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  • BBNaija 2019: Top five housemates emerge

    AFTER three months, in which a total of 26 individuals have dwelled in the house, it is now down to the top five housemates in Big Brother Naija, Africa’s biggest reality television show.

    This year’s edition has all been about “Pepper Dem”, and the last five standing – Seyi, Frodd, Mike, Mercy and Omashola – all have an equal chance of finishing their once in a lifetime adventure by clinching the grand prize worth N60 million.

    It has been an intriguing journey for the top five housemates, who have all displayed a combination of wisdom, street sense, confidence, drama and enjoyed a truck load of luck to emerge as the show’s finalists.

    The show’s finalists were decided on Monday after Frodd exercised his power as the Ultimate Veto Power (UVP) holder. In a draw of lots, Frodd picked the gold Bet9ja coin of Diane, which signaled her eviction, and guaranteed Omashola – the other housemate in the mix of possible eviction – a place in the final.

    During the penultimate week, Seyi, the self-professed Sugar Daddy aka sucre papito of the house got to the final by virtue of winning the Head of House task. Frodd was also guaranteed a spot after clinching the Ultimate Veto Power title, while Mike booked his spot after he was saved by the viewers. Meanwhile, Mercy – popularly known as “Lambo” and “Queen of highlights” – became the last girl standing after she purchased immunity in week 12.

    The five housemates have been over the moon since ‘Biggie’ confirmed their spot in the final. The last few days have also seen the finalists taking stock of all that has happened throughout their stay in the house, knowing that the competition is coming to end.

    But perhaps tellingly is the tension that has gripped each of them going into Sunday’s final. Although they have all wished themselves well, each of the remaining housemates desperately wish that they are declared winner by Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, the show’s host.

    The boisterous trio of Seyi, Omashola and Mercy – who was issued two strikes for misconduct – seem to have cooled off a bit this week with their arguments as they tread softly whilst seeking the support of the viewers, who decide the ultimate winner. It also seems there is no sparring partner for the last female in the house as all the male contestants have decided to be courteous towards her.

    But the tranquility experienced has not in any way halted the shouting matches in the house among the trio of Omashola, Seyi and Frodd. Nicknamed the “slow tiger”, Frodd  still  retained  his unique trait   of not hesitating to express his emotions whenever he feels hurt and he did so on Wednesday in his altercation with the duo during one of their tasks on Wednesday.

    For Mike, he has decided to be the “classic man” that he has been on the show- calm, unassuming and supportive of his fellow housemates irrespective of the competition. He has, however, spiced up his behavior this final week as he now frequently utters the slangs he has learnt in the house to the surprise of viewers. It seems someone’s socialization process with the Nigerian culture has happened just fine.

    The finalists, from reactions on social media, are probably the most formidable housemates deserving of their place in the final week of the competition.

    With the finish line moments away for the “Pepper Dem” gang, who will be declared the last housemate standing on Sunday, 6 October?

     

  • Tortuous path to peace in Zamfara

    Zamfara State governor, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, in company with his Sokoto State counterpart, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, laid the foundation for three rural grazing areas (RUGA) and flagged off a medical outreach for the Fulani communities across the state. The move, Matawalle said, was inspired by his belief that the most serious issue in the social lives of the people of the northern region is perennial clashes between farmers and herdsmen.

    The primary issues at stake, according to him, have always been those of access to grazing land, water points and cattle routes. In recent times, the conflicts have assumed an uglier dimension, prompting the state government to go the way of the rest of the world by transforming cattle rearing from the nomadic style to the sedentary one. This, he believes, will ensure harmonious coexistence between farmers and herdsmen as well as the general populace.

    Matawalle, who noted that the consequences of the banditry and kidnapping experienced in Zamfara State was beyond human imagination, observed that the historical ties between the hitherto peacefully coexisting communities had been ruptured, with the rural economy almost destroyed and potential investors scared away.

    Speaking during the foundation laying ceremony for the new RUGA settlements, Matawalle said: “On assumption of office, we initiated a dialogue and reconciliation strategy which has recorded tremendous success. Today, apart from laying down their arms and embracing peace, the repentant bandits are collaborating with the state in ensuring the sustenance of peace and order in the state.”

    Matawalle, who disclosed that three pilot rural grazing areas would be constructed, one each in the three senatorial districts, as a pilot programme, also revealed that each settlement would be constructed with the sum of N2,877,000,000 each, totaling about N8.6 billion for the three. More, he said, would be constructed depending on the success of the pilot projects.

    Explaining the facilities that will be available at the settlements, Matawalle said that each of them would be equipped with state-of-the art facilities covering 100 hectares of land, which would make the environment lively for the community and enhance cattle production. The facilities, according to him, include veterinary clinics, cattle ranches, 210 housing units of three  and two-bedroom flats, a primary school of 12-classroom capacity, a secondary school, an Islamiyya school, a primary healthcare centre of 30 beds capacity and an earth dam.

    Other facilities at the settlements will include a cattle cottage, a grazing yard, a modern abattoir, a Jumu’at mosque, a cemetery, a police station, a mini market consisting of 140 open and locked-up shops, a livestock market, access roads covering the entire vicinity of the settlement, irrigation farms and canals, a dairy collection centre, 12 hand pumps and four solar motorized ones. Each of the settlements will also contain a medicinal grass band that matures within 16 weeks, which will improve the quantity and quality of cow milk; a shelter belt and a social centre for sporting activities, ceremonies and other community engagements.

    Peace initiatives and disarmament

    The prevailing peace in Zamfara State, which has seen warring factions of the local vigilante groups, popularly known as Yan sa Kai, sheathe their swords and caused bandits to release their captives, was facilitated by the peace efforts initiated by Governor Matawalle and the state’s Commissioner of Police, Usman Nagoggo.

    It was based on the sanctity of words from the two custodians of the law that about 400 captives were released. “It is important to note that almost all the captives who were deprived of their freedom in the past seven to eight months have regained their right to move freely through the current peace and reconciliation initiative,” Nagoggo said.

    The way to peace in the state was divided into three phases. The first phase was ensuring that all captives were released unconditionally. The second was to build mutual trust and understanding to erase all forms of suspicion arising from the peace and reconciliation efforts. The trust built by the police and the government promptly started yielding positive result, so much so that the bandits are now becoming eyes and ears of the peace process initiators in the forests while also acting as shields for the crisis-prone areas and as vanguards for the innocent citizens.

    According to Nagoggo, “the bandits are always ready to take on anybody among their kinsmen who is not ready to toe the line of peace as contemplated by the Inspector-General of Police and the Zamfara State Government. Instances abound where the bandits killed some recalcitrant ones among them, recovered their rifles and handed them over to us.”

    The disarmament programme began on a very slow note, the police patiently waited like the vulture until the successes of the disarmament programme began to manifest, culminating in the submission of an avalanche of weapons to the government even though it was done in batches.

    Explaining the process by which relative peace was achieved in the state, Dagoggo cited the example of an incident on July 25, when an AK-47 rifle with Breech No. 701883/1988 and four rounds of live ammunition were brought to him by one of the elders in one of the districts in Maru Local Government Area (LGA) after some repentant bandits had silenced the recalcitrant ones.  Then on August 19, an AK-47 rifle with Breech No. 56/1210035/00 was also recovered from another strong headed bandit, whom he said has since paid for the crime he intended to commit.

    “It is important to stress that the closest relations of the unrepentant bandits were the foot soldiers of the peace and reconciliation efforts in Zamfara,” he said.

    On August 26, another AK-47 rifle with Breech No. 0701421 was also recovered by one of the bandits in Birnin Magaji from one of his boys who was on his way to rustling cows with the same AK-47. But he was arrested by the master himself and the AK-47 has since been handed over to the state Commissioner of Police.

    By implication, he said, the bandits are now fighting some of their own who are not ready to follow the path of peace and constituted themselves into stumbling blocks to the already well received peace in the state.

    The third phase of the peace process, he noted, encompassed the disarmament programme which he said was expected to be tedious and challenging because the bandits themselves were having serious issues among different groups in their quest for power and supremacy in the bush and other ester codes associated with the status of being a leader.

    He said: “My assessment after intensive interviews with the bandits was that they wanted to surrender the arms but they needed to reconcile their differences. We have entered into the arena to act as an arbiter between the warring factions to achieve the desired result. The good news is that they have stopped buying weapons of whatever calibre. So the influx of weapons into the state has stopped. All we need to do is to continue disarming the current holders of arms in the state.”

    The Commissioner of Police, however, said the newfound peace in Zamfara State has not diverted the attention of the police to ignore other heinous crimes in the urban areas. To this end, he said, the Command has made a breakthrough in the arrest of various suspects, including five notorious armed robbers and recovery of fire arms and ammunition as well as a mobile phone.

    He identified the suspects as Mohammed Musa a.k.a Gambo, Shafi’u Hassan, Safiyanu Sanusi, Hussaini Musa and Abdullahi Umar (an informant), while the exhibits recovered are one AK-47 rifle with Breech No. 410267, 2 magazines loaded with 15 rounds of live ammunition and Techno T61 handset.

    The police again on the 10th August, 2019 received a report that a rifle with Breech No. 410267 with 2 magazines loaded with 16 rounds of live ammunition, three cell phones and the sum of  N28,000 belonging to one Madugu Umar, an operative of the Nigeria Custom Service, were stolen inside his room at the Custom Barrack. It was the same rifle that was said to have been used to commit an armed robbery at Rock Church Hayin Buba area, Gusau on August 16. The police swung into action upon receiving the information and launched a manhunt immediately.

     

    Disarmament in view

    This disarmament programme started recording steady progress when bandits and militia group surrendered about 100 different brands of rifle to the police. Both sides of the militia group were said to have amassed weapons for different purposes. While the bandits were said to have acquired their weapons mainly for cattle rustling and defence of the Fulani race, the “Yansakai” were said to have acquired light weapons to defend their farmlands, cattle and villages against the bandits and other related violence.

    “When the battle line was drawn, the weapons were used to cause havoc, destruction, deprivation of freedom, stealing and other forms of negative tendencies,” Nagoggo said, stressing that their decision to surrender their weapons was borne out of trust, confidence and absence of stigmatisation on the part of the committee responsible for the disarmament programme.

    In all this, he said, the energetic and intellectual capacity of the Zamfara State Government played a key role, because it enabled both sides of the conflict to see reasons to begin to surrender the weapons. He revealed that Governor Matawalle, in his wisdom and unique sense of humour, was able not only to guide the committee but give it absolute support.

    The committee, according to Nagoggo, had between July 25 and September 5 to receive the rifles and ammunition from bandits. He said the first set of rifles surrendered were brought in by some of the relations of the recalcitrant bandits who refused to toe the line of disarmament and amnesty. “Their patriotic relations were able to silence them, collect the rifles and hand them over to us,” he said.

    The second set, he said, was made up largely of rifles and pistols voluntarily brought in by the bandits themselves as a sign that they had accepted the peace process wholeheartedly. Thus, a total number of 49 rifles were surrendered to the committee by this set in the first batch.

    Nagoggo further revealed that the second category of weapons received by the police were the light weapons received from the local vigilante groups (“Yansakai”), explaining that such weapons do not have breech numbers or any other symbols that could make their identification easy. Yet they are as dangerous as the conventional rifles and the number of lives that had been lost to them could only be imagined,” he added.

    He further revealed that the den guns are of a different caliber; much of an imitation of AK-47, RPG, LMC and other sophisticated weapons described as weapons of mass destruction.

  • 26 NYSC members to repeat service year in Kano

    No fewer than 26 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Kano State, have been asked to repeat their service year for absconding from their places of primary assignment.

    Alhaji Ladan baba, the state NYSC Coordinator disclosed this on Friday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano.

    Baba said any corps member found guilty of absconding from his or her place of primary assignment for at least three months would repeat the service year.

    He added that the NYSC had also extended the service year of 26 corps members from between one and four months for being absent from their place of primary assignment without permission.

    Read Also: NYSC hands over 65 ‘fake graduates’ to police

    The coordinator explained that out of the 1,942 corps members that successfully passed out 1,220 were males, while 719 were females.

    He said two of the corps members were listed for the state’s award; two given letters of commendation for their excellent performance during their primary assignment and Community Development Services (CDS).

    He said that corps members in the 2019 Batch ‘C’ stream made valid contributions to their host communities, especially in the areas of Education, Health and Agriculture.

    Baba called on them not to rely on government job, but to utilise skills acquired during their stay in camp to be self employed.

  • Buhari to present N10.2tr 2020 budget Tuesday

    Sanni Onogu, Tony Akowe and Victor Oluwasegun Abuja 

     

    The picture of 2020 Budget expected to be delivered by President Muhammadu Buhari next Tuesday became clearer on Thursday.

    The final budget draft is expected to be premised on the on the 2020-2022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) passed by the National Assembly.

    The MTEF/FSP was submitted to the Senate and the House of Representatives by the President last week. Its passage followed the approval of the Senator Solomon Adeola-led Senate Committee on Finance by the Upper Chamber and the James Faleke-led Finance Committee in the House of Representatives.

    In the approved MTEF/FSP 2020-2022, the National Assembly increased the Federal Government’s proposed expenditure for next year from N10.002 trillion to 10,729 trillion, which amounted to N179.398 billion increase.

    Both chambers of the National Assembly also increased the oil benchmark from $55 per barrel to $57 per barrel, representing a $2 increase.

    The Senate increased next year’s revenue target by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)  from N942.6 billion to N1.5 trillion, representing N557.4 billion increase.

    It, however, retained the exchange rate at N305 to the dollar and oil production benchmark at 2.18mbpd as proposed in the MTEF/FSP by the Executive.

    The Adeola-led committee recommended the adoption of N1.5 trillion for new borrowing  by the government, following the reduction of N200 billion, which was sourced from the increase of revenue target of the NCS.

    The committee called for the amendment to the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA Act) and laws governing the revenue generating agencies to align with current realities.

    These were the highlights of the recommendations of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Finance Report on 2020-2022 MTEF/FSP, which was considered on Thursday.

    The Committee’s recommendations which were approved by the Senate, are as follows:

    ”Following intensive engagement with NNPC and relevant information obtained during the session, the committee recommends the adoption of 2.18mbpd as daily production output in 2020. In view of concerted effort by NNPC and security agencies the menaces of oil theft and vandalization, the 2.18mbpd would be realizable.

    ”The committee recommends the adoption of $57/barrel as crude oil benchmark price for the fiscal year 2020.

    ”The revenue target of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) of N942.6 billion for 2020 should be increased to N1.5 trillion, as a result of the performance of NSC in last 9 months with three months still outstanding.

    ”The NCS revenue as at September stood at N1 trillion against the budget figure of N969. 8 billion for the year 2019. The Joint Committee commends the NCS for exceeding the targeted revenue despite the global economic challenges and closure of the Nigerian boarders.

    ”The sum of N557.4 billion from the revenue increment of NCS be used to reduce borrowing by N200 billion and increase capital expenditure thereby reducing budget deficit from N1.7 trillion to N1.5 trillion and also raising total capital to MDA by N357 billion, from N1.01 trillion to N1.367 triilion.

    ”The exchange rate of N305/$ should be maintained for economic stability. While more work should done by the Honourable Minister of Finance and all economic advisers and her team on improving the economic growth by increasing the GDP and reducing the inflation rate to single digit.

    “The saving on income accruing from the increase of the benchmark amounting to N172 billion which represent the Federal Government potion of the $2 added to the benchmark be used to pay salaries and emolument of the proposed 30,000 new employees.

    “Proper investigation be carried out on the e-collection stamp duties domicile with Central Bank of Nigeria for the past years so as to show probity and accountability and of course increase the revenue base of the country.

    “Immediate amendment of the National Assembly Act on Production sharing Contracts (PSC) with lOCs. Proper investigation be carried out on NNPC so as to ascertain the actual cost associated with the Joint Venture agreements.

    ”More government-owned enterprises budget be added to the nation’s budget to ensure proper checks and balances among government agencies.

    ”Debt Management Office (DMO) should put more efforts and strategies in managing the foreign and local debts.

    “Total estimated expenditure of the Federal Government should be increased from N10.002 trillion to N10,729.4 trillion.

    “National Assembly should expedite action on the passage of the finance bill which will be brought along with the National Budget into Law for easy implementation of the 2020 budget, most especially in the area of VAT.

    “The committee calls for an urgent review/amendment to the FRA Act and the various Laws of the revenue generating agencies to align with current realities.

    ”The committee recommends earmarking 1% of the Consolidated Revenue Fund to finance the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund to be classified as Statutory Transfer.

    ”The committee recommends the adoption of N1.5 trillion as the amount for new borrowing as a result of reduction of N200 billion which was sourced from the increase of revenue target of the NCS.

    “However, borrowing must be project-tied. In borrowing more government must remain focused and ensure that it funds critical projects that will increase productivity and contribute to finance financing such debt.”

    The committee observed that crude oil receipt accounted for over 50 per cent of the Federal Governemnt revenue and about 90 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earings.

    According to the committee, crude oil production and export will continue to have important implication on federal fiscal operation.

    It added:  ”Over the last three years, crude production average 1.92mbpd. However, following  consultations with stakeholders, crude oil production is estimated at 2.18mbpd, 2.2mbpd and 2.3mbpd in 2020, 2021 and 2022.”

    The committee also noted that oil prices had generally been rising since April 2016 as Bonny Light crude oil price rose from an average of $43 per barrel in 2016 to $56.2 in 2017 and $72.1 in 2018, partly due to geographical tensions.

    It said that in 2019, bonny light crude oil price increased steadily from January average of $60/barrel (to) a six year high well above $70/barrel between April and May 2019.

    The committee added: “It is noteworthy, that volatllity of crude all markets and fluctuating price requlres constant revlew and forcast.

    ”The non-oil revenue for 2020, 2021 and 2022 is budgeted to be as follows: N1,836,693,720.000; N2,205,807,930,754 and N2,337,091,481,680 respectively,” the committee said.

    The committee said it observed that during the public hearing on the 2020-2022 MTEF & FSP, the salaries and remunerations for the proposed recruitment of 30,000 personnel in Police, Army, Immigration and civil defence was not captured.

    It also said that the total VAT proposed in the 2020-2022 MTEF/FSP, amounting to N23trillion, can be realised only after the amendment of the Finance bill is passed into law by the National Assembly.

    The committee, however, frowned at the attitude of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the under-disclosure of the e-collection of stamp duties.

    The committee observed that the activities of NNPC as it relates to cost of production is shrouded in secrecy, “the direct deduction of cost from revenue without recourse to relevant agencies of government is unacceptable.”

    It also noted that 10 Government Owned Enterprises (GOEs) budget would be presented along with the 2020 National Budget.

    Read Also: Farmers hail Buhari for free fertilisers

    It said: ”These GOES include FAAN, NCAA, NlMASA, NPA, NAMA, Shippers Council, NDIC, NCC e.t.c.”

    “The committee observed that the exchange rate of N305/$ is maintained over the past three years. Also noted that the GDP growth rate is currently standing at 2.93 per cent and an inflation rate at 10.81 per cent.

    “That most of the revenue generating agencies have failed to comply with relevant extant law of the Fiscal Responsibility Act which stipulates payment of 80 per cent of Operational surpluses to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

    “The Committee observed that the Federal Government is stepping up investment in health and education to fill the skills gap in the economy, and meet the international target set under the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    “The Federal Government is earmarking one per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Funds to finance the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund to be classified as Statutory Transfer. The government beliefs that investing in people is a core objectives of ERGP.”

    The Senate on Thursday received a formal request from the President to present the Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly.

    The request, was dated October 2, 2019 and addressed to the President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, according to a statement by his Special Assistant (Press), Ezrel Tabiowo.

    The letter reads: “May I crave the kind indulgence of the Distinguished Senate to grant me the slot of 1400 hours on Tuesday, 8th October, 2019, to formally present the 2020 Appropriation Bill to the Joint session of the National Assembly.

    Confirming the Tuesday date, Adeyeye said: “On Tuesday, by 2pm, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari will address a joint sitting of the National Assembly on the 2020 National budget.

    “On Tuesday, we will still have our plenary but we will adjourn and move to the House of Representatives to receive the President and welcome his address.

    “I think this is in tandem with the 9th Senate’s Legislative Agenda and part of the Senate President’s manifestoes when he was running for this office to change the budget circle in Nigeria and now the President has taken a cue and we want to commend him.

    “He is going to present the budget by Tuesday next week which is unprecedented in the last few years.”

    Adeyeye described the proposed presentation as unprecedented in the history of the nation’s democracy.

    He said the National Assembly is determined to pass the budget before its Christmas break.

    He added: “In fact, since the beginning of this democracy, the budgets have been presented in December but this is the first time we are going to receive the budget by early October.

    ”I can assure you that with the determination and the zeal I see in the Senate and even the House of Reps, that budget would be passed before we go in Christmas recess so that implementation can take place between January to December.

    “Right now, I have seen some MDAs that we are interacting with who say they are even yet to receive the release of the budget which was just recently passed.

    “So they have only less than three months to implement. By December they will return the money back to the treasury and that has been the problem in Nigeria while we keep on rotating in one circle like a berber’s chair and never moving forward.”

     

  • Oshiomhole: Dickson is afraid of imminent loss

    Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, on Thursday explained the recent verbal attacks by the Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, against the party’s governorship candidate David Lyon,  as a sign of fear and imminent loss.

    Oshiomhole, who spoke at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja during a peace and reconciliation meeting with Bayelsa  stakeholders,  including the aggrieved,  also expressed confidence that the APC would win the November 16  election.

    According to the party national chairman, the people of Bayelsa State had already become weary of the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) style of leadership, noting that  the time of the party, which had ruled the state since 1999, is up, hence the fear by the governor.

    He, however urged the stakeholders  to bury their differences and unite, noting “if we stand together, no one can beat us, unity becomes more important as we approach the election”.

    Oshiomhole  condemned the reported verbal attacks on the party’s governorship candidate, Mr David Lyon, by Governor Dickson, describing the governor’s outburst as unbecoming of the office he occupies.

    Read Also: Dickson redeploys youth commissioner

    He explained, however, that the governor’s attack on Lyon was a sign that he was already afraid that his party’s candidate, Senator Duoye Diri, would lose the election to the APC candidate.

    “PDP has dominated Bayelsa politics since 1999 and I know that people want a change, they don’t want people to continuously deceive them. They want change, they want to sweep away the ugly elements of the past and bring on board a new vision that will make Bayelsa the envy of many other states.

    “Let me use this opportunity to directly reply my friend, the governor of Bayelsa State, Governor Dickson. I think he has allowed his fears, he has allowed his lack of confidence, he has allowed the imminent defeat that awaits him and his party to becloud his judgement, to use inelegant language and uncouth statement to describe a fellow citizen of Bayelsa.

    “When a governor describes one of his own, purely on account of political differences, using names of terrorism and such other things and accusing a foreign company, then he has already missed it. I can understand his fears; when people who have assumed that they are the leaders of the Ijaw and they are the lions, when they see a real, authentic, organic lion, they are bound to be afraid.

    “We will not come to his own level, but on this occasion we will invoke a popular statement made by Michelle Obama. At the peak of the last presidential election in US, when she said “when they go low, we fly high”. So, when Dickson goes low, APC will fly high, we will not join him in using gutter language to describe neither his office, which we respect, nor his person, nor even their candidate who is about to be defeated.

    “APC rejects and condemns in strongest terms, the raw language, unbecoming of the office of a governor, by a man I otherwise admire, Governor Dickson, the way he has described our candidate” he said.

    The party chairman uged  Lyon, not to be deterred or be swayed to lose focus of what is important in the campaigns, admonishing that while the PDP camp continues to attack his person, he should keep focus on what the APC would do to change the lives of the people for the better when elected.

    Among other members of the Bayelsa APC at the meeting was one of the aggrieved aspirants challenging the victory of Lyon at the party’s governorship primary, Mr Preye Aganaba.

     

  • Stalemate over new wage

    THE government moved on Thursday to prevent workers’ strike over the implementation of the new minimum wage.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige, met with Trade Union Congress (TUC) President Quadri Olaleye, 24 hours after Labour issued a one-week ultimatum.

    At the end of the meeting, both sides held on to their grounds.

    While the government said paying the new minimum wage of N30,000 the way Labour is requesting is unrealistic, the TUC President said the government must make haste.

    The TUC President told reporters after the meeting: “You are aware that the first burning issue in the country is the issue of minimum wage; we told the Vice President the need  to take a quick action on the issue of minimum wage;

    “We have given an ultimatum already to the Federal Government and you know Labour will not joke with that.

    “So, we have encouraged him to also encourage the President to do something very urgent before the expiration of that ultimatum given to government.

    “We also mentioned the issue of job creation; that mostly it is not the responsibility of government to create jobs; that it is the private sector , individuals that can create jobs; so, we have encouraged the Vice President that they should look at the retirees as a means of creating jobs; we have suggested the way to do that and we will submit paper.

    “We also mentioned the issue of insecurity; we have mentioned the quantum of money spent so far on security in the country; we have advised that money should be used to revive the companies that have been closed down in this country especially the textiles and the money can also be used to create other companies that will create jobs instead of continuously spending this money on security when we are not achieving much.”

    Olaleye said he could not say if the Vice president’s response was positive or negative.

    “You know as the representative of the President, he will try to mediate with the unions to show understanding with the government.

    “I am telling you that we will go further with the government to discuss on better ways to achieve this.” he stated

    Ngige insisted that N580 billion is needed to meet the consequential adjustment to the minimum wage.

    He said: “We are not talking about the implementation of minimum wage per se; what we are talking about is the consequential movements as a result of the minimum wage for the least paid worker.

    “The minimum wage for the least paid worker today is N30,000; for the last man in the lowest rung of the ladder. So, if we do consequential adjustments and go up and do a 30 per cent raise across board on a sliding scale or do even the 25 per cent which labour is asking government to do, government will need to go and look for an extra N580 billion to effect that; and that government doesn’t have.

    “And one of the cardinal principles of consequential adjustment negotiations which we  call in labour parlance, Collective Bargaining Agreement, is ability to do; the wherewithal to pay; the capacity to pay.

    “The maxim of cut your coat according to your cloth comes in place there and government has done the consequential movement budget in 2019 budget which is what government can pay in order to maintain the balance in the recurrent expenditure, otherwise, we will overshoot.”

    He said meeting Labour’s demand would reduce capital expenditure in the budget to 15 per cent.

    “You know that this government said that we will do 70-30 mix; 70 for recurrent expenditure, 30 percent only for capital expenditure. Today, with what labour is asking us to pay, if we pay that, it will translate to 15 per cent capital expenditure and 85 per cent recurrent and that doesn’t augur well with the country.

    Read Also: Fed Govt to reconstitute minimum wage panel

    “It means we will abandon road construction; it means we will abandon refurbishment of airports, the rail that we are doing and even the schools that we are managing, the hospitals, everything will have to be abandoned and we will use everything to pay salaries and wages.

    “Labour cannot go on strike; they are Nigerians; we will open up negotiations next week and  we will lay our books open for them to see. It is government’s books; they will see it; it is part of negotiations,” he stated.

    Speaking ealier during a visit by the leadership of the United Labour Congress (ULC) led by its President Mr. Joe Ajaero, Ngige urged the workers’ union to show understanding in view of the current economic realities.

    He said the government was avoiding a situation where it would have to lay off workers, adding that this would add to the burden of the citizenry.

    Ngige appealed to Labour to accept the consequential adjustment from levels seven to 17, adding that the government had only three months left to implement the new minimum wage.

    He said the government would not tell the Labour leaders what it could not pay, adding that no worker deserved to be owed salary.

    The minister said: “There is no problem with disagreement in the labour system. We can sometimes disagree to later agree, on the national minimum wage.

    “The government cannot afford that kind of money now. Besides the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is more interested in the lowest cadre of workers which are those on GL 1 step 1 and GL 6 step 1, these are the ones who the N30,000 will have greater impact on.

    “Government has done their own homework and brought out what they can use to defend this consequential adjustment. GL 1 to 6 does not have any problem, but GL 7 to 14 Band and GL 15 to 17 band, this is where we have the problem.

    “So, if you push government to go and accede to an increment which its resources cannot accommodate, you are indirectly asking them to retrench workers so that the few that are remaining will get this ‘big big’ money.

    “We don’t want that. From 2015 the President has made it clear that he is not out to inflict pains on Nigerians and that he does not want to create unemployment but even at that our increase in population is galloping and our resources are not consequentially increasing  to meet up. That is why we have a lot of unemployed youths on the street today.

    “We need to arrive at an agreement as soon as possible so that we can use the 2019 budget allocation to defray this consequential adjustment because it will be bad if we are unable to do it and we finish this financial year by December because the budget circle is going to return to January/December 2020 so we have three months only before this recurrent funds as well are swept back into government treasury, that is the law.”

    He regretted the inability of the joint negotiating team of both the government and Labour to agree on the consequential adjustments, insisting that the new wage may become bloated by workers on GL 7-14 and 15-17.

    Ajaero appealed to the minister for prompt payment of the new minimum wage, stressing that the private sector must also be compelled to pay the N30, 000 wage.

     

  • IG Adamu to political actors: play by the rules

    Nicholas Kalu, Abuja

     

    INSPECTOR General of Police Mohammed Adamu, has assured Bayelsa and Kogi states stakeholders of adequate security during the November 16 governorship elections..

    Addressing senior police officers in a Conference at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, Adamu said the elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states will again put their professionalism and doggedness to test.

    “Let me seize this opportunity to assure all citizens and stakeholders, including the international community of our determination to work with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in creating conducive and enabling environment that will guarantee the peaceful conduct of the elections.

    “While assuring law abiding citizens and stakeholders of their safety during the elections, let me warn all political actors who may want to adopt undemocratic and illegal means to achieve their aspirations to bury such thoughts now or be prepared to face the consequences, as they will be identified, isolated and made to face the wrath of the law.

    “Therefore, parents and guardians are strongly advised to caution their children and wards not to allow themselves to be used to undermine the democratic process in the two states.

    “Politics is a game and it should be driven by service-orientation, patriotism, and overriding national security interest rather than unrestrained narrow and desperate individual considerations. All political actors and stakeholders are, accordingly, admonished to play the political game in accordance with the law and democratic norms,” Adamu said.

    The conference had strategic police managers drawn from the 12 Zonal Police Commands, the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT.

    He said the year is gradually running down and as the lead internal security agency, they must be reminded of their critical role in projecting and strengthening the security architecture in their Commands towards ensuring that anticipated security threats are prevented in the most professional manner.

    Read Also: UPDATED: Police Council confirms Adamu as IG

    “While this shall form part of our discussion at this meeting, my charge to you is to return to your Commands and evolve strategies and implementation plans that will be based on the broad framework to be reviewed here today and submit your End of the Year Security Operational Plans to my Office through the Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of Operations. To complement your efforts, I can assure that we shall soon re-launch and deploy new fleet of patrol vehicles under the Safer Highway Scheme to highways and other identified vulnerable points in your Commands.

    “Overall, I am encouraged by your commitment to duty and your determination to align with my leadership vision in relation to the adoption of community-led and intelligence-driven policing standards in the attainment of our internal security mandate.”

  • Lampard: Osimhen has fantastic future

    Olalekan Okusan

     

    CHELSEA’S coach, Frank Lampard has described Lille of France striker, Victor Osimhen as a player with a lot of potential to be great in future after the Nigerian scored against his team in the UEFA Champions League game on Tuesday.

    Osimhen first champions League goal could not prevent his team, Lille from going down 2-1 at home loss to Chelsea. The Nigerian striker also had a chance to level scores toward the end of the games but Chelsea’s goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga made a good save to deny the Nigerian hitman.

    Lampard in a post-match interview,  admitted that the 20-year-old Nigerian  was a threat to his defenders with his speed and agility during the encounter.

    The Chelsea legend, who recorded his first victory in the UEFA Champions League said: “In the preparation for this game, I have been watching his (Osimhen) performances for the season and now I know his story as well.

    “He’s hugely impressive and I know tonight match is going to be a very tough match for our defenders, not just for him but for their attacking threat. They (Lille) have a lot of speed, there is performance individually and I thought he (Osimhen) was really good and he has to get the defenders probably all the time as he likes to run behind defenders.

    “He is fast; he has everything and I think it was tough for us to play against him so I wish him well. His story is great where he has come from, where he is now and it looks like a fantastic career ahead of him,” said Lampard.

    An excited Osimhen thanked God for scoring his first Champions League but was not happy that they lost the tie.

    “Not the result we wanted, but we will keep fighting to get it right, major thanks to GOD almighty for my first @championsleague goal, we move @losclive,” Osimhen wrote on his Twitter handle.

    Lille remains bottom of Group H after two defeats from their opening two games of the competition.

    They will face the Spanish side, Valencia in their next game.

  • Davido backs Omoshola to win #BBNaija2019

    Music superstar David Adeleke popularly known as Davido has declared full support for Omoshola’s ambition to win the Big Brother Naija 2019 show.

    In a tweet on Friday morning, he revealed that he had three housemates who were his close friends in the 2019 Big brother House.

    The trio, according to him, are Kim Oprah, Tacha and Omashola.

    He explained since Kim Oprah and Tacha were out of the show, he had no other option than to support Omashola, who is his only friend left in the show.

    Read Also: I’m quitting smoking soon–Davido

    He asked his fans and followers to kindly vote for Omashola.

    Davido tweeted: “I had 3 friends in the big brother house and I said to myself It wouldn’t be fair if I chose one.. the 3 were Kim Oprah, Tacha and Omashola.. Since it’s just down to won!! It’s only right! So I say Omashola”

  • Plateau Govt promotes 9,000 teachers

    The Plateau Government on Friday said it has released the promotion of 9,000 teachers across the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

    Prof. Matthew Suleiman, the chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), disclosed this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos.

    Suleiman said the promotion was part of the board’s motivation strategy to ensure good performance and commitment to duty.

    “Today, we have approved the promotion of over 9,000 teachers, as a mark of honour to them in the celebration of the World Teachers’ Day.

    “The welfare of teachers is taken very seriously by the Gov. Simon Lalong-led administration, salaries of teachers are paid as at when due.

    “There was a time when more than 2000 teachers were put out of job, we have brought back,” he said.

    He said that the World Teachers’ Day was marked to enable them reflect on their role as custodian of values and role model for children.

    Suleiman said the 2019 theme ‘Young teachers, the Future of the Profession’ called for reflection on the training and capacity of teachers to do what is right for the purpose of fast tracking development especially in Nigeria.

    He urged the teachers to redouble and rededicate their efforts, in the service of the nation, saying that training organised by SUBEB has increased quality of teaching by teachers.

    Read Also: Gunmen kill two in Plateau

    “We are making efforts in schools monitoring, ensuring infrastructure is in place to support teachers.

    “We insisted on short and long term training, to ensure various skills are acquired for enhanced performance,” he said.

    The World Teachers’ Day is annual event to mark the role of teachers in building a responsible generation while addressing their challenges.

    NAN