The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Sokoto State says it will build 3,050 housing units for civil servants in the state.

The stateChairman of the NLC, Mr Aminu Umar, disclosed this in Sokoto on Sunday at the 2016 May Day Celebrations. Umar, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Abubakar Malami, said that the houses will be built in partnership with some private estate developers.

“So far, about 100 hectares of land had been acquired by the company on which the houses would be built including other facilities like clinic, mini market and schools, among others.

“Therefore, I will like to solicit for your continued cooperation in order to help us achieve the set goals of improving the welfare of workers,” Umar urged.

He commended the State Government for ensuring the regular payment of salary and the payment of arrears of gratuities to retired civil servants in the state.

The chairman extolled the existing cordial relationship between labour unions and the state government. Umar further acknowledged the desire and commitment of the state government to improve the lot of the civil servants in the state.

However, he appealed to the state government to look into the plight of retired teachers and workers of local government councils, as well as salary disparity between secondary and primary school teachers.

Umar further urged the state government to implement consolidated salary for legislative staff, as well as introduce a special media salary scale, among other demands.

Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bashir Garba, said that no society can develop without a functional, robust, motivated and dedicated civil service.

Tambuwal also pledged to sustain the prompt payment of salary and pensions, as well as uplifting the general welfare of the citizenry.

The governor urged the civil servants to reciprocate the gestures of the state government by being disciplined, dedicated to their duties and more productive.

A human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana on Saturday called on the Nigeria Labour Movement to lead campaign for recovery of stolen wealth and the prosecution of all indicted looters.
He made the call at the 2016 Pre-May Day Lecture with the theme, “The fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy’’, organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

Falana who was represented by Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu, the Chairman, Partner for Electoral Reforms said that the need to prosecute indicted looters had become imperative, as there had been diversion of public funds by a handful of public officers.

According to him, government has continue to take toxic loans from foreign financial institutions to fund the escalating costs of governance.

“Under an economy controlled by market forces, the majority of citizens have been denied access to security, welfare and happiness.

“In an arrogant manner, the few public officers and their cohorts who have cornered the commonwealth go around freely.

“The ongoing investigation into the mega looting of the treasury had shown that if the resources of the nation had been judiciously managed, an effective welfare programme could have been established.

“This will run in the interest of the people, although the mega looting of the national treasury is being investigated.’’

Falana noted that electricity tariff had been increased even though there was no improvement in electricity supply.

He also said that Nigerians were being forced to pay more for education, health, fuel and other essential social services.

“Since the Federal Government is in a position to borrow N600 billion every month to pay salaries, it should also borrow to fund the welfare programme promised by the APC.

“It is therefore suggested that the stolen wealth being recovered should be channeled towards the funding of a welfare programme for the people,’’he added.

He called on the Federal Government to review the National Minimum Wage as it was long overdue in line with the law.

According to him, government is under obligation to provide a living national minimum wage and ensure that condition of work is humane.

He said that government must ensure that the health, safety and welfare of all persons in employment were safeguarded and not endangered or abuse.

Also speaking, the NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba assured workers that labour and all other progressive forces would continue to meet and provide policy option that must force government to implement agreements.

“The challenges we have in this country is lack of planning, corruption and mismanagement, among others.

“Therefore, we will not expect those issues to change without us engaging our political elites on how best to transform the economy. We must hold our leaders accountable,’’ Wabba said.

Earlier, the TUC President, Mr Bobbio Kaigama said labour would continue to liaise with anti-graft agencies to probe state governors who were not able to disburse their bailout funds accordingly.

“I want to assure the Nigerian workers that we will continue to provide the necessary leadership that will benefit the workers,’’ he said.

Chairman of the 19 Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) and Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima has called for urgent strategies to check the alarming conflict between farmers and cattle rearers in the North West and North Central zones.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the governors meeting in Kaduna on Friday, Shitima said the security situation was assuming unacceptable proportions.

He also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the full restoration of civil authority in areas recaptured from the Boko Haram insurgents in the North east in order to pave way for the safe return of Internal Displaced People (IDP).

Lamenting the security challenges in the zone, Shittima said “It has therefore become a strategic imperative for us to take a hard look at these formidable challenges and work out strategies on the most effective ways of not only reversing the trend but also overcoming them once and for all”.

He said it was pertinent for the meeting to deliberate and “make an insightful and thorough review of the current security situation in the region, with specific reference to the Boko Haram insurgency, cattle rustling, the lingering deadly clashes between farmers and cattle rearers, as well as the intermittent incidents of armed banditry and kidnapping, all of which had generally been regarded as part of the major factors responsible for the formidable developmental challenges we found ourselves in.”

He said the insurgency in the North East had been halted and the insurgents themselves completely subdued.

“What remains now are few isolated pockets of suicide bombings which the recalcitrant remnants of the insurgents use as a last resort to attract attention and create unnecessary panic among the general population” he said.

He said the meeting was to deliberate on the reports of various committees set up NSGF to address the problems affecting the north.

Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has cautioned the federal government not to set a bad precedent in the ongoing trial of the Senate president Bukola Saraki over false declaration of assets.

Former senator and ACF national vice chairman, J.K.N. Waku described Saraki’s prosecution as a premeditated trial that will bring no justice to the defendant.
Addressing judiciary correspondents after a court session yesterday, Waku, who said he was sent to the tribunal by the ACF national leadership, noted that from all indications and the conduct of the proceedings, the tribunal chairman, Mr. Danladi Umar, was being tele-guided by external forces, and that he was unimpressed with the tribunal’s performance so far.
“I think that Nigeria is again moving through a trying period in its judicial process and I make bold to say that the prosecution does not have prerogative of knowledge but from the look of things, there is already a tele-guided and premeditated judgment that one is expected to see in future and that may not be good for this country,” Waku said.
“In as much as we are against corruption, let the legal process take its due cognisance of the facts that it is the last hope of the ordinary and common persons. That is my observation,” he said.

Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili on Saturday said President Muhammadu Buhari’s economic principles are encouraging massive corruption and abuse of power.

Ezekwesili stated this in Abuja at the Platform, an annual public policy forum organised by the Senior Pastor of the Covenant Christian Centre, Pastor Poju Oyemade.

According to her, Buhari’s economic policies are similar to those he promulgated during the military regime he led in the 1980s.

“During the first coming of this our new president, a command and control economic system was adopted.During that era, inflation spiralled. During that era, jobs were lost. During that era, the economic growth level dipped. That era wasn’t the best of eras in economic progress.”

continuing, she said, “What did not work in 1984 cannot possibly be a solution in a global economy that’s much more integrated.”

She said, “In over one year, the president is still holding to the premise that command and control is the only way out. In a year we have lost the single digits inflation status we maintained in past administrations.”

She however urged President Buhari to sit down with his administration officials and reconsider the impact his polices have had on the nation’s economy, quoting an American parlance that says if something is not broken there’s no need fixing it”.
“Mr. President should sit with his team and look at the economic evidence that speaks loudly. It’s time to sit back and review the well-intended idea of command and control economic principle. He should do what the Americans say that if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it,” Mrs. Ezekwesili said.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state has suffered a set back as two former commissioners, Local government Chairmen and two former Lawmakers defected to the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC).

They claimed that over 5000 of former PDP chieftains dumped the ruling party for the opposition Party.

The former commissioners include that of former Adult, Technical and Vocational Education Mrs Kehinde Momoh and that of Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs Mr. Tayo Oluwatuyi.

Others include former members of the state House of Assembly Bamido Omogbehin and Oyebo Aladetan‎ and the former Chairmen of local governments include Prince Olu Falolu, Tobi Akinlalu, Bailey Arohunmolase.

Other former political office holders under the present government who jumped ship included Kasali Obanoyen, Chief Ajani Oladipupo, Mr Yele Akinya and Segun Ogodo.

Speaking on behalf of defectors, Arohunmolase attributed their joining the APC to failed promises of the PDP led government in the state.

Arohunmolase said they are set to work in line of the APC directives at winning the governorship in November this year.

The Chairman of the APC, Isaacs Kekemeke at the ceremony held at the party secretariat in Akure described the defection” as the end of PDP’s hold on the politics of the state.
Kekemeke promised to give all members equal right and level playing field to achieve their desires. He stated that the party would put in place measures towards ensuring victory in the November polls and urged Nigerians to be patient with President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal government.

Reacting to the defectors, the Publicity Secretary of the ruling PDP‎, Banji Okunomo described their action as good riddance to bad rubbish.

Okunomo pointed out that they have no political relevance in their constituencies hence the reason they jumped ship at this crucial time.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, on Friday, paid a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, where he lauded the President’s recent overseas trips aimed at attracting foreign direct investments into the country.

Governor Ambode who spoke to State House Correspondents shortly after the visit expressed high optimism that the President’s trips would in no short time begin to yield benefits in the interest of all Nigerians.

The Governor specifically commended President Buhari for his purposeful leadership to restore the nation’s place in the comity of nations, saying his recent trip to China and the profitable discussions will go a long way move Nigeria forward, including Lagos.

He said the investment pact signed with the Chinese Government will benefit the people of Lagos, especially with the coming of the Lagos-Kano Rail Project and the Lagos Metro-rail project expected to cost about $2.5billion