News
…Labour Threatens 3-Day Warning Strike Over FG’s Negligence
The Central Working Committee (CWC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened to embark on a three-day warning strike, if the Federal Government fails to accede to the demands raised by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
They issued the threat at the end of their meeting, which was held at the headquarters of the NLC, where they also slammed a 21-day ultimatum on the government to meet the demands raised by the university unions.
ASUU and other sister unions within the university system like the Non-Academic Staff Union of University and Allied Institutions (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), among others, have been on strike over grievances related to revitalisation funds and the implementation of Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, who presided over the meeting, said it is regrettable that while the children of the poor were idling away at home, those from rich homes are busy with their studies.
The CWC meeting resolved, “On the ongoing strike action by unions in Nigerian universities, the CWC resolved as follows, all affiliates of the NLC are to issue public statements condemning the intermittent strike actions in Nigeria’s universities particularly the current one which has gone on for about two months.
“Within the span of the subsisting 21-days ultimatum given by congress, the NLC will hold national protests against the current strike action affecting students of Nigeria’s public universities and occasioned by government’s failure to honour agreement reached with trade unions in our universities.
“The protest is to draw the attention of government to the inherent catastrophe in the emerging culture of social apartheid in our society especially as marked by prolonged lockout of students from working class and poor homes from our public universities while the children of the rich continue their academic pursuits uninterrupted.
“It at the end of the national protest and the 21-days ultimatum, the Federal Government still fails to resolve the industrial crises in Nigeria’s universities, the congress would be left with no other option than to embark on a 3-days nationwide warning strike action in solidarity with our affiliates in the universities and with Nigerian students whose future and wellbeing are being robbed.”
For Etim Effiong Queen , survival meant making an impossible choice: leaving her daughter behind to save her from a tradition she feared would change their lives forever.
Spain last night emerged winners of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after edging Lionel Messi inspired Argentina opposition 1-0 in New Jersey, USA in a one sided final to become world champions for the second time in history after their historic victory in Africa in 2010.
The history continued with the Spanish team under Fuente becoming European and World Champions at the same period also for the second time.
The Spanish performance in the final proved a good advertisement for team cohesion, high work rate and dedication to culture as they demonstrated why many rated them as the best team of the tournament.
It was a final that many saw as a swansong for one of the game’s greats, Messi, and an opportunity to bow out of the world stage in glory. In fact, many would have seen the diminutive Argentine as the greatest player ever, if it he had led his country men to a consecutive word title.
But it turned out to be a final that demystified the aggressive and robust playing Argentines as Spain, in full flow of their possession- based football annihilated any threats that Argentina harboured.
Spain, despite lack of cutting edge for most of the game dominated and stifled Messi and co to the extent that the South Americans had neither shot nor one on target for almost 85 minutes.
Argentina, which had rode on the rub of the green and controversial victories to get to the final hardly laid a glove on the Spaniards as they relied on last ditch defending and dark arts to keep Spain at bay and took the tie to extra time.
The match was, however, at times overshadowed by the antics of the Argentinians.
However, their so-called luck, ultimately ran out as Spain rallied after being denied a goal to find a winner.
It came through Ferran Torres in the 106th minute. After a ball was swung in from the right, Nico Williams nodded a header down from the far post, which the Barcelona striker latched on to and fired into the roof of the net to spark jubilant scenes.
The South Americans applied pressure of their own in search of a goal late on and Tottenham Hotspur defender Marcos Senesi almost levelled from close range.
But, in the end, it was not to be for Lionel Messi on what could be his final appearance on football’s biggest stage as Lamine Yamal and his Spanish team-mates held on for a historic victory.
With the loss last night, Argentina ties Germany as the highest losing world cup finalists. This is the fourth time Argentina has been the FIFA World Cup runner-up in their history, equaling Germany as the team with the most FIFA World Cup runner-up finishes.
Argentina had previously been FIFA World Cup runners-up three times in 1930, 1990, and 2014, while Germany had been runners-up four times in 1966, 1982, 1986, and 2002
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has demanded quick and full resolution to the challenges arising from the gas leakage that occurred in Bille, Degema Local Government Area of the State.
The governor has also pledged to upgrade the Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Bille with a view to addressing the health challenges confronting the community.
Fubara made the pledge on Wednesday at the Government House, Port Harcourt during an enlarged meeting of key stakeholders, comprising representatives of the Federal Government, the state government and leaders of the community.
The meeting was held to review the situation in the community and explore available opportunities to save the people from the adverse impacts of environmental pollution.
Addressing the journalists at the end of the meeting, the governor acknowledged the determination of the Federal Government and its agencies to get to the root cause of the problem in Bille and ensure that it is resolved permanently.
“The meeting is in respect of the situation in Bille. You’re aware that there is a case of gas leakage somewhere in Bille and the people have been making some requests that the government should come to their rescue to resolve the situation.
“As a state, we have gone to see the situation in the community, not alone but in conjunction with the industry operators and officials of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources. What we are doing today is an enlarged meeting where all the parties are sitting together to look at the cause of the issue and the most possible way to get the problem resolved,” he said.
Fubara described the outcome of the meeting as successful, stressing that more action would be taken in the next couple of weeks to ensure that the issue is fully resolved.
The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo, who led the Federal Government’s delegation to the meeting, expressed appreciation to the governor for his warm hospitality and efforts to address the challenge in Bille community.
Ekpo explained that contrary to the perception in certain quarters, the Federal Government has not been silent over the “gas seepage” but has been working tirelessly towards finding a sustainable solution.
The minister explained that as soon as the incident was reported, the Federal Government deployed experts to the area to understudy the cause of the problem.
According to him, it was difficult at first to understand the cause of the problem since there were no oil or gas infrastructure within the vicinity of the incident, hence the need to conduct a more detailed investigation.
“The investigation is still going but we decided to do a follow-up visit to the area to talk to the people of Bille Community that we need collaboration on their part so that we would be able to arrive at a lasting solution.
“The safety of the people is paramount. We can understand their anxiety, the worry and the danger that this thing poses within the area, but the Federal Government is committed to finding a lasting solution to the problem. The primary responsibility of government is to take care of the welfare and security of the people and that is exactly why we are here to go and see things for ourselves,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, also explained that as the regulatory agency at the centre of the issue, no effort will be spared in the task of resolving the issue.
Eyesan pledged that the NUPRC and operators in the industry were prepared to address the requests of the impacted people in terms of the provision of potable water and fire trucks to the community.
The Public Relations Officer, Council of Chiefs, Bille Kingdom, Chief Rena Dappa, had during the meeting, presented the challenges facing the community and pleaded for government’s support to save the lives and livelihoods of the people.
