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  • Stop blame game, focus on development, Osinbajo tells governors 

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday urged state governors and other stakeholders in the country to stop the blame game and focus on human capital development in their respective areas.

    He made the call during the launching of Human Capital Development Programme: Healthy, Educated and Productive Nigerians for a Globally Competitive Nation by 2030 at the extended National Economic Council (NEC) meeting held at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Advising them to resist playing politics with issues, he said that it was time to get the job done.

    The Vision 2030 focuses on the Human Capital Development and is hinged on three main thematic areas; namely health and nutrition, education and labour force participation.

    Osinbajo said: “As a government, we are fully aware of the issues and we are committed to transforming them. There is no denying that debilitating levels of poverty existed in spite of huge earnings in the past. We are doing exactly what countries like India and Brazil did in a similar situation, for instance kick-starting the Social Investment Programme (SIP).

    Read also: ‘I owe much of my business success to Fela, Obey, Sunny Ade, others’

    “The Federal Government must together with states collaborate on the issue of human capital development; it should not be a platform for blame games. Concerted collaboration is required now so we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past. Constant communication with the people is equally important because the resources belong to them,” he stated.

    He stressed the need to promote transparency, accountability and improving existing data.

    In his remarks, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, said governors had been working very hard to make Nigeria’s economy work in a more transparent manner and remain accountable to the people, adding “we have tried to make sure that every cent is spent.”

    Yari, who is the governor of Zamfara State, stated that the concern raised on human capital development can only be addressed with availability of funds.

    He said: “I can assure you that the governors are committed, but we have to work harder in the area of revenue generation to address all these competing demands.”

    He queried the fact that the VAT has remained stagnant at 5 per cent for the past 25 years, insisting that a political decision has to be taken to increase it in the new year.

    The World Bank Nigeria Country Director, Rachid Benmessaoud, said for the world to do well on human capital development, Nigeria has to do well because the world relies on Nigeria’s human capital.

    He stressed that the quality of education improves young person’s opportunity to earn a living and help the economy, urging the government to work on improving human capital development.

    The Country Director, DFID, Debbie Palmer, said Nigeria is ranked near the bottom of the World Bank’s Human Capital Index (152 out of 157 countries globally), describing it as a rude wake-up call for everyone in Nigeria and for everyone who cares about Nigeria.

    USAID Country Director said the US government will continue to honour the partnership in the areas of education and health as well as with the private sector.

    Ms. Zouera Youssoufou, Managing Director and CEO of the Dangote Foundation, commended the government for its commitment to see to the improvement in human capital development.

    The National President, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Alhaji Shehu Ladan, in his presentation, listed quality education, special agencies for skills, entrepreneurial support, vocational training, improved infrastructure and improved health care sector  as factors that will improve the country’s human capital development.

  • Buhari tasks Nigerians on tolerance ahead of 2019 election

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday urged Nigerians to preach tolerance and peaceful co-existence ahead of the 2019 general election.

    He made the call while receiving a group known as the National Network for Community and Youth Development (NNCYD) led by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Yayale Ahmed.

    He said that doing so was a responsibility of all citizens of the country, who have a task of stopping selfish politicians from exploring the windows of religion and politicians to achieve their ill motives.

    The President commended the NNCYD for promoting peaceful coexistence among followers of different religions and political parties in Nigeria.

    He said “The fact that you are crossing religious, political and ethnic boundaries in your engagements is praise worthy. Now we are in the season of political campaigns unfortunately some people will attempt to take this opportunity to propagate their hateful agenda.

    “Therefore it is our collective responsibility to also step up by preaching tolerance and understanding.

    “As a government we are doing our best but we need non-governmental organisations like the National Network for Community and Youth Development to also support us in delivering the message of peace and unity after all we only have one Nigeria, our only country.” He said.

    Commending the group for its good work, he said the country needs more of such good groups, in order to promote peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding among citizens of the country.

    He however lamented the dangers involved in the spreading of rumours through the social media, which he said was meant to reshape the world.

    He said: “In the past decade the world has seen some fundamental structural changes, a good example is the digital and cyber revolution that is still reshaping the world as we all know.

    “In many instances, this development positively impacts billions across the globe however; on the contrary, the same platforms are used as tools to propagate divisions and hatred. Nigeria is not isolated from these influences.

    “We are seeing rising instances where social media platforms are being used to propagate hatred, through religious, political and tribal groups. These spiteful message that insight violence and are posted by a handful of unpatriotic people anonymously.” he stated

    On behalf of the group, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the organisation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed said the National Network for Community and Youth development aims at enlightening citizens of the country on the need to love one another, love the country and identify with good governance.

    He said the group had since identified President Muhammadu Buhari as a champion of integrity and it will continue to support him.

    Ahmed said though corruption is seriously fighting back, President Buhari should maintain the fight, adding that with the support of few who are committed to the fight, he will surely succeed.

    He said “At this point in time, Mr President, we have actualized our objective, established a first alliance foundation for positive change. This is in line with our realization of the fact that for so long this country has been govern under false pretenses.

    “In our quest to make sure that Nigeria wake up, we come and submit ourselves that we will rather persevere with temporary pains of following the path of truth rather than enjoying the comfort of deceit and falsehood in perpetuity.

    “This is why at this point in time, we freely submit ourselves to the wonderful strides that you represent in this country: integrity and commitment to improve the quality of lives of Nigerians. This we did without being apologetic to anybody because we in Nigeria, if we did not come together to face the reality of adjusting the false life, and I can tell you I have been in government for quite sometimes but really, what we use to do must give way to the reality of our situation.

    Read Also: Buhari challenges governors on infrastructure development

    “In doing that we are bound to suffer, but the suffering for bringing integrity in this country is better, that is why the intellectuals here from the universities on their own, cooperating with the honorable members and partnering with our Christians brothers and sisters all over the country, we are determined to see that this country is changed for the better.

    “The internalization of good things of life do not come with ease. That is why I said, this, country having gone through this rough path, we are a country in a hurry, people forget the past easily because sometimes they may not have known the past. Anybody who does not know the past will enjoy and dance for today, thereby, perpetually giving up his future.

    “But we will not allow this to go on because we are Nigerians we must come together and do the correct thing. Even if it is one, two or three things that we continually do correct, we will definitely entrench a change in the system.

    “We give you the necessary support because we know that you are a man of integrity, we know that you have insisted on doing things right in governance.

    “Sir, this particular gathering, having been with them in the last five years, I can attest to the fact that at least, fifty percent of us are committed to seeing that the right thing is done and that you return elected in 2019.

    “We commend your fight against corruption, but we have seen that it is also fighting back. If you can have even few people doing doing the right thing irruption and other vices will be forgotten sinner or later.” he said

  • Kano NLC urges governors to cut cost of governance

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kano State chapter, has urged governors to reduce spending, cost of governance and stop lamenting about the proposed N30,000 new national minimum wage.

    Speaking while inaugurating the NLC executives for the 44 local government areas of the state, Chairman, NLC Kano State Chapter, Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to over-rule non progressive governors to pass the tripartite committee recommendation to the legislature for action.

    He faulted claims by some governors that  they would not be able to pay N30,000 to their workers, blaming their reckless spending on governance and extravagant lifestyle as the major problem.

    He said N30,000 is not a living wage for a Nigerian worker, given the prevailing economic situation, and appealed to the President to use his prerogative powers to bring the lingering crises to an end.

    He, however, commended Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State for his willingness to pay N30,600 as new minimum wage to workers in the state.

    Governor Ganduje, who was represented by the Head of Civil Service, Alhaji Auwal Mohammed Na’iya, while congratulating the new executives, promised to continue to work in harmony with the labour oragnisations in the state for the benefit of the workers.

  • Governors meet Buhari over minimum wage again

     

    The Nigerian Governors’ Forum will on Friday meet with President Muhammadu Buhari over the lingering minimum wage crisis.

    The governors had proposed N22, 500 as minimum wage while the Federal Government proposed 24,000.

    But the Nigeria Labour Union (NLC) is insisting on N30,000.

    The governors had argued that the states do not have the resources to pay the wage demand put forward by the labour union.

    They maintained that the only condition available to them if they must pay the N30000 is retrenchment, an alternative the workers are not willing to accept.

    It was gathered the governors met on Thursday to assess the situation before their meeting with the president on Friday.

    Zamfara Governor Abdulaziz Yari, chairman of the forum did not brief the press at the end of the meeting.

    However, Mr. Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, Head, Media and Public Affairs, NGF, told newsmen the meeting looked into the issue of the minimum wage as it was going to be part of discussion in the meeting with the President on Friday.

    He also said they intend to use the opportunity to thank the president on his handling of the economy.

    He said also welcomed Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola into its fold.

    Oyetola had earlier commended the meeting, saying it provided opportunity for them as governors to peer review each other and also share best practices.

     

  • NULGE: governors frustrating plans for local govt autonomy

    The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has accused the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) of frustrating plans for financial autonomy for local government.

    The union said at its 40th anniversary celebration in Abuja that the governors were opposing the passage of the council autonomy Bill. The forum, “it said, was doing everything to truncate the people’s will on the matter.

    The union’s President, Ibrahim Khaleel, said the leadership of the union had directed their members at the state level to mobilise towards ensuring that opposing governors were voted out during the 2019 governorship elections.

    According to him, after the National Assembly approved local government autonomy and passed to states assemblies to also perform their constitutional role, 12 states approved the provision and passed it.

    He, however, regretted that as soon as the Governors Forum realised that the states were passing the bill, it intervened and summoned a meeting with Speakers of the state assemblies.

    He pointed out that the bill was  alive, adding that the union is strategising anew to ensure its passage soon. Part of what we are expecting to achieve tomorrow by bringing our membership from all the 774 local governments under one roof, look at our journey so far, our challenges and the way forward certainly is to have a fresh mandate, fresh resolution and eject more energy into our struggle to see how we can engage politicians across the board on how to achieve this even before 2019 election and we believe strongly that this struggle is achievable because the bill is alive at the state Assembly.

    “So, what we need is strong push and more so that the bill that was transmitted along this bill that frees state assembly from financial control of the state government are already being assented to by the President.

    ‘’So, the state Assembly are free to decide and do their work as legislatures without much interference from the state governors,” he said.

    Khaleel argued the local government workers were the most discriminated class of workers.

  • Governors should pay new minimum wage – SAN

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Bolaji Ayorinde, has said that many state governors are using the issue of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) as a diversionary tool to cover up their mismanagement of funds available to them to better the lot of the people. Ayorinde, who is the Social Democratic Party governorship (SDP) guber candidate in Oyo State, noted that the debate and excuse of low and poor IGR as being used by many state chief executives is unacceptable.

    He noted that if government can reduce the cost of governance and public procurement as well as prioritise its projects to concentrate on the most pressing need of the people, the people and society at large would be better for it. The Oyo State SDP governorship flag-bearer spoke yesterday at the party secretariat, Dugbe, Ibadan, where he addressed journalists and party faithful on his plans for the state if given the opportunity to govern come 2019.

    While noting that it could be difficult for the electorate whom he said has been ‘deliberately pauperised by the ruling class,’ not to sell their votes for a token, Ayorinde called on the media to help educate the people on the grave implication of vote-buying, assuring that his party “will not buy votes because anyone who does so is only buying the office of the governor as a commercial venture. Transparency shall be our hallmark.

    “Past governments have made finance and ability to pay workers’ salaries an issue of regret and pain for the people particularly the civil service. There is no rocket science in dealing with this. We shall reduce the cost of governance and public procurement.  If we plug wastes and don’t indulge in grandiose projects you will be surprised how easy it will be to pay salaries. If there is no waste and no corruption, the resources of the state including IGR will be sufficient for all,” he said.

     

  • N30,000 wage: Workers draw battleline with governors

    THERE is no let-up in the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) demand for the payment of N30, 000 for the least paid worker. It renewed the directive to its members to sack any governor who is not ready to pay the N30, 000 minimum wage.

    Besides, it restated the call on the states’ chief executives to cut down on their expenses by reducing cost of governance, alleging that government officials were stealing trillions of naira.

    It urged President Muhammadu Buhari to forward a bill on the new minimum wage to the National Assembly for action, saying that its members were running out of patience.  NLC President  Comrade Ayuba Wabba said workers were running out of patience with the government over the delay and were getting more and more agitated.

    Speaking in Abuja at the NLC 17th Harmattan School tagged: “The role of trade unions in making Nigeria work for its citizens”, Wabba said that labour will be ready to vote out any anti-labour governor.

    According to him, the consequences of workers’ retrenchment are too grievous for any political office holder truly elected by the people to contemplate.

    He said: “We hereby reiterate our directive to Nigerian workers to vote out any politician or political party that refuses to pay the new national minimum wage of N30, 000.

    “They are not doing us any favour; it is our right with the backing of the law. If they say they don’t have money, they should reduce the cost of governance. They should stop the trillions of naira they are stealing.

    “The law says that after a certain period of time, every worker is entitled to salary or wage increment. So, they are not doing us any favour.

    “Some people are saying it will lead to inflation. But, when those in government are stealing trillions of naira, nobody talks about inflation.

    “The trillions of naira they are stealing did not lead to inflation. It is now that we are talking of just N30, 000 that they are talking about inflation. It is not an excuse and there is no going back.

    “Few political office holders are bent on enslaving Nigerian workers with peanuts mislabeled as salaries.

    “We urge such elected public officials to subject their humongous salaries and allowances, reputed to be among the highest in the world to public perusal pro rata with the minimum wage they want to force down the throats of Nigerian workers.

    “To the oppressors, we have only one answer for you, we will never sleep on our rights.”

    Ayuba claimed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has confirmed that the implementation of N30, 000 minimum wage will stabilise the economy, pointing out that other countries, such as South Africa, has recently approved minimum wage for its citizens despite the recession in the country.

    He said: The CBN recently made us to understand that the implementation of N30, 000 minimum wage will strengthen the economy because this will empower and put resources in the hands of the working class. So, who is fooling who?”

    Ayuba said that the failure of the government to communicate the next line of action to Labour was getting the workers impatience.

  • How we caged Obasanjo as governors, by Osoba

    •Udoma: ex-president threatened to prosecute us over onshore/offshore case •Attah honoured on birthday

    FORMER Ogun State Governor Segun Osoba said yesterday that governors, who served under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, were able to cage him and stop him from doing a lot of unconstitutional things because of their maturity and unity.

    Osoba spoke at the 80th birthday celebration of former Akwa Ibom State Governor Obong Victor Attah. His book, “It is well with my soul”, w2as also presented at the event.

    At the event, Minister of Budget and National Planning Udoma Udo Udoma noted how Obasanjo threatened to prosecute the Akwa Ibom Governor for “inciting” his people against the President and the government.

    Osoba, who spoke on behalf of other former governors present at the event, including former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and his successor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, said the governors spoke with one voice and stood against the antics of former President.

    He added that the former governors sued Obasanjo to court on a number of occasions and won.

    He said: “Today, we are happy to celebrate a man of honour. In our time, we do not know the differences in the party you belong to and Obasanjo then dare not play with any of us governors. I am happy to say that Obong Attah was from the PDP. I was from the AD.

    “The AD group, made up of the late Lam Adesina and Bisi Akande, when we speak, to our surprise, Obong, who is of the PDP, will take it up from there contributing intelligently to the issues we raised. It is on the ground of his style of leadership that we were seriously able to cage former President Obasanjo.

    “I used the word seriously because first of all, Abdulsalami Abubakar left a huge sum of money that was to be distributed to the governors. The first thing Obasanjo did was to seize the money and use it to buy vehicles for local government councils.

    “We kicked, went to court and we won. On the Fiscal Responsibility Act, he (Obasanjo) said he will not implement Section 8, where all revenues were to go into an account from where it will be distributed according to the constitution. When it became almost impossible, we went to court and we won. In all of these, it was not resource control. Obong Attah was in the forefront of these struggles.”

    Osoba, who recounted how governors in those days rallied behind Attah and his other Niger Delta counterparts to agitate for resource control, expressed reservations on the quality and character of those aspiring to become governors these days.

    “I want to appeal to all of us. We should go back to the characters that formed government in 1992 and 1999. Twenty-six years ago, most of us who were governors have had exposures. John Odigie-Oyegun was a former permanent secretary. I was former Managing Director of Daily Times. I can go on to give you backgrounds of all those who became governors in 1999. None of us were people you will say: ‘where are you coming from’. We need to go back to those days. Governors of any kind should stop.”

    Minister of Budget and National Planning Senator Udoma Udo Udoma said throughout Attah’s eight years in office as governor, he was the senator representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial district and also served as the leader of the Akwa Ibom legislators’ forum, having been unanimously elected by his colleagues.

    Udoma said: “During our time in the National Assembly, there was no ‘Abuja front’ working against the ‘home front’. Under Victor Attah’s leadership, we were a strong united team and having worked with him, I can say something about his character.

    “He is somebody you can go into battle with because he is fearless and once he gives you his words, he does not turn back; no matter how fierce the battle is.

    The battle to remove the onshore/offshore dichotomy was indeed a fierce one.

    Read also: Corruption war: Federal, state auditors-general offices have failed, says Justice Salami

    “At one point, the three of us, myself, Obong Attah and Senator Ibok Essien were summoned to Abuja and made to appear before the President, Minister of Defence and all the service chiefs and were threatened with prosecution for inciting our people against the President and the Federal Government.

    “But under his leadership, we refused to allow ourselves to be cowed or intimidated. We believed in our course and we did not stop the fight till we succeeded.”

    Attah, while responding to the accolades poured on him, said: “Listening to all the things that have been said, I ask myself, did I actually say all those things? Where did I get the courage to say all those things? But I want to assure you that the fight was not just for a better Niger Delta, but I believed firmly that it would translate into a better Nigeria. So, the fight always and the purpose were for a better Nigeria…

    “Those are the types of battles we had to fight for some of the things that are happening today to happen. But as I have said, in all honesty, I believed that our founding fathers, who agreed on a federal system for this country, a system whereby the region’s had and control whatever they had and contributed to the running of the country at the centre, remain the best and will continue to be the best for Nigeria. I believe strongly that any struggle towards achieving that is worth fighting for.”

    He added:  “I tell people, I enjoyed being governor and sometimes they wonder I say that. It is because of this kind of comradeship.  It is just fantastic working together with people with whom you can argue, reason and at the same time come to a solution.”

    With fond reminiscences of what happened then during his election as Governors’ Forum Chairman, Attah said his emergence came as a coup and that his colleagues referred to him as “headmaster”.

    Those who attended the event, include former Senate President Ken Nnamani; Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; Minister of a Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige; former National Security Adviser Gen. Aliyu Gusau; former Deputy Senate President ibrahim Mantu;  and Vanguard Newspaper Publisher Sam Amuka.

    Also at the event were Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Managing Director Nsima Ekere; former Senate Leader Ndoma Egba; Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel and his deputy; former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Farida Waziri; Executive Secretary of Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate Sharon Ikeazor, former Governors Achike Udenwa and Bukar Abba Ibrahim and others.

     

  • Eid-el-Maulud: Buhari, Saraki, Ekweremadu, governors, others greet Nigerians

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday led other leaders in felicitating with the citizens, especially Muslims at home and abroad, on the occasion of Eid-el-Maulud celebration, the birthday of Prophet Muhammad.

    Others who greeted Nigerians on the occasion are Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi  Ugwuanyi, Governor  Ibikunle Amosun and others.

    President wishes citizens peace, happiness, good health

    In a statement by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu, the President wished everyone peace, happiness and good health.

    Buhari also said the nation is making great progress under the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government in dealing with issues of security, the war against corruption, reform and restructuring of the economy and the provision of needed infrastructure.

    But to be fully successful, he said the country needs the support and prayers of citizens.

    He asked for prayers for the nation for peaceful electioneering as it embarks on democratic elections next year.

    Buhari also expressed his confidence that the important Islamic ceremony of Eid-el-Maulud would help to promote mutual harmony and tolerance among all Nigerians.

    Show love to one another, says Saraki

    Saraki urged Nigerians to use the opportunity of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday celebration to show love to one another and imbibe the virtues of perseverance and restraint.

    In a message by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the Senate President congratulated the Muslim Ummah on the birthday of the Holy Prophet and said the occasion should inspire Nigerians to renew their belief in the Almighty Allah  and the country.

    Ekweremadu to Nigerians: close ranks

    Ekweremadu yesterday called on Nigerians to close ranks and work for a nation, where every man is his brother’s keeper.

    He also urged for prayers for peaceful 2019 general elections and asked politicians to play by the rules and highest democratic ethos.

    He said: “As the nation joins the Muslim Ummah around the world to mark the birth of the holy prophet, let all compatriots rededicate themselves to the path of peaceful coexistence, unity, love, forgiveness, and tolerance to build a Nigeria of our dreams.

    “I urge our Muslim brethren to pray for unity and peace in the country as well as peaceful general elections in 2019.”

    ‘Replicate the Prophet’s virtues of righteousness’

    Dogara called on the Ummah to replicate in their lives, the virtues of righteousness, honestly, charity and peaceful coexistence as exemplified by the prophet.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, the Speaker said the celebration of Maulud is an opportunity for the adherents to  renew  faiths, rejuvenate their spirit and engender love in the society.

    Ugwuanyi urges sustained prayers, unity

    Ugwuanyi yesterday called on Nigerians to remain prayerful and committed in their abiding faith in God for the sustenance of peace, unity and progress of the country.

    Ugwuanyi, who felicitated with President Muhammadu Buhari and other Muslim faithful, noted that the occasion is another opportunity to continue to uphold the deeds and teachings of the Holy Prophet, which border on faith, sacrifice, obedience, love, tolerance, charity and peaceful co-existence, among others.

    Seek the face of Allah in prayer, Amosun tells faithful

    Amosun also urged Muslim faithful to use the occasion to seek the face of Allah in prayer for guidance in the choice of leaders in the build up to the 2019 general elections.

    The governor, who stated this known in a statement by Commissioner for Information and Strategy Otunba Adedayo Adeneye, added that in the midst of the celebration, Muslims should also pray for the nation and the leaders.

    Imbibe Prophet Muhammad’s tolerance, says Obasa

    Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa called on Nigerians to imbibe Prophet Muhammad’s tolerance, selflessness and courage to accelerate the country’s growth

    Obasa’s advice was contained in his message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Musbau Rasak.

    Obasa said: “Prophet Muhammad was tolerant and selfless as a leader and was courageous in implementing programmes, which enhanced and ensured improvement of lives of the citizens during his tenure as an administrator.

    “When he was head of government in Madinah, he related well with everyone irrespective of race, religion or creed. That was tolerance! His welfare programmes cater for all, while he was courageous in promoting programmes that enhanced the welfare of the people. These are the qualities we should imbibe.”

  • NLC dares governors over N30,000 minimum wage

    Workers to vote out politicians who won’t pay

    Oshiomhole seeks living wage

    Labour yesterday rejected the governors’ claim that states cannot pay N30,000 minimum wage if it is eventually approved.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) condemned  the threat by the govermors to sack workers should the new wage come into effect.

    To NLC President Ayuba Wabba, the threat is not new in the struggle for review of the national minimum wage.

    He said workers might be prevailed upon not to vote for governors who fail to pay the new wage.

    “Therefore, the current one by the governor of Zamfara (Abdulaziz Yari) cannot be used to intimidate labour,” Wabba said in a statement, reiterating the directive that workers should vote out anti-labour governors and politicians.

    “The consequences of workers’ retrenchment are too grievous for any political office holder truly elected by the people to contemplate.

    Read also: Dec. deadline for minimum wage

    “Few political office holders are bent on enslaving Nigerian workers with peanuts mislabelled as salaries.

    “We urge such elected public officials to subject their humongous salaries and allowances, reputed to be among the highest in the world to public perusal. Pro rata with the minimum wage, they want to force down the throats of Nigerian workers,” he said.

    Wabba urged each of the governors to go to their state and inform workers on their individual position on the new national minimum wage of N30, 000.

    ”To the oppressors, we have only one answer for you, we will never sleep on our rights.

    “We hereby reiterate our directive to Nigerian workers to vote out any politician or political party that refuses to pay the new national minimum wage of N30, 000.

    “We shall continue to consolidate our efforts to strengthen already existing platforms and structures to give teeth to our resolve to vote out anti-labour governors and politicians in the forthcoming 2019 general election, ‘’Wabba said.

    He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to speedily present to the National Assembly the bill on the National Minimum Wage for appropriate amendment and implementation.

    “It would interest Nigerians to know that the new national minimum wage of N30,000 was a product of intense and robust negotiations at the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee that lasted for one year.

    “At the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee, state governments were represented by six states, one state from each of the six geo-political zones.

    The statement added: “The 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) recognises individual states in the Collective Bargaining Process not Nigeria Governors Forum. The states, like the other social partners, have already defended their positions during negotiations at the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee vis-à-vis counter proposals.

    “Alhaji Yari should desist from using the platform of the Nigeria Governors Forum to seek political relevance. His tactics of blackmail against workers is already time worn and the stench is already offensive.

    “We hereby reiterate our directive to Nigerian workers to vote out any politician or political party that refuses to pay the new national minimum wage of N30,000. We shall continue to consolidate our efforts to strengthen already existing platforms and structures to give teeth to our resolve to vote out anti-labour governors and politicians in the forthcoming 2019 general election.

    Governors say states cannot pay the new wage because they do not have the capacity to. They are requesting that:

    • workforce size should be cut; and
    • revenue allocation should be revisited.