Edo Teachers, Governement Set For Showdown Over Plans to Remove Allowances

Edo State Union of Teachers and the State government is heading for a showdown over plans to remove teachers allowances, NAIJA CENTER NEWS has learnt.

Nigeria Union of Teachers and Oshiomhole

The new development is due to Local Government current financial indebtedness which has led to the government inability to pay teachers January salaries

LGAs are responsible for Primary school teacher’s salaries, and all LG in Edo State are currently heavily indebted.

It is known that teachers salaries are normally deducted from the state/LG joint account by the state government at source and the balance sent to the LGA for payment of staff and development.

NAIJA CENTER NEWS gathered that some Local Government are owing their workers up to eight months of unpaid salaries. These Chairmen who have been operating on loans held a meeting and resolved as follows:

1. There will be no more yearly incremental credit. (The added yearly cash to workers salaries)


2. No more leave Transport Grant (money paid when workers are going on leave)


3. Stagnation in promotion to be effected immediately.

The reason for this was to enable them recoup money saved from the above to alleviate their financial burden.

They presented these demands to the State government who in turn invited the leadership of the NUT for a meeting.

NAIJA CENTER NEWS gathered that the decision was presented at the meeting and they flatly rejected it.

They opined that theirs allowances cannot be for payment of debts, and they were never informed before they took loans.

They expressed anger that workers who were recruited in 2012 and implemented in 2014 have not been promoted; therefore their allowances cannot be removed.

Speaking with NAIJA CENTER NEWS, the NUT Chairman, Comrade Mike Osaguoduwa Uhuangho said “The state government said that no leave transport grant and no incremental credit and we have to react, that it is our right. If other workers are getting it, the workers from the primary school sector should also get it.

“For a man who you have not been promoted for five years,  and you are now saying the incremental credit and leave transport is no more, is up for questioning.

“IF the state government decided to carry out its threat, the NUT will definitely meet with the mother body which is the NLC on what need to be done.

“For now we are not intending to go on strike. We believe that the state government have been trying for the teachers. We first want to go on dialogue before anything. The idea of removing incremental credit and leave transport is a threat that we will resist in all ramifications.

“The government did not inform the union on the reasons behind its action but for now, we tend to ask the government why is it only the teachers that would not be paid the leave transport and incremental credit.

“If the state government is saying they are in a financial mess, they did not inform the union. If other sectors in the state are getting their salaries, is it the primary school teachers who is still buying from the same market will be affected?

“We know that the state and local government have a joint account and they have to pay”.

Similarly, the SUBEB Chairman confirmed the development but alleged that he is currently in Abuja and promised to respond on the issue as soon as he returned to Benin.

He said: “I also heard the rumour but i am away from now. I will be back by next week and i will respond properly”

Edo Teachers, Governement Set For Showdown Over Plans to Remove Allowances

Lagos NUJ files N500m lawsuit against customs over assault on journalist

The Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has filed a N500 million criminal suit against the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, over the brutal assault on one Yomi Olomofe, a journalist at Seme border post of the NCS last year.

It will be recalled that the Badagry based journalist was severely beaten on June 22, 2015 by hoodlums believed to be working for the NCS at Seme border and left him in a pool of blood at a refuse dump.

In a fundamental rights suit filed by Mr. Jiti Ogunye on behalf of the NUJ and the brutalised journalist, the applicant is asking for N500 million as special and exemplary damages for the violation of the applicant’s rights.

Joined as Respondents in the suit are the Comptroller of Customs, Mohammed Ndalati; Deputy Comptroller, Emmanuel Nkemdirim; Assistant Comptroller, Ibrahim Turaki and the Comptroller General, Ahmed Ali.

Others are the Nigerian Customs Service, Chief Sam of Ibiye, Alhaji Momoh (aka Basket), Mr. Shehu and Mr. Elijah.

In the suit, the applicant asked the Court for a declaration that the beating meted out to him by the Respondents, which inflicted bodily and internal injuries on him on June 25, 2015 in the premises of the NCS, Seme, was “capable of infringing on his right to life as guaranteed by Section 33 (1) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.”

Beside, he prayed the court to declare that the beating on the said date in the course of discharging his professional duties and obligations constituted an infringements on his rights to freedom of expression and the press as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.

Speaking, the National President of NUJ, Waheed Odusile vowed that the union will not allow the matter to be swept under the carpet, saying they will see it to its logical conclusion. According to the lawyer, the brutal assault on the journalist was in clear violation of his fundamental human rights, adding that medical reports indicated that the journalist who is still recuperating suffered severe injury and psychological trauma after the incident.

The human rights lawyer said it was unfortunate that journalists that played a prominent role in the return of democracy to the country have continued to be battered by security agents and the powers that be.

Lagos NUJ files N500m lawsuit against customs over assault on journalist

NUJ Honours Delta Speaker Hon Monday Igbuya

Delta State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon Monday Igbuya, on Monday pledged that he would work toward a robust Nigeria Union of Journalists in the years ahead by giving all the support, encouragement and cooperation in the realization of the union’s set goals, saying,“I am aware that the practice of journalism has become more expensive due to new technologies and the advent of social media, which has made information to move at a frightening speed.”

In his acceptance speech for the Award of Excellence in Legislative Competence and Exceptional Leadership, Igbuya applauded the practice of journalism in the country especially the high level of professionalism and commitment of journalists to the process of nation building.

The Speaker who received spontaneous cheers from the cream of journalists promised not only to be sensitive to the yearnings and aspirations of Deltans but also proactive on all matters of urgent importance.

He said “I want to appreciate the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Delta State Council for counting me worthy of this prestigious award. It is truly an honour to receive an award from your highly esteem body, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). I really appreciate this effort of an early positive report card. This benevolence is a great one to me and members of the Delta State House of Assembly”.

Igbuya who expressed delight at the activities of journalists in Nigeria, particularly Delta State, said the role of the media cannot be downplayed by any society,

“It will be noteworthy to appreciate the role of the media in our nascent democracy. Without the media in our society, the public will not be aware of the agenda and programmes of this administration”

The speaker also seized the occasion to commend his colleagues.

“This award belongs to every member of the Delta State House of Assembly. Without members, there can be no speaker. Without the honourable members, I would not be standing here today to receive this award”

PMAN must brace up for the new challenges – Delta Speaker

The Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Monday Igbuya on Monday spoke of his personal respect and feeling for the practitioners of music in Nigeria, urging them to support government efforts at improving the revenue of the state.

The speaker said he saw the role of Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) as very fundamental along with that of the government in moving a nation to its ideal setting.

Igbuya spoke in Asaba during the visit of PMAN officials in Delta State to his office.

He urged them to use their skills to enlighten the people on the ideals of good governance,

He also appealed to them to think of music that can increase the Internally Generated Revenues of states.

“Musicians must look for ways in which they can benefit from government. They must educate government officials on how to shift from oil and federal allocations. They also need to educate the people on taxes, electronic campaign and a clean environment “he advised.

Igbuya who thanked the group for supporting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, recalled his father’s contribution to the music industry.

“My father was an organist. He played music but none of us took after him. However, we are using the Igbuya Foundation to support the music industry by sponsoring people at the university level” he said.

Earlier, the chairman, PMAN, Delta State Chapter, Evangelist Quincy Tebite, congratulated the speaker on his victory at the poll, his emergence as the speaker, victory at the tribunal and at the Court of Appeal.

Quincy while describing the visit as significant urged the Delta State House of Assembly to pass a bill that will compel media organizations, hotels and other industrial bodies to pay royalty to PMAN.

NUJ Honours Delta Speaker Hon Monday Igbuya

Media must reflect FG’s new resolve to tackle Boko Haram - Lai Muhammed

The spokesman of the governing party, All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Lai Muhammed has implored the media to reflect the federal government resolve towards tackling terrorism in the country.

Lai Mohammed

Muhammed made the call during the Award of Fellow of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, conferred on him by the union in recognition of his contribution to journalism in Abuja Thursday.

He charged media not to rest on their oars, especially at this time that the nation faces huge challenges in almost all sectors, adding that the Buhari Administration inherited a near comatose economy, dilapidated infrastructure, massive corruption and a high level of insecurity, exacerbated by the six-year terror campaign in North-east Nigeria.

“I want to use this important platform provided by the NUJ – a professional media organisation aiming to connect journalists nationwide with the information and opportunities they need to advance professionally and improve media in Nigeria – to appeal to the media to reflect, in their reporting, the seriousness with which the new Administration is approaching the Boko Haram insurgency.

“It is not just enough for the media to daily chronicle the attacks and the death tolls therefrom, they must also contextualize such reporting. In other words, whereas there appears to have been a spike in Boko Haram attacks in recent times, what is indeed happening is that the terrorists have been forced to change tactics, because they have been weakened and put on the run.

“Lone wolf suicide bombings and the choice of soft targets by retreating Boko Haram members are now the order of the day, as against the terrorists’ previous coordinated actions of seizing and holding territories. Today, not a single local government in Nigeria is under the control of Boko Haram, unlike in the recent past when they held a huge swath of territory, installed their own emirs and even collected taxes.’’

Receiving the award, Muhammed said: “whatever modest contributions I have made in this regard would not have been possible without the support and cooperation of the media. Simply put, I have enjoyed an unalloyed support and unparalleled cooperation from the media in carrying out my duties, first as the long-time spokesman for the opposition and now, as the spokesman the ruling party.

“Therefore, in accepting the Award, I want to dedicate it to the Nigerian Media for their role not only in strengthening our democracy but also in the recent historic and successful transition from a ruling party to the opposition.

“It is not for fun that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria specifically mentioned, in Chapter 11 sub-section 22, that: ”The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people.”

“In essence, the media are widely acclaimed as the watchdog of the society, of democracy and indeed of the entire political process

“I make bold to say that the Nigerian media have performed their constitutionally-assigned role creditably, despite tough challenges and a few setbacks here and there,” he said.

 

Media must reflect FG’s new resolve to tackle Boko Haram - Lai Muhammed

Benin NBA Protests Judicial Workers’ Strike

Members of the Benin branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), on Tuesday, matched through some major streets in Benin City, protesting the three-month old strike of the Edo State judicial workers.

The lawyers are demanding the immediate resignation of the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the permanent secretary and solicitor general of the state.

They are also calling for the resignation of all lawyers appointed to political positions in the state for failing to properly advice the state governor to comply with the rule of law.

The NBA members said the lingering strike by the judicial workers in the state has adversely affected the welfare and economy of lawyers in the state, arguing that there cannot be a true democracy without an impartial and independent judiciary.

Addressing journalists at the Edo State NUJ Secretariat in Benin City, the state chairman of the branch, Patience Iyomon, said the need to comply with the constitutional provision granting, financial autonomy to the judicial arm of government, cannot be undermined.

The Benin NBA, according to her, condemns the continued refusal of the Edo State Government to comply with the court judgment reaffirming the constitutional provision granting financial autonomy to the judicial arm government.

According to her, the continued refusal of the governor to comply with the order of the court and meet the judicial workers’ demand and the threat to sack them even without meeting their demand is a violation of the international labor organization’s convention of which Nigeria is a signatory.

Benin NBA Protests Judicial Workers’ Strike