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Workers’ Day: We’ve paid N13b out of N19b global deductions -Gov Abiodun

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Workers' Day: We've paid N13b out of N19b global deductions -Gov Abiodun

Workers’ Day: We’ve paid N13b out of N19b global deductions -Gov Abiodun

…says administration won’t renege on promises to Ogun workers

 

 

 

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has disclosed that his administration has paid N13b out of the N19b Global Deductions owed to the public servants in the state.

The governor, who equally disclosed that his administration has paid N88.92b as pension for the state and local government retirees till date, assured that the outstanding of N6bn global deductions would be paid in the coming months

The governor gave this disclosure while addressing workers and members of trade unions at the celebration of the 2023 Workers’ Day held at the M.K. O Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta.

Emphasizing on the theme of the event “Workers’ Rights and Social Economic Rights”, Abiodun noted that his administration understood workers’ plight and was working towards addressing them.

He said that his government has paid the sum of N4.1b as gratuities for both state and local government retirees, just as the quarterly release for pensioners had been increased from N500m to N1b.

He further disclosed that the minimum monthly pay for pensioners in the state had been increased from N5,000 to N10,000.

“The additional N700m wage bill initially affected our plan which was to settle all outstanding commitments with our work force. Let me reassure you that our administration will continue to explore various financial options rather than imposing additional taxes on the people.

“Amongst other initiatives, we have put in place an improved working environment for our Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Commencement of the year 2021 and 2022 promotion exercise of Civil Servants, provision of housing scheme for our workers: construction and allocation of Prince Court at Kemta Idi-Aba, Abeokuta and Kobape Estate, and newly constructed quarters for the Permanent Secretary at Laderin Estate”, the governor pointed out.

Parts of the welfare package for the workers, the governor added, include the review upward by 100 percent car and motorcycle refurbishing loans, appointment of new Permanent Secretaries; Accountant-General, Solicitor-General, Principals-General and Tutor-General for seamless administration.

The state helmsman, however, said his government was on the verge of implementing policies and programmes to enhance the health welfare package of the work force, while regular training and retraining to enhance productivity and improve service delivery in all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, would be intensified.

The governor assured that his administration would not renege on its promises or any understanding reached with the workers, as they are also stakeholders in the “Building our Future Together” agenda.

While intimating the workers with the plans of his administration in the next four years, Abiodun said: “The second phase of our administration, we will ensure the completion of infrastructural projects encompassing transportation infrastructure, be it road, be it our airport, education infrastructure, be it renovation of public schools,health infrastructure, including the provision and construction of primary health care centers till we have at least one PHC per ward.

“We will focus on the provision of public utilities which would be the supply of portable water and uninterrupted power supply to our major towns and villages to make life more abundant for our people.

“We will be embarking on our energy transition implementation through our E-mobility scheme, a plan to convert all our motorcycles to electric powered and also our mass transit buses to being gas powered”.

In his remarks, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, represented by the Federal Controller of Labour, Mr.Itemoagbo Eshomounu, said workers as wealth creators have over the years, contributed to the socio-economic development of the country, emphasizing that the Federal Government has taken steps to address challenges facing workers in their places of work.

The Ogun State chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC)), Akeem Lasisi, lauded the state government for its efforts in addressing the workers’ plights, maintaining that the Workers Day celebration was dedicated to the workers for their hard work, dedication and resilience to the economic development of the State.

While urging the state government to put labour issues at the front burner, Lasisi also called on the Federal Government to address the current security and unemployment challenges, as well fuel subsidy issues, saying the union would continue to protect its members interest by engaging government constructively rather than embarking on unnecessary strikes.

On his part, Hameed Benco, the state chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), said the state government has performed creditably well in education, agriculture, health, housing and workers’ welfare, calling on the state government to implement the 40 percent increment to the state workers as done by the federal government.

Highlights of the celebration was the march past by various trade the workers and unions in the state. Workers’ Day: We’ve paid N13b out of N19b global deductions -Gov Abiodun

…says administration won’t renege on promises to Ogun workers

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has disclosed that his administration has paid N13b out of the N19b Global Deductions owed to the public servants in the state.

The governor, who equally disclosed that his administration has paid N88.92b as pension for the state and local government retirees till date, assured that the outstanding of N6bn global deductions would be paid in the coming months

The governor gave this disclosure while addressing workers and members of trade unions at the celebration of the 2023 Workers’ Day held at the M.K. O Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta.

Emphasizing on the theme of the event “Workers’ Rights and Social Economic Rights”, Abiodun noted that his administration understood workers’ plight and was working towards addressing them.

He said that his government has paid the sum of N4.1b as gratuities for both state and local government retirees, just as the quarterly release for pensioners had been increased from N500m to N1b.

He further disclosed that the minimum monthly pay for pensioners in the state had been increased from N5,000 to N10,000.

“The additional N700m wage bill initially affected our plan which was to settle all outstanding commitments with our work force. Let me reassure you that our administration will continue to explore various financial options rather than imposing additional taxes on the people.

“Amongst other initiatives, we have put in place an improved working environment for our Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Commencement of the year 2021 and 2022 promotion exercise of Civil Servants, provision of housing scheme for our workers: construction and allocation of Prince Court at Kemta Idi-Aba, Abeokuta and Kobape Estate, and newly constructed quarters for the Permanent Secretary at Laderin Estate”, the governor pointed out.

Parts of the welfare package for the workers, the governor added, include the review upward by 100 percent car and motorcycle refurbishing loans, appointment of new Permanent Secretaries; Accountant-General, Solicitor-General, Principals-General and Tutor-General for seamless administration.

The state helmsman, however, said his government was on the verge of implementing policies and programmes to enhance the health welfare package of the work force, while regular training and retraining to enhance productivity and improve service delivery in all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, would be intensified.

The governor assured that his administration would not renege on its promises or any understanding reached with the workers, as they are also stakeholders in the “Building our Future Together” agenda.

While intimating the workers with the plans of his administration in the next four years, Abiodun said: “The second phase of our administration, we will ensure the completion of infrastructural projects encompassing transportation infrastructure, be it road, be it our airport, education infrastructure, be it renovation of public schools,health infrastructure, including the provision and construction of primary health care centers till we have at least one PHC per ward.

“We will focus on the provision of public utilities which would be the supply of portable water and uninterrupted power supply to our major towns and villages to make life more abundant for our people.

“We will be embarking on our energy transition implementation through our E-mobility scheme, a plan to convert all our motorcycles to electric powered and also our mass transit buses to being gas powered”.

In his remarks, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, represented by the Federal Controller of Labour, Mr.Itemoagbo Eshomounu, said workers as wealth creators have over the years, contributed to the socio-economic development of the country, emphasizing that the Federal Government has taken steps to address challenges facing workers in their places of work.

The Ogun State chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC)), Akeem Lasisi, lauded the state government for its efforts in addressing the workers’ plights, maintaining that the Workers Day celebration was dedicated to the workers for their hard work, dedication and resilience to the economic development of the State.

While urging the state government to put labour issues at the front burner, Lasisi also called on the Federal Government to address the current security and unemployment challenges, as well fuel subsidy issues, saying the union would continue to protect its members interest by engaging government constructively rather than embarking on unnecessary strikes.

On his part, Hameed Benco, the state chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), said the state government has performed creditably well in education, agriculture, health, housing and workers’ welfare, calling on the state government to implement the 40 percent increment to the state workers as done by the federal government.

Highlights of the celebration was the march past by various trade the workers and unions in the state. Workers’ Day: We’ve paid N13b out of N19b global deductions -Gov Abiodun

…says administration won’t renege on promises to Ogun workers

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has disclosed that his administration has paid N13b out of the N19b Global Deductions owed to the public servants in the state.

The governor, who equally disclosed that his administration has paid N88.92b as pension for the state and local government retirees till date, assured that the outstanding of N6bn global deductions would be paid in the coming months

The governor gave this disclosure while addressing workers and members of trade unions at the celebration of the 2023 Workers’ Day held at the M.K. O Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta.

Emphasizing on the theme of the event “Workers’ Rights and Social Economic Rights”, Abiodun noted that his administration understood workers’ plight and was working towards addressing them.

He said that his government has paid the sum of N4.1b as gratuities for both state and local government retirees, just as the quarterly release for pensioners had been increased from N500m to N1b.

He further disclosed that the minimum monthly pay for pensioners in the state had been increased from N5,000 to N10,000.

“The additional N700m wage bill initially affected our plan which was to settle all outstanding commitments with our work force. Let me reassure you that our administration will continue to explore various financial options rather than imposing additional taxes on the people.

“Amongst other initiatives, we have put in place an improved working environment for our Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Commencement of the year 2021 and 2022 promotion exercise of Civil Servants, provision of housing scheme for our workers: construction and allocation of Prince Court at Kemta Idi-Aba, Abeokuta and Kobape Estate, and newly constructed quarters for the Permanent Secretary at Laderin Estate”, the governor pointed out.

Parts of the welfare package for the workers, the governor added, include the review upward by 100 percent car and motorcycle refurbishing loans, appointment of new Permanent Secretaries; Accountant-General, Solicitor-General, Principals-General and Tutor-General for seamless administration.

The state helmsman, however, said his government was on the verge of implementing policies and programmes to enhance the health welfare package of the work force, while regular training and retraining to enhance productivity and improve service delivery in all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, would be intensified.

The governor assured that his administration would not renege on its promises or any understanding reached with the workers, as they are also stakeholders in the “Building our Future Together” agenda.

While intimating the workers with the plans of his administration in the next four years, Abiodun said: “The second phase of our administration, we will ensure the completion of infrastructural projects encompassing transportation infrastructure, be it road, be it our airport, education infrastructure, be it renovation of public schools,health infrastructure, including the provision and construction of primary health care centers till we have at least one PHC per ward.

“We will focus on the provision of public utilities which would be the supply of portable water and uninterrupted power supply to our major towns and villages to make life more abundant for our people.

“We will be embarking on our energy transition implementation through our E-mobility scheme, a plan to convert all our motorcycles to electric powered and also our mass transit buses to being gas powered”.

In his remarks, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, represented by the Federal Controller of Labour, Mr.Itemoagbo Eshomounu, said workers as wealth creators have over the years, contributed to the socio-economic development of the country, emphasizing that the Federal Government has taken steps to address challenges facing workers in their places of work.

The Ogun State chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC)), Akeem Lasisi, lauded the state government for its efforts in addressing the workers’ plights, maintaining that the Workers Day celebration was dedicated to the workers for their hard work, dedication and resilience to the economic development of the State.

While urging the state government to put labour issues at the front burner, Lasisi also called on the Federal Government to address the current security and unemployment challenges, as well fuel subsidy issues, saying the union would continue to protect its members interest by engaging government constructively rather than embarking on unnecessary strikes.

On his part, Hameed Benco, the state chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), said the state government has performed creditably well in education, agriculture, health, housing and workers’ welfare, calling on the state government to implement the 40 percent increment to the state workers as done by the federal government.

Highlights of the celebration was the march past by various trade the workers and unions in the state. Workers’ Day: We’ve paid N13b out of N19b global deductions -Gov Abiodun

…says administration won’t renege on promises to Ogun workers

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has disclosed that his administration has paid N13b out of the N19b Global Deductions owed to the public servants in the state.

The governor, who equally disclosed that his administration has paid N88.92b as pension for the state and local government retirees till date, assured that the outstanding of N6bn global deductions would be paid in the coming months

The governor gave this disclosure while addressing workers and members of trade unions at the celebration of the 2023 Workers’ Day held at the M.K. O Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta.

Emphasizing on the theme of the event “Workers’ Rights and Social Economic Rights”, Abiodun noted that his administration understood workers’ plight and was working towards addressing them.

He said that his government has paid the sum of N4.1b as gratuities for both state and local government retirees, just as the quarterly release for pensioners had been increased from N500m to N1b.

He further disclosed that the minimum monthly pay for pensioners in the state had been increased from N5,000 to N10,000.

“The additional N700m wage bill initially affected our plan which was to settle all outstanding commitments with our work force. Let me reassure you that our administration will continue to explore various financial options rather than imposing additional taxes on the people.

“Amongst other initiatives, we have put in place an improved working environment for our Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Commencement of the year 2021 and 2022 promotion exercise of Civil Servants, provision of housing scheme for our workers: construction and allocation of Prince Court at Kemta Idi-Aba, Abeokuta and Kobape Estate, and newly constructed quarters for the Permanent Secretary at Laderin Estate”, the governor pointed out.

Parts of the welfare package for the workers, the governor added, include the review upward by 100 percent car and motorcycle refurbishing loans, appointment of new Permanent Secretaries; Accountant-General, Solicitor-General, Principals-General and Tutor-General for seamless administration.

The state helmsman, however, said his government was on the verge of implementing policies and programmes to enhance the health welfare package of the work force, while regular training and retraining to enhance productivity and improve service delivery in all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, would be intensified.

The governor assured that his administration would not renege on its promises or any understanding reached with the workers, as they are also stakeholders in the “Building our Future Together” agenda.

While intimating the workers with the plans of his administration in the next four years, Abiodun said: “The second phase of our administration, we will ensure the completion of infrastructural projects encompassing transportation infrastructure, be it road, be it our airport, education infrastructure, be it renovation of public schools,health infrastructure, including the provision and construction of primary health care centers till we have at least one PHC per ward.

“We will focus on the provision of public utilities which would be the supply of portable water and uninterrupted power supply to our major towns and villages to make life more abundant for our people.

“We will be embarking on our energy transition implementation through our E-mobility scheme, a plan to convert all our motorcycles to electric powered and also our mass transit buses to being gas powered”.

In his remarks, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, represented by the Federal Controller of Labour, Mr.Itemoagbo Eshomounu, said workers as wealth creators have over the years, contributed to the socio-economic development of the country, emphasizing that the Federal Government has taken steps to address challenges facing workers in their places of work.

The Ogun State chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC)), Akeem Lasisi, lauded the state government for its efforts in addressing the workers’ plights, maintaining that the Workers Day celebration was dedicated to the workers for their hard work, dedication and resilience to the economic development of the State.

While urging the state government to put labour issues at the front burner, Lasisi also called on the Federal Government to address the current security and unemployment challenges, as well fuel subsidy issues, saying the union would continue to protect its members interest by engaging government constructively rather than embarking on unnecessary strikes.

On his part, Hameed Benco, the state chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), said the state government has performed creditably well in education, agriculture, health, housing and workers’ welfare, calling on the state government to implement the 40 percent increment to the state workers as done by the federal government.

Highlights of the celebration was the march past by various trade the workers and unions in the state.

 

Workers' Day: We've paid N13b out of N19b global deductions -Gov Abiodun

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Ajaero Recounts Ordeal At DSS

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My ordeal at DSS, by Ajaero

 

The president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero has described his ordeals  in the hands of DSS as embarrassing.

Speaking exclusively, to Vanguard on his ordeal in the hands of the DSS and other security operatives yesterday, Ajaero said: “It was like the DSS arrested me on behalf of the Intelligence Response Team, IRT, department of the Police because IRT operatives came to interrogate me and take my statement, while I was detained.

‘’The DSS also interrogated me and took my statement. I do not know why they have to embarrass me publicly like that. The same IRT operatives in whose office we were on August 29, 2024, alongside Mr Femi Falana, came and asked the same questions I was asked in the previous meeting with them.

“They asked about the operator of Iva Valley Bookshop on the second floor of NLC secretariat building. They asked me whether we had communicated on phone, whether he (the Iva Valley operator) communicated with me in writing and so on.

‘’They also asked if I know the protesters (#EndBadGovernance or #Endhunger), especially Eleojo Opaluwa, a staff of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE. I told them I knew him because I employed him at NUEE.

 

“They equally asked about the Labour Party, LP, whether we are running the party. I told them we do not run Labour Party, but that we are a trustee of the party. I also told them that the Labour Party they see today was founded when Adams Oshiomhole was President of NLC. Also, they asked about the issue of Air Peace which we had settled since last year.

“It is like the security agents are searching for evidence on how and what to nail us with. That is why they have continued to embarrass, persecute, intimidate and do whatever they liked to cow us.’’

 

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Ajaero: Nobody is above the law — FG

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Ajaero: Nobody is above the law — FG

Ajaero: Nobody is above the law — FG

 

 

The Federal Government yesterday rejected accusation of rights abuse made against it by the United Kingdom (UK) Trade Union Congress (TUC), over the arrest of Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), insisting that nobody, including the NLC president, is above the law in Nigeria.

 

Recall that President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr. Joe Ajaero, was arrested and detained by the Department of State Services, DSS, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, en route London to attend a conference of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, of UK.

 

The Federal Government, in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the NLC president was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) because he refused to honour the invitation of a law enforcement agency carrying out an investigation.

“The Nigerian government was wrongly and falsely accused of rights abuse because the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, was stopped from travelling abroad after he snubbed the invitation of a law enforcement agency conducting an ongoing investigation.

“Clearly, under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended), no person is above the summons of law enforcement agencies and lawful investigation.

Government’s position came on a day Ajaero gave insight into his ordeal in the hands of operatives of DSS and other security agencies, following his Monday arrest.

 

‘FG wrongly accused of rights abuses’

Onanuga said, “We are not aware that there is anyone in the United Kingdom or anywhere in Europe and the United States, trade union leaders inclusive, who will flagrantly ignore the invitation or summons of MI5 or Scotland Yard or treat the FBI with the level of disdain Mr Ajaero has subjected law enforcement agencies in Nigeria.

“In the United States, for example, former President Donald Trump has been the subject of numerous investigations and prosecutions in courts in several states since he left office.
“Mr. Hunter Biden, son of the President of the United States, has been the subject of a lawful investigation by the FBI.

“We, therefore, reject any notion and allusion to human rights violations in Nigeria. The accusations made by the Trade Union Congress in the United Kingdom are, thus, unfounded and based on a misunderstanding of the situation.

“Besides, the Nigerian Government is being led by a pro-democracy activist president who will do everything to protect civil liberties and the rights of all citizens.

 

“There is no adversarial relationship between the Labour Movement in Nigeria and the government.

“While labour unions and the government may not always agree on policy direction, the government has consistently shown readiness to engage on any issue with labour despite the latter’s political partisanship.

“Contrary to the erroneous impression being created, the invitation extended by the Department of State Services to Mr. Ajaero has nothing to do with his role as the President of NLC.

“As a responsible citizen of Nigeria, Mr Ajaero should honour any invitation from our security agencies and resolve any issues that may arise during the investigation instead of stirring adverse public opinion against the security agencies.

“It is worth reminding Nigerians and the global community that the federal government recognises that the labour movement exists to protect and defend the interests of its members. What is also worth noting is that Labour, in most cases, only advances ideological positions that fly in the face of economic realities.

 

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Man jailed 100 years for sexually assaulting two children

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Man jailed 100 years for sexually assaulting two children

Man jailed 100 years for sexually assaulting two children

 

 

A Colorado man in the United States has been sentenced to over 100 years in prison by a judge for sexually assaulting two children in their relative’s home in 2021.

 

 

James Pinker, 34, received a sentence of 112 years to life from a Weld County, Colorado, judge on August 30, according to a statement released by the Weld County District Attorney’s Office earlier this week.

 

 

In June, Pinker was found guilty of four counts of sexual assault on a child in a pattern of abuse, the statement, issued on Monday, September 9, revealed.

These charges originated from an event that took place on December 12, 2021, when two young girls, whose ages were not specified, were playing in the basement of a relative’s home, according to authorities.

They were playing a game labelled as “Monsters,” they said, when Pinker came downstairs and began playing a “kissing” game with them.

“When asked what the ‘kissing’ game was, the victims said the defendant would put his mouth on their ‘privates’ and made them take their clothes off,” the statement said.

During last month’s sentencing hearing, a 17-year-old girl testified that Pinker had sexually abused her when she was younger, according to the statement.

Deputy District Attorney Timothy McCormack noted that Pinker had abused “several young children,” although it was not immediately clear whether charges had been filed in those additional cases.

“The defendant’s actions were not only heinous, but he shattered the innocence and lives of several young children,” McCormack said. “This sentence reflects the gravity of his crimes and the justice deserved for his victims.”

 

 

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