News

NLC To Bauchi Govt: You Have 21 days To Implement Minimum Wage

Published

4 years ago

March 6, 2020

Editor

From Adamu Shehu Imam, Bauchi

Bauchi State chapter of the organized Labour has given 21 days ultimatum to the state government on the implementation of new N30,000 national minimum wage in the state.

The state Chairman of the Labour Union, Comrade Danjuma Sale Kirfi while disclosing this at a press briefing on Friday, said it was part of the resolutions reached at the end of the joint state executive council meeting.

He said: “Members view absence of commitment on the part of government representatives towards the resolutions and the subsequent implementation of the new national minimum wage in the state.

“The Organized Labour calls on the government to restore negotiations without further delay. That failure to conclude negotiations within the shortest period of time, the leadership will not guarantee the industrial atmosphere in the state.”

Kirfi explained that although the state government had started paying workers the minimum wage from grade levels 01 to 06 whose salary is not up to N30,000, “our bone of contention is the consequential adjustment, that is the increment of officers from grade levels 07 to 14. That is what remains undone and that is what we are agitating for.”

The Union leaders also said, “the Bauchi state workers are hereby requested to remain calm as leadership are on top of the issue and are making all necessary efforts to resolve the matter once and for all.”

He called on the state government to be more proactive in sourcing for money to complement its revenue from the federation account so that workers can be paid their minimum wage.

“Bauchi state cannot be an exception, that drop might have affected so many states but there are other neighbouring states like Jigawa, Kano and others who have already reached and signed an agreement, that is what we want“, he added.

News

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

Published

29 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

39 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.