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Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

  • Buhari seeks more commitment for Lake Chad restoration

    President Muhammadu Buhari said his administration will continue to keep the reviving of Lake Chad on the front burner and exert more commitment from the developed countries to do the needful.

    He gave the assurance when he received the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) and his investiture as Patron of the Foundation, at the State House, Abuja.

    The president said it was regrettable that the issue of the receding Lake Chad had not been addressed till recent times. This, he explained, is a clear indication that the problem of climate change is real, warning that desert encroachment is aggravating it.

    ‘‘The drying up of Lake Chad is a serious thing for Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin countries.

    Nigeria is much more affected because fishing, animal husbandry and farming are affected very seriously. We are trying to prick the conscience of the developed countries that have the resources and the technology to quickly execute the inter-basin transfer from Congo Basin to Chad Basin,” President Buhari said.

    While welcoming NCF’s advocacy on the need to protect endangered plants and animals in the country, Buhari lamented the rate at which animals are being hunted and eliminated around the country, adding that it is time the country seriously gave forest reserves support and attention as much as possible.

     The President subsequently directed the Federal Ministry of Environment to reflect on this in its budgetary requirements in the next fiscal year.

    In his remarks, Member, Board of Trustees of the NCF, Ahmed Joda,  told the President that the nation’s wildlife was fast becoming extinct.

    He explained that for more than 10 years, the rate of deforestation in the country had been one of the highest in the world with the country losing close to 95 per cent of its original forest cover.

    Joda thanked the President for placing great emphasis on environmental issues, especially the aspect of climate change, and invited him to take charge of “Greening Nigeria”.

    “We are all proud of the role that the Nigerian delegation headed by Mr President played during the climate change agreement in Paris and your single-minded determination to keep the issue in the front burner both at home and abroad.

    “Your Government has also recorded remarkable achievements in addressing soil erosion with about 60 projects executed by the Ecological Funds all over Nigeria.

    “This is not surprising when we remember that it was you, in your first coming as Head of State, that signed the first comprehensive law that addressed the protection of endangered plants and animals in Nigeria through the ‘Endangered Species Decree of 1985’,’’ Joda said.

  • Buhari, Oshiomhole meet in Aso Rock over 2019 elections

    President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole on Friday met behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, Oshiomhole said that the APC was fully ready to flag off the campaigns soon.

    According to him, the party’s campaign for the 2019 presidential election will focus on character and integrity of the key candidates.

    He said, “We are fully ready, we have done with our primaries and filled our nominations. As you know, INEC still has a window between now and First of January to deal with issues of substitution. As of campaigns, we are ready.

    “We are going to announce the date and programme for our campaigns, and speak to the issues. My idea of kick off will be the day we will do our first presidential rally where Mr. President as our candidate and other candidates, party leaders will assemble in a venue that will be agreeable to all of us.

    Read also: Ohanaeze endorsement of Atiku, no substance – Buhari 

    “There will be two sets of messages. One, on what we have done in the past, without failing to remind people of where we were before, what we are going to do in the next three years, and a couple of things we believe we will be doing differently.

    “Why we are a better choice? President Buhari if compared to the rest of the aspirants, there is no basis to compare day and night. The real issue in this election is not going to be religion. It is not going to be about political party, central to the issue and given our past experience as a country, we know that what makes a difference is the character, the issue of integrity of the candidates.

    “All those issues of character, especially looking at the past, the key candidates in the election are not strangers to governance, they are not even strangers to this villa, so we will be able to ask a couple of questions about what do they know now that they didn’t know then when they had power.

    “This edition is going to be focusing on character, integrity of those who want to govern us. In addition to what and how they will do things differently.” he added

    Oshiomhole also dismissed  the allegations of corruption leveled against him by Senator Shehu Sani

    Sani had accused him of collecting bribes of up to $2million to manipulate the senatorial primaries of Kaduna Central zone.

    Speaking on the crisis facing the Imo APC governorship candidate, Senator Hope Uzodimma, he said there was no crisis.

    He said, “What is the crisis? That somebody won and somebody lost and the person who lost said no, no, no, I am the son-in-law to the governor I can’t lose and therefore we have crisis. Go to Imo and find out, go to the markets, mechanic workshops or even the civil servants in Imo and ask how they think on the issue of son-in-law. Look at the crowd that received Senator Hope Uzodimma, it was a mixture of both a rejection of dynasty vis a vis the natural support base that Hope has.

    “Haven’t you seen on social media how the excited Imolites erected statue on Oshiomhole although the body is big” he said

  • Buhari approves new appointments

    President Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed the appointment and re-appointment of some heads of parastatals.

    This was disclosed in a statement issued by Olusegun Adekunle, Permanent Secretary (General Services Office), Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Friday in Abuja.

    He appointed Mr Folashodun Shonubi as the Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria with effect from Oct. 17 for an initial period of five years.

    Others are Mr Banire Adeyemi as Part-Time Chairman, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) with effect from Oct. 17 for an initial period of five years.

    Mr Sule Bassi was appointed Secretary, Nigerian Diaspora Commission with effect from Oct. 19 for an initial period of four years.

    Sen. Abba Ali and Mr Mohammed Sagir were appointed as Members (Non-Legal Practitioners), Federal Judicial Service Commission for an initial period of five years with effect from Oct. 24.

    The President appointed Mr Kasali Yomi as the Director/CEO National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM), Ilorin for initial term of four years with effect from Oct. 28.

    Also appointed was Dr Olufemi Oladunni as the Director/CEO, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin for initial term of four years with effect from Oct. 28.

    Mr Clement Nze was appointed as the Director-General, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency with effect from Oct. 28.

    Mr Clement Isong was appointed to replace Mr Thomas Olawore as Member, Board of the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) with effect from Oct. 28.

    Mr David Nyikyaa was appointed as the Secretary, National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission with effect from Nov.1.

    Buhari also appointed Mr Obinna Ogwuegbu as the Secretary, Special Investigation Panel for Recovery of Public Property with effect from Nov. 2.

    Dr Akinrinola Akintunde was appointed as the Provost, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo State for an initial period of four years with effect from Nov.6.

    He re-appointed Prof. Emmanuel Fasakin, the Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji, Ondo State for a second and final term of four years with effect from Nov. 6.

    The president also appointed Mr Obadiah Nkom as the Director-General/CEO, Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office for an initial term of four years with effect from Jan. 12, 2019.

    Buhari enjoined the new appointees to serve the nation with all sense of responsibility, honesty, diligence and promote good governance in the discharge of their duties.

  • FG okays N60 billion for rice subsidy 

    ….National Food Security Council faults USDA report on import

    The Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh on Friday disclosed that the Federal Government has approved N60 billion subsidy to support rice industry in the country.

    He briefed State House correspondents after a meeting of the National Food Security Council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Read Also:Senate panel seeks subsidy removal, price deregulation

    Ogbe who was flanked by the Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu explained that the purpose of the subsidy was to help bring down price of the commodity in the country.

    He said “There is a subsidy programme coming up. Government has approved some money N60 billion to support the rice industry to bring down prices. But we are going to handle it differently.

    “We don’t want to get into petroleum subsidy problem. So, a committee is looking at it with the Ministry of Finance.

    “We think that it is better for us to loan money to the millers, farmers and distributors at a very low interest rate, so that the capital doesn’t disappear, so they have cheaper credit to do their business that should impact on the price of rice in the market.

    “When we are ready we will let you know,” he added.

    On the plan to ban fertilizer NPK 151515 which has been in use in the country for many years, he said that the ban became imperative because it adds no value to crops.

    He said “We call for the ban of fertilizer NPK 151515 which has been used in the country for many years but recent research revealed it’s not useful for any crop or any soil.

    “Soils differ and so do crop, to believe there is one uniform fertilizer you can spread for every crop is a fallacy.   And it’s because we have done soil test and change the formulations of fertilizers, local blenders that some of the yields we are getting now are rising from two tonnes per hectares to five and six.

    “So the president is looking into that and to how we can deal with it.” he said

    On his part, Governor Bagudu said the council’s attention was drawn to the report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) which suggested that Nigeria remains a heavy importer of rice despite government’s claim to the contrary.

    He said: “We drew the attention of the council to a report by the US department for agriculture which suggested that Nigeria has been importing rice or about to the tune of about three million tonnes.

    “We informed the council that contact has been made with the US agency to tell us the basis for the report because it’s not consistent with the report available to us.

    “The only official importation in Nigeria is about 4,000 metric tonnes of rice. Secondly, the biggest exporter of rice, Thailand exported 1.1 million metric tonnes of rice to West Africa between January to October this year and India exported 402 million metric tonnes of rice to West Africa between January to end of July this year. That is a total of 1.5 million metric tonnes.

    “Even if all was smuggled into Nigeria, that was the total amount of importation one could attribute to Nigeria.

    “So, the US authorities responding by saying that their assessment  was based on satellite imaging of flooded areas and consideration that we are about to enter electioneering period and that demand for rice by politicians or for political purposes will increase.

    “Thirdly, that most West African countries depend on Nigeria. So, because of the flooding, they concluded based on those assumptions that Nigeria will import more.

    “Certainly, that is an erroneous report. Even in spite of the flooding, the upland rice production has been quite strong this year. Even though prices have increase in response to flooding, we still have adequate paddy rice in Nigeria,” he said.

  • Ohanaeze’s endorsement of Atiku, no substance – Buhari 

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the split within the Ohanaeze Igbo socio-cultural group over its reported endorsement of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), did not surprise him.

    He made the remark while speaking at a meeting with a select group of South-east leaders on Friday, at the State House, Abuja.

    Read Also:Buhari assures of credible elections

    According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, President Buhari said that the moment the so-called resolution was announced; he got calls from well-meaning leaders from the region asking him to disregard it as it was without any substance.

    He said “From that moment, I knew that the resolution would not stand, and alas, there it was.”

    President Buhari said that his party, the All Progressives Congress, got it right from the very beginning that the major problems facing the country were mainly on security, corruption and the economy.

    He said “We have done so much. Given the chance, we will do more.  Given every chance, we will tell Nigerians where we were in 2015 and what we have achieved up to now.

    “We will not get tired of speaking about the golden opportunity Nigeria lost during 16 years of the PDP.  We earned money, which we didn’t use,” he said.

    “The state of infrastructure we inherited was terrible – no roads, the railway was killed and power.  They lacked conscience because anybody with conscience will not do what they did.  We will report them to Nigerians.  Let anybody lead this country but not the PDP.  They were so reckless with the resources of the country,” the President said.

    “If you ruin the economy, send your children abroad to get education, won’t they come back?” he asked, adding: “I said it 30 years ago that this is the only country we have.  We must stay here and salvage it together.”

    The leaders of the delegation, Engineer Emeka Ekwuosa and the National Chairman of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie, informed President Buhari that the Igbos and South-easterners generally understand the good things he is doing for Nigeria which they said, had unfortunately been misunderstood.

    They promised to mobilise support for him in the south-east, saying that his re-election will be a national consensus.

  • Amnesty Office steps up peace moves in Niger Delta

    The Presidential Amnesty Office is stepping up efforts to maintain peace in the Niger Delta. It held an enterpreneurial conference to equip beneficiaries with skills to better their lot, writes Southsouth Bureau Chief BISI OLANIYI

    The administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, in 2009, initiated the amnesty offer for repentant Niger Delta militants, which was backed by the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan and still being supported by President Muhammadu Buhari, to ensure sustainable peace in the Niger Delta.

    Most of the former “Generals” and their “boys” embraced the amnesty offer and surrendered large quantities of arms, other dangerous weapons, ammunition, high-capacity speed boats, dynamites/bombs, gunboats and bullet-proof vests, among others.

    The leader of Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, who is a former President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), and many of his warlords, however, declined to accept the amnesty offer, insisting that they were not criminals, but freedom fighters, who wanted commensurate development in the crude oil and gas-rich Niger Delta region and empowerment of the people.

    The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), as part of its efforts to empower and showcase the beneficiaries of the amnesty initiative, decided to organise three-day entrepreneurial conference and fair between November 7 and 9, the first of its kind in PAP, at the highbrow Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State.

    The entrepreneurial fair, with theme: “Entrepreneurial Revolution: Key to Sustainable Peace in Niger Delta,” was organised in partnership with the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) and other partners, as part of PAP’s empowerment strategies to showcase its successful entrepreneurs to the business community.

    The Post-Training and Engagement (PTE) Unit of PAP has so far empowered over four thousand delegates/ex-militants, of which sample of 50 delegates were invited to the fair, described as the first phase, in many other planned entrepreneurship fairs for the delegates, while the beneficiaries had earlier been presented with starter packs to support them in their freely-chosen endeavours.

    One of the beneficiaries of the entrepreneurship fair, Lawrence Enoch, from Bonny Island in Rivers State, who is into fashion designing, thanked PAP for empowering the youths of Niger Delta, disclosing that he had a success story to tell and currently having two branches, with ten other youths already trained by him, while assisting four other persons, whose parents he did not know.

    Another beneficiary, Gabriel Amadi, an Ikwerre man, also from Rivers State, described himself as a successful fish farmer, through the PAP, while revealing that he started with 1,000 fingerlings in two tanks, but now an appreciative owner of 15,000 fishes in ten tanks.

    Amadi admonished the beneficiaries of PAP to be very serious and better their lives through the assistance from the Federal Government, while warning the delegates not to sell the equipment and other items given to them by PAP, stressing that if they did their jobs well, they would earn more than the N65,000 monthly stipend to each ex-militant from PAP.

    The fourth Coordinator of PAP, Prof. Charles Dokubo, who was appointed in March this year, also stated that President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to the development of the Niger Delta and empowerment of the people, especially the youths.

    Dokubo, earlier in his opening remarks, disclosed that the entrepreneurial fair was for delegates empowered in different trade areas, with operational businesses in the Niger Delta.

    He noted that the fair was to showcase goods and services achieved in the private sector through Small and Medium-scaled Enterprises (SMEs) of the PAP delegates, stressing that the fair would improve the businesses of the delegates by providing links for business expansion, with less dependency on the young entrepreneurs fighting for self-elevation into the market all alone, but to give them a formal support that explore potential partners in the business world, for them to seek business opportunities and collaboration.

    The coordinator of PAP said: “With my arrival at the PAP, I felt it very vital to improve on the empowerment project of the office, by initiating the need to showcase the young entrepreneurs of the PAP, through the fair.

    “The value-chain effects of the fair will serve as a motivator to other delegates in taking their businesses seriously. When the businesses are booming, it will offer opportunities for expansion, thus contributing to job creation and wealth generation, which is in line with my vision at the PAP.”

    Dokubo also hailed the continual support of President Buhari to not only the PAP, but also to the good people of the Niger Delta and the overall rural industrialisation policy of his administration, stating that the people of the region were grateful for the President’s unalloyed support for the Niger Delta.

    He also lauded the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, for immense support he had personally given to the affairs, development and stability of the Niger Delta, assuring that PAP would do all it could to bring peace and stability to the region.

    The coordinator commended the entrepreneurs, who against all odds, resolved to actualise the goal of the PAP, while fighting through the challenges in business start-up and were able to be showcased, pointing out that the fair was just a stepping stone to greater heights.

    The governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, in his address, also described the people of the crude oil and gas-rich Niger Delta as peace-loving, hardworking and not lazy, as being insinuated by some persons.

    He noted that the Niger Delta, consisting of Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Abia and Imo States, have potential to transform Nigeria, while urging other Nigerians and people all over the world to disregard the negative narratives about the region.

    Wike, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Amnesty, Ken Chinda, said: “The youths of the Niger Delta are energetic and industrious. My administration will continue to support the youths. N2 billion was recently released to empower Rivers youths. N200 million is also being made available monthly to support SMEs.”

    Rivers governor also assured that his government would always support the PAP, while describing Rivers state as very peaceful and investors’ friendly.

    In his keynote address, the President of PHCCIMA, Dr. Emi Membere-Otaji, noted that the starting point would be the show of strong political will on the part of the government to develop the Niger Delta, while adopting the carrot-and-stick approach to tame the security challenges.

    Membere-Otaji, who was represented by PHCCIMA’s elected council member, Mrs. Edughom Hanson, said it was pertinent that the government put into action, the call by the Vice-President that oil companies relocate their headquarters to their areas of operation in the Niger Delta, making them to in tandem with the various governments, develop the region.

    He said: “It will be necessary to reorientate and train the people of the Niger Delta, especially the youths and community leaders, to discard the rent-seeking and entitlement mentality, about dignity of labour and to stop being hostile to any form of business activities in their localities, more so private ones that are not related in any way or form to the acquired oilfields.

    “Most of the key oil producing Niger Delta states are coastal, but with moribund seaports, which are in different stages of infrastructural decay, with un-dredged channels, resulting in importers and exporters doing businesses in these areas using the Western ports in Lagos for their cargo. The socioeconomic effects of ports and shipping revival in the Niger Delta cannot be overemphasised. Singapore is today a first world economy by being just a shipping hub.

    “To encourage shipping companies to use the eastern ports, government should commence reduction in its ports and pilotage charges to make up for the extra operational costs of the companies, occasioned by increased piracy and infrastructural deficit.”

    The president of PHCCIMA also stated that with the long stretch of coastline, rivers and creeks in the Niger Delta, industrial and commercial artisanal fishing should be supported.

    Membere-Otaji implored all stakeholders, including the oil companies, federal government, and the various states and local governments to develop and fast-track the general ease of doing business, including the provision of adequate power, security and infrastructure, among others, in the Niger Delta.

    Rivers Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr. Nancy Chidi-Nwankwo, in her goodwill message, disclosed that the state government was always willing to partner the PAP.

    Chidi-Nwankwo, who was represented by the ministry’s SME Director, Mr. Joseph Akara, described Rivers as business friendly with beautiful opportunities, in view of the state governor’s commitment and giant strides in infrastructural development, while urging the youths to always believe in themselves, adding that with knowledge and open hands, they would succeed.

    Chairman, Rivers House of Assembly Committee on Commerce and Industry, Mr. Enemi Alabo-George, a former banker, in his remarks, urged Niger Deltans to always go in the direction of wealth creation, stressing that job creation was not sufficient and urged the youths to adequately equip themselves for tomorrow, adding that it takes painstaking dedication to succeed in life.

    On the second day of the entrepreneurial fair, one of the resource persons, Mr. Uche Onochie, who is the President of Marketplace Apostles, said: “Pride and anger do not go with making money.”

    While also speaking, Chika Chinwo of PHCCIMA, urged the beneficiaries to place emphasis on excellence, hard work and further self-development, while declaring that youth restiveness, militancy and free money would not help the people of the Niger Delta.

    Three resource persons: Emmanuel Echewisi, a retired General Manager, Marketing and Sales of Michelin Nigeria Limited; Mrs. Adesuwa Kagho, the Southsouth Zonal Manager of Bank of Agriculture; and Harrison Osauwagboe, the Deputy Manager, Rivers State Office of Bank of Industry; addressed the delegates on the third day of the fair.

    Echewisi, who spoke on customer care/service, stated that if customer care fails, the business is bound to fail, describing customer care as the soul of every business, thereby producing satisfied customers, who would definitely become ambassadors of the products or services, with more money to be made, leading to retention of customers, for the business not to die, while adding that unhappy customers are like lost opportunities.

    Kagho, in her presentation, urged the beneficiaries to start small and grow the business with patience, endurance, perseverance, commitment and hard work, while telling them not to be afraid of making mistakes, but to learn from them and grow.

    Osauwagboe, a young man, urged the entrepreneurs that while starting small, they should also start in phases, know what they are doing and have basic knowledge of the business, admonishing them to always package their businesses well and continue to improve their quality.

    With Niger Delta youths taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the PAP, they will no longer be involved in violence, thuggery, cultism, militancy, sea piracy and other criminal activities, but to become useful members of the society.

     

  • Buhari pledges more employment opportunities for citizens

    President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration will continue to implement policies that attract investment and spark competition in critical sectors of the economy for employment creation and economic growth.

    The president gave the assurance when he received the Chairman and Management of the LADOL Integrated Logistics Enterprise, who visited him at the State House, Abuja on Thursday.

    Buhari commended the company for taking full advantage of the pro-business policies put in place by his administration and aimed at bringing domestic and direct foreign investment, which were yielding prosperity to the people of the country.

    He said: “Your competitive and aggressive activity has brought you success. I am pleased that you are investing in a critical area, the oil industry, in which I have developed interest.

    “I am happy you are training Nigerians and giving them respectful jobs.  What you are doing shows that whoever tries will succeed.”

    The Chairman and Chief Executive of the company, Chief Oladipo Jadesimi said they had come to thank President Buhari for creating an enabling environment and anti-corruption regime that had enabled their business to create a 10 billion dollars investment and 50,000 new jobs.

    On her part, the Managing Director, Dr. Amy Jadesimi, informed the President that their investment had a mission to attract local and international companies that would help reduce the cost of off-shore support services.

    According to her, the policies initiated by the Federal Government by abrogating monopoly, thereby allowing IOCs (International Oil Companies) to use any facility in Nigeria, yielded immediate positive result for the Nigerian economy by reducing costs by 50 per cent.

    She said that in the near future, seven more FPSO (floating production storage off-loading) units would be built in Nigeria, bringing 100 billion dollars investment, thousands of jobs and a diversification of the economy due to 70 per cent local content.

    The Managing Director expressed the determination of LADOL to turn Nigeria into a hub for logistics and heavy lifting in the sub-region by providing non-stop, 24 hours, seven days a week support services in the Lagos area.(NAN)

  • Minimum wage: Governors creating anti Buhari sentiment – NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to be weary of state governors who are out to portray him as anti-workers and orchestrate an anti Buhari sentiment among Nigerian workers with their posture on the new national minimum wage.

    Two weeks after the tripartite Committee on the new national minimum wage submitted its report to the President recommending N30, 000 as the new national minimum wage, state governors met on Wednesday insisting that if they must implement the new National minimum wage, Organised labour must agree to downsizing of their workforce.

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

    However, reacting to the position of the governors, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba said the position of the governors was an affront on Nigerian workers and an after-thought and has no place in the collective bargaining process.

    While asking the President to speedily present to the National Assembly the bill on the National Minimum Wage for appropriate amendment and implementation, Wabba asked workers and their families to be prepared to vote out governors and Parties that have displayed anti-workers tendencies.

    He reminded the governors that the Nigerian constitution recognises individual state government and not the Nigerian Governors Forum, adding that while he was confident that workers friendly governors will pay above the N30, 000 minimum wage, they should go back to their states and inform their workers that they cannot pay the new wage.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Organized Labour, the Working Class, Pensioners and their families have been drawn to a statement credited to the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, the Governor of Zamfara State threatening to sack workers on the account of the New National Minimum Wage of N30, 000.

    “It would interest Nigerians to know that the New National Minimum Wage of N30, 000 was a product of intense and robust negotiations at the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee that lasted for one year between November 2017 to November 2018. At the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee, State governments were represented by six states, one state from each of the six geo-political zones of Nigeria.

    “A letter was sent by the Tripartite Committee to every state to send in their memorandum as their input to the national minimum wage negotiations. It is on record that 21 States responded by sending memoranda with figures.

    “Subsequently, public hearings were conducted in each of the geo-political zones in the country. The State governments were all represented at the zonal hearings and made their input to discussions towards a new national minimum wage. The demand of organized labour was N66, 500. From the memoranda submitted to the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee by State governments, there were proposals by some states to even pay higher than the negotiated national minimum wage of N30, 000.

    “After extended and extensive negotiations by the Tripartite Committee, a final compromise figure of N30, 000 was agreed by all the partners – Government, Organized Labour and Employers in the Private Sector. This agreement took on board prevailing economic indices and factors especially as outlined in Convention 131 and Recommendation 95 of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention on Criteria and Procedure for Collective Bargaining especially towards arriving at a National Minimum Wage for any country.

    “It was on the basis of this agreement that the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee concluded its work and submitted its Report to Mr. President on the 6th of November, 2018. This ended the process of negotiations for a new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

    “The statement of Mr. Abdulaziz Yari purportedly for the Nigeria Governors Forum, one year after the inauguration of the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Negotiation Committee, is certainly an after-thought and has no place in the collective bargaining process. We understand that Mr. Yari Abdulaziz’s position is at the instance of a few anti-worker governors. We are not in any doubt that many worker-friendly governors are ready to pay even higher than the negotiated N30, 000 new national minimum wage.

    “In view of the foregoing, Organized Labour wishes to firmly reiterate its stand that the process of negotiation by the tripartite social partners for a new National Minimum Wage has ended and a new National Minimum Wage of N30, 000 has been agreed upon by government, labour and employers in the private sector.

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

    “The threat to sack workers is not new in the struggle for review of the national minimum wage in Nigeria. Therefore, the current one by the Governor of Zamfara State cannot be used to intimidate labour. The consequences of workers retrenchment are too grievous for any political office holder truly elected by the people to contemplate.

    “We propose that since a few political office holders are bent on enslaving Nigerian workers with peanuts mislabeled as salaries, we urge such elected public officials to subject their humungous salaries and allowances, reputed to be among the highest in the world, pro rata with the minimum wage they want to force down the throats of Nigerian workers. We, therefore, urge each State Governor to go to their respective states and inform workers and their families their individual position on the new national minimum wage of N30, 000.

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

    “The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Organized Labour urge workers to remain steadfast and firm on our rights to decent wages and improved living conditions. To the oppressors, we have only one answer for you – We will never sleep on our rights!

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

    “Finally, organized labour and Nigerian workers call on President Muhammadu Buhari to be wary of some people, especially in the Nigeria Governors Forum because they are wont, for selfish and personal reasons, to present him as an anti-worker President and by extension orchestrate anti-Buhari sentiments in the populace. In light of this, we call on him to speedily present to the National Assembly the bill on the National Minimum Wage for appropriate amendment and implementation.”

     

  • Stop Ports’ venture with Depasa, Buhari urged

    President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) have been urged to prevail on the board of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) not to renew the Joint Venture (JV) agreement between the organisation and Depasa Marine International because of the inability of the JV to perform its core responsibilities to NPA.

    Depasa is a limited liability company, whose registered office is at Westerkadi, 7a, 3016 CL, Rotterdam, Holland,

    Investigation conducted by The Nation revealed that the JV was entered into in 2005 by the NPA and Depasa to form the Lagos Channel Management (LCM) Limited by virtue of the NPA’s enabling Act Cap. N126, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 .

    Under the Act, the  NPA is charged with the responsibility of exclusive maintenance of the channels that provide access to the nation’s sea ports and may carry this out through any other person authorised by it.

    Speaking with The Nation at the weekend, a senior official of the Federal Ministry of Transport (FMoT), who craved anonymity, alleged that few years after the JV was entered into, the company abandoned its responsibility of training NPA workers in the core areas of ports operations.

    In the agreement exclusively seen by The Nation, the business of the company include the following:

    • Maintenance and dredging of Lagos Channel and ports; •Capital dredging of Lagos Channel (where necessary); •Quarterly bathymetric surveys in Lagos channel and ports; •Buoy maintenance and surveillance in Lagos Channel and ports; •Planning and management of dredging operations in Lagos channel and ports; •Assist in the monitoring of vessels using Lagos channel and ports; •Wreck removal in the Lagos channel and ports; •Visual pollution monitoring and reporting operation in Lagos channel and ports and •Management training of the NPA’s staff with respect to the foregoing.

    A senior official of the FMoT said the JV was skewed in favour of Depasa because the firm has failed to train many NPA workers because majority of them are not in management cadre.

    “The agreement was entered into more than 13 years ago. Let Depasa or LCM publish the names,  number of ‘NPA staff  they have trained through the JV since the commencement of the agreement,  where they were trained and the amount expended on them, to date,“ the source said, adding that some of those that were purportedly trained through the JV, were only taken abroad by the company to collect estacode.

    “The dearth of skilled manpower to manage and utilise the NPA’s equipment and facilities after the retirement of over 70 per cent of the management and senior staff of NPA in the last three to four years, is based on the fact that the JV was skewed in favour of Depasa.

    “ Thirteen years after, the question President Buhari and the FEC must ask Depasa is how many current staff of NPA have competency in wrecks removal, capital and maintenance dredging, bathymetric surveys, maintenance of buoy, vessels monitoring, surveillance and pollution control among others,” the FMoT official asked.

    He also pointed out that the JV agreement failed to specify the number of staff of NPA the company must have trained before the end of the 15 years agreement.

    “The board and the management of NPA must go back and study the JV agreement very well, and correct where they deliberately made mistakes for the NPA and the country to regain its lost glory in the management of ports operations.

    “‘The NPA is empowered by law to safeguard an optimal nautical access through Lagos Channel to the Lagos Ports with a view to securing safe and efficient operations;

    “No wonder, the Federal Government of Nigeria in line with its policy on Port Reform, was desirous of promoting private sector investment and participation in the development and operation of public utilities and infrastructures.

    “ It was in pursuance of the foregoing policy, the NPA for itself and on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria invited proposals from interested qualified and technically competent private sector operators to carry out capital and maintenance dredging, bathymetric surveys, buoy maintenance, surveillance, visual pollution monitoring and reporting operation and other ancillary functions, particularly as contained in Clause 4 of the agreement.

    “The NPA in line with the policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria has recommended to the Federal Government of Nigeria that a separate and distinct Joint Venture Company be floated to Operate and manage the Lagos Channels and Ports to enhance efficiency and viability.

    “The recommendation of the NPA was accepted by the Federal Government of Nigeria and machineries were set in motion with a view to implementing same thereby culminating in the incorporation of the LAGOS CHANNEL MANAGEMENT LIMITED as a Private Limited Liability.

    “The company was given the mandate to maintain the Lagos channel and ports for safe and accessible navigation.

    “ DEPASA submitted its proposal dated August, 2004  and presented itself as a world class private operator specialised in dredging, marine and port engineering, marine infrastructure and long term marine project development and management and capable of implementing workable and feasible financial structures to the benefit of NPA Nigeria and Nigerians.

    “The NPA accepted Depasa’’s proposal and obtained the approval’ of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, dated 7th June, 2005 for the parties to enter into the J V.

    Investigation conducted by The Nation revealed that the former Minister of Transport, Dr A.S. P. Sekibo, made the recommendation for approval for the JV  on 7th June, 2005 and got the Presidential approval the same day.

    The JV agreement, investigation revealed, has an initial 15 years which is renewable only through mutual consent of the Federal Government through NPA and Depasa.

    The agreement, it was learnt, is governed by, and construed in all respects in accordance with Nigerian law.

  • ASUU has fared better under Buhari, says Fayemi  

    …Says ASUU needs not go on strike

     

     

    Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi on Monday declared that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) needed not to have embarked on strike action.

    According to him, the union and tertiary institutions in the country have fared better under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Fayemi, spoke with journalists in Paris at the end of the President’s interactive session with Nigerians living in France.

    Read Also:Parents, students appeal to ASUU to end strike 

    With competing demands for the national resources by the various sectors, he said that ASUU cannot have everything it wants.

    He said; “If you talk about tertiary education, ASUU is on strike, but you ask yourself, why is ASUU on strike. ASUU claimed that it is on strike because it wants improvement in the fortunes of education in Nigeria and that government has not lived up to expectations.

    “I made bold to say that no government has done as much as this government has done. Not just for ASUU, but for tertiary education in our country.

    “Is it enough? Absolutely, it’s not going to be enough. We have to keep doing more.

    “But ask yourself what was the average wage in the University system before. A university professor earn more than me as a governor. My salary as a governor is N500,000. Most university professors earn about the same amount if not more.

    “Yes, you may argue that there are other opportunities available, there are also other opportunities that are available that are not being taken advantage of by our academics. I can say a little bit about this because this is my terrain.

    “I do not think that ASUU on its own strength can argue that government has not done well. There is hardly any institution in Nigeria today, including states universities, that have not had the benefit of intervention.

    “It is either the government is building an auditorium or rehabilitating a laboratory, or improving on students hostels in virtually all the universities as I speak to you. That’s what TETFUND does via their intervention funds. That again is not the complete solution.” he said

    The governor said that there is need to revisit a whole lot of things about education policy in the country.

    He added “Can we continue to maintain a tuition-free education in Nigeria, in even Federal universities. What UNESCO pushes for, what most universal human rights positions argue for, is that basic education should be free. Basic education is free in Nigeria right up to secondary schools.

    “As for free university education, I’m not so sure that is what we really need right now. But in order to address that, we also must elevate the place of technical and vocational education in our country so that we don’t see those that go for technical education as inferior to those who go to universities.

    “Our educational system should focus on functionality rather than just certificates. I think this is what ASUU and other drivers of change in our economy should be arguing for.

    “Can we add more resources to education budget?  Absolutely we can. But when you have competing needs, you cannot have everything that you want. And this is something ASUU needs to know,” he said

    He also pointed out that education is the responsibility of the three tiers of government and not just that of the Federal Government.

    “When we talk about 5% of the budget going into education, we often do not take into account recurrent expenditure, we focus on capital expenditure.

    “Secondly, we exclusively think that the Federal Government alone is responsible for education. Education is a responsible across the board and there are states budgets that must be factored into that total picture.

    “Also there is local governments budget that must be factored into that picture because basic education is the responsibility at the lower level of government.” he said

    Speaking on President Muhammadu Buhari’s participation at the Peace Forum in Paris, he noted that peace is very important to development.

    “I feel it’s appropriate for President Macron to invite our President for the forum,” he said