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Strike: Workers Shut Down Banks, Hospitals, Schools In Ogun

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Banks, schools and hospitals were shut down in Ogun State on Monday as a result of the indefinite strike called by organised labour consisting of the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress.

It was observed that banks around Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta did not open for operation while schools around the axis such as St Annes Nursery and Primary School sent their pupils back home.

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Nurses also withdrawn their services at the State Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta leaving the doctors to render skeletal services.

A senior matron who spoke with The PUNCH under the condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation also confirmed that the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu joined the strike and the patients have been told to go home.

READ ALSO: Less Than 24 Hours To Strike, Labour Talks Tough, FG Begs

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The source said, “I can tell you that the staff in OOUTH have joined the strike, although, the doctors who are not members of NLC are still on duty. The patients are left with no other choice than to be discharged and come back whenever the strike is called off”.

Speaking to journalists about the industrial action, the Chairman, Trade Union Congress, Ogun State, Akeem Lasisi described the strike as very successful saying that the compliance has been very total and quite encouraging.

Lasisi said “We are all aware that the organised labour gave the federal government till May 31, 2024, to implement the new minimum wage and that if it fails, the labour will have no choice but to embark on the indefinite strike starting today. The organised labour also demanded that the recently increased electricity tariff from N225 per kilowatt per hour should also be reverted to N66 per kilowatt per hour.

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“We have warned the government that the labour reject this apartheid categorisation of electricity consumers into band A, B, C, D, labour rejected this discrimination and told the FG to revert this policy but the government has failed to do this. Even the Minister of Power has said nothing about this.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: FG Invites Labour For Emergency Meeting

“The Federal government said it will pay workers N60,000 new minimum wage but we want all Nigerians to know that organised labour cannot reduce the minimum wage because as we speak, the least paid federal government worker collects N77,000.”

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He added, “How will the federal government now be offering N60,000, there is a lot of insincerity on the part of the government..the truth is that the workers are suffering with all the increase in prices of food and other commodities, what of transportation fares? Life is becoming too hard.

“The level of compliance as far as the strike is concerned is total..the schools, hospitals, the local government secretariats, the state and even federal secretariat are shut down. We only allow some schools to open because of the students writing the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, so the strike in Ogun State has been quite successful.

READ ALSO: Flights Disrupted As Striking Workers Shut Lagos, Abuja Airports

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“We however sincerely hope that the federal government will be reasonable enough to dialogue with workers to get this challenge resolved once and for all in favour of the workers. The truth is that the suffering is much and the government needs to respond positively to our modest requests.”

Both NLC and TUC directed their members to proceed on indefinite strike due to the refusal of the government to accede to their request of over N494,000 minimum wage while the Federal Government has offered to pay N60,000

Organised labour has equally demanded that the federal government revert the recently increased electricity tariff from N225 per kilowatt/hour to N66 kilowatts/hour.

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Police Disown Viral Recruitment Notice, Warn Against Fraud

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The Nigeria Police Force has disowned a recruitment notice circulating on social media, describing it as fake and warning Nigerians not to fall victim to fraudulent schemes.

The document, titled “Nigeria Police Force Recruitment Exercise 2025”, had invited applications from SSCE, OND, HND, and B.Sc. holders, listing requirements such as age limits, fitness standards, and academic qualifications. It also outlined an alleged application process through a supposed police recruitment portal scheduled to open on September 23, 2025.

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The notice claimed that candidates were expected to be Nigerian citizens by birth, hold a valid National Identification Number, and meet minimum height and academic criteria. It also warned against membership of secret societies and directed applicants to submit various documents, including birth certificates and guarantor declarations.

READ ALSO:Police Vows To Arrest Killers of NSCDC Officers In Edo

In a post on its verified X handle on Thursday, the Nigeria Police Force dismissed the claims and stamped the document “FAKE” to alert the public.

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The Police Service Commission (PSC) had earlier issued a similar warning. On August 30, PSC spokesperson Ikechukwu Ani clarified that no recruitment exercise had been announced for 2025.

The advertorial currently in circulation is fictitious and diversionary,” Ani said. “The Commission has repeatedly urged young Nigerians eager to join the police to be patient and await the official process.”

READ ALSO:Police Vows To Arrest Killers of NSCDC Officers In Edo

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He added that the forged documents being circulated bear no resemblance to the Commission’s official communication.

The police authorities reiterated that any official recruitment exercise would be publicly announced through verified government platforms.

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Okpebholo Warns Companies Against Fuelling Edo–Delta Boundary Dispute

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Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo, has issued a stern warning to companies attempting to exploit the lingering boundary dispute between Edo and Delta states.

Okpebholo cautioned the companies to desist from encroaching on Edo territory while the matter remains before the National Boundary Commission (NBC), for adjudication and adjustment.

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The governor’s stance follows a recent reports of encroachment on Edo territory by the Delta State Government and companies allegedly attempting to establish operations on disputed lands.

Okpehbolo, accompanied by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 5, Salman-Dogo Garba, and other top security officials, spoke when he paid a fact-finding visit to the disputed areas.

READ ALSO:Textile, Garment And Tailoring Workers Assault Journalists In Edo

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The disputed territory lies between Urhonigbe Community in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State, and Umutu community in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State.

Represented by his deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, Okpebholo, while addressing residents of Urhonigbe community, assured them of his administration’s commitment to safeguarding their interests, but urged restraint.

He further urged the affected communities to remain peaceful and law-abiding, stressing that the dispute was being handled at the highest level of national authority.

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“We are here at the boundary to see the disputed area and the actual demarcation. We are appealing to the Federal Government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that the NBC steps in and expedites action so that this dispute is resolved once and for all.

READ ALSO:NDLEA Destroys Over 18,000 KG Of Cannabis In Edo Forest

“This River Ethiope is a natural boundary. We don’t want any crisis in the South-South or between Edo and Delta states. We are brothers, having once been Bendel State before Delta was created. We want peace, and we want the right thing done quickly.”

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“Please don’t take laws into your hands. As a government, we will protect the territorial integrity of Edo State. But we must maintain peace and harmony with our neighbors while this matter is before the NBC,” he pleaded.

Okpebholo emphasised that while his administration was committed to defending Edo territorial claims, it would do so with fairness, peace, and respect for due process.

Our ultimate goal is to ensure justice, preserve harmony, and protect the integrity of our people and our State,” he affirmed.

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In his remarks, AIG Salman-Dogo Garba urged restraint, describing both Edo and Delta as inseparable partners in peace and development despite the dispute.

“I appeal to the communities, Edo and Delta are still brothers despite this land dispute. Be peaceful, avoid violence, don’t take up arms over this matter as it is already before the NBC,” he advised.

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Release Nnamdi Kanu For Medical Treatment, Ohanaeze President Begs FG

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The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, has called on the Federal Government to release the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, to enable him to seek proper medical attention.

This is as Azuta-Mbata called on Igbos across the country to ensure they register in the ongoing voters’ registration exercise and obtain their voter cards.

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Azuta-Mbata said this in a short video message of himself speaking, which he sent to The PUNCH on Thursday.

READ ALSO:FG Makes History Compulsory Subject In Primary, Secondary Schools

Kanu’s detention has remained one of Nigeria’s most contentious political and security issues in recent years. Kanu, who was first arrested in 2015 on charges bordering on treasonable felony, jumped bail in 2017 and fled the country.

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He was rearrested in Kenya in June 2021 in a controversial operation by Nigerian security operatives and has since been held in the custody of the Department of State Services.

He also urged the government to explore a political solution in handling the issue of the detained IPOB leader, saying the apex government does not have any advantage in the continuous detention of the IPOB leader.

READ ALSO:IPOB Faults Soludo For Linking Igbo Youths To Kidnapping

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Azuta-Mbata stated, “I’m calling upon Ndigbo-nine (Igbos in general) wherever you are in Nigeria to quickly go and take advantage of the voter registration exercise that is going on right now. Go and get your cards as quickly as possible.

“Secondly, I would like to call upon the federal government of Nigeria to quickly release Nnamdi Kanu. The Government has no serious advantage in keeping him. It is important that the government ensures his safety and his welfare, and that the Government must allow him to go and get medical treatment as quickly as possible.

“The Government must adopt a political solution to this situation. I do not believe that the Government has any serious advantage in keeping him any further.”

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