Abdulrasheed Shehu, an aide to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has said the idea of a merger or alliance with the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, remains a possibility.

Naija New reported that Atiku and Peter Obi reignited discussions around the possibility of both uniting for a run at the 2027 presidential election after their Saturday meeting in Yola.

Obi was the keynote speaker at the 20th anniversary of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), which Atiku owns.

Although spokespersons for both politicians denied any political undertones to the invitation, social media was abuzz, especially after Atiku posted a video of the breakfast meeting with Peter Obi at his Yola home.

However, there are speculations that the meeting was part of preparations for the 2027 presidential race, as the crises within the Labour Party and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) show no signs of resolution.

An X user, Theo Agada, wrote, “Repeat the 2019 ticket and promise to do one term. Then watch the Nigerian people do their thing.” 

Quoting Atiku’s tweet, the LP’s Lagos State governorship candidate in the last election, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour,  wrote: “We must form a united opposition to end this T-pain remix that we are all featuring in,” referencing the current hardship in the country.”

In a post via his X handle, Doyin Okupe, who served as Peter Obi’s campaign director but recently switched allegiance to President Bola Tinubu, offered a different perspective.

He said, “The politically naive, ignorant, or bigoted have always insulted me whenever I state that politics is a game, not religion. No permanent friends, no permanent enemies, only permanent interests! Interesting times ahead. We now move from Consumption to Absorption. End of discussion!” 

However, speaking with Daily Trust, Abdulrasheed Shehu clarified that there was no discussion about the 2027 election or a merger during Peter Obi and Atiku’s meeting on Saturday.

He noted that the two politicians would make their position on possible mergers known at the appropriate time.

He said, “There was no conversation around 2027. He only welcomed Obi to Yola and had breakfast with him, after which they went to AUN together where Obi gave a powerful lecture. But you know, Oga (Atiku) is the one who started the call for a coalition of opposition leaders after the 2023 general elections to defeat the APC in the next election. When the time comes, their position will be made known.” 

Barring any last-minute change of plan, the workers in the Federal Capital Territory,  Cross River, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Kaduna and Zamfara states may down tools on Monday (today) following the failure of the state authorities to negotiate the payment of the N70,000 new minimum wage.

Though the implementation panels set up by the concerned states have been meeting with labour leaders in a bid to ward off the strike action, the various state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress have expressed their readiness to embark on a strike from today.

The FCT Council of the NLC had earlier directed the workers in the six Area Councils to embark on an indefinite strike on December 1 until further directives were issued.

This was contained in a letter signed by the Chairman of the FCT Council of the NLC, Stephen Knabayi, on Saturday.

This followed the directive of the NLC leadership to workers in 14 states and the FCT to embark on industrial action from Sunday over the non-implementation of the new minimum wage.

Knabayi faulted the failure of the area council chairmen to respond to the demand for the implementation of the minimum wage, despite receiving the communique of the National Executive Council of the NLC dated November 14, 2024.

The Nasarawa State chapter of the NLC on Sunday declared its readiness to declare a strike if the minimum wage was not paid.

The state NLC Chairman, Ismaila Okoh, disclosed that a notice of strike had been issued to all the labour members.

He, however, revealed that the Nasarawa State government had reached an agreement with the union to pay N70,500 to the workers, adding that no document had been signed regarding the implementation.

He said, “We have notified all our members to embark on strike tomorrow (today) because of the non-implementation of the national minimum wage in the state.

“Although the minimum wage committee set up by the state government has agreed to start paying N70,500, no document has been signed to that effect up till this moment.

“So, we are observing the situation to see if the documents on the minimum wage will be signed before tomorrow morning. However, if nothing is done between now and midnight, our members will have to fully comply with the strike as they were directed.”

To avert a shutdown, the Kaduna State Government said it had commenced the implementation of the new national minimum wage, with the least-paid worker in the state receiving N72,000 as gross salary in November.

The PUNCH reports that many states agreed to pay above the N70,000 minimum wage, with Kaduna State offering its workers  N72,000 as minimum wage.

Despite the positive development, the state chapter of the NLC confirmed its planned strike.

The state’s chairman of the NLC, Ayuba Suleiman, said the workers would embark on a strike as directed by the NLC leadership.

When asked if the NLC was prepared to embark on a strike, Suleiman replied, “Yes, we are set for the strike.”

However, a  statement on Sunday by Ibraheem Musa, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Uba Sani, insisted it was “a misrepresentation  for the NLC to claim that  the state has defaulted in the payment of the new minimum wage.”

Musa noted that the state government had complied with the letter of the National Minimum Wage Law.

“His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, has complied with the spirit and letter of the National Minimum Wage Law, by paying the lowest paid civil servant N72,000 last month,” he said.

He added that the NLC had been pushing for consequential adjustments but the state government argued that there was a difference between salary increments and the minimum wage.

Musa explained that the state government received an average of N8bn from the Federal Allocation and generated around N4bn monthly, totalling N12bn  revenue.

However, he said with the implementation of the minimum wage, the monthly wage bill had increased from N5.4bn to N6.3bn, including N4bn deduction for loan payments every month.

This, he said, left only N2bn for rural transformation, healthcare, education, and other public services in the state.

“It will be unfair for Kaduna State Government to spend almost all its revenue on consequential adjustments, after paying the mandatory minimum wage.

“There are over 10 million people who are also entitled to the accrued revenue of Kaduna State. There are 84,827 civil servants in the state. So, it is unreasonable for the government to spend over 90 per cent of its revenue on just about one per cent of the population,” he added.

Musa urged the NLC to exercise patience over the consequential adjustments, pending when the state government’s revenue improved.

“Governor Uba Sani is labour-friendly. He has demonstrated this by providing buses for civil servants to commute to work free of charge, as part of the palliatives to cushion the prevailing economic challenges,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the NLC in Ebonyi State, Dr Oguguo Egwu, disclosed that the state workers had been directed to join the ongoing industrial action from today.

According to him, the warning strike, which will last one week, was sequel to the failure of Governor Francis Nwifuru to implement the new national minimum wage.

He said, “Talking about the new national minimum wage as it concerns Ebonyi State, our governor on September 11 at the Ojiji festival of Izzi Kingdom announced the new minimum wage of N70,000 and we are all aware of that.

“We were very happy and excited that Ebonyi would be among the first states to implement the wage. But subsequently, there was no communication and no information.

“And we heard that the governor wanted to implement the national minimum wage without any due process of collective bargaining where both the workers and government angle would meet to agree on the consequential adjustment.”

Also, the Zamfara State NLC secretary, Ahmed Abubakar, said workers in the state had yet to receive the new minimum wage, and as such had no alternative but to join the strike.

He said, “We are going to join the strike as directed by the national body of our great union to express our anger over the non-payment of the new minimum wage.”

Abubakar, however, explained that the union would continue to dialogue with the state government on the issue.

The organised labour in Cross River is set for an industrial action over the non-implementation of the new minimum wage in the state.

The Cross River State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Gregory Ulayi, disclosed that the union would embark on an indefinite strike if the state government failed to implement the new minimum wage to workers.

However, it was learnt that the state government reached an agreement with the state chapters of the NLC and TUC late on Sunday night to pay the N70,000 wage to its workers.

Calls to the NLC and TUC officials to clarify whether the state workers would still embark on strike were not answered as at the time of filing this report.

President Bola Tinubu says the good life that Nigerians thought they were living prior to his administration was fake and capable of collapsing the country.

Speaking on Saturday during the 34th and 35th combined convocation ceremonies of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) in Ondo state, Tinubu said the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of exchange rates were necessary to save Nigeria from the brink of collapse.

Tinubu announced the end of petrol subsidy on May 29, 2023, during his inauguration.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) also announced the unification of all segments of foreign exchange markets.

The president, represented at the event by Wahab Egbewole, vice-chancellor of the University of Ilorin, said his administration took decisive action to avert economic disaster and secure the future of Nigerians.

“As you are all aware, we took the baton of authority at a time when our economy was nose-diving as a result of heavy debts from fuel and dollar subsidies,” Tinubu said.

“The subsidies were meant to support the poor and make life better for all Nigerians. We are all aware of the fact that the poor and average Nigerians were the sufferers of what was supposed to give them succour and improved standard of living.

“Unfortunately, the good life we thought we were living was a fake one that was capable of leading the country to a total collapse unless drastic efforts were urgently taken.

“The need to salvage the future of our children, and bring the country back from the brink of collapse necessitated the strategic decisions to remove the fuel subsidy and also unify the exchange rates.  I am not unaware of the consequences of the tough decisions on our people. I sincerely wish there could be softer options.”

The president expressed optimism that the policies are already yielding positive outcomes.

He noted that the country’s macro-economic indicators are improving daily, while the micro-economy, which directly affects citizens, is gradually taking shape.

Tinubu added that Nigeria is transitioning from a consumption-driven economy to one focused on production across all aspects of human endeavours.

‘YOUTHS MIGRATION HAVE LED TO BRAIN DRAIN IN NIGERIA’

Tinubu called on the graduands to join hands together with his administration “to recover our lost glory and virtues.”

The president also condemned the widespread migration of youths in search of “greener pastures”, stressing that the trend has resulted into a significant brain drain in all sectors of the nation’s economy.

“​Many of our youths have chosen the supposed easy option of emigrating to the proverbial greener pastures where their citizens had rolled up their sleeves to bring their nations back from the brinks in their times of trouble,” Tinubu said.

“Such inclination has led to the brain drain syndrome that we now experience in all areas of our endeavours as a nation.

​“Our intellectuals and experts on whom the nation has massively invested huge resources to train in the interest of our country are migrating overseas in large numbers at a time their services are most required at home.

“It is heart-rending and the syndrome is not the solution to our problems. We are not Nigerians by accident, and I believe that the Almighty God who made us Nigerians has given us the required wisdom to turn things around for our betterment.

“The present challenges call for a high degree of patriotism and I can assure all Nigerians that there is light at the end of the tunnel. After rain comes sunshine. The brighter days are almost here.”

Tinubu said the renewed hope agenda is on track, assuring Nigerians that his administration will remain steadfast in its pursuit of a better and greater nation.

offloads equity in Lafarge to Chinese firm

Holcim, a Swiss building materials company, has agreed to sell its Nigerian business to Huaxin Cement Ltd., a Chinese firm.

The deal, valued at $1 billion, would lead to the sale of Holcim’s 83 percent stake in Lafarge Africa, according to a statement on Sunday.

Lafarge Africa Plc is a member of the Holcim Group — a maker of roofing and other housing products, such as cement, aggregates for construction and ready-mix concrete. 

The company said the agreement has been signed, noting that the transaction is expected to close next year.

“Holcim has signed an agreement with Huaxin Cement Ltd to sell its entire 83.81% shareholding in Lafarge Africa Plc, at an equity value of $1 billion on a 100% basis,” the statement reads.

“The transaction is expected to close in 2025, subject to customary and regulatory approvals.”

Holcim, however, did not give reasons for its exit.

On May 24, Kimberly-Clark, makers of Huggies, said it plans to stop localmanufacturing and sales in Nigeria after 14 years of operation.

According to the firm, the decision was made owing to its recently refocused corporate priorities globally as well as economic trends in the country.

Pick n Pay, a South African grocery retailer, in October, also announced plans to exit Nigeria by selling its 51 percent stake in a joint venture.

Sean Summers, chief executive officer (CEO) of Pick n Pay, said the move was part of plans to restructure outside of its home market.

In 2023, three pharmaceutical companies exited Nigeria.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Consumer Nigeria Plc ceased operations and transferred its business activities to a third-party organisation.

Sanofi-Aventis Nigeria Limited, a French pharmaceutical company, also halted its direct operations in the country in November 2023.

One month later, Procter & Gamble (P&G), an American multinational consumer goods company, disclosed plans to transition from local production to solely importing its products.

Governor Babagana Zulum has revealed that the northern Governors need more time for consultations on the tax reforms proposed by President Bola Tinubu.

The Borno State Governor explained that this is why they advised President Tinubu to withdraw the bills so they could consult further.

Governor Zulum made the disclosure on Sunday while speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, adding that contrary to insinuations in certain quarters, the Governors are not against the administration of President Tinubu.

According to him, the north gave Tinubu over sixty percent of votes during the 2023 elections which is a clear indication of their support for him.

He, however, maintained that he wouldn’t withdraw his earlier statement on the proposed tax reforms in which he maintained that the bill would only be beneficial to Lagos State and would make other regions, including the north, suffer.

“On this tax issue, there are a lot of misconceptions. We felt that the VAT provision in the tax law. Based on the calculations that we did, only Lagos and Rivers States will benefit from this scheme. We did our own research and concluded that we would lose.

On the narration in some places that he is working against the government of President Tinubu, Zulum affirmed his commitment to the President and the All Progressives Congress (APC), submitting that the northern governors are not against President Tinubu.

“I am a strong member of APC. If you can count two governors before 2019 and 2023 who were in support of Tinubu, you can mention Governor Zulum. I was the first governor to come out publicly and say that power must go to the South.

“Unfortunately, the President was told by many that the North was against him. 60.2 per cent of his votes came from the north,” he submitted.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to direct a full disclosure of contractors and companies implicated in the disappearance of over N167 billion allocated for projects in 31 federal ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

The funds were reportedly disbursed, but no projects were executed, according to the 2021 audited report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.

In an open letter dated November 30, 2024, signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization demanded that Tinubu instruct the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to publish the names of the contractors and shareholders involved.

SERAP is also urging the government to recover the funds and prosecute those responsible.

The letter highlighted a pattern of corruption documented in the Auditor-General’s report, revealing that contractors absconded with public funds allocated for projects in 31 MDAs.

The Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) alone reportedly paid N100 billion to contractors for projects that remain unexecuted.

Other implicated agencies include the Nigerian Correctional Service, the National Pension Commission, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), and the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), among others.

SERAP argued that this massive financial loss has exacerbated Nigeria’s development challenges, depriving citizens of essential services such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

“The names of the companies and contractors, along with their shareholders, must be published to ensure accountability and prevent a culture of impunity,” the letter read.

“Publishing these details will deter future corruption and demonstrate the government’s commitment to transparency,” the open letter added.

SERAP also called on the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to work with anti-corruption agencies to ensure that those responsible face justice.

The group emphasized that the funds must be recovered and returned to the national treasury for the benefit of citizens.

Failure to act, SERAP warned, would prompt legal action. “If no measures are taken within seven days, we will pursue all appropriate legal actions to compel the government to comply in the public interest,” the organization stated.

SERAP underscored the devastating impact of corruption on Nigeria’s development, noting that the diversion of funds has led to worsening inequality and inadequate public services.

“Corruption undermines economic progress, trapping millions of Nigerians in poverty and depriving them of opportunities,” the letter asserted.

The group also cited Nigeria’s obligations under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and the Freedom of Information Act, which mandate transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.

“Your government must show that it will not shield or tolerate wrongdoing by contractors or public officials,” SERAP urged.

The letter concluded by emphasizing that addressing these allegations is not just about financial recovery but restoring public trust in government institutions.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has lamented that the economic crisis in the country is becoming unbearable.

Speaking with newsmen on Sunday, he lamented that the cost of foodstuffs has increased significantly, making it difficult for the masses to afford good meals.

He called on the government to come together and rescue the masses by providing solutions to the challenges in the country.

“The rise in food prices is mostly caused by insecurity, high cost of transportation of the products, climate change, and the instability of the exchange rate of naira,” he said.

Speaking further, he added that the astronomical rise in the food prices had battered the purchasing power of citizens, leading to uncertainty, an increase in poverty, and a high cost of living.

He said that with food as a primary resource for human survival, the government at every level should undertake tangible programmes to defeat hunger in the land.

According to him, “A recent survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) also confirmed that food prices have risen by over 100 per cent”.

Oyintiloye said the 2023/24 General Household Survey-Panel, commonly called (GHS-Panel), launched on November 25, 2024, in Abuja, revealed that “65.8 per cent of the households were unable to eat healthy, nutritious, or preferred foods because of low income”.

The APC chieftain said that while the President Bola Tinubu-led administration is doing everything possible to bring down the food prices, many Nigerians are still struggling to eat three square meals.

Oyintiloye said that despite the food waiver policy being implemented by the Federal Government and the Central Bank’s intervention to curb inflation through the monetary policy, the prices of foodstuff is still on a very high side

“The exchange rate fluctuations further exacerbate this issue, particularly affecting the prices of imported food items.

“The situation on the prices of food is becoming worrisome and extremely unbearable for the masses.

“Many households can no longer afford nutrition meals, while many are begging for survival. This is pathetic and no longer bearable for the masses.

“I urge governors and the Federal Government to intensify efforts to stop further increase in the cost of food items. The situation may worsen if factors leading to the increase are left unattended to,” he added.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says it will probe consumer complaints of exploitative practices in banking, telecommunications, and aviation sectors.

In a statement on Sunday, Ondaje Ijagwu, FCCPC’s director of corporate affairs, announced that the probe is scheduled to commence from December 3 to December 5.

He said the inquiry would address issues related to poor service delivery, exploitative practices, and possible violations of consumer rights.

“In the banking sector, the FCCPC will engage Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) over reports of network failures that hinder customers from accessing their funds or using banking applications,” Ijagwu said.

“In the telecommunications sector, MTN Nigeria faces questions regarding persistent complaints of undelivered data services, unexplained data depletion, and inadequate customer care.

“Similarly, Air Peace Limited will address allegations of exploitative ticket pricing, including significant price hikes for advance bookings on certain domestic routes.

“These inquiries are being conducted under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, specifically Sections 17, 18, 32, 33, 80, 110, 111, 112, and 113, which empower the FCCPC to investigate and resolve practices that undermine consumer rights, disrupt markets, or create unfair competition.”

The director said the FCCPC’s engagement with the companies provides a platform to address consumer concerns, clarify business practices, and enforce compliance with regulatory standards.

He said the companies will be required to appear before the commission on specified dates to provide information and responses, allowing the commission to make decisions and address outstanding issues efficiently.

According to Ijagwu, the action reflects the FCCPC’s commitment to safeguarding consumer rights, fostering a fair marketplace, and ensuring accountability across all sectors.

He urged consumers to continue to report instances of poor service delivery or exploitative practices to the FCCPC through its official channels.

The Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has declared total support for the proposed tax reforms by President Bola Tinubu, adding that the proposals are in the interest of the Igbo nation.

The group, in a statement on Sunday by its Secretary General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said they declared support for the proposed tax reforms after a deep study of the contents and consultations with stakeholders.

According to Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the reforms will rejuvenate the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), enhance the fortunes of Nigerian workers, and eliminate the scourge of double taxation.

The group also expressed concerns about the antagonism against the proposed reforms, alleging specifically that the Northern region is jittery of losing illicit gains if the bill is approved by the National Assembly.

“In an emphatic affirmation of progress and economic empowerment, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Igbo apex socio-cultural organization representing the Igbo nation, hereby announces its steadfast endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proposed Tax Reforms Bills.

“This endorsement comes after rigorous reviews, exhaustive consultations with an array of stakeholders, and an in-depth analysis of the bills’ implications for the Nigerian economic landscape.

“Our comprehensive evaluation has led us to the resolute conclusion that these tax reforms are not merely legislative proposals; they represent a transformative opportunity for the rejuvenation of Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the enhancement of the fortunes of Nigerian workers.

“By eliminating the scourge of double taxation imposed by unscrupulous state governors, these reforms will pave the way for an equitable business climate that significantly elevates both local and foreign investment potential.

“The Igbo people, renowned for our entrepreneurial spirit and unwavering commitment to economic self-determination, stand to gain immensely from these reforms. The proposed measures are expected to safeguard the private sector, particularly benefiting the industrious Igbos who play a pivotal role in driving the Nigerian economy through vibrant SME activities.

“In an environment characterized by fairness and transparent regulations, we are confident that the majority of the benefits arising from these tax reforms will bolster our( Igbo) endeavors, facilitating growth and fostering robust business opportunities,” the group submitted.

Ohanaeze, therefore appealed to all southern federal lawmakers in the National Assembly to work together towards ensuring the tax reform bills are approved by the legislators.

The group added that the decision to support the tax reforms aligns with an earlier decision to ignore the planned protests against the policies of the Tinubu government.

“In light of these compelling advantages, Ohanaeze Ndigbo ardently calls upon all Southern Federal Lawmakers(Senators & House of Reps Members)—both in the Senate and the House of Representatives—to unify their efforts in support of President Tinubu’s transformative restructuring program within Nigeria’s economic and fiscal sectors.

“It is imperative that our Southern Senators and House Of Representatives members close ranks, transcending partisan divides, to ensure that the Tax Reforms Bills navigate both chambers of the National Assembly successfully.

“We wish to reiterate our unwavering commitment to show solidarity with President Tinubu, as we expect that the Southeast Federal Lawmakers will provide essential backing to these initiatives.

“This collective support is particularly noteworthy as it underscores our strategic alignment with the President following our decision to abstain from nationwide protests in August 2024, a decision made in the spirit of dialogue and cooperation,” it stated.

On the opposition from some leaders in the northern region against the proposed tax reforms, Ohanaeze submitted that the northerners are only trying to frustrate the bill because the status quo favours their selfish interest at the expense of national growth.

It urged all stakeholders to support the proposals as it promises sustainable economic growth towards a prosperous Nigeria.

“Nonetheless, it is disheartening to observe the substantial opposition that has emerged from certain quarters within Northern Nigeria regarding these critical reforms.

“There is palpable concern that Northern governors are mobilizing their forces to stifle the progression of the Tax Reforms Bills within the National Assembly, relying on their numerical predominance to assert undue influence.

“This orchestrated opposition appears driven by a desire to perpetuate the current VAT derivation principles that unjustly favor select interests at the expense of equitable national growth.

“The implications of such maneuvers are profound. If the Northern political elites succeed in thwarting President Tinubu’s initiatives, it could set a dangerous precedent, fostering a climate of resistance against meaningful reform. This scenario poses a tangible threat not only to the President’s agenda but also to the broader economic aspirations of millions of Nigerians who yearn for a reformed and equitable system.

“Moreover, it cannot be overlooked that a successful passage of the Tax Reforms Bills could have far-reaching consequences for President Tinubu’s administration, potentially inciting a politically motivated backlash in the 2027 electoral landscape. It is essential that we, as a nation, confront these challenges decisively, fostering a collaborative spirit to advance our collective interests rather than allowing parochial motivations to derail our progress.

“In conclusion, Ohanaeze Ndigbo urges all stakeholders, including lawmakers, business actors, and citizens, to unite in support of these pivotal Tax Reforms Bills.

“The promise of a prosperous and just Nigeria is within our reach, but it demands our collective resolve to advocate for transparency, equity, and sustainable economic growth.

“Together, let us champion an agenda that uplifts all Nigerians and ensures that our legislative processes reflect the aspirations of a nation committed to progress and integrity,” the statement concluded.