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Tag: governors

  • Governors: states can’t pay N30,000 minimum wage

    States can’t pay N30000 minimum wage, governors said last night.

    According to them, any attempt to compel payment of the planned amount will force the states into bankruptcy.

    But they gave two conditions for payment:  •the revenue formula should be reviewed to give more money to the states from the Federation Account, and

    • labour should agree to downsizing of the workforce.

    The governors spoke after a meeting of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) in Abuja.

    Labour insists that President Muhammadu Buhari should uphold the N30,000 minimum wage it proposed and pushed through with the Tripartite Committee. The committee submitted its report last week to the President.

    Before the completion of its sittings, the Federal Government proposed N24,000 minimum wage. States proposed N22,500. Labour declared a national strike which was aborted by the agreement of the panel to propose N30,000.

    The governors have raised a panel of eight to meet with President Buhari next week on its misgivings.

    The President will need to take the N30,000 proposal before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the Council of State before sending a Bill to the National Assembly for a new minimum wage.

    Governors of Lagos, Kebbi, Plateau, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Enugu and Kaduna are in the panel to meet with the president.

    NGR Chairman Abdul’aziz Yari (Zamfara State) was sad that the N22,500 proposed by the states was not considered by the Ama Pepple-led tripartite panel.

    Yari said: “We have seen what has been presented to the President by the committee. As a member of the committee, the Kebbi Governor (Atiku Bagudu) said the committee did not take our submission of N22,500 because it came late.

    “I am surprised how you can do this without the input of the states, because the states are the key stakeholders in this business. So, a situation whereby our report is not taken or considered by the tripartite committee to present to the President then I don’t know how the committee wants us to work.

    “But we still say we want to pay but the issue is the ability to pay. If we say ‘no’, it is about the ability to pay, just pay. I don’t know how this formula will come and I don’t know how we can get solution to the issue.

    “The N18,000 today, when the President assumed office, 27 states were not able to pay, not that they chose not to pay. So, now that you say N30,000, how many of them can pay? We will be bankrupt. So, as Nigerians, we should look at the issue seriously.

    “While other people are saying that governors are flying private jets and living in affluence, that one is not luxury but compulsory.

    “The issue of government overhead cost, if you put it together with personnel cost, it cannot solve this problem. Like Lagos that is paying about N7 billion as salaries, if you say it should pay N30,000, it will now be paying N13 billion. From our calculation, it is only Lagos State that will be able to pay N30,000. “As Nigerians, this is our country; there is no other country we have and we should be fair to this country.”

    On the way forward, Yari said: “We will continue to talk with Labour; let them see reasons why governors have difficulties. Some of us have Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). For instance, the money Lagos State is using to pay is not coming from Abuja. They have a way of getting their money from the IGR and that is why they can afford to pay.

    “They get money through VAT. Apart from Lagos, even Rivers cannot afford to pay. So we have been crying out about this since 2011 but no one will listen.

    “One critical example is that some states ration their salaries while some others put everything they earn on the table and ask labour to come and see and they ask them to suggest how much should go for capital and personnel cost.

    “Some pay 70 per cent as personnel cost and 30 per cent for capital projects and yet the states cannot pay and they put the remaining as outstanding.

    “If you are talking about oil, the price is not what it used to be; from last year to date, it is $20 less from $75 to $55. So where is the money to pay?

    “We should not exploit this matter further. We are leaders today, tomorrow others will be there. So, let us look at this matter seriously to see how we can do it properly. It is our primary responsibility to see that everybody is happy.”

    Yari went on: “It is the same labour that is pushing for the N30,000 that will still turn around to say that the governors did not do any infrastructure and how are we going to achieve that by paying only salaries?”

    The Federal Government takes 52.68 per cent of the federation account revenue; the states 26.70 per cent and the local governments 20.60 per cent.

  • Governors pledge support for ZAFAA 2018

    THE 2018 edition of the annual Zulu African Film Academy Award (ZAFAA), has receive another boost, as the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa and Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, have all expressed interest in supporting the reward system.

    Slated to hold in November 17, in the United Kingdom, organisers of the award say that this year’s edition will feature the best in the Nigerian movie industry, especially those who have contributed in no small measure to ensure that the Nigerian movie industry grew to become what it is today.

    According to its CEO and founder, Zam Anwuzia, “ZAFAA is a memorable African film event and has been a part of rebranding the history of Africa through entertainment.”

    In its previous editions, ZAFAA has honoured many industry practitioners from Nigeria and Africa including the likes of Ali Nuhu, Mike Ezuruonye, Chinedu Ikedieze, Steve Eboh, Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD), Genevieve Nnaji, Omotalo Jalade Ekeinde and several others.

  • ‘Governors frustrating minimum wage’

    The Nigeria Civil Service Union, the nation’s oldest industrial union, has accused governors of frustrating the actualisation of new national minimum wage for workers. They said the states helmsmen should be denied re-election next year.

    Former President of the Union and Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Kiri Mohammed, who made the allegation when he reported back to office as National President of the Union, lamented that workers in the various states have had to suffer untold hardship despite huge resources available to them because of their extravagant spending.

    Mohammed told an emergency National Executive Council meeting of the union, that he was reporting back to the union as National President in response to an order of the National Industrial Court, which asked the union to maintain its 2017 position pending the determination of the suit before it.

    He said the governors were the major problem in negotiating for the new national minimum wage as a result of their unwillingness to pay  workers’ salaries.

    He said workers and Nigerians should prepare to vote out all governors, who are not paying salaries as the nation marches towards another general election. He described such governors as enemies of workers who should not be allowed to continue in office.

    The union has put in place a seven- man caretaker committee to run the affairs of the Union pending the determination of a suit brought against the leadership by an aggrieved member.

    The National Industrial Court, on November 1, ordered that the union maintained the status quo, returning the old leadership, led by Comrade Kiri Mohammed, whose tenure expired in 2017, back to office.

    However, Comrade Mohammed said having retired from service, he was stepping down from the position of National President, but had to resume as National President in obedience to the order of the court.

    While thanking members of the Union for the confidence reposed in him and his executive members, Comrade Mohammed, who is also the Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, said the task ahead of the union was to work together in their collective interest.

    The caretaker committee is headed by Comrade Lawrence Amaechi, who was elected national President at the delegates conference of the union to replace Comrade Kiri Mohammed.

    Amaechi is to lead the union till the suit in Court is disposed off, with a mandate to challenge the ruling of the National Industrial Court at the Court of Appeal.

     

  • Taming dynasty-building governors

    In the ongoing war of words between aggrieved APC’s governors, Okorocha of Imo, Amosun of Ogun, Akeredolu of Ondo and Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, I think Adams Oshiomhole as chairman of APC and custodian of the party’s laws, has the last word. He has been unequivocal as to his compliance with his party’s guidelines in the recently concluded APC acrimonious primaries. The party, he also said, gave aggrieved party members opportunities to seek redress.  APC national leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu admonished the aggrieved governors to be conscious of the broader interest of the party while reminding them that Oshiomhole merely implemented rules and guidelines set by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party. President Buhari, the leader of the party in spite of his many photo shows with some of the aggrieved governors especially Amosun and Okorocha, has shown by his body language that he favoured compliance with rules and guidelines of the party. With the above position of APC’s critical stakeholders,  one is left with the impression that the protesting governors who believe they are bigger than the party and have been threatening to damage the party’s fortunes in the 2019 election if their selfish demands were not met are just bad losers.

    And it is just as well Oshiomhole decided to call off their bluff. A political party after all is like a cult. You either comply with the rules or you are out. Loyalty is political party’s highest badge of honour.

    Oshiomhole however went on to list some of the aggrieved governor’s infractions against APC primary election guidelines. According to him, after eight years as governor elected on the platform of APC, Okorocha wanted to transit from the governor’s lodge to the senate while his wife becomes a member of the Lower House and his son in law succeeds him as governor of Imo State and another brother as deputy governor. This may appear obscene and immoral, but that was not the only problem.  The real scandal was that Okorocha and his family members emerged winners of a primary that was supervised by an appointed official of his government.  I guess it was for this reason Oshiomhole insisted he was not prepared to promote the building of Okorocha dynasty in Imo State especially when the state with her well educated elite is not Okorocha’s family fiefdom.

    As for Governor Amosun of Ogun State, he was accused by chairman Oshiomhole of coming up with a list of consensus candidate for the 2019 election without consulting critical stakeholders of the party including the vice president, the highest ranking political office holder from Ogun State. Consensus for him according to the APC chairman, is transiting from governor after eight years to become senate candidate by forcing the incumbent Senator LanreTejuoso who is from his senatorial district to step down. Consensus for him also meant single handedly handpicking the governorship candidate who will succeed him, the speaker of the state House of Assembly among about 16 other elective positions.

    Perhaps from the benefit of insight, Oshiomhole realising the consequences of APC’s failure to use the big stick when BukolaSaraki and Yakubu Dogara seized the leadership of the two houses and went on to make the county ungovernable for three and half years before their recent defection back to PDP, he was not going to allow the governors to hold the party to ransom.

    I think that was a bold decision. Democracy cannot survive without disciplined political parties and loyal members. That has been the experience in most developed democracies where the political parties have continued to serve as modernising agents. And this was also our experience in Nigeria between 1952 and 1966, a period regarded as the golden era of Nigeria. The first republic collapsed partly as a result of indiscipline of S. L.Akintola who was constitutionally removed from office by the governor of Western Region, Sir AdesojiAderemi, but sought the support of the NCNC/NPC coalition partners who exploited the intra-party crisis to destabilize and derailed the development programme of the region.

    Building a disciplined and modernizing political party is an arduous task that requires long period of political socialization. Unfortunately, Oshiomhole’s APC as presently constituted is an extension of PDP once described by Campbell, America’s former ambassador to Nigeria as “an elite cartel at the centre of power in Nigeria that came together with no ideological or programmatic basis, but simply as essentially a club of elites for sharing of oil rents and political spoils”.

    AuduOgbe, a former PDP chairman was to later validate Campbell’s thesis when he said “When I was chairman of PDP, my son never got involved in oil but two PDP national chairmen after me, their sons pocketed over N400 billion without supplying a tea cup of oil.”

    The collapse of our political party system started with ill-advised proscription of the then existing political parties by our successive military regimes. Then the  idea that a political party can be an association of ‘equals without joiners and founders’ became a fraud sold by fraudulent Babangida military regime and its state house professors of political science

    Unlike what obtained during Obasanjo’s presidency when he took control of PDP, routinely and unilaterally removed and replaced party chairmen, imposed challenged presidential and governorship candidates, political parties in a democracy are not the properties of presidents of governors.  Political parties are the properties of party oligarchies made up founders and former political office holders. They are the stakeholders who as guardians of the ideals of the party are often saddled with providing a moral voice and direction when challenged by current office holders who are often driven by ambition as we currently have in the case of Oshiomhole’s “empire and dynasty-building” aggrieved governors.

    I am sure by first taming Okorocha and Amosun in order to underscore the importance role of discipline in a political party system, Oshiomhole who during his first meeting with APC lawmakers in August this year spoke of “a strategy of building a party “formed on the basis of shared ideas, shared values, shared commitment,” understands the arduous task ahead of him and the role of discipline in building a virile modernizing political party.

     

  • Wage showdown likely as governors offer N22,500

    Workers threaten to go on strike from Nov. 6

    The stage may have been set for a major industrial crisis following the disagreement between the government and Labour over the minimum wage.

    Workers are demanding N30,000; the Federal Government is proposing N24,000. Governors, whose states collectively employ the highest number of workers, say they can pay only N22,500.

    “National mourning” rallies were yesterday held in state capitals to warn of a strike on November 6, should the government fail to grant the workers’ request.

    After an emergency meeting of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) in Abuja yesterday, Zamfara State Governor AbdulAziz Yari said to balance salary payment with development and considering that government workers are not more than five per cent of the population, the governors cannot pay more than N22,500 minimum wage. The current minimum wage is N18,000.

    Yari said: “Following a meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum where we deliberated on the National Minimum Wage after a briefing from our representatives at the Tripartite Committee, we submit as follows:

    “The welfare of all Nigerians is our ultimate concern. In all our states, we are concerned about the deteriorating economic situation experienced by the vulnerable segment of our population.

    “In agreeing to a National Minimum Wage, however, the Forum is even more concerned about development, particularly in the health, education and infrastructure spheres.

    ” It is therefore our considered position that since the percentage of salaried workers is not more than five per cent of the total working population, our position must not just reflect a figure, but also a sustainable strategy based on ability and capacity to pay, as well as reflective of all our developmental needs in each state.

    “Afterall, Section 3 of the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission Act provides that ‘the Commission shall recommend a proposition of income growth which should be initiated for wage increase and also examine the salary structure in public and private sector with reasonable features of relativity and maximum levels which are in consonance with the national economy”.

    “It is in this sense that we feel strongly that our acceptable minimum wage must be done in such a way that total personnel cost does not exceed 50 per cent of the revenue available to each state. Governors, therefore, agreed to pay a national minimum wage of N22,500.”

    During the Abuja leg of the protest yesterday, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Ayuba Wabba insisted that states can pay the N30,000 if they cut the waste they accumulate.

    He said “We cannot be creating wealth while we live in abject poverty or create wealth while the resources are diverted.  They used us to collect bailout and they didn’t pay. The issue is not because there are no resources, but because they want more resources. In one state, the moment the governor received the money (bailout), he went and bought 10 bullet proof cars.

    “In one state, N10 billion was used to charter flight alone. The problem is not about us, but about them.  So, they must find the means to pay us. What have we done to the political elite that they cannot pay us N30,000.

    “Don’t we deserve more than that? Instead of attending to that issue by respecting international conventions,  they are coming up with no work, no pay and we are saying no pay, no work,  no minimum wage, no work.

    “Every Nigerian worker must be ready because this is a battle with a difference.  When they increased the price of fuel, they put the issue of minimum wage on the table. We will not allow a situation where they increase their own and ignore us.

    “During the last increase, salary of political office holders was increased by 900 per cent, while giving us pittance.”

    Labour claimed that the Tripartite Committee agreed on N30,000 minimum wage, but Labour Minister Chris Ngige said it was not correct.

    Yesterday, The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) disowned the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) and Organised Labour on the issue. The chamber said it never agreed on N30, 000.

    In a letter to the Chairman of the Tripartite Committee on the New National Minimum Wage, Ms. Ama Pepple, NACCIMA Chairman Dr.  Maheeba Dankaka said the last figure offered by them before the committee adjourned was N22, 000.

    According to Dankaka, NACCIMA never authorised NECA to enter into an agreement on its behalf as they constitute over 50 per cent of employers whose voice should be heard.

    The letter reads: “We refer to the media reports on the above stated national minimum wage figure and the proposed industrial action by Organised Labour over a misconceived “agreement” on the sum of N30.000.00 as the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

    “We were perplexed to learn that the sum/agreement was an outcome of the workings of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage (TCNMW) to which we are a member.

    “At no time did NACClMA agree to such a figure. Rather, the last figure offered by us as part of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) was the sum of N22, 000 and negotiation was still on-going for the meeting to arrive at a consensus and not by moving a motion.

    “We did not also authorise the representatives of NECA and Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) to speak on our behalf.

    “Recall that our members constitute about 50 per cent of employers in the Organised Private Sector (OPS). Conversely, we do not want to speak for the thousands of employers in the informal economy whose voices have not been heard.

    “Honourable Chairman, you must be mindful that the issue under discussion deal with the terms and conditions of work which must be placed within the wider context of enterprise sustainability.”

     

  • Minimum Wage: Minister updates Buhari, Osinbajo as FG, Governors meet on Monday

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige yesterday briefed President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on the threat by the organised labour to embark on industrial action from November 6 over delay in the implementation of new national minimum wage.

    Ngige, who spoke to State House correspondents after the closed door meetings at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the Economic Management Team would be meeting with state governors to harmonise positions on the ongoing negotiation with labour unions over the issue.

    He said: “I have come here to consult with the vice president and Mr President. On Monday the economic team will meet and the governors are supposed to come so that the federal government will brief them on what is on the ground.

    “And we will see what they will be able to put to us, because the government side is still three tiers, the federal, states and the local governments. The federal government is the leader.

    “So, we are inviting them to come so that we will listen to them again, tell them what we are doing and what we intend to do, because they even have members on that committee.

    “So, on Monday we will have a very useful discussion before the tripartite committee will come and submit its report.”

    The minister faulted the position of the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on the draft White Paper on Industrial Harmony.

    According to him, the labour officials are misinformed about the draft white paper, saying the white paper did not oppose the inclusion of non elected officials to lead the labour unions in negotiations.

    “I don’t think they read the reports of the committee that was set up. The one I participated in is the white paper drafting and the recommendation is there.

    “So what the labour officials are talking of may be misinformation, because the particular aspect of it they are talking about, we rejected it – where they say non-elected member should not lead them in negotiation, my committee said, `no’ because those people they call Secretary-General or General Secretary, some of them become automatic members of those unions.

    Read also: Labour: we’ll begin strike on Nov 6 unless N30,000 minimum wage is adopted

    “So, you don’t have to dispossess them of the right to lead. So government rejected it but they are shouting that government accepted it,” he said.

    It will be recalled that the organised labour had on Sunday announced that it would commence an indefinite industrial action from Nov. 6, if the government refuses to meet their demand on new minimum wage of N30,000 for workers.

    The president of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba, and that of the United Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, confirmed this development in a press statement.

    They explained that the forthcoming strike was informed by the federal government’s stance on new minimum wage for workers.

    The minister of labour and employment, however, told State House correspondents after the meeting of the Federal Executive Council that federal government would only increase the minimum wage from the current N18,000 to N24,000.

  • Buhari, CJN, governors, others mourn ex-CJN Kutigi

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday commiserated with the judiciary family following the death of one-time Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Idris Legbo Kutigi.

    Flags in the judicial arm of government are flying at half mast as directed by CJN Walter Onnoghen. A seven-day mourning period has also been declared.

    Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello and Inspector Genral of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, extoled the virtues of the departed ex-CJN

    Justice Kutigi (CJN Jan. 30, 2007 to Dec. 30 2009) died on Saturday in London at the age of 78. He would have been 79 later in the year having been born on December 31, 1939 in his hometown Kutigi, Niger State.

    His eldest son, Sani, who confirmed his death, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna that “We are making arrangements to transport our father back for burial.”

    The late Kutigi left behind 18 children and over 40 grandchildren.

    He served as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Niger State until 1976, when he was appointed High Court judge.

    Kutigi served in that position for more than a decade and joined the Supreme Court in 1992.

    After 10 years at the Supreme Court, former President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him  to succeed Justice Salihu Alfa Belgore, who retired on January 17, 2007.

    President Buhari in a condolence message by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina commiserated with members of the judiciary and legal profession.

    The president also condoled with the government and people of Niger State on the death of the eminent jurist.

    The President said the late CJN will be long remembered and honoured for his visionary roles and contributions in the advances our country has made towards building a strong, independent and impartial judiciary, which is sine qua non for democracy to thrive.

    He also believed that Kutigi’s “bold and articulate judicial decisions, advocacies on access to justice for all and protection of judicial independence are extant signposts for the advancement of the noble profession in the country and beyond.”

    In a message by Onnoghen’s media aide Awassam Bassey, the CJN said he received with sadness the death of one ofhis predecessors: “The CJN, on behalf of the Nigerian Judiciary and, indeed, all Nigerians, commiserates with the family of the deceased former CJN and urges them to take solace in the fact that their patriarch lived to the fullness of age and served his country diligently, rising to become the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the highest office in the third arm of government.

    “As a mark of deserved honour to the deceased jurist, the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria has directed that the Nigerian national flag in the premises of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the CJN’s official residence in the Three Arms Zone of Abuja, all Judiciary institutions including the National Judicial Council (NJC), the National Judicial Institute (NJI) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), as well as all Courts of Records in the country, should be flown at half-mast for a duration of seven days.

    “Similarly, the CJN has instructed the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court to open condolence registers at both foyers of the court to enable Honourable Justices of the court and other well-wishers to pay their last respects.”

    Governor Sani-Bello said the “late Justice Kutigi is uniquely endowed Nigerian, a man of integrity who has indeed paid his dues in the service of his country in particular and humanity in general.”

    IGP Idris in a condolence message said: “His death is a huge loss not only to Kutigi people, Bida Emirate, but also to Niger state and the nation as a whole.”

    The “late Kutigi was an elder statesman, an exemplary leader and a bridge builder who has contributed immensely to the peace and development of the country”.

    “Even after his tenure as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, he continued with all his good attributes of ensuring justice, peace, unity and progress of not only the state but the country at large.”

    According to the police chief, “the late Kutigi showed love to all and sundry, irrespective of their tribe, religious inclination and in spite of these, he was a Godly man who had the interest of his people at heart above any other thing.

    “The was a bridge builder, an amiable personality who is at home with his people, whose vacuum would be difficult to fill,” he added.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki, Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar yesterday mourned ex-Chief Justice of Nigeria Idris Kutigi.

    Also comiserating with the family of the late jurist are the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the PDP.

    Saraki described Kutigi as a “honourable jurist”” in a statement by Yusuph Olaniyonu, his spokesman.

    The ACF expressed gried while Atiku, in a statement by his media adviser Paul Ibe, said Kutigi showed a great capacity for leadership and broadminded disposition.”

  • Governors to declare state of emergency in education

    THE National Economic Council (NEC) is putting finishing touches to declare state of emergency in education in states of the federation.

    It is aimed at reviving the educational sector across the country,

    Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi was among state governors that attended the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting.

    Fayemi was sworn in as governor on Tuesday.

    He arrived at the Council Chamber venue of the meeting around 10.54a.m

    Fayemi was the centre of attractions as he stepped into the hall being the first time he was attending the NEC meeting under the current dispensation.

    He went round the hall to greet his colleagues.

    The NEC, which comprises of the 36 state governors, ministers in the Economic Management Team, including Minister of Finance, Minister of Budget and National Planning as well as the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), will take a final decision on the proposed state of emergency in its next meeting.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the NEC meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu said the council received interim report from its Ad-hoc committee on the revival of education.

    He was with the Bauchi State Governor Abubakar Mohammed, Minister of State for Health Osagie Ehinare and Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity Laolu Akande.

    According to him, the committee recommended that “all governors to declare a state of emergency in the education sectors of their respective states and demonstrate their commitment to revamping education”.

    From the report, he said there was need for multi-frontal approach to tackle the various factors militating against the achievement of the nation’s educational objectives, in view of the multi-dimensional nature of the crisis in the sector

    The areas to be focused on, Shaibu said, included basic education, promoting adult literacy  and out of school children, reviving Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

    Shaibu said NEC resolved that the federal and state governments should allocate a minimum of 15 per cent of their budgets to education to revolutionalise the sector, as well as constitute special task force to manage the funds and oversee the infrastructural overhaul of selected schools for intervention across the federation.

    He also spoke on states Gross Domestic Computation (SGDP) for 11 states (2013-2017), explaining that the background of the computation was to know the sizes of the economy in each state, how much a state contribute to the economy, what sector is best to invest in a particular state and what are the key sectors that can drive growth.

    It was aimed at creating employment and generating tax revenue for the states, and which sector need government’s intervention or support.

    He noted that states GDP Computation started in 2012 with seven pilot states: Rivers, Lagos, Gombe, Cross River, Kano, Anambra and Niger states, following the expressed interests of states to measure their economic competitiveness over time, understand the structure of their economies and assess contribution to national output

    The deputy governor said analytical results of the 11 states accounted for N33.3 trillion in nominal GDP

    He said council was invited to note that National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has completed the first phase of the SGDP exercise involving 11 states for the five-year period, covering 2013-2017 across the 46 economic activities.

    The Minister of State for Health spoke on the report of the 14th meeting of the Presidential Task Force on Polio, which was presented to NEC.

    According to him, frantic efforts were being made to ensure that Nigeria is certified as a polio free nation.

    The minster also explained that the 36 State governors have committed themselves to actions at ensuring a polio free Nigeria.

  • Governors: our concern about new minimum wage

    GOVERNORS are not against a new minimum wage, the states chief executives said yesterday.

    They are worried about the ability to pay, Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) chairman Abdulaziz Yari said.

    Briefing reporters on the outcome of the forum’s meeting held on Wednesday in Abuja, the Zamfara State Governor said it was okay for the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to get the minimum wage reviewed.

    “But, the problem of states is the capacity to pay what is agreed. As we are talking today, we are struggling with N18,000. Some of the states are paying 35 per cent, some 50 per cent and still some states have salary arrears,” he said, adding: “So, it is not about only reviewing it but how we are going to get the resources to cater for it.”

    On the use of London and Paris Club refund, Yari said NLC National President Ayuba Wabba was invited to brief the forum on states’ performances.

    The Federal Government disbursed the funds to states with the condition that they must spend a larger percentage of it to pay workers’ salaries.

    He said while some states had recorded some progress in line with the condition they signed with the Federal Government, others were still owing arrears.

    “So, we invited the National President of NLC to give us details on how some states performed. Some other states that are not up to date, where are they?

    “So they have signed Memorandum of Understanding with the NLC at the national level and their representative in states on when they are going to overcome the issue of salary arrears.

    “That has been done and it has been taken to the Central Bank Governor to ensure that those states are also paid.”

     

  • Our grouse about Obi’s choice, by governors

    Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi yesterday shed some light on why leaders from the South East are protesting the nomination of former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi as running mate to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar.

    Umahi spoke yesterday after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on socio-economic development.

    The governor, who is the Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum, said: “Nobody is against Peter Obi because he is my friend, competent and you must have seen our pictures together on the social media

    “We must take decisions against the marginalisation of Ebonyi people because if we have to vote, we must be treated with equity.

    “Two names of the nominees came from Anambra, two from Abia and one from Enugu but none came from Ebonyi and Imo.

    “What is wrong with somebody from Ebonyi and Imo and you must know that one of the reasons an Ebonyi man is against regions in the country, is the fear of further marginalization.”

    Umahi maintained that the southeast leaders must sit with the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and if all must have to work together, the leaders must be part of the decision making.

    “I am talking about the southeast people and if six people can come from other regions and take decisions, there must be somebody from the southeast zone.

    “There is nothing like the southeast governor’s stand on the matter but we are only saying that when decisions are taken and people from other regions are invited, those from the southeast must be invited.

    “The southeast leaders never issued any statement on the matter and anybody from the zone who says that our stand is not good, is not a human being’’, he said.

    The governor remarked that if Atiku just picked his running mate without people from other regions seeing the list and making choices, there could have been no complaints.

    “Nobody chooses the vice president for anybody, it is just like a wife issue but if other people were on the list, people from Ebonyi should be there.

    “Even if we would not make the list as the choice is for Abubakar to make, we should know what disqualifies us from being picked,” he said.

    He said that Obi told him that he (Umahi) was supposed to be more embittered and make greater noise than he was making presently, if he (Obi) was in his shoes.

    “When my Chief Press Secretary (CPS) issued a statement congratulating Obi, the zone’s leaders started calling me, saying that I have made the VP alone.

    “I had to issue a counter statement telling them that I was not consulted before the statement was released and that it was an honest mistake from the CPS.

    “I cannot endorse Obi alone and am confident that in further decisions, the Igbo man must be consulted.

    “If the position I had was my sin, I cannot repent from it,” he said.