News
Rivers NIMC Staff Join Indefinite Strike, Shut NIN Enrolment Centres
Members of staff of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in Rivers State, yesterday, joined their counterparts in other states of the country to embark on an indefinite strike.
When The Tide visited the NIMC office, near Independent National Electoral Commission state office on Aba Road in Port Harcourt and a few other centres around Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor local government areas, hundreds of persons who had stormed the centres to participate in the registration process as early as 5am, were seen looking stranded.
The registrants were told by the aggrieved staff that they would not be attended to as a result of the industrial action.
One of the workers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that the staff of the agency took the decision to go on strike to demand better welfare package from the government.
According to him, the recent increase in the number of visitors at the office and other centres for registration of National Identification Number (NIN) has caused a lot of stress for the workers.
He added that the workers needed to be paid more for conducting the exercise, which he described as an extra duty.
They decried the lack of protective kits at the office, saying they could get infected with Covid-19 as they attend to hundreds of residents daily.
The situation at the NIMC office has left many residents stranded, including the elderly, pregnant women, and mothers who had gone there with their children.
Despite the development, the residents have failed to return to their homes, saying they were not notified that the workers would down tools.
They, however, continued to keep watch at the NIMC office with the hope that the striking workers would have a change of heart and attend to them.
Some of the applicants told The Tide that the Federal Government has no conscience despite sufferings by applicants, asking “why should workers not go on strike when they demanded that Covid-19 protocol should be followed without providing them with appropriate PPEs, and their allowances and other entitlements”.
They, however, expressed displeasure over the sudden strike by the workers, blaming the Federal Government for not putting their house in order before coming up with a failed programme.
The Tide learnt that the staff of the National Identity Management Commission embarked on the indefinite nation-wide strike to demand better welfare packages from the Federal Government.
Investigations show that the workers are protesting poor salary structure, lack of promotion and lack of personal protective equipment (PPEs) for prevention of Covid-19, among others.
It was gathered that some of the staff who contracted the virus were rejected by the management of the agency.
The strike followed a directive issued by the NIMC unit of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ACSN).
The National Task Force on NIN and SIM registration met on December 21, 2020, and agreed on three weeks registration which ends on January 19, 2021.
Efforts to reach the state coordinator of the agency failed, as The Tide was not allowed access into the offices, which were under lock and key.
But The Tide sighted a notice of the strike signed by the President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), NIMC branch, Comrade Lucky Michael, and its Secretary, Comrade Odia Victor, respectively.
The notice directed that members on grade level 12 and below to report to their respective duty posts and “do nothing”.
“All members at the local government offices and special centres are advised to stay away from their various centres as task force and implementation committees would be on parade to ensure total compliance to the directive,” the statement read.
According to a communique, the union is angry over the state of NIMC enrollment centres across the country, especially in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, exposure of staff to Covid-19 risks, lack of personal protective equipment, irregularities in promotion, and poor funding.
The notice noted that staff members have been infected with the virus and that measures have not been put in place to curtail the spread.
“Staff members were infected with Covid-19 and adequate measures have not been taken to curtail the spread,” the unionists said.
The union also demanded to be paid overtime, and given enough tools to work with.
By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said the 33.5-kilometre Elele–Umudioga–Egbeda–Ubimini–Ikiri–Omoku dual carriageway is nearing completion and will be ready for inauguration by early May.
Speaking after inspecting the project last Wednesday, the governor disclosed that the N80.8 billion road project, currently at about 90 per cent completion, is on track for delivery before the end of April.
The project, which links Ikwerre, Emohua and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas, was awarded to Craneburg Construction Company with a 24-month completion timeline.
Fubara expressed satisfaction with the pace of work, describing the road as a landmark achievement of his administration.
He noted that beyond infrastructure, the project symbolises progress and purposeful governance.
Highlighting its economic and security value, the governor said the road serves as a vital link to Omoku, a major gas hub, and would significantly enhance business activities in the area.
He recalled that the corridor was previously notorious for kidnapping and armed robbery but said the ongoing development had transformed the security outlook.
According to him, improved accessibility will enable security agencies to respond swiftly to emergencies, effectively curbing criminal activities that once plagued the route.
Fubara commended the contractor for adhering to the project timeline, expressing confidence that the road will soon be completed and opened to the public.
Recall that the governor had, during the flag-off ceremony in May 2024, disclosed that the project is funded from the State’s internally generated revenue savings.
Nigerians were among more than 140 residents injured after Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles at the United Arab Emirates, at the weekend.
This raised fresh fears for thousands of Nigerians living and working in the Gulf nation.
The UAE Ministry of Defence disclosed last Saturday that its air defence systems intercepted several missiles and drones fired from Iran, describing the attack as a major escalation in the ongoing regional tensions.
In a statement posted on its official X handle, the ministry said its air defence units engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 drones during the latest assault on March 14.
It added that the attacks left six people dead and 141 others injured, including foreign nationals.
“The UAE air defence systems on March 14 engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 UAVs launched from Iran,” the ministry stated.
“Since the onset of this blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,600 UAVs launched from Iran,” UAE added.
According to the ministry, those killed in the attacks included citizens of the UAE as well as foreign nationals from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.
“Although the authorities did not specify the exact locations where the casualties occurred, the ministry said the injured victims were from several countries, including Nigeria.
Others affected include residents from Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The list also included Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia and Sweden.
The Tide reports that this development has sparked concern among Nigerian communities in the UAE, where thousands of citizens live and work in sectors such as construction, hospitality, logistics and trade.
Data from Nigeria’s diaspora commission shows that the UAE remains one of the largest destinations for Nigerian migrants in the Middle East, particularly in the emirates of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
The Nigerian government had in recent years raised concerns over the safety and welfare of its citizens in the country following diplomatic tensions and visa restrictions affecting Nigerians.
Saturday’s attacks have now heightened anxieties within the diaspora community, especially as the Gulf region faces growing military confrontations.
In its statement, the UAE Ministry of Defence said the country remained fully prepared to confront any threats to its security.
“The Ministry of Defence remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront any attempts to undermine state security in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability, and safeguards its national interests and capabilities,” the ministry said.
In a separate update, the ministry noted that its defence systems were still actively intercepting missiles and drones.
“UAE air defences are dealing with Iranian ballistic and cruise missiles and drones,” it said.
Regional media reports indicate that the attacks form part of a wider escalation of hostilities between Iran and Western-backed forces in the Middle East.
According to Al Jazeera, Iran has continued sustained missile and drone strikes across the Gulf despite protests from neighbouring states.
The strikes were said to be in retaliation for military operations launched by the United States and Israel against Iranian positions in the region.
Tehran targeted several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, late on Friday and into Saturday.
The attacks also caused infrastructural damage in parts of the UAE.
Meanwhile, Iran’s elite military wing, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warned that US interests in the UAE would remain legitimate targets.
Iranian state media reported that the group issued the warning after US forces attacked Iranian-controlled islands.
The IRGC specifically mentioned ports, docks and military installations linked to the United States as potential targets.
It also urged residents in the UAE to evacuate areas around ports and military facilities to avoid civilian casualties.
Security analysts say the growing exchange of threats and strike across the Gulf could destabilise the region’s economic and aviation activities if the conflict escalates further.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue an official statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged the five new commissioners sworn-in last Wednesday to put in their best for the development of the State.
Fubara gave the charge during the swearing-in of the commissioners at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
This followed the successful screening of the five commissioners by the Rivers State House of Assembly, last Tuesday.
The five commissioners are Tonye Bellgam, Prof. Temple Nwofor, Dr. Peters Nwagor, Mr. Lekue Kenneth, and Sir Amairigha Edward Hart.
The Tide reports that the governor had sent nine commissioner-nominees to the Assembly for screening, but the Assembly confirmed only five nominees and rejected the nomination of four over various allegations.
Those rejected by the Assembly are Prof. Dantonye Alasia, Mrs. Charity Demua, Mr. Tamuno Williams, and Otonye Amachree.
The governor congratulated the new commissioners on their appointment, noting that their thorough screening by the Rivers State House of Assembly was a proof of their capabilities.
He urged them to deploy their wealth of experience in various fields and put the State on a fast lane of development.
“Ordinarily, I am supposed to charge you on your responsibilities and how to operate. But that has been taken care of by the screening at the Assembly.
“I believe that going through one of the most rigorous screenings, it is enough to say that for those of you who succeeded, you are fit and ready to deliver to our dear State.
“So there is no further charge. The screening was the charge, so I wish you the best as I don’t expect anything less than the best from you,” Fubara said.
