Metro
Welfare: NLC Assures Workers in Imo
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has assured the workers in Imo that it would not relent in its struggle for their welfare including the 20 months salary arrears owed by the state government.
Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President said this at a news conference on Friday in Abuja.
It would be recalled that the NLC had declared a protest in Imo, led by Ajaero on Nov.
1 over alleged anti- workers policies by the state government .It would also be recalled that Ajaero was allegedly attacked by security agents and hoodlums in the state.
Ajaero said not even his death would stop the struggle for the 20 months non payment of salaries for workers in the state.
According to him,“ not even my death could have stopped the struggle for the payment of those workers salaries.
“If I had died in the process, the people that would take over, would be more daring.
“Any of the deputies here that would take over, would have been more decisive.
“So nobody is backing out, it is a question of allowing justice to prevail and the people you are owing you pay them,”he said.
Ajaero while narrating his ordeals noted that workers who earlier gathered for the protest at the NLC Secretariat in Owerri were beaten and all their phones taken away.
According to him, I arrived there by 9 a.m with about 20 security personnel and was about to address journalists on the situation of things.
“Before, I could even address the journalists, police and other people in mufti came in and withdrew all the security there.
“They arrested me and handed me over to thugs who dragged me on the ground, hit me with all manner of things and tied my eyes. There were about seven of them.
“They started asking me why I was challenging Gov. Hope Uzodimma and that I should say my last prayers and that they were going to throw me into Njaba River.
‘ From there, I did not know how the same people to police headquarters. But I thank God that I am alive today,”he said.
He also noted that Uzodimma had also accused him of playing local politics.
The NLC president said that he not a card carrying member of any political party in Nigeria.
“I do not have any family members or whatever running for election but they are free to run if they are interested.
“‘If I want to run for any office tomorrow I will pick the form of any party.
“As a governor he should be privileged to some classified information to say which political party I belong to,” he said.
Speaking, Mr Emma Ugboaja, NLC General Secretary, reiterated call for an indefinite nationwide from Nov. 13, midnight to compel the Federal Government to do the needful.
“We will not accept the torture, humiliation, brutalisation of a citizen, a citizen that has global status.
“So, from Tuesday, Nov 14, the Nigerian workers will be withdrawing their services.
“Because if the president of NLC and his team were used as the point of contact, hundreds of workers have also been brutalized.
“He is just the figurehead of what transpired.
“As we speak nothing has been done. So, we cannot continue like this as a nation,” he said.
On medical treatment abroad, he said NLC was against medical tourism.
(NAN)
The Catholic Church in Nigeria has welcomed the newly-appointed Apostolic to Nigeria, Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty.
Crotty, an Irish, was appointed by the Vatican.
He will oversee the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the church in Nigeria.
The position, an ambassadorial status, advances cohesion in the body of Christ.
In his welcome message for Crotty on Tuesday, the President of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, said that the Church was glad to receive him.
The CBCN president, who is also the Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, said,” With joy and gratitude to God, I extend a hearty welcome to Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty on behalf of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, clergy, religious and lay faithful in Nigeria.
“We are thankful to His Holiness, Pope Francis, for appointing Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty as the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria to build on the good works of his predecessor, Archbishop Antonio Filipazzi.
“His appointment is a testament to the strong spiritual bond between our countries,” he said.
He said that although Crotty was the first Apostolic Nuncio from Ireland to serve in Nigeria, many Irish missionaries had played significant roles in spreading the gospel in Nigeria.
“We appreciate Archbishop Crotty’s acceptance of serving in Nigeria and assure him of our full support and cooperation.
“We pray for a fruitful mission and a blessed tenure for our excellency,” he added. (NAN)
The National Boundary Commission (NBC), says it has concluded plans to provide infrastructure in flash locations along interstate boundaries to encourage integration and cooperation.
The Director-General of the commission, Mr Adamu Adaji, stated this in an interview in Abuja on Wednesday.
Adaji said that the commission would look at flash point areas and provide infrastructures that would encourage cooperation and integration among border communities.
He said that the goal was to see how the commission could bring people in border communities together to share from a common facility.
This, according to him, will douse tension and bring some kind of understanding among border communities.
“The bounder communities will share the facilities, which in the long run will bring the people together and eventually reduce tension and boundary conflicts.
“This is a way of encouraging integration and cooperation by encouraging people to come together, relate with one another and engage in beneficial commercial activities.”
Adaji said that a similar initiative was test runed with a borehole, constructed boundary corridor in Ado Local Government Area of Benue state, where it shared boundary with Ebonyi.
“We have also been able to construct some market stalls in the Ebonyi sector of the boundary between Ebonyi and Cross River,” he added.
“So, our appeal is for people to appreciate, cooperate and understand that boundaries are not barriers.
“The boundary line will not stop somebody from owning properties across and that is what we want to partner with the states to educate people along by the boundary corridors. (NAN)
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended ten private jet operations over failure to begin recertification process.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Michael Achimugu, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection on Friday in Abuja.
The agency said the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023 Part 18.
3. 4 forbids holders of Permit for Non Commercial Flights (PNCF) from using their aircraft for carriage of passengers, gargo or mail for hire or rewards (commercial operation or charter services)“As a result of flagrant disregard of this rule, the NCAA had earlier directed all holders of PNCF to undergo re-evaluation which should have been concluded by the April 19, 2024.
“To this end, the NCAA has suspended the PNCF
of Azikel Dredging Nigeria Ltd, Bli-Aviation Safety Services, Ferry Aviation Developments Ltd and Matrix Energy Ltd.
” Also Marrietta Management Services Ltd, Worldwide Skypaths Services, Mattini Airline Services Ltd, Aero Lead Ltd, Sky Bird Air Ltd and Ezuma Jets Ltd.
“The public is hereby notified that it is illegal to engage PNCF holders for commercial purposes. The NCAA will not hesitate to initiate enforcement actions against any PNCF holder found guilty of illegal operations,” the agency said.
The agency said that its officials had been deployed to General Aviation Terminals (GAT) and private wings of the airports to monitor activities of the PNCF holders. (NAN)
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