Home Blog Page 1015

Nigerian Workers Still Suffering, Hungry Despite N70,000 Minimum Wage, Says Oshiomhole

By
James Orji
-
0
Adams Oshiomhole

Former National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole says the lives of an average government workers in Nigeria has not got better despite the new minimum wage approved by the federal government.

The former APC boss said instead of improvement in the life of Nigerian worker, the new minimum wage has made them even worse in terms of being able to efforts the basic necessities of life.

Oshiomhole spoke on Thursday at the Distinguished Personality Lecture organised by the National Institute for Security Studies, NISS, in Abuja the nation’s capital, saying the aim for approving the new wage by the federal government has failed to materialised.

The former governor of Edo state and President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC,  also questioned the leadership of the labour unions of their members for failing to improve the lives of their members through collective bargaining.

He said the suppression of workers rights to good life  gave rise strike, adding that the unionism had enabled workers in the country to “negotiate collectively.”

The former governor now a senator however stated that the rising inflation in the country has prevented workers in the country to enjoy the benefit of wage increases over the years.

The situation, he further explained has left the workers in the country to be angry and disenchanted with the government.

Senator Oshiomhole said, “Significant disparities exist between minimum and maximum wages across sectors, leading to dissatisfaction among workers. The wealthy often benefit from state protection, while the poor struggle.

“The minimum wage is designed to protect vulnerable workers but is often not enforced. Setting minimum wages too high can risk job losses while setting them too low can lead to exploitation.

“Inflation severely impacts purchasing power, making it difficult for workers to maintain a decent standard of living. Historical comparisons show that many workers are poorer now than in the past, despite nominal wage increases.”

The magazine reported that workers in the country are currently upbeat after some state governments said they were prepared to pay the new wage of N70, 000 to their workers.

Workers’ joy even grwe the more following the decision of some state government to pay above what has been approved by the federal government.

NEC Calls For Withdrawal Of Tax Reform Bills

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
Kashim Shettima - Vice President

By Ayodele Oni

The newly introduced Tax Reform Bills now before the national assembly have continued to generate more reactions from stakeholders.

The presidency has come out to defend the bills, while the northern Governors said that they were targeted at them.

The National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Vice-President Kashim Shettima and comprising state governors, on Thursday, recommended the withdrawal of the Tax Reforms Bill currently under consideration in the National Assembly.

After a NEC meeting in Abuja, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State addressed state House Correspondents, stating that due to the controversies surrounding the bills, the NEC has opted to withdraw them to ensure that stakeholders are included in the process.

“NEC today took a presentation from the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms.

“Their main focus is fair taxation, responsible borrowing, and sustainable spending.

“The Council acknowledged that the country is underperforming on all indices as regards yield from major revenue sources, also tax to GDP ratio and so on.

“So after extensive deliberation, NEC noted the need for sufficient alignment between and amongst the stakeholders for the proposed reforms.”

Update: Nollywood Legend, Pa Olumo Agbako Buried

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0
Pa Olumo Agbako Buried

By Akinwale Kasali

The remains of Nollywood Legendary Actor, Pa Charles Olumo Sanyaolu, popularly known as Agbako, has been interred eulogies.

The late Actor was laid to rest today by his families, with some of his colleagues and fans gracing the occasion to bid him farewell.

The burial rites of the centenarian, who also bears Abdulsalam, were conducted according to Islamic tradition at his residence in Sango-Otta, Ogun State on Thursday evening.

Present at his funeral was another Veteran Actress, Idowu Phillips, popularly known as Mama Rainbow and other colleagues, and TAMPAN members who flooded his residence to condole with families and mourn the actor.

The Nollywood actor, who was born on February 19, 1923, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, was a former mechanic at Tinubu Square in Lagos and an amateur boxer, began his acting career in 1953 in Lagos state.

He was renowned for his iconic portrayals of action-packed and villainous roles in Yoruba films, earning him numerous prestigious awards and a lasting impact on the industry.

Kaduna  Approves N72, 000 Minimum Wage, Provides 100, CNG Buses

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
-
0
Uba Sani - Governor of Kaduna State
Governor Uba Sani

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Kaduna State Government has approved N72,000 as the new minimum wage for the State workforce.

The officially agreed minimum wage benchmark as negotiated between organized labour and the Federal Government is N70,000.

A statement issued on Thursday October 3, 2024, by the media aide to the Governor, Malam Ibraheem Musa, said Governor Uba Sani is irrevocably   committed to transforming the lives of  the less privileged in the State

The State Governor assured that with the support of the people, he is committed to making Kaduna State a model for Social welfare interventions.

This is even as he is set to launch a free Transportation Scheme for the civil servants in the State with an initial release of 100 CNG- powered buses.

The Governor noted that the decision to pay N72,000 as  minimum wage is  in tandem with his avowed determination to enhance the welfare and interests of workers.

According to him, it also aligns with his administration’s  unwavering dedication to the improvement of the general living condition of the poor, vulnerable and underserved in Kaduna State.

Governor Sani stated that it has been his  age-long desire to be dedicated to the  promotion and protection of workers’ rights ,welfare and the interests of the poor and weak in the society.

He noted that the CNG buses will be solely dedicated to conveying workers to and from work places, with a view to ameliorating their hardships and enhancing productivity.

” A joint Management Committee consisting of representatives of organized labour (NLC and TUC) and the State Government will be set up to manage the Free Transportation Scheme for  civil servants ” Governor Sani stated.

Three Persons Killed In Failed Abduction Attempt In Umuahia

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
-
0
Nigerian Police

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Abia State Police authorities on Thursday October 31, 2024, assured that all efforts will be made to hunt down the fleeing gang of kidnappers who killed  three  of their  victims in Umuahia.

The Source reports that a dare devil abduction syndicate, on Thursday, shot dead a banker with Zenith Bank at Isi gate area of Old Umuahia .

Within a short distance  from the scene of the first shooting, the hoodlums also shot and killed a tricyclist in Ubakala ,Umuahia

According to eye witness accounts, the deceased banker, who was engaged in shopping, resisted attempts by his abductors to bundle him inside their operational vehicle, a development that forced  the attackers to shoot him

The kidnapers who, thereafter, jettisoned their operational vehicle ,for a snatched one, a Camry, also gunned down the owner, before escaping from the scene.

The third  victim ,the tricyclist ,was killed by bullets allegedly fired by the  abductors, while fleeing.

While addressing the media at the State Police Command Headquarters,  the State Commissioner of Police ,CP Danladi Isah, said that officers of the Service are already hot on the heels of the kidnapers.

He called on the members of the public to volunteer any credible information that would assist in apprehending the attackers.

Ondo To Benefit From East- West Coastal Highway As Umahi Unveils Details

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
Dave Umahi
Dave Umahi

By Ayodele Oni

Doubts over the Lagos – Calabar coastal highway passing through Ondo State has been laid to rest as the Federal Government on Thursday unveiled the details of the 63-kilometre axis covering Ondo State.

Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, stated that the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, revealed the specifications of the project during a town hall meeting with stakeholders in Akure.

Umahi, who highlighted the Federal Government’s commitment to infrastructure as a crucial national investment, said work would soon begin on the Ondo State axis of the coastal highway project.

The Minister commeded Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa for his efforts towards making the project a reality in the State.

He stressed that the project would not be politically driven, but rather serve as a practical improvement to the socio-economic welfare of the people.

The Minister reiterated the administration’s commitment to working closely with Governor Aiyedatiwa, reinforcing that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project represents President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to the welfare of all Nigerians, transcending political motivations.

In his remarks, Governor Aiyedatiwa, who thanked the Minister for the stakeholders engagement, emphasized the transformative impact of the project.

The Governor said the expansive highway will connect several states as it aims to bridge the western and southeastern regions of Nigeria, facilitating improved cross-country connectivity and strengthening trade relations.

Aiyedatiwa assured stakeholders that the project would not merely be left to contractors but would be diligently monitored to ensure effective utilisation and sustained progress.

“This will not be one of those projects that get abandoned. This road will bring tremendous benefits to the people of Ondo State, and we are fully committed to partnering with the Federal Government to make it a reality.”

The Governor also disclosed that the state government is partnering with the Federal Government on the protection and restoration projects at Aiyetoro in Ilaje local government area of the State.

Presidency Sheds Light On Proposed New Tax Reform Bills, Assures No Job Loss, States To Benefit More

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
Bayo Onanuga

By Ayodele Oni

The Presidency has shed more light on the new tax reform bills, now before the national assembly assuring that states will benefit more when in operation.

The administration also assured that the new tax reform bill is not against the north, contrary to position of the governors from the zone.

Apart from these, the Presidency also emphasized that contrary to job loss fears, it will harmonize the country’s tax laws for greater efficiency.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, argued this in an explainer titled, ‘Explainer: Proposed tax reform bills not against the north; they will benefit all states’ on Thursday.

It said it became necessary to address the misunderstandings and misgivings around the tax reform already embarked upon by the administration following a meeting of the Northern Governors last Monday.

At a meeting on October 28, 2024, Governors of the 19 Northern States, under the platform of the Northern Governors’ Forum, rejected the new derivation-based model for Value-Added Tax, (VAT) distribution in the new tax reform bills before the National Assembly.

The meeting also had traditional regional rulers, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, in attendance.

A communiqué read by the Chairman of the forum, Governor Muhammed Yahaya of Gombe State, said the proposition negates the interest of the North and other sub-nationals.

President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council recently endorsed new policy initiatives to streamline Nigeria’s tax administration processes.

The Federal Government said the new laws are meant to enhance efficiency and eliminate redundancies across the nation’s tax operations.

The reforms emerged after a review of existing tax laws since August 2023. The National Assembly is considering four executive bills containing these tax reform efforts.

Onanuga noted, “It is instructive to note that these proposed laws will not increase the number of taxes currently in operation. Instead, they are designed to optimise and simplify existing tax frameworks.

“The tax rates or percentages will remain the same under these reforms, as they focus on ensuring a more equitable distribution of tax obligations without adding to the burden on Nigerians.

“The reforms will not lead to job losses. On the contrary, they are structured to stimulate new avenues for job creation by supporting a dynamic, growth-oriented economy.

“Importantly, these laws will not absorb or eliminate the duties of any existing department, agency, or ministry. Instead, they aim to harmonise revenue collection and administration across the federation to ensure efficiency and cooperation.”

The Presidency noted that currently, Nigeria’s tax administration lacks coordination among federal, state, and local tax authorities, often resulting in overlapping responsibilities, confusion, and inefficiency. Without reform, this inefficiency will persist.

It said the proposed laws aim to “coordinate efforts between different tiers of government, resulting in better tax resource management and greater clarity for taxpayers.”

“Under existing laws, taxes like Company Income Tax, Personal Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Petroleum Profits Tax, Tertiary Education Tax, Value-Added Tax, and other taxing provisions in numerous laws are administered separately, with individual legislative frameworks.

“The proposed reforms seek to consolidate these multiple taxes, integrating CIT, PIT, CGT, VAT, PPT, and excise duties into a unified structure to reduce administrative fragmentation.”

On the proposed derivation-based VAT distribution model, which the Northern Governors oppose, the Presidency insisted that “the new proposal, as enunciated in the Bill, is designed to create a fairer system.”

It explained that the current model for distributing VAT is based on where the tax is remitted rather than where goods and services are supplied or consumed.

“The ongoing tax reform seeks to correct the inherent inequity in the current derivation model as a basis for distributing VAT revenue.

“The new proposal before the National Assembly outlines a different form of derivation which considers the place of supply or consumption for relevant goods and services.

“This means that states in the Northern region that produce the food we eat should not lose out just because their products are VAT-exempt or consumed in other states.

“There is no better time than now for the National Assembly to give due consideration to these bills that will overhaul our tax systems and create the revenue all the tiers of government require to fund the development our country and people urgently need.”

Ondo Muslim Community Endorses Gov Aiyedatiwa, Promises Inclusive Governance

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
Lucky Aiyedatiwa

By Ayodele Oni

Prominent Muslim clerics in Ondo state have rallied support behind Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s reelection bid during November election.

They include the Chief Imam of Akure, Yayi Akorede, that of Owo, Ahmad Aladesawe and the Okubaka of Oka, Oba Adebori Adeleye.

They spoke in Akure on Friday at a

ceremony held at the International Culture and Events Centre (The Dome), which also featured an empowerment programme.

Alhaji Sheikh Ahmad Olagoke Aladesawe, the Chief Imam of Owo land and Chairman of the League of Imams and Alfas in Ondo State, expressed the muslim community’s united support for the governor,  offering prayers for a peaceful election.

Chief Jamiu Ekungba, the Baba Adinni of Owo Kingdom, said, “As we stood by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the presidential election, we are ready to do the same for Governor Aiyedatiwa.

“Let the governor be rest assured that the Muslim community is behind him. People once thought Muslims stayed out of politics, but with Governor Aiyedatiwa, we are prepared to be fully involved.”

The Grand Mufti of Ondo State, Alhaji Surajudeen Batuta, who said Governor Aiyedatiwa’s leadership is divinely guided, added: “I believe it is God’s plan that Governor Aiyedatiwa should lead this state during this period.

“This election will be the most peaceful election in the histroy of the State, by God’s grace, and I am confident that the governor’s decision to appoint Muslims into political offices will bring positive results. He will not regret it.”

In his goodwill message, Oba Yusuf Adebori Adeleye, the Olubaka of Oka Land, said the muslim community has taken a bold step in openly declaring support for the election.

The monarch, however, requested for the recruitment of more Arabic teachers to strengthen Islamic education while advocating for government-funded schools in place of return of schools to religious bodies.

The Chief Imam of Akure, Sheikh Abdulhakeem Yayi Akorede, said with the unanimous support, the governor can now sleep with both eyes closed with the assurance that the election has been won by him.

Akorede called for increased Muslim representation in government, added: “On behalf of all Muslims in Ondo State, I assure the governor that the entire Muslim community stands solidly behind him.”

Alake, UAE Envoy Meet To End Illegal Gold Smuggling

By
James Orji
-
0
Dele Lake, Nigeria’s Minister of  Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, says the federal government is working with the United Arab Emirates, UAE on how to end gold smuggling from Nigeria.
Alake said most of the gold illegally mined from Nigeria are smuggled into UAE.
According to checks, about $9 billion worth of mineral resources, including gold are smuggled out of the country annually by illegal miners.
This has resulted in huge loss of badly needed revenue to the government, analysts insist.
According to Alake, the Nigerian government and the UAE are now collaborating to establish a framework to curb illegal gold trade between the two countries.
Other possible areas of cooperation between the Nigeria and AU are commerce and trade, the minister said.
Alake who spoke in Abuja during a meeting with the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Al Shamsi, said the collaboration on how to use cutting edge technology to resolve problems in Nigeria’s mining sector.
In a statement issued by Segun Tomori the minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, the minister said the collaboration will further strengthen ties between Nigeria and UAE, particularly, technology transfer in the solid miniral sector.
On his part, the UAE ambassador said his country recently lifting of visa sanction on Nigeria will further “advance relations” between the two countries.
Alake: “In the mining sector, we see significant opportunities for collaboration. While there is considerable trade in gold, much of it remains illegal, with a large portion of Nigerian gold ending up in the UAE unlawfully.
“We propose working together to develop strategies to curb illegal gold trade and establish a regulatory framework that legitimises this trade, allowing both countries to maximise their benefits.”
Al Shamsi said, “The lifting of visa application restrictions and the launch of a new visa application website demonstrate my country’s dedication to advancing bilateral relations.”

Tight Race: Letter from Abroad to Michelle Obama

By
The Source
-
0
Azu Ishiekwene
Mr Azu Ishiekwene

By Azu Ishiekwene

Dear former First Lady,

You asked the question that millions outside the US have been asking for weeks if not months: Why can’t America see former President Donald Trump for who he is – a congenital liar, a narcissist, a fascist, and a demagogue?

At a campaign rally in Michigan on October 26, you criticised those holding Democratic candidate Kamala Harris to a higher standard than they have held Donald Trump despite his four chaotic years as president and his even more crooked lifestyle, long before that.

“I’ve got to ask myself,” you said,“why on Earth is the race even close?”There are a few possible answers.

Crucify immigrants

Trump and his campaign have been telling Americans precisely what they want to hear:that their problems have been caused mainly by immigrants stealing their jobs.

And that under Joe Biden’s presidency, during which his deputy, Harris, has been the “border tzar,” illegal immigration has worsened to the point where a floating sea of rotten immigrants from Puerto Rico now threatens to submerge their country. They must take their country back.

He has been telling them that their country, once the beacon of exceptionalism, has been captured by the Deep State pursuing the vindictive and narrow agenda of a few. Trump has been telling Americans that fundamental values, such as freedom of expression and public trust, are under threat. Big media, he says, has been hijacked and can no longer be trusted as arbiters of the public good.

Socialism redux and victimhood

That’s not all. Trump is telling Americans that they’re currently in danger of something worse than the nanny state. Socialism and Marxism are in resurgence, and a country known for hard work, individualism, and limited state intervention is at the risk of being overrun by modern-day cousins of the Red Army.

In case they don’t believe him, Trump is telling Americans to look at his own life, his travails, as a living example of deep-state victimhood. He has been framed, lied against, prosecuted, persecuted and shot at for nothing other than mortal fear that he might indeed be the God-send to make America great again.

And if they don’t believe him, they can look at their own lives. In his classic Trumpian way, he has reminded them that they were better off under him, with less inflation and more money in their pockets for groceries. He even said on Tuesday that the stock market was rallying on the expectation of his victory.

It’s a woke country

Trump is telling Americans – at least the conservatives –that a wave of wokeism and post-modernism on sexual orientation and preferences has seized America driving it down a depraved slope where gender pronouns will mean nothing anymore. This is the kind of thing that many evangelicals can’t say publicly but are pleased to hear amplified by Trump and his campaign.

Trump has also been discussing America’s place in the world. He has been saying the world was far more peaceful before Biden, that the war between Russia and Ukraine and the war in the Middle East, which has become a meatgrinder, were enabled by weak US leadership, epitomised by the disorderly and humiliating US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

You might argue, dear former First Lady, that Americans should know better and that the facts, for voters who care, contradict Trump on almost every count.

Killing facts

For example, there’s hardly any evidence for the anti-immigrant rhetoric of job stealing. According to a Brookings Senior Fellow, Vanda Felbab-Brown, “The impact of immigrant labour on the wages of native-born workers is low…undocumented workers often work the unpleasant, back-breaking jobs that native-born workers are not willing to do.”

Though Biden said three years ago that Harris was the most qualified to lead the administration’s efforts to manage the border with Mexico, she was never “border tzar,” as Trump has successfully branded her. It was another Trump lie. But all is fair in politics as in war.

Is the Deep State after Trump, making his life a misery for leading the Salvation Army? This claim of a deep-state offensive is at least four years old. It started with claims in 2020 that the “deep state” was slowing-walking vaccine treatment for COVID-19 so that he could lose re-election.

Scapegoating as art

Then, when he lost, he blamed the deep state for rigging him out and has doubled down on his anti-deep state rhetoric since, blaming everyone from civil servants in Washington to the FBI and the State Department for all his self-inflicted legal problems.

Dear First Lady, the race is tight because voters won’t have facts for dinner. The facts show that inflation, worsened by post-COVID-19 supply chain problems, is cooling, but voters feel poorer than before. They are clinging to the false nostalgia that Trump would bring back the old times, despite the forecast by 16 Nobel prize winners in Economics that the US economy will be worse off in a Trump second term.

Also, an inconvenient point, dear former First Lady, is that Kamala Harris is part-paying a backlash from Barack Obama’s era that your husband didn’t do enough for people of colour, especially blacks. This is a race of margins, and despite his charm and eloquence, your husband and former president has struggled to convince black male voters that Harris will serve them well.

Just as misery loves company, nothing makes greater company for voters than a scapegoat. Trump has scapegoated immigrants, the deep state, China, UK’s Labour Party, and virtually everyone in sight. And the biggest scapegoat of them all is Biden.

Unfortunately for him even the best presidents fall out of favour with voters by the end of their first term. Their achievements are often dwarfed by their flaws and demagogues whose mess they came to clean up begin to look like saints. Like Trump. That’s why the race is tight.

Double-edge sword

The false start by the Democratic Party after the catastrophic presidential debate didn’t help matters. Whatever advantage it may have conferred on Trump initially, the party lost time healing the wounds created by Biden’s preemptory removal.

Tight races are not new in US elections, but this one feels peculiarly tight because even though facts and decency suggest that it should have been a mismatch, America is being seduced by its worst self.

It’s a measure of the state of US politics today that even after the results have been announced and the winner declared, except if that winner is Trump, the former First Lady may find herself asking, why has US politics gone so low?

Ishiekwene is the Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP and author of the book Writing for Media and Monetising It

1...1,0141,0151,016...3,081Page 1,015 of 3,081