"This, for me, is the start of a very important journey, and it is my prayer that I arrive safely at my destination."

The former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata, has joined the Labour Party (LP).

Mr Akpata, a lawyer, confirmed this in a post he made on his Twitter page on Tuesday.

"Quite a number of people have called/messaged me to confirm the news, currently making the rounds, that I have joined a political party.

"Yes...I joined the @labourparty_ng in March this year and on Sunday I attended my first Ward Meeting at Oredo Ward 6, in Benin-City, where I was formally introduced to members of the Ward and presented with my Party membership card," he said on the microblogging platform.

Mr Akpata said he joined the LP because he "got tired" of complaining about the happenings in Nigeria.

"I decided to take the plunge and to try to be part of the solution rather than agonising continually over the problem," he said.

"This was a major step for me and not one that I took lightly," he added.

"This, for me, is the start of a very important journey, and it is my prayer that I arrive safely at my destination."

It is unclear if Mr Akpata will run for any elective office soon.

The Peoples Democratic Party is the ruling party in Edo State, where the former NBA president hails from. The All Progressives Congress, which is the ruling party at the national level, has a significant influence on the state's politics.

The LP has been greatly transformed into a formidable political party in Nigeria since Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, South-east Nigeria, joined the party in May last year and eventually became its 2023 presidential candidate.

[Premium Times]

The Chelsea forward tore China to pieces, scoring two goals and laying on three assists for her team-mates. Had it not been for VAR, which was more of a thorn in England’s side than China, James would have had a hat-trick.

The 21-year-old deserved one as she was simply unplayable here as the Lionesses well and truly clicked into gear at this World Cup.

This 6-1 victory over China secured them top spot in Group D and setup a last-16 showdown against Nigeria in Brisbane on Monday. On the evidence of this, England will take some stopping as they excelled with a formation that caught everyone off guard.

The belief before this World Cup was that Sarina Wiegman is reluctant to make changes. But faced with the major headache of having no Keira Walsh for this final group game, the Lionesses boss sprung a huge tactical surprise.

Wiegman made three changes to her starting XI, the most she has ever made for a game at a major tournament during her managerial career, and England lined up in a back-three.

The last time they did that was November 2021, when England won 20-0. This victory over China wasn’t quite as emphatic, but the Lionesses still ran out comfortable winners and sent out a message to their tournament rivals.

After winning their first two matches 1-0, the Lionesses looked like themselves again here in Adelaide.

The new 3-4-1-2 formation got them flowing in attack as all of Wiegman’s tactical tweaks paid off. The Dutch women’s golden touch has not evaded her since Euro 2022.

The back-three looked solid, with Jess Carter justifying her place. Captain Millie Bright also looked the sharpest she has all tournament and was involved in the first two goals, winning the ball and setting England on their way to scoring.

In midfield, Katie Zelem, starting her first ever game for England, was neat and tidy. She wasn’t Walsh, no one is, but she was a solid understudy who should get more minutes going forward.

Zelem kept it simple and let those ahead of her thrive, in particular James. The 21-year-old was the match winner for England’s win over Denmark last Friday and she was the star of the show here too.

James was the Lionesses’ spark and around her everyone shone. Rachel Daly had boundless energy as a left wing-back, causing China all manner of problems. In attack, Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp clicked as a front-two, with both putting sub-par starts to the tournament behind them.

Indeed, it was Russo and Hemp who put England two goals to the good within the first half an hour.

Russo’s goal came in under four minutes, when everyone inside the Hindmarsh Stadium was still working out what formation England were playing. Hemp got in down the left and her cross found James, who set it to Russo to score.

Just over 20 minutes later, it was Hemp’s turn. Bright won the ball, shrugged off another player and fed James. The Chelsea forward then found Hemp with a through-ball which split the defence. Hemp has looked short of confidence recently, but she raced through and slotted the ball home with so much composure.

By now, England were flying and James made it three just before the break. A free-kick was rolled to her on the edge of the box and she curled it first time into the bottom corner. Leah Williamson was right, James is a “cheat code”.

She should have had a second before half-time when she curled one into the top corner, this time with her left foot. VAR, however, baffling judged Lucy Bronze was offside in the build-up.

Shortly after half-time, Bronze was on the wrong side of another VAR call. This time she was said to have handled a goal-bound shot. A penalty was given and Wang Shuang made no mistake.

For a brief moment after that, it looked like China may rally. They had the vast majority of support here inside this 14,000-seater stadium and the goal got their tails up.

James, however, swiftly ended that comeback. First she volleyed one home with her left foot from a Bronze cross, and then she setup Chloe Kelly for a fifth.

England added a sixth late on through Daly and, for once, James wasn’t involved. By that point she was, literally, wrapped in blanket on the bench.

And no wonder, the 21-year-old is England’s new star.

[https://www.standard.co.uk]

My fellow citizens,

1. I want to talk to you about our economy. It is important that you understand the reasons for the policy measures I have taken to combat the serious economic challenges this nation has long faced.
2. I am not going to talk in difficult terms by dwelling on economic jargon and concepts. I will speak in plain, clear language so that you know where I stand. More importantly, so that you see and hopefully will share my vision regarding the journey to a better, more productive economy for our beloved country.
3. For several years, I have consistently maintained the position that the fuel subsidy had to go. This once beneficial measure had outlived its usefulness. The subsidy cost us trillions of Naira yearly. Such a vast sum of money would have been better spent on public transportation, healthcare, schools, housing and even national security. Instead, it was being funnelled into the deep pockets and lavish bank accounts of a select group of individuals.
4. This group had amassed so much wealth and power that they became a serious threat to the fairness of our economy and the integrity of our democratic governance. To be blunt, Nigeria could never become the society it was intended to be as long as such small, powerful yet unelected groups hold enormous influence over our political economy and the institutions that govern it.
5. The whims of the few should never hold dominant sway over the hopes and aspirations of the many. If we are to be a democracy, the people and not the power of money must be sovereign.
6. The preceding administration saw this looming danger as well. Indeed, it made no provision in the 2023 Appropriations for subsidy after June this year. Removal of this once helpful device that had transformed into a millstone around the country’s neck had become inevitable.
7. Also, the multiple exchange rate system that had been established became nothing but a highway of currency speculation. It diverted money that should have been used to create jobs, build factories and businesses for millions of people. Our national wealth was doled on favourable terms to a handful of people who have been made filthy rich simply by moving money from one hand to another. This too was extremely unfair.
8. It also compounded the threat that the illicit and mass accumulation of money posed to the future of our democratic system and its economy.
9. I had promised to reform the economy for the long-term good by fighting the major imbalances that had plagued our economy. Ending the subsidy and the preferential exchange rate system were key to this fight. This fight is to define the fate and future of our nation. Much is in the balance.
10. Thus, the defects in our economy immensely profited a tiny elite, the elite of the elite you might call them. As we moved to fight the flaws in the economy, the people who grow rich from them, predictably, will fight back through every means necessary.
11. Our economy is going through a tough patch and you are being hurt by it. The cost of fuel has gone up. Food and other prices have followed it. Households and businesses struggle. Things seem anxious and uncertain. I understand the hardship you face. I wish there were other ways. But there is not. If there were, I would have taken that route as I came here to help not hurt the people and nation that I love.
12. What I can offer in the immediate is to reduce the burden our current economic situation has imposed on all of us, most especially on businesses, the working class and the most vulnerable among us.
13. Already, the Federal Government is working closely with states and local governments to implement interventions that will cushion the pains of our people across socio-economic brackets.
14. Earlier this month, I signed four (4) Executive Orders in keeping with my electoral promise to address unfriendly fiscal policies and multiple taxes that are stifling the business environment. These Executive Orders on suspension and deferred commencement of some taxes will provide the necessary buffers and headroom to businesses in manufacturing sector to continue to thrive and expand.
15. To strengthen the manufacturing sector, increase its capacity to expand and create good paying jobs, we are going to spend N75 billion between July 2023 and March 2024. Our objective is to fund 75 enterprises with great potential to kick-start a sustainable economic growth, accelerate structural transformation and improve productivity. Each of the 75 manufacturing enterprises will be able to access N1billion credit at 9% per annum with maximum of 60 months repayment for long term loans and 12 months for working capital.
16. Our administration recognises the importance of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and the informal sector as drivers of growth. We are going to energise this very important sector with N125 billion.
17. Out of the sum, we will spend N50 billion on Conditional Grant to 1 million nano businesses between now and March 2024. Our target is to give N50,000 each to 1,300 nano business owners in each of the 774 local governments across the country.
18. Ultimately, this programme will further drive financial inclusion by onboarding beneficiaries into the formal banking system. In like manner, we will fund 100,000 MSMEs and start-ups with N75 billion. Under this scheme, each enterprise promoter will be able to get between N500,000 to N1million at 9% interest per annum and a repayment period of 36 months.
19. To further ensure that prices of food items remain affordable, we have had a multi-stakeholder engagement with various farmers’ associations and operators within the agricultural value chain.
20. In the short and immediate terms, we will ensure staple foods are available and affordable. To this end, I have ordered release of 200,000 Metric Tonnes of grains from strategic reserves to households across the 36 states and FCT to moderate prices. We are also providing 225,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer, seedlings and other inputs to farmers who are committed to our food security agenda.
21. Our plan to support cultivation of 500,000 hectares of farmland and all-year-round farming practice remains on course. To be specific, N200 billion out of the N500 billion approved by the National Assembly will be disbursed as follows:

-Our administration will invest N50 billion each to cultivate 150,000 hectares of rice and maize.
-N50 billion each will also be earmarked to cultivate 100,000 hectares of wheat and cassava.

22. This expansive agricultural programme will be implemented targeting small-holder farmers and leveraging large-scale private sector players in the agric business with strong performance record.
23. In this regard, the expertise of Development Finance Institutions, commercial banks and microfinance banks will be tapped into to develop a viable and an appropriate transaction structure for all stakeholders.
24. Fellow Nigerians, I made a solemn pledge to work for you. How to improve your welfare and living condition is of paramount importance to me and it’s the only thing that keeps me up day and night.
25. It is in the light of this that I approved Infrastructure Support Fund for the States. This new Infrastructure Fund will enable States to intervene and invest in critical areas and bring relief to many of the pain points as well as revamp our decaying healthcare and educational Infrastructure.
26. The fund will also bring improvements to rural access roads to ease evacuation of farm produce to markets. With the fund, our states will become more competitive and on a stronger financial footing to deliver economic prosperity to Nigerians.
27. Part of our programme is to roll out buses across the states and local governments for mass transit at a much more affordable rate. We have made provision to invest N100 billion between now and March 2024 to acquire 3000 units of 20-seater CNG-fuelled buses.
28. These buses will be shared to major transportation companies in the states, using the intensity of travel per capital. Participating transport companies will be able to access credit under this facility at 9% per annum with 60 months repayment period.
29. In the same vein, we are also working in collaboration with the Labour unions to introduce a new national minimum wage for workers. I want to tell our workers this: your salary review is coming.
30. Once we agree on the new minimum wage and general upward review, we will make budget provision for it for immediate implementation.
31. I want to use this opportunity to salute many private employers in the Organised Private Sector who have already implemented general salary review for employees.
32. Fellow Nigerians, this period may be hard on us and there is no doubt about it that it is tough on us. But I urge you all to look beyond the present temporary pains and aim at the larger picture. All of our good and helpful plans are in the works. More importantly, I know that they will work.
33. Sadly, there was an unavoidable lag between subsidy removal and these plans coming fully on line. However, we are swiftly closing the time gap. I plead with you to please have faith in our ability to deliver and in our concern for your well-being.
34. We will get out of this turbulence. And, due to the measures we have taken, Nigeria will be better equipped and able to take advantage of the future that awaits her.
35. In a little over two months, we have saved over a trillion Naira that would have been squandered on the unproductive fuel subsidy which only benefitted smugglers and fraudsters. That money will now be used more directly and more beneficially for you and your families.
36. For example, we shall fulfill our promise to make education more affordable to all and provide loans to higher education students who may need them. No Nigerian student will have to abandon his or her education because of lack of money.
37. Our commitment is to promote the greatest good for the greatest number of our people. On this principle, we shall never falter.
38. We are also monitoring the effects of the exchange rate and inflation on gasoline prices. If and when necessary, we will intervene.
39. I assure you my fellow country men and women that we are exiting the darkness to enter a new and glorious dawn.
40. Now, I must get back to work in order to make this vision come true.
41. Thank you all for listening and may God bless Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Everton may still be interested in Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho this summer as Sean Dyche explores what attacking options are available to him.

The 26-year-old Nigerian international striker scored eight goals for the Foxes in all competitions last season.

And while Everton have a “mild interest” for the Nigeria international, “no approach has yet been made”.

That is according to BBC Sport, who report that Everton boss Sean Dyche has confirmed that the Toffees have missed out on some key targets this summer.

Dyche said: “It’s a tough market. 

“There is only so much that we can do, so we are working very hard – I can assure everyone of that – to construct deals that can work.

“There is no exact moment until it’s over the line. 

“There have been situations where we have been into where we thought we were going to get it over the line and we don’t – that’s the way it goes.

“A lack of goals is always a concern because you need to score to win games.”

[EagleOnline]

Holders the United States survived a huge scare to reach the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup on Tuesday after a 0-0 draw against Portugal, who were unlucky not to claim a sensational win at Eden Park that would have taken them through instead.

The USA struggled to impose themselves against opponents ranked 21st in the world and appearing at their first World Cup, and Portugal almost won the game in injury time when substitute Ana Capeta hit the post.

Holding on for the draw means Vlatko Andonovski’s side finish in second place in Group E.

The Netherlands go through as group winners after a 7-0 demolition of a Vietnam side who were beaten just 3-0 by the Americans in their first match at the tournament.

That means pre-tournament favourites the USA will move to Australia to play a last-16 tie on Sunday against the winners of Group G, in all likelihood Olympic silver medallists Sweden.

Nothing about their performance here in front of almost 41,000 in Auckland, or in their two previous matches at the tournament, suggests the United States will find it easy going against a side who finished third at the last World Cup.

It is just the second time in Women’s World Cup history that the USA have failed to top their group, although on the last occasion, in 2011, they reached the final before losing on penalties to Japan.

They had never before won just one group game, and the regression from four years ago in France is striking.

That time they won all three matches in the first phase, rattling in 18 goals without reply.

Andonovski has insisted a youthful new team will need time to find its feet, but an urgent step-up will be required if they are not to be eliminated early in the knockout phase.

The US have never before failed to reach the semi-finals in the eight prior editions of the World Cup.

– Lavelle handed start –

Andonovski made two changes from the 1-1 draw with the Netherlands, with Rose Lavelle rewarded for her game-changing role off the bench in that game with a first start at the tournament.

Savannah DeMelo made way for her, while Lynn Williams was brought in on the right wing as Trinity Rodman dropped out.

Portugal had to win to go through but played as if there was no pressure on them at all, with Andreia Norton shooting over early on and the lively Jessica Silva dragging a shot wide from a good position soon after.

They had more of the possession, and the much-fancied Americans struggled to match the intensity or aggression of a Portugal team who had beaten Vietnam 2-0 in their last match.

Starting a World Cup match for the first time, Williams found the going tough but did have her team’s best chances in the opening half, including a snap-shot in stoppage time that was saved by goalkeeper Ines Pereira.

The US started better in the second half but Andonovski was alarmed enough to call for Megan Rapinoe, the veteran replacing Sophia Smith just after the hour mark.

Yet clear chances remained at a minimum and there were some nervy moments at the other end, like when Naomi Girma was booked for a panicked pull on Silva late on.

There was more panic in the US defence in the first minute of injury time when Capeta, who had just come on, smashed a shot off the upright as the holders grimly held on.

In a developing geopolitical situation, tensions are brewing within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) over the issue of military intervention in Niger Republic. Guinea has raised concerns that such an intervention could lead to the dislocation of ECOWAS as a regional body.

The call for military action in Niger Republic stems from ongoing security challenges and political instability in the region. However, Guinea’s President, Alpha Conde, has expressed reservations about the potential consequences of such a move, stating that it could cause disarray and discord among ECOWAS member states.

Instead, Guinea is urging ECOWAS to prioritize the welfare of African migrants in Tunisia, highlighting the humanitarian crisis that many of these migrants face. The country contends that ECOWAS should concentrate on collaborative efforts to address migration issues and provide support to those in need.

On the other hand, Burkina Faso and Mali have taken a different stance, voicing their unwavering support for Niger against any military intervention. According to a joint statement released by the leaders of Burkina Faso and Mali, they believe that a military intervention would be deemed a “declaration of war” and could escalate tensions in the already volatile region.

The situation is drawing widespread attention, with implications for regional stability and cooperation. As ECOWAS member states navigate through these complex issues, the region faces a crucial test of unity and collective decision-making.

The ongoing discussions among the ECOWAS member states have drawn international interest and concern. The international community is closely monitoring the situation to understand the implications it may have on security, migration, and diplomatic relations within the West African region.

As events unfold, ECOWAS leaders are under pressure to find a balanced approach that addresses the security concerns in Niger Republic while safeguarding the unity and stability of the regional body. The outcome of these deliberations will shape the future direction of ECOWAS and its role in addressing regional challenges.

Source: Instablog9ja

The Nigerian Army says combined troops of 82 Division, the Nigeria Police and security agencies have successfully raided hideouts and training camps belonging to IPOB/ESN in Orsomoghu forest, spanning Anambra and Imo States.

Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director Army Public Relations, in a statement on Tuesday, said the troops were alerted about the violent activities of IPOB/ESN in Onitsha, Nnewi and Iheme Obosi in Anambra State, as well as New Market in Enugu State.

According to the statement, during the operations, the troops cleared IPOB camps in Ekeututu, Orsomoghu, Lilu and Mother Valley camps of the dissidents.

It said troops came in contact with the group’s armed fighters, who detonated Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) also known as Ogbunigwe using locally fabricated mortar tubes.

“The valiant troops however overpowered the irredentist group in the firefight, compelling them to abandon their position as they fled with gunshot wounds into nearby bushes,” the statement said.

He said the troops arrested five fleeing members of the group and recovered one IPOB flag, one CCTV camera and two detonated IED bombs and a fabricated mortar tube.

The statement added that five soldiers and two Nigeria Police operatives sustained varying degrees of injuries from the IED detonated by the criminals.

The statement encouraged all law-abiding citizens of the South-East to continue to support ongoing operations with actionable information and to disregard the unlawful two weeks sit-at-home order by going about their normal daily activities and businesses.

[DailyPost]

Nigerian leaders must realise that nations are not built to the personalisation of governance and justice. They have to draw a line between what they want and what the country wants. There is a reason the symbol of justice is blindfolded. Laws are laws and must be respected, no matter how they run against the desires of the leaders. It is by respecting the constitution and court judgments that a country can make both her citizens and foreigners have confidence in her.

Last week, the Department of State Services created some embarrassment for Nigeria with the show of shame it displayed at the Federal High Court in Lagos State. And sadly, it was obvious that the DSS had the blessing of President Bola Tinubu, because there was no statement from the presidency condemning that act, neither was there any announcement meting out punishment for the leadership of the DSS.

The Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, was in court over the case brought against him by the DSS. Shortly after Tinubu’s inauguration, Emefiele was suspended as the CBN governor and then arrested. Curiously, rather than charge him for some serious offence regarding his tenure as the governor of the CBN, he was charged for the possession of a gun that was allegedly found in his residence the day the DSS arrested him, making people to wonder if the Tinubu administration had nothing against Emefiele before the secret police went to effect his arrest.

On Tuesday when the court sat over his case, it granted him bail because his alleged offence was bailable. However, the court placed him in the care of the Nigerian Correctional Service, which used to be called the Nigerian Prison Service, pending his fulfilment of his bail conditions. This did not go down well with the DSS, which wanted to keep him in its care. As the court session ended and efforts were on to take Emefiele out by the NCoS, some hooded members of the DSS swooped on members of the NCoS. They manhandled the operatives of the NCoS while those within the premises of the court, including journalists, booed them and videoed them with their cameras and phone cameras. The DSS men were not deterred. They pressed on until they eventually got Emefiele and whisked him away.

On Thursday, an Abuja High Court rejected an application by the DSS seeking to detain Emefiele for another 14 days. Yet the DSS has not released him.

Acts like this are captured on camera and news stories and published both online and in hard copies. People all over the world see them and make their conclusions that Nigeria is a lawless country or a dictatorship. Interestingly, these are the people the presidency is making efforts to convince to invest in Nigeria. He has already travelled to some countries purportedly to woo foreign investors to invest in Nigeria. One wonders how foreign leaders who have seen such acts of impunity and lawlessness will be keen to invest their funds in Nigeria.

Investors are not Santa Claus. Investment means putting funds into a business with the hope of getting profits. If an administration does not obey the pronouncements of its country’s law courts, how can it respect the funds of an expatriate? What gives individuals and organisations the confidence to invest in truly democratic countries is that they are sure that laws and policies of such countries are clear and are respected by whoever is in power. They are confident that if there is a dispute and they decide to sue the government, the court would dispense judgment impartially. And if the judgment is against the government, the same government will respect that pronouncement. This is why when people feel oppressed in most parts of the world, they usually seek refuge in Western democracies.

The actions of the DSS on Emefiele give the impression that the Tinubu administration does not seem to be pursuing justice against Emefiele but vendetta. It has been a curious form of power show exhibited by most past presidents. For example, when Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua came into office in 2007, the current National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, was removed as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. It did not stop there. He was demoted by two ranks. Then he was eventually sacked from the police. He fled the country. The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, was also targeted. He also fled the country. Both men did not return to Nigeria until after the death of Yar’Adua and the assumption of office of Dr Goodluck Jonathan in 2010.

A similar thing occurred under the presidency of Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.). Upon Buhari’s assumption of office in 2015, the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), was arrested and detained. Despite various court rulings, Buhari refused to release him. It was alleged that Buhari was getting his pound of flesh against Dasuki for his participation in the coup of August 1985 that ousted him. Buhari also kept the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, incarcerated from 2021 until the end of his administration in May 2023 despite the various court rulings against his detention.

Similarly, it is being alleged that Tinubu is punishing Emefiele for his action of changing the design of the naira and making naira scarce during the campaign period for the 2023 elections, an action which is insinuated to have been embarked upon to weaken the presidential bid of Tinubu. Among the key presidential candidates, only Tinubu (and his aides) complained about the naira redesign, accusing Emefiele of economic sabotage before the election. Some governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress even went to court to get an order of the court reversing the announcement made by the CBN on the non-acceptance of the old naira notes after a certain date. Ironically, even though Buhari confirmed verbally that he endorsed the monetary policy taken by Emefiele, Tinubu has completely looked away from Buhari and made Emefiele the fall guy.

What runs through all this is the issue of personalising governance and mixing up justice with vendetta. There is a queer attitude of all Nigerian security agencies about justice. They all seem to derive some joy in locking people up as long as possible, even without any court sentence. They play all kinds of tricks and give all kinds of excuses to keep people in detention. One can see that they are more concerned about “teaching their victims a lesson” than with bringing such people to justice.

Justice seeks to use the law to decide the fate of an accused person, while vendetta seeks to punish an accused person for personal reasons. Justice makes people cautious about their actions. It also makes people regret their wrong actions. But vendetta completely takes away attention from the issue at stake and turns the accused person into a victim of power show. No positive lessons are learnt from it. Conversely, victims may become thick-skinned and avoid doing the right thing in future, because of their belief that doing the right thing does not pay.

Nigerian leaders must realise that nations are not built to the personalisation of governance and justice. They have to draw a line between what they want and what the country wants. There is a reason the symbol of justice is blindfolded. Laws are laws and must be respected, no matter how they run against the desires of the leaders. It is by respecting the constitution and court judgments that a country can make both her citizens and foreigners have confidence in her. It’s only when citizens and foreigners have confidence in a country that they can invest in such a country and rest assured that their investment is safe.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio said salaries of members of the National Assembly were not enough to take care of demands from their constituents.

Akpabio stated this on Monday, while contributing to the debate on a motion sponsored by Abdulraman Kawu Suleiman, member of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) representing Kano South, on the need to avert impending strike planned by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

He said with the volume of requests from various constituents represented in the National Assembly, lawmakers’ earnings were too inadequate to cater for those requests.

Akpabio conceded that though hardships associated with the removal of subsidy on petroleum products were enormous, there was need for the people to be more patient with government while steps were being taken to ameliorate sufferings of the people.

In defending his motion, Kawu said “the strike would cripple the country as movement would be severely curtailed as commercial transport operators would withdraw their services, while markets, schools and healthcare facilities would be forced to shut down.”

Kawu added said the action could heat up the polity when it occurred, and the gains from the strike would be far below the costs to either of the parties in conflict.

He said,“The strike threat by the NLC, if not averted, could plunge Nigeria into deeper economic woes, dislocate businesses, hunger, frustration, more hardship that would lead to unquantified financial losses and reduce Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“NLC strike is also a bad reputation for the Nigerian economy and the educational system because it portrays the country in a bad light to the external world and discourages foreigners from coming to do business or study in Nigeria,” Kawu said.

The Senate after the debate mandated its leadership to interface between the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Federal Government in order to avert strike.

[Vanguard]