South East
Obi Invokes No Work, No Pay Rule
Governor Peter Obi of Anambra, has declared no work, no pay for striking civil servants in the state.
Obi made the declaration in Awka on Monday while briefing stakeholders on the state of the state.
Obi explained that his administration was determined to play by the law by paying the N18,000 minimum wage as agreed with the labour in the state.
“I am disappointed to hear on my return to the state that workers had commenced strike in spite of my explanation of the state’s income and my willingness to comply with the new wage.
“I cannot condone any form of rascality in the state any more, hence, the rule of no work, no pay now applies to workers in this state,” Obi said.
The governor said his administration had done so much to ensure the welfare of the civil servants and provisions of infrastructure to enhance the citizens’ well-being.
He disclosed that Anambra was among the few states that achieved developmental strides and expressed displeasure with the non-appreciation by the people of the state.
“I have tried to use democratic templates within my ambit to carry all along but the people have proved ungovernable, so I will apply all my might as governor to deal with all rascality.
“Henceforth, I will not allow siren in the state. Siren would now be used by the governor, his deputy and the speaker of the house of assembly only,’’ he said.
Obi further directed the striking workers in the state to resume work immediately.
He said that grace would be given till September 30 after which non-compliant workers would be assumed to have given up their jobs.
The governor also explained that labour was insensitive to the state of affairs as he had assured it of the payment of the new wage.
“I have new workers to contend with which the labour has failed to accept not minding the lean resources of the state.
“When I demanded that new workers be included, the outcome turned too much for the state to handle,” he said.
Obi said that he had shown willingness to pay N18,500 as against the N18,000 directed by the Federal Government.
“With this gesture, I feel I should be commended but the reverse is the case. Therefore, I have had enough, and would challenge labour in court,” he declared.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Alfred Achebe, who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers, urged the governor to calm down while they sought the opinion of the labour leaders in the state.
Reacting also to the stand of the governor, Mr Valentine Ayika, the member representing Njikoka 1 Constituency in the state House of Assembly, advised the governor not to be rash in making decisions on labour matters but rather to dialogue with them.
The Chairman of NLC in the state, Mr Partrick Obianyao, told newsmen that the organised labour had not met with the governor since negotiations started.
Obianyao said labour had only met with the Head of Service, the Secretary to the State Government and the Chairman of the council of elders.
He said the plight of workers was spelt out in those meetings and that the state government had shown unwillingness to pay the new wage.
He alleged that the state administration was high-handed and insensitive to the plight of the people, and urged workers in the state to stay off work as the threat was an empty one.
He pleaded with stakeholders to look into the matter without fear or favour.
The police in Ebonyi State say they have discovered the body of a yet to be identified middle-aged woman in a hotel room in Abakaliki, the state capital. The spokesperson of the police in the state, Loveth Odah, stated this yesterday.
She said the body has deep cuts on the chest and neck and has been deposited in a mortuary. According to the spokesman, it was discovered at Crown Garden Hotel located along the ever-busy Afikpo road in the capital city.
Mrs Odah, who said that the victim was found in the pool of her own blood, said the suspect had been identified as one Uchenna Awoke.
She said the hotel manager, Emmanuel Eze, the supervisor, and other workers had been taken to the police station for questioning and accused the hotel management of negligence.
“The manager of the hotel, the supervisor and other staff of the hotel were taken to the station for questioning and I must confess to you that the whole thing is negligence on the part of the hotel management. How can a guest be murdered in a hotel room and days after, the management is not aware of the incident.”
“We will investigate the matter properly and I assure you, the perpetrator of the act must be arrested and prosecuted. All we are asking is for the members of the public to avail the police of useful information that will lead to the arrest of the suspect.”
The Senate yesterday passed the South East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill 2018.
The proposed commission aims at enhancing the infrastructural development of the South East zone, which is grappling with huge ecological challenges.
It also seeks to act as a catalyst for the development of the commercial potential of the zone.
The proposed legislation requires the concurrence of the House of Representatives to become a bill of the National Assembly, and the President’s assent to become a law.
Senators Stella Oduah (PDP-Anambra) and Samuel Anyanwu (PDP-Imo) jointly sponsored the bill read in the Senate on June 22, 2016.
Its passage in the Red Chamber followed the presentation of the report of the Committee on Establishment and Public Service by its former Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Paulker (PDP-Bayelsa), on the floor of the Senate.
The bill, after Paulker’s presentation, was considered clause by clause by the committee of the whole, and amendments made by the lawmakers were read for the third time and eventually passed.
In his remarks, presiding Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, commended his colleagues for a job well done.
In his words, “Every morning we pray that God should give us the grace to do only those things that will promote the peace and unity of this country.
“I believe that we have shown today that we are committed to the unity of this country, and it is this unity that will give us faith in this country.
“This faith will in turn help us to pursue peace and progress,” he said.
Briefing newsmen after plenary, members the South East caucus of the Senate, led by Sen. Enhinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia), thanked their colleagues and members of the committee for their efforts.
Abaribe, who spoke on behalf of the caucus, urged the President to sign the bill into law “as soon as we tidy it up and bring to him, in the interest of the unity and progress of Nigeria”.
“This will put to rest the long-drawn agitation in the South East, and the difficulties in the rehabilitation and reconciliation efforts that started at the end of the civil war.
“All things we see always will end up at the negotiating table, which is what we have done,” he said.
The lawmaker said he hoped the House of Representatives would give concurrence to the bill as it went in the Senate.
When established, the South East Development Commission would be the third zonal interventionist body in the country.
Bishop David Oyedepo, the Founder and Presideng Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, on Saturday predicted that nothing would disturb the peace of Nigeria and its story would change for the better in the year 2019.
Oyedepo made the declaration at the just concluded annual prophetic gathering of the Winners’ family, christened the “Dominion”, in a satellite telecast of the church.
In the telecast monitored in Abuja, the cleric also declared that 2019 would be a year of “I have Dominion”.
“Nothing will tamper with the peace of Nigeria; the story will change for the better in the name of Jesus.
“Nigeria shall not see bloodshed, the Prince of Peace will continue to dominate in Nigeria, in Africa and Nigeria is declared blessed.
“Anywhere you step, accident is forbidden; death will not come near you and our nation.
“Anything that is of grace in my life, I freely release upon you today.
“God has opened the year 2019 to us, celebrate Him because its our year of “I have Dominion,” he said.
The Bishop added that the year 2019 would be a year of humbling testimonies for Nigeria and pace-setting testimonies.
He further declared that 2019 would be a colourful year for the nation.
According to the cleric, as long as Jesus has the final say on the issues of Nigeria, it will experience greatness.
Oyedepo said that there would be no more cause of alarm in any area of the nation and its citizens.
He advised Christians in Nigeria to delight themselves in the spirit of servant-hood, adding that the spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood.
“The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood. As you keep rising on the ladder of leadership, you must retain our spirit of servant-hood, constantly working to add value to others and be kingdom minded,” he said.
According to him, dedication is at the root of dominion, saying: “Sow yourself as a seed by being totally dedicated to God and His Kingdom’’.
He told his congregation that sacrificial giving guarantees the meeting of all their needs.
“When you engage in taking care of the well-being of others, God is also committed to your well-being,” he explained. The cleric admonished Christians would engage in meeting the needs of the needy, every barrier on their path of destiny would be crushed.
“Nobody tampers with your life, your career, your family and goes away with it because you are promoted to God’s kingdom.
“God will stand for your defence in the day of trouble. Every sacrificial giver has a defence around him in the day of trouble always have that in mind,” he said.
He reminded his congregation that the Church is not a building; the Church is a people and the Redeemed of the Lord.