Nation
Construction Workers Slam Umahi Over Policy U-Turns, Project Terminations
The Federation of Construction Industry has raised concerns about the inconsistent policies of the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, urging him to refrain from politicising the profession.
The FOCI President, Chief Vincent Barrah, made the call yesterday at the 68th Annual General Meeting of the construction workers’ union in Abuja.
Barrah said the imposition of contract prices and the arbitrary termination of projects by the Ministry due to lack of funding is a breach of standard contract conditions.
He also sounded the alarm that Umahi’s policy u-turns since assuming office have forced many employers to lay off their workers.
“Our challenges stem from the recent policy pronouncements by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, which are not in line with standard contract conditions. For instance, the imposition of contract prices and non-contractual termination of contracts by the Ministry due to its inability to fund projects is unacceptable.
“The result is the worsening condition of roads we see across the country and, of course, the laying off of workers. You cannot continue to retain and pay workers when the certified works you have completed are not paid for.
“If an employer is to terminate a contract due to inadequate funding, there are procedures and rules guiding such action. These are some of the challenges affecting our relationship with the Minister. We have written to him and had meetings with him twice. To date, our efforts to resolve these issues have not yielded the desired results,” he stated.
The National President of the Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association, Ayodeji Adeyemo, also voiced his frustration.
Adeyemo said many engineers are growing concerned and want to know why the Minister has suddenly become inaccessible to stakeholders in the construction industry.
“We have made several attempts to meet with the Minister and have written numerous letters. He has not responded to any of them. A month has passed, and Umahi remains inaccessible. We need him to address the issue of employers dismissing our members.
“I am even surprised that, as a qualified engineer, Umahi is unable to separate politics from the profession. Why can’t he simply adhere to the contract agreements? For example, if I give you a contract to build a house, there are terms and conditions governing that. If you halt my work, there is a penalty for it. But Umahi stops everything and then shouts in the media like the victim.
Nation
Rivers Deputy Governor Hails PH City One Love For Humanitarian Gesture
Rivers state Deputy Governor Professor Ngozi Nma Odu has commended “The Port Harcourt City One Love,”a Port Harcourt based humanitarian orgnisation For it’s commitment towards alleviating the sufferings of the poor and vulnerable in the society.
Professor Ngozi Nma Odu said this while speaking at this year’s edition of “operation feed the needy” a yearly outreach program of “The Port Harcourt City One Love ” in Port Harcourt.
The Deputy Governor said by feeding more than sixty thousands hungry people within the past six years, the Port Harcourt City One Love Movement has distinguished itself as a club that cares for the less privilege in the society.
She commended the , organization for listing eleven thousand persons to be fed in the current exercise.
Meanwhile The Port Harcourt City One Love has planned a permanent solution to the problem of feeding the poor in the state.
The leader of the group Mr Idaere Gogo Ogan who said this in an interview with newsmen during the distribution of food items to the poor and vulnerables in Port Harcourt said the organization is planning a permanent food kitchen where poor and vulnerable persons can work in anytime and get fed.
Idaere Gogo Ogan said more than sixty thousands poor and vulnerable persons across Port Harcourt City and environs have been fed since the inception of “The operation feed the needy” program six years ago,adding that so far sixty thousands poor and vulnerable persons have beneffited.
He described the group as a platform to promote friendship, brotherhood, community development empathy and feeding the less privilege and hungry people
“That’s what we are doing today here,so we started the exercise six years ago”.he said.
Ogan said the effort was a private sector driven initiative but added “it also involves people in Government because the platform does not recognize any division,we bring everybody together in unity , friendship and brotherhood”he said.
He said the effort will go along way in alleviating hunger especially following the prevailing hunger in the country.
According to him “you know the country is very tough, people are hungry people are starving, there is a whole lot of economic hardship,so for us, this is just our own way of reaching out, our own social contribution to what is very difficult”he said.
Over eleven thousand persons were fed in the just concluded exercise.
Areas of coverage include, Isaac Boro park, Port Harcourt prison/Macoba, Borokiri/Enugu waterside Bundu areas Waterlines and others.
Some of the beneficiaries including an 80 years old widow commended the movement for the annual programm and urged other organizations to emulate them
John Bibor,/Esuuk Oyet/Suotor Memoye /Jeremiah Hannah
Nation
We’ll Partner Private Sector to Industrialize Rivers State – Fubara …Hints Revitalization of Ahoada, Trans Amadi Industrial layout
Nation
SheVentures Open Zero-interest Loan Applications for Women Entrepreneurs
“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively. Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.
“This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs”, Edun said.
Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo said access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs.
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