Category: Politics

NGF assures workers of better minimum wage

Meeting

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Abuja, June 27, 2024(NAN) The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has assured workers of a better new minimum wage from the ongoing negotiations between the government, private sector and organised labour.

The governors gave the assurance in a communiqué signed by Gov.  AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, chairman of the forum after a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

The forum promised continued engagement with key stakeholders to reach a mutually agreeable solution.

“We remain dedicated to the process and assure that better wages will result from the ongoing negotiations,” the forum said.

It expressed its willingness to continue to provide the much-needed support to the World Bank to ensure programme effectiveness across the country.

This, according to the forum, followed a presentation received from the acting Country Director of the World Bank, Mr Taimur Samad and his team.

The presentation has to do with the bank’s programmes currently being implemented in states across Nigeria.

The forum listed the projects to include Nigeria human capital opportunities for prosperity and equality, food and nutrition security, and Nigeria For Women Project Scale Up (NFWP-SU).

Others included Nigeria Community Action (for) Resilience and Economic Stimulus Program (NG-CAREs), State Action on Business Enabling Reforms Program (SABER), and Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria Project (SPIN).

It said that the governors also received a briefing from Mr Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman, Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, highlighting the progress made regarding the ongoing Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms.

The forum quoted Oyedele as seeking the input and support of the governors on a number of proposals that would directly impact the sub-national level of government.

“Members pledged their support for the committee to ensure the successful implementation of these reforms and to collaborate closely in addressing challenges that may arise.

“The forum received a presentation from the Minister of Women Affairs on the World Bank–Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up, along with other activities of the ministry.

“Members noted the importance of the project and emphasised the need to implement it at the state level as initially conceived, as the states are the primary obligors of the project.

“The governors acknowledged the work and contributions of the Ministry of Women Affairs in promoting gender equality, empowering women, and advancing social development across Nigeria,” it said.

Earlier in an interview with newsmen, Gov. Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, said that  governors would continue the discussion on minimum wage and local government autonomy.

On, Lawal said that his administration had put in place strategies to ensure that lives and property in the state were safe and secured

He also said that his administration had put in place measures to promote investment in agriculture in Zamfara.

“Generally, northern Nigeria is an agrarian economy. All the governors are making conscious efforts to make sure there are changes in agriculture.

“One of which is making adequate provisions for fertilisers, seedlings as well as new technologies in agriculture, rather than the subsistence farming that we are used to,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

OBE/KOO/JPE

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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Joseph Edeh

Commendation

By  Moses Kolo

Kaduna, Jun. 27, 2024 (NAN) Mr Musa Mada, the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), North-West zone, is optimistic that President Bola Tinubu’s pragmatic policies will place Nigeria on the path of economic recovery.

Mada said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

He also lauded the performance of state governors elected on the platform of the party from the zone.

“The president and the governors have all it takes to set the nation on the path of recovery.

“This is evident in the pragmatic policies that will, in no time, begin to yield fruits.”

He said that the APC has a focused leadership that values the place of feedback from the  public on the activities of government and their impact.

Mada urged Nigerians to regard the current economic hardship as temporary.

Mada said: “The APC leadership of today is different from what it used to be as what we have today are people with vast experience and intellectual capacity to deliver the party to the right path.

“President Bola Tinubu has set the country on the path of economic revival and I believe, with time, people will smile. Let’s keep hoping and praying for our leaders.”

He explained that the party’s leaders had never hesitated to tell themselves the truth, especially on the activities of governors and others elected on the ticket of the party.

Mada said, ”We usually sit down to examine ourselves and tell ourselves the truth.

“Where an office holder performs well, we hail him and where his performance is poor, we tell him to adjust.

“We are not a party that deceives ourselves because the moment you become contented with what you are doing to people, you will start neglecting your responsibility; you start becoming arrogant to the people.

“That’s what chased the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) out of power. They did not value their members.

“People’s feedback is very important for the growth of party.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

MGK/BRM

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Quick countering of fake news’ll curtail its damage – NAN MD

News
Abuja, June 26, 2024(NAN) Malam Ali M. Ali, the Managing Director(MD) of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), has said that quick countering of fake news by communication specialists would curtail its damage.

He made this known in Abuja on Wednesday in a paper he presented at a roundtable organised by the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), and Development Specs Academy (DSA).

The theme of the event was “Asymmetrical National Security Challenges, the Army and National Development”.

Ali spoke on the topic “Professional News Management as Panacea for Infodemics, Misinformation and Fake news”.

He declared that there was need for timely countering of misinformation which entailed striking a balance between speedy response, and the volume of information available for the responding outlet.

“A burning issue should not be allowed to fester before we react, although there are times when silence is said to be golden until an auspicious time when a valid response would be desirable.”

The MD also said that the media, globally, play a very important role in practically every aspect of life.

“In an increasingly shrinking global space marked by exponential growth in media convergence and artificial intelligence, the dampeners of infodemics, misinformation and fake news have all but assumed lives of their own.

“This development rightly ought to be a source of concern and it is gratifying that NARC and the Development Specs Academy have given this issue more than a cursory attention.”

He said that Infodemics, as defined by David Rothkopf, a journalist and political scientist, is “a few facts, mixed with fear, speculation and rumour, amplified and relayed swiftly worldwide by modern information technologies”.

Ali said that infodemics was now dominating national life where purveyors of misinformation and fake news turned little facts on their heads to achieve a predetermined end.

Proffering solutions to infodemics, fake news and misinformation, the MD said that truthfulness and accuracy must be upheld in order to build trust with the public.

“The authenticity of a message reinforces that copy or communication. When people perceive the message to be authentic, they tend to believe it the more and show understanding.

“Genuineness or sincerity is critical in winning the people over,” he said.

He also suggested that institutions of state must promote digital literacy among their communications professionals, especially now that the media landscape was constantly in a state of flux.

“As communication specialists, we have to be innovative and refrain from a one-size-fits all communication approach,” he said.

Also speaking, Executive Director, Development Specs Academy (DSA), Prof. Okey Ikechukwu, said that the country had security challenges that were no longer easy to deal with, following traditional methods.

“As such, there is the need for a social reorientation of citizens to divulge information on threats in their communities, to security agencies.

“It is about a progressive change of social attitude, about security at the level of awareness, at the level of people knowing that they should have an interest in securing the society. And should tell persons responsible when they see danger.”

He said that to deal with the nature of Nigeria’s insecurity, it would require social reorientation, having greater partnerships with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs),and community-based organisations.

“More importantly, education and reeducation of youth leaders. If they become part of the conversation, they will be in a position to tell those who don’t know, what to do with themselves,” he said.

In his remarks, the Director-General of NARC, retired Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab, said that the objective of the roundtable was to try to foster military-media cooperation and understanding.

Wahab, who was represented by retired Maj.-Gen. James Miyam, said that the media should continuously try to propagate what the Nigerian Army was doing and, by so doing, elicit community support among Nigerian citizens.

“What came out in the roundtable table is that there is an overarching need for perception management by media managers.

“This is for them to understand and balance the need to carry out their responsibilities well.”

He said that the community and citizen support was very critical to the operational activities of the army.

“So, we are trying to now sensitise the entire Nigerian citizenry on the need for them to come to us when they have information that can enhance operational activities of the military.

“They should not shy away; they should quickly come forward and give this information,” he said.

For a former spokesman of the army, retired Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, there was the need to improve the relationship between the Nigerian Army and the public.

This, he said, was to have a better understanding and appreciation of the sacrifices and the efforts of the Nigerian Army in dealing with the security challenges in the country and defending its own territorial integrity.

He also said that non-violence communication could be integrated in the overall communication strategy of the army in dealing with their relationship with the public.

In his submission, a traditional ruler from Delta, Prof. Echefuna Onyebeadi, said that in spite of the overwhelming evidence of the importance of traditional rulers in the management of national security, there existed some challenges that mitigate their proper functioning.

“One of the challenges is lack of constitutional role. The Constitution does not make any specific provision for the role of traditional rulers in this country,” he fumed.

While expressing sadness over ‘security votes’ to state governors without much results in the fight against insecurity, Onyebeadi said that if part of the votes “trickle down to the traditional domain, it would aid national security”.

On the part of the NGO, Executive Director, Hedda Beautiful Hands, Ltd, Hope Ayabina, suggested that the military should get involved with the activities of NGOs.

“They should teach them a skill or two; security skills preferably. That, in itself, can be a tool for intelligence gathering,” he said.(NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)
NNL/ETS

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Governors

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Abuja, June 26, 2024 (NAN) Governors on the platform of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) are currently in a closed-door meeting in Abuja to discuss the proposed new national minimum wage and other national issues.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other matters on the meeting agenda, chaired by the forum’s Chairman, Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, included the issue of local government autonomy.

The Supreme Court on June 13 reserved its judgement on the suit filed by the Federal Government, to secure full autonomy for the 774 Local Governments in the country.

Also on the meeting agenda were the representatives of the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG CARES), Petroleum Profits Tax (PPT), the Excess Crude Account (ECA) and Royalties Accounts Reconciliation/Debt Net-off.

Already in the meeting were Governors of Oyo, Zamfara, Anambra, Gombe, Ebonyi, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Kwara, Niger, Imo, Kaduna, Katsina, Ondo, Ogun, and Kano.

Also in attendance were the Deputy Governors of Akwa-Ibom, Delta and Borno States. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

OBE/FON/MNA

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Edited by Florence Onuegbu/Maureen Atuonwu

2027: Support group wants Atiku to contest again

Election
By Adeyemi Adeleye
Lagos, June 26, 2024 (NAN) The Nigeria Youths For Atiku (NYFA), a support group of  former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has urged him to give the presidency another shot in 2027 .

The President of NYFA, Prof. Gold Emmanuel, in a statement on Wednesday by the group’s Director of Publicity, Mr Dare Dada, said that the support group arrived at the call at  its annual convention in Lagos.

Emmanuel said that NYFA remained a leading support group for Abubakar with solid grassroots bases across the 36 states in Nigeria.

According to her, the national leadership of the group has highlighted some of the key personal achievements of the former vice president and found him worthy to lead the country.

She said that these achievements included the fact that Abubakar had been running one of Nigeria’s  international universities  successfully  and other businesses successfully.

The president said: “We are of the opinion that anyone seeking public office must first of all be successful in private business.

“Atiku will  bring his experience in private business to fore in the running of the economy of the country.

“He will correct the current economic distortions brought about by bad policies of APC led government, a man with vast experience both in private and public enterprise needs to be in the saddle come 2027.”she said.

Emmanuel further said Abubakar’s philanthropic  gestures were a remarkable trait of a great leader.

“His desire to see to the education of some of the Chibok girls ,who were rescued years back without making it a publicity item is commendable,” she said.

On the current economic hardship being faced by Nigerians, the president  assured that Atiku was capable of navigating Nigeria in the right economic direction, if given the opportunity to run the affairs of the country.

She emphasised the need for  a passionate Nigerian President, who  understands the economic and the political dynamics of the country.

“Alhaji Atiku paraded the best economic blueprint during the 2023 Presidential campaign,” she said.

Emmanuel said that ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)” had stolen “many of Atiku’s  programmes, some of which, they claimed,  were being implemented wrongly.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abubakar has been running for the office of the president unsuccessfully each election year under different political platforms after serving as vice president between 1999 and 2007.

He contested the 2023 general elections under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ,in which  he came second, losing to the incumbent President Bola Tinubu. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

AYO/BHB
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Edited by Buhari Bolaji

Council urges NWC to address crisis rocking PDP Katsina State chapter

PDP
By Emmanuel Oloniruha
Abuja, June 26, 2024(NAN) The Katsina State Peoples Democratic Party Advisory Council has called for the intervention of the party National Working Committee (NWC) in addressing crisis rocking the state chapter of the party.

Mr Ibrahim Tafashiya, member, Katsina State PDP Caretaker Committee, made the appeal at a news conference on the affairs of the party in the state, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Tafashiya also urged the party leaders to intervene in alleged denial of party members’ access to purchase nomination forms for the upcoming PDP congress in the state.

He said that a delegation of  some aspirants from Katsina, Dutsinma, Malumfashi, Funtua, Mashi, Kankia and Katsina LGAs were at the state party secretariat to purchase form, but no party official to attend to them.

This according to Tafashiya made the aspirants accuse the committee of plan to hijack the forms to favor one single individual and to evade selling same to other aspirants.

“We have collated about 7,101 members willing to purchase the forms, so as to participate in the upcoming congresses but have been deprived access to purchase the forms.

“We are here at the national headquarters only to be informed that the forms are with the caretaker committee chairman about three weeks ago.

“We are therefore appealing for the intervention of the NWC to resolve the matter for the progress, development and success of the PDP,’’ he said.

He said while there were in Abuja at PDP national secretariat to purchase the forms but could not meet anybody hence the need to call for appropriate proper action on the matter.

Tafashiya also alleged that there was a disconnect between some members of the caretaker committee and the Chairman, Alhaji Musa Karim.

He said that the state chapter of the party was in jeopardy as a result of the maladministration of its affairs by the caretaker committee leadership.

He said since the release of timetable and guidelines for the 2024 ward, local government and state congresses certain proactive procedural measures should have been put in place for the exercise to be successful but nothing has been done.

“Since the period preceding the 2023 general election there has been division among the ranks of leadership and followership of the party in Katsina State.

“More especially almost all the 2023 Campaign Management Council that work tirelessly during campaign exercise were at the receiving end of such maltreatment,’’ he said.

He said that the caretaker committee chairman did nothing to reconcile the divisions within the PDP in Katsina State.

He said that the first activity preceding congress to elect party officials was always membership drive and update of membership register before the sales of forms.

This according to him was not done “even as at this time.

“Specifically, these issues relate to the 361 wards, 34 Local Governments and 39 State Exco aspirants for Katsina State,’’ he said.

Tafashiya therefore urged the NWC of the PDP to take immediate drastic measure in resolving the crises/complaints.

He also urged the party national leaders to ensure that due process was adhered to in the sale of the forms.

“Also in the general conduct of the upcoming congresses and general running of the affairs of the party for unity, peace, progress and success of the party.

“While thanking the NWC in discharging their duties diligently in order for the PDP to proposer. All we are asking for is a level playing ground,’’ he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
OBE/EAL
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Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

State

By Deji Abdulwahab

Abuja, June 25, 2024 (NAN) Sen. Chris Adighije, a former lawmaker who represented the Abia Central in the 2nd National Assembly, has called on the Federal Government to adopt the doctrine of necessity to create additional state in the South East.

Adighije made the call in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to him, if the additional state is created for South East, making the region to have six states, it will reflect the meaning and understanding of the old national anthem reintroduced to the polity.

He emphasised the second stanza of the national anthem that: “Our flag shall be a symbol that truth and justice reign”.

He said that he aligned with others, especially  the Apex Southeast socio-cultural group, Ohaneze Ndigbo that had been advocating the creation of Anioma State

According to him, the creation of Anioma state will bring to six, the number of states in the South East.

It would be recalled that the creation of an additional state in the South East has taken a center stage in the National Assembly, with different groups suggesting different names.

Also, the constitutional provision, especially Chapter 1, Section 8&9 has always been a major issue in the debate for the creation of additional state in the South East.

Adighije said, “the Federal Government should over look the provisions of the 1999 constitution as amended and create an additional state in the South East with the doctrine of necessity.

”For truth and justice, and to build a nation where no zone is oppressed, the doctrine of necessity becomes expedient and ought to be invoked as has been in the case in the past when we had a constitutional crisis.

“The creation of such state in the South East will bring to bare the meaning and understanding of the old national anthem reintroduced to the polity. It is here that the issue of truth and justice would make meaning.

“And l also believe that the Anioma state is more apt for the South East in geography and culture.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

ADA/IAA

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Reps demand NCAT director, auctioneer’s arrest over 2 choppers sale

Arrest

By Femi Ogunshola

Abuja, June 25, 2024 (NAN) The House of Representatives has demanded the arrest of an alleged unlicensed auctioneer and Director, Quality Control, Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, for providing false information on oath.

The alleged false information was in respect of the sale of two helicopters for $1.2 million.

The lawmakers want the duo to be arrested by the police in the National Assembly.

Rep. Ademola Kuye, Chairman, Committee on Public Assets, said this was part of the resolutions of the committee after interacting with the management of NCAT and other relevant bodies in Abuja on Tuesday.

He called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, to take over the investigation into the alleged illegal sale of the two choppers by NCAT.

In December 2023, the House commenced an investigation into the state of public assets in the country.

He said the committee’s mandate was to recover assets and moribund public assets within and outside Nigeria.

This, he said, said the aircraft was sold without the approval of the Federal Executive Council.

Kuye expressed worry that the two choppers bought at $2.4 billion were sold at $1.2 billion without following due process.

“We requested documents of any kind of joint venture; there has been no response to that, whether you have one or not.

“We requested a list of assets, including a comprehensive description and specification of all your listed assets, rented apartments, including acquisition dates and methods, and the current status and conditions of such assets.

“We cannot specifically say that you have satisfied all of these requests. Though you tried to answer some of them, your responses are not adequate,” he said.

The lawmakers also queried the use of an unlicensed auctioneer who failed to provide the needed response to inquiries.

Mr Musa Alkali, Coordinator of Nigerian Army Aviation, said urged the recovery of the two helicopters. (NAN)www.nannews.ng
ODF/KUA
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Edited by Uche Anunne