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10 Persons Still Missing From Ibadan Explosion, Bodija Community Claims

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Bodija Estate Residents Association (BERA) on Wednesday in Ibadan said about 10 people were still missing following Jan. 17 explosion in the area.

“I think it is now more towards eight and nine persons now, or even 10, whom those in the neighbourhood have talked about,” the Association’s President, Mr Muyiwa Bamgbose, said after their consultative meeting.

We took the map of the street to them (government) and tried to account for (people) house by house to get accurate information.

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“If the person was seen yesterday and was not seen today or you can’t find him again, then you need to get worried. But I believe it’s nearer 10 now,” he added.

BERA, an umbrella body of all communities in Bodija, also called for massive assistance for victims of the explosion to get back their lives.

READ ALSO: Ibadan Explosion: How Oyo Oba Escaped Death

It pointed out the need for continuous care and support for victims whose lives have changed unexpectedly since the incident.

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The president said there were a lot of people who paid for their medical bills out of pocket and did not go to the designated hospitals.

“I must also confess that some hospitals, like Redeemers Clinic, were treating victims free of charge without keeping records.

“The hospitals contributed by treating people without asking for money, and some people who could afford it took themselves to their private hospitals,” Bamgbose said.

He however lamented improper organisation for victims in accessing hotel accommodation the government said it provided.

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READ ALSO: Ibadan Explosion Death Roll Rises

“Our fear is that government may end up being shortchanged. Yes, it was a chaotic situation but there should been some kind of order.

“Yes, this is the first in Ibadan and I must commend the government’s willingness and response. But there is a difference between being willing and then having the ability.

“People have worked overnight without sleeping. Even the Federal Government has taken the issue serious as all its security apparatus were deployed.

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“Then, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has been working with its Oyo state counterpart. Everybody has collaborated but our best is still short of the word best,” Bamgbose said.

While commending the efforts of the Federal and Oyo State Governments, Bamgbose noted the need to learn from the explosion to better prepare for emergency operations.

“The response to the incident, though quick, was uncoordinated. This is what led to the various lapses still being experienced by victims,” he said.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Panic As Explosion Rocks Ibadan

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He underscored the need to learn from the experience and improve on the gaps.

This is necessary so as to improve on how to respond to emergencies which could come in any form — flood, fire outbreak and so on — and improve on best practices.”

The BERA President also disclosed that the Bodija community was from all records yet to find anyone who resided in the house where the explosion occurred.

And that is another area of deficiency and we have taken it upon ourselves as from this meeting to know our neighbours.

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”Not just to know who is living in the house but the owner as well, and what the occupants do for a living and really know ourselves,” he said.

Bamgbose decried the lack of demographic records as a problem, adding that it might be difficult to trace it even from the records of the State Housing Corporation.

“People have talked about some people running out of the house when the thing started, but now nobody knows whether they were caught up in the blast or disappeared under the radar.

“Nobody has good record,” he said.

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[JUST IN] N30,000 Minimum Wage: Labour Issues Two-week Ultimatum To Defaulting States

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The organised labour comprising of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, on Monday, ordered state chapters to issue two weeks ultimatum to states that have failed to implement the old N30,000 minimum wage.

The NLC and TUC took this decision during a jointly held National Executive Council meeting which took place on Monday.

“NEC-in-session further directed all state councils whose state governments are yet to fully implement the N30,00 national minimum wage and its consequential adjustments to issue immediately a joint two-week ultimatum to the culpable state governments to avert industrial action,” NLC’s National President, Joe Ajaero; and TUC’s National President, Festus Osifo, said in a statement.

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READ ALSO: BREAKING: Strike Looms As NLC, TUC Give May 31 Deadline For Electricity Tariff Hike Reversal

Speaking further, the unions also called for a one-day action in Anambra State following what was described as the failure of the state government to meet the demands of civil servants in the state.

“Consequently, the NEC-in-session accordingly reaffirms the NLC and TUC joint ultimatum earlier issued to the Anambra State Government by its Anambra State councils. It therefore directed all affiliates and workers in the state council to mobilise their members to ensure a successful action in the event the state government fails to meet the demands of workers by Thursday, the 23rd of May, 2024.

READ ALSO: UK Regulator Reports Air Peace Over Alleged Safety Violation

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“In the event that the government fails to meet the demands outlined within the stipulated timeframe, the NEC authorises the leadership of the NLC and TUC to take appropriate actions, including but not limited to the mobilisation of workers for peaceful protests and industrial actions, to press home these demands for social justice and workers’ rights.

“NEC therefore calls on all affiliate unions, and workers including Civil Society Organisations across Nigeria to remain united and steadfast in solidarity during this critical period. Together, we shall prevail in our pursuit of a fair and just society that guarantees the dignity and well-being of all its citizens,” the statement added.

Details later…

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BREAKING: Strike Looms As NLC, TUC Give May 31 Deadline For Electricity Tariff Hike Reversal

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The Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress on Monday gave the Federal Government a deadline of May 31, 2024, to reverse the hike in electricity tariff.

The unions took the decision at the end of a jointly held National Executive Council meeting.

“The NEC once again vehemently condemns the unilateral increase in electricity tariff by the authorities. This action, taken without due consideration for the economic hardships faced by the masses and the provisions of the Law, is deemed unjust and burdensome. The NEC reaffirms its demands for an immediate reversal of the tariff hike and the vexatious apartheid categorization into Bands to alleviate the suffering of Nigerian workers and citizens and gives the National Electricity Regulatory Commission and the federal government until the last day of May 2024 to meet these demands,” the statement issued at the end of the meeting said.

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READ ALSO: Tariff Hike: Nigerians Wallowing In Power Poverty – Ajaero Laments

Recall that the Organized Labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress, and their affiliates recently grounded offices of the NERC nationwide over the recent hike in electricity tariffs.

The NERC announced the hike in the electricity tariff for Band A customers at a press briefing in Abuja on April 3, revealing that those affected would pay N225 per kilowatt-hour, up from the previous rate of N68/kWh.

The hike represented a 240 per cent increase.

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The development marked the removal of subsidy from the tariff of customers in the Band A category, who constituted about 15 per cent of the total 12.82 million power consumers across the country.

Based on the tariff hike, the Federal Government said it would save N1.5tn.

The government stated that the decision took effect on April 3, 2024, adding that Band A customers would enjoy up to 20 hours of power supply daily.

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Over 2,000 Students To Participate In Gombe Inter-Schools Athletic Competition

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No fewer than 2,367 school students are expected to participate in Gombe State Inter Secondary Schools Athletic Competition.

The Main Organizing Committee (MOC) for the programme disclosed this during a during a meeting held at the GOFCECON HOTEL conference hall.

Announcing preparations for the upcoming event, the MOC constituted seven sub-committees to ensure a successful competition to oversee the event.

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The constituted sub-committees include Technical, Ceremonial, Entertainment, and Training; Media and Publicity; Accreditation and Security; Accommodation, Transportation, and Logistics; Medical and Welfare; General Duties; and Secretariat.

READ ALSO: Traders In Edo Protest Middlemen Activities, Seek Govt Intervention

According to the MOC, capacity training will be compulsory for all secondary school game masters prior to the competition.

Additionally, the committee has extended an invitation to one private and one public secondary school from each of the six states in the North East Region to participate in an invitational relay at the finals.

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According to the MOC, Amany secondary school across the country willing to participate in the invitational relay can also register.

The competition will feature cadets, youths, and 65 U-20 registered schools, with approximately 2,367 school pupils participating.

The MOC also announced that participating schools will enjoy free accommodation and feeding.

The committees have been urged to submit their budget proposals within seven days.

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