CRY TO THE GOVERNMENT - PLEASE PAY PENSIONS

Disturbed by the delay in the payment of the 53 per cent of 2010 pension arrears to them by the Federal Government, the military pensioners under the aegis of the Nigerian Military Pensioners Association yesterday made a passionate plea to President Goodluck Jonathan for the immediate payment of their entitlements.

In a statement signed by South-South chapter chairman of the group, Comrade Gabriel Oaikhena, and made available to LEADERSHIP in Ibadan, the military pensioners lamented that life has been very hard for them in the last few years.

"With deep sorrow in our heart, we are appealing to President Jonathan as our father to see reason with us as to why we should not be allowed to die uncared for, going by our past contributions while in active service as soldiers, especially during the 30-month Nigeria/Biafra civil war between 1967 and 1970 in which over 500,000 of our colleagues either lost their lives or became disabled," the pensioners said.

"The supreme sacrifice is enough evidence for every right thinking Nigerians, especially those at the corridor of power, to have sympathy for us by supporting our passionate plea for the payment of the 53 person pension arrears by the Federal Government.

"President Jonathan should endeavour to see that we are paid the arrears because we are tired of that language - 'very soon' as we see it as a language of deceit , neglect and marginalisation," the statement read.

They also pleaded with Jonathan to intervene in the payment of the monthly pension which in the last three months has been paid in arreas without any cogent reason by officials in charge.

Culled from the Nigerian Leadership Newspaper

HEALTH WORKERS SUSPEND PLANNED STRIKE ACTION

Ibadan — The national strike embarked upon by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) was on Monday suspended till July 31, with the National Executive Council of the union asking its members across the country to report at their duty posts.

Members of JOHESU include, the Medical and Health Workers Union, Nurses and Midwives Association of Nigeria, as well as NUPTAN comprising pharmacists, radiographers, physiotherapists, among others.

Addressing journalists at the end of a meeting of JOHESU national leaders in Ibadan, the president of the body, Comrade Felix Faniran said the suspension of the eight-day-old strike followed a thorough review of reports of the negotiating committee with the Federal Ministries of Health and that of Labour and Productivity, which showed signs of commitment from the Federal Government to the demands of the workers.

"In a bid to minimize the sufferings of Nigerians, the strike has been suspended till the end of July, when the Federal Ministry of Health and other Federal Government agencies concerned are expected to have met the workers demands," he said.

Culled from the Nigerian Daily Trust Newspaper

435 TEACHERS SACKED IN KADUNA REHIRED

The Kaduna State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) yesterday said the state government would reinstate the 435 teachers recently disengaged from service.

The teachers were disengaged for non-participation in the teachers' verification exercise carried out by the government and irregularities in their appointments.

Chairman of the union, Mr Audu Amba told newsmen in Kaduna that efforts were on to recall the affected teachers. He said already, the teachers have submitted their complaints to the state government as directed by the Head of Service. "The Head of Service has assured the union and the affected persons that the state government will soon release names of those cleared for reinstatement.

Culled from the Nigerian Daily Trust Newspaper