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FCT teachers drove students away from classrooms, embark on indefinite strike

Teachers in the Federal Capital Territory FCT drove students away from classrooms as schools reopen Monday, October 12,, 2020 after a 7-month COVID-19 pendermi.
The anger of the teachers under the aegis of the FCT Council of the Nigeria Union of Teachers NUT claimed that the Area Council Chairmen in the territory have refused to implement the national minimum wage as well as payment of arrears.
Student are seen returning to their houses as early as 8a.m. on Monday while students of the junior secondary school were allowed in, as Secondary school teachers had earlier been paid by the FCT Administration.
Earlier in September, Chairman of the Union, Comrade Stephen Knabayi had directed members not to resume work whenever schools were reopened.
He said while the Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA has commenced the payment of the new minimum wage, the six Area Councils in the territory who are saddled with the payment of primary school teachers have refused to budge.
When contacted on Monday, Knabayi said the strike is indefinite, since there is no serious commitment from the councils to implement the national minimum wage.
“The demand has to do with the payment of minimum wage for primary school teachers in the FCT. There are other things, but we are not joining issues. For a period of 18 months now we have been agitating for this payment and there has not been any serious commitment on the part of government, that is, the Area Councils. We have had several meetings but they keep reneging on agreements and we have not seen any serious commitment on the part of key players.
“That is just the issue on ground. The secondary school teachers had been paid some months ago by the FCT minister. This one is actually the responsibility of the Area Councils to pay the arrears and implement the minimum wage. The strike is an indefinite one. They have tried calling for dialogue to resolve but we have not seen anything concrete to take home to our members and so we decided to embark on strike with effect from today”, he explained.
In a letter dated October 7, the union had notified the FCT minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello of its decision to embark on strike.
The letter which was signed by the acting State Secretary, Comrade Margaret Jethro reads; “The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) FCT Wing wishes to inform you that following the non-implementation and payment of Arrears of the New National Minimum Wage to the Primary School teachers in FCT and consequent upon the series of correspondences including a- seven day ultimatum issued to your administration to pay the New Wage, but the ultimatum expired on the 31st of August 2020, without the desired result;
“Consequently, the State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) of the Union at her emergency meeting of 3rd September 2020 resolved that except the new wage is paid to FCT Primary School teachers, that the affected teachers would not return to the classrooms after the easing out of the Covid-19 lockdown.
“In the light of the above, the Union hereby writes to notify your office of the commencement of an indefinite strike action by all Primary School Teachers in FCT from Monday, 12th October 2020 till such a time the new wage is implemented and arrears paid accordingly”.
The union in the notice of industrial action listed several steps it had taken before deciding to embark on strike.
Part of the notice reads; “The Union wrote several letters and held several meetings with the Area Councils Chairmen and other stakeholders on the need to pay the New Wage to the affected teachers. It is worthy of note that at one of the stakeholders meetings, it was agreed that by the end of the month of March, 2020 that the new wage would be implemented and Arrears paid but that has not materialize till date.
“Apart from the aforementioned, the Union further took the following steps to press home its demands:
“Held an emergency State Wing Standing Committee (SWSC) meeting on 8 June, 2020 and issued a communiqué indicating that the LEA Primary Schools teachers in FCT would not return to the classrooms after easing out of the Covid – 19 lockdown except the new wage is implemented and Arrears paid.
“Held an emergency State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) meeting on 25 August and issued a-7 day ultimatum from 25 – 31 August 2020 to the Hon. Minister of FCT.
“Held another emergency SWEC meeting on the 3 of September 2020 and resolved that except the new wage is paid that an indefinite strike action would be embarked upon by the Primary schools teachers on resumption of schools Consequent upon the above and having exhausted all the available industrial means without achieving the desired result, the Union hereby directs all Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School teachers in FCT to proceed on an indefinite strike action from Monday 12th October, 2020.
“All Primary Schools teachers in FCT are hereby advised to stay away from the classrooms and await further directives from the Union”.
The FCTA had on October 8 slated the reopening of schools in the territory for Monday, October 12, announcing the cancellation of Third Term and equally warning private schools against demanding fees for the cancelled term.
FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello who gave the directive at a stakeholders meeting in Abuja however added that all boarding schools would be reopened a day earlier.
Following the enactment of the new National Minimum Wage Act 2019 (as amended) and consequent upon the Presidential approval for the implementation for employees in the Federal Public Service with effect from 18 April 2019, the Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA in January 2020 commenced the implementation and paid arrears of the new wage to FCT workers including teachers in Junior and Senior Secondary schools. Area Council Chairmen however refused to implement the new wage.
Patoma Admin by — October 12, 2020 in Education 0
IGP dissolves FSARS nation wide

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has announced the disbandment of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force nation wide

He said the operatives will be redeployed to other police formations and commands.

Adamu announced this in a live broadcast on Sunday afternoon.

The announcement came after days of online and offline protests against the brutality and extra-judicial killings by SARS operatives nationwide.

At the briefing, the IGP said, “The Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force otherwise known as SARS is hereby dissolved in all the 36 State Police Commands and the Federal Capital Territory.”

The briefing was immediately followed by a statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba. The statement titled, ‘IGP Dissolves The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS)’, partly read, “The IGP, while noting that the dissolution of SARS is in response to the yearnings of the Nigerian people, observes that by this dissolution, all officers and men of the now-defunct Special Anti-robbery Squad are being redeployed with immediate efeffect.

The IGP notes that the Force is not oblivious of the ever-present need to incombat armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes in the country which was before now the core mandate of the erstwhile Squad.”

Patoma Admin by — October 12, 2020 in Metro 0
Woman, daughter, househelp died in Kubwa

By Favour Nnabugwu

Mrs. Dorothy Igwe

Her shop, Ellegant Dora opening for 10th October

A woman by name, Mrs Dorothy Igwe, a staff of the National Identity Management Commission, was found dear in her shop, Ellegant Dora with her 10 year-old daughter and her househelp yesterday morning.
Dorothy Igwe who is also a caterer was found dead alongside her 10 year old daughter and maid inside her shop on Friday morning near Golden Good Shepherd School in Kubwa, Abuja hours to the grand opening of her pastty shop.
PatomaBusinessOnline.com findings from neighbours said she newly rented the shop and was putting finishing touchy to the shop for the opening slated for Saturday, October 10, 2020 but they said the on Thursday night they held the sound of her Generator on which meant people were inside the shop thatThursday night.
The neighbour who preferred anonymity said surprisingly, when they were going to work on Friday morning her car was still parked where she left it the night before.
Continuing, they said when they saw the car still parked on Friday morning they were wondering what was going on because they had not known her personally because she was new.
Another man said she just marked her daughter 10th birthday and she is supposed to open her store today but sadly she was found dead with her daughter and maid in her shop yesterday.
Police, according to PatomaBusinessOnline.com, is still investigating the cause of their death as at press time
Patoma Admin by — October 10, 2020 in Human Angle 0
Insurance, pension, other financial operators for NAIPCO confab on Nov 4

By Favour Nnabugwu

Insurance, pension and other financial experts are set to build their investment portfolios to maximise profit.
The operators are going to the deliberate the 2020 annual Conference of the National Association of Insurance and Pension Correspondents (NAIPCO), is billed for November 4, 2020 in Lagos

While the theme for the conference is: “Promoting Bankable Investments Portfolio for Insurance and Pension Sectors,”  the Chairman of the occasion is the Chairman, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Mr. Austin Enajemo-Isire while the Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr. Muda Yusuf, is the Keynote Speaker, even as the Chairman, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi will be the Special Guest of Honour and Chief Launcher of the new NAIPCO website.

The Commissioner for Insurance/CEO, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr. Sunday Thomas and the Acting Director General, National Pension Commission (PenCom), Mrs. Aisha Dahir-Umar, have confirmed their attendance for the conference.

Similarly, the Chairman, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Mr Ganiyu Musa; the CEO, Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp), Mr. Agudah Oguche, among others, will also be present at the occasion to deliberate on ways  operators can invest in the businesses of the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria(OPSN) and still maximise profit.

Speaking on the preparation for the event, the President, NAIPCO, Mr. Chuks Udo Okonta, said, as a critical stakeholder, it is the desire of NAIPCO that companies in both the insurance and pension sectors build up investment portfolios that will translate to huge returns on investments for shareholders and contributors of the contributory pension scheme.

He said the organised private sector has consistently lamented of low funding for manufacturers as the investment community have accused OPSN of lack of bankable investment projects in which pension and insurance companies can invest in, despite the two sectors having in excess of N11 trillion funds that could be invested in the economy.

For the insurance sector, he stressed that the theme of the conference is apt based on the argument that the sector is destroying value due to the consistent low returns on investment to shareholders.

For the pension sector, he stated that, the theme is also apt as PFAs have limited investment outlets with the ban on investment in treasury bills by the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) as well as, the current low yield on bonds, the mainstay investment instrument of the pension industry

Accordingly, he pointed out that the experts will lay bare all available bankable investment outlets for the operators to reap maximum benefits for their shareholders and customers’ benefits.

Moreover, he said, a new NAIPCO website will be unveiled at the conference, while there will be awards for individuals or organisations that have contributed immensely to the growth and development of either the insurance or pension sectors.

Patoma Admin by — October 10, 2020 in Insurance 0
MD NRC’s reappointment: Okhiria promises to work more harder

By Favour Nnabugwu

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Coperation (NRC), Engr. Fidet Okhiria promised to ensure that the mandate given  him to serve is well delivered, following his reappointment as the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation.
Okhiria who visited the Idu rail Station President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Transport Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi for the opportunity that was given him to serve his Country under the platform of the Nigeria Railway Co-operation.
‘Expressing his appreciation, he said, “‘I thank God and also the government for there support over the years. I am trying to do more than I have been doing before and I cant afford to throw away the mandate that was given to me by the President and the Minister.I will multiply what ever I have been doing before to ensure I leave a good legacy” .
He was particularly displeased non-adherence to social distancing while he frowned at the nonchalant attitude of some  staffs and security operatives on ground
Staffs require orientation and I dont want to say discipline because discipline is either positive or negative.. we will try and plan to see how we can make it better both on our staff side and customer side, because there is no limit to which the staff can press”
“As a person, l try to adhere to social distancing in order to save my life , that is why I was talking to the traveller because he didn’t adhere to social distancing. when  leave here i am going to to call my staff to know why the travelers are not adhering to social distancing .
“Its so disheartning that even with the presence of security operatives around , social distancing is still not enforced. we don’t expect the the directors to enforce social distancing , if not staff will suffer .we are going to ensure those managing them do their job”.
Okhiria also addressed the issue of E-ticketing, the Railway boss assured Nigerians especially users of the Idu train station that plans are on ground to work out the necessary modalities to ensure the E-ticketing becomes operational as soon as possible.
”The E-ticketing installation has commenced, with the last meeting that was held. by the end of the month , the first stage of people been able to buy ticket online will start, while we await the physical infastructure that is going to be put in place . we are working hard and also pressing and we think by month end we should be able to launch the E-ticketing platform and it will be functional”
‘According to him, ‘The programm of the train station is based on seven return trips, making it 14 a day, seven up and seven down. we are not doing the four trips except for wedenesday when we leave for maintenace. Couches have arrived, the diesel multiple units are heavier than about 150 ton and require special vehicle to move them”.
We have succeded in in moving the Locomotive to Abuja and we have also moved two two to Agbor and we hope by this weekend the two motorcave for the DMU’s will start their journey and it will take two weeks to get here. By November everything will be in place and seven return trips making 24 trips a day”.
Continuinng he stated, “Train scheduling is not an easy task, because if you dont do it well it can lead to accident. We dont want to interfere with the time table, Nigerians should be patient with us, before the first week of November we will get there .
Patoma Admin by — October 8, 2020 in News 0
FG announces total closure of 3rd Mainland bridge

By Favour Nnabugwu

The Federal Government has announced a total shutdown of Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos for three days from midnight on Friday to midnight on Sunday to carry out special repair works on the 11.8km platform.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Olukayode Popoola, said in a statement that the construction had reached a stage where there should not be any form of movement or vibration on the bridge for concrete casting, hence the closure.

“The first total closure of the section of the bridge between Adekunle and Adeniji Adele will be from midnight of Friday, 9th October, 2020 to midnight of Sunday, 11th October 2020 to allow the contractor complete the first stage of casting works.

“The contractor, Messrs Borini Prono & Co. (Nig.) Ltd, is nearing completion of works on the closed section of Third Mainland Bridge and requires the total closure of both bounds of the bridge between Adeniji Adele and Adekunle (i.e. in addition to the closed bound of the bridge, the other bound from Adekunle to Adeniji Adele will also be closed) to complete work.

“Due to the number of expansion joints to be cast on the closed section of the bridge and the traffic situation in Lagos State, especially during the week days; the casting of the expansion joints will be in two stages to ensure that the total closure is only at the weekends, when there is less traffic plying the route,’ ’he said.

The controller said that adequate traffic management officials would be deployed to man all the alternative routes to help with traffic flow and expressed regret at any inconvenience the closure might cause.

Popoola added that the second total closure of the section of the bridge between Adekunle and Adeniji Adele would be communicated at a later date.

“The section of the bridge between Adekunle and Iyana – Oworo will still remain open, and traffic can move from Ebute-Metta/ Adekunle to Iyana – Oworo and vice – versa,’’he said.Recall that the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, which was going through series of repairs, was partially shut on July 24 for another round of rehabilitation works.

The repair is expected to last for six months with the construction divided into two phases of three months on each carriageway, starting with the Oworonsoki bound carriageway.

Patoma Admin by — October 7, 2020 in News 0
UAE begins visa issuance October 8

By Favour Nnabugwu

The federal government has disclosed that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will begin the issuance of visa to intending travellers from Nigeria as from Thursday, October 8.

Hadi Sirika, the minister of aviation who made the disclosure in a tweet on Tuesday, October 6, also spoke about some of the requirements needed to secure the visa

Sirika had announced on September 30 that the UAE had written to state that they agree to issue visas to Nigerians, a development that made the Federal Government lift the ban it had earlier placed on Emirates Airlines.

Patoma Admin by — October 7, 2020 in Aviation 0
Anambra State Governor laments stranded equipment for 2nd Niger Bridge in Germany

By Favour Nnabugwu

GOVERNOR Willie Obiano of Anambra State yesterday begged President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene the 2nd bridge equipment purchased for the ongoing work which are still in Germany to be brought to Nigeria for the speedy completion of the project on record time.
Governor Obiano told President Buhari that the construction work at the Onitsha-Enugu federal highway has slowed down to almost zero level.
 Speaking with State House correspondents after meeting behind closed-door with the President, Governor Obiano, who is the only governor on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, said that he sought the assistance of the federal government for the settlement of about 5,000 displaced people from his state.
 On the reason for the visit, he said, “I come once in awhile to brief Mr. President on the developments we are having in Anambra state and we do have a lot of beautiful developments. We also have some that bothered me to come right now, which is the flood.
 “Four of my local governments, that is four out of 21 are under water now as we speak because of this flood and it affected a lot of things, properties which include farm produce and what have you. So, I called on Mr. President to assist us at this very crucial time being a COVID-19 time and now, the flood we are experiencing this time around is like the one of 2012 which is terrible. So, he promised to do something immediately.
 “I did also apprise him on the progress so far made on the 2nd Niger Bridge. If you watch from their side, you will see that almost half of that bridge has been done. But because the water level is very high, the contractor working in that bridge requires some equipment which they’ve already purchased long ago sitting in Germany and requires some support from Central Bank to be able to bring in. I did mention that to him and the President noted that and said he will do something about that.
 “The other point was on the Federal University of Education in Aguleri. Anambra North Senatorial District does not have any federal institution at all. Other two senatorial districts have two or three federal institutions. The place is part of the area I just told you that is flooded – Anambra West, Anambra East, the whole of Anambra West is under water now, half of Anambra East is under Water, Ogbaru area is under water.
 “All these are majorly Anambra North. So, the Senate graciously approved and wrote to Mr. President to assent to the bill that they passed. This letter was written 19th September 2019.  So, Mr. President has agreed to quickly acquiesce to that so that this institution can move on.
 “On my own, I’ve paid compensation to the land owners and I’ve started the fencing of the massive property. And I am doing the gatehouse of the institution. All I require is Mr. President’s support by acquiescing to the recommendations of the Clerk of the National Assembly on 19th September 2019.
 “We did discuss some other roads, federal roads that are in very bad shape, about six of them and I requested Mr. President to see if they can go into their budget as they prepare for the budget of next year, to see whether those roads can go into their budget.
 “I did also talk to him that work has slowed down almost to zero on the Onitsha-Enugu expressway. I understand there are little issues, I don’t know what it is but he also promised to look into that.
 “Mr. President is doing well in Anambra. You know he built the Zik Masoleum that took 23 years to build, the road he’s working on, the Onitsha-Enugu expressway, he finished that road as PTF chairman and he came back as President to come and fix that road again. So, that’s an important thing to remember that he did it before and he is the fellow doing it again.”
 On the extent of damage in the four local government areas affected by flood, he said, “We have over 5000 people displaced and we already prepared some receptacles where we received the displaced people. But they need help when the water is receding because they lost their property which majorly includes their produce which they harvested before this flood crept in.
 “I believe Mr. President will be able to assist us to be able to support these families that have been displaced in this manner.”
 On the level of damage by flood and how much he would be looking for from the President, he said, “Well, Mr. President will give me the money and how much is it? I can’t tell you off the cuff but if they give N300 billion, I will like it.
 “You know normally, when you make this kind of presentation, the President will now send NEMA to come and see for themselves what has happened. So, NEMA will work with your team and they will be able to ascertain what the volume is and from there, Mr. President will see whether they can take in all of them or part of it as the case may be. So, I believe that process will go that way.”
Patoma Admin by — October 6, 2020 in News 0
NAICOM turns insurance industry to digital compliance

By Favour Nnabugwu

National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) is resolute about turning the country’s insurance sector into practical entity through information technology to drive the process.
The portal, which Commission put in six years to finalised under the Commissioner for Insurance (CFI), Mr. Sunday Thomas’s watch, revealed at the 2020 seminar organised for insurance journalists in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state pointed out that the  management was able  to stabilise the commission through the cooperation of staff.
He said the new portal was such that wherever anybody is in the world, information on the nation’s insurance sector would be available to him at the click of a button.
“We will be looking at the digital world. Part of what we have done so far is the fact that our portal that was on the drawing board for over six years has been fixed. It is taking us from where we are to the next level.
The CFI said, “We have sensitised the technical people in the industry and they have been going through series of trainings.
“The next thing we are going to do is to engage the industry with IT guidelines. It is no longer going to be historical reporting.”
Thomas noted that  commission would continue to enhance the  confidence President Muhammadu Buhari reposed in the insurance sector while he assured that Nigerians would not be disappointed in the industry.
According to him, “It is not by coincidence that we are having this conference today that we are marking 60th anniversary as a nation.
He reassured, “We want to be seen the way we are so we know where to make amends. NAICOM is an agency of the Federal Government  and has the responsibility to make some impact on the economy. We will  continue to relish the president’s appreciation of the industry.”
Acknowledging that the investment climate was tough, he said, the commission was determined to make a difference as there will be no hindrance to information dissemination.
He insisted that he is not a CFI that waits in the and expect things to fall into places,  based on the position, the Commission visited the Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Kayode Fayemi, to prevail on his colleague governors  to assist in driving the compulsory insurance policy.
Without mincing words, he said that the investment climate was too friendly, inspire of that he said that the commission was determined to make a difference as there will be no hindrance to information dissemination.
“The terrain is tough but we are determined to succeed. Nigeria is not by accident the largest economy in Africa. We must take advantage of the population. There are a lot of things to fast track the process. The digital world will drive regulation,” he posited.
“If there is a need for change let us know and if there is a need for me to explain I will not hesitate to do that. We have challenges ahead of us but we are determined to overcome those challenges. We try as much as possible to let investors, government and stakeholders into our programmes,he charged Insurance Journalists.
Patoma Admin by — October 4, 2020 in Insurance 0