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Oyo NUJ condemns park manager’s attack on female journalist, ask Makinde, police to rein in
OyoState Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) has condemned the attack meted out to an hapless female journalist, Zainab Olayiwola and her children on Sunday in Ibadan, the state capital by an errant official of the Park Management System (PMS).
Olayiwola, an NUJ member and staff of Jamz FM, a Chapel that was inaugurated as a member of Oyo NUJ State Council last week in Ibadan was reportedly slapped by an official of the PMS, who also manhandled her kids, filtering away their luggage from a tricycle conveying them home.
The NUJ in a statement signed by its Chairman, Ademola Babalola and Secretary, Sola Oladapo on Monday tasked the State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde and the law enforcement agents to rein in, on the said official and ensure justice for Mrs. Olayiwola and her kids.
The PMS, is a special unit put in place by the Oyo State Government to manage the affairs of public transportation in the state after the proscription of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
The PMS has a former factional chairman of the NURTW in the state, Mr Mukaila Lamidi popularly known as ‘Auxiliary’, as the Chairman of its disciplinary committee.
While narrating her ordeal in the hands of the Chairman, Park Management System (PMS), Tricycle section at Orita-Challenge, Liberty Academy, Idi-Iroko area of Ibadan, Akeem Animashaun a.k.a System, she informed that the incident occured around 7pm, when she was heading home with her kids and had to take a tricycle popularly reffered to as Marwa.
“We were supposed to be taken home by my husband but unfortunately he recieved an urgent call to be somewhere else, hence the need for me and my kids to make use of public transport. We decided to take a tricycle, we boarded Animashaun’s tricycle and after some minutes, he told us to exit his tricycle that he was going to take some passengers on charter.
“That was when I told him that his action was not fair, that he did not tell us he was not going to take us to our destination. In the twinkle of an eye, he had already flinged my children’s bags away and started dragging them out of his tricycle.
“This action of his I protested and the next was that he gave me a very hot slap.
“Of course, because of the fact that he is a man, I could not retaliate, my children were crying and I was left helpless and stranded for quite some time,” she narrated.
The NUJ said the vicious attack on one of its members was not only barbaric, but also regrettable that “the outlawed NURTW members clothed in PMS uniform, had yet to learn their lessons like a leopard which hardly changes its spots.”
The Union insisted that the matter would not be allowed to be swept under the carpet until justice prevails.
US car giant Ford on Wednesday announced 4,000 more job cuts in Europe, mostly in Germany and Britain, in the latest blow to the continent’s beleaguered car industry.
“The company has incurred significant losses in recent years,” Ford said in a statement, blaming “the industry shift to electrified vehicles and new competition”.
The move will affect 2,900 jobs in Germany, 800 in the UK and 300 in western Europe by the end of 2027, a Ford spokesman told AFP.
“It is critical to take difficult but decisive action to ensure Ford’s future competitiveness in Europe,” said Dave Johnston, Ford’s European vice-president in the statement.
The company also said it was adjusting the production of its Explorer and Capri models, resulting in reduced hours at its Cologne plant in the first quarter of 2025.
Europe’s car industry has been plunged into crisis by high manufacturing costs, a stuttering switch to electric vehicles and increased competition in key market China.
Germany’s Volkswagen has been among those hardest hit, announcing in September that it was considering the unprecedented move of closing some factories in Germany.
“The European automotive industry is in a very demanding and serious situation,” Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said at the time.
Ford had already announced in February 2023 that it was planning to cut 3,800 jobs in Europe, including 2,300 in Germany and 1,300 in Britain.
The company said then it was planning to reduce the number of models developed for Europe, concentrate on the profitable van segment and speed up the transition to electric vehicles.
Ford currently has around 28,000 employees in Europe with 15,000 in Germany, according to the company’s works council.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, and the removal of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, and Registrar, Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike.
The council, chaired by Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, comprised five other members: Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Rtd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin.
A statement released on Wednesday by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the council was dissolved following reports of procedural violations in appointing the vice-chancellor.
According to the statement, the council had allegedly appointed an unqualified candidate, disregarding due process, which triggered tensions between the university’s Senate and the council.
The Federal Government expressed dismay over the council’s actions, emphasizing the need for adherence to the university’s governing laws in decision-making.
“The council’s disregard for established rules necessitated the government’s intervention to restore order to the 33-year-old institution,” the statement noted.
In a related development, President Tinubu also approved the dismissal of Engr. Ohieku Muhammed Salami, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.
Salami was accused of suspending the university’s Vice-Chancellor without following the prescribed procedures, a move the Federal Ministry of Education had previously directed him to reverse.
Despite the Ministry’s directives, Salami reportedly refused to comply and resorted to issuing threats and abusive remarks towards the Ministry’s officials, including the Permanent Secretary.
The Federal Government reiterated that the primary role of university councils is to ensure the smooth operation of academic activities, strictly adhering to the laws establishing each institution.
Tinubu warned university councils against engaging in actions that could destabilize their institutions, as his administration remains committed to enhancing the nation’s education system.
The Ekiti State Government has reached an agreement with labour leaders in the state, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.
Addressing journalists at a brief ceremony in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, the Head of Service (HoS), Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, announced that the payment would commence immediately.
She lauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji for prioritizing the welfare of workers despite the state’s limited resources.
“This development demonstrates the governor’s commitment to improving the livelihood of our workers,” Dr. Olomojobi stated, highlighting the proactive measures taken by the administration to ensure prompt implementation.
In their remarks, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman, Comrade Sola Adigun, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman, Comrade Olatunde Kolapo, expressed their appreciation to Governor Oyebanji for fulfilling his promises to workers.
They confirmed that the new minimum wage would apply to all cadres, including employees in ministries, parastatals, agencies, and pensioners.
The Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), Comrade Femi Ajoloko, described the implementation as a fair and commendable adjustment.
“This decision reflects the governor’s magnanimity and his dedication to fostering a productive workforce in Ekiti State,” he said.
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