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Jubilation As Kwara Govt Pays December Salaries, Pensions, Gratuities

Published

1 year ago

December 21, 2022

Editor

Civil servants and pensioners all over Kwara State are in high spirits with the prompt payment of their December salaries, gratuities and pensions, it was learnt.

The elated workers were said to have trooped into their banks with songs of praises for Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and in preparation for the Yuletide season.

A statement by the Spokesperson of the Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress, Kwara State Chapter, Hon. Mrs. Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence said public workers in the State were in high spirits after they received alert of the payment of their December salaries ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations.

“This is commendable, no doubt, because many states are still battling to clear the backlog of workers’ salaries and pensions,” the statement added.

She said the government also approved 100% payment of 2009 and 2010 arrears of pensions and gratuities for retirees in the local government from the SURE-P refund to states.

It was gathered that civil servants in the state who thronged to various banks yesterday said they had every reason to support the re-election bid of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq come 2023, while others promised to put in their best because the government had shown responsibility to workers welfare in the midst of dwindling resources in the country.

Many of the workers were seen at the secretariat praying for the governor and pledging their continued support, a statement from the campaign spokesperson said.

According to Hon. Mrs. Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence, “ (for)this singular action, and flowing from previous months of prompt payment of salaries, we can boldly and confidently say Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is one of the first Governors in Nigeria to pay this month’s workers’ salaries.

“This masterstroke can be described as an ‘avalanche of goodness’ from the most responsible, worker-friendly Governor in Nigeria, especially so, at a time the country and state governments are in financial despair and experiencing dwindling revenue and uncertainties.

“This issue will form a significant part of the governor’s re-election debate and messaging as it relates to stewardship so far in Kwara State and beyond but unfortunately, desperate opposition and critics have cautiously avoided this public discourse of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s efficient economic management.

“We cannot pretend to have forgotten so soon, how workers in this state were owed salaries spanning several months by previous Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led governments.

“We must not allow the PDP and their political godfather gain access into our state treasury with their obnoxious ‘geri-gedi’ salary policy. We are not unaware of the grace-to-grass situation of their godfather – his dwindling political relevance in our national political discourse and why he must not be allowed to use Kwara treasury to bounce back to limelight – not anymore”.

It would be recalled that Governor AbdulRazaq has implemented the N30,000 minimum wage for workers which is paid by only a few states in the country.

The Governor has made it a standing tradition to pay workers earlier during festive periods for them to make adequate preparations and provisions for their families. Besides, upon assumption of office the governor also cleared backlogs of salaries owed to workers by the previous administrations across MDAs.

This is as he has restored funding of MDAs with running costs to guarantee efficiency and effectiveness in their day-to-day operations and administration.

The Governor has over time been commended for his commitment to workers’ welfare by stakeholders in the state and country.

News

Viral Video: Bullied Student Sues Abuja School For N500m, Public Apology

Published

4 mins ago

May 13, 2024

Editor

Namitra Bwala, the student at the centre of a recently viral video depicting her being bullied by fellow students, on Monday, has initiated legal proceedings against Lead British International School, Gwarimpa, Abuja.

On April 22, an X user, #mooyeeeeeee, posted videos of a female student of Lead British International School, who was seen being bullied by her classmates.

In one of the videos, the victim was seen being slapped repeatedly by another female student while asking “Who broke my heart?”

In another video, the victim was seen sitting next to a male classmate who was heard saying “I spoilt her relationship”.

However, the lawsuit, filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory under case number FCT/HC/CV/2341/24: MISS NAMTIRA BWALA v LEAD BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL LTD, seeks damages from the educational institution for its alleged failure to provide a safe and conducive learning environment for the plaintiff.

According to a public statement on Monday issued by Marvin Omorogbe., the founding partner of the law firm representing Bwala, the legal action is aimed at holding the school accountable for its negligent conduct regarding the highly publicized incident.

The lawsuit further requested, “the Defendant to issue a public apology to the Clamant in two national daily newspapers.

“An order directing the Defendant to pay the Claimant the sum of N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) as general damages for the Defendant’s breach of the duty of care it owes to the Claimant, and its negligent conduct in failing to prevent the assault, torment, emotional distress, pain, trauma and breach of privacy suffered by the Claimant while under the Defendant’s custody and supervision.”

The law firm emphasised its client’s hopes that the lawsuit would catalyse meaningful changes and prompt the implementation of adequate measures to prevent similar occurrences within the school premises.

“Our client hopes that this lawsuit will bring about drastic changes and adequate measures to prevent a reoccurrence of similar issues in the school,” the statement added.

The viral video, which sparked widespread outrage and condemnation, depicted Ms Bwala being subjected to bullying by her peers, raising concerns about the school’s ability to ensure the safety and well-being of its students.

News

Edo, Ondo Polls: INEC To Begin Continuous Voters’ Registration

Published

14 mins ago

May 13, 2024

Editor

Ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship polls, the Independent National Electoral Commission is poised to launch the Continuous Voters’ Registration.

The INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this during a meeting with political parties held on Monday at the commission’s Abuja headquarters.

The CVR is set to commence from May 27 to June 5, 2024.

Details later…

News

Tariff Hike: Nigerians Wallowing In Power Poverty – Ajaero Laments

Published

1 hour ago

May 13, 2024

Editor

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero said Nigerians are currently wallowing in power poverty given the abysmal low supply of electricity.

Ajaero said this at the ongoing protest at the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission in Abuja.

Recall that the Organized Labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress, and their affiliates, vowed to ground offices of the NERC nationwide on Monday about the recent hike in electricity tariffs.

While addressing protesters and management of the NERC, Ajaero noted that the current supply generated by Nigeria is not even enough for Lagos, which is just one state in Nigeria.

Ajaero also faulted the move by the NERC to hike tariff without engagements with stakeholders in the power sector.

He said, “We are here on a peaceful protest, having written so many letters to NERC to remind them that they cannot increase tariffs without meeting with Nigerians. We reminded them that the process of increasing tariffs requires that they meet with all stakeholders, including labour.

“We do not know where this current tariff is coming from. NERC is not oblivious to the fact that Nigeria is wallowing in lower poverty. Nigeria is down the line as one of the countries in the world that are poor in terms of power supply.

“What Nigeria is generating Today is not enough for Lagos alone and it is bad enough for you now to tell us that some Nigerians are bigger than the others. It is bad enough for you to say some Nigerians will get 20 hours while other Nigerians will get two hours.”

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.

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.