. The leader of the troop had assured us adequate protection of our lives.”

Another resident, Iliyasu Ali, said despite deployment of additional security personnel, there was anxiety among the residents”.

“There is panic and worries among the residents. These bandits are heartless. They could dare the military personnel and attack the community. They are carrying more sophisticated weapons than the military. So, our people are in serious panic as the deadline for the payment of levy ends today.

“Only God knows what will happen from today upward. Of course, we have not paid the levy but Turji has promised to sack this community if we fail to compensate for his missing cows,” he concluded.

On Tuesday, Chief of Defence Staff, Chris Musa, said the days of Turji are numbered, announcing that his men had launched a manhunt for the bandit.

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Borno Flood: Prisoners Escape from Borno Prisons As FG Launches Manhunt

Published

4 days ago

September 11, 2024

Eric

An unspecified number of inmates have escaped from a local prison in Maiduguri, after a devastating flood submerged the facility.

According to reports, the rising waters damaged the prison, breaching security barriers and compromising structural integrity, which facilitated the escape of a number of inmates.

Several of those who escaped are deemed highly dangerous and potentially armed, increasing the risk to public safety in a region already troubled by insurgency.

Among those suspected missing is the Lagos cleric, Rev. King, who has been awaiting execution in the Maiduguri Correctional Centre for about 15 years.

Authorities have launched a manhunt, deploying additional resources to recapture the escapees and address the growing threat.