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Artist Ordered To Repay Museum After Submitting Empty Frames

September 20, 2023

Danish conceptual artist Jens Haaning has been ordered by a Copenhagen court to repay the Kunsten Museum of Modern Art in Aalborg, northern Denmark, after he submitted two empty frames to the institution in place of his commission, according to news sources.

Haaning was loaned about 532,000 krone (roughly $49,500) from the museum’s coffers to recreate his work An Average Danish Annual Income (2007) which displayed krone notes fixed to canvas in a frame, and a similar work from 2011 that used euro bills to comment on average incomes in Australia.

He delivered the works to the museum two days before the exhibition “Work It Out” was set to open, but after unpacking the works museum staff discovered he had submitted two empty frames titled Take the Money and Run. The exhibition ran from September 24, 2021, to January 1, 2022.

The museum ultimately hung the frames but demanded that Haaning repay the commission. (He was also paid an artist’s fee of 40,000 krone, or about $3,700.)

According to the news sources, Haaning’s contract stipulated that the money be returned by January 16. That date came and went without Haaning returning the money.

“We are not a wealthy museum,” director Lasse Andersson, said in an interview. “We have to think carefully about how we spend our funds, and we don’t spend more than we can afford.” According to Andersson, the money Haaning was loaned was intended to pay for building upkeep.

Haaning, whose work focuses on power and inequality, seems to have turned his artistic lens on himself. Speaking to the Danish radio station DR in 2021, Haaning said that he would not be returning the money, and implied that the museum didn’t understand his work. “[Take the Money and Run is about the fact that] I’ve taken their money. It’s not theft. It’s breach of contract, and breach of contract is part of the work.” He claimed that recreating the works would have left him in the red.

Haaning went on to encourage people “who have working conditions as miserable as mine to do the same. If they’re sitting in some shitty job and not getting paid, and are actually being asked to pay money to go to work, then grab what you can and beat it.”

Ex-Minister Urges Parents To Invest In Education Of Children

Nzubechukwu Anodo

September 20, 2023

A former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, has called on parents to invest more in the Education of their children as schools resume nationwide for the new academic calendar year.

Adedoja, who was also a former Executive Chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Commissioner for Education in Oyo State, noted that despite the current economic hardship, parents should ensure quality education for their children as that is the only sustainable legacy to bequeath to them.

He made the statement through his media office, stating that education remains the best gift a parent could bequeath to their children; hence, the need for them to ensure they put in their best in giving their children the very best and not to rely on the government.

He said it was necessary to train and equip today’s children because they would be the future drivers of the nation’s economy in years to come.

He further advised parents not to relent on close monitoring of their wards to avoid negative peer influence, while also congratulating the students on the resumption of the new academic calendar and wishing them a crisis-free academic session.

Adedoja also called on Education stakeholders, including governments at all levels, teachers, and non-teaching members, to give their best in ensuring the children attain their fullest God-given potential.

Nigerian Fashion Brand DWL Earns Qatar Govt’s Recognition, Support

Koko Lawrence

September 20, 2023

Luxury women fashion brand, DWL, founded by Nigerian designer, Ivie Odemwingie-Osula, has been accepted into the Scale7 Fashion Accelerator program funded by Qatar Development Bank (QDB).

Currently based in Qatar with operations in Lagos and Doha, DWL, an acronym for Defining Women’s Lifestyle, was selected alongside nine other prominent Qatar-based fashion and design brands for the program which kicked off on September 18, 2023. The program involves provision of specialized mentorship, business development activities and funding.

Scale7 is the first fashion and design business incubator in Qatar founded by Qatar Development Bank (QDB) in partnership with M7, Qatar’s epicentre for innovation and entrepreneurship in design, fashion and tech.

Established by Qatar Museums under the leadership of Her Excellency Sheikha Al-Mayassa, M7 responds to the demands of Qatar’s growing fashion and design industries to support Qatar-based promising innovative entrepreneurs with huge market potential to grow their businesses to iconic global fashion and design brands.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have DWL selected for the prestigious Scale7 fashion accelerator program after a rigorous selection process,” says Ivie Odemwingie-Osula in a statement. “This recognition not only validates our vision and hard work but also provides us with unparalleled opportunities for mentorship, networking, and capacity growth towards positioning DWL as a competitive global brand.”

On how the support from Qatar Development Bank will impact her business, she enthuses: “Undoubtedly, the government of Qatar will enhance the status of the DWL brand, to increase our operations and growth, globally. For us at DWL, the Business Accelerator Program will amplify our capabilities, allowing us to refine our strategies and scale faster for enhanced brand presence, increased capacity, streamlined operations, and a wider reach and audience. We are excited for the journey ahead and the positive impact it will have on the DWL brand and community.”

Surulere to Doha

DWL is a luxury female fashion brand that offers unique designs that present a fusion between modest fashion and western contemporary trends and helps women use the power of dressing as a tool to project confidence and an amplified version of themselves.

Established 2017 in the bustling Surulere neighbourhood of Lagos State, the now popular luxury DWL brand, which makes ready-to-wear and bespoke blazers sets for women from internationally sourced fabrics and accessories, initially imported ready-made dresses.

Ivie Odemwingie-Osula, a professional photographer and former banker, holds an MBA from Aberdeen Business School of Robert Gordon University.

Rwanda’s Kagame says he will run for fourth term

Mana Balagbogbo

September 20, 2023

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has said for the first time that he plans to run for a fourth term in elections due to be held next year.

“Yes, I am indeed a candidate,” Kagame, who has ruled over the country with an iron fist for decades, told Jeune Afrique, a French-language news magazine, in an interview published online on Tuesday.

“I am pleased with the confidence that Rwandans have placed in me. I will always serve them, as long as I can,” the 65-year-old was quoted as saying.

The Rwandan government in March decided to synchronise the dates for its parliamentary and presidential elections, which are due to be held in August next year.

Kagame had previously not made his intentions clear, but presided over controversial constitutional amendments in 2015 that allowed him to run for more terms and stay in power until 2034.

A former rebel chief, Kagame became president in April 2000 but has been regarded as the country’s de facto leader since the end of the 1994 genocide.

He was returned to office — with more than 90 percent of the vote — in elections in 2003, 2010 and 2017.

While Rwanda lays claim to being one of the most stable countries in Africa, rights groups accuse Kagame of ruling in a climate of fear, stifling dissent and free speech.

In 2021, “Hotel Rwanda” hero and outspoken Kagame critic Paul Rusesabagina was sentenced to 25 years in jail on terrorism charges, following his arrest the previous year when a plane he believed was bound for Burundi landed instead in Kigali in what his family called a kidnapping.

Freed from jail in March this year and flown to the United States following a presidential pardon, Rusesabagina released a video message in July, saying that Rwandans were “prisoners in their own country”.

The country was ranked 131 out of 180 countries in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders.

Asked in 2022 if he would seek re-election, Kagame said he would “consider running for another 20 years”.

“Elections are about people choosing,” he told the France 24 news channel in an interview.

Kagame was just 36 when his Rwandan Patriotic Front party forced out Hutu extremists blamed for the genocide in which some 800,000 people, mainly Tutsi but also moderate Hutus, were murdered between April and July 1994.

Tinubu’s Speech at 78th UN General Assembly

Mana Balagbogbo

September 20, 2023

STATEMENT DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE 78TH SESSION OF UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 18TH SEPTEMBER 2023.

Mr. President, Heads of State and Government, Secretary-General, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Mr. President, 1. On behalf of the people of Nigeria, I congratulate you on your well-deserved election as President of this Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

We commend your predecessor, His Excellency, Mr. Csaba Korosi (Cha-ba Kor-o-chi) for his able stewardship of the Assembly.

We also commend His Excellency, Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, for his work seeking to forge solutions to humanity’s common challenges.

This is my first address before the General Assembly. Permit me to say a few words on behalf of Nigeria, on behalf of Africa, regarding this year’s theme.

Many proclamations have been made, yet our troubles remain close at hand. Failures in good governance have hindered Africa. But broken promises, unfair treatment and outright exploitation from abroad have also exacted a heavy toll on our ability to progress.

Given this long history, if this year’s theme is to mean anything at all, it must mean something special and particular to Africa.

In the aftermath of the Second World War, nations gathered in an attempt to rebuild their wartorn societies. A new global system was born and this great body, the United Nations, was established as a symbol and protector of the aspirations and finest ideals of humankind.

Nations saw that it was in their own interests to help others exit the rubble and wasteland of war. Reliable and significant assistance allowed countries emaciated by war to grow into strong and productive societies.

The period was a highwater mark for trust in global institutions and the belief that humanity had learned the necessary lessons to move forward in global solidarity and harmony.

Today and for several decades, Africa has been asking for the same level of political commitment and devotion of resource that described the Marshall Plan.

We realize that underlying conditions and causes of the economic challenges facing today’s Africa are significantly different from those of post war Europe.

We are not asking for identical programs and actions. What we seek is an equally firm commitment to partnership. We seek enhanced international cooperation with African nations to achieve the 2030 agenda and Sustainable Development Goals.

There are five important points I want to highlight.

First, if this year’s theme is to have any impact at all, global institutions, other nations and their private sector actors must see African development as a priority, not just for Africa but in their interests as well.

Due to both longstanding internal and external factors, Nigeria’s and Africa’s economic structures have been skewed to impede development, industrial expansion, job creation, and the equitable distribution of wealth.

If Nigeria is to fulfil its duty to its people and the rest of Africa, we must create jobs and the belief in a better future for our people.

We must also lead by example.

To foster economic growth and investor confidence in Nigeria, I removed the costly and corrupt fuel subsidy while also discarding a noxious exchange rate system in my first days in office. Other growth and job oriented reforms are in the wings.

I am mindful of the transient hardship that reform can cause. However, it is necessary to go through this phase in order to establish a foundation for durable growth and investment to build the economy our people deserve.

We welcome partnerships with those who do not mind seeing Nigeria and Africa assume larger roles in the global community.

The question is not whether Nigeria is open for business. The question is how much of the world is truly open to doing business with Nigeria and Africa in an equal, mutually beneficial manner.

Direct investment in critical industries, opening their ports to a wider range and larger quantity of African exports and meaningful debt relief are important aspects of the cooperation we seek.

Second, we must affirm democratic governance as the best guarantor of the sovereign will and well-being of the people. Military coups are wrong, as is any tilted civilian political arrangement that perpetuates injustice.

The wave crossing parts of Africa does not demonstrate favour towards coups. It is a demand for solutions to perennial problems.

Regarding Niger, we are negotiating with the military leaders. As Chairman of ECOWAS, I seek to help re-establish democratic governance in a manner that addresses the political and economic challenges confronting that nation, including the violent extremists who seek to foment instability in our region. I extend a hand of friendship to all who genuinely support this mission.

This brings me to my third crucial point. Our entire region is locked in protracted battle against 10 violent extremists. In the turmoil, a dark channel of inhumane commerce has formed. Along the route, everything is for sale. Men, women and children are seen as chattel.

Yet, thousands risk the Sahara’s hot sand and the Mediterranean’s cold depths in search of a better life. At the same time, mercenaries and extremists with their lethal weapons and vile ideologies invade our region from the north.

This harmful traffic undermines the peace and stability of an entire region. African nations will improve our economies so that our people do not risk their lives to sweep the floors and streets of other nations. We also shall devote ourselves to disbanding extremist groups on our turf.

Yet, to fully corral this threat, the international community must strengthen its commitment to arrest the flow of arms and violent people into West Africa.

The fourth important aspect of global trust and solidarity is to secure the continent’s mineral rich areas from pilfering and conflict. Many such areas have become catacombs of misery and exploitation. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has suffered this for decades, despite the strong UN presence there. The world economy owes the DRC much but gives her very little.

The mayhem visited on resource rich areas does not respect national boundaries. Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, CAR, the list grows.

The problems also knocks Nigeria’s door. Foreign entities abetted by local criminals who aspire to be petty warlords have drafted thousands of people into servitude to illegally mine gold and other resources. Billions of dollars meant to improve the nation now fuel violent enterprises. If left unchecked, they will threaten peace and place national security at grave risk.

Given the extent of this injustice and the high stakes involved, many Africans are asking whether this phenomenon is by accident or by design.

Member nations must reply by working with us to deter their firms and nationals from this 21st century pillage of the continent’s riches.

Fifth, climate change severely impacts Nigeria and Africa. Northern Nigeria is hounded by desert encroachment on once arable land. Our south is pounded by the rising tide of coastal flooding and erosion. In the middle, the rainy season brings floods that kill and displace multitudes.

As I lament deaths at home, I also lament the grave loss of life in Morocco and Libya. The Nigerian people are with you.

African nations will fight climate change but must do so on our own terms. To achieve the needed popular consensus, this campaign must accord with overall economic efforts.

In Nigeria, we shall build political consensus by highlighting remedial actions which also promote 14 economic good. Projects such as a Green Wall to stop desert encroachment, halting the destruction of our forests by mass production and distribution of gas burning stoves, and providing employment in local water management and irrigation projects are examples of efforts that equally advance both economic and climate change objectives.

Continental efforts regarding climate change will register important victories if established economies were more forthcoming with public and private sector investment for Africa’s preferred initiatives.

Again, this would go far in demonstrating that global solidarity is real and working.

CONCLUSION 41. As I close, let me emphasize that Nigeria’s objectives accord with the guiding principles of this world body: peace, security, human rights and development.

In fundamental ways, nature has been kind to Africa, giving abundant land, resources and creative and industrious people. Yet, man has too often been unkind to his fellow man and this sad tendency has brought sustained hardship to Africa’s doorstep.

To keep faith with the tenets of this world body and the theme of this year’s Assembly, the poverty of nations must end. The pillage of one nation’s resources by the overreach of firms and people of stronger nations must end. The will of the people must be respected. This beauty, generous and forgiving planet must be protected.

As for Africa, we seek to be neither appendage nor patron. We do not wish to replace old shackles with new ones.

Instead, we hope to walk the rich African soil and live under the magnificent African sky free of the wrongs of the past and clear of their associated encumbrances. We desire a prosperous, vibrant democratic living space for our people.

To the rest of the world, I say walk with us as true friends and partners. Africa is not a problem to be avoided nor is it to be pitied. Africa is nothing less than the key to the world’s future.

Roman Swords Discovered With Cotswold Metal Detectorist

Angel Gimalo

September 19, 2023

Two rare Roman cavalry swords have been discovered by a metal detectorist.

Found by Glenn Manning during a metal detectorist rally in March, the swords, which also had remnants of their wooden scabbards, were found in the north of the Cotswolds.

They have since been taken to the Corinium Museum in Cirencester to be preserved.

Museum Director Emma Stuart said: “It’s an incredibly important find and one that should excite everybody.”

“These two swords are testimony to presence of Roman military in the north of the Cotswold District,” she added.

The swords are being preserved at the Corinium Museum in Cirencester

Professor Simon James from Leicester University said the weapons, which are believed to be middle imperial Roman swords and were found alongside a broken copper alloy bowl, are commonly referred to as “spatha” and were likely to be in use by the 160s, through the later Second Century and far into the Third Century AD.

The length also suggests they are cavalry weapons or weapons intended to be used on horseback.

With help from Historic England, the swords will go for further analysis under X-ray and an archaeological excavation and assessment at the dig site in the north of the Cotswolds may follow.

Cotswold District Council Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Health, Cllr Paul Hodgkinson said the “truly remarkable archaeological find” shows “what an incredibly deep history” the area has.

Mesmerizing Northern Lights Visible In U.S. And Canada

Angel Gimalo

September 19, 2023

Some US and Canadian residents witnessed the aurora borealis light up the night sky on Monday.

The lights were seen even as far south as Missouri in the US. Forecasters predicted that the phenomenon would persist for several hours into Tuesday.

The northern and southern lights are dazzling celestial displays observed around the magnetic poles, resulting from the interaction of electrically charged particles from the Sun with Earth’s atmosphere.

Australia On High Alert For Dry Summer

Angel Gimalo

September 19, 2023

Four years since bushfires destroyed wide swathes of southeastern Australia, killing 33, the country is once again on high alert, bracing for what weather experts say will be the hottest, driest period since the so-called Black Summer.

Just into the Australian spring, which starts in September, heat records are being broken in the densely populated area around Sydney, with some regional schools closed due to bushfire risk a month before the official bushfire season begins.

Adding to the tension, unusually heavy rain since the fires of 2019 and 2020 has spurred vegetation growth, producing more foliage to burn in an El Nino weather system, typified by hot, dry weather, which was declared on Tuesday.

Australians watched with grim recognition as wildfires ripped through Europe and North America in the 2023 Northern summer. Now there is a sense that it is the Australians’ turn again, with global warming speeding up and exaggerating changes in weather patterns, according to climate scientists.

Of Australia’s 10 hottest years on record, eight were since 2010, meteorologists say.

Exploring Amazon Theatre, In The Heart Of Amazon Forest, Brazil

Angel Gimalo

September 19, 2023

The Amazon Theatre is an impressive opera house which is located in the heart of the Amazon Forest, more precisely in Manaus, the capital city of the State of Amazonas, within the Federative Republic of Brazil.

Being the greatest symbol of the city in the northern regions of the country, Amazon Theatre was built in what is mostly considered to be a Renaissance Revival style during the Belle Époque when the rubber boom occurred.

Designed by the Italian architect Celestial Sacardim, the construction for this symbolic piece began in 1884, where the construction was stalled a bit throughout the years, which resulted in completion and inauguration on 31 December 1896.

As the work was stalled under previous governments, materials were needed to be brought in from overseas, such as steel from England, marble from Italy, and even roof tiles and furniture from France.

The exterior features ornate columns and a central rotunda emblazoned with the design of the newly minted flag of the Republic, which gave the building the pop-up look in the neighborhood. In addition, there are 36,000 decorated ceramic tiles that give the well known appearance of the theatre.

Standing at an elevation of 92 meters (302 feet) above the sea and the Amazon River, it is certainly a lavish structure that can compete with the interesting buildings which follow the same architectural style, all around Europe.

Still, the interior is also magnificent as the exterior, where this time the Italian artist Domenico de Angelis the Younger did most of the work, while the artist Crispim do Amaral created the curtain that is named “Meeting of the Waters”.

The main show room has the capacity of accommodating 701 spectators, and the first ever performance was with the famous Enrico Caruso which occurred on 7 January 1897.

Unfortunately, with the invention of artificial rubber, the main source of income to the city was depleted, and the wealthy people who somehow managed to bring the life in the city, abandoned the city, which in turn made for the opera house to be closed down.

The building was left with no performances and to the harsh weather conditions, where in 2001, the new state government successfully tried to revive the structure and nowadays the Amazon Theatre is one of the greatest buildings where artists would like to perform.

Declared also as a National Historic Heritage of Brazil, this great symbol of Manaus can definitely be considered one of the greatest monuments within Brazil with which the nation can be proud of.

FG, NLC Meeting Deadlocked, Workers Insist on Demands

Rhoda Onuzulike

September 19, 2023

In a race to beat the deadline for the planned commencement of an indefinite strike that may lead to the shutdown of the economy, the Federal Government on Monday held a meeting with organised labour on post-subsidy removal palliatives for workers.

The dialogue, hosted by the Minister of Labour, Simon Lalong, in Abuja, however, failed to reach a consensus as the Nigerian Labour Congress insisted that the FG must meet its demands ahead of the 21-day ultimatum issued on September 1 by the congress.

The union had on September 1 handed down the 21-day ultimatum to the FG over the delay in sharing of palliatives, saying it might be compelled to declare an indefinite labour action if its demands were not met.

In furtherance of its demands, the NLC mobilised workers for a two-day warning strike on September 5 and 6, partially grounding social and economic activities in several states with banks, ministries, agencies and departments closed to the public in some states.

The NLC leadership had said the action was in preparation for a total shutdown of the economy which would start at the expiration of the ultimatum on Friday.

Among other demands, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress were asking for wage awards, implementation of palliatives, tax exemptions and allowances to the public sector workers and a review of the minimum wage.

Though the FG made a commitment to restructure the framework for engagement with organised Labour on palliatives, the eight-week timeframe set for the conclusion of the process expired in August with no action whatsoever.

Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting on Monday, both parties pledged to find solutions to the key demands tabled before the government by the organised labour before the deadline.

Lalong said many of the items presented by Labour were still under consideration before the final agreement.

The minister stated, “Our meeting was very robust. It was a fruitful meeting. Many of the items presented by labour are still under consideration before the final agreement or discussions.

“It was a fruitful meeting. I thank the NLC for coming to the meeting and for their very useful contributions.”

The President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, also described the meeting as fruitful but said only the Presidency could take decisions on the demands presented to the government

Ajaero said the organised labour was ready to meet with the government any time of the day to find solutions to its demands and avert the planned strike.

The NLC president said, “Like the minister said we had a fruitful deliberation and we have agreed to continue to make sure we arrive at meaningful agreement within the remaining days of the ultimatum.

“We equally discussed frankly the issue bordering the coup floated and executed by the Nigeria Police against the National Union of Road Transport Workers which has led to the detention of their democratically elected national officers and both parties agreed to show concern towards the resolution of the matter.

‘’It is one sore area that the trade union movement in Nigeria is not ready to compromise. Whether a coup in the trade union movement or in the polity. It must be condemned; whether it is in Niger Republic, Congo or Mali or in the trade union movement in Nigeria.

“On the other issue, you can see that there is no agreement or implementation on any. There is no CNG anywhere. Refineries are not working. No agreement on wage award. Those are the issues we believe that something will happen before the ultimatum expires. It is possible that something will happen.’’

Again FG Calls for Sit-down Over Planned NLC Strike

He further explained, “We had a convivial deliberation with the minister and we hope that even if it is remaining one day, we will get to the root of all these problems. Whenever we are invited, we will be there. Both parties will work towards the realisation of these objectives before the last minute of the ultimatum.

“There is a larger committee that has set up technical committees. The ministry has performed its role to mediate and conciliate in the problem between us and the Federal Government. There is an inter-ministerial committee at the Presidency level which is supposed to address these issues.

“The ministry of labour can’t address wage award, the issue of CNG, refineries and others. The ministry has mediated to ensure that there is no problem or get both parties to resolve these issues. We are ready to engage the government whether in the night or day; we are ready to engage but not at gunpoint.”

Before the meeting went into a closed-door session, Ajaero had said the two – day warning strike declared on September 5 and 6 by the NLC was “a product of frustration caused by the economic situation in the country.”

The labour leader complained that “none of the demands put before the federal government had been addressed.”

He lamented the lack of trust between the government and the union in the negotiation process.

Ajaero stated, “We came with mixed feelings whether it will work or not because we have had many meetings, some beyond this level, yet nothing seems to be coming out of it.

‘’But I have great optimism in the Nigerian project; we can’t stop trying. We are here with that belief that something may happen. But that doubt, that trust gap is what we feared for a long time now and it calls for lamentation.

“The strike is an effect of a policy that doesn’t have a human face. There was no strike before the removal of fuel subsidy. It was the government that said ‘ask for palliatives, ask for wages’ and we have asked for it; that warning strike was a product of frustration, up till this moment.’’

Ajaero bemoaned the adverse impact of the fuel subsidy withdrawal on Nigerians, stressing that the NLC would not rush into a strike without justifications.

He added, “We must work together to ensure that we don’t keep on dragging these issues. It is the Nigerian people that are being affected, they are the people that are suffering. We have a lot of demands that we have put on paper for the government.

‘’There is the issue of CNG, refineries working, wage award and cash transfer. Of all these agreements, not even one has been addressed by the government and you want us to meet every day.

“Some of us have been around for a long time and our job is not to go on strike but when you enter into an agreement that agreement should be implemented. Before the warning strike we raised the issues of palliatives and wage award and the NURTW.

“Nobody earning N30, 000 or N60, 000 will buy fuel for one week. We need to find solutions to all these problems and we have articulated them. Each time we finish they ask for time.

‘’They asked for eight weeks, we gave them. They asked for four weeks, we gave them. We don’t know what to tell our colleagues or members again. We hope that at the end of this meeting, we will have something to tell our members. This is a neck-breaking meeting.”

Lalong assured the labour leaders that the government was committed to addressing all the issues that led to their warning strike.

The minister maintained that the government must be mindful of striking a balance that promotes economic growth and secures sustainable progress for the nation as it attempts to address the demands of Labour.

Lalong said, “In recent months, our country has witnessed teething challenges, marked by industrial actions and unrest that have adversely affected the economy.

‘’I appear before you today not just as a representative of the government, but as an advocate for constructive dialogue, aspiring to understand your concerns and working hand in hand to find lasting solutions that benefit all Nigerians.

“I fully acknowledge and appreciate the invaluable role the NLC plays in championing the rights and welfare of our workers. Your dedication and tireless advocacy have been critical in shaping a fair and inclusive work environment, and ensuring the wellbeing of our workforce. We acknowledge the valid grievances that have fuelled the recent labour crisis, and we are committed to addressing them in a just and equitable manner.”

He added, “We must also recognise the economic realities that confront us. As we address the concerns of our workforce, we must be mindful of striking a balance that promotes economic growth and secures sustainable progress for our nation.

‘’Today, I call upon each one of you to join hands in an open-minded and constructive dialogue, enabling us to bridge any gaps that may exist between the interests of workers and the ultimate goal of driving economic advancement.’’

The minister appealed to the labour unions to embrace dialogue and shun the strike.

“In the spirit of unity and with utmost commitment to the betterment of our nation, let us seize this opportunity to listen and understand one another. Together, let us explore innovative approaches, reimagining strategies that enhance working conditions and worker benefits while nurturing a robust economy.

“I am confident that this gathering will produce resolutions that propel our labour sector towards greater strength, and our beloved country towards a brighter future.

‘’We eagerly look forward to our discussions today, knowing that the harmonious collaboration between the government and the NLC will facilitate an environment where our workforce thrives, and our economy flourishes,’’ he admonished.

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