The Nation Newspaper

Tag: State govts

  • Workers to Fed, state govts: our patience is running out

    WORKERs have again called on the Federal Government to urgently transmit the recommendations of the tripartite committee on a new minimum wage to the National Assembly, saying they are becoming impatient.

    The workers, who spoke through their leaders yesterday across the country during mobilisation rallies organised on the minimum wage issue, said governments should effect the payment of N30,000 minimum wage as agreed or  face an indefinite strike any moment from now.

     

    On N30,000 we stand, say workers in Lagos

    Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Vice President  Comrade Solomon Adelegan, who led the protest in Lagos, from Maryland to Alausa as early as 7am,  insisted that the government must transmit the N30,000 recommended to the National Assembly with immediate effect.

    Adelegan said workers’ decision for going to the Governors’ office in Alausa  was aimed at presenting a letter to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    He said the letter was just to urge the state governor to speak to  his fellow governors on the need to agree and effect the N30,000 minimum wage.

    Also speaking at the protest,  former Southwest Zonal Chairman of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo,  said the Federal Government was ready to pay the agreed minimum wage, “but the state governors are slowing down the presentation of the bill to the National Assembly”.

    General Secretary of the Joint Action Front (JAF)Comrade Abiodun Aremu  urged its affiliates, allies and Nigerians across religion and ethnic divides to join forces with the organised labour to enforce the payment of the minimum wage.

    Receiving the letter on behalf of the governor,  the Special Adviser to the Governor  on Civic Engagement, Mr. Benjamin Olabinjo, apologised  and said the letter would be delivered to the governor.

    The  protest caused a heavy gridlock stretching from Maryland through Ikeja to Alausa.

     

    Oyo Govt ‘ll soon make workers smile, says Ajimobi

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi said yesterday that his government will soon put smiles on the faces of its workers when the issue of national minimum wage is addressed.

    He also assured the workers that their pay would soon rise in compliance with the new wage law.

    Ajimobi spoke yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, while addressing the Oyo State chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress in his office at Agodi, Ibadan, during a peaceful protest by NLC to demand for the implementation of the new minimum wage.

    The governor, speaking through his deputy, Otunba Moses Adeyemo, said every reasonable person knows that the present N18,000 minimum wage was very small compared to the high prices of goods and services.

    He noted that the Federal Government, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, is committed to the welfare of the workers, adding that government would ensure speedy passage and implementation of the new minimum wage.

    Chairman, Oyo State NLC Comrade Waheed Olojede said the essence of the peaceful protest was to call on government to quickly pass the recommendation of the tripartite committee to the National Assembly to enact it into law

     

    Ondo workers join protest

    Workers in Ondo State, like their counterparts across the country, yesterday protested over the new national minimum wage.

    Members of organised labour unions, who converged  on the Cultural Centre, rallied to Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, where they demanded that President Muhammadu Buhari submit a bill to the parliament for the implementation of the N30, 000 minimum wage.

    NLC President Ayuba Wabba, while addressing workers in Akure, said the protest became imperative to ensure that the minimum wage bill processes for the transmission would be completed.

    A letter by the labour unions to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu  was received by Secretary to the State Government Mr. Ifedayo Abegunde, who addressed the labour unions on behalf of the governor.

    Abegunde, however, said the welfare of the state workers was paramount to the government.

     

    Osun workers:  we’ll not relent in our demand

    Osun State workers also joined the protest to demand for N30,000 minimum wage, saying they would not relent in their demand.

    In their hundreds, they converged on the Nelson Mandela  Freedom Park  in Osogbo, the state capital, before marching round major streets of the town to register their grievances over non-implementation of the proposed minimum wage.

    The workers went round major streets, including Old Garage, Olaiya Junction, Ayetoro and Okefia and terminated the protest in front of the state House of Assembly, on Gbongan road while singing solidarity songs.

    With placards with different inscriptions: “No retreat, No surrender on our demand”, “We will not relent in pursuing our goals”, “On N30,000 minimum wage will stand” and many others, the protesters promised to follow the demand to a logical conclusion.

    State NLC Chairman Comrade Jacob Adekomi, who addressed his colleagues, said they would not relent until their demand is met.

     

    Imo NLC: we’ll reject anybody who reject minimum wage

    The Imo State NLC chapter called on President Muhammadu Buhari to hasten the process of the implementation of the proposed N30,000 minimum wage.

    The aggrieved unionists stated that they are ready to reject anybody “who rejected the minimum wage”.

    The protest, however, ran into a hitch when the leaders disagreed on where to lead the protesting workers to.

    The Executive members lead by the Chairman, Comrade Austin Chilakpu, marched to the office of the Secretary to the State Government. The workers, led by one Samuel Iwuala, took their protest to  the Government House.

    Read also: Abiara backs workers on N30,000 minimum wage

    Niger is ready to pay, says Sani-Bello

    Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello yesterday declared his readiness to pay the new minimum wage as being agitated by the organised Labor.

    He assured the organised labour the state that he is ready to comply as soon as the new minimum wage is agreed upon.

    The governor stated this in Minna while addressing the state chapter of the organised labour.

    Bello maintained the need for workers’ welfare to be improved upon in the face of the inflationary trend, which makes life difficult for workers.

    The governor reinstated that the welfare of the state workforce remains his major priority.

     

    Workers vow to punish politicians in Delta

    Delta State NLC vowed to use the opportunity of the 2019 general elections to punish state governors and other politicians paying lip service to the implementation of the proposed N30,000 minimum wage.

    NLC Chairman Mr. Jonathan Jemiriegbe stated this in Asaba  yesterday after leading a rally to the Government House, where he presented a position paper to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

    Okowa, who is seeking a second term in office, had promised to implement the new minimum wage once it is approved at the national level.

    The governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Tam Brisibe, said his administration is labour-friendly.

    He hailed the organised labour in the state for their cooperation and support in the past three years.

     

    Kogi govt, labour disagree over unpaid salaries

    The Kogi State NLC chapter yesterday alleged that workers in the state were still owed between many months of salary arrears by the state government.

     

     

     

    NLC chairman Comrade Enuh Edoka stated this in the Government House Lokoja, while presenting the workers’ demands during a protest for the actualisation of N30,000 minimum wage.

    He said the workers passed through dire situations, owing to irregular payment of salaries.

    Chief of Staff to the Kogi State Governor Chief Edward Onoja asserted that with workers at the local government level, salary payment has not gone below 50 per cent.

    He said the state government would collaborate with the organised labour to ensure that the minimum wage demand is given the maximum attention it deserves.

     

    Akwa Ibom decries insensitivity of politicians

     

    The organised labour in Akwa Ibom State yesterday joined the nationwide protest.

    The protest, which was led by leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC),  saw hundreds of government workers marching from the Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat to  the Government House, Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo.

    Addressing workers at Indongesit Nkanga Secretariat, the state NLC Chairman, Comrade Etim Ukpong, decried the insensitivity of politicians towards the welfare of workers.

    Ukpong added that workers would bring down governments for politicians to recognise the fact that everything in the country belongs to the people and not the governors.

     

     

  • UNIC to state govts: create bicycle tracks in cities

    UNITED Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Nigeria Director Mr Ronald Kayanja has urged state governments to integrate bicycle corridors into city transport infrastructure planning and design.

    Kayanja made the call in Lagos during the World Bicycle Day, organised by UNIC and Cycology Cycling Club, saying: “This will protect and promote safety of pedestrians and cycling mobility, to improve health, particularly the prevention of injuries and non-communicable diseases among the people.”

    He advocated the use of the bicycle as a means of fostering sustainable development, strengthening education, including physical education, for children and young people, promoting health, preventing disease, promoting tolerance, mutual understanding and respect and facilitating social inclusion and a culture of peace.

    Addressing over 50 male and female cyclists at the flag-off at the Ikoyi Office of UNIC, Kayanja said: “Cycling empowers people. Cycling promotes peace and development, Cycling promotes good health and wellbeing. Cycling will reduce urban transport emissions if encouraged in the cities. Cycling is an enabler of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

    The director noted that the General Assembly resolution on the World Bicycle Day was an acknowledgment of the uniqueness, longevity and versatility of the bicycle, “which has been in use for two centuries, and that it is a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transportation, fostering environmental stewardship and health”.

    He added that the commemorative event of June 2 might probably be the first in the world because “tomorrow,  June 3 is the actual day and we are probably the only one marking the day on June 2.”

    Cycology Cycling Club Captain, Ms Bimpe Olufemi, commended the UN for declaring every June 3 as the World Cycling Day. This she said, would encourage people to imbibe the culture of cycling which will further enhance the wellbeing of the people. However, she called for infrastructural development that would make cycling safe and enjoyable.

    The UN Resolution on World Bicycle Day, among others, “invites all member-states and all other relevant stakeholders to cooperate in observing World Bicycle Day, to celebrate the day and to promote awareness of it”, among others.

     

     

  • FG pledges to refund expenditure on federal roads to state govts

    Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing on Thursday pledged the commitment of the Federal Government to refund expenditure on the execution of federal roads to state governments.

    Fashola, who stated this in Ado-Ekiti during a courtesy visit to Gov. Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state, said the planned refund followed request by several state governments.
    The minister said he was in the state to inspect ongoing Federal Government road projects.

    He commended the governor over federal road projects executed in the state, adding that the Federal Government was committed to refunding the amount spent on the projects.

    According to the minister, we are committed to supporting states toward achieving their developmental objectives and so, efforts are being made to raise the fund through bonds.

    Fashola said Federal Government was not in competition with any state government and therefore, urged the governor to support the activities of the Federal Controller of Works in the state.

    He said the controller was in the state to ensure that the realisation of the Federal Government’s infrastructure developmental plans.

    The minister assured that work would resume in roads where engineering designs had been completed in the state, as soon as the 2017 budget was passed.

    In his remark, Fayose commended the minister for the visit, adding that coming to the state through road from Abuja was an indication that the minister was prepared to work.

    He said the state had no reason to doubt the minister over his promises to refund moneys spent on federal roads, completion of ongoing projects as well commencement of new ones.

    Fayose, however, urged the minister to expedite actions in ensuring that the projects were completed before the expiration of the tenure of the present administration in the state.

  • Build industrial parks, BoI advises state govts

    Build industrial parks, BoI advises state govts

    The Bank of Industry (BoI) has advised state governments to build industrial parks in all the Senatorial Districts in the country.

    Its Acting Managing Director, Mr. Waheed Olagunju  who gave the advice during the visit of the Director-General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Dr. Dikko Radda in Abuja, stated that the move will help to democratise entrepreneurship in the country and   reduce operating cost.

    He said: “We advise our governments, both the national and sub-national levels, to build industrial parks; if we have industrial park in each of the Senatorial Districts, we would have gone a long way in democratising entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

    “With government providing the needed amenities in the parks, it reduces start-up cost of SMEs. It also reduces their operating expenses;  when they are localised, they share knowledge, skills and they mutually reinforce one another. The output of one serves as the input for the other. When they are in a location, it also makes credit administration also easier. Doing that would substantially de-risk SMEs.”

    As part of the policies to stimulate the growth of MSMEs sector, Olagunju urged the government to initiate procurement process that mandates various agencies and ministries to buy from local producers.

    “Most MSMEs don’t have the budget to face the market, to get their goods sold; in solving this problem, some countries across the world have come up with procurement policies in favour of MSMEs to say that between 30 and 40 per cent of government procurement must come from MSMEs. We need the policy like that in Nigeria,” he said.

  • SWF: State govts to get dividends in 2018

    SWF: State govts to get dividends in 2018

    State governments will have to wait till 2018 and pray that the three funds of the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) make consistent profits before they can start receiving dividends on their Sovereign Wealth Investment (SWI).

    Addressing journalists on the financial performance of the National Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) in the last one year, Managing Director of the Authority, Uche Orji said: “the law says after five years of profitability in each of the three funds, that is when the state governments will start getting dividends.

    “If things continue like this in the next two years our anticipation is that we will start paying dividends to the states by the end  the of 2017 to 2018.’’

    He said the organisation only received the $250 million additional capital approved for it last year by the National Council of State, only in February this year, adding that the $250 million “will be invested within the new fiscal year using the existing deployment ratio of 40 per cent in Infrastructure Fund, 40 per cent in Future Generations Fund and 20 per cent in Stabilisation Fund.”

    He declared that 2016 is the year that the three hospital/health programmes would get funding, as well as the Second Niger bridge. “That is when you will now see other people coming along side us,” he said.

    Orji said as the first step towards ensuring that the states get returns on their investments as soon as required by law, NSIA is pushing to attract $1.6 billion co-investments into the country in the next four years.

    He said already, the initial $100 million co-investment fund of the NSIA, barring any last minute hitches, would bring in another $400 million by June this year, with investors ploughing these monies into real estate.

    “We felt it was time to go into co-investment funds which is meant to push our $100 million to attract $400 million of equity,” he said, pointing out that, “that vehicle will go ahead and take leverage of the real estate”.

    The NSIA chief said this is the first formalised way of saying to you “we are going to put $100 million to attract $400 million, the strategy is – once this is done and successfully launched, we are going to go on and do the same for power and industrials, agriculture and health. We are confident that we will raise the co-investment fund by the second half of the year (2016).

    Orji said 70 per cent of the $100 million investments will be dedicated to what is known as brown fields, which means buying existing real estate or rehabilitating existing ones and 30 per cent will focus on green fields, which is brand new.

    “We will focus mostly on commercial real estate.  70 per cent will be invested to make sure we are not taking a lot of development risks some of which will require some investments to upgrade it. We are looking at housing, but there is nothing right now that is developed to the point. When this fund is completed, some of the three or four projects will be announced and invested in this year. Office buildings, leisure property and housing will be the third stage of those projects” he said.

    Interest in the real estate vehicle, he said, “remains very strong and that is the one you will see this year. The idea is to bring 20 per cent of that vehicle and other investors will bring 80 per cent. The NSIA infrastructure fund will operate this way. We are hoping that at the time $400 million will attract an additional $1.6 billion as co-investment vehicle to be attracted to the country.”