BREAKING: NAFDAC workers begin nationwide strike

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has been hit with an indefinite nationwide strike following the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the agency’s management.

This strike, which began after a congress of NAFDAC employees on Friday, October 4, 2024, reflects deep-rooted frustrations over unresolved grievances.

Led by the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), the striking workers have been instructed to halt all services and vacate their offices.

They were also told to remove their personal belongings as the industrial action officially takes off.

At the heart of the workers’ demands is a call for the review and re-evaluation of the 2024 promotion exam results, which currently show a dismal pass rate of 35%. The union is advocating for a minimum pass rate of 80% to be implemented for this year’s exams as well as future ones.

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Additionally, they are demanding the payment of salary arrears owed to staff employed in 2022, among other pressing concerns.

In a statement released by the union’s secretary, Ejor Michael, NAFDAC management was accused of neglecting these issues, which the union deemed unacceptable.

The workers have vowed to continue their strike until all demands, as outlined in their communiqué, are addressed.

With NAFDAC being a key player in regulating Nigeria’s food, drug, and pharmaceutical sectors, the strike is expected to have a significant impact on the agency’s operations, affecting businesses and consumers alike.

Attempts to get a response from NAFDAC management were unsuccessful at the time of this report, leaving uncertainty about when and how these critical issues will be resolved.

BREAKING: NAFDAC workers begin nationwide strike

Although the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of Essien Udim Local Government Area in Saturday’s election, a video circulating online has shown otherwise.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who is a ranking member of the APC, hails from Essien Udim.

Nigerians have expressed concern over the manner in which LG elections are conducted as the ruling party in the state or any party supported by the sitting governor carries the day.

In the case of Akwa Ibom, the ruling party won in all LGAs save for that of Akpabio, according to the results declared by the State electoral commission.

Chairman of AKISIEC, Aniedi Ikoiwak, had declared Ntiedo Usoro of the APC as the elected candidate for Essien Udim LGA, while stating that the PDP reportedly won all other LGAs of the state.

But a video posted on social media showed Inyang Ating, a professor from the University of Uyo, who served as the Returning Officer (RO) for the election in Essien Udim, declaring PDP’s Enobong Patrick as winner.

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“I hereby certify that I was the Returning Officer for the election held on the 5th of October 2024. The election was contested, and the candidates received the following votes: Hon. Ntiedo Usoro of the APC: 686 votes; Engr. Enobong Patrick Friday of the PDP: 55,612 votes.”

“Engr. Enobong Patrick Friday, having complied with the requirements of the law and having scored the majority of votes, is hereby declared elected. He also received more than 25% of the votes in all 13 wards of Essien Udim. I so declare, and I hereby sign as the Returning Officer,” he had said.

A crowd of supporters at the collation centre was heard shouting, “PDP!! Power!!!!!”

The use of flashlights by the electoral officials showed the video recording was done late in the day.

See the video below:

A’Ibom poll: Video evidence shows PDP won Akpabio’s LG

River crisis: Allow Fubara to work, Bode George tells Wike

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has asked Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to allow Governor Simi Fubara of River State to work.

Wike, the immediate past governor of the oil rich River state, has been locked in  a battle with his successor over control of the state.

Governor Fubara’s administration had conducted local government election on Saturday under the Action People’s Party (APP) following the handover of the PDP structure to Wike who is also reportedly controlling the All Progressives Congress (APC) structure in the state.

The tension in Rivers increased after the Saturday’s LG election where APP swept the polls in the 22 of the 23 local governments.

Adding his voice to the issue on Monday, Chief Bode George asked President Tinubu to call his Minister to order and prevail on him to allow Governor Fubara to work.

In a statement, he said, “Now that people of Rivers State have boldly asserted their civic and constitutional rights by coming out to vote in the Local Government election on Saturday, this is the time for former governor of the state and now FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to allow Governor Siminalayi Fubara work and deliver dividend of democracy to the people.

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“This is also the time for President Bola Tinubu to advise Wike, who is one of his ministers, to allow the governor to work.

“I say this with all sense of responsibility because if this democracy is truncated, God forbid, Tinubu, as the Commander-in-Chief, will be the biggest loser.

“All lovers of democracy will agree with me that political happenings in this oil-bearing state in the last few months, if allowed to continue, can lead to a re-enactment of the crisis in the defunct Western Region between 1962 and 1966 which eventually led to the first military coup of January 15, 1966. Many of our national figures were killed and events of that day led to a second coup on July 29, 1966 when scores of military officers were killed.

“Since history is no longer taught in our schools, I want to remind the gladiators in this Rivers crisis that the January and July 1966 killings eventually led to the civil war between July 6, 1967 and January 15, 1970. Close to two million Nigerians died in the war.”

George stated that happenings in River State call for concern.

“I am raising this alarm because what is happening in Rivers now is a cause for serious concern for everyone.

“My understanding of this man-made crisis is that there is a despotic, divisive, wicked and anti-people design to create a conflagration which may eventually consume our country.

“We all know the economic importance of Rivers to the survival of this nation. It is the gateway to the Niger Delta.

“Any threat to peace in this state will eventually lead to huge security implications, not only for Nigeria but West Africa and Africa. It is good to have political ambition, to be the alpha and omega in a partisan setting but this ambition must not be at variance with the expectations of the people.

“Some have said what is happening can be traced to 2027 elections’ calculations. I believe it is too early to start strategising for a partisan event which is still close to 28 months away.

“One thing is clear: Nyesom Wike was governor of the state for eight years. He left the Government House in May last year and today, he is the FCT Minister. Sir Peter Odili and Rotimi Amaechi were governors before him. Now that Governor Fubara is the Chief Executive of the state, he should be allowed to work. Nobody stays in office forever.

“By 2027, people of Rivers State will decide, through their votes, if they want him to return to office or not. This is how political issues and ambitions are handled in civilised climes. The way this partisan crisis is going, if not checked, may collapse our democracy. Now that council chairmen and councillors have been elected, I appeal to Nyesom Wike to please give peace a chance. Tinubu must also call Wike and tell him to allow the governor to work.

“We know Wike sponsored and supported Fubara to become governor but somebody also supported Wike to be governor from 2015 to 2023. Somebody also nominated him to serve as minister. God will always use somebody to help anybody but nobody is God.”

River crisis: Allow Fubara to work, Bode George tells Wike