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The Southwest governors have said that the negotiations on minimum wage between the Federal Government and organised labour should reflect fiscal federalism.
Naija News reports that the chairman of the forum, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, made this known on Monday after a meeting of the Southwest governors in the state.
Sanwo-Olu, in the post via his X handle, said the governors would support whatever outcome of the negotiation on the minimum wage.
He added that various issues affecting the Southwest states were also discussed at the meeting.
He wrote, “After the conclusion of our South West Governors’ Forum meeting today at Lagos House Alausa, Ikeja, I was elected as the new chairman of the forum.
“Today, we honour the memory of our late chairman, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi O. Akeredolu, SAN, CON. May his soul rest in peace.
“During our discussions on various issues affecting our states, we reached the following resolutions: We are grateful to the House of Representatives and South West Caucus for their efforts on the South West Development Commission Bill and urge the Senate to expedite its passage.
“We commend Mr. President, H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project and other initiatives, and we call for further road rehabilitation by the Federal Government.
“On the matter of security, we are pleased with the peace in the South West and advocate for the establishment of state police. Collaboration between security agencies and the Amotekun Corps is very important.
“We stand united in supporting ongoing discussions on the minimum wage with an expectation of fair outcomes that reflect fiscal federalism. We endorse the Federal Government’s efforts on mineral resources and urge increased collaboration with states in granting leases to investors.
“We have agreed to bolster the efficiency of the DAWN Commission, with a focus on economic integration. These decisions and more are aimed at advancing the development and prosperity of our South West states.”
An attack on a military base at Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State by daredevil bandits terrorising Nigeria’s middle belt region has let at least two soldiers wounded.
The soldiers, who have since been hospitalised, sustained the injuries during a gun duel with the bandits.
Rafi is one of the local government areas in Niger state battling violent attacks and wanton killings in the bandits.
The troubling security situation has turned the largely agrarian community into a desolate enclave as farmers abandoned farming activities and locals fled for safety.
Meanwhile, one of the bandits’ leaders was also killed in the gun battle in the early hours of Monday
It’s gathered that the bandits were attempting to cross to Mashegu and Wushishi Local Government Areas of the state to rustle cattle when they encountered the soldiers.
The Chairman of Rafi Local Government Arwa, Ayuba Katako, confirmed the incident to newsmen.
Katako said the two shot soldiers were being treated at the IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna.
He added that the military, police and vigilantes who are ensuring peace and security of lives and property in the state deserved to be commended.
“It happened in my domain. The two soldiers have been taken to the IBB Specialist Hospital where they are responding to treatment.
“The military, police and vigilantes are trying their best to ensure peace and security of lives and property in the state and they deserve to be commended,” he said.
Katako decried the continuous attacks on security operatives and called for patience, support and prayers to overcome the menace of insecurity bedevilling the state and Nigeria at large.
The state military cantonment in Minna could not be reached just as the police spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, could not also be reached at the time of filing the report
An aircraft carrying Malawian Vice President, Saulos Chilima and nine others, has lost contact and gone missing.
According to a statement released by the president’s office, “the Malawi Defense Force aircraft disappeared from radar after departing from the capital city of Lilongwe earlier today.”
The vice president was reportedly en route to Mzuzu to attend the funeral of Ralph Kasambara, a late prominent figure.
The plane, carrying Chilima and nine others, lost contact approximately 10 minutes before its scheduled landing at Mzuzu Airport.
Airport Commandant, Joseph Moyo confirmed the incident, stating that the plane failed to land in Mzuzu and an investigation is currently underway.
The whereabouts of Vice President Chilima and the other passengers remain unknown.
The Southwest governors said on Monday that the negotiations between the Nigerian government and organised labour should reflect fiscal federalism.
The governors said they support whatever outcome of the negotiation on the minimum wage.
This was disclosed by the chairman of the forum, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, after a meeting of the governors in the state.
Posting on X, Sanwo-Olu wrote: “After the conclusion of our South West Governors’ Forum meeting today at Lagos House Alausa, Ikeja, I was elected as the new chairman of the forum.
“Today, we honour the memory of our late chairman, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi O. Akeredolu, SAN, CON. May his soul rest in peace.
“During our discussions on various issues affecting our states, we reached the following resolutions: We are grateful to the House of Representatives and South West Caucus for their efforts on the South West Development Commission Bill and urge the Senate to expedite its passage.
“We commend Mr. President, H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project and other initiatives, and we call for further road rehabilitation by the Federal Government.
“On the matter of security, we are pleased with the peace in the South West and advocate for the establishment of state police. Collaboration between security agencies and the Amotekun Corps is very important.
“We stand united in supporting ongoing discussions on the minimum wage with an expectation of fair outcomes that reflect fiscal federalism. We endorse the Federal Government’s efforts on mineral resources and urge increased collaboration with states in granting leases to investors.
“We have agreed to bolster the efficiency of the DAWN Commission, with a focus on economic integration. These decisions and more are aimed at advancing the development and prosperity of our South West states.”
The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee has shared the sum of N1.143 trillion to the three tiers of government.
A communique issued at the end of the committee’s meeting in Abuja, this evening, indicated that the funds were from May Federation Accounts revenue which stood at N2.324 trillion.
The FAAC meeting was chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun.
The communiqué showed that the N1.143 trillion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N 157.183 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N463.425 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N15.146 billion and Exchange Difference revenue of N507.456 billion.
Total deduction for cost of collection was N76.647 billion while total transfers, interventions and refunds was N1,104.935 billion.
Gross statutory revenue of N1.223 trillion was received in the month of May.
This was lower than the sum of N1.233 trillion received in the preceding month of April by N9.604 billion.
The gross revenue of N497.665 billion was available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) in May 2024. This was also lower than the N500.920 billion available in the month of April 2024 by N3.255 billion.
The communiqué confirmed that from the N1.143 trillion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received a total sum of N365.813 billion, the State Governments received the sum of N388.419 billion, while the Local Government Councils received a total of N282.476 billion.
The sum of N106.502 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting oil producing states as derivation revenue.
On the N157.183 billion distributable statutory revenue, the communiqué indicated that the Federal Government received N61.010 billion, the State Governments received N30.945 billion and the Local Government Councils received N23.857 billion. The sum of N41.371 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.
The Federal Government received N69.514 billion, the State Governments received N231.713 billion and the Local Government Councils received N162.199 billion from the N463.425 billion distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue.
A total of N2.272 billion was received by the Federal Government from the N15.146 billion Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL). The State Governments received N7.573 billion and the Local Government Councils received N5.301 billion.
From the N507.456 billion Exchange Difference revenue, the Federal Government received N233.017 billion, the State Governments received N118.189 billion and the Local Government Councils received N91.119 billion. A total sum of N65.131 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.
According to the communiqué, in the month of May, Companies Income Tax Oil (CIT) and Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) increased significantly while Import and Excise Duties, Royalty Crude and Gas, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), CET Levies and Value Added Tax (VAT) recorded considerable decreases. The balance in the ECA was put at $473,754.57
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC Ltd, has expressed dismay over reports alleging that it inflated subsidy claims by N3.3 trillion.
NNPC assured that its businesses are conducted in a transparent and accountable manner in line with international best practices.
In a statement by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, NNPCL denied knowledge of any audit of its subsidy claims nor the probe ensuing.
Soneye described such reports as ridiculous and products of the febrile imagination of the reporters.
The statement reads: “NNPC Ltd. conducts its businesses accountably and transparently in keeping with international best practices and has, at no time, inflated its subsidy claims with the Federal Government. All previous subsidy claims by the Company are verifiable, as relevant records and documents have been sent to relevant authorities and agencies.
“NNPC Ltd. is neither aware of any audit of its subsidy claims nor the probe ensuing therefrom and wishes to state categorically that both ridiculous claims are products of the febrile imagination of the reporters and their respective media houses.
“NNPC Ltd. will resist any attempt to drag the Company into the apparent politics of fuel subsidy as it currently operates on a commercial basis and the express provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
“It is on record that, in line with its Transparency, Accountability & Performance Excellence (TAPE) mantra, NNPC Ltd. has, on several occasions, independently invited external auditors to review its books.
“NNPC Ltd. calls on media practitioners and media houses to exercise restraint and verify information before publication in keeping with the ethics of the noble profession of journalism to avoid misleading the public.”
A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has dismissed a suit seeking to sack 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The court ruled that the lawmakers are still members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Justice Okogbule Gbasam of the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt stated on Monday that the claimants were unable to demonstrate that Martin Amaewhule and the 26 other legislators had switched to the APC.
Justice Gbasam emphasized that party membership is established through being on the party’s register or possessing a membership card, stating that televised events or verbal declarations were insufficient proof.
The PDP had requested to be part of the case and was included as the fourth defendant.
Additionally, Justice Gbasam emphasized that the Rivers State government must adhere to all laws enacted by the Assembly since the members are still part of the PDP, and their inclusion in the party’s membership register is the determining factor.
He also mentioned that the state government must follow the laws created by the Assembly since the members are still part of the PDP and have not forfeited their positions.
The Organized Labour has lamented that some state governors are frustrating the success of the negotiation with the Federal Government on new minimum wage.
The Head of Department of Information, NLC, Benson Upah stated this while speaking on Arise TV on Monday.
He said, “The governors driving this mischief— we know them, and you can count them on your five fingers. These governors do not mean well, and they are throwing spanners in the works. While the Federal Government has moved slightly to N62,000, they are saying they can even pay N60,000 that was initially proposed, which is an act of mischief, and the numbers are against them.
“It’s a fact that what they share as FAAC has moved from N700b to N1.2trn and is climbing, and the states are very rich now.”
Upah also warned that it’s easier to manage the rage of organised labour than that of Nigerians.
“The issue is not about labour being difficult; we’re talking about something practical, testable, and reasonable. One thing I will say is that the rage of Labour will be easier to manage than the rage of Nigerians, even as we speak for and on behalf of these weak Nigerians.
“However, if they push Nigerians to the point that they have to live the life of a jungle, we’ll all become victims. A time shall come that is not too far away where you have to peep from your window three to four times before you step out of your own room,’’ he said
Recall that the Organised Labour last Tuesday suspended its nationwide strike for five days to allow uninterrupted meetings with the tripartite committee on the new national minimum wage.
The Federal Government, through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, stated that it is committed to paying more than N60,000 as the minimum wage.
However, the 36 state governors, under the umbrella of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, have stated that the proposed N60,000 minimum wage is not sustainable and cannot be implemented.
When asked if he felt embittered against Peter Obi's popularity on social media, Sowore said, "This is the same narrative that I told you earlier. All these 'dem say, dem say,' can't you guys just come out and say this is how you feel? I don't have anything in common with Peter Obi. I do not crave his supporters.
A former African Action Congress presidential candidate, Mr Omoyele Sowore, has said he doesn't crave the support of ‘Obidient’ Movement, the supporters of Peter Obi, a former Labour Party presidential candidate.
The #RevolutionNow convener in a recent interview with Pulse Nigeria said he does not want supporters who will suppress and oppress people the way ‘Obidients’ do.
Mr. Sowore noted that if he had to have supporters who would lead him to victory to govern the country, he would not want them to be people who cannot question him or who will package him to the world as what he is not.
"If I had to have supporters in this world who would lead me to victory to govern this country, I don't want them to be people who cannot question me or who will package me to the world as what I am not. I don't want those kinds of supporters.
"I don't want supporters who will suppress and oppress people the same way these people are fighting our present people. I don't wish for supporters who would go to the extent of even arresting people because they say something they don't like on Facebook. I don't want those kinds of supporters. I don't want to be an ‘Obidient.’”
Speaking further, Sowore noted that “the word ‘Obidient’ in itself riles me that anybody would form an organisation that's obedient during the period of oppression”.
"It's like surrendering your sovereignty, in this case, your senses, to nonsense,” he added.
Stressing that he was not embittered against Obi, Sowore said, “Let me tell you, Femi Falana was defending the Labour Party during the same period we won our party back. We got a judgement that said the court cannot intervene in party matters, but it was not published.
"I was the one who gave Femi Falana a copy of our own, which was published, that they used in arguing against the people who wanted to ensure that Obi did not run in the 2023 election.
"That was what won them the case, and he became a candidate. Otherwise, he would never have become a candidate. I'm just telling you this, and I've said it publicly; they can't deny it.
"Femi Falana will tell you. You can call him, and he will tell you that's what happened. We gave them our party's judgement, made it available in the middle of the night, and they ran to court the next day and said there was a judgment from the Supreme Court.
"The judge ended that case right there based on that Supreme Court ruling, but at that point, it was unpublished.
"So, this is not the first time I will provide support to Obi. When Obasanjo tried to run him out of term in Anambra with Andy Uba, we were the same people who used Sahara Reporters to decode all their plans, which led to Obi being in office for eight years. I participated in that, and at the time, I thought Obi was genuine, but in subsequent years, I found that he was a fraud."
The Correspondent Chapel of the Kano State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has declared boycotting all activities related to the Kano State Government, effective immediately.
This development followed an emergency congress meeting summoned by the Chairman of the chapel, Aminu Ahmed Garko, on Monday.
The outcome of the meeting attended by the correspondents was unanimously taken in response to the persistent and unacceptable maltreatment of members of the chapel in the state by the government and its agents while discharging their primary assignments.
The resolution reads: “Despite our efforts to engage with the government and its officials to address these issues, we have seen no improvement in the situation.
“Members of the chapel continue to face harassment, intimidation, and even physical assault while performing their duties.
“It is particularly concerning that the government has prioritized non-professionals over trained journalists, making it a state policy to sideline those who are best equipped to handle the job.
“As a result, we regret to announce that we will no longer participate in press conferences, cover government events, or conduct interviews with state officials until we see a tangible commitment to press freedom and the safety of journalists.”
The chapel urged all members to comply with this directive and join in the protest against the ill treatment of members in Kano State.
“We believe that a free and independent press is essential to a functioning democracy, and we will not stand idly by while our members are mistreated and intimidated,” the resolution concluded.
[DailyTrust]
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The organised labour has vowed to reject any ₦62,000 or ₦100,000 minimum wage proposal for Nigerian workers by the federal government.
Speaking in an interview on Channels Television on Monday, the Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Chris Onyeka, described such a proposal as a “starvation wage”.
Onyeka insisted that labour won’t accept the latest government’s offer of ₦62,000, saying that its latest demand as the living wage for an average Nigerian worker remains ₦250,000.
He said, “Our position is very clear. We have never considered accepting ₦62,000 or any other wage that we know is below what we know can take Nigerian workers home. We will not negotiate a starvation wage.
“We have never contemplated ₦100,000, let alone ₦62,000. We are still at ₦250,000, that is where we are, and that is what we considered enough concession to the government and the other social partners in this particular situation. We are not just driven by frivolities but the realities of the marketplace, realities of things we buy every day: a bag of rice, yam, garri, and all of that.”
Onyeka said the one-week grace period given to the Federal Government to review its proposal last Tuesday, June 4, 2024, would expire by midnight on Tuesday, June 11, 2024.
He said organised labour would meet to decide on the resumption of the nationwide industrial action if the Federal Government and National Assembly fail to act on workers’ demands by tomorrow.
He added, “The Federal Government and the National Assembly have the call now. It is not our call. Our demand is there for them (the government) to look at and send an Executive Bill to the National Assembly, and for the National Assembly to look at what we have demanded, the various facts of the law, and then come up with a National Minimum Act that meets our demands.
“If that does not meet our demand, we have given the Federal Government a one-week notice to look at the issues and that one week expires tomorrow (Tuesday). If after tomorrow, we have not seen any tangible response from the government, the organs of the organised labour will meet to decide on what next.”
When asked what the decision of labour would be should the government insist on ₦62,000, he said, “It was clear what we said. We said we are relaxing a nationwide indefinite strike. It’s like putting a pause on it. So, if you put a pause on something and that organs that govern us as trade unions decide that we should remove that pause, it means that we go back to what was in existence before.”
Minimum wage talks
After weeks of failed talks on a new minimum wage for workers in the country, organised labour, comprising the NLC and TUC, embarked on a nationwide strike last Monday to demand a new wage and the reversal of the electricity tariff hike.
The labour unions said the current minimum wage of ₦30,000 can no longer cater to the well-being of an average Nigerian worker, saying the government should offer workers something economically realistic in tandem with current inflationary pressures.
However, the labour leadership suspended the strike for five days after signing a commitment with the Federal Government to resume negotiations and come up with a new minimum wage within a week.
The suspension of the strike followed a six-hour meeting between the leadership of labour and the National Assembly in Abuja, on Monday night.
To fast-track the talks, the President, last Tuesday, directed the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, to present the cost implications for a new minimum wage within two days.
Tinubu also directed the government representatives to work collectively with the organised private sector and the sub-nationals to achieve a new affordable wage award for Nigerians.
On Thursday, the finance minister presented the cost implications of implementing a new national minimum wage to Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, alongside the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu.
Before the directive, the minister described the proposal made by organised labour as “unaffordable. Also, the 36 state governors said labour union demand was not sustainable.
However, on Friday, June 7, 2024, labour and the government failed to reach an agreement. While labour dropped its demand again from ₦494,000 to ₦250,000, the government added ₦2,000 to its initial ₦60,000 and offered workers ₦62,000.
Both sides submitted their reports to the President, who is expected to make a decision and send an executive bill to the National Assembly to pass a new minimum wage bill, which the president will then sign into law.
[Punch]
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has secured a seven-year conviction for Quadri Adeyinka, a staff member of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
The convict was said to have committed a travelling passport fraud.
In a statement on Monday, Demola Bakare, spokesperson for the ICPC, said the convict was arraigned before Jude Onwuegbuzie, a high court judge in Abuja, on a four-count charge bordering on gratification, conferment of corrupt advantage, and cheating.
Bakare said the offence contravened the provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act of 2000 and the Penal Code Act.
The spokesperson said Osuobeni Akponimisingha, counsel to the ICPC, led evidence before the court on how Adeyinka defrauded Ovie Ojeffia under the pretence of regularising his international passport.
He said that the convict received the sum of ₦100,000 from Ojeffia to regularise her passport but reneged.
Bakare added that the victim later petitioned the ICPC, which led to the investigation and arraignment of the convict before the court.
Onwuegbuzie, who found Adeyinka guilty on all four counts, sentenced him to seven years imprisonment each for counts 1 and 2, five years for count 4, and two years for count 3.
The sentences are to run simultaneously.
[TheCable]
The Organised Labour has said it will not accept any N62,000 or N100,000 “starvation wage” as the minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
It insisted on N250,000, being its latest demand at the last meeting of the Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage on Friday, as the living wage for an average Nigerian worker.
This was made known on Monday by Chris Onyeka, Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, while fielding questions on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief show.
Onyeka said the one-week grace period given to the Federal Government last Tuesday, June 4, 2024, would expire by the midnight of Tuesday, June 11, 2024.
According to him, should the Federal Government and National Assembly fail to act on the demands of workers by tomorrow (Tuesday), the organs of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, would meet to decide on the resumption of the nationwide industrial action relaxed last week.
“Our position is very clear. We have never considered accepting N62,000 or any other wage that we know is below what we know is able to take Nigerian workers home. We will not negotiate a starvation wage.
“We have never contemplated N100,000 let alone N62,000. We are still at N250,000, that is where we are, and that is what we considered enough concession to the government and the other social partners in this particular situation. We are not just driven by frivolities but the realities of the market place; realities of things we buy every day, bag of rice, yam, garri, and all of that.
“The Federal Government and the National Assembly have the call now. It is not our call. Our demand is there for them (the government) to look at and send an Executive Bill to the National Assembly, and for the National Assembly to look at what we have demanded, the various fact of the law, and then come up with a National Minimum Act that meets our demands.”
He continued: “If that does not meet our demand, we have given the Federal Government a one-week notice to look at the issues and that one week expires tomorrow (Tuesday). If after tomorrow, we have not seen any tangible response from the government, the organs of the Organised Labour will meet to decide on what next.
“It was clear what we said. We said we are relaxing a nationwide indefinite strike. It’s like putting a pause on it.
“So, if you put a pause on something and the organs that govern us as trade unions decide that we should remove that pause, it means that we go back to what was in existence before.”
Tinubu Govt To Probe Activities Of NNPCL Under Buhari As Forensic Audit Reveals N3.3 Trillion Inflated Figure in Fuel Subsidy
AFOLABI
A renowned global accounting firm, KPMG, has conducted a forensic audit revealing a notable inconsistency in the fuel subsidy claims filed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
According to a report from iWitnessLive, the audit uncovered that NNPCL had inflated its fuel subsidy claims by a staggering ₦3.3 trillion.
At first, NNPCL reported spending ₦6 trillion on fuel subsidy, with the former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government covering a significant portion of the expenses.
NNPCL’s Group CEO, Mele Kyari, claimed that the federal government still owed the company ₦2.8 trillion for petrol subsidy payments, a statement made shortly after President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of the subsidy’s removal
As per the May 2024 report, the government has not yet reimbursed NNPCL for this amount.
“Since the provision of the ₦6tn in 2022, and ₦3.7tn in 2023, we have not received any payment whatsoever from the Federation.
“That means they (the Federal Government) are unable to pay and we’ve continued to support this subsidy from the cash flow of the NNPC. We are waiting for them to settle up to ₦2.8tn of NNPC’s cash flow from the subsidy regime and we can’t continue to build this,” he said.
In light of KPMG’s reconciliation, which reduced the claims to ₦2.7 trillion, the Nigerian Government intends to undertake a fresh audit of NNPC Limited’s ₦2.8 trillion fuel subsidy claim.
The audit, spanning from 2015 to 2021, seeks to authenticate NNPC’s claims.
The Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation (OAuGF) will spearhead the audit, with the possibility of enlisting an external firm for supplementary assistance.
The resolution was reached at a Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) session in March 2024, where participants deliberated on the necessity of an impartial audit to mitigate conflicts of interest.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, reiterated President Tinubu’s commitment to the forensic audit.
KPMG’s initial audit prompted the need for further investigation.
[Naija News]