The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Police to ensure a free, fair and credible governorship election in Edo State.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr ,Debo Ologunagba stated this at a news conference on Wednesday, in Abuja.
Ologunagba called on INEC to ensure all result sheets for the election were counter signed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and National Commissioner supervising the zone for authentication.
He said that the result sheets should be counter signed at the time of the distribution of election materials to the various local governments, wards and units.
Ologunagba said that the party and the people of Edo would not allow rigging of the Saturday election.
He said that the PDP and millions of its supporters were fully prepared for the election and optimistic of victory.
He urged the people to be law-abiding, vote peacefully, but be alert and ready to defend their votes.
“After casting their votes, they should stay back peacefully and ensure that their votes are counted and results directly uploaded before leaving.
“The tide of this election, to the effect that the PDP is coasting to a sweeping victory, is clear for all to see and the people of Edo are not ready to accept any result that does not reflect their will as expressed at the ballot,” he said.
He also called on President Bola Tinubu to direct INEC and the police to do the right thing, to ensure that the Edo governorship election was credible. (NAN)
FCT primary teachers resume strike over unresolve welfare concerns
The Federal Capital Territory Wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) on Wednesday, resumed industrial action over unresolved welfare issues between it and the six area councils of the territory.
By Philip Yatai
The Federal Capital Territory Wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) on Wednesday, resumed industrial action over unresolved welfare issues between it and the six area councils of the territory.
The union declared the strike in a communique signed by its Chairman, Mr Abdullahi Shaf; State Secretary, Mrs Margaret Jethro and State Publicity Secretary, Ibukun Adekeye.
The strike was a continuation of earlier ones suspended by the union in October 2023 and in January 2024.
The union, in the communiqué issued in Abuja, explained that the action was the outcome of the State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) meeting, held on Tuesday.
It added that the SWEC had deliberated on the elapsed 14-day ultimatum given to the area councils’ chairmen to pay the teachers their entitlements.
“The SWEC, therefore, resolved and directed all the primary school teachers in the FCT to resume the suspended strike action with effect from Wednesday, Sept. 18.
“All public primary schools in FCT should remain closed and parents are hereby advised to remain guided by this development until the union’s demands are met.
“We appeal to all teachers to remain calm and disregard any counter directives except as directed by the union,” it added.
The union identified one of the unresolved issues as non-payment of 60 per cent of the 25 months old minimum wage areas.
Other issues included non-implementation and payment of 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increase, and non-implementation and payment of 40 per cent peculiar allowance.
The union were also demanding the payment of the N35,000 wage award arrears and the implementation of the template on outstanding entitlements of teachers as agreed in 2022.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the FCT Minister had intervened and promised to pay 40 per cent of the outstanding 25 months minimum wage arrears.
As part of the resolution for suspending the strike, the six area councils were expected to pay the remaining 60 per cent of the minimum wage arrears.
The teachers acknowledged and applauded Wike for redeeming the 40 per cent pledge and frowned at the area councils’ chairmen for failing to fulfill their part of the agreement.
Reacting to the development, Dr Hassan Sule, acting Chairman, FCT Universal Basic Education Board (FCT-UBEB), appealed to the NUT to suspend the strike.
Sule said that discussion with the chairmen of the area councils was ongoing to resolve the issues. (NAN)
