FG to inaugurate tripartite committee on minimum wage Tuesday.

FG to inaugurate tripartite committee on minimum wage Tuesday.

The federal government will on Tuesday, inaugurate a 37-man Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage with a mandate to recommend a new national minimum wage for the country.

A statement issued by the director of Information in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Segun Imohiosen, the planned inauguration of the Committee is sequel to the approval of President Bola Tinubu.

According to the statement, the inauguration is scheduled to hold on Tuesday, 30th of January, 2024, by 12:00 noon, at the Council Chamber of the State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The committee, under the chairmanship of Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, which cuts across federal government, state government, private sector and the Organised Labour are as follows:

“From the federal government, the members include the Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, representing the Minister of Labour and Employment; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; Minister of Budget Economic Planning, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu; Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. (Mrs) Folasade Yemi-Esan; the Permanent Secretary, GSO. OSGF, Dr. Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri; and Ekpo Nta, Esq, Chairman/CEO, NSIWC – Member/Secretary.

“Also from the State Government, Alh. Mohammed Umar Bago, Governor, Niger State- representative from North Central; Sen. Bala Mohammed, Governor Bauchi State- representative from North East; Alh. Umar Dikko Radda, Governor Katsina State- representative from North West; Prof. Charles Soludo, Governor, Anambra State- representative from the South East; Sen. Ademola Adeleke, Governor, Osun State- representative from South West; Mr. Otu Bassey Edet, Governor, Cross River State- representative from South West.

“From the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA)- Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, Director-General, NECA; Mr. Chuma Nwankwo; Mr. Thompson Akpabio with also members from the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) include Asiwaju (Dr) Michael Olawale-Cole, National President; Hon. (Dr) Ahmed Rabiu, National Vice President and Chief Humphrey Ngonadi (NPOM), National Life President.

“The membership from the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprise (NASME) are Dr. Abdulrashid Yerima, President & Chairman of Council; Hon. Theophilus Nnorom Okwuchukwu, Private Sector representative; Dr. Muhammed Nura Bello, Zonal Vice President, North West and also from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) are Mrs. Grace Omo-Lamai, Human Resource Director, Nigerian Breweries; Segun Ajayi-Kadir, mni, Director-General, MAN; Lady Ada Chukwudozie, Managing Director, Dozzy Oil and Gas Limited.

“From the organised labour, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Joe Ajaero, President, NLC; Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, mni; Comrade Prince Adeyanju Adewale; Comrade Ambali Akeem Olatunji; Comrade Benjamin Anthony and Prof. Theophilius Ndukuba.

“Also, membership from the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) include Comrade (Engr) Festus Osifo, President, TUC; Comrade Tommy Etim Okon, PhD, Deputy President I, TUC; Comrade Kayode Surajudeen Alakija, Deputy President II; Comrade Jimoh Oyibo, Deputy President. III; Comrade Nuhu A. Toro, Secretary-General and Comrade Hafusatu Shuaib, Chairperson Women Comm.

“Accordingly, members are advised to be early to process their clearance at the Security Gate and should be seated at the Council Chamber by 11.30 am. In addition, a shuttle bus will be available at the Pilot Gate to convey members to the venue.

“In addition, members of the Committee are to contact the Head of the Secretariat, Mr. Chiadi Adighiogu, Director (Compensation) in the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission for information,” the statement said.

FG establishing ‘mushroom’ varsities with no funding options – ASUU.

FG establishing ‘mushroom’ varsities with no funding options – ASUU.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Sunday accused the Federal Government of establishing “mushroom” varsities with no funding options.

The union also noted that the universities have now become crisis centers with little to no hope of management.

It was reported that plans were made to establish no fewer than 32 federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the country.

The issue of the proliferation of universities by the government at all levels has also become a matter of concern for stakeholders.

Speaking in the statement issued on Sunday, the National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, urged the government to jettison the “politicisation” of universities.

Speaking on the promise to release the withheld salaries of members of the union by the administration of President Bola Tinubu, the academic union noted that any further delay in the release of the monies might lead to a complete mess of “what is left of the already devalued worth of the money”.

“One major fallout of our last struggle was the government’s decision to stop the salaries of our members as a ploy to force us back to work even when the substantive issues in the strike action had remained unresolved. Curiously, the seven-and-a-half months’ salaries remain unpaid even after we have done the work for which those salaries were held.

“It is hoped that the process of payments is fast-tracked before the unmitigated inflationary trends in the country make a complete mess of what is left of the already devalued worth of the money.

“Proper funding and running of the public universities – State and Federal – remains at the heart of our struggle for a university system which can drive national development and compete internationally.

“This informs our concern, among others, with the issue of the unbridled proliferation of state universities, which State Governors were fastly turning to mere constituency projects.

“We have several instances of states that are unable to fund their existing universities going ahead to establish more. In the process, such state governments only succeeded in creating crises centres rather than centres of excellence.

“Unfortunately, the Federal Government appears to have been bitten by the bug of mushrooming universities without giving thought to how to fund them. This sour point is still a work in progress for our union to combat.

“If our university system is to maintain the integrity of credible universities, as known in other sane climes, more work is required to get Nigerian politicians to embrace the idea of developmental universities as against the prevalent over- politicisation of university education,” the statement read.

We are committed to recovering unpaid royalties and taxes – Alake.

We are committed to recovering unpaid royalties and taxes – Alake.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake said the present administration is committed to recovering unpaid royalties and taxes in the mining sector.

He said the federal government has put in place measures like engaging consultants to block leakages and recover funds owed by licensed operators, which he put at several trillions of naira.

Alake said this in Abuja while welcoming the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) chairman, Mohammed Bello, and his team to his office.

He said the federal government, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), has resolved to strengthen collaboration to block revenue leakages in the mining sector.

The special assistant media to the minister, Segun Tomori, made this known in a press statement.

He stated: “The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), have resolved to strengthen collaboration to block revenue leakages in the mining sector.

“Speaking while welcoming the RMAFC chairman, Mohammed Bello, and his team to his office recently, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake commended efforts of the commission to boost revenue accruing to government coffers through mining operations.

He said: “Mr. Bello in his remarks stated that the commission’s visit is hinged on pledging support for efforts of the Minister to transform the mining sector since assumption of office and also extract commitment that the commission will get his cooperation to carry out its statutory monitoring activities.

“The commission was instrumental to getting the 10% monthly payment from the Natural Resources Development Fund to the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), and we know we can do much more together under your guidance and leadership to sanitise the sector, plug all loopholes and ensure the mining industry becomes a big chunk of our nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“In his submission, the commission’s chairman of solid minerals committee and commissioner representing Zamfara state, Abubakar Sadiq lauded the Minister for his reforms and leadership that has given visibility to the mining sector, stressing the need for improved collaboration with the RMAFC to address shortfall in revenue remittance by mining operators.

“Our evaluation of mining operations across the country has shown a shortfall in revenue to government. There is a monitoring gap. Government and RMAFC should strengthen collaboration to seal this gap and plug leakages in the system.”

“We are also making a case for proper supervision and documentation of minerals exported through our borders whilst also urging that the environmental impact of mining operations should be looked into and minimized,” Sadiq added.

“Dr. Alake, in his response, revealed that the federal government has put in place measures like engaging consultants to block leakages and recover funds owed by licensed operators, which he put at several trillions of naira.

“From our efforts, so far, we have discovered to our chagrin that we are owed trillions of naira in unpaid royalties and taxes by legalised operators. We are committed to recovering these funds and also in the process of engaging internationally certified auditors to look at the system and automate the whole gamut of the revenue collection processes.

“Alake restated the resolve of government to sanitise the mining environment, ensure it contributes substantially to the nation’s revenue, and ultimately make the sector rival oil in contribution to Nigeria’s GDP.

“We are ready to collaborate with you, states, and host communities to maximise the potential of the mining sector for the benefit of all Nigerians. Our focus is to ensure that the industry translates to greater good for the greatest number of our people.”

Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso withdraw from ECOWAS over suspension.

Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso withdraw from ECOWAS over suspension.

The military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have announced their immediate withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States.

The leaders of the three Sahel nations on Sunday issued a statement saying it was a “sovereign decision” to leave the ECOWAS “without delay”.

Struggling with jihadist violence and poverty, the regimes have had tense ties with ECOWAS since coups took place in Niger last July, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020.

All three were suspended from ECOWAS, with Niger and Mali facing heavy sanctions.

They have hardened their positions in recent months and joined forces in an “Alliance of Sahel States”.

A French military withdrawal from the Sahel — the region along the Sahara desert across Africa — has heightened concerns over the conflicts spreading southward to the Gulf of Guinea states Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Ivory Coast.

The prime minister appointed by Niger’s military regime on Thursday blasted ECOWAS for “bad faith” after the bloc largely shunned a planned meeting in Niamey.

Niger had hoped for an opportunity to talk through differences with fellow states of ECOWAS, which has cold-shouldered Niamey, imposing heavy economic and financial sanctions following the military coup that overthrew elected president Mohamed Bazoum.

AFP

Edo 2024: APC to update membership register, promises free, fair primaries.

Edo 2024: APC to update membership register, promises free, fair primaries.

As the sales of All Progressives Congress (APC) Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for the Edo State governorship election ends on Monday, January 29, the party said it would conduct an update of its membership register in the state ahead of the February 17 primary election.

Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru disclosed this at the weekend when a group of friends of Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe picked the expression of interest and nomination forms for the retired Permanent Secretary.

The update of the membership register became necessary following disagreement of figures by the various political tendencies in the state during the last meeting the National Working Committee (NWC) had with stakeholders of the party in the state.

To this end, a committee will be dispatched from the party’s national secretariat in Abuja to undertake the update of the membership register in the 192 wards of the state.

Duru said: “A committee from the national headquarters will be on their way to Edo State next week to begin the update of the membership register.

“As you know, there were discontent tones. We will write a letter in that respect to the state chapter of the party. We can only be seen to be impartial and we cannot come to a meeting of stakeholders to misrepresent the total membership of our party in Edo state.

“That Edo is only 241,000 in numbers when we know that the membership of even Ebonyi state is almost close to a million and Edo is bigger than Ebonyi state. Even against our protestation that we have a bigger and more authentic register.

“So that is the responsibility of the NWC and we discharge that.”

Assuring all the aspirants of the resolve of the NWC to conduct a free, fair and transparent primary, During denied insinuation that the NWC has ceded the power of screening and clearing aspirants for the shadow election to a committee.

 

He added: “The National Chairman has also asked me to inform all the aspirants that the responsibility of vetting and clearing all the aspirants domicile with the NWC of our party and the National Working Committee has not abandoned that responsibility or have they vested that authority to any other sub-national.

“Therefore the exercise of vetting and clearing will only happen in the first instance through a committee that will be set up and we are in the process of setting up the committee.

“We will ensure and guarantee free, fair and transparent primary. What we want is the person who will win for us. That will win the primary and win the election ultimately for the party.

“We want Edo State in the basket of APC states and that is very important. We cannot just have one lone voice in the South-South, which Cross River currently represents. Once we can have Edo State in the basket, hopefully, we can also translate into another state in Ondo.

Meanwhile, checks in the party’s Directorate of Organisation at the close of work on Friday showed that only 12 of the 29 aspirants who initially declared intention to contest for the party’s tickets have purchased the N50 million expression of interest and nomination forms.

The party so far has equally raked in N600 million from sales of forms to the 12 aspirants.

Oyebanji congratulates Ekiti-born Ojo Olabode, UNILAG’s overall Best Student with a 5.00/5.00 Grade.

Oyebanji congratulates Ekiti-born Ojo Olabode, UNILAG’s overall Best Student with a 5.00/5.00 Grade.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has congratulated Mr Ojo Olabode Johnson who emerged the best-graduating student of the University of Lagos with an outstanding 5.00/5.00 grade in his Masters degree in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering.

The feat recorded by the Esun- Ekiti born Ojo Olabode Johnson was announced during the University’s convocation ceremony last week. 

Governor Oyebanji, in a congratulatory message signed by his Spacial Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, described Ojo’s achievement as remarkably outstanding, adding that such a feat can only be achieved through hardwork, dedication and undying passion for excellence. 

He added that Ojo’s remarkable feat is capable of inspiring other Ekiti youths to dare to stand out in academics, research and in other areas of human endeavours. 

“Again, Ekiti is being mentioned for a noble and honorable reason- a highly remarkable and record- breaking achievement by one of her citizens, Mr Ojo Olabode Johnson. While we congratulate him and his family for writing his name in gold, we hope his achievement will also inspire other youths who are shining stars to dare to shine even brighter.” The Governor said. 

Governor Oyebanji added that his administration would continue to identify with and celebrate excellence among its teeming youths and would continue to provide incentives and platforms for them to excel in their chosen areas of endeavors so that they can become valued assets to the state and the country as a whole. 

Ojo, who is an indigene of Esun-Ekiti, Ikole Local Government of Ekiti State, scored the highest grade point in his graduating set earning him the overall best-graduating master student of the university. He also won the best graduating student award at the university's Faculty of Engineering and Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering.

Prior to his astonishing feat at Unilag, Ojo obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State. 

He started his academic journey at Chrismode Nursery and Primary School, Agege, Lagos State, and proceeded to the Federal Science and Technical College, Usi-Ekiti, in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State for his Junior Secondary School Education, . He completed his secondary education at the Federal Government College, Ikole-Ekiti.

EKSG To Present Breakdown Of 2024 Budget To Stakeholders.

EKSG To Present Breakdown Of 2024 Budget To Stakeholders.

By Olamide Akinwumi

In a move towards transparency and inclusive governance, Ekiti State Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning, and Performance Management, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, is set to present the highlights and breakdown of the 2024 Budget. The budget, tagged "Budget of Sustainable Growth and Development," will be unveiled to journalists and other critical stakeholders in the state.

The event is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at the Lady Jibowu Hall, Government House Grounds, Ado Ekiti, starting at 10:00 am. The announcement, conveyed through a statement from the office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning, and Performance Management, Mr. Sola Akinluyi, emphasizes the significance of the Budget Analysis presentation.

The statement highlights that the presentation aims to advance inclusive and good governance in the state. It also provides a platform for members of the public and the media to offer feedback on government policies, programs, and activities. The inclusive approach encourages public engagement and ensures that stakeholders have a comprehensive understanding of the state's financial plans and priorities.

The announcement further enjoins Accounting Officers of all Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, as well as invited representatives from all sectors in the society, to attend this important program. The active participation of stakeholders is crucial in fostering collaboration and understanding between the government and the public, contributing to the overall development of Ekiti State.