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Tag: Senate

  • Senate passes N30,000 minimum wage bill

    Workers won yesterday a major victory in their battle for  N30,000 minimum wage.

    The Senate passed the National Minimum Wage Bill, which  the President is expected to sign into law.

    The approval of N30, 000 contrary to the N27, 000 recommended by the Federal Government in a Bill it sent to the National Assembly in January.

    The lawmakers urged the Federal Government to initiate immediately the review of the revenue sharing formula to ensure seamless implementation of the minimum wage at the state and local government levels.

    Under the current revenue formula, the Federal Government receives 56 per cent from the federation account including four per cent ecology fund, states 24 per cent while 20 per cent go to the 774 local government areas.

    Apart from passage of the bill, the upper chamber also urged the Federal Government to prepare and forward to the National Assembly, a supplementary appropriation Bill to cover the new approval.

    The House of Representatives had earlier passed the Bill shortly before the National Assembly adjourned for the general elections in January.

    Senate’s Deputy Chief Whip Senator Francis Alimikhena, who chaired the Ad-Hoc Committee on National Minimum Wage, presented the report of his committee to the chamber for consideration and adoption.

    In his presentation of the 18-clause report, the Edo North Senator, noted that the N5,000 fine stipulated in clause 3(1) of the Bill against any employer who failed to keep records of employees was increased to N75,000 to ensure compliance.

    He prayed the Senate to approve the N30, 000 minimum wage as recommended by his committee.

    Although no senator opposed the N30, 000 minimum wage, contributors to the report insisted that the subsisting revenue sharing formula should be reviewed to enable states and local governments to pay.

    Senate Minority Leader Mrs. Abiodun Olujimi, in her contribution, noted that without the review of the revenue sharing formula, states and local governments would lack the required financial capacity to pay the new wage.

    She said: “The essence of formulating any policy or passing a bill is to see to its implementation for the required results. If revenue sharing formula is not reviewed in a way that will make the states and local governments to get more funds from the monthly allocations, implementing the new minimum wage may be difficult for them.”

    Senator Barnabas Gemade (Benue North East), who also contributed, agreed that the review of the subsisting revenue sharing formula was long overdue.

    He, however, insisted that even without the review, no state could claim lack of financial capacity to pay the N30, 000 new minimum wage going by the amount of money state governors spent to allegedly buy votes during the just concluded elections.

    Gemade said: “Going by the volume of money and enormous amount spent by various state governors to buy votes in the just concluded general elections, no state can claim not to have the financial wherewithal to pay the new minimum wage.

    “If a state through its governor, has billions to buy votes, the same state should through the governor, pay the new N30, 000 minimum wage to her workers.”

    Senate President Bukola Saraki noted that with the passage of the bill, industrial harmony and improved national productivity will be achieved.

    NLC seeks prompt implementation

    THRILLED by the passage of a New National Minimum Wage Bill by the National Assembly, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is seeking the immediate implementation of the bill.

    To Labour, workers would have a good cause to celebrate this year’s edition of the Workers’ Day if the payment takes effect before May 1.

    The Congress commended the Senate for passing the bill, following the footstep of the House of Representatives which had earlier passed it.

    The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) had earlier said it would not be able to pay N30, 000 as minimum wage, offering to pay N24, 000 even as President Muhammadu Buhari forwarded N27, 000 to the National Assembly as minimum wage.

    Both chambers of the National Assembly set up special ad hoc committees, headed by the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and Deputy Speaker Yussuff Lasun to conduct public hearing and submit their reports for consideration.

    However, the House of Representatives immediately passed the bill into law before embarking on break for the 2019 general elections, while the Senate passed the bill at its sitting yesterday.

    Acting NLC President Najeem Yasin said though the bill has been passed by both chambers, the battle for the minimum wage was not yet over, saying workers would not rest until the bill is signed and implemented.

    He said: “We commend the senate for the quick passage. But it is not yet over because we want them to make sure that the process gets to the logical conclusion and for the quick implementation of that N30, 000.  Nigerian workers are happy and commend them.

    “We stand by the N75, 000 punishment for employers who fail to implement the law which has been passed. We have been fighting for this N30, 000 for a long time and the governors have been opposed to it. But now, it has been passed. Nigerian workers are now looking forward to the signing of the bill into law.

    “We want them to start implementing it before the May Day celebration so that Nigerian workers can have good reasons to celebrate.”

  • Ethiopian Airlines crash: Senate mourns Nigerians

    The Nigerian Senate today, 19th March 2019 mourned the death of two Nigerians who died in the Ethiopian airline crash of 10th March 2019.

    The Senate equally resolved on the need for Nigeria to protect its airspace from the Boeing 737 MAX 8 Series while also ensuring that all aircrafts’ operating within Nigeria are air worthy in order to keep Nigerians safe at all times.

    The Senate resolution flowed directly from a motion titled “The Sad Demise of two illustrious Nigerians in the recent Ethiopian Airlines Crash of 10th March, 2019 and the need for Nigeria to protect its airspace from the Boeing 737 Max 8 series pending the determination of its Air worthiness”. The Motion was sponsored by Distinguished Senate Gbenga Ashafa, representing Lagos East in the Senate and Chairman Senate Committee on Land Transport.

    Ashafa moved the motion expressing sadness that Nigeria lost two illustrious citizens in the crash. He was quoted as saying thus “Notes with great sadness that two illustrious Nigerians were among the 157 people who lost their lives in the ill-fated Ethiopian Airlines flight ET – 302, which went down near Bishoftu a community roughly 60 kilometers southeast of the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

    Notes that the said late distinguished Nigerians aboard the flight were Ambassador Abiodun Bashua, a former United Nations and African Union, Deputy Joint Special Representative in Darfur, Sudan and Professor Pius Adesanmi, a Professor of Literary Arts in Carleton University, Ottawa Canada, and a popular advocate for good governance”

    The Senator went on further to intimate the Senate that the two Nigerians who lost their lives were no ordinary citizen as the two of them distinguished themselves in their various fields and till their death were worthy Ambassadors of Nigeria in the Diaspora.

    Ashafa observed that it was not the first time that a Boeing 737 Max 8 series aircraft had crashed under similar circumstances. He thereafter commended the Minister for Transportation (Aviation) Senator Hadi Sirika for the restriction placed on the use of the Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 series aircrafts within the Nigerian airspace pending the outcome of the investigation of the plane crash.

    In their contribution to the Motion, Senator Mao Ohuanbunwa and Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi expressed their sadness over the death of the two Nigerians, while also commending the Minister of State for Transportation for the restriction on the use of the Air craft. Both Senators agreed on the need for Nigeria to own its own National Airline to be able to monitor and regulate its use.

    The senate along with the resolutions made observed a minute silence in honour of the two deceased.

     

    Sylva urges youths to emulate late Adesanmi

    A Former Governor of Bayelsa State and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva, yesterday urged youths to emulate the virtues of the late famous scholar, Prof. Pius Adesanmi.

    Sylva, who described the sudden death of the scholar as shocking and a huge loss to the country said youths should strive to attain the excellence of Adesanmi.

    The former governor spoke in a statement by his Media Aide, Julius Bokoru, after participating in candlelight held in honour of the late professor at the Unity Garden, Abuja.

    Sylva, who is a literary enthusiast said: “This is a huge loss for our country, for Nigeria. Prof. Pius Adesanmi, beyond the excellent Academic, was a necessary voice that constantly refreshed and enriched our national conversations, he prompted us to look inwards and was a national moral meter of sorts’

    “By the Grace of God there will be other Piuses who, just like our dearly departed prof, would blend intellect and genuine will for genuine soceital growth to always stand for what is right”

     

  • Senate may pass 2019 budget in April

    The Senate Tuesday resumed the consideration of the general principles of the 2019 Appropriation Bill with more knocks on the budget.

    The upper chamber slated the passage of the N8.83 trillion budget estimates for next month.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, after the conclusion of the debate of the general principles of the fiscal document, gave the Appropriation Committee where the budget proposal was referred to, two weeks to turn in its report for consideration and passage.

    The upper chamber resolved to ignore heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, who may fail to appear before the sub-committees to defend their budget proposals.

    Sub-committees were mandated to adopt the proposals as submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari to a joint session of the National Assembly at the event that any MDA failed to appear before them.

    The lawmakers resolved, like it was the case in the past, not to run after heads of MDAs who may refuse to appear before the sub-committees to defend their budget proposals and estimates.

    Saraki gave the Appropriation Committee the deadline of April 2, 2019 to submit its report for the consideration of the Senate.

    Read Also: Minimum wage: NLC wants quick implementation, commends Senate

    He said, “The relevant committees should swing into action and ensure that they conclude work on this budget within two weeks. The Committee on Appropriations should submit its report on the 2nd of April so that we can pass the budget.

    “Let me also add that the various committees should not run or force any head of agency to appear. If they don’t appear before the given time, adopt what was submitted by the President and submit your report. That is what you should do.”

    In his contribution to the debate of the general principles of the budget, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, (Abia South) said that the 2019 budget christened “budget consolidation” is actually “a budget of consolidation of poverty.”

    Abaribe who noted that the budget projections did not support the entire template of the budget estimates insisted that fiscal document cannot be implemented.

    The Federal Government, he said, should as a matter of urgent, prepare and send entire new budget by September, for the National Assembly work on.

    Abaribe said: “People who draft budgets for the President give it different names. They write it with their hands in cheek. It means we are paying more debt than spending on projects. When they say budget of consolidation, they are consolidating poverty. This budget will not be implementable.

    “You can see that where we are is just consolidation of poverty. Let them leave this budget. Time is far spent. Let them bring a new budget by September. This budget is a waste of time. I don’t know the essence of this budget they have brought here. Let’s move on to something more important.”

    Senator Suleiman Adokwe, on his own noted that poor allocation and releases to fund capital projects is a major challenge the Executive must tackle for economic growth.

    Adokwe said, “My major problem with the budget is that not much has been voted for capital projects. Year in, year out, we have the same poor allocation to capital projects. Agencies continue to waste money on recurrent expenditure. Even the release of funds for capital projects, has fallen below our expectations.

    “There should be 100 percent release of funds for capital projects. There should also be monitoring of capital projects to ensure that monies released are not misappropriated.”

    Senator Ben Murray Bruce canvassed the scrapping of moribund agencies.

    The Bayelsa State Senator noted that some of the agencies were established in the 1960s and had outlived their relevance.

    He said: “This budget is not different from the one they presented three years ago. There are agencies that were set up in the 1960s. They should be scrapped. We have two percent of Nigerians who are civil servants consuming about 45 percent of our annual budget. We spend trillions on fuel subsidy, but isn’t in our budget. I don’t know what kind of voodoo accounting is this.

    “We need to remove the fuel subsidy. We need to take it out. It is a terrible thing. I am not sure the Labour or Nigerians will complain. They will support the move and ensure that we spend the money on other sectors. This is the right thing to do.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari, when picking his ministers should select smart people and not those current ones who can’t think outside the box. There are brilliant people here who can do better. I don’t know why we select people who are not smart.”

    Senator Matthew Urhoghide, asked the Federal Government to take steps to explore more alternative sources of income to fund its annual budgets.

    He said: “Budgeting has become an annual ritual. We have not been able to put a balanced budget on the table. A serious country must ensure that it has a serious source of income to grow its economy. Even MDAs that are supposed to generate revenues don’t do that anymore.

    “When we keep talking about budgets every year, it becomes an exercise in futility. We need to sit down and talk about how to ensure that the lives of our people are better. Once this budget is referred to the committees, I know that heads of MDAs will not appear as at when due and in the end, they will blame us.“

  • UPDATED: Senate endorses N30, 000 national Minimum Wage

    The Senate on Monday passed the new national minimum wage Bill, which fixed the lowest salary of a worker in the country at N30, 000.

    The approval of N 30, 000 national minimum wage runs contrary to the N27, 000 recommended by the Federal Government in a Bill it sent to the National Assembly in January.

    The lawmakers also asked the Federal Government to initiate immediate review of the revenue sharing formula for the three tiers governments to ensure seamless implementation of the new minimum wage at the state and local government levels.

    Under the current revenue formula, the Federal Government receives 56 percent from the federation account including 4% ecology fund, states 24 percent while 20 percent go to the 774 local government councils.

    Apart from passing the Bill, the upper chamber also asked the Federal Government to prepare and forward to the National Assembly, a supplementary appropriation Bill to cover the approved N30, 000 new minimum wage.

    The House of Representatives had already passed the Bill shortly before the National Assembly proceeded on its general elections break in January.

    Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Francis Alimikhena, who chaired the ad-hoc committee on national minimum wage, presented the report of his committee for consideration and adoption by the chamber.

    The Edo North Senator in his presentation of the 18 -Clause report, noted the N5, 000 fine stipulated in clause 3(1) of the Bill against any employer who failed to keep records of employees was increased to N75, 000 to ensure compliance.

    He prayed the Senate to approve the N30, 000 minimum wage as recommended by his committee.

    Although no Senator opposed the N30, 000 minimum wage, contributors to the report insisted that the subsisting revenue sharing formula should be reviewed to enable states and local governments to pay

    The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abiodun Olujimi, in her contribution noted that without the review of the revenue sharing formula, states and local governments would lack the required financial capacity to pay the new wage.

    She said: “The essence of formulating any policy or passing a bill is to see to its implementation for the required results.

    “If revenue sharing formula is not reviewed in a way that will make the states and local governments to get more funds from the monthly allocations, implementing the new minimum wage may be difficult for them.”

    Senator Barnabas Gemade (Benue North East) who also contributed agreed that the review of the subsisting revenue sharing formula was long overdue.

    He however insisted even without the review, no state could claim lack of financial capacity to pay the N30, 000 new minimum wage going by the amount of money state governors spent to allegedly buy votes during the just concluded elections.

    Gemade said: “Going by the volume of money and enormous amount spent by various state governors to buy votes in the just concluded general elections, no state can claim not to have the financial wherewithal to pay the new minimum wage.

    “If a state through its governor, has billions of Naira to buy votes, the same state should through the governor, pay the new N30, 000 minimum wage to her workers”.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in his remarks noted that with the passage of the new minimum wage, industrial harmony and improved national productivity will be achieved in the country.

  • Senate refers nominated RMAFC members to committee for screening

    The Senate has referred the 30 nominated Chairman and Commissioners of Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to its Committee on National Planning for screening.

    This followed a motion moved by the Leader of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan at plenary on Tuesday.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had urged the Senate to consider and confirm the appointment of the nominees in accordance with Section 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution (Amended).

    Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki asked the committee to exercise due diligence during the screening and report back to the senate within two weeks.

    Engr. Elias Mbam from Ebonyi State was nominated as Chairman while Chris Akomas (Abia), Ayang Okon (Akwa Ibom), Chima Okafor (Anambra), Isa Mohammed (Bauchi State) and Samuel Maagbe (Benue) were nominated as commissioners.

    Others nominees were Ntufam Whiley (Cross River), Andrew Agbaga (Delta), Patrick Mgbebu (Ebonyi), Victor Eboigbe (Edo), Amujo Ajayi (Ekiti), Maria Aniobi (Enugu State), Musa Abari (FCT), and Mohammed Usman (Gombe State).

    Also nominated were Ahmed Gumel (Jigawa), Kabir Mashi (Katsina State), Umar Abdullahi (Kano State), Rilwan Abarshi (Kebbi), Suleiman Abdul (Kogi) Abdullahi Yaman (Kwara), Wright Adekunle (Lagos State) and Aliyu Abdulkadir (Nasarawa).

    Others were Ibrahim Shettima (Niger), Fari Adebayo (Ogun), Tokunbo Ajasin (Ondo State), Kolade Abimbola (Oyo State), Alexander Shaiyen (Plateau), Wenah Temple (Rivers), Modu Juluri (Yobe) and Abubakar Gusau (Zamfara).

    RMAFC is a Federal Government establishment saddled with the responsibility of monitoring accruals to and disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account

    It reviews the revenue allocation formulae and principles in operation to ensure conformity with the changing realities.

    The commission also advises the Federal, State and Local Governments on fiscal efficiency and methods by which their revenue is to be increased.

    Furthermore, the commission determines remuneration appropriate to holders of offices as specified in Parts A and B of the First Schedule to the Act establishing it, among others.(NAN)

  • Breaking: Senate approves N30,000 minimum wage

    The Nigerian Senate has approved the sum of N30,000 as the new national minimum wage.

    This followed the submission of the report of the ad-hoc committee on new minimum wage headed by Senator Francis Alimikhena.

    The upper chamber asked the Federal Government to submit a supplementary budget to cover the new wage structure for consideration and approval.

    The new minimum wage bill had already been approved by the House of Representatives.

     

    Details shortly…

  • Senators disagree over Nigeria’s debt profile

    The rising debt profile of the country dominated discussion Wednesday when the Senate opened debate on the general principles of the 2019 Appropriation Bill.

    Most of the contributors to the debate asked the executive to exercise some level of caution on its borrowing plan in order not to return the country to a heavily indebted nation it exited in 2005 through Paris Club debt relief.

    Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, kicked off the debate when he read “A Bill for an Act to authorize the issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation the total sum of N8,826,636,578,915 only, of which N492,360,342,965 only, is for Statutory Transfers, N2,264,014,113,092 only, is for Debt Service, N4,038,557,664,767 only, is for Recurrent (Non Debt) Expenditure while the sum of N2,031,754,458,902 only is for contribution to the Development Fund for capital Expenditure for the year ending on 31st day of December, 2019.”

    Lawan in his lead debate gave an overview of the 2019 budget projections.

    The Yobe North Senator noted that the budget deficit will be funded through borrowing but added that the country has the capacity to take care of its debt profile.

    He said that borrowed fund is specifically meant to fund and close the gap of infrastructure deficit in the country.

    He also noted that the country has not exceeded its borrowing capacity and limit.

    Lawan said, “About 89% of the deficit (N1.65 trillion) will be financed through new borrowings while about N210 billion is expected from the proceeds of privatization of some public enterprise. Debt Service/ Revenue Ratio which was high as 69% in 2017 has led to concerns being raised about the sustainability of the nation’s Debt. Therefore, while the National Debt remains sustainable, it is imperative that we tackle our revenue problem so that we do not end up with a debt sustainability issues.

    “The 2019 Budget seeks to stimulate the national economy, making it more competitive by focusing on infrastructural development, delivery of inclusive growth and prioritizing the welfare of Nigerians to safeguard lives and property; equipping farmers with high told, technology and techniques; empowering and enabling mines to operate in a safe and secured environment and training of our youths through revival of our vocational institutions to ensure they are competitive enough to seize the opportunities that will arise for this economic revival.”

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, was the first to raise the alarm on the country’s rising debt profile.

    Ekweremadu noted that though the budget estimates should be given expeditious consideration and passage in view of the time already lost, the borrowing plan contained in the Bill should be properly scrutinized.

    The Enugu West Senator said that scrutinizing the borrowing plan became necessary to prevent the country from exceeding its borrowing limit when juxtaposed with the ratio of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    Ekweremadu said, “Time is already running out on us as regards the consideration and passage of the 2019 budget estimates but the increasing borrowing proposals on our yearly budget is becoming unbearable.

    “Yes, money must be sought for by any government to fund infrastructure but it must not be solely anchored on borrowing which in the long run, will take the country back to a problem it had earlier solved .

    “Besides, there are other creative ways of funding such highly needed infrastructure.”

    Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) in his contribution said that the debt profile of the country would soon rise to $60 billion from less than $20 billion it was before the present government came to power in 2015.

    Melaye explained the components of the $60 billion debts profile to include $23 billion external debt and $20 billion local debts.

    He said that another $12 billion was already being processed for presentation to the National Assembly to finance Port Harcourt to Maiduguri rail lines.

    Melaye said, “Nigeria is gradually turning to a chartered borrowing nation under this government all in the name of funding infrastructure.

    “This must be stopped because the future of the country and in particular, lives of generations yet unborn are being put in danger.”

    Melaye noted that even with the high level of indebtedness of the country, “the government in power is planning to further devalue the Naira to about N500 to one US dollar.”

    He said that the Nigeria Stock market suffered a loss of over N300billion loss immediately the result of the presidential election was announced.

    He said, “Inflation is on the rise, unemployment rate is increasing, assumptions made for the budget estimates as regards $60 oil price benchmark and 2.3million barrel oil production level per day are unrealizable and unrealistic.”

    Senators Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central) and Albert Bassey Akpan (Akwa Ibom North East) also sued for caution in the way and manner the country borrow money from lenders.

    Senators Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East), Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Jibrin Barau (Kano North) and Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah (Kebbi South) insisted that the debt profile of the country was not as outrageous and damaging as being portrayed by some of their colleagues.

    Na’Allah specifically maintained that rather than saying that Nigeria is over borrowing, the country is grossly under borrowing when the total amount borrowed is compared with the population and human resources.

    Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South) on his own moved for the budget to be passed for second reading in view of the time already lost in its consideration in the Senate.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki ruled that the debate would continue and end on March 19, 2019.

  • Updated: Senate resolves to debate conduct of 2019 elections

    The Senate on Wednesday resolved to debate the conduct of the controversial 2019 general elections.

    The resolution followed a Point of Order (Order 42) by Senator Dino Melaye, which gives Senators the privilege to raise issues for consideration as they deem necessary.

    Melaye prayed the Upper Chamber to debate the way and manner the 2019 general elections were conducted across the country with a view to identifying shortcomings.

    The Kogi West Senator said the conduct of the elections were below expectation and should be debated with a view to making provisions that would aid the correction of observed anomalies.

    For him, the debate will afford Senators the opportunity to tell their stories about how the elections were conducted in the constituencies.

    He said the debate would also place the Senate in a better position to advise the President appropriately as well as to urge him to sign the amended Electoral Act for smoother elections in future.

    Melaye concluded the debate would assist the country to prepare a seamless election process in future.

    He sought to bring a substantive motion on the issue on the next legislative day.

    The proposed motion appeared not to have gone down well with some Senators especially those of the All Progressives Congress (APC) extraction.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, sought the leave of the Senate to allow Melaye to present his motion on the next legislative day.

    A Senator on the floor was over heard shouting that the voice vote should be declared inconclusive by Saraki.

    Those opposed to the motion appeared to be louder in their shout of “nay”

    Saraki ruled that what was needed to allow the motion was 1/5 of the leave of the Senate.

    Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, took the floor to remind Saraki that his ruling on whether to allow the motion or not was not clear.

    Lawan said, “A non- partisan motion was on the floor. We didn’t hear your ruling. What was your ruling on the motion? We did not hear your ruling.”

    Saraki reiterated what was needed to approve the motion to be debated was 1/5 of the leave of the Senate.

    He said that 1/5 leave of the Senate was secured.

    “My ruling is that the motion will be listed on the Order Paper for the next legislative day.

    Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’ Alla made a futile attempt to shoot down the motion by informing his colleagues that there was no motion on the floor in the first place.

    Na’Alla said Melaye introduced himself as Senator-elect instead of introducing himself as a Senator.

    Saraki reminded him that Melaye first introduced himself as a Senator representing Kogi West before adding that he is also a Senator-elect.

    Senator Jibrin Barau (APC Kano North) raised another Point of Order and attempted to call for division of the House to determine the position of Senators on the motion.

    Saraki cut him short.

    The Senate President insisted that what was required to allow the motion was 1/5 leave of the Senate.

    The Senate President further assured that the motion would first be screened at the leadership level before presentation and debate in the chamber.

    He noted specifically that the motion would be considered as a Pan Nigerian motion by ensuring that the debate is not partisan.

    Saraki also assured that issues in court will not be allowed as part of the motion.

  • Senate President: Northern youths back south south

    A group of northern youths under the auspices of the Pan African United Youth Development Network wants the leadership of the All Progressives Congress and the Presidency to allow the south south geopolitical zone produce the Senate President in the 9th Senate in the interest of equity and national interest.

    The group said the position of the Senate Presidency be zoned to the South-south geo-political zone considering their contribution to the development of the country.

    President of the group, Habib Mohammed said in a statement made available to The Nation that it will be politically lucrative to compensate the south south with the office of the Senate President and balance the political equation in the country.

    The group ask “the Presidency and the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to consider zoning the office of the Senate Presidency to south south, considering the contribution of the region to the national economy of the country.

    “It will be politically lucrative to compensate the region with the Senate Presidency and also to balance the political equation of each region so that no region feel marginalized. Doing this will further enhance the intertribal and ethnic relationship.

    “We also ask all elected Senators to put aside sentiments and selfish interest and work for the national interest first by giving the south south the opportunity to produce the next Senate President in the interest of equity, fairness and justice.

    “We believe that the South South zone deserve to be given the opportunity considering the fact that they remain the only zone in the country that has not produced any principal officer of this government since 2015 when the Buhari government came into office.

    “Currently, the North West and South West have the President and Vice President, a situation that will remain so for another four years; the North Central is currently occupying the position of Senate President, South East, occupies the position of Deputy Senate President, while the North East has both the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Senate Leader, with the South south the only zone left out.

    “Zoning the position of Senate President to another zone outside the south south will amount to robbing them of a well-deserved position especially when you consider the fact that they currently have ranking Senators from the zone.

    “It is our belief that the North East should be given the position of Deputy Senate President in the 9th Senate. In view of this, we urge President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to put the interest of the nation at heart, consider the principles on which they stand and on which the party was built and allow the south south produce the next Senate President.

    “We recall that when the zone occupied the position during the second republic, the legislature had a near perfect and cordial working relationship with the executive led then by late former President Aliyu Shehu Shagari. We have not had such a relationship since then.“

  • Labour congratulates Buhari, wants minimum wage paid fast

    The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to and enforce the new minimum wage Act as soon as passed by the Senate.

    Mr Bashir Lawal, ASCSN Secretary-General, made the appeal on Thursday in Lagos in a congratulatory message to the president on his re-election.

    Lawal said that Buhari should not delay in signing the new wage bill when ready.

    He noted that the bill had already been approved by the House of Representatives.

    Lawal commended the president for ensuring timely payment of workers’ salaries.

    He said that it was good that the president did not lay off workers, noting that the labour market was  over-saturated.

    ”We commend the president for ensuring that salaries and allowances of public servants are paid as and when due.

    ”We are happy that promotion arrears and outstanding salaries owed workers had been settled,” he said.

    The ASCSN scribe said that there was no doubt that workers omitted or short-paid would be settled soonest.

    He further hailed the president for keeping his promise to make unity colleges  to remain a commonwealth.

    He, however, advised Buhari to use the next four years to look at areas that would need improvement in order to enhance national cohesion, peace, prosperity and progress. (NAN)