People, Places and Events
NIGERIA
Union gives ultimatum to government
The Bendel State Government has been given a 21-day ultimatum by seven industrial unions in the state public service, within which to recall all workers relieved of their appointments since last month.A report in Sunday New Nigerian said The unions are the Nigerian Civil Service Union, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, National Union of Typists, Stenographic and Allied Staff and the Civil Service Technical Workers' Union. Others are the Medical and Health Workers' Union, Association of Nurses and Midwives and the Nigerian Printers' Staff Union.
Announcing the ultimatum in Benin the ate branch of the Joint Public Service Negotiation Council, demanded that the tate government should stop "forthwith" further retrenchment of workers.
Other demands of the unions are payment of benefits to all senior civil servants retrenched in May and June last year, and prompt payment of pension to all who are entitled in the state.
The unions warned that if the state government failed to meet their demands they would take any action they deemed fit. They further warned that the state civil service must not be debased any longer, adding that "any attempt aimed at turning its work force to begging must be resisted at all cost."
Panel to probe fire at Cocoa House
A five-man panel of inquiry has been set up to probe the fire outbreak at the Cocoa House, Ibadan.The panel, according to a statement issued in Ibadan and signed by the Press Secretary to the Oyo State Military Governor, Mr Lekan Alabi, is to be headed by a judge of the Oyo State High Court, Mr Justice Y.A. Adio. The terms of reference of the panel are as follows:
To ascertain the cause or causes of the fire incident and determine whether it was accidental or deliberate;
To find out, if deliberate, the motive or motives for the fire outbreak, identifying the culprits and recommending appropriate punishment;
To determine the extent of damage done to the building and to ascertain whether what is left is structurally sound and to determine whether or not it constitutes danger or hazards to the people and other buildings in the environment;
To find out why the fire outbreak was not controlled in time in order to prevent it from causing the extensive damage that Occurred;
To assess the loss incurred by various persons, organisations making use of the building;
Two firemen died in the fire disaster in the 24-storey Cocoa House. The victims were 46-year-old principal divisional fire officer Mr KL Ogunjimi and 47-year-old senior divisional fire officer, Mr S. Ali. They were suffocated on the fourth floor while battling to get the fire under control.
Air Force to purchase Dornier aircraft
The Nigerian Air Force is to acquire a new aircraft before the end of this month. The aircraft, which is of the Do 228-100 type, is estimated at 2m naira. A spokesman for the manufacturer said in Lagos that the Dornier 228 series aircraft had to its credit many thousands of hitch-free hours of flying. He told newsmen that two aircraft of the 228-200 series will also be delivered to the Air Force later in the year.Journalists' union protests over retrenchment
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) said in Lagos that the retrenchment of more than 1,760 workers in the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) could not be defended.A statement by the Union's Secretary, Mr Jola Ogunlusi, said that the exercise was not only a negation of a recent pronouncement by the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Maj-Gen. Tunde Idiagbon, that there would no longer be a mass retrench- ment of workers, but also a violation of an agreement signed by the FRCN management that the union would be informed before letters of termination were served on affected workers.
The statement explained that the agreement was to allow for the examination of areas of "possible victimisation and vendetta". It declared that the time was ripe for security of employment to be guaranteed all Nigerians, particularly when, according to it, the Head of State had said in his budget speech that the economy was picking up. The union added that it had been disturbed by the FRCN retrenchment and was compiling a list of its members who were affected and would seek necessary redress.
Sentences were reviewed on merit
The Federal Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chike Ofodile, has said that the Supreme Military Council never used regional or ethnic considerations in reducing jail terms passed on former politicians by the special military tribunals. Speaking on a national television authority programme Mr Ofodile said what mattered most in the consideration of jail sentences was the severity of the offences and any politician found guilty of embezzling as much as one million naira should naturally not expect to be given the same consideration as one who was guilty of enriching himself by 10,000 naira.On Decree 4 which dealt with press freedom, Mr Ofodile said it was promulgated to make journalists work harder and cross-check every fact before going to press. The Minister stated that it was gratifying that the press has responded favourably since it now published authentic and responsible reports.
On examination malpractices, the Attorney General said a 21-year jail term for offenders was not too severe because they tarnish the image of the country in a syndicated programme of leaking, buying and selling of examination papers.
State radio stations off the air
The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Jos, (Plateau State), has been closed down and the appointments of 80 of its 89 members of staff terminated. Letters of termination had been given to the affected staff. One month's salary and two weeks' salary will be paid to senior and junior members of staff respectively in lieu of notice.The letters explained that entitlements would only be given to workers who produced certificates indicating that they were not indebted to the Corporation. The letter also directed workers to report with their termination letters on January 31 to collect their entitlements and to surrender the Corporation's property in their possession.
In Bendel, the FRCN has also closed down. A source close to the station said that 10 of its staff were deployed to Ibadan, the zonal headquarters, three were retired while the rest had their appointments terminated.
In Imo, the FRCN had been off the air. In Calabar, the Cross River Governor, Colonel Dan Archibong, appealed to the Federal Government to absorb some employees affected by the closure of the FRCN in the State. Commenting on the closure of the station in his office, Col. Archibong said that the Cross River State stood to pose the services of the station in the propagation of Government objectives and programmes. Meanwhile, the station has gone off the air and NAN was reliably informed that more than 100 officers were yesterday served with retrenchment or retirement notices. And in Lagos, the FRCN sacked about 1,760 members of its staff from grade levels 1-12; 29 members of the editorial staff were affected in the mass purge. Abiola calls for refined democracy in Nigeria Mr Abiola said in a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) programme, 'Network Africa' that: "We have no choice except to try again. We must know why we failed so expensively last time."
ECOWAS faces economic crisis
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), is facing a grim financial situation.Only three of the 16 countries of the sub- region have met their financial obligations to the community so far.
These are Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Niger. Disclosing this while handing over to the new executive secretary, Alhaji Momodou Munu, in Lagos, the outgoing executive secretary, Dr Aboubakar Diaby Quattara, said that the problems of the ECOWAS secretariat was that of fund. "How can we implement our policies when funds are not available?" he asked. The debtor nations are Benin Republic, Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, Burkina-Faso, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Senegal and Togo.
Dr Quattara pointed out that though there were elaborate plans to ensure effective integration of the sub-region, it was not easy as most members have not shown as much commitment as they make the world to believe.
Doctors unhappy over health budget
The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) said it is not impressed by the amount allocated to health services in the 1985 budget and has called a meeting to discuss the issue. NMA secretary-general, Dr Ayo Falope, told The Guardian that, "1985 is another gloomy year for health and this is very unfortunate".This year, the health budget is N223,879,715 or 1.99 per cent of the total budget while last year's was N190.43 million or 1.86 per cent.
The figure of 1.99 per cent this year trails ascending order, works and housing (2.27 per cent), information, youth, sports in and culture, (2.6 per cent) communications (3.37 per cent), federal capital territory (3.46 per cent), police (3.55 per cent), Transport and aviation (4.51 per cent), education (7.81 per cent), defence (8.66 per cent), mines, power and steel development (8.88 per cent), and agriculture (9.68 per cent). Two Nigerians elevated Mobil Oil Company has elevated two Nigerians to the two newly created posts of manager (marketing) and controller of accounting and finance. Mr Olabode, the new controller of the accounting and finance department. Both appointments took effect from January 1.
Government to mine own minerals
The military government has set up a joint state-private company to mine the country's gold and diamond, following a government ban on private involvement in the production of the two minerals. The company will put about 1.9 million dollars into the first two-year phase of exploration.Condemnation of withdrawal from UNESCO
Maj-Gen. Buhari has condemned the with- drawal of the United States and Britain from UNESCO. While speaking at the state dinner in honour of the Senegalese President, Abdou Diouf, General Buhari stated that Nigeria viewed with great concern the action of the United States and Britain, which he explained counteracted the spirit of multilateral interaction on which international peace and stability were founded.He pointed out that Nigeria could not accept that the withdrawal of the United States and Britain from UNESCO was a solution to the real and imagined problems confronting the UN organ. The Head of State made it clear that Nigeria would continue to be an active member of UNESCO and took the opportunity to renew his call on the United States and Britain to reconsider their decision to withdraw from the body. He also complimented Senegal on her contribution to UNESCO in the person of its director general, Ahmadou Moktar M'Bow, who is a Senegalese.
General Buhari has called on the United States and the Soviet Union, on behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria, to pursue the current talks on arms control and disarmament with a greater sense of purpose and concern for the future of mankind.
Another view on US withdrawal from UNESCO
A Nigerian communications expert, Dr Ola Balogun, said the recent US withdrawal from UNESCO is motivated by the apparent Soviet strength in the organisa- tion. Dr Balogun, who was speaking to newsmen in Lagos, accused the United States of seeing UNESCO in terms of the East-West relations.He said the withdrawal could not have been motivated by the need for administative reform. Dr Balogun noted that if UNESCO had a faulty structure, members should have the creative responsibility for those shortcomings and should work to overcome them. He said the United States ing her allies to pull out from the organisation
LIBERIA
Political appointments
The Executive Mansion has announced that the Head of State and President of the Interim National Assembly (INA), Gen. Doe, has made some changes within the Special Elections Commission (SECOM) and appointed four new members of the INA. Mr Robert T. White, co-chairman of the SECOM and Mr Charles Boryu have been replaced by counsellor David Gballah of Grand Gedeh county and Mr Asuamana Kormak of Nimba county.Announcing the changes the Head of State said that co-chairman White and Mr Boryu are slotted for reassignment. Meanwhile, he has granted Mr Boryu official leave to seek medical attention due to his failing health.
The four new faces appearing in the Assembly include Mr Zwernu Jeboh and Solomon Mepe. They replace Mr J Nicholas Podier jr and Larry Borteh, while Mr Collins Teah of Grand Gedeh county replaces Mr Gerald Johe. Mr James Haggrey of Lofa county replaces Mr John Numan.
Financial agreement with West Germany
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that the governments of West Germany and Liberia have signed an agreement concerning financial co-operation The agreement follows a memorandum of understanding signed recently between the two countries.According to the agreement, the West German Government has agreed to obtain from the West German Development Loan Corporation in Frankfurt-Main loans to enable the Government of Liberia to meet its foreign exchange costs resulting from the purchase of goods and services to cover current civilian requirements and to meet foreign exchange and local currency costs of transport, insurance and assembly arising from the importing of goods financed under the agreement.
IVORY COAST
Diplomatic relations with North Korea
In line with the open-door policy as reaffirmed during the seventh congress of the Democratic Party of the Ivory Coast- African Democratic Rally, the Government has decided to establish diplomatic relations at ambassadorial levels with the following countries: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the GDR, the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, the DPRK (North Korea) and the People's Socialist Republic of Albania. The Government has also agreed to the appointment of HE Ahmed Abdellah Sirage as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Saudi Arabia.CAMEROON
Security of Lake Chad
The Nigerian news agency has reported that "deadlock" had been reached at the end of the first meeting of the joint patrol teams for the security of Lake Chad. The four parties representing Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria had failed to agree on "the harmonisation of 'equidistance of the patrol areas'" within the four countries.On January 11, Cameroon radio reported that Niger's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation had said during a visit to Cameroon that while his country respected the "sovereignty" of Nigeria in closing its borders, this action had inflicted "sufferings" on Niger, and that he hoped for a re-opening of the border before too long.
TOGO
Amnesty for 156 prisoners
The people of Togo have celebrated the 18th anniversary of their revolution. On January 13, 1967 President Eyadema took over the reins of state. To mark the occasion General Gnassingbe Eyadema decided to grant a remission of sentence to all common law prisoners. 156 common law prisoners regained their freedom.SENEGAL
President Diouf gets Nigeria's highest honour
Head of State, Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has appealed to Senegal to join Nigeria in calling on African states to avoid signing any agreements or engaging in relations with South Africa. He said at a dinner in honour of President Abdou Diouf of Senegal at State House that in Nigeria's view, the so-called "constructive engagement" policy had failed to provide any genuine solution to the southern African problem.He said that Nigeria believed that the only constructive policy towards South Africa should be "disengagement from it and the imposition of economic and military sanctions against the racists".
The Head of State said that it was gratifying that Nigeria's view was now being echoed even by conservative elements in the US, saying that neither Nigeria nor Senegal should relent in its efforts to have Africa totally liberated.
In his speech, President Diouf said that Senegal would like to further strengthen its relations with Nigeria. To achieve this objective, he said, Nigeria and Senegal should unite and avoid all barriers to cooperation. President Diouf explained that it was for that reason that Senegal supported the establishment of ECOWAS, saying that the recent ECOWAS summit in Lome had enabled the organisation to make a fresh start in achieving real and significant progress.
The President restated Senegal's commitment to the maintenance of peace and principles of negotiated settlement of differences between nations. He said that the Senegalese Government felt that the imbalances in the world economy were factors of permanent disorder and conflict and that to remedy the situation a revival of the North-South dialogue was inevitable.
Maj-Gen. Buhari conferred the nation's highest award, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic on President Diouf, while President Diouf reciprocated by conferring the Senegalese highest honour, the Commander of the Order of the Lion, on Nigeria's Head of State.
GHANA
Hand over power to presidential commission
The Ghana Democratic Movement has reiterated its call on the PNDC to firmly and unconditionally hand political power back to the people of Ghana, and to remove itself from the seat of government.A statement issued in London to coincide with Rawlings third year in office, noted that however long this regime waits, it is obvious that its best performance will not be good enough for the aspirations and potentialities of Ghanaians, and its claim to political power will not be endorsed.
The Movement, chaired by Mr J.H. Mensah, Finance Minister in the Second Republic, said a clear commitment to leave, like that made by the NLC and the Akuffo governments in their time, is the only basis for further progress.
It also called for the abolition of the so-called Public Tribunals, the CDRS and all other organs of self-appointed rule. Restore the courts, the traditional councils, the TUC, the financial institutions, universi- ties, public administration and managements to the roles, powers, limitations and obligations that were given to them under the 1969 and 1979 constitutions.
The Armed Forces, the Movement urged, should return to barracks and to their essential role of defending our borders. The task of re-forming any of these national institutions should be left to the elected Constituent Assembly or an elected government. Other demands of the Movement on the PNDC are to: Declare a general political amnesty, release all opponents of the PNDC from prison, and anybody else held in detention other than by police or the courts of law. Restore full freedom of movement, of speech, and of association so that the process of dialogue and political reconstruction can proceed under fair conditions.
Mandate the Supreme Court and the National House of Chiefs jointly to elect a five-member Presidential Commission, broadly based and comprising citizens with the stature and experience to be able to unite the nation and oversee its political reconstruction. The PNDC should hand over the powers of state to the Presidential Commission to exercise until a new President is elected.
CDRs see more hardships
The hardships facing Ghanaians have been increased as a result of the devaluation and removal of subsidies by the PNDC Government."Today, the purchasing power of workers has declined further and prices of goods, transport, rent, water and electricity bills and many others have shot high.
"In addition, the acquisition of greater shares in banking, state control of import and export, transport pools among other things, that were to give Ghanaians a greater control over their national resources have been neglected by the PNDC.'
These were contained in a communique which was issued at the end of the eleventh Joint Consultative conference of the CDRS of the three universities and the Tarkwa School of Mines, held at UST Kumasi, last week.
Don't arrest maize farmers
Dr Adjei Marfo, PDNC Secretary for Agriculture has directed that no Banks should arrest a maize farmer for not paying his loans until the maize season is over.This, he said, is to ensure that maize farmers have time to sell their crops to enable them pay back the loans.
Dr Adjei Marfo who was launching a special maize evacuation exercise in Sekyedumasi said the old practice of Banks trying to collect their loans before the crop season is over, has led to arbitrary arrests of farmers which consequently discourages them to go in for more loans.
Unjust customary practices
Flt-Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, has called on chiefs to examine and review all socially unjust customary practices.Among these are the high expenses which people incur on funerals and marriages. Flt-Lt. Rawlings gave the advice when he addressed a national durbar of chiefs at the Jackson park in Koforidua.
Chairman Rawlings also said women should not be degraded to the level of expensive commodity or be subjected to degrading customs",
He asked bereaved families not to expend their resources on the dead "so as to ease the life of the living", and urged "elders and the people to take realistic view of these customary practices.
200 officers retired
The Government has dismissed more than 200 officers of the P&T and retired 17 others.According to an official statement, Mr E.E. Savage, retired Chief Telecommunications Superintendent, has been recalled and assigned special duties in the office of the Director-General.
The statement said, among other things, the affected officers had links with businessmen for whom they booked calls and performed other favours for them in exchange for regular payment.
Asantehene praises PNDC
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II has congratulated the PNDC on its present reconciliatory posture which, he said, had fostered a most desirable atmosphere of peace in the country.He said because of the peaceful climate, the resources and energy of the nation and the people could now be channelled towards the higher goals of national construction.
The Asantehene was addressing a national durbar of chiefs at the Jackson Park, Koforidua, to mark the third anniversary of the December 31 Revolution.
Otumfuo asked the PNDC to advance its reconciliation further by granting amnesty to all politicians in exile. Such a policy of clemency and magnanimity, if adopted, would enable all talents to be tapped in the spirit of reconciliation for the social and economic upliftment of the country.
Validity of licences extended
The Ministry of Trade has announced that the validity of all unutilized Special Licenses have been extended to March 31 this year.However, licences granted for toys, biscuit and confectionery for the purpose of the Christmas expired on January 15.
A press release signed by Mr S. Abayaa, Public Relations Officer, on behalf of the Secretary for Trade, Dr B.W.K. Caiquo said all importers were affected, especially those whose special licences expired on December 31, 1984.
Failure of Libya-Benin- Ghana-Burkina Faso meeting
The first informal meeting held in Ouagadougou between the Foreign Ministers of Benin, Burkina, Ghana and Libya ended in failure. AFP has learned in the Burkinabe capital from a source close to the conference.The four countries participating in the conference, which are linked by bilateral agreements, had sought to attempt to promote their co-operation in an informal framework. But, right from the start of the opening discussions scheduled to touch on "political, economic, and operation as well as on security", Libya's military co- partners strongly criticised the insufficient economic aid given by Tripoli, described as "smaller than promised", as well as "its working methods"
They notably criticised Libya's concept of foreign policy which rules out "any say" by its partners. The discussions were therefore "tense, in spite of appeasing official statements", and some participants even left the conference room, thus making it impossible to stage a closing ceremony and to issue "a final communique". It is not known whether the participants have agreed to meet again in order to overcome this failure.
Observers note that this first meeting constitutes an important turning point in relations between some African countries and Libya relations which, until now, these countries have unanimously described as particularly promising.
GABON
Afro-American conference
The 13th Afro-American conference has ended in Libreville. After a first plenary session in camera on the topics, hunger in Africa, political and economic solutions, and security, the participants addressed themselves to the dilemma of economic development in Africa, its prospects and its limits.The opening session of the conference was marked by a speech by the Gabonese Head of State who spoke on political problems such as Namibian independence. In this connection, President Omar Bongo strongly urged the United States to imple- ment UN Resolution 435.
The Head of State also spoke of the problems of economic development facing Africa and the efforts being made in this connection by African countries.
GUINEA
Civil servants ordered to quit
The military government has ordered civil servants who have put in 30 years of service to quit work at once, as part of a programme to clean up the country's public finances and streamline the administration.Also affected are officials aged 55 or 60, depending on rank. The measures have been recommended by the World Bank in a bid to improve the civil service, which is viewed as top heavy and too centralised.
CHAD
Ministers' visits to Togo and Ivory Coast
Gouara Lassou, Chad Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation visited Abidjan with a message from President Hissein Habre to President Felix Houphouet- Boigny. He was accompanied by Oudalbaye Naham, Chad Minister of Labour and Professional Training and were received by the Head of State.The Chadian envoys arrived from Togo where they were received by President Gnassingbe Eyadema.
According to observers, the visit to the Ivory Coast by the Chad Minister of Foreign Affairs, is in the context of a campaign by the Ndjamena authorities to explain the current situation in Chad. Another Chad envoy, Mahamat Nouri, has also gone to Cairo to deliver a message from Mr Habre to President Husni Mubarak.
GUINEA BISSAU
Wages to be increased
An increase in the salaries of civil servants ranging from 20 to 35% beginning in January has been announced by the Head of State, General Joao Bernardo Vieira in his New Year's message to the nation. General Vieira also said that the purchase prices of produce from agricultural producers will also be raised about 60% beginning in January.Civil service salaries had already been increased 40% in 1984, as had purchase prices of produce from agricultural producers. President Vieira also announced that his government would work on reducing the number of civil service employees during 1985.
The Head of State expressed his satisfac- tion over the noticeable decrease in the budget deficit thanks to the reduction in public expenses, the reform in the commercial sector, and the devaluation of the peso, the national currency. Finally, General Vieira called for national unity in order to fight the "corruption, laxity, laziness, underhanded dealings, disorganiation and dishonesty from which the country suffers".
