The Nigeria Labor Congress has declared a two-day warning strike over the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy on Nigerians.
The strike is set to begin on Tuesday, the 5th of September, to protest against the Federal Government’s shortcomings in addressing the challenges that are being faced by Nigerians due to subsidy removal.
The President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, made this pronouncement while speaking on resolutions by the NLC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting the previous day, during a press conference on Friday at the Labour House in Abuja.
The Federal Government is being accused by the labour union of giving up on negotiations and not carrying out some of the decisions made at earlier sessions with the government.
On May 29, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his inaugural speech, announced the removal of fuel subsidy. This immediately resulted in a spike in fuel prices, as well as the price of transportation and other amenities in Nigeria.
This led the organized labor to, on the 2nd of August, protest against what it called the anti-people policies of Tinubu’s administration.
The NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and their affiliate unions protested in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) and several states, including Lagos, Abia, Plateau, Kaduna, Kano, Rivers, Zamfara, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kwara, Ogun, Imo, Ondo, and Edo.
After the protest, the organised labour groups issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government demanding “the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the federal government including the recent hike in PMS (Premium Motor Spirit) price, increase in public school fees, the release of the eight months withheld salary of university lecturers and workers”.
The union also called for an increase in the minimum wage from N30,000 to N200,000, claiming that since the President’s “subsidy is gone” inaugural address on May 29, 2023, Nigerians have lost their sense of security.
The Presidency and the unions held many sessions to discuss relief measures for Nigerians who are struggling economically as a result of the elimination of the petrol subsidy, however, the sessions proved abortive.
Gabon’s main opposition Thursday urged military leaders who have overthrown President Ali Bongo Ondimba to conclude the vote count from elections last weekend and acknowledge their candidate had won the disputed poll.
The Alternance 2023 coalition also said it was inviting the security forces to take part in discussions “In order to work out the situation within a patriotic and responsible framework.”
Alliance spokesman Mike Jocktane told reporters that members of the security forces had been deployed at every polling station and overseen the transporting of ballot boxes.
As such, they were the “first witnesses” of main opposition candidate Albert Ondo Ossa’s “clear victory,” he said.
The coup announcement early Wednesday came just moments after the national election overseer declared Bongo had won a third term with 64.27 percent of the vote.
Ondo Ossa won 30.77 percent, it said.
Ahead of the declared results, the university professor had angrily accused Bongo of “fraud” and demanded he hand over power “without bloodshed”.
Jocktane also thanked the army on behalf of a “grateful homeland” for standing up to an “electoral coup d’etat” and sparing the country loss of life.
He invited the army to “supervise” the resumption of the collating process of results from the presidential vote which he said would “see Mr. Ondo Ossa’s victory at the ballot box formalised”.
Following the military coup that sacked President Ali Bongo from power in Gabon, Rwanda and Cameroon on Wednesday announced major changes in their security forces.
The development affected high-ranking military personnel, Anadolu Agency reports.
At least 678 soldiers were retired after their contracts ended while 160 others were discharged on medical grounds, by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda while promotions of a number of young soldiers in the country’s security apparatus were followed.
The President also appointed new generals to head army divisions stationed in different parts of the country.
According to the statement by the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF), Kagame “approved the retirement of a dozen generals, 83 senior officers and six junior officers.” He also authorized the retirement of 86 senior non-commissioned officers, the statement said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Kagame also promoted a number of young officers to the rank of colonel and appointed new generals to head military divisions.
The report noted that many members of the old guard who fought in Rwanda’s liberation war in 1994 such as Gen. James Kabarebe, Gen. Fred Ibingira, and Lt. Gen. Charles Kayonga were among those retired.
Both Kabarebe and Kayonga previously served as chief of defense staff of the Rwandan army during separate periods.
Others retired included Lt. Gen. Frank Mushyo Kamanzi, who is Rwanda’s ambassador to Russia, and Maj. Gen. Albert Murasira, a former defense minister.
In June, Kagame appointed Juvenal Marizamunda as defense minister, replacing Albert Murasira, who had served in the post since 2018.
Kagame has been in office since April 2000. Following the 2017 poll in which Kagame was re-elected for a seven-year tenure, Human Rights Watch released evidence of irregularities by election officials including forcing voters to write their votes in full view and casting votes for electors who had not appeared.
In Cameroon, President Paul Biya, one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, also made new appointments at the Defense Ministry’s central administrative unit, according to a decree made public on social media.
Biya has ruled as the President of Cameroon since November 6, 1982, having previously been Prime Minister of Cameroon from 1975 to 1982.
With the latest coup in Gabon on Wednesday, Africa has experienced eight coups over the last three years, since August 2020.
On July 26, 2023, the military in Niger Republic announced that they had overthrown President Mohamed Bazoum.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced on August 10 its intention to deploy a regional force to “restore constitutional order”, while continuing to favour the diplomatic route.
The military proposes a transition period of “three years” maximum before returning power to civilians.
In Burkina Faso, there were two putsches in 8 months. On January 24, 2022, President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré was ousted from power by the military, Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba was inaugurated president in February.
On September 30, Damiba was in turn dismissed from his position by the military, and Captain Ibrahim Traoré became the transitional president until a presidential election scheduled for July 2024.
On October 25, 2021, in Sudan, soldiers led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane drove out the transitional civilian leaders, who were supposed to lead the country towards democracy after 30 years of dictatorship of Omar al-Bashir, who was deposed in 2019.
Since April 15, 2023, a war due to a power struggle between General Burhane and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdane Daglo has killed thousands of people in the country.
In Guinea, on September 5, 2021, President Alpha Condé was overthrown by a military coup. On October 1, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya became president.
The military has promised to return the place to elected civilians by the end of 2024.
Also in Mali, two coups came up in nine months. On August 18, 2020, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta was overthrown by the military, a transitional government was formed in October.
But on May 24, 2021, the military arrested the president and the Prime Minister, Colonel Assimi Goïta was inaugurated in June as transitional president.
The junta has committed to returning the place to civilians after the elections scheduled for February 2024.
The Chairman of Anambra State Sports Development Commission, ASSDC, Patrick-Estate Onyedum has declared that the future is brighter for young talented athletes in Anambra because the state has a sports loving Governor; who is himself a sportsman.
Correspondent Joseph Egbeocha reports that Mr. Onyedum made the declaration while felicitating Governor Chukwuma Soludo, the people of Anambra State, especially the sports community, on the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of the state creation.
Congratulating the sports community for their exploits in Nigeria and around the world, Mr. Onyedum also poured special encomium on Anambra sportsmen and sportswomen; both living and dead, for their immense contributions to the development of the state and placing it on the world map.
He described this years’ anniversary as another opportunity for Ndi Anambra to celebrate their statehood in spite obvious challenges, adding that the sports sector has, like some other sectors, done well in uplifting the state.
Credit: Joseph Egbeocha
Anambra Governor’s wife, Mrs Nonye Soludo says parents, guardians and the entire society need to quickly wake up in the face of rising moral decay and abandonment of basic norms.
Mrs Soludo who stated this in Awka while reacting to the death of an infant who was rescued from a pit toilet in Otuocha, Anambra East, three days after his 20-year-old mother delivered and dumped him there.
The baby who was rescued and immediately rushed to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka, by the Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, died while receiving medical attention.
Reacting to the incident, Mrs Soludo described it as inhumane and distraughting, noting that as a mother she feels the pains of having to deal with such news, which brings shock and deep discomfort.
The governor’s wife while stating that she was in prayers for full recovery of the baby boy immediately it was confirmed that he had been taken to hospital and was looking forward to visiting him, said that the sudden news of his passing away shook her heart.
She noted that such incident, along with so many others of a kind, tell an unacceptable story of the present society, and how morality has been eroded by growing, unmitigated decadence.
The governor’s wife blamed some parents and guardians whom she said have abandoned their primary responsibility to home and proper child upbringing, explaining that moral deterioration has thrived basically because those who were entrusted the sensitive task have failed in their duties.
Mrs Soludo further stated that the whole society must rise up immediately and take decisive actions if the spate of current moral decline would be cut down, while individuals and institutions entrusted with job of societal sanity have to show renewed zeal and commitment to the occupation.
She restated her calls for parents to teach their children more about culture, traditions, fear of God, and common values like the sanctity of life, the value of patience, self control, hard work, perseverance, among others.
Credit: Daniel Ezeigwe
The Biafra De Facto Customary Government (BDFCG) has explained that the challenges faced by Nigeria are primarily rooted in the mindset and actions of her political elites.
This is in reaction to a media report where the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, at the 9th Delegates Conference of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), stated that “Nigeria is a poor nation”.
BDFCG in a statement available to newsmen reminded the Governor that the colonial entity called Nigeria is abundantly endowed with both human and material resources that can create happiness and prosperity to her indigenous people.
“1. We know the country is a leading producer of crude oil and natural gas extracted mostly from the Biafra region, and these commodities account for a significant portion of government revenue.
2. We can confirm that our professionals are exported on a daily basis and have become ‘hot cake’ in the international labour market. These are professionals that would have stayed at home assisting to develop and build our roads, houses, modern markets, hospitals, refineries, public water etc.
3. We know that our Land is fertile and we can surely feed Africa if Gov. Soludo and his colleagues in political offices can create the right environment like Dr M.I. Okpara created in the 60s within just 4 years.
4. We know that the cost of running Government is the highest in Nigeria. There are so many unproductive big men in Government squandering resources that would have been allocated to paying Teachers living wages. Prof. Soludo should know better that Teachers deserve to have car loan from Innoson including housing loan. Such incentives will extract the best from them and restore their dignity as teachers.
5. We know that indigenous people in Nigeria are rich with many mineral resources but our insensitive and wicked politicians conniving with former western imperialists have continued to deceive the ordinary people with the fake news that we are poor!”
According to the statement signed by BDFCG Spokesperson, Prosper Odinga, a truly concerned politician should have a responsibility to lead with a clear vision, integrity, transparency, and genuine commitment to public service.
“We are yet to see Prof. Soludo and other governors in Biafraland live up to expectations. They must prioritize the needs of the people, foster an environment that encourages entrepreneurship and innovation, and create policies that promote economic diversification and sustainable development.”
A charge has gone out to soldiers of the Nigerian Army to ensure their absolute loyalty to the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Tinubu remains intact.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division Nigerian Army (NA), Major General Mohammed Takuti Usman gave the charge on Wednesday, stressing that the Nigerian Armed Forces would not condone any form of disloyalty.
Speaking while addressing soldiers at the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Usman stated that their loyalty must be to the President first, and then down the ladder, to the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, down to their Brigade Commander.
The GOC warned that there is no room for any form of disloyalty within the military and those who can’t be loyal are free to leave and do other work.
The warning comes amid the military coup spreading across African nations with Gabon being the latest, on Wednesday.
Flanked by the Commander 35 Artillery Brigade, Brigadier General Mohammed Tajudeen Aminu, Major General Usman said while the military authorities know there are challenges, they are not peculiar to the Brigade Command and efforts are in top gear to tackle such challenges.
The officer charged the soldiers to always display discipline, loyalty, and top professionalism.
He said; “While we are looking at the challenges and how to solve them, you have to be disciplined soldiers, you have to be loyal soldiers.
“When I mean loyalty, your loyalty must start with the Commander in chief of the Armed Forces who is the President. That’s first, and then down the ladder. Loyalty to the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, down to your Brigade Commander.
“You have to be loyal. There is no room for soldiers that are not loyal to the constituted authority, no. If you are not going to be loyal, then, leave, go and do other work. But the Armed Forces cannot stand it if you are not loyal.
“Discipline, loyalty and top professionalism. We are bearing arms so that other people can sleep well and go about their normal activities. You also have to be hardworking. If you go on any course, make sure you do your best and be among the best. Once you have all these, you will grow in this job.”
The GOC commissioned a Quarter Guard project at the Barrack during his visit, noting that Nigeria wouldn’t be a safe place if there were no soldiers in the country.
Leader of the coup in Gabon on Wednesday named a general transitional president after seizing power following disputed elections in which President Ali Bongo Ondimba, whose family has ruled for 55 years, was declared the winner.
The claimed takeover sparked condemnation from the African Union and alarm from Nigeria over “contagious autocracy” in a continent where military forces have seized power in five other countries since 2020.
Bongo, 64, who took over from his father Omar in 2009, was placed under house arrest and one of his sons was arrested for treason, the coup leaders said.
TV images showed the head of the Republican Guard, General Brice Oligui Nguema, being carried triumphantly by hundreds of soldiers, to cries of “Oligui president”.
The coup leaders later named Oligui Nguema “transitional president”, according to a TV statement.
The coup began with a pre-dawn address in which a group of officers declared that “all the institutions of the republic” had been dissolved, the election results cancelled and the borders closed.
“The country is going through a serious institutional, political, economic and social crisis,” according to a statement read on state TV.
It was read by an officer flanked by a dozen army colonels, members of the elite Republican Guard, regular soldiers and others.
The elections “did not meet the conditions for a transparent, credible and inclusive ballot so much hoped for by the people of Gabon”, the statement said.
“Added to this is irresponsible and unpredictable governance, resulting in a continuing deterioration in social cohesion, with the risk of leading the country in chaos.
“We — the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI) on behalf of the people of Gabon and as guarantors of the institutions’ protection — have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime,” it said.
– Arrests –
Bongo’s son and close adviser Noureddin Bongo Valentin, his chief of staff Ian Ghislain Ngoulou, his deputy, two other presidential advisers and the two top officials in the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) “have been arrested”, a military leader said.
They are accused of treason, embezzlement, corruption and falsifying the president’s signature, among other allegations, he said.
A worried-looking Bongo, in a video from an unidentified location, appealed to “all friends that we have all over the world… to make noise” on his behalf.
“My son is somewhere, my wife is in another place and I’m at the residence and nothing is happening. I don’t know what’s going on. I’m calling you to make noise.”
On the streets of the capital, and the economic hub Port-Gentil, groups of joyous people were seen celebrating.
In Libreville, around 100 people shouted “Bongo out!” and applauded police in anti-riot gear, an AFP staff member saw.
Disputed election –
Bongo was first elected in 2009 following the death of his father Omar, who had ruled the country for 41 years, reputedly amassing a fortune.
The coup announcement came just moments after the national election authority declared Bongo had won a third term in Saturday’s election with 64.27 percent of the vote.
Gabon’s main opposition, led by university professor Albert Ondo Ossa, had accused Bongo of “fraud”, and demanded that he hand over power “without bloodshed”.
Authorities at the weekend imposed a curfew, which on Wednesday was extended until further notice, and shut down the internet nationwide. The internet was restored on Wednesday morning after the TV address.
Several French media outlets, whose output was suspended during the tumultuous period following the election, were permitted to resume, according to a statement from the coup leadership broadcast Wednesday.
Gabon’s 2016 elections were marked by deadly violence after Bongo edged out rival Jean Ping by just 5,500 votes, according to the official tally.
In 2018, Bongo suffered a stroke that sidelined him for 10 months and fuelled accusations he was medically unfit to hold office.
Family rule –
The central African country of 2.3 million people has been ruled by the Bongos for more than 55 of the 63 years since independence from France in 1960.
International reaction to the coup has been swift: the United Nations on Wednesday firmly condemned the coup, calling on the military to guarantee the safety of Bongo and his family.
The US State Department late Wednesday said it was “deeply concerned” and remained “strongly opposed to military seizures” while voicing concerns over the “lack of transparency and reports of irregularities surrounding the election”.
Last week’s election was held without international observers and Paris-based media rights campaigners Reporters Without Borders denounced the fact that foreign journalists had been largely restricted from covering the event.
The African Union said it “strongly condemns” the claimed takeover as a violation of its charter, while Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said he was in contact with African leaders over the “contagious autocracy we have seen spread across our continent”.
Since 2020, there have been military takeovers in Mali, Guinea, Sudan, Burkina Faso and Niger.
Russia also said it was “deeply concerned”, while China called for “all sides” in Gabon to guarantee Bongo’s safety.
In France, where Bongo’s loss would mark a blow to Paris’ reach in Africa, the government said it “condemns the coup”, reiterating its desire “to see the results of the election respected, once they are known”.
Germany and Britain on Wednesday both condemned the takeover, with Berlin saying there were “legitimate” concerns over the elections.
Mr. Ken Pela of Labour party won an appeal for his case that was thrown out at the Delta State Tribunal. He appealed it and won, so now he is heading back to the Tribunal to get back his mandate. He is not a governor yet, but we are hopeful and confident that he will regain his mandate.
Former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, on Tuesday, offered solutions on the way forward for a new Abia as the state governor, Alex Otti, unveiled the State Orientation Agency in Umuahia.
Ezekwesili, who offered this solution during the anniversary lecture she delivered to mark the 2023 Abia Day celebration and the inauguration of the Abia State Orientation Agency, advised Governor Alex Otti to deploy technology and sound policies in order to achieve his vision for the state.
The former minister said Otti “has all it takes” to beat the governance record of the late Micheal Okpara in the state.
According to her, technology is what would transform Abia beyond all expectations and make the state a heaven for local and foreign investments, adding, “Using technology to promote all government businesses is critical to good governance hence Otti should not shy away from running a technology-driven government.”
She urged the state governor to formulate sound policies, pointing out that sound policies must be complemented by a conducive environment and infrastructural facilities to promote economic growth.
A lot is expected from Abia, given its huge potentials in human capital and natural resources waiting to be maximised by a visionary leader”, Ezekwesili advised, regretting that the state has a problem of “leadership ambition gap” despite the fact that it once produced a great leader, late Michael Iheonukara Okpara, who is credited with “visionary transformation” of the former eastern region.
She assured that “the possibility of achieving and even surpassing what Okpara had done in the past is there depending on how the new leadership pilots the State affairs”, adding that the governance approach of Otti would determine if he would unleash Abia’s great potential and anchor the state on the path of sustainable development or not.
Ezekwesili advised Otti to do away with all impediments of the past that stagnated Abia’s growth and underutilized its richly talented population, stating that a public financial management system must be put in place, as it was poor management of resources and corrupt enrichment by leaders that has always been the problem of Abia, Nigeria and Africa at large.
Earlier in his speech after formally launching the State Orientation Agency, Otti lamented that even the most visionary leader will be helpless if the people are not in tune with his vision and mission.
In his speech entitled “To a new path”, the governor said the inauguration of the new Abia State Orientation Agency “is a way of hitting the reset button” to get Abia moving on the right track, stating that a lot has gone wrong in the way things are done in public and private lives of Abia people hence the need for reorientation in the governance and socio-economic aspects of Abia life to usher in a new Abia.
“In a new Abia it will be anathema for any traditional ruler to confer chieftaincy title on any person with questionable character,” he said and vowed that with his transformational governance, Abia would, at the end of the day, remain a reference point for good governance and active responsible citizenry.
In his remarks, the former president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa advised Abia government to heed the advice of Ezekwesili in order to make the state great again.
