News

NLC Gives Six Conditions To Call Off Strike

Published

3 weeks ago

November 15, 2023

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has listed six conditions that must be met for it to call off their ongoing indefinite strike.

It listed the six conditions in a series of posts via its official X handle (formerly known as Twitter).

The NLC said, first, Chinasa Nwaneri, A Special Adviser to the Imo Governor on Special Duties who allegedly led the attack on NLC President Joe Ajaero and other workers in the State must be arrested and prosecuted.

The union also said all police officers as well as thugs involved in the attack on the labour leader should be arrested, prosecuted and dismissed.

It also demanded the arrest, prosecution and dismissal of the Chief Security Officer in Imo State Government House simply identified as SP Shaba.

“He led, participated and provided cover for thugs to brutalise workers in Imo State,” the NLC alleged.

Another condition given by the labour union was the arrest, persecution and dismissal of an unnamed police area commander who it said supervised the brutalisation of the NLC president and other workers in the state.

The sixth condition for peace was that the former Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Ahmed Barde, must be investigated and prosecuted for his alleged involvement in the assault of the NLC chief.

“Our demands are simple. We want justice,” the group wrote in the X post.

On its website, the union in a post titled: “This strike is a protest against the emerging culture of state violence and impunity” demanded that the administration of President Bola Tinubu should nip in the bud the burgeoning culture of harassment, intimidation, violence and terror.

It said: “We would want Nigerians to not lend themselves to the “private matter” narrative being promoted by agents of government as it is intended to divert attention from the real issues.

“Even as no freedom can be greater than the personal liberty of an individual in a popular democracy, which was violently and viciously violated in Imo, what the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria are fighting through this strike action are serial acts of violence/assault and impunity committed against individuals and organisations by the Nigeria Police Force or under their watchful eye or supervision.

“We make haste to cite three instances here even as there are several others within the brief life of this government.”

Headline

DSS To Start Using Weapons Produced By Personnel – Bichi

Published

1 hour ago

December 9, 2023

Ifunaya Emeka

The Department of State Services (DSS) said on Saturday it will soon unveil weapons produced by its personnel.

This was disclosed by the DSS Director General, Yusuf Bichi, at the graduation ceremony of the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) 16 participants in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

According to him, the DSS will soon begin to “produce what it eats and eat what it produces.”

Among the weapons the Secret Service will soon unveil are Unmanned Aeriel Vehicles (UAVs), he stated.

Bichi also assured that the agency will continue to support the National Institute for Security Studies to succeed in its quest to impart knowledge that will enhance security in the country.

He charged the participants to utilise the skills they have acquired to develop the country, urging Nigerians to remain patriotic and shun those whom he described as warmongers who want to set the country on fire.

Also at the event is the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima.

The Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) 16 commenced in February 2023 with 89 participants drawn from 35 agencies across Nigeria and four other African countries, namely, Niger, The Gambia, Rwanda and Chad.

Three participants lost their lives during the period, leaving 86 participants who graduated on Saturday.

Headline

53 power projects worth ₦‎122bn to be completed by May 2024 – TCN

Published

2 days ago

December 8, 2023

Ifunaya Emeka

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), has said that 53 ongoing power projects worth N122 billion is to be completed by May 2024.

TCN and power distribution companies with support from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will finish up these projects that are currently being constructed across the country.

Punch reports that the projects entail the delivery of eight 150MVA power transformers, 19 1000MVA transformers, 60MVA transformers, reconductoring existing transmission lines (conductors and accessories), upgrading of the existing 132/33KV substations, and construction of 33KV line bays.

While visiting three different projects at Ojo, Isolo, and Oworonshoki Transmission stations in Lagos on December 6, Mathew Ajibade, Programme Coordinator at TCN, mentioned that once these projects are finished, they will increase the company’s ability to transport electricity by over 1,000 megawatts.

He said:

“The projects are currently being implemented through the project management office at the TCN headquarters in collaboration with both TCN field engineers and the Discos technical team. The time set for completion of the projects is May 2024 latest. PMO made progress with the implementation of the programme despite challenges encountered and is committed to ensuring the successful implementation.”

Tumba Tijani, who is the Assistant Director and oversees the Infrastructure Finance Office at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), clarified that the central bank provided a loan for the project in August of last year. This loan was given at a 9% interest rate.

He mentioned that a total of N85.43 billion has been given out to 53 different contractors involved in the projects. This money has been disbursed into the Advance Payment Guarantee account to help these contractors carry out their tasks.

He said:

“The CBN in continuation of its intervention in the power sector approved the sum of N122, 289, 344 for the programme Nigeria Electricity Market Stabilization Facility-3 based on the projects estimated for the identified projects.

The facility aims to resolve the transmission/distribution interface bottlenecks to improve supply to end users and unlock the unutilized generation capacity in the country,”

Why transmission?
The Minister for Power, Adebayo Adelabu, mentioned before that even though the country has handed over the responsibility of generating and distributing power to private entities, the part that handles transmitting electricity is still managed by the government.

However, this area hasn’t seen enough progress mainly because the infrastructure, such as substations, transformers, and power lines, is getting old and isn’t strong enough.

Adelabu promised that the government would focus on reorganizing and improving this infrastructure. The aim is to ensure that all Nigerians experience better and more reliable electricity supply across the country.