The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • FG, Labour meeting on minimum wage deadlocked again

    Organised labour now expects President Muhammadu Buhari to wade into negotiations on the implementation of the new minimum wage after fresh talks on the matter stalled again Friday night.

    Although Buhari signed the new national minimum wage bill into law on April 18, 2019, its implementation is yet to start over differences between labour and government on how to spread the increase across board.

    Labour first tabled 30 per cent for workers on grade levels 07 to 14  and 25 per cent for those on levels 15 to 17 but later agreed to come down to 29 per cent and 24 per cent respectively.

    Government is said to be insisting on 9.5 per cent and 5 per cent respectively.

    Yesterday’s meeting took place at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and had in attendance the permanent secretaries of Ministries of Finance, Labour and Employment, General Office of the SGF, and representative of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.

    The Nation was informed that the government team resolved to take the position of both sides in the negotiation to the President and report back on September 4 for continuation of the meeting.

    A source close to the meeting told The Nation that the meeting resolved to adjourn to September 4 to enable Buhari wade into the disagreement over relativity and consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage.

    Sources said both parties refused to shift their positions.

    A Labour source said: “We are demanding 30 per cent for grade levels 07 to 14 and 25 per cent adjustment for grade levels 15 to 17. We came down to 29 and 24 respectively. But they have not even moved from their earlier position of 9.5 and 5 per cent respectively.

    Read Also: Fed Govt: why new minimum wage implementation is delayed

    “We are saying they should make a substantial movement in their offer, but they have refused to do that and that has not gone down well with us.

    “If they make a substantial movement, we will go back to our principals, who are the workers. But they have not.

    “So, we have asked them to report back to their principals—the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the President—so that the President can intervene and for us to put this thing behind us once and for all.

    “So, we have agreed to meet again on the 4th of September so that we can resolve.

    “We want them to shift ground because they have not even moved from 5 per cent to 5.5. If we see reasonable movement, we will go back to the workers and get further mandate.”

    A member of the Labour group in the negotiating council, Lawrence Amaechi, confirmed that both parties agreed to consider their stances and allow President Buhari to decide on the issue.

    He said: “Both parties have agreed on their different positions on the relativity/consequential adjustment of salaries, and it will be submitted to Mr. President. Let him wade into it.

    “We have however adjourned till September 4 to get the outcome from submission to the President.”

    Amaechi who is the National President, Nigerian Civil Service Union, said the payment of the new minimum wage was long overdue, adding that government must be proactive in order not to accumulate arrears which may create another round of agitations by employees.

  • I’m overhauling Police force to overcome insecurity says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja said the entire structure of the Nigerian Police Force is being overhauled, re-positioned and primed with modern technological gadgets to meet rising challenges across the nation.

    He also said an intelligence loop among all security outfits has been created.

    The President spoke while receiving traditional rulers from the North led by His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III at the Presidential Villa.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, the President said the ongoing reform of the police will include recruitment of more hands, cultivation of stronger local intelligence and networking with communities, traditional rulers and adequate training.

    He noted that the return of the Ministry of Police Affairs was purposely to drive the new initiative of ensuring proper provision of security for lives and property, with proactive intelligence gathering to nip crimes in the bud before they escalate.

    “I have decided to meet with Your Highnesses to assure you that government is determined to tackle and deal decisively with all security challenges facing us as a nation.

    “This consultation therefore is to engage you, our royal fathers, so that, collectively, we can arrive at solutions to any and all security problems in the country.

    “We must all play our part to finally address these security challenges, particularly traditional rulers, in your respective communities, where you feel the pulse of the people, being the closest to the populace at the grassroots level,’’ he said.

    Read Also; RUGA: We didn’t receive N6.2b from Buhari – Ohanaeze

    President Buhari urged the traditional rulers to provide more support to security agencies with their versatile knowledge of communities and individuals.

    “These policies and programmes include a robust revamping of police intelligence gathering capacity and the significant boosting of the numbers of security personnel in our local communities. This in specific terms will include recruiting more police officers and doing so whenever possible from their local government areas, where they would then be stationed in the best traditions of policing world-wide.

    “Working with the State governments also, we intend to improve the equipping of the police force with advanced technology and equipment that can facilitate their work. To drive this, I recently created a full-fledged Ministry of Police Affairs.

    “As I said during my meeting with the Traditional Rulers from the South-West, directives have been issued to the appropriate federal authorities to speedily approve licensing for States requesting the use of drones to monitor forests and other criminal hideouts,’’ he added.

    The President said CCTVs will be installed on highways and other strategic locations so that activities in some hidden places can be exposed, more effectively monitored and open to actionable interventions.

    In his remark, the Sultan of Sokoto assured the President of the full support of traditional rulers in the country.

    “We have come to assure you of our total support, total commitment and undiluted dedication to moving the nation forward as one of the best countries of the world,’’ the royal father noted.

    He said the traditional thrones in various communities predated the amalgamation of the protectorates, and all the forefathers had always upheld the virtues of peace, unity and stability, assuring the President that royal fathers across the country had been in constant communication on the security challenges, promising to support the government to succeed.

  • Minimum Wage: Negotiations to continue September 4

    The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), and  representatives of the Federal Government will reconvene on Sept. 4 to continue negotiations on the new national minimum wage.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the negotiators adjourned to the new date to allow President Muhammadu Buhari to wade into the disagreement of relativity and consequential adjustments on the new minimum wage.

    The meeting, which held in Abuja on Friday, had the Permanent Secretaries of finance and labour ministries, as well as representative of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission in attendance.

    Mr Lawrence Amaechi, one of the Labour leaders in the negotiations, told NAN that both parties had agreed to consider their stance and allow the President to decide on the issue.

    “Both parties are holding on to their different positions on the relativity/consequential adjustment of salaries. We shall submit that stance to Mr President to enable him wade into the matter.

    “We have, however, adjourned till September 4, to get the outcome from the team expected to take our positions to the President,” he said.

    Amaechi, who is also the National President, Nigeria Civil Service Union, said that payment of the new minimum wage was long overdue, urging government to be proactive to avoid arrears which could create another round of agitations by workers.

    Read Also: Minimum wage: no worker should be cheated, says Wabba

    Mr Richard Egbule, the immediate past Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, headed the government side.

    NAN recalls that the new minimum wage bill was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari in April.

    However, deliberations continued as the issue of relativity/consequential adjustment of salaries still persisted.

    The federal government, on May 14, inaugurated the Relativity/Consequential Adjustment Committee which, in turn, set up a Technical Sub-Committee to work out the template for the adjustment of salaries of public service employees.

    In July, government proposed a 10 per cent increment for level seven to 14, and a 5.5 per cent increment for workers on level 15 to 17, a proposal Labour outrightly rejected.

    Egbule has, however, insisted that the 30 per cent increase for workers on levels 7-14, and 25 per cent for levels 15-17 demanded by Labour was “unrealistic”.

    NAN

  • Buhari will not fail Nigerians – Presidency

    The Presidency has assured Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari will not disappoint them in this second and last term in delivery of his promises.

    Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity said this, Friday in Abuja, while speaking on behalf of some aides of the President, including himself, who were given a special award of recognition ‘for their contributions in projecting a solid and impressive image of the President in the discharge of their patriotic service to the Nigerian people.’

    The Presidential spokesman said President Buhari was fully aware of the expectations of Nigerians:

    In a statement by the Deputy Director of Information, Abiodun Oladunjoye, he said “The President is committed to making life better for the average Nigerian. At the end of the tenure, Nigerians will look back and say that they have no regrets for voting him.”

    Read Also: Buhari departs Abuja for Japan Sunday

    He however solicited for the support of the media, especially young publications like The Reporters, whose platform presented the awards, in carrying out their responsibilities effectively.

    “We cannot achieve this alone. We count on the support of the citizens. We count on the support of the media, particularly up and coming publications like yours and we are also assuring you of our cooperation when you call on us,” he said.

    The Chairman of the publication, Abdullahi Sabiu, said the awards were given to the Presidential aides after a careful assessment of their roles in the sustenance of the administration.

    Other aides of the President given certificates of recognition were:

    Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity;  Ambassador Lawal Abdullahi Kazaure, State Chief of Protocol; and Bayo Omoboriowo, Personal Photographer to the President.

  • Buhari approves license of online radio, TV stations

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved wide ranging reforms in the broadcasting industry, including the licensing of online radio and television stations

    According to a statement by Mr. Segun Adeyemi, Media aide to the Minister of Information and Culture, the initiative is to bring sanity to the industry.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed it in Abuja on Friday when he received members of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) on a courtesy visit, was responding to a request made by BON for the review of the Broadcasting Code.

    “I just want to use this opportunity to inform you that Mr. President has actually already approved a review of the Broadcast Code that is going to take care of many of the issues you have already raised here.

    “In particular, the President has approved that Web TVs and radio stations, including foreign broadcasters beaming signals into Nigeria, will be licensed because we must bring sanity into this industry.

    “Mr. President has also approved a wide range of reforms in the industry which, at the appropriate platform, I will let you know,” he said.

    The Minister, who promised to carry along members of BON in the review of the Broadcasting Code, restated the commitment of the present administration to free media.

    “I have said it on many platforms that this administration is not

    about to gag the press. No!

    “But we will appeal to the press to please self-regulate for the sake of this country and also for the sake of the industry itself,” he said.

    Mohammed also appealed to BON to partner with the government in the promotion of peaceful co-existence and cohesion to engender progress and national development.

    “Today, if anybody listens to what is being said on some radio or television stations, you will think that this country is at war or that Christians actually cannot live with Muslims or that there is a dichotomy between the North and the South.

    “I think we need to appeal to you to use your platforms for the unity and cohesion of the country,” he said.

    Acting Chairman of BON, Sir Godfrey Ohuabunwa, said the re-appointment of the Minister was deserved because he brought life and great innovation to the broadcast industry during the first tenure of the administration.

    He pledged the readiness of BON to key into the government’s agenda, especially the fight against fake news.

  • Buhari seeks support for health, education

    President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday in Abuja, said his administration will maintain focus on health and education and would require the support of well-to-do individuals in the country to achieve success in these areas.

    The President, who noted the attainment of three years without a recorded polio incident, achieved by his administration with local and international support, said it was something not only to cherish, but one that also requires sustained vigilance.

    Buhari spoke during a courtesy call on him by Mr. Andrew Young, the former Ambassador of the United States to the United Nations, accompanied by the board of Emeka Offor Foundation in Nigeria.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said: “The best asset to give to the people is health and education. You free them from the tendencies of under-development, especially religious and ethnic manipulations which are challenges facing us at this stage of our development”.

    He however expressed optimism that these challenges will wither away with time.

    “We have to march gradually. It is impossible to be in a hurry. We are seeking inclusive development without leaving a majority of our people behind,” the President said.

    He also commended the social and humanitarian activities of Sir Emeka Offor, especially in the areas of education and health:

    “You are translating the success you achieved into social service. This is what the government is doing, so you are helping us in many ways. I commend your activities in the area of health and education to other successful Nigerians.”

    In his address at the meeting, Ambassador Young expressed happiness with the Buhari administration’s effort toward Polio eradication.

    Read Also: Buhari reshuffles permanent secretaries, accounting officers

    He commended the President’s leadership of the country, saying, “at a time when nations of the world are pulling apart, we are happy that Nigeria is stable and secure under you. We will continue working with Nigeria because we consider ourselves as part of the family.”

    In his remarks, Ambassador Howard Jeter, a former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria said President Buhari’s re-election was, “a real boom for the future of Nigeria.”

    He outlined on-going efforts of the Emeka Offor Foundation, in partnership with the Andrew Young Foundation, to supply millions of books to schools, ensure the complete eradication of polio, attack River Blindness with about 40 million afflicted mostly in the South-east and the South-south areas of the country and, in the near future, also start a campaign against cervical cancer, for which Nigeria holds a world record.

  • Buhari to attend TICAD7 in Japan

    President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja on Sunday for Japan to participate in the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) holding in the City of Yokohama, August 28-30, 2019.

    President Buhari’s participation, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity,Chief Femi Adesina, will be his second, having attended TICAD6 in Nairobi, Kenya, in August 2016.

    With the theme, “Africa and Yokohama, Sharing Passion for the Future,” the Opening Session of TICAD7 will be performed by the Japanese Prime Minister and host, Shinzo Abe.

    President Buhari will deliver Nigeria’s Statement during Plenary Session Three in which he will appraise Nigeria-Japan relations and takeaways from TICAD6.

    He will attend a State Banquet and also honour the invitation of Emperor Naruhito to a Tea Reception at the Imperial Palace, Tokyo. In addition to a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Abe.

    Read Also: Border closure: Senator urges caution

    The Nigerian President will also attend some side-events and meet chief executive officers of some Japanese companies with huge investments in Nigeria.

    Formed in 1993, the now triennial TICAD, which has been convened alternately in Japan and Africa since TICAD6, according to the organisers, is the largest international conference held in Japan which “provides an open forum that generates innovative discussion among various stakeholders on African development.” Participants are drawn not only from African countries, but also international organisations, private companies and civil society organisations involved in development.

    TCAD7 is expected to focus on Africa’s “economic transformation and improvements in business environment and institution through private investment and innovation; promotion of resilient and sustainable African society for human security; and peace and stability in support of Africa’s domestic proactive efforts.”

    Nigeria has gained tremendously since her participation in TICAD6 at the highest level, during which Japan pledged $30 billion investment “for the future of Africa combined with the private sector;” $10 billion infrastructure investment, and $500 million for vocational training of 50,000 Africans.

    Since the Nairobi Conference, Japanese government and companies have been very active in supporting Nigeria’s agriculture, healthcare, electricity and youth empowerment.

    President Buhari and his delegation are expected in Yokohama to push for broader Japanese assistance in the areas of science and technology, innovation, human resource development, education, agriculture, power, health and disaster risk reduction, among others.

    President Buhari will be accompanied by Governors Babagana Zulum, AbdulRaham AbdulRazaq and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Borno, Kwara and Lagos States respectively; ministers and other top government officials.

    The President is expected back in Nigeria on Saturday, August 31.

  • RUGA: We didn’t receive N6.2b from Buhari – Ohanaeze

    Ohanaeze Ndigbo has denied the allegations making rounds in the social media that its president general, Chief Nnia Nwodo alongside former deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu received N6.2billion from President Muhammadu Buhari for the establishment of RUGA in the Southeast.

    In a statement issued on Friday, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization said neither Nwodo nor Ekweremadu have authority over lands in the Enugu or anywhere in the Southeast.

    In a statement by the group, it says:

    “Our attention has been drawn to an insidious social media story making the rounds that the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, and a Distinguished Senator and former Deputy Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Ike Ekweremadu, collected a whopping N6.2 billion from President Buhari out of N22.2 billion budgeted to plant RUGA in the country.

    “The story which was purported to have emanated from a faceless traditional ruler from Umuchigbo Abakpa in Enugu State sounded preposterous and deserves to be consigned to the dust bin where it rightly belongs knowing that the purveyors of the story may have underestimated the intelligence of some audience of the social media but who certainly may not be as gullible as they think and will do with some clarifications.

    “Why did the writer not mention the name of the traditional ruler and whether he was there when money exchanged hands? One would have expected their detractors to have established the veracity of their claim by giving an insight into how the money exchanged hands or through which bank accounts they were remitted to Chief Nwodo and Senator Ekweremadu.

    “It will also would have been good if the accusers had clarified if Chief Nwodo and Senator Ekweremadu collected the money as individuals or on behalf of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. For the sake of clarity, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has no control over land in Enugu State or in the South East neither does Chief Nwodo and Senator Ekweremadu.

    “Again, Chief Nwodo and Senator Ekweremadu are not traditional rulers and therefore don’t have custody over land in the South East. They should also have authenticated their allegation by stating where the said RUGA settlements are in Enugu State or in the South East.

    Read Also; Still on the RUGA issue

    “It is sad that upon all Ohanaeze Ndigbo has been doing to improve the image of Ndigbo in the comity of Nigerian Nations and efforts to restore Ndigbo to their rightful place in the country, either some Igbo sons and daughters still allow themselves to be used to deride their own or some external forces are determined to undermine the unity of Ndigbo, afraid of what strength Ndigbo can derive from such unity. It is pertinent to put the public on notice that more of these senseless, vitriolic and demented attacks are expected to come from the stable of these traducers.

    “It is also worthy of note that many Igbo organizations abound which are out to enrich their pockets and have opened bank accounts where they deceive Ndigbo to pay money into, money that is usually unaccounted for.

    “These organizations only lay claim to their existence by attacking Ohanaeze Ndigbo and its leadership. The consolation is that social media users are knowledgeable and discerning to disregard such mercenary organizations.”

  • JUST IN: Buhari, Northern monarchs meet in Abuja

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met with traditional rulers from the north.

    The meeting started at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa around 11.30am.

    Among those at the meeting include the Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Sa’ad, the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido, the Emir of Bida, and Emir of Daura.

    It was still in progress at the time of filing this report

  • We’ll execute projects to change Nigerians’ narrative, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Zaria, Kaduna State, pledged that his administration will continue to implement policies and execute people-oriented projects that will change the narrative for Nigerians.

    Speaking at the commissioning of the Zaria Water Supply Expansion Project, President Buhari said the Federal Government, in spite of lean resources, spent N11.8 billion on the construction of the multipurpose 186.1 Million Cubic Meters Galma Dam as a contribution to the project.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, said ”This project is the culmination of the joint efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Kaduna State Government, Islamic Development Bank and the African Development Bank.

    ”The multilateral nature of the funding for this project underscores the great importance the Kaduna State Government and the Federal Government attach to this project, which is designed to provide adequate water to the growing city of Zaria and its environs, ” President Buhari said.

    Commending Governor Nasiru El Rufai of Kaduna State for completing the water project which had hitherto languished for years, the President said: ‘‘I am aware that the governor undertook to offset all outstanding payments to the contractor in 2015 which led to the resumption of construction activities at the 150 Million Litres-per- day water treatment plant.’’

    The President equally praised the Kaduna State government for demonstrating an appreciable commitment to development through people-oriented projects.

    ”To our multilateral partners, the Islamic Development Bank and the African Development Bank, we are grateful for your part in providing the needed funding to undertake and complete the transmission mains, service reservoirs, booster stations and distribution network.

    Read Also: Buhari didn’t judge my tribe or religion but performance- Ikeazor

    ”We could not have done it without your contributions. We are hopeful that this partnership will continue as we seek to reach out to other communities, cities and states in Nigeria to provide water facilities and other essential services,” he said.

    The President challenged the Kaduna State Water Corporation, responsible for operating and maintaining the system, to live up to expectation, urging beneficiaries to be responsible citizens by ensuring vigilance over the facilities and payment for water consumed.

    He noted that water infrastructure investments such as this one would serve for decades if they are well managed and well maintained.

    ”The project is partly funded by loans that will be repaid by coming generations. We should ensure that they are appreciative even as they continue to pay back the loans,” the President said.

    President Buhari, who congratulated ”the good people of Zaria for being the beneficiaries of such a timely and life-changing water project”, commended the contractors and consultants for the quality and timely delivery.