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Schools, courts, offices shut as workers commence indefinite strike in Ogun

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Civil servants in Ogun state, on Tuesday, commenced an indefinite strike over the alleged non-remittance of 21-month deductions from their salaries, among other issues.

Several offices at the state secretariat complex, Oke Mosan, were locked and the secretariat deserted, but top civil servants like permanent secretaries and directors resumed at their duty posts.

On Monday, Emmanuel Bankole, chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ogun state chapter, announced the indefinite strike during a meeting with workers at the state secretariat.

Bankole criticised Dapo Abiodun, governor of the state, over his alleged failure to address workers’ plight despite several calls for negotiation.

The strike was declared after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the governor to address the grievances of the workers over the “non-payment of eight-year statutory leave allowances and breach of the State Pension Reform Law, 2006 (amended 2013) in the implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme”, among other demands.

According to NAN, one of the two entrance gates at the secretariat was locked, while the second was opened to allow only top civil servants enter.

In some schools in Ogun, students were seen returning to their homes after being sent back by NLC officials who were going round to enforce compliance with the directive.

At the state high court, Kobape, and the magistrate’s court at Isabo, the offices were closed, while some litigants were seen going about outside the court premises.

The strike also affected activities in some council areas in the state.

Speaking on the development, Samson Oyelere, the state secretary of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), told NAN that the strike remains total and indefinite, adding that the reason for the industrial action is to drive home workers’ request for improved welfare in Ogun.

“The strike is total and it is gradually gathering momentum, because the news might not have gone that viral as such. However, within the next two days, it will be more assertive,” he said.

“We know that it will affect vital establishments like hospitals and schools, and for this reason, the citizens will also bear the brunt of the strike. It’s not about the citizens; it’s about the government of the day. We need to challenge the government to do the needful,” he said.

“I have visited hospitals, schools, local government areas and the state secretariat. It is total compliance, because the strike was not declared by the leadership, but by the parliament of workers in the state.

“We carried the workers along and we did what they wanted. I only want to appeal to the government to please look into the demands and do the needful.”

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‘Betty Akeredolu dumped me after I served for 7 years on N45k monthly pay’ — makeup artist cries out

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Folashade Anu, the beauty expert, has lamented that she was paid N45,000 monthly while working for seven years as a makeup artist for Betty Akeredolu, the former first lady of Ondo.

Anu, in a recent interview with Olujimi Adekanle, the news presenter in Ondo, also said she sometimes worked as a personal assistant to the wife of the late Rotimi Akeredolu, former Ondo governor.

The makeup artiste claimed she was paid N50,000 per month but 10 percent of her salary was automatically deducted as a contribution to the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN), an organisation founded by Betty.

“I worked for Her Excellency (Mrs Betty Akeredolu) for over seven years. When I was going, she did not give me anything,” said Anu as she broke down in tears.

“I worked with her for seven years as her makeup artist. I used to make her hair and do her pedicure when she was still making her hair.

“I was paid N50,000 then, but I usually gave back N5,000 to BRECAN. They would have deducted the N5,000 before the salary was paid. They called it ‘give back to BRECAN’.

“Another N100 was also usually deducted as charges.”

The makeup artist said she stopped working for Betty after her husband was buried.

Anu claimed that after Akeredolu’s burial, she solicited help from the former first lady but Betty refused, adding “I was no longer in office”.

“I texted Betty Akeredolu that I needed help and that she was my last hope, that she should render help to me, but she said there was no help she could render because she was now out of the office,” she added.

“I usually reach out to her to help me. She once told me that since I have a passport, she would take me out of the country, but till now, nothing.”

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LG polls: Oyo declares today as half-work day for civil servants

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The Oyo state government has declared Friday as a half-work day for all civil and public servants in the state ahead of the LGAs election on Saturday.

In a statement on Thursday, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, special adviser on media to Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, said the declaration of the half-work day was to enable workers to participate in the election.

Olanrewaju said government offices would close by noon, noting that workers on essential services are expected to remain at their duty posts.

He said the state government enjoined all civil and public servants to go out and exercise their civic rights on Saturday.

The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) has assured that the LGAs polls would be hitch-free and credible.

Speaking recently during a radio programme, Isiaka Olagunju, OYSIEC Chairman, said only citizens with voter cards are eligible to vote.

He added that no other form of identification would be recognised, noting that additional polling units have been created by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a smooth exercise.

He also said electoral violence would be prevented, assuring that all LGAs would receive election materials before Friday to guide against incidence of late arrival.

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FAAN diverts flights as fire breaks out at Murtala Muhammed International Airport

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Flight operations at terminal one of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos have been diverted by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to the D Wing following a fire outbreak at the facility.

Obiageli Orah, director, public affairs and consumer protection, FAAN, said the incident happened in the early hours of Thursday.

In a statement, Orah said at “05:29 hrs, smoke was detected billowing from the E54 Bridge, leading electrical engineers to immediately cut off power to the entire E Wing”.

“The Airport Rescue and Firefighting Services (ARFFS) team was quick to respond, arriving at the scene by 05:30 hrs. Initial suspicions point to sparks from an electrical unit as the cause, but a thorough investigation is ongoing to ascertain the cause of the fire,” she said.

“The incident, which had escalated into a fire, was brought under control by 06:41 hrs. Efforts to ventilate the smoke from the building are in progress.”

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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