News
FG, Labour Meet Over Fuel Subsidy Agreement, Today
In order to address the execution of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that both parties signed about palliative measures for the removal of gasoline subsidies, Organised Labour says it would meet with representatives of the Federal Government, today.
NLC disclosed this at a press conference led by its President, Joe Ajaero over the weekend in Abuja.
As the 30-day implementation window granted by the Organised Labour ends this week, Ajaero said the meeting is anticipated to assess the degree of implementation of the 12-point Memorandum of Understanding reached on October 2, 2023.
The Labour Centre had threatened a new strike last week, alleging that Simon Lalong, the Minister of Labour and Employment, had violated item 6 of the MoU and the ratified agreement by siding with a faction of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) leadership.
Although the Minister refuted the allegation, saying that it was baseless.
But NLC president, said that the labour center will no longer attend any meetings with the federal government where Lalong would be present.
According to Ajaero, the today’s meeting was at the instance of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
He said: “Hopefully, we may meet tomorrow with the Federal Government, all things being equal on their report template, to know whether all those issues have been met in the last 30 day.
“That is if that meeting hold’s without the Minister of Labour, because he will not be present in any meetings with us.
“So, any meeting the Federal Government calls today with the Ministry of Labour in attendance, that meeting will not hold. We can’t meet with him and you would have noticed that of late, meetings are no longer called at the Ministry of Labour, because, he is not in control. Therefore, to depend on him for resolutions on issues, taking place about labour, is to waste our time.
Ezoic
“If you watch, tomorrow’s invitation that we got, was from the office of the Chief of Staff to the president and that is where previous meetings were held.
“So, the current minister of a labour, has no power or place in the current industrial relations practiced in Nigeria.”
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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