The Federal Capital Territory Chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) says it is mobilising to shut down the territory after President Bola Tinubu concludes his projects’ inauguration on July 3.

The Chairman, Dr Stephen Knabayi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

Knabayi explained that the move was to draw the attention of the FCT Administration to address the area council workers’ lingering strike.

NAN reports that primary health care centres were under lock and key, primary school teachers had been at home while the six area councils’ secretariat were abandoned by the workers for months.

Primary school teachers and other area council workers embarked on a series of strikes over non-payment of minimum wage and 40 per cent peculiar allowance.

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Other unresolved issues included the non-implementation of 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases, and the N35,000 wage award, among other benefits.

The NLC chair, who described the development as “very unfortunate”, said that the area council chairmen left the union with no option but to shut down the FCT.

He recalled that the union had on June 13, issued a seven-day ultimatum to the FCT Administration to address the demands of the teachers, health workers and other area council workers.

He explained that the ultimatum followed the resolution of the executives of the joint unions of the NUT, the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees and the National Association of Health Workers Union.

He noted that the ultimatum had expired on June 20 and the NLC was yet to take any action.

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Knabayi explained that the union backpedalled to allow President Bola Tinubu to complete the inauguration of projects executed by the FCT Administration, as part of activities to celebrate his second year in office.

“We had to extend the ultimatum because of Tinubu’s movements to inaugurate the FCT executed project.

“Members of the union will take over the streets of Abuja as soon as Tinubu concludes the inaugurations, hopefully on July 3.

“We are waiting for it to end and we will come together to step up our planned action,” he said.

He added that the NLC had already informed the FCT Administration and security agencies of the planned protest to shut down the territory as the last resort to press home their demands.

He said it was very unfortunate that up to this moment nothing has been done to address the lingering welfare cities in the area councils.

READ ALSO:FCT Doctors Begin Warning Strike Over Sack Of Health Workers

He noted that although the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage began across the six area councils in May, it was stopped the following month with no explanation to the workers.

“Like you know, strike or protest is always the last option, but we were left with no other opinion.

“We are not happy and it is not going to be a small thing if they don’t do the needful,” he said.

Knabayi alleged that the area council chairmen were spending huge resources in preparations for the 2016 February FCT Area Councils’ Election.

According to him, the funds being expended will be enough to settle all the workers’ outstanding entitlements.

He called on the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, to take a more decisive action to compel the area council chairmen to settle the council workers welfare concerns.

READ ALSO:FCT Unveils Committee To Monitor Influx Of Almajiri, Others

Recall that Wike had made several efforts to resolve the crisis, including the recent release of N4.1 billion to the area councils to support the payment of minimum wage to the workers.

The minister had explained several times that primary school teachers and primary health care workers were under the purview of the area councils and not FCT Administration.

The NUT Chairman in FCT, Mr Abdullahi Shafa, during a protest on April 24, acknowledged Wike’s intervention to resolve the lingering strike, including the release of the N4.1 billion to the area councils to pay the striking teachers.

On their part, the chairmen of the area councils had in a press conference on May 13, urged the primary school teachers and other council workers to call off their ongoing strike.

Mr John Gabaya, Secretary of the FCT Chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, who addressed the journalists, particularly appealed to the primary school teachers to return to the classrooms.

Gabaya said that the appeal became necessary for the interest of the pupils while negotiation continues.
(NAN)

The Senate on Thursday confirmed Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi from Ekiti State as the Chairman of the South-West Development Commission (SWDC).

Also confirmed was Charles Akinola as the Managing Director of the commission, alongside 16 other nominees to serve on the board.

The confirmation followed the presentation and consideration of the report by the Senate Committee on South-West Development Commission, chaired by Senator Yunus Akintunde (APC, Oyo Central).

While presenting the report, Senator Akintunde said: “That the Senate do receive and consider the report of the Committee on the South-West Development Commission on the confirmation of nominations for appointment as Chairman, Managing Director, and Members of the Board of the South-West Development Commission.”

READ ALSO:Senate Confirms Olubunmi Adetunmbi Chairman Of South-West Development Commission, MD, Others

The confirmed board members include:

Bolaji Ariyo

Joseph Olugbenga

Scholastica Omoworare

Olumuyiwa Olabimtan

Ibrahim Olaifa

Kabiru Lakwaya

Abdul Adamu (Retired General)

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Arinola Fagbemi

Ukoha Onyekwere

Howell Ihenacho

Also confirmed were:

Olugbenga Olufehinti – Executive Director, Projects

Tele Ogunjobi – Executive Director, Finance

Funmilayo Tejuosho – Executive Director, Corporate Services

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Fatai Ibikunle – Executive Director, Commercial and Environmental Development

Lateef Ajijola – Executive Director, Social and Human Capital Development

It will be recalled that President Bola Tinubu had last month forwarded the list of nominees to the Senate, requesting their screening and confirmation as members of the SWDC board.

The request was read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary and subsequently referred to the Senate Committee on South-West Development Commission, which was given one week to report back.

With the confirmation, the South-West Development Commission board is now fully constituted and expected to commence work aimed at driving regional development across the six South-West states.

The Ebonyi Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it recorded a total seizure of 91.768kg of cannabis sativa and psychotropic substances from January to date.

The state Commander, Mr Okechukwu Nkere, disclosed this during a news conference in Abakaliki to commemorate the 2025 United Nations Day against Drug Abuse and Trafficking.

Nkere said that the 2025 celebration, tagged “The Evidence is Clear; Invest in Prevention,” was to advocate, educate and enlighten members of the society to resist the pressure of succumbing to abuse of drugs and illicit substances.

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“The Command also arrested a total of 212 suspects, comprising 169 males and 43 females, for various degrees of complicity in drug-related offenses.

“Within the period, we record a total seizure of 91.768kg of cannabis sativa and psychotropic substances and the conviction of seven persons.

“We successfully treated and rehabilitated seven clients and have 11 persons currently undergoing treatment and rehabilitation, while 83 males and 21 females were provided with brief counselling intervention in our facility,” Nkere said.

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The commander added that the command had also carried out public enlightenment campaigns in schools, communities and religious places across the three senatorial zones in Ebonyi.

He warned the general public, especially the youths, to desist from drug abuse, stating that there was no positive impact of illicit drugs on man and society.

He commended the support from the Ebonyi Government and other stakeholders in the fight against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the state.