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Worthy Leaders

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God teaches us clearly from the Scriptures to respect and submit to leaders both secular and sacred as those He has placed over us for our own good. Provided such leaders are from God.  Leaders in the Local government, state and nation ought to be worthy leaders for the people to submit to them. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 Nigerians and Their Quest for Affordable Education Vital literacy indicators reveal a deplorable condition in the Nigerian educational system. Indeed, adult literacy rate is embarrassing, while the number of out-of-school children has reached an all-time high rate. Trailing the falling standard of education at all levels, is the ever-increasing rate of dropouts today. With particular reference to the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary levels of education, cultism, gangster ism and prostitution have become the popular choice for undergraduates, students and pupils in educational institutions across the states of the federation. Shortage of qualified teach...
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Workers Welfare : Michael Imoudu as a Role Model 2

 


The need for an increase in wages and better working conditions prompted Michael Imoudu to lead a demonstration from the locomotive yard in Ebute metta, Lagos to the Government House situated at Marina, Lagos Island, Lagos.

The Governor General of the Colony of Lagos, Bernard Bourdillon, noticed that any form of industrial action at that period, could disrupt railway supplies to the coalition, during the Second World War in 1941. It was on this premise he acceded to a 50 percent pay rise for the workers.

This success, further inspired Imoudu to put forward more demands, among which were conversion of daily casual labor to salaried employment, Saturday work with pay, permanence of daily labor, holiday travel grant and payment of arrears to cover from 1932 to 1942 unpaid entitlements.

This did not go down well with Bourdillon, who facilitated the termination of Imoudu’s appointment on 23 January 1943 and also ordered his arrest under the Nigeria General Defense Regulations, 1941.

In quick succession, he was relocated and remanded at the Benin prison. While in prison, he influenced inmates to demonstrate against poor feeding and other deplorable prison conditions.

In response, the British Colonial Government in 1943, restricted Imoudu’s movement to the palace of the paramount Chief of Auchi and made an order for him to report twice a week to the Auchi Police station.

As a result of a face off with the District Officer of Auchi and his moves to facilitate the establishment of peasants’ cooperatives for the benefit of peasants in Etsako and Ora, he was again remanded in the Auchi prison.

Some of his comrades, including T. A Bankole, openly spoke against Imoudu’s action, to the hearing of the Chief Secretary of Government.

After spending two and a half years in prison, the labor activist was set free.

A mass rally was held at Oko-Awo, Lagos to celebrate his release from prison, while nationalists such as Herbert Macaulay were on the ground to grace the occasion.

In June 1945, he successfully led over 30,000 workers to down tools for 44 days.

The industrial action hinged on the inability of the colonial government to actualize the promise of Bourdillon in 1942, to review allowances according to an index.

Bourdillon's successor, Arthur Frederick Richards, vigorously refused to pay the allowance.

This resulted in the abrupt end of the unpopular Richards constitution, and set the stage for self government.

Solomon Adewunmi is the Editor-in-Chief , The New Federation(news2day.emyspot.com)/Liberty Port(2day.emyspot.com)/Federationews2day(one.emyspot.com). He attended Ajeromi Ifelodun High School, Olodi-Apapa, Lagos/Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan and the University of Lagos. Solomon possesses a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology, BBC/EC CERTIFICATE IN NEWS JOURNALISM (FEB. 2001), CERTIFICATE IN ARTS AND CULTURE CRITICISM (NANTAP MAY 2001) ,CERTIFICATE IN PEACE JOURNALISM (JUSTICE,DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE COMMISSION), CERTIFICATE IN CONFLICT ANALYSIS[UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE ONLINE TRAINING PROGRAM, OCT.2004] ,CERTIFICATE IN INTERFAITH CONFLICT RESOLUTION( UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE, JAN. 2009).

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Ceaseless Prayers

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 Let us pray ceaselessly for God to open the eyes of those who have political power and have become committed to unjust economic policies and deep social injustices.  Amos 8:4-14 Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail, 5 Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? 6 That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes;  yea , and sell the refuse of the wheat? 7 The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works. 8 Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? and it shall rise up wholly as a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned, as  by  the flood of Egypt. 9 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I wi...
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Education-Gov Makinde has provided an enabling environment for teachers-Oyo NUT Chairman

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  As parents and guardians continue to worry over the disturbing performance of their children and wards in both public and private primary and secondary schools in Oyo state,  in addition to the increasing cases of deviant behavior and illicit drug use, the chairman of the Oyo state council of the Nigeria Union of Teachers(NUT), Comrade Raji Oladimeji opines that the state Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has provided a conducive environment for teachers to thrive in the state. Excerpts: How would you assess the outgoing 2024/2025 academic session in public and private primary and secondary schools in Oyo state? First and foremost, we want to appreciate God for the gift of life. We also want to appreciate  our amiable Governor Engr. Seyi Makinde for providing an enabling environment for all stakeholders to function. I appreciate our teachers also, for their dedication to duty. We started the academic session on a good note, and it is so far so good. The results of the first ...
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