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Brewery workers demand unpaid entitlements in Abia

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Following the boiler explosion in the premises of Golden Guinea Breweries Plc, Umuahia, on February 17,2023, some workers of the company have demanded for their unpaid entitlements.

 The workers, under the umbrella of the National Union of Food, Beverage & Tobacco Employees Umuahia chapter, made the demands in a statement jointly signed by their chairman, Samuel Amanze, and secretary, Chief Standhope Nworgu and made available to newsmen in Owerri.

They accused the management of being insensitive to their plights, lamenting that the management and the private investor that acquired the company, Pan Marine Investment Limited, have refused to settle the outstanding entitlements of old workers since the incident occurred.

The workers argued that their appointments were not officially terminated following the explosion, adding that they remain entitled to welfare benefits, terminal benefits, severance allowances, and other entitlements.

The affected workers further accused the management, and the core investor, Chief OkeyNzenwa, of operating in secrecy, claiming that workers were not consulted during the acquisition process and that Nzenwa has refused to provide a written copy of the agreement reached with the union.

The workers also revealed that those who resumed work after the private investor took over operations were not reinstated at their original grade levels. Additionally, they claimed that none of them has received the stipends supposedly paid by the private investor since January 2025.

The NUFBTE members called on Governor Alex Otti to revoke the purported sale or lease of the company and to reacquire it due to its economic potential and significance to the state.

The statement read in part:“If Golden Guinea Breweries returns to full operations, many Abia indigenes and residents will gain employment. Based on our research, GGB is capable of creating 1,000 direct jobs and 20,000 indirect jobs, with immeasurable economic multiplier effects for the state.

“Crimes and criminality will reduce in Umuahia and its environs if GGB resumes full brewing and production operations. Small and medium-scale businesses such as restaurants, eateries, beer parlors, and retail stores will also thrive again.

“The host community, IsiamaAfara, and Afaraukwu in general, are losing out due to the current state of Golden Guinea Breweries. In the past, they benefited from employment quotas, scholarship awards for their children, access to water and other infrastructure, and other public relations initiatives.

“We are ready to engage in open debate with the management on the causes of the boiler explosion at Golden Guinea Breweries PLC, Umuahia, as well as other managerial and financial mismanagement issues.

“Posterity will be kind and appreciative of any administration that restores Golden Guinea Breweries PLC to its former glory as the pride of Umuahia and Abia State.”

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Abia State Mr. OkoroOgbonnaya, has urged NUFBTE members to remain steadfast in their fight for the payment of their entitlements, assuring them that the union stands with them until a positive resolution is achieved.

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Rep. Nkwonta Facilitates With Constituents, Nigerians On Easter

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 ……

Enjons Them  To Imbibe Christ -Like  Virtues

The Member, representing Ukwa East/West Federal Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC), Hon. Chris Nkwonta, has enjoined his Constituents and Nigerians, to imbibe the virtues of sacrifice, forgiveness, hope, patience, humility and love for humanity as exemplified by Our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the real essence of Easter Celebration.

In a statement personally signed by the Legislator, he called on his Constituents and the Christian Community in Nigeria to demonstrate Christ-like virtues of love for humanity, hope for a better future, peaceful and harmonious disposition in their dealings with one another for a United Ukwa Federal Constituency and indeed Nigeria, where brotherly love reigns amongst Citizens.

He maintained that despite the prevailing temporary economic difficulties; there is light at the end of the tunnel and strong hope for a better, improved and secured economy within a short period of time.

Hon. Nkwonta, wished everyone a hitch free and joyous Easter Celebration!

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Police, Lawyer Trade Tackles Over Killing Of Peace Moses By Hit-And-Run Convoy

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The Rivers State Police Command has declared that the tragic death of a 26-year-old lady, Peace Moses, an indigene of Akwa Ibom State, was not reported in any of its divisions or units across the state.

Peace was knocked down last Monday evening by a convoy of about 15 fast-moving vehicles around Omega Junction along Ada-George Road in Port Harcourt.

She was returning from an evening service at her church, Love Channel Christian Centre, also located along Ada-George Road, when the tragic incident occurred.

Last Thursday, a candlelight procession was organised in her honour by her friends and neighbours.

Speaking with our correspondent  in Port Harcourt yesterday, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Grace Iringe-Koko, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), wondered why neighbours could not report the incident to the Police.

Iringe-Koko stated that even the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the Rumuepirikom Police Division was unaware of the tragic incident.

“Probably they didn’t report any such incident to the Police Station because the DPO in charge of that area is asking me where and when the incident occurred.

See, if they don’t report cases to the Police, how would the Police know? We are not magicians. I just spoke with the DPO, and she said she is not aware of anything like that.

“Somebody needs to report or anyhow, information needs to get through so that we too will get it,” she said.

But reacting to the claim by the Police, a human rights lawyer, Courage Nsirimovu, said that, with or without a report on the tragic incident, the Police are duty-bound to investigate the matter.

Nsirimovu said: “The duty of the Nigerian police is to secure lives and properties, and where a life has been lost in such grievous circumstances, the police have a duty to investigate the matter on the basis of their mandate and the public need to prevent such a menace to human life.

“The Police have a duty to investigate the matter, with or without a petition.”

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Nigerians may seek third term for Tinubu – Oluwo

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The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, on Sunday said many Nigerians might seek a constitutional amendment to allow President Bola Tinubu to remain in office beyond two terms.

The monarch, in a congratulatory message by his spokesperson, Ibrahim Alli, to celebrate Tinubu’s 74th birthday, described the President as a decisive leader who has laid a renewed foundation of hope for the country.

“Many Nigerians may beg for a constitutional review for Tinubu to spend more than two terms in office. He is a leader who knows what he is doing,” he said.

Oluwo said the President had distinguished himself through what he described as a firm campaign against illegalities that had stalled the country’s economic growth.

He added that the President’s administrative prowess had driven notable gains, citing improvements in the naira, a rise in foreign reserves from about $1bn to between $49.5bn and $50.45bn as of late February/March 2026, and strengthened economic indices.

The monarch attributed the gains to structural reforms, including exchange rate unification, increased oil output and higher foreign investment inflows.

Oluwo also commended Tinubu for granting local government autonomy, increasing allocations to states, expanding road infrastructure and improving palliative distribution at the grassroots.

According to him, past leaders attempted similar economic reforms but were overwhelmed by public and political pressure.

He said only a capable leader could implement tough but necessary decisions to reposition the economy.

‎Oluwo added that the President’s policies had begun to impact the standard of living, noting that the next phase would be stability.

‎He said, “You are not yet a capable leader until you make decisions and stand by them. Many past presidents attempted to remove obstacles to economic prosperity but were overrun by public outcries. Tinubu has demonstrated uncommon leadership through reforms.

‎“Nigeria’s foreign reserves have increased to over $49.5bn from about $1bn. Local government autonomy is taking effect, states earn more, and road projects, including Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road and Sokoto-Badagry, are ongoing.”

 

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