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JUST IN: Resident Doctors Suspend Nationwide Strike

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Resident doctors under the aegis of Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have suspended the indefinite strike embarked upon on July 26.

Its National President, Dr Innocent Orji, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja, via a Whatsapp message to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

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According to him, a review will be made in two weeks.

He said “we just suspended the strike. Work to resume by 8 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday, Aug. 12).

READ ALSO: Tinubu Redeploys Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment

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“We will review progress made in two weeks.”

This comes after series of interventions by various stakeholders for the association to either embark on the industrial action in the first place or to suspend it earlier.

To avert the industrial action, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas on July 24 urged the resident doctors to suspend the strike.

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Abbas made the call at a meeting between the leadership of the House and NARD in Abuja.

He said “I would urge you to suspend the industrial action while we intervene, and seek your understanding of the fact that a new administration just came on board.”

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Resident Doctors Cancel Planned National Protest

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He added that the adminsitration was still in the process of settling down as ministers had yet to assume office.

Also, in addition to the strike, the association had planned to stage protests and picket tertiary health institutions and the Federal Ministry of Health.

However, following the intervention of the Presidency and the Senate President, the protests were suspended.

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NAN reports that members of the association embarked on indefinite strike to press home their demands.

READ ALSO: No Work No Pay: ‘Whatever Happens Next Don’t Blame Us’, Doctors Tell Nigerians

The demands include the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), immediate release of the circular on one-for-one replacement and payment of skipping arrears.

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Others are upward review of Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) in line with full salary restoration to the 2014 value of CONMESS and payment of the arrears of consequential adjustment of minimum wage to omitted doctors.

Also demanded was the reversal of the downgrading of the membership certificate by Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

The association also demanded the payment of MRTF, new hazard allowance, skipping and implementation of corrected CONMESS in state tertiary health institutions and payment of omitted hazard allowance arrears.

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(NAN)

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FG Shuts 22 Illegal Tertiary Institutions

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The National Commission for Colleges of Education has uncovered and shut down 22 illegal Colleges of Education.

The discovery was made during a crackdown on illegal colleges of education in the country.

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The development was revealed in the commission’s achievements, seen by our correspondent.

“The NCCE identified and shut down 22 illegal Colleges of Education operating across the country.

READ ALSO:FG Predicts Heavy Rainfall, Flood In Seven States

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“The NCCE conducted personnel audit, financial monitoring in all the 21 federal colleges of education,” the commission said.

President Bola Tinubu had recently urged the National Universities Commission, the National Board for Technical Education and the National Commission for Colleges of Education to weed out illegal higher institutions of learning in the country.

Speaking at the 14th convocation of the National Open University of Nigeria in Abuja, the President ordered the NUC, the NBTE, and other agencies to take decisive action against what he described as “certificate millers” undermining the credibility of the education sector.

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READ ALSO: FG Partners Traditional Rulers To Curb Proliferation Of Small Arms, Light Weapons In Nigeria

Tinubu, who was represented by the Director of University Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Rakiya Ilyasu, warned that the integrity of the academic system must not be compromised.

At this juncture, it has become imperative to reiterate that this administration remains committed to strengthening the integration of all agencies involved in the administration of education to enhance efficiency and quality,” the President said.

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He added, “The National Youth Service Corps, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, the National Universities Commission, the National Board for Technical Education and the National Commission for Colleges of Education are working in alignment to improve the quality of education and ensure that cases of forgery and unrecognised institutions both within and outside the country have no place in our education ecosystem.”

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EFCC Orders Arrest Of Dismissed Officer On Lege Miami’s Show

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has condemned the actions of one of its former staff, Olakunle Alex Folarin, who was recently spotted participating in a matchmaking programme on social media platforms hosted by popular entertainer Lege Miami.

The agency has ordered his immediate arrest for retaining official EFCC property, including an identity card, following his dismissal for certificate forgery.

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The anti-graft agency, in a statement on its official X handle on Monday, said Folarin served as a driver at the EFCC’s Ibadan Zonal Directorate.

READ ALSO:EFCC Releases Former Sokoto Gov Tambuwal

He was, however, dismissed after investigations confirmed he had forged his academic credentials.

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It said, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, condemned in the strongest terms, the involvement of one of its former staff, Olakunle Alex Folarin, in a matchmaking programme running on Lege Miami social media platforms.”

“Folarin was recently dismissed from the Commission for certificate forgery. He was a driver at the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the EFCC.”

READ ALSO:EFCC Arraigns Six Katsina Revenue, Bank Workers Over N1.2bn Fraud

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The statement said EFCC Executive Chairma,n Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has ordered Folarin to be arrested and emphasised that Folarin’s actions should not be associated with the commission.

“The Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has ordered his arrest for being in possession of some Commission’s properties, including an identity card, which he should have handed over upon being dismissed from the EFCC.

“The public is advised against associating Folarin’s post-dismissal conduct with the EFCC,” the statement concluded.

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NERC Transfers Regulation Of Electricity Market To Bayelsa

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The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has transferred regulatory oversight of the electricity market in Bayelsa State to the Bayelsa Electricity Regulatory Agency.

In a notice on its social media handles on Monday, the commission said this was in compliance with the amended 1999 Constitution and the Electricity Act 2023.

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In compliance with the amended Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electricity Act 2023 (Amended), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued an order to transfer regulatory oversight of the electricity market in Bayelsa State from the Commission to the Bayelsa State Electricity Regulatory Agency,” the commission said.

READ ALSO:NLC, TUC Give NERC Deadline To Reverse Hike In Electricity Tariff

Recall that with the Electricity Act 2023, the commission retains the role as a central regulator with regulatory oversight on the interstate/international generation, transmission, supply, trading, and system operations.

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The Act also mandates any state that intends to establish and regulate intrastate electricity markets to deliver a formal notification of its processes and requests NERC to transfer regulatory authority over electricity operations in the state to the state regulator.

The transfer order by NERC directed Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company Plc to incorporate a subsidiary distribution company to assume responsibilities for intrastate supply and distribution of electricity in Bayelsa State from PHED.

PHED was also directed to complete the incorporation of PHED SubCo within 60 days from August 21, 2025.

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READ ALSO:Estimated Bills: NERC Fines BEDC, Others, Deducts N10.5bn From Discos Revenue

The subcompany shall apply for and obtain a licence for the intrastate supply and distribution of electricity from BYERA, among other directives,” the commission said.

It concluded that all transfers envisaged by the order shall be completed by February 20, 2026.

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With this order, Bayelsa has joined states like Lagos, Imo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Enugu, Niger, Edo, Oyo and Plateau, which have got the power to regulate electricity markets.

The state can now generate, transmit, and distribute electricity while issuing licences to investors within the value chain.

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