Tag Archives: employers

“Lagos To Start Disbursement Of N25bn Employment Trust Fund Next Week” – Ambode

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Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday disclosed that the State Government would begin the disbursement of the much anticipated N25 billion Employment Trust Fund (ETF) and other empowerment programmes initiated by his administration next week.

Governor Ambode, who spoke at the 3rd Quarter 2016 Town Hall Meeting, held at the Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere said that the funds for the programmes targeted to assist youths, artisans and the needy become self reliant have been provided, hence beneficiaries would start getting support from the last quarter of the year.

“We will roll out all our empowerment programmes immediately to assist all our youth, artisans and the needy. The funding for the N500m Lagos State Persons Living with Disability Fund has been provided and beneficiaries will start getting support from this quarter,” Governor Ambode said.

To beef up the security in the State, especially at the community level, Governor Ambode also disclosed plans to recruit at least 5,000 Neighbourhood Watchers with new recruits expected to earn at least N25, 000 monthly with other allowances.

He said the neighbourhood Safety Agency Bill which he signed into Law on August 15, 2016, was part of efforts to institutionalise and deepen community policing in the State.

“There is a law that has just been passed which is the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps Law, 2016 and in line with the resolution taken by the House of Assembly yesterday, we would go all out to make sure that this agency is activated and all our neighborhoods will be covered, and then centralize with the State Government with all the necessary equipment and resources to ensure that we establish what we call community policing and that is the way to go.

“We will rebrand Neighborhood Watchers and re-equip them to the level that each Neighborhood Watchers in all the Local Governments will have their vehicles and necessary equipment to complement security. We are also working on employing additional 5,000 Neighborhood Watchers in all our Local Governments and they will be paid by us, while the basic salary for the entrance level will be N25,000 per month,” the Governor said.

Speaking on the budget performance of the 2016 budget, Governor Ambode disclosed that the State’s budget performance for January to September performed at 69 per cent as against 65 per cent for the same period in 2015.

He said a total of N166.8billion has been spent on capital projects this year, a figure, he said, was more than double the N53.6billion spent for the same period last year.

Governor Ambode said the State generated a total revenue of N97.3billion in the last quarter with an expenditure of expenditure of N110.2billion, noting that the cash reserve of the State has remained positive.

The Governor also disclosed that a total sum of N55billion was expended on capital expenditure in the last quarter.

According to him, the last quarter witnessed a lot of activities from the delivery of massive road infrastructure across the Local Governments in the State as well as the promulgation of the anti-Land Grabbing Law, aimed at making life easier for property owners and a boost in investment activities that will enhance the growth and development potentials in the State.

He expressed optimism that despite the recession, the State’s economy would remain on a strong and sound footing if capital expenditure spending is increased.

“In this quarter, we will concentrate more resources on capital projects. We will put money in the hands of our local contractors and through them stimulate and reflate the economy. Immediate payments will be made to contractors handling health sector and education sector projects within the next two weeks,” Governor Ambode assured.

Speaking on some projects outlined for the next quarter, the Governor said that plans have been concluded to transform the Yaba Bus Park with the provision of modern bus shelters replica of the ones erected at the Tafawa Balewa Square.

Governor Ambode also assured that the road rehabilitation projects ongoing at Adetola Street and Brown Road in Aguda, Surulere as well as Olajuwon and Biney Streets in Yaba would be completed before the end of the present quarter.

He said with the completion and delivery of the first phase of the 114 local government roads last month, the process of bid invitation for the construction of additional 114 roads across the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas would commence within the next three weeks.

“We have commenced a multi-faceted development that will change the face of Lagos Island. We have installed new bus shelters at Tafawa Balewa Square and before the end of December, various projects will be commenced within the National Museum axis, Onikan to Tafawa Balewa Square, and from Lagos House Marina and Freedom Park. By the time we complete these projects, Lagos will become a major tourist destination in West Africa,” the Governor said.

Also speaking during the interactive session at the event witnessed by captains of industries, party chieftains and members of the diplomatic corps, Oba of Lagos, HRM Oba Rilwan Akiolu, lamented the suspension of a bill seeking special status for Lagos by the Senate, but expressed optimism that the bill would still become law in the nearest future.

He said: “The suspension of the bill sponsored by our amiable daughter and wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu is unfortunate but it is better and advisable to let these people know that this is not a matter of quarrel but a question of time. It will definitely happen.”

The monarch, who recalled the history of the agitation for special status for Lagos, urged the promoters of the bill to go back to drawing board and do their home work well before representing it for consideration and passage.

The Governor, who also spoke on the issue, commended Senator Tinubu for her courage to push for the bill, while also lauding the Senate President, Bukola Saraki for his magnanimity in allowing the bill to be presented on the floor of the Senate.

He however expressed optimism that the bill would be reactivated and represented again, saying that the success of the bill was in the overriding interest of Nigerians.

Teenager Beats Up Employer Over Delayed Salary in Lagos

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A 19-year-old employee, John Edward , was on Tuesday arraigned in Lagos for beating up his employer over the delay in the payment of salary.

The accused, whose address was not stated in court, is facing a four-count charge bordering on assault, conspiracy and malicious damage before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court. The Prosecutor, Mr Ishola Samuel, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Sept. 1 at Olusoji Idowu St. Ilupeju, Lagos.
Samuel said the accused conspired with others still at large and assaulted their employer, Solomon David, over the delay in the payment of their salaries.

 

“The accused used dangerous weapons such as iron rod and stick to inflict injuries on the complainant,’’ the prosecutor said.

According to him, the accused and his collaborators also destroyed a telephone handset worth N7,000 and tore their employer’s shirt, valued at N10, 000. Samuel said that the offences contravened Sections 410, 171 and 337 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused pleaded not guilty. The Magistrate, Miss A .R Onilogbo, granted the accused N50,000 bail with two sureties in like sum. The case was adjourned to Nov. 1, for hearing.

Falling Oil Prices: TUC Boss Tasks Govt., Labour, Employers

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The Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Rivers, Mr Chika Onuegbu, on Monday called for partnership between government, labour unions and employers to tackle the challenges caused by falling oil prices.

Onuegbu told the newsmen in Port Harcourt that TUC was worried by the state of the economy following the over 60 per cent fall in crude oil prices.

He said that President Muhammadu Buhari might not be able to deliver effectively on his campaign promises if the price of crude oil continued to hover around $50 per barrel.

According Onuegbu , the fall in crude oil prices is negatively impacting on the nation’s oil and gas sector.

“Already, there are strong fears that some 120,000 direct and indirect jobs may have been lost in the Nigerian oil and gas sector.

“The situation in Nigeria is made worse by the fact that there were existing challenges in the industry which are yet to be addressed by all stakeholders.

“Key amongst these challenges are the 400,000 barrels of crude oil being stolen daily through pipeline vandalism, well head vandalism and illegal crude oil diversion.

“There is also the escalating insecurity and kidnapping in the Niger Delta leading to significant increase in the cost of doing business,’’ he said.

Onuegbu, however, appealed to labour, especially those in the oil and gas sector, to partner with government, employers and other stakeholders to evolve appropriate strategies to resolve outstanding challenges in the sector.

He canvassed strategies like adoption of partnership approach to industrial relations in order to create solutions to the current challenges facing the industry.

The labour leader also called for diversification of the economy, review of fiscal federalism, passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill and conclusion of the reforms in the oil and gas sector,” he said.

 

 

(NAN)

Beninoise Cooks Poison Family Just Two Weeks Into Employment

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A 34-year-old Beninoise man, Victor Hounkpe, who came into Nigeria to serve as a cook in Lagos, has been arrested by the Lagos state police command for drugging his employers just two weeks after her was employed. He did this because he wanted to steal from them.

According to a report by Vanguard, Victor connived with one David Amusu, the former cook of his employers, Omowunmi Fadojutimi and Mr. Nwogu Chinaka to drug them and bring armed robbers into their home to steal. God forbid evil people we bring around us!

On April 22nd, Victor made vegetable soup for his employers who after eating became ill and were rushed to the hospital. The same illness that befell his employers also befell two other domestics staffs in the compound.

A test carried out on them showed they had all been poisoned. His employers suspected foul play and lodged a complaint at a police station. According to the Lagos state Police Commissioner, Kayode Aderanti, Victor ran away immediately he poisoned his victims.

“Efforts to arrest him proved abortive initially. But he was eventually arrested through investigation and deployment of advanced technology.

During interrogation, he confessed to have put some substances in the food served and further confessed that David Amusu, the former cook, who recommended him to the complainant, gave him the substance and directed him on how to administer it. He admitted that their intention was to gain unfettered access into the inner rooms and rob the complainant after they must have passed out.

Victor blamed his accomplice, David for pushing him to commit the crime

 “I put the substance into their food and it was given to me by David. He told me the drug was a sleeping tablet and that it would put them all to sleep so that they would gain easy access into the house. But I took to my heels when the gate man told me that the doctors said they were suffering from food poisoning.”he said

His accomplice, David who is also from Benin republic, said the administered substance was 10 tablets of Super Appetite which he grounded and gave to Victor to administer

“I left my former boss because I was not feeling well. I have recommended four cooks to her but she kept saying they were not good. Hounkpe was the last person I introduced to her. But when he got the job, he called me and said we should rob the family, that they were rich. He asked if I had any sleeping tablet that would put them to sleep. So I ground 10 tablets of Super Appetite and gave it to him. Our intention was never to kill anyone but to rob and leave for Benin Republic, where we intend to establish our business.”he said.

Former Employee & Friends Kidnap Boss’ Daughter, As Girl Dies In Their Custody, Police Apprehends Them

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The police in Ogun State have arrested three suspected kidnappers for allegedly killing an 11-year-old girl, Aminat Ishola.

The suspects ? Babatunde Aderonmu, Sina Damilare, and Kola Taofeek ? were said to have kidnapped the minor, and administered a powdery substance on her while she was in their den, which later resulted in her death.

Aminat, a primary five pupil was reportedly kidnapped at Arugudu in the Ijoko area of Sango in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area on May 21.

It was learnt that she was subsequently moved to the Osun-Jegede, Ogbere area of Ibadan in Oyo State, where she was held captive.

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, while parading the suspects on Wednesday in Abeokuta, said one of the suspects, Aderounmu, a former employee of the victim’s father at his bakery, masterminded the abduction.

He was said to have confessed that the girl died after Taofeek, who claimed to be an Alfa (Islamic cleric) administered a powdery substance on the victim to hypnotise her.

Adejobi said, “After kidnapping the girl, she was taken to Osun-Jegede. On the second day, the girl died because they administered some substance on the girl which is suspected to be poison.

“The prime suspect, Aderounmu said Taofeek, who claimed to be an Alfa administered the substance on the girl, which eventually killed her.

“After the girl had died, they packed her corpse into a sack and dumped the sack opposite Ogbere Police Station in Ibadan.

“The following day, a woman whose shop is close to the police station noticed the sack and called the attention of the police . The Divisional Police Officer ordered the opening of the sack and it was discovered that it was a corpse.

“We have carried out an autopsy on the girl and we are awaiting the result.”

Adejobi said the suspects had contacted the parents of the girl and demanded N2m ransom before they would release her, but they finally agreed on N300,000.

He said, “It was at this stage that the parents reported the matter to the police and we swung into action.

“The officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad commenced investigation on the matter, which led to the arrest of the lead suspect, Aderonmu.

“The suspect had sent the account number of a prophetess, who they claimed prayed for them, to the parents.

“The suspects had also confessed that they employed the service of an Alfa who administered a substance on the girl, which led to her death.

“They said they dumped her remains very close to the Divisional Police Station.”

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