Connect with us

News

We Are Not After Your Job – NLC Replies Tinubu

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has noted that its nationwide protest was not aimed at removing President Bola Tinubu from office, but rather to highlight the worsening living conditions of Nigerians, especially workers.

Lifestyle Nigeria reports that the NLC responded to President Tinubu’s recent criticism of the protest, stating that it remains committed to fighting for the welfare and living conditions of its members and all Nigerians.

The NLC stressed that its main objective is to improve the lives of workers and ensure that they are able to earn a decent living wage.

In a statement by its President, Joe Ajaero, NLC said , “The recent statements attributed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the commissioning of the Red-Line Railway Project have sparked deep concern within the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). We find these remarks, particularly those concerning the role of Labour in governance, to be profoundly at variance with the struggles faced by ordinary Nigerians under existing policies.

“President Tinubu’s insinuation that Labour lacks the moral ground to challenge his administration, merely nine months into office, is deeply troubling. Moreover, his focus on partisan issues and the distant 2027 election cycle, rather than the urgent needs of the populace, further underscores a disconnect from the realities faced by Nigerians on a daily basis.

“It is regrettable that the President seems oblivious of the profound hardships endured by millions of Nigerians. The pervasive hunger, unemployment, housing insecurity, and escalating costs of basic necessities such as food and healthcare demand immediate attention and decisive action. Yet, instead of addressing these pressing concerns, President Tinubu appears preoccupied with political calculations and future electoral prospects.

“The NLC wishes to emphasise that our primary objective is not to vie for political positions, including that of the President. Rather, our sole focus is on advocating for effective governance that prioritises the welfare and security of all Nigerians. We urge President Tinubu to redirect his efforts towards fulfilling this fundamental duty of public office, rather than engaging in political rhetoric.

“It is imperative that we refocus our collective energy on addressing the substantive issues that have been the subject of engagement between Labour and the government since June 2023. These include critical matters such as wage increases, social welfare programs, infrastructure development, and the revitalization of key sectors such as education and healthcare.

“In any case to avoid the dissipation of energy, it is important that we focus on the real issues because we have engaged the government since June 2023 after the subsidy is gone statement. The issues are around the non-implementation of agreements reached between us and the government.

“For example; on June 5, 2023 after the hike in the Price of PMS, the following agreements were reached between us and the Government viz:

Review Proposal for Wage Increase and Award including framework for timing and implementation
Review the program of Cash Transfer and propose inclusion of low-income earners in the program
Review issues hindering effective delivery in the education sector and propose solutions for implementation
Revive the CNG conversion programs
Review the framework for the completion of rehabilitation work on the Nation’s refineries
Review framework for the maintenance of Roads and expansion of Rail networks across the country.
“Mr. President, these agreements were reached but the Committee that was saddled with working on these was never inaugurated and none of them was implemented until we were forced to organize a nationwide rally while the president gave his personal commitment. However, Mr. President, nothing came out of your promises.

“It took another round of protests for the October 2, 2023 agreement to be reached. We outline the agreement below so that your government will tell Nigerians which one it has been able to implement.

They are;

The first item on the Agreement is the N35,000 Wage Award.
Port Harcourt Refinery will come on stream by December, 2023
25,000 cash transfers to 15 million poor household would be implemented
Tax waivers for workers, small businesses and general public
Government interference in the internal affairs of the National Union of Road
Transport Workers (NURTW) and RTEAN to be stopped
The agreement will be deposited as settlement with the Court by Government.
That CNG buses and 55,000 conversion kits will be provided
All parties shall henceforth commit to the use of social dialogue in all of our
engagements
The National Minimum Wage Committee to be set up immediately.
Outstanding Wages and Salaries for Tertiary Education workers in all federally
– owned educational institutions to be paid
States and Private sectors to be compelled by the federal government to give Wage Award to workers
Fertilizer initiative to farmers across the nation
Provision of funds for MSMEs across the nation
Visitation to the Refinery to monitor completion of the PH refinery

“Once again Mr. President, these are the issues and not election or perhaps seeking to take over your job.

“We would want Mr. President to show us the items his government has implemented in this agreement. Perhaps, the Government wants to tell Nigerians that we do not have right to ask that it complies with the agreement it willingly reached with us?

“It took another round of protests for the October 2, 2023 agreement to be reached. We outline the agreement below so that your government will tell Nigerians which one it has been able to implement.

They are;

The first item on the Agreement is the N35,000 Wage Award.
Port Harcourt Refinery will come on stream by December, 2023
25,000 cash transfers to 15 million poor household would be implemented
Tax waivers for workers, small businesses and general public
Government interference in the internal affairs of the National Union of Road
Transport Workers (NURTW) and RTEAN to be stopped
The agreement will be deposited as settlement with the Court by Government.
That CNG buses and 55,000 conversion kits will be provided
All parties shall henceforth commit to the use of social dialogue in all of our
engagements
The National Minimum Wage Committee to be set up immediately.
Outstanding Wages and Salaries for Tertiary Education workers in all federally
– owned educational institutions to be paid
States and Private sectors to be compelled by the federal government to give Wage Award to workers
Fertilizer initiative to farmers across the nation
Provision of funds for MSMEs across the nation
Visitation to the Refinery to monitor completion of the PH refinery
Once again Mr. President, these are the issues and not election or perhaps seeking to take over your job.

“We would want Mr. President to show us the items his government has implemented in this agreement. Perhaps, the Government wants to tell Nigerians that we do not have right to ask that it complies with the agreement it willingly reached with us?

Related Topics:

News

Why Nigeria Needs State Police — Senate President, Akpabio

Lifestyle Nigeria Gathered that President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has made a passionate appeal for the establishment of state police.

Speaking at a national dialogue on Security and State Police, held in Abuja, Senator Akpabio declared that the mounting security challenges across the country have made the creation of State Police to complement Federal Police compelling.

The President of the Senate appealed to the gathering to ensure that the State Police departments are insulated from politics, religion, and ethnic extremism.

He said: “In working out modalities for the state police and the security of our nation, we must not forget that security is not a privilege, but a fundamental right of every Nigerian. It is our duty to ensure that this right is upheld, that justice is served, and that the rule of law prevails.

We must build a security architecture that is robust, transparent, and accountable. If we are to set up state police departments, we must ensure that they are free from the shackles of politics, religious extremism, tribalism, and ethnicism. We must empower them to serve and protect, without fear or favour.

“As we consider this proposition, let us draw inspiration from the United States of America, a nation that has successfully implemented a system of state and federal policing. Let us learn from their experiences and adapt their models to suit our unique socio-political context.

Let us ensure that our state police forces work in harmony with their federal counterparts, collaborating to fight crime, preserve peace, and safeguard our democracy. In the USA, the FBI, the federal police body enforces federal laws and the state police departments enforce state laws. The FBI also investigates inter-state crimes. We must draw the lines because to have functional state police we must have a strong federal police.”

Akpabio who shared strong reservations about abuse of State Police as instrument of witch-hunt asked his colleagues to cooperate in building a system that is fair, just, and equitable for all.

“But let us never forget that the power of the state police should never be used as a tool of oppression or witch-hunting. Let us ensure that political powers do not manipulate the state police to silence dissent or target their enemies. Let us ensure that the influential do not exert undue influence over the state police, and that justice is blind to wealth, power, politics, or status. Let us build a system that is fair, just, and equitable for all.

“Therefore, in this hallowed hall, let us embrace this dialogue as an opportunity for unity, understanding, and collaboration. Let us rise above our differences and work towards a common goal – a safer and more secure Nigeria.

Let us use our collective efforts to build a nation that can withstand the challenges that lie ahead, a nation that can combat the monster of insecurity that currently threatens our collective well-being.“

 

Continue Reading

News

JUST IN: Tinubu opens African Counter-Terrorism summit in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has kicked off the African Counter-Terrorism Summit in Abuja’s Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said in a statement on Sunday that a high-level conference organized by Nigeria in partnership with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) will take place from April 22 to 23.

Platinumpost reported that the objective of the summit is to enhance multilateral counter-terrorism cooperation and reshape the international community’s collective response to terrorism in Africa, emphasizing African-led and African-owned solutions.

Special guests present at the security summit include: Mr Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary General, United Nations office of Counter-Terrorism; Ms Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General United Nations and Patrice Talon , President of the Republic of Benin, among others.

More details to follow…

(Nation)

Continue Reading

News

“God Is Nothing Without Me”: Viral Graduate Tenders Apology For His Bad Grammar

 

Lifestyle Nigeria gathered that a recent Benue State University (BSU) graduate, Msuega Terna Jnr, has apologized for his contentious graduation celebration post, which went viral on Facebook.

Msuega, who was celebrating the completion of his university career, posted photographs of his signing out on the Facebook page “TIV SINGLES” with a comment littered with poor language.

His now-deleted message said, “Hello Tiv shingles, celebration with me. I am a graduation from BSU.

“God is nothing without me.”

In a follow-up Facebook post on Sunday, Msuega clarified that his viral graduation post was not intended to disparage or drag his alma mater through the mud, but rather to raise publicity for himself. He said that it was intentional.

“In the said publication, I deliberately used wrong sentence to create awareness of my signing out from the university, though it was deliberate, but with no intentions of hurting anyone, a group, community or Institution.

“The publication has generated mixed reactions from users of social media, the academics, religious believers and different groups of people. “It was not intended to drag the reputation of any individual, group, community or Institution to the mud, neither was the publication to discredit God.”

He also stated that he believes in the existence of God. “I want to tender my unreserved apology for making people believe a graduate can’t express himself, doubting the reputation of my school, feeling I’m using God’s name for joke.

He also stated that he believes in the existence of God. “I want to tender my unreserved apology for making people believe a graduate can’t express himself, doubting the reputation of my school, feeling I’m using God’s name for joke

“To the best of my knowledge, I have acquired education from one of the best universities in Nigeria and I can express myself very fluently, equivocally without commiting blunders of such gravity and I’m also a religious believer that believes in the existence of God.”

Check out some of the reactions that trailed his apology below:

Ordue Edward Shagba said: “Polished English it’s. I hope this Apologies goes viral too. Congratulations.”

Aondowase Akpenwe said: “U lack the expected university trained characters assumed to be acquired by you. That’s all.”

Iorfa Madaky said: “You brought everything upon yourself, I pray your school don’t find a reason to use you as an example to put a stop to this cruise of a thing.”

L.B. Ume-Lai said: “Tswara ambi. “Shey u wan trend? “E go soon com out for newspapers. “U go explain explain tire.”

 

Continue Reading

Most Popular