TheNewsGuru

Tag: Strike

  • Controversy rocks auction of spectrum band for 5G rollout in Nigeria

    Controversy rocks auction of spectrum band for 5G rollout in Nigeria

    The auction of spectrum for the rollout of fifth generation (5G) networks in Nigeria is presently enmeshed in a controversy after a report emerged that Nigeria’s telecoms regulators shifted grounds to accommodate some bidders.

    Although, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria’s telecoms regulators has clarified the issue, the report had it that the Commission was forced to move deadline for the submission of the bid and payment of the ten percent fee of $20 million after it emerged that only MTN Nigeria had complied with the requirement.

    Recall that the NCC announced a bid for the 3.5Ghz spectrum band for the rollout of 5G network in the country, and set the deadline for the submission of bids for Wednesday, November 24, 2021. However, the telecoms regulators moved the deadline from Wednesday, November 24, 2021 to Monday, November 29, 2021.

    On December 1, 2021, the Commission announced that at the close of the bid submission date of November 29, 2021, three companies, namely MTN Nigeria, Mafab Communications Ltd and Airtel Networks Ltd had successfully submitted their bids in line with the requirements of the Information Memorandum (IM).

    Meanwhile, the NCC in a statement released by its Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, denied ever shifting grounds to accommodate bidders, stressing that the deadline was shifted following concerns expressed by industry stakeholders and potential bidders, including MTN.

    Adinde in the statement cited the strike by air traffic controllers of November 23, 2021, just a day before the deadline for the submission of bids, which disrupted flights operations in Lagos as part of reasons why the deadline was shifted, stressing that even MTN on November 23, 2021 communicated to the Commission via email, asserting its concerns about the air traffic controllers’ strike and how it is likely to impede timely submission of their bid.

    The Commission further stressed that the Business Day report is replete with misinformation, which the NCC said is capable of misleading industry stakeholders, the general public and undermining the integrity of the ongoing process for the auction of the 5G spectrum. The Commission also clarified that all three bidders are existing licensees of the Commission under different license categories and

    “For instance, the publication alleged that Mafab Communications is a relatively unknown operator in the industry, suggesting that it was not eligible to bid for the spectrum. The IM has clearly stipulated that new entrants into the industry can participate in the bid and if they are successful, the Commission will issue the entity an operating license in line with the extant provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 and its licensing regulations,” the statement reads in part.

    The statement adds: “It is pertinent to state that the Nigerian Communications Commission maintains an unimpeachable record and reputation based on precedents of open and transparent spectrum auctions over the years, which had earned it both local and international recognition.

    “The Commission is consistently guided by its well-established principles of fairness, firmness and forthrightness and wishes to assure Nigerians that it is determined to ensure the successful implementation of the 5G Auction spectrum, which is set to take place on December 13, 2021”.

  • Respite as NUPENG suspends planned strike

    Respite as NUPENG suspends planned strike

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has suspended its planned strike.

    This followed interventions and engagements with government agencies and institutions, including the NNPC.

    The union expressed gratitude to NNPC’s Group Managing Director, Mr Mele Kyari and his team of professionals over the roles they played in positively resolving the impasse.

    It stated that: “NNPC’s management has once again proven to the union and the nation that it can be trusted in matters of ensuring decency of employment and peaceful industrial relations in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

    “On behalf of members of our union, we promise to reciprocate these commendable efforts with hitch-free and effective distribution of petroleum products during the forthcoming festive period.’’

    NUPENG’s President, Mr Williams Akporeha and General Secretary, Mr Afolabi Olawale made the declaration in a statement issued on Thursday in Lagos.

    On Nov. 25, NUPENG extended a 14-day ultimatum earlier given to the Federal Government by seven days.

    The planned strike was to protest what NUPENG called non-implementation of agreements reached with government.

    “Some of the resolutions from these engagements include commencement of the processes to clear all backlogs of arrears of salaries and allowances owed contract workers of Oil Mining Licence 42 before the end of December.

    “The agreement and firm commitment to pay N2.13 million to each of the former employees of the big six contractors whose terminal benefits were short-paid in 2012 following the closure of the contract.

  • Air traffic controllers suspend proposed strike for two weeks

    Air traffic controllers suspend proposed strike for two weeks

    Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA) has announced the suspension of its planned strike and any other actions for the next two weeks.

    The group in a statement on Wednesday said the decision was taken after a meeting with MD/CEO of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) where it was agreed that a four-man follow-up and implementation group be submitted by NATCA to work with the management team in looking into their demands.

    Find below the full statement of the group.

    Sequel to the operational flow control embarked upon by our esteemed professional association on the 23rd November 2021 and the numerous calls and interventions by well-meaning Nigerians, the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA) wishes to communicate and clarify the following:

    1. That it embarked on Air Traffic Flow Control because an operational ATC flow control is part of the tools recognised by ICAO, and used worldwide in the event that there exist a deficiency or inability of the ATM system to deliver a safe, efficient and effective ATC service.
    1. That NATCA decided to embark on such process and to use such tool, after a deliberate due diligence indicated that due to some failures in the ATM system, it’s members could no longer guarantee the delivery of a safe, efficient and effective ATC service.
    1. That as a consequence of the death of one of our member on active duty under conditions which the executive council considers unacceptable by all standards, and the resultant trauma suffered by his immediate colleagues causing real apathy in its ranks due to perceived negligence on part of management.

    As a consequence of the above, the executive council agreed that, as a disciplined and responsible body, it cannot allow it’s members to operate to full capacity under such stringent and inadequate conditions, hence we decided that a reduced capacity is better, so as to safeguard and maintain a semblance of the safety standards established by ICAO SARPs and NCAR in the system.

    It is important that we clarify the above so as to correct some misinformation being reported.

    As a fallout of our actions, the MD/CEO of NAMA requested for a meeting with NATCA EXCO.

    The meeting discussed extensively all the issues highlighted by NATCA and it was agreed that a 4-man follow-up and implementation group be submitted by NATCA to work with management team immediately.

    That management of NAMA will immediately implement 3 crucial demands from NATCA as a show of goodwill as others are being worked on for implementation.

    That as a sign of reciprocating management’s action, NATCA shall suspend all further action on all forms of reactions as it further engages management on implementation.

    That the MD/CEO shall be the direct head of the implementation group.

    In consideration of all of the above, NATCA has agreed to suspend any further protests or actions for 2 weeks pending the outcome of the implementation of the 3 items agreed to.

    NATCA had earlier on Tuesday lamented poor working conditions and threatened industrial action following the death of their colleague, Aniekan Effiong Inuk, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    The group said they have lost nine members on active service due to stress-related health complications which seem associated with poor working conditions and inadequate staffing.

    They announced the commencement of three-hour flow control for two days affecting flight operations in the country.

  • BREAKING: Train services resume as railway workers call off 3-day warning strike

    BREAKING: Train services resume as railway workers call off 3-day warning strike

    Workers of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) have called off their three-day warning strike as train services are bound to resume once again across the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the railway workers called off the strike following a Friday’s meeting between them and the federal ministry of transport in Abuja.

    The railway workers also held a meeting with the NRC board and the management of the railway corporation.

    Read communique issued by the workers following the meetings below:

    COMMUNIQUE OF RESOLUTIONS MADE AFTER THE MEETINGS WITH THE NRC BOARD IN ABUJA AND ANOTHER WITH THE FMOT, NRC MANAGEMENT, AND THE LEADERSHIP OF NUR & SSA IN IKEJA LAGOS ON FRIDAY, 19TH NOVEMBER 2021 OVER THE WORKERS’ AGITATION FOR ENHANCED SALARY REGIME; IMPROVED WELFARE, ET AL

    The followings are the resolutions made between the above captioned parties:

    i. a committee has been set up with immediate effect on the review of the standard condition of service with timeline lasting to the 31st day of January 2022;

    ii. it has been agreed that the personal data on deceased workers be collected for processing for immediate payment as every worker is already covered by the group life assurance scheme;

    iii. it has been agreed that all the train crews be given insurance cover as the train passengers and the goods in transit;

    iv. enhanced salary regime has been taken up as a priority by the NRC Board and FMoT with a view to securing approval for implementation in the earliest time possible;

    v. it has been agreed that no member of staff shall be victimized as a result of his/her participation in the 3-day industrial action of November 2021;

    vi. by this communique and foregoing resolutions, the 3-day warning strike action is hereby suspended. Therefore, workers are hereby directed to resume work with immediate effect.

    TNG reports the communique was signed by Comr. Aliyu Mainasara, PG, SSA; Comr. Innocent L. Ajiji, PG NUR, and Dr. Mrs. Monsurat O. Omotayo, Director Admin/HR for NRC management.

    The development means train services will resume across the country with schedules as usual from Saturday, 20th November 2021, an NRC official confirmed to TNG.

  • Railway workers vow to continue warning strike

    Railway workers vow to continue warning strike

    As the three-day warning strike reached its second day, the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NURW), has vowed to continue its strike until it has clear and convincing reasons to suspend the strike.

    The President, NURW, Mr Innocent Ajiji, however, on Friday in Lagos said that the union is willing to negotiate with the management of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC).

    Ajiji said the union hopes that the meeting with the management would yield a positive result, saying “If nothing positive comes out, we will have to complete our three-day warning strike; and after the warning strike, we will give the management time to see what it will do about our demands.

    “If the time we gave to government lapses without them doing anything, then we will embark on total strike,” he said.

    The railway workers had on Nov. 18 commenced a three-day nationwide warning strike which paralysed activities at railway stations across the country.

    Some of their demands include demand for rents to the occupants of the demolished quarters at Alagomeji Loco area beyond one year rent given them in 2018 when their quarters were demolished for the construction of Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway.

    Among others are the non-payment of promotion arrears for 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021; report of skipped and unpaid monthly salaries of some workers, especially those who were employed in 2019.

  • Strike: FG promises to address ASUU’s basic demand within 7days

    Strike: FG promises to address ASUU’s basic demand within 7days

    The Federal Government on Thursday in Abuja said that it would address the basic demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) next week.

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, disclosed this at a tripartite meeting organised by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, the government and the union.

    It would be recalled that ASUU had issued a three-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to honour agreements reached or the union would commence a strike.

    The union had demanded the release of N30 billion as part of the first tranche of Universities Revitalisation Fund.

    The union also demanded the release of N22.12 billion which is to be paid to its members as earned allowances.

    The union also insisted on the implementation of University Transparency Accountability Solutions (UTAS) and a re-negotiation of the 2009 agreement between the union and the Federal Government.

    Addressing the meeting, Zainab said that the process to meet the demands of the union had commenced and that the monies would be paid before the end of next week.

    She said that the efficiency of UTAS was still being verified by the relevant agencies and would be implemented when concluded.

    She also said that the process for the commencement of the re-negotiations of the agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU had started.

    Eairler, Gbajabiamila said that he called the meeting so that the issues of strike would be addressed once and for all.

    Gbajabiamila said that the consequences of interrupting the education process was enormous and that the unintended consequences were more deadly.

    “We cannot sit here as leaders and watch things fall apart; education is very important and no amount of money put into it is too much.

    “This cannot be a perennial exercise, strike cannot be a tool we use all the time; it should be the last resort after all other efforts have failed.

    “We need to resolve this issue once and for all,” he said.

    The President of ASUU, Prof. Victor Emmanuel, said that the union had given the government a three-week ultimatum after which it would commence the strike.

    He said that he would convey the information to the members of the union and would bring their response back to the speaker.

  • Train services grounded, passengers in disarray as railway workers begin strike

    Train services grounded, passengers in disarray as railway workers begin strike

    Railway workers in Nigeria under the aegis of Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NUR) and the Senior Staff Association (SSA) of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) have started their three-day warning strike.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the strike by the railway workers started on Wednesday midnight and will persist until Saturday 20th November 2021 if no intervention by the federal government.

    The strike has grounded train services in the country and thrown passengers who have already acclimatized to the service in disarray. The routes affected by the strike are: Abuja Kaduna Train Service (AKTS), Warri Itakpe Train Service (WITS) and Lagos Ibadan Train Service (LITS).

    The railway workers are demanding better salaries, improved welfare and standard condition of service. They have warned that they may be forced to embark on a protracted strike after the three day strike if there are no answers to their demands.

    A meeting by the workers with the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi to address the demand ended in a deadlock last weekend.

    Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Eric Ojekwe, and the spokesperson for NRC, Yakub Mahmood proved abortive at the time of filing this report.

    However, an NRC official confirmed to TNG that indeed the strike had commenced, stressing that there was no way they would have backed out when their demands had not been met.

    “We are not working today. The strike has started. It will stay so until Saturday. But on Sunday, we will resume normal train services.

    “However, after resuming on Sunday, we will await further instructions from our union leaders. I know we will embark on another strike if we don’t get a response from the government.

    “That strike will not be three days like this one. But we are hoping that before Saturday, the government will intervene for us to call off the strike,” the NRC official told TNG.

    TNG reports about 11,000 railway workers of the NRC spread across the country are partaking in the three-day warning strike.

    The strike activities, according to a joint statement issued by NUR and SSA NRC branch, include “fervent intercessory prayers” for success of the strike.

    The statement reads in part: “That the strike activities, which must include fervent intercessory prayers for the success of the struggles, should be within the premises of the Corporation and must be essentially orderly, well-organized, and devoid of any destruction or violation of railway assets, our assets;

    “That all the workers must comply and stay out of their offices but gather together behind their district union leaders to participate actively, peacefully, and consistently in the whole days of the strike without any fear or let;

    “That this planned strike action is just to send a warning signal to the right quarters to heed our demands for improved welfare and standard condition of service and may be followed with a protracted strike action plan;

    “That the district leadership of the unions should always await further directives from Lagos from time to time as may be deemed expedient by the national officers of the unions;

    “That every district must comply with this notice as any act prejudicial to this notice will be viewed very seriously and strictly by the leadership of the unions”.

    Meanwhile, the NRC had earlier in a memo signed by its Managing Director/CEO, Engr. F. E. Okhiria pleaded with security agencies to help protect railway assets across the country.

  • NRC thrown into crisis as railway workers across Nigeria gear up for warning strike

    NRC thrown into crisis as railway workers across Nigeria gear up for warning strike

    The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has been thrown into a crisis situation as railway workers across the country are set to embark on a three (3) days warning strike, barring any last minute intervention by the federal government (FG).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports railway workers across the country had declared a warning strike, which is expected to begin on Thursday 18th to Saturday 20th November 2021 if the FG should refuse to accede to the demands of the workers.

    The strike warning has sparked tension as the NRC now battles on how to secure the critical infrastructure of railway assets – rail lines, locomotives and coaches – across the country.

    A memo by NRC obtained by TNG that was sent to security agencies indicates that the Corporation is wary of the fate that might befall the rail lines, locomotives and coaches if the railway workers should eventually embark on the strike.

    TNG reports the memo was titled: protection of railway assets in view of the impending warning strike action by the two in-house unions slated for Thursday 18th to Saturday 20th November 2021 and was signed by the Managing Director/CEO of NRC, Engr. F. E. Okhiria.

    The memo was addressed to all train stations managers and coordinators, States Commissioner of Police, Commandant of Civil Defense and other paramilitary bodies, the Chairman, NRC Board, amongst others.

    The memo requests all security outfits in the country to be on standby to provide adequate protection for the railway assets. The memo also directed that all revenue collected should be banked by Wednesday, 17th November, 2021, while revenue collected by the evening of Wednesday are to be secured appropriately.

    The memo also directed shut down of train services appropriately by Midnight of Wednesday, 17th November, 2021 in the event the warning strike is not called off.

    “With regards to the impending warning strike action by the two in-house unions slated for Thursday 18th to Saturday 20th November 2021, the Board and Management have met with the two in-house Unions to deliberate and resolve issues and are still in discussion to avert the proposed warning strike action.

    “However, in the event of a strike action, you are please requested to do the following to ensure that Railway Assets are protected adequately: The RDMs, Managers and Coordinators are to prepare and shut down Train Services appropriately by Midnight of Wednesday, 17th November, 2021

    “The Locomotive and Coaches should be moved to a safe place as directed below; All AKTS [Abuja Kaduna Train Service] Trains are to be returned to Idu. All WITS [Warri Itakpe Train Service] Train are to be returned to Agbor. For LITS [Lagos Ibadan Train Service], all Ibadan stock to stable at Omi-Adio Station, while Lagos stock is to stable at Mobolaji Johnson Station.

    “All revenue collected should be banked by Wednesday, 17th November, 2021, while revenue Collected by the evening of Wednesday are to be secured appropriately. All RDMs, Manager and Coordinator should ensure that the Running Sheds and Workshop area are properly secured. All RDMs, Manager and Coordinator should also endeavor to alert all private security outfits under their jurisdictions to be on standby to ensure the safety of Railway assets.

    “The Commissioner of Police and Commandant NSCDC, are to note the above and deploy their Officers and men accordingly. This measure is to prevent unforeseen developments like violence, vandalization, stealing, wanton destruction of properties, among other vices,” the memo reads.

    Railway workers’ meeting with Amaechi ends in deadlock

    The three-day warning strike action by workers of the NRC is set to hold following the failure of a truce meeting held last Saturday between the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi and the leadership of the two labour unions in the rail sector.

    Recall that the two labour unions in the Nigerian rail sector, the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NUR) and the Senior Staff Association (SSA) NRC Branch had last Friday issued the 3-day warning strike notice over poor welfare packages for workers.

    Speaking after the meeting with the Minister of Transportation, the President of the Senior Staff Association (SSA) NRC Branch, Comrade Aliyu Mainasara explained that the request by the Minister of Transportation that the workers should suspend their planned strike before he can talk on review of workers welfare were rejected by the workers.

    According to Comrade Mainasara, “The meeting with the Minister of Transportation was deadlocked because he was asking us to first inform our members that the strike has been called off before he can discuss, with our efforts that have been put into reviewing workers salaries; but we rejected that suggestion.

    “We won’t call off the strike because we want to listen to efforts that are being put into reviewing workers’ salaries in the rail sector. To us, that is a mere political statement. We are tired of listening to such statements. As we speak, the planned 3-day strike action billed to start on Thursday will go.”

    Also speaking, Secretary-General of the NUR, Comrade Segun Esan explained that the Minister of Transportation left the meeting before any meaningful convergence could be achieved.

    In his words, “The meeting with the Minister of Transportation was held but ended in a subtle deadlock because the Minister left the meeting before any meaningful convergence could be reached.”

    A joint statement signed by President General, NUR, Comrade Innocent Ajiji, President SSA, NRC branch, Comrade Aliyu Mainasara, Secretary-General, NUR, Comrade Segun Esan and Secretary SSA, NRC branch, Comrade Kadiri Jibrin titled: “NOTICE AND DIRECTIVE TO EMBARK ON 3-DAY WARNING STRIKE NATIONWIDE“ had explained that a joint meeting held in Lagos on Wednesday, 10th November 2021, where the welfare of the workers of the Corporation was put before the NRC Management, has finally unanimously resolved that:

    “All the district organs (DWCs) of the NUR and SSA should, as a matter of expediency, summon a general meeting of all the workers of their districts on Monday, 15th November 2021 at exactly 10.00 a.m prompt and, in unambiguous terms, notify the entire workers of the commencement of a 3-day warning strike beginning from midnight prior to Thursday, 18th through Saturday, 20th November 2021;

    “That the DWCs of both the NUR and SSA should fuse up, resume, and function as their Districts’ Strike Action Committee prior to the commencement of the 3-day warning strike action and throughout the period of the strike and shall ensure full and total compliance of all the workers with the strike action as declared by the joint leadership of the two in-house unions;

    “That the Chairmen and the Secretaries shall be solely responsible for the sitrep (situation report) of the days of the strike action and shall escalate same to the national secretariat of the union for its information and necessary action.

    “That the strike activities, which must include fervent intercessory prayers for the success of the struggles, should be within the premises of the Corporation and must be essentially orderly, well-organized, and devoid of any destruction or violation of railway assets, our assets;

    “That all the workers must comply and stay out of their offices but gather together behind their district union leaders to participate actively, peacefully, and consistently in the whole days of the strike without any fear or let;

    “That this planned strike action is just to send a warning signal to the right quarters to heed our demands for improved welfare and standard condition of service and may be followed with a protracted strike action plan;

    That the district leadership of the unions should always await further directives from Lagos from time to time as may be deemed expedient by the national officers of the unions;

    “That every district must comply with this notice as any act prejudicial to this notice will be viewed very seriously and strictly by the leadership of the unions.”

    STRIKE: We’re pushed to the wall, our salary not more than 40k per month – Railway workers

    While the railway workers have threatened to go on the 3 day warning strike if their demand is not met by the authorities, they have said that their salary is not more than N40,000 a month, coupled with a lot of risks.

    The workers could not reach an amicable solution in their meeting with the Minister of Transport in Lagos, weekend. The workers demanded enhanced emoluments, improved welfare and protection in their services.

    President General, NUR, Comrade Ajiji, who is the leader of the railway workers in Nigeria, told the BBC Hausa Service in an interview, that they are embarking on the strike action because they were pushed to the wall.

    According to him, “we met because of the things we wrote so that the government will act on it and understand. We talked about an increase in salary and allowances of workers, and also the improvement in the welfare of workers”.

    He said in their meeting with the Minister, they could not reach an amicable solution.

    “We couldn’t reach an amicable solution. We were very surprised, documents we submitted about four months ago, we thought the documents had reached the President and that all our demands must have been approved by the President, but it is only today the Minister was telling us that the President has travelled, that he will present our grievances to the President when he comes back.

    “That means since all our talks with the Minister on salary increase, the President is yet to get the information. We started demanding a salary increase about 6 years ago. The Minister and the MD of Railway, included this in the budget proposal of 2021. When it was taken to the National Assembly, they removed the issue of our salary increment.

    “This is why we now want to down tools. If the trains are not moving, definitely our cry will be heard by the President and he will surely do something about it,” Ajiji opined.

    He further stated that the warning strike will commence on Thursday and ends on Saturday, after which they would resume and give the authorities sometime.

    “But if nothing is done, we will embark on a total strike and that would be indefinite. We have been patient in vain, for so long. The salary of a railway worker, let me tell you, is not more than N30,000, N42 to N43,000. The locomotive engine combined with the coaches cost N1 billion.

    “They will handover this train to someone receiving less than N30,000 to manage. How can he work with a peaceful mind? And a train carries over 800 passengers. The safety of these passengers is in the hands of the worker receiving less than N30,000. How can someone work comfortably,” Ajiji queried.

    Look into the cry of railway workers – Train traveller tell FG

    Meanwhile, a frequent user of the train service, who craved anonymity, has urged the FG to accede to the demands of the railway workers.

    He appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to especially listen to the cry of railway workers, stressing that the strike could affect the progress of train operations in the country.

    “We don’t need any breakdown of train operations at this point in Nigeria. The effect of such action will take us backward and this is not what we need now.

    “We appeal to the FGN, FMOT and NRC Board as well as the Management to consider the request of her staffers. If we fail to see reasons to the request of these people, it could affect the progress of train operations in Nigeria and those who have been looking for the destruction of train operations in Nigeria will take advantage of the situation to carry out vandalization on the tracks that took the government a huge amount of loan to achieve. This may affect the progress made so far in the railway sector in Nigeria.

    “Please do whatever it takes to stop this industrial action. Please PMB, only you can stop this situation now by giving the Staffers of NRC what they want. They are your children sir, extend your love to them as you had done to others recently. Your approval of their request will make them more efficient and more productive. We in this community believe in your capacity to approve their request because we know you are a good Father. We thank you for your consideration Sir.

    “To the staffers of NRC, we advise you not to allow yourselves to be used for any act of vandalism by the enemies of progress of railway development in Nigeria. Do not be part of those that are capable of destroying what you laboured so hard to build. Your pains and pangs are noted and you have a good case at hand. We are begging the Federal Government to consider your case. Do not ignite any form of violence that could lead to the destruction of railway assets in your districts.

    “This is a challenge and it is subject to change pretty soon. We have a listening President and he will surely listen to your cry. God bless you,” the train user stated.

  • ASUU strike will not happen – FG

    ASUU strike will not happen – FG

    The Federal Government has said it will begin the process of paying members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities their outstanding funds today.

    The Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige, who said he had yet to be officially put on notice by ASUU, said the government would not allow the union to embark on the strike threatened by the university lecturers on Monday.

    Ngige made this known on Tuesday while appearing on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television monitored by our correspondent from Abuja.

    “The strike will not happen. For one, I know that the fund to pay with is there and the Ministry of Education has assured me that by Wednesday they would emanate letters to make sure that the disbursement reaches the accounts of the various universities. We are not paying the unions directly, it will get to the universities’ accounts.

    “I will have a meeting with the Minister of State for Education who is the one in charge of the affairs now because the main minister (Adamu Adamu) is overseas on health grounds. I will evaluate the situation with him and we would make sure that the disbursement goes on.”

    TheNewsGuru recalls that ASUU has given the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum over the failure of the government to implement the agreement reached with it.

     

  • NUPENG suspends proposed nationwide strike

    NUPENG suspends proposed nationwide strike

    The National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers (NUPENG) on Sunday said that the planned strike by its affiliate members, Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), has been suspended.

    The strike, which would have kicked off on Monday, was shelved because of the intervention by the Federal Government.

    Mr Tayo Aboyeji, the South-West Zonal Chairman of NUPENG, disclosed this in an interview in Lagos.

    According to Aboyeji, the suspension is to allow union’s representatives and that of government to address the knotty issues at stake.

    “The leadership of the union after a brief meeting with representatives of government decided to suspend the strike in the interest of the nation.

    “The meeting with the government continues during the week with the assurance that the union grievances will be positively addressed,” he said.

    NUPENG had said on Saturday that the tanker drivers would commence strike on Monday over the deplorable state of the nation’s highways and other issues.

    Aboyeji said the union has lost many lives and property due to bad roads.

    “This is not the first time that we will signify our intention to go on strike but we have to call it off because it will generally affect majority of Nigerians but now our hands are tied,” he said.

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Sunday appealed to the drivers to immediately shelve their planned strike in order not to further hurt the economy and Nigerians in general.

    Mr Garba Deen, the NNPC Spokesman, made the appeal in a statement in Abuja.

    “While it is not the responsibility of the NNPC to build or rehabilitate roads, the national oil company reckons that any disruption in the distribution of petroleum products to different parts of Nigeria will adversely affect the business of the NNPC.

    “It will also endanger energy security, which the country has enjoyed in recent times.

    “In recognition of this, the NNPC wishes to assure the petroleum tanker drivers that in addition to the ongoing efforts by other agencies of government, the NNPC has initiated a process that will provide a quick and effective solution to the road network challenges as expressed by the PTD,’ he stated.

    “We urge PTD to immediately call off the (planned) strike and give the current efforts by the government and its agencies a chance to solve the challenges in the interest of all.

    “We also wish to strongly advise Nigerians not to engage in panic buying of petroleum products as the NNPC has sufficient stock to last through this festive season and beyond,’ he said.