The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Fed Govt

  • Labour to Fed Govt: commit to N65,000 minimum wage or face strike

    THE United Labour Congress (ULC) has called on the Federal Government to commit to pay N65,000 as the new minimum wage before the 14-day ultimatum ends or be ready to face workers’ wrath.

    ULC said lack of patriotism and political will as well as official greed and corruption that were responsible for non-existence of a national minimum wage and not shortage of necessary resources to pay as claimed.

    Its President, Joe Ajaero, said yesterday in Lagos that with two days to the end of the ultimatum,  the announcement by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo that government had convened a committee was belated and an insult to workers.

    Ajaero said the organised private sector’s withdrawal of their initial increment to a reduced N25,000 was an embarrassment to workers.

    He said government has shown by its actions a lack of seriousness, which, he alleged, characterised governance in Nigeria.

    Ajaero decried a situation where the Federal Government since February was yet to come to the negotiation table with a figure for the new minimum wage.

    “We shall no longer be obliged by this time to give any further notice to the government before embarking on the needed action to resist the deliberate and unconscionable desolation of our people and nation and we order all our affiliates and state councils to move to the final level of alert in their preparation for the proposed nationwide strike.

    “Furthermore, we wish to state that Nigerian workers will not only deny any government that denies us our living wages  in the forthcoming general elections, but will also set up an active machinery to mobilise against their elections,” he added.

    He hailed the government for listening to labour by suspending Nigeria Air, which, he said, was initiated without clear goals.

    Ajaero said a new national carrier should be established with clear purposes to cater to the needs of the citizens.

    ULC urged governments to settle arrears of pensions and gratuities owed workers.

     

     

  • Mining: Fed Govt spends N360m on drilling machines

    The Federal Government has purchased two core drilling machines at a cost of N360m. The machines where purchased to collect geological data. They can as well drill depths of up to 1.2km.

    Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Hon. Abubakar Bwari said that  is left is for the country’s geologists to use the machines to collect bankable data that will attract investors.

    Bwari added that tge Federal Executive Council approved the purchase because the present administration is giving the mining sector the much needed attention.

    Speaking yesterday in Abuja at the commissioning of the two drilling machines at the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), Bwari stated that the agency had looked forward to the purchase for decades.

    His words: “We just commissioned the rig that was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), and its main function is to do core drilling to collect geological data and this is the first time we are having a rig of this nature, it is a rig that can go down 1.2km and can perform a lot of functions apart from generating geological data. It can also be used to drill boreholes and as well  for geo-thermal energy, it is a multi purpose rig that the country has been looking forward to purchasing for decades.

    “The challenge is now left for our geologists to use it to generate the required geoscience data because this sector cannot thrive without data and investors will only come to countries with bankable data and the rigs can enable us get that data.

    “FEC approved about N360m for the two machines. The attention for this sector was not there for a very long time but now that the political will is there, the government is giving this sector the attention now.

    “Secondly we commissioned where we want to put our sensimometers that we will use to monitor earthquake and tremor. After the Kwoi earthquake in Kaduna we knew that we had to be proactive so we budgeted for sensimometers and bought them and as we where aboit to install them, the Abuja occurrence took place, so today we will be installing one in Abuja out of the six we intend to install around the country and it will be done based in geological requirements.”

    Director General, NGSA Alex Nwegbu explained that the agency had been filled with expectation for the machinery for over 30 years.

    He added that the drilling machine is unique because it goes far beyond other machines that go as far as 200-300 meters down.

  • Falana to Fed Govt: speak out on alleged missing $470.4m, N8.8b

    LAWYER and activist Femi Falana (SAN) has requested the Federal Government to open up on the missing $470.4 million and N8.8 billion, which the police claimed to have paid into government’s coffers.

    Falana spoke in a statement, titled: “Where is the missing $470.4 million and N8.8 billion”, issued in Lagos yesterday.

    It reads: “Last week, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) claimed to have recovered some huge public funds, including the sum of $470.4 million and N8.8 billion belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) BRASS/LNG hidden in some commercial banks in the country.

    “According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Acting DSP Jimoh Moshhod, the fund, which was recovered by the Monitoring Unit of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahin Idris, was part of the unremitted revenue by the NNPC to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) in the Central Bank of Nigeria in violation of President Buhari’s directive that all public funds be domiciled in the TSA.

    “Instead of seeking clarification from the Police authorities, the management of the NNPC swiftly dismissed the report and claimed that there was no missing fund.

    “It is strange that the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force did not contact the NNPC Management before announcing the recovery of the said sum of $470.5 million and N8.8 billion.

    “However, notwithstanding the lack of coordination on the part of both institutions, the Central Bank of Nigeria ought to confirm the receipt of the missing fund, which is alleged to have been deposited in the TSA.

    “Apart from explaining the whereabouts of the money, the Federal Government should declare and account for all the funds recovered since 1999 in line with the order obtained from the Federal High Court by the Socio-Economic and Accountability Project (SERAP),” it stated.

  • Fed Govt to empower 30,000 Imo traders

    Thirty thousand petty traders in Imo State will be empowered under the Federal Government’s non-collateral loan scheme, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said.

    The Vice President, who was in Owerri to launch the scheme and inaugurate projects executed by the government, said the Federal Government would eradicate poverty by putting resources in the hands of the poor to develop their little business.

    Osinbajo, who met with traders at the Relief Market, Owerri, noted that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government will give a helping hand to the downtrodden and petty traders, saying “men and women who are involved in various craft would be given a fair chance to succeed”.

    The Vice President, who inaugurated the Trader Money Scheme, said “the scheme is a loan that we give to petty traders across the country. The loan is for the smallest traders and those who return their own in six months will be given a bigger and further loan immediately. This is another step in our Social Investment Programme”.

    He inspected the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport and opened the 200-bed ultra-modern hospital built by the government and donated to the Nigeria Air Force (NAF).

    Osinbajo described the airport as the first in the country, saying the Federal Government gave approval while the state built it.

    His words: “We will find ways to involve the private sector and bring in other Federal Government agencies to run it since the facilities are world class. It is also an important infrastructural development because of its commercial importance.”

    The Vice President praised Okorocha for his spirit of partnership in building the hospital and donating it to NAF, saying such partnership is the right way to go.

    Osinbajo visited the Eze Imo, where he said “Imo State is a perfect example of the cooperation which should exist among the different tiers of government. The government and the traditional institution have demonstrated how the different tiers must work together for the benefit of the people.

    “What I am seeing here is exceptional, and I doubt if there is anywhere in the country where you have a befitting Eze’s Parliament, where traditional rulers make laws that will help in the progress and prosperity of the state.”

    Okorocha was happy that the Vice President found time for the two–day working visit, considering his tight schedule. He appealed to the Federal Government to refund the money the state spent in building the cargo airport and on other Federal Government’s projects.

    He said: “In Imo, we introduced the fourth tier of government known as the Community Government Council (CGC), which is geared towards bringing development to the grassroots, and bringing the government to every nook and cranny of the state. The traditional rulers are the champions of this initiative that has rapidly transformed the State.”

    Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers Eze Samuel Agunwa Ohiri lauded President Muhammadu and Osinbajo for taking steps to develop the country.

    He promised that traditional rulers will continue to work for the progress of the country.

     

  • Fed Govt pulls brakes on national carrier

    THOSE expecting the Federal Government to float a national carrier before the end of this year have to wait a little longer. The project – Nigeria Air – has been suspended indefinitely.

    Minister of State for Aviation Hadi Sirika said the decision to put the project on hold was taken yesterday at the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) in Abuja at his office in Abuja.

    Sirika, who broke the news in his office, said the decision was strategic, dismissing claims that the suspension was due to pressure from stakeholders and the politics.

    He said: “Today in Council (FEC), the Federal Government of Nigeria decided to suspend the National Carrier project for some strategic reasons and we would advise you in due course.

    “The decision has nothing to do with the pressure from stakeholders because I have explained that as a government for 40 years (since 1978 to 1980) when decision was made to liberalise the sector, we saw the coming of Okada, Kabo, ABC and Bellview. We have seen their coming and their exit and right now, we have got Medview, Airpeace, Arik, we have got all of these people with permission to go international.

    “We have given them Banjul, Dubai, London, South Africa and we have given them everywhere. Of course, none of them is meeting the need by Nigerian people to have robust national carrier and that is to say that something is amiss.

    “That was the intention of government to be able to set up a carrier that would deliver this service to Nigerian people.

    “So, the service is needed and that is why the Federal Government went ahead to appoint Transaction Adviser to continue the process.

    “So, it has nothing to do with pressure. There is no pressure and you and I know that the service is not being delivered in Nigeria; locally here and internationally as well.

    “Prices of tickets are astronomical within international routes and certain routes in Nigeria that ought to be developed are not developed. In the past, Nigerian Airways was doing Makurdi, Sokoto, Calabar, Maiduguri with BC10 and full.

    “So, with this absence, the gap is there. With all the number of airlines flying the country, this sudden growth to 20 airplanes, we have seen it in Okada, Kabo, Arik and many others but the service is not being delivered.

    “So, there is no argument from stakeholders to say we should not proceed.”

    On whether the decision was political, he said: “I think those saying it was politically motivated are being very unfair to Mr. President.

    “Seating to my right is the Rector of Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Captain Abdulsalam Muhammed, even before I was made the minister, shortly after the Mr. President was sworn in, he was made the chairman of the Task Force to establish a national carrier and once I became minister,  they handed over the report to government and government gave me the report and asked me to implement to set up a national carrier.

    “So it had nothing to do with politics. It is strategic and let’s leave it at that. It has been suspended for now.”

    On how the international stakeholders would perceive the decision, Sirika said: “Since there is lot of international engagements and banks, consulting companies and all and how do they beleive in us that we are serious again in future?

  • Fed Govt to connect North-South rail line in 2021

    The Federal Government has rolled out its plans to connect the North-South trading route by rail in 2021.

    The government said 25 major highways and 44 roads are under construction in the six geo-political zones of the country.

    The rail link is expected to boost the movement of passengers and cargoes as well as the economy.

    President Muhammadu Buhari broke the news yesterday in Abuja, the nation’s capital, when he addressed the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) Africa regional conference.

    Nigeria currently holds the Regional Vice Presidency of the association through the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

    President Buhari, who acknowledging developmental challenges in Africa, urged nations to work together and deploy resources to solve issues that militate against the continent.

    He said: “It is particularly gratifying that it is at the time that Nigeria has the privilege of the vice presidency of this important body that the idea of a continental conference is coming up for the first time.

    “This is a testament to our commitment to the development of the continent and its maritime industry in this particular instance. Nations in Africa are also largely connected by the same developmental challenges as well as large human capital and natural endowments.

    “It behoves on us, therefore, to work together and deploy our resources towards solving those issues that militate against us.

    “One of the resources we can proudly speak about as Africans is our maritime endowment. A situation in which at least 39 of the 54 countries on the continent are either littoral or island states makes the formulation of policies for the effective utilisation of our waters for the growth of our economies expedient.

    “This, in a sense, seems to be a divine ordination of our desire for continental integration. Even though we have physical national boundaries that separate us, the waters are a natural source of connectivity and they seem like a subtle message that we must work together for the good of all our countries.

    “This is why there could be no better time than now to hold this conference. The theme of the conference: African Ports and Hinterland Connectivity, is itself a testament to the determination to collectively seek lasting solutions to the challenges that port operations face on the continent.

    “After the issues of tight security and transparency, the one other important factor deciding the competitiveness of ports is the efficiency with which cargoes are evacuated to and from the ports. This, without doubt, is an area in which port operations in Africa need a lot of intervention.”

  • Fed Govt urged on domestic gas consumption

    ONE way to improve gas consumption is by reviewing the product’s price, the former Managing Director, Nigerian Liquefied and Natural Gas Limited, Mr. Godswill Ihetu, has said.

    He said when the Federal  Government reviews the price, the volume of gas used in-country would increase.

    In an interview with The Nation, Ihetu said gas price remains unattractive to users, adding that this was affecting its sale and consumption.

    He said the 1.1 billion standard cubic feet (bscf), which the country consumes daily, is not enough to meet the needs of the industries, urging the government to provide a price regime that would enable more buyers and more sellers come into the market.

    Ihetu said: “Nigeria has huge gas reserves that can survive many generations, meet the requirements of firms, which use gas as feedstock. The country can produce and consume abundant gas once there is a price mechanism that allows more users to come to the market.  Once the price is good and friendly, as against the one that is regulated by the government, industries would be happy meeting the producers and suppliers of gas for their needs.

    “When this happens, the level at which firms consume gas per day would increase and the better for the industrial sector and the economy. There should be a paradigm shift from the government regulated price of the product to the one that is dictated by market forces. By so doing, Nigeria would be able to expand gas market for growth.”

    Similarly, the Managing Director, Frontier Oil, Thomas Dada, said the consumption of gas locally is smaller relative to the needs of the industries.

    He said the country produces 7.5 billion standard cubic feet of gas and consumes just 1.1 billion standard cubic feet, which is just 13 per cent of the 7.5 billion standard cubic feet because the price is not attractive enough to bring more players into the market.

    He said when the operators in the value chain buy gas at a price that is favourable to them, the country would increase the consumption of the product.

    He said Nigeria would not find it difficult to improve on the 5,000 megawatts of electricity it generates coupled with the fact that it would be able to meet the needs of vast industries that use gas for production activities.

  • Fed Govt remits N103b outstanding contribution of MDA employees

    The Federal Government has paid N103.02 billion outstanding pension contribution of its employees from treasury funded Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) from April to June 2018 to their Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).

    The Head of Compliance, Stanbic IBTC PFA, Ms. Edidiong Akan made this known yesterday at the Annual Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp) Retreat held in Lagos.

    She added that N14.85 billion was also paid to the FGN retirees and deceased employees of treasury funded MDAs for the period under review. On their part, the pension operators have made benefits payments of 334,765 from inception of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in 2007 till date.

     

    Ms. Akan said while 12,569 benefit payments have been made between April and June this year, 275,172 benefits payments were made to disengaged members from inception to June 3, 2018 and 50,317 payments was made to deceased employee in the same period.

    On the new developments in the pension industry, she said the National Pension Commission (PenCom) has released the framework on the access to retirement benefits using the revised Programmed Withdrawal Template (PWT) for prospective retirees under the CPS which introduced the revised PWT effective, 15 May, 2018.

    However, she said the revised PWT was suspended on August 8, 2018 and a final revised template was issued on September 5, 2018.

    In her words: “The revised PWT incorporated the payment of appropriate arrears where benefits were not paid as and when due as at the date of retirement and date of programming differs.  It extended computation of benefits to 100 years to accommodate professors and any future retirement age review. It also allows for the computation of benefits below the age of 50 years to accommodate those who retire on health grounds.

    “There was also the development and deployment of Additional Benefits Template (ABT) to operators for computation of additional retirement benefits of retirees effective July 2, 2018 while commenced Pension Enhancement (PE) for retirees under the Programmed Withdrawal.  As at July 12, 2018, PenCom had granted approval for the PE of 53,851 retirees as the 12 July 2018”, she added.

  • New Minimum Wage: Labour issues two weeks ultimatum as Fed Govt gives assurance

    Labour leaders in Nigeria yesterday cautioned the Federal Government to stop foot dragging on the New Minimum Wage and allow the tripartite committeeconclude its job to avoid industrial crisis.

    The ultimatum coincided with an assurance from the Federal Government on the new minimum wage.

    The labour leaders, who are members of the Minimum Wage Committee at a joint news conference addressed in Lagos, gave the federal government 14 days to ensure that the committee conclude its work or be ready to face industrial action.

    Mr Ayuba Wabba , Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, said that the committee was not pleased with the comments alleged to have been made by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige.

    According to him, Ngige had last week allegedly said that the committee should adjourn indefinitely to enable him do further consultations with the government.

    “We view his supposed pronouncement with great concern, suspicion and outrage.

    “This new antic certainly is not acceptable to Nigerian workers, who had expected a New National Minimum Wage since 2016, “he said.

    The NLC president said that in the course of the meeting, the committee members had time to consult and received memoranda and inputs from 21 state governments, specialized Agencies of the Federal Government, the Organized Private Sector, Organised Labour and the general public.

    Mr Joe Ajaero, President of the United Labour Congress, (ULC) said that issues concerning the minimum wage has been concluded and that the committee was expecting government representative to pronounce their own figure.

    Ajaero, however, refused to give a likely figure that could be approved as minimum wage and also did not give a clear answer on whether government was sincere on paying the new wage.

    He said that the call for a new minimum wage became necessary because it was already overdue, and in view of the increasing cost of goods and services.

    The news conference was attended by top labour leaders from NLC, TUC and ULC.

    The Presidency on Wednesday reassured workers of the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to an increase in the minimum wage.

    Sen. Ita Enang, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    Enang spoke in response to alleged lack of commitment by the Federal Government to an upward review of the minimum wage, which has been N18, 000 for over eight years.

    “I want to assure you that the Buhari-led administration is very honest and committed to reviewing the salaries of workers.

    “If he was not, he would not have set up a committee on minimum wage headed by a retired Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. This is a sign of commitment, the Minister of Labour is part of it.

    “So, it shows the level of commitment, and it is not a committee of the Federal Executive Council, it is a presidential committee set up and inaugurated by the president.”

    Enang urged NLC to consider unemployed Nigerians in its demand for salary increment.

    ”The workers and labour should include all those who are qualified to be employed but are not yet employed.

    “So, when we are talking about increase in the salaries of workers, let us also make allowance for new people to be employed.

    “That is; thinking about those you and I have trained who have graduated, who out of frustration sometimes act and behave in a manner which they ought not to, and sometimes take to social media to harass the government and you.

    “Sometimes, they even revolt against you in the house because they do not have what to do.

    “So, when we are talking about increase in salaries, I agree to it, but I think we should also factor along creating employment for those who are yet to have.”

    The presidential aide said the Federal Government was already working towards achieving that by encouraging its agencies and parastatals to employ young and qualified Nigerians.

    Enang stated that the government was also creating self-employment opportunities for enterprising youths through its social investment programme.

    He said the government was equally creating the enabling environment in the agricultural and technological sectors for young Nigerians.

    The tripartite National Minimum Wage Committee, made up of 29 members drawn from organised labour and the federal and state governments, was inaugurated in May, 2017.

    Although the committee was given till Sept. 1 to submit its report, it could not meet the deadline due to disagreement over the minimum wage figure.

    On Aug. 21, Minister of Labour and Employment Dr Chris Ngige, however, blamed the delay on the inability of state governors to agree on a figure.

    According to the minister, the Federal Government through its Economic Management Team, is working with the governors to find a common ground

    Until then, the minister said he could not tell when the new minimum wage would be implemented.

    The NLC on Monday said the Committee on National Minimum Wage was yet to agree only on a figure for the new minimum wage for the Nigerian workers.

    Wabba said: “However, just before we conclude, the Minister of Labour spoke at that occasion as a representative of the Federal Government, saying the they needed to go and consult before arriving at a figure.

    “We felt that since this committee was inaugurated in November and everybody was aware that all stakeholders needed to tidy up whatever consultations they needed to do and make sure that we are able to work within that timeline.

    “Clearly speaking, they were not prepared to produce a figure by that date. But our report has been completed. What is left is just to agree on a particular figure as minimum wage.

    “All the parameters to be used to arrive at a figure are there. I can say clearly that states have sent in memorandums.

    “In fact, 21 states sent in memorandums, with about 12 quoting figures, NECA has submitted a figure, organised labour has submitted a figure.

    “With this new development, they are saying that they want to consult, we could say that it is not a fair process if somebody is saying at this point that he has not consulted,” he said.

    Wabba noted that the organised labour, would meet formally and issue a formal statement, and also see how they would ensure that the interest of Nigerian worker was not in any way undermined.

    According to him, this is where we are and we think that it is proper that we put the fact before our members.

    “Labour leaders have already called for our organ meetings where we will brief our members.

    “Already, it is in public domain that both the government and labour agreed that the timeline must be respected and they were saying that September is not feasible.

    “We are committed to respecting the timeline and that is why we left everything we are doing to do the needful to be able to do a good job.

    ”All the parameters you can think of have been considered and the report is ready. But the only thing missing is the issue of the figure.”

    The NLC president also recalled that individual states had quoted figures and every state was given the opportunity to make its own presentation.

    He also noted that a letter was written to every state by the secretariat to send in their memo, making their inputs and 21 of them actually made inputs.

    “You are aware of the figures quoted by organised labour. We have enough data to do justice to the work and we have actually done justice to the work. I am telling you that this is what has happened.

    “So there was enough time for everybody to make input. This should have been consummated but some people are saying they need time for consultation.

    ”We thought that should not have been the situation, because of the importance of the issue to Nigerian workers; and the workers can also not continue to be patient,” he said.

  • Fed Govt warns politicians against electoral thuggery, violence

    The Federal Government yesterday warned politicians and political party supporters against the use of thugs to perpetrate violence during the 2019 general elections.

    The warning was issued in a statement by Dr Mohammed Umar, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior.

    Umar said that the warning became necessary in view of the need to ensure free and fair “election process in the country”.

    He quoted Interior Minister Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau as saying that government would not “fold its arms and watch politicians throw the country into chaos and unrest simply because they want to win elections.

    “Security agencies have been directed to ensure adequate security of lives and property during and even before the general elections in line with the policy direction of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.”

    According to him, free and fair elections in 2019 as being promoted by the President can only be possible if politicians give peace a chance by avoiding all forms of political thuggery and violence in their struggle to get elected.

    The minister warned that anyone caught in the possession of any type of weapons during the elections or rallies “may attract arrest and prosecution”.

    He, therefore, advised youths not to allow themselves to be used by “desperate politicians who want power at all cost and may influence them into political thuggery and violence over little gratification, to the detriment of their future”.