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Government Reaffirms Commitment To Welfare Of Doctors, Tertiary Institution Workers In Bayelsa

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Bayelsa Governor Diri Reportedly Considers Defection To APC

Government Reaffirms Commitment To Welfare Of Doctors, Tertiary Institution Workers In Bayelsa

Government reaffirms commitment to welfare of doctors, tertiary institution workers in Bayelsa. “This administration will not play with workers’ welfare. We will continue to treat them fairly,” he said.

Bayelsa deputy governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has assured members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and workers of state-owned tertiary institutions of the state government’s continued commitment to their welfare.

Mr Ewhrudjakpo gave the assurance at separate meetings with the executives of the state’s  branch of the NMA and representatives of the various state-owned tertiary institutions, in Yenagoa on Sunday.

The deputy governor said that the Gov. Douye Diri-led administration had never treated issues concerning workers with levity right from its inception in 2020.

He said that the Bayelsa government was among the first few states that approved and immediately implemented the current minimum wage, because it believed every worker was worthy of a fair wage.

Mr Ewhrudjakpo assured the NMA and workers in the state-owned tertiary institutions that the present administration would continue to ensure that no worker was deprived of his or her legitimate entitlement.

On the issue of upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS) for medical doctors, he clarified that it would be addressed through the Minimum Wage Implementation Committee and directed the NMA to nominate two of its members to be part of the committee.

He decried the situation where some labour unions issue ultimatums for strike in the midst of negotiations, describing such practice as illegal and alien to the extant labour laws of the country.

He said: “first of all, I want to state this. I am not too sure that any labour law states that while negotiations are going on you give an ultimatum or warning for going on strike. It is never done anywhere.

“There are conditions or precedents leading to strike. One of them is that there is a complete breakdown of negotiations. Our negotiations are still ongoing, so your notice of warning strike is not justified.

“Our high-powered Committee on the Review of Implementation of the New Minimum Wage is working round the clock to address all the issues arising from the implementation in the state.

“This administration will not play with workers’ welfare. We will continue to treat them fairly.

“It would interest you to know that Bayelsa is one of the few states in the country that have implemented the new National Minimum Wage so far,” he said.

Mr Ewhrudjakpo directed all state-owned tertiary institutions to pay revenues from registration and school fees to a dedicated bank account.

He added that the move would, among other benefits, help to improve the internally generated revenue of the state.

Douye Diri-led

Douye Diri-led

The deputy governor urged academics not to rest on their oars to produce quality graduates for industry, leadership and academia.
Earlier, the chairman of the NMA, Bayelsa Branch, Wilcox Izibeya, lamented the avoidable exodus of qualified medical personnel from Bayelsa.

He called on the government to quickly address the issue of reviewing CONMESS and the payment of the accruable arrears.

Also, the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the Niger Delta University,  Allen Agih, and his counterpart  in The University of Africa, Toru-Orua, Solomon Ebobrah, welcomed the policy initiative and called on government to create opportunities to meet more frequently.

Economy

Okpebholo Threatening Me With Violence, I’ll Fight Back Says Obaseki

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Obaseki

Okpebholo Threatening Me With Violence, I’ll Fight Back Says Obaseki

Okpebholo threatening me with violence, I’ll fight back says Obaseki. Godwin Obaseki, the immediate past governor of Edo, has accused Monday Okpebholo, his successor, of threatening him with violence. Obaseki spoke during the weekend at an event in London, the United Kingdom.

BACKGROUND
Since assuming office in November 2024, Okpebholo has initiated a series of actions aimed at scrutinising Obaseki’s tenure.

He first constituted a 14-member committee to investigate the assets, liabilities, contracts, and financial decisions made under Obaseki.

Okpebholo then expanded the scrutiny to the state civil service, ordering a probe into all recruitments conducted between May and November 2024, alleging a violation of due process.

Last week, Okpebholo asked the federal government to repatriate Obaseki to answer questions over public funds linked to the controversial Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) project.

‘OKPEBHOLO THREATENING ME’

Obaseki said the governor is threatening him with violence and allegedly sent thugs to attack him in the UK.

“Those who live by the sword will die by the sword,” Obaseki said. “And to tell the governor, Okpebholo, I don’t know him; I have never met him. When you start with violence, you will reap violence.

“For one year since I left office, I didn’t say one word. I decided to respect myself and allow them to try [in governance] as well. Go and find out, you won’t see one thing I said about his government.”

He accused Okpebholo’s government of being behind the attack on diplomats during the exhibition in MOWAA.

“As if that was not enough, the government paid people to come to Manchester to attack me,” he said.
“Who has started this violence? Is it me? Last week, this governor held a disgraceful press conference in which he threatened me not to come to Benin.

Obaseki

Obaseki

“They have been threatening violence. So if I respond, nobody should hold me responsible. “I can’t leave myself empty to be hurt and attacked by deranged people.

“So I am going to fight back. I will fight back. I didn’t start the fight. They are afraid. They know they did not win the election.”

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Economy

Jigawa: 9,600 Teachers Register For Special Training

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Teachers Register For Special Training

Jigawa: 9,600 Teachers Register For Special Training

Jigawa: 9,600 teachers register for special training. No fewer than 9,600 teachers under the Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) registered for a competency test to determine the specific training required to improve their skills and enhance teaching outcomes in the state.

The Executive Chairman of the Board, Professor Haruna Musa, revealed this while briefing journalists on the purpose of the examination, adding that 12,000 teachers were expected to register for the exam.

He explained that the state government, under the leadership of Governor Malam Umar Namadi, was committed to repositioning the state education sector as a key foundation for sustainable development, in line with its “12-Point Agenda.”

Prof. Haruna noted that while the government has been spending significant resources to improve educational infrastructure, meaningful learning improvements cannot be achieved without also enhancing the capabilities of teachers.

“Based on that, the State Executive Council approved for the board to organise a competency test for all teachers. This will enable us to understand the kind of training each teacher requires to improve his or her skills”.

“Out of the 9,600 teachers registered for the exam, over 70% have never attended any capacity-building training since they were employed, including some with over 15 years of service,” the Chairman added.

Teachers Register For Special Training

Teachers Register For Special Training

He stated that after the exam, the teachers will be categorised into three groups: Group A, those with both knowledge and teaching skills; Group B, those with knowledge but lacking teaching skills; and Group C, those lacking both knowledge and teaching skills.

“Each group will be offered specialised training. Those in Group C will undergo intensive training and subsequent examinations for a period to ensure they are equipped with the required knowledge and skills”.
“For those with slower learning uptake, we will attach them to competent teachers within their schools for ongoing guidance and mentorship,” Prof Haruna said.

He further stated that the project is not about retrenchment, but his primary goal is to enhance teachers’ capacity for better learning outcomes within the state’s basic education sector.

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PFA: Leadway Pensure Leverages Innovations For Quality Service Delivery

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Leadway Pensure

PFA: Leadway Pensure Leverages Innovations For Quality Service Delivery

PFA: Leadway pensure leverages innovations for quality service delivery. A Pension Fund Administrator (PFA), Leadway Pensure said, it is leveraging innovation to escalate quality

service delivery to its retirement savings account (RSA) holders. This milestone marks 20 years of trust, exceptional service delivery, and value creation as it celebrates its anniversary. It highlights two decades of dedication to protecting the financial wellness of Nigerian workers.

Over the last 20 years, the PFA has served thousands of customers across Nigeria and beyond, standing as a clear testament to its commitment to providing financial stability at various stages of workers’ career journeys.

Speaking on this remarkable achievement, MD/CEO, Leadway Pensure PFA, Olusakin Labeodan, stated that: “As we celebrate 20 years of Leadway Pensure PFA, this milestone is more than a celebration of longevity, it is a tribute to trust, service and innovation.

From the very beginning, our mission has been very clear, to deliver a pension system without barriersOver two decades, we have transformed this vision into reality by simplifying pension access, embracing cutting-edge technology, and ensuring our services are always within reach. With a nationwide presence, a robust mobile platform, and the AI-powered assistant LISA, we have made pension services accessible to eligible Nigerians.

“We have supported countless customers in achieving life goals, from retirement to home ownership, by ensuring access, clarity and care at every step. This is a testament to the strong relationships and legacy we have built with every customer. Trust is at the heart of our service, propelling us to uphold world-class standards and earning us global certifications such as ISO/IEC 27001:2022 for information security, a mark of our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our customers’ funds. ”

Leadway Pensure

Leadway Pensure

Looking ahead, the company said, it is committed to promoting youth-focused financial literacy, growing personal pension plans and strengthening customer engagement across every stage of the pension journey.

“The next years and beyond will be shaped by the same dedication that brought us this far, a future-forward mindset, a culture of excellence, and an unyielding promise to stand by our customers every step of the way,” Olusakin concluded.

As it commemorates 20 years of service, Leadway Pensure reaffirms its commitment to simplifying retirement planning, delivering consistent value, and driving financial inclusion across Nigeria.

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