There are strong indications that Organised Labour may begin a nationwide strike from Monday, June 3, over a new minimum wage.

This is as the tripartite committee on a new national minimum wage, NNMW, reconvenes today, following abrupt adjournment due to labour’s walkout of last Tuesday’s meeting, where it accused government negotiators of unseriousness in the negotiation process.

Meanwhile, accusing fingers are pointing to the state governors of ganging up against the Federal Government to stall the ongoing negotiation.

Labour’s negotiating team had on Tuesday, for the second time in two weeks, walked out of the committee meeting after the Federal Government increased its offer marginally to N60,000 from the N57,000 it offered on Wednesday, May 22.

Labour, represented by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and its Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, counterpart, had on May 15, walked out of the tripartite committee meeting after the government offered N48,000 and Organised Private Sector, OPS, offered N54,000, against its N615,000 demand.

Meeting reconvenes

However, in a letter reconvening the meeting, Ekpo Nta, member/Secretary of the committee on behalf of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, NSIWC, dated May 29, said: “You are respectfully invited to attend the 7th meeting of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage which is scheduled as follows: Date: Friday, 31, May 2024

Venue: Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall, Nicon Luxury Hotel Plot 903, Tafawa Balewa Way Area 11, Garki, Abuja, Time: 10:00 am Prompt

“The minutes of the 6′ meeting and the draft agenda for the 7” meeting wil be circulated in due course.

“Please note that the following ‘Zoom link’ has been provided for any member who indicates inability to be physically present to participate in the meeting.”

Labour mobilizes for strike

Organised labour sources, nonetheless, told Vanguard that a nationwide strike might start on Monday, depending on the outcome of today’s meeting.

According to the sources, organised labour is already mobilizing for a strike from Monday, June 3.
A labour leader, who spoke to Vanguard anonymously, said: “The outcome of tomorrow’s (today) will determine our next line of action. If the meeting comes out fruitful, better for everyone.

“But should government’s team continue with its carefree attitude and disdain for workers’ welfare, nothing will stop us from going on strike from Monday. We are already mobilizing for the strike.

“Everyone knows that the one-month ultimatum we gave to the government to conclude negotiations on the new national minimum wage ends tomorrow (today). We have been patient amid the hardship and mass suffering inflicted on us by the government’s anti-poor policies.

“Besides that, the issue of the minimum wage is statutory. The old Minimum Wage Act ceased to exist since April 18. We had more than six months, at least, to work on a new minimum wage.

“But the government has not been serious with issues affecting workers. Well, Nigerians can bear us witness that we have been patient with this government. If the government knows what is good for it, let its negotiators come up with something reasonable to meet workers’ expectations, otherwise, strike will be inevitable from Monday.”

Govs gang-up

On alleged gang-up by governors, organised labour which appears not to be unaware of the gang-up, is already working on a series of industrial actions, including a total shutdown of nation’s economy to speed up the process.

According to a Presidency source, “the unwillingness of most of the state governors to commit to a reasonable new national minimum wage is putting pressure on the federal government to do the needful.

“Even though what labour is demanding is on the high side, the Federal Government is under pressure from the state governors not to give in to labour’s demand. They have been insisting that they do not have the resources to pay a high wage.

“You can see that they have been shunning the ongoing negotiations because they are afraid to come to the open to put forward their arguments. They cannot continue to shy away. We know there are challenges, we have to face it one way or the other. We must come up with a new national minimum wage. It is a law that we have to abide with.”

Reacting, one of the labour leaders in the negotiating team, told Vanguard that Labour was not ignorant of the antics of the state governors, but said the federal government had a fair share in whatever the governors were doing.

He said: “From the onset, the federal government created this problem by choosing governors that have breached the 2019 Minimum Wage Act as members of the tripartite committee, representing the governors.

“Check, none of the six governors in the committee is labour-friendly. They never fully implemented the N30,000 minimum wage. I remember that the NLC president raised the issue when their names were announced as members representing the governors in the tripartite committee on the new national minimum wage.

“As we speak, many of them have refused to pay the wage award to their workers as a temporary measure to cushion the effects of the removal of petrol subsidy. Even some of them that agreed to pay have not paid more than two or three months. In fact, some of them are paying a meagre N10,000 or N15,000.

“They cannot run away from the reality. Whatever economic challenge we face today, they created it. They are all receiving more money from the federation account as a result of the removal of fuel subsidies and the excessive taxation of the people, among other sources of funds, such as IGR. They have no excuse or reason not to pay.

“We have lined up a series of industrial actions, including shutting down the economy, to speed up the process. We are just waiting for the May 31 deadline we gave on May Day to take the next line of action.”

FG pleads labour’s understanding

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has appealed to organized labour to see reason with its offer.
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, who appealed yesterday, asked Labour to be considerate and patriotic in their demand in the ongoing negotiations.

She said the government had been consistent in taking steps to secure a fair and realistic wage for Nigeria workers but urged Labour to recognise that the nation’s economy is still on the path of recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other economic distress.

The minister said: “We appeal to organized labour and, indeed, other relevant stakeholders to be considerate and patriotic in their demands, recognizing that our economy is still recovering from the devastating effects of the pandemic and other global economic shocks. “We are committed to putting the people first and ensuring that our economic policies benefit all Nigerians, not just a select few.
“The government remains dedicated to prioritizing the well-being of our citizens and urge all relevant parties to demonstrate patriotism and understanding, particularly during this critical period when President, Bola Tinubu is working diligently to revitalize the economy. 

“We recognize that the economic challenges we face are complex and multi-faceted, and we require the collective effort of all stakeholders to overcome them.”

The minister noted that last Tuesday’s meeting with Labour was a significant step in the ongoing efforts to secure a fair and realistic wage for Nigerian workers.

“As a government, we recognise the importance of ensuring that our citizens receive a decent standard of living, and we are committed to making this a reality.

“After hours of intense negotiations, labour leaders took a recess to consult with other key stakeholders and have pledged to return to the negotiating table for further discussions today. We welcome this development and are optimistic that our continued engagement will yield a positive outcome.

“In light of the current economic conditions, we have made a concessionary move from N57,000 to N60,000. This increase is a demonstration of our willingness to listen to the concerns of labour and work towards a mutually beneficial agreement. 

“We understand that the current economic landscape is challenging, and we are doing everything in our power to mitigate its effects on our citizens. This is the path this government has chosen to pursue, and we will not deviate or stray from the course.

“President Tinubu has been tireless in his efforts to revitalise the economy and improve the standard of living for all Nigerians. His commitment to creating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and reducing poverty is genuine, and we appeal to all to support him in this endeavour.

“As we move forward, we will continue to engage with organised labour and other stakeholders to ensure that our economic policies are inclusive and beneficial to all. We recognise that the times are challenging, but we are confident that with the collective effort of all Nigerians, we can overcome any obstacle and build a brighter future for ourselves and future generations.”

The Federal Government has secured a $500 million World Bank loan to empower Nigeria's energy distribution industry, the Bureau of Public Enterprises stated on Thursday.

The BPE announced that the financing has been secured to help address the numerous issues that Discos face in the country.

“In a strategic move to address the identified gaps in the electricity distribution companies, the Federal Government of Nigeria has secured a $500m loan from the World Bank,” BPE stated in a statement issued in Abuja by the Head of Public Communication, Amina Othman.

It added, “Approved on February 4, 2021, by the World Bank board of directors, this funding supports the Nigerian Distribution Sector Recovery Programme aimed at improving the financial and technical performance of the Discos.

“The DISREP is designed to enhance the financial and technical operations of the Discos through capital investment and the financing of key components of their Performance Improvement Plans, which have been approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.”

The Bureau stated that key areas of improvement include bulk procurement of customer/retail metres and metre data management systems, implementation of a Data Aggregation Platform, and strengthening governance and transparency within the Discos.

On the programme components, BPE said the DISREP comprises two main components.

It said the first is the programme for results, with an allocation of $345m, adding that the purpose is to support the implementation of selected PIP components. The Bureau of Public Enterprises is to implement this.

The other component is the Investment Project Financing, with an allocation of $155m and the purpose is to finance the procurement of metres, a data aggregation platform, and technical assistance.

“The DISREP loan, particularly the Investment Project Financing component, is expected to significantly benefit the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry by closing the metering gap, reducing Aggregate Technical, Collection, and Commercial losses, and improving remittances and liquidity for the Discos.

“Others include to enhance the reliability of power supply, as well as increase transparency and accountability within the Discos,” BPE stated.

It said the $500m DISREP loan from the World Bank offers concessional financing with more favourable terms than commercial bank loans.

“This will enable the Discos to invest in critical distribution infrastructure, improve ATC&C losses, increase power supply reliability, achieve financial sustainability in the power sector, and enhance transparency and accountability,” the bureau stated.

It noted that significant progress has been made in the preparation of the DISREP programme with several key milestones achieved and approved by the Federal Executive Council on August 3, 2022.

It said there has been the execution of the Financing Agreement by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and the World Bank, and adoption of the Programme Operations Manual by BPE and Transmission Company of Nigeria.

The government has also obtained a legal opinion from the Attorney-General of the Federation and executed the Subsidiary Loan Agreement, adding that the effective declaration of the DISREP Programme was done on January 31, 2023, while the inauguration of the DISREP Technical Committee was on May 6, 2024.

It said the inclusion in the Federal Government borrowing plan was approved by the Senate Committee on May 16, 2024.

“To ensure repayment assurance, the Bureau of Public Enterprises sought and obtained approval from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and the National Council on Privatisation for a structured repayment hierarchy.

“This structure prioritises payments as follows: 1. Statutory payments (taxes); 2. Repayment of CBN market loans; 3. Market obligations; 4. Repayment of DISREP loan; 5. Discos’ net revenue. This structured repayment plan aims to mitigate risks associated with repayment uncertainty and defaults, with regulatory sanctions imposed for any defaults,” BPE stated.

Power distribution companies in Nigeria have been widely criticised as being the weakest link in the country’s power value chain. This is due to many lapses on the part of the Discos.

For instance, about eight million registered power users out of an estimated 13 million electricity consumers are not metered by Discos. Also, there are complaints of poor power supply to many locations by Discos. Consumers on estimated billing also accuse Discos of extortion, among other concerns.

Nigeria got 11 power distribution companies after electricity generation and distribution arms of the industry were privatised in November 2013, and since then, the Discos have been struggling to meet the demands of end users.

House of Representatives has stepped down an amendment to a motion seeking foreign intervention to address Nigeria’s insecurity issues.

The lawmakers declined an amendment proposed by Hon. Ahmed Jaha (APC, Borno), which called for the invitation of foreign mercenaries to assist in combating the issue.

Jaha stated that despite ongoing efforts by security agencies over the years, results have been insufficient, hence the need for Nigeria to engage foreign contractors to assist in combating insecurity across the country.

“During the period of insecurity in the northeast between 2020, there was no significant hunger in the country. However, when the bandits realized their actions were causing more hunger than insecurity, they expanded their operations to the southeast and southwest.

“Given the insurgency we’re grappling with, it’s prudent to seek assistance from other nations. Nigeria lacks the power and influence of countries like Ukraine and Russia. Bringing in machinery to tackle insecurity is essential to prevent a worsening hunger crisis next year. The current strategy of targeting farmers is crippling agricultural productivity. While we appreciate the efforts of our security agencies, additional support is urgently needed.”

But, Hon. Abbas Adigun, member representing Ibadan North East/South East Federal Constituency of Oyo State, strongly opposed the suggestion of employing foreign mercenaries, stating that it would be a source of embarrassment for the nation.

“We must prioritize bolstering our security agencies’ capacity and ensuring their personnel’s welfare. When they bravely venture into the field, there’s a stark reality: a 50% chance they won’t return. We must also consider the welfare of their families left behind.

“We’re sorely lacking the modern equipment needed to confront insurgents effectively. Despite discussing security measures in the 9th Assembly, no tangible actions have been taken. That’s why I’ve chosen not to attend any security meetings in this assembly.

“Requesting another nation to supply us with machinery is a slight to our stature as a leading African nation. We possess the capability within our security agencies, augmented by the expertise of retired service chiefs, to undertake such tasks internally.

“Many of Nigeria’s security challenges stem from its poorest and least educated regions. These issues are the fruit of seeds planted long ago. Nigeria must prioritize investments in education and alternative livelihoods over criminal activities,” he said.

Other lawmakers also followed his argument, dropping the amendment while the motion was adopted with other prayers.

Adopting the motion, the House decided to meet with the President to find solutions to the insecurity challenges. It urged police authorities to appropriate funds to repair damaged security assets nationwide.

The motion’s mover, Abdullahi Dabai from Katsina State, lamented that the people of his constituency are living in a state of fear owing to constant attacks by bandits.

“Families have lost their loved ones, their means of livelihood, and their homes. The psychological trauma inflicted on the survivors, particularly those who have lost family members or witnessed the destruction, cannot be overstated. The kidnappings have further exacerbated the situation, with families anxiously awaiting the return of their loved ones,” he said.

Nigeria and other West African countries are expected to see their growth rates rise from 3.6% in 2023 to 4.2% in 2024 and 4.4% in 2025. This projection was shared by Kevin Urama, the Vice-President and Chief Economist of the African Development Bank (AfDB), during the African Economic Outlook 2024 event on Thursday.

The announcement was made at the bank’s 2024 Annual Meetings in Nairobi, Kenya. The event’s theme was “Driving Africa’s Transformation: The Reform of the Global Financial Architecture.”

Urama highlighted that West Africa’s growth is set to increase, moving from an estimated 3.6% in 2023 to 4.2% in 2024, and further solidifying at 4.4% in 2025. This marks a 0.3 percentage point increase over the January Macro Economic Outlook (MEO) projections, driven by stronger growth in major economies like Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal.

He emphasized that African economies have shown resilience despite multiple challenges, with average growth expected to stabilize at 4.0% in 2024-2025, up from 3.1% in 2023. The average real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth slowed from 4.1% in 2022 to 3.1% in 2023, primarily due to high food and energy prices stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Dikko Radda: Insecurity would be difficult to address without alleviating poverty
Other contributing factors include climate change, extreme weather affecting agriculture and power generation, and political instability in some countries. However, real GDP growth is projected to rise to 3.7% in 2024 and 4.3% in 2025, surpassing the 4.1% recorded in 2022.

Urama noted that the growth rebound will be driven by East Africa, with an increase of 3.4 percentage points, and Southern and West Africa, each rising by 0.6 percentage points. In 2024, 40 countries are expected to show higher growth than in 2023, with 17 economies projected to grow by more than 5%, potentially increasing to 25 by 2025. Africa is set to retain its position as the second fastest-growing region after Asia in 2024-2025, with GDP growth exceeding the global average of 3.2% in 2024.

For oil-exporting countries, average growth is expected to decline from 3.7% in 2023 to 3.5% in 2024, but it may rise to 4% in 2025. This slowdown in 2024 is due to lower oil production targets set by OPEC and issues such as the vandalism of an oil pipeline in South Sudan and uncertainties surrounding Angola’s oil exports after leaving OPEC.

In contrast, growth in non-oil resource-intensive economies is projected to improve significantly from 0.3% in 2023 to 2.7% in 2024, and stabilize at 3.3% in 2025. This sharp increase is mainly due to a rebound in China’s demand for metals and minerals, driven by expansions in smart grids and construction activities.

The Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms has asked the federal government to adopt an exchange rate of ₦800 per dollar for customs import duty.

The chairman of the committee, Taiwo Oyedele, spoke on Thursday while engaging journalists on the activities of the tax panel in Lagos.

While presenting some of the committee’s recommendations, the tax expert expressed concern over the import duty rate, which constantly changes due to the volatility of the foreign exchange (FX) market.

This, Oyedele said, does not allow for adequate planning by businesses.

He said, “When we did the budget, we said naira to dollar will be ₦800, now it is 1,000 something. People need to plan.

“So now, we’re saying dear government can you please sign an order that says for the purpose of paying import duty, we shall use ₦800… for the rest of the year till December.

“So, we have proposed ₦800.”

The import duty rate in recent times has witnessed incessant adjustments by The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).

On May 27, the customs adjusted the FX rate for tariffs and duties to ₦1,480 per dollar.

Customs typically adopt FX rates recommended by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for import duties based on trading activities in the official FX market.

On May 16, Muda Yusuf, the director-general of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), said the customs should set a quarterly exchange rate between ₦800/$ and ₦1000/$ for import duties assessment.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has disclosed its plans to roll out six more Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) plants.

These proposed CNG stations, with 5.2mmscfd capacity each, will be located in selected locations across the country to ease access to bulk CNG.

This was disclosed on Thursday by the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Mele Kyari, at the commissioning of the company’s 5.2MMscf CNG plant in Ilasamaja, Lagos State.

He said that the national oil firm has taken a Final Investment Decision (FID) with Axxela Limited to deliver the projects.

Based on figure from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), as of January, the nation’s natural gas reserves stood at 209.26 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCF).

Speaking on the country’s enormous gas reserves, Kyari said: “We’re a gas country with associated oil. But we haven’t taken advantage of this gas for a very long period of time.”

He noted that NNPC’s investments in gas are not just market-driven, but also as mandated by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to drive domestic utilisation of gas.

The NNPC boss asserted that in the last year, there have been vigorous activities by the government to ensure that gas becomes an engine room for economic growth and development in the country.

“We’re building massive infrastructure in-country to ensure that gas reaches every corner of our country, but more than anything bring the volume that we require for the economic growth that this country truly deserves,” he said.

“NNPC will continue to deliver more strategic projects for the benefit of our country. We shall utilise our gas resources for industrialisation, power generation and economic prosperity for all.”

He highlighted the significant role the Obiafu-Obrinkon-Oben (OB3), Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) and Escravos Lagos Pipeline Systems (ELPS) gas pipelines will play in deepening domestic utilisation of gas in-country.

“I’ll like to inform you that many of these backbone infrastructure projects – the OB3, the AKK and also the expansion of ELPS – will automatically connect our gas sources, encourage gas producers to see the opportunity to grow gas into our pipeline networks,” Kyari said.

He expressed optimism that CNG will soon become the fuel of choice for many motorists in Nigeria.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, who commissioned the plant, said the occasion, under the theme “From Gas to Prosperity: CNG for All”, represents a critical turning point in the development of affordable, sustainable, and secure energy sources in the country.

The minister described 2024 as a historic year for Nigerians, stressing that through his courageous decision to eliminate fuel subsidies and promote the acceptability and broader use of LPG, President Bola Tinubu has brought about several fresh beginnings in the lives of Nigerians.

“Although the elimination of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) subsidy has brought difficulties, it has also given us a once-in-a-lifetime chance to invent and adopt more economical, efficient, and sustainable energy alternatives,” he stated.

Highlighting the gains of CNG, Ekpo said the use of CNG as a transport fuel is a mature technology used globally as it is the cleanest burning fuel in terms of Nitro-oxide and soot emissions.

Also speaking at the event, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the establishment of the CNG plant aligns with the vision of his government.

He disclosed that the state plans to deploy 2,500 conversion kits and over 2,000 new CNG buses, which will commence operations before the end of the year.

The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, reiterated the state’s commitment to deepening domestic utilisation.

Represented by the State Commissioner of Environment, Ola Oresanya, the governor said the state is supporting capacity building in CNG conversion to ensure sustainability and promote economic development within the state and beyond.

Earlier in his goodwill message, the Chief Executive of the Presidential CNG Initiative, Michael Oluwagbemi, described the plant commissioning as a testament to Tinubu’s commitment to providing sustainable energy solutions for Nigerians.

Giving his vote of thanks, the CEO of Axxela, Bolaji Osunsanya appreciated all the stakeholders, particularly the NNPC for its consistent vision towards the delivery of the plant, adding that his company’s many years of preparation have now met a golden opportunity to deliver cleaner, cheaper energy to Nigerians.

The Ilasamaja CNG plant was built by NNPC in partnership with Transit Gas Nigeria Limited (TGNL), a subsidiary of Axxela.

The CNG station can serve vehicles and also supply gas to industries and other companies. The facility utilises state-of-the-art 95MScf/hour compressors and has dispensing points for filling of gas-powered vehicles, utilising CNG as a primary or alternate fuel.

It would deliver CNG at 250 bar into specialised tube trailers for onward delivery to customers beyond the pipeline gas areas, approximately within a 250km radius of the Facility. With an average tank capacity of 40SCM for Autogas cars and 250SCM for Buses/Trucks, the 150,000SCM capacity plant can fill about 3,700 cars or 600 trucks/buses daily.

Nigeria has adopted gas as its transition fuel and is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. NNPC Limited is at the vanguard of powering Nigeria’s greener future

The partnership with TGNL is not the first aimed at deepening domestic utilisation of gas. In August last year, the national oil firm entered into a strategic partnership with NIPCO Gas Limited to deploy CNG stations across the country. Under the partnership, 35 CNG stations will be set up in Lagos and other parts of the country.

Pioneer National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande, on Thursday, assured that Nigeria is safe under President Bola Tinubu despite the hard times being faced by Nigerians.

The former Osun State Governor, noted that despite the pre and post-elections 2023 prophecy, Tinubu’s presidency was ushered in and that Nigeria has continued to wax stronger and stronger as one and indivisible entity under President Bola Tinubu.

He said under the Tinubu Presidency, Nigeria would continue to be more peaceful, more developed, more progressive and more prosperous.

Akande, who chaired a One-Day Lecture organised by Arewa Think Tank to celebrate one year achievements of the administration of President Tinubu, in Kaduna, urged Nigerians to shun any divisive tendencies that would disrupt the entity called Nigeria.

The event which has as its theme: ‘Our Diversity, Our strength,’ was attended by governors Uba Sani of Kaduna State and his Benue counterpart, Rev. Hyacinth Alia as well as some prominent northerners.

Akande noted that despite the prophecies either for or against the president, he was so convinced that Nigeria would forever continue to be sustained as a more peaceful, more developed, more progressive and more prosperous under President Tinubu and beyond.

He added that the tension and threats generated in the country by the opposition with the view to deny Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Presidential victory in the 2023 Presidential election was not surprising because even before independence never wanted a united country.

“Since 1953, when a motion for Independence was first moved in Parliament by Chief Tony Enahoro, our polity has been moving from tensions of one threat to another that Nigeria must not be allowed to continue as one and united country,” he said.
“I was the pioneer national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) – the great political party that produced the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose one year administrative anniversary was being officially celebrated since over a week up to yesterday”.

“I am therefore particularly convinced that Nigeria will forever continue to be sustained as a more peaceful, more developed, more progressive and a more prosperous country under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and beyond.

“Irrespective of our differences in religion, ethnicity and social status, as we gather here today to review matters of progress or otherwise on infrastructure, education, health, agriculture and every possible parameter of social engineering, I urge all of us to be thinking about how to sustain a united, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria. May our collective and individual aspirations within a better and most respectable Nigeria be divinely realised.”

In his remarks, the Chief Host and governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, also harped on the unity of Nigerians, saying that with unity of purpose, Nigeria and Nigerians would achieve the desired peace and progress.

He added that it was only when Nigerians come together as one that “there will be peace.”

He continued that President Bola Tinubu meant well for the country despite the current hardship occasioned by the removal of subsidy on oil and other policies of the current administration.

Going down memory lane, the governor said President Tinubu was one of those that fought for the enthronement of the current democracy.

He said the president was one of the financiers of the pro-democracy movement at the period Nigerians wanted the military to leave for democracy to thrive.

Sani, therefore, urged Nigerians to support the President despite the hardship because he (Tinubu) holds Nigerians and Nigeria high.

On his part, Governor Hyacinth Alia, who was guest lecturer at the event, stressed the need for Nigeria unity, saying that, “our religion should not be a dividing factor to us.”

Speaking on the theme: ‘Our Diversity, Our Strength,’ Alia
added that Nigeria as a country must not fail as its failure would negatively affect the entire Africa, as a continent.

“We should not take our diversity for granted, our diversity should be our power, strength and unifying force that hold us together as one people.

“Diversity should not be a source of conflicts and tension, it should rather build a more robust and prosperous Nigeria. If Nigeria fails as a nation, the entire countries in Africa will fail.

“Tinubu has brought hope of unity irrespective of our differences in religion, ethnicity and social status, and he stepped up progress or otherwise on infrastructure, education, health, agriculture and every possible parameter of social engineering,” he said.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, the Chief Convener Arewa Think Tank, Muhammad Yakubu informed, said the aimed the one-day lecture, was strengthen and encourage the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of the President which had several brilliant layers linked to foreign investment drive, energising the health sector, making education affordable for the poor and underserved, delivering good governance amidst debt burden, among others.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has stated that his administration does not intend to engage in unnecessary confrontation with those promoting the May 30 sit-at-home in honour of those killed during the Nigerian civil war.

The governor made this known in a statement on Thursday through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, affirming the people’s right to mourn their dead.

The Governor disclosed that the government is working with schools to ensure that students currently sitting for the West African Examination Council (WAEC) exams are not adversely affected.
He said,
“The government is in touch with all the affected schools to ensure that WAEC exams are not disrupted.

“We are working on managing the situation without unnecessary confrontation with those advocating for the sit-at-home to honor their deceased loved ones. They have every right to mourn, considering the history of the war. This is not a matter of politicizing.

“The war was a tragic period, and remembering the genocidal events is an emotional experience.

“We do not wish to confront those observing this moment of remembrance. Instead, we are handling the situation with wisdom and diplomacy, engaging with all involved parties.

“While we are taking certain measures that we prefer to keep private, our main goal is to ensure students can take their exams peacefully.

“Rest assured, we are implementing measures to maintain peace in Abia State.”

Recall that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had on Tuesday reiterated that 30th May is crucial and respected for Igbo people and residents of the South-East to honour those who died during the Civil War between 6 July 1967 and 15 January 1970.

According to statement by its media and publicity secretary, Emma Powerful, on Tuesday, IPOB said, “wish to remind every person resident in Biafra territory that 30th May 2024 sit-at-home in commemoration of Biafra Heroes Day is sacrosanct and we obliged everyone to abide to this order, its only one day.

“As long as Biafra Land is concerned, IPOB remains a very important state actor on the issues concerning Biafra. The remembrance of all those who fought for Biafra freedom and sovereignty remains imperative, and no government or security agency has any authority to harass any innocent person during that event. We are urging all state governors in Biafra Land to ensure the safety of persons and properties on that day.”a

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has revealed that the Kaduna Refinery was not calibrated to process Nigeria’s crude oil.

Lokpobiri made the shocking revelation on Wednesday when he featured in a Channels TV programme to speak on President Bola Tinubu’s first year in office.

“What I said was that Nigeria had always imported crude based on the peculiarities of the refineries. And that is why I was giving example of the Kaduna Refinery. We were importing crude oil from Venezuela.

“Nigeria’s crude is one of the lightest crude in the world. It is one of the sweetest crude in the world. Some refineries are not calibrated for that.

“That was why the Kaduna Refinery was one that was meant to refine very thick crude oil. So, they were importing from Venezuela. So, it is not happening for the first time,” Lokpobiri said.

…orders Amaewhule, 24 other to stop parading as speaker, lawmakers

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has declared the seats of the 25 lawmakers, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, vacant pending the determination of a suit before it.

People Talk: We don't know what's going on,' Nigerians lament over fuel scarcity0:00 / 1:07
The court, however, ordered the Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, to stop parading as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and bared the 24 lawmakers, who are all Anti-Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of the state, from posing as lawmakers in the state.

Hon. Justice Charles Wali gave the order in Suit No PHC/1512/CS/2024, brought by Rt. Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo, Speaker, Rivers State House Of Assembly, Hon. Sokari Goodboy Sokari and Hon. Orubienimigha Adolphus Timothy, on the crises rocking the legislative arm of the state.

Defendants in the cases are Hon.martin Chike Amaewhule, Hon. Dumle Maol Hon. Major Jack, Hon. Franklin Uchenna Nwabochi, Hon.christopher Kagbang Ofiks, Hon. Azeru Opara, Hon. Enemi Alabo George, Hon.Granville Tekenari Wellington, Hon. Ngbar Bernard, Hon. John Dominic Iderima.

Others are: Hon.queen Uwuma Tony Williams, Hon.loolo Isaiah Opuende, Hon.abbey Peter, Hon. Igwe-obey Aforji, Hon. Justina Emeji, Hon. Ignatius Onwuka, Hon.chimezie Nwankwo, Hon. Lemchi Prince Nyeche, Hon. Barile Nwakoh, Hon. Emilia Lucky Amadi, Hon. Nkemjika Ezekwe, Hon. Davids Arnold Okobiriari, Hon. Nwankwo Sylvanus Hon. Gerald Oforji, and Wami Solomon.

The Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and the Honourable Chief Judge Of Rivers State, Simeon Amadi, are the second set of defendants in the suit.

Wali in the Interlocutory Order, ordered that the lawmakers, who are Pro-Nyesom Wike, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, from parading as lawmakers to the determination of the substantive case.

The order read, “An Order of Interlocutory Injunction is granted restraining the 1” to 25th Defendants from parading land holding out themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and/or meeting/sitting at the Auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters located at Aba Road;

“…Port Harcourt or at any other place whatsoever to purport to carry out the legislative business of the Rivers State House of Assembly, their legislative seats having been declared vacant pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

“An Order of Interlocutory Injunction is hereby made restraining the 26th to 28th Defendants from dealing with, interfacing, accepting any resolutions, bills and/or howsoever interacting with the 1at to 25th Descendants in their purported capacities as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly their legislative seats having been declared vacant with effect from 13th December,2023 pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

“That this case is adjourned to 1st July, 2024 for Mention.”