JOHESU STRIKE: DON'T BLAME FEDERAL GOVT – Ngige

The Honorable Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr (Senator) Chris Ngige, said the Federal Government should not be blamed for the ongoing strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).

He stated this at the opening of a conciliation meeting with JOHESU leaders, Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole and relevant government agencies on Tuesday in Abuja.

The minister deplored media reports credited to National Chairman of JOHESU, Mr Biobeleye Josiah, that the Federal Government should be blamed for the union’s strike.

He also decried allegation by the union that he travelled on the day government officials were expected to meet with leaders of the striking workers.

 According to Ngige, as a minister, I am fully aware of the sanctity of my responsibilities as a servant and it is wrong for a servant to be maligned or brutalized for no just cause.

“We are ministers; we are servants and we are serving you. How can you vilify your servant, or start beating him or killing him when there is no offence?

“No, you cannot do so. You cannot brutalize me in the media for nothing. Even these ministers here, you cannot brutalize them, because they are serving the nation.

“It is not in the best interest of fair labour practices. It is unconscionable.

“So, I take your explanations and it is good you explained because the impression you gave in the media is grossly erroneous.

“We invited you to a meeting on Thursday, September 21, 2017, your union failed to turn up and later requested for Friday, September 22, 2017.

“I already had an official engagement at Owerri and the Health Minister was also involved in a different function,” he said.

Ngige advised that freedom of association and speech should be carefully exercised to avoiding hurting the rights of others.

He acknowledged that freedom of association and freedom of speech were constitutionally guaranteed, but stated that trade unionism had a boundary.

“They have a limit. You cannot use yours to hurt mine; slandering or libeling anybody can have consequences.”

He also called for permanent structures for peace in trade unionism through selfless assessment of the extant economic situation in the country.

The minister said that this was only possible through social dialogue and constant negotiation so as to forestall perennial strikes.

“We all know the economy is not in good shape.

“If there were promises made when oil was selling at 150 dollars per barrel and those promises were not kept, it will be difficult to meet it now.

“It will not be very reasonable to expect a government that came in while oil is selling at 40 or 50 dollars to pay backlogs.

“But, that is what we are suffering here. So, I made it clear to the resident doctors, university teachers and I am making it clear here. We all have to make sacrifices to make Nigeria great,’’ he said.

The health workers embarked on an indefinite nationwide strike on Wednesday over non-implementation of agreement reached with the Federal Government.

The union’s demand includes adjustment of CONHESS salary as done for CONMESS since 2014, abolition of scale-to-scale promotion, payment of outstanding arrears of promotion and “skipping and relativity”.

Others are autonomy of Teaching and Specialist Hospitals, non-implementation of court judgments, review of retirement age from 60 years to 65 years as done for tertiary education sub-sector.

JOHESU STRIKE: DEADLOCK AS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, JOHESU FAIL TO REACH AGREEMENT

The meeting between the federal government and striking members of the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, which held between Tuesday and Wednesday has failed to resolve the crisis.

The leaders of various unions who convened at the meeting held in Abuja to review the negotiation between the parties did not concede to the appeal made by federal government’s negotiation team led by Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, to end the strike.

 

Ahead of the meeting, Mr. Ngige had accused the union of not following procedure before they began their nationwide strike.

The minister who called the reconciliation meeting said the union neglected to give the government a 14-day notice required by law.

While the union said the strike will continue; it, however, urged its counterparts in the state who had billed to join the industrial action on Thursday to hold for now.

Biobelemoye Josiah, JOHESU National Chairman and Ekpebor Florence, JOHESU National Secretary in a joint statement, Thursday, conveyed the resolution of the union.

“As a result of the ongoing negotiation between JOHESU and the Federal Government, the leadership of JOHESU wishes to inform all members that negotiation is ongoing and the strike continues nationwide in all federal health institutions and further directives will be given after meeting with Federal Government on Saturday, 30th, September, 2017.

“In the light of the above, state councils are further directed to put on hold the commencement of their strike initially billed for Thursday, 28th of September, 2017 due to the ongoing talks”, the statement read.

JOHESU had on Wednesday last week insisted on going on strike over the alleged failure of the federal government to meet its demands.

The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, had pleaded with the association not to embark on strike; but it ignored the plea as the strike commenced in the early hours of Thursday. The members of the union are hospital workers apart from medical doctors.            

In compliance with the declaration of an indefinite strike by JOHESU, the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, NANNM directed its members to stay away from all federal health institutions across the country.

Meanwhile, checks have revealed that private hospitals, mission homes and traditional birth attendants in across the country are recording tremendous increase in patronage following the on-going nationwide strike by the health workers.

MAJOR-GENERAL UGBO, 7 OTHERS KILLED IN UGBJU, IN BENUE

No fewer that eight persons, including one Major General Lawrence Ugbo have been killed and several others injured in Ugboju district, Otukpo LGA of Benue State.

DAILY POST gathered that the incident, which broke out Wednesday morning has rendered many persons homeless.

A resident told this reporter that war broke out in the community after some boys from Ugboju allegedly attacked a group of persons loyal to a former chairman of Otukpo.

It was gathered that the ex-LG boss was in the village with his loyalists when another group believed to be his rival launched an attack on them, injuring many persons.

In reprisal, the politician went back and teamed up with his boys who stormed the community, killing anybody on sight.

They reportedly killed a retired Major General Lawrence Ugbo and cremated his corpse.

When DAILY POST reached out to the Benue State Police PRO, he said he was in a meeting and promised to get back shortly.

When contacted, however, the chairman of Otukpo LG, Hon. George Alli confirmed that several persons lost thier lives.

He, however, faulted the claims in some quaters that the clash was political.

“Yes, I am there as we speak to take victims to the hospital. Several persons, including Maj Gen Lawrence Ugbo were killed and his body burnt to ashes. The clash has nothing to do with politics, it was a land tussle that cause the incident. I will get the whole and pass it across to you shortly,” he told DAILY POST.

https://www.google.com.ng/amp/dailypost.ng/2017/09/14/breaking-major-gen-ugbo-7-others-killed-benue-community-boils/amp/

LETS JOIN HANDS TO PREVENT LASSA FEVER

TEENAGE GIRL CAUGHT BY SECURITY OPERATIVES WITH HUMAN HEAD. Viewer discretion advised. Graphic Photos

  Report reaching our news desk have it that a teenage girl from Imo State, identified as Chidinma Iheoma, was caught by security operatives with a human head.  According to the security operatives, the head which was detached from the deceased body–was found with the girl who carried it in a bag before she was apprehended.

 When quizzed by security operatives, she initially claimed she was on her way to bury the head but later disclosed that her friend was the person who cut the head and that she has killed two people so far.

Its not clear what the head is to be used for, whether for ritual purposes or otherwise, as at press time. We shall bring to you any further development on this matter.

DRIVER ABSCONDS WITH COMPANY VEHICLE AND MONEY

A driver identified as TamunoTonye Abbey Kalio, whose photograph is shown below has allegedly absconded with his company's vehicle and money in Rivers state. 

His boss, Charles Senibo, shared a picture of the driver online and wrote; 

The bearer whose name is TamunoTonye Abbey Kalio and picture is shown below was my official driver who absconded on Tuesday, 5th September 2017 with my official vehicle with Reg no: EPE 25 BK; Engine no: IGR0070056; Chassis No: JTEBU14R830018435; Vechicle Make: TOYOTA 4RUNNER; Colour: SILVER and company's money. All Attempt to reach him is abortive as his phone remains switched off. Pls anyone with useful information that could lead to his arrest shall be handsomely rewarded. Pls contact me immediately or the nearest police station. God bless you.

Source; https://www.nationalhelm.co/2017/09/driver-absconds-companys-vehicle-money-rivers-state-photo.html

EFCC UNCOVERS N6BN HOTEL LOCATED IN ABUJA THAT IS LINKED TO PATIENCE JONATHAN

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has traced a magnificient architectural edifice of an uncompleted eight-storey building in Abuja to be allegedly owned by wife of former president of Nigeria, Patience Jonathan.The building, which is valued at N6billion, is located within the Central Business District, between the National Mosque and the Federal Secretariat.

The accounts include:
Account number 1102001996 in
Ecobank, with a balance of N226,376,700.23 and a fixed deposit of N1,099,511,484.88;

a Skye Bank account numbered 1771731336, with a balance of N14,173,848.85;

Fidelity Bank account numbered, 4011019539 with a balance of N1,800,494,000;

Stanbic Bank account numbered, 0016901361, with a balance of N40,594,12.88; and

Diamond Bank account 0019213687 with a balance of N39,418,712.12.

It was alleged that the property was bought through her foundation known as Aribawa Aurera Reach Out Foundation.

In a document, which has been attached to a court application, the anti-graft agency said it had written to the Corporate Affairs Commission to get the identities of the directors of the foundation who are believed to be fronts for Patience.

The commission further stated that it had written to the Abuja Geographical Information System to get the history of the property and how and when it was bought.

The anti-graft agency has also written eight banks: Skye Bank, Fidelity Bank, First Bank, Union Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, United Bank for Africa and Unity Bank.

Recall that the EFCC had frozen tan account belonging to the Aribawa Aurera Reach Out Foundation with account number 1222014221 in Ecobank with a balance of N479m.

The document read, “Plot 1350 Cadastral Zone A00 CBD which was allocated to Ariwabai Aurera Reach Out Foundation in 2010 and Certificate of Occupancy issued in 2011. The plot bears an eight-storey building still under construction.

“Inference may be drawn from investigation that the suspect’s (Patience) last known official position was permanent secretary in Bayelsa State. Hence, there is no way such magnificent architectural edifices could have been built within a short space of time.

“There is a high probability that it could have been built with the proceeds of crime. It is evidently clear that it is a case of money laundering but there is a need to do more investigation.”

The commission had also sealed a five-storey hotel, belonging to Patience, believed to be worth about N3bn located near Setraco Construction Company beside Mabushi Kado Expressway.

The property, which has not been officially opened, has between 50 to 100 rooms, a gymnasium, a fountain and other amenities.

Patience has been under probe since May 2016 when the commission arrested a former Special Adviser to the President on Domestic Affairs, Waripamowei Dudafa.

Patience laid claim to about $15m found in bank accounts allegedly belonging to Dudafa’s domestic servants.

She later sued Skye Bank Plc and the EFCC after which the commission, through a court order, froze her personal account with a balance of $5m.

However, in the case of the alleged N2bn hotel, the Anti-graft agency, it was learned, had proceeded to court to obtain an interim forfeiture order for the hotel and a N6bn plaza.

The document read in part, “In view of the foregoing, I request for an interim forfeiture order on the two properties amongst others linked to the suspect and believed to have been acquired from the proceeds of crime.

“This is particularly very important because attempts to mark the properties were resisted and even the portion that was successfully marked was later cleaned off by the agents of the suspect.”

In a similar development, the anti-graft agency has also traced three other properties in Abuja to Patience in Karsana, Wasa and Idogwari areas of the Federal Capital Territory.

According to documents from AGIS, the three properties were bought in the names of two companies – Finchley Top Homes Ltd. and AM-PM Network Limited.

The bank accounts of Finchley Top Homes Limited, which have been traced to Patience, were frozen by the commission a few months ago.

In his reaction, Patience’s lawyer, Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), said he was not aware of the fresh attempt to seize more of his client’s properties.

He, however, said it was sad that the former first lady had become a victim of a witch-hunt.

Adedipe said her client had dragged the EFCC to the Court of Appeal over the freezing of Mrs. Jonathan’s account while a harassment suit had been filed against the anti-graft agency before a Federal High Court.

The senior advocate said, “I am not aware of any of these but we are in court over the freezing of her accounts and that case is at the Court of Appeal level and we have a fundamental human rights case against them in court.

“My thinking is that the EFCC, which says nobody is above the law, should have waited for the judiciary to finish its process. In my humble opinion, it appears they are abusing judicial powers. When you file something today, tomorrow you file another. Why not put everything in one pot? That is why they lose cases.

“Why are they focusing on Mrs. Jonathan who was neither a minister nor a government official? I’m not saying people should steal but it may seem she is being persecuted wrongly”.

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Niger warns of flooding in Benin, Nigeria

The Niger Basin Authority issued a warning Saturday of possible flooding in Benin and Nigeria, two countries downstream on the river, which is currently flooding in Niger.

Flooding in Port Harcourt after Heavy Rainfall

“We appeal to all residents downstream (of the Niger River)… because the water keeps rising,” the NBA’s Soungalo Kone said late Saturday, speaking on Niger television.

The NBA has issued its second-highest alert level of orange, warning that further flooding is highly likely following months of heavy rain in Niger and Mali. 

“It’s a question of hours to get to a red alert — the waters can rise very suddenly,” said Lawan Magadji, Niger’s minister of disaster management, speaking on local television. 

Floods are threatening villages and some sections of the capital Niamey, the minister said. 

The ministry has already announced plans to evacuate residents in affected areas and reinforce dykes. 

The government has set up sites for people displaced by the flooding, the minister said. 

Almost all Niamey’s some million and a half residents live along the river banks. 

Some of the homes at risk are located in the former bed of the Gountou-Yena river, which is now once again filling with water.

Flooding has killed 44 people across Niger since June, according to the civil protection agency, after more than 50 deaths from flooding last year.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/09/niger-warns-flooding-benin-nigeria/

ASUU STRIKE: FEDERAL GOVT-ASUU SET UP 7-MEMBER COMMITTEE TO IMPLEMENT 2009 AGREEMENT

The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, have resolved to set up a seven-member committee to work out modalities for the actualisation of its 2009 agreement.

Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, said this after an intensive conciliatory meeting with the leadership of ASUU, Minister of Education, among others on Friday in Abuja.

The meeting was an effort at revolving the lingering strike embarked by the union.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the lecturers expressed satisfaction with the government’s offers at the meeting, but said they would have to communicate same with their colleagues before taking a decision.

It will be recalled that members of ASUU had embarked on an indefinite strike on August 13, following government’s failure to implement the agreement reached with the union in November 2016.

ASUU, on August 17, had met with the officials of the Ministry of Education and Labour and Employment where it was agreed that the union should consult and report back to the government within a week.

ASUU’s demands include the disputed registration of the Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company, fractionalisation of salaries in federal universities, gross under-funding and non-funding of state universities.

Others are arrears and implementation of earned academic allowances, the release of fund for the revitalisation of public universities as spelt out in the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding, among others.

Mr. Ngige said that the Ministry of Education would be represented by three people, ASUU by three members, while the government would be represented by one person who would serve as the Chairman of the Committee.

The minister, however, stressed the importance of education to the development of every nation in the world.

He assured ASUU that government would implement all the seven demands of the union as contained in the 2009 agreement.

Mr. Ngige added that government had already shown commitment towards addressing the plight of the union by paying some of their shortfall salary arrears.

He also noted that the issue in contention was inherited from the past administration, adding that the present administration will do all within its power to address those challenges.

According to him, the governance is a continuing process.

Also, speaking, Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU President, said that government and ASUU had reached an agreement on the lecturers’ demands.

He said ASUU would accept the proposal presented by the federal government on its demands.

“The concrete proposal reached during the conciliatory meeting will be taken back to our members at the National Executive Council, (NEC) for further deliberation.

“We will report back our position to the federal government in the next one week on whether to call off the strike or not,” he said.

He, however, called on the federal government to fast track the process of implementing the 2009 agreement with the union.

Mr. Ogunyemi stressed the need to find a lasting solution to the challenges facing the country’s education sector, especially at the university level.

-Premium Times