EU to Support Nigeria Electricity Transmission Network Stability

By

-

May 2, 2022

The European Union (EU) has reaffirmed its support for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to stabilise electricity network in some parts of the country.

Team Leader of EU’s Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS on Green and Digital Economy Inga Stefanowicz, who gave the affirmation on Friday in Abuja said there was an imbalance in the system, adding that there are fluctuations to be addressed in tackling electricity problems in the country.

The team leader said that all the organisations that are generating power supply were from the gas power plant, adding that only 18 per cent are from hydro.

“We want to see how we can increase more in distribution network of Nigeria and to support the Federal Government to meet targets by 2030.mThis is helping Nigeria generate 30kilog making it 30 per cent energy mix; we are supporting them in that regard.

“For distribution, we are helping to develop more, where they reduce losses.

“From the electricity grid presently, the level of electricity losses and network is very high.

“There are losses from obsolete transformers, wires and distribution cables as well as in the area revenue collection.’’

Stefanowicz said that EU has also been helping the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distribution (ANED) to develop its capacity in the area of power supply.

She identified inability to connect more people connected to the grid as the major challenge at moment, saying only about 57 per cent of the population was unconnected.

She said that the organisation had assisted those not connected to the grid, to have more access to electricity through decentralised mini grid.

The Nigerian Government has reiterated its commitment to net-zero carbon emission by 2060 and climate change actions by 2030.

Workers Day: Dubai Food Delivery Drivers Launch Rare Strike To Protest Pay Cuts

By

Elizabeth Williams

-

May 2, 2022

0

Food-delivery drivers protesting wage cuts and grueling working conditions went on an extremely rare strike in Dubai over the weekend — a mass walkout that paralyzed one of the country’s main delivery apps and revived concerns about labor conditions in the emirate.

The strike started late Saturday and ended early Monday, when London-based Deliveroo agreed in a letter to riders to restore workers’ pay to $2.79 per delivery instead of the proposed rate of $2.38 that had ignited the work stoppage as the company tried to cut costs amid surging fuel prices.

The Amazon-backed firm also backtracked on its plan to extend working shifts to 14 hours a day.

“It is clear that some of our original intentions have not been clear and we are listening to riders,” Deliveroo said in a statement to The Associated Press. “We have therefore currently paused all changes and will be working with our agency riders to ensure we have a structure that works for everyone and has our agency riders’ best interest at heart.”

Strikes remain illegal in the United Arab Emirates, an autocratic federation of seven sheikhdoms that bans unions and criminalizes dissent. The Dubai government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the strike.

Delivery workers in Dubai, who became a mainstay in the financial hub as demand boomed during the pandemic, have few protections.

To reduce cost, companies like Deliveroo outsource bikes, logistics and responsibility to contracting agencies — a labor pipeline that prevails across Gulf Arab states and can lead to mistreatment. Many impoverished migrants are plunged into debt paying their contractors exorbitant visa fees to secure their jobs.

The British food delivery service is valued at over $8 billion.

Kenyan President Directs 125% Increase on Minimum Wage

By

Elizabeth Williams

-

May 2, 2022

0

President Uhuru Kenyatta handed Kenyans a 12 percent increase in the minimum wage, a perfect gift to workers in the lower carders.

He made the declaration at Nyayo National Stadium during celebrations to mark Labour Day marked globally on every May 1.

“I today declare an increase of minimum wage by 12pc points with effect from today,” he said.

This year’s Labour Day celebrations convened by Central Organisation for Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli was marked under the theme “Job Creation, Peace, and Sustainability.”

Ernest Nadome, the first Assistant Secretary-General for COTU earlier said the trade union expected the government to review the minimum wage for unionisable workers by 23- 24 percent to help cushion them against the rising cost of living.

The minimum wage was last reviewed in 2018.

“We are just asking the government to go out of its way and allocate something about the cost of fuel has gone up, this is a pass-through cost that most of the employers have loaded that in their cost. It means in terms of margins it has not affected them that much,” he stated.

The minimum wage in Kenya currently stands at Sh13,500.

The Labour Day celebrations are held every year on 1st of May to recognize Kenyan workers for their commitment towards growing the country’s economy.

Union Leaders Task FG On Review Of Minimum Wage

By

Koko Lawrence

-

May 2, 2022

0

Some union leaders in Lagos State have tasked the Federal Government on upward review of the current N30,000 minimum wage of Nigerian workers.

The unions said that the minimum wage must be a living wage, commensurate with rising costs of living due to inflation.

They told newsmen in separate interviews in Lagos on Monday, that a review of the minimum wage would help ameliorate the hardship borne by civil servants.

The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) Lagos State chapter, Adeleye Ajayi said that Nigerian workers must earn good salaries and wages in order to live a good life.

“Inflation is rising everyday, therefore, there is need for government to increase workers’ salaries.

“The last time the Federal Government proposed minimum wage was many years ago, so I think it is time for upward review.

“Workers need to be comfortable, to be more productive in the different aspects of government parastatals they find themselves in,” he said.

Ajayi said that government appointees at the helm of affairs should ensure prudence in the management of the nation’s resources and look for ways to create jobs for the teeming youthful population.

“Government should find a way of providing more employment opportunities for the youths because an idle hand is the devil’s workshop.

“I believe that every employer, both private and public sector should make their employees happy by providing a conducive environment for them to work in.

“The ultimate goal of being a member of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) is to ensure that the government knows the plight of workers so that they can ameliorate their sufferings,” the NUJ chairman said.

Also, Ismail Adejumo, Lagos state chapter chairman of the Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers’ Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU) congratulated Nigerian workers for their resilience and dedication to duty.

Adejumo said that Nigerian workers had continued to ensure they provided selfless services at different sectors of governments in spite of the economic challenges.

“The current economic challenges is biting hard on most homes and most of our workers cannot survive on their take-home pay.

“The take-home wage cannot be enough to cater adequately for their daily needs because all the economic indices have gone up.

“Workers are lamenting but in the midst of all these economic hardships, still remain resilient and dedicated to their duties,” the RATTAWU chairman said.

He urged the government to reciprocate Nigerian workers’ efforts, by ensuring it reviewed the current salary upwards to bring about a better life for them.

“This is our prayer and we will continue to be loyal to the government and support them to bring about the desired change for Nigerians generally,” Adejumo said.

Also speaking, Chairman, Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) UNILAG branch, Kehinde Ajibade said it was necessary to awaken the consciousness of government at all levels to the welfare of Nigerian citizens and workers.

“The NASU and Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) have been on strike now for over a month because our agitations have not been met.

“Some of our agitations boil down to the inconsistencies in our salary payment platform.

Leadership Tussle: Ebonyi Govt Orders Election For Abakaliki Rice Mills Association

By

Koko Lawrence

-

May 2, 2022

0

Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi has ordered a fresh election to be conducted for the Abakaliki Rice Mill Owners Association of Nigeria (ARMOAN) to end its leadership crisis.

This is contained in press statement issued in Abakaliki on Monday by Dr Stephen Odoh, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry and made available to newsmen.

According to Odoh, the directive followed the need to end lingering leadership tussle that had rocked the association and the desire by the governor to restore peace in the body.

The statement read: “Following the lingering leadership dispute in the Rice Mill Owners Industrial Association of Nigeria, Abakaliki chapter, His Excellency, the governor has directed for an election in the association.

“He has directed that the responsible Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of government should put machineries in motion to ensure that a free, fair, and credible election is organised to usher in a democratically elected leadership for the Rice Mill Owners Association.

“A competent and unbiased nine-man Screening Committee has been set up to screen both the prospective aspirants to the leadership positions of the Association and the voting members in line with the relevant provisions of the association’s Constitution.

“The screening shall hold on Tuesday, May 3, at the secretariat hall of the association by 10 am.”

Odoh, who is chairman of the electoral committee stated that election would hold on Wednesday, May 4 at the Pa Oruta Ngele Township Stadium, Abakaliki by 9am.

“Aspirants and members of the association are hereby directed to cooperate with the committee and participate fully in the above processes to ensure the enthronement of a credible leadership for the association.

“Assurance is hereby given that the entire process will be free, fair, credible and in full compliance with the constitution of the association,” the statement added.

Hope Relief Mission: COFI Sends Aid To Victims Of Flood In Kwazulu-Natal, Southern Africa

By

Koko Lawrence

-

May 2, 2022

0

In response to devastating floods and landslides that affected Southern and South-Eastern South Africa, particularly the Provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape, with death toll of over 443 people in KwaZulu-Natal, the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International and its Member Agencies deploys Hope Relief Mission Project to provide much-needed humanitarian aid for affected Households in South Africa.

The Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International (COFI) is a faith-based non-governmental, non-political organization under the direction of its visionary and legendary founder, the Man of God, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome. Through the promotion and sponsorship of charitable initiatives, COFI was established to help individuals, communities and nations lead purposeful and productive lives in the service of the Lord.

The mission of the foundation reflects the divine teachings and inspirational message of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and seeks to benefit the most vulnerable people and communities in some of the poorest countries and regions of the world.

Through its initiatives, the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International seeks to offer structured support for impoverished children across the world in order to guarantee access to qualitative education, medical care, physical and spiritual nourishment thus enabling them to lead normal, competitive and useful lives in their communities and to live out their God-given destinies.

COFI believes in supporting strong foundations of community by promoting good governance, accountable leadership and sustainable development in Africa and in other vulnerable parts of the world.

COFI operates in Nigeria, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Malawi, Chad, Liberia, Haiti, Burundi, Cambodia and India, among other countries.

Once Upon A Time – May 2 – 1945 – World War II: Battle Of Berlin Ends As Soviet Army Takes Berlin And General Weidling Surrenders

By

Angel Gimalo

-

May 2, 2022

0

1945 More than 1,000,000 German soldiers officially surrender to the Western Allies in Italy and Austria

1945 World War II: Battle of Berlin ends as Soviet army takes Berlin and General Weidling surrenders

1949 Arthur Miller wins Pulitzer Prize for “Death of a Salesman”

1982 Falklands War: Argentine cruiser General Belgrano sunk by British submarine Conqueror, killing more than 350 men

2008 Cyclone Nargis makes landfall in Myanmar killing over 130,000 people and leaving millions of people homeless

2011 Osama bin Laden, the suspected mastermind behind the September 11 attacks and the FBI’s most wanted man is killed by US special forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan

Historical Events Today

Today In Film & TV

2008 First film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe released “Iron Man” directed by Jon Favreau, starring Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark

Today In Music

1936 Sergei Prokofiev’s musical “Peter and the Wolf” premieres in Moscow

Today In Sport

2016 Leicester City win the English Premier League title after starting the season at 5,000-1 odds

2018

New research show plants “talk” to each other through their roots and the soil in study on corn published in journal “Plos One”

1998

Battle of Hogwarts: fictional battle that ended the Second Wizarding War with the death of Lord Voldemort at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Flights Grounded As Thick Cloud Of Orange Dust Takes Over Iraqi Skies

By

Angel Gimalo

-

May 1, 2022

0

A thick cloud of orange dust has turned the skies over Iraq orange, as a major dust storm hit large parts of the country.

Flights have been grounded at airports in Baghdad and Najaf airports due to poor visibility.

The conditions are expected to continue into Monday, forecasters said.

Dust storms have become increasingly common in the Middle East, with experts blaming a combination of climate change and mismanagement of land and water.

In some places in Iraq on Saturday, visibility was limited to less than 500 metres.

Exploring Miradouro Da Lua, The Tricolor Landscape Formation In Angola

By

Angel Gimalo

-

May 1, 2022

0

Miradouro da Lua, or as the translation from Portuguese would be “Viewpoint of the Moon”, is a geological set of cliffs that is located in the Municipality of Belas, which comprises the Province of Luanda, within the Republic of Angola.

As it is located some 40 km (25 mi) to the south of the capital city of Luanda, Miradouro da Lua is a tricolor karst formation that was carved out with erosion that was caused by the wind and rain, making this place to be looking like it is from another planet, or in this case moon.

The carved sharp pinnacles offer an impressive and unusual landscape of deep gullies and ravines, that are not quite common for Angola.

In addition, there is even a roadside viewpoint which offers the perfect chance to see this geological marvel up close, giving the feeling to every visitor that he or she is right next, if not on the moon.

The best photo opportunities are particularly during sunset and dawn when the colors are stronger and the impression is going to be a mesmerizing one.

Due to the vicinity of Luanda, Miradouro da Lua is considered to be among the most visited places in the African republic, where even several cinematographic productions took place.

All in all, getting the lunar landscape effect, this glittering natural masterpiece is worth the drive, and whenever possible, it should be made as a centerpiece during the vacation spent in the lovely Angola.

Burkina Faso Flood: Miners Still Stuck, Families Appeal For Int’l Help

By

Angel Gimalo

-

May 1, 2022

0

It’s a race against time in Burkina Faso to save eight miners trapped inside a mine.

The operations started on the 21st of April after the Perkoa zinc mine was flooded.

The miners are thought to be at a depth of 700 metres.

The group includes six Burkinabe, one Zambian and one Tanzanian.

At least four mining companies are involved in the pumping work, the families however are beginning to lose hope, given the slow pace of the operation.

According to a local union representative, shelters inside the mine can withstand certain living conditions for a fortnight such as water and oxygen, food however remains an issue.

The families of the miners have already appealed for international help.