Mohammed Shosanya

Edo State Governor,Senator Monday Okpebholo, has suspended recruitment into the state’s civil service until further notice. 

He also ordered a comprehensive review of all recruitment exercises carried out by the Godwin Obaseki-led administration between May-November 2024.

The Secretary to State Government (SSG), Musa Umar Ikhilor,disclosed this in a communication notice on Friday.

The Governor accused heads of various Ministries,Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of carrying out clandestine recruitment exercises into the State’s civil service.

The notice read: “The Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo is in receipt of report of the clandestine activities being perpetuated by some commissions,boards, parastatals and agencies of hovernment in the state.

“Preliminary investigation reveals that these bodies have continued to issue back dated letters of employment to their cronies without due process.

“For the avoidance of doubt,this administration believes in the principle of fairness and equity which expects that all employment exercises should be merit based, competitive and accessible to all Edo indigenes.

“In light of the foregoing and in order to arrest this ugly trend, the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo has directed the immediate suspension of all employment processes as well as the review of all appointments carried out since May, 2024 by commissions, boards,parastatals and agencies of government.

“Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies are to note and comply with the above directive.”

         Mohammed Shosanya

Only 70 officers of over 6,000 staff in the Federal Ministry of Education in all states of the country were  recently elevated to the Directorate level in Nigeria’s ministries’ promotion exercise,the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN),has revealed.

Its National President,Comrade Shehu Mohammed, and the Secretary-General, Comrade Joshua Apebo,who conveyed this in a press statement on Friday,also said only three  Deputy Directors were elevated to the rank of Directors, 14 Assistant Directors were promoted to Deputy Directors,while 53 officers were elevated to the rank of Assistant Directors making a total of 70 officers that benefitted from the promotion exercise.

According to ASCSN, when compared with 356 officers that were elevated to the Directorate level in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), 286 that benefited in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF),102 in the Ministry of Police Affairs, etc, it would become  clear that officers in the Federal Ministry of Education with only 70 elevated to the Directorate level were shortchanged.

The union maintained that the argument for the low level of promotion in the Federal Ministry of Education might be premised on the stale tale of lack of vacancies.

It had always offered suggestions on how to create opportunities for Education Officers in the Federal Ministry of Education to reach the height of their career by rising to the Directorate level and not dampen their morale through stagnation,it disclosed in the statement.

“The union has proposed several times, for instance, to the Management of the Federal Ministry of Education that the junior arms of the Federal Government Colleges should be disarticulated from the Senior Secondary segments as has been done in Lagos State, Kano State, and the FTC thereby creating more vacancies for Directors to head each school.

“We have also suggested that tenure Policy must continue to be implemented in the Federal Ministry of Education so that vacancies in the Directorate level can continue to be generated while big Units in the Ministry such as the Nigeria Education Management Information System (NEMIS and NATCOM For UNESCO can also become Departments to be manned by Directors,” the labour leaders stressed.

According to the union,the Department of Science and Technology Education could become two Departments namely Department of Science Education, and Technology and Vocational Education Department while Girl-Child Education could also become a Department and Basic Education as well.

They also suggested that Education attachés should be reintroduced in Coreign Missions, Education Desks created in MDAs, mentorship programmes for Directors on elongation introduced while 3-years tenure system for principals of Unity Schools as agreed with the union should be implemented.

“We also urge the Federal Ministry of Education to resume the quarterly meetings with the Union, pay outstanding salary and promotion arrears, train and retrain Officers in the Ministry, start promotion and automatic placement of Officers as when due to boost the morale of staff, and provide working tools for staff,” they added.

The union leaders emphasized the need for adequate funding of Departments while there should be Presidential waivers for the Federal Ministry of Education to create vacancies as it was
done in 2013 so that stagnated officers could be promoted.

“We believe that if these recommendations are implemented in the Federal Ministry of Education, there will be enough vacancies for Senior Civil Servants to continue to rise to the  Directorate level.

“We urge the Presidency, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Federal Civil Service Commission, the OHCSF to intervene on this matter and ensure that Education Officers in the Headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education, those in the 110 Federal Government Colleges, and the Federal Education Quality Assurance Service (FEQAS) throughout the Federation are promoted as and when due like their counterparts in other MDAs in the interest of Justice, equity and fairness while other suggestions herein are also implemented to boost the morale of staff,” the labour leaders added.

Mohammed Shosanya

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has cleared Ecobank Nigeria of any wrongdoing in the dismissal of 167 staff members in 2023.

The decision was reached following an  investigation into a petition filed by the affected employees.

The committee,chaired by Hon. Mike Etaba, who represents the Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency of Cross River State, dismissed the petition as lacking merit.

He commended the bank’s management for its compassionate approach toward the dismissed employees.

In a statement issued by Mr. Chooks Oko, Head of Media for the Public Petitions Committee, the petitioners alleged that Ecobank failed to honor statutory entitlements and referenced a purported agreement between the bank and a workers’ union that promised additional benefits.

But,the bank’s representative, Mr. Kenneth Okere,faulted these claims during a hearing on Wednesday.

He clarified that the alleged agreement was a one-time document created for a specific context and did not apply to the 167 dismissed employees. He presented portions of the agreement that clearly outlined its limited scope and duration to substantiate his argument.

According to him, Ecobank had not only met its statutory obligations but also gone above and beyond to support the affected employees.

According to Okere, the bank provided:one year’s medical insurance coverage,one month’s salary in lieu of notice,four months’ salary as severance pay,and gratuities.

Besides,Ecobank deposited 10% of each employee’s basic salary, housing allowance, and transport allowance into their respective Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) with individual pension administrators.

“These efforts underscore my client’s commitment to ensuring the welfare of our former colleagues,” Okere stated during the hearing.

Questioned by Hon. Etaba about whether they had received these benefits, the petitioners admitted they had.

The chairman dismissed the petition, describing it as baseless and predicated on a faulty document.

He said:“The petition is hereby dismissed for lack of merit.This is the people’s house. We are here to ensure that no Nigerian suffers injustice, whether as a petitioner or a respondent.

He commended Ecobank for its exemplary conduct, describing the bank’s efforts as commendable and setting a standard for corporate responsibility.

Mohammed Shosanya

The Nigeria Labour Congress,NLC, says  oil marketers are cheating Nigerians, as the current price of petrol is significantly higher than the real market price in the country.

Its President,Comrade Joe Ajaero,who said this in a signed communique issued at the end of the union’s National Executive Meeting in Port Harcourt,said the development reinforced the fact there may be a hang-up against Nigerians by fat cats in the oil industry.

According to the NLC,padding of costs and abnormal margins seems to be the order of the day on account of the revelations from the ongoing controversy between marketers and Dangote group.

The communique said:”It is entirely possible that Nigerian workers and masses are being ripped off by those who control the levers of Economic power in Nigeria which explains why the domestic public refineries may not immediately be allowed to come on stream.

“NLC demands appropriate pricing of petrol and calls for the Public domestic refineries in PH, Warri and Kaduna to quickly come back on stream to break-up the monopolistic stranglehold the big players have in the industry”.

The NEC expressed concern over the accelerating economic hardship inflicted upon Nigerian citizens as inflation continues to rise unchecked, with the costs of basic necessities spiralling beyond the reach of the average worker.

The workers lamented that millions of Nigerians are being driven into destitution, forced to choose daily between feeding their families and seeking healthcare.

The communique said:”Access to energy has become a mirage while workers become increasingly poorer even as they work longer hours to meet their other basic needs. As a result, nutritional diseases like Kwashiorkor and Marasmus have resurfaced in Nigeria”

The union demanded immediate, concrete interventions from the Federal Government, not token measures, to relieve the suffering.

It also sought implementation of comprehensive social protection policies that shield Nigerians from poverty, provide affordable healthcare, and ensure a wage that reflects the true cost of living.

The NLC  expressed disgust over the recent military invasion of Oritsetimeyin Oil Rig,and demanded mmediate withdrawal of all forces of invasion now occupying the facility.

It further sought a cessation of further militarization of the nation’s workplaces and restoration of the workers forcefully ejected from the site including a quick compliance with the agreement faithfully negotiated and earlier signed by the parties.

         Mohammed Shosanya

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN),says military and other security agencies allegedly hired by Dutchford E&P, Selective Marine Services and its Labour Contractors to assault oil and gas workers at the Oritsetimeyin Oil and Gas Rig must face the music.

Specifically,the union said the perpetrators must be held accountable for their actions under both national and international law.

Its President,Comrade Festus Osifo, and the General Secretary,Comrade Lumumba Okugbama,conveyed this in a press statement,wherein they also demanded a full and transparent investigation into this incident, leading to the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for ordering and carrying out the brutal assault on the workers.

Besides,PENGASAN sought a guarantee of the safety and security of all oil and gas workers on the rigs, and a commitment from the relevant authorities to uphold the rights of workers and engage in peaceful conflict resolution.

The statement added:”PENGASSAN will not sit idly while such egregious human rights violations occur. We will utilise all available avenues to ensure justice for the members and to prevent any future reoccurrence.

“We call on all concerned citizens, human rights organisations, and international bodies to join us in condemning this violence and demanding accountability, as silence in the face of such brutality is complicity”.

Condemning the act,the union said it negates the tenets of the Nigerian constitution and all extant laws governing the operations in the nation’s oil and gas sector.

The union warns that if the reports indicate that oil and gas workers are violently ejected from the rig any date soon, PENGASSAN will deploy every means to frustrate such moves; as the  act represents a grave violation of human rights and known labour conventions.

It added:”The use of military actions against unarmed workers is completely unjustifiable and disproportionate because, it is the Nigerian workers who have been subjugated to unfair workplace policies, including being paid meager wages while working in a hazardous environment that should be the complainant.

“While we understand and commend the workers for their professional disposition to keep the oil rigs flowing, the response of deploying the military to violently remove them is unacceptable and demonstrates a complete disregard for human life and the rule of law.

“The use of such force against unarmed civilians engaged in legitimate work is abhorrent and cannot be tolerated”.

Mohammed Shosanya

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has released the sum of one billion naira as gratuity to state pensioners.

He also approved payment of two months pension arrears to local government pensioners,according to Yinka Oyebode,Special Adviser (Media) to the Governor,

Oyebode,in a statement said this is coming barely a month after the Governor distributed a total N3.5 billion in gratuity cheques to retirees in the state, in a bold effort aimed at offseting the backlog of outstanding gratuities.

He also quoted that Governor Oyebanji, has approved payment of two months outstanding subvention to Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti and one month outstanding subvention each to Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti; Bamidele Olomilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti; and College of Health Science and Technology, Ijero- Ekiti.

One month outstanding subvention has also been approved for the Judiciary in the state.

The payments are in fulfilment of the Governor’s promise to priortise welfare and wellbeing of workers and retirees and ensure that all outstanding entitlements of workers and pensioners owed by previous administrations are paid to them in line with the continuity and shared prosperity agenda of the administration.

The Governor implored workers in the state to remain focused on excellent service delivery, assuring them of his administration’s commitment to their welfare as well as payment of all their entitlements.

Mohammed Shosanya

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has assured leaders of Niger Delta ethnic nationalities and stakeholders that the selection of 10,000 beneficiaries of the Commission’s Youth Internship scheme will be transparent and fair.

The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku,gave the assurance during an engagement with leaders of the ethnic nationalities and youth groups in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

He said that at the close of the registration process on August 31, 2024, over 3.2 million youths had been recorded in the Youth Internship Scheme database, which he described as a transformative initiative that would create lasting change in the lives of young people.

Ogbuku in a statement signed by Seledi Thompson-Wakama on Wednesday, explained that the youths would be attached to organisations for one year to learn different skills, stating that apart from the internship programme, the NDDC had also given more opportunities and hope to Niger Delta youths through an innovative programme called Holistic Opportunity Projects of Engagement, HOPE.

He said that Project HOPE had helped the Commission to develop a comprehensive digital repository comprising important information about the youths of the Niger Delta region, including their qualifications, skills, interests, needs, and current employment status.

He advised Niger Delta youths,who are eagerly waiting for the selection process to be completed, to be patient and shun scammers who were looking for opportunities to extort them.

He added: “We are meticulous about the selection process because we remain committed to transparency and fairness in all programmes and projects.”

He urged the youths to continue supporting the NDDC and President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He restated the commitment of the NDDC to finalise action on the selection of beneficiaries and ensure that their payment commenced in December.

The President of the Ijaw Youth Council,Ambassador Jonathan Lopkobiri, commended the NDDC for “making genuine efforts to stabilise the Niger Delta region through youth empowerment programmes.”

He said that the regular engagements between the NDDC and Niger Delta youths were a good development that allowed them to contribute their ideas to the advancement of the Niger Delta region.

Besides,the President of Isoko National Youth Assembly Worldwide, Comrade Eniwake Orogun, lauded the NDDC for always interfacing with the youths, noting: “The continuous and steady engagement with the youths has become a trademark of the current NDDC management.”

    Mohammed Shosanya

Sahara Group has flagged off the 2025 edition of its transformative Graduate Management Trainee (GMT) Program, renowned for moulding young professionals into global business leaders.

Bethel Obioma,Head,Corporate Communications,Sahara Group,said the energy conglomerate’s GMT program has an impressive track record of producing exceptional business leaders who embody the “unique and Irrepressible Sahara DNA”.

“The Sahara GMT program epitomizes our dedication to making a difference responsibly through creatively deployed human capital transformation strategies,” he said.

Open to young graduates with excellent grades, applications for the Sahara GMT program will run from October 24 to November 1,2024.

Emilomo Arorote, Group Head HR, Sahara Group and a product of the GMT Class of 2009 said as an equal opportunity employer, the Sahara GMT Program is open to individuals desirous of giving their career dreams the “perfect start”.

“Sahara is a place where dreams are realized, and endless possibilities abound. Our GMT Program is peerless, giving successful candidates platforms for growth across the entire energy sector value chain. All you need to do is head to www.saharagmt.com or check our social media channels to apply. We are excited to welcome the next generation of global talents into the Sahara family,” she added.

Successful candidates will enjoy several learning and development benefits, including mentorship and buddy support, engagement in impactful business and CSR projects, and coaching from strategic leaders within Sahara,a statement said.

“We seek individuals who see themselves as globally competitive. Participants will tackle challenging business scenarios, receive invaluable mentorship, and experience our multicultural work environment across Africa. Asia, Europe and the Middle East,” Arorote emphasized.

The Sahara GMT Program has since become a key part of Sahara Group’s talent pipeline, producing leaders in Sahara’s upstream, midstream, downstream, power, infrastructure, and technology businesses.

Ejiro Gray, Director, Governance and Sustainability, a member of GMT class of 2007 said; “Every Sahara Group GMT is a potential world business leader. The GMT Program allows you to discover yourself and gives you the opportunity to make a difference.”

Reflecting on the Program’s transformative impact, Nomnso Dike, a member of the 2010 GMT set and current CEO of Asharami Synergy, remarked, “The GMT experience laid the foundation for my career and has propelled many GMTs into leadership roles in Sahara.”

Ivie Temitayo-Ibitoye, Head, Employee Relations and Coordinator, Sahara GMT Program, advised applicants to follow the progress of the Program on Sahara Group’s social media channels, adding that candidates will receive seamless support, including a session on “The Sahara GMT” on Asharami Radio, Sahara Group’s unique radio platform.