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Nurses shun FG talks, begin warning strike today

Published

3 weeks ago

July 30, 2025

Nurses, under the umbrella of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives–Federal Health Institutions Sector, have insisted that their planned seven-day warning strike will begin on Wednesday.

The members vowed to complete the strike even if the government called for negotiations.

Speaking in an interview with our correspondent on Tuesday, the National Chairman of NANNM-FHI, Morakinyo Rilwan, said the government had 15 days to respond to their demands but failed to act.

The union, on July 14, 2025, issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding immediate intervention to prevent a total healthcare shutdown.

Some of the demands of the nurses are the upward review of shift allowance, uniform allowance adjustment, a separate salary structure for nurses, increased core duty allowance, mass employment of nurses, and the establishment of a nursing department in the Federal Ministry of Health, among others.

Rilwan said, “As far as we are concerned, there has been no communication from the government to this moment. That is why we are saying the strike is going on, and nothing is stopping it.

“Even if the government calls today or tomorrow, it won’t stop the strike. They had enough time.

“Fifteen days is enough for them to call us for negotiations. It is because they are not sensitive to the welfare of the masses. That’s why they allowed 15 good days to elapse.”

Rilwan noted that the strike was initiated by members who had grown tired of poor working conditions.

“For over 40 years, we have been patient with them. They subjected us to no provision of gloves or equipment, and for the past 40 years, nurses have not embarked on any strike.

“And we gave them 15 days’ notice. Maybe they are looking at it that these people have not gone on strike for a very long time, so they are not going to go on strike. But they are wrong,” he said.

According to him, members were prepared to face any consequences, including “no work, no pay.”

He said, “This strike is not initiated by the leadership of the union; it was initiated by the members, and they said this is what they want.

“So, we don’t have any option but to allow them to exercise their rights, because they are tired.

“They are not even contemplating ‘no work, no pay,’ because that is the only language the government can use, and they are ready because the money they are taking is not even enough for them.

“They are ready to sacrifice that as long as this strike continues.”

He explained that after the seven-day warning strike, if no reasonable agreement was reached, they would give another 21-day ultimatum to the government, according to labour law, before proceeding on an indefinite strike.

“If the 21 days elapse and there is no reasonable response from the government, we would embark on a total and indefinite strike,” he added.

Addressing reports that some hospitals may not participate, he clarified that only institutions without financial members of the association are excluded.

“Nobody is pulling out. Federal Medical Centre, Ebute-Metta and Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, have not been part of our association because of some issues.

“They have opted out of the association for the past three years, so they are not legally covered to participate in this strike because they are not legitimate financial members of the association.

“Other hospitals in Lagos and other states, including the Federal Capital Territory, are joining the strike,” he said.

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Every Nigerian should learn combat skills for self-defence – CDS Gen Musa

Published

3 hours ago

August 22, 2025

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has urged all Nigerians to learn combat skills to protect themselves in the face of danger.

General Musa gave this advice on Thursday when he appeared as a guest on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television.

He likened the acquisition of combat skills to driving, swimming, and other essential survival skills.

When asked whether he would advise Nigerians to learn combat skills for self-defence, General Musa said, “That one should be taken as learning driving, learning how to swim. Whether we have war or not, it is a survival instinct.

“In Europe, swimming is compulsory; [so is] Learning and teaching about security because you have to learn what security is.”

According to him, the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, should train Nigerian graduates in unarmed combat skills for day-to-day survival against dark-hearted men.

The defence chief further explained that security is the responsibility of all Nigerians, even as he urged citizens to remain situationally aware of their surroundings to identify strange and suspicious individuals.

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Uganda reaches agreement with US Govt to take in migrants

Published

14 hours ago

August 21, 2025

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Uganda has entered an agreement with the United States to take in nationals from third countries who may not get asylum in the U.S. but are reluctant to return to their countries of origin, the foreign affairs ministry said on Thursday, August 21.

President Donald Trump aims to deport millions of immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally, and his administration has sought to increase removals to third countries, including by sending convicted criminals to South Sudan and Eswatini.

“This is a temporary arrangement with conditions including that individuals with criminal records and unaccompanied minors will not be accepted,” Vincent Bagiire Waiswa, the ministry’s permanent secretary, said in a statement.

Waiswa added that Uganda would prefer to receive people from African nationalities under the agreement.

“The two parties are working out the detailed modalities on how the agreement shall be implemented,” he said.

On Wednesday, another Ugandan foreign affairs official had denied a U.S. media report that the East African country had agreed to take in people deported from the United States, saying it lacked the facilities to accommodate them.

Uganda, a U.S. ally in East Africa, also hosts nearly two million refugees and asylum-seekers, who mostly hail from countries in the region such as Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Sudan.

In July, five immigrants from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Yemen and Cuba, who Washington said had been convicted of serious crimes, were flown to Eswatini, where they are now in a high-security prison. The deportations are being challenged by a group of Swazi and southern African NGOs, with a high court hearing scheduled for Friday.

Also in July, eight men from various countries were deported by the US to South Sudan, via Djibouti, where they were held for weeks in a shipping container. Meanwhile, more than 250 Venezuelans were repatriated to Venezuela after being sent to a notorious El Salvador prison in March without due process.

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FRSC rewards officer for rejecting 104 bribes in one month

Published

14 hours ago

August 21, 2025

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has honoured Assistant Route Commander Babatunde Owoeye of the Osun State Sector Command for his exemplary integrity in July 2025.

The commendation was held during a ceremony on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at the Osun State Command headquarters.

Records show that Owoeye rejected bribes from traffic offenders on 104 separate occasions.

He also turned down bribe attempts 18 times in May and 38 times in June, reflecting a consistent commitment to ethical conduct in service.

Speaking during the ceremony, Sector Commander Leye Adegboyega lauded Owoeye, stating that his conduct mirrors the FRSC’s long-standing policy against corruption and extortion among its personnel.

Adegboyega added that the recognition aligns with the anti-corruption agenda of the Corps Marshal, Sheu Mohammed, as well as the commission’s broader efforts to promote professionalism and accountability.

“For his exceptional integrity, Assistant Route Commander Babatunde J. Owoeye has been awarded a commendation and a cash gift of N250,000. He recorded 104 ‘Attempt to Corrupt Marshal on Duty’ (ACS) cases in July alone — a feat that is unprecedented in the command’s history,” Adegboyega said.

The FRSC reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on bribery and assured the public that honesty and discipline within its ranks would continue to be recognised and rewarded.