Akporeha, appeared on Sunrise Daily on September 7,
2020.
National President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and
Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Williams Akporeha, on Monday said
labour leaders in Rivers state have gone underground for fear of
harassment by the state government.
Akporeha made the remarks during an appearance on Channels
Television’s Sunrise Daily.
He was responding to questions about why workers decided to
embark on a mass protest in the state on Tuesday.
“The issues are numerous, ranging from the non-implementation of
the minimum wage in Rivers, nonpayment of pensioners for several
years, the sealing-up of NLC (Nigeria Labour Congress) Secretariat
in Rivers state for the past six months,” Akporeha said.
READ ALSO: Rivers Govt Warns Organised Labour
Against Disobeying Court Order
“Several appeals have been made to the Governor that the path he
is treading is not good for an industrial, harmonious relationship;
but all that seems to have fallen on deaf ears; And as union too,
once all those efforts fail, the next thing is to cry out.
“The case of Rivers has become so serious because of the
anti-labour stance of the Governor. He has also gone about
harassing labour leaders in the state. No labour leader seems to be
safe. Everybody is operating from underground as we speak. And we
felt this is democracy. If any Governor is embarking on
dictatorship against the labour movement, that should not be
accepted.”
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No National Protest
The Rivers State Government on Saturday accused the NLC of
instigating workers into industrial action, despite a court order
against such.
However, the NLC has said it is not aware of any court
injunction and will go on with its mass protest on Tuesday,
Akporeha said.
NUPENG is an affiliate of the NLC.
“The mass protest, which is a peaceful one, is meant to bring to
the attention of the state government of Rivers and the terror and
authoritarian stand of the Governor over labour issues in that
state,” Akporeha said.
“Our role is to give solidarity and that is why we have called
on all our members in Rivers to come out for that peaceful protest
on Tuesday.”
Mr Akporeha said his association is not involved in any
nationwide strike, in light of rumours of an action over increased
fuel and electricity tariffs.
“We are only involved on a solidarity peaceful mass protest in
Rivers state; that’s our mandate for now,” he said.
“The peaceful mass protest will go ahead, and we are calling on
all our members in the downstream and upstream, especially in the
depot areas and filling station workers, to all come out en mass to
join in solidarity to save Rivers state workers.”
Read more https://swordpress.com.ng/2020/09/07/labour-leaders-have-gone-underground-in-rivers-state-nupeng/
Troops Raid Guma Forest, Eliminate 5 B’Haram in
Gwoza
1. In continuation of the aggressive kinetic operations against
armed banditry, cattle rustling and other sundry crimes in the
North-Central zone, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE have arrested
4 armed bandits and recovered arms and ammunition during two daring
raids at identified bandits’ camps.
2. In one of the operations conducted on 6 September 2020,
troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE deployed at Guma in Benue State
and Keana in Nasarawa State, conducted a dawn raid at identified
armed bandits’ camp at Guma forest along the Benue-Nasarawa border
following actionable intelligence reports on the location of the
camp. Adopting an aggressive posture and profile, the gallant
troops stormed the location and engaged the bandits in a firefight,
overwhelming them with superior fire. In the process, troops
neutralized one bandit while others fled with gunshot wounds into
the forest. Troops also recovered one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 rifle
magazine, one locally made pistol and 3 mobile phones at the scene
while the camp was subsequently destroyed.
3. Similarly, troops of Sector 1 deployed at Gagbe in Gwer West
Local Government Area of Benue State conducted another dawn raid on
another suspected armed bandits’ hideout at Tse Agi in the general
area. The gallant troops stormed the hideout and apprehended 4
suspects at the scene while one AK 47 rifle, 2 AK-47 rifle
magazines and 46 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition were also
recovered at the location. The hideout was subsequently destroyed
while the suspects are currently being profiled after which they
will be handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agency for
further action.
4. The Military High Command appreciates the general public for
their cooperation in providing credible information which has so
far facilitated the successes of the operations. The Armed Forces
of Nigeria assures that these offensives against the common enemies
of this Nation will not cease until normalcy is restored to all the
troubled zones of the Country.
JOHN ENENCHE
Major General
Coordinator
Defence Media Operations
Defence Headquarters
7 September 2020.
………….
PRESS RELEASE
OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE: TROOPS NEUTRALISE BOKO HARAM/ISWAP
ELEMENTS, RESCUE KIDNAPPED VICTIMS IN GWOZA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
OF BORNO STATE
1. In continuation of the aggressive clearance operation to
stamp out the North-East zone of the country against the insurgents
and other criminal elements, troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has
recorded tremendous successes against BHT/ISWAP elements. Acting on
credible intelligence on the activities of BHT/ISWAP terrorists at
Hamdaga Makaranta town in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno
State, troops of 192 Battalion supported by the Air Task Force of
Operation LAFIYA DOLE on 6 September 2020 raided the location. The
gallant troops overwhelmed them killing 5, while others escaped
with gun shots wounds. Troops also cleared 9 identified isolated
BHT/ISWAP structures and farmlands in the area.
2. Furthermore, troops successfully rescued 7 kidnapped victims
comprising 2 females and 5 children. Currently the gallant troops
have dominated the area with aggressive patrols.
3. The Military High Command congratulates the gallant troops
for their dexterity and encourages them to intensify the onslaught
against the criminal elements in the North-East zone of the
country.
JOHN ENENCHE
Major General
Coordinator
Defence Media Operations
Defence Headquarters
7 September 2020.