THISDAY

Organised Labour Suspend Strike in Kogi

- Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja

The Umar Nasko Foundation, a Youth focused non-Profit organisati­on, has launched an innovation challenge to fabricate affordable quality artificial limbs that will be made from locally sourced materials in Nigeria.

The Umar Nasko Foundation Prosthetic Challenge is a contest to find the best design and concept for affordable, quality Prosthetic­s that can be produced in Nigeria, using locally sourced materials.

The Spiritual father of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement of Nigeria Worldwide Ayo Ni o (C&S ) Most Rev. Samuel Abidoye has advised president Muhammadu Buharii to make use of all the recovered looted funds in the country to create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the country

This, he said would go a long way of reducing high rate of unemployme­nt among the teem-

The vision behind the Umar Nasko Foundation Prosthetic­s Challenge is to make quality prosthetic­s more accessible and affordable for amputees, so that they can lead more productive and better lives.

All three semifinali­sts will be invited to work with a multinatio­nal team of engineerin­g, UX Design, orthopedic­s, and other world renowned scientists to develop a Nigerian solution to the expensive cost of functional ing youths and also stem reported cases of ritual killings and other social vices in the country.

Rev. Abidoye who made the advice at the 77th annual conference of the church held along Ilorin- Ogbomoso road, Orile-Igbon said that, "the high rate of unemployed youths in the country has continued to be alarming and all efforts should be put on ground by the government to bring the situation into a barest minimum."

According to him, “I want prosthetic­s.

The winner will also be honored with the Umar Nasko Prizes and Awards in the Innovation Category, which carries a crystal trophy, a gold medal, and significan­t cash compensati­on.

To apply, an entrant is expected to submit a project summary/abstract, a technical drawing of their concept, and their resumes.

Eligibilit­y is for Undergradu­ates and graduates of higher to say that, president Muhammadu Buhari should assist the unemployed youths in the country by making use of the recovered looted funds to create jobs for them in order to reduce the suffering being faced these unemployed youths.”

Reverend Abidoye, who commended Buhari administra­tion on recovery of looted fund from politician­s, advised him not to relent, saying corruption had eaten deep into fabrics of the nation, while youth wandered institutio­ns within and outside Nigeria. Entrants must be Nigerian citizens.

Establishe­d in 2017, Umar Nasko Foundation aim to build a record of making positive interventi­ons through harnessing the creative and intellectu­al ideas of young Nigerians to provide solutions that improve life for people in the areas of Clean Water, Basic Primary Healthcare, and Vocational Education especially in underserve­d communitie­s. streets in search of jobs.

He also called on Nigerians to support the administra­tion in its effort at implementi­ng people-oriented programmes aimed at making lives better for the people.

The nonagenari­an, who condemned some church leaders in the country for always promoting preaching on prosperity instead of salvation, said that such act had increased love of money, criminalit­y and materialis­m among Christian youth.

The two months-old strike action embarked by the organised labour in Kogi State to press home their demands has been suspended with effect from Friday.

Rising from the meeting of the organised labour and the state government in the office of the Deputy Governor of Kogi State on Friday, the chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Kogi State, Comrade Onu Edoka said the labour union decided to suspend the strike having entered in to agreement with government as according to him, both parties agreed to honour the agreement.

The statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Akor Sylvester said the following agreements were signed after much consultati­ons by both parties to bring about lasting peace between the workers and government.

Part of the agreement signed by the parties reads: "That the ‘clock- in and out’ machine which Government instituted as electronic Attendance Register would be test-run for the next three (3) months starting from 10th November, 2017 and ending 10th February, 2018 during which its efficiency and functional­ity will be determined by a Committee comprising Government and Organized Labour representa­tives.

"That the print-out of the machine and the existing manual Attendance Register will be juxtaposed on monthly basis by the said committee to determine the degree of efficiency of the ‘clock-in and out’ machine.

"That the Committee of Government and Organised Labour are to discuss with the view of resolving all the Grey areas and Peculiarit­ies surroundin­g the system, while a Desk Officer in each MDA be appointed to handle the records.

"That on no account would the machine be used to determine the payment of salaries to workers until the Committee of Government and Organized Labour adjudged the efficiency of the machine after the expiration of the three(3) months in February, 2018.

"That the payment of salary and pension to workers and pensioners respective­ly for the month of August 2017 would be full and comprehens­ive i.e All cleared staff including the pardoned staff and the Omitted/New retirees will be pay-rolled and paid their full month salary and pension respective­ly on or before Friday 17th November, 2017, while all cases of arrears of salaries and pensions will be scheduled for payment as funds are available based on the understand­ing between Labour and Government."

On the Contributo­ry Pension Scheme, the parties agreed that since it was mandatory by law that workers should key into the scheme, and the Bill to domesticat­e the law was before the State House of Assembly.

It was also agreed that all grey areas noticed by Organised Labour be presented at a Public Hearing to be conducted by the State House of Assembly.

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