NLC Condemns Okorocha’s 3-Day Work, 2-Day Farming Policy For Imo Workers

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned in strong terms the Imo Government’s three-day work, two-day farming for workers recently introduced by Gov. Rochas Okorocha.
NLC President Ayuba Wabba gave this indication while fielding questions at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum on Sunday in Abuja.
Wabba said that the policy which implied forcefully sending workers to farm was against the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention and also against the rules and procedures in service.

“First, we have condemned in very strong terms what the Imo State governor tries to do by forcefully sending workers to the farm.

“Don’t forget that the public service rule is very clear about what trade a worker can actually do to join to his normal routine services.

“It provided that on your own volition, you can join farming as part of your normal routine activities and that is allowed by law.

“But to criminally now go to the State House of Assembly to pass a law overnight without public hearing, without consultation is against the ILO convention; against our rules and procedure in service.

“To say that you want to force workers compulsorily to go into faming two days a week is the height of not even understanding how governance and how public service is run.

“I am sure that is condemnable.’’

According to him, Okorocha’s policy is quite different from what other states are doing.

He explained that while other states were encouraging workers to embrace farming voluntarily, the Imo government’s policy on the other hand was compulsory.

He, however, explained that the ILO Convention and the International treaty made it clear that working hours should not be more than eight hours a day and 40 hours per week.

Wabba further noted that Nigeria is a signatory to the treaty prohibiting forced labour.

“What the governor is doing is forced labour; we are not slaves; even under slavery, you cannot force a worker to work against his volition.

“Employment is a contract between the employer and the employee and therefore, they are rules of engagement; even what you earn is through a collective bargaining process; it cannot be imposed or forced on you.’’

Therefore, Wabba said that the NLC directive, the law had been made ineffective as workers had ignored it and continued with their work normally.

“How can you for instance ask a teacher not to go to school to teach pupils for two days a week or a health practitioner; disease doesn’t give notice.

“You don’t give notice before you fall sick; so at the time when you are going to farm an epidemic can actually come up; how you can address all of this?

“Or you want to put two standards in place; you ask one category of workers to come to work three days a week and another category to go to farm.

“That is not done; there are better ways to do that; he can encourage farmers; he can allocate lands give them fertiliser, give them incentives.

“You can put laws in place and encourage workers to go into farming but not through a very cruel process of working against the law and forcing them to go to farm which is against our law; against our convention.’’

The NLC president stressed that the international labour law, which Nigeria had ratified was superior to the one passed by the Imo State Assembly.

“We have a superior law which Nigeria had ratified, which is also an international law that prohibits forced labour; what he is trying to do by that law, is forced labour.’’

He said that the NLC had already written officially to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, which statutorily has the responsibility to enforce the labour laws of the issue and would also forward it to the ILO.

Shettima Petitions IG Over Presidential Campaign Poster

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has petitioned the police to unravel the origin of presidential campaign posters depicting him and Governor Rochas Okorocha as teaming together for the 2019 presidential election.

Shettima in the petition addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase affirmed that the posters were the handiwork of his political enemies and were aimed towards causing animosity between him and President Muhammadu Buhari. Besides, he alleged that the posters could also scupper the good relations between the state and the Federal Government which has helped in turning the tide against the Boko Haram insurgency.

The petition written on behalf of the governor by the permanent secretary, Government House, Mr. Ahmed Sanda dated May 29, 2016 and with reference number BOSLO/ABJ/14/IV/407 read in part: “I have been directed by His Excellency, the Executive of Borno State, Kashim Shettima to bring to the IGP’s notice, dozens of fraudulently produced posters bearing his name and picture claiming he is aspiring for the 2019 Presidency. The posters have been pasted on some routes in Abuja and Kaduna.

Governor Kashim Shettima regards this development as a highly mischievous plot that is aimed at destabilizing the emerging peace in Borno State through creation of unnecessary political tension while on the other hand it might aim at creating gap between the Borno State Government and the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration (which just marked it’s first year in office) with a wicked agenda.”

Credit: Vanguard

Rochas To Build School For Less-Privileged In Adamawa

The Adamawa State government has allocated a large parcel of land to the Rochas Foundation to build a school for the less-privileged.

Governor Jibrilla Bindow said on Sunday, in Yola, that the move was an expression of the government’s sacrifice, in the interest of education.

He called on well-meaning Nigerians to invest more in education, adding that the sector was vital to social development.

He commended Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State for the provision of a secondary school for the less-privileged in Adamawa.

He added that the state was one of the educational disadvantaged, assuring him of support from the state government.

The land allotted to the Rochas Fundation was a former golf field.

He said that the public interest surpassed the interest of an individual or group of individuals.

He said the gesture would go a long way in propagating the change the people had been yearning for.

“We can sacrifice anything for education because it is only peace that is as important as education. I commend Governor Rochas Okorocha for this kind gesture and I pray that the lord will grant him success in his future political endeavours. I am calling on well-meaning Nigerians to take a cue from Rochas to invest more in education, especially by supporting the less-privileged…”

Read More: dailytimes

I Had A Private Jet Before Becoming A Governor – Rochas Okorocha

Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha says contrary to stories being peddled by the opposition in his state, he’d bought his private jet before becoming a governor, an indication that he did not use the state’s money to buy one. The governor said this after some politicians in the state asked him to sell his private jet and use the proceed to address unpaid salaries of civil servants in the state. Okorocha’s reaction is contained in a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, today August 27th. Read it below…

“As a government, we want to deny with high sense of honesty that since May 29, 2011 when Owelle Rochas Okorocha became governor, he has never bought any private Jet either directly or by proxy. Having made this denial let those behind the allegation make their facts public to fault our denial. “The period Governor Rochas Okorocha bought Jets
was years before he was elected, during the Olusegun Obasanjo regime when some of the presidential jets were auctioned. The governor bought jets then under the aegis of Lamonde Aviation, alongside few other Nigerians. Since he became governor, he has never bought any private Jet. Again, the Debit Management Agency penultimate week published the states and their respective debt profiles. And in the case of Imo State, they published N37 billion which was far from the hundreds of billions the opponents of the government have been claiming to be the debt status of the state. And the N37 billion debt include the ones owed by the previous administrations. The good story is that we have been vindicated on that.”the statement read.

“My Desire Is To Unite South-East Governors” – Rochas Okorocha

Governor of Imo State and the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Governors’ Forum, Chief Rochas Okorocha, says his ultimate desire is to unite the governors and leaders of the South East to work with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.

Rochas Okorocha

Chief  Okorocha made his feelings known, yesterday, while addressing newsmen at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, SMICA, Owerri, on his arrival from Abuja.

“As the only APC governor in the South East, I cannot do it alone and I cannot also play the attendant politics of establishing a very strong relationship between the South East governors and the APC-led Federal Government alone.  Hence, every governor and leader in the South East must be carried along in the whole thing,” Okorocha said.

Answering a question, the governor also explained that while in Abuja, the South East governors were able to meet with Mr. President, adding that it was more than even reassuring that the South East people would work totally with the present administration at the federal level.

“We, the governors of the South East and indeed, the leaders from the area, are all determined to work with the President and the President himself is also more determined to work with the South East,” Okorocha said.

It was his considered opinion that all the imaginary worries about what comes to the South East is not absolutely necessary now, adding that the governors had been able to establish a very cordial relationship with Mr. President.

“We have been assured that the South East would not be left out of the whole political and economic equations of Nigeria,” Okorocha said

Okorocha Asks Political Office Holders To Cut Cost Of Governance

The Imo State Governor has urged all political office holders elected or appointed to show the spirit of sacrifice and cut down on the cost of governance, due to the dwindling economic situation that is presently affecting the nation.

Governor Rochas Okorocha, on Friday, at the Sam Mbakwe Airport in Owerri, the Imo State capital, told reporters that “Nigeria is in one of its worst periods in the economic history of the nation”.

He cautioned that all political office holders must sacrifice a lot of their luxury for the good of the masses.

The Governor also reminded reporters that May 29 is fast approaching, when the All Progressives Congress (APC) would take over government with high expectations.

He further assured Nigerians that the APC Government, led by General Mohammodu Buhari, would not fail its people, pledging that the administration would do its best to tackle corruption and deliver the well-deserved dividends of democracy.

Governor Okorocha, however, reiterated that his vision of providing job opportunities for the youths was still utmost in his heart in the next four years of his administration in Imo State.

He also vowed that his government would hit the ground running, after the May 29 inauguration.

Rochas Okorocha Blasts INEC, Declares Himself Winner!

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state has reacted bitterly after INEC declared the state’s gubernatorial election inconclusive .
Yesterday,Returning Officer in Imo state, Prof. Ibidapo Obe,declared the election inconclusive because Mr. Okorocha’s 79,529 margin against his rival  Emeka Ihedioha of PDP was less than the 144,715 number of registered voters in wards where elections did not hold or were cancelled.

While speaking to news men at the Government House in Imo State today Monday,Okorocha said

“The electoral act has talked about registered voters and in the workings of that act and in the spirit of the law, you cannot not make use of number of registered voters, you have to make use of number of PVC collected.

“When you look at the number of PVC collected you find out that there is no need for this supplementary election because the number of PVC collected will be less than the 79,000 votes difference between me and the PDP candidate. But now they are basing on the number of registered voters. Number of registered voters do not cast the vote; it is the number of PVC collected that does,” You can only change the date of a burial but you cannot change the burial. From the results available, the fact speaks for itself, we have won this election despite all the irregularities, I am the winner”

“Let me say that there is no basis for comparison when I’m told that I’m in contest with the PDP candidate and he scored some votes it is not true. I think I’m in contest with more unseen elements than the candidate himself. If this election is conducted in the way it should be conducted in a free and fair manner, my opponent would have up to 100,000 votes. Never. Not in Imo State; not at all,”

“If you look at what has happened in his areas of jurisdiction and his local government, Mbaise local government, Ahiazu, Ezinnite, Aboh Mbaise, where he gave himself almost 80,000 votes. Can you imagine in Aboh Mbaise, you have 51,000 voters when the actual PVC collected is about 60,000 and in Mbaitoli where you have over 100,000 PVC collected the total votes there is about 30,000 so that tells you the manipulation. What we saw in those areas was simply the militarisation of the entire process – snatching of ballot boxes and violence and what have you.

“But because of these manipulations and writing of results and taking result sheets and going to somebody’s house – escorted by security agencies- to write the result and come in the private car to INEC headquarters, that is why many people think there is a contest. So I’m not in contest with that gentle man, I’m in contest with the entire manipulation of the system and the election,”

#MorningTeaser: Is Rochas Broke???

It is funny how people define the outcome of people’s predicaments… that is if this one is a predicament.

Well here is a morning teaser to begin your Saturday, but the question is, do you think Rochas is broke after the purchase of the APC presidential form and do you think he will secure his seat as governor of Imo State come 2015???

APC Primaries UPDATE: General Buhari Takes the Lead…

Initial reports provide that Atiku Abubakar was in clear third place, until Governor Kwankwaso overtook him. Rochas Okorocha and Sam Nda-Isaiah are far behind.

General Buhari has been said to be taking the lead as his box is literally stuffed with ballot papers. Over 7,200 votes are being counted and processed. The names of the candidates are spoken out loud in the process of sorting. Counting is almost over. Minimal number of the ballot papers are left.

 

Nda Isaiah Denies Stepping Down For Buhari

Contrary to reports claiming that APC presidential candidate, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, has stepped down for Buhari, Nda-Isaiah through his campaign team denied stepping down for anyone, insisting that he is still in the race.

Chairman of the APC National Convention and immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi dismissed as false, reports that any of the aspirants had stepped down.

Current situation report provides that Buhari and Atiku are hitting heads in fervent battle for delegates.

 

Atiku, Buhari, Rochas, Kwankwaso??? APC Decides

The national convention of the All Progressives Congress begins in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, Wednesday. Presidential candidate of the party will emerge Thursday.

More than 8,000 accredited delegates are expected to elect the party’s presidential flag bearer who is to face President Goodluck Jonathan, the sole candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, in the 2015 general elections.

Five aspirants are ex-Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso; Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, and the Publisher of Leadership Newspaper, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah. They are all vying for the party’s sole ticket.

Credit: Punch Nigeria