We Won’t Be Able To Pay N60,000 Minimum Wage, Governors Of 36 States Warn

June 7, 2024

Governors of the 36 States under the canopy of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has made it clear that they will not be able to pay the N60,000 minimum wage being proposed by the Federal Government.
In a statement todday, June 7, the NGF said that there is a need for a realistic and sustainable minimum wage that considers the broader socioeconomic implications.
The statement reads in part: “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) is in agreement that a new minimum wage is due. The Forum also sympathises with labour unions in their push for higher wages.
“However, the Forum urges all parties to consider the fact that the 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 can not fly. It will simply mean that many states will spend all their FAAC allocations on just paying salaries with nothing left for development purposes.
“In fact, a few states will end up borrowing to pay workers every month. We do not think 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 the society who have legitimate claim to public resources.”
This is coming on the heels of the ongoing negotiations between the government and labour unions, who have already expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed wage.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had gone on strike on Monday, June 3, to protest the federal government’s proposal of N60,000 as the minimum wage, which they said was unacceptable.

SGF, Akume, Accuses Organized Labour Of Trying To Destroy Nigeria’s Economy

Greenbarge Reporters

June 7, 2024

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume has accused the Nigeria’s organized labour unions of trying to destroy the country’s economy.
“We are trying to rebuild the economy. The nation is picking up, and they want to destroy it. Of what use is that to all of us? That is not the way.”
Senator Akume spoke when he hosted the National Executive Council of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Abuja.
The SGF condemned the shutdown of the national grid by the organized labour unions during their nationwide strike on Monday, June 3, describing the action as a “treasonable offence.”
According to him, there is nowhere in the world where labour ever interrupted the national grid, advising them against actions that could jeopardize government efforts.
“It is treason! Treasonable felony is economic sabotage, you don’t do that.”
Senator Akume said that the federal government is committed to paying new minimum wage, and at the same time, focusing on productivity and economic stability.
“Our people must rise up and have something in their pockets. It is not about demanding N100,000 without productivity.
“We are looking at controlling inflation and ensuring a balanced economy.”
He called on the religious institutions to provide essential services.
“The Church must collaborate with the government in providing facilities for people whether it is on education, health or agriculture.
“We don’t separate; we combine. There is a symbiotic relationship that can never be destroyed.”

Tiwa Savage, Davido, Burna Boy, Wizkid, Others Compete For 2024 Legit.ng Entertainment Awards

Greenbarge Reporters

June 7, 2024

Nigeria entertainment industry is set to witness the 2024 awards by Legit.ng.
Those competing for the coveted award, which result would be announced on June 28, are Tiwa Savage, Davido, Burna Boy, Wizkid and others in 15 categories.
The Organization, a leading digital news platform, asked the admirers of Nigeria’s entertainers to vote for free for their contributions to the creative landscape of the country.
The Organization said that the voting platform has been opened to the public.
Tagged “Legit.ng Entertainment Awards 2024”, the annual awards will commend iconic entertainers in Nigeria who have contributed largely to the creative landscape within and outside the country.

The competition is taking place across fifteen categories, including Best Actor, Best Actress and others.
Editor-in-Chief of Legit.ng, Rahaman Abiola, thanked entertainers for contributing to the organisation’s content outlook and newsroom success.

According to him, individuals that make up this sector are worthy of celebration.
“We will continue to support entertainers because they are a key part of our newsroom success. The annual entertainment awards underscore our commitment to our entertainers and the government’s efforts to strengthen the creative economy. Thus, as we continue to get inspired by them and their craft, we will continue to recognize and celebrate them in our own little way.”

Members of the public are asked to join in the voting process to see that their favourite entertainer across each category is crowned, by visiting the awards’ dedicated website to read more about the nominees and vote before the closing date.

Saudi Arabia Declares June 16 Eid-Adha; June 15 As Arafat Day

Greenbarge Reporters

June 6, 2024

The Supreme Council of the Kingdom of the Saudi Arabia has declared June 15 as Arafat Day and June 16 as Eid-Adha. It said that Dhul Hijjah will start tomorrow, June 7, having sited the crescent of the new moon this evening, June 6.
The Saudi authorities said that pilgrimage will start on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah which is June 14 and end on the 12th, which is June 18.
Pilgrims are expected to perform a set of rituals in various Holy places in Makkah and Madinah, including pelting the devil in Jamrah, circumbulating the Holy Kaaba, walking back and forth seven times between the two small hills of Safa and Marwa at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and visits to some Holy and historic sites in Madinah.
Meanwhile, no fewer than 46,000 Nigerian Muslims are already in the Holy land for the performance of the pilgrimage.
They were flown to Saudi Arabia in 107 flights by Flyner airlines, MaxAir and others in a total of 107 flights
The Hajj operations are being conducted by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

Reps Passes 2024 FCT N98.5 Billion Supplementary Budget

Greenbarge Reporters

June 6, 2024

The House of Representatives has passed the 2024 supplementary bill of N98.5 billion for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Capital Territory, Aliyu Mukhtari Betara (APC, Borno) presented the report of the committee to the House today, June 6, for consideration.
He asked the House to consider the Report of the Committee on Federal Capital Territory on a Bill for an Act to Authorize the issue from the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s Statutory Revenue Fund of the Federal Capital Territory Administration account, the total sum of N98,500,000,000 only for Capital Projects; for the Service of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for the financial year ending December 31, 2024.
Aliyu Mukhtari Betara said that the Committee scrutinized the presentation by the President and arrived at the conclusion that the money is needed to develop certain infrastructure in the federal capital.
Provisions of the supplementary appropriation state: “the Director of Treasury of the Federal Capital Territory Administration shall, when authorized to do so by warrants signed by the Minister of Federal Capital Territory Administration with responsibility to pay out of the Federal Capital Territory Administration Statutory Revenue Fund of the Federal Capital Territory Administration during the financial year 2024 the sum specified by the warrants, not exceeding in the aggregate N61,553,778,260.00 (sixty-one trillion, five hundred and fifty-three million, seven and seventy-eight thousand, two hundred and sixty naira) only.
“The amount mentioned in Section (1) of this Section shall be appropriated to heads of expenditure as indicated in the schedule to this Bill.”
On the release of funds, it states: “all amounts appropriated under this Bill shall be made from the Federal Capital Territory Administration Statutory Revenue Fund only for the purposes specified in the schedule to this Bill.
”All revenues accruing to the Federal Capital Territory Administration, including the Statutory Revenue Distribution, shall be paid into the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s Statutory Revenue Account.
“No money shall be withdrawn from the account mentioned in Section 3(1) above without appropriation by the National Assembly.”
It grants a waiver to the Ministers, saying: “Where, due to a revenue shortfall, amounts appropriated under this Bill cannot be funded, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory shall seek from the National Assembly a waiver not to incur such expenditure.”
The submission by the committee was unanimously adopted by the whole House.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had recently presented the supplementary appropriation bill to the National Assembly for consideration, saying that the money was meant to take care of critical infrastructure.

Federal Govt Settles For N105, 000 As New National Minimum Wage

Greenbarge Reporters

June 6, 2024

Nigeria’s Federal Government has settled for N105,000 as new national minimum wage for the workers.
The nation’s Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, came up with the proposal today, June 6, in response to President Bola Tinubu who gave him this week to present a minimum wage template.
The minister presented the template to the President today, June 6, ahead of the five days which the organized labour gave as timeline for the suspension of the nationwide strike action that was carried out on Monday, June 3.
The proposed minimum wage is slated to be paid per month to Nigerian workers.
Information reaching us at Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper said that President Tinubu is currently reviewing the proposal with an official announcement expected soon.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) had ordered workers to embark on a nationwide over the Government’s refusal to accede to its demand for a higher minimum wage of N494,000.
But after a day of the strike that threw the country into near collapse, both parties went back to the negotiation table and finally reached an agreement.
In fulfilment of their own side of the deal, President Tinubu mandated minister Edun to provide a template for the new Minimum Wage before the weeks runs out.

Atiku Accuses Tinubu Govt Of Diverting Funds Through Secret Petrol Subsidy

Greenbarge Reporters

June 6, 2024

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the Bola Tinubu administration of diverting public funds through petrol subsidy, hence the refusal of the government to reveal how much is being spent on subsidy.
Atiku, in a statement today, June 6, in reaction to a statement from the presidency, said that the clandestine subsidy regime is one of the reasons investments in the oil sector have refused to come in.
“Tinubu has brought the shady nature of running Lagos to the federal level. He claims subsidy is gone but his Special Adviser on Energy, Olu Verheijen, says they are intervening from time to time while his Finance Minister, Wale Edun described subsidy removal as an ‘ongoing process.’
“A document authored by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, revealing how much subsidy is being paid is now being disowned by the very authors of the document.
“Both the World Bank and the IMF have revealed in separate reports that Nigeria is still paying petrol subsidies, but the Tinubu government refuses to come clean. “Even a senior member of the APC had revealed that subsidy was beyond paid.
“For a man who claims to be on a mission to attract foreign direct investment, it is ironic that he cannot see that his policy flip flops and lies are capable of dissuading investors. He must come clean on this subsidy issue since he doubles as petroleum minister.
“The Tinubu administration should be courageous enough to own their policies and outcome with their full chest and responsible enough to be accountable for their actions to Nigerians.”
Atiku stressed that the denial had lend credence that money meant for the Federation Account, which ought to be shared to states and local governments, is being diverted without any form of accountability whatsoever.
He said that there is a need for the National Assembly to get to the bottom of the matter rather than focusing on frivolous issues.
“The National Assembly needs to be alive to its responsibilities, especially in the area of oversight.
“Posterity will not be kind to members of the National Assembly if they continue to look the other way while daylight robbery is taking place.”

Presidency Reacts To Leaked Documents, Insists Fuel Subsidy Regime Is Gone Forever

Greenbarge Reporters

June 6, 2024

The Nigeria’s Presidency has made it clear that the fuel subsidy regime has long ended as announced by President Bola Tinubu last year, and would never surface again.
“The government wants to restate that its position on fuel subsidy has not changed from what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared on 29 May 2023. The fuel subsidy regime has ended. There is no N5.4 trillion being provisioned for it in 2024, as being widely speculated and discussed.”
Special adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement today, June 6, quoted the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun as saying: “as previously stated by government officials, including myself, President Tinubu announced the end of the fuel subsidy program last year, and this policy remains firmly in place.”
The statement, which was issued reacting to leaked documents on the fiscal policy proposal, published in the mainstream and social media platforms, implying the return of subsidy regime in the 2024 budget, said: “our commitment to ending unproductive subsidies is steadfast, as is our dedication to supporting our most vulnerable populations.
“The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to two fiscal policy documents in circulation that are being given wide coverage by the mainstream media and social media platforms.
“One of the documents, titled: Inflation Reduction and Price Stability (Fiscal Policy Measure etc) Order 2024 is being shared as if it were an executive order signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The other is a 65-page draft document with the title “Accelerated Stabilisation and Advancement Plan (ASAP), which contains suggestions on how to improve the Nigerian economy. President Tinubu received a copy of the draft on Tuesday.
“We urge the public and the media to disregard the two documents and cease further discussions on them. None is an approved official document of the Federal Government of Nigeria. They are all policy proposals that are still subject to reviews at the highest level of government. Indeed, one has ‘draft’ clearly written on it.”
The Presidency quoted the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, as saying: “it is important to understand that policymaking is an iterative process involving multiple drafts and discussions before any document is finalised.
“We assure the public that the official position on the documents will be made available after comprehensive reviews and approvals are completed.
“The Federal Government is committed to mitigating the effects of this removal and easing the cost of living pressures on Nigerians.
“Our strategy focuses on addressing key factors such as food inflation, which is significantly impacted by transport costs. With the implementation of our CNG initiative, which aims to displace high PMS and AGO costs, we expect to further reduce these costs.”
The statement called on the media to always exercise necessary checks and restraints in the use of documents that do not emanate from official channels so that the members of the public are properly informed, guided and educated on government policies and programmes.

Hajj 2024: Drug Law Agency Arrests Intending Pilgrims With Cocaine Consignments In Lagos

Greenbarge Reporters

June 6, 2024

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), have raided Emerald Hotel, Ladipo area of Oshodi, Lagos state where some intending pilgrims to the ongoing hajj in Saudi Arabia were lodged and caught in the act of ingesting wraps of cocaine ahead of their flight to the holy land yesterday, June 5.
According to a statement today, June 6, by the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, those who were arrested during the intelligence-led operation include 31 years old Usman Kamorudeen, 46 years old Olasunkanmi Owolabi, 38 years old Fatai Yekini and a lady, 34 years old Ayinla Kemi.
The statement said that the four suspects were lodged in two rooms in the hotel where they had prepared 200 pellets of cocaine weighing 2.20 kilograms to swallow when NDLEA officers stormed their rooms.
It said that One hundred wraps of the Class A substance were recovered from each of the two rooms, bringing the total seizure to 200 wraps.
“Two suspects were to swallow 100 wraps each.”

The statement quoted the Commander as having commended officers and men of the Lagos state Command of NDLEA, for the succeful operation.
It said that the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, retired Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa vowed that the agency would continue to spread its dragnet to track, trace and apprehend criminal elements who are hiding under pilgrimage to carry out their nefarious activities.
“The Agency will work with its counterparts in Saudi Arabia to ensure that the designated recipients of seized illicit drug consignments in any part of Saudi Arabia are also traced and dealt with accordingly.”

Uganda In Nigeria To Learn How NCDMB Works On Local Content Processes

Greenbarge Reporters

June 6, 2024

Key officials of the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) are in Nigeria to understudy the working of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The officials acknowledged that their country would gain substantially from Nigeria’s experience in local content development.
Welcoming the four-member UNOC delegation at a meeting Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State, the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Alhaji Abdulmalik Halilu, said that the visit would open up new vistas for mutually beneficial collaboration in oil and gas operations between Nigeria and Uganda.
Citing statistics indicative of the resource base of African countries in hydrocarbons, he said: “the picture looks very good and what we need to do is to work together on how to foster structured partnership.
According to him, African oil-producing countries cannot achieve enough when they operate in silos, adding that there is a need to approach local content with a pan-African orientation.
He advanced the idea of a “local content value proposition for Africa, saying that African oil and gas producers would be able to deepen regional integration through value chain optimisation.
Halilu highlighted industry-related challenges that have to be dealt with, and that there is a need for appropriate technologies to be developed for value addition in oil and gas operations through research and development.
He drew attention to the significant investment required in marine vessels, particularly for Nigeria as the country moves to deep offshore.
“We have to create a financing model to enable African countries to own the required assets.”
He described the anticipated interactions between the UNOC officials and their NCDMB counterparts during the five-day visit as knowledge exchange, and he expressed the hope that there would be exchange programmes between training institutes of both countries.
He stressed that the two organisations have the support of their political leaderships.
In her response, Mrs. Jessica Kyeyune, National Content Specialist of UNOC, thanked the NCDMB Management for the warm reception and hospitality and the wide scope of engagements planned for her team to facilitate adequate exposure to critical aspects of local content implementation and enforcement.
She said that her country is a new entrant into oil and gas operations and that they needed to tap from the knowledge of Nigeria’s industry regulator on local content to guide them in the management of the industry back home.
“We appreciate what you’ve shared with us, and we look forward to collaboration.”
Mrs. Kyeyuna said that there are many projects in the oil and gas sector in Uganda with opportunities and that strategic partnerships as suggested by Alhaji Halilu was imperative.
Presentations by key personnel of NCDMB covered every vital aspect of the Board’s operations.
Topics included “Overview of the Structure and Operations of NCDMB,” “Local Content Leading Practice, Supplier Development and Joint Venture Partnerships,” “Incentive Structure for Staff Retention and Expatriates,” “NCDMB Financing Model,” “An Overview of PCAD [Project Certification and Authentication Division],” “Monitoring and Evaluation Operation Framework,” and “Community Content Guidelines.”A tour of NCDMB’s Nigeria Oil and Gas Park Scheme (NOPaPS) at Emeyal-1, Ogbia Local Government Area, was conducted on Monday to acquaint the visiting officials with an aspect of the Board’s strategy to minimise capital flight by ensuring that equipment, spare parts and tools used in the oil and gas industry are produced locally in Nigeria.Resource persons were Olubisi Okunola, Manager, Strategy Development and Transformation; Ene Ette, General Manager, Planning, Research and Statistics; Timbiri Augustine, Acting General Manager, Capacity Building; Silas Ajimijaiye, General Manager; Elvis Ogede, Senior Supervisor, PCAD; Collins Obiora Ifeka, Manager, Upstream, Monitoring and Evaluation Department, and Obinna Ezeobi. Coordinator of the event was Tassala Tersugh, General Manager, Midstream, Monitoring and Evaluation Department.The UNOC, which comprises Mrs. Jessica Kyeyune, Catherine Behangana Tumusima (Chief Human Resources Officer), Edith Tusubira (Human Resources Business Partner), and Ochaki Brian Kabalega (National Content Officer), continues its engagements with NCDMB on Tuesday with a visit to companies and project sites in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, that have benefitted from the Board’s strategic intervention programme. Uganda launched its drilling of development and production wells at the Kingfisher Development Area in the country’s western region on January 24, 2023.
Its first oil output, slated for 2025, is from the Kingfisher oil field, operated by China National Offshore Oil Corporation.

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