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NiMET to begin strike on Monday due to unpaid arrears

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Aviation unions, including the National Union of Air Transport Employee Association of Nigeria, the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations and Technical and Recreational Employees, have instructed Nigeria Meteorology Agency staff to begin strike action on Monday, May 20, 2024.

This was disclosed in a letter dated 14 May 2024, obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday.

The strike stems from management’s failure to address 45 months of minimum wage arrears and consequential adjustments for staff members.

The union, represented by the three General Secretaries: Ocheme Aba, Abdulrasaq Seidu, and Waheed Sikiru, wrote a letter addressed to NiMET’s Director General, Prof Charles Anoske, with the subject line ‘Re: Failure to Pay 45-Month Arrears of Minimum Wage Consequential Adjustment—14 days ultimatum.’

The ultimatum had been issued, and management responded with what seemed like a compromise: paying off the 45 months of arrears in installments.

They also expressed their dismay that the agency’s staff has been awaiting the palliative payments sanctioned by the Federal Government since October 2023. Furthermore, they highlighted that the 25-35 per cent salary increase has not been implemented for them, alongside NiMET’s exclusion from receiving Peculiar Allowances.

“Furthermore, our Unions through a joint letter dated 4, April 2024, did request for review of the outdated conditions of service. To date the management has deemed our Unions unfit for any response,” it read.

The letter further reads, “The above catalogue of woes, and others unmentioned confirm that NiMET Staff have been consigned to the lin bin of abject poverty – worse than any existing aviation establishment. In our considered view, it is inhuman on the part of management to be forborne with these conditions and irresponsible on the part of unions to tolerate this situation for this long.

“Therefore, this letter serves as notice to the management of NiMET that the staff members of the agency are, by a copy of this letter, directed to withdraw all services with effect from Monday, May 20, 2024, unless and until the outstanding 42 months arrears of consequential adjustment is fully liquidated.

“NIMET Salary structure is adapted to an appropriate Federal Government approved structure and all accruable payments liquidated, Management commences review of the outdated CoS with our Unions with a definite timeline for delivery and actualisation.”

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Afe Babalola to withdraw defamation suit against Farotimi

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Afe Babalola, the senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says he will withdraw the defamation suit filed against Dele Farotimi, a human rights advocate.

In December, Farotimi was arrested in Lagos and whisked to Ekiti.

Farotimi was remanded by the Ekiti state magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti for 21 days after he was accused of “criminally defaming” Babalola in a book titled: ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.

He regained freedom on December 24, after being granted bail of N30 million by the court.

NAN reports that Babalola, who spoke at the Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) following the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other first class traditional rulers at a midnight meeting, said he has agreed to withdraw the case.

He said he had received several letters as well as calls on the issue from eminent Nigerians, including from ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo and Matthew Kukah, the bishop of Sokoto diocese.

Babalola said he acquiesced to the traditional rulers’ entreaties because he has nothing to gain from Farotimi’s imprisonment.

The senior advocate assured the chiefs that he would direct his lawyers to withdraw the case.

Ogunwusi said Yoruba leaders and the traditional institution have been following the development keenly.

The monarch added that he and others resolved to intervene so that Babalola “can pardon his son, Farotimi”.

The Ooni of Ife also lauded Babalola for his integrity and urged him to remain steadfast.

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Wike makes U-turn on state police creation, says governors would abuse powers

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Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), says Nigeria does not have the institutional capacity for state policing.

The creation of state police has been on the front burner for years now, with many governors advocating for its implementation to enhance security within their domains.

Last year, Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna, announced that all 36 state governments had submitted their reports backing the creation of state police.

He said state policing would serve as a crucial step towards improving security across the country.

Speaking during a media chat on Sunday, Wike said the adoption of state or community policing would birth autocratic governors in several states.

“In Nigeria, what system do we run? Is Abuja different from Nigeria when you talk about the police? People have been recommending community policing and state police,” he said.

“Knowing where we are, and where we are from, if you allow that, so many people would not come out of their houses. So, I said let’s try it first and see how it works.

“But so many people said there’s no need to try, that we have seen that if they allow state policing today, nobody would oppose any state governor. It is either you would die for murder or for armed robbery. Our institutions are not such that are independent.”

The former governor said his previous support for state police does not necessarily mean it is still the right decision today.

“The mere fact that I supported state police [when I was governor], if I was wrong, I was wrong. If I was right, I was right,” he said.

“What we are saying is that our institutions are not strong to be independent of manipulation by the system.”

During his first term as governor, Wike assented to a bill establishing the neighbourhood safety corps.

Some of the functions of the corps included the detection of crime, arrest of offenders with or without a warrant, and bearing arms in the performance of their duties, among others.

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EFCC confirms killing of officer in Anambra, says personnel were on legitimate duty

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed the killing of Aminu Salisu, an assistant superintendent officer (ASO), in Anambra.

Salisu was allegedly killed by Joshua Ikechukwu, a suspected internet fraudster, during an arrest operation in Anambra on Friday.

In a statement on Sunday, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC spokesperson, said the late officer was killed while discharging a legitimate duty.

Oyewale said the suspect, who spotted investigators via closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras mounted at his doorstep, refused to open his door despite their “polite request for entrance.”

“Aminu Sahabi Salisu, assistant superintendent of the EFCC, alongside other investigators of the EFCC, were at Dr. J.O. Ukwutinife Close, Ifite, Awka, Anambra State, to arrest some suspected internet fraudsters in the early hours of January 17,” the statement said.

“The operation was duly documented at the Anambra state command headquarters and area command of the Nigeria Police in line with operational protocols.

“The operation was initially smooth sailing with 37 suspected internet fraudsters already arrested at a two-storey building housing Ikechukwu and other occupants of the house.

“However, Joshua Ikechukwu, who sighted the investigators through a CCTV camera mounted at his doorpost and who also confessed sighting them, declined to open his door for the investigators, who politely demanded entrance to his apartment.

“Defying all the introduction and physical sighting of the investigators, he resorted to firing shots at them and killed Salisu in the process and wounded another officer detailed to conduct a search in his apartment.”

The EFCC spokesperson said preliminary investigations showed that Ikechukwu was involved in coding and online medical supplies of doubtful legitimacy.

He said two laptops, iPads, and several recording devices were recovered from his apartment, adding that though currently in police custody, the commission would bring him to trial.

Oyewale said the commission “viewed with concern irresponsible narratives on the fatal accident and faceless commentators supporting an alleged criminal”.

He added that the anti-graft agency also commiserated with the family of the slain officer and appreciated support from sister agencies and well-meaning individuals.

“It is heinous to reduce the death of a gallant officer who was carrying out patriotic and official duties to social media razzmatazz,” he said.

“More worrisome is the fact that some faceless commentators are pitching their tents with an alleged criminal who unleashed terror on officers of the EFCC in their line of duty.

“There is no justification whatsoever to rationalise a murderous act. The milk of human kindness demands that a grieving family, commission, and nation should be spared the shenanigans of false narratives and conjectures on the death of the slain officer.

“The EFCC also wishes to alert the public that the activities of internet fraudsters are becoming patently hazardous to public safety and security.

“Intelligence has shown that these criminals are carrying arms and are involved in kidnapping, banditry, ritual killings, and other deadly acts.

“The public should not fold its arms or allow itself to be deceived that they are mere ‘Yahoo boys and girls”.

“As for the EFCC, every subsequent attack on any of its officers will be met with the force of the law. The Commission will not fold its arms and allow any of its officers to be killed again in cold blood.

“As a law enforcement agency of repute, the EFCC is unrelenting in ridding the nation of internet fraud and other acts of corruption.

“While mourning the loss of its officer who paid the supreme price in the service of the nation, the Commission appreciates the invaluable support, condolences, and prompt response of sister agencies and well-meaning individuals standing shoulder to shoulder with it at this trying time.”

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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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