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“I have fulfilled my pact with Plateau workers” – Governor Lalong

Published

3 years ago

May 1, 2023

vicky

Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong says he has fulfilled his pact with workers in the State and is leaving behind a good legacy welfare of improved welfare and a professionalized workforce.

Lalong was speaking at the Workers Day Celebration held at the Rwang Pam Township Stadium Jos with the theme “Workers’ Rights and Socioeconomic Justice”.

Being his last appearance for May Day as Governor of Plateau State, Lalong said the event presents him another opportunity to not only bid them farewell but also reflect on the great relationship he has shared with the workers in the past 8 years.

“I want to specially thank you my dear comrades for standing up to be counted in the task of rescuing Plateau from clutches of underdevelopment and despondency. Looking back at where we took over in 2015, it is clear that a lot of difference has been made not only in the civil service, but the entire sectors of the economy. You will recall that on coming into office, I assured you that the era of salary arrears will be a thing of the past. We immediately paid 5 months withheld wages under no-work-no-pay policy and cleared inherited salary arrears of 8 months from the past administration. The same story applied to pension arrears of over 10 months which we equally cleared” he said.

He said little wonder, the comrades of Plateau State gave him the title of “Governor Alert” which was affirmed and endorsed by the NLC under the leadership of immediate past President Comrade Ayuba Wabba.

Lalong recalled that his administration was among the first in the country to begin the implementation of the thirty thousand naira minimum wage and consequential adjustments.

He said “This Administration in collaboration with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria also provided home renovation loan to over 2,500 civil servants in the approximate sum of three million naira each across Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ease housing challenges they face.This is in addition to the assistance by Government to the Nigeria Labour Congress in the purchase of the land for the NLC Housing Project in Jebbu Miango, which I understand some blocks have been completed and will be commissioned before I leave office”.

According to the Governor, his administration was and still remains among the first and few in the country to grant financial autonomy to the Local Governments, the Judiciary, as well as Legislature.

He said these achievements and more would not have been possible without the remarkable cooperation of the Organised Labour and the synergy that has continued to grow between the various Unions and Government.

“We are highly appreciative of our workers and shall continue to ensure a harmonious government-labour relationship despite the attempt by some politicians and vested interests to come between us and use the labour to antagonise the Government with a view to discrediting it” he said.

Lalong said as he prepares to hand over to the incoming administration, he prays that they will give them the kind of support and cooperation he was given.

NLC Chairman Plateau State Comrade Eugene Manji and his TUC counterpart Comrade Kenneth Shammah said the workers in Plateau are highly appreciative of the love and care shown to them by Governor Simon Lalong in the past 8 years.

They said the Governor apart from clearing all the inherited backlogs of salaries, has remained consistent in ensuring that workers are paid depsite the economic challenges.

However, they enumerated many issues including pending promotions, the implementation of harmonised retirement age for teachers among others which need to be addressed.

Head of Service Plateau State Engr. Sunday Hyat thanked the workers for remaining steadfast and supporting the Government to carry out its mandate.

He said Governor Lalong stands out for his compassion and love for workers by giving approvals for despite several economic challenges.

Guest Speaker Prof. Dung Pam Sha bemoaned the disparity between the workers and elites saying there injustice in earnings in the country which must be addressed without further delay.

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2027: Obasanjo working for Tinubu, support for Obi-Kwankwaso smokescreen — Malaolu

Published

2 hours ago

July 26, 2026

Preport

A public affairs analyst, Akin Malaolu, has claimed former President Olusegun Obasanjo is working for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement on Sunday, Malaolu said the former president’s support for Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso is a smokescreen.

According to him, Obasanjo is on a campaign to undermine the opposition parties in Nigeria.

“By this letter, Obasanjo has only confirmed the speculations that he is working for his kinsman, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to actualise his second-term ambition.

“The so-called Obasanjo’s support for Obi and Kwankwaso is a mere smokescreen aimed at masking his covert support for the Tinubu-led APC administration.”

Recall that Obasanjo had accused Atiku of allegedly bribing former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, to impeach him. However, in a reply, Atiku dismissed Obasanjo’s claim.

Health

10,000 Nigerians benefit from 2026 diaspora health initiative — Official

Published

3 hours ago

July 26, 2026

Preport

The federal government has announced that nearly 10,000 Nigerians benefited from specialist medical services, surgeries and other healthcare interventions under the 2026 Nigeria Diaspora Health Impact Initiative (NDHII).

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, disclosed this on Saturday at the National Diaspora Merit Award Dinner and closing ceremony of the 2026 Diaspora Health Impact Initiative held at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja.

Mr Salako said the initiative brought together thousands of Nigerian healthcare professionals in the diaspora who voluntarily returned to the country to provide specialist medical services, conduct surgeries, mentor healthcare workers and support local health systems.

He described the programme as a demonstration of patriotism and an example of how diaspora expertise could help improve healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

According to him, diaspora medical teams drawn from organisations in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Germany and South Africa delivered medical interventions across the country’s six geopolitical zones.

Healthcare services

Mr Salako said the initiative provided medical consultations, specialist surgeries, diagnostic services, telemedicine, sickle cell screening and other healthcare interventions to nearly 10,000 Nigerians.

He added that more than 2,000 frontline healthcare workers were trained during the programme to strengthen the country’s capacity to provide quality healthcare after the medical missions ended.

Among the achievements highlighted by the minister were the training of over 1,000 frontline health workers on the Safer Births Bundle of Care in Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto states.

He also said more than 4,000 medical consultations and over 500 surgeries were carried out in Enugu, Imo and Abia states.

According to him, advanced interventional radiology, neurosurgery and endoscopy procedures were performed in Lagos, while healthcare workers in Edo State received training on ultrasound-based diagnosis of endometriosis.

He added that telemedicine and primary healthcare services were expanded in the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State through the initiative.

Government plans

Mr Salako said the federal government would continue to strengthen engagement with Nigerian health professionals abroad by simplifying licensing procedures, facilitating locum arrangements and supporting customs and visa waivers for medical missions.

He added that the government would also encourage diaspora investment in hospitals, diagnostic centres and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

While acknowledging the migration of Nigerian health professionals, Mr Salako said the Tinubu administration was implementing reforms to improve healthcare financing, infrastructure, workforce welfare, and professional development.

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He urged Nigerian healthcare professionals abroad to register on the newly launched Nigerians in Diaspora Advanced Health Programme (NiDAH) Portal and the Diaspora Health Registry to enable them to contribute more effectively to the country’s health sector.

Mr Salako also called for sustained collaboration through telemedicine, digital health, structured training partnerships, joint clinical research, technology transfer and public-private partnerships.

He commended the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), state governments, development partners and members of the joint planning committee for supporting the successful implementation of the initiative.