Headline

High fuel price: Anambra Community leader sues for dialogue instead of strike

Published

11 months ago

June 4, 2023

Mazi Christina Beluchukwu, a Community leader in Enugwu-Ukwu, Anambra state, has appealed to the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), to dialogue with government instead of the consideration for strike over the increase in fuel pump price.

Beluchukwu made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enuguw-Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra, on Sunday.

He said that NLC leaders should hold a round table with government officials instead of just giving the Nigerian the National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) an ultimatum to reverse the fuel pump price or face a nationwide strike.

Beluchukwu said that strike is unnecessary, suggesting that civil servants should negotiate and accept a new minimum wage that may be offered by the new government and save the country the pain of avoidable disruptive protest.

“Nigerians have started buying fuel at the new price and moving along with their lives, we do not need any strike now,” he said.

Beluchkwu said that Nigerians should commend the decision to remove fuel subsidy because it has been long overdue since 2012 when it was discovered that the aim of the subsidy was not being actualised.

“Many people do not understand the politics behind fuel subsidy and its dangers to the development and growth of the nation because if they do, the policy would be embraced immediately no matter the temporary pain.

“The intention in subsidy is simply for government to make the product affordable for citizens and make life easier, but as it is now, the idea was defeated so it favoured the marketers instead of the public, so the answer to it is removal,” he said.

Beluchukwu appealed to the government to urgently provide incentives to the people so as to cushion the effect of the premature removal of fuel subsidy.

He said that the country has endured so much harsh economic and social challenges that the protest or strike would inflict more pain on the people, adding that it is best to be shelved and negotiate.

Beluchukwu said that government agencies on social orientation should explain the situation to the people, including that the country’s refineries need be up and running.

Headline

Fagbemi warns against obstructing EFCC from performing its lawful duty

Published

2 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Fellow Press

The Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN has warned against obstructing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from carrying out its lawful duty .

Fagbemi’s warning is contained in a statement in Abuja.

“This is a matter of very grave concern, it is now beyond doubt that the EFCC is given power by the law to invite any person of interest to interact with them in the course of their investigations into any matter, regardless of status.

“Therefore, the least that we can all do when invited, is not to put any obstruction in the way of EFCC, but to honourably answer their invitation.

“A situation where public officials who are themselves subject of protection by law enforcement agents will set up a stratagem of obstruction to the civil and commendable efforts of the EFCC to perform its duty is to say the least, insufferably disquieting’’.

He added that running away from the law will not resolve issues at stake but only exacerbate them.

“Nigeria has a vibrant judicial system that is capable of protecting everyone who follows the rule of law in seeking protection.

“I therefore encourage anyone who has been invited by the EFCC or any other agency to immediately toe the path of decency and civility by honouring such invitation instead of embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism.

“This can only put our country in bad light before the rest of the world’’.

He said institutions of state should be allowed to function effectively and efficiently.

“I stand for the rule of law and will promptly call EFCC, and indeed any other agency to order when there is an indication of any transgressions of the fundamental rights of any Nigerian by any of the agencies’’.

NAN reports that the EFCC had on Wednesday warned members of the public that it was a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.

Section 38(2)(a(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties. Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.

The warning , the EFCC said, became necessary against the background of the increasing tendency by persons and groups under investigation by the Commission to take the laws into their hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC.

On several occasions, the anti graft agency said, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

Headline

Unknown Gunmen Abduct Channelstv Reporter In Port-harcourt

Published

6 days ago

April 12, 2024

Ifunaya Emeka

Some unknown gunmen have kidnapped Joshua Rogers, the ChannelsTV reporter in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Politics Nigeria learnt that Rogers was picked up close to his residence at Rumuosi in Port Harcourt and to an unknown destination by the gunmen around 9pm on Thursday, April 11.

The reporter was driving his official ChannelsTV branded car when the hoodlums accosted, pointed a gun at him and took him away in the same vehicle.

Rogers was said to be returning from his official assignment in Government House after a trip to Andoni for a government event when the incident happened.

Already, the gunmen were said to have contacted his wife and demanded a N30million ransom for bis release.

His cameraman confirmed the incident and appealed to his abductors to set him free unconditionally.