The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) that had been on a nationwide strike from midnight on November 14, to protest the brutalisation of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in Imo State on 1 November, are to consult with members after meeting Wednesday with Federal Government delegation at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Abuja.   The union had vowed to continue with the strike until “government at all levels wake up to their responsibilities”.   Those at the meeting were Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, Minister of State Nkeiruka Onyeajeocha and NSA Nuhu Ribadu, President of the TUC, Festus Usifo and NLC Secretary General, Emmanuel Ugboaja and other Labour leaders.   Asked the outcome of the meeting with the Labour leaders, Lalong explained that the meeting which was a result of what happened in Imo State, held at the office of the NSA because of heavy security considerations.   He said: “The meeting was in respect of the incident that happened in Imo and the meeting came under very heavy security considerations, that’s why we brought the meeting to the office of the National Security Adviser.   “All the Labour leaders were also here with us, we had a very fruitful discussion, which were very genuine and very frank, which they have agreed to take back home to their constituents, with a plea to lift the strike so that we can continue with our deliberations.”   On if commitments have been obtained from the Labour leaders, he said: “It’s an ongoing discussion.”   Asked how soon will the strike be called off, he said: “That’s left for the Labour to decide, but from the discussions, we don’t expect the strike to last long again.”   Also speaking to journalists at the venue of the meeting, Usifo described the discussions as robust and assurances were given.   He said: “We just came for a meeting the NSA invited us for and as you can see, the two ministers from the Ministry of Labour and Employment also participated.   “So we had some robust conversations where a lot of assurances were given, in furtherance to the release that was done this morning by the NSA that some people have been apprehended and that they will coordinate the investigation.   “We also told him our part of the story and all, but at the end of the day, they made several appeals to us and several promises on what they are going to do and the ones that they have already done.   “So we said we’ll go back to reappraise the conversations that we have had and we’ll communicate accordingly.”   On when the strike will be called off, Usifo said: “The strike was caused by something, it’s a symptom of a problem and it’s problem that we came here now to have a conversations on and with all the assurances that they have given us, with the office of the NSA promising to coordinate everything, so every discussion we have had here, I mean if you can see us, how many of us are here? We need to take it (the discussions) back, we’ll look at it, we’ll examine it and take a decision.”

  The entire Southeast States were in loss of power supply after the Labour unions shut down transmission stations on Wednesday. In a statement by Emeka Ezeh, Head of Corporate Communications, EEDC, he said the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) wished to inform her esteemed customers that the loss of supply currently experienced in some parts of the South East is as a result of the ongoing nationwide strike by the organised labour. The statement reads in part, “earlier today, the taskforce team of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) visited the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) stations, forced workers out, including our interface Distribution Substation Officers (DSO) and shutdown the stations. “This action resulted in loss of supply from the New Haven, Abakaliki, Ugwuaji, Oji River, Agu Awka, Nibo, Ohiya, and Awada TCN stations. “Consequently, the entire Enugu, Ebonyi, and Anambra State and Umuahia District in Abia State are without electricity supply. “Currently, Nru TCN Station, Nsukka, fed from Otukpo axis is the only station still with electricity supply in our entire network. “It will be recalled that our customers in Imo State have been without electricity supply since 1st November, 2023, following a faceoff between the Labour Union and the Imo State government which led to the shutdown of Egbu TCN Station, our source of supply. “We are aware of the inconveniences this development has caused our customers and plead for their understanding, as the situation is beyond us. “We are hopeful that the issue will be resolved soon so we can restore supply to our esteemed customers.

  Residents in Imo State have continued to cope with the unbearable pains and challenges over the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC imposed strike which reached 14th day on Wednesday. Recall on November 1 2023, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC began an indefinite strike with a total blackout in the State, after the Union’s president, Joe Ajaero was assaulted by police and thugs in Owerri. Due to lingered blackout in the State, residents scuffle to get water, this is as price of Petrol Motor Spirit (PMS) skyrockets to N700 per liter. The continued strike crippled businesses, hotels, markets, and the entire economic activities in the state. On the 8 November, the face off between the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Imo State Government under the leadership of governor Hope Uzodinma took a new dimension after the trade unions in the aviation sector directed the withdrawal of all flights to the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Imo State. As a result, there have been no flights going out or landing at the airport. The airport road from Aba road through Umuowa to Umuohiagu which used to be very busy is now a shadow of itself. Complying to the nationwide strike which began on Monday as a result of the feud between the NLC and Imo government, public schools closed down on Tuesday morning and asked students to go home. Our correspondent observed that some tertiary institutions in the state also joined the strike in line with the directive by the Academic Staff Union of University, (ASUU). Our correspondent gathered that the Federal Secretariat in Imo was under lock and key. On Wednesday morning, some commercial banks and filling stations were completely shut down as buyers could not have access to the fuel product. *We have arrested Ajaero’s attackers, says NSA* National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, on Wednesday apologised to the organised labour over the attack on President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, in Owerri, Imo State capital, on November 1. In a statement signed by the Head of Strategic Communications in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari U Mijinyawa, on Wednesday, Ribadu urged the movement to rescind its decisions on the ongoing strike , adding that attackers of Ajaero have been arrested and investigations had commenced. Ribadu said the federal government regrets the incident that happened in Imo and condemns it in its entirety, noting that it was against the rule of law and the principles of freedom of association and expression subscribed to by President Tinubu and his administration. The statement read, “The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) is concerned by the declaration of a nationwide strike by the leadership of the Organised Labour led by the NLC and TUC. “The NSA is particularly worried about the implications of the strike action on the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians and its potential impact on economic security and other strategic national interests.   “As attested by the NLC leadership, the NSA immediately intervened on learning about the travails of the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joseph Ajero who was assaulted in Owerri, Imo State. “The NSA regrets the incident and condemns it in its entirety as it was against the rule of law and the principles of freedom of association and expression subscribed to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration. “The Federal Government will never condone such an act. “As a fallout of the incident relevant authorities were directed to conduct thorough investigation into the circumstances sorrounding the assault and bring to book the culprits. Available update indicates that some arrests have already been made in this regard. The outcome of the investigation will be made public as soon as it is concluded. “The Federal Government, through the Office of the NSA, therefore, appeals to the labour leadership to call off the current strike action and allow the dialogue process underway to be exhausted.”

  Nigerian Medical Student, Ikem Allegedly Killed By Chinese In Philippines The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has informed the Senate Joint Committees on Diaspora and Inter-Governmental Affairs and Foreign Affairs that the employer of Ikem, a Nigerian student beaten to death in the Philippines, has been charged with murder, along with five others. Dabiri-Erewa made this known at the investigative hearing of the Joint Senate Committees presided over in Abuja on Monday by Sen. Victor Umeh. Dabiri-Erewa, in a statement signed by the NiDCOM Spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, on Tuesday stated that the Philippines authorities have declared the employer who has since been on the run, wanted. The NiDCOM boss noted that the Nigeria Embassy had informed the Department of Foreign Affairs in the Philippines and also reported the case to the Inspector General of the Philippines National Police. She stated that the police team on the case is done with evidence building and presented the case to the Mandaue city prosecuting Department for action; who has evaluated it and deemed it fit for murder case filing. “They have filed the case and issued a warrant of arrest to the boy’s employee and five other suspects; they are charged for murder, human trafficking and operation of illegal business in the Philippines,” she said. Dabiri-Erewa who gave the committee, a copy of the pictures of the suspects, said the pictures had been forwarded to all exits in the Philippines to prevent them from leaving the country. She stressed that the case would be held as soon as the major suspect, still at large, is arrested. On Nigerians in Ethiopian prisons, she said the official information received is that 160 Nigerians were serving various jail terms under very poor conditions and that over 90 per cent of them were for drug-related offences. She told the Committees that to decongest the prisons, amnesty was granted to them but the majority of them went back and still committed the same crime. The Director Consular in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Enya Francis said they are in close contact with the Embassy and are on top of the situation. Francis said the corpse was yet to be buried as it would cost between N31 million to N35 million to repatriate and bury the corpse in Nigeria as against N10 million to N15 million to cremate it in the Philippines. He noted that the cost of keeping the corpse at the funeral home is accruing N30,000 daily, hence the need to expedite action on the investigation and take appropriate action. Speaking on behalf of the family of the deceased, Ikem’s elder sister, Blessing Essien stated that he was the only son of the family and in line with Igbo tradition, it would be an honour to bring the body back to Nigeria for burial. She therefore appealed to the Federal Government through the Senate Committees to assist the family in repatriating the body back to Nigeria for a befitting burial.

  National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, on Wednesday apologised to the organised labour over the attack on President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, in Owerri, Imo State capital, on November 1. Ajaero, who stormed Owerri to lead a protest, was severely beaten and detained for hours. Consequently, the labour gave government an ultimatum to meet some demands, including arresting those behind the attack on Ajaero, threatening to begin nationwide strike if the demands were not met. The Federal Government had gone to court to restrain labour, but the strike commenced on Monday, paralysing activities across the nation. In a statement signed by the Head of Strategic Communications in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari U Mijinyawa, on Wednesday, Ribadu urged the movement to rescind its decisions on the ongoing strike , adding that attackers of Ajaero have been arrested and investigations had commenced. Ribadu said the federal government regrets the incident that happened in Imo and condemns it in its entirety, noting that it was against the rule of law and the principles of freedom of association and expression subscribed to by President Tinubu and his administration. The statement read, “The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) is concerned by the declaration of a nationwide strike by the leadership of the Organised Labour led by the NLC and TUC. “The NSA is particularly worried about the implications of the strike action on the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians and its potential impact on economic security and other strategic national interests.   “As attested by the NLC leadership, the NSA immediately intervened on learning about the travails of the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joseph Ajero who was assaulted in Owerri, Imo State. “The NSA regrets the incident and condemns it in its entirety as it was against the rule of law and the principles of freedom of association and expression subscribed to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration. “The Federal Government will never condone such an act. “As a fallout of the incident relevant authorities were directed to conduct thorough investigation into the circumstances sorrounding the assault and bring to book the culprits. Available update indicates that some arrests have already been made in this regard. The outcome of the investigation will be made public as soon as it is concluded.   “The Federal Government, through the Office of the NSA, therefore, appeals to the labour leadership to call off the current strike action and allow the dialogue process underway to be exhausted.”

  Wednesday 15 November 2023 Ajaero’s alleged assault: FG knocks Labour, strike records partial compliance Sacked agencies members sue Adeleke, demand N2bn Atiku Calls For Merger Of Opposition Parties To Challenge APC 62 Passengers Escape Death As Aircraft Skids Off Runway In Rivers Bayelsa Poll: INEC Conducted One Of The Best Elections Ever, Says Gov Diri I Inherited Serious Liabilities But Also Assets – Tinubu INEC Debunks Claims Of Tampering With Kogi Poll Results On IReV Senate Threatens To Complete Privatisation Of NIPOST ‘N109bn fraud’: Court revokes bail of former accountant-general’s co-defendant One year after takeover of DisCos, darkness, liquidity crisis persist Vote-buying bazaar at Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi polling Military airstrikes kill terrorists, destroy four gun trucks. NAF destroys six illegal refining sites, boats Blue Economy to net $20b yearly, says Oyetola Nigeria, others get $50b IDB support Stock market to lose N224.2b to Union Bank’s delisting Oando, gets $800m for NAOC acquisition Aviation unions shun NLC’s nationwide strike National grid intact, supplying bulk electricity to DisCos — TCN Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the opposition parties in the country to come together in a merger to enable them to successfully challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He made the call in Abuja on Tuesday when he hosted the national executive committee of the Inter-Party Advisory Council Nigeria (IPAC) led by its national president, Yabagi Sani. “We have all seen how the APC is increasingly turning Nigeria into a dictatorship of one party. If we don’t come together to challenge what the ruling party is trying to create, our democracy will suffer for it, and the consequences of it will affect the generations yet unborn,” he said. The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election also cautioned against the likelihood of Nigeria slipping to becoming a one-party state. He said that “the project of protecting democracy in our country is not about just one man. You have come here today to say that we should cooperate in order to promote democracy. “But the truth of the matter is that our democracy is fast becoming a one-party system; and, of course, you know that when we have a one party system, we should just forget about democracy.” According to a statement by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, the former vice president further tasked the leadership of IPAC on the need for the opposition political parties to come together and create a more formidable front that will salvage Nigeria’s democracy from sliding into a one-party state. He further chided the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting the worst ever general election in the country, saying: “The Independent National Electoral Commission conducted the worst general election in the country. “Recently again in the off-season election in three states, INEC doubled down on its disregard for the tenets of our democracy. “We all can see how INEC declared a result in Kogi State where the total number of votes cast is higher than the total number of accredited voters in one local government. “We cannot have a healthy democracy in an environment where all INEC does is to deliver the ruling party at all costs. “That is also why I will urge you all, to appeal to lawmakers of the various opposition parties in the National Assembly to sponsor legislation that will advance the course of the constitutional and electoral reforms agenda that I shared in my recent press conference. The issue of electronic voting must be the urgent priority of the National Assembly because countries that are far less advanced as Nigeria are already doing it. “Until our elections pass the test of transparency through electronic voting, it will be difficult for INEC to regain its credibility, and our democracy will be the first casualty of such a situation.” In his remark, Yabagi Sani said on behalf of other members of IPAC on the delegation that the group had chosen to come and pay a courtesy visit to Atiku because the former Vice President is a true democrat and a political leader who treads the path of detribalization and politics without violence. The IPAC President observed that notwithstanding the glaring shortcomings associated with our elections, democracy remains the best form of government. Noting that the former Vice President is the “issue of the democracy in Nigeria,” Yabagi said that as far as he was concerned, “the journey has just begun for Atiku”, assuring that they will be available at any time that he needs them as a group.

  A ValueJet CRJ 900 Bombardier aircraft unexpectedly skidded off the runway at Port-Harcourt International Airport, sending passengers into a brief panic and confusion. The airplane overshot the runway upon landing at 15:32 hours with 62 passengers and five members of the flight crew. The passengers were confused by the unexpected incident but the aircraft with registration 5N-BXR safely landed despite the worrisome scenario. Managing Director of ValueJet, Capt. Dapo Majekodunmi clarified that Captain Stanley Balami reported the slip was caused by algae on the taxiway, stopping the aircraft from maintaining the centerline. Majekodunmi assured the public that ValueJet is committed to safety and that there have been no interruptions to the airline’s operations.