Gombe Tanker Accident: Death Toll Now 40

The death toll from the July 2 fuel tanker accident in Gombe metropolis has risen to 40 from the initial 16.
The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Bage, announced this in Gombe recently while condoling with the people of Gombe Local Government over the incident.

Bage, who was at the local government secretariat, said some bodies were later found in the 85 offices, houses and shops destroyed by fire.

He urged the people to take solace in the fact that ``God giveth and taketh " and prayed for the repose of the souls of the dead.

Bage also commended those who contributed toward alleviating the hardship faced by survivors.
Newsday recalls that Vice President Namadi Sambo also recently visited Gombe State to condole with the people over the incident.

by Our Reporter

Borno chapter of the NLC recently suspended its one-week strike and ordered the workers to report for duty.
The union had on Friday began an indefinite strike demanding improved conditions of service.

The chairman, Mr Garba Ngamdu, told newsmen in Maiduguri that the strike had been suspended after an agreement with the government.

He said that Gov. Ali Modu Sheriff had recently ``approved the implementation of our demand''.
He said the union had suspended the strike immediately, and directed the civil servants, workers in the local government councils and tertiary institutions to reports for work recently.

Ngamdu said that an implementation committee would be set up to ensure implementation of the agreement.
The workers' demands include payment of promotion/annual increment for local government council staff and Teachers Salary Scale arrears for October, November and December 2009.

Others are the payment of HATTIS IV to Animal and Health workers, the setting up of Local Government Pension Board as well as the implementation of Local Government Scheme of Service for workers.