The Nigeria Labour Congress has confirmed that it will no longer embark on it’s planned Nationwide strike over the removal of fuel subsidy.
The resolution was announced by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila on Monday and confirmed by the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, after a nearly six-hour meeting between the Federal Government and the organised labour at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to him, The Federal Government, TUC and NLC would establish a joint committee to review the proposal for any wage increament or award and establish a framework and timeline for implementation.
“The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC would review World Bank Financed Cash transfer scheme and propose inclusion of low-income earners in the programme.
“The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC to revive the CNG conversion programme earlier agreed with Labour centres in 2021 and work out detailed implementation and timing.
The Labour centres and the Federal Government to review issues hindering effective delivery in the Education sector and propose solutions for implementation.
“The Labour centres and the Federal Government to review and establish the framework for completion of the rehabilitation of the Nation’s refineries.
“The Federal Government to provide a framework for the maintenance of roads and expansion of rail Networks across the country.
“All other demands submitted by the TUC to the Federal Government will be assessed by the joint committee.
“Consequently, the parties agreed on the following:
“The NLC to suspend the notice of strike forthwith to enable further consultations
“The TUC and the NLC to continue the ongoing engagements with the Federal Government and secure closure on the resolutions above
“The Labour Centres and the Federal Government to meet on June 19, 2023, to agree on an implementation framework.”
Earlier on Monday, the National Industrial Court restrained the Organised Labour from embarking on any form of strike.
Ruling on an exparte application filed before the court, Justice O.Y. Anuwe restrained the defendants (the TUC and the NLC) from embarking on the planned Nationwide strike Wednesday pending the hearing and determination of the motion of notice dated June 5, 2023.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has advised Nigerians to consider using bicycles as alternative means of transportation to shield themselves from the negative economic effect of the jump in fuel prices from ₦185 to over ₦500 across the country last week following the decision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to pull the plug on fuel subsidy payments.
The President made it known while giving his inaugural speech on May 29, 2023, that devoting money to subsidy was no longer sustainable for the federal government due to its dwindling resources.
This development has given rise to concerns regarding the ripple effect of the policy on transportation fares, food prices, and the spending power of the Nigerian populace.
However, the Oyo State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Joshua Adekanye, has proposed that Nigerians should switch to using bicycles to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal.
Speaking at the celebration of the 2023 World Bicycle Day in Ibadan on Saturday, June 3, 2023, Adekanye noted that it’s more advisable now for the general public to make use of bicycles for their daily commuting.
Explaining the benefits, the FRSC official said carbon emissions to the atmosphere by vehicles would also be drastically reduced when Nigerians rely more on bicycles to move around.
“Use of bicycle is economically cheap because the cost of a bicycle is not as expensive as using a car or motorcycle,” he said.
Stressing the health benefits, the sector commander noted that cycling will not only improve physical strength but also help to reduce body fat “and keep the heart healthy.”
Cycling may help prevent and manage medical conditions; helps in improving mental health and reduces stress, among other benefits,” Adekanye added.
The Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) Has Also said steps will be taken towards developing Bicycle tracks within the Abuja Metropolis
The statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, June 4, 2023, quoted Adesola as saying that bicycle tracks were already captured in the master plan of Abuja city, saying, ”We need to develop them.
This move will deepen the campaign to reduce the effect of climate change, emissions will be reduced if cycling is encouraged.”
The permanent secretary described cycling as an enjoyable and physically beneficial sport which should be encouraged and promoted.
”As a people, we need to imbibe the culture of riding bicycles, both as a sport, exercise and means of transportation.
”The benefits of cycling are enormous. It can improve heart health and strengthen the limbs,” he said.
Ahead of Tuesday ‘s meeting between the Federal Government and the Trade Union Congress ( TUC) , The Union has presented a list of demands to the federal government in the aftermath of the removal of fuel subsidy one of which is for the government to increase the minimum wage.
Speaking with State house correspondents on Sunday at the end of the meeting between Representatives of the Federal Government and the members of the TUC Union held at the Presidential Villa Abuja, Both parties described the meeting as fruitful.
The TUC among it’s demands are asking for a reversal of pump price and a tax break for some workers.
Although not present at the meeting, the Government assured that it is actively engaging with the umbrella Union body, the NLC, which had recently announced a Nationwide strike starting from Wednesday this week to ensure that Government reverts to the previous Petrol pump price.
LAGOS TARGETS 200,000 UNITS OF BLOOD FROM VOLUNTARY DONORS
….To Commemorate 2023 WBDD with Donor Drives, Symposium
… Intensifies Awareness Campaign on Blood Donation, Safe Blood Transfusion Practice
Lagos State Government is targeting increasing its total number of donated blood which is presently at over 115,000 units to 200,000 units to meet its annual blood requirements and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended estimate of blood requirement per population, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye has said.
Ogboye who disclosed this today while reviewing scheduled activities lined up by the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS) to commemorate 2023 World Blood Donor Day in Lagos, disclosed that apart from the recorded increase in donated blood in Lagos to over 115,000 units, the LSBTS has been able to screen 100 percent of all units of blood collected in the State.
The Permanent Secretary noted that LSBTS also produces blood components including Fresh Frozen Plasma, Cryoprecipitates and Platelet Concentrates from 90 percent of voluntarily donated blood with the decentralization of its storage to ensure easy accessibility.
He said: “LSBTS has adopted a hybrid of decentralized blood services at its blood collection, distribution, screening and certification units with a highly centralized post-collection blood processing specifically component production as well as regulatory, monitoring, enforcement activities.
“Since the its establishment in June 2004, LSBTS has increased the availability of safe blood, curbed the menace of quackery and improved the quality of the blood provided by the state. Facilitated by Mr. Governor, there has been an increase in the number of voluntary blood donation centres in public and private health facilities with accompanied strengthening of the haemovigilance program according to international best practices to ensure safe blood processes”.
Ogboye also disclosed that the LSBTS has commence the process for complete automation in the screening and certification of blood for transfusion transmissible infections, implementation of the LSBTS Blood Inventory Management System and extended phenotyping of blood group antigens to reduce the incidence of adverse events in blood transfusion.
Speaking on scheduled activities to commemorate year 2023 World Blood Donor Day in Lagos, the Executive Secretary, LSBTS, Dr. Biodun Osikomaiya disclosed that the Lagos State Ministry of Health through the LSBTS will commemorate WBBD with a three-day event comprising Youth Extravaganza; Lagos State Secondary School Student LSBTS facility tour and Symposium and Scientific Conference.
She explained that the Youth Extravaganza themed “Count Me In: Each 1, Reach 5” will hold at the Red Cross Society Hall Premises, Ebute- Metta on Saturday 3rd June, 2023 adding that Lagos State Secondary School students are also scheduled to come on tour of LSBTS facilities at the headquarters, located within the premises of Gbagada General Hospital on Thursday 8th June, 2023.
Osikomaiya further explained that a Symposium and Scientific Conference to commemorate the World Blood Donor Day will hold on Wednesday 14th June, 2023 at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa Ikeja.
She said: “World blood donor day is a day of global observance, celebrated all around the world on the 14th of June yearly. This event is meant to raise awareness on the crucial need for safe blood and blood products, to thank blood donors for saving lives with their precious gift of blood and to recruit healthy individuals to be voluntary blood donors.
“The slogan for the Y2023 WBDD campaign is ‘Give Blood, Give Plasma, Share Life, Share Often’. The access to a secure blood and blood component supply, based on voluntary unpaid donation is vital for all patients including many requiring emergency need and life-long blood transfusions for conditions such as post-natal hemorrhage, accident victims, sickle-cell anaemia and haemophilia”.
Osikomaiya noted that her agency is intensifying awareness, sensitization and advocacy campaign to increase voluntary blood donation to meet the state blood requirement and safe blood transfusion services.
Expressing delight that the effort of LSBTS is yielding the desired result with evident increase in voluntarily donated blood, She noted that one pint of donated blood can save three lives adding that this is why efforts are being intensified by the State government to meet and surpass the State blood requirement through recruiting and retaining voluntary blood donors.
Emphasizing the huge demand for blood and the need for voluntary blood donation, Osikomaiya disclosed that about 37% of the population are eligible and clinically fit to donate blood stressing that someone is always in need of blood every two seconds.
The Executive Secretary noted that eligible citizens can donate blood by walking into any of LSBTS dedicated voluntary blood donation centers at General Hospital Lagos and General Hospital Gbagada or the voluntary blood donation center at the Accident and Emergency Center, located at the old Toll Gate and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja to donate blood at any time.
The Nigerian Medical Association ( NMA) has congratulated President Bola Tinubu for a very successful inauguration and tenure hoping that he would improve the lives Nigerians
The Association also congratulated Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara on his re-election and appointment as Chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF).
Dr Ola Ahmed, the Kwara State NMA Chairman, said this in a statement made available to News men on Saturday in Ilorin.
“We pray for a very successful tenure and it is our sincere hope that the health sector and the country at large will experience major developmental strides that will ensure good health and improved prosperity for our teeming population.”
In the same vein, we will also like to felicitate with the Governor of our dear state, His Excellency, Malam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on his second term inauguration and his emergence as the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum.
“We pray for divine guidance for our dynamic governor and we wish him a resounding success in this second tenure to the benefit of all Kwarans and the country at large,” he said.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has banned underage children from participating in the National Common Entrance Examination for admission into the Unity Schools across the country.
Government has accordingly directed the National Examination Council (NECO) to put strict measures in place to prevent the underage persons from registering for the Examination, including making Birth certificate compulsory as registration requirement.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr David Andrew Adejo, gave the directive on Saturday in Abuja while monitoring the conduct of the 2023 Common Entrance Examination into the 110 Federal Government Colleges across the Federation.
A total of 72,821 candidates sat for the Examination on Saturday Nationwide.
Adejo noted that to get into secondary, a candidate should be at least 12 years, adding that one could be eleven plus during the examination and by September, such a person would have attained the age of 12 years.
The Permanent Secretary after monitoring the exercise at the Federal Government Girls College, Bwari, and Government Day Secondary School, Bwari, said he was unhappy to see many underage person taking the examination.
He insisted that less than eleven years was unacceptable, disclosing that Airforce School, among others do not accept candidates less than twelve years for admission into their schools.
NECO Registrar, Professor Dantani Wushishi, said the conduct of the examination was generally smooth and orderly, saying from the reports gotten from across the country, the examination went on hitch-free.
While confirming that 72,821 candidates registered for for the 2023 National Common Entrance Examination, Wushishi disclosed that Lagos State had the highest number of enrollment followed by FCT, while the State with lowest registration, Kebbi, has about 115 registered candidates.
Ondo state government has dispelled the rumoured death of governor Rotimi Akeredolu as untrue
According to a statement issued by the state commissioner for information, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, She said certain persons seek to draw political mileage from the disinformation.
The statement noted that though the Governor has been indisposed,but he has been attending to state matters and delegating functions to functionaries of the Government, when necessary.
The government urged members of the public to ignore the rumour.
The statement added, “We have been inundated with calls and messages concerning the state of health of the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON. We had chosen to ignore this wicked fabrication until it appeared that certain persons seek to draw political mileage from the disinformation.
“Though the Governor has been indisposed, he has been attending to state matters and delegating functions to functionaries of the Government, when necessary.
“We enjoin the members of the public to ignore the rumour. Aketi is very much alive.”
Also,a video released by the chief press secretary to the Governor, Richard Olabode on Saturday showed where Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and his family members were watching the final of the FA cup between Manchester city and Manchester United.
The Ajaero led Nigeria Labour Congress has fixed Wednesday June 7th for Nationwide Protest and withdrawal of service Over fuel price increase.
Joe Ajaero at a briefing at the end of its National Executive Council meeting insisted that it is also illegal to be negotiating with Persons with no portfolio, Arguing that it potends Danger
Human rights lawyer and legal adviser to the Nigeria Labour Congress, Femi Falana also insist that PMS price hike by the Nigerian National Peteoleum Company Limited is illegal and will be challenged in the court of law
The Nigerian National Peteoleum Company Limited had on Wednesday announced a new price regime for Premium Motor Spirit from #192 to #537 naira.
This action according to them is as a result of the pronnouncement by President Bola Tinubu that fuel subsidy regime was over.
The action has since resulted to a public outcry due to it’s associated hardship that has translated to increase in Transportation fares and food Items.
10 Victims Kidnapped in Zamfara State have regained freedom
They were rescued by the troops of the Joint Task Force Northwest of Operation Hadarin Daji, after conducting a clearance operation in the Shinkafi Local Government Area of the state.
The troops also killed several terrorists in the Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The military operations were said to have been conducted on Tuesday, May 30, and Wednesday, May 31 across the two LGAs.
According to Sources the troops cleared terrorist camps at Alasanawa, Kayawa, Mai-Zuma, Dutsi, Dogon Gandu, Girari, Maiwa, Asarara, Gabawuri, Tungan Danmada, Baje, Ruwaje, Atarawa, Zungo and Maniya Villages of Shinkafi Local Government.
During the clearing operation,The troops neutralized an unspecified number of terrorists in a gun battle, recovered eight live cartridges and rescued kidnapped victims.
They also, recovered four AK-47 rifles, one PTK machine gun, three motorcycles, and several pieces of special ammunition.
The Troops also responded quickly by blocking the route which lead to the Dan-Kampani illegal mining site, where on sighting the troops, a suspected courier man abandoned his motorcycle and a big sack containing 46 military jungle hats, 26 camouflage T-shirts, two desert boots, 14 variants of military camouflage uniforms
Figures from the United States Agency For International Aids( USAID) suggesting that thirty seven percent of about thirty one million Nigerian Children under age five are stunted as a result of Malnutrition, has ignited calls from some nutrition experts for the Production of heart heathy milk in Nigeria
Speaking at a news briefing to commemorate the 2023 world milk Day in Lagos , the Executive Director Of Nigerian Heart Foundation Dr Kingsley Akinroye noted that a larger percentage of the imported milk consumed in Nigeria are mostly not good for the Health Of consumers and the nation’s Economy at large .
Milk according to health and nutrition experts is a food that contains alot of healthy nutrients needed by people of all ages to grow.
The many misconceptions about Milk and many of the Substandard Products imported into the Nigerian Market has denied majority of the Population of the healthy qualities inherent in the consumption of The product.
The occasion of the 2023 World milk Day with the theme ” Heart healthy milk, Nutritional Foods and livelihoods provided another Opportunity for experts to focus attention on actions aimed at feeding the population with low saturated fats and low sodium diet.
World milk Day is an annual event Celebrated on the first of June every year to raise awareness about the importance of milk and diary in maintaining healthy diets
The Day was celebrated in Lagos with series of activities and awareness campaigns by the Nigerian Heart Foundation with the support of makers of three Crowns milk.
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