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As the nation awaits President Bola Tinubu’s executive bill on new minimum wage to the National Assembly, a host of states may need a bailout or retrench workers to be able to pay the N62,000 being proposed by the Federal Government and Organised Private Sector, OPS.
Although most of the states have been getting more allocations since the removal of the fuel subsidy in May 2023, sources told Vanguard that the increment was paltry and not enough to sustain payment of N62,000 minimum wage.
Meanwhile, the Organised Private Sector, OPS, yesterday said there was nothing like agreement in the just concluded meeting of the Tripartite Committee on the New National Minimum Wage but an alignment of interest.
This is coming as Governor Nasir Idris, of Kebbi State distanced himself from governors who gave hint of inability to pay N62,000 minimum wage.
This is even as Senator Ahmed Wadada, SDP, Nasarawa West, urged President Tinubu to approve at least N150,000 as the new minimum wage.
Currently, no fewer than 20 states are not paying any wage award to their workers to ameliorate the hardship occasioned by fuel subsidy removal, in spite of President Tinubu’s plea to them to emulate the federal government that is paying N35,000, in addition to the N30,000 minimum wage.
Lack of funds
Lack of funds, sources said, was the reason most of the governors are foot-dragging on the new wage negotiations, which they didn’t take active part in.
According to data on federal allocations to states before and after subsidy removal in May 2023, most of the states received between 20 and 25 per cent increment in allocations, while some others conversely, received less allocations.
The states’ gross allocations include revenues from statutory allocation, Value Added Tax, VAT, electronic money transfer levy, EMTL, Exchange Gain, and Augmentations as of when subsidy regime was in place and the non-subsidy regime in 2023.
Paltry increment in allocations
Indeed, the 36 states received N2.188 trillion from January to June 2023 before subsidy removal; and N2.305 trillion from July to December 2023 after subsidy removal. The increment is just N116.79 trillion (five per cent).
Lagos State got a 28 per cent increment in allocation. It got N130.55 billion between January and June 2023, and N167.68 billion between July and December 2023. Anambra’s increment was 16 per cent; Ondo (three per cent), Edo (four per cent), and Imo (13 per cent).
Ondo got N56.5 billion/N58.2 billion. Anambra was N46.6billion/N53.6 billion; Edo N57.5 billion/N49.97 billion; and Imo N47.08 billion/N53.4 billion.
States that received less allocation after subsidy removal were Akwa Ibom (33 per cent), Delta (26 per cent), Bayelsa (20 per cent), and Rivers (12 per cent). Akwa Ibom got N185.6 billion before subsidy removal and N125.3 billion after. Bayelsa received N138.6 billion/N110.9 billion. Delta got N244.6 billion/N180.7 billion; and Rivers received N173.6 billion/N153.1 billion.
Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states received more allocation at the first half of the year when compared to the second half of the year of non-subsidy regime due to increase in the 13% derivation at the first half of the year and reduction in 13% derivation at the second half of the year.
Why states may have issues paying
Arguing that most states would have issues paying N62,000 as minimum wage, a governor said: The issue is not about the Federal Government, which Labour makes it look. What is being negotiated is a national minimum wage, not a federal government minimum wage for its workers.
“A national minimum wage affects states, local governments and private sector employers, especially SMEs and MSMEs. The first consideration in wage negotiation is affordability and ability to pay. Can states, local governments and private sector employers afford to pay?
“It means states and local governments will spend all their federal allocation and internally generated revenue and even borrow to pay their workers who are less than one per cent of their population. What will they spend on the rest of the citizens in the 36 states who need education, good roads, healthcare, security etc?
“There is need to consider the consequences on the economy, inflationary trend and possible layoff of workers if NLC/TUC blackmailed the government to agree on a minimum wage that is not realistic and sustainable.
‘’There is a general consensus that minimum wage should be increased but it has to be within a realistic band of what all parties can pay. That is why the private sector and government are offering N60,000.”
Idris distances self from unwilling govs
However, Kebbi State governor, Idris, in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, said he was not aware of any meeting where governors made their stand known on the disputed N62,000 minimum wage.
The former unionist wondered when the meeting was held because he is a member of the negotiating committee and had been mediating between the federal government and organised labour on the minimum wage issue.
“I was not part of the meeting if it was even held and I will not be part of those who will not pay the agreed minimum wage. Like I did say at different public fora that I will pay the agreed amount, I stand by that.” he said.
He explained that, as a crusader for workers welfare and better pay, he would not abandon his people in these trying times, adding “as a member of the tripartite committee, I will continue to negotiate in favour of Nigerian workers.”
While urging both the federal government and organised labour to shift grounds to reach a common, acceptable and sustainable living wage, he pledged to implement the agreed sum to Kebbi workers.
No agreement, but alignment of interest — OPS
Meanwhile, the OPS has said that alignment of interest was reached at the just concluded meeting of the minimum wage tripartite committee and not agreement.
Spokesman of the OPS and the Director-General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, Wale-Smatt Oyerinde, at a forum with Labour Writers Association of Nigeria, LAWAN, in Lagos, also diclosed that OPS was pushing for the new minimum wage to cover employers with 200 employees and above, against 2019 Minimum Wage Act that covered employers of 25 employees and above.
According to him, OPS is made up of different sectors with the Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs. Some are paying N35,000 as the baseline, and the big ones are paying about N70,000 or N75,000.
He said it would be unfair to legislate that these SMEs pay N62, 000 for instance, adding that explained the reason OPS was pushing that the new minimum wage covered only employers with 200 employees and above.
This, according to him, is to protect the SMEs., which are the highest employers of labour and backbone of every economy. ‘’They need protection. If you kill the SMEs, you will probably kill the economy,’’ he said.
Betrayal of Labour
Speaking on the alleged betrayal of organised labour during the negotiations, he said: “To the contrary, there was no agreement reached by the committee but an alignment of interest. What the committee sent to President Bola Tinubu was a recommendation, not an agreement.
‘’Agreement connotes a gang-up. There was nothing like that. We made a recommendation to the President who set up the committee to now decide or determine the figure he should send to the National Assembly to legislate on.
‘’If anybody is not satisfied with whatever figure Mr President sends to the National Assembly, such a person or group can go to the National Assembly during the public hearing to make his or her case. The figure rests squarely with the President. The issue here is about affordability.”
The NECA DG noted that the long-term objective of the OPS was to protect labour because the more OPS employ, the more labour becomes bigger, warning that “but the more we retrench, the more labour becomes weaker as they would lose both their members and prospective members.”
He added that Nigerians must know that there was a big difference between a minimum wage and a living wage, as “what we are talking about in Nigeria is a minimum wage and not a living wage.
‘’The ILO just in March this year agreed on a living wage. The next is to make it a convention before we can be talking about a living wage.”
Wadada seeks N150,000
However, Senator Ahmed Wadada has called on President Tinubu to approve not less than N150,000 as new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
Wadada made the call in an interview with newsmen in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State late Tuesday. The lawmaker noted that the current realities of the Nigerian economy informed his decision to propose the figure which will go a long way in alleviating the hardship faced by workers.
“I have expressed my opinion in the past on the issue and I am going to reiterate it here. For me as a person, the minimum a worker should earn is N150,000, looking at the realities of today,” he said.
Lawmakers’re willing to make sacrifices
He said he and other lawmakers were willing to make sacrifices in terms of reduction of their remunerations and allowances just to ensure Nigerian workers earned decent monthly salaries.
Wadada, who expressed confidence in the administration of President Tinubu, described it as an open, transparent and a listening government that would come up with a figure acceptable to workers.
“At worst, it should be higher than what the government is currently offering,” he said.
[Vanguard]
The immediate past member representing Oredo Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Ogbiede Ihama Omoregie, has been expelled from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for anti-party activities.
He was expelled by Ward 2 Oredo Local Government Area (LGA), following the resolution of an enlarged meeting by the ward members and executives, held on Airport Road in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
Reading the resolution, the Chairman of PDP Ward 2 in Oredo, Lawrence Aguebor said the expulsion followed the suspension of Ogbeide Ihama by the ward executives and critical stakeholders of Oredo Ward 2, who met on 3rd of May 2024, and suspended the ex-Rep member for 30 days after which a disciplinary committee was set up.
He explained, “The committee wrote him letters and called him on the phone and sat five (5) times and Ogbeide Ihama Omoregie failed to appear before them.
“Today, we have received the report and recommendations of the committee and the committee has recommended the expulsion of Hon. Ogbeide Ihama Omoregie from PDP. The offenses of Hon. Ihama for which he now stands expelled are captured under section 58 (1) a, b, d, e, f, h, l, j, l. With the expulsion of Hon. Ogbiede Ihama Omoregie, members of the general public are to cease and desist from doing any business that has to do with the PDP with him.”
The ward party members also put his expulsion to a voice vote with all members backing his expulsion from the party.
On his part, the Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Political Matters, (Oredo) Hon. Victor Enoghama, said the suspension and expulsion was long overdue.
He noted, "Hon. Ogbeide Ihama Omoregie has donated his building at Ring Road by Sakponba Road Junction to the All Progressive Congress (APC) to be used as campaign office for the 2024 September 21st governorship election in Edo State.
"His suspension is long overdue. Let him join the APC family as we can’t allow him to be in PDP and fraternize with the APC.
Enoghama further charged, “We also call on the ward of the former deputy governor to follow suit and expel Comrade Philip Shaibu from the PDP, also for anti-party activities.
“He is carrying out anti-party activities. He has also donated his campaign office at Airport Road with vehicles to APC for the Governorship election on September 21st, 2024. He can't be in PDP and be supporting APC.”
Local Government Review Committee (LGRC), members under Ogun Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economy Stumulus (OG-CARES), have been trained on project documentation preparation for the next phase of disbursement for the execution of developmental projects.
Speaking at a-day training programme organised by the Community and Social Development Agency in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser in the state, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo highlighted the efforts ofthe state government to check the negative impact of COVID-19 at the grass roots.
Represented by the Senior Special Assistance to the Governor on Development Partner Coordinator/Coordinator OG-CARES, Mr. Bayo Adenekan, charged the participants to cooperate and support the community for the documentation of the project to be executed within the community, imploring them to be proactive and expidite action in the execution of the project in their communities.
"We should not be foot dragging with the implementation of the project as Ogun State is one of the best when we talk of the provision of social infrastructure for its citizenry, let us do our bits. This is a very salient assignment we need to do, so as to achieve and make this a success,"he said
Also speaking, the acting General Manager, CSDA/Project Manager OG-CARES, Mr. Rahman Adelaja in his earlier remarks, appreciated the state government and the World Bank for having the interest of the masses in the project implementation and execution.
He urged members of the LGRC to cooperate with the community members when need arise, especially for proper documentation and implementation of the project to be executed in the communities of their various local governments.
Responding on behalf of the LGRC members, Mrs. Koleade appreciated both the World Bank and the State government for the provision of infrastructural facilities to their communities, promising their cooperations for the success of the project.
Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, and its commercial hub, Lagos, have been ranked as the first and second cheapest cities for expatriates to live in Africa for 2024, according to Mercer’s Cost of Living rankings.
The report highlights the cost of living is a crucial consideration for expatriates when selecting a city for relocation, as it impacts their quality of life and financial stability.
The findings attribute the affordability of these cities to currency depreciations, which have significantly reduced the cost of living for international assignees.
Blantyre in Malawi comes third on the list while Durban in South Africa and Windhoek in Namibia comes fourth and fifth respectively.
Here is a list of the top 10 cheapest cities to live in Africa with their global rank
1. Abuja, Nigeria
2. Lagos, Nigeria
3. Blantyre, Malawi
4. Durban, South Africa
5. Windhoek, Namibia
6. Gaborone, Botswana
7. Lusaka, Zambia
8. Tunis, Tunisia
9. Cape Town, South Africa
10. Johannesburg, South Africa
[TheNation]
Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company (AEEPCO), operator of the NNPC/Aiteo Joint Venture on OML 29, has confirmed the detection of an oil leak at its Nembe swamp facility in OML 29, Nembe Kingdom, Bayelsa State.
AEEPCO, in a statement on Wednesday, noted that its Oil Spill and Emergency Response Team was immediately activated and all production from OML 29 were shut down as a precautionary measure to mitigate the impact of the incident.
“This is a precautionary measure while mobilising additional resources to contain the spill. The cause of the spill is currently undetermined. However, we are proactively engaging with stakeholders to mitigate the immediate effects,” the statement added.
Commenting on the incident, AEEPCO’s group managing director, Victor Okoronkwo, said: “During our operations on Monday, June 17, 2024, the subject leak was detected. A Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) with stakeholders has been initiated to determine the cause of this incident.
“While we regret the production losses to the Joint Venture and the nation and the potential environmental impact, our current priority is to expedite an efficient spill management process in line with regulatory standards and collaborate with all stakeholders to restore production and mitigate associated risks.”
[Leadership]
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said Nigeria would probably not have anything to do with banditry if the country had not changed its national anthem in 1978.
In 1978, the military government of General Olusegun Obasanjo dropped “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” written by Lillian Jean Williams in 1959 and composed by Frances Berda.
“Arise O Compatriots” written by Pa Ben Odiase became the anthem until the government of President Bola Tinubu reverted to the old anthem last month.
The anthem bill speedily passed first and second readings at both chambers of the National Assembly and was afterwards assented into law by President Tinubu.
Speaking during a visit to the Nigerian Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies in Abuja, on Tuesday, Akpabio said passing the old anthem bill is one of the significant achievements of the National Assembly under his leadership.
He added that the Student Loan Bill was another significant bill that was passed by the federal lawmakers.
“The bill that was sent to us by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on students’ loans and scholarships to enable Nigerian vulnerable students; the less privilege to obtain higher education,” Akpabio said.
“And as I speak to you over 30,000 Nigerian students have been selected to benefit from it. That is one of the bills I would say appeals to me the most.
“The other one on social impact is reverting to our old national anthem. A lot of people are not aware that there was a panel made up of Nigerians set up to receive input from all over the world in 1959.
“So, when people say we are bringing colonial anthem, please look into the history of the “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”.
“If we kept to that anthem, we probably would not have banditry today in Nigeria, because if you took your neighbour as your brother you would not want to kill your brother, if you took your neighbour as your brother, you would not want to into the farm and behead your brother.”
[DailyTrust]
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has nominated caretaker chairmen for the 23 local government areas of the state.
Fubara sent the list to the state House of Assembly led by factional Speaker, Victor Jumbo, on Tuesday.
The nomination came amid a renewed political crisis in the state, as former council chairmen have refused to vacate their offices after their tenure expired.
Fubara’s communication to the assembly was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday night by the Clerk of the House, G.M. Gillis-West.
According to the statement, the assembly invited the nominees for screening on Wednesday by 8 am.
The crisis in the state worsened on Tuesday as protesting youths loyal to Fubara dislodged chairmen who refused to leave their offices.
A policeman was killed at the Eberi-Omuma secretariat in Omuma Local Government Area during a clash between supporters of Fubara and those of his predecessor, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
To prevent further breakdown of law and order, the police announced on Tuesday evening that they had taken over the 23 council secretariats.
The three-year tenure of the expired on Monday but they vowed to remain in office, citing the Local Government Amendment Law 2024 enacted by the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.
See the names of the caretaker chairmen nominated by Fubara below:
1. Abua/Odua LGA – Madigai Dickson
2. Ahoada East LGA – Happy Benneth
3. Ahoada West LGA – Mr. Daddy John Green
4. Akuku Toru LGa – Otonye Briggs
5. Andoni LGA – Reginald Ekaan
6. Asari Toru LGA – Orolosoma Amachree
7. Bonny LGA – Alabota Anengi Barasua
8. Degema LGA – Anthony Soberekon
9. Eleme LGA – Brain Gokpa
10. Emouha LGA – David Omereji
11. Etche LGA – John Otamiri
12. Gokana LGA – Kenneth Kpeden
13. Ikwerre LGA – Darlington Orji
14. Khana LGA – Marvin Yobana
15. Obia/Akpor LGA – Chijioke Ihunwo
16. Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA – Princewill Ejekwe
17. Ogu/Bolo LGA – Evans Bipi
18. Okrika LGA – Princess Ogan
19. Omuma LGA – Promise Reginald
20. Opobo/Nkoro LGA – Enyiada Cookey-Gam
21. Oyigbo LGA – – Gogo Philip
22. Port Harcourt LGA – Ichemati Ezebunwo
23. Tai LGA – Matthew Dike
[Punch]
Documents have shown how the $6,230,000 cash allegedly stolen from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on February 8, 2023, was shared.
President Bola Tinubu had set up a special investigative team, led by Jim Obaze, to probe the tenure of Godwin Emefiele, former CBN governor.
The team had claimed that $6.2 million was removed from the apex bank’s vault under the guise of paying election observers.
Emefiele is standing trial on a 20-count amended criminal charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The amended charges border on alleged criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to commit forgery, procurement fraud and conspiracy to commit a felony.
According to the amended charge marked CR/577/2023, Emefiele, on February 8, 2023, connived with Odoh Ocheme, who is now on the run, to obtain $6.2 million from the CBN, claiming that the SGF requested it “vide a letter dated 26th January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201″.
In the court documents, investigators characterised the crime as an insider job primarily carried out by CBN staff members with the cooperation of two outsiders known as Adamu Abubakar and Imam Abubakar.
Investigators claimed that Odoh Eric Ocheme, Emefiele’s personal assistant, received $3,730,000 of the funds, with three other people splitting the remaining $2,500,000.
Ocheme was said to have justified his lion’s share by claiming he had to pay other interests he had within the apex bank.
Some of the beneficiaries were said to have invested their shares of the loot, estimated at N1.4 billion, in real estate, part of which has now been recovered.
Some of the details of the investigation are contained in an affidavit filed alongside an extradition charge pending against Adamu Abubakar, Imam Abubakar and Odoh Eric Ocheme before the Abuja federal high court.
Adamu Abubakar, Imam Abubakar and Ocheme are said to be at large and are believed to have fled the country, hence, the extradition proceedings.
In the affidavits, one of the investigators, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), said the team obtained copies of the withdrawal slip as well as the accompanying documents, CBN memos, dated 07/02/2023 and 31/01/2023 respectively.
They also obtained “a letter dated 2/01/2023 purportedly written by Muhammadu Buhari to Boss Mustapha and a letter dated 20/01/2023 purportedly written by Boss Mustapha to Mr Godwin Emafiele, which the Central Bank of Nigeria, Abuja Branch relied on in making the payment”.
The DSP said investigations revealed that both letters were forged and did not emanate from the office of the then president and SGF. At the same time, Jibril Abubakar, whose identity card was used to cash the money in question, was not a staff of the SGF office.
HOW COLLABORATORS INVESTED ‘STOLEN FUND’ IN REAL ESTATE
“We watched the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footages of the 08/02/2023 being the day the money in question was cashed, and the payee (Jibril Abubakar) could not be identified by the staff of either the CBN or that of the office of the secretary to the government of the federation, where he falsely represented himself to be working,” the document read
“A further study of the Closed-circuit Television (CCTV) footage revealed that a staff of the Abuja Branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria, identified as Abdulmajeed Muhammad received the impostor (Jibril Abubakar) at the gate of the bank when he arrived on the fateful date: 08/02/2023.
“Abdulmajeed Muhammad was consequently arrested and in his statement made on 15/12/2023, he admitted helping the impostor into the Abuja Branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria, but claimed that he did that innocently, the impostor having been referred to him by Bashirudeen Maishanu; a Senior Staff of the CBN.
“Abdulmajeed Muhammad further revealed that prior to 08/02/2023 when the impostor came to cash the money in question, he (Abdulmajeed Muhammad) had been invited by Bashirudeen Maishanu to explain the procedure of public officials making cash withdrawal from the CBN as those persons claimed to be officials from the office of the SGF and that the then president had approved certain fund for official assignment.
“We visited Kuje Correctional Centre, where we interviewed Godwin Emefiele, who purportedly approved the memos authorising the payment, as then CBN and he denied seeing, talk less of approving such memos.
[TheCable]
South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa hailed “the beginning of a new era” on Wednesday as he was sworn in for a second full term as president after his weakened African National Congress (ANC) struck a hard-won government coalition deal to remain in power.
Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to re-elect the 71-year-old last week after a May 29 general election produced no outright winner for the first time in three decades.
“The formation of a government of national unity is a moment of profound significance. It is the beginning of a new era,” Ramaphosa said, after taking the oath of office during a ceremony at the Union Buildings, the seat of government, in Pretoria.
“The voters of South Africa did not give any single party the full mandate to govern our country alone,” he added, speaking before lawmakers, foreign dignitaries, religious and traditional leaders and cheering supporters.
“They have directed us to work together to address their plight and realise their aspirations.”
Ramaphosa is expected to announce his cabinet in the coming days, as talks with coalition members continue.
Numerous heads of state, including Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Angola’s Joao Lourenco, Congo Brazzaville’s Denis Sassou Nguesso and Eswatini’s absolute leader King Mswati III attended the inauguration.
Guests in suits, fancy dresses and coats to keep warm in the chilly winter weather started to arrive early in the morning amid a heavy police presence.
VIPs, some singing anti-apartheid struggle songs, were allowed into a small amphitheatre within the imposing, sandstone government building.
Other attendees, some holding South African flags, sat on a lawn outside as dancers and musicians performed on a big stage.
After Ramaphosa was sworn in, a band played the national anthem, followed by a 21-gun salute and a fly past by the air force.
Third time lucky
It was the third time Ramaphosa has taken the oath.
The former trade unionist turned millionaire businessman first came to power in 2018, after his predecessor and rival Jacob Zuma was forced out before the end of his term under the cloud of corruption allegations.
Ramaphosa was then re-appointed for a full five-year term in 2019. In South Africa, voters elect the parliament, which then votes for the president.
Ramaphosa promised a new dawn for South Africa, launched an anti-graft drive and started to reform a collapsing energy system.
But under his watch, the economy languished, blighted by power cuts, crime remained rife and unemployment increased to 32.9 percent.
In May, he led the ANC into yet another vote, but the historied party of the late Nelson Mandela came out bruised.
It won only 40 percent — down from 57.5 percent five years earlier.
For the first time since the advent of democracy in 1994, it lost its absolute majority in parliament and was left scrambling to find coalition partners to remain in power.
It has since agreed to form what it calls a national unity government with several other parties.
Ex-Nigerian president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has stated that during his tenure, he left the country better than he met it.
Obasanjo spoke in Abeokuta, yesterday, June 18, at the Safe Online Youth Fellowship Bootcamp organised by NerdzFactory Company, supported by Meta at the Youth Development Centre, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).
He recalled landmark achievements his administration recorded while in office between 1999 and 2007.
He said he was responsible for setting Nigeria free from the bondage of immense debt, adding that he takes pride in the celebration of the 25 years an uninterrupted democracy, which started during his reign as democratic ruler in 1999.
He said: “When I came in as elected President, I wanted to get debt relief because we were spending $3.5 billion every year servicing debt and the quantum of the debt was not going down. Today, I can say that I made Nigeria better than I found it from an economic perspective.
“I found $3.7 billion in the reserves and we were spending $3.5 billion to service our debt. By the time I left, we had a debt of about $36 billion with the debt relief, and I left with a debt of $3.6 billion. Also, I left a reserve of over $50 billion. I also achieved excess crude for the country worth over $25 billion.”
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Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, has slammed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing him of doing very little or nothing to solve the hunger issues Nigerians are going through.
In a statement by its National Secretary, Chief Peter Ameh, the Coalition said the President had deployed what it described as incompetent government policies which have all failed, wondering why Nigerians would now offer themselves as burnt offerings while government officials lived in luxury.
The Coalition further noted that the inability of the government to secure farms and farmers in the country was also a major contributor to the hunger being faced by the people.
“The luxurious lifestyle of our leaders is the reason we are in this mess, because those in government have misplaced priorities and have vehemently refused to do right by our people.
“Rather they prefer to spend money on white elephant projects that require high expenditure but never deliver returns or serve no useful purpose, like the proposal for a new private jet for the President.
“Such money should have been channeled towards the development of projects that will have lasting positive impact on the lives of citizens,” Ameh said in the statement.
He added that, “The President and his Vice have spent over N8.64bn on travel expenses within the last three months while he continues to give speeches and false promises about plans to cut public spending; still, the cost associated with the running of government in Nigeria is far higher than most countries in the same economy bracket.
“The wasteful spending of those elected to oversee the affairs of running our government is a major contributor to the endemic poverty in Nigeria and the president should be concerned about the situation of the suffering masses and work hard to ensure that this situation improves for those affected (which is everyone by the way).
“Nigeria has a poverty rate of 38.9%, and approximately 87 million Nigerians live below poverty line and the reason can easily be attributed to incompetent and clueless leaders who have done nothing to improve the lives of the masses.
“Nigeria’s economic growth has been slow, and the country’s GDP per capita has been flat because successive government policies have failed to address the problems due to lack of foresight and corrupt public officials.
“Corruption is a pervasive issue in Nigeria, and it discourages foreign investment and hinders economic development. I am referring to corruption in public office by government officials who have been involved in stealing public funds meant to benefit the people.
“What has Tinubu done to tackle that since his assumption of office and he is talking about ordinary citizens whose take home pay is not enough to help them meet a good standard of living.”
Gov Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has called for the audit of local government accounts in the state.
The directive was issued by Governor Fubara on Wednesday, after swearing in new caretaker chairmen for the 23 local government areas of the state.
The governor inaugurated the new caretaker chairmen hours after the House of Assembly, led by factional Speaker, Victor Jumbo, screened and approved the nominees sent on Tuesday.
While swearing in the Caretaker Committee Chairmen of the Local Government Areas, the governor said the measure is intended to serve as a check for the incoming officials.
He urged the caretaker chairmen not to see themselves as superheroes, but to protect the interests of their people, and demonstrate that the government made the right choice in appointing them.
He emphasised that the current events are a product of democracy.
Fubara explained that the fight against tenure extension is not just about the state, but the entire country, as allowing it in one state could lead to it being replicated nationwide.
He pointed out that Rivers State was not doing anything unusual, as most states in the country are also run by caretaker committees.
He, however, cautioned that their tenure would not be excessively long, because the process for local government area elections would commence soon.
He warned against violence, stating that it is not his approach, urging the officials to sort out the salaries and entitlements of the outgone chairmen.
The Minister of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa-Musawa, has announced the establishment of a $100 billion economic expansion fund to support and preserve the cultural heritage of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Representing Musa-Musawa at the 2024 Ojude Oba Festival held at the Ojude Oba Pavilion in Ijebu-Ode on Tuesday, Director of Cultural Industry and Heritage, Rev. Ben Ugo, emphasized Nigeria’s cultural diversity, highlighting the government’s aspirations to position the nation as a cultural epicenter by 2030.
Ugo also mentioned plans to nominate the annual Ojude Oba festival for inclusion in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s World Cultural Heritage list.
Echoing these sentiments, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, expressed his administration’s commitment to elevating the Ojude Oba festival to a global phenomenon.
He underscored the festival’s evolution from a local gathering of Ijebu people to honor the Awujale, to an internationally recognized event drawing visitors from across the nation and around the world.
“The Ojude Oba festival not only embodies the cultural heritage of Ijebuland but has evolved into a significant occasion attracting tourists to Ogun State, showcasing our hospitality and the rich traditions of Ijebuland to a global audience,” Governor Abiodun remarked.
He emphasized the festival’s role as a unifying force and a platform for celebrating tradition, culture, and the revered monarch, while also serving as a catalyst for the development of Ijebuland and beyond.
Governor Abiodun expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his interest in expanding the festival and integrating it into UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage list.
He reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to fostering an enabling environment for business growth.
Highlighting the festival’s socio-economic contributions, the governor called for unity and collaboration among the people of the state to ensure progress and prosperity.
“The state government remains committed to fostering community development and seeks the support of all citizens, especially during the upcoming 20th National Sports Festival, Gateway Games, 2024, part of which will be hosted here in Ijebu-Ode,” Governor Abiodun concluded.
Chairman of the 2024 Ojude Oba festival, Chief Olu Okuboyejo, expressed gratitude to the governor for his unwavering support for the festival, while also thanking the attendees for their overwhelming participation in the event.
Gov Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has sworn in the newly appointed caretaker chairmen for the 23 local government areas of the state.
The event took place at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the capital of the state, on Wednesday morning, with high-level security measures in place.
The first batch of 11 CTC chairmen have taken their oath of office as of the time of filing this report.
The appointment of the CTC chairmen was made a day following the submission of the list to the state House of Assembly, which is currently under the leadership of Speaker Victor Jumbo.
The House of Assembly had earlier sent an invitation for the screening of the candidates, which it scheduled for 8 am on Wednesday (today).
Below are the names of the caretaker chairmen nominated by Fubara;
Abua/Odua LGA – Madigai Dickson
Ahoada East LGA – Happy Benneth
Ahoada West LGA – Mr. Daddy John Green
Akuku Toru LGa – Otonye Briggs
Andoni LGA – Reginald Ekaan
Asari Toru LGA – Orolosoma Amachree
Bonny LGA – Alabota Anengi Barasua
Degema LGA – Anthony Soberekon
Eleme LGA – Brain Gokpa
Emouha LGA – David Omereji
Etche LGA – John Otamiri
Gokana LGA – Kenneth Kpeden
Ikwerre LGA – Darlington Orji
Khana LGA – Marvin Yobana
Obia/Akpor LGA – Chijioke Ihunwo
Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA – Princewill Ejekwe
Ogu/Bolo LGA – Evans Bipi
Okrika LGA – Princess Ogan
Omuma LGA – Promise Reginald
Opobo/Nkoro LGA – Enyiada Cookey-Gam
Oyigbo LGA – – Gogo Philip
Port Harcourt LGA – Ichemati Ezebunwo
Tai LGA – Matthew Dike