Workers’ Day: Atiku’s company fires 46 workers

Gotel Communications Ltd, based in Yola, Adamawa State and owned by Nigeria’s former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has sacked 46 workers.

Gotel Communications, which is a television- cum- radio company, issued sacked letters to affected staff on Friday, May 1.

The workers were told to leave the company with immediately after receiving their letters.

One of the sacked letters obtained by The Nation, reads: “The management has decided to discontinue your services with immediate effect.

“Consequently, please be informed that your entitlements, including stipend in lieu of notice, will be computed and posted into your account with immediate effect.”

The letter was signed by Gotel Communications General Manager, Mohammed El-Yakub.

Confusion arose by Friday evening over how many of the workers were sacked.

One of the affected workers said that they were 51 but another said the original list actually contained 56 names while the list got reduced eventually to 46.

A different source said the company had been facing financial constraints for a long while and possibility of the Friday’s development had long been speculated.

Source: PM News

I'm Not Dead — Ghali Na’Abba Dispell Fake News

By Nigeria Latest News Blog

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Na’Abba, has dispell reports insinuating that he died of COVID-19 pandemic.

Na’Abba  debunked rumours making the rounds on social media that he was dead.

Na’Abba, who spoke in a video sent to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Kano, dismissed the report as misleading and rumour.

“Fellow Nigerians; I am Ghali Na’Abba, Speaker of the National Assembly from 1999 to 2003. I have been hearing rumours in recent days that I was dead.

“I am doing this video in order to prove to Nigerians and the world that I am alive, hale and hearty.

"Also I would like to condole with others who have lost their loved ones to the deadly pandemic.”

Na’Abba was the Speaker of the Green Chamber of the National Assembly during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Fayemi promises better welfare package for Ekiti workers

..Approves stipends for vulnerable, sick workers

May 1, 2020

Rasaq Ibrahim, Ado-Ekiti

The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has assured all workers in the state that his administration would continue to make their welfare a top priority.

Fayemi applauded the workers for their efforts so far which he said had assisted the state to move forward with quality service delivery, assured his administration’s commitment to giving workers better welfare within the available meagre resources.

He gave the assurance in a statewide broadcast in Ado-Ekiti on Friday in commemoration of the 2020 International Workers’ Day celebration, with the theme: “COVID-19 Pandemic and its Social Economic Impact on the Nigerian Working Class”.

The Governor regretted that this year’s celebration was devoid of the usual fanfare and joy due to the lockdown brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, which he said was a global scourge.

He added the surge of the pandemic, in the state and its negative consequences, was largely responsible for the delayed implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage for senior workers in the state.

The governor stated that the Public Service Joint Negotiation Council was on the brink of concluding negotiations on the consequential adjustment arising from the minimum wage, when the pandemic dealt a fatal blow on global economy, the national and state economy.

This, he said, may affect the resumption of negotiations but expressed optimism that the pandemic would soon be defeated, and that the world economy would come out of the present recession to enable the State finalize deal on the process and its consequential adjustments.

Fayemi said the labour movement in Ekiti State has been resilient and sacrificial urging them to be patient with the administration saying efforts are in the pipeline to make life more bearable for the workers.

“Salaries, pensions and gratuities are being paid as and when due. I am sure you have received your April 2020 salary and all allowances due to our health workers who are at the frontline of COVID-19 response have been paid.

“We continue to pay the N30, 000 minimum wage for junior cadre in the public service and have reinstated merit based appointments to elevate the standards of the public service.

He urged workers to be dedicated to their duties and support the government of the day with quality service delivery to contribute their quota to the development of the state.

Fayemi, however, approved financial assistance for bedridden, vulnerable and widows in the civil service to assuage their sufferings.

“I have accepted the list submitted by the leadership of organized labour, Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress with details of most vulnerable, sick, those that involved in accident, widows and widowers and approved money for them as a little leverage of government support in commemoration of this years May Day.

“As a government, we are determined to play our part at making work and its environment conducive for Ekiti workers. This, we believe is the only way that we can inspire our workers to give in their best in the implementation of policies and programmes of our government.”

Source: The Nations Newspaper

People without face masks in public will be prosecuted – FG

The Federal Government has released new guidelines for the new phase of containment of COVID-19 from May 4 to May 17, 2020.

Part the guidelines which were signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, stated that anyone without a face mask in public will be prosecuted.

The guidelines were also specific about information to the general public, guidance to states and security agencies and description of activities allowed under the new phase.

The SGF said, “Anyone who presents a temperature of above 38ºC will be mandated to return home and call

NCDC for evaluation.

“Anyone without a face mask/covering will be asked to return home and will be prosecuted.

“Anyone violating the curfew in a non-emergency situation will be prosecuted. Anyone attending a gathering of more than 20 people will be prosecuted.

“Any member of the public who violates the ban on Inter-State movement as outlined in this guideline will be prosecuted.”

The statement also stated guidelines for the ease of lockdown in Lagos, Ogun and the FCT.

It said, “Following improvements in the multisectoral response to COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Government of Nigeria has decided that there will be a phased and gradual easing of the lockdown in Lagos and Ogun States as well as the Federal Capital Territory effective from Monday, 4th May 2020.

“The easing of the lockdown will be characterised by the mandatory use of non-medical face mask/covering for all persons while in public spaces. Latex hand gloves should not be worn except for specific medical purposes.

“The mandatory provision of handwashing facilities/sanitizers in all public places. All interstate travel is prohibited except for essential travels and services such as transportation of agricultural products, petroleum products, relief items, goods, commodities related to the COVID-19 response, and persons on essential duty.”

The new advisory also prohibited the mass gathering of more than 20 people outside of a workplace while there would be controlled access to markets and locations of economic activities. 

The FG retained the ban on all passenger flights with religious gatherings also restricted.

For intra-state travel in public transport, the guideline recommended a maximum of 50 per cent of usual occupancy while taxis were ordered to carry only four persons including the driver.

“All schools to remain closed until further evaluation. Schools are encouraged to continue with e-learning and visual teaching. State governments and security agencies are enjoined to ensure effective and strict enforcement of these guidelines.

“The level of compliance with these guidelines will be reviewed in two weeks before additional guidelines for phase two is issued,” it added.

Source: NewsDirect

Donate your buildings as isolation centres, minister begs Nigerians

Olufemi Atoyebi , Abuja

The Minister of Health , Dr Osagie Ehanire , on Thursday , appealed to Nigerians to donate their buildings as isolation centres 

Ehanire made the appeal at the press briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 in Abuja.

He said as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control aimed to test two million people in the next three months more buildings would be needed as isolation centres .

The minister stated , “ I have appealed to citizens to make their property available temporarily for this purpose. I am sure that after that, there are many property owners who will come up and donate to state governments for a period of time to be used for this function.

“ We are not out of space now but we are making the appeal ahead of time so that we have these facilities ready .”

Ehanire said that he was aware that the hazard allowance of health workers in the frontline of COVID- 19 fight was being negotiated, but said that it did not include that of environmental health personnel.

Ehanire stated also that test capacity of the 15 laboratories in Nigeria had reached 2500 . He, therefore, called on Nigerians to take advantage of the facilities.

Source: Punch Newspaper 

COVID-19: Ekiti Senator Gives Second Phase Of Palliatives To Constituents

By Bakare Lukman

May 1st, 2020

The Senator representing Ekiti North Senatorial district, Olubunmi Adetunmbi had last week commenced the distribution of rice to his constituents as palliative measures to ease the effect of COVID-19 stay-home order, in the state.

The beneficiaries of the food items were mostly okada riders, drivers, artisans, teachers, civil servants, League of Imams & Alfas, CAN, traditional chiefs, widows, widowers, orphans and the aged.

The Senator said:

“In addition to all measures taken by the National Assembly as donation and palliative towards the fight against COVID-19, I made this contribution with the hope that it will provide some succour to many needy homes in our senatorial district.

“This is to let you know that we share your pains and we truly care, particularly to those who have been made vulnerable, resulting from the lockdown.

Senator Adetunmbi urged Ekiti people to stay safe by following precautionary measures given by the government, health professionals and the state COVID-19 task force team to stop the spread of the virus.

These efforts were basically to cushion the effect of the lockdown placed on the state and the country in general, ensuring that that citizens are not exposed to contracting the dreaded disease, whilst trying to fend for their means of livelihood.