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Outrage As Government Hospital’s Elevator Crushes Young Female Doctor To Death In Lagos

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Diaso Vwaere

By Adesina Soyooye

Outrage has greeted the tragic and gruesome death of a young female Medical Doctor in Lagos on Tuesday night.

Dr Diaso Vwaere was crushed to death in a faulty Elevator at her work place, General Hospital Odan, Lagos Island. The hospital is owned by the Lagos State Government.

Her tragic death has sent Nigerians into a frenzy of outrage, with not a few of them asking her family to sue the Management of the Hospital and the Lagos State Government for everything they have got.

The beautiful young Doctor who was undergoing her Housemanship at the hospital, was a graduate of Babcock University, Ogun State. She had only two weeks to the end of her Housemanship.

According to reports, the Elevator has been faulty, for over a year ( some say since 2018),  to the knowledge of the Hospital’s Management, which, perhaps due to either negligence, I-don’t-care attitude, or paucity of funds, chose to manage it instead of discontinuing its usage until a replacement. It chose to do “patch-patch” repairs on the elevator for the many times it “misbehaved”, and staff complained.

On Tuesday, August 1st, 2023, it crashed and took Dr  Vwaere’s life.

The young daughter met her tragic death hungry.

Her journey to the sudden and painful death began Tuesday night when she ordered for dinner from a restaurant. She was, reportedly, on the 9th floor when a Dispatch Rider who brought the food she ordered put a call to her to come downstairs and pick the food.

She entered the elevator which chose that minute to wreak a tragic havoc. It malfunctioned, crashed, and crushed the young soul. She was alone in the elevator.

Heartbroken eyewitnesses said she cried frantically for help, begging she didn’t want to die. But it took more than an hour to extricate her from the rubble of the elevator.

When she was eventually brought  out, the Hospital, again, failed her. Allegedly, there was no blood ready te replace the much she lost  All efforts to save her by Medical Doctors in the hospital failed, especially,  with no blood to sustain her. She had already lost much of her  blood.

She died.

A devastated Nigerian, Dr Olutoyosi, in a Whatsaap post that has gone viral, nailed the Nigerian system for her death. He lamented the manner of Dr Vwaere’s death because of what he termed Nigeria’s “anyhowness.” Dr Vwaere’s country not only failed her, it killed her.

Following is his post where he mourned Dr Vwaere, and lamented the Nigerian situation.

And We Lost Dr. Vwaere To Nigeria’s Anyhowness.

When Dr. Vwaere was being inducted as a Nigerian doctor after her six-year sojourn at Babcock University last year, she had high hopes and expectations.

She had hopes for a flourishing medical career.

Expectations to use her newly learned medical skills to benefit the community and society at large.

Training a child at a Babcock medical college is quite expensive and does not come cheap.

3.5  million per annum for school fees alone during her time; it is now 6.5 million per annum, but her parents did it because they wanted to give the best to their daughter and then to avoid the anyhowness in the Nigerian university eco system.

Post-induction, Dr. Vwaere got a place to do her internship at General Hospital (Odan, Lagos Island), a facility owned by the Lagos State Government.

Before Dr. Vwaere joined the General Hospital as a student doctor, it was noticed by the resident doctors and staff of the hospital that the only elevator at the hospital had been in bad shape since 2018 and then there was no running water in the hospital.

But because of Nigeria’s anyhowness, one big madam, or Oga, siphoned or embezzled the money meant to replace the elevator while patchy work was done at the elevator to serve as a temporary respite, endangering people’s lives in the process and turning deaf ears to the genuine complaints by resident doctors at the hospital.

The elevator was so bad that it stopped at intervals, and you had to manually use your hand to close it in order to continue your journey.

The carelessness, wickedness, and anyhowness culture we have here have finally ended the journey and the dreams of Dr. Vwaere.

Just like the rest of us, Dr. Vwaere woke up today with bright hopes for the month of August.

She was upbeat for one reason: her housemanship at General Hospital (Odan, Lagos Island) was finally coming to an end.

She had less than two weeks to round up

She went to work excited that she has less than 2 weeks to complete her housemanship.

And this afternoon, a dispatch rider who brought the food she ordered online called her on the phone to let her know that he was around.

Since she was free, she elected to go and pick the food herself from the ground flour where the dispatch rider was, and on her way to meet the dispatch rider,

She entered the faulty elevator.

And then disaster struck.

The elevator fell from the 10th floor, where she was, to the ground with a loud thud that shook the foundation of the hospital.

Even the dispatch rider who was waiting at the entrance of the elevator thought that Armageddon was here when he heard the noise, so the man ran for his dear life.

It took one hour before Dr. Vwaere was rescued from the debris of what was once the elevator.

She was still alive, though badly injured, and was bleeding when she was brought out and rushed to the emergency section of the hospital.

And from multiple accounts of those who witnessed the surreal drama

Dr. Vwaere was crying that she did not want to die; even while stuck in the elevator for hours, she was crying for help.

“I don’t want to die; help me,” she cried nonstop.

She cried that she wanted to live and not die, but her desire to live was truncated by Nigeria’s anyhowness, which snuffed the life out of her.

Again, Nigeria’s anyhowness kicked in and deprived her of this chance to live.

She was taken to the emergency section of the hospital, but after another delay because there was no blood,

That was how Dr. Vwaere gave up the ghost.

The young lady died just like that.

Corruption kills, and this is another part of corruption we don’t discuss well enough.

We just lost Dr. Vwaere because of that hydra-headed monster and Nigeria’s culture of anyhowness.

I am visibly upset as I’m writing this.

This is not right.

We can’t continue like this.

We can’t continue living like this, like animals.

For how long will we continue to tolerate losing our best and brightest to this culture of mediocrity?

Nigeria keeps devouring its youth.

Nigeria failed Dr. Vwaere; may her innocent blood spilled for no reason haunt and punish those criminals who embezzled the money meant for a new elevator.

~ From my WhatsApp pro group. Dr Olutoyosi

Organized Labour Pull Down National Assembly Gate, Lay Siege On Premises

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

One of the fallouts of Wednesday’s peaceful protest by workers is the pulling down of the gate to the National Assembly by protesters who marched on the complex to kick against the fuel subsidy removal by the federal government.

The protesters pulled down the first gate of the National Assembly and subsequently converged on the premises.

Immediate past President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, addressed protesters in Abuja.

He berated successive governments for the failure to fix Nigeria’s oil refineries.

He queried why the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries have not been fixed in spite of the many promises made by the federal government.

He lamented the fact that Nigeria was the only oil producing country in the world that did not have a single functional refinery.

He accused the political elite and  their businessmen collaborators of stripping the country of her wealth.

According to him, “the rich few are holding Nigeria by the throat. They are milking the poor dry.”

In Ondo state, the Organized Labour asked the federal government led by President Bola Tinubu to immediately reduce the cost of governance to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.

Speaking, the State NLC Chairman, Mr Victor Amoko, said the removal of the fuel subsidy was timely, but lamented how its effect had been biting hard on the Nigerian masses.

Amoko, who read the position of the National body of the union during the street demonstration, said every household in the nation is feeling the hardship due to the policies of the government.

He noted that the increment in the price of petrol has led to astronomical increases in transportation fares, food, goods and services, tuition fees and the cost of accessing quality healthcare services in the country.

“We are calling for the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the government including recent hikes in PMS prices, School fees and VAT. We also want all our local refineries both in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna to be fixed.

“We also want the federal government to release the eight-month withheld salaries of University lecturers and workers among several others.

“It’s like suffering and smiling. There must be an end to that it. We are also calling for the need to urgently address the increasing cost of governance at all levels.

“We also reject plans by the National Assembly to spend N70 billion when Nigerian masses are facing hardship. The government should be sensitive to the plight of our people.

“You saved money from the subsidy. We agreed but what is the money saved from it meant for? We want to know. We also want to know those masquerades that had been hijacking our resources unmasked,”

The State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Clement Fatuase, said the federal government should allow the “poor to breathe”, noting that the inhuman policies introduced by the government will not be tolerated.

He, however, urged the government to quickly implement people-centred agreements reached with organized labour to avoid further crippling of the economy.

“The federal government should allow the poor to breathe because this is a warning signal that If they are determined to make life difficult for us. We are going to resist it even with the last drop of blood in our bodies.

“So, this is a march for the survival of Nigeria and Nigerians, we say no to anti-people policies. We want the President to listen to our plight.”

Addressing the labour leaders, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu appreciated organized labour for not resorting to disorderliness.

Akeredolu, who was represented by Mr Dare Aragbaye, the Special Adviser on Union Matters, said the decision of the unions would be conveyed to the President.

“We have received your letter and it would be conveyed to Mr President. We don’t have any objection to your demands because we have seen your placards.

“There is no way he would know if you had not come out to articulate your demands. With this action, you have make the President know that there’s a need to be sensitive to the plight of the Nigerian workers.

“I can assure you that this letter would be conveyed to the president and these demands of the workers would be addressed.”

Enugu: Media Rights Group Lament Intimidation Of Journalists, Caution Governor Mbah

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Peter Mbah

By Akinwale Kasali

Foremost Media Group, Media Rights Agenda, MRA, has cautioned Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, to immediately halt the alleged harassment and intimidation of journalists in the state, stating that such actions by his government violate the Constitution and breach his oath to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution.”

In a press statement signed by Idowu Adewale, Communication Officer at MRA, the organization noted that “the ongoing attacks on the media by the Enugu State government have drawn criticism from MRA, and they vow not to let these actions go unchallenged. They specifically mention the harassment faced by Mr. Michael Okechukwu Ilediagu, the publisher of News Center, orchestrated by the Governor’s aides.”

The statement reads in part:  “Mr. Ilediagu has reportedly faced intimidation by the Police Anti-kidnapping Squad, who invaded his home and arrested him over his reporting on developments in the State, with no evidence of any offense committed. Officials of the Enugu State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and civil society actors have confirmed that the journalist and publisher continues to face threats and harassment from State Government officials.”

MRA stressed that journalism is not a crime and condemns the use of police units to hound journalists while criminals roam free. They assert that the abuse of police powers to serve personal and political interests is a potential crime in itself.

It called on Governor Mbah and his aides to respect the rule of law and allow journalists and media organizations in the State to carry out their professional duties without harassment, intimidation, or other attacks and threats.

The statement added:

“MRA warns that if the harassment continues, it will employ all constitutional means and international mechanisms available to challenge the abuse of power and office.”

The group thereafter called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Olukayode Egbetokun, to order an investigation into the abuse of police powers by the Enugu State Police authorities, who are allegedly acting at the behest of the Governor’s Office to intimidate journalists and prevent them from performing their constitutional duties.

Breaking: World Bank President To Meet Tinubu

By
James Orji
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0

Any moment from now, Ajay Banga, World Bank president, will meet President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as he arrives the country for a three-day visit.

The Bretton Wood institution issued a statement on Tuesday is visiting the country alongside his wife, Ritu Banga.

According to reports, Banga’s visit is part of the efforts by the global financial institution to further strengthen ties with other multilateral financial bodies globally.

The World Bank boss has just ended a two-day visit to Ethiopia, and has also visited other countries, including Jamaica, Peru, and India, following the bank’s announcement last month that Banga will embark on a global tour from June to December in the bank’s quest to “reimagine strategic partnerships with other multilateral banks and development organizations.”

Concerning his visit to Nigeria, the World Bank stated that its boss will also meet with civil society leaders and private sector operators.

The statement said,  “Banga will focus his time in Nigeria on identifying opportunities to create jobs for young people and women, addressing energy needs and renewable energy, and further exploring the potential for digitization.

“As part of these efforts, he will visit a World Bank financed mini-grid power plant that is providing solar energy to an entire community, and a woman-owned business that has generated more than 1,500 service-sector jobs for young Nigerians.”

On June 8, the bank announced “a months-long global tour for new president Ajay Banga, an early step in his mission to write a new playbook for the 78-year-old institution.”

“Between now and December 2023, Banga will visit multiple countries in every region where the World Bank Group operates. During the impact-focused tour, Banga will work to reimagine strategic partnerships with other multilateral banks and development organizations, work to identify barriers for private sector investment, deepen the relationships between the World Bank Group and the countries it serves, and identify opportunities to maximize impact through knowledge, financing, and technical assistance,” it said.

Timi Frank: Tinubu’s Govt. Cannot Fight Corruption, Slams Senate Over ‘Bow and Go’ Ministerial Screening Exercise

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

A political activist, Timi Frank, has slammed President Bola Tinubu’s administration for lacking the capacity to fight corruption and criminality in the country.

Frank made this assertion in a statement in Abuja, in which he  condemned the Government in strong terms, especially, the ongoing ministerial screening by the Godswill Akpabio-led 10th Senate, which he labeled a charade.

He described the appointment of Jim Obazee as a Special Investigator to probe the  Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, as another waste of time as it only signals the impending serial witch-hunt of opposition party members.

Frank said: “The recent appointment of Jim Obazee as a Special Investigator to probe the activities of CBN is another waste of time as it only beckons serial witch-hunting of opposition members.

“It is clear that there is no credibility, zeal or reputation from the ruling party to fight corruption but rather an opportunity for looters and criminals  to have a field day again.

“Mr President must be aware that since he is only holding the Commonwealth of the nation albeit temporarily, every decision concerning the Nigerian state must be done with utmost decorum and sincerity to the Nigerian People. The world is watching diligently and history will hold us accountable for our actions and inaction.

“We would like to urge the Judiciary to expedite their verdict on the PEPT and save the country the embarrassment of foisting an illegitimacy as this will only bring about nothing but misery and pain to the nation at large. Their decision must be sacrosanct and decisive in this regard.”

Frank, who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, ULMWP Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East, also called for urgent halt to the ongoing ministerial screening exercise by the Senate.

Frank said: “The ongoing ministerial screening in the National Assembly has been nothing short of a national shame and disgrace orchestrated and supervised by a Senate President bent on reinforcing the old order of this sham of an exercise to the bewilderment of Nigerians.

“It is clear from the foregoing in the Red chamber as to the direction of the country under the APC led government.

“The ongoing screening of ministerial nominees is a joke taken too far and an insult to the sensibilities of reasonable Nigerians who are aghast as to the shambolic routine of ‘take a bow and go’ without any cross examination as to the pedigree and competence of these individuals nominated to serve the country.

“What is more amusing is the fact that this charade of an exercise is being supervised by a Senate President who is currently being investigated for various corrupt practices, and therefore is of no obligation in ensuring that the right processes of due diligence is carried out on these individuals to the benefit of the country at large.

“Perhaps it will be safe to opine that even if a known kidnapper or criminal is sent to the NASS for clearance, he will most likely be cleared as the Senate President seems to be highly complacent and compromised in this regard.

“It is highly regrettable that nominees who have pending criminal cases and those who have appeared with questionable certificates and discrepancies in their resume are being told to bow and go without any probing questions as to their sincerity of purpose, notwithstanding the magnitude of the exercise.

“Therefore, I urge the Senate President to discontinue the screening on live television and stop the wastage of tax payers monies to continue with this show of shame on national television.

“Unfortunately this may only be possible because perhaps most of the legislators are aware they didn’t come to the Senate legitimately and hence the constant acts of undermining the Nigerian people consistently whilst making a mockery and caricature of the citizens.

“This singular act by the Senate is a pointer to one of the very reasons why several West African countries have recently suffered military take over  to the admiration and cheer of the populace having taken the people for a fool for a long time.

“Therefore Mr President, must invoke his veto power by appointing persons of merit, rather than sending them to the Senate which is of no use in the long run.”

Knocks Trail Ondo New Local Councils, Govt Says Fake List In Circulation

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Bamidele Ademola- Olateju

By Ayodele Oni

Rather than unite and bring development to the people, the planned move by the Ondo State Government to create additional Local Councils is causing acrimony and disaffection among communities.

After last week’s State Executive Council meeting, Government announced the creation of 33 Local Government Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, who disclosed this, explained that a bill to that effect is before the state assembly while details of the new LCDA would be made public later.

However, a list purportedly released by government surfaced in the social media on Tuesday, which gave details of the new councils and their headquarters.

Some communities, irked that their names were missing from the new LCDA headquarters, rejected the creation and accused the state government of partiality in the allocation of the councils.

One of them, Ode Aye, protested siting of headquarters of the Ikale North Local Council Development Area at Ilu tuntun  instead of Ode Aye, saying that Ode Aye had all resources to be the headquarters.

The people, who blocked the entrance of the state House of Assembly, carried platforms with different inscriptions such as: “ Ode Aye Can never be Under Igbotako”, “ Avoid Political Brouhaha Between Okitipupa Constituency I and Constituency 2”, and “ We Reject Ikale North LCDA with Igbotako as Headquarters.”

Speaking to newsmen during the protest, Chief Isaac Omogoroye, said that it was an aberration for the newly created LCDA of Ikale North not to be sited at Ode Aye.

“We thank Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for creating some 33 LCDA. We, from Ode Aye Kingdom, Constituency 2 presented a paper for Ikale North LCDA with headquarters at Ode Aye.

“And our paper was well documented and accepted by the state House of Assembly and the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.

“Last week, when the creation of LCDA was approved by the State Executive Council ( SEC) and we heard that the headquarters of Ikale North LCDA is Igbotako which is in Constituency one that our request, which is Ikale North LCDA was approved but the headquarters was changed.

“And that is why we are here, to inform the Speaker and other honourable members in the House of Assembly  that we, vehemently,  reject approval of the headquarters to Igbotako. We are demanding that the government must revert the decision because we requested for the Ikale North.

More communities in the state are expected to react to the new councils, whose creation has been faulted by opposition political parties.

To douse further reaction, the state government through the Attorney General, Charles Titiloye, in a statement explained that the list bring circulated on the social media was fake.

The statement : “Ihas come to the attention of the Ondo State Government that unconfirmed lists of Local Councils Development Areas and their headquarters is currently in circulation on the social media and other online platforms.

“To avoid confusion and misinformation on the creation of LCDA, Members of the public are advised to disregard this unofficial list of LCDA(s). This list was not released officially by the Ondo State Government.

“The Government wishes to inform the general public that Creation of LCDA is strictly a constitutional process. List of Local Council Development Areas can only be properly ascertained from Ondo State Government official Gazette duly issued after passage of the enabling Law by Ondo state House of Assembly and the law is assented to by the Governor of the State

“Also the communities in each of the created LCDA will be published in the white Paper to be issued by the Government in respect of the recommendations of the Committee set up on the Creation of LCDA(S).

“Members of the public are therefore advised to await these official legal documents to be issued by the Ondo state Government in order to get the correct position of Government on the creation of Local Government Council Development Areas in Ondo State.

“The process to put in place the LCDA(s) and release the relevant Government instruments is ongoing and very soon Government will make it public.”

Edo 2024: Ex-NBA President Joins Labour Party

By
James Orji
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0

Olumide Akpata, the immediate past president of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, says he has joined the Labour Party, LP.

The NBA ex-president said on Tuesday that the decision to join the party was based on pressure on him to participate in active politics.

The Source magazine however learned that his resolve to join the LP may not be unconnected with the governorship election in Edo state slated for November 2024.

He hails from the south south state where the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is expected to conduct a governorship election next year.

The incumbent Godwin Obaseki is expected to leave office next year as he winds down his maximum eight-year tenure.

It was learned that Akpata is interested in contesting the governorship election for which some political gladiators in the oil-producing state, including Deputy Governor Phillip Shuaibu has also shown interest.

Speaking yesterday after collecting his membership card from LP officials, the former NBS leader said pressure had mounted on him to participate in active politics.

He explained that he decide to join politics in other to be part of the solutions after complaining from the sideline for a long time.

The Edo-born lawyer, who posted in his official twitter handle, @OlumideAkpata, said he joined the party so as to be part of the solution instead of persistently lamenting about the problem.

The lawyer stated in his verified Twitter handle that “quite a number of people” have been calling on him to confirm the report, saying he joined LP in march this year.

According to him, “Quite a number of people have called/messaged me to confirm the news, currently making the rounds, that I have joined a political party.

“Yes, I joined the @labourparty_ng in March this year and on Sunday I attended my first Ward Meeting at Oredo Ward 6, in Benin-City, where I was formally introduced to members of the Ward and presented with my party membership card.

“This was a major step for me and not one that I took lightly, but I simply got tired of complaining about Nigeria every day and bemoaning her fate and I decided to take the plunge and to try to be part of the solution rather than agonising continually over the problem.

“This, for me, is the start of a very important journey, and it is my prayer that I arrive safely at my destination.”

Meanwhile, keen watchers of politics in the state said the governorship election coming up next year will be a showdown between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, All Progressives Congress, APC, and LP which has registered its presence in the state during this year’s general election.

Strike: Refinery Repairs, ASUU Salary, School Fees Top NLC Key Demands

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0
Bola Tinubu and Joe Ajaero

The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, said it has decided to embark on nationwide protest after the federal government failed to meet the union’s key demands, which include the repairs of the nation crude oil refineries; payment of outstanding salary of members of the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities, ASUU, amongst others.

The following are the demands of the NLC.

  1. Immediate and good-faith implementation of resolutions jointly signed by the NLC, the federal government, and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
  1. Reversal of all anti-poor policies of the government, including the recent price hike of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), school fees, and Value Added Tax (VAT).
  1. Rehabilitation of local refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna.
  1. Prompt release of 8 months withheld salaries owed to university lecturers and workers.
  1. Recognition and support for the Presidential Steering Committee and its sub-committees, along with a call to end inhumane acts and policies of the government.

Confusion, Fear As Tinubu Fails To Stop Labour Strike

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0

The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, has proceeded on a nationwide protest after the last minute appeal by the federal government to the labour leaders failed.

How long the protest will last Nigerians are not sure, raising fears that the current economic problems will get worse due to the NLC directive to workers and others to stay at home.

This is because most economic activities are usually grounded during such protests by Nigeria’s largest labour union, analsyst say.

On Tuesday, NLC leaders and representatives of the federal government negotiating team met but failed to reach any agreement on the demands of labours concerning the provision of palliatives following the removal of fuel subsidy last month.

Earlier on Monday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had during his national broadcast to Nigerians outlined ongoing measures by his government to respond to the economic pains in the country due to the removal of petrol subsidy in May this year.

Also, efforts by the Nigerian Senate to broker truce between the presidency and NLC yesterday achieved nothing as the union insist on a strike.

Keen watchers of Tinubu’s government said his Monday address was meant to pre-empt the nationwide strike by the NLC, which the federal government described as illegal citing the case between the NLC and government at the National Industrial Tribunal, NIT.

The tribunal had in June stopped the NLC from going on strike, the workers however insist that things have changed since the ruling was made.

As early as Wednesday morning, leaders of the union, their affiliates and members of the civil society have gathered their members at designated points across the country where the protest is expected to kick off.

The NLC had in a press statement released issued on Tuesday, said the mass protest was necessary to press home their demands for a better life for their members and Nigerians.

According to the statement, Joe Ajaero, the NLC President urged other Nigerians to join the nationwide protest, adding that those trying to stop the strike should be ignored.

He said the protest is in the collective interest of Nigerians.

The Union listed their demands as follows:

  1. Immediate and good-faith implementation of resolutions jointly signed by the NLC, the federal government, and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
  1. Reversal of all anti-poor policies of the government, including the recent price hike of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), school fees, and Value Added Tax (VAT).
  1. Rehabilitation of local refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna.
  1. Prompt release of 8 months withheld salaries owed to university lecturers and workers.
  1. Recognition and support for the Presidential Steering Committee and its sub-committees, along with a call to end inhumane acts and policies of the government.

Ahead of the strike, the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbedokun warned not to embark on violent protest, saying security agencies will not allow hoodlums to hijack it.

Meanwhile, not a few Nigerians have expressed fears about how long the protest will last, they are appealing to the parties to ensure that Nigerians are not made to suffer more hardship due to NLC and the federal government’s failure to find a common ground as soon as possible,

PEPC: Atiku Warns Against Technical Judgement

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Judicial pronouncement over last February presidential election is soon to be determined as the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, (PEPC) sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, reserved judgment on the petition filed by the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.

Atiku, who presented his final written address on his case on Tuesday, is challenging the declaration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the election.

Atiku, the major petitioner, urged the Tribunal to focus on substantial justice and avoid rendering a technical judgment that could pervert the course of justice.

He insisted that Tinubu should be disqualified based on an American Court judgment where Tinubu was allegedly made to forfeit $460,000 on narcotics and money laundering-related offenses.   The final address of Atiku was presented by his lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche SAN.

Joined in Atiku’s petition as respondents include the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

However, counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lateef Fagbemi SAN, countered Atiku’s arguments, urging the Court to dismiss them on the ground that the purported judgment was delivered over 30 years ago.

President Tinubu, represented by legal luminary Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, advocated for the dismissal of the petition, asserting that Atiku and the PDP’s grievances were primarily aimed at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The tribunal, after adopting the final written addresses of the parties in the election dispute, reserved judgment to a date to be communicated to the Counsels of the parties in the case.

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