By Mani Imaru

Edo State was at the weekend celebrating the popular endorsement given the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP by workers under the aegis of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC.

The endorsement of the two labour centers was an unprecedented feat for Ighodalo. It is also a rebuke of the All Progressives Congress, APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebhelo. The most obvious rebuke for Okpebhelo is the fact that he is being marketed by Senator Adams Oshiomhole who acquired a national reputation as a labour leader.

However, for the workers who Oshiomhole led at one time to openly snub him and his candidate means that either they found fault with him and his candidate or that they found some positives in Ighodalo. Or perhaps both.

READ ALSO: Accident involving Edo APC Campaign Convoy Claims Five lives

While not dwelling on the negatives associated with Okpebhelo and his lack of ideas as concerning workers’ welfare, suffice it to say that many workers would have been alarmed by his continuous repetition of the phrase that if elected that he will continue from where Oshiomhole stopped.

It will not be forgotten that as governor, Oshiomhole embarked on the largest casualization of the work force by any state government. More than 50,000 workers who were employed through the Youth Employment Scheme (YES) in 2009, were sacked in 2015 when Oshiomhole claimed on television that he “picked them” from the “gutters.”

If Okpebhelo wants to continue the casualisation programme of the Oshiomhole years, one would expect him to say so.

We also are not forgetful of the fact that Oshiomhole since he joined the APC has helped to break strikes embarked upon by workers against the very things he fought against.

READ ALSO: Edo Poll: APC, Govt Clash Over Boycott Of Peace Accord

Meanwhile, the shinning stars of Governor Godwin Obaseki have been echoed by labour leaders. Last Friday they marched out through the streets of Benin to openly declare why they are backing a continuity under Ighodalo.

Not only has Governor Obaseki been proactive in considering the welfare of workers, Edo State became the first state in the country to implement a minimum wage of N70,000. That was well before the workers even entered into full negotiation with the Federal Government. Please note that federal workers and virtually many other states in the country are yet to start the implementation of the new minimum wage that has been operational in Edo State since May.

So, when Okpebhelo said at a campaign rally in Auchi on Monday, September 9 that he was going to abolish the salary scheme being implemented by Governor Obaseki for that of the Federal Government, many workers were bound to have been shocked. How could he replace what they enjoy now with what has remained an illusion for federal workers.

It was as such not surprising that workers decided to reject his message for the positive welfare benefits of the Obaseki administration.

READ ALSO: [JUST IN] Edo Poll: Drama As PDP Declines Signing Of Peace Accord

Indeed, when the workers stormed the Government House, Benin on Friday, the NLC Chairman, Odion Olaye thanked the governor for setting aside N200 million monthly to offset the backlog of gratuity in the State.

He said, “The TUC and NLC are here today to thank you for what you have done for Edo State workers. Prompt payment of salaries and pensions has become your trademark for almost 8 years now.

“Edo workers have endorsed the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo as we will all come out en masse on September 21st to vote for the party to ensure continuity in the State. We will vote and defend our votes.”

On his part, the TUC Chairman hailed the governor’s developmental stride in the last eight years, assuring the votes of members of the TUC to thank him for investing in their welfare.

Dr. Muhammad Ali-Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare has provided medical outreach to flood victims in Bauchi state.

Speaking while inspecting the outreach in Misau and Katagum Local Government Areas of the state on Sunday, Pate said that the outreach was available to as many victims as possible.

According to him, the outreach was a collaboration of his privately funded Non-governmental organisation, Chigari foundation and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

While visiting the temporary Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP)’s camp in Azare, the headquarters of Katagum LGA, the Minister lauded the diligence and professionalism exhibited by the medical practitioners attending to the people.

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“The people are getting treatment for basic diseases like malaria, Pneumonia, hypertension, and others because in these difficult times, we have to do everything we can to provide relief to the people of our country.

“We have seen the tremendous work that is being carried out by health professionals collectively, medical doctors, pharmacists, nurses and lab scientists all trying to support our communities in this difficult time.

“Whoever comes for this outreach would be checked, examined, diagnosed and treated for free.

“Today, they have seen more than 1,200 people who have been tested and many of them are having malaria, Pneumonia, skin conditions and have been treated.

READ ALSO: Edo Poll: Mercy Johnson Under Fire For Campaigning For APC’s Okpebholo

“It’s about access in an emergency situation and here we have internal displaced populations and we have to do everything we can to support our communities in this difficult time,” he said.

The Minister added that through Chigari foundation, all the nine local government areas affected by flood in the state would receive contributions.

He said that the foundation was also targeting to provide direct support to 250 people in each of the LGAs who were directly affected by flood.

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Pate called on all well meaning Nigerians to join hands to help communities go through this difficult period across the country.

In his address, Dr. Yusuf Bappa, Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, Bauchi state, explained that the outreach was about assisting people who were ravaged by the flood disaster that happened in this zone.

He said that over 1,000 children, women and men with various degrees of ailment have been treated at the temporary IDP camp, adding that those that could not be treated were referred to Federal Medical Centre, Azare for treatment.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, a 70 year-old Awawu Umaru, who appreciated the state government for providing them the temporary IDP camp, also expressed gratitude to the minister and NMA for giving them the free medical treatment.

The Lagos State Government has increased boarding fees in all secondary schools across the state from N35,000 to N100,000 per term.

A letter to all boarding school principals signed by the Director, Basic Education Services, Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Olufemi Asaolu, and sighted by The PUNCH on Friday, read, “I have the directive of the Honourable Commissioner to inform all Public Boarding House schools in Lagos State that the State Government has approved the review of the Boarding fee payable in all Public Boarding House schools in Lagos State. The newly approved fee is N100,000 Only.”

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The letter titled, ‘Review of boarding fees in all public secondary schools in Lagos State for 2024/2025 session,’ added that no additional fee of any form should be collected by the schools, saying the resumption date was now September 15, 2024.

“I am further directed to inform you that no additional fee of any form should be collected by the schools.
“Kindly note that the resumption date remains 15th September 2024.”

A parent, Mrs Ayo Ogunse confirmed that the last fee was N35,000, saying parents had paid this fee last week before the new fee circular was posted on Friday afternoon.

“We were surprised to receive this new fee of N100,000 after paying N35,000 last week,” she said.