Index to Nigerian Newspapers

The Nigeria Labour Congress on Wednesday the Federal Government to reverse all “anti-poor” and anti-workers policies within seven days or risk a nationwide strike. It listed the policies as including the recent petrol price hike, the increase in school fees and the Value Added Tax increase.

The NLC also demanded release of the eight months withheld salary of university lecturers as well as inauguration of the Presidential Steering Committee as agreed in the earlier consequential dialogues. Joe Ajaero and Emmanuel Ugboaja, the president and the secretary of the NLC respectively stated this in a communique they jointly issued at the end of the congress’ emergency Central Working Committee. They alleged government’s insensitivity to the plights of Nigerians.

Asked if the NLC will go ahead with the threat to go on strike on August 2 if the federal government failed to reverse alleged anti-labour policies, Ajaero said, “Well, protest,? I wouldn’t know, we are going ahead with the protest because we have to be emphatic on what we put in our communique, we said we’re commencing protests from the 2nd.”

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday shut down a Chinese company, Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group Corporation, over what it described as dehumanising condition of Nigerian workers in the company. The union arrived at the company located at the new headquarters of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Lugbe, Abuja as early as 7:30am. 

Our correspondent who was at the scene reports that there was initial resistance as the gate of the company was locked against the protesting union and its picketing team but was later opened by the management. The management of the construction company did not speak on the protest or respond to the allegations raised by labour. He lamented that one of the workers, a driver identified as Mr Augustine, died due to neglect and lack of timely medical attention.

“No pension, no gratuity, no food, no water and no explanation, where will help come from? Every day, we plead with the government to provide a minimal social security floor, to no avail. That is the challenge we have. This challenge is real,” Ugboaja said. She said the Chinese company failed to heed her pleas for assistance and instead issued a termination letter to her husband.

militants and pirates engaging in oil theft across different locations in the south-south region of the country have fled their various camps following airstrike bombardment rained on them by the troops of the Nigerian Air Force attached to operation Delta safe. the air component of the operation on friday, August 25, identified some camps named Big joes' camp, sunnys' camp and David camp all in the Bakassi local government Area of cross River state as well as Amos camps in calabar south local government area of the state. NAF s' spokeman, Edward Gabkwet, an Air commodore, who disclosed this sunday, said the airstrikes were authorised after confirming that those locations were littered with criminals carrying out their nefarious activities. He observed to  be loaded with illegally refined products and heading into open waters was also engaged and destroyed.

militants and pirates engaging in oil theft across different locations in the south-south region of the country have fled their various camps following airstrike bombardment rained on them by the troops of the Nigerian Air Force attached to operation Delta safe. the air component of the operation on friday, August 25, identified some camps named Big joes' camp, sunnys' camp and David camp all in the Bakassi local government Area of cross River state as well as Amos camps in calabar south local government area of the state. NAF s' spokeman, Edward Gabkwet, an Air commodore, who disclosed this sunday, said the airstrikes were authorised after confirming that those locations were littered with criminals carrying out their nefarious activities. He observed to  be loaded with illegally refined products and heading into open waters was also engaged and destroyed.