News
TUC Makes Case For Kerosene, Diesel
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), has called on the Federal Government to make kerosene and diesel affordable for Nigerians.
The congress in a statement signed by its President, Mr Peter Esele and the General Secretary, Mr John Kolawole on Saturday in Lagos, said that the epileptic nature of electricity supply in the country made it necessary for commodities to be within reach.
“We demand for a fair price for kerosene and diesel that are vital for the well being of the citizen and for the growth of industries in the absence of constant electricity supply,’’ it said.
The statement made available to newsmen expressed support for the demand by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) that government should put needed infrastructure in place before the removal of oil subsidy.
The congress also demanded an end to gas flaring as well as a quick passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which has been before the National Assembly since 2008.
On electricity, the congress said that it was an aberration for government to think of increasing electricity tariff without a visible corresponding increase in power supply.
They also demanded the reactivation of job creation centers in all the states of the federation and Abuja as well as local government areas.
The congress lamented the increasing rate of unemployment in the country, describing it as embarrassing in the face of efforts to curb social ills.
They also urged the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity to establish a system of capturing and maintaining a comprehensive and updated database on the unemployed in the country.
In a related development, artisans in Asaba, Delta, have decried the proposed removal of fuel subsidy and appealed to Federal Government to have a re-think on the issue in the interest of the masses.
In separate interviews with newsmen, they said that if the proposal was implemented, the hardship it would bring to poor households would be devastating.
According to Kennedy Nwachukwu, a welder, what the government is planning to do is to increase the price of fuel and that means that they want to kill us.
“As a welder, I rely on electricity for my business and you know that we don’t have power supply in Asaba and it has been affecting me adversely, making me to depend on generator and petrol.
“Now, the government which has not given us electricity, is planning to increase the price of fuel and that will amount to compounding the problem. The cost of living will be too high for us.”
Another welder, Mr Okobi Onyema, said that it was unfortunate that government could come up with such idea, especially now that the “economy of most households was poor”.
He said that the decision appeared to demonstrate that the government was insensitive to the level of hardship in the country.
News
I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
News
RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
News
Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
-
Rivers3 days ago
HOS Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP … As Project Sensitization Team Visit Degema, AKULGA
-
Politics2 days ago
Reps Constitution Review Committee Holds Zonal Hearing For Rivers, C’River, Akwa Ibom In Calabar
-
Opinion3 days ago
Is Nigeria Democratic Nation?
-
News2 days ago
I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
-
News3 days ago
2027: I Stand With Southern Presidency -Ortom
-
Politics3 days ago
Lagos LG Polls: Police Restrict Movement, Tightens Security
-
News2 days ago
Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman
-
Opinion3 days ago
Checking Herdsmen Rampage