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NULGE Shuts Down Rivers’ 23 LG Councils …Declares 3-Day Warning Strike
The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has declared a 3-day warning strike, with effect from Monday, to press home its demand that money should not be deducted at JAAC to the Primary Health Care Management Board for the payment of health care workers’ salaries.
NULGE has also threatened to embark on a full-blown strike from Monday, October 27, if its demand is not met at the expiration of the warning strike.
Addressing a Press Conference on the decision reached at the end of its State Executive Council meeting, Monday evening in Port Harcourt, State President of the Union, Barr. Franklin Ajinwo said, “As a responsible trade union, with strong interest in the administration of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, we cannot stand by and watch the Local Government System drift again into the era of debts and non-payment of salaries better known as zero-allocation.
“To this end, the State Executive Council of the Union during its meeting today, 13th October, 2014 at the NULGE Consultate, resolved, to resist, by all lawful means, attempts to destroy the Local Government System in the state by a few individuals using the Trade Unions as a platform”.
The union also resolved “to call on His Excellency.(Governor Amaechi) to reverse and rescind, within seven (7) days all decisions and directives to the effect that money be deducted at JAAC to the Primary Health Care management Board for the payment of salaries”.
NULGE also resolved, “to call out all local government workers in the State on a three-day warning strike from Monday, 20th – Wednesday, 22nd October, 2014 ie at the expiration of the ultimatum above to press home our demands”, and also “embark on an indefinite strike from Monday, 27th October, 2014 until the decision is reversed.
Our Correspondent reports that the stage for NULGE’s warning strike was set last Wednesday, following the decision that the salaries of health workers in the 23 local government areas of the state should be deducted at source by the Primary health Workers’ Board, with effect from this month end.
The decision to deduct the Health Workers’ salaries was taken last Wednesday at a meeting in Port Harcourt involving the 23 Local Government Councils’ Care-taker Committee Chairmen, Local Government Service Commission, Nigeria labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), health Workers’ Board and other stakeholders in Local Government administration in the state.
The interactive meeting which also had in attendance the Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, however, recorded the absence of NULGE – the Umbrella body of Local Government workers in the country which was attributed to non-communication of last minute information on the meeting by the Local Government Service Commission.
The decision at the meeting was made public by the Care-taker Chairman of Eleme Local Government, Prince Awalanta Ejire, and confirmed variously by his counterparts in Okrika, Hon. Amangi Sunday; Ogu/Bolo, Hon. Mina Tende Andoni, Deacon Emmanuel Ikwut; and Khana, Hon. Gordon Tornwe during a tour of the councils by the State Working Committee of NULGE, led by its President, Sir Barr. Franklin Ajinwon on Thursday and Friday , last week.
The Chairmen of Ogu/Bolo, Okrika and Khana LGAs were, however, emphatic that the governor was not supportive of the position canvassed by some of these at the meeting, as he queried the rationale behind it since there was no problem with payment of salaries at the councils, and workers have been paid upto-date, but majority of the stakeholders insisted that it was in the best interest of the system, prompting the governor to give approval that the Health Workers’ salaries should be deducted at source by the Board, with effect from this month.
Responding to the decision, Barr. Ajinwon said he was aware of moves by some people to deduct local government allocations at source for selfish reasons, saying that such persons were not comfortable with the policy of the state government that allows councils to pay staff salaries without deductions at source since the inception of the administration.
He stressed that the union will resist the decision to deduct the health workers’ salaries at souce, as it will cripple the entire local government system in the state, if allowed to be implemented.
“We want to tell you, Mr. Chairman that as a Union, we have sworn to an oath to protect the local government system. So we will not fold our hands and watch the local government being taken back to the era of ‘zero allocation’ where councils could not pay salaries, upto even 15 months because teachers’ salaries were deducted at source. We want to tell you that as a union, we will resist it”, Ajinwon told the Council Chairman.
Justus Unye-Awaji
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a Federal Executive Council committee to move swiftly on measures to further reduce food prices across the country.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, disclosed this in Abuja, on Wednesday.
According to him, the directive focuses on ensuring safe passage of farm produce across transport routes to cut logistics costs.
“The President has given a matching order with a Federal Executive Council committee already handling it on how we are going to promote safe passage of agricultural foods and commodities across our various routes in the country,” Abdullahi said at a capacity-building workshop for Senate correspondents.
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Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has faced worsening food insecurity since the removal of fuel subsidy, high transport costs, and insecurity on major highways disrupted the movement of goods.
Despite government interventions, food remains largely unaffordable for millions.
The minister said the plan is tied to Tinubu’s broader vision of food sovereignty—beyond availability to ensure affordability, accessibility, and nutrition on a sustainable basis.
To back this up, he revealed that government is set to roll out a Farmer Soil Health Scheme to boost productivity and a revamped cooperative reform initiative to mobilise resources and empower rural farmers.
“Mr. President has shown tremendous interest in the cooperative sector as a veritable tool for resource mobilisation, for economic activity generation, and to improve the livelihood of members,” Abdullahi added.
The event, with the theme, “Parliamentary Reporting: Issues, Challenges and Responsibilities,” also featured Senate Media Committee Chairman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu; ex-presidential aide, Senator Ita Solomon Enang; and NILDS DG, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman.
The Federal Government has warned contractors, including foreign firms, that any breach of regulations in road projects awarded to them may lead to arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, issued the warning during an inspection of the ongoing dualisation of the East-West Road (Section IIIA) from Eleme Junction to Onne Port Junction in Rivers State.
The section is being executed by Reynolds Construction Company (Nigeria) Limited.
Responding to questions from journalists, Umahi commended the quality of work on the project but expressed displeasure over the slow pace, stressing that the December completion deadline remains sacrosanct.
On the project, he said:“The quality of the work is excellent, but the pace of work is totally unacceptable. Let me make it very clear to the contractor that this project will neither be reviewed nor varied in price or claims.
“I’m sure we have issued over 10 warning letters to them. If they fail to comply with the completion deadline of December 15, we will not extend it.”
He added that the ministry had already put measures in place to enforce compliance
“The comptroller has negative certificates to issue, and I will recover the money from any of their other projects. All those letters are on record, and when the time comes, they will be invoked. Any contractor who refuses to abide by regulations will have the EFCC and ICPC to contend with,” he said.
Umahi further disclosed that the Federal Government had directed that road projects valued below N20bn would no longer be awarded to expatriate companies, in line with its “Nigeria First” policy aimed at strengthening indigenous capacity in the construction sector.
“This is part of the Nigeria First policy of the Federal Government. Henceforth, no expatriate firm will be awarded any project valued below N20bn. Such projects must go to indigenous companies, while expatriates focus on higher-value projects requiring more technical capacity,” he said.
The minister also noted that the Federal Ministry of Works had adopted a funding prioritisation framework to sustain road projects initially financed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.
He stressed that President Bola Tinubu had directed that none of such projects should be abandoned, adding that priority would be given to critical economic corridors.
Umahi also decried the indiscriminate parking of heavy-duty vehicles on highways, saying it was damaging the pavements of completed sections of the road.
He said letters would be sent to state governors and the Inspector-General of Police to enforce punitive measures against defaulters.
Earlier, the Federal Controller of Works in Rivers State, Mrs Enwereama Tarilade, said RCC had completed 15km of the right carriageway and commenced work on the left carriageway, with one kilometre already laid in Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement.
The Rivers State Government says it will ensure the smooth and successful takeoff of the newly established Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET), in Ogoniland.
This commitment was made yesterday by the Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), during a courtesy visit by the university’s Governing Council and Management team at the Government House, in Port Harcourt.
The high-level delegation was led by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council, Professor Don Baridam and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chinedu Mmom.
In his address, Administrator Ibas warmly congratulated the pioneer council and management on their appointments, describing their task as both a recognition of individual accomplishment and a historic call to duty.
“This is not just a recognition of your personal achievements but also a call to history to shape an institution that will have a profound impact on Rivers State, the Niger Delta, and indeed our country,” he stated.
The Administrator commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the establishment of the specialized university in Ogoniland, describing the initiative as “timely and strategic.”
He emphasized that the university’s presence offers a critical opportunity to drive research, innovation, and community-focused solutions to the region’s pressing environmental and developmental challenges.
He further noted that the university’s core focus aligns perfectly with the priorities of his administration.“We consider this university not merely as another institution of higher learning but as a strategic partner in our collective effort to rebuild Rivers State under the ongoing state of emergency and beyond,” he affirmed.
Responding to specific requests presented by the delegation, Administrator Ibas assured the university of immediate support in critical areas essential for the its commencement.
These include the provision of operational vehicles, key facilities, and the completion of the access road to the campus, adding that other vital needs, such as perimeter fencing, refuse disposal, and the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, would be addressed within the framework of the state’s broader infrastructure and support programmes.
To ensure swift action, the Administrator directed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to work closely with the university’s Governing Council to prioritize the sequence of requests, particularly those tied to the commencement of academic activities in September 2025.
“Let me assure you that Rivers State Government will stand as a dependable partner to the Federal University of Environment and Technology. We see this university as part of our long-term investment in knowledge, innovation, and the future of our youths,” he emphasized.
In his remarks, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Don Baridam, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and community development.
He disclosed that the Federal Government has directed the institution to formally commence its academic session in September 2025, adding that preparations are in full swing to ensure a smooth take-off with adequate infrastructure and resources in place.
“Today’s meeting marks the beginning of a strategic partnership between the Rivers State Government and FUET, envisioned to establish the university as a premier hub for research, innovation, and sustainable development in the Niger Delta”, he said.
