By Joan Nwagwu

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has called on governments to proritise social justice, as workers across the globe celebrate 2023 Workers Day.

The ILO Director-General, Mr Gilbert Houngbo, made the call in a statement to mark the International Workers Day, on Monday in Abuja.

He said: “This is a moment for pride, celebration and hope. After three years of the COVID-19 crisis followed by inflation, conflict, and food and fuel supply shocks, we badly need this.

“But the promises of renewal made during the pandemic, of ‘building back better’, have so far not been delivered for the great majority of workers worldwide.

“Globally, real wages have fallen, poverty is rising, inequality seems more entrenched than ever.

“Enterprises have been hard-hit. Many could not cope with the cumulative effects of recent unexpected events. Small and micro-enterprises were particularly affected, and many have ceased operations,” he said.

Houngbo said that people felt that the sacrifices they made to get through COVID-19 had not been recognised and rewarded.

“Their voices are not being heard clearly enough. This, combined with a perceived lack of opportunities, has created a disturbing level of mistrust.

“It doesn’t have to be like this. We are still the masters of our fate, but if we are to shape a new, more stable and equitable world, we must choose a different path – one that prioritises social justice,” he said.

The ILO boss said that social justice was not only achievable but also essential for a sustainable future.

“How do we get there? First and foremost, our policies and actions must be human-centred.

“This is to allow people to pursue both their material well-being and their spiritual development in conditions of freedom and dignity, economic security and equal opportunity.

“This approach is not new, it was set out and agreed in the aftermath of World War Two, when the ILO’s international membership signed the 1944 Declaration of Philadelphia.

“This visionary document set out guiding principles for our economic and social systems, that they should not be turned exclusively to hitting specific growth rates or other statistical targets but to address human needs and aspirations,’’ he said.

According to Houngbo, this means focusing on equality, poverty alleviation and core social protection.

He said that the most effective way to do this would be by providing quality jobs – decent job for all – so that people could support themselves and build their own future.

“It means realistically addressing the long-term structural transformations of our time; ensuring that new technology creates and supports employment; pro-actively facing the challenges of climate change and ensuring we offer the jobs, skills training.

“Others are transition support necessary for workers and businesses to benefit from the new low-carbon era; treating demographic changes as a ‘dividend’ rather than a problem.

“This is with supporting action on skills, migration and social protection to create more cohesive and resilient societies.

“We also need to reassess and re-fashion the architecture of our social and economic systems so that they support this change of course towards social justice rather than continuing to channel us into a policy ‘doom loop’ of inequality and instability,” he said.

He urged that all should reinvigorate labour institutions and organsations for social dialogue to be effective and vigorous.

He also said that there was need to review laws and regulations affecting work in order for them to be relevant, up-to-date and able to protect workers and support sustainable businesses.

According to him, to make all this happen, governments need to recommit to international cooperation and solidarity.

“We must enhance our efforts and create greater policy coherence, particularly within the multilateral system, as the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres calls it.

“This is why we need a global coalition for social justice.”

He said that the coalition would create a platform to bring together a broad range of international bodies and stakeholders.

“It will position social justice as the keystone of the global recovery so that it is prioritised in national, regional and global policies and actions.

“It will ensure that our future is human-centred.

“We have the chance to reshape the world we live in – economically, socially and environmentally.

“Let us take this opportunity and move forward to build the equitable and resilient societies that can underpin lasting peace and social justice,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

By Ruth Oketunde

The National Community Ethics and Value Environmental Compliance Corps, a non- governmental organisation (NGO), has called for the establishment of a national agency to revive respect of ethics and values among Nigerians.

Mr Musa Kelvin, the organisation’s FCT Commandant, made this call at the end of a training on Promotion of Integrity and Attitudinal Change among Nigerians in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training, which had about 70 participants, were trained on being change agents in their various communities.

Kelvin said that there was need to re-awaken the consciousness of integrity, accountability, discipline and morality among Nigerians, which had been on a decline for so long.

According to him, it is important to have integrity police at the grassroot level to consistently monitor and correct every act of misdemeanor among Nigerians.

“In line with bringing back the moral standards, we need agents who would inculcate it in people, remind and educate them about behavioural change.

“The essence of this training is to keep these agents abreast of the current realities that have devoid our ethics and respect for values.

“This is also in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision of promoting ethical values among Nigerians,” he said.

Kelvin called also on the legislatures and the presidency to look into the bill for the establishment of a National Agency for Ethics and Values Compliance, adding that it would be a good legacy they would be giving Nigerians at the end of their tenure.

“It is necessary to bring back Nigerians to these moral values that we have lost and to also redeem our image to the outside world,” he said.

He added that the organisation was already working with various government agencies to ensure behavioural change among Nigerians.

“We are already working with the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Security agencies, Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), among others.

“At the FCT level for instance, we have approval of the Universal Basic Education Board to establish moral integrity clubs in schools to catch them young and inculcate in them respect for ethical values.

“With NEMSA, we are working with the organisation to correct wrong electrical connection that leads to fire outbreak in markets and houses in various communities, among others,” he said.

Speaking also, Mr Gana Yusuf, the organisation’s Commander-General, added that there was need for re-orientation on the importance of ethics and values of the Nigerian culture.

Yusuf, who spoke on the topic “Ethical Steps to Undertake During Field Activities” urged the participants to discharge their duties effectively, saying that ”they must be the change they want to see.

“It is important for Nigerians to know that whatever we do today will return back to us, either good or bad.

“So we expect Nigerians to embrace integrity and attitudinal change, because lack of respect for these had affected us for so long.

“The participants should also endeavour to inculcate behavioural change by ensuring that they correct any deviation from ethical norms”.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chidinma Agu/Kayode Olaitan

By Ebere Agozie

The Centre for Legal Rights Advancement (CLRA), a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), has called for the abolition of the practice of all forms of corporal punishment in the country.

The founder of CLRA, Prof Ben Angwe, made the call in a statement in Abuja to commemorate the 2023 International Day Against Corporal Punishment of Children.

The International Day against Corporal Punishment of Children is observed April 30 of every year.

Angwe noted that the practice of all forms of corporal punishment in Nigeria was a serious violation of Child’s Rights Act 2003 and the International Convention on the Right of the Child, among other laws.

He said that relevant stakeholders should advocate the review of Section 295 of the Criminal Code, Section 55 of the Penal Code and other similar legislations that permit the use of force to correct children.

“These sections undermine the the relevant provisions of the Child’s Rights Act and other national laws, as well as related international treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory.

“Corporal punishment is against the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

“”This ugly practice constitutes an obstacle to the realisation of the right of the child to health, development, safe environment and education.

“Unfortunately, such acts are usually carried out by some parents, guardians, caregivers and teachers, in spite of legal provisions”.

Angwe who is a former Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) regretted that Nigeria was not among the 65 countries out of about 199 that currently banned all forms of corporal punishment.

He commended the 36 states of the Federation for passing into Law the Violence Against Children Legislation and the majority of the states for adopting and passing into Law the Child’s Rights Act in their various jurisdictions, even as he urged them to ensure their smooth implementation.

He called on government at all levels and other stakeholders to double their collaboration to end corporal punishment in its entirety.

“I use this opportunity to condemn all forms of child rights violations including child trafficking, child labour and child abuse both at home and in school.

“Instead of indulging in such despicable practices, all decisions involving children should be taken in their best interest as enunciated in the Child’s Rights Act.

“There is a need to comply with the relevant national, regional and international laws prohibiting harsh or degrading treatment, and desist from spanking, hitting, punching, kicking, confinement in small spaces and subjecting any child to a fixed posture for long periods.

“Parents and other custodians of children should rather use verbal warning and make references to good moral conduct of persons of reputable character in the society, bearing in mind that an abused child is usually sad and could carry such a mood to adulthood with the attendant unpleasant consequences to the larger society”.

He, equally, commended the banning of corporal punishment in Europe, most parts of East Asia, South America and Zambia, urging Nigeria and other affected countries to adopt best practices in Child’s Rights Protection. (NAN)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba

By Taiye Agbaje
Abuja Traders’ Association has asked the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Usman Baba, to order the arrest and prosecution of 30 police officers used by Urban Shelter Limited to supervise alleged illegally demolition of structures at Abuja shopping complex.
The association also drew the attention of the I-G to the arrest, intimidation and harassment of its executive officers by the police acting on the instruction of Urban Shelter Limited.
The traders made the allegations in a petition to Baba dated April 28, 2023, through their counsel, Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume, SAN.
Ume, who gave detail background of how the company, in flagrant disobedience to a subsisting court order, mobilised the officers, allegedly tagged to be fake, to give protection to the demolition of the structures at the UTC, Area 7, urged the I-G to intervene.
“The said policemen arrived at the UTC, Area 7 Shopping Complex at about 5am on April 4, and gave a fake police protection to the illegal demolition team organised by Urban Shelter, in its efforts to demolish the complex.
“The fact that this illegal demolition done on the complex and its environs that day were all done by the illegal demolition team recruited by Urban Shelter and Abuja Metropolitan Management Council is axiomatic,” the petition read in part.
The lawyer called on the police boss not to allow the Nigerian Police Force to be used as a tool for promoting selfish interest of an agent provocateur.
He drew the attention of the police to the relevant provisions of its Act and the 1999 Constitution, which is to protect the society from acts of criminality, lives and property of citizens and apprehend offenders and preserve law and order.
“It is wrong for the Nigerian Police Force to lend itself as a tool for disobedience of court orders and manipulations by selfish persons.
“It is therefore demanding on your office to immediately take measures to prosecute the 30 perons impersonating your officers and those who aided them, that is Urban Shelter, as well as ensure that the officers of the Traders’ Association are not harassed,” Ume said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Felicia Imohimi

The Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), has called for the establishment of veterinary desks in emergency management institutions and other relevant agencies.

Dr Ifeanyi Ogbu. Chairman, FCT Chapter NVMA, who made the call during the commemoration of the World Veterinary Day (WVD), on Sunday in Abuja, listed the agencies as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA and the Nigeria Customs Service.

The event was organised by the FCT Chapter of NVMA.

Ogbu said having veterinary desks or departments in those agencies, would ensure effective and holistic emergency response to both humans and animals.

According to him, whenever there is an emergency, NEMA and others will wage into the situation, but only to rescue humans and save properties, without taking into cognisance the plight of animals.

Citing example of the recent flood in Kogi State, which washed away more than a 1,000 cows, goats, dogs, the veterinarian said NEMA put its recue efforts on just humans and neglected the helpless animals.

“Those human beings rescued depended on the affected animals for survival, so there should be holistic rescue of everything in every emergency situation,” Ogbu said.

NAN reports that World Veterinary Day is commemorated every last Saturday of April, and the theme for 2023 is; “Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness in the veterinary profession”. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

By Ahmed Ubandoma

The Federal Government has explained that the sum of 1.2 million dollars allegedly spent in hiring buses for the evacuation of Nigerian students in Sudan was due to the dire need of the war situation.

This is contained in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs Mrs Rhoda Iliya.

It was also signed by officials of the ministry of foreign affairs Ambassador Janet Olisa and Dr Sani Gwarzo of Humanitarian affairs ministry in Abuja on Saturday.

“The outcry over the negotiated sum of 1.2 million dollars for the buses hired for the exercise, is uncalled for.

“The amount in question was negotiated in a condition of war and where there are competing demands for same bus services by other countries also trying to evacuate their citizens.

“The general public is hereby advised to discountenance the unverified information being circulated on the social media as some of them are either due to ignorance or sheer mischief,” it said.

The statement also appealed for cooperation and understanding of all Nigerians in the ongoing efforts to ensure all Nigerians stranded in Sudan are returned home safely.

“The first batch of 13 buses conveying six hundred and thirty seven (637) evacuees had arrived the identified safe borders at Aswan, Egypt.

“The evacuees are undergoing necessary documentation and clearance before admission into the Egyptian territory for their eventual evacuation to Nigeria in the coming hours by the Nigerian Air Force and Air Peace airline, who have been on standby for the operations.

“However, the movement of the second batch of 29 buses will commence on April 29 and the evacuees are advised to be at the designated locations with only one luggage.”

It advised Nigerian students awaiting evacuation from Khartoum to cooperate with embassy officials for proper documentation while embarking on the buses to the designated locations.

“This will go a long way in speeding up the process and avoiding unnecessary delays with documentation and clearance upon arrival at the Aswan, Egypt.”

The government expressed commitment towards successful evacuation of all Nigerians stranded in Sudan before the expiration of the extended 72 hours ceasefire agreement.

“We want to use this opportunity to extend our appreciation to friendly countries who have in one way or the other assisted in bringing succour to Nigerians fleeing the war in Sudan.

“Particularly, Nigeria acknowledges the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for graciously assisting with the evacuation of eight Nigerians from Sudan to safety in its territory, from where they would be airlifted back to Nigeria,” the statement added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Auwalu Birnin Kudu/Ismail AbdulAziz

By Nefishetu Yakubu

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on Saturday graduated 62 youths, including 19 women on wood vocation under its community based reintegration programme in Edo.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training was carried out under IOM’s Nigeria: Promoting Resilience and Sustainable Livelihood for Returned Migrants and Unemployed youths through Community Based Reintegration programme.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony, organised by IOM in Benin, the Deputy Director General, IOM, Mrs Ugochi Daniels, said out of the 62 graduands, 19 were females who graduated as carpenters.

Daniels said the project set up a multipurpose vocational skills training facility in collaboration with Nat Limited and Edojobs, to assist returned migrants within their community to have access to socio economic opportunities.

“The importance of vocational training cannot be overstated, especially in Nigeria where unemployment among the young people is high

“Vocational training provides practical skills and knowledge that are directly relevant to the workplace, making graduate of such programme highly employable and ultimately addressing the key drivers of irregular migration.

“Edo state has a history of woodwork artistry and this training leveraged on that to promote a blend of learning the wood trade and exposing them to opportunities that are bound within the space.

“I am particularly pleased to learn that of the 62 graduate today, 19 are females. In a fast changing world, it is important to ensure that we support women to attain economic independence,” she said.

Daniels thanked the Swiss and Netherlands governments for their generous financial support towards the programme.

According to her, special thanks to the Edo Government for collaborating with IOM to successfully implement the project through Edojobs and the Benin Technical College.

She reiterated IOM’s commitment to continue to support the government of Nigeria and particularly the Edo Government to provide adequate support to migration issues in the state.

Miss Osayomo Usuanlele, on behalf of the graduands, thanked IOM for the opportunity and promised to make good use of the knowledge learnt.

Highpoints of the event was the presentation of certificates and starter packs containing carpentry tools, including generating sets to all 62 carpenters. (NAN)(www nannews.ng)

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Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Cross section of media professionals at one day Media Roundtable on Girl-Child Education in Ado-Ekiti.[NAN-PHOTO]

By Bolanle Lawal

An NGO, Balm In Gilead Foundation for Sustainable Development (BIGIF), has urged media professionals to promote girl-child education in Ekiti.

Its Executive Director, Ms Oluwatumininu Adedeji, made the plea on Saturday at one day Media Roundtable on Girl-Child Education in Ado-Ekiti.

Adedeji said the programme was aimed at engaging media professionals on the need to coordinate strategic communications in addressing poverty, promoting gender equality and
changing cultural beliefs and practices that limit the opportunities available to girl-child.

She said that the group was commissioned as a Consultant by the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), Ekiti with the support of the World Bank to undertake a statewide research on the subject.

“BIGIF is honoured to have the opportunity to engage with you at this event. We know that the media controls the society and is capable of changing human behaviours, living style and moral thoughts through positive messaging.

“The socioeconomic factors and cultural norms affecting girl-child education in Nigeria are complex and intertwined.

“To address these factors require a multi-faceted approach that involves addressing poverty, promoting gender equality and changing the cultural beliefs and practices that limit the opportunities available to girls.

“Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of our adolescent girls and ultimately, in the future of our society,” Adedeji said.

Commenting, Mrs Modupe Ajayi, representative of the Project Coordinator of AGILE, said the focus was to ensure the enrolment of adolescent girls in schools in the state.

Ajayi said further that the programme was also aimed at developing life skills that would help them to navigate adulthood.

Highlights of the event were interactive and break-out sessions with the aim of addressing the behavioural problems, among other factors that hinder girl-child education in the state. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Remi Koleoso/Olagoke Olatoye

The Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), Mr Solomon Arase, NUJ National president, Comrade Chris Isiguzo and some members of the commission and the union.

By Dorcas Jonah

The Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), Mr Solomon Arase, has solicited the support of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) to promote harmonious working relationship between the commission and the media.

Arase said this on Friday in Abuja at an interactive session with the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ), in Abuja.

He said the commission’s mandate include appointment, promotion, and discipline of all police officers except the Inspector-General of Police.

According to him, we are committed to collaborate with the media to ensure proper working relationship with the commission and in extension the police force.

He said that he had also held similar stakeholders meeting with relevant bodies to ensure a seamless working relationship with the commission.

Arase said that the commission had agreed that there was need for synergy between PSC, the police and the media to ensure a properly motivated friendly working atmosphere.

He said there would be constant training between police and the media for interface to ensure proper working relationship for the good of the country.

He said they were ready to change the negative narratives about the frosty relationship that had existed between the commission and the public, adding that the commission had been very silent in recent times.

Responding, the NUJ President, Isiguzo, congratulated the Arase on his appointment, adding that the union would work with the commission to ensure success.