Abia doctors barricade govt house, demand payment of 24-month salary arrears – Newstrends
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Abia doctors barricade govt house, demand payment of 24-month salary arrears

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Medical Doctors in Abia State, protesting 24-month salary arrears owed medical and non-medical staff of Abia State University Teaching Hospital Aba (ABSUTH), again barricaded the entrance to the Abia Government House, Umuahia.

The doctors who came out in their numbers said that they were also protesting 13 months arrears owed doctors and other staff of Health Management Board.

The doctors who came from different parts of the state gathered at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia from where they marched to the Government House gate.

They chanted solidarity songs even as the doctors carried placards with different inscriptions such as: “Doctors lives matter”; “Our salary is our entitlement”; “2 years without salary ‘no be jokes’”; “Man’s inhumanity to man”, among others.

The State Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr Isaiah Abali, who led the procession, said that doctors in the employ of the state government were passing through hell following many months of unpaid wages.

He bemoaned the condition of the doctors many of whom he said, “no longer meet their daily needs”.

Dr Abali expressed sadness over government’s inability to clear the backlog of salary arrears of doctors.

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He said that the protest had no political undertones, and asked the government to stop giving excuses, but clear the outstanding arrears.

The NMA state Secretary, Dr Daniel Ekeleme, had earlier reeled out the bitter experiences of some doctors in the hands of their landlord following their inability to renew their house rents.

A Consultant Hematologist at ABSUTH, Dr Chika Uche, said that it was unfair for the government, which “receives allocation every month” to pay political office holders with jumbo allowances, but owe workers who earn peanuts.

She described the nonchalant attitude of the government to the plight of doctors as cruelty and the height of insensitivity.

But speaking in Umuahia yesterday, Chief John Okiyi-Kalu, director of Strategic Engagement, Abia State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council called on the people of the state to demand a factual response from the Nigerian Medical Association on the lingering dispute between doctors and the state government. 

Okiyi-Kalu said that facts have shown that since the inception of the Dr Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration in 2015 the medical doctors have been on strike for 35 months.

He questioned the moral right the doctors have to demand such payments when facts and figures at the disposal of the government, according to him, were listed undisputably by the state Commissioner for Information, Eze Chikamnayo, show that they do not merit what they are demanding.

Okiyi-Kalu urged the Abia people to eschew all forms of political gimmicks and question some abnormalities in the Abia health sector causing the conflict, stressing that every conflict should end in permanent solutions to society’s challenges, including the ongoing one between the Abia Government and NMA.

“Naturally, because of the important role played by medical doctors in the health management chain, it is expected that popular sentiments will be in support of the striking doctors and weighed against the government more so when arrowheads of the strike timed it to coincide with the forthcoming general elections that some desperate opposition politicians are ready to attempt to win by hook or crook.

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“But the question to ask is if those medical doctors actually worked for the months of arrears they are demanding payment for or should pay the government and people of Abia State for receiving more salary than they have worked for.”

Okiyi-Kalu said that the root of the current wage management challenge in HMB and ABSUTH is traceable to 2015, where he witnessed a meeting between Governor Okezie Ikpeazu who was new in office and management and union leaders from ABSUTH at the Government House in Umuahia.

According to him, the meeting was called to stave off planned strike by the doctors and the crux of their presentation to the governor was simply that he paid off the arrears of salary owed them and they would from thenceforth make revenue to fund their regular salary payment.

He said that they also requested support with more modern equipment for their operations and later in the life of the administration asked for ABSUTH road to be fixed, which according to him, were all granted by the governor.

“Governor Okezie Ikpeazu went ahead to pay them 11 months salary arrears in one tranche that same year. For those medical doctors earning N500,000/month, they received an alert of N5, 500,000.00 in one day per person.

“Two months after receiving the jumbo alert, the management of ABSUTH and some of the union leaders returned to the governor to plead that they be given subventions to continue paying salary while they adjust operationally to build on their IGR and commence running independently. Governor Ikpeazu obliged them again.

“Interestingly, shortly after the jumbo pay by the government, many of those medical doctors ‘invested’ the money on improving their private clinics or renting and equipping new clinics. And as they ensured that their personal businesses were booming ABSUTH’s fortunes continued to depreciate,” he noted.

Okiyi-Kalu said that the painful part of the whole thing was that despite the governor’s earlier efforts, privates clinics of doctors were booming and rather than generate more revenue to at least pay themselves, their IGR continued to dwindle from what it was in 2015 till date, as they racked up 35 months of strike without work, yet are making demands that the government must pay them for those months they were on strike.

He, however, alleged that there is a political undertone in what the NMA and HMB are doing currently saying, saying “I personally do not want to engage on issues of political motivation for labour recalcitrance at this time, even though I can personally attest to at least three executive members of Abia NMA attending a political rally in Aba organized by an opposition party.SUN

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Ex-minister says Nigeria doesn’t need France to destabilise Niger Republic

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3 minutes ago

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December 29, 2024

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Femi Fani-Kayode

Ex-minister says Nigeria doesn’t need France to destabilise Niger Republic

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has dismissed claims by Niger Republic’s military leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, that Nigeria is collaborating with France and terrorist groups to destabilise the West African nation.

In a strongly worded statement shared on his verified Facebook page on Sunday, Fani-Kayode argued that Nigeria, if it wished to destabilise Niger, would not require assistance from France or any terrorist organisations.

“If Nigeria wanted to destabilise Niger Republic, I do not believe that we would need France or any terrorist organisation to do so,” Fani-Kayode stated.

He accused Western powers of backing terrorist groups in the West African region over the past 15 years, stressing that Nigeria has been a victim of such organisations and would never align with them.

“I have maintained that the Western powers are behind the terrorist groups that have plagued the West African sub-region over the last 15 years, and for the last ten years, I have publicly stated this and given my reasons,” he said.

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The former minister condemned Tchiani’s allegations that President Bola Tinubu and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu were working with France to sponsor terrorism in Niger, describing the accusations as baseless and provocative.

“Tchiani’s grave allegations that President Tinubu and NSA Nuhu Ribadu have been bought by the French to destabilise Niger Republic, that our Government is jointly sponsoring a terrorist group with France to do the same, and that there are French military bases in Nigeria are infantile, puerile, mendacious and asinine,” Fani-Kayode said.

He warned the Nigerien leader against making inflammatory statements that could strain relations between the two countries.

“The Nigerien Military Head of State, Abdourahamane Tchiani, would do well to be careful not to provoke our wrath with his absurd assertions and remain mindful of the fact that the defence budget for his country, Mali, and Burkina Faso combined is not up to 25% of Nigeria’s,” he added.

Fani-Kayode urged the Nigerian government to consider “more extreme measures” if the accusations from Niger persist, asserting that Nigeria has no obligation to show restraint in the face of such provocations.

 

Ex-minister says Nigeria doesn’t need France to destabilise Niger Republic

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Adeleke presents staff of office to new Owa-Obokun amid protest

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3 hours ago

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December 29, 2024

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Oba Adesuyi Haastrup

Adeleke presents staff of office to new Owa-Obokun amid protest

ILESA — Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Sunday presented the staff of office to Oba Adesuyi Haastrup as the 41st Owa-Obokun of Ijesaland in a ceremony marked by mixed reactions.

Oba Haastrup’s selection follows the passing of the 40th Owa-Obokun, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, in September, after which the mourning period and succession process commenced. Last Friday, Prince Haastrup of the Bilaro Olu-Odo ruling house was elected by the Ijesa kingmakers and subsequently approved as the new monarch despite an existing court injunction restraining stakeholders from proceeding with the selection process.

At the installation ceremony, Governor Adeleke urged the new monarch to foster unity among Ijesa people and leverage his experience and connections for the development of Ijesaland and Osun State.

“Kabiyesi, now that the time of competition is over and you have become the father of all, I urge you to rally all citizens of Ijesaland for the development of the area and the State at large,” Adeleke said.

He emphasized the importance of collective efforts, stating, “There is much work to be done, and the Government alone cannot bear the responsibility. I call on all Ijesa sons and daughters to prioritise the development of our fatherland. Our administration is intensifying developmental efforts across the state, including Ijesaland.”

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The selection and installation of Oba Haastrup were met with opposition from two royal families, Ofokutu and Fajemisin, within the Bilaro Olu-Odo ruling house.

In a statement signed by Prince Adetoyese Adegbohungbe, Secretary of the Ofokutu royal family, the process was described as a desecration of Ijesa traditions.

“We have witnessed not just compromise but the desecration of the noble tradition of the Ijesa, with the blatant disregard for the most sacred tradition, which is the selection of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland,” the statement read.

The family expressed shock at the selection, citing a pending court case, and accused stakeholders of undermining due process.

The Fajemisin family also condemned the process, describing it as flawed and unlawful. In a statement by Olufemi Fajemisin, the family rejected Oba Haastrup’s selection and demanded a transparent process that respects Ijesa customs.

“We categorically reject the purported elected Owa and demand a transparent, lawful process that honours our customs and traditions,” the statement said.

Both families have vowed to pursue legal action, dissociating themselves from the new monarch and alleging imposition in violation of tradition. They pledged to defend the rights of the Ijesa people and restore the integrity of their heritage.

As the controversy unfolds, the installation has spotlighted the delicate balance between tradition, legality, and governance in the selection of traditional rulers in Nigeria.

 

Adeleke presents staff of office to new Owa-Obokun amid protest

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Paris-bound businessman excretes 74 wraps of heroin, cocaine at Abuja airport

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4 hours ago

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December 29, 2024

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Paris-bound businessman excretes 74 wraps of heroin, cocaine at Abuja airport

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), have arrested a 48-year-old businessman, Orizu Ifeanyi Arthur for ingesting 74 wraps of heroin and cocaine.

Mr Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi said that Orizu was intercepted while attempting to board an Air France flight 844 from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, (NAIA) Abuja to Paris, France.

He said that the suspect was arrested at the boarding gate of the Abuja airport on Sunday, Dec. 22 during the outward clearance of passengers on Air France.

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“When he was pulled aside for a body scan, he turned down the request claiming his medical condition won’t allow him.

“He was thereafter taken into custody for excretion observation during which he excreted a total of 74 wraps of the Class A drugs over a period of seven days.

“In his statement, Orizu claimed he owns a shop at Balogun market, Lagos Island where he sells school and travel bags, adding that he was promised 3,000 Euros upon successful delivery of the consignment in Paris.

“He left his base in Lagos for the Abuja airport to connect his Air France flight to Paris, hoping to escape detection,” he said.

Paris-bound businessman excretes 74 wraps of heroin, cocaine at Abuja airport

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