COVER
NLC, TUC Nationwide Strike Witnesses Partial Compliance
From Jude Dangwam, Jos; Attah Ede, Makurdi and David Torough, Abuja
The Benue State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its counterpart, Trade Union Council (TUC), Tuesday, joined the nationwide strike in compliance with the directives of the national body of the union.
Our correspondent who monitored the situation in Makurdi, the State capital, reported that both public and private primary and secondary schools, as well as tertiary institutions, shunned the strike and went ahead with normal school activities. It was observed that primary pupils and secondary schools went to school as early as 7.30AM but could not return home to indicate there was a strike as directed by NLC national leadership.It was further observed that teachers were seen all through in the schools.The strike could not completely affect operations in banks, hospitals, and other public places in the state as customers and patients were seen in those places undergoing one activity or the other.In a similar manner, the State Secretariat, which houses most of the ministries, was also opened following the commencement of the strike.Consequently, workers who were supposed to join in the strike reported to work in the morning. However, some of them were also seen returning home later.At the Federal University of Health Science Otukpo, prospective Students who applied for admission in the University were seen undertaking screening exercise preparatory for their admission into the institution. The strike however did not affect the general public activities in the state capital.Similarly NLC in Plateau State Chapter on Monday also joined their counterparts across the country on the nationwide industrial strike action embarked upon by the National body.The State Chairman of NLC Comrade Eugene Manji addressing Journalists at the entrance of J.D Gomwalk State Secretariat which was under lock and key said there was absolute compliance to the national directives.He noted that the industrial action was as a result of the manhandling of their leader Comrade Joe Ajero in Imo State while on official engagement to address the lingering issues between workers and the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma despites the demands presented to him and promised to look into, but failed to address them.”We met as NEC and looked at the situation of workers and decided let’s go to Imo and that was why we were in Imo. And then comes the manhandling of our leader, that is why we are going on this nationwide strike.”You can see that the compliance of the national strike is absolute on the Plateau. The reason is simple, is because of the brutality meted on our leader the NLC President.” He statedThe State NLC Chairman reiterated that NLV struggles to curtail future occurrences, as Labour has lost confidence in the religious leaders and traditional rulers who were supposed to call the government to order.”We have lost out on the religious leaders who are supposed to defend us, we have lost out on the traditional rulers who are supposed to call these people to order. The only body standing to checkmate the excesses of this government is labour.”So, if there is no Labour then no masses can stand. Is not just about Ajero but is about the deliberate moves to silence Labour which has been the voice of the masses, and we will not be intimidated.”We are calling ourselves democratic government and then this is what you’re doing! Do we have democracy? we don’t have any! We are not against his government, but we are against injustice that has been meted against workers.”Labour is fighting for the injustice against workers and the masses of this country. We are the voice of the voiceless, all we are doing is to curtail the excesses of what is going to happen in the future and we are ready for government.” he firmly stated.A visit to some commercial banks in the state capital also complied with the industrial action as customers were seen at a few ATM machines making some transactions.Also, our correspondent reported that workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) also observed partial compliance to the directive by the organised labour to its members to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike.The TUC and NLC had directed all affiliates to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike.The strike was called to press home their demands, especially the “non comment by the Federal Government over the brutalising of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero by security agents and hoodlums in Imo”.It would be recalled that the NLC had declared a protest in Imo, led by Ajaero on November 1, over alleged anti- workers policies by the state government.Ajaero was attacked and brutalised by security agents and hoodlums allegedly sent by the state government.It would be recalled that Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo and the Nigeria Police had refuted the allegation.It also be recalled that the National Industrial Court had restrained organised labour from embarking on the planned nationwide strike.It was however observed that at the Federal Secretariat, workers were seen going about.Also, at the Area one old Secretariat, workers were also seen going in and out of the place.Commercial banks such as Guaranty, Union, First Bank , among other banks in Area 3 and 8 were opened for operation as some customers were seen going in and out of the place.It was also gathered that some schools were open and lessons were ongoing.Also, some workers who spoke with our correspondent said that the nationwide indefinite strike was uncalled for.They said that people were already suffering and the economy was not friendly, adding with the indefinite strike it would increase the hardship on the people.The situation was similar in other states capitals including; Kaduna, Plateau, Ekiti, Ondo, Ebonyi, Enugu and Lagos.On the contrary, workers in Sokoto state on Tuesday defied the directives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), proceeding with their official duties in spite of the nationwide indefinite strike call.Routine operations were conducted at the federal and state Ministries, banks, and schools.A classroom teacher, Malam Ismail Dayyabu, said that they were not served notice of the strike and they were only aware of a Court order restraining the union from striking.“We can do nothing but wait for proper communication. That’s why we went to work as usual, with no official engagements halted,” he explained.Similarly, a trader, Alhaji Bala Dankasuwa, said he was ignorant of any strike action, emphasising that their leaders had not communicated such a decision.Meanwhile, the NLC and TUC, Sokoto State chapters have assured their commitment to enforcing total compliance with the nationwide strike in the state.Mr Hamisu Hussain, the state NLC Secretary, acknowledged the delayed communication of the strike information to workers in the state.He explained, “Due to the delayed notice, many workers in banks and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) could not join the strike today.“However, I can assure you that by tomorrow, we will have total compliance as we have notified all of them. No excuse will be accepted,” he said.Mr Bello Garba, the state TUC Secretary, condemned the alleged assault on the NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, during the union’s rally in Imo.Garba warned that such incidents could recur nationwide, if not properly addressed, while assuring the strike will be enforced on all workers in the state.Also, workers in Taraba went about their normal schedules on Tuesday in defiance of an indefinite nationwide strike called by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).Government offices in Jalingo were fully operational as civil servants reported for duty.A civil servant, Tanimu Musa, said that the strike was counterproductive.Musa noted that the Federal and state governments had demonstrated their commitment to ameliorate hardships faced by workers and by the Nigerian masses.He said the Federal Government, for instance, provided palliatives and increased wages, while Taraba had also been paying the N30, 000 minimum wage.Another civil servant, Joel Yakubu, said, however that an NLC team was going round to enforce the strike order.“State workers are yet to receive their October salary which the governor ordered must be paid on the basis of the N30, 000 minimum wages.“The order delayed the October salary as fresh vouchers needed to be raised to reflect the wage increase.“It is arguable that shunning the strike is a decoy by Taraba workers so they would not extend the payday unnecessarily.The NLC and TUC called the strike to protest against the manhandling of the National President of the NLC Mr Joe Ajaero, by hoodlums in Owerri on November 1.The National Industrial Court of Nigeria on Friday restrained the labour unions from embarking on strike.President of the court, Justice Benedict Kanyip, ordered the nation’s two major labour unions to stop the industrial action.The interim order followed an ex-parte request by the Nigerian government through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
As part of efforts to reposition the newspaper for optimum corporate performance, the management of Asset Newspapers Limited, Publishers of DAILY ASSET, has announced the appointment of David Torough as the Editor of the Abuja-based national daily.
A statement by the management said the appointments were part of the company’s new strategy to further penetrate the various states in the country and raise its readership and patronage.
“DAILY ASSET is widely acceptable across the country and to maintain our leadership position, we need to increase management presence, hence the need to create new Bureau offices in some locations outside Abuja and Lagos,” the statement quoted the Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief, Dr Cletus Akwaya to have said.
In a statement yesterday, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the fast-growing daily, Dr. Cletus Akwaya said the appointment was part of the new strategy to properly situate the paper for better productivity.
“DAILY ASSET has a commitment with the Nigerian people. We are determined to weather the storm and give Nigerian readers a Newspaper that satisfies their yearnings and reading pleasure and we can only do that with the right set of professionals,” the statement said.
Akwaya, a former Commissioner of Information from Benue State said the difficult times being faced by Nigerians posed a great challenge to the media as the people deserved credible information with which to make choices.
“We have a bond with the people, to offer credible information at all times in the best tradition of the Nigerian Press and on this scale of objectivity, truth and fairness, we pledge to remain steadfast no matter the challenges,” Akwaya was quoted to have said.
He said the newspaper will maiantin its daily print run and circulation to all states of the federation and urged advertisers to take advantage of the deep penetration of the Daily Asset brand to send their messages.
Torough, the new Editor has had a steady rise in the Newspaper in the last five years.
A graduate of Mass communication of the Benue State University, Makurdi, Torough joined the company in 2022 as Benue State Correspondent. He was spotted for his brilliance and redeployed to Abuja the following year and promoted to Deputy News Editor. He was subswuently named Deputy Editor of the paper, a position he held until the recent appointment.
Torough has attended several journalistic workshops and trainings to properly equip himself for the task ahead.
The statement also said the Management named Eze Okechukwu as Deputy Editor.
Before his elevation as Deputy Editor, Eze has been Deputy Politics Editor and DAILY ASSET Newspaper correspondent covering the Senate, having joined the organization in 2021.
Born on March 10, 1975, Eze holds a Masters Degree in Mass Communication from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
Eze began his journalism career with Daily Star, Enugu and later worked with Daily Trust Newspaper, Abuja as sports reporter.
Aside from his journalistic excellence, he has a great deal of passion for sports.
From Ngutor Dekera, Kaduna and Aliyu Askira, Kano
Northern governors and traditional rulers yesterday called for the suspension of mining activities across the region for six months, blaming illegal mining for worsening insecurity in many states.The resolution was contained in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.
The meeting, chaired by the Gombe State Governor and NSGF Chairman, Muhammadu Yahaya, had in attendance the 19 northern governors and chairmen of the 19 states’ traditional councils. The Forum expressed concern over the escalating violence in parts of the North, including the killings and abductions recently recorded in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano states, as well as renewed Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe.“The Forum extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the governments and good people of the affected states,” the communiqué said, noting that the attacks on schoolchildren and other citizens had become “unacceptable tragedies” that required urgent collective action.It commended President Bola Tinubu for what it described as the Federal Government’s “firm response” to recent abductions and insurgency threats, especially the rescue of some abducted pupils.The governors also saluted security agencies for their sacrifices on the frontlines.“We resolved to renew our support for every step taken by the President and Commander-in-Chief to take the fight to insurgents’ enclaves in order to end the criminality,” the Forum stated.A major highlight of the meeting was the North’s renewed push for the establishment of state police, with governors and traditional rulers insisting that decentralised policing had become inevitable.“The Forum reaffirms its wholehearted support and commitment to the establishment of state police,” the communiqué added, urging federal and state lawmakers from the region to “expedite action for its actualisation.”On illegal mining, the governors said criminal mining networks were fuelling violence and providing resources for armed groups.As a corrective measure, they asked Tinubu to direct the Minister of Solid Minerals to impose a six-month suspension of mining activities in order to allow for a full audit and revalidation of licences.“The Forum observed that illegal mining has become a major contributory factor to the security crises in Northern Nigeria. “We strongly recommend a suspension of mining exploration for six months to allow proper audit and to arrest the menace of artisanal illegal mining,” it said.To strengthen the fight against insecurity, the governors also announced the creation of a regional Security Trust Fund.Under the proposed arrangement, each state and its local governments will contribute ₦1bn monthly, to be deducted at source under an agreed framework.They said the fund would help provide sustainable financing for joint operations, intelligence-driven interventions and coordinated security responses across the region.At the end of the meeting, the Forum reaffirmed its commitment to unity and collective responsibility.“Only through unity, peer review and cooperation can we overcome the pressing challenges before us,” it declared.The Forum agreed to reconvene on a date to be announced.Meanwhile, Nigeria’s worsening security crisis took a grim turn on Monday as bandits launched fresh attacks in Kano State, abducting 25 villagers, even as the Federal Government raced to secure the release of more than 300 Catholic school children kidnapped in Niger State.In the early hours of Monday, armed bandits invaded Unguwar Tsamiya—popularly called Dabawa—in Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State, whisking away nine men and two women after shooting into the air and assaulting residents. The attackers also rustled two cows.A resident lamented the community’s helplessness: “We cannot do otherwise; most of us cannot leave because we have nowhere to go. This is our place, our land and everything is here.”The assault came less than 24 hours after a similar attack on Yan Kamaye in Tsanyawa LGA, a community along the volatile Katsina border.In Niger State, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has assured distraught families of St. Mary’s Co-Education School, Kontagora that the more than 300 students and staff abducted on November 21 will return home “soon.” Ribadu, who led a high-level federal delegation to the school on Monday, said the abductees are safe, though he offered no specifics on their location or the status of rescue operations.According to Daniel Atori, spokesman for the Catholic bishop overseeing the school, the NSA reassured officials: “The children are where they are and will come back safely.”The St. Mary’s attack is part of a worrying resurgence of mass kidnappings reminiscent of the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction. Security analysts warn that banditry has evolved into a “structured, profit-seeking industry,” with hundreds of Nigerians abducted in November alone.The Kontagora school abduction occurred the same week 25 girls were kidnapped in Kebbi State—victims who authorities say have since been rescued through “non-kinetic” means. About 50 of the St. Mary’s hostages have also managed to escape.Ribadu’s delegation, which included the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), reaffirmed the government’s commitment to securing the freedom of all abducted citizens.As communities from Kano to Niger continue to bear the brunt of these violent incursions, the escalating spate of kidnappings underscores the urgent national demand for a more decisive and coordinated security response.
By David Torough, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said former Attorney‑General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, will face a team of interrogators at its office daily throughout December.A credible source in the EFCC said on Monday that the daily appearance was part of an ongoing investigation into the whereabouts of an alleged 490 million dollars Abacha loot secured through a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLAT) request.
The source said that Malami, who was summoned for interrogation by the EFCC on Saturday, was barred from leaving Nigeria for the next one month.According to the source, one of the conditions for his release on Saturday was that he should report daily to the EFCC Headquarters in Abuja for further interrogation.The source said Malami would have to appear daily at the anti-graft office due to the volume of the investigation and the seriousness of the charges against him.”We seized his passport, it is the normal routine during investigation, but he has to report at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja every day for the next month.”He will be reporting for further investigation throughout December.”He will be reporting every day, starting from Dec. 1st to Dec. 31st.He will appear before the team of investigators for the entire month of December.”He will be reporting to EFCC for investigation for the period because of the volume of the investigation and the seriousness of the charges against him,” the source added.According to the source, a fact sheet on the former minister revealed that Malami had several issues to clarify with the EFCC within the coming weeks.“We have asked him to explain the whereabouts of the $490 million Abacha loot secured through MLAT.“We didn’t say he stole money, but he should account for the loot. This is one of the issues he will clarify to our investigators.”The commission cited the large volume of documents he must review and the need for extensive interviews as reasons for seizing his passport.The source said EFCC would not engage in a war of words but would release its findings after a thorough investigation.Malami, in a statement by his media aide, Mohammed Doka, on Monday in Abuja, however, described the EFCC investigation as a political witch‑hunt.He confirmed he honored an EFCC invitation on Nov. 28, describing the engagement as fruitful and expressing confidence that the probe would vindicate him.Malami described the EFCC’s allegations as baseless, illogical and devoid of substance, insisting they collapse under factual scrutiny.
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