FEAR, ANXIETY GRIPS NLNG WORKERS OVER MOVE TO SACK OVER 120 STAFF

Hundreds of workers of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited are said to be living in fear following indications that the gas company has commenced a restructuring process that may see no fewer than 120 of them losing their jobs.

The restructuring initiative, aptly tagged ‘realignment to win’, may see 10 per cent of the NLNG’s workforce of about 1,200 in Bonny and Port Harcourt in Rivers State and Abuja in the labour market soon.

NLNG is a joint gas initiative of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and oil giants – Shell, Total and Eni – which began formal operations in 1999.

A reliable source in the company revealed that tension had continued to rise among the workers as “none of us is unsure who could be affected by this exercise.”

Though the company did not indicate that it indended to sack workers by asking them to reapply, the employees alleged that the purpose of the restructuring was to sack over 100 of them.

The source said in March, all the staff members, including management staff, were directed to reapply for their jobs after about 40 workers took advantage of the voluntary retirement package of the company to leave in January.

“We were also instructed to indicate three places we would like to work in the organisation. But the management may decide not to place such workers in the new position,” said another source.

“You can imagine the struggle and power play that have ensued among staff. Nobody is working anymore; the workers have become jittery as no one is sure who is going to be affected by the restructuring. They have also become suspicious of one another; no one knows who is gunning for your position.”

The source explained that the Tony Attah-led organisation began a “systematic downsizing” in 2018, when the staff strength of the company was about 1,300.

A copy of the memo sent by the General Manager, Human Resources Division, NLNG, Mrs. Eucharia Ezeani, directing the staff members to reapply for their jobs, said the response of the workers must be filed latest on Tuesday, March 19, 2019.

With the heading ‘NLNG Organisational Restructuring – Position of Preference’, Ezeani said in the memo, “As previously discussed at the recent engagements with staff and the business, employees sustained performance and value index and business needs will be the primary consideration for placement decisions.

“As such, it is very important to note that selection of a position or positions does not mean automatic placement in any of the positions selected. However, where employees selected positions of preference match with business needs, such staff could be placed in one of such positions.

“The position of preference portal is open to staff only once; that is to say once you have submitted your selections, you cannot go back to change them.”

One of the staff members wondered why NLNG would forge ahead with a plan to reduce its workforce when the gas company “remains one of the most profitable companies in Africa.”

He added, “It is indefensible on all parameters. How do you justify the sacking of workers in a company that made a profit of over $2bn in 2018? It could be justified if the company is in distress, but this is not so.

“It is just a ploy to throw over 100 people into the labour market when the nation’s economy is in such a parlous situation. And these are direct workers, not those seconded from the joint venture partners.

“Our only hope now is to appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Senate and other well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the leadership of the NLNG from going ahead with such atrocious policy.”

Another source claimed that the panel, saddled with the task of restructuring the workforce, commenced sitting last week.

“The panel will continue its work after the holidays while the board meeting will hold next (this) week. The board, headed by the NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, will only ratify; it’s not part of the decision-making process, and Baru doesn’t even attend the meetings any way; he only sends a representative who is a close pal of our Managing Director, Mr. Tony Attah.

“Those behind this are only interested in another promotion from Shell. They would be seen as having recorded a great feat by reducing the workforce,” the source added.

One of the sources alleged that the company’s branch of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association had been compromised, making it difficult for the union to kick against the ongoing policy

The source stated, “The local union has not raised a voice against what is going on here. If such move has not been reported to the national body, how will it intervene to stop the plan to sack workers, who may be kicked out unceremoniously soon?”

When contacted, the Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Nigeria LNG Limited, Mr Andy Odeh, denied that the firm was planning to sack its workers.

Odeh said the company recently launched a transformation journey in readiness for growth in the emerging energy transition and changing global energy market, with clear objectives to reposition the company in the top quartile of global LNG companies by 2019.

He said, “As part of the journey, the organisational structure has been realigned to enable the company to build a solid foundation for its future with a more robust talent and staffing strategy.

“This is not the first time the NLNG is embarking on a change and so does not plan to sack its staff. However, it is constantly evolving to retain its world-class status and competitiveness, as part of efforts to help build a better Nigeria.”

In its report for 2018, NLNG had a turnover of $6.9bn, which industry source said was 30 per cent above its projection for the year. It also had a profit after tax of $2.2bn, from where it paid dividends of $

I HOPE TO ESTABLISH MUHAMMADU BUHARI UNIVERSITY - AISHA BUHARI

Aisha Buhari

The wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, has expressed her plan to establish a private university to be known as “Muhammadu Buhari University”.

She disclosed this on Saturday during a townhal meeting in Yola organized by her in collaboration with concern indigenes of Adamawa.

Aisha, who did not however reveal when or where the university would be sited, explained that the university would be established in collaboration with partners from Sudan and Qatar.

Aisha who lamented the challenges facing education and various sectors in the state, called for active support of the state indigenes in complementing government efforts.

“I cannot conclude without suggesting how we can complement the efforts of government in achieving some of its developmental goals.

“On this note, I would like to advocate for the establishment of Adamawa Development Trust Fund through which prioritized developmental projects can be financed and implemented,” she said.

Amb. Fati Ballah also called for reconciliation and forgiveness among the people of the state and the setting up of a committee to come up with a blueprint for the development of the state.

Alhaji Sadiq Daware, who spoke on agriculture at the meeting, noted that 80 per cent of the state land was arable and suitable for farming.

Daware added that with River Benue which passes through the state, the state has the potential for massive irrigation and all year round farming programmes.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other speakers at the meeting include Prof. Shehu Iya of Modibbo Adama University, Yola, who spoke on education; Prof. Auwal Abubakar of Federal Medical Centre, Yola, who spoke on health; and Mrs Helen Mathias who spoke on women and youths.

Othersvare Mallam Umar Abubakar who spoke on security; Gen. Buba Marwa on drugs; Sen. Silas Zwingina on Good Governance, and Dr Umar Bindir who spoke on Poverty.

The meeting was also attended by politicians, particularly APC, PDP and ADC members in the state.

(NAN)

AMERICAN BOXER, JARRELL MILLER FAILS SECOND DRUGS TEST

Jarrell Miller and Anthony Joshua

Jarrell Miller, who was denied a license by the New York boxing officials over a failed test on Wednesday, has failed, again, a second drugs test, the US media reported on Friday.

Miller recently tested positive for human growth hormone (HGH) which is on the World Anti-Doping Agency banned list.

Miller’s planned June 1 fight against world heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua had already been scuppered by the first failed drug test which came to light on Tuesday.

“Salita Promotions and Greg Cohen Promotions are very disappointed in these findings and feel awful fight fans will be deprived of what would have been a great fight,” Dmitriy Salita and Greg Cohen, Miller’s co-promoters, told American sports broadcaster ESPN.

“It’s a terrible outcome and unfortunate situation for all parties involved.”

Miller, who is undefeated in his 24 professional fights, was due to take on the Briton at Madison Square Garden for the WBA, IBF and WBO titles.

Miller previously served a nine-month ban from the California State Athletic Commission after testing positive for methylhexaneamine when kickboxing in 2014.

Joshua still plans to make his US debut as planned in June for what will be his seventh title defence.

Promoter Eddie Hearn said he was scrambling to find an alternative opponent.

“To be honest I can’t believe it. You always want to give an athlete the benefit of the doubt, but this leaves no doubt,” Hearn told ESPN.

(AFP)

BREAKING: NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE IN NIGERIA NOW N30,000 AS PRESIDENT BUHARI ASSENTS TO BILL

President Muhammadu Buhari has signed into law the Minimum Wage Repeal and Re-Enactment Act, 2019.

By this act, the new minimum wage is now N30,000.

The President assented to the Act on Thursday in Abuja, mandating all employers of labour across the country to pay workers a minimum of N30,000 monthly wage.

The bill approving N30,000 as the new national minimum wage was passed by both chambers of National Asaembly before they went on break for the 2019 general elections.

CCT CONVICTS JUSTICE ONNOGHEN, SACKS HIM AS CJN

The Code of Conduct Tribunal has convicted the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen of breach of Code of Conduct for Public Officers.

Reading the lead judgment, the tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar, ordered the immediate removal of Onnoghen, 68, from office as the CJN.

The Tribunal also stripped him of all offices earlier occupied, such as the Chairman of the National Judicial Council and also the chairmanship of the Federal Judicial Service Commission.

The tribunal also ordered the forfeiture of the five accounts which defendant failed to declare as part of his assets.

The tribunal also ordered the forfeiture of the money in the five accounts which Onnoghen failed to declare to the Federal Government.

Three punishments were imposed on him as the sentence for his offences as charged.

Although Onnoghen had been on suspension since January 25, 2019 and had reportedly resigned on April 4, the tribunal ordered his removal from office as the Chief Justice of Nigeria and also as the chairman of both the National Judicial Council and the Federal Judicial Service Commission.

Reading the judgment of the three-man bench, its chairman, Danladi Umar, also ordered the forfeiture of the funds in the five bank accounts which the defendant was said to have failed to declare as part of his assets in breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.

Onnoghen was convicted on the six counts preferred against him.

Specifically, the Federal Government, acting through the Code of Conduct Bureau, had, in the charges filed on January 11, accused Onnoghen in the first count of failure to declare his assets to the bureau between June 2005 and December 14, 2016.

In the rest of the five counts, the defendant was alleged to have falsely declared his assets on December 14, 2016, by allegedly omitting to declare his domiciliary dollar, euro and pound sterling-denominated accounts, as well as his two naira accounts, all maintained with the Standard Chattered Bank (Nig.) Ltd.

Before passing the sentence, the tribunal chairman noted that Onnoghen, who only called one witness, failed to dispute the evidence of the three prosecution witnesses.

He said, “The tribunal, having considered the case of the prosecution and documents tendered without objection, find the exhibits tendered worthy of consideration.

“The evidence of Prosecution Witness 1, Prosecution Witness 2 and Prosecution Witness 3 was not disputed.

“The statement of the defendant made in his handwriting alluding to forgetfulness to declare the five accounts is enough to hold that the defendant clearly contravened the Code of Conduct for Public Officer.”

Convicting the erstwhile CJN, the tribunal chairman said, “Having regard to Section 23(2) of the Code of Conduct Tribunal and Bureau Act, the defendant has clearly contravened the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and he is here by convicted.”

NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE BEGINS RECRUITMENT OF 3,200 OFFICERS, MEN

The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), has said the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) will by 12:00am of Wednesday, open its portal for the recruitment of 3,200 officers and men to fill existing vacancies which will last for the next three weeks.

Col. Ali, who was represented by the acting Deputy Comptroller General (DCG), Human Resources Development, Sanusi Umar, during a briefing at the NCS headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, said the recruitment exercise got the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and is in compliance with requirements of the Federal Character Commission (FCC).

“We are actively engaged with the Commission to ensure that the process will earn a certificate of compliance on merit,” he noted.

Further explaining the process, he said the recruitment will be conducted to fill 800 space in the Support Staff for Superintendent Cadre category, while the 2,400 space will go for Customs Inspector and Customs Assistant Cadre in the General Duty category.

To properly inform the public, he said the information is being carried by seven national dailies from today while a web portal for applications has been created as a sub-domain of the NCS website.

He gave the sub-site to be www.vacancy.customs.gov.ng adding that it will be opened for three weeks.

While it assured of a hitch-free process during the three week period of the online application submission, NCS said, “We are determined to conduct an exercise that is credible, fair and transparent. We will deploy all machineries within our powers to ensure that the integrity of the exercise is not compromised.”

It warned members of the public to beware of fraudsters and criminals who may be operating illegal sites and portals and collect money from applicants.

“I want to reiterate that the portal for this exercise can only be accessed through the official service website where NO FEES will be demanded,” Ali noted.

US CONFIRMS EXISTING CONTRACT BETWEEN US LEGAL FIRM AND ATIKU , PDP

The Department of Justice of the United States of America has confirmed that there is an existing contract between the Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and a US-based law firm, Fein & DelValle PLLC, according to a report by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting.

The law firm, based in Washington DC, was hired to get acknowledgement that Abubakar is “the authentic President of Nigeria” based on PDP’s grounds for challenging the declared results of the 2019 presidential election in Nigeria.

The incumbent, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, was pronounced the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The report by ICIR was based on the revelation of a non profit research group based in Washington DC, Centre for Responsive Politics.

Abubakar’s media aide, Paul Ibe, and the PDP had before now denied any existing contract with any firm in the US.

However, the report released early on Friday by ICRC revealed that Abubakar’s claim that the report about his contract with the US firm is a “total fabrication” is false.

Information on the US Justice Department’s FARA portal establishes that such contract exists, where Abibakar is seeking to be acknowledged abroad as “the authentic President of Nigeria” based on PDP’s grounds for challenging the declared results.

The contract was activated on April 2, 2019.

A fact sheet showed that Abubakar also had such a contract with JC Watts Companies between 2004 and 2005.

Abubakar was then the Vice President of Nigeria in the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.