Category: Politics

Strike: NASS leadership, SGF, NLC, Ministers in crucial meeting
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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June 2, 2024
I inherited 80% infrastructural deficit from last administration – Gov. Adeleke
I inherited 80% infrastructural deficit – Gov. Adeleke
ODA
By Adekunle Williams
Lagos, June 2, 2024 (NAN) Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun State said he inherited more than 80 per cent infrastructural deficit from the immediate past administration of the state.
Adeleke disclosed this at a programme organised by the Osun Development Association in Lagos on Sunday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the programme was, ‘A celebration of Founding Members, Inauguration of Council of Elders, Induction of New Members and Thought Leadership’.
Adeleke ,represented by Chief Lai Orilowo, Group Managing Director ,Odua Investment Company Limited ,said that he worked assiduously to solve the problem, adding that the positive results were there for all to see.
He noted that almost all the projects not completed by his predecessor had been completed.
Adeleke said he had also ended the regime of “half salary” for workers ,noting that workers and pensioners were being paid as and when due.
He said: “We are paying back the diverted contributory pensions of our senior citizens.
“Our pensioners are registered for a health insurance scheme with the state paying the bills.
“We have reformed the public service and have ensured regular payment of salaries and promotion arrears.
“In Osun, there is a nexus between the formal and informal workforce.So, taking care of public servants boosts, enlivens and strengthens the informal workforce in the state.”he said.
The governor said the completion of all inherited projects was in line with the commitment of the present administration to ensure accelerated development of the state.
“We live it and act it. I retained all contractors inherited from my predecessor; none of those contracts were terminated. No contractor was fired. My only insistence was that they must deliver on what they signed with the state.
“I am also completing most abandoned projects inherited from my predecessor. The Ikirun-Osogbo dualisation is completed and I am going to complete the road up to the border with Kwara .
“The Osogbo Ring Road is being completed ,while the Osogbo-Iwo road is ongoing. ”he said.
Adeleke said the state government’s focus on infrastructural development was based on the fact that development would be difficult with poor infrastructure.
Adeleke solicited the support of groups like the Osun Development Association on growing the state’s digital economy, education, health and agriculture.
The chairman of the occasion,the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi commended the association for pursuing efforts aimed at promoting the development of the state.
Ogunwusi, who is the special guest of the occasion, urged the association to continue urge its members to use their wealth of experience to promote the development of the state.
In his welcome of address, the Chairman of the association, Dr Segun Aina, said the association had made several interventions promote the peace and development pf the state
He said the association had inaugurated a 15 -member council of elders to give the association the needed advisory support and ideas for the development of the association and the state.(NAN)
(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
WAC/BHB
Edited by Buhari Bolaji
June 2, 2024
Autonomy only way to save LGs from paralysis— Shehu Sani

Sen. Shehu Sani
Autonomy only way to save LGs from paralysis— Shehu Sani
Autonomy
By Adeyemi Adeleye
Lagos, June 2, 2024 (NAN) A civil rights activist and social critic, Sen. Shehu Sani, says local government autonomy is the only way to strengthen governance at the grassroots and save local councils from paralysis.
Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th National Assembly and served as Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts,said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday
NAN reports that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice recently filed a suit at the Supreme Court against state governments, seeking the enforcement of full autonomy of the local governments in Nigeria.
In the suit marked: SC/CV/343/2024, the Federal Government urged the court to issue an order prohibiting state governors from embarking on unilateral, arbitrary and unlawful dissolution of democratically elected local government leaders.
The government urged the court to issue an order permitting funds standing in the credits of local governments to be directly channelled to them from the Federation Account in line with the provisions of the Constitution as against the alleged unlawful joint accounts created by governors.
Besides ,FG prayed the Supreme Court for an order stopping governors from further constituting Caretaker Committees to run the affairs of local governments as against the constitutionally recognised and guaranteed democratic system.
It equally applied for an order of injunction,restraining the governors and their agents and privies ,from receiving ,spending or tampering with funds released from the Federation Account for the benefit of local governments when no democratically elected local government system is put in place in states.
The 36 governors were sued through their respective Attorneys General.
Reacting, Sani said that the step by the federal government had potential to restore development at the grassroots and strengthen the local government system.
“Local Government autonomy is the only way to save the LGs from bankruptcy and paralysis.
“Poverty and insecurity in the country is rooted in the destruction of the local government system,” Sani said.
According to him, most council chairmen only go to their offices when federal allocations are released.
He said lack of financial and administrative autonomy for the local government had affected the performance of the third tier of government.
Speaking further, Sani described FG’s proposal that State Electoral Commissions (SIECs) should be scrapped as a good move,saying scrapping SEICs would deepen democracy at the grassroots.
“The scrapping of SIECs is a step in the right direction.
“It has become impossible for opposition parties to win elections at the LG level because of the institutional rigging and imposition of candidates by state governors.
“The chairmen of SIECs and staff of SIECs are all agents of the state governors and of the ruling party in their respective states, ” Sani said.
NAN recalls that Mr Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of justice, had on Monday proposed that State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) should be dispensed with.
Speaking at a one-day discourse in Abuja, Fagbemi also posited that the powers of SIECs should be transferred to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Fagbemi said governors had exploited the flaws in certain sections of the 1999 constitution, effectively rendering local governments powerless and irrelevant.

According to him, these inadequacies have allowed the governors to abuse the rights of local governments by using SIECs to impose leaders on them through sham elections.
He said other governors who do not conduct sham polls appoint vassals as caretaker leaders for the local governments.
Fagbemi called for a robust constitutional amendment that will remove all hindrances to the development of local governments, and bolster their ability to fulfil their constitutionally recognised mandate(NAN)
(NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)
AYO/BHB
Edited by Buhari Bolaji
June 2, 2024
Anniversary: PWDs seek appointment of Tejuosho as Humanitarian Affairs Minister
Anniversary: PWDs seek appointment of Tejuosho as Humanitarian Affairs Minister

By Sani Idris
Kaduna, June 1, 2024 (NAN) A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), has expressed concern with the vacancy of Minister at the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry.
This is just as the coalition mostly consisting of groups of People Living With Disability (PWDs) are also making a case for the appointment of one of them, Halimat Tejuosho, to fill the vacancy.
The coalition, which comprised no fewer than 100 CSOs, spoke as part of activities marking the one year anniversary of President Bola Tinubu.
They addressed newsmen on Saturday in Kaduna as part of the commemoration of the 2024 Democracy Day.
Some of them included PWDs across the 36 states and FCT, APC PWDs’ leaders in the 36 states, APC stalwarts, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and youth parliaments, among others.
The Chairman of the coalition, Aliyu Sani, said that their call was to align with other groups and individuals to drum support for Tejuosho.
According to him , she has over the years distinguished herself as a true humanitarian to be appointed as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation of Nigeria.
Sani said, ”Tejuosho is a selfless patriot who has been using her personal resources to bring succour to senior citizens, PWDs and the less-privileged through her NGO, the Queen Adenike Tejuosho Foundation (QATFoundation).”
He said the foundation gave her a position of responsibility in line with her passion and interest to do more for the downtrodden in the society.
“As a mark of true philanthropy, the quintessential lady recently celebrated children’s day with vulnerable and indigent children where over 500 school books, bags, shoes, water bottles, foodstuffs and writing materials were shared.
“Her Ramadan largesse to over 1,000 PWDs as well as Sallah packages to hundreds of households who could not afford to celebrate the festivities cannot be forgotten,” he said.
Sani, therefore, said judging by all the individual sacrifices and the sheer passion to touch lives, it triggered the coalition to appeal to Tinubu to consider filling the vacancy by appointing Tejuosho.
This, he said, would enable Nigerians to enjoy the dividends of democracy in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda especially in the area of poverty alleviation.
“It goes without saying that since the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has been without a Minister, the government has not been providing succour to the less-privileged as it is supposed to do.
“From Tejuosho’s antecedents and if given the opportunity, she will continue to extend her generosity and passion to bring a turn around in the fortunes of the less privileged and downtrodden in Nigeria,”he added.
He reiterated the support of the PWDs community in Nigeria to Tinubu, while appealing to him to grant their only wish by appointing Tejuosho who is one of them.
Also, the Chairman, Arewa Youths Disability Forum, Muhammad Zaria, said the length of time the ministry was left vacant, poses danger to the smooth running of government affairs.
“Mr President, we are united with one voice without any external influence in making this appeal and prayer.
‘It will be a privilege to appoint this selfless woman as a Minister because we are very sure she will deliver.
“This is our collective resolve born out of the conviction that with the support she has been giving people in the community for over 10 years, she is the right person for the job.
”Politics, region and other considerations should be put aside to allow competence and merit to prevail,”Zaria said.
He congratulated Tinubu for a meritorious one year in office, while commending him on his progressive policies, support to PWDs and the senior citizens.
Zaria also thanked the First Lady, Sen. Remi Tinubu, for her firm support to Tinubu, while commending her for the agricultural support she has recently extended to women, youths and PWDs across the country. NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
SA/BRM
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Edited by bashir Rabe Mnai
June 1, 2024
We stand on Rivers interest first — Fubara
We stand on Rivers interest first — Fubara
Rivers
By Precious Akutamadu
Port Harcourt, June, 1, 2024 (NAN) Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers has said that his administration will continue to prioritise the interest of people of the state under the mantra: ‘Rivers First’.
Fubara made the remark during the praise night organised on Friday by the state government to mark his first year in office, in Port Harcourt,
The governor, represented by his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, solicited the support of the people, in moving the state forward.
He urged the people to contribute their quota to assist the administration to achieve its vision of advancing the fortunes of the state.
The governor prayed that God would continue to move mountains on the path of the state, and make it better.
Fubara noted with happiness the spiritual ministrations and prophetic declarations by artistes during the event.
He said that they were manifestations of the victory which God had sealed in the state.
“We shall continue to have this shared vision of putting Rivers state first, but we can’t do it alone.
‘’We need all of you, big and small, to be there for us, to chip in the little or the much you can, and at the end of this our first tenure, you will see where God will take Rivers state to.”
Fubara thanked everyone who graced the occasion, especially the artistes, for the performances which included singing and dancing.
‘’I think there were spiritual ministrations that they have made, and they have also made prophetic declarations that we all said amen to,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event featured praise and worship songs in appreciation to God for the first year of Fubara.
Among the dignitaries who graced the occasion were the governor’s wife, Lady Valarie Fubara; former Gov. Peter Odili and his wife, retired Justice Mary Odili; and Rivers State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
PA/JEO/SOA
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Edited by Jane-Frances Oraka/Oluwole Sogunle
June 1, 2024