₦airaland Forum

The organised labour on Tuesday signed a 15-point memorandum of understanding with the Federal Government.

The agreement was signed as a last minute effort to avert the planned nationwide strike.

It came after a meeting held between both parties, the second one in 24 hours.

The memorandum of understanding was signed by the representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, the Trade Union Congress, TUC, and the Federal Government.

Details below:

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REACHED BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA AND THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC) AND TRADE UNION CONGRESS OF NIGERIA (TUC) AS A RESULT OF DISPUTE ARISING FROM WITHDRAWAL OF SUBSIDY ON THE PRICE OF PREMIUM MOTOR SPIRIT (PMS) ON MONDAY, THE 2ND DAY OF OCTOBER, 2023

Arising from the withdrawal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the Federal Government and the resultant increase in the price of the commodity, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) issued a strike notice which had elapsed and they were poised to embark on a strike billed to commence on Tuesday, the 3rd of October, 2023. Consequently, a meeting was called by the Federal Government to avert the strike and after much discussion, the following agreements were reached:

1. The Federal Government grants a wage award of N35,000 (thirty-five thousand Naira) only to all Federal Government workers beginning from the month of September pending when a new national minimum wage is expected to have been signed into law.

2. A minimum wage committee shall be inaugurated within one month from the date of this agreement.

3. Federal Government suspends collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) on Diesel for six months beginning from October, 2023.

4. Federal Government accepts to vote N100 billion for the provision of high capacity CNG buses for mass transit in Nigeria. Provisions are also being made for initial 55,000 CNG conversion kits to kick start an auto gas conversion programme, whilst work is ongoing on state-of-the-art CNG stations nationwide. The rollout aims to commence by November with pilots across 10 campuses nationwide.

5. The Federal Government plans to implement various tax incentive measures for private sector and the general public.

6. On the leadership crises rocking the NURTW and the purported proscription of RTEAN, the Federal Government commits to handling Labour matters in line with relevant ILO Conventions and Nigerian Labour Acts. A resolution of the ongoing impasse is expected by or before October 13.

7. The issue of outstanding Salaries and Wages of Tertiary Education workers in Federal-owned educational institutions is being referred to Ministry of Labour and Employment for further engagement.

8. The Federal Government commits to pay N25,000 per month for three months starting from October, 2023 to 15 million households, including vulnerable pensioners.

9. The Federal Government will increase its initiatives on subsidized distribution of fertilizers to farmers across the country.

10. The Federal Government should urge State Government through the National Economic Council and Governors Forum to implement wage award for their workers. Similar consideration should also be given to local government and private sector workers.

11. The Federal Government commits to the provision of funds as announced by the President on the 1st of August broadcast to the Nation for Micro and Small Scale Enterprises. The MSMEs beneficiaries should commit to the principle of decent jobs.

12. A joint visitation will be made to the refineries to ascertain their rehabilitation status.

13. All parties commit to henceforth abide by the dictates of Social dialogue in all our future engagements.

14. The NLC and TUC accept to suspend for 30 days the planned Indefinite Nationwide strike scheduled to begin, Tuesday, the 3rd of October, 2023.

15. This Memorandum shall be filed with the relevant Court of competent jurisdiction within one (1) week as consent judgment by the Federal Government.

Mr Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has advised Nigerians to explore the path of dialogue in resolving the country’s numerous challenges.

He said this at a public lecture/special Jummu’a prayer held in Abuja, as part of activities to commemorate Nigeria’s 63rd Independence anniversary.

The Minister, represented by Mr Danlami Ihayyo, the Mandate Secretary, Education Secretariat in the FCT, said Nigeria had been faced with many challenges since independence, saying however, that President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda, marked a new beginning for the country.

He said that the 63rd anniversary would serve as a new beginning for the country in line with Tinubu’s agenda.

Wike, who was the guest speaker, underscored the need to key into the agenda to address the nation’s socio-economic challenges.

While describing the topic as apt, the minister said, “It underscores the importance of addressing the socio-economic challenges our nation faces.

“And, hopefully, it would present a new perspective and a renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

“Nigeria is still waxing strong in terms of successes recorded across all sectors of the economy, in spite of numerous plights.”

He, however, advised Nigerians to acknowledge the persistent challenges ranging from poverty, unemployment, inadequate infrastructure and insecurity as tools to revitalise the country and to impact on Nigerians positively.

The Nasarawa State Police Command has nabbed 18 suspected kidnappers from different locations within the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ramhan Nansel, made the disclosure during a press briefing in Lafia, the state capital, on Friday.

Nansel revealed that two suspects were apprehended while attempting to acquire additional ammunition and firearms, maintaining that the law enforcement’s proactive approach to curbing criminal activities led to the success of the operation.

Most of the suspects have reportedly confessed to their involvement in the crimes and are actively cooperating with the police.

Ramhan further noted that investigation has led to the discovery of a criminal hideout in Wassa village in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where arms were successfully recovered.

He added that, based on intelligence, the police have arrested suspected kidnappers operating in Nassarawa-Eggon, Akwanga, and Kokona Local Government Areas of Nasarawa state.

The police also paraded four others for suspected involvement in cult activities. Four guns, 11 rounds of ammunition, and a vehicle were among the exhibits recovered from criminal hideouts.

The PPRO attributed this successful operation to the collective support received from members of the public, traditional rulers, other security agencies, and the media.

He, however, said that investigations are ongoing and upon conclusion, the suspects will be charged to court for prosecution.

The Nasarawa State Police Command has apprehended one Mr. Adamu Sani for allegedly raping two of his nieces, aged 10 and 4, in the Karu Local Government Area of the state.

DSP Ramhan Nansel, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, made the disclosure during a press conference held in Lafia on Friday.

The announcement was made while parading 29 suspected criminals apprehended for various crimes across the 13 local government areas of the state.

Ramhan explained that the arrest was carried out after the Mararaba ‘B; Division received a complaint about the rape of two minors.

“Recently, a complaint was lodged at Mararaba ‘B’ Division, detailing a harrowing incident where two young girls aged Ten (10) and Four (4) years were allegedly raped by their Uncle.

“The girls were left in the custody of Mr. Adamu Sani, the younger brother of the complainant, while their parents were out trying to make ends meet. The perpetrator warned them not to inform their parents about the assault.

“In response to the complaint, Police operatives swiftly swung into action, apprehending the suspect. The investigation into this distressing matter is currently ongoing.”

Nansel, while parading other suspected criminals, disclosed the arrest of two other suspected rapists who allegedly raped an 8-year-old girl in an uncompleted building in the Akwanga LGA of the state.

He added that their arrest was possible due to painstaking efforts by officers of the Command.

“On 05/09/2023 at about 3 pm, a complaint was lodged at Akwanga Division that, the duo of Abdullahi Ibrahim and Muhtari Abdullahi conspired and lured an 8 years old girl into an uncompleted building where they took turns to have unlawful carnal knowledge of her.

“Reacting to the unsavory development, Police operatives immediately launched a manhunt for the suspects and got them arrested. They have confessed to the crime.”

The Police spokesman warned all criminal elements in the state to leave without further delay, adding that the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded at the State Criminal Investigation Department.

Jigawa State Government has declared Thursday, September 28, 2023, as work free day to celebrate the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).

This was contained in a statement signed by the State Head of the Civil Service, Alhaji Muhammad K. Dagaceri, made available to .ng by the Public Relations Officer, Office of the Head of the Civil Service, Ismaila Ibrahim Dutse.

He enjoined workers in the State to utilize the period and pray for Allah’s protection and guidance to leaders and for peace and progress of the State and the country in general.

This is coming after the Federal Government declared Wednesday 27th September as public holiday in commemoration of this year’s Eid-ul-Maulud celebration.

A Kaiama Magistrate Court in Kwara North Senatorial District has sentenced a 24-year-old man, Tashiu Aminu Lulu to five years imprisonment.

Magistrate Abubakar Ahmed Boro convicted Tashiu for criminal charm, assault, force and gross indecency on an 18-year-old girl, Halirat Ismaila.

He reportedly committed the act on September 20, 2023, at about 16.25 hours in Woro Community of Kaiama Local Government in the state.

The convict was arrested by the personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, Kaiama Division, based on a complaint from one Halirat Ismaila who accused the suspect of criminal charm, assault and gross indecency.

According to Halirat, “The suspect called her on phone to come over to his house, she allegedly left her house unconsciously and on getting to the suspect’s house, he ordered her to pull off her clothes which she did unconsciously too.

“The suspect thereafter took a razor blade and cut some hair from her head, armpit, and private part. He commanded her to do some incantations with a calabash in her hands and thereafter had sex with her.

“She alleged that since then, she has been having terrible dreams.”

The state Commandant Umar J.G Mohammed ordered a thorough investigation into the matter and in the cause of interrogations, the suspect confessed to the crimes. The matter was handled at the Kaima division of the Command.

The suspect was prosecuted for Criminal Charm (217), Criminal Assault and Force (268) and Gross Indecency (285) of the Penal Code respectively.

The suspect pleaded guilty and was handed a 5-year imprisonment at Okekura correctional service, Ilorin, the state capital while his charm was publicly destroyed and burnt at the court premises.

A man, Isiaka Abdulsamad, has been handed over to the police in Lokoja, Kogi State, for raising a false alarm over alleged disappearance of his manhood.

.ng observed that reports of ‘missing manhood’ have been trending in several parts of the country in recent times, with many individuals manhandled and in some cases lynched after being accused of stealing other peoples’ genitals.

It was gathered that security operatives attached to the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, apprehended Abdulsamad and handed him over to the police after he ‘wrongly’ accused a staff of the institution of stealing his manhood.

The incident was disclosed in a statement made available to .ng on Thursday by the Head, Public Relations and Protocol Unit of the Polytechnic, Mrs Uredo Omale.

According to the statement, Abdulsamad accused the unidentified staff of the Polytechnic of stealing his manhood after taking his Post-UTME examination in the main campus of the institution, on Wednesday, 20th September, 2023.

The statement explained further, “In the course of the examination, he beckoned on one of the invigilators who is a staff of Kogi State Polytechnic to put him through the log-in details for the examination.

“He however came back to the hall after he was through with the examination and raised false alarm that his manhood was missing, accusing the invigilator who earlier assisted him of being responsible.

“The management of the Polytechnic directed the security unit to transfer the case to the Police for thorough investigation.

“Preliminary investigation by the Police and further medical examination carried out at the Police Clinic, proved that Mr. Isiaka Abdulsamad had no problem with his manhood. This confirmed that he fabricated the story in an attempt to gain attention on trending delicate stories of manhood theft.”

Meanwhile, the management of Kogi State Polytechnic has advised the general public to disregard any rumour that a candidate’s manhood was stolen on the campus of the institution.

The Polytechnic’s management also advised members of the public to desist from making false claims on missing genital organs against innocent individuals.

Operatives of Karasuwa Divisional Police Station in Yobe State have arrested two men suspected of supplying bandits with arms and ammunition. The suspects were caught in possession of a rocket launcher.

This is contained in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Yobe State Command, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim.

According to the PPRO the two suspects, identified as Hassan Abubakar, 35, and Abubakar Shehu, 32, were both from Maradun, Zamfara State.

“The first suspect, Hassan Abubakar, was arrested while driving an 18-seater bus in Karasuwa on a mission to collect RPMG. He was intercepted after collecting the mortar.

“The first suspect confessed that the second suspect, Abubakar Shehu, was a bandits’ courier in Zamfara State and was trailed and arrested in Maradun by Police Detectives from Yobe state command, ” the PPRO said.

He added that the suspects are allegedly supplying firearms to bandits in Zamfara, Kano, Niger, Zaria, and Yobe states among others.

DSP Abdulkarim further disclosed that, investigation is ongoing as the suspects are fully cooperating.

“Commissioner of Police Garba Ahmad has pledged to sustain the tempo thereby encouraging officers and men of the Command to do more,” he said.

Veteran Nigerian singer John Odafe Asiemo, aka Daddy Showkey, has revealed that he has been receiving death threats following his comment on the death of rapper, Mohbad, who died in a controversial manner on September 12, 2023.

Daddy Showkey had, in an interview with media personality, Daddy Freeze, alleged that there was more to the rapper’s death and pointed singers at some powerful people in the music industry and society.

Returning to Daddy Freeze’s Instagram live session on Monday night, Showkey said he had been receiving threats from people in government since his last comment on Mohbad’s demise.

He said, “Daddy Freeze, do you know after my last interview with you, I received a lot of death threats? Do you know after that interview, even people in government were threatening me?

“I told them that they should go and watch your interview, did I said anything wrong? And what I’m saying, I’m saying the truth. You would not believe what I went through. I did not sleep throughout that night. They were just threatening me.

“Daddy Freeze, I don’t know what you are going through with all these things you are doing o. Because the kind of threats that they threatened me, I come dey talk say what of you?”

Policemen in Abraka, Ethiope-East Local Government Area of Delta State, have refunded the sum of eight hundred and ten thousand naira (N810,000.00) allegedly extorted from a victim.

The Committee for the Defense of Human Rights, CDHR, disclosed to .ng on Sunday.

CDHR Chairman, Comrade Amrevuawho Peter Edariese said the money was refunded between June 3 and June 7 in three tranches – four hundred thousand naira, twice, and ten thousand naira.

He explained that the ten thousand naira was for POS charges used in transferring the money from the victim’s account.

The septuagenarian tendered evidences of the transfer of the money.

He said the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, CSP Fabian, and his men in Abraka, Ethiope-East Local Government Area, are deeply involved in ‘heavy extortion” against Nigerian citizens.

Edariese said the Police in Abraka, on Wednesday, May 31, impounded a vehicle belonging to one Christopher Umukoro alleging that he altered on “hand note” given to him without proof.

He said CDHR intervened in the matter and demanded the refund of the said sum since the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Fabian, could not explain the alteration.

According to Edariese, the Police promptly refunded the eight hundred and ten thousand naira collected from the victim through a Point of Sale, POS, machine which belongs to a policewoman.

When contacted for comments, the DPO, CSP Fabian, in a text message he sent to newsmen, said,”Good morning i’m sorry i don’t know what you are talking about.

The Niger State Police Command has arrested two suspects over an attempt to ferry sixteen bags of suspected Indian hemp to Ndayako village in Mokwa Local Government Area of the state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), DSP Wasiu Abiodun, who made this disclosure in a statement in Minna on Sunday, said the suspects were arrested on September 6, 2023, based on credible intelligence received, by police operatives attached to Mokwa Division.

The suspects included; Auta Umar Saidu, 25, Mohammed Bala, 52, both of Mokwa.

According to him, “The said Auta was intercepted and arrested at Muwo village during an attempt to ferry 16 bags of suspected Indian hemp to Ndayako village.

“During interrogation, Auta confessed that he was sent by Bala to receive the bags from one Lawali, who brought the items from Ondo State.”

He explained that Bala was later arrested and both confessed that the bags were for sale, and they have been in this business together for almost eight months.

The suspects have been transferred to SCID Minna and they have been arraigned in court for prosecution.

A 28-year-old man, Misbahu Salisu, has allegedly poisoned his day-old baby girl to death because he prefers a male child.

The man, a resident of Doka Baici, Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State, was on Friday arrested by the Kano State Hisbah Board.

According to a statement issued by the Deputy Commander General, Operations, Dr Mujahid Aminudeen, the suspect had informed officials of the board that he gave the day-old baby a local insect killer.

The suspect also alleged to have drugged the mother of the baby, Sa’ade, with a cup of tea that contained sleeping tablets before allegedly carrying out his criminal act.

“The suspect confessed to the crime, saying he preferred a male child but his wife gave birth to a female, which prompted him to end the baby’s life,” the statement said.

He has been handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has confirmed that he will spend N5 billion to refurbish the Governor’s Office in Calabar to befit its status.

He disclosed this during an interaction with journalists, saying such an office ought to be the signpost in the state.

He said he will also renovate all the state liaison offices in Abuja, Lagos and elsewhere to similarly carry the same signpost insignia.

The governor stated that the state he met the governor’s office was not befitting, and that renovating it to befitting standard can even help to appeal to investors willing to do business with the state.

“I will not stop to spend money to make the governor’s office very befitting. It ought to be the signpost of the state. I will do the same in all our liaison offices.

“It’s when you make your abode or office befitting that will add value and appeal to investors. Filthy environments and poor architectural outlook can discourage.

“The renovations will be done with transparency. It is estimated that the costs of the renovations will be between N3 to N5 billion. But for now the contractors are working pro bono,” he said.

A 20-year-old man, Aondoaseer Agbadu, has been remanded at the Federal Maximum Correctional Centre after his arraignment at the Magistrate Court, Makurdi, the Benue State capital, over his alleged involvement in conspiracy and organ harvesting.

Agbadu’s remand in the correctional centre took place during a court session on Thursday, where no plea was taken due to issues of jurisdiction.

The case was brought to light when Alexander Swati, a resident living opposite the Benue Internal Revenue Service office in Aliade, reported a grievous case to the police on August 27.

Subsequently, the case was transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarters in Aliade to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Makurdi, as per a letter dated August 30, with reference number AR:3100/BNS/AL/VOL.4/258.

According to Inspector Godwin Ato, the police prosecutor, the events unfolded sometime in April 2023 when Agbadu, who resides opposite Union Bank in Aliade, allegedly conspired with unidentified accomplices.

They deceived and transported Swati’s 17-year-old son, Terungwa Swati, to Abuja.

While in Abuja, the prosecution alleged that they conducted a surgical operation on Terungwa without his consent or that of his father, harvesting one of his kidneys, and subsequently selling it to another individual.

As the police investigation into this disturbing incident continued, Agbadu was arrested and brought to court to face charges.

Inspector Ato cited that the accused had violated Sections 27 and 20 (1) (2) and (3) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act of 2015.

The Magistrate presiding over the case, Mr. Taribo Atta, has adjourned the proceedings until October 23, 2023, for further mention.

This delay allows additional time for the ongoing investigation and legal processes to unfold.