News

FEC Condemns Disruption Of Flight Activities, Dares Workers To Proceed On Another

Published

3 years ago

January 25, 2023

The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday deliberated on the recent strike by aviation workers under the auspices of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) and condemned the act in totality.

The FEC presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo resolved that the Federal Government would no longer tolerate a situation where flight activities would be grounded on account of grievances by staff.

It noted that there are channels for aggrieved workers to vent their anger if necessary rather than grounding the sector.

Recall that Nigerians woke up to the news of flight disruptions on Monday, following the strike embarked on by NAHCO.

The Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos was the worst hit as most international flights were disrupted.

The NAHCO officials had hinged the strike on the need for their salaries to be shored up.

The strike, however, coincided with the visit by the President, Muhammadu Buhari to Lagos, where he had gone to commission a number of projects.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika disclosed the misgivings of other cabinet members while deliberations went on during FEC.

Sirika stated, “For the travelling public, first we want to apologize to our teeming passengers in this difficult moment. Secondly, this will not happen in the future by the grace of God. The reason is simple, aviation is an essential service, the Act has been assented to by Mr. President, so strikes and riots around our airports are prohibited by the laws of the land.

“Now that we have the Act in place and assented by Mr President and passed by the National Assembly. We will deal with it according to the law. We will ensure no essential service is being disrupted by anybody, no matter how aggrieved.

“There are other channels of channelling issues when they arise, but they are not permitted to go on strike because aviation is an essential service and is by the law of the land now.

“I will give you an example, there was an airline that had to return to base because it couldn’t land. Imagine if there was a patient on that aircraft.

“You can imagine a situation where somebody is attending to a very serious matter at hand or a business meeting or possibly a student trying to catch up with an examination and then owing to somebody’s grievances another person will die or suffer unnecessarily.

“We will no longer allow that. So it’s in the law of the land, check the FAAN Act, it’s been assented to and it’s going to take place soon, in fact now, from today we will not allow that.

“Government our ears are always open, the government is open to listening to any grievances and there are procedures for dealing with this kind of grievances. They should desist from this, it is wrong, it is inhuman, it is not allowed, it is not permitted and we will not be permitted any longer”.

As of the time of filing this report, NAHCO officials have suspended their strike for the time being.

News

DSS Issues Warning, Arrests Man For Circulating Fake Recruitment Materials

Published

24 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

The Department of State Services (DSS) has disclosed the arrest of one Mr. Eze Ezenwa Benard, who was recently apprehended for circulating fake DSS recruitment past questions and answers on Facebook.

The agency, while warning the public in a statement on Saturday, said the suspect operated through a page known as “Jobs and Education”, where he advertised the fraudulent materials and charged unsuspecting members of the public one thousand naira (N1,000) for access.

“The public is hereby cautioned to disregard any materials, as the DSS does not sell or distribute recruitment questions, answers, or examination guides through private individuals or social media pages. Recruitment into the Service, when necessary, follows specialised procedure in accordance with extant laws and due process,” the statement reads.

News

‘Na Only People You Gave Work Love You,’ Singer Speed Darlington Tells Tinubu

Published

24 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Singer Speed Darlington has told President Bola Tinubu that public admiration cannot be bought, warning that only those who received appointments or jobs from the government truly support him.

In a video posted on Saturday, August 23, the singer said, “Everything isn’t about the economy! There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you.”

Darlington, an Igbo man, urged Tinubu to focus on police reform and respect for human rights. “The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate. Please, before you leave office, please speak to your Yoruba brother IGP man,” he added.

News

Before You Leave Office, Reform The Police — Speed Darlington Urges Tinubu

Published

1 day ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Popular controversial singer Speed Darlington has called on President Bola Tinubu to reform the Nigerian Police Force, urging the government to prioritise citizens’ rights alongside economic growth.

In a video posted on Saturday, the entertainer criticised what he described as the police’s systemic human rights violations and oppressive practices.

“Mr President, before you leave office, whether you secure a second term or not, try your best to improve Nigeria. Everything isn’t about the economy!

“There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you,” he said.

The singer, who identifies as Igbo, urged Tinubu to engage with the Inspector-General of Police and implement reforms.

“As an Igbo man, the advice I can give you so people will know your name and remember you for something good is to reform the police. Reform the police.

“The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate,” he added.

Darlington also recounted his personal ordeal with law enforcement, highlighting the system’s abuse of power.

“I was held for two months after the judge had ordered my release. FID held me for two months. According to my lawyer, the Nigerian law gives only 28 days for investigation.

“They held me for two months. What is the extra month for? Because they can. If you give them money, they oppress your enemy. I have experienced it,” he said.