ASUU blames VC as UNIPORT students disrupt congress

Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Port Harcourt Chapter, Austen Sado, has expressed regret over the disruption of its congress by students of the Institution.

Some placard-bearing students had gained entry into the ASUU meeting venue, disrupted the meeting while chanting solidarity songs.

The uproar follows rumours of a planned strike by the lecturers.

The Students Union Government, President of the institution, Sowari Dikibo said, “We heard the Lecturers were planning to go on strike. We also heard that they were planning to withhold the release of our results for the last semester.

“We don’t want that to happen. We want four years to be four years and nothing more. The situation whereby students stay more years in school because of strikes must come to an end.”

Reacting to the incident, ASUU Chairman, UNIPORT, Sado described the action of the students as the height of impunity for students and security to deny lecturers their rights.

Doctor Austen Saado said meeting was the usual ASUU Congress where issues affecting lecturers were meant to be discussed.

“We know where this is coming from and that is because the students would not have come here on their own without the backing of the management.

“They even gave them (the students) security to stop our meeting.

There was no way they could come in to disrupt our meeting. You just wonder why the security men were standing there and watching how the students molests us without any intervention,” Sado said.

Spokesman of UNIPORT, William Wordi denied the allegation.

DAILY POST reports that there were indications that the leadership of the Student Union Government were in support of the decision of the Institution’s management to sack one, Professor Frank Ugiomoh which ASUU wanted to deliberate upon.

ZAMFARA GOVERNOR ENDS PENSIONS FOR FORMER GOVERNORS, DEPUTIES

The Zamfara state governor, Bello Mohammed has signed into law, the Bill that repeals the law for pension and special allowances for former governors and their deputies,  former speakers and deputy speakers in the state.

The governor  also discloses that the previous administration left behind pension liabilities of local government workers, primary school teachers and civil servants, to the sum of ten billion naira.

According to the Zamfara state governor, Bello Mohammed, the repealed law would have cost the state Seven hundred and two million naira to settle the beneficiaries annually.

The governor blames the security challenges in the state on the lack of good governance and job opportunities for the  youth.

He emphasizes the determination of his administration to revive the economy and to make lives better for the citizens.

Governor Mohammed says, his administration will continue to focus more on development of the State, calling for cooperation, understanding and prayers, to enable the administration succeed

Governor Mohammed tasks leaders to be selfless and place the interest of the citizens ahead of theirs.

NLC EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR RATIFICATION OF INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION CONVENTION 190

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC has expressed its support for the ratification of international Labour Organisation convention 190 on the elimination of violence and harassment at workplace

In a statement signed by the NLC General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja, the labour centre reiterated its commitment to ending gender based violence at workplace.

Find full text below;

PRESS RELEASE IN SUPPORT OF RATIFICATION OF INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION CONVENTION 190               

In June 2019, history was made with the adoption of a landmark global binding treaty to eliminate violence and harassment in the world of work including gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH). For the first time, ILO Convention 190 (C190) defined violence and harassment in the world of work, recognized the right to a world of work free from violence and harassment, and specifically addressed GBVH.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is committed to ending GBVH in the world of work and supports the ratification and implementation of C190 by the government of Nigeria as soon as possible.  

C190 and its accompanying Recommendation 206 (R206) are powerful tools to improve the working lives of millions of workers, especially women workers, and those most marginalized working in insecure, low-paid, unsafe jobs.

In order to effectively eradicate GBVH in the world of work, C190 urges governments to address the root causes of GBVH including unequal power relations and take action to mitigate the impact of domestic violence in the world of work, recognizing that many victims of domestic violence work and should not be forced to choose between losing their job or keeping themselves and their children safe.

C190 reflects how work is organized today by covering all workers irrespective of their contractual status including informal workers. It also recognizes the changing nature of where work is conducted by not only covering the physical workplace, but also commuting to/from work, work-related communications, and where workers are paid, take a rest break or meal.

The adoption of C190 by the ILO to eradicate GBVH in the world of work is the result of a successful multi-year campaign led by the global union movement, especially its women leaders. When ratified and implemented, C190 will improve the lives of millions of workers.

We call on Nigeria Government to demonstrate its continued commitment to ending GBVH in the world of work by ratifying C190.

 

Emmanuel Ugboaja

General Secretary

--

NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC)

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

Paschal Bafyau Labour House

Plot 821/821 Central Business District

Federal Capital Territory

P.O.Box 10971, PMB 566 Garki, Abuja

Tel: +2348117077418, +2348117077419

E-mail: gsec@nlcng.org

Website: www.nlcng.org

LAGOS STATE PUBLIC SERVANTS TO GRAB N35,000 NEW MINIMUM WAGE

The Lagos state government has approved the implementation of a new minimum wage of thirty five thousand Naira for state public servants With effect from November 1st, 2019

This information was contained in a statement signed by the head of service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola.

The statement further explained that payment of salaries for the month of November is delayed in order to adequately process payment of the new wage.

Muri-Okunola said the approved minimum wage and consequential adjustments are more than the federal government's approved recommendation.

With the new wage, public servants on grade level 7 will now take home a 30 percent increase on their regular salaries while those on level 8 to 10 receives 25 percent increase and levels 12 to 14 gets 22.5 percent increase while level 15-17 recieves 20 percent increase.

The government then urged public servants to show more commitment, dedication and selflessness in the delivery of qualitative service to all residents  of the state.

ONDO STATE FORMER GOVERNOR, MIMIKO SUPPORTS INITIATIVES TO CURB MATERNAL MORTALITY

THE FORMER GOVERNOR OF ONDO STATE, DR OLUSEGUN MIMIKO SAYS TRAINING TRADITIONAL BIRTH ATTENDANTS WILL NOT SAVE MATERNAL LIVES IN THE COUNTRY.

According to @OFFICIALAITNEWS, MIMIKO MADE THE SUBMISSION WHILE DELIVERING A LECTURE AT THE COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES  ENDOWED LECTURE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN. HE NOTED THAT TRADITIONAL BIRTH ATTENDANTS SHOULD ONLY REFER PREGNANT WOMEN TO THE PUBLIC FACILITIES BUT NOT TO HANDLE BIRTH DELIVERIES.

MIMIKO WHO IS A MEDICAL PRACTITIONER NOTED THAT ANY FORM OF RECOGNITION GIVEN TO TRADITIONAL BIRTH ATTENDANTS AND EVERY UNTRAINED HANDS IS LIKE COMMITTING NIGERIAN WOMEN TO UNTIMELY DEATH ADDING THAT THE 2012 CONFIDENTIAL ENQUIRY INTO MATERNAL DEATHS IN ONDO STATE REPORT REVEALS THAT OVER 90 PERCENT OF MATERNAL DEATHS WERE LINKED TO MISMANAGEMENT OR DELAYED REFERALS BY UNSKILLED FAITH-BASED OR TRADITIONAL BIRTH ATTENDANTS.

HE EMPHASIZE THAT MATERNAL MORTALITY WHICH HAS BEEN ON DECLINE GLOBALLY HAS BEEN ON THE RISE IN NIGERIA FROM FIVE HUNDRED AND FOURTY FIVE PER ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND LIVE BIRTHS IN 2018 TO FIVE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE IN 2014.

HE GIVES THE SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES TO REDUCE MATERNAL MORTALITY AS POLICY TARGETING OF MATERNAL CARE, INCREASED PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING, ELIMINATION OF FINANCIAL BARRIER, HEALTH SYSTEM STRENGTHENING AND SUSTAINED POLITICAL WILL.

SIMILARLY, THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF KWARA STATE, KAYODE ALABI NOTED THAT POVERTY CONTRIBUTES TO THE UGLY STATISTICS OF MATERNAL MORTALITY IN THE COUNTRY ESPECIALLY WOMEN IN THE RURAL AREAS DUE TO LOW INCOME AND LIMITED RESOURCES HARDLY HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY PRE-NATAL AND POST-NATAL 

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#SAY NO TO SOCIAL MEDIA BILL" PROTESTS HOLD IN NIGERIA THIS WEDNESDAY

A Nationawide protest against the proposed Social Media Bill Holds today wednesday

Information gathered says the protest shall take place at all states legislature in the 36 states of the federation and the National Assembly

The plan to introduce social media Bill months ago has sparked nationwide condemnation, especially from those who think the move is a strategy to gag the media 

However some groups have release Numbers of Nigerian senators for Nigerians to persuade them not to pass the bill into an act.

*Here are the contacts of the current senators in Nigeria..* 

ABIA

Sen. E. Abaribe

08033129452 | enyiabaribe@yahoo.com 

Sen. O. Kalu

08034000001 | okalu@orjikalu.com

Sen. T. Orji

07082800000 | senatortaorji@gmail.com

ADAMAWA

Sen. B. Yaroe

08034050460 | bdyaroe@gmail.com 

Sen. I. Abbo

08066285112 | faradugun@gmail.com

Sen. A. Ahmed

aishatu.ahmed@nass.gov.ng

AKWA IBOM

Sen. B. Akpan

08055555188 | akpanalbert@hotmail.com

Sen. A. Eyakenyi

08035054282 | konssie@yahoo.com

Sen. C. Ekpeyong

08027785234 | chrisekpesg@yahoo.com

ANAMBRA

Sen. I. Ubah

09096655596 | senatorifeanyiubah@gmail.com 

Sen. E. Uche

08037620002 | u.ekwunife@yahoo.com

Sen. A. Oduah

08055084340 | senatorstella@gmail.com

Sen. H. Jika

08038666690 | jikahalliru@gmail.com

Sen. A. Bulkachuwa

adamu.bulkachuwa@nass.gov.ng 

Sen. L. Gamau

lawal.gumau@nass.gov.ng

BAYELSA

Sen. O. EWHRUDJAKPO

09031352791 | ogagadick@gmail.com

Sen. D. Diri

08036668698 | douyediri@gmail.com

Sen. D. Wangagra

degi.wangagha@nass.gov.ng

BENUE

Sen. E. Orker-Jev

emmanuel.orkerjev@nass.gov.ng

Sen A. Morro

08068870606 | abahmoro@yahoo.com

BORNO

Sen. A. Kyari

abubakar.kyari@nass.gov.ng 

Sen. K. Shettima

08034459047 | kashimshettima@gmail.com

Sen. M. Ndume

08109480004 | mohammed.ndume@nass.gov.ng

CROSS RIVER

Sen. R. Oko

rose.oko@nass.gov.ng 

Sen. G. Bassey

08034444555 | gershombassey@gmail.com 

Sen. S. Onor

08030998460 | irunandu@yahoo.com

DELTA

Sen. O. Omo-Agege

07033399937 | senator.ovieomoagege@gmail.com

Sen. J. Manager

08143103829 | jamesmanager2013@gmail.com 

Sen. P. Nwaoboshi

08037200999 | pnwaoboshi@yahoo.com

EDO

Sen. C. Ordia

08038403877 | engineercliffordordia@gmail.com

Sen. F. Alimikhena

08155555884 | falimikhena@yahoo.com 

Sen. M. Urhoghide

08033855557 | matthewurhoghide@yahoo.com

EKITI

Sen. A. Adeyeye

08023051100 | dadeyeye34@gmail.com

Sen. O. Adetumbi

08064487689 | senator.adetunmbi@gmail.com 

Sen. M. Bamidele

080911112 | amicusng@gmail.com

ENUGU

Sen. C. Nnamani

08022255522 | ebeanoglobal875@gmail.com 

Sen. Ikweremadu

08075757000 | ikeekweremadu@yahoo.com  

Sen. C. Utazi

chukwuka.utazi@nass.gov.ng

GOMBE

Sen. A. Kilawangs

amos.kilawangs@nass.gov.ng 

Sen. D. Mohammed

07068686699 | mdgoje1@gmail.com

Sen. S. Alkali

08026032222 | saidualkali905@gmail.com

🖕

Please if you are against the SOCIAL MEDIA BILL,send an email to the  various members of the NASS above .Rebrocast it to all your contacts.Lets use people's power to stop the  Bill

# SAY NO TO SOCIAL MEDIA BILL#

Dangote, Elumelu, others to receive Productivity Order of Merit award

The Federal Government will on Thursday confer the National Productivity Order of Merit Award on Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote; chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, and the Chairman of Channels TV, John Momoh among others.  

 According to @Dailytrust Newspapers,  The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday. 

  Ngige said that 25 individuals and 7 organisations were drawn from all sectors of the economy to be conferred with the National Productivity Order of Merit Award (NPOM).  

  He noted that the award has created desired competitive spirit among government officials at the Federal, State, Local government levels and the private sector who constantly strive to improve productivity.    

The awardees also include Prof Ishaq Oloyede, Chief Richard Onwuka Egbule, Deputy Corps Marshal Ojeme Ewhrudjakpor, Aishatu Abubakar, Hajia Vivian Idama, Georgina Ekpeoma Ehuriah, Prof Hussaini Doko Ibrahim, Abubakar Mamu, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd), Ahmed Umar Farouk, Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun and Prof. Benjamin Ozumba.    Also on the list are Chief Nabila Ahmed Saleh, Lawal Aliyu, Al-Hassan Saleh Yakmut, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, Leonard Nnamdi Ekeh, Sam Omatseye, and Oba Otudeko.    

 Others include Casers Group, Vintage Farms and Products, Dufil Prima Foods plc, Dozzy Oil and Gas, Krisoral Group, Kpakpando Foundation for People with Disabilities and Reynold Construction Company.    Ngige added that just as the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is committed to the overall socioeconomic growth and development of the nation in order to improve the standards of living, “the government is therefore conscious of the critical place of productivity in the realization of the Next Level agenda.”   He further directed all states governors to preside over the ceremonies (the National Productivity Day) as it is expected to be simultaneously observed at the all 

NIGERIA'S VICE PRESIDENT SUPPORTS SEX OFFENDERS PROSECUTION AT STATES LEVELS, FOR BEST RESULT

Nigeria's Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo says there is need to intensify the engagements of state governments across the country, in order to deepen advocacy against gender based violence and strengthen official efforts to prevent it.

  

The vice president stated this on Tuesday while receiving the Liberian activist who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 for non-violent struggle, safety and women's rights Leymah Gbowee

 

According to Osinbajo driving prosecution for sex offenders is best done at the state level, particularly strengthening the States to do so at the National Economic Council.

 

He emphasized the need for States to exercise political will in order to get the desired results, as well as provide the necessary funding to implement, working together with the private sector.

 

On the Sex Offenders Register, Prof Osinbajo said it was something that needed a lot of attention, changing the orientation of men in particular, to understand it’s a campaign that must be championed by men”

 

Earlier in her remark Mrs. Gbowee noted the prevalence of rape in and out of conflict zones with impunity across Africa, stating that the successful launch of the sex offenders register in Nigeria is a huge milestone and Nigeria has set the precedence for other African countries to follow.

Mrs. Gbowee who is visiting Nigeria, gave the keynote address at the launch of the sex offenders register organized by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) On Monday

Federal University Of Technology Akure, Expels Six Students for Bullying Mate

The Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA has expelled six students For Assaulting their  fellow student. 

 According to @officialaitnews This was confirmed in a statement signed by the institution's Deputy Director, Corporate Communications of Futa,Adegbenro Adebanjo .

The statement said the expulsion is sequel to the recommendation of an investigative panel which probed the incident that took place in an off campus hostel on Saturday, November 16, 2019. 

A video had gone viral Earlier this month where six students of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) brutalised one of their colleagues .

The Expelled students are  Popoola Olaniyi ,Oluwadare Tobiloba , Nandi  Jessica, Ajuwon Tolani,Emmanuel Funmilayo  and  Alao Olabimpe

The statement said the expulsion is in line with the position of Page 48 of the 2019/2020 Students Handbook which prescribes expulsion from the University for Students who engage in Physical assault or battery on another student outside the university premises.

It said the punishment meted out to the affected students is not to pander to the justifiable public outcry that greeted their odious act but in tandem with the rules and regulations as contained in the Students Code of Conduct as stipulated in the University Handbook and oath of Matriculation which all students are made to sign and subscribe to. 

Sacking of four workers draws angry reactions at Google

Google on Monday fired four employees on the grounds they violated data security policies, prompting ire among colleagues concerned it was retaliation for worker organising.

According to PUNCH Nigeria, One of the workers fired was connected to a petition against Google working with the US immigration and border patrol agency. She confirmed her firing in a message posted on Twitter.

A memo to employees titled “Securing our data” sought to correct what it contended was misinformation about the purported wrongdoing, saying it involved “systematic searches for other employees’ materials and work,” according to reports by US media.

Google, the money-making engine of parent company Alphabet, confirmed a copy of the note published by Bloomberg but declined to comment further.

However, a Medium account connected to a massive walkout by Google employees last year argued that the four workers were fired in an attempt to crush efforts to organise staff.

“Four of our colleagues took a stand and organised for a better workplace,” read the post by Google Walkout for Real Change.

“When they did, Google retaliated against them.”

Authors of the post contended that Google policies on data security were tightened to provide cover for getting rid of workers involved in efforts to unionise.

“They think this will crush our efforts, but it won’t,” the Medium post said.

One of the most powerful companies in the world wouldn’t be retaliating against us if collective action didn’t work.”

The Google workplace, long seen as a blend of fun, goodwill and free food, has been disrupted by employee opposition to top-level decisions, ranging from making contracts with the military to tailoring a version of the search engine for China and the handling of sexual misconduct allegations.

Google employees poured out of buildings at the company’s Mountain View, California, campus a year ago, filling courtyards and patios in solidarity with co-workers who staged similar demonstrations at offices in countries around the world to protest the company’s handling of sexual misconduct.