The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Isuikwuato LGA of Abia State, Okechukwu Okorie, has resigned from his position as Chief of Staff to Lucky Johnson, the lawmaker representing Isuikwuato Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly.

Lucky Johnson, who was previously a member of the PDP, left the party this week to join the Labour Party, citing internal crises within PDP and his admiration for Governor Alex Otti’s performance as his reasons.

However, in reaction to the development, Okechukwu Okorie, who also serves as the chairman of PDP in Isuikwuato, resigned from his role as Johnson’s Chief of Staff.

In his resignation letter, Okorie stated: “I submit my resignation from the position of your Chief of Staff, effective today, 25th March 2025, due to political differences.

“I have come to the conclusion that the political direction you have taken does not align with my personal values and principles as a committed member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

“As a result, it has become clear that stepping down from my role as your Chief of Staff is the most appropriate course of action.”

Okorie, who also serves as the chairman of all PDP local government chairmen in Abia State, reaffirmed his unwavering loyalty to the party.

The workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways are yet to be paid their full entitlement 30 years after liquidation, chairman, Joint Consultative and Negotiating Council (JCNC), Hector Nnadi has said.

Nnadi, who called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the lingering situation, noted that the significant contributions of aviation trade unions in shaping the landscape of the industry can not be overemphasised.
Speaking at the 11th edition of aviation workers week and award night, Nnadi said, “I would like to acknowledge the tireless efforts of our aviation workers, who strive day and night to ensure the safety, security, and efficiency of our aviation industry. Among these great veterans are the workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways, who gave their patriotic service to this nation but are still struggling to get their full entitlement after 30 years of liquidation. We are sending an SOS to Mr. President for his further intervention to conclude this over years challenge and become ‘Aviation Workers Hero’ the above is without prejudice to several efforts of the minister of aviation.

“As we gather today, we are reminded of the significant contributions of aviation trade unions in shaping the landscape of our industry. These unions have not only been at the forefront of advocating for the welfare of workers, but have also played a vital role in fostering collaboration and ensuring that the aviation sector continues to evolve in line with both national and global standards.”
Speaking on the theme of the event, “The Role of Aviation Trade Unions in Galvanising Workers’ Support for Attainment of Ministerial Mandates”, the JCNC chairman said “it highlights a crucial aspect of our industry: the powerful connections between trade unions, the workforce and the successful implementation of key governmental and ministerial policies.

“We recognise that the aviation industry is a dynamic sector. This implies that it directly impacts our economy, safety and national development. It is, therefore, vital that we foster collaboration and strengthen partnerships to ensure that the goals of our Ministry are achieved effectively and efficiently.”

He also said the event will critically explore ways of further enhancing this collaboration—”how we can strengthen the unity between trade unions and the ministry, and ultimately, how we can ensure that our workforce remains motivated, engaged, and aligned with the strategic objectives that will propel our sector to greater heights.”

Also speaking at the event, the minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo, represented by the permanent secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana pledged continued support of the trade unions in the aviation sector.

The commencement of an indefinite strike action on Thursday by the staff of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) in Ilorin, Kwara State, has worsened the epileptic power supply to some parts of Ilorin metropolis and other parts of the state.

LEADERSHIP reports that most parts of the downtown Ilorin metropolis have been in a near total blackout for the past few months.

LEADERSHIP reports that the state of power supply to the hinterland had forced the president of Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), Alh. AbdulMumini AbdulMalik, to write a protest letter to the management of IBEDC.

AbdulMalik, in the letter dated February 5, 2025, and addressed to the managing director of IBEDC, expressed the dissatisfaction of the people of Ilorin Emirate on the persistent poor power supply to Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, since last year.

LEADERSHIP had on Thursday reported the letter of complaint addressed to the IBEDC’s management by the IEDPU president, a retired deputy comptroller-general of Immigration Service.

AbdulMalik added that, “the union is displeased that the people of the community hardly enjoyed quality power supply for six hours a day as some areas do not even enjoy power supply for days and with no reason whatsoever from your organisation.”

He regretted that, “the envisaged positive effects of the privatisation of the nation’s electricity sector is not being felt by the people of the community who are mostly and continually served with crazy bills for the power they didn’t consume while also forced to endure perpetual darkness.”

He disclosed that but for the intervention of the union, a number of protests from concerned members of the public across the city of Ilorin and the neighbouring communities would have been recorded as the perpetual darkness was posing serious threats to the security of lives and property as well as the businesses of several individuals and organisations.

The gates leading to the two business offices of the IBEDC at Challenge area, along Murtala Mohammed Way, and Ojatuntun – Baboko area, Ilorin, were on Thursday locked by the protesting workers, who said that they were embarking on indefinite strike action to protest poor welfare facilities.

Some placards placed on the gates of the company read, “IBEDC should prioritise Staff welfarism, IBEDC, no more half salary, IBEDC, pay our PFA, union and cooperative deductions now, Do you expect 100% performance without materials and tools? ”

The secretary of the state branch of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Comrade Ayodele Peters, who confirmed the IBEDC workers’ strike, said that the workers in the company were being treated as slaves as they were being paid half salaries by the management.

“All deductions made by the company such as pension funds, union fees and cooperative contributions were not remitted by the company to the appropriate bodies.

“So, that made it difficult for our pensioners to access their money from the pension managers while our members could not get loans from the cooperative society because the management of IBEDC did not credit the account of these bodies after deduction from the workers salaries,” he said.

Peters added that, “the management laid off some workers of the company on Monday while rumors was rife that more workers would get their letters of sack today (Thursday or tomorrow (Friday), adding that, “all these laid off workers would not have access to what the management had deducted from their salaries when they were in service because they have not credited the pension managers.”

All efforts to get the reaction of the IBEDC management were futile as the phone number of the manager in charge Corporate Affairs of the company, Busolami Tunwase, could not be reached at press time.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has obtained a bench warrant from the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja, against a staff of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Jubrin Buba, for refusing to appear for arraignment.

It would be noted that the case of the Federal Republic of Nigeria vs. Jubrin Buba came up on Wednesday for arraignment. However, despite being duly notified, the defendant was not in court, nor was his lawyer or surety.

In view of Buba’s absence, counsel to ICPC, Mr Aniekan Ekong, urged the court to issue a bench warrant for his arrest and that notice should also be issued to the surety to show cause as to why the bail bond should not be forfeited to the federal government.

The presiding judge, Honourable Justice Binta Dogonyaro, granted the application and adjourned the matter to March 4, 2025, for arraignment and hearing.

ICPC is arraigning Buba on a six-count of forgery and false statements.

According to ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, Buba, in February 2015, fraudulently presented a fake BSc. Degree Certificate in Public Administration, dated October 7, 2009, purportedly issued by the University of Jos, to secure a job with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Using a forged document as genuine is an offence under Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code.

He was formerly arraigned in 2022 before Honourable Justice Asma’u Akanbi (as then was) at the FCT High Court, Kubwa.

Following Justice Akanbi’s elevation to the Court of Appeal, the matter was re-assigned to FCT High Court 46, Apo, presided over by Honourable Justice Binta Dogonyaro.

In counts one and two, Buba is being charged with making a false statement to a public officer, contrary to Section 25 (1) (a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

While in counts three to four, he is being charged with forgery, contrary to Section 364 of the Penal Code.

Flight disruption looms in the nation’s aviation sector as unions direct staff workers of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) to proceed on strike from February 4th, 2025.

In a letter to the director general of NIMET, Prof. Charles Anosike, the National Union Of Air National Union Of Air Transport Employees (NUATE);  Amalgamated Union Of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical And Recreational Services Employees (AUPCCSTRSE) and Association Of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), alleged that the management has refused to comply with ministerial directive for the review of Conditions of Service.

The unions also accused the NiMet management of non-implementation of the reviewed scheme of service of the Agency since 2019.

The letter titled, ‘RE: Failure To Respond To Lawful And Reasonable Demands – 14 Days ultimatum,’ the unions said the workers in the agency do not deserve the suffering that the actions and inaction of your Management continue to mete out to them.

“We are highly concerned that your Management has inexplicably refused all entreaties from our Unions to address the extremely adverse circumstances of the workers of NiMet. Despite being evidently aware of the clear backward state of NiMet’s staff welfare status in the aviation industry, your Management remains unmoved and lethargic in addressing this obvious malady.

“Our unions have severally, individually and jointly, sought to call your attention to these issues, but, these efforts, including ultimatum, have been totally rebuffed, or ignored completely by you.

This sad narrative, you must admit, stands your Management in a very poor state in industrial relations administration.

 

“Our Unions stand on good grounds to refuse to continue to be so treated, more importantly, the workers of the Agency do not deserve the suffering that the actions and inaction of your Management continue to mete out to them.

 

*The issues are non-implementation of new minimum; non-payment of nine months arrears of consequential adjustment of the 2019 Minimum Wage Act; Refusal to comply with ministerial directive for the review of Conditions of Service; non-implementation of the reviewed scheme of service of the Agency since 2019.

 

Others are, “Non-payment of 40 per cent peculiar allowance; non-payment of. 25-35 per cent wage award; non-payment of Hardship Allowance; failure to aid the process of transition from CONMETSS; refusal to meet with our Union over these issues, and other states issues.

 

“In the light of the foregoing, we wish to inform you that the Unions as named above shall be moved to commence industrial action against the Agency after 14 days from date if the stated issues are not completely ameliorated. Therefore, all workers of NiMet by copy of this letter are hereby directed to withdraw all services at the Agency with effect from 6am on Tuesday 4th of February, 2025 unless otherwise directed.”

Tragedy befell family members as well as the management of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital on Monday, following the death of the Acting Head of the Audit Department at the hospital, Oluwaseun Adeniyi who committed suicide by jumping into a well.

Adeniyi took his life shortly after eating dinner at his residence located at the Obantoko area of Abeokuta metropolis of Odeda Local Government Area of the state.

 

While security operatives and the hospital management are still battling to unravel the rationale behind his action, LEADERSHIP however gathered that Adeniyi, who assumed the position of Acting Head of the Audit Department of FMC two months ago, neither showed any sign of distress for anyone to have suspected such act.

 

While the deceased was rumoured to have had history of a mental disorder, FMC’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Segun Orisajo, who spoke with LEADERSHIP over the tragic incident said such suspicion could not be ascertained as Adeniyi did not display such tendency throughout the period of his working with the hospital.

 

Meanwhile, our Correspondent reliably gathered that one of the deceased’s children was set to marry in about a month before the tragic incident occurred.

 

His body has been recovered from the well and has since been deposited at a morgue.

 

Orisajo however, expressed the hospital management’s deep sorrow over Adeniyi’s sudden death, stressing that “It was an unfortunate incident; the management feels saddened about this development”.

 

Describing the late Adeniyi as “a hardworking and loyal staff member whose sudden death came as a shock to everyone at the hospital”, Orisajo maintained that the unfortunate incident caught the entire management off guard, saying, “It is quite an irreparable loss” .

 

“The management extends its heartfelt condolences to the department, as well as to the immediate and extended family members of the deceased,” Orisajo added.

 

Meanwhile, all efforts to get the spokesperson of Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola to comment on the matter proved abortive, as she would not respond to message sent to her Whatsapp line.

Bandits on Tuesday stormed the General Hospital in Kankara Local Government Area, injured a doctor and abducted a hospital staff member.

The Katsina State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, confirmed the incident to our correspondent in a telephone conversation late Wednesday.

“Yes, I am aware of the attack”, he stated.

The attack, which occurred around 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, left Dr. Murtala Sale Dandashire, a doctor on duty, with a gunshot wound to the leg.

He is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed medical facility.

An anonymous source disclosed that the bandits entered the hospital premises firing sporadically, causing panic among staff and patients.

Amid the chaos, they abducted an unidentified hospital staff member before fleeing the scene.

Security agencies have reportedly launched an investigation and are pursuing efforts to apprehend the assailants.

Meanwhile, the incident has heightened concerns about safety in healthcare facilities across the region.

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