Economic Realities: Federal Govt Promises Salary Increment For Nigerian Workers

September 20, 2022

The Federal Government has promised to adjust workers salaries upwardly as a way of meeting the current realities in the economy of the country.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, who dropped this hint today, September 19, at the public presentation of the NLC of 40 publication titled, “Contemporary History of Working Class Struggles,” said that the Federal Government is very much aware that the N30,000 National Minimum Wage had depreciated.

“Yes the inflation has increased worldwide and it is not confined to Nigeria. That is why in many jurisdictions, it is an adjustment of wages right now.

“We as the Nigerian government, we shall adjust in conformity with what is happening in wages.

“More importantly, the 2019 National Minimum Wage Act, right now has a clause for the review, which we started then, I do not know whether it is due next year or 2024.

“But before then, the adjustment of wages will reflect what is happening in the economy,just as government has started the adjustment with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).”

The minister said that the Federal Government did not take ASUU to court over the prolonged strike of the union as some people claimed, adding that he would have failed in his duties if he did not refer the matter to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) after seven months of protracted discussions and negotiations with the union.

He recalled that ASUU was at the stage of Collective Bargaining negotiation with their employers, the Federal Ministry of Education when they embarked on strike.

He regretted that the ASUU leadership did not even understand the import of Collective Bargaining negotiation because they lacked the nutrients of labour unionism.

“We have to counsel our brothers on negotiation. No negotiation is forced. You cannot say it is either you give me 200 per cent or I will continue my strike.

“There are laws guiding strike. There are ILO principles on right to strike. Nobody can take it away.

”But, there are things that follow it when you embark on strike as a worker and they are enshrined in the laws of our land.

“It is written in Trade Dispute Act. The ILO principles of strike talks about the right of a worker to withdraw services. There is also right to picket. These are things that are done.

”Nigeria is respected in ILO. Some people said Federal Government took ASUU to court. No. I referred the matter after seven months of protracted discussions and negotiations that failed, ’’he said.

Ngige recalled that he conciliated the dispute twice, first on Feb. 22, one week after the commencement of the strike and some agreements were reached, and he brought everybody back on March 1 for another conciliation.

He added that the only thing left was going back to the Federal Ministry of Education for the renegotiation of the 2013 agreement.

“Some people are saying 2009 agreement. The 2009 agreement has been renegotiated in 2013/2014 with the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. It is an anathema to use 2009 agreement.

“What is left is the renegotiation of their conditions of service, which is their right. It should be done but they are negotiating it under the principle of offer and acceptance and it broke down irretrievably there at the Federal Ministry of Education.

“That kick-started Section 17 of the Trade Dispute Act whereby the Minister of Labour and Employment, whoever it is, if you don’t transmit according to the dictates of Section 17, TDA, 2004, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

“This means you would have failed in your function. Therefore, I had to transmit, ’’he said.

Ngige, however, said the transmission did not mean that the matter could not be settled out of court.

He said either of the parties involved; the Federal Ministry of Education and ASUU could approach the NICN for out of court settlement.

He maintained that Nigeria must be guided by laws and nobody should use the dispute to harass anybody.

“The pro-chancellors said they want to do counter offer. I told them to do it as quickly as possible. Those are ingredients of labour relations.

“It is not enough if you misinform your membership. That should be a disservice. We should read through things as it is and interpret same way. If I leave them in education, they will stay there two years.”

On the 40 years of NLC, Ngige said: “A fool at 40 is a fool forever. A wise man at 40 is a wise man forever. NLC is a wise man forever.”

Source: NAN.

The World Expects Wonderful Reign Of King Charles, Better Than His Mother – Osinbajo

Editorial staff

September 19, 2022

Nigeria’s Vice President has said that the world is looking forward to a wonderful reign of King Charles III better than his mother, late Queen Elizabeth II.
“We are all looking forward to a wonderful reign, a reign that will bring prosperity, peace, not just to England, but to the Commonwealth and to all of us.”
Professor Osinbajo, who spoke to media men today, September 19, in London after attending the State Funeral Service of the late Queen of England at Westminster Abbey, said: “One wishes King Charles very well indeed, and I think we are all anxious that he succeeds.
“And that he perhaps does even better than his mother, which is the hope of his mum. I am sure that the Queen will really hope that all her successors, and in this case, King Charles, will do better than she did.”
Osinbajo said that the gathering of leaders from different parts of the globe to celebrate the live of late Queen Elizabeth II and attend her funeral is a show of solidarity and goodwill by people from around the world.
He said that it is also a testament to the brotherhood of nations, saying: “for countries like ours, for Nigeria and for the Commonwealth, this has been very ennobling, very strengthening.
“I am sure that King Charles felt not just the honour of having so many people come by, but also the reassurance that there is a brotherhood across the world and that the Commonwealth remains strong, a Commonwealth of free nations who willingly subscribe to coming together, to work together to achieve sometimes disparate political objectives but clear economic objectives.”
Professor Osinbajo stressed that the event is historic and that it is unlikely to happen, perhaps in another lifetime: “just the sheer enormity of all that has happened and the gathering of leaders from everywhere, the good will, the good wishes, and all of that from practically everywhere around the world.
“So, I think that this has truly been a testament to the sort of person the Queen was – in life and death, brought people together and perhaps even more so in death.”

The Nigerian Vice President said that the late British monarch, whom he earlier described as a Monarch for all seasons, had, in the 70 years that she has been Queen, witnessed practically every cycle – war, peace, economic decline and apartheid.

He said that the late Queen held her own and was always able to bring a certain degree of understanding in all the various cycles in all the major things that were going on.
“And just the gravity of someone who doesn’t hold political office is so well respected and well regarded. In so many ways, she was a factor in practically all of the various cycles that we have experienced, not just in the Commonwealth, but in the world itself.
“I think she was a stabilizing force, that was why I thought the description (borrowed from “the man for all seasons”) that she was the Queen for all seasons.”
After the Funeral Service at Westminster Abbey, the Vice President and about 500 foreign dignitaries were hosted to a reception by the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, James Cleverly.
The Queen’s funeral procession then proceeded to Windsor Castle where she would be laid to rest, passing through selected streets in London.

I Paid N30 Million To Kidnappers For Release Of Priests, Bishop Kukah Opens Up

Editorial staff

September 19, 2022

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah has said that is not ashamed to say that he paid about N30 million as a ransom to kidnappers for the release of his church priests.

Bishop Kukah, who spoke today, September 19 in a one-day programme tagged: “High-level forum on political communication and issue-based campaign in the 2023 general elections,” said: “I am the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese. I have spent about N30m; the money I don’t have because my priests were kidnapped and I have nowhere to turn to.

“I am not ashamed to say it because these are essential realities. Anyone who wants to become president of Nigeria cannot pretend to stand before me without giving me empirical evidence from his or her record about how they intend to deal with these issues because there is a collective feeling of alienation.

“Two days ago, my nephew, his mother, and the driver were on their way to Abuja when they ran into the hands of kidnappers. My brother’s wife had an amputation some three months ago and they were bringing her to Abuja, so when the kidnappers saw the stomp on her leg, they had mercy on her and let her go.

“Right now, as we speak, my nephew and the driver of the vehicle are currently in the hands of the kidnappers. How it is going to end; I don’t know. Then they said they wanted N50m, they then said they wanted N20m, now they are staying on N30m.

“Here in Abuja, just about a month or so, when the threats came that the bandits will enter into Abuja, everybody went undercover.”

Bishop Kukah therefore warned Nigerians not to queue behind those displaying themselves as messiah, but rather vote for political leaders who truly understand the situation of things.

The Cleric said that campaigns henceforth must be identity-based, getting the right identity for the country and not emphasizing the things that really do matter.

“When we talk about 2023 elections, we need to talk about how we will get ourselves out of all of these.

“The questions that the ordinary Nigerians are asking are legitimate and it is the responsibility of those who govern to deal frontally with the issue. We need to re-image and re-imagine Nigeria because the Nigeria that we have today is not the Nigeria that many of us can recognize.”

Kukah also advised the politicians to develop the skill to manage diversity that will make every citizen be relevant.

“I want to commend the National Assembly for the action it has taken and the speed with which the Electoral Acts was passed.

“But that’s just the beginning, but there’s a challenge to convince Nigerians that they are voting and electing and choosing their leaders. There’s a crippling fear and the people do not really believe that the laws are changing.

“I have always tried to explain to young people that a wedding is not a marriage; marriage starts after the wedding. What that means in essence is that a campaign is not an election and an election is not good governance.

“There is always a difference between a person who is campaigning and when they become a president, governors, senators, and the rest.

“A campaigner seeks to capture the attention, so he can do everything he has to do to get your trust.

“I tell people that it’s not like politicians are bad people, as those who have won elections will tell you, what they were seeing outside is usually different from when they get in.”

The event which, was organized by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, with the collaboration of The Kukah Centre, was aimed at preparing the politicians for the election campaigns.

Lecturers At Imo University Pull Out From ASUU, Return To Classroom

Editorial staff

September 19, 2022

Lecturers at the Imo state university (IMSU), have pulled out from the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and announced the opening of the university for academic activities.

The Public Relations Officer of the University, Ralph Njoku, who spoke to news men today, September 19 in Owerri, the Imo State capital, said that the Institution’s management has approved the opening of the university, saying that continued delay in opening the Institution would lead to losing so many students, who are desirous of education, especially applicants who were yet to be matriculated.

He said however that the University has no problem with ASUU and that the decision to open its doors for academic activities was to prevent any action to shortchange the next generation.

“The management has decided to open the university for academic activities. We don’t have any issue with ASSU we just open the school for academic activities. Lecturers who are willing will now come to start lecturing.

“We decided that we don’t want to shortchange our next generation. Just like the 2022 applicants, we have not even matriculated them and we are coming up with 2022/2023 if we keep delaying we will lose so many people who are desirous of University education. So, we felt it is time to hold the bull by the horn.”

Our Mandate Does Not Cover Granting Tax Waivers To Taxpayers – FIRS Boss

Editorial staff

September 19, 2022

The Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Muhammad Nami has made it clear that the mandate of the Service is to collect taxes that are due to the federation and the Federal Government and not to grant tax waivers to any taxpayer in the country.

Nami, in a swift reaction to the news making the rounds that some companies, among them, Dangote Sinotruck Limited, Lafarge, Honeywell and others have been granted tax waiver on pioneer status between 2019 and 2021 in the sum of N16 trillion by the FIRS and the other Federal Government agencies, said: “FIRS does not have the power or responsibility of facilitating or even implementing tax waivers to investors in Nigeria. There are relevant agencies of government that are charged with such responsibility.”

He said that the Service is not unmindful of the objectives of granting tax waivers to investors, which he said include “helping to grow local companies, stimulate economic growth, and earn investors’ confidence.”

He expressed confidence that the companies which are now enjoying tax breaks will eventually exit and begin to pay taxes to the Federal Government as is currently being done by the companies that have equally enjoyed such tax breaks in the past and are now paying taxes in hundreds of billions of naira.

“Such companies will continue to pay taxes to the government so long as they remain in business.”

The FIRS Executive Chairman also said that the companies enjoying the Pioneer Status will be exempted from paying only the Direct Taxes from their profits but will continue to act as agents of collecting and remitting Indirect Taxes (eg VAT, WHT) in the ordinary course of their operations.

He emphasized that he is focused on the task of achieving the mandate of the Service which is to assess, collect, and account for taxes due to the federation and the Federal Government.

He described such task as challenging, “more so at this time of global economic disruption occasioned by the Russia-Ukraine war and the Pandemic.

“However, the Management is steadfast in achieving the target set for it by the Federal Government. For instance, last year the Service surpassed its target by collecting an unprecedented amount of N6.4 trillion in taxes. So far this year, the Service is poised to perform even better than its record for last year.”

He called on the stakeholders to join hands with him to grow the nation’s economy.

Buhari Launches Nigeria’s Integrated National Financing Framework In US, Friday

Editorial staff

September 19, 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to launch Nigeria’s Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) for Sustainable Development on Friday, September 23 on the margins of the 77^th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA77) taking place in New York, the United States of America.

A statement today, September 19 by the special adviser to President Buhari on media and publicity, Femi Adesina said that the proposed concept was developed within the broader Addis Ababa Action Agenda, saying that the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) is a planning and delivery tool to finance sustainable development at the national level.

The statement said that the INFF will help policymakers to lay out a strategy to increase investments for sustainable development, manage financial and non-financial risks and ultimately achieve sustainable development priorities.

According to the statement, while a country’s national development plan spells out what needs to be financed, the INFF will show how it will be financed and implemented.

“For Nigeria, the INFF is also expected to help in the recovery from the effects of COVID-19 pandemic as well as help address lack of an integrated approach to financing SDGs, which has been a key challenge to meeting the financing requirement, estimated at $100 billon over the next 10 years.

“The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development presents an ambitious, complex and interconnected vision that countries around the world have committed to working towards. Realizing this vision will require mobilization of a diverse range of public and private resources.

“The INFF is a tool to help countries strengthen planning processes and overcome existing impediments to financing sustainable development at the national level. It helps governments and their partners to build more integrated approaches to financing, that strengthen the alignment between public and private investments and longer-term sustainable development objectives and build greater coherency across the governance of public and private financing policies.

“Nigeria committed to be a champion of INFF and officially kicked off the design process as an INFF pioneer country in 2020. To steer the implementation process, Nigeria set up the INFF Steering Committee chaired by the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning (MFBNP), represented by the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, the Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation, the Director General of the Debt Management Office, and the Statistician-General of the National Bureau of Statistics.

“Others are the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, the UN Resident Coordinator, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme, the Head of Development Cooperation of the European Union mission, the Resident Representative of the International Monetary Fund, the Country Director for the World Bank, and the Co-Chair of the Private Sector Advisory Group.

“Expected at the launch are some Heads of Governments, the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Amina J. Mohammed and representatives from countries and international Organisations.”

We Don’t Owe Any Nigerian Apology, INEC Responds To Those Who Dragged It To Court

Editorial staff

September 19, 2022

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made it clear that it doesn’t owe any Nigerian apology over the Voter’s Registration which deadline expired a couple of weeks ago.

Reacting to a judicial action embarked on by some 24 Nigerians purportedly on behalf of seven million others over INEC alleged failure to capture them in the registration before the deadline, the Commission said that it gave adequate publicity and time for such people to register.

In a statement today, September 19, the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee in the Commission, Festus Okoye insisted no Nigerians were deliberately denied the opportunity to complete their online pre-registration.

The statement read:

The attention of the Commission has been drawn to media reports that some seven million Nigerians who applied for online pre-registration as voters during the last nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) were denied the opportunity to complete their registration and consequently the collection of their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs). This claim is misleading.

To set the record straight, Nigerians may recall that on 28th June 2021, the Commission introduced the online pre-registration of voters. By doing so, citizens were given the opportunity to commence the registration online and then book for an appointment at their convenience to complete the physical Biometric Capture at designated centres. It was a novel idea leveraging on technology to ease the registration process. This was in addition to the walk-in option at physical centres, where Nigerians can commence and complete thier registration simultaneously without going through the online pre-registration procedure.

In the interest of transparency, the Commission provided weekly statistical updates on the exercise.

For the online pre-registration, a total 10,487,972 commenced the process. However, by the deadline of the exercise, 3,444,378 Nigerians completed their pre-registration physically at the designated centres in line with the Commission’s policy. Some 7,043,594 applicants did not complete the registration. Again, the Commission made the information public. This is what some people are now using to say that they were denied the opportunity when in reality they failed to either complete the online enrolment or appear physically at the designated centres to complete the process.

A breakdown of the 7,043,594 incomplete online pre-registrations is as follows:

1. 4,161,775 citizens attempted but either did not complete online pre-registration or abandoned it and went for the physical registration instead.

2. 2,881,819 registrants completed the online pre-registration but did not show up to complete the physical Biometric Capture at designated centres before the deadline.

Therefore, it is clear that no Nigerians were deliberately denied the opportunity to complete their online pre-registration.

We appeal citizens to always adhere to timelines as against the endless agitation for eleventh hour extension of set deadlines.

Osinbajo In London, Sympathises With King Charles III

Greenbarge Reporters

September 19, 2022

Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, sympathises with the King of England, King Charles III in Buckingham Palace during the funeral ceremony of Queen Elizabeth yesterday, September 18 in London.

Osinbajo represented Nigeria at the funeral that was attended by leaders from across the world.

Yes, I Killed Ummu For Refusing To Marry Me, Chinese Lover Confesses

Greenbarge Reporters

September 19, 2022

Geng Quangrong, the Chinese man who stabbed his girlfriend, Ummu Kulthum, to death at Kabuga Quarters, Dorayi Babba, in Kano State last Friday, has confessed that he killed her because she refused to marry him after he had spent so much on her.

Deng confessed to the crime after he was arrested by the police in Kano.

According to the police spokesman, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the suspect, aged 47, committed the crime after scaling the fence of the deceased residence to gain access where he stabbed her multiple times until she gave up the ghost.

Geng alleged that Ummu had promised to marry him, but later reneged on that promise after he had spent so much on her.

The suspect said that he was angered by her deception and he decided to attack and kill the deceased at her residence.

The police spokesman said that the mother of the deceased raised an alarm while Deng was committing the act and the police was immediately alerted.

The Commissioner of Police in Kano State, Abubakar Lawan, then directed the DPO, Dorayi Babba, to take charge of the situation.

Deng has since been transferred to the state headquarters at Bompai for further investigation and prosecution.

Meanwhile, late Ummu has been buried Saturday morning in Kano as her family members and friends mourn her sudden departure.

24 Nigerians Drag INEC Before Court Over Incomplete Voter Registration

Greenbarge Reporters

September 19, 2022

Twenty–four Nigerians have filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for failing to give them and other seven million Nigerians adequate time and opportunity to complete their voter registration after they had carried out their registration online.

The plaintiffs, who are suing for themselves and on behalf of seven million other Nigerians want INEC to be compelled to “complete the registration process, so that they can obtain their permanent voter cards (PVCs), and exercise their right to vote.”

INEC recently disclosed that out of 10,487,972 Nigerians who carried out their pre-registration online, only 3,444,378 completed the process at a physical centre. This represents just 32.8 percent of completed online registration.

But in the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1662/2022 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the Plaintiffs are seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel INEC to re-activate its continuous voters registration exercise to allow the Plaintiffs to complete their registration and collect their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).”

The suit filed on behalf of the plaintiffs by lawyers to Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms Adelanke Aremo, read in part: “Closing the gates on eligible Nigerians cannot preserve trust in the electoral process. According to reports, the inability of Nigerians to complete their voters registration exercise or even transfer their permanent voters’ card, affected wide spectrums of persons, hence this class action by the identified plaintiffs on behalf of other affected Nigerians.”

The plaintiffs are also seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel INEC to provide adequate facilities and deploy personnel to the registration units of the Plaintiffs to enable them complete their registration and collect their PVCs.”

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