Author: Kingsley Okoye

Senate passes bill to prescribe salaries, allowances of judicial officers

Bill
By Kingsley Okoye

Abuja, June 5, 2024 (NAN) The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill seeking to prescribe improved salaries, allowances and fringe benefits of judicial office holders in Nigeria.

This followed the adoption of a report of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters at plenary.

Presenting the report, the Chairman of the committee, Sen. Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno) said that stakeholders at the public hearing of the bill were unanimous in their support for its passage.

Monguno said that the purposes of the bill were sacrosanct to the justice sector reform initiative of the present administration.

He said that the bill was in consonance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the standing rules of the senate.

According to him, the proposed legislation is apt and timely, as the increase in remuneration of judicial office holders is long overdue, in light of the present economic realities and high inflation in the country.

He said that the bill was quite innovative, as aside the increment in the basic salary, it also took cognisance of certain peculiarities of the administrative structure and operation of the judiciary.

“Generally, the bill, if passed will birth an appropriate and commensurate remuneration that will ensure judicial independence and integrity.

“No doubt, adequate remuneration will allow judicial officers to focus on their professional development without worrying about financial constraint.

“Hence, it will improve their professionalism and decision making skills, and fair compensation for judicial officers is crucial for maintaining public trust in judiciary’s impartiality and integrity.

“When Judges are adequately compensated, it demonstrates a commitment by society towards the important role they play in upholding justice,” Monguno said.

He said that the increase in remuneration for judicial office holders was essential to attract and retain highly qualified and experienced professionals, who possessed the necessary skills, knowledge and integrity to serve on the bench.

“Certainly, the bill, if passed will give financial security to retired judicial officers, after years of dedication in the profession and allowing them to remain comfortable during their retirement,” the chairman said.

He said that the increment under consideration, had been captured in the 2024 Appropriation Act. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

KC/FON/SH

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Edited by Florence Onuegbu/Sadiya Hamza

Wage

Kingsley Okoye

Abuja,June 2,2024(NAN) Senate has urged the Federal Government to continue the payment of N35,000 wage award to workers, following the yet to be concluded negotiations on minimum wage.

President of Senate, Godswill Akpabio said this at the end of a four hour closed door meeting with leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and some Ministers over planned industrial action by the union.

Akpabio also appealed to the union to shelve the proposed strike action in the interest of Nigerians and the nation.

“We have been making appeal and asked the NLC and TUC to shelve the proposed strike and return to the negotiating table to resolve the issue.

“I appeal that the strike be suspended for negotiations to continue in the interest of Nigerians and the nation.”

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, said that government’s position on the wage award was that it should continue the payment until the negotiations for the minimum wage is concluded.

“The position of Government is that the Federal Government will continue to pay its workers the wage award of N35,000 that was started in Oct 2023 until a new wage regime is instituted.”

He said he was optimistic that labour would suspend the proposed strike, following the lengthy conversation with the leadership of the National Assembly, organised labour and the federal government delegation.

He said that Nigeria could not afford strike at this moment given the challenges faced on the economy.

Idris said all hands must be on deck to ensure prosperity of the nation as strike was not the best option at this point.

“And we have pleaded with labour to see reasons with the Federal Government and everybody while the strike cannot continue in the interest of every body.”

The minister said that government was sensitive to the demand of labour and called on the unions to see reasons to heed to the request of government.

He said that Nigeria could not afford the payment of N9.5 trillion additional financial burden based on labours” demand of N494,000 demand made by labour as minimum wage for workers.

However, President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Festus Osifo said both parties were aware of what the issues were.

He said the leadership of the union did do have power to call off the strike, saying that there were processes involved in suspension of an industrial action.

“We have listened to them, we will take the request of the National Assembly leadership to our organs, because we don’t have power to call off strike.

“The power to call off strikes lies with our organs, who would sit to decide.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting had in attendance, Secretary to Government of the Federation, George Akume.

Others are Ministers of Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, Science and Technology Uche Nnaji.

Others were Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan and the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Joe Ajaero. (NAN).www nannews.ng

KC/MNA

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Strike: NASS leadership, SGF, NLC, Ministers in crucial meeting
Strike

By Kingsley Okoye

Abuja, June 2, 2024(NAN) The leadership of the National Assembly and Organised Labour made up of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and Trade Union Congress (TUC), are currently in a crucial meeting ostensibly to forestall a nationwide strike on Monday.

Also in attendance are some ministers and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

“We are discussing issues related to the minimum wage and the proposed industrial action by labour,” a top source at the meeting told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), craving anonymity.

NAN reports that the meeting, conveyed at the instance of the NASS leadership, is in connection with the proposed industrial action by labour unions over the yet-to-be approved minimum wage for workers.

Present at the meeting are the President of Senate, Godswill Akpabio, Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass, and other principal officers of both Chambers.

Others from the executive side are the Secretary to Government of the Federation, George Akume, Ministers of Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Finance, Wale Edun and Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.

Also in the hall are budget and national planning minister, Atiku Bagudu, science and technology minister, Uche Nnaji, agriculture and food security minister, Aliyu Abdullahi, and Head of Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan.

Akpabio, in his remarks at the meeting, said that it was at the instance of the National Assembly leadership, following the proposed indefinite strike by the organised labour.

He said that the National Assembly was not taking over the responsibility of the executive and the labour unions.

“The meeting was called to hear the position of both parties on the minimum wage issue.

“The National Assembly is on the part of the people and the government; what affects the people also affects the lawmakers.

“The Nigerian government is keen on providing a living wage for its workers which is why it constituted a tripartite committee to negotiate a new minimum wage .

“There is need to be mindful of collateral damage that may result from the wage to be reached at; we must avoid a situation where workers will be retrenched on account of employers inability to pay the new wage,” said.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass, corroborated Akpabio, saying that NASS was on the side of the people and government.

He thanked the ministers and the labour leaders for honouring the meeting, saying that their presence was a testament of labour and government’s commitment toward ensuring a lasting solution to the issue of minimum wage.

President of NLC, Joe Ajero, in his remarks, said that what the NLC was demanding for all Nigerians was a living wage and not a starvation wage.

He said the workers were the brothers and sisters of the lawmakers and the ministers and needed to work for Nigerians.

President of TUC, Festus Osifol, said that the current situation in the country was difficult for Nigerians, especially in the last one year.

This, he said, has also resulted in the difficulty in negotiating a new minimum wage for workers.

He said Nigerians were waiting for the new wage to meet their basic needs of life “and not to build house or buy a cars”.(NAN).www nanbews.ng

KC/ETS

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