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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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Dangote says Company’s projected $30bn revenue will boost the Naira value

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Dangote says Company’s projected $30bn revenue will boost the Naira value

Dangote says Company’s projected $30bn revenue will boost the Naira value

 

President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, on Sunday stated that his company’s aim is to become the leading supplier of foreign exchange in the FX market soon, as it targets $30 billion in revenues by the year 2025.

During a tour of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals and Dangote Fertiliser Limited with media executives at the weekend, he said the plan is to attain independence from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in forex sourcing, highlighting a strategic shift in revenue composition within the cement business from the current 75 percent to 15 percent in the future.

The expected significant inflow of forex into Nigeria through his businesses, will automatically boosts the value of our local currency and make Naira regain its value in the comity of international currencies all over the world.

According to Dangote, the refinery began full operations in 2024, initially focusing on refining intermediate products such as polypropylene, naphtha, RCO, gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.

He explained that the refinery entered its steady-state production phase in March 2024. Additionally, he anticipates production ramping up to 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) with 15 crude cargoes per month by August, increasing to 550,000 bpd by the end of the year, and aiming for 650,000 bpd by the first quarter of 2025.

“Petrol production is to commence in July with sales from August,” assured Dangote.

Dangote also hinted that the group intends to list both Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals and Dangote Fertilizer Limited on the Nigerian Exchange Group in the first quarter of 2025. He said that this initiative would enable Nigerians to participate in the ownership of these companies.

“Due to the nature of our business with both the refinery and the fertilizer, we are aiming to list them by the end of this year. However, depending on circumstances, worst-case scenario, we anticipate listing them before the end of the first quarter of next year. This will allow us to offer shares for sale and enable Nigerians to participate as shareholders,” Dangote stated.

The Dangote Refinery, which will process 650,000 barrels per day (BPD) at full capacity, stands as Africa’s largest oil refinery and the world’s largest single-train facility, while the Dangote Fertiliser Limited operates Africa’s largest Granulated Urea Fertiliser complex. Presently, Dangote Cement is Nigeria’s most capitalised company.

While noting that the total storage capacity of the refinery is 4.5 billion litres, sufficient to cover 20 days of Nigeria’s crude requirement and store products equivalent to 15 days of Nigeria’s petrol consumption, he stressed that the refinery would produce 53 million litres of petrol per day and 1.1 million tonnes per day.

He added that the refinery is equipped with dedicated loading gantries featuring 86 loading bays, alongside specialized marine facilities for the offloading of crude and the loading of petroleum products. Additionally, the facility, he said, includes a 900-kilotonne per annum polypropylene plant, with production capacities of 36,000 tonnes per annum for sulphur and 585,000 tonnes per annum for carbon black.

Dangote said that over the past four decades, the operations of Dangote Group have evolved significantly from a commodity trading company to a diversified conglomerate. He emphasised that this transformation was driven by the overarching goal of achieving self-sufficiency in key sectors and bolstering Nigeria’s economy.

He noted that the group, which began as a trading company in 1978, has expanded into a diversified conglomerate with investments spanning cement, agriculture, fertilizer, petrochemicals, oil & gas, auto assembly, infrastructure, and other sectors.

He said the group is driven by the idea that Africa’s future prosperity hinges on its ability to harness its own resources and capabilities. Dangote stressed that the continent inadvertently imports poverty and exports jobs by exporting raw materials and importing finished goods.

The Vice President, Oil and Gas, Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, reiterated the commitment of the company in enhancing local capacity in critical sectors of the economy.

He said Dangote Industries Limited has empowered young Nigerians to assume key roles across its operations, with many even becoming expatriates in other nations.

Edwin stressed the refinery’s status as the world’s largest single train complex constructed entirely by a Nigerian company, highlighting a significant achievement in local engineering and construction capabilities.

Noting that most refineries were built by foreign companies, he said it is a thing of pride that a Nigerian company, acting directly as Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor, designed and built the world’s largest single train refinery complex. He said this has enhanced the capacity of many Nigerians involved in the process and that a Nigerian company can build a refinery anywhere in the world.

“It is a thing of pride that the largest single train refinery in the world is 100% designed, engineered, and constructed by a Nigerian company as EPC contractor,” he said.

While expressing gratitude to the media executives, Group Executive Director of Commercial Operations at Dangote Industries Limited, Fatima Dangote, reiterated the company’s dedication to creating a positive impact on the economy. She commended Aliko Dangote’s steadfast commitment to advancing the continent’s development.

“He (Dangote) is committed to ensuring the success of Nigeria and Africa as a nation and a continent. Our focus extends beyond profit to solving problems and achieving self-sufficiency across all sectors in Africa. By meeting global standards, we have positioned ourselves to export our products to every continent in the world,” she said.

Fatima pointed out that the group is not only the largest private employer of labour but also consistently ranks as one of the top taxpayers in the country each year, adhering to all relevant tax laws and regulations.

“We are known as one of the largest employers of labour. However, we are also conscious of ensuring our workers enjoy a good living standard. This is reflected in our inclusion in the list of top paying firms in the country. Our impact on employment generation extends to creating thousands of indirect jobs in the various communities that we operate in,” she added.

 

Dangote says Company’s projected $30bn revenue will boost the Naira value

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Hon. Taiwo Oyekan Celebrates Sanwo-Olu, Gbajabiamila On Birthday

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Hon. Taiwo Oyekan Celebrates Sanwo-Olu, Gbajabiamila On Birthday,

 

Record-Breaking Council Legislator, Hon Taiwo Oyekan sents Congratulatory Message to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Chief of staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as the duo celebrate their birthdays, today, Tuesday, June 25, 2024.

 

Below is the Statement issued and signed by the Legislator:

 

 

Today, Tuesday June 25, 2024,
Two Illustrious Sons Of Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu And Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila Are Celebrating Their Birthdays

I Rejoice With Mr. Governor And The Chief Of Staff To The President

In Different Capacities, They Have Served The State And Nigeria Meritoriously

Governor Sanwo-Olu And Rt. Hon. Gbajabiamila Are Progressives Par Excellence

Indeed, The Celebrants Are Shining Examples To The Younger Generation

As The Duo Mark Another Phase On The Planet Earth, I Offer My Sincere Best Wishes

Congratulations Sirs !

© PTO Media & Strategy Centre

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Muhajid Alhaji Abubakr Dokubo-Asari Felicitates Alabo Dumo lulu-Briggs on 60th Birthday

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Muhajid Alhaji Abubakr Dokubo-Asari Felicitates Alabo Dumo lulu-Briggs on 60th Birthday

Muhajid Alhaji Abubakr Dokubo-Asari Felicitates Alabo Dumo lulu-Briggs on 60th Birthday

 

 

 

Muhajid Alhaji Abubakr Dokubo-Asari, a steadfast advocate for the rights of the Niger Delta people has extended warm felicitations to Alabo, Dumo lulu-Briggs, head of the Oruwari Briggs Group of War Canoe and Chieftaincy Houses of Abonnema on his 60th birthday.

 

 

Muhajid Alhaji Abubakr Dokubo-Asari Felicitates Alabo Dumo lulu-Briggs on 60th Birthday

In a heartfelt message, Dokubo-Asari praised Alabo Dumo lulu-Briggs for his remarkable journey, marked by unwavering dedication to politics without bitterness, and his tireless efforts to promote peace and brotherliness throughout his life.

“I salute his penchant for politics without bitterness, promoting peace and brotherliness,” Dokubo-Asari said, highlighting Alabo Dumo lulu-Briggs’s remarkable ability to navigate the complexities of politics with grace and humility.

Furthermore, Dokubo-Asari commended Alabo Dumo lulu-Briggs for his outstanding philanthropic endeavors, particularly in Abonema, where he has made a profound impact on the lives of youths, the aged, and women through various outreach programs.

“Alabo Dumo lulu-Briggs has been outstanding in his philanthropic endeavors to touch and change the lives of youths, the aged and women in Kalabari kingdom providing succor and support to the weak and hopeless through various out reach programs,” Dokubo-Asari emphasized.

The Paramount Ruler of Edi Abali Group of War Canoe Houses of Kalabari kingdom also praised Alabo Dumo lulu-Briggs for his selfless life, which exemplifies love for humanity and service. “Dumo’s selfless life exemplifies love for humanity and service,” Dokubo-Asari said, acknowledging Alabo Dumo lulu-Briggs’ enduring legacy.

Alabo Dumo lulu-Briggs, a businessman, politician, and philanthropist, is the chairman of Platform Petroleum Ltd, a petroleum exploration company planning a 10,000 metric tonnes refinery. His remarkable life serves as an inspiration to many, and his continued service to humanity is a testament to his enduring legacy.

As he celebrates this milestone, Alabo Dumo lulu-Briggs is undoubtedly grateful for the love and support of his friends, family, and the people he has touched through his philanthropic endeavors.

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