February 9, 2024
The organised labour consisting of the NLC and TUC, yesterday, issued the Federal Government 14 days ultimatum to honour its part of the October 2, 2023 agreement reached with labor to address the ‘massive suffering’ caused by the removal of subsidy on petroleum products and naira devaluation.
The ultimatum, which starts counting from today, was conveyed in a joint statement signed by president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) chairman, Festus Osifo.
Labor warned that everything must be done within two weeks to avoid a situation where the unions might be compelled to take appropriate steps to protect Nigerian workers and masses, which will herald a nationwide protest slated to begin on Friday, February 23.
This is besides the two weeks ultimatum given by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) earlier this week for the government to address the galloping inflation making food prices out of the reach of citizens or there will be mass demonstrations across the country.
Labour maintained that government’s failure to uphold its end of the bargain was regrettable and unacceptable to the working people and the citizenry. They alleged that the widespread hunger is now ravishing millions of Nigerians, with workers’ purchasing power significantly eroded, while insecurity has assumed an increasing dimension.
February 9, 2024
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have formalised tge agreement on the directive by President Bola Tinubu for earnings from oil to be domiciled in the apex bank.
Amidst rising economic crisis, especially the free fall of the Naira, the Nigerian leader Tinubu directed the CBN to handle crude proceeds going forward.
A joint statement by the two bodies yesterday said NNPCL would domicile a significant portion of its revenues and other banking services with the CBN.
The decision followed a meeting between the NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari and CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso in Abuja.
NNPC said the move would provide the national oil company with an improved platform for managing its cash holding obligor limits, aligning with directives from the Board of Directors.
The statement hinted that the CBN has introduced enhanced digital platforms and specific limits to oversee NNPCL’s transactions effectively.
The both expressed commitment to fortify collaborations and smoothen operations.
February 7, 2024
The All Progressives Congress; APC, in Rivers State, on Tuesday, challenged Governor Siminalayi Fubara to account for the N144.2bn federal allocation received by the state in the last five months, claiming that the impact was not being felt by the Rivers people.
the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, has however retorted by accusing the APC of “playing politics”.
The Chairman of the state APC Caretaker Committee, Chief Tony Okocha, during a visit to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, questioned Fubara’s management of the state’s resources.
Okocha said, “As a party in opposition in the state, we have received data of the sum received by the Rivers State Government from the Federal Allocation from June 22, 2023 to November 2023.
“The Rt Hon. Speaker, it is our finding that a whooping sum of N144,291,667,791.1 has been received from the federal allocation under the governor. This amount is outside the Internally Generated Revenue of the state, which is put conservatively at N10bn every month.
“We regret that this humongous amount has not translated to action in any way in terms of development in the state. What we see are heavily funded street processions and media-sponsored rallies in support of unnecessary political imbroglios.
“Fifth columnist and crisis entrepreneurs feed fat from our commonwealth. As a party, we shall not hesitate to punish any member of our party who is in the cohort in this gross financial malfeasance of our dear Rivers State.”
The APC leader urged the Assembly Speaker to keep a close watch on the governor, saying “And if you do nothing you are equally complicit.”
Responding, the Assembly Speaker, Amaewhule, said the legislature would continue to make laws that would benefit the people while it would amend those harmful to the people.
February 7, 2024
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare announced that it is implementing new strategies to enforce the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017.
The Gunshot Act 2017 mandates all hospitals in Nigeria to accept and administer immediate and adequate treatment to persons who have sustained gunshot wounds with or without police clearance.
It added that every person, including security agents, has a responsibility to assist individuals with gunshot wounds and ensure their swift transportation to the nearest medical facility.
In recent months, there have been reports of cases where healthcare providers, have turned away gunshot victims, citing the absence of police reports as justification, and has resulted in the loss of lives.
Spokesperson of the ministry of health, Patricia Deworitshe, expressed concerns about the slow or non-compliance by most medical facilities with the Gunshot Act 2017
“The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is concerned about the spate of gunshot incidences and refusal of some of the health facilities to administer treatment and care for the victim or patient without police report,” Deworitshe stated.
Deworitshe said that the minister of health, Muhammad Ali Pate, is working on the development of specific strategies to ensure nationwide compliance with the Act by healthcare facilities.
She, however, did not disclose the details of these strategies but said the minister called on all medical practitioners to comply with this national law by providing prompt treatment and care for these victims to prevent death
“The police is also urged to comply with and enforce the provisions of the compulsory treatment and care for victims of gunshot ACT 2017 with promptness as well as reassure the health facilities that treatment of gunshot victims is not illegal,” she added.
