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  • New Minimum Wage : Payment to Junior Workers Aimed at Dividing Nigerian Workers-AWC

    The All Workers Convergence has berated the Federal Government for commencing the payment of the new national minimum wage to workers on Grades levels 01 to 06 while negotiations for other grade levels are still ongoing.

    According to the National Coordinator of the AWC, Comrade Andrew Emelieze, ‘’the labor movement in Nigeria has been challenged and so they must wake up from their slumber, the recent payment of junior officers in the core civil service, is a wake up call to the Nigeria labor movement.’’

    ‘’Apart from the fact that what is paid is more of an award, reason been that labor does not have any agreement with government on the final template, therefore the payment is just like an award to the Nigerian workers. It suggests a government that is trying to rubbish the labor movement in Nigeria and divide the rank and file of the Nigerian workers, therefore labor must wake up and face reality and equally stop all forms of romance with government’’, Comrade Emelieze concluded.

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  • Get Rich Quick Syndrome : Blame the Elite-Prof. Olagoke

    Prof sabitu olagoke 2The get rich quick syndrome has caught up with Nigerian youths and adults alike, and this has resulted in an unspecified number of unresolved cases of advanced fee fraud, ritual killings, armed robberies and other get rich quick crimes.

    Distraught parents and guardians are helpless, even as law enforcement and security agencies, who are saddled with the responsibility of protecting lives and property, have rather been more or less accomplices in these criminal acts

    Indeed, a section of the elite and the political class are a different set of accomplices, whose roles in these crimes have heightened the insecurity in the land.

    In this interview the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafuadeen-in-Islam Wordlwide, Porf. Sabitu Olagoke opines that the elite in society are,to a very great extent, to blame for the get rich quick syndrome among the youth and it would only take a miracle to reverse the ugly trend.

    Nigerians. most especially the youth are increasingly getting involved in get rich quick crimes. What do you think is the cause ?

    The get rich quick syndrome has been with us over the years and it featured some bad elements of the then Nigerian decent society, in an environment of the era of discipline. At this period we began to learn about some elderly people becoming wealthy in society without commensurate work value in their hands.

    The society’s suspicion drove them to realize that such people must have joined some secret societies, which makes it imperative that after death certain parts of their bodies are severed for recompense.

    Another version, is the use of human beings for rituals, most especially one of their children or kinsman.

    The cat would eventually be let out of the bag, either after protracted illness or sudden death after a short life span.

    The reaction of members of the society to the mysterious end of these people

    resulted in the placing of emphasis on the essence of discipline in their children, with the traditional philosophy of work as an antidote to poverty.

    This was the basis upon which our educational foundation were built, with the hope that graduates even of secondary schools, who might not be capable of furthering their education would be able to support their lives with ready made work to justify the little knowledge acquired.

    Unfortunately, people in high places started the bad culture of self-enrichment syndrome, against all odds of possible heavy penalties for breaking the ethics of the profession or the organization.

    This was what led to the first coup in Nigeria, led by 29 year old Kaduna Nzeogwu, whose team struck because of what they term as 10 per cent corruption, in government and business circles.

    The profile of poverty indices due to corruption and state of impunity xrayed by experts, put them into rising profile of 15 per cent in the first republic, 28.8 per cent in the second republic.

    Babangida and Abacha era put it to the maximum of 65 per cent, while the fourth republic failed woefully to control and checkmate these orgies of corruption, to start at 70 per cent, which attracted people’s attention because of its uncontrollable nature, despite all the state apparatus on anti-graft exercise.

    Psychologically, human beings are born robotic as education is for refinement, at least 20 per cent level from the classrooms, while the environment take 80 per cent charges to make or mar the animal called man.

    If negative influences overwhelms man, he returns to the beastly level of operation.

    Unfortunately in Nigeria, education is dysfunctional, with all the domains of education rendered ineffective.

    For example, apart from the literacy advantage of education from the realm of affective domain, attitudinal rectitude is supposed to be critically addressed to be responsible for character building of any graduate produced.

    Unfortunately, it is paradoxically ironical, to note that the so called enlightened elite, who we regard as educated, are to a great extent responsible for all the fraudulent acts in the society, not minding the oath of allegiance, loyalty and discipline already sworn to before taking up any appointment in the scheme of action building.

    Equally unfortunate is that corruption and impunity have for long found their ways into the Judiciary, where the era of incorruptible Justices seem to have gone for good and profanity has replaced sacredness on matters concerning the house of God making justice, equity and divine interventions to elude the society. Hence the travail of poor practices in governance.

    For our youth, they are products of these unfortunate circumstances and except through miracles, it would be very hard to produce children, who will not inherit the blood of timocracy and the culture of get rich quick syndrome. This is because the environment is hostile and all agents of socialization for the support of even growth of children have been broken down to pieces.Again, unfortunately, whenever we want to have any change of government, political manifesto is always absent with no ideological goals in place. Hence, our failure to address all these problems.

    Sad, enough, vote buying has replaced the ethical principles of the conduct of elections, making the society to remain pawns in the hands of any emerging government, that would prefer self enrichment at the expense of the welfare of the people.

    For sanity to reign therefore, we must put in place visionary leaders, who will be ready to sacrifice everything it takes to deliver.

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  • Kenya is 2nd in Innovation Ranking in Africa

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    The World Intellectual Property Organisation  has ranked Kenya second  in Sub-Sahara Africa, behind South Africa in its Global Innovation Ratings report.

    The report also state that Kenya has overtaken  other countries in matching  their level of innovation to general economic development.

    Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKuat), Moi University, Kenyatta University, Strathmore University and University of Nairobi  are among other private and public research agencies  in the contributors list.

    Both Jkuat and Moi University’s technology assembling plants are two major  innovation milestones achieved by the country. The plants have earned the two institutions multi billion-shilling international and local tenders.

    These institutions are saddled with the responsibility of  assembling and configuring  of the digital devices currently being used in the 2019 national population census.

    The institutions also pioneered the implementation of the Government’s digital literacy program and are key to the achievement of the Big Four Agenda.

    The report ranks  Switzerland as the leading innovation hub in the world., while Sweden ranks above the US at second position.

    South Africa, number one in Africa are ranked 63rd in the world while  Kenya is 77th and Mauritius 82nd globally. 

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  • Election Petition Tribunal Orders Fresh Election in Kogi West

    Dino melayeThe National Assembly/State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Lokoja on Friday ordered fresh elections in the  Kogi West Senatorial District.

    Senator Dino Melaye is the Senator representing the District.

    The three-man panel led by Justice Anthony Chijioke   upheld the arguments of counsel to Senator  Adeyemi  that irregularities, over voting and non-compliance with the electoral acts negatively affected the outcome of the election.

    In his reaction, Senator Melaye urged his supporters to calm down, saying “No cause for alarm at all”.
     

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  • Dwindling Tax Revenue : Govt Officials have their Own Receipts-Prof. Olagoke

    Prof sabitu olagoke 2Reports indicate that the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Abba Kyari, sought explanations from the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr, Babatunde Fowler, over the unimpressive tax revenue from 2015 to 2018.

    However, Nigerians have continued to groan under the multiple taxation policy of the Federal Government, even as they insist that the activities of the Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS) should be thoroughly scrutinized. 

    In April nine senior officials of the FIRS, mostly from the finance and accounts department including its Director, were arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) for diverting N6 billion tax funds that were supposed to be remitted to the coffers of government.

    In this interview, the Founder Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke opines that the fact that government officials have their own receipts, negatively affects revenue generation. Exceprts :

    The Federal Government has expressed worries over the dwindling revenue from taxes, what do you think is wrong ?

    Nigeria became worse under the civilian regime, than under the military for two major reasons : under the civilian rule, privileges are always accompanied with abuse, coupled with daylight collaborations, even to cheat in government.

    The issue of discipline has not been addressed in most civilian regimes. Discipline that ensures that the citizens do the right thing.

    Perhaps,. because our institution of Democracy is always accompanied with no due process and various maneuvers to constitute the executive, legislature and even in the appointment of Judges at all levels.

    This is why poverty indices and tax evasions accompanied with various corrupt practices are always on the increase.

    Firs

    With a direct consequence on government’s poor performance in the areas of the provision of basic amenities for the people, employment and functional infrastructure. The poor signal of virtual independence challenge of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) and the Judiciary alos contribute a lot in the areas fo regulation and control.

    Under the such a situation, the whole Nigeria and every sector of the economy wallow in them murky waters of endemic corruption that will never allow us to meet our budgetary targets.

    Apart from the foregoing, salary structure of the civil servants, most especially at the state level, is appalling and to meager to sustain the average Nigeria worker. This is another source of challenge that would ever facilitate the thriving of corrupt practices.

    Successive governments till date, have not been able to explain the reason why there is disparity in the wages of the state workers and that of their counterparts at the Federal level.

    When issue of social justice is to be considered, bearing in mind, that we all visit the same market to buy and sell for survival.

    Equally, government is yet to justify the jumbo pay of the political class, which is on the very high side, when compared to that of the civil servants.

    Are these not established channels to to support corrupt practices in the land ?

    It is on record that political office holders were once members of the civil societies, little wonder then, that they feel comfortable without any concern for the poor remuneration of the civil servants.

    However, if these defects are not corrected in good time, the efforts of the anti-graft agencies will never meet the expectations of the government and people alike.

    It is also on record, that in all tiers of government, Local, State and Federal, some officials, low or high, do have personal receipts which are always carbon copies of the ones government issues.

    This is why we have been having cases of workers on Grades levels 04 to 06 in government service, having fleet of cars and several mighty structures, kept in secret with fictitious names.

    The question now is, why is it that government operatives always fail to discover this kind of sharp practices, before the thieves complete their projects ?

    Why is it also, that offenders judgments, are always delayed and in most cases, influenced by nepotism and ethnicity to bail them out ?

    Lack of punitive measures for offenders is dangerous and would continue to make corrupt practices very attractive to those who believe in material things while shunning decency and exemplary lifestyles.

    The Federal Inland Revenue Service needs to be properly scrutinized and the outcome made public.

    The nine FIRS officials arrested not long ago, is an indictment of the service and an affront to the executive.

    The government will therefor, do Nigerians a great favor through be thorough, firm and blunt to be able to use the case of this government agency as a reference point for the search light to penetrate through all government ministries, departments and agencies which equally have skeletons in their cupboards and unprintable rot in their environment.

    Besides this, government itself, needs to be transparent and accountable for Nigerians to trust it because Nigerians expect period checks on the activities of the Ministers, aides of the President and state Governors as well as each of the policy makers.

    If government wants a high revenue turn over, from taxes, diversification of the economy is sacrosanct to boost production most especially in agriculture, mining and other areas of infrastructural importance.

  • Oyo Govt Should Enforce Borehole Drilling Regulations-AWDROP

    Nigeria 21The Association of Water Well Drilling Rig Owners and Practitioners(AWDROP) has called on the Oyo state Government to ensure the enforcement of the regulations guiding borehole drilling  in the state.

    AWDROP made this call through its National Public Relations Officer, Mr. Richard Adeyinka in a caht with Poverty Line

    ''I think the area the  state government  has to look at, is the strict regulation of borehole drilling in the state. I also think that Governor Seyi Makinde has done well in appointing Mr. Kehinde Ayoola as Comissioner for Environment and Water Resources. There have been haphazard drilling by foreigners, who are not conversant with the terrain. AWDROP has been agitating for the enforcement of regulations in the state 36 states and Abuja.

    ''The standard Code of Practice-NCP 027/2010, should be strictly adhered to. The Commissioner should look inwards and ensure that indigenous companies benefit fron the dividends of democracy, as this shall create employment for those already out of business'', Mr. Adeyinka asserted.

  • Zambia Govt Urges Investors to Respect National Values

    Zambia 1Zambia President, Edgar Lungu has declared that his administration was ready to accommodate investors who will respect the country's national values and who will not abrogate the labor laws.

    President Lungu made this decalration on Monday at the opening ceremony of the the Expo North West Zambia 2019 under the theme; “Unveiling the hidden treasures.”

    The President stressed the need for investors not to be profit oriented only, but also be  engaged in Corporate Social Responsibilties saying  “I urge all investors to interact freely during this expo to secure good investment deals, and long lasting synergies, as you seek investment opportunities in this province, and Zambia as a whole. This event is an opportunity for the private sector to leverage natural resources that this province offers to set up industries here,” he urged.

    “We in the PF government believe that the private sector is a catalyst to supporting our quest to improving the lives of our people through wealth and employment creation in line with the vision 2030. In this regard, the North West Expo provides vast opportunities for potential investors to sample the enormous prospectives that north western province has to offer in all sectors of our economy.”

    “Ladies and gentlemen: It gives me great pleasure to note that our traditional leaders in this province, north western province are supportive of the investors here, and are willing to welcome more investors. I was trying to find out why traditional leaders in this province are highly supportive, and i was told, they are highly educated, and one is pursuing a degree to you our chiefs, keep it up, and continue being the model let me also assure you that my government in partnership with traditional leaders, and all stakeholders in the province will facilitate inflow of investment in various sectors spread across the province,” he said.

    “This country and this province too, have continued to receive foreign direct investment, as well as domestic investment, as a result of the conducive business environment, where the private sector plays a key role in the economy. I am glad to note that expos that have so far been held in Luapula, northern, central and Copperbelt province are now yielding dividends. These provinces i have named have been receiving positive responses from investors within, and outside Zambia. For this reason my government has remained focused on providing suitable regulatory environment for the private sector to thrive.”

  • Food Sufficiency : Govt. Ought to stop Importation when Edibles are in Abundance and Affordable-Prof. Olagoke

    Prof sabitu olagoke 2The debate among Nigerians in the present time is on the promise made by President Muhammadu Buhari to cater for the poor and downtrodden in the country, as he positions to make a difference in his second term.

    The President’s promise is coming on the heels of his directive to the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) to stop the issuance of foreign exchange to those who import foodstuff.

    Nigerians, however, insist that since the country is yet to attain food sufficiency, while hunger and poverty still remain in millions of homes, the President’s directive is an indication that the present administration does not have workable plans to rescue majority of Nigerians from the vicious cycle of poverty.

    In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke asserts that the importation of edibles and related products can only be regulated and controlled when when there is food sufficiency in the land. Excerpts :

    What do you think is the best way to ensure food sufficiency in Nigeria ?

    In the areas of the fundamental needs of man, that is food, shelter and clothing, Science and Technology have offered a great mass of opportunity for mass production of the raw materials, in terms of mechanized farming and processing units for varieties of products to cater for Nigeria’s food sufficiency.

    Unfortunately for Nigeria, the endemic culture of corruption will fail again to succeed, with particular reference to the agro-allied and textile industries. This is why Nigeria depends solely on the importation of some raw materials as well as most finished products.

    Nigerians are put in the dark by successive governments till date, on the purpose for the establishment of universities of agriculture, research institutes, Polytechnics as well as universities of Science and Technology.

    The general complaint, is majorly under funding by government coupled with several cases of corruption, that belittles the establishment of SERVICOM( Service Compact (Agreement) between the Federal Government including all its organs and the Nigerian people) and The Anti- Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies and the overwhelming corruption and institutional indiscipline that rubbish all efforts of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) under successive governments till date.

    RiceThis kind of cloudy scene neither favors good governance for productive resources nor Nigeria for the expected development, where Democracy is expected to bring forth prosperity and general welfare of the people.

    It is pertinent therefore, for government to publish state by state statistics of the yield of their adventures in agriculture, for Nigerians to be sure that their claim is not far from the truth. This is because the prices of commodities have not gone down and most of the food and related items in the markets are imported.

    Rice 1When Queen Elizabeth II, visited Nigeria during the tenure of former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, she requested the President to take her to some markets in Abuja.

    While at the markets, the Queen took note of the the facial expression of the traders and buyers alike, to conclude that there was poverty in the land.

    After, the visit to the markets, the Queen advised the President to address the issue of poverty in Nigeria.

    It is equally unfortunate that Nigerians continue to complain about the quality of most of the home made goods and agricultural produce, despite the fact the we have research institutes that should continually sensitize the public and train the farmers on modern planting techniques.

    The treating of foodstuff with poisonous chemicals, features daily in news reports, as Nigerians wonder how this came about, even with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Standards Organisation of Nigeria, in place for quality assurance and standardization gauge to ensure people’s safety and security.

    To ensure food sufficiency, government needs to address the issue of middle men and other agents, whose sole objective is profit making at the expense of the people.

    Rice 2Transparency and accountability is the Governance Perception Index essence on all institutions that that have direct or indirect links in terms of reaching the people with any product for purchase or production.

    Besides food sufficiency, the poverty in the land is equally creating problems for millions of Nigerians, in the face of the high cost of commodities that the government claimed to be in abundance.

    Importation of food stuff ought to be regulated and controlled, only when, government is certain of the abundance of raw materials and finished products for the consumption of Nigerians.

    The pulse of the nation is more sensitive, precise and reliable as a measure of government’s performance, when governments officials roam the streets of Nigerian and our local markets, to listen to the people’s views, for the Presidency to know the truth, so as to be able to make necessary amends and curb the wastage. This wastage is brought about by those unpatriotic Nigerians who siphon the nation’s wealth, by virtue of their positions in government.

    Governance by fact finding with the aid of Science and Technology, is more effective and better than consultation of the oracles, which is abstract` and could mislead a focused government.

    President Buhari should beware of the sycophants and take the needed action to justify his good intentions.

  • Promotion in Nigeria Civil Service done in bad Fate-AWC

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    The All Workers Convergence(AWC)has took a swipe at the Federal Government in Nigeria for allowing the release of the 2018 Directorate level Promotion examination results when the major issue of the new national minimum wage was yet to be resolved.

    The AWC's position was made known by its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze.

     ''Government has released the July 2018  promotion examination results for senior civil servants and at the same time refused to implement the new national minimum wage. Therefore,government will end up cheating the Nigerian workers, if the new national minimum wage is not implemented as the promotion is also implemented''.

    ''More so, the results were greeted  with mixed feelings as most f the workers are not happy that they were not promoted  and so they have laid their complaints with their various unions in protest against the results that seem to favor a few to the detriment of most civil servants. The AWC is calling on the different industrial unions to intervene in the  recent promotion examination results just released by the Federal Civil Service Commission.''

    ''''It is also important to note that as far as the new national minimum wage is  concerned, Nigerians workers are no longer expectant, workers have surrendered their fate and they have lost hope for a just wage from this government vis-a-vis their thinking that governance has been abandoned for frivolities. Workers are only waiting for the worst to come, especially in the case of a labour movement  that has compromised'', Comrade Emelieze lamented.

     The 2018 Directorate level promotion exercise results indicated  that 2,932 senior civil servants were promoted.

    Of this number, 327 were from  the office of the Head  Civil Service f the Federation, while 70 were promoted from  Senior Grade levels 16 to 17.

    In all those promoted were from SGL 14 to 15, 15 to 16 and 16 to 17.

     

  • Unrest : Sudan Schools Shut

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  • The Essence of Ed el Kabir is for Muslims to Show Gratitude to God for Knowing Right from Wrong-Prof. Olagoke

    ProfAs Muslim Faithful in Nigeria make last minute preparations to celebrate the  Ed el Kabir, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke  stresses that  the essence of Ed el Kabir is to be grateful to God for inspiring Muslim Faithful to know the right from the wrong and for giving them the resistance against the incursion of Satan , who is always out to derail mankind from the path of righteousness.

    Excerpts :

    The essence of every celebration is for the comity of nations to be reminded of what brought about the event and the lessons learnt from it, in terms of values for the purpose of adoption to correct possible cases of anomalies or aberration.

    Unfortunately, Nigerians are a particular specie of Homo Sapiens who easily forget the past to be able to build in the right way the present for a better future.

    This year's Ed el Kabir celebration must be a turning point for our society to benefit immensely from its lessons. For example, the fabric of the home is broken in many respects , resulting  in our children and youth swimming in the ocean of sins and crimes,because of the erosion of societal values and norms.

    The household of Prophet Ibrahim happened to be a perfect example of trust and memorandum of understanding. When the issue of barrenness was to be resolved, Sarah advised her husband to have a trial with their maid, whom she equally believed would receive the glory and grace of God, which became prophetic, with the birth of Isaac(Isiaka) through Haggar, after 14 years of  patient wait.

    When the time was up to face the trial of a reneged promise, a ram was mercifully substituted for slaughtering in place of Ismail, while the grace of fertility was equally conferred on Sarah, who conceived and gave birth to Isaac through Ibrahim's fulfilled promise to God.

    By implication, every home must be founded on the platform of trust and transparency, to be able to receive divine intervention, most especially in the times of trouble.

    Another lesson is that we must establish good parenting for every home, which results in good child upbringing. This ensures  the products of good upbringing are  the future leaders for the purpose of sustainable development.

    Besides this, the lessons of unbroken promises and oath of allegiance becomes prominent, most especially in the aspect of upholding ethical principles on justice dispensation and  related services.

    Prophet Ibrahim's stand by his oath of allegiance to God led to his been the father of faith as well as the father of the Jews, the Christians and the Muslims all over the world. What an amazing news of immortality to the family.

    Abuja 3During the celebration, animals such as rams or cows that would be slaughtered for the celebration must be free of diseases and blemish, to fulfill Quran  22 : 35, which states that people whose offering shall be accepted  are those with absolute belief in God without fear of future denial, people who are patient with high resistant to the distresses of life and those who do not deviate  from the righteous path of God.

    They must be practicing Muslims  as must be evident  in observing Solat, besides this, they must be cheerful givers who live by the concept of philanthropy, before, during and after the Ed el Kabir.

    The slaughtered ram must be shared into three, one part for  the orphanages, prison inmates and destitute, the second part for the needy around who ask for it, while the third part is consumed by families and friends.

    The essence of this, lies on good parenting, proper child upbringing and the need for good neighborliness.

    The underlying factor is the need to uphold holiness for Allah which  is the basis for performing the holy pilgrimage so as to attain the height of piety.

    Take note, that religion as a school of faith building, driven by the curriculum of the scripture must get us aligned with our creator for the right inspirational energy to be endowed  in order that man would be able to creditably offer services with the necessary impact in governance through astute management and classical administration.

    The foregoing are the import of Islam for all Muslims to imbibe in their day to day activities.

    The essence of Ed el Kabir is to be grateful to God for inspiring us to know the right from the wrong and for giving us the resistance against the incursion of Satan , who is always out to derail mankind from the path of righteousness.

    This is why the throwing of stones for three days always starts on Ed el Kabir day, so that the grace received by Prophet Ibrahim, his son, Ismail and his wife, Haggar is bestowed on the new Alhajis and Alhajas, to be able to shun evil and other forms of misdemeanor in their routine day to day activities after the holy pilgrimage and Ed el Kabir, to be able to live a just life and create a disciplined society with zero tolerance to corruption.

    If we are able to heed the voice of God and His directives, the lessons of Ed el Kabir on the state of piety, to uphold faith, would easily be granted by God, the almighty  Allah.

     

  • Govt Increased Price of Kerosene with the False Feeling that It Has Pocketed Impoverished Nigerians-AWC

    Kerosene 1The Federal Government of Nigeria has increased the pump price of Kerosene with the feeling that it has pocketed and silenced impoverished and disillusioned Nigerians.

    This assertion was made by the All Workers Convergence(AWC) through its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze.

    ‘’Nigerian workers are shocked to hear that the Federal Government of Nigeria is systematically finding an excuse to increase the pump price of Kerosene in the face of poor economy and poverty. Painfully, they are able to do this because they feel that they have pocketed the Nigerians and the labor movement in Nigeria.’’

    ‘’Therefore because the labor movement is in agreement with the Government, the Nigerian masses will suffer. Kerosene that is used by the majority of poverty stricken Nigerians, Government wants to increase the pump price, when the issue of the new national minimum wage has not been settled. The AWC knows that this is just a bait, and that government is coming up with more worse agenda in terms of the eventual increase in the pump price of petroleum products.’’, Comrade Eemelieze concluded.

  • Namibia PM Laments Low Positions of Women

    Namibia 4Prime Minister of Namibia Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has decried the  low positions of women in paid employment in the country.

     Kuugongelwa- Amadhila made this position known on Friday at the Namibia Women in Engineering Annual Conference in Ongwediva.

    "Women remain at the lowest level of employment and struggle with practical impediments that limit their economic independence and self-sufficiency," the Prime Minister stated.

    She  lamented that  Namibia was a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw), the Beijing Platform for Action (1995), the Cedaw Optional Protocol (2000) and the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Declaration on Gender and Development (2005),while noting that  the aim of all these laws, conventions and protocols was to ensure that women have equal opportunities to their male counterparts.

    The Prime Minister,however, wondered that despite all these effortslegal equality was yet transform into structural equality.

  • Low Income Workers Ask Unions for Waiver on Check off dues as Federal Govt workers shut down Secretariat in Oyo state

    Nigeria 20Federal Government workers whose  take home pay are insignificant have called on their various unions to waive the mandatory check off dues deducted from their salaries monthly.

    The workers who made this call incognito for fear of victimization, cut across most of the Federal establishments in Nigeria.

    They made their position known on Friday in an interactive session in Abuja.

    ‘’Our monthly salaries are nothing to write home about and for several years our unions have continued to deduct check off dues for our meager salaries on a monthly basis. They should have pity on us by stopping to deduct these check off dues.’’

    ‘’If you ask us for the benefits of been members of our various unions, this will be difficult to pin point, this is the precarious situation we find ourselves’’, the workers lamented.

    In recent times, workers in Nigeria have been agitating for executives of their unions to justify the monthly deductions of check off dues from the source of payment of their salaries.

    Thousands of workers have been unjustly treated, demoted and dismissed by their employers, without any meaningful interventions from their ‘’elected’’ executives.

    Corruption is the trend in most of these unions, at the national, state council, chapter and unit level, the issue of accountability has been the unanswered question.

    To the chagrin of the workers, elections into a sizable number of these unions are by consensus, selection or imposition, with the covert backing of government.

    Meanwhile Federal Government workers under the aegis of All Workers Convergence(AWC) in Oyo state on Monday shut the two entrances into the Federal Secretariat Complex at Ikolaba, Ibadan, to press home their demand for immediate implementation of the new national minimum wage.

    As early as 7.00 am in the morning, the workers had took positions outside the entrance, to ensure that vehicles and visitors were not allowed into the Secretariat complex.

    Workers were noticed discussing the development in groups.

    They chanted solidarity songs, while accusing the executives of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria(ASCSN) of trading the demand of workers for monetary gains.

    In a chat, with Poverty Line the National Coordinator of the AWC, Comrade Andrew Emelieze disclosed that the decision to proceed on an indefinite industrial action was reached in a congress by the workers.

    ‘’By the special grace of God we have shut down this place indefinitely and this is the decision of workers in a congress organized by the All Workers Convergence. They resolved that the non-implementation f the new national minimum wage is a set back to Nigerian workers. And until it is implemented the Federal Secretariat, Ibadan and all Federal Departments and Agencies shall remain shut. We are also protesting against the general insecurity in the land, increasing rate of suicide, high rate of unemployment and poor governance.

    On the demand of low income workers, Comrade Emelieze had this to say ‘’as workers they have the right to air their feelings, though the check off dues is automatic, if they can pursue the cause to a logical conclusion, this will wake up labor leaders from their slumber. This has proven that there is no more free check off dues, but rather labor leaders must work and account for such check off dues they collect.’’

  • Zimbabwe Workers Reject Paltry Pay Rise

    Zimbabwe 3Workers in Zimbabwe have rejected government's additonal pay of 180 million Zimbabwe dollars($21 million) to cover the seconds half of 2019.

    The workers hinged their rejection of the amount on the rising inflation.

    The amount which would cater for  309,000 civil servants, would see each worker  receiving a paltry extra $11.28 each month.

     

     

  • Attempt by Govt to Unilaterally Impose Salary Increase on Workers is Counterproductive-AWC

    Nigeria 18The All Workers Convergence(AWC) has condemned the attempt by the Federal Government to unilaterally impose consequential adjustment of salaries on Nigerian workers.

    The AWC made its position known through its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze.

    ‘’The negotiations are not yet completed and it must involve all parties, therefore it is foolhardy of government to unilaterally impose specific payments for specific set of workers without the Joint agreement of the all the parties involved. This is primitive, counterproductive and it also goes against the principles of the international labor organizations as regards the doctrine of collective bargaining.

    ‘’The AWC is not in any way comfortable with the position of government to divide the rank and file of workers through the nascent questionable inconsequential adjustment of salaries of Grade levels 01 to 06, thereby leaving the rest to go on with negotiations. It is an attempt to divide the Nigerian workers, though government is been deceitful, knowing fully well that between Grade levels 01 to 06 have been concession ed out and only a very few in those levels will benefit from the so called N30,000 new national minimum wage.’’

    ‘’The AWC supports the move for a national strike by the National Joint Public Negotiating Council as announced by its National Secretary, Comrade Bashir Lawal. Government is trying to hypnotize the Nigerian workers and put them in a state of perpetual disillusionment as regards the new national minimum wage, as it is one story today another story tomorrow, more of a cycle of endless confusion’’, Comrade Emelieze noted.

    The Federal Government has proposed a 9.5 per cent increase in salaries for Grade levels 01 to 14, while five per cent increase will be effected for those from Grade levels 15 and above .

    However, the labor unions are agitating for a 35 per cent increase across board.

    Interestingly, the National Incomes, Salaries and Wages Commission has fixed the salaries of those workers who presently earn below N30,000 and such workers shall begin to receive payments at the end of July.

    Recently, elected members of the Federal House of Representatives received N25 million each as entitlements due to them on resumption, while their counterparts in the Senate received N30 million each.

     

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  • Police warn School Girls in Ghana not to give out Personal Information on Social Media

    Ghana 7Girls in Senior Secondary Schools in Ghana have been warned not to share personal information on social media.

    This warning was given on Wednesday by the Head of Public Relations of the Accra Regional Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Effia Tenge at at a Forum of Heads of Girls Senior High School (FOHGSHS) summer camp 2019 at Aburi Senior High School (SHS) in the Eastern Region.

    Tenge noted that such personal information cuold be utilized by criminals, such as kidnappers, to perpetrate crime.

    She also stated that to prevent kidnapping and related crimes, the members of the public be mindful of free rides, undue demands and gifts from strangers.

    "Inform trusted people of your movements and avoid spontaneous schedule and also look out for potential threats and people who approach them in hostile environment," Tenge said.

    The Polic image maker adviced the girls to ensure that their frienda are known to their parents and guardians, while warning them to avoid late night outings.

    She also warned them to turn down odd job offers from people they know

     

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  • Malawi Govt Unable to Service its Obligations

    Malawi 6

    The Malawi Government has for sometime been unable to service its  financial obligations to ensure good governance.

    For about two months now, contractors and suppilers have had to put up without badly needed payments from government, which has led to a major cash crunch.

    "The prolonged elections tussle, unavailability of the budget means nothing can be spent on without the budget," a well informed source opined.

    The government is the major source of survival for most businesses  in Africa's most impoverished but resource endowed country.

    Of worry, is the rsing debt of the country, which according to Center for Social Concern(CFSC)Malawi's  debt, both locally and internationally, stands at  about K3.3 trillion .

    CFSC's Economic Governance Programmes Officer Lucky Mfungwe says "The research revealed that on average, 14 percent of the budget is being used to pay loans domestically while one percent is being used on foreign loan," 

    This development is coming on the heels of violent protests over the outcome of the May elections in the country, which opposition parties allege was rigged  to facilitate President Peter Mutharika's re-election.

     

     

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  • Govt Ought to Provide Where Nigerians will Dump Refuse at Affordable Rates-Prof Olagoke

    ProfThe poor waste management policies of both the Federal and State Governments has resulted in the need to secure quality environment, adequate for good health and well being of the citizenry.

    However, both levels of government have overtime hidden under various reasons to avoid accepting responsibility for the environmental challenges impeding development.

    Sadly, kidnappings, killings and other violent crimes have been the major cause of government’s visible inability to ensure good governance and development. Of note, is the worrisome programs, summits and talk shops buy government apologists to sway public opinion.

    In this interview, the Founder, Grand Imam and Spiritual Head of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke opines that every household must therefore have where they should dump their refuse and where refuse contractors will pick the dirt up at affordable rates. Excerpts :

    What do you think can be done to rescue Nigerians from the environmental hazards occasioned by government’s poor waste management policy ?

    The issue of waste management of any nation rests solely on the policy of government, which in the case of Nigeria is not expected to pose any problem, but for the lack of political will at the implementation level, for example, policy drive is not supposed to be limited to cleanliness of the surrounding alone. The area of controlling what to clean, sensitizing and reinforcing who to clean and the general minimization of generating wastes must be revolutionized into a culture with all aggression from the government end, most especially from the beginning. For example, waste generation sources must be identified as it varies from one tribe and geo-political zone to the other.

    Nigeria 15The types must be determined for the purpose of research and control by the professional bodies who will have to see to the collection, transportation, treatment essence and recycling possibilities to develop other useful money spinning products for the society.

    These process areas will not only challenge our professionals and experts on the need to design and articulate equipment development for the purpose, thereby creating job opportunities for many.

    In the culture of recognizing and encouraging our indigenous experts in this sensitive area of human endeavor, the artisans, technicians, technologists, corporate members and fellows at the research level will be meaningfully occupied and engaged with all happiness as significant stakeholders in the scheme of nation building.

    Scientists and other environmentalists will equally need to collaborate in the area of environmental pollution with the aim of controlling the health consequences on the people.

    However, for the people to appreciate government’s efforts on their concerns for the environment, agencies and boards set up for the purpose need to collaborate to ensure that the quality and standard of the environment must be kept to the stipulated recommendations of the World Health Organization(WHO).

    AbujaThis will show our seriousness on the need to domesticate all international instruments, most especially to which we are signatories.

    When every household is sensitized on the issue of maintaining clean environment the culture of keeping neat and sustainable level would reflect in the following ways :

    Patented waste bins to be generated from students’ research efforts in our institutions of higher learning for the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria(MAN) to ensure the mass production of the tested and trusted bins, which must also be people-with-disability-friendly for the benefit of government and for the use of the people with government as the major financier. This is because designs and construction of any machine should be based on the peoples’ culture as well as been adaptable by the people that may want to adopt it.

    Every household must therefore have where they should dump their refuse and where refuse contractors will pick the dirt up at affordable rates.

    Nigeria 16Along all streets, commercial or otherwise, there must be befitting waste bins at some meters length interval where you can dump your refuse while walking.

    This will make the controlling law against reckless dumping of refuse to be effective.

    Dumping of refuse at the middle of the road is not only promoting environmental hazards within the time frame of when the contractor is to collect same, for it defaces the aesthetic values of the affected areas,both to the pedestrians and the passersby in the moving vehicles, making it to look like the government is either not in control or unserious.

  • Elusive Contributory Pensions :PFAs Deceived Dead Retirees-Prof. Olagoke

    ProfNigerian retirees who served their fatherland in the three tiers of government are now faced with the reality of the present time.

    While in government service, certain amounts were deducted monthly from the source of their legitimate earnings and labelled contributory pension deductions.

    However, in several states these pension deductions were not remitted to the Pension Fund Administrators(PFA) and has resulted in the pensioners’ inability to access money for their daily sustenance.

    In addition accruals which are supposed to be paid by the Federal Government are not forthcoming.

    With no respite in sight for the precarious situation, the pensioners lament that a sizable number of them have passed on to the world beyond, as a result of their inability to collect their entitlements.

    In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke opines that the Pension Fund Administrators only deceived the workers to register for the scheme, that has resulted in the the death of several of them after serving their fatherland all their lives.

    What do you think can be done to salvage pension deductions of retirees by states which failed to remit same to the Pension Fund Administrators(PFA) ?

    In 2004, the administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo introduced the contributory pension fund.

    This was considered to be better than the old process for the payment of pensions and gratuity by government.

    Those who joined government service during or before 2004, perfectly fell into this category. For those who had joined before 2004, the service of the Federal or State Governments, their pension funds, after retirement, had to go through the process of reconciliation.

    However, some states failed to join at the time of its commencement, while some are also yet to join the scheme as of now.

    For the states that are yet to join the new scheme, retirees have up till now been contending with a lot of difficulties, when it comes to getting their pensions as and when due, while thousands are still been owed their gratuities, which are very huge amounts.

    In the process of unnecessary delay from government, many retirees have died because of lack of funds to take care of themselves, particularly, feeding and health condition.

    If not for the delay in getting their rights and the fruits of their labor, they wouldn’t have encountered the Waterloo of untimely deaths.

    These deaths are preventable.

    As commendable as the new scheme is, workers prior to their retirement, face a great deal of discriminatory deductions from their employers, when they compare notes with their colleagues from sister places of work, depicting that even before retirement they’ve been putting up with the trauma of playing games with their salaries.

    Pension 2The institution pays 15 per cent of the workers’ salaries, while the Federal Government pays the remaining 15 per cent into the same purse of the workers for their future glorious exit from service or for a better retirement period.

    Unfortunately, even while at work, workers have been very much confused about the truth regarding the myth surrounding the deduction process saga, but they were powerless to resolve issues, even through their so called unions.

    The Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) usually raise the hopes of the intending retirees, through various sensitization programmes, but this is within the limits of what their organizations can divulge as necessary information for the intending retirees.

    In Nigeria life after retirement, usually snow balls into that of frustration, most especially when one experiences unnecessary delay due to lack of the much needed information that could show the stage of development of the processes, regarding the exact time, one’s accrued rights of entitlements would come and the possible amount both for your pension, for a lifetime savings and for gratuity for a lifetime venture and planning.

    PensionThe fifth column in every bank is another headache for the retirees, when the issue of their safety and security is taken into consideration, when the amount eventually arrives.

    The delay been experienced by several pensioners, has prompted members of the public to call for the need for transparency in the calculation of their final entitlements.

    Government on it own must try as much as possible to work on the delays, to disabuse the minds of the public on the fact that politicians in power, usually disregard, the ethical principle of the no go area for the retirees pool of accrued substantial amount of funds, that is meant for their sustenance, after a meritorious service to their fatherland.

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