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Nigeria may face petrol scarcity if oil workers make good the threat of withdrawing their services nationwide should the Federal Government insist on registering employees in the oil sector on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System .

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers made the threat in a letter addressed to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva .

The unions kicked against plans by the Office of the Accountant- General of the Federation to register oil workers on the IPPIS platform .

The letter , which was dated June 19 , 2020 , and sighted by our correspondent in Abuja on Sunday , was jointly signed by the General Secretaries of PENGASSAN and NUPENG, Lumumgba Okugbawa and Olawale Afolabi , respectively .

The unions said their apprehension about the IPPIS platform stemmed from the fact that it discountenanced the peculiarities of the oil and gas sector with regards to collective bargaining agreement and approved pay structure between the unions and the Federal Government.

“ We reiterate that industrial peace in the sector cannot be guaranteed if the salaries of our members are stopped or if the implementation is carried out unilaterally without our input , ” the unions said .

Afolabi also confirmed to our correspondent that the unions would embark on industrial action if the government neglects their requests .

He , however , said that no date had been fixed for the commencement of such action as the unions were optimistic that the government would listen to their demands .

The letter stated that the unions were surprised that though the Federal Government recently revived the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System , where all affected agencies were currently on , the Office of the Accountant- General of the Federation still insisted on enrolling oil workers on the IPPIS platform .

Describing the IPPIS platform as defective and problematic, the unions urged the petroleum minister to intervene in the matter to avert crisis in the oil sector .

Both oil unions stressed that they were counting on Sylva ’ s understanding in resolving the matter .

Punch

The National Association of Resident Doctors has announced the suspension of its strike with effect from Monday (today ).

The association however said its national officers would continue negotiations with stakeholders and the progress made would be reviewed in four weeks ’ time during its next National Executive Council meeting .

NARD said it shelved the strike to give the government time to meet outstanding demands, following appeal by the Speaker of the House of Representatives , Femi Gbajabiamila , Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Boss Mustapha , Chairman of the Nigerian Governors ’ Forum , Dr Kayode Fayemi , and other stakeholders.

NARD said this in a communiqué issued in Abuja and signed by its President , Dr Aliyu Sokomba ; Secretary – General , Dr Bilqis Muhammad ; and Publicity Secretary , Dr Stanley Egbogu , after its National Executive Council meeting , attended by over 300 members .

Sokomba , who read the communiqué to journalists , said , “The NEC deliberated extensively on the ongoing NARD strike that commenced on June 15 , 2020 following her Emergency General Meeting to consider the federal and state governments ’ responses to the minimum requirements .

“ The NEC acknowledges the provision of the Personal Protective Equipment to some hospitals . These PPEs are consumables and non – reusable , therefore the need for sustained supply. ”

The union said COVID- 19 inducement allowance “ has only been paid to 11 federal health institutions and most state governments have yet to review the hazard allowance of health workers . ”

NARD also said it observed during the meeting that the medical residency training funding had been included in the revised 2020 budget through the intervention of the Speaker , House of Representatives and would be implemented as soon as the budget was assented to by the President .

“ At the same time, we await the fulfillment of the promise made by the Nigeria Governors ’ Forum to ensure same is done in all the states .

“ On the salary shortfall for 2014 – 2016 , the Secretary to the Government of the Federation has promised to intervene . Government has shown commitment to procure group life insurance for health workers . ”

Meanwhile , the Federal Government lamented on Sunday that the NARD strike impacted negatively on public health .

It said the strike succeeded in putting many lives , including those of members of NARD , at risk while it lasted .

The Minister of Information and Culture , Lai Mohammed , said this at a press conference he addressed in Abuja on Sunday shortly before the association suspended its strike, which he described as inexplicable .

Punch

Senate President , Ahmad Lawan , met with the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , on the increasing security challenges in the country and made a case for drastic solutions.

Lawan told State House correspondents after the meeting that he believed in providing more resources for the nation’ s security agents and the need for the heads of the agencies to sit up or be shown the way out .
He said anyone of them found not to be living up to expectations at the end of a particular timeline should be sacked.

He said , “I think we must tell ourselves the truth that the security situation in the country, especially in the northern part of the country, requires that we give much more resources to the security agencies .

“ Those who are heading these agencies , especially the service chiefs , must sit up . In fact , we must have milestones and timelines on how we are going to deal with this . We can ’ t just go on without any timeframe for dealing with these issues.

“ If after we provide some supports and someone is found short of expectations, he should be shown the way out if he refuses to go . This is because the lives of Nigerians are so precious and therefore must be more important than any other considerations or sentiments. ”

Punch

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said Nigerians are willing to pay for electricity if the services they receive from the distribution companies are constant and better.

According to reports, Osinbajo expressed this view while featuring in a webinar on Economic Sustainability Beyond COVID-19 organised by Emmanuel Chapel in Abuja.

The Vice President said it was not true that Nigerians did not want to pay more for power, adding that they had been unhappy with the poor service over the years.

Osinbajo reacted to a question posed by the former Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II.

“Just to comment on the point you made and I have alluded to it that income elasticity is more important for persons living in the rural area and for the poor who need to have electricity for whatever means of livelihood they have.

“What we have discovered especially as we have worked with the private sector to deploy solar power in different parts of the country is exactly the point you have made.

“For example, in Wuna, a village which is just outside Abuja, they never had light until a private company provided solar power there.

“What they pay on average for their power is well in excess of the N37 per unit that we pay for power off the grid.

“Turankawa in Sokoto pays almost N100. So, from many of the areas where we have been, it is evident that this business of people not willing to pay for power is not true at all.

“As a matter of fact, the reason there is such great resistance is really the service level.

“Most people are used to poor service so they just see every tariff increase as injustice because they are getting poor service but are asked to pay more.

“But where service is guaranteed people have been prepared to pay.’’

He listed Sabon Gari market in Kano, Ariaria market (in Aba) and in Sura market (in Lagos) and so many different parts of the country as instances where people paid for better services.

According to him, the question really is one of service as there must be a way of guaranteeing service in exchange for tariff increase which is really the point being made with the DisCos.

He said that the needful should be done in the power sector as the market failure in the power sector was mostly due to how the privatisation was done.

Thisday

The Lagos State Emergency Agency has confirmed a fresh explosion from the scene of Sunday morning inferno , involving four vehicles on the Lagos -Ibadan Expressway .

The Federal Road Safety Corps said the fresh fire delayed the reopening of the out – bound Lagos lane for motorists .

Providing an update , FRSC Sector Commander in Lagos State , Mr Olusegun Ogungbemide, told NAN that the fresh fire affected the rescue operations .

Ogungbemide, however , said that the situation had been brought under control , urging motorists to be patient and drive with care .

“ There was this fresh explosion from gas tanker (one of the tankers involved in the accident ).

“ The cover of the tanker opened and another fire billow up , but it is under control .

“ We had restricted movements to the inward Lagos route for in and out motorists , ’’ Ogungbemide said .

He said fire services from Lagos and Ogun states “are on ground to bring normalcy back on the expressway ’’ .

Ogungbemide earlier said rescue operations recovered a body burnt beyond recognition from the inferno while two persons were injured .

He said that two injured had been moved to Gbagada General Hospital .

The Federal Government has said that a total of 55 , 031 health workers in 35 COVID- 19 designated hospitals and medical centres have been paid special hazard allowances totalling N4 , 642 , 485 , 146 . 00 as of Sunday .

The Minister of Information and Culture , Lai Mohammed , disclosed this at a press conference he addressed in Abuja shortly before the National Association of Resident Doctors suspended its strike , which he described as inexplicable .

Mohammed was joined at the press conference by the Minister of Health , Osagie Ehanire ; and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige .

He said the government had also paid N9 billion as premium for Group Life Insurance to all health workers .

He said the payment of COVID- 19 special hazard inducement allowances was based on four templates: 50 per cent of Consolidated Basic Salary to all workers in COVID- 19 designated hospitals and centres ; 40 per cent of Consolidated Basic Salary to health workers in non – COVID- 19 designated centres and hospitals; 10 per cent of Consolidated Basic Salary to non -health professionals engaged in those centres ; and 20 per cent of Consolidated Basic Salary special allowance to all health workers directly managing COVID- 19 patients in Treatment and Isolation Centres.

He explained that other matters relating to non – payment of arrears dating as far back as 2014 or salaries owed by state governments, were either in court or beyond the power of the Federal Ministry of Health to resolve .

He said , “Despite the payment of the hazard allowance and the group life insurance , the provision of PPE as well as addressing other issues raised by the resident doctors , they still opted to proceed on strike.

“ This is happening at a time the nation is battling a pandemic of immense proportions .

“ This inexplicable strike is a dangerous setback for the nation’ s efforts at tackling the pandemic . ”

Punch

Churches in Oyo State have reopened after three months of closure due to the ban placed on religious gatherings by the government.

You would recall that the state government had in March, placed a ban on religious gathering as part of measures to curb the spreading of the novel coronavirus disease.

The government, however, announced recently that churches and mosques in the state could reopen with some guidelines.

It directed that religious centres must operate, at not more than 25 per cent capacity, while wearing facemasks throughout the service among other measures.

The NAN correspondent, who visited some churches including the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and Winners Chapel among others in Ibadan, observed that the churches maintained the guidelines set by the government.

It was observed that there were buckets of running water and liquid soaps placed at entry points for members to wash their hands before and after the service.

Some of the churches had earlier fumigated their environments while all members were sighted putting on face masks as sitting arrangements gave room for social distancing.

Some of the churches held multiple numbers of services so as to allow social distancing while thermometers were used to check members’ temperature before they entered the church.

Also, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Chairman in Oyo state, Apostle Joshua Akinyemiju, urged churches to maintain the guidelines set by the government.

“While appreciating the governor for allowing churches to worship, Christians must endeavour to abide by all the government’s guidelines to that effect.

“We should remember that the Bible enjoins us in Hebrew 13:17, to obey those that have the rule over us.

“Now that government has lifted ban on religious centres with conditions attached, it behoves us, as religious leaders, to ensure absolute compliance to protect government from being blamed for its leniency,’’ Akinyemiju said.

NAN

The National Association of Resident Doctors has announced the suspension of its strike with effect from Monday , June 22 , 2020 .

The organisation said it took the decision in order to enable the government time to fulfill outstanding demands following an appeal by the Speaker of the House of Representatives , Femi Gbajabiamila , Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Boss Mustapha , Chairman of the Nigeria Governors ’ Forum and other stakeholders.

NARD made the announcement in a communique read to journalists by its President , Dr . Aliyu Sokomba , in Abuja after its National Executive Council meeting attended by over 300 members.

Punch

THE Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has announced the commencement of enrolment for a new batch of N-Power beneficiaries effective June 26, 2020.

The N-Power Programme was inaugurated by
President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016 under the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) with the mandate of lifting citizens out of poverty through capacity building, investment, and direct support.

In his Democracy Day broadcast on June 12, 2020, the president commended the programme, noting that “our Social Investment Programme has continued to be a model to other nations.”

The commencement of the Batch C enrolment, according to a statement from the ministry through its Deputy Director of Press, Rhoda Iliya, “is a sequel to far-reaching consultations and a review of the submissions on the reform and realignment of the programme for greater efficiency.”

Batch C is also being enrolled to provide opportunities for more Nigerian youths to access the programme, in furtherance of the President’s vision of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by creating opportunities that will enhance the productivity of the Nigerian youths for entrepreneurship.

In view of these, the ministry has announced that Batch A will exit June 30, 2020, and Batch B will exit the programme on July 31, 2020.

According to the Honourable Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq , “we have commenced the transitioning of beneficiaries from Batches A & B into government entrepreneurship schemes and engaging private sector bodies to absorb some of the beneficiaries after the completion of psychometric assessment to determine competency and placement into various opportunities.

The Federal Government is committed to the continuation and expansion and as such will now begin enrolment and onboarding of a new Batch of beneficiaries. Skills acquisition for entrepreneurship and job creation are critical for an economy that will require a boost Post-COVID-19 and we are gearing up proactively for the challenge.”

Applications will be conducted using a hybrid system of enrolment to ensure that all Nigerians are given an opportunity to participate. As a Ministry that caters for the vulnerable, we will also make special considerations for Persons living with disabilities.

The online portal would be open to receive applications from noon on June 26, 2020, and will provide a level playing field for all applicants.

As part of the ministry’s reforms to make the programme more efficient, all applicants must supply their Bank Verification Number (BVN) in their application. This is to ensure a streamlined and transparent selection process.

Once applications are submitted, the ministry will review submissions and publish a list of successful applicants. Past beneficiaries are not eligible to participate in the application process.

Comprehensive details for the new batch will be announced in the coming weeks.

The N-Power Programme has enrolled 500,000 beneficiaries thus far – 200,000 from Batch A which started in September 2016 and 300,000 from Batch B which kicked off in August 2018. The beneficiaries were supposed to spend not less than 24 months on the programme and were spread across the key industries targeted by the program – Agriculture, Health, Education, and Tax.

The current beneficiaries from Batches A and B are scheduled to transit the programme by July 31, 2020, with plans already in place to transition them into entrepreneurship.

Vanguard

Ogun State Governor , Dapo Abiodun , has suspended the planned reopening of the religious centres in the state .

The governor said he changed his plan as earlier promised following the increase in the cases of coronavirus in the state .

Abiodun had earlier fixed June 19 for the planned reopening of the worship centres in the state and had set up a tripartite committee to work out the modalities for the reopening .

He said , “ Consequently , we are confronted with two choices – yield to the demand of those who want the restrictions to be further relaxed or even completely removed , even if this is at variance with the dictates of incontrovertible data analysis and scientific opinion ; or tow the path that preserves public health and safety , even if not so popular .

“ As a responsible administration , we choose life and the wellbeing of our citizens and are therefore constrained to take the painful but necessary decision to maintain the current regime of eased lockdown in the meantime.

“ We are consequently suspending our initially slated reopening of places of worship . ”