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Strike: Aviation Workers Opt Out, Ports Grounded

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Strike: Aviation Workers Opt Out, Ports Grounded

Strike: Aviation Workers Opt Out, Ports Grounded

 

 

 

The nationwide strike initiated by the Nigeria Labour Congress commenced on Tuesday, revealing partial compliance within various sectors of the economy.

 

 

 

The NLC, in collaboration with its affiliate, the Trade Union Congress, declared an indefinite strike starting from November 14, 2023.

 

 

 

 

The decision to launch the strike was driven by alleged infractions and encroachments on workers’ rights, including the assault on NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero and the government’s persistent refusal to implement agreed-upon measures.

 

 

Strike: Aviation Workers Opt Out, Ports Grounded

 

Additional grievances encompassed the non-payment of backlog salaries, pensions, discriminatory salary practices, and non-compliance with the national minimum wage.

 

 

 

Despite an ex-parte application filed by the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice seeking to restrain the unions from proceeding with the planned strike, approximately 19 unions defied the court order.

This defiance raises questions about potential implications across various sectors and the government’s response to the workers’ demands..

The extensive array of participating unions, spanning education, healthcare, telecommunications, local government, judiciary, banking, maritime, electricity, parliamentary staff, and railway workers, underscores the far-reaching impact and solidarity characterizing the ongoing nationwide strike.

In September, the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria issued a warning to the NLC and TUC, underscoring the substantial threat that strike actions pose to the country’s economy.

Expressing concerns about potential adverse effects on economic stability, the private sector urged a reconsideration of such actions to safeguard the nation’s economic interests.

Port activities grind to a halt

Licensed customs agents and other port users at the Apapa, Tincan Island, and other ports in Lagos were denied access due to compliance from the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria.

Observations on Tuesday revealed a complete shutdown of all commercial activities at the ports.

The Union had announced its intention to participate in the nationwide strike, citing various grievances and infractions against workers’ rights.

In a statement on Monday, the Head of Media of MWUN, John Ikemefuna, conveyed that the strike directive came from the National Executive Council meeting of the NLC.

The decision was a response to perceived government infractions, including the abduction and assault on NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero, non-payment of salaries and pensions, and the government’s failure to implement agreements.

Affirming their commitment to the nationwide strike as an affiliate of the NLC, Ikemefuna expressed readiness to join the broader labor action.

Reacting to the development, Sikiru Remilekun, the Youth Leader of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Tincan Island Chapter, issued a notice instructing members to stay at home until further information is provided.

In a public notice, Remilekun stated, “All terminals are shut down pending the discussion and outcome of the meeting with the federal government. Please, all clearing agents should stay home and listen to news and genuine information if it will still be held or continue tomorrow.”

The Ports and Terminal Multipurpose Limited Chapter Chairman of the National Association of Government Approved, Thomas Alor also confirmed the situation, stating, “There is no activity here, no operations everywhere; they are not working. I have even left the place now heading home.”

Aviation

The aviation industry opted out of the ongoing nationwide strike, citing a lack of preparations as the decisive factor.

Operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja continued without disruption, with no reported flight cancellations

The General Secretary of the Air Transport Services Senior Association of Nigeria, Francis Akinjole, in an interview with The PUNCH clarified the sector’s stance, stating, “We will join, but we have not actually sat down to decide on that.

“We have a way of doing our own things. We don’t just embark on a strike without adequate preparation.”

Akinjole highlighted a logistical challenge facing the aviation unions, pointing out that one of their member unions is holding a delegate conference in Benin City starting from Wednesday.

He emphasized the need for a coordinated approach, stating, “We cannot be in Benin and enforce a strike in Lagos. So, we have to meet and decide on how to go about it.”

Acknowledging their alignment with the issues at hand, Akinjole recalled a similar scenario five years ago during the NUATE (National Union of Air Transport Employees) National Delegate Conference in Asaba.

He noted that despite a national strike, aviation unions were engaged in activities in Asaba, highlighting the sector’s commitment to strategic and well-organized decision-making.

Akinjole concluded by assuring that all aviation unions would convene to address the current situation, emphasizing the sector’s seriousness in dealing with pertinent issues.

NUATE, one of the key unions, has already taken its place at the ongoing delegate conference, raising questions about the aviation industry’s unique approach during times of nationwide labor actions

Power sector records partial compliance

Power sector workers participated in the nationwide strike. While the power grid remained operational, reports indicated that only essential electricity workers were permitted to work at power stations.

The acting General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees, Dominic Igwebuike, confirmed that power sector workers withdrew their services at various power stations, except for essential services. However, essential workers would join the strike if it persists.

Igwebuike’s statement was supported by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, which announced the temporary closure of its offices due to the strike, noting that essential services would remain uninterrupted.

Addressing claims of a blackout and grid shutdown, the Transmission Company of Nigeria emphasized that reports suggesting a national blackout were false and misleading. The company clarified that the nation’s power grid was intact and actively supplying electricity to distribution load centers nationwide.

NUBIFIE in some states join, Lagos opts out

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, the Senior Deputy General Secretary of the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institution Employees, Mr Aboderin Olusola, said so far there has been compliance of banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions in so many states like Bayelsa, Kano, Osun, Edo, Abuja and others.

He said, “We have about 85 per cent compliance, however, the challenge we as a body is that most of these public sector unions especially Lagos, did not comply.”

According to him, for example in Lagos, banks opened their offices earlier in the day and goods were going about their normal business, local government and hospitals opened, most of the public sector unions did not join the strike, and nobody enforced compliance, though our union would move round to ensure that union members in Lagos would comply and just the strike as long as they are members of the unions.

Potential economic loss

The ongoing nationwide strike could result in a daily economic loss of N25.93bn for the Nigerian economy, as per data sourced from the National Bureau of Statistics.

The NBS had previously calculated the economic cost of a nationwide strike in 2012, providing insights into the potential financial impact.

In a document titled, ‘Economic Cost of the Nationwide Strike Action of 9th January – 16th January 2012: Initial Assessment,’ the NBS offered an initial estimate for an eight-day strike action.

Using projected figures for GDP in the first quarter of 2012 and the first quarters of the last three years (2009-2011) for each covered economic activity, the NBS stated, “The real cost of any socio-economic disturbance is the tragic but avoidable loss of human life, the value of which cannot be accurately computed.

“In this brief, the NBS relies on the Gross Domestic Product (or GDP) to estimate the monetary value of economic activity “lost” during the period of the strike. In this regard, it is estimated that the nation lost N207, 408.28m million during the eight-day strike.”

Extrapolating from this data, the potential daily economic loss in the current strike stands at N25.93 billion, underscoring the substantial economic implications of the ongoing labor action.

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Top 5 Most Visited Countries in The World

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Top 10 Most Visited Countries in 2024

Top 5 Most Visited Countries in The World

 

International tourism has come a long way to returning back to pre-pandemic levels. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reports that international arrivals reached 80% of prior levels during the first quarter of 2023. That’s an estimated 235 million tourists traveling internationally in just three months, more than double the same period in 2022. The recovery has been robust across various regions, including Europe, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East

Why has this happened? In addition to few (if any) restrictions on travel, the popularity of online travel and booking platforms makes it easy for jetsetters to buy flights from their phones. They can compare real-time prices, plan out personalized itineraries, and pay for bookings with a few button clicks.

We’ve also seen a blending of business and personal travel into longer, more flexible trips. Termed “bleisure” by travel fans, the concept gives business travelers an excuse to book a few extra days to see the sites and even bring friends or family along. It’s not surprising to see some of these trips lean toward the more exotic, with luxury accommodations and excursions becoming the norm for trips of all lengths.

So, where are people traveling? The Global Tourism Data of inbound tourists from the UNWTO gives a peek into the most popular destinations across the globe from data collected in 2023.

1. France

100 million visitors ($68.6 billion USD in receipts)

Tourism in France took a big jump in 2023, with Forbes reporting a 12.3% increase in just the first quarter. France currently has around 29,000 tourist accommodations for travelers to stay, with hotels making up 17,600 of those locations. Luxury hotels alone saw a jump in occupancies, an incredible 31.4% increase from the year before.

The region with the most hotels is the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, followed by Île-de-France, where Paris can be found.

2. Spain

85.17 million visitors ($92 billion USD in receipts)

Spain has seen phenomenal growth in its popularity as a tourist spot, with the Spanish Statistical Office reporting 5.2 million international tourists in December. This was an increase of 26.2% from the previous December and represented part of the total 18.7% increase for the entire year.

Where were visitors from? The United Kingdom sent the most tourists (907,752 million), followed by France (819,405 million) and Germany (561,521 million). All three countries had more tourists in 2023, with increases of 18% to 23% over 2022.

Spain is known for its lovely year-round weather, which may be why so many flock to its warm temps when other places turn cold. More visitors came in January than other months, and June was the least popular.

3. United States of America

66.48 million visitors ($175.9 USD in receipts)

While the U.S. is at number three on this list, the post-pandemic recovery it’s seeing lags a bit behind other countries. The U.S. Travel Association reports international travel volumes at 84% of 2019 levels, with a full recovery expected by 2025.

Visitors to the U.S. spend around $4,000 per visit and add $155 billion to the U.S. economy each year.

Of the countries that send the most tourists, many have exceeded pre-pandemic levels. These include the Caribbean and other countries in the Americas, as well as Europe. Visitors from China and Japan have been reluctant to return after COVID. Both send around half of the tourists they used to, leaving the U.S. economy with four million fewer shoppers to spend their vacation dollars.

4. Italy

57.25 million visitors ($55.9 billion USD in receipts)

Reuters reports that Italy broke records in 2023 with more international tourists visiting the country than domestic travelers. This hadn’t happened since the pandemic.

The influx of visitors created a boon for the hospitality industry, and Italy saw a 13.4% increase in hotel stays. The 134 million registered guests was an all-time high, with 10% more total nights booked in 2023 than in 2022.

However, all the buzz about Italy caused the country to rethink its hottest tourist spots, even limiting the number of hours vacationers could visit and charging for the most popular sites. Venice, for example, has instituted a fee system to move about the city during peak hours; Capri, Linosa, and other locales created an outright ban on cars for everyone but the locals.

5. Turkey

55.16 million visitors ($49.5 billion USD in receipts)

Turkey is known for its amazing scenery and year-round popularity, and over 550 of the country’s beaches were awarded blue flag status in 2023. The voluntary award recognizes beaches and marinas based on several “environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility” standards.

Its geographic location helps it attract tourists from Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and Asia. Of all the places people come to see, Istanbul tops the list. In fact, the city was ranked as the most visited city in the world in 2023.

Each visitor spends around $952 per trip to Turkey, a 27% increase over 2019 (the last year tracked at pre-pandemic levels).

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Laffmattazz: Lagos 3rd Coming Features Star-Studded Lineup with Dbanj Gandoki, Akpororo, Taooma, Seriki Dariya, others

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Laffmattazz: Lagos 3rd Coming Features Star-Studded Lineup with Dbanj Gandoki, Akpororo, Taooma, Seriki Dariya, others

 

Legendary comedian Gbenga Adeyinka is set to host the much-anticipated third edition of his comedy show, Laffmattazz: Lagos 3rd Coming on November 17, 2024. The event will take place at the prestigious Balmoral Convention Center, Victoria Island, Lagos, promising an unforgettable night of laughter and entertainment.

The lineup features a mix of iconic comedians and musicians, including Omobaba No.1, Gandoki, Dr. Smile, Bash, Queen Salawa Abeni, Reminisce, and a host of surprise acts, with D’Banj headlining the show.

Gbenga Adeyinka remarked, “Laffmattazz: Lagos 3rd Coming will be the biggest comedy show of the year! We’ve curated an incredible roster of iconic headliners, and I’m excited to bring this level of entertainment to Lagos.”

Laffmattazz has cemented its place as a leading comedy brand, showcasing Nigeria’s finest comedic talent. This year’s event is poised to outdo its predecessors, featuring performances from Akpororo, Forever, Seriki Dariya, Princephelar, Dee One, Taooma, Baba Alariya, Madiba of Comedy, ATM, and more.

The night will also include musical performances by Tee Famous, The Countryman, Dami Cruz, and others, with DJ Wiki spinning on the decks.

Event Details:
– Date: Sunday, November 17, 2024
– Time: Red Carpet (3:00 PM), Show Start (5:00 PM)
– Venue: Balmoral Convention Center, Victoria Island, Lagos

Ticket Information:
– Regular: ₦7,000
– VIP: ₦20,000
– Table of 8 Gold: ₦1.5 million
– Table of 8 Platinum: ₦3 million

Purchase Tickets at:
1. Ile Iyan by PODs, GRA Ikeja
2. Ofada Boy, Surulere
3. Prince Ebeano Supermarket, Lekki

Online Tickets Available at:
1. Ariiyatickets.com
2. Grandtickets.ng
3. Laffmattazz.ng

For ticket purchases, sponsorships, inquiries, and collaboration opportunities, please contact: (+234) 08156111111.

Brought to you by: Maltina, Goldberg, Ace Roots, Goldberg Black
Supported by: Parralex Bank, Enclave Green Homes, FIRS, Lagos State Government
Media Partners: African Magic, Royal Roots Cinema, Hip TV, Views Channel, Vybz FM, Ibrand TV, Rapid Broadcasting Network, City FM, Jordan FM, Rainbow FM, Mainland FM, Boom Radio, TVC, Kennis FM, Beat FM
Outdoor Partners: Nimbus Media, FPL Media, Folham, Media Crush, Elev8 Media

Stay updated by following Laffmattazz on social media @laffmattazz_ga1st for the latest news and behind-the-scenes content.

Don’t miss this epic comedy event! Secure your tickets now and join the conversation online using #LaffmattazzLagos3rdComing #GbengaAdeyinka.

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We Must Build A Virile Legislature For The Future, Speaker Obasa Says

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We Must Build A Virile Legislature For The Future, Speaker Obasa Says

 

 

Speaker Mudashiru Obasa of the Lagos State House of Assembly, on Sunday, counselled members of the House to strengthen the legislative arm of government ahead of the future.

Dr. Obasa gave the advice in Abeokuta, Ogun State at the opening of a three-day budget retreat for lawmakers and staff of the House with the theme: ‘Optimising the legislature’s power of the Purse’ for effective service delivery in Lagos State’.

The Speaker challenged the lawmakers to be committed in their legislative duties as they must leave lasting legacies for the future, strengthen governance, responsibility and accountability.

He charged the lawmakers on improved and effective legislative oversight functions being one of the responsibilities of the legislature.

“What we do now is really not about us; it is for the totality of the system.

“I appreciate this budget retreat. Each one of us must be responsible in carrying out the assignments we are tasked with. This is very essential.

“We carry out budget scrutiny based on what is presented by the executive. Once we give a go-ahead, it means the executive must comply and treat it accordingly because it has become a law.

“Going forward, all the reports of each committee must be presented at the floor of the House. This will help us decide on how to act for the sake of transparency and accountability,” the Speaker said.

He advised the lawmakers against docility in the task of ensuring that Lagos continues to weather economic storms.

“We all have roles to play and, in doing that, sentiments and self-benefits must be removed. The day you start with self-benefit, you have become a failure.

“If you do your job the way you should do it, you will earn your respect and will be held in high esteem by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“We are here today again to look at how we can improve on the laws we make at the House of Assembly as well as our oversight functions.

‘Let’s continue to be dedicated and loyal and I am sure we will get there. Let’s always straighten the path for Lagosians and those coming behind us,” he urged.

In his opening remark, the Clerk and Head of Service of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko, described the retreat as an avenue to have insights into the state’s budget.

While commending the Speaker, he urged the participants to “be attentive and take home fresh ideas and knowledge.”

 

We Must Build A Virile Legislature For The Future, Speaker Obasa Says

Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

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