BIG STORY

Federal Government Meets Labour Leaders As Nationwide Strike Begins

Published

11 months ago

November 14, 2023

The Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Simon Lalong, has convened a meeting with labour leaders as the nationwide strike begins.

Report has it that leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress are expected at the meeting holding on Tuesday (today).

A source, according to The Punch, said “The minister has convened a meeting with the Labour leaders for Tuesday”.

The labour unions had, on Monday, ordered their affiliates to withdraw their services nationwide from midnight on November 14, 2023.

TUC President, Festus Osifo, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Abuja..

Osifo said the strike would remain until “government at all levels wake up to their responsibility.”

The strike is also to protest the battering of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and some other executives of the congress in Owerri, Imo State, on November 1, as well as the pending labour issues in Imo State.

Ajaero was arrested by the police ahead of a state-wide protest in Imo, as disclosed by the NLC’s Head of Information, Benson Upah.

Although the police denied arresting Ajaero, stating that he was merely taken into protective custody to prevent a mob attack, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, accused the labour leader of meddling in the political affairs of the state.

The NLC and TUC later wrote their affiliates such as the Academic Staff Union of Universities, National Union of Electricity Employees, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria and Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics among others ahead of the nationwide strike.

The letter to the affiliates was jointly signed by the National Secretary, NLC, Emmanuel Ugboaja and the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress, Nuhu Toro.

The letter read, “In furtherance to the decision of the Joint National Executive Council of NLC and TUC, all workers in Nigeria are hereby directed to withdraw their services effective 12 midnight today, November 13, 2023.

“Consequently, all affiliates and state councils of NLC/TUC are directed to issue circulars for maximum compliance and these circulars be made available to the National Secretariats or posted to the NEC and WC Whatsapp platforms.

“While we shall update you with developments as they unfold, do remain assured of our commitment to Nigerian workers and people.”

Meanwhile, the Presidency has described the planned strike as an attempt to blackmail the government.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Monday said the planned action is an abuse of privilege and one that contravenes a restraining order by the Industrial Court against the strike.

He noted that Ajaero’s assault in Imo though condemnable is a personal issue that shouldn’t force the whole country into punishment.

The statement read, “This decision by the NLC and TUC other than being an ego-tripping move is clearly unwarranted. It is an attempt to blackmail the government by the leadership of the NLC.

“We are still at a loss as to why the NLC and TUC decided to punish a whole country of over 200million people over a personal matter involving the NLC President, Mr. Joe Ajaero, whose error of judgment led to assault on him in Owerri while he was planning to incite the workers in Imo State into a needless strike.

“While the Federal government does not condone any form of violence and assault on any citizen of Nigeria regardless of his or her social and economic status, it is on record that the Inspector General of Police has ordered an investigation into what happened to Ajaero while the Commissioner of Police in Imo State under whose watch the incident happened has been transferred out of the state.

“Calling out workers on a national strike over a personal issue of a labour leader despite a clear court order against any industrial action amounts to an abuse of privilege. Power at any level should never be used to settle personal scores. Rather, it should be used to promote collective progress and advance national interest.”

The statement added that the strike action is a sinister move to cause further hardship on the masses, noting that the labour movement should not be seen as one that shows disdain against the rule of law.

“Our national economy and social activities should not suffer because of the personal interest of any labour leader.

“This flagrant disobedience to a court order and lack of respect for the judiciary should not be what the organised Labour would champion.

“The labour movement has always been a champion of the rule of law and respect for the judiciary. It is a sad irony that the current labour leaders have shown disdain and utter disregard for the court orders.

“We reiterate that this strike action is illegal, immoral, unjustifiable and irresponsible. What the strike notice issued Monday night after official hours suggests is it’s designed for a sinister and hidden agenda to cause undue hardship and civil disturbance in our country. This is unacceptable,” it concluded.

Credit: The Punch

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BIG STORY

Countries With Highest U.S. Visa Rejection Rate [SEE FULL LIST]

Published

1 day ago

October 1, 2024

PorscheClassy News

The U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs has released the list of countries with the highest U.S. visa rejection rates.

The list shows that Nigeria has a 29% rejection rate, while North Korea and Micronesia have 100% rejection rates respectively.

Countries like Monaco and Liechtenstein boast of a 0% rejection rate, while Israel, UAE, and Saudi Arabia have 3%, 4%, and 5% rejection rates respectively.

The list places Nigeria in the upper tier of nations with significant challenges in obtaining U.S. visas, alongside countries like Ukraine (34%), Russia (39%), and Pakistan (41%).

For Nigerian applicants, the 29% rejection rate indicates that nearly one in three visa requests is turned down, reflecting the difficulties faced by many Nigerians seeking entry into the United States for business, tourism, or educational purposes.

Other countries with higher rejection rates include Canada (52%), Liberia (78%), and North Korea, which, alongside Micronesia, faces a 100% rejection rate.

Here is a list of countries with the highest U.S. visa rejection rates:

1. Monaco: 0%

2. Liechtenstein: 0%

3. Israel: 3%

4. UAE: 4%

5. Saudi Arabia: 5%

6. Japan: 6%

7. Czechia: 8%

8. Argentina: 8%

9. France: 10%

10. Mexico: 10%

11. Italy: 10%

12. Denmark: 10%

13. Germany: 11%

14. Indonesia: 11%

15. India: 11%

16. Brazil: 12%

17. Vatican: 14%

18. South Korea: 14%

19. UK: 15%

20. Spain: 16%

21. South Africa: 16%

22. Australia: 17%

23. Norway: 18%

24. Ireland: 19%

25. Turkey: 21%

26. Sweden: 21%

27. Finland: 23%

28. Egypt: 26%

29. China: 27%

30. Nigeria: 29%

31. Ukraine: 34%

32. Iraq: 37%

33. Russia: 39%

34. Pakistan: 41%

35. Afghanistan: 49%

36. Canada: 52%

37. Iran: 53%

38. Liberia: 78%

39. North Korea: 100%

40. Micronesia: 100%

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BIG STORY

Atiku Writes National Assembly, Seeks 6-Yr Single Term For President, Governors

Published

1 day ago

October 1, 2024

PorscheClassy News

Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has submitted a memorandum to the National Assembly, requesting an amendment to the Constitution to introduce a single six-year term for the President and state governors.

In a memorandum to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review, Atiku also proposed that the presidency be rotated between the North and South.

It is noteworthy that during Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s presidency, he advocated for a six-year single term for the presidential seat.

Following the 2023 general elections, Atiku has continued to support this tenure proposal.

He stated, “The office of the President shall rotate among the six geopolitical zones of the federation on a single term of six years, flowing between the North and South on the single term of six years respectively.”

Atiku urged the National Assembly to “amend Section 135(2) to read: ‘Subject to the provisions of subsection (1), the President shall vacate his office at the expiration of a period of six years.’”

Additionally, he proposed the “substitution of an aspirant” in Section 285(14)(a) with “a voter.”

The former Vice President also suggested that the minimum educational qualification for a person to run for election should be the Ordinary National Diploma instead of the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination. He proposed an amendment to Section 65(2)(a) to read: “He has been educated up to at least Ordinary National Diploma in any recognised academic institution.”

Furthermore, he recommended the insertion of a paragraph in Section 65(2)(a)(i) to read: “Evidence of certificates of all educational qualifications of a candidate shall be submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission or an affidavit by the candidate in the event of loss of his/her educational certificates, qualifications obtained, and dates, stating the schools attended.”

Atiku also advocated for political parties to have more power in the candidate selection process. He proposed an “amendment to Section 65(2)(b) to read: ‘He is a member of a political party whose name is in the register to be made available by his political party to the Independent National Electoral Commission 30 days before the conduct of the political party’s primary and he is sponsored by that party.’”

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BIG STORY

Minimum Wage: Federal Government Raises Retirees’ Pension By N32,000

Published

1 day ago

October 1, 2024

PorscheClassy News

Following the adjustment in salary structures by the committee set up by the government to review the new minimum wage, retirees will now receive an increment of N32,000 in their monthly pensions.

This was revealed in a memo by the National Salaries, Wages, and Income Commission, sighted on Monday by The PUNCH. According to the memo, dated September 27, 2024, and signed by the Chairman of the NSIWC, Ekpo Nta, the affected retirees are those who retired under salary schemes for doctors, health workers, lecturers, police, paramilitary, armed forces, and others.

The memo stated: “Consequent upon the implementation of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024 and the consequential adjustments in the salaries of employees in the Federal Public Service, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has approved an increase of N32,000 per month on the pensions of retirees under the defined benefits scheme of agencies on the following salary structures: Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure, Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure, Consolidated Universities Academic Salary Structure, Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure II, Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure, and Consolidated Tertiary Educational Institutions Salary Structure.

“Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, Consolidated Health Salary Structure, Consolidated Para-Military Salary Structure, Consolidated Police Salary Structure, Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure, and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure.”

The memo further added that the approval would take effect from July 29, 2024. Agencies not part of the mentioned salary structures would need to apply to the commission to determine the appropriate increase applicable to their retirees.

It also noted that the Committee on Consequential Adjustments in Salaries for civil servants met on Friday to agree on the effective date of July 29, 2024, for the implementation of the new minimum wage. This decision followed President Bola Tinubu’s signing of the new minimum wage bill into law on July 29 after discussions with the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria.

The National Salaries and Wages Commission highlighted that the reason for setting the implementation date in July 2024 was due to the President’s signing of the bill that same month.

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