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NLC Rallies Nigerians against 50% Telecom Tariff Hike

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Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rallied Nigerians to reject the 50 percent telecommunication tariff hike approved by the federal government through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

According to NLC, the 50 percent tariff hike approval, “at a time when Nigerian workers and the masses are grappling with unprecedented economic hardship, is a clear assault on their welfare and an abandonment of the people to corporate fat cats.

In a statement titled “50% Telecom tariff hike: Another burden too harsh!” NLC’s President, Joe Ajaero, said: “The NLC expresses its unequivocal condemnation of the Federal Government’s recent approval, through the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, of a 50 percent increase in telecommunication tariffs.

This decision, coming at a time when Nigerian workers and the masses are grappling with unprecedented economic hardship, is a clear assault on their welfare and an abandonment of the people to corporate fat cats.

“Telecommunication services are essential for daily communication, work, and access to information. Yet, an average Nigerian worker already spends approximately 10 percent of their wages on telecom charges. For a worker earning the current minimum wage of N70,000, this means an increase from N7,000 to a staggering N10,500 per month or 15 percent of his salary—a cost that is unsustainable.

“This hike exemplifies the government’s apparent ease in prioritizing corporate profits over citizens’ welfare. It is shocking that the government approved this 50 percent tariff increase for telecom companies within a month, yet took nearly a year to approve the recent minimum wage for workers, despite the rising cost of living and inflation eroding purchasing power.

“This glaring disparity underscores a troubling reality. The government appears more aligned with the interests of wealthy corporations than with the needs of the workers and citizens it is meant to serve.

 “We must ask: When will the government stand for the people it swore to protect? When will the National Assembly rise to its responsibility and hold the executive accountable for policies that blatantly undermine the welfare of the majority? When will the common man heave a sigh of relief in Nigeria?

“We call on the government, the NCC and the National Assembly to stop the implementation of this ill-advised hike to allow a reasonable conversation around the hike. If the dialogue agrees on the need for the hike, then, we can all seek a more humane increase and definitely not this 50 percent hike.

“The NLC calls on all Nigerian workers and masses to reject this unjustifiable tariff hike. We urge citizens to prepare for collective action, including the possibility of a nationwide boycott of telecommunication services, to compel the reversal of this punitive increase. This is a fight for our dignity, our rights, and our survival as a people.

“The Nigeria Labour Congress remains resolute in defending the interests of Nigerian workers and the masses. We will not allow the people to bear the brunt of policies that further entrench poverty and inequality. Together, we will do our best to resist this injustice and demand that the government prioritizes the interests of its citizens over corporate interests.”

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EDEN Alerts NOSDRA, Shell on Oil Spill in Obololi Creek, in Bayelsa

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From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) has drawn the attention of the National Oil Spill Detection and Remediation Agency and Shell to a crude oil spill from a Shell pipeline along OBOLOLI creek in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

This current oil spill occurred on the night of Sunday February 16, breaking Monday, February 17.

It is the very first spill happening on the Community River or Creek, the people’s only source of water for everything.

Obololi community is where pipelines belonging to Oando and Shell traversed. Shell, according to community folks, laid this pipeline since 1973 and has not replaced it since then.

The people of the community said they urgently need drinking water. “Shell should immediately mobilize for JIV and follow up with cleanup, remediation and compensation”.

Meanwhile, following EDEN’s advocacy efforts, the Deputy Executive Director of EDEN, Alagoa Morris will be leading the Southern Ijaw Local Government Chairman and the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Environment to visit the impacted area.

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Man Who Cuts off Wife’s Hand in Enugu to Face Criminal Trial

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From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu

The Enugu State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr.

Kingsley Udeh has revealed that the criminal trial of Sunday Echeji, who cut off the hand of his wife, Chinonso Echeji will start next week.

He added that the trial of the suspected killer of the popular musician, Okezie Mba, popularly known as Igbo Jah, would equally start next week.

Udeh, who disclosed this on Thursday in Enugu while interacting with journalists in his office, said the Ministry of Justice has qualified and competent lawyers to prosecute both cases efficiently.

He noted that the ministry under him is prosecuting many criminal cases, revealing that they treat over one hundred criminal case files every month, which he admitted is on a high side.

The commissioner, however, pointed out that the Peter Mbah-led administration has initiated different strategies to ensure quick dispensation of justice, which include digitalisation of court filing process, virtual trial of cases, and introduction of Witness Support Fund.

“Now His Excellency the governor has approved what we called the Witness Support Fund, money earmarked for calling witnesses, especially in the criminal case.

“It was one of the things that stalled quick dispensation of justice before the current administration.

“You know that criminal prosecution is done by the state. You know that the government is not the victim or complainant in the case, and we call witnesses.

“Before now, no money was assigned to the prosecutor for calling witnesses. You may be asking if the witnesses are paid to come to the court. We don’t pay them, but we provide them with logistics.

“So if you are calling a Pathologist to come and give an expert evidence as an expert witness, they wouldn’t come until you give them money not to pay them but their logistics,” the Attorney-General said.

He informed the journalists that the state government is using every legal instrument at its disposal to decongest the correctional centres in the state, including granting of State Pardon to deserving inmates.

Udeh announced that the Supreme Court has granted Enugu State full ownership of the Hotel Presidential, which, according to him, ended all litigations previously hindering the government from doing the needful.

“Criminals were using Hotel Presidential as a hideout because it was a massive structure, no security there, so criminals were having a field day there.

“The court ordered us to go there and the place in order and pursue criminals out because it has become a security threat. So we did that and started putting things in order.

“And then we started pursuing with speed knowing that there is a limit we can go because of litigation against the state. So, we started pursuing the case, which was at the Supreme Court,” he added.

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Alia Aide Media, Iorpev Confers with excellence Award

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From Attah Ede, Makurdi

The Technical Adviser to the Benue state governor on media, publicity and strategic communication, Solomon Iorpev was on Thursday bestowed with an award of Excellence from Unified Zone C Media Team (UNZOMET)

The Coordinator of the team, Oche Hyacinth presented the award to Iopev during a solidarity visit to his office at government house Makurdi.

He said the award was in recognition of his outstanding performance and high level of professionalism exhibited in managing the governor’s Media sector.

The team described the appointment of Iorpev by Governor Alia as a round peg in a round hole and promised their total support and loyalty to the Alia administration.

In his reaction to the gesture, Iorpev thanked the team for the honor and promised to carry them along in all his media activities especially in Zone C.

He further charged them to continue with the good work of promoting and propagating the good works of the governor and always speaks out against enemies of the state bent on destabilizing the government of Hyacinth Alia for their selfish gains.

Unified Zone C Media Team (UNZOMET) is a well-organized group of young media activists with membership drawn across the nine local government areas of the Benue South-West Senatorial district who are committed to promoting and propagating the good works of the governor in the Zone and even beyond.

The adviser had earlier received in his office another strong political group from Zone A known as Jechera Connect for Alia 2025 led by Hon. Ngorgor Iorhenja who were in his office to present to him a letter of appointment as one the Patrons of the group.

Ngorgor, who was in company of other prominent politicians in Jechira/members of the group including Basil Gagaor , Donald Yande and others said, the group is a very strong movement  made up of political heavyweights from Jechira who have joined forces together to massively mobilize support for the reelection of  their own son, his excellency the governor of Benue state, Hyacinth Alia who has so far performed excellently in less than two years in office and vowed to tackle anyone out to distract him.

The Director New Media, office of the TA, Awarga Fred Ter in statement quoted Chief Iorpev as thanking the group for finding him worthy to be one of their patrons and promised to give them all the needed support to stand by their own brother who has found favour in him to serve in such a strategic position in his government.

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