The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives has handed a two – week ultimatum within which the Federal Government should reverse the increase in the price of fuel and electricity tariff or face an indefinite strike .
This was the outcome of its communique issued by the Central Working Committee of the Nigeria Labour Congress held in Abuja .
The NANNM expressed these decisions in the directive signed by its General Secretary , T. A . Shettima, issued to its State chairmen and Secretaries and sent to journalists in Abuja .
The document reads , “ I write to forward herewith the communique issued at the end of the Central Working Committee of the NLC held on September 16 2020 .
“ In summary , the meeting discussed the unprecedented hike in the cost of Petroleum Motor Spirit (and ) the outrageous increase in electricity tariffs .
“ The meeting resolved to issue a 14 days ultimatum to the Federal Government within which to reverse the increases or face an indefinite strike .
“ You are by this letter directed to start mobilisation and sensitisation of our members . We shall keep you posted on any further development in this regard. ”
The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , has signed the Nigeria Police Bill 2020 into law .
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity , Femi Adesina , disclosed this in a statement titled “President Buhari asserts to Police Bill , 2020 ” .
The statement read , “ The Act repeals the Police Act Cap . P19 . Laws of the Federation , 2004 , and provides for a more effective and well organised Police Force , driven by the principles of transparency and accountability in its operations and management of its resources .
“ Among others, the Act establishes an appropriate funding framework for the Police in line with what is obtainable in other Federal Government key institutions, enhances professionalism in the Force through increased training opportunities , and creates enduring cooperation and partnership between the Police Force and communities in maintaining peace and combating crimes nationwide . ”
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed , says Nigeria ’ s revenue has dropped by about 65 per cent.
She said this necessitated the decision of the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , to discontinue the payment of petrol subsidy .
Ahmed said this on NTA ’ s ‘ Good Morning Nigeria ’ programme which was monitored by our correspondent .
She said if the petrol subsidy returns , it would lead to fuel scarcity because the government would not be able to pay marketers .
The minister stated, “ What we have been doing is not sustainable. If we bring back fuel subsidy , we will fail because we will not be able to pay it and the problem of disputes with marketers will come back , then we will have queues again . We just cannot afford it and therefore this deregulation must be made to work.
“ We appeal to Nigerians to understand that in the past when subsidy was done , we could afford to do it but right now , we cannot pay . Remember that right now our revenue has gone down by about 65 per cent . So , it is not business as usual . We cannot do what we used to do anymore. ”
When asked if subsidy would return if the price of crude oil bounces back to how it was in previous years , Ahmed said it was unlikely that would happen.
She , however , said the decision remains that subsidy would not return .
The Federal Government has said all airports in the country including private airports and airstrips were now opened for domestic commercial flights .
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika , made this known during a briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 in Abuja .
He said , “ Regarding approvals for flights within the country – domestic approvals . All airports in Nigeria are now open for domestic flights . Private charter operations will no longer need approvals from us to operate within domestic airports in all government -approved airports and in all government – owned airports .
“ However , those airports that are private airports – government -approved airports – the operators should check the safety status with the NCAA (Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ). Such airports like Jalingo , Uyo, Asaba , Gombe , Nasarawa , Damaturu, Osubi , etc.
“ So , you won ’ t need any approvals from the minister but you should kindly check the status of these airports with the NCAA which is normal .
“ However , all flights out of the country and into the country that are private charter will still need approvals for those kinds of flights including technical stops . ”
The Inspector – General of Police , Mohammed Adamu, has disclosed that no fewer than 31 , 000 personnel have been deployed for the governorship election in Edo State .
Adamu disclosed this at a stakeholders meeting organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission in Benin ahead of the governorship election holding on September 19 .
He noted that the force was not unconscious of heightened tension and violence that had characterised political campaigns ahead of the election.
He stressed that the police remain impartial, firm, and committed to the conduct of a free, fair , and credible election in the state .
He said the stakeholders’ meeting was a platform for interaction with political actors in the governorship election with a view to charting a course for a peaceful poll.
He noted that for the first time , inter -agencies in the state had developed a code of conduct for security personnel that would be deployed for election duties .
He added that the personnel deployed would ensure adequate security and protection across the three Senatorial District as well as the 192 wards and the more than 2 , 000 polling units in the state .
Adamu stressed that violators of electoral laws and rules during the election would be decisively dealt with irrespective of political affiliation .
He advised parents and guardians to appeal to their children and wards to resist the temptations by politicians to engage them in violence .
He said the police and other security personnel deployed for the election have been trained to be civil in carrying out their responsibility .
He , therefore , called for cooperation from members of the public to achieve a peaceful election .
The Oyo State government , has announced September 21 , 2020 , as the beginning of the 2020 /2021 academic session for primary and secondary schools in the state .
This was contained in a press statement by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology , Olasunkanmi Olaleye.
The statement was titled , ‘ Oyo govt releases calendar for school resumption’ .
Olaleye stated that the new calendar was approved on July 21 at a meeting of the State Executive Council .
He said , “ The first term of the new academic calendar will run between September 21 and December 18 , 2020 .
“ The second term of the academic session is expected to run from January 11 to April 9 , 2021 , while the third term will run between May 3 and July 30 , 2021 .
“ The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology enjoins all stakeholders and members of the public to take note of the details of the academic calendar. ”
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva , says the Federal Government will from October begin converting the cars and generators of Nigerians to run on gas .
Sylva said this will be done free of charge for all Nigerians to cushion the effect of the hike in pump price of petrol .
The minister said this on NTA ’ s ‘ Good Morning Nigeria ’ which was monitored by our reporter .
According to him , cars are capable of running on both gas and petrol .
The minister said the move would reduce carbon emissions as well as the demand for Premium Motor Spirit otherwise known as petrol .
Sylva stated , “ The alternative we are now introducing is gas , which is definitely going to be cheaper than the subsidised rate of PMS . So , what we are trying to encourage Nigerians to do now is to convert their cars to dual fuel.
That means your car can use either gas or petrol and that will be done for free because the government is going to ensure that you are able to convert your vehicles for free.
“ And when you convert your car for free, you go to the filling station , you see the price of PMS (Premium Motor Spirit ) you see the price of gas , you can decide to buy LPG ( Liquefied Petroleum Gas ) or CNG ( Compressed Natural Gas ) , you can decide to buy LNG (Liquefied Natural gas ) . These are all going to be available and we are going to have a roll out plan for this within October .
“ Nigerians will have alternatives . It is like introducing a toll on the roads . When you introduce a tollgate , you are expected and required by law to also create an alternative . So , we are also creating that alternative so that you can go to buy gas . ”
Following its deadlocked meeting with the Federal Government, the Joint Health Sector Unions have resolved to proceed with its strike with effect from midnight of Sunday , September 13 , 2020 .
This was the decisions reached after its expanded National Executive Council meeting.
This was just as the Federal Government directed the various unions in the health sector operating under by JOHESU to ignore the strike directive .
JOHESU , in a three- paragraph letter dated September 12 , titled, ‘ Re: Notice of 15 – day ultimatum/ outcome of JOHESU expanded NEC meeting, ’ said it would proceed on strike as nothing was achieved in the conciliatory meeting .
The memo sent to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige , was signed by JOHESU President , Biobelemoye Josiah ; Secretary – General , Dr Silas Adamu ; President of Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospitals , Research Institutes , Dr Benjamin Akintola ; General Secretary , Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals , Martin Egbanubi , among others.
It read , “ Recall that at the end of the meeting held in your office on Thursday , September 10 , 2020 , JOHESU demanded that the outcome of the meeting between JOHESU and the Federal Government be reported back to our expanded NEC meeting and give feedback to the Federal Government within 48 hours.
“ In the light of the above , the meeting of our expanded NEC was held today , Saturday, September 12 , 2020 . And at the end of the meeting , which was held both physically and virtually , it was unanimously agreed that since nothing concrete was achieved at the said meeting with the Federal Government, that the strike notice is still germane and alive .
“ Therefore , the 15 – day ultimatum still subsists and with effect from midnight of Sunday , September 13 , 2020 , our members shall withdraw their services due to Federal Government’ s inability to meet their demands . ”
The Lagos State University , Ojo has said only final – year undergraduate and postgraduate students will resume on September 14 while other students will resume on November 9 .
A statement by the Coordinator , Centre for Information , Press and Public Relations , Ademola Adekoya , noted that only final – year students at undergraduate level would have lectures between 9 am and 3 pm , on Monday to Friday, while postgraduate , master ’ s and PhD students , would attend classes only on weekends .
The statement reads , “200 to 500 level students will commence academic activities on Monday , November 9 , 2020 , while lectures for newly admitted students ( 100 level ) will commence on Monday , January 11 , 2021 . Sandwich degree programme , part- time on Epe campus and diploma students will commence lectures on Friday November 13 , 2020 and their lectures will hold only on weekends . ”
It further said the university senate had decided to commence normal academic activities in compliance with the directive of the Lagos State Governor and visitor to the university, Mr Babajide Sanwo- Olu , that tertiary institutions in the state could reopen from Monday September 14 .
The university warned that members of staff and students must wear their identity cards to be allowed access onto the premises and that anyone entering the university premises must have their bottle of hand sanitiser and face mask .
“ Security personnel will also be on continuous surveillance , to identify violators of laid down rules and regulations, ” Adekoya added .
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says Nigeria is slowly becoming a failed state and a basket case that urgently needs to be pulled from the brink of collapse .
He said this in Abuja while delivering a speech titled, ‘ Moving Nigeria Away from Tipping Over ’ at a consultative dialogue attended by various socio- cultural groups including Afenifere , Middle Belt Forum , Northern Elders Forum , Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo and Pan Niger Delta Forum .
The former President said , “ I do appreciate that you all feel sad and embarrassed as most of us feel as Nigerians with the situation we find ourselves in . Today , Nigeria is fast drifting to a failed and badly divided state ; economically our country is becoming a basket case and poverty capital of the world , and socially, we are firming up as an unwholesome and insecure country.
“ And these manifestations are the products of recent mismanagement of diversity and socio- economic development of our country. Old fault lines that were disappearing have opened up in greater fissures and with drums of hatred , disintegration and separation and accompanying choruses being heard loud and clear almost everywhere . ”
He added , “ With what I have seen , read and heard from the rapprochement that you are forging together , I see a ray of hope that Nigeria can be saved from disintegration .
“ If we are ready to live together in understanding , mutual respect and love with equity, justice, inclusiveness while engendering sense of belonging and unity of purpose and all hands on deck , we can deal with internal issues of terrorism , organised crimes , banditry , kidnapping , human trafficking , drug , money laundering and corruption. We will then be able to deal successfully with any incoming attack of terrorism , organised crimes , etc; from outside . ”
Obasanjo said , “That ray of hope was somewhat manifested in the last 10 days or so when the Northern Elders Forum and Yoruba Summit Group complemented each other in their separate press releases on the Senate’ s idea of inviting submissions from Nigerian public for constitution amendment which had been regular money – gulping activity by every National Assembly session since 1999 , a veritable source of waste without end.
“ I believe one of our major problems in the past was that we did not dialogue enough , we talk at ourselves and selfishly keep old prejudices and biases . If we show understanding , give- and – take, love of one another and commitment and love of the country, we will do what is right and stand firmly together for the good of all. ”
He said , “ I believe Nigeria is worth saving on the basis of mutuality and reciprocity and I also believe it can be done through the process of dialogues rather than talking at each other or resorting to violence . It will amount to dangerous and destructive self -delusion for anybody to claim that all is well in Nigeria today . ”
He stated that rather than work on fixing the country and ensuring that grievances among several units within the country are addressed , some are fixated on the 2023 Presidential election.
Obasanjo added , “Some people are obsessed with 2023 , I believe that with death , destruction, debt , disease , deceit , disbelief , disenchantment , doubt and suspicion around , we need to see our way through to 2023 and beyond in some form of unity of purpose , reasonable security , shared values , true democratic practice , inclusiveness and shared society . That is why we are here . No constitution is even permanent ; it is dynamic with time and experience . ”
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