Group appeals to workers to support FG’s sustainable wage
Wage
By Emmanuel Mogbede
Abuja, June 12,2024 (NAN)The Concerned Nigerian Patriots (CNP), has appealed to Nigerian workers to support what the Federal Government and the private sector employers determined to be realistic and sustainable wages.
Alhaji Alfa Mohammed, CNP, a political pressure group Chairman, made the call at a news conference in Abuja, while reacting to the current face-off between the Federal Government and the organised labour, on Tuesday
He said that the news conference was to address pressing issue that threatens the nation’s economic stability and democratic integrity.
He said calling the country’s workforce to embark on strike by the organised labour was not the way to address the country’s challenges.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
reports that while the Federal Government had proposed #62,000 as a new minimum wage, the organised labour is proposing #250,000.
Mohammed called on Nigerians to support and pray for the President Bola Tinubu-led administration’s efforts to achieve its lofty goals for the county.
“We call on Nigerians to reject unrealistic wage demands and support what the government and private sector employers determined to be realistic and sustainable wages,”he said.
He also called on the citizens to oppose disruptive strikes and insist on dialogue between the Federal Government and the labour unions, and reject strike actions aimed at destabilising the government.
To address the situation, Muhammed recommended the immediate introduction of policies to reduce inflation, particularly in food, transportation, medical, agriculture, and energy sectors.
He also called for the provision of credit schemes for PMS-CNG conversion and CNG vehicle hire purchase and funding for mechanised farming projects across all states, with a commodity board to manage excess produce.
He advocated the use of intensified technology to address security challenges and exclusive use of locally assembled or manufactured vehicles for government officials.
“We appeal to Nigerians to support and pray for the Tinubu-led administration’s efforts to achieve its lofty goals for the county.
“The recent demands for an unrealistic minimum wage by the coalition of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Labour Party (LP) pose a significant risk of plunging Nigeria into another recession.
”And, exacerbating the economic challenges that President Tinubu’s administration has been diligently working to overcome.
“This coalition’s agenda appears to be a deliberate attempt to provoke public unrest and destabilise the government.
“By advocating for a wage increase that is not financially viable, they risk inciting chaos and anarchy, which could undermine our hard-earned democracy,” Mohammed explained.
He recalled that the coalition’s insistence on a minimum wage initially set at ₦605,000, then ₦494,000, and now ₦250,000, was part of a broader strategy to force government into adopting an economically unfeasible policy.
He said such a wage hike would likely lead to severe inflation, increased unemployment, decreased productivity, and greater economic hardship.
Mohammed, therefore, urged Nigerians, especially the diligent workforce, to see through the veil.
He said it was the responsibility of every citizen to support and pray for the success of the Tinubu-led government, not to undermine it
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the organised labour has vowed to reject ₦62,000 or ₦100,000 minimum wage proposal for Nigerian workers by the Federal Government.
The Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Chris Onyeka, described such a proposal as a “starvation wage”.
Onyeka insisted that labour won’t accept the latest government’s offer of ₦62,000, saying that its latest demand as the living wage for an average Nigerian worker remains ₦250,000.
“Our position is very clear. We have never considered accepting ₦62,000 or any other wage that we know is below what we know can take Nigerian workers home. We will not negotiate a starvation wage.
“We have never contemplated ₦100,000, let alone ₦62,000. We are still at ₦250,000, that is where we are, and that is what we considered enough concession to the government and the other social partners in this particular situation.
“ We are not just driven by frivolities but the realities of the marketplace, realities of things we buy every day: a bag of rice, yam, garri, and all of that.”(NAN)
Abuja, June 12, 2024(NAN) President Bola Tinubu has vowed to preserve democracy and protect the rights, freedom and liberty of citizens.
Tinubu said this in a national broadcast to mark the 2024 Democracy Day and the 25th year of uninterrupted democratic rule in the country.
The President said that as a beneficiary of the historic efforts of the heroes of democracy, he was morally bound to preserve the present form of government.
“I stand uniquely placed in this regard. I was among those who took the risk to midwife the birth of our democracy. I am now a direct and obvious beneficiary of the fruits of those historic efforts.
“As President of this nation, I am morally and constitutionally bound to preserve this precious form of governance.
“I vow to do my utmost best to protect your rights, freedoms, and liberties as citizens of Nigeria.
“Even more than that, I pledge to do whatever is necessary to cement democracy as our way of life,” he said.
The President expressed gratitude to Nigerians for the opportunity to lead the country and promised not to turn his back on them.
He urged Nigerians to beware of those trying to exploit the current challenges in the country to undermine and destroy the democracy for which so much had already been given.
According to him, as Nigerians, we must remind ourselves that no matter how complicated democracy may be, it is the best form of governance in the long run.
“We must also be aware that there are those among us who will try to exploit current challenges to undermine, if not destroy this democracy for which so much has already been given.
“These people do this not to make things better but to subject all other people and things to their control and dominance until the point that, if you are not counted among their elite, then your life will be small and no longer owned by you,” he said.
Tinubu added that “I understand the economic difficulties we face as a nation.
“Our economy has been in desperate need of reform for decades. It has been unbalanced because it was built on the flawed foundation of over-reliance on revenues from the exploitation of oil.
“The reforms we have initiated are intended to create a stronger, better foundation for future growth.
“There is no doubt the reforms have occasioned hardship, yet, they are necessary repairs required to fix the economy over the long run so that everyone has access to economic opportunity, fair pay and compensation for his endeavour and labour,” he said.
Tinubu said his government was aware of the proper way forward to move the country and would take it.
He acknowledged those who laid down their lives, sacrificing everything to pave the way for the nation and pledged to do all that was necessary to cement democracy in the country.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Abuja, June 12, 2024(NAN) The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, has made minor changes to the leadership of some standing committees of the house, to strengthen oversight and ensure efficiency.
Abbas made the new leaserships known during plenary in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said that Rep. Abdulmumin Jibrin (NNPP- Kano) is the new Chairman, House Committee on Housing and Habitat.
Other new leaders are Rep. Oluwole Oke (PDP-Osun); chair Foreign Affairs, Rep. Aminu Balele (APC- Katsina); Army, and Rep Mamudu Abdullahi (APC- Niger); Judiciary.
Jibrin, a fourth-term member of the House, had previously served as Chairman of the Committees on Finance, Appropriation, Transport and Foreign Affairs.
NAN reports that, in the Executive Arm, Jibrin had also served as Executive Director of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA).
The speaker said that the oversight and jurisdiction of the House Committee on Housing and Habitat covers the Federal Ministry of Housing and its departments and agencies.
Oke had previously chaired the House Committees on Public Accounts and Judiciary, while Abdullahi and Balele chaired the House Committees on Army and Housing/Habitat.
The House also announced the constitution of an ad-hoc committee to investigate closure of some businesses in the country.
The committee is to investigate the eventual exit of Messrs Kimberly-Clark and several other business outfits from the country, which is to be chaired by Rep. Kayode Akiolu (APC-Lagos).(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
ODF/OIF/IS
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Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Ismail Abdulaziz
Abuja, June 11, 2024 (NAN) The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says a total of 269,992 new voters were registered in the just concluded Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Edo and Ondo.
The commission disclosed this in a statement by Mr Sam Olumekun, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, after its regular meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.
Olumekun said that of the 269,992 newly registered voters, 129,246 representing 47.87 per cent were male, while 140,756 representing 52.13 per cent were female.
“Still, the majority of the registered voters (182,541 or 67.61 per cent) are youths between 18 years and 34 years.
“In terms of occupation, 95,463 or 35.36 per cent are students while 1,588 representing 0.59 per cent are Persons with Disability (PWDs).
“In addition, 24,454 requests for replacement of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), 74,493 applications for voter transfer and 8,314 for information update were received,” he said
Olumekun, however, said the statistics were preliminary figures, adding that the final figures would be published on state by state basis after the period for claims/objections and Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) .
He added that the date for the commencement of collection of new PVCs would be announced thereafter.
Olumekun also disclosed that in line with Section 19 of the Electoral Act 2022, the commission would display preliminary register of voters in the two states from Wednesday for claims and objections by citizens.
He said the register would be displayed for a period of seven days in all the 395 wards across the two states as well INEC website: https://cvr.inecnigeria.org/register.
Olumekun said the purpose of the display was for the public to identify any ineligible persons on the register and to draw the commission’s attention to it.
He said it was also for the public to file an objection to appearance of the name on the register by completing Forms EC2 and EC3 available from our officials in all the centres.
He said the forms could also be downloaded from INEC website – https://inecnigeria.org/?page_id=13655 – and handed over to the commission’s officials as provided in Section 9(4) of the Electoral Act 2022.
“Furthermore, fresh registrants and applicants for transfer, correction of personal details and replacement of lost or damaged PVCs can draw the commission’s attention to errors or wrong entries for further action.
“At the end of the period for claims and objections, the commission will further clean up the register using the ABIS before the list of new voters is added to the existing register for the two states,” he said.
Olumekun appealed to the public to seize opportunity of the display of the register to help INEC clean it up as provided by law.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Bill to prosecute electoral officers for result cancellation passes 2nd reading in Reps
Results
By Femi Ogunshola
Abuja, June 11, 2024(NAN) A bill seeking to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to prohibit cancellation of election results due to over voting by electoral officers has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.
Rep. Abubakar Fulata, who sponsored the bill while leading debate on the general principle of the bill on the floor of the House in Abuja, called fur punishment of erring electoral officers.
He said, “equally important is the need to punish the presiding officer who allowed himself or herself to be used to perpetrate fraud and injustice.”
According to him, this bill seeks to amend sections 51 (2) and deletion of sections 51(3) and 51(4) as well as sections 84 (8).
“As it stands, the provisions of sections 51(2) (3) and (4) seems to deliberately target legitimate winners of elections instead of the criminally minded individuals who connive with custodians of electoral materials to cancel their votes.”
He said that as the custodians of electoral materials, the clause was needed for the purpose of deterrence.
He said that even if it was presumed that the individual who added the votes were not known, the winner of the election in a particular unit could not be party to a deliberate act that would invalidate their votes.
“Most of the times, candidates target the strong holes of their opponents leveraging on the provisions of this section to add one or two votes to discredit the outcomes of the elections in those polling units
This, he said, was to create advantage for the losers.
Some of the lawmakers who spoke also agreed with the bill, adding that it was time to punish officers for aiding cancellation of results.
When the Deputy Speaker, Rep Benjamin Kalu who presided over plenary, put it to vote, the Bill was unanimously agreed on and passed for second reading.
The bill was referred to House Committee on Electoral Matters for further legislative actions. (NAN)www.nannews.ng
Give security chiefs ultimatum to deliver, CSO tells Tinubu
Timeline
By Sadiq Husseini/Perpetua Onuegbu
Abuja, June 11, 2024 (NAN) Hamzat Lawal, Chief Executive, Connected Development (CODE), a Civil Society Organisation (CSC) has urged President Bola Tinubu to give security agency chiefs a timeline to deliver on their mandates or be fired.
Lawal said this at the unveiling of CODE’s 2023 Annual Report and Commemoration of Democracy Day event on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to him in spite of the bulk of Nigeria’s budget being devoted to security, the country still face serious security challenges.
“Looking at our budget the bulk of the money is dedicated to security so what is their key performance indicators, what are their timelines and when will they deliver on them.
“I would advise Mr President that if they don’t keep us save in 24 months the service chiefs should exit”, Lawal said.
Speaking on the commemoration of Democracy Day in Nigeria he said the country had done well having experienced 25 years of uninterrupted democracy.
“As we celebrate democracy it is a time for us to also reflect on our journey, some people will say we have not achieved much but I think we should pause and look toward the future.
“We should pause and reflect and also pat ourselves on the back; we have had an uninterrupted 4th republic.
“I think it is an achievement to celebrate but most importantly we must reflect on what we can even do better and where.
“But how can we learn from our mistakes and form a collective united front driven by patriotism,” Lawal said.
Also speaking at the event, Mr Emmanuel Njoku, Director, Democracy and Governance, CODE, said there was no perfect democracy in the world.
He called on young Nigerians to be more involved politics, saying that the more people that were involved in political activities the better for the nation. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
PUO/KUA
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Alimosho PDP leaders and elders at the news conference on Tuesday in Lagos
Lagos PDP suspends former party chair,Adewale
Suspension
By Adeyemi Adeleye
Lagos, June 11, 2024 (NAN) The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State has suspended a former State chairman of the party, Mr Segun Adewale (aka Aeroland) indefinitely.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports that Adewale, whose political base is Alimosho ,was suspended for allegedly causing disaffection in the party and tarnishing the party’s image.
Adewale’s suspension was announced by Alhaji Isiaka Shodiya , Chairman of the party in local government area , at a news conference on Tuesday in Lagos.
Also suspended with Adewale are the LGA Vice Chairman, Mrs Esther Adeyemi (Ward 11);the Auditor ,Mr Jimi Awogbade (Ward 4); the Organizing Secretary, Mrs.Bola Bamgbose (04), as well as Mr John Bolaji, Chairman of Ward E1, and Mr Kenneth Nwanzuere of Ward M1, for a month.
Speaking at the news conference held at the party’s LG secretariat,Shodiya, in company of LGA executives and eight of the 11 ward chairmen, said that the party took the decision to suspend Adewale and others for bringing the party into disrepute through falsehood and spurious allegations on social media.
According to him, Adewale has been flouting the constitution of the party, encouraging violence while also disrespecting the leaders of the party.
Shodiya, reading a letter dated June 11 ,addressed to the PDP State Chairman, Mr Philip Aivoji, said that on March 22, party members in the LGA, woke up to a voice recorded message from Adewale on Alimosho PDP Whatsapp platform, alleging that the leaders of the party were bribe takers.
He listed other offences allegedly committed by Adewale to include false allegations,bordering on embezzlement against the LGA ,and making statements capable of tarnishing the party’s image and affecting its political fortune on social media.
He said that Adewale was also promoting division in the party by creating a parallel structure to challenge and rival the party’s authentic structure.
“All these aforementioned offences and others are in flagrant violation of the party’s constitution according to Section 58(1) a, b, h, I, L and m.
“Having satisfied the above quoted section, the LGA Executives of Peoples Democratic Party, Alimosho have no choice, but to follow section 59(1) sub-section D and pronounced that Mr Segun Adewale from Ward 10 (M1) in Alimosho is hereby suspended indefinitely.
“We are using this medium to announce to the whole world that Mr Segun Adewale (Aeroland) is indefinitely suspended and he should be treated accordingly.
“We will also communicate this to the Nigerian Police to be aware of the current status of Mr Segun Adewale within the party.
“This is to guarantee the lives and properties of our dear party members because of his violent disposition,” Shodiya said.
The chairman added that Adewale had also taken some party members to the Zone 2 Police Command “on baseless allegations with evil intention of intimidating them and thereby spreading disaffection within the party.”
According to him, Adewale ,also on social media ,accused that members of the national body of the party and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of collecting bribes “thereby presenting our party to the electorate as a useless party full of bribe seekers and takers.”
“As a party that is guided with reputable constitution, we cannot watch an individual or group of individuals in the Local Government keep on destroying the party without any justification,” he said.
Shodiya said that the party had also referred some of the matters to the party leadership and a properly constituted disciplinary committee, including the Alimosho PDP Elder Council, with a view to resolving them.
He said that Adewale had not been honouring invitations by the elder’s council and the disciplinary committee.
“Several petitions were received by the Committee from the L.G.A. Executives, the Ward Excos from Ward 10 (M1) where Mr Segun Adewale comes from, other private and group petitions were equally received by the committee against Adewale.
“The committee did a thorough job based on the petitions submitted and the application of the party’s constitution. Their report was submitted to the exco on Monday.
“In the report, the Disciplinary Committee heavily reprimanded Mr Segun Adewale for all his activities in the party.
“These amount to gross indiscipline, and flagrant violation of the party’s constitution and that he arrogantly committed those offences.”he said.
He said that the committee ,however, recommended that the LGA Exco ,in the interest of the party, should take a proper decision by invoking section 59 sub-section 1 and 2 of the party’s constitution 2017 as amended and apply those sections maximally.
The party chieftain said Adewale was suspended based on the recommendations of the committee.
Also speaking, Mr Ezekiel Oriyomi, the LGA Secretary, said Adewale had not added any value to the party and had been hobnobbing with the rulling party.
AYO/BHB
Benin, June 11, 2024 (NAN) The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo says it has accepted the resignation of Chief Francis Inegbeniki from his position as the state Vice-Chairman, Edo Central.
In a statement issued in Benin on Tuesday by the state party chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, APC respected his decision and wished him well in his future political endeavours.
Tenebe noted that Inegbeniki had been a loyal and dedicated member of APC since its inception.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Inegbeniki resigned from his vice-chairmanship and membership positions on Friday.
He cited the recent developments in the local and state chapters of the party as conflicting with his principles and values.
Meanwhile, Tenebe added that Inegbeniki worked tirelessly to promote the ideals of the APC and advance the interests of members and supporters across the state.
“His contributions to the growth and development of the party cannot be overstated, and we are grateful for the time he spent with us,” he said.
He, however, said APC must now look forward to the future by focusing efforts on liberating the state from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government.
According to him, the people of Edo and the APC are ready for change.
The chairman said that APC remained the only party committed to delivering the change desperately needed by the state.
“Our party’s candidate, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, and his running mate, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, will lead the joint push to rescue and return the state to Edo people.
“Both federal legislators come with a bold and ambitious five-point agenda that will prioritize infrastructure development and the empowerment of our people that the PDP has since neglected.
“The determination to build a better future for our state, one that will guarantee prosperity, security, and opportunity for all, has whet APC’s desire to liberate Edo State,” he said.
He, therefore, called on all APC members and supporters in and outside Edo to remain steadfast and committed to the party.
“We must work together to mobilize our communities, engage with our fellow citizens, and spread the message of hope and change that the APC represents,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Commendation
By Ugonne Uzoma
Owerri, June 11, 2024 (NAN) Imo House of Assembly, on Tuesday, commended the Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, over the timely rescue of some underaged girls allegedly trafficked to Ghana for prostitution.
The lawmakers made the commendation, following a motion of urgent public importance moved by Mr Chisom Ojukwu (APC-Nkwerre).
Ojukwu had urged the house to applaud the governor and his wife, Chioma, for the “swift rescue of the girls.
Presenting the motion on the floor of the house, he said that the governor’s action demonstrated his sensitivity to the plight of the people of the state.
He also hailed him for quickly assembling a delegate which travelled to Ghana to facilitate the rescue of the girls.
Ojukwu said that the matter would have been overlooked while the girls continued to suffer.
He therefore thanked the governor “for carrying out his duty of protecting every citizen of the state”.
Supporting the motion, the Majority Leader, Mr Kanayo Onyemaechi (APC- Owerri West), commended the governor for also rescuing other victims of trafficking from other states.
Onyemaechi lauded the governor “for rising to the occassion” and successfully rescuing the girls.
Also, Mr Kennedy Ibeh (APC-Obowo), while thanking the governor for the feat, alleged the involvement of a syndicate in the act.
He urged the security agencies to thoroughly investigate the matter to ensure that the syndicate was smashed and brought to book.
Contributing to the motion, the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Clinton Amadi (LP-Owerri Municipal), commended the governor’s quick intervention and pledge to rehabilitate and reintegrate the girls.
Mr Kelechi Ofurum (APC-Owerri North) also called for the perpetrators to be fished out and made to face the law.
Following more contributions in favour of the motion, the Speaker, Mr Chike Olemgbe (APC-Ihitte Uboma), ruled in its favour. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Jos, June 11, 2024 (NAN) Plateau State House of Assembly Speaker Gabriel Dewan says the house has passed seven bills irrespective of some challenges facing the 10th assembly.
Dewan stated this while briefing newsmen on the activities of the assembly in the last 12 months, explaining that two of the seven bills had been assented to by the governor, while the others were waiting for his assent.
He listed some bills passed to include the Plateau State Electricity Bill and the Plateau State Minimum Wage, among others.
Dewan also said that apart from the bills, the lawmakers were able to move and pass some motions such as a motion for the welfare and resettlement of internally displaced persons and a motion to increase the scholarship of Plateau indigenes students.
“The 10th Plateau Assembly is one of the most challenging assemblies that the state has ever had.
“As you are all aware, when we came in, I wasn’t the speaker, I was the Minority Chief Whip and the first five months were terrible for us.
“It was a challenging year because some of the colleagues that we were inaugurated together are no longer members of the assembly.
“In November, when I became speaker, it was the beginning of another round of political challenges concerning the inauguration and integration of old and new members of the assembly.
“However, in spite of the political interests and clashes outside the complex, we never had issues that warranted ending the plenary abruptly,” he stated.
Dewan appreciated God for sparing the lives of members, as no death or severe sickness was recorded among members of the 10th assembly.
He commended members for always leaving their political views outside the legislative chambers for the good of the Plateau people.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
