Gov Alia Wasn’t Stoned By Youths, Benue Govt Debunks Reports

The Benue State government has denied allegations that youths threw objects at Governor Hyacinth Alia during his visit to Vaatia College in Makurdi.  Reports had emerged on Wednesday that youths stoned the governor while protesting over plans to bury their proprietor within the school premises in their community. The proprietor, Engr Vaatia, who died two days ago, was buried today. Sir Kula Tersoo, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, labeled the reports as untrue and aimed at tarnishing the governor’s image. Tersoo clarified that the governor’s purpose at Vaatia College was to address incidents of vandalism and theft, directing authorities to apprehend those responsible.  He emphasized that Governor Alia’s visit was uninterrupted, highlighting the governor’s track record of moving around the state without harassment. In urging media professionals to verify news sources before publication, Tersoo emphasized the need for accuracy and investigative reporting.  He condemned the “ill-intended” nature of the reports and stressed the importance of ensuring the truthfulness of news before dissemination.

Zamfara Students’ Abduction: FG Not Negotiating With Terrorists –Minister

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has described as misleading, allegation that the Federal Government was negotiating with the Zamfara terrorists to secure the release of the abducted students of Federal University, Gusau. This is contained in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, by Mr Hope Attari, Acting Director of Press and Public Relations, MoD. Attari said that the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, was reacting to a statement credited to a governor that the Federal Government was negotiating with the terrorists to secure the release of the students. Badaru, while condemning the act and reassuring Zamfara residents, said that the Federal Government was doing everything possible to secure their release. He explained that President Bola Tinubu had given marching order to the military and other security agencies to ensure the release of those abducted. According to him, the Federal Government is not negotiating with the Zamfara terrorists to secure the release of the abducted. The government is working assiduously round the clock to ensure that the girls and others return home. “The allegation is false and misleading as the ministry has not mandated any body or group to negotiate on behalf of the Federal Government.” He reassured Zamfara residents and Nigerians at large of the progress being made for the quick return of the female students and others of Federal University Gusau. He expressed confidence that the joint security task forces was working discreetly round the clock to get the students rescued. He extended his heartfelt sympathy to the parents, the academic community, and the entire residents of the state for the tragic abduction. He, however, noted that the order of the president had started yielding result as 13 of the abducted students and 3 others regained their freedom on Monday. “This feat was achieved through the professional efforts of the military. “I condole with the families of the girls and others that were abducted; I share in your pain and strongly condemn this reprehensible act carried out by suspected bandits,” he said.

Contempt Suit: Withdraw case or face strike action, NLC warns FG

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a stern ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding the withdrawal of a lawsuit filed against organized labour. According to them, failure to comply with this demand could lead to a nationwide strike on August 14, 2023. The decision was reached during the NLC’s National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja on Thursday. In a statement, signed by the National President, Joe Ajaero, and the National Secretary, Emanuel Ugboaja, the NLC strongly accused the Ministry of Justice and the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) of aligning themselves as “anti-democracy” agents. While the NLC temporarily suspended its protest following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, they have made it clear that they will not hesitate to initiate a nationwide total strike if labour leaders are summoned to Court by the government through the NICN. “The NLC remains resolute in its stance to protect workers’ rights and interests, emphasizing the importance of the government respecting their demands and refraining from legal actions perceived as undermining the democratic process,” the statement said. The statement further highlighted some of the resolutions of the union which include “To commit to maintaining the required vigilance needed to hold government accountable on its assurances and governance in general; to commit to the terminal date of August 19th 2023 within which the issues around the Petroleum price hike will be agreed given the assurances of the President and the National Assembly. “To go on total strike across the country any day labour leaders are summoned to Court by the government through the NICN; to demand the immediate withdrawal of this litigious terrorism by the Federal Ministry of Justice before the end of work Friday, the 11th of August, 2023. “To embark on a nationwide comprehensive strike beginning Monday 14th of August, 2023 if this contemptuous Court summons is not withdrawn by whosoever initiated it.” Though it commended the national leadership and all the state officers for the effective coordination of the protest, the union urged all affiliates and state councils including its civil society allies to stay further action but to remain focused and eternally vigilant.

Subsidy Protest: I share in your pains, Gov AbdulRazaq tells labour unions

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has said the state government has rolled out several measures designed to ease the inconveniences of fuel subsidy removal for its workers and the general public. While addressing the labour unions who presented to him a protest letter over the subsidy removal, AbdulRazaq commended labour for its peaceful protest and aspirations as representatives of the Nigerian workers. The governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi, said the message from Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was loud and clear and would be delivered to President Bola Tinubu. “We acknowledge that this is a tough moment for everyone and we share in the temporary pains of our people,” the governor said. He added that his administration empathises with the people and workers and would do more in addition to the moves already made by the state government to ease their pains. AbdulRazaq explained that, as a palliative measure, grains were being purchased from the Federal Government and would soon be distributed to vulnerable households, including labour unions and affiliate organisations. The list of beneficiaries, he said, would be inclusive and the process would involve all key stakeholders in the community. The governor further confirmed the approval of the support for students and security agencies, which was built on what was earlier announced for all categories of workers in the state. He said free transportation had earlier been arranged for tertiary students in the state. “I call on the NLC to further support and work with government to implement key economic reforms for sustainable growth alongside specific palliatives until things stabilise,” the governor said. He urged NLC to bear with the government and continue to hold talks so that everyone involved could pull through the phase in a way which would sustainably benefit the country. “There may not be easy solutions, but Nigeria will come out of this stronger and better if everyone endures and works together,” AbdulRazaq added. The State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Muritala Olayinka, said workers were facing a lot of challenges due to the removal of fuel subsidies. He urged the state government to come quickly to the aid of the people in order to lessen the pains on the people and business concerns.

#EndSARS: Lagos Govt dismisses allegations of mass burial

The Lagos State Government has dismissed allegations that it held a mass burial for 103 victims of the Lekki Tollgate #EndSARS protest. This is contained in a statement issued by Dr Olusegun Ogboye, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health in Lagos at the weekend. Ogbonge said that peddlers of the news were deliberately misinterpreting and sensationalizing a letter from the Lagos State Government Public Procurement Agency (PPA), to misinform the public, stir public sentiment and cause public disaffection against the Lagos State Government. He said that the title of the letter was: Letter of No Objection – Mass Burial for the 103, the Year 2020 EndSARS victims. According to him, while the government will not have dignified the mischievous elements peddling such news with a response, it consider it appropriate to set the records straight. He said that there was the need to draw the attention of well-meaning citizens to the antics of some unscrupulous elements who are hell bent on disrupting the peace and tranquility of Lagos with distorted news and half-truth about the PPA letter. ”It is public knowledge that the year 2020 #EndSARS crisis that snowballed into violence in many parts of Lagos recorded casualties in different areas of the state and NOT from the Lekki Toll Gate, as being inferred in the mischievous publications. ”For the records, the Lagos State Environmental Health Unit (SEHMU) picked up bodies in the aftermath of #EndSARS violence and community clashes at Fagba, Ketu; Ikorodu; Orile; Ajegunle; Abule-Egba; Ikeja; Ojota; Ekoro; Ogba; Isolo and Ajah areas of Lagos State, including a jailbreak at Ikoyi Prison. ”The 103 casualties mentioned in the document were from these incidents and NOT from Lekki Toll-gate, as being alleged. For the avoidance of doubt, nobody was retrieved from the Lekki Toll Gate incident. ”In the aftermath of the #EndSARS violence, the office of the Chief Coroner invited members of the public, through public adverts and announcement, who had lost loved ones or whose relatives had been declared missing between Oct. 19 and Oct. 27, 2020 from various clashes as mentioned above, to contact the department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) to help with identification of these casualties deposited in state-owned morgues. ”Relatives are to undergo DNA tests for identification purposes. It is important to state categorically that nobody responded to claim any of the bodies. ”However, after almost three years, the bodies remained unclaimed, adding to the congestion of the morgues. ”This spurred the need to decongest the morgues – a procedure that follows very careful medical and legal guidelines in the event that a relative may still turn up to claim a lost relative years after the incident,” Ogboye said. He said that decongestion of the public morgues was a periodic and regular exercise approved by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, to free up space in mortuaries that have a large number of unclaimed bodies.