CSOs Ask NLC, TUC to Consider Economic Hardship,End Strike

 

By Editor

Northern based Coalition of Civil Society Organisations have asked the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to consider current economic hardship Nigerians are facing and Call-off the ongoing National Strike immediately.

According to the CSOs, the untold hardship caused by the indefinite strike, especially in the north is becoming unbearable for the ordinary citizens, who eke living from daily economic activities. 

In the 8-point communique issued after an emergency meeting held at Arewa House, Kaduna today, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations urged the labour unions to consider alternative dispute resolution mechanisms other than strike actions  to achieve their demands  that will usually ground the economy and cause more hardships to common man. 

The communique jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary,Comrade Musa Abdullahi Danbatta and Comrade Yusuf Ibrahim Kudan ,the CSOs said though NLC has the right to mount pressure on government to achieve its demands , the timing is wrong considering the plethora of challenges facing country now . 

While stating that they are not insensitive to the plights of labour unions and reasons  for the strike , they want the labour unions to consider and be mindful  that the issues raised are inherited problems ,which are currently being addressed by the federal government . Adding, " it would be counter-productive to slow the process down with  incessant strike actions, when round table engagements could be better option. "

The Communique further reads: " We have followed with keen interest , the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration and discovered that his economic policies are geared toward economic recovery and ensuring a sustainable sectoral growth and development.

"It is against this background that we resolved  the  Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and other labour unions should call-off the strike action immediately and consider a round table engagement with federal on issues of their demands . 

"We therefore call on respected labour unions to support  President Ahmed Tinubu to move the country forward, considering that since assuming  office on May 29,203 has demonstrated committed to tackling the economic problems inherited and began the journey to rebuild the country’s battered economy in a difficult situation.

"NLC and TUC should  consider that the President was able to take a bold and courageous decision to remove the fuel subsidy to avert a national economic catastrophe of epic proportions,which stunted the growth of economy over the years. 

"That it was in  consideration  of the pains on Nigerians and workers especially that the government rolled out intervention in form Palliatives to help cushion the unintended negative impacts of subsidy removal,such as;  working out a minimum wage and salary increase, supporting states and local governments ,  providing fertilizers to farmers, grains to households, cash transfers to people with low incomes.

"That  it is worthy of note  that President Tinubu  laid out  steps to improve incentives for civil servants, including salary increases, improving quality and hygiene of working environments. His payroll-system reforms removed thousands of ghost workers from the system"

The CSOs also asked the labour unions consider the federal government's Petroleum industry reforms aimed at  improving crude oil production output and the ongoing efforts made to repatriate of looted funds, which will no doubt help in revenue generation and enhanced economic stability.

While highlighting Tinubu's economic recovery reforms, they observed that government has set up a Tax and Fiscal Reforms Committee that is fully at work to deepen the ongoing reforms and reposition the national economy for long-term sustainability. 

However, they expressed optimism that these reforms will help reduce the impact of the high cost of living on the citizens.Adding ,"The support bof labour unions as pressure groups is required to help the President focus on redirecting the economy and remove  impediments to productivity and competitiveness in order to grow and create millions of decent jobs that are essential for long term economic growth."

Vigilante neutralises 4 bandits in Bena District

 

By Editor 

A vigilante has successfully killed four bandits after they attacked one person of Dan-Umaru village of Bena District in Kebbi State on Monday.

Alhaji Ahmed Idris, Chief Press Secretary to Kebbi State Governor disclosed this in a statement made available to Journalists in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.

Idris quoted Alhaji AbdulRahman Usman, Director, Security at the Cabinet Office, Birnin Kebbi as revealing the success story.

He narated that when th bandits lunched an attack on the village, the vigilante quickly took position and ambushed them and successfully killed all the four attackers while on their way back to Zamfara State.

The director said the dead bodies were taken to Dan-Umaru village, adding that the incident took place near Dan-Umaru boardering Dadin Duniya in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

He confirmed that the person attacked by the bandits was responding to treatment at an undisclosed hospital. 

Kebbi Information Commissioner sponsors 14 vulnerable girls to tertiary schools

 

By editor

The Kebbi state Commissioner of Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed BK has sponsored 14 vulnerable girls from poor background to tertiary institutions in the state.

This sponsorship was in fulfillment of the promise he made to the girls when, while on a visit to the Magajin Rafi Model School, Tudun Wada Birnin Kebbi - venue of a skills acquisition program arranged for girls in the neighborhood, he met a group of over 200 girls who lamented their inability to further their education based on the poor status of their parents.

The Commissioner, upon hearing their pitiable story, inquired how many of them had the requisite SSCE grades and was surprised when many of theme raised their fingers, with most of them lamenting that they could not secure admissions because their parents were either late or very poor to fund their education.

Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed who expressed sadness over their plight promptly undertook to personally secure admissions and pay for the admission forms and registration fees for some of them. At the time he went to work to get the admissions, the Federal University Birnin Kebbi, the state University and the state College of Nursing Sciences have already completed intake and have long started lectures. Only the Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic Birnin Kebhi was still admitting and he quickly got admission for 14 of them to read various courses.

The admission papers were presented to the happy girls yesterday by Muhammad Abubakar, an aide of the Commissioner who conveyed the Commissioner’s pledge to repeat the same exercise in the coming years.

The girls expressed happiness for the kindness and promised not to let the Commissioner down by putting their best in their education.

Security neutralises wanted notorious bandit, Mai-Nasara, killed 2 in Kebbi

 

By Editor 

A team of security operatives of the Nigerian Army has neutralised a wanted notorious bandit Nicknamed Mai-Nasara at Sangeko forest in Kebbi State.

The team also killed two others suspected bandits believed to be members of the same gang.

Alhaji Ahmed Idris, Chief Press Secretary to Kebbi State Governor disclosed this in a statement made available to Journalists in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.

Idris quoted Alhaji AbdulRahman Usman, Director, Security at the Cabinet Office, Birnin Kebbi as revealing the success story.

While applauding the gallant efforts of the security personnel in fighting crimes and criminalities in the state especially in the Southern part of Kebbi, Usman appealed to people to give the personnel all the necessary cooperation and support to succeed.

"Your support and cooperation is highly necessary for the security agencies to achieve the desired goal of flushing out criminals and restore peace and normalcy in our land. 

"Therefore, there is need for people to assist the security agencies with credible intelligence towards successful combats," he pleaded. 

End 

Signed: 

Ahmed Idris, Chief Press Secretary to Kebbi State Governor.

30/10/2023.

Kebbi Gov't. seeks synergy with FG in supporting women widows, orphans

 

By Editor

The Kebbi State Government has sought for synergy with Federal Government in supporting women, widows and less privileged persons in the state. 

 Chief Press Secretary  (CPS) to Kebbi State Governor, Mr Ahmed Idris made this known in a statement he issued.

Idris in his statement said the State's Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Halima Kamba made the plea at a meeting with the Hon. Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Kennedy of recent. 

The CPS  said the meeting was organised by the Federal Ministry of women Affairs in attendance were M.D.A and other donor agencies such as unicef, Save the Children, Nigeria for Women Project UNFP.

According to the CPS, "she said the meeting, which was meant to streamline gender equality and women empowerment, if implemented it would reduce the suffering of women across the state.

"The Commissioner applauded the efforts of Kebbi State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris for collaborating with donor agencies to bring positive development into the state.

"Responding, the Hon. Minister expressed delight over the performance of Kebbi State governor in supporting women, gender equality policy in the state, while promising to partner with the state government in restructuring and empowering women in the state. 

"The meeting was attended by women commissioners across the 36 states of the country and FCT," he said.

SSG denies supply of medical equipment to Sir Yahaya Specialists Hospital

 

By Editor

The Kebbi State Government has refuted some pictures circulating on the social media on supply of medical equipment to Sir Yahaya Specialists Hospital, Birnin Kebbi. 

Alhaji Ahmed Idris, Chief Press Secretary to Kebbi State Governor, disclosed this in a statement made available to Journalists in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.

Idris quoted Alhaji Yakubu Bala-Tafida, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) as saying this while reacting to the purported pictures, describing the entire information as false and a mere attempt to blackmail the present administration under Gov. Nasir Idris.

He said the pictures being circulated were meant to create confusion amongst the citizenry, as there was no such equipment supplied to the hospital.

The SSG, however, appealed to all and sundry to dismiss and reject the circulated pictures because there was no iota of truth in them.

Bala-Tafida called on the general public to extend all the necessary support and cooperation to His Excellency, Comrade Dr Nasir Idris to enable him effectively deliver the dividends of democracy to his constituents. 

End

Gov. Idris assents to Bill increasing retirement age of teachers

 

By Editor

The Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Dr Nasir Idris has signed into Law a bill that increase the retirement age and length of service for Primary and Secondary School teachers.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Birnin Kebbi, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Mohammad Usman-Zuru said the Bill was expected to address crucial matters that affect the lives and career of Primary and Secondary School teachers.

He identified the crucial issues to include; retirement age and length of service.

The Speaker observed that teachers play a pivotal role in shaping the future of any society, thereby shaping the future of the nation being the custodial knowledge.

Usman-Zuru appealed to all stakeholders in the education sector to lend their support to the Bill for the growth and development of the sector.

The speaker then assured the Governor of the State Assembly's readiness to always support the present administration policies and programmes towards effective performance.

Responding, Gov. Nasir Idris thanked members of the State House of Assembly for the consistent support and cooperation they extend to the present administration. 

He said with the signing of the Bill, teachers in the state would always remember members of the State House of Assembly for their efforts in the speedy passage of the Bill . 

Gov. Idris described the relationship between the Executive and Legislative arms of government as cordial, saying that the present administration proved to be government of the people, for the people and by the people.

In a related development, the State Executive Council had also approved a medium term expenditure framework for the year 2024 to 2026, for onward transmission to the State House of Assembly.

This was announced by the State Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Abba Sani-Kalgo while briefing Government House Correspondents shortly after the State Executive Council meeting which was presided over by Gov. Nasir Idris.

Speaking jointly with the State Commissioners of justice, Barrister Junaidu Marashal and Higher Education, Dr Halima Muhammad-Bande pointed out that at the meeting, the state action business enabling reforms, ease of doing business which create enabling environment for business in the state were discussed.

The Commissioners announced that all the MOU brought to the council were approved and ratified. 

The State Executive Council meeting was attended by the State Deputy Governor, Secretary to the State Government, Head of Service and all the Commissioners.