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Election: Crisis Rocks Edo NLC As Government Attempt To Impose Candidate

Published

2 years ago

March 7, 2023

Editor

… Members Stage A Walk-out

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Edo State council’s election bid for Tuesday, February 7, was disrupted with A scuffle as a front line contestant for chairmanship position, was disqualified in the process of conducting the election.

Trouble started when during a pre-election business meeting one of the contestants for chairmanship position, Comrade Lazarus Imokhai Adorolo, the current Chairman of NULGE in Edo State was told he had been disqualified.

Nonetheless, normalcy was still maintained in the hall until when members were asked to move motion ɗissolving the Odion Olaiye-led executives by the National Delegate for the election and representative of NLC National President, Comarde Mike Olanrewaju.

After this, Comarde Olanrewaju was addressing members of the NLC in Edo State when the disqualified contestant politily approached the National Delegate, Comrade Olanrewaju for a one or two comments before the election, but his request was turned down which resulted to exchange of words and consequently, a free-for-all, making members in the hall to scamper for safety.

But Comarde Adorolo union -NULGE and 19 other unions, while arguing that the election should not hold, insisted that there’s already a count injunction, adding that he should be told why he was disqualified.

It took the intervention of operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, to restore normalcy to the hall, after which Adorolo union, two other contestants for the position of chairman alongside their unions and 16 others staged a walkout.

Addressing the press after his union and 18 others staged a walkout, Comarde Adorolo said despite meeting all the constitutional requirements, he was told he had been disquilified, adding that he was not told reason why he was disqualified.

He added that before now he had been pressured by some functionaries of Edo State Government, but he had insisted that if he must steped down, then the candidate sponsored by the government too must step down for new persons to show interest.

“Five persons showed interest in the chairmanship but one was called to Government House to write his withdrawal, which he did. There are pressures from government for people to step down.

“I was also approached by one of the government functionaries to step down but I insisted that it is not about me but the process, if I should step down, then government candidate too should step down, then let neutral persons come in, but they said no,” he added.

On his disqualification, he said: “I picked the form, filled it as required by law, and submitted, and no one invited me for a screening exercise; no body invited me for an oral chats; no body told me anything, only for me to get here, I was told that they screened my credentials and I was disqualified.

“When you are screening credentials, there are procedures, for instance, if the screening committee discovered any discrepancies, everyone expect I should be called for questioning, but this didn’t happen.”

He also accused the national body of NLC led by Comrade Joe Ajero of compromise, saying the present leadership of NLC is worse than INEC.

He said: “We are aware that the national leadership of NLC under Comarde Ajero has compromised, because Tuesday last week, we held a SEC meeting and thugs were brought into the hall to invade the secretariat of NLC in Benin. We did write a petition to the national leadership of the NLC calling for immediate intervention but till this moment, we have not heard from them. Ajero accused INEC of corruption after the just concluded election but unfortunately he is worse than INEC”

He continued: “Of course I told the returning officer that he has compromised too. He called me and said we should do a single line up, and I told him it’s not a bad idea but let the two parties meet. He eventually opened up to me that my group was only given the position of an auditor, but I told him that cannot happen.

“Of course, I should be given the opportunity to make one or two remarks about the disqualification but he said I cannot talk. So, we have to stage a walkout. We are not participating in the election.

“We have already gone to court. The NLC headquarters was served a court paper this morning that we are in court with them. So, if we are in court with them on this election, it is unacceptable to conduct any election. It is contempt of court.”

He, therefore, called on the national leadership of the NL C to re-addess the Issues in Edo State.

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Bayelsa Warns LG Officials Against Pension Payment Delays

Published

4 hours ago

July 17, 2025

Editor

The Bayelsa State Government has warned principal officers of local government councils in the state to desist from delay in presentation of names of prospective retirees in good time for processing and payment of pension benefits.

The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, handed down the warning on Wednesday at a meeting with the chairmen and principal officers of the eight local government councils in Government House, Yenagoa.

Ewhrudjakpo directed that the names of retiring workers should be submitted at the latest by the 18th of every month to the office of the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Treasury and Accounts, Mr Timipre Seipulou, for processing.

According to him, anyone found culpable of sabotaging the policy which is aimed at achieving seamless payment of retirees’ benefits, would be sanctioned.

He said he was desirous of bequeathing an effective and efficient local government system where his successor would not grapple with the issue of delayed payment of pensions and gratuities.

Ewhrudjakpo, who decried the backlog of unpaid pensions, said the government will work out modalities to ensure that retirees receive their pensions a month after retirement from service.

He specifically directed the chairmen to work closely with the technical adviser on treasury and accounts to come up with a model for the payment, as available funds cannot be used to clear all outstanding gratuities amounting to about five billion naira at once.

The Deputy Governor equally advised local government administrators to make provisions for annual leave for employees to serve as motivation.

He used the opportunity to thank all eight local government chairmen for their cooperation and suggestions that have so far contributed towards the achievements recorded in the various councils.

Hw said, “Our reason for calling this meeting is to give information, a directive, and a warning. One thing that I have is that I don’t know how to spare indolence, docility, laziness, incompetence, and deliberate obstruction of the wheel of progress.

“We have taken a decision that all those who are retiring every month must be paid their pensions. That decision has come to stay. But the report I am having is that some of you in the local government system are trying to frustrate it by not volunteering the necessary information.

“You were told to timely furnish the Technical Adviser on Treasury and Accounts, Mr Seipulou’s office, with your monthly reports concerning retirees.

“I am not happy that local government officers are frustrating the process.

“Chairmen, take note: every local government must submit its report by the 18th of every month, provided it is not a Sunday or Saturday. Even if it is a Saturday or Sunday, we will give you the benefit of submitting on the 20th.

“Any local government that does not do that, next month, I will transfer the treasurer and anybody that is involved in the process.

“Our brothers and sisters who have been on the queue are complaining that those who are going out now are being paid. So, every hand must be on deck to ensure we pay up the backlog.

“We are desirous of paying up pensions. We believe that by the end of this month, as we work round the clock, we are going to see the best way to put it behind us.

“What I want to do, by the grace of God, before I step out of this place, is that I don’t want to leave behind liabilities such as a backlog of unpaid pensions and gratuities for anybody.”

In their separate remarks, the state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Local Government Chapter, Mr Noel Itade, and the Head of Brass Local Government Council, Comrade Clement Etifa, commended Ewhrudjakpo for his effective supervision and initiatives that have repositioned the local councils for efficient service and project delivery.

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Access To Sexual, Reproductive Health, Key To Sustainable Societies – UNFPA

Published

5 hours ago

July 17, 2025

Editor

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has said that ensuring access to sexual, reproductive health and rights is a cornerstone for sustainable, inclusive societies.

Dr. Natalia Kanem, the UNFPA Executive Director, stated this in Bauchi on Thursday during the commemoration of the 2025 World Population Day organised by the state government.

According to her, it is imperative for governments at all levels to also create an avenue where people who wanted to experience the joys and rewards of parenting could meet their fertility goals.

This, she said, would give them the hope for a better tomorrow supportive of their choices and protective of their rights and where they, and their children would thrive.

Represented by Deborah Tabara, the Gender, Reproductive Health Analyst of UNFPA in Bauchi, Kanem reiterated the commitment of the fund in partnering with the state government.

She said the partnership would harness the dividend of the state’s youthful population in developing programmes, strategies, plans, and budgets that promote inclusivity and equality.

“UNFPA remains an agency for reproductive Health and our mission is to deliver a world where all pregnancy is wanted, all maternal birth safe and all young persons achieve their potentials.

“Family-friendly policies including affordable and accessible childcare, generous and flexible parental leave, and promotion of fathers’ participation in care-giving can help prospective parents balance career and family goals.

“Investing in comprehensive sexuality education is another imperative that supports informed choices.

“Intergenerational understanding is crucial to build trust and strengthen solidarity and fairness across generations,” she said.

Also speaking, Hajiya Amina Katagum, Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination, said this year’s theme called for considerations on the crucial role young people play globally, in Nigeria and in Bauchi state.

Represented by Barr. Abubakar Bununu, Special Adviser to Gov. Bala Mohammed on multilateral coordination, Katagum added that it recommended that government and stakeholders listen to young people and respond to their needs and desires.

She explained that this would contribute positively to the development of their societies and create the families they want.

“It is our responsibility as governments, the Private Sector and other key stakeholders to build a more equitable, sustainable and caring world where young people are empowered to pursue the lives they want for themselves and their families,” she said.

The theme of the 2025 world population day is ‘empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world’.

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24 Pro-Biafran Detainees Freed After Four Years

Published

5 hours ago

July 17, 2025

Editor

The last batch of 24 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, who had been held in detention since May 24, 2020, were released from custody on Thursday following a ruling by the Ebonyi State High Court.

In the court charge sheet no: HIK/10C/2024, obtained by our correspondent on Thursday, the 24 detainees, out of a group of 36 held since May 24, 2020, were finally discharged and acquitted of all lingering charges.

Their release was also confirmed in a press statement on Thursday by the IPOB’s lead counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who revealed that the freed inmates had endured years of prolonged, unconstitutional detention under recycled and repackaged allegations/charges.

Ejiofor said they were “unlawfully” held even after being severally discharged and acquitted on the same facts by not less than five respectable high courts in Ebonyi State.

He said, “A momentous chapter was written today, Thursday, July 17, 2025, at the Ebonyi State High Court, as the last batch of 24 Biafran detainees, out of a group of 36 unjustly held since May 24, 2020, were finally discharged and acquitted of all lingering frivolous and unfounded charges.

“These innocent citizens had endured years of prolonged, unconstitutional detention under recycled and repackaged allegations/charges , even after being severally discharged and acquitted on the same facts by not less than five respectable High Courts in Ebonyi State.

“Today’s historic ruling followed our preliminary objection which powerfully highlighted the brazen violation of their fundamental rights: particularly the constitutionally guaranteed protection against double jeopardy, enshrined under Section 36(9) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

“This sacred principle, autrefois acquit, stipulates that no person shall be tried again for an offence in respect of which they have previously been acquitted.

“In a bold, fearless, and intellectually profound ruling, His Lordship, Hon. Justice I. P. Chima, upheld our arguments in their entirety and lent judicial weight to the cause of justice.

“We salute the learned Judge’s exceptional courage, depth of reasoning, and unwavering commitment to the sanctity of the Constitution. His erudition and moral clarity have restored faith in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.

“Above all, we return all glory, honour, and adoration to the Most High God -ChukwuOkike Abiama—our eternal rock, fortress, and deliverer. This is another unprecedented victory, made possible only by His mighty hand. We acknowledge that without Him, this milestone would not have been possible.”

According to him, in line with the court’s directive for their immediate release, prompt steps are being taking to ensure full compliance without delay.

He commended his colleagues in chambers, whose tireless research, resilience, and dedication have once again produced the noble triumph.

“We are also grateful to the legal team of the Government of Ebonyi State, who, in open court, pledged to ensure this judgment is obeyed to the letter. Similarly, the correctional authorities have undertaken to immediately hand over the freed detainees to us without resistance or delay; a commitment we shall hold them to.

“The joy of today will ripple far beyond the walls of the courtroom. It will be a thing of immense joy seeing the reunification of these families, some of whose wives had been abandoned, children lost, and parents buried in sorrow during this long period of incarceration.

“Now, we look forward to the healing and rebuilding phase. We urge the relevant agencies of the Ebonyi State Government to urgently consider appropriate measures for rehabilitation and reparation of these victims, even without prompting.

“Today marks the end of a painful four year ordeal. The light of justice has finally pierced through the dark clouds of oppression. Once again, to the Almighty God be all the glory; it can only be Him. With God, we have conquered. Justice has spoken. Freedom is restored. A new chapter begins.”
(PUNCH)