The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) branch has commenced a five-day warning strike over the non-payment of salaries owed some members.
Dr Ashiru Mikail, Vice President of the association made this known during a news conference on Monday in Zaria.
Mikail said that the association on July 15, gave the management of the hospital a one-week ultimatum to address their demands or be faced with a warning strike.
He said that the ultimatum expired on Sunday, hence the commencement of the warning strike.
According to him, the association would reconvene to review its strategy after the warning strike with a view to determine the next line of action.
Mikail said that the association rejects percentage salary payments for members on the GIFMIS platform, and demand repayment of parts of their salaries withheld.
According to him, in June, the salaries of affected members were slashed by about 25 to 27 per cent representing N58, 000 to N60, 000.
He explained that the doctors that were paid in percentage in June were being owed salary arrears of 2021.
“In spite of the harsh economic challenges in the country, no reasonable reasons for the deductions were advanced to the association by the management.
“The management proposed to pay N2 million to offset the arrears of accoutrement allowance per month from the overhead cost.
“This amount can only pay N5, 000 per member monthly as against the N100, 000 owed each member.
“More than 60 per cent of the Federal Tertiary Health institutions in the North West zone have commenced payments of the arrears of accoutrement allowance but ABUTH has not, but rather proposed to pay N5,000 instead of N25,000,” he said.
He said that the association demands the implementation of the 25 per cent CONMESS upward review to the salaries of members who were on GIFMIS platform among other demands.
ABUTH doctors begin 5-day warning strike over non-payment of salaries
ABUTH doctors begin 5-day warning strike over non-payment of salaries
80 Ukrainian drone attacks repelled, oil terminal on fire – Russia
The Russian Defence Ministry on Monday said its air defences repelled dozens of Ukrainian drone attacks across a number of regions.
The Ministry said on the messaging service, Telegram, that a total of 80 drones were intercepted and destroyed in six regions.
Several explosions were heard in the Black Sea port city of Tuapse.
According to the Ministry, debris from an intercepted drone caused a large fire in an oil processing plant belonging to the energy giant Rosneft.
No injuries were reported, but Ukrainian media described the attack as a victory for Kiev’s military intelligence services, as the facility is important to the Russian war effort in Ukraine.
The plant, which includes a major oil terminal, has reportedly been the target of previous Ukrainian attacks.
Russian authorities said the fire has been extinguished.
A further 47 drone attacks were recorded in the southern Russian region of Rostov, while others were intercepted over the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014.
Ukraine has been fending off the Russian invasion for more than two years.
It has repeatedly targeted military facilities on Russian territory, although the damage it has caused is seen as insignificant compared to the toll of Russian attacks in Ukraine attacks.
80 Ukrainian drone attacks repelled, oil terminal on fire – Russia
APC’s nine years in power destroyed Nigeria’s prosperity – Peter Obi
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi, has said that urgent actions need to be taken to salvage the nation from further economic collapse.
He lamented that Nigeria’s economy has seen unprecedented retrogression on many fronts for the past 9 years.
Obi lamented that instead, Nigerian leaders are more concerned with funding their selfish luxuries and individual lavishness instead of concerning themselves with challenges threatening the nation’s collective existence.
In a post on his X handle on Monday, the former Anambra State Governor said political leaders are throwing blame at others who are only committed to solving the nation’s problems.
He stressed that efforts should be concentrated on finding ways to recreate an inclusive and sustainable economy, pull millions of people out of poverty, and return nearly 20 million out-of-school children to schools.
He said: “When Nigeria returned to democratic governance in 1999, it maintained an average GDP growth of about 6.72% for 16 years from 1999-2014. The impressive growth trajectory, unfortunately, was not sustained by the then-new government, and our GDP growth collapsed to 2.79% in 2015 and then sank into a recession in 2016 with a negative growth of -1.58% and 0.82% in 2017. For the past 9 years, Nigeria’s economy has seen unprecedented retrogression on many fronts.
“In 2014, just before the inception of a new administration a year later, Nigeria had the biggest economy in Africa with a Gross Domestic Product of $568.5 billion and a GDP Per Capita of about $3,200.
“Our economic indices pointed towards hope and prospects for the future growth of the economy. Nine years later, the giant of Africa has retrogressed to the 4th largest economy in Africa.
“Reports showed our GDP in 2023 stood at $375 billion with a per capita of $1700. In 2024, our estimated GDP declined further to $253 billion with an estimated per capita of $1087. These trends and figures show how our nine-year journey since 2015 has resulted in a sharp decline in our national prosperity. Today, poverty is pervasive and on the increase. Unemployment is rising. Food inflation has skyrocketed to over 43%. Foreign and local investors are losing faith in the future growth of our economy and are leaving in large numbers.
“Businesses are shutting down. Urgent actions need to be taken to salvage the nation from further economic collapse and move it from consumption to production!
“However, instead of concerning ourselves with all these challenges threatening our collective existence and finding ways to recreate an inclusive and sustainable economy, pull millions of people out of poverty, and return our nearly 20 million out-of-school children to schools, our leaders are more concerned with funding their selfish luxuries and individual lavishness, while throwing blames at others who are only committed to solving the nation’s problems.
“I have always believed that politics should be about service to the people and the betterment of society. In the face of all these challenges, we the leaders should commit to inclusive and sustainable growth to end the hardship, which has continued to burden our fellow Nigerians.
“Only through that can we achieve a peaceful and secure society. A new Nigeria based on better economic and patriotic thinking is very POssible.”
APC’s nine years in power destroyed Nigeria’s prosperity – Peter Obi
Scientists explain benefits of moon caves to astronauts
A group of scientists has revealed how lunar caves – underground tunnels formed by ancient volcanic activity and connected to the moon’s numerous pits – could be beneficial to astronauts.
This comes after a team of international researchers discovered the first direct evidence of a cave on the moon, located beneath a lunar pit in the Sea of Tranquility.
Findings by the researchers revealed that this cave could provide crucial shelter for future astronauts traveling to Earth’s closest celestial neighbor, Mars.
The newly discovered cave is at least 45 meters (nearly 148 feet) wide and ranges in length from 30 to 80 meters (98 to 262 feet).
READ ALSO:Chinese scientists unveil robot capable of displaying facial expressions
Researchers believe it may be the first section of a larger lava tube complex, indicating the possibility of larger caves beneath the moon’s surface.
The study’s co-author, Lorenzo Bruzzone, explained that lunar caves provide a unique environment that preserves the moon’s history and volcanic processes.
“Studying the rocks within these caves could reveal important information about the moon’s geological evolution, including the duration and timeline of volcanic activity and the composition of the lunar mantle,” he stated.
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FCT on alert as heavy rainfall expected in Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department, FEMD, has placed its Search and Rescue Team on alert following heavy rainfall being expected in parts of the FCT that may lead to flooding.
The acting Director-General of the department, Mrs Florence Wenegieme, stated this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.
Wenegieme said that the move followed the flood prediction by the National Flood Early Warning Systems, FEWS, Centre, Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja.
She said that the FEWS Centre had predicted a likelihood of heavy rainfall from July 21 to July 25, which may lead to flooding in Mabushi and Kurudu areas of the FCT.
She called on the Facility Maintenance and Management Department to desilt blocked manholes in Mabushi District to ensure free flow of water in the event of heavy rain.
Wenegieme also urged the Abuja Environmental Protection Board to clear all blocked drainages and evacuate waste in the district to mitigate the impact of flooding.
The acting D-G also called on the Satellite Towns Development Department to clear all blocked drainages in Kurudu and also evacuate solid waste dumped indiscriminately in the area.
“Residents should also heed to FEMD early warnings to ensure the safety of lives and property and always use the 112 emergency toll-free number in the event of a disaster,” she added.
FCT on alert as heavy rainfall expected in Abuja
Police arrest five robbery suspects, recover stolen items, firearms
Nasarawa State Police Command have arrested five suspects in connection with armed robbery incidents in the state.
The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ramhan Nansel, confirmed the arrests in a statement released on Sunday.
The suspects, identified as Abubakar Nasiru, Yusuf Abdullahi, Bashiru Sani, and Ibrahim Adamu, were arrested by police operatives from the New Karu Division.
Among the recovered items were two laptops, eight mobile phones of various brands, a power bank, an MP3 player, three ATM cards, a Dane gun, a flat-screen television set, three flash drives, a cutlass, and a catapult.
In a related development, the police also arrested Danjuma Mujumba, a notorious motorcycle snatcher, and recovered a stolen motorcycle. Operatives from the Karshi Division apprehended Mujumba after he attacked a commercial motorcyclist and snatched his Bajaj motorcycle.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Shehu Nadada, has ordered the transfer of the suspects to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Lafia, for exhaustive investigation and prosecution,” the statement added.
Police arrest five robbery suspects, recover stolen items, firearms
Kogi govt distances self from planned anti-govt protest
The Kogi State government has announced its opposition to the planned nationwide protest against bad governance scheduled for August 1.
The state’s Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, said in a statement on Monday in Lokoja, that the people of the state would not participate in the protest.
He said the state fully supported the Federal Government’s efforts to revitalize the nation’s economy.
Fanwo praised President Bola Tinubu’s initiatives aimed at helping the poor and expressed pride in the state’s resistance to “agents of destabilization.”
He highlighted the progress made in various sectors, including agriculture, industrialization, infrastructure, education, and healthcare under the current administration.
Fanwo stressed the need for citizens to support the government’s efforts, saying the protests would only hinder the progress made so far.
READ ALSO:Utomi blasts presidential aide, Onanuga, over mass protest allegations
He said: “It is heartwarming that we have received reports that our citizens are ready to march in solidarity with Mr. President’s efforts at defending the economic interests of the poor. We are proud of the fact that the people of Kogi have refused to yield the state to the macabre dance of agents of destabilisation.
“Agriculture, industrialisation, infrastructure, education and healthcare are receiving due attention from the Federal Government.
“As responsible citizens, there is a need to queue behind the efforts of the government at all levels to frontally deal with the issues challenging our well-being. A protest would have been proper if the government was making no efforts. Protests would have been popular if the efforts were not bearing fruit yet.
“Protests would have been understandable if we were not gradually moving out of the hopeless situation. But a protest at this point is an attack on the foundation of our rebuilding process and an attempt to throw the nation into the darkness orchestrated during the #EndSARS destruction and carnage.”
The commissioner likened the planned protest to an attempt to undermine the nation’s rebuilding process, drawing parallels with the destruction and chaos that ensued during the #ENDSARS protests of October 2020.
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Tinubu congratulates NBA President-elect, Afam Osigwe
President Bola Tinubu on Monday congratulated Mr T, SAN, on his election as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
Tinubu, in a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, his spokesman, also congratulated all newly elected officers of the NBA and members of the association on a successful conduct of the elections.
Tinubu commended the outgoing NBA President, Mr Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), on his stewardship of Nigeria’s foremost legal association.
He assured the new leadership of the NBA of his administration’s support in addressing challenges affecting the association and the legal profession in general.
Osigwe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), won the presidential election of the NBA held on Saturday.
Osigwe, whose legal career spans 25 years since he was called to the Bar in 1999, is set to become the 32nd NBA president when Maikyau completes his two-year tenure in August.
Tinubu congratulates NBA President-elect, Afam Osigwe
Onanuga: Stop attacking me, end hardship in Nigeria – Peter Obi to critics
The 2023 Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has charged those attacking him to focus on alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians.
Obi’s comment is coming when President Bola Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga accused Obi of planning mayhem in Nigeria.
Onanuga also painted Obi as a failed presidential candidate, stressing that he should be held responsible for whatever crisis that would emanate from the action.
However, Obi said his attackers should use the energy against him to focus on making Nigeria a great place.
Posting on X, the former Anambra State governor wrote: “I urge you to channel your energy and resources towards helping everyday Nigerians who are struggling to find their next meal, secure education for their children, gain employment, and access adequate healthcare.
“Rather than fabricating lies, you and your paymasters should listen to the cries of the poor, who cannot afford medicine and who are uncertain about their next meal. Pay attention to the voices of reason from individuals and institutions that emphasize the plight of our citizens. Let us unite in building a nation where everyone can thrive-PO”
Onanuga: Stop attacking me, end hardship in Nigeria – Peter Obi to critics
‘You’re playing with fire’ – Uganda’s President warns protest organisers
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has issued a stern warning to protesters that they will be playing with fire if they proceed with plans to stage an anti-corruption march to parliament.
Uganda’s youths have been organizing the march on social media to demand an end to corruption in government.
Recall Kenya’s youths had also organized mass demonstrations that forced President William Ruto to drop plans to increase taxes, morphing into calls for his resignation.
Museveni, in a televised address, warned the Ugandan organizers that their planned protest would not be tolerated.
“We are busy producing wealth and you want to disturb us. You are playing with fire because we cannot allow you to disturb us,” he said.
Museveni is accused by his critics of ruling Uganda with an iron hand since taking power in 1986, but his supporters praise him for maintaining stability in the East African state.
The president also accused some of the protest organizers of always working with foreigners to cause chaos in Uganda.
Uganda police had earlier announced that they had refused to give permission for the march to take place when parliament opens on Tuesday.
‘You’re playing with fire’ – Uganda’s President warns protest organisers