News
Robbery, Kidnapping, and Border Insecurity Top Concerns as Plateau Fact-Finding Committee Visits Qua’an-Pan LGC
The Plateau State Fact-Finding Committee has identified kidnapping, armed robbery, and porous border security as key issues troubling Qua’an-Pan Local Government Council in Plateau State. This was revealed during the committee’s visit to the area on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, as part of its Southern Zone security assessment tour.
Led by retired Major General Nicholas Rogas, the committee was received by the Executive Chairman of Qua’an-Pan LGC, Hon. Christopher Audu Manship, who outlined the security challenges faced by the council—most of which are linked to its strategic location bordering multiple LGAs and states.
“Qua’an-Pan has not experienced coordinated armed invasions like Mangu or Bassa, but our situation is no less serious. We face persistent cases of kidnapping, robbery, and criminal movements through our border communities,” Manship said.
He explained that the Pandam Forest in Namu district had previously served as a criminal hideout and transit route for armed groups. Though recent efforts by his administration and security agencies have reduced such incidents, he noted that the area’s vulnerability persists due to shared boundaries with Nasarawa, Shendam, Bokkos, and Mangu.
“We used to have daylight robberies—three to four times a day. But today, through community policing, intelligence sharing, and inter-LGA cooperation, we’ve significantly curbed that. For the past few months, we’ve not recorded major incidents,” he stated.
The chairman also raised concerns about other emerging threats including:\n- Open grazing disputes.\n- Isolated murders, including the killing of a village head.\n- Traditional leaders allegedly demanding fees from herders to graze.\n- Fear-driven farmland abandonment due to crises in neighboring areas.
He recalled past communal conflicts in Namu (2005–2006), Kundung (2003–2004), and Sabon Jida, as well as the more recent destruction of crops in the border area of Loon. “These are internal and external pressure points we must keep watching,” he noted.
The committee also held a private meeting at the palace of the Acting President of the Qua’an-Pan Traditional Council, Long Jan Safianu Alananan, alongside the Long Kwo, Amb. Yahaya Kwande. Security heads, traditional rulers, and religious leaders participated in the deliberation.
Maj. Gen. Rogas commended the local government council and security architecture in Qua’an-Pan, describing their efforts as effective and worthy of emulation.
“What we’ve seen here shows that good local leadership makes a difference. There is coordination between traditional institutions, security agencies, and the council. That’s why this place is relatively calm,” he said.
Chairman Manship reaffirmed his commitment to sustaining peace and expanding collaboration with neighboring councils in Nasarawa State. He expressed hope that the committee’s findings would lead to actionable government policies.
“This engagement gives our people hope. We trust that this committee will produce a fair and objective report. We’ve done our part, and we’re ready to do more,” he added.
The visit to Qua’an-Pan marks the beginning of the committee’s fact-finding mission in Plateau State’s Southern Zone, aimed at informing policy through grassroots dialogue.
Business
ICJ Affirms Right to Strike as Global Landmark Victory, Sparks Debate Between Labor and NECA
BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—The organized labor movement on Monday hailed a recent ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) confirming that the right to strike is implicit in Convention 87 as a landmark victory for workers worldwide.
However, the ruling has sparked a fresh domestic debate, with labor representatives strongly criticizing the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) for attempting to downplay the judgment’s impact.
The controversy escalated following a television appearance by the Director-General of NECA, Mr. Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde.
Speaking on TVC, Oyerinde argued that the right to strike is not automatic and asserted that workers must still adhere strictly to existing local labor laws, specifically citing Section 43 of the Trade Dispute Act (TDA).
He also suggested that a meeting of social partners to establish complimentary conditions remains a necessary precondition before any strike action can be declared.
Labor representatives quickly fired back, labeling Oyerinde’s remarks as an “unnecessary academic exercise in futility” and a selective interpretation of international law. Critics accused the NECA boss of being economical with the historical background of the dispute, pointing out that the issue had already undergone exhaustive debate across various levels of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
The legal battle began when the global Employers’ Group challenged whether the right to strike was protected under Convention 87.
After the ILO Governing Board affirmed the right through a majority decision, the Employers’ Group appealed the matter to the ICJ. As the highest judicial body in the world, the ICJ’s subsequent ruling in favor of workers is considered definitive and legally binding.
Labor advocates emphasize that Nigeria ratified Convention 87 in 1960, signaling a long-standing commitment to its principles. They argue that following the ICJ’s conclusive verdict, both the Nigerian government and employer bodies like NECA are obligated to obey the law unconditionally rather than selectively hiding behind local statutes to weaken workers’ rights.
Reassuring the public and the business community, labor stakeholders maintained that a strike has never been the first option for workers, but rather a last resort. They cautioned that an adversarial interpretation of the ICJ ruling by employers would only harm industrial harmony, urging instead for mutual respect and total adherence to international legal frameworks to guide future industrial relations in Nigeria.
The post ICJ Affirms Right to Strike as Global Landmark Victory, Sparks Debate Between Labor and NECA appeared first on Business Today NG.
-
Events4 days agoIntellectual Muslims Forum Distributes Rice to Communities Across Plateau Ahead of Eid-el-Kabir
-
News2 days ago
FAA orders SpaceX to investigate Starship V3 booster failure
-
Education3 days ago
Tinubu Urges Inclusive Policies, Active Child Participation at 2026 Children’s Day Celebration
-
Health1 day ago
Plateau Specialist Hospital Praises Mutfwang’s Visionary Leadership at Three-Year Anniversary
