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NGF Insîsts States Can’t Päy N60,000 As Minimum Wäge

June 7, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

The Secretariat of the Nigeria Governors Forum, (NGF) has come out on the position of 36 state governors on the new minimum wage.

It stated that the governors rejected the N60,000 that was earlier proposed by the Federal Government as the new minimum wage.

The Governors, after their meeting on Thursday, had set up a committee headed by Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma to work out a realistic figure that can be sustained.

They had earlier resolved that since one of them, which is Edo, has commenced payment of N70,000 as minimum wage, others can maintain this.

The Director of Media and Public Affairs for the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Halimah Salihu Ahmed, announced this in a statement on Friday.

The governors argued that the N60,000 wage, which the federal government had proposed and rejected by the organized labour, is unrealistic and unsustainable.

They claimed that implementing it would force some states to borrow funds to pay workers’ salaries.

The statement read, “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) agrees that a new minimum wage is due. The Forum sympathizes with labour unions in their push for higher wages.

“However, the Forum urges all parties to consider that minimum wage negotiations also involve consequential adjustments across all cadres, including pensioners.

“The NGF cautions parties in this important discussion to look beyond just signing a document for the sake of it; any agreement to be signed should be sustainable and realistic.

“All things considered, the NGF holds that the N60,000 minimum wage proposal is not sustainable and cannot be implemented.

“Many states would spend all their FAAC allocations on salaries alone, with nothing left for development purposes.

“In fact, a few states would end up borrowing to pay workers every month. We do not believe this will be in the collective interest of the country, including workers.

“We appeal that all parties involved, especially the labour unions, consider all the socioeconomic variables and settle for an agreement that is sustainable, durable, and fair to all other segments of society who have legitimate claims to public resources.”

Kanu Talks Tőugh On IPÕB As A Térrorist Organisation

James Orji

June 7, 2024

Incarcerated leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has threatened legal action against anyone or group who describe the self-determination group as terrorist organization.

The IPOB leader issued the warning through his legal team on Friday.

Kanu said a court in the country has ruled that IPOB was not a terrorist organization.

The order was granted in October 2023 by Justice A.O Onovo following a suit brought before the court by the IPOB legal team led by Aloy Ejimakor, challenging the 2017 proscription of IPOB as a terror organization by the federal government.

The court judgement must be respected, according to the IPOB legal team.

“Henceforth, any further reference to IPOB as a terrorist organization will be met and countervailed with a muscular litigation and other lawful measures, regardless of who the entity is,” the group said.

Delivering judgement seven month ago, Justice Onovo, in the suit marked E/20/2023, declared as unconstitutional “the practical application of the Terrorism Prevention Act and the executive or administrative action of the respondents (Southeast Governors Forum and the federal government) which directly led to the proscription of IPOB and its listing as a terrorist group.”

Nigeria’s Economy To Hït Closé To $2trn – IMF

James Orji

June 7, 2024

The International Monetary Fund has hinted that Nigeria’s economy may hit $1.85 trillion by year 2029 based on Purchasing Power Parity PPP terms.

According to the IMF data, Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product in PPP terms has been steadily increasing, from $1.36 trillion in 2023 to $1.852 trillion in 2029.

The prediction, analysts insist, portend a milestone for Africa’s biggest economy in terns of Gross Domestic Product, GDP.

The Bretton wood-based, United States of America, USA organization assertion is also coming on the heels of the plans by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to raise the nation’s economy to the $1 trillion mark by the end of 2026.

President Tinubu made the promise to grow Africa’s economic powerhouse to $1 trillion from the current less than $500 billion mark.

Nigeria’s GDP currently trumps that of South Africa, and Egypt in second and third positions, according to global economic ratings.

The IMF data shows a consistent growth trend in Nigeria’s economy, with a notable increase of 5.5 per cent expected in 2029.

The Fund also predicted Nigeria’s share of global GDP based on PPP to reach 0.78 per cent by 2029.

This represents a slight increase from 0.77 per cent in 2023, indicating a steady growth trajectory for the country’s economy, the fund stated ion the report.

The data suggests that Nigeria’s economy is gradually expanding, albeit slowly, and is expected to continue this trend over the next five years.

MFM Dénies Främing Ex-Pastor Jimoh Who Spént 9yrs In Prïson

James Orji

June 7, 2024

The Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, MFM, has debunked the claim by a former pastor, Femi Jimoh, that the Church framed him up and plotted his remand in the prison for nine years.

Jimoh had alleged MFM’s culpability in his predicament, insisting that he was wrongly punished for a crime he didn’t commit.

His emotion laden story had generated mixed reactions among Nigerians, putting the Church in a bad light.

But, the pentecostal Church in a swift reaction, stated that Jimoh alongside Caleb Oloruntele had planned to rob the Church and cart away the ‘First Fruit Offering’.

At a press briefing held at the MFM’s headquarters in Lagos, addressed by Davidson Adejuwon, a lawyer MFM said Jimoh had engaged some persons including; Orji, Aboki and Omojomolo on how to hire a gun for the purpose of robbing the church.

Adejuwon asserted that Jimoh and others agreed to carry out the ignominious plan, which the church got wind of , and informed the police.

Jimoh was eventually arrested alongside his alleged co-plotters.

Adejuwon debunked the claim that the church framed Jimoh, leading to his detention for nine years, rather, he was remanded by the police, and he failed to meet the bail conditions which required the provision of credible sureties.

He said: “Jimoh and his Co-conspirator failed to meet the Bail conditions which does not include payment of any sum as being misunderstood by majority of people who are not lawyers.

“Is it not curious to push a narrative that Dr. D.K Olukoya, the General Overseer of MFM locked them up when all members of their family refused to get two individuals for nine years to stand as their sureties for them to be released?

Adejuwon added that Dr. Olukoya did not jail Jimoh or any person for nine years as been circulated, adding that of what purpose will it serve the revered Clergyman to frame up two of his Ministers.

Corroborating Adejuwon, Pastor Oluwadamilare Odunsi, stated that Jimoh was an unquestionable character leading to his redeployment to Lagos Headquarters for engaging in immoralities.

Also, the three individuals contacted by Jimoh to rob the Church also corroborated the allegations against him. The accused was not been witch-hunted by the Church as he is presently claiming, according to them.

Adejuwon further shed light on the ruling by the National Industrial Court, that Jimoh and Oloruntele should be paid their Nine years arrears of salary because their appointments has not been terminated by the Church.

Timi Frank Cänvasses For N250,000 Mïnimum Wäge

The Source

June 7, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

Bayelsa State born political activist, Timi Frank, has advised the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) and Trade Union Congress, (TUC) to reject any minimum wage offer from the federal government that is less than N250,000.00 per month.

Frank, reacting to reports of alleged Federal Government’s offer of N105,000.00 to workers as new minimum wage during their ongoing tripartite negotiation, said: “any amount below N250,000.00 cannot be considered a decent wage for Nigerian workers considering the present socio-economic hardship in the country.”

Federal Government has however denied offering N105,000 as new minimum wage.

In a statement in Abuja, on Friday, Frank accused the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration of double standards in the fixing of salaries, saying what is good for judicial office holders is good for Nigerian workers.

According to him, Tinubu recently sent a Bill to the National Assembly in which he proposed 300 per cent increase in the salaries and allowances of Supreme Court Justices, Appeal Court Justices, President of the National Industrial Court, Judges of the Federal and State High Courts as well as Grand Khadi of State Sharia Courts, among others, in the country.

The former chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) noted that the Bill has been hurriedly passed as proposed by the President in both chambers of the National Assembly and now awaiting the assent of the President to become enforceable law.

“How can you increase the salary of an arm of government that is already earning a humongous salary by 300 per cent and add peanuts to the paltry N30,000 that workers have been compelled to live with in this country as minimum wage in the last five years?

“Why did the President send an Executive Bill to the National Assembly to effect a 300 per cent upward review in the salaries of Judicial Office Holders but set up a tripartite committee to negotiate a ‘starvation wage’ for suffering Nigerian workers instead of a ‘living wage’ he promised them on assumption of office in May last year?”

He pointed out that the executive, legislative and judicial arms of government ought to reduce their salaries and allowances to accommodate Nigerian workers.

“Nigerians are no fools as they know that the proposed generous increase in the salaries of Judicial Office Holders is meant to pay them for the devious work they did to ratify the stay of key political office holders in this administration.”

He reiterated that workers are the engine room of the nation’s economy and that paying them a living wage will boost their morale to work diligently and even pay the supreme price in line of duty for the country’s development if need be.

He therefore urged the leadership of organized labour to be resolute in their demand to ensure that workers get a deserved living wage at this time in the Nation’s developmental journey.

States Őpt For Minimum Wäge Of N70,000

Ayodele Oni

June 7, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

State Governors seem to have taken a stand on the new minimum wage as they are unanimous on paying a wage of N70,000.

This is as they constituted a committee, headed by Governor Hope Uzodimma, to look at all presentations and make recommendations.

The tripartite committee set up by the federal government is continuing with its meeting to agree on a specific figure.

The governors made this disclosure after a meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum(NGF) held on Thursday.

The governors who reviewed the economic situation in the country said that any amount of money above N70,000 is not feasible and affordable.

Sources close to the meeting stated that “After deliberation on the minimum wage, we decided to consider options between N60,000 and N70,000 a month. We could not reach a concrete decision on the wage rate for states.

“Eventually, a committee, to be led by Governor Uzodimma, was mandated to look at all presentations and make recommendations.

“The NGF will soon reconvene to consider the Uzodimma committee report.

“No state can afford to pay a N105,000 minimum wage and we have ruled out this benchmark.

“Records available to us indicated that some states are still paying N18,000 because they are unable to afford N30,000 (which came into effect in 2019). Only a state has adopted a N70, 000 wage.”

PSC Appőints Abubakar DIG, Prőmotes Ammani, Dankwara Usaini, Ayinde, Ochalla, Five Others AIG,’ 15 New CPs, 36 DCPs, 61 ACPs Also Apprőved

The Source

June 7, 2024

The Police Service Commission has approved the appointment of AIG Yahaya Sahabo Abubakar as Deputy Inspector General of Police. He was until his appointment the AIG in charge of Zone 14 Katsina. He will represent the North East Geopolitical zone in the Police Management Team, replacing DIG Habu Sani who recently retired as DIG Force Intelligence Bureau and representing the Zone.

The Commission also approved the promotion of 122 other senior Police Officers; ten Commissioners of Police to the next rank of Assistant Inspectors General; Fifteen Deputy Commissioners of Police to substantive Commissioners and 36 Assistant Commissioners of Police to Deputy Commissioners. Sixty-one Chief Superintendents of Police were also elevated to the next rank of Assistant Commissioners of Police.

A statement issued by Ikechukwu Ani, PSC’s Head, Press and Public Relations, said the decisions were taken at the extraordinary Management Meeting of the Commission held on Thursday, June 6th, 2024 and presided over by the Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Solomon Arase, CFR, retired Inspector General of Police.

The 15 Deputy Commissioners of Police; 10 Commissioners and AIG Abubakar appeared before the Commission in session for the compulsory interactive promotion interview which is one of the requirements for their promotion to the next rank.

The Commission’s Chairman at the interactive sessions told the Officers that in the emerging dynamic and ubiquity of crime and criminality within the revolution in Information and Communication technology, ” charting out pathways for effective policing and internal security management would have to necessarily orient from informed crafting and employment of applicable mix of strategies, standard operating procedures and tactics by the Police, other law enforcement and regulatory agencies of the state, mainstreaming a knowledge driven Police Force staffed by mentally mobile work force refined for optimum service delivery “.

Dr. Arase charged them to be genuinely committed to their sacred responsibility of securing the Nigerian nation by effectively protecting lives and property, preventing and containing crimes and criminality across the nation.

He pledged the Commission’s readiness to ensure that promotions of Officers and Men are regular and predictable.

The Commissioners of Police promoted to the new rank of AIGs are; Ahmed Ammani, former CP Enugu and currently in ICT Department, Force Headquarters; Mohammed Dankwara Adamu Deputy Commandant Police Academy, Wudil Kano; Gumel Mohammed Usaini, CP Kano State Command; Hamzat Adebola Ayinde, CP Oyo State Command; Okuoma Idegwu Basil, CP Elections, Force Headquarters Abuja; Achinyan Zachary’s Fera; CP FCID Enugu; Baba Zango Ibrahim, CP DFA, FCID, Abuja; Mohammed Isyaku, CP Admin, FCID Annex Lagos and CP Margaret Agebe Ochalla, CP Police Special Fraud Unit Annex Lagos.

DCP Bassey Samuel Ewah, DC Admin, Department of Operations, Force Headquarters; Osagie John Agans-Irabor, SCID, Benue State Command; DCP Edem Ita Selong, Admin and Finance, Zone 9 Umuahia and DCP Monday Agbonika, Interpol Annex Lagos were promoted to the substantive rank of Commissioners of Police.

Other Deputy Commissioners promoted to CPs were Michael Okoh, Department of Operations, Zone 9 Umuahia; Ayodele Oluyemi Sonubi, State CID, Oyo State Command; Iyama Daniel Edobor, Operations Department, Bayelsa State Command; Isa Danladi Nda, SWAT, FCID Abuja; Akaniyene Ifebem Ezima Zonal CID, Zone 17 Akure and Livingston Ikioye Orutugu, Commandant PMF Training School Ende Hills Jos.

Others were, DCP Bello Rashid Afegbua, Admin, Department of Training, Force Headquarters, Abuja; Hycenth Azuka Edozie Force Operations FCID, FHQ Abuja; Haruna Alaba Yahaya, Interpol, FCID Abuja; Peter Ozigi Umoru, Zonal CID, Zone 8, Lokoja; Ayotunde Godwin Omodeinde, Operations Department, Cross Rivers State Command.

The 36 Assistant Commissioners of Police promoted to the next rank of Deputy Commissioners include; Obo Ukam Obo; Musibau Adeola Adedoyin; Lawal Bamidele Adeshina and Anthony Okon Placid. Others are Onyeamu Akaeme Onyeamu, AC, Ops, Enugu State Command; Suleiman K. Bayonle, Commander PMF 20, Lagos; Asuquo Effiong, Special Investigation Unit FHQ, Abuja; Mustapha A. Rufai, Area Commander Auchi; Victor Akongtendor Bepeh, DFA, BPF, Force Headquarters Abuja; Chinedu Ugwu, Area Commander, Oji River Enugu Command; Kingsley Ifeanyi Woke SCID Ebonyi State Command; Issah Onize Lawal, Zonal CID Zone 2 Lagos and Ifeanyi Aham Ohuruzo, Commander PMF 21 Abuja.

The list of the promoted Officers has been conveyed to the Inspector General of Police for implementation and further necessary action.

“Mäny Fuläni Can’t Remember Their Stätes of Origin” – Deputy Senate President

James Orji

June 7, 2024

Senator Jibrin Barau- Deputy Senate President

Senator Jibrin Barau, Nigeria’s Deputy Senate President says many Fulani herders in the country cannot recognized the states they hailed from.

The Senator made the remark on Thursday during the consideration of a bill for an act to establish the National Animal Husbandry and Ranches Commission, NAHRC, by the Senate.

The NAHRC was sponsored by Senator Titus Tartenger Zam, from Benue State.

According to the magazine’s investigation, the bill is seeking to stop Fulani herders from moving around the country by carving out some lands for them to rear their animals.

The bill is also seeking to end the re-current bloody clash between Fulani herders and farmers across the country.

Speaking at the Senate chamber yesterday, Barau said if the bill is passed it will lead to the relocation of Fulani herders across the country, many of who cannot even remember their state of origin.

He said many Fulani herders were born where they are currently living, and will be difficult for them to be relocated to other states because they don’t know their state of origin.

He contended that the bill was in breach of the 1999 Constitution, stressing that the choice of resident by any Nigerian is guaranteed by the constitution.

According to him, Fulani herders should be allowed to live wherever they chose because “you cannot stop any Nigerian from living in any area that he so wishes.”

He said, “the relevant section of the constitution has been read. I saw something just a few days ago: Senator Natasha visited a Fulani settlement in her senatorial zone. Those people do not have any home except that place. They have been there for so long. They have been part and parcel of that society.

“Now, to tell them to move to their state of origin, where is their state of origin?

“Now, for us as political leaders, I would like you to look at that. Who is the current Senator of FCT? She is a Yoruba native, but she has won the election here. Nobody told her to return to her state.

“I won my first election in Tarauni Federal Constituency to the House of Representatives in 1999 from Kano Central, but I am from Kano North. Nobody told me to go back to Kano North, so why do we now tell herders to go back to their states of origin?

“My friend Zam understands that this is not in consonance with our constitution; your bill is good. I like this bill, but this aspect should be removed. We should remove it. I advise my friend Senator Zam to stand this bill down for a consultation, for better drafting, so that it goes in consonance with our constitution.

“Mr President, I will tell you some of these Fulanis, if you ask them where their state of origin is, they have even forgotten; they look at themselves as Nigerians.

“We should address the issue to reflect wherever someone is, it’s his place, and he can do his business there. So, Mr President, I advise this bill to be stepped down for further consultation.”

Meanwhile, the magazine learned that the bill appears to have the support of majority of senators and has now been passed to the committee state after many lawmakers okayed it.

In 2019, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state came under heavy criticism from not a few Nigerians following his remark that the Fulani are stateless.

“The Fulani man is a global or African person. He moves from The Gambia to Senegal and his nationality is Fulani,” Mohammed said.

Southeast To Gët A Nëw Statë Soon

James Orji

June 7, 2024

After many years of agitation by the people of the southeast Nigeria for a new state, the House of Representatives has moved to ensure that the region has another state.

The development followed the passage of a bill, on Thursday, seeking to establish a new state in the region.

Sponsored by a member, Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere representing Ideato North South, Imo state, the bill is seeking to create a new state known as Orlu state.

Speaking during the consideration of the bill by the House, Ugochinyere Ugochinyere appealed to other lawmakers to back the legislation to ensure its successful passage.

According to the draft bill, the creation of Orlu State will amend the 1999 Constitution, increasing the number of states in Nigeria from 36 to 37.

The new state, with Orlu as its capital city, will be created from portions of Imo, Abia, and Anambra states.

According to checks by the magazine, the bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution by adding a new paragraph to include 28 local government areas.

The areas are Orlu, Orsu, Oru West, Oru East, Ideato North, Ideato South, Njaba, Nkwerre, Nwangele, Isu, Oguta, Ohaji Egbema, Onuimo, Ihiala, Uga, Uli, Ozubulu, Akokwa, Arondizuogu, Umuchu, Umunze, Umuaku, New Ideato North, Nwabosi West, Nwabosi East, Owerre Nkworji, Alaoma, Amaifeke, and Owerrebiri Umuowa.

Unlike other region with minimum of six states, the southeast has only five states.

Meanwhile, political watchers insist that the creation of another state in the region will reduce the agitation among its people that the region is marginalized.

Kïlling Of Soldiers: We Have Crëdible Intelligënce On The Killërs

Suleiman Anyalewechi

June 7, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Abia State Authority have revealed that they have started receiving credible intelligence as regards the unfortunate killings of five Nigeria soldiers on May 30, 2024 at a Military checkpoint in Obikabia junction in Aba North Local Council of the State, by some yet-to-be identified gunmen.

The State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, who made this known during another lap of his trouble-shooting visits to the 144 battalion of the Nigerian Army in the Ossisioma area of Aba, however, appealed to the Military to carry out its investigations into the incident in a manner that will not lead to innocent people suffering unjustly.

The Source reports that Governor Otti, had, in the wake of the killings visited the Asa Ukwa West Military formation where he met and identified with the family members and widows of the deceased soldiers.

In a statement issued on Thursday June ,6 , by his Media Aide Kazie Uko, the Abia State Governor who was received during the visit by the Commanding Officer of the 14 Brigade Nigerian Army, Ohafia Brigadier O O Diya ,said that going by the intelligence at the disposal of the Government, the criminal act may have been perpetrated by people who are opposed to the progress and good things that are happening in Abia state.

” I have come to specifically address you on the unfortunate incident that happened a week ago in Obikabia Junction in Obingwa Local Government Area, very close to Aba.

“My name is Alex Otti, I am the Governor of Abia State. I feel it is my responsibility as the Chief Security Officer of the State to speak to you, commiserate with you, and also ensure that your morale is boosted, that you don’t get discouraged and you don’t get distracted by this unfortunate incident.

“The State has already placed a bounty of 25 million Naira on anybody who has information that will lead to the arrest and prosecution of people who were involved in this dastardly act, remotely or directly.

“We have started getting very credible information. This intelligence gathering will continue, but I do not want it to dampen your morale. We have all been working together to secure this State in the last one year that I have been the Governor of the State, and I want to encourage you to continue your work, don’t get distracted.

“I believe, from credible intelligence available to us, that this criminal act may have been executed by people who are opposed to the progress and the good things that are happening in Abia. One of the last things we want to do is to humour them by allowing them to distract us.

“So, we will get to the root of the matter, we will arrest everyone that is involved. I have in the last few days also visited the widows of the five gallant officers that were brutally murdered. As a State we have committed to absorbing them, whether they come from the State or not, we have absorbed them as part of this State. All their children are now on scholarship and they will remain on scholarship until they graduate from the university and we will also keep supporting the widows and ensure that they do not lack anything.

“I want to assure you that this State will do everything possible to ensure that all of you are protected.

“I’m also aware that some people have been picked up before now, but when I spoke with the GOC this morning, he told me that virtually everyone that was picked up has been released except for about nine or 10 people who are still being investigated.

“We, as a State, support thorough investigation, but we will also appeal to you that a lot of innocent civilians, who you will encounter may not have been involved. I believe that most of them are not involved. It is even possible that those who committed this crime came from outside the State. So whatever be the case we will not like to punish those who are innocent with those who are guilty because like it is said, two wrongs cannot make a right.

“So, I will like to encourage you, I will like to appeal to your leaders to ensure that people are treated decently, people are given the utmost respect that they deserve while we are doing our job” the statement reads .

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