Index to Nigerian Newspapers

Nigeria's National Executive Council (NEC) meeting is set to decide on the planned nationwide strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). The NLC has requested the release of detained National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) members, which was one of their demands. The federal government has appealed to the NLC to reconsider its strike threat.

The federal government has reported an active diphtheria outbreak in 25 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in four states, including Bauchi, Katsina, Yobe, and Kaduna. The Federal Ministry of Health is working with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), states, and partners to effectively check the outbreak. A comprehensive response plan has been activated to ensure early detection, containment of cases, and preventing further transmission through a multi-phased response strategy. The 171 LGAs in 14 states are at high risk of further spread. The partnership aims to achieve intensified mass vaccination of identified populations at risk to curb the ongoing diphtheria outbreak. The immediate phase one response 5-days reactive catch-up campaign is planned for the affected 25 LGAs in four states from August 7th, targeting children under 14 years old. The full three rounds of the catch-up campaign are being prioritized in 14 states. The risk of death is higher in partially vaccinated or unvaccinated children.

The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) and the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Employees (NUIBFIE) have resolved key issues in an industrial dispute. The Permanent Secretary invited the parties to a conciliation meeting, where most issues were resolved. Unremitted pensions and NHF deductions will be remitted in 15 months. However, a Memorandum of Understanding was not signed due to disagreements over union demands.

Nigeria's Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has called for a stronger partnership with Germany's government on migration. The Nigerian-German Centre for Migration and Development (NGC) was established in 2018, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and implemented by GIZ. The collaboration has supported capacity building, policy development, and awareness campaigns around migration. Onyejeocha highlighted the achievements of the programme, including 320,000 individuals receiving individual support measures, 37,600 beneficiaries securing employment, 53,300 launching businesses, and 63,000 receiving individual counselling. She called for further collaboration and proposed bilateral labour migration agreements, or Memoranda of Understanding, to facilitate regulated labour migration, benefiting both nations.

Nigeria's Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has called for a stronger partnership with Germany's government on migration. The Nigerian-German Centre for Migration and Development (NGC) was established in 2018, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and implemented by GIZ. The collaboration has supported capacity building, policy development, and awareness campaigns around migration. Onyejeocha highlighted the achievements of the programme, including 320,000 individuals receiving individual support measures, 37,600 beneficiaries securing employment, 53,300 launching businesses, and 63,000 receiving individual counselling. She called for further collaboration and proposed bilateral labour migration agreements, or Memoranda of Understanding, to facilitate regulated labour migration, benefiting both nations.

Catholic Archibishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, has urged states to ensure that financial assistance is distributed to the intended population to cushion the effects of the economic "wahala." He questioned whether the N5 billion allocated by the federal government to each state as palliatives would reach the people in need. Niger State Governor Alhaji Mohammed Umaru Bago warns that the palliatives are not sustainable and urges Nigerians to seek alternative means of addressing economic hardship. The Marine Crafts Builders Association (MCBA) advises the federal government to consider the needs of over 50 million Nigerians living in riverine communities, who need government assistance to cushion the effects of subsidy removal.

Nigeria's transition process is underway with the inauguration of 45 ministers appointed by President Bola Tinubu to assist in policy formulation and campaign promises. The ministers will serve as an advisory body to the president and in policy formulation. Nigeria faces a precarious situation, with inflation at 24.08% and unemployment rising sharply. The new ministers will need to address issues such as trade policy alignment, Niger Delta's FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, South East's David Umahi, education, and health and social welfare. They will also address the country's poor health system, which contributes to high maternal mortality rates and the loss of medical practitioners to developed countries.Insecurity remains a significant challenge in Nigeria, with the Tinubu administration facing a surge in terrorist attacks. Over 100,000 insurgents have surrendered to the military, with protests over unpaid allowances. The new Ministers of Defence, State Defence, Police Affairs, and Police Affairs are expected to address security challenges, fund, equipment, and training issues.

Nigeria's Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) may declare an indefinite strike if no breakthrough in talks between the federal government and labour over relief measures following fuel subsidy removal is not made. The NLC has threatened a total shutdown of the country within 14-21 days unless steps are taken to address mass suffering and impoverishment.

Resident Doctors under the aegis of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have declared an indefinite strike over dispute with the federal government on salary and welfare matters. A former president of NARD, Dr. Godiya Ishaya confirmed the development to THISDAY, last night, in a telephone message. “It’s true NARD has declared a total and indefinite strike action,” he said. The association is insisting that the government should address all its six point demands, failing which it would no longer guarantee industrial harmony in the health sector nationwide. Among the demands of the doctors were the immediate payment of the 2023 MRTF as contained in the approved 2023 budget in line with various agreements reached with the government, that the government should without further delay, pay all outstanding arrears owed members including the hazard allowance and the skipping arrears of 2014-2016, and the arrears of consequential adjustment of minimum wage, arguing that there was no justifiable reason to keep owing the arrears and allowances. The NEC of NARD also insisted on the immediate implementation of minimum of 200 percent increment in the CONMESS salary structure and upward review of the associated allowances as requested in her previous letters on the subject matter, adding that the current economic realities in the country cannot justify the continued payment of CONMESS as it is at the moment.