TheNewsGuru

Author: Emmanuel Bagudu

  • Gov el-Rufai disengages 19 political appointees

    Gov el-Rufai disengages 19 political appointees

    Gov. Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State has approved the disengagement of 19 political appointees.

    This is contained in statement by el-Rufai’s Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr Muyiwa Adekeye on Wednesday in Kaduna.

    The disengaged appointees are Bala Mohammed, Deputy Chief of Staff Legislative; Halima Nagogo, Special Assistant; Umar Abubakar, Special Assistant; Ben S. D. Kure, Special Adviser Political; Mustapha Nyusha and Jamilu Dan-Mutum.

    Others are Umar Haruna, Special Assistant Political; Zainab Shehu, Special Adviser Social Development; Stephen Hezron, Special Assistant to SAD SD; Mohammed Shuaibu, SSA Stakeholder Relations; Aliyu Haruna, SSA Youth; Halima Idris, SA Creative Arts.

    The rest are Aliyu Salihu, DG Public Procurement Authority; Ashiru Zuntu, SA Community Relations; Saida Sa’ad, SSA; Elias Yahaya, SA Programmes; Tasiu Suleiman Yakaji, SA to SSG; Samuel Hadwayah, SA Economic Matters; and Ahmed Mohammed Gero SSA Environment
    ”el-Rufai thanked the appointees for their service to the state and wished them well in their future endeavours,’’ Adekeye said.

    On April 12, El-Rufai made known his plan to disengage some public servants in the state for fiscal reasons.

    He said a significant amount of the statutory federal allocations is being spent on the wages of public servants monthly.

    “Therefore, the state government has no choice but to shed some weight and reduce the size of the public service. It is a painful but necessary step to take, for the sake of the majority of the people of this state.

    “The public service of the state with less than 100,000 employees and their families) cannot be consuming more than 90 per cent of government resources, with little left to positively impact the lives of the more than nine million that are not political appointees or civil servants.

    “It is gross injustice for such a micro minority to consume the majority of the resources of the State,” he said.

  • Why Presidency Lacks Power to Regulate Cattle Grazing, By Osigwe Ahmed Momoh

    Why Presidency Lacks Power to Regulate Cattle Grazing, By Osigwe Ahmed Momoh

    By Osigwe Ahmed Momoh

    In the wake of the of the Seventeen Southern State Governors’ meeting, held in Asaba the Delta State Capital, to ostensibly proffer solutions and suggestionsto the plethora of problems bedeviling this great nation, a lot of hullabaloo has been spilled, and very passionate opinions have been aired from several well-meaning public commentators especially as it relates to the ‘Ban of Open Grazing in the Southern States of this Nation’. The simple question that has been raised is whether the Governors indeed have the rights to so act?Painfully, it appears that this matter seems to be viewed from a regional or ethnic perspective. Having carefully considered this matter; I have formed a long and short answer to this question; my Short answer is that the Federal Government has no business in agricultural business under the 1999 Constitution (as Amended).

    For my long answer however, you will have to spend the next few minutes understanding why only the State Governments have the right to control agriculture in Nigeria. For clarity’s sake, let me state that this is by no means a political writeup, neither is it one that is borne out of any inherent ethnic or regional affiliations.A few years ago, I wrote a piece on ‘The Unconstitutionality of Ruga’; in the wake of thisdiscrepancy, I find my earlier piece apt and on all fours with a very salient point that seems to be ignored in this extremely delicate national discourse. It is to this end that I have decided to lend my voice to this topical issue, mostly drawing from my earlier writeup.

    I will commence with reproducing Section 5 of our sacred Constitution, and flow as slowly and smoothlyas possible so that save for bile or bias, one would most likely come to this irrefutable conclusion. However, it shall be my pleasure to welcome counter opinions since I am by no means infallible;

    Section 5 1999 Const (as amended) expressly states that, ‘Subject to the provisions of this constitution, the executive powers of the federation;

    (a) Shall be vested in the president……

    (b) Shall extend to the execution and maintenance of this constitution, all laws made by the National Assembly, and to all matters with respect to which the National Assembly has for the time being powers to make law.

    From the foregoing, one can easily pick that the President’s powers are not limitless, and cannot exceed the parameters set by the constitution. Simply put, ‘the President can only act on matters that the National Assembly can legislate over’.

    In that case, to fully appreciate the extent of the Presidential powers or the Federal Government’s might, we must take another excursion to the constitution, and unearth the power of the National Assembly. A Good government student knows that as far as legislative powers are concerned, they are entirely demarcated into Exclusive, Concurrent and Residual List. And this list involves the tiers of Government. The Exclusive List is limited to the Federal Government, the Concurrent List is open to the Federal and State Governments, and the Residual List is left entirely to the State(s) Government.

    Now, SECTION 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) vests the legislative powers on the Federation on the National Assembly which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. SECTION 4 (2), further gives the Nation Assembly exclusive power to make laws in respect to matters listed in Part 1 of the Second Schedule to the Constitution, i.e., ‘The Exclusive Legislative List’. A thorough and rigorous search on Part 1 of the SecondSchedule will reveal that every matter relating to Agriculture is copiously missing from this list.

    Furthermore SECTION 4 (4) (a) of the 1999 Const (as amended), gives the National Assembly powers to make laws in any matter in the Concurrent Legislative List set out on the FIRST COLUMN of PART II of The Second Schedule to this constitution ‘to the extent prescribed in the second column opposite thereto’.

    From the foregoing, we can make some valid assertions;

    1. Livestock farming/grazing is a wholly agricultural matter.
    2. The President’s powers flow from the constitution.
    3. The constitution limits the President’s powers to only matters that the National Assembly can make laws over.
    4. Only the National Assembly can make laws in the Exclusive Legislative List, however in the Concurrent Legislative List, the National Assembly can only make laws, albeit to the extent prescribed thereto.

    Our next academic voyage would be to dispassionately dissect and examine the Concurrent Legislative List. It is pertinent to state that by virtue of section 4 of the constitution, the State House(s) of Assembly can also make laws on matters listed in the Concurrent Legislative List.

    Since our focus is Livestock Farming/Grazing, and for the purpose of emphasis, Livestock Farming/Grazing or rearing of farm animals of whatever kind is an entirely agricultural matter; we have to take a clever look at the Concurrent List, since as mentioned earlier, agriculture is conspicuously missing from the Exclusive Legislative List.

    PART II, Item 17 (c) & (d) of the Second Schedule,states lucidly that the National Assembly may make laws for the federation or any part thereof with respect to;

    (c) The establishment of research centers for agricultural studies; and

    (d) The establishment of institution and bodies for the promotion or financing of industrial, commercial, or agricultural.

    As far as the 1999 Const (as amended) is concerned, the Federal Government cannot do anything or make any law, rule or policy on agriculture save for the matters expressly stated in the preceding paragraph.

    Perhaps any doubt or haziness as regards the Federal Government’s involvement in agriculture was further curtailed by Item 18 Part II of The Second Schedulewhich states that; “a State House of Assembly may make laws for that state in respect to industrial, commercial or agricultural development’’. I.e., anything, or any policy to develop or advance agriculture is the duty of the State Government and not the Federal Government. The Federal Government has been expressly limited by this constitution to only establishing academic facilities, or research centers, or promoting Agric–banking /financing, and certainly notregulating or controlling i.e., the nitty gritty of the agriculture per se. Grazing or non-grazing is glaringly under agriculture development and control. This matter is outrightly and emphatically exempted from the legislative purview of the National Assembly, and by extension the Federal Government.

    In AG FEDERATION V AG ABIA &35 ORS (2002)4 SCNJ 1, Kalgo JSC held that; subsections (1) (4) of Section 4 above set out all the powers of the National Assembly to legislate for the peace, order and good government of the federation of Nigeria. The Legislative powers set therein do not cover everything or every topic under the sun which affects the whole Nigerian nation.

    For the purpose of emphasis, permit me to further reproduce parts of Section 4 of our sacred constitution without sounding like a cracked record. SECTION 4 (4) (a), gives the National Assembly powers to make laws in any matter in the Concurrent Legislative List set out on the First Column of PART II of The Second Schedule to this constitution ‘TO THE EXTENT PRESCRIBED IN THE SECOND COLUMN OPPOSITE THERETO’ (emphasis mine).

    Please notice that as it relates to the Exclusive Legislative List, there are no ‘limits and extents’constitutionally imposed on the powers of the National Assembly to make laws. But as it relates to the Concurrent List, there are lucid limits and extents;meaning that it is by no means blanket powers and the National Assembly cannot exceed the limits, imposed thereto.

    So, are there any limits to the National Assembly as regarding her concurrent legislative powers on agriculture? The schedule listed research facilities e.g.,National Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), or Academic Institutions e.g., University of Agriculture, Makurdi, or financial institutions like the Agric Development Bank, or an ‘agric promotional agency and NOTHING ELSE! In clear terms, The National Assembly is limited to the expressly listed functions in respect of Agriculture in the Concurrent Legislative List.

    Since Livestock grazing/farming does not fall under Items 17 (c) &(d) Part II of The Second Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), it is only the states Government that has the constitutional powers to make laws and policy in this regard. Therefore, any law or policy, directly emanating from this Federal Government in this wise is glaringly, unconstitutional, ultra vires, null and void and of no legal effect whatsoever save for a constitutional amendment.

    You will notice that I have limited myself to the express provisions of the constitution in making the gamut of my point; the reason is because the constitution can rescue itself, and it mostly speaks for itself, all powers flow directly from the constitution in Nigeria any other law or policy that is either competing or conflicting with the constitution is void.

    No matter how deeply entrenched a practice or law is or has been, the moment it can be deciphered that that law runs fouls to the Constitution, that day the law or policy dies naturally. I firmly believe that in light of this expose’, one can conclusively agree that the Ban of Open Grazing by the Southern Governors is valid and that any attempt of the Federal Government to interfere, would be an exercise in futility and one borne out of misguidance or mischief as it is runs fowl to our sacred Constitution and therefore, dead-on arrival!

    Momoh is an Abuja based Legal Practitioner.

  • No amount of pressure will stop us from ‘rightsizing’ civil servants in Kaduna, El-Rufai insists

    No amount of pressure will stop us from ‘rightsizing’ civil servants in Kaduna, El-Rufai insists

    Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir El-rufai has insisted that his government will not be pressurised by Labour or any other group to suspend the sack of civil servants which her termed as an act of rightsizing the state’s workforce.

    The governor disclosed this in a state-wide broadcast on Friday.

    According to governor El-rufai, the state cannot continue to use 84% to 96% of its revenues to pay salaries of less than 1% of the population.

    The governor who gave himself a pass mark on his handling of workers’ welfare condemned the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) shutting down of the state who he described as criminal and an act of economic sabotage.

    “Persons on strike can withdraw from the facilities where they are working, but they are not allowed to stop those facilities from functioning….As your government, we will pursue accountability for the crimes that have been committed and seek remedies for our people.” The governor said.

    “We cannot continue to use 84% to 96% of our revenues to pay salaries of less than 1% of the population. The rest of our people, all 99% of them, need better schools, hospitals, water supply, roads, markets and support for agriculture to make a living outside government.”

    “We will uphold our oath of office to promote the welfare and progress of 10m citizens and we will not spend all or most government resources on the less than 100,000 persons that are public servants. Everyone can see how our urban renewal programme is changing Kaduna, Zaria and Kafanchan for the better. Even our adversaries admit that our social services have improved, and jobs are being created by the private sector due to a conducive economic environment.”

    “Therefore, we will rightsize the public service in the interest of the state. In shrinking the public service, we will reduce the number of political appointees and civil servants. We are verifying personnel records to remove staff without the required qualifications or with fake qualifications. While we exit unqualified and poorly skilled people, we continue to recruit more teachers, health workers and other professionals for our agencies.”

    “In 2017, we offered land for farming to the unqualified teachers that were disengaged. Not many took up the offer, but it is still available, along with access to concessionary funding for SMEs….”

  • We don’t discharge, harm patients during union action – NANNM

    We don’t discharge, harm patients during union action – NANNM

    The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives said allegations by governor Nasir El-rufai that it’s members at the Barau Dikko specialist hospital Kaduna absconded from duty is false and misleading.

     

    NANNM’s national chairman, Ishaku Yakubu disclosed this in a press statement on Friday. Yakubu also stated that none of it’s members at the Barau Dikko specialist hospital removed oxygen from a two-day old baby as the governor also alleged.

     

    He said “… the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) is an affiliate of NLC, and as such the Kaduna State Council is actively participating in the ongoing strike action as directed by her national body.”

     

    “No member of NANNM in Kaduna state has ever either in the past or present discharged any patient during any union action and even in the present allegation of discharge of patients in Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital (BDTH), the nurses did not discharge any patient. The patients left on their own considering the fact that services were withdrawn.”

     

    “…the accusation of our members removing oxygen from a Two-day old baby is unfounded and misleading to the public. The investigations carried out by the union have revealed how the nurse on duty helped to plead with the generator plant technician to allow the light in the hospital as a patient was on oxygen and to allow for the transfer of the same patient in the morning as the strike was to start midnight of 15th May 2021. Contrary to the allegations and false statements the nurse went extra miles to ensure the safety of the child and other patients, as it is known of nurses.

     

    The investigations carried out by the association also revealed that the baby is alive and doing well in one of the private facilities in Kaduna town. Videos of the interview with the mother of the baby and of the private hospital is available and will be made available to the media. The union shall take a decisive action against the perpetrators of this malicious and incisive allegations.

     

    The association wish to tell Nigerians that image of the nurse has been battered and these allegations are aimed at further discrediting and tarnishing the image and reputation of the nurses and the nursing profession, this is rather unfortunate and we wish to call on everyone to disregard this malicious and unfounded allegations.

     

    That the mass sack of nurses in Kaduna state from level 14 below is aimed at dividing the nurses and playing the “divide and rule” game. All nurses are part of this action as well as other health professionals, why single out nurses if not an attempt to divide the unity we share. More so, this is to strike fear among nurses to have them resume work knowing fully well that we constitute the majority of the work force in the health sector. This attempt will fail as we are together and not moved by these threats. As far as NANNM is concerned, no nurse has been sacked in Kaduna state as the rules of disengagement has not been followed which is part of the reasons for this industrial action.

     

    We call on the Kaduna state government to conserve the energy they are using now to fight nurses and use same to secure the release of two of our nurses are in the hands of kidnappers for the past 30 days. They were taken at their duty post as government workers and the kidnappers are making huge demand as ransom.

     

     

    The association want to assure the citizens of the state that we are committed to the provision of health care services to the public and to ensure they get the best but when the work force is unfairly treated then the best cannot be achieved. We solicit for their prayers and understanding during this period, the almighty will help us all….”

  • BREAKING: El-Rufai challenges FG, threatens to boycott peace meeting

    BREAKING: El-Rufai challenges FG, threatens to boycott peace meeting

    The Kaduna state governor Nasir El-rufai said “No official of Kaduna State will go to Abuja for any meeting with FGN or NLC when the citizens of the State have no electricity”

    Governor El-rufai disclosed this through his media aide Muyiwa Adekeye shortly after the Nigerian Labour Congress(NLC) suspended it’s statewide shutdown in Kaduna on Wednesday evening.

    The suspension of the strike was for the NLC to attend a nagotiation meeting the federal government fixed between the Kaduna State government and the NLC.

    But governor El-rufai is threatening not to attend the negitiation except all dysfuctional amenities are activated in the state.

    In the governor’s words;

    “We hold the FGN responsible for inability to asset its ownership rights over TCN. No electricity, no meeting. – @elrufai

    The Kaduna State Government is yet to see evidence that the NLC is backing off from its campaign of economic and social sabotage against the people of the State.

    Electric power is yet to be restored, after it was shutdown at dawn on Sunday, 16th May 2021, in brazen violation of the laws protecting essential services and infrastructure. That action removed any basis for state government officials to meet the NLC last Sunday. Denying our people electricity about 18 hours to the advertised commencement of their organised sabotage was akin to putting a gun on the government’s head. Government has a lawful duty not to indulge blackmail.

    Restoring electricity is vital to relieving some of the pain that needless acts of lawlessness have inflicted on our people. The unimpeded provision of essential services is vital to civilised order. Those who have disrupted it should promptly reverse themselves, not expect that it will be a matter for negotiation, much less being viewed as a precondition. KDSG will not participate in such a negotiation or countenance one whilst our people are still being denied their right to electricity.”

  • BREAKING: NLC suspends warning strike in Kaduna

    BREAKING: NLC suspends warning strike in Kaduna

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has suspended its five days warning strike in Kaduna State.

    Announcing the suspension, the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba said the decision is to honour the invitation of the Federal Government on Thursday to mediate in the dispute between labour and the Kaduna State Government.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that earlier today, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige waded into the face-off between the Kaduna State government and labour unions by inviting both parties to a reconciliation meeting.

    The meeting scheduled to hold at the Ministry of Labour and Employment in the Federal Secretariat, Abuja is to be attended by the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El Rufai and top officials of the State; s well as the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba and top NLC leaders.

    Ngige had directed the two parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the resolution of the issues in contention.

    “I am therefore constrained in the exercise of my powers as the Minister of Labour and Employment, under the Trade Disputes Act, CAP. T8, Laws of Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004; to invite you and your top officials to the emergency trade dispute conciliation meeting,” he said.

    Ngige’s intervention comes three days after the NLC started a protest following the disengagement of over seven thousand civil servants at the state and local governments by the Kaduna State government.

    The strike has paralysed critical sectors of the economy in the state and the state governor Nasir El-Rufai in reaction declared the NLC Chairman and other leaders wanted for economic sabotage and attacks on public infrastructure in Kaduna State under the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

    Details shortly…

  • Photo News: El-Rufai’s supporters hit Kaduna streets with banners showcasing governor’s ‘achievements’

    Photo News: El-Rufai’s supporters hit Kaduna streets with banners showcasing governor’s ‘achievements’

    Supporters of Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, have throng major streets of Kaduna in solidarity with the governor.

    The banner carrying supporters used the same routes the Nigeria Labour Congress used on day two of the protests.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that El-Rufai and labour leaders have been at loggerheads since Monday over the mass sack of workers from the state civil service.

     

  • Kaduna protest: El-Rufai power drunk says NUPENG, threatens to shutdown Nigeria if….

    Kaduna protest: El-Rufai power drunk says NUPENG, threatens to shutdown Nigeria if….

    The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) has threaten to shutdown Nigeria if Governor Nasir El-Rufai continue to handle the demands of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) with levity.

    NUPENG disclosed this in a press statement signed by its National President Comrade Williams Akporeha and General Secretary Comrade Afolabi Olawale on Tuesday.

    According to the statement;

    “NUPENG is deeply saddened with the violent turn of NLC peaceful protests by the dictatorial and despotic regime of Governor Nasir El-Rufai in Kaduna State.

    The leadership of the union is therefore calling on the Federal Government to immediately call on Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to order before his arrogance and power drunk ego further push the situation into horrendous calamity as he has been doing in all issues relating to human lives and wellbeing.

    Consequently, the Union reiterates that no Labour Leaders or workers as the case may be, be harmed, harassed, maimed, humiliated or victimized during this 5-day peaceful protests in the State.

    Our Union is raising this alarm following the very reliable report of the clandestine move of Governor Nasir El-RUfai to hurt and put the lives of NLC President,Comrade Ayuba Wabba and other Labour Leaders to danger in his usual blind egotistical style of running government in the State

    NUPENG therefore warns that if any harm is inflicted on any of the members of organized Labour, the Leadership of the Union will not hesitate to call on all our members throughout the nation for a total shut down of all our services in the upstream, mid-stream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry.

    In the light of the above, we are therefore putting all NUPENG members nationwide on red alert and may at very short notice of five hours call for a nationwide industrial action if situation arises

    Our solidarity remains constant for the Union makes us strong.”

  • El-Rufai roars again: We’ll dismiss Nurses below GL 14 that joined strike; arrest, prosecute NLC President, Wabba

    El-Rufai roars again: We’ll dismiss Nurses below GL 14 that joined strike; arrest, prosecute NLC President, Wabba

    Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has vowed to dismiss nurses of Barau Dikko Specialist hospital and others in public hospitals below Grade Level 14 that joined the ongoing statewide shut down by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

    In statement signed by his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai expressed sadness over allegations that some nurses disconnected the oxygen of an incubator hosting a premature baby at the Barua Dikko Specialist Hospital.

    The governor insisted that the ongoing shutdown is economic sabotage and criminal.

    The statement reads in part: “Today, the Kaduna State Government reviewed the sundry criminal actions that have defined the campaign of economic and social sabotage and lawlessness waged by the NLC.

    KDSG considers as unacceptable the serial violations of the Miscellaneous Offences Act and the Trade Union Act that have occurred over the last two days. The state government commends citizens for remaining calm amidst this assault on their rights and comfort and their businesses.

    However, KDSG cannot be expected to tolerate the brazen shutdown of electricity, attack on public infrastructure and buildings, locking up hospitals and forcefully discharging patients, unlawful trespass into public facilities and the wanton use of coercion and restraints of personal freedom by the NLC.

    Efforts to dress up criminal activity as industrial action do not change the reality of the lawbreaking that has unfolded, including their persistently ignoring the prohibition against impeding essential services. Also, KDSG cannot ignore the illegal pressures brought to disrupt the operations of banks and other private business whose staff and customers do not have any industrial dispute with the state or any other government.

    KDSG acknowledges doctors and some other categories of health workers that are trying to run public health facilities, but regrets that some nurses have joined the unlawful strike and engaged in sabotage of some of our health facilities. Nurses were implicated in the forceful discharge of patients in many health facilities.

    Reports from Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital disclosed that some identified nurses disconnected the oxygen supply of a two-day old baby in an incubator on Monday, 17th May 2021. The names of the three nurses from the Special Baby Care Unit (SBCU) who were involved in this despicable act have been forwarded to the Ministry of Justice to initiate prosecution for attempted murder or murder in the event we lose the baby.

    In addition, KDSG has decided the following:
    1. Ayuba Wabba and his senior confederates in the NLC are declared wanted, and will be vigorously prosecuted for violations of the Penal Code of Kaduna State, the Miscellaneous Offences and the Trade Dispute (Essential Services) Acts. They are advised to report to the Ministry of Justice and the Police Headquarters to take their statements;

    2. The Ministry of Health will dismiss all nurses below GL 14 for going on an unlawful strike. Salaries that could have gone to them are to be given as extraordinary occupational allowances to the health workers who are at their duty posts to fill the gap of those absconding from duty. The Ministry of Health has been directed to advertise vacancies for the immediate recruitment of new nurses to replace those dismissed;

    3. Any academic staff of KASU that does not report for work will be dismissed. The authorities of KASU are to submit a copy of the attendance register for all categories of staff daily to the Secretary to the State Government and the Commissioner of Education;

    4. All MDAs are also to submit daily copies of attendance register to the Head of Service;

    KDSG views the actions of the NLC as equivalent to the actions of the bandits kidnapping and menacing our citizens. Bandits illegally use arms, but the NLC is deploying mob action for exactly the same ends: trying to hold hostage the freedoms, economic interests, livelihoods and resources of the people of Kaduna State. It is a vain expectation that this government will respond differently to sets of unlawful actions that have the same ends.

    KDSG will not submit its treasury to the entitled minority. We will reform and rightsize our public service to meet the needs and resources of the Kaduna State even if the NLC strikes ad infinitum. The government remains committed to using all the resources it can generate to serve the interests of the majority of its citizens, providing social services beyond paying salaries, always putting the interests of the many ahead of the few.

  • BREAKING: Police apprehends thugs at NLC’s day 2 protest in Kaduna

    BREAKING: Police apprehends thugs at NLC’s day 2 protest in Kaduna

    ….. NLC Chairman Ayuba Waba addresses crowd at Ali Akilu road near Gov. El-rufai’s Residence

    Despite threats by governor Nasiru El-rufai to arrest the national chairman of the Nigerian Labour congress (NLC) and his excos, ongoing five days strike in Kaduna enters day two on Tuesday with more protesters joining in the campaign.

    Thenewsguru.com TNG gathered that the protesters thronged the Kaduna city centre chanting solidarity songs alongside the NLC Chairman Comrade Ayuba Waba and his co-excos of the NLC whom governor Nasir El-rufai Alleged are hiding. the Ayuba waba led protesters where seen marching along Ali Akilu road which is just about 6 kilometres from the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House (Kaduna Government House)

    Two thugs were reportedly apprehended with dangerous weapons. An eye witness, comrade Joshua Christopher told thenewsguru.ng, TNG that among the tug was a 14-year old boy who have since been handed over to the police. “A teenager of about 14 claimed he was paid paltry #500 to come and disrupt us. Thank God for the bravery of Labour members and a few securities who provided maximum protection to peaceful protesters. The end of tyranny in Kaduna is here” He said.