News
Blackout hits North East as vandals destroy transmission line [PHOTOS]
Parts of the Northeast experienced electricity blackouts when vandals deliberately brought down towers T372 and T373 on the Gombe-Damaturu 330kV Synchronous Condenser transmission line. Ndidi Mbah, the General Manager of Public Affairs at the Transmission Company of Nigeria, confirmed the incident in a statement on Friday.
In the statement, the Transmission Company of Nigeria reported that Tower T372, located around Katsaita Village in Yobe State, was vandalized on December 21, causing the 330kV transmission tower to collapse. This, in turn, brought down Tower T373 along the same transmission line route, resulting in power supply failures in parts of the North East, specifically Yobe and Borno States.
During a patrol to investigate the power supply cut, TCN engineers discovered the fallen towers. Villagers confirmed hearing a loud explosion before the tower collapse, and upon closer inspection, engineers found evidence of explosives used by the vandals.
TCN promptly mobilized one of its contractors to the incident site to initiate the reconstruction of the damaged transmission towers. The company strongly condemned the incident, expressing regret for the inconvenience caused to the government and people of Yobe and Borno states. Despite the pledge to swiftly re-erect the towers and restore power supply, the statement did not specify a timeline for the completion of the reconstruction process.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria emphasized its commitment to combating vandalism and preserving national power infrastructure. It called on host communities to collaborate in safeguarding these collective assets. Notably, TCN had previously reported in September that vandals had destroyed 109 transmission towers nationwide within nine months.
News
UniAbuja ASUU divided over strike
There is discord among members of the University of Abuja’s Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) regarding the indefinite strike recently announced by the union. Following the declaration of the strike on Thursday, a faction of lecturers known as the “Anti-strike ASUU Members” distanced themselves from the decision.
The announcement of the strike came after the Abuja chapter of ASUU concluded its congress at the Permanent Site of the institution. However, immediately after the strike declaration, the Anti-strike ASUU members held a press conference to express their opposition to it.
Abubakar Kari, the dean and former convener of ASUU National Political Committee, along with Prof. M. Y. Gana, the former Nigerian ambassador to Japan and head of the Department of Agriculture Engineering, asserted that a select group within the local ASUU leadership was pushing for the strike to serve their own interests rather than the broader concerns of ASUU members and the University of Abuja.
Kari emphasized that they, representing numerous other like-minded members, were committed to protecting the integrity of the University of Abuja’s academic calendar and ensuring the smooth operation of the university. They strongly opposed the decision to initiate an indefinite strike without seeking the input of ASUU members through a vote, stating that it did not align with ASUU’s standard procedure for calling a strike.
Therefore, they asserted that the so-called strike did not accurately represent the views of the majority of ASUU members and was invalid.
News
N615,000 minimum wage demand most realistic — NLC
The national President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, has said that N615,000 minimum wage demand is the most realistic amount.
Ajaero made this statement on Thursday during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today monitored by DAILY POST.
DAILY POST reports that the federal government had approved a pay rise of between 25 and 35 percent for civil servants across various consolidated salary structures.
But the NLC rejected the increase, saying it was too low.
During the interview, Ajaero said that the labour unions were receiving pressure from workers, while the government was calling them names.
“If you are talking about realistic, the N615,000 demand is the most realistic amount. And being realistic is not about collecting a salve wage. Never.
“And we have a breakdown of this into 30 items. Accommodation is about N40,000. I want you to tell me where you can get a room and a parlour for N40,000 in Abuja. Electricity/power we allocated N20,000. The current tariff will not last you for more than one week.
“Utility and water is just N10,000. The cooking gas cylinder is filled for N14,000. You have to buy twice a month as the case may be. Food for six people: four children plus husband and wife. We allocated N9,000 per day. It’s N1,500 per person. If you calculate it, you get N240,000 per month. We look at medical and allocated N50,000, assuming you are not on admission and no major ailment.
“Education we allocated N50,000, assuming your children are on free education. Sanitation, N10,000. Transportation, N3,000 for 30 days. If you sum all the items up, you will have N615,000,” he said.
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Nigeria should be giant in development, not only in population – Shehu Sani
Shehu Sani, a former senator from Kaduna and a prominent social commentator, emphasized that Nigeria should not only be recognized as the most populous country in Africa but should also excel across all sectors of its economy. He made these remarks while attending the Inaugural Memorial Lecture of Prince Emeka Obasi, the late Publisher of Business Hallmark, titled ‘If this Giant Must Walk; Manifesto for a New Nigeria’.
Reflecting on his tenure representing Kaduna Central in the 8th National Assembly and his role as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Sani noted that Nigeria has yet to reach its full potential.
Despite Nigeria’s population of 220 million people, Sani pointed out that being a ‘Giant of Africa’ should extend beyond mere numbers. He advocated for Nigeria to excel in manufacturing, exports, shipbuilding, automobile production, information technology, agriculture, and education. Sani stressed that Nigeria’s status as a ‘giant’ should not be limited to population size alone.
Expressing dismay at the persistent challenges facing the country, Sani called for concrete actions to address these issues. He questioned why Nigeria, endowed with abundant natural resources, continues to grapple with problems like water scarcity, power shortages, and hunger, attributing these challenges to self-inflicted causes rather than divine intervention.
Sani emphasized the urgency of addressing Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly the threats posed by terrorists and bandits. While acknowledging some progress in tackling these issues, he stressed the need for decisive action to combat terrorism and kidnapping, which are destabilizing the nation.
Advocating for substantial investments in science and technology, Sani highlighted the importance of a well-equipped and adequately funded security apparatus to combat threats effectively. He underscored the critical role of security in Nigeria’s progress, emphasizing that without it, the nation cannot move forward.
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