Ganduje Lifts Lockdown In Kano, Orders Workers To Resume Work

Governor of Kano State, Mr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has ordered the lifting of the coronavirus-imposed lockdown in the state, amid rising figures of the disease in the country.

This was contained in a statement made available to Igbere TV on Thursday, in Kano, signed by Mr. Abba Anwar, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor.

He said the governor also ordered the immediate reopening of all markets and motor parks across the state. The 10pm to 4am curfew would, however, be maintained.

Governor Ganduje, in the statement sent to Igbere TV via mail, similarly directed civil servants in the state from grade level 12 and above to resume work by Monday.

The statement partly reads, “Due to the drastic drop of COVID-19 pandemic threats in Kano state and other progress in the response against the dreaded pandemic, within the Blessing of the Almighty Allah's Divine intervention with the efforts of all the frontline workers and other stakeholders, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has directed for the removal of lockdown in the state, while maintaining the 10pm to 4am curfew.

“Appreciating how the state is recording the success in the fight against the pandemic, he (Ganduje) acknowledged and commended the unrelenting efforts of the frontline health workers, journalists and all other stakeholders.”

The CPS quoted the Governor as saying, “The remaining 3 days the state is practicing lockdown order, are now lifted. People are now free to move around for the 7 days of a week. While observing the 10pm to 4pm curfew.

“Civil servants of the grade level 12 and above should resume work from Monday 6th July. All markets are now opened. So also motor parks. People must observe the protocols of COVID-19 as enunciated by our health professionals.”

Ganduje reiterated the ban on street begging, warning, “only one person is allowed on motorcycle.” “Tricycle operators must not take more than two passengers. This order is still there for all to know,” he said.

On re-opening of schools in the state, Governor Ganduje was quoted in the statement as saying, “all schools will only be opened on the directive of the federal government.”

“But for final year or graduating pupils/students, like primary six pupils and students of Junior Secondary School II (JSS III) and Senior Secondary School III (SSS III), we are making preparation for their returning to schools.”

https://igberetvnews.com/1356786/breaking-ganduje-lifts-lockdown-kano-orders-workers-resume-work/

Lalasticlala Seun Mynd44

THE Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, has commended the Federal Government and organised labour for their patience while the National Minimum Wage negotiations lasted. The leadership of the Labour Centre added that although it was a rough road but they are happy that an agreement has finally been signed.

In a press statement, President of the Congress, Comrade Quadri Olaleye, FCIA and Secretary General, Comrade (Barr.) Musa-Lawal Ozigi, mni, said it was not an easy journey but it is now over, adding that government's team should be appreciated for their wisdom and sincerity.

"We commend the Head of Service of the federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan and her team for their sincerity. Though they argued that government cannot afford to meet our earlier demand of N30, 000 minimum wage across board because of the economic situation in the country, but we made them understand that some people cannot be more Nigerian than others. If we are tightening our belts, government should also do so."

By the agreement reached, the core civil servants:- GL 7 (23.2%), GL 8 -(20%), GL 9 - (19%), GL 10-14 – (16%) and GL 15-17 (14%).

Others, GL -7 (23.2%) like above; 8-14 shall earn (16%) and 15-17 (10.5).

As an organization and a major stakeholder in the Nigerian project we believe that the parties have done well. We shifted grounds and that is why we were able to resolve things without major injuries. It is a win win situation.

The TUC boss said he is particularly happy with the agreement because it has addressed some salary discrepancies and overlapping that the workers have agitated so much about. "This is a unique agreement and we promise to build on that by God's grace," he added.

The Chairman of Egor Local Government Council in Edo State, Mrs Eghe Ogbemudia has been suspended from office, Igbere TV reports.

Eghe, daughter of former military governor of Old Mid-West (Bendel) State, late Samuel Ogbemudia, was suspended from office on Thursday, October 10.

Although details of the suspension was still sketchy as at press time, her Chief Press Secretary, Stanley Atafoh confirmed the development in a chat with our correspondent.

“Yes, the information is true. My boss, Hon. Eghe Ogbemudia, the elected Executive Chairman, Egor Local Government Council, was this evening informed of her suspension from office”, he told Igbere TV.

When asked the reason behind the suspension, the CPS said, “I am yet to be informed on what ground was she suspended on (sic). I hope to get the true information as soon as it is made available.”

Igbere TV, however, reliably gathered that the Council Boss was suspended on the orders of Governor Godwin Obaseki for opposing his re-election bid in the Edo State 2020 election.

The Council Chairman is said to have repeatedly refused to openly declare support and endorse the Governor, like her counterparts in other Local Government Councils did.

A top aide of the Governor who craved anonymity, also accused Ogbemudia of identifying with the Edo Peoples Movement (EPM), a pressure group opposing Obaseki’s re-election bid.

“Yes, she was asked to step down following a petition that she is a member and secretly financing the activities of the dissenting group, EPM”, the source said.

The government functionary revealed that the group and its members have equally been marked for sanction by the leadership of All Progressives Congress in Edo State.

The suspension of Ms Eghe Ogbemudia from office as Egor Council Boss, ahead Edo 2020 election, brings the total number of Council Chairmen suspended by Governor Obaseki to 4.

Suspension of Council Chairmen Illegal

The suspension of four Council Chairmen from office for whatever reasons amount to acts of lawlessness, unconstitutional and violation of the protected duties of the Local Governments to independently administer its affairs.

Governor Obaseki violated a Supreme Court judgment delivered in 2016 where a five-man panel led by Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, ruled on an appeal of similar suspension of Local Government Executives in Ekiti State, deemed the act as unconstitutional and in violation of the protected duties of the Local Government to independently administer its affairs.

“...Section 7(1) of the Constitution guarantees the system of local government by democratically-elected local government councils and conferred sacrosanctity on the elections of such officials whose electoral mandates derived from the will of the people freely exercised through the democratic process.

“It, therefore, strips the Governor of any power to unilaterally remove elected Local Government officials or interfere in its dealings without violating the constitution he swore to protect”, Justice Rhodes-Vivour had ruled.

“The appeal filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar at the Supreme Court is an exercise in futility, as it will only re-emphasize the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) which ruled that the petition was futile and had no substance.”

The Buhari Media Organization (BMO) said Atiku and PDP either did not read or they did not understand the judgement of the Tribunal.

In a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, the group stated that the judgement of the tribunal was quite clear and unequivocal about Atiku’s empty petition.

“If they had thoroughly digested the judgement they would not have wasted their resources to file an appeal.

“It was one of the very few times that five Justices would sit to deliver a judgment and be unanimous in their decision. This was so because there could not have been any other decision contrary to what they held: Atiku’s case was a no-brainer, and lacked any substance.

“On facts and evidence, they failed, on technicalities and irregularities they failed as well. The Justices may not have said so, out of respect for the institution of the courts and our democracy, but certainly they must have known that the petition was a waste of time. Any reasonable person would know that.

“The petition was bound to fail - in whatever direction it took. And it will fail again”.

BMO argued that Atiku’s appeal was to satisfy the pressure of marabouts who had deceived him into believing that he stood a chance at the polls and in the courts.

“What the Supreme Court will do is put a final nail in the coffin where PDP and Atiku’s petition lies. We strongly believe the Supreme Court would do nothing less than striking out the appeal of the PDP”.

Niyi Akinsiju
Chairman

Cassidy Madueke
Secretary