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‘Nigerian schools now targets of violence, terror’

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'Nigerian schools now targets of violence, terror'

A Non-Governmental Organisation, IA-Foundation, and a group, the Peace and Social Justice, have raised concerns that Nigerian schools have now become targets of violence and terror.

Recently, over 280 pupils and teachers of Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School at Kuriga, Kaduna State were abducted by bandits.

The bandits reportedly invaded the Kuriga area of the Chikun Local Government Area of the state, shooting at their victims before taking away at least 280 of the pupils and teachers from both schools.

IA-Foundation is a United Kingdom based educational charity which was setup to reduce the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria; while PSJ-UK is a UK-based advocacy NGO of diasporas and friends of Nigeria who are committed to peacebuilding and social justice in Nigeria.

The NGO on Thursday disclosed that the sad realities of the current situation were contained in a report recently launched at the Jubilee Room of the House of Parliament, London, United Kingdom.

Speaking about the report the founder of IA-Foundation, Ibironke Adeagbo, described wducation as the cornerstone of a nation’s development, fostering critical thinking, opportunity, and a brighter future.

Adeagbo, however, stated that the cornerstone is currently under siege, adding that schools once regarded as safe havens for learning have become targets of violence and terror.

According to her, Nigeria has been grappling with a pervasive and deeply troubling phenomenon and the alarming escalation of insecurity within its education sector over the last 10 years, since the 2014 Chibok school girl’s abduction.

She said, “Education is the cornerstone of a nation’s development, fostering critical thinking, opportunity, and a brighter future.

“However in Nigeria, this cornerstone is under siege. Schools once regarded as safe havens for learning have become targets of violence and terror.

“Over the last 10 years, since the 2014 Chibok school girl’s abduction, Nigeria has been grappling with a pervasive and deeply troubling phenomenon: the alarming escalation of insecurity within its education sector.”.

The Chief Executive Officer, PSJ-UK, Ayo Adedoyin, in his remark, noted that every year since 2014, hundreds of innocent children in primary and secondary schools across the nation are snatched away, and their dreams held hostage for ransom.

Adedoyin said children have become victims to a harrowing cycle of kidnapping and ransom demands.

According to him, many die and never return, the weight of this fear has forced numerous schools to close their doors, leaving a generation in the shadows of an uncertain future.

“Virtually, every year since 2014, hundreds of innocent children in primary and secondary schools across the nation are snatched away, their dreams held hostage for ransom.

“Children have become victims to a harrowing cycle of kidnapping and ransom demands.

“Tragically, many die and never return. The weight of this fear has forced numerous schools to close their doors, leaving a generation in the shadows of an uncertain future,” he said.

In the report, the NGO proposed recommendations aimed at safeguarding schools, restoring a sense of safety, and ensuring that every child in Nigeria has the chance to learn and thrive.

In his presentation, the Lead Speaker, and the Chief Executive Officer, Halogen Group, Wale Olaoye, said institutionalisation of education as a form of prevention and tool of personal, political and social transformation is strategically vital to the possibilities of establishing lasting peace in Nigeria.

Olaoye, who spoke on the theme, Nigeria: Illiteracy and Insecurity, suggested that comprehensive and sustained integration of educational interventions into the whole of society is more likely to yield transformative results.

He said, “Lifelong learning is essential to supporting the full development of the person, and nurturing capacity development throughout life to respond to emergent threats in a changing world.”

Court remands Miyetti Allah’s leader, fixes May 27 for trial

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Court remands Miyetti Allah's leader, fixes May 27 for trial

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered that the leader of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore group, Bello Bodejo, be remanded in DIA custody.

The order for his remand came after his arraignment on Friday before Justice Inyang Ekwo.

Bodejo was arrested on January 23 at the Miyetti Allah’s office in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State over the unveiling of a vigilante group.

On February 5, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), filed a motion ex parte seeking to remand Bodejo pending the conclusion of the investigation and arraignment in court.

At the expiration of the order, the judge ordered the DIA to either arraign Bodejo or admit him to bail.

However, the DIA brought Bodejo to the court accompanied by heavily armed personnel of the service.

In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/141/2024, the Federal Government preferred three counts of terrorism against Bodejo.
He was accused of setting up the group without authorisation.

“That you Bello Bodejo A. male, 38 years old of NO 2 Bodejo Street, Tundun Wada, Karu LGA, Nasarawa State, sometime in January 2024 did commit an offence to wit: you managed and participated in activities which, in your knowledge, is connected with act prejudicial to national security and public safety. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2(3)(g)(xii) and Section 12(a) of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.

“That you, Bello Bodejo A. male, 38 years old of NO. 2 Bodejo Street, Tundun Wada, Karu LGA, Nasarawa State, sometime in January 2024 did commit an offence to wit: you provided material assistance logistics and transportation to 1,000 men which in your knowledge is connected with an act prejudicial to national security and public safety. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2 (3) (g) (xii) and Section 13 (2) (b) of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022,” the charges partly read.

Bodejo, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.

The counsel for the Federal Government, Mohammed Abubakar, told the court that the prosecution was ready for trial.

He added that the prosecution has two witnesses penciled down for the trial, and could call more should the need arise.

Abubakar urged the court to fix a date for the commencement of the trial.

But the counsel for the defendant, Mohammed Sheriff, challenged the competence of the charge, noting that the amendment to the charges preferred against his client was done without the leave of the court.

Ruling on his bail application, Justice Ekwo ordered that the defendant be further remanded in the custody of the DIA.

Based on the prayer of the defence lawyer, Ekwo ordered the DIA to give the defendant the necessary medical attention.

Justice Ekwo also said he would allow 10 members of the defendant’s family to attend court and witness proceedings any day the case comes up.

The judge then adjourned the matter till May 27 for the commencement of trial.

NAFDAC raids fake water factory in Rivers, arrests one

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NAFDAC raids fake water factory in Rivers, arrests one

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control said it busted a fake bottled water syndicate at the Pipeline Road axis of Eneka in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The agency said the discovery on Friday morning followed a tip off from some well-meaning members of the public which its official speedily acted on.

NAFDAC Public Relations Officer, South-South Zone, Mr. Cyril Monye, who disclosed this in a statement in Port Harcourt on Friday said the suspects were using a ‘decrepit’ shop camouflage as a pool house for the production.

Monye said one of the distributors of the fake bottled water was arrested after packing the product and loading them for sale to unsuspecting consumers.

The statement read in part, “They pick used Eva plastic bottles which they fill with contaminated water fetched from a paint bucket while using dirty rubber funnel covered with clothing material as filter.

“The already printed Eva labels were then affixed into the plastic bottles and corked with already fake fitted Eva cocks.

“One of the distributors of the adulterated water who identified himself as Chibunna James was arrested as he was loading the product for sale, while the kingpin/producer is at large and efforts are on to track him down.”

Speaking on the incident, the NAFDAC Coordinator in Rivers State, Emmanuel Onogwu, enjoined members of the public to always avail the agency of useful information that will lead to arrest of criminals  who specialise in adulteration and faking of regulated products.

The statement further said the fake products of 30 packs were eventually evacuated to NAFDAC office in Port Harcourt, while the uncorked ones were emptied.

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FG takes over suspected killers of Imo monarch’s trial

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FG takes over suspected killers of Imo monarch's trial

The Federal Government has taken over the prosecution of four suspected killers of the traditional ruler of Amanze Obowo Autonomous Community of Imo State, Basil Njoku.

Njoku was kidnapped while returning from the Federal Medical Centre in Umuahia and was subsequently killed on December 17, 2022, after his family paid N4m ransom.

The police arrested and arraigned Jude Iheme and Chika Madukwe in connection with his death.

They were charged with terrorism and illegal possession of arms among others.

The suspects pleaded not guilty to the offence.

However, on the last adjourned date, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, through his lawyer, Simon Lough, sought the leave of court to amend the terrorism charges preferred against the suspected killers of the traditional ruler, adding that more suspects had been apprehended.

At the proceedings on Friday, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, through his counsel, David Kaswe, informed the court of the FG’s decision to take over the trial of the suspects.

He noted that this was pursuant to Sections 174 of the 1999 Constitution and 105 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

Kaswe said the IG had been directed to make the case file available to the Federal Ministry of Justice for appropriate action.

“I urge my honourable lord to put on hold the arraignment and seek an adjournment to enable me to study the case file to ensure diligent prosecution of the case, “he added.

The trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako subsequently adjourned till April 15 for the re-arraignment of the defendants

Tinubu congratulates UBA chair, Elumelu at 61

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Tinubu congratulates UBA chair, Elumelu at 61

President Bola Tinubu on Friday congratulated the Chairman of the Board of the United Bank for Africa, Mr. Tony Elumelu, on his 61st birthday.

The congratulatory message was contained in a statement signed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.

The statement is titled, ‘President Tinubu celebrates top business leader, Tony Elumelu, on his birthday.’

“President Tinubu wishes Mr. Elumelu many more years in good health and strength as he persists in his endeavour of contributing substantially to national and continental development,” the statement read in part.

Tinubu lauded the foremost businessman and philanthropist, who chairs Heirs Holdings, Transcorp, United Bank for Africa, and is the founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Commending Elumelu for his industry and the uncommon spirit of excellence that governs the entirety of his enterprise, the President acknowledged the business leader’s “streak of genius in driving investments, creating opportunities for Africa’s ebullient youths, and providing them with the support they need to soar.”

He also thanked Elumelu, who in 2020 was named on Time’s list of 100 most influential people in the world, for his steadfast trust and faith in the certainty of a greater Nigeria and for always projecting the best of the nation.

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Benue Reps Member, Agbese Inaugurated As Member Pan African Parliament,  Eulogizes  Speaker Tajudeen Abass 

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The Honourable Member representing Ado, Okpokwu  Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue state,  Chief Philip Agbese has been inaugurated as a member of the Pan African Parliament,  PAP in Midrand, South Africa.

Agbese who announced his inauguration in a state ussued in Midrand, South Africa said he was trilled to meet like-minds from other nations who share the same drive for Africa’s economic growth.

He appreciated the efforts of the Speaker of the House of Representatives,  Rt Honourable Tajudeen Abbas for the nomination

 

He said,  “Earlier today, I was inaugurated as a member of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) in Midrand, South Africa courtesy of the Rt. Hon Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Ph.D who nominated me as part of our country’s delegation to the continental body of parliamentarians working with the African Union.

“I was thrilled to meet like-minds from other nations who share the same drive for Africa’s economic development and integration. From our interactions already, I have noticed how rich and gifted the continent is in terms of human resources.

“I’m, therefore, confident that together we will address some of the problems and challenges facing Africa ranging from civil strife and insecurity to climate change-induced hunger. We have already made significant inroads to positively impact our nations and people directly. One Africa, One Voice!” He added

Benue suspends mining activities – Punch Newspapers

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Benue suspends mining activities - Punch Newspapers

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has suspended mining activities in the state.

The governor made the announcement on Friday during the launch of the initial 60 Mining Marshalls saddled with the responsibility of curbing the illegal mining of solid minerals across the state.

Represented by his deputy, Sam Ode, the governor said the suspension was necessary until miners’ data is collated.

He said that the Mineral Resources and Environment Management Committee would collate data of all miners in the state.

He said, “Until the verification exercise was concluded, all mining activities would be placed on hold pending the outcome of the verification.

“I enjoin the security apparatus, the joint Taskforce on illegal mining, MIREMCO to ensure that the right thing is done to enhance the well-being of the people and increase the Internally Generated Revenue.

The governor warned that his administration would not tolerate any illegality, saying, “It is my administration’s prerogative to protect lives and property of the people.”

He further charged the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps not to relent in its efforts to combat crimes and criminalities as it concerns the state’s rich mineral resources.

He said, “Your efforts henceforth should be to ensure modest contributions towards the actualisation of a better Benue that works not only for the people of the State but for the overall development of our country, Nigeria.

“As you are aware, the challenges of development and transforming a State like Benue are daunting, especially at this time when resources available to constituted authorities for development purposes are dwindling amidst the ever-growing dependence and demand for these scarce resources.

“What is required at a time such as this is a resourceful and visionary leadership committed to leveraging abundant talents coupled with managing the limited resources to reposition and transform the lives and livelihoods of the people. It is the hallmark of my administration’s blueprint and underpins our seven-point agenda.

“Without disrupting the existing structures, I am genuinely committed to the transformation of Benue State, harnessing the abundance of untapped natural resources.”

16 governors back state police, submit reports to FG

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16 governors back state police, submit reports to FG

Sixteen state governors have submitted reports expressing their supports for  establishing state police to the National Economic Council.

They also recommended changes to the constitution to allow for the creation of state police.

The reports were amongst documentations received at the 140th NEC meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja on Thursday.

Special Adviser to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed Thursday titled, ‘NEC endorses take-off of $617M i-DICE programme across states.’

According to the statement, NEC is still awaiting reports from 20 states. It expressed confidence that others would support.

NEC was established by the provisions of section 153(1) and Paragraphs 18 & 19 of part I of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Its membership comprises the 36 state governors, the Governor of the Central Bank and other co-opted government officials.

Chaired by the Vice President, NEC meets monthly to execute its mandate of “advising the President concerning the economic affairs of the Federation, and in particular on measures necessary for the coordination of the economic planning efforts or economic programmes of the various Governments of the Federation.”

Disclosing discussions at Thursday’s NEC, the Vice-President’s spokesman, Nkwocha said, the “Secretary to NEC (Mr Nebeolisa Anako) made a presentation on submissions by states on the state policing initiative. Reports have been received by 16 states on the establishment of State police. 20 states have yet to send in report. All states across the country expressed their support for the establishment of state police for the following reasons.

“States made presentations in support of the creation of state police. States recommended changes in the constitution and the current policing structure to enable the operationalisation of the initiative.”

However, no details were given about the specific states. The Vice President’s spokesperson had affirmed that the total number would be presented at the next NEC meeting even as “the compilation is still going on”.

This comes weeks after the Federal and state governments, on February 16, 2024, resolved to develop modalities to create state police to tackle the country’s security crisis.

Abduction wave

The nation has been wracked by waves of abductions, attacks by suspected bandits and other violent crimes, reviving calls for the establishment of a multi-level policing system, including state police.

Bandits have in recent times  495 persons in Kaduna, Sokoto and Borno states.

On March 7, over 280 pupils and teachers of Government Secondary School and LEA primary School at Kuriga, Kaduna State, were kidnaped.

The terrorists reportedly invaded Kuriga in Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna, shooting at their targets before whisking away the pupils and teachers from both schools.

A day earlier, the United Nations confirmed the abduction of at least 200 internally displaced persons from their camp in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State.

The UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, in a statement said the abductees, including women, boys and girls, were captured while fetching firewood. Fall added that the terrorists released some older women and children below 10 years.

On March 9, bandits reportedly kidnapped no fewer than 15 Tsangaya students at Gidan Bakuso area of Gada Local Government Area in Sokoto State.

On March. 14, at least 17 Nigerian soldiers were killed while on a peace-keeping mission to douse clashes between Okuoma and Okoloba communities in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

On February 20, bandits kidnapped over 26 travellers along the Gusau-Sokoto highway. They were said to have blocked the road around Kwaren Kirya village under Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State and abducted travellers from a Toyota 18-seater bus and a Volkswagen golf vehicle.

At President Tinubu’s meeting with the governors last February, the Federal Government and states agreed to recruit a yet-to-be-disclosed number of forest rangers and invest in more training to “keep our forests and our borders safe,” said the Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, when he briefed State House Correspondents after a meeting between Tinubu and the 36 state governors.

“The Federal Government and the state governments are mulling the possibility of setting up state police,” said Idris, adding that “this is still going to be further discussed.”

He explained, “A lot of work must be done in that direction. But if our government and the state governments agree to the necessity of having state police, this is a significant shift.”

“Like I said, more work needs to be done in that direction. A lot of meetings will have to happen between the federal government and subnationals to see the modalities of achieving this,” Idris noted.

On February 20, 2024, a bill proposing the creation of state police successfully passed the second reading at the House of Representatives.

The legislation titled, ‘A bill for an Act to alter the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to provide for the establishment of State Police and related matters,’ was slated for a second reading before the end of this week.

Backed by 13 House members, the bill gained the majority’s favour in the Green Chamber, with many lawmakers arguing that the security challenges take preeminence over concerns about political victimisation by state governors.

Meanwhile, the Presidency has said although President Bola Tinubu has given his nod for the creation of state police outfits and forest guards, Governors would ultimately determine the success of both moves.

It also said it expects the re-opening of the Nigeria-Niger border to fight the illegal influx of arms roaming the Sahel from the conflict in Libya.

Speaking exclusively with our correspondent on the issue, a presidency official who did not want to be named said, “The President told the state governors to discuss it further at the state level. A committee was set up for that. We have not heard from the committee yet. Don’t also forget that simultaneously, the national assembly is considering inserting state policing in the constitution. So, there is a consensus around state policing.

“As for the forest guards, work is going on with it. There are existing forest guards in several states, but they are under the states’ ministries of agriculture. The goal now is to strengthen their capacity by arming them properly and recruiting more people.

“Still, it all falls in the hands of states to strengthen the forest guards. That is where we are now.”

Another Presidency official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the opening of the Nigeria-Niger border was part of efforts to stall the proliferation of the small arms and light weapons non-state actors use for their enterprise.

“What I know is this: some people have linked our security problems to the situation in Libya. The Libya conflict has led to the flow of arms to Nigeria. We share a long border with Niger. And many arms are flowing into the country.

“Our borders with our Sahelian neighbours are largely ungoverned. So, there are many arms in the hands of this bandit.

“We had to make peace with Niger because of this. It was an attempt to appease Niger. We share the same border. If we are not at peace with them, they may ignore the arms flowing in. Even the food shortage we are talking about, many goods come from Niger to Nigeria. We exacerbated things when we shut the border,” the official said.

In a similar development, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, in a communique its issued at the conclusion of its virtual meeting, and signed by its Chairman, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, dated Wednesday and made available to the press on Thursday, emphasised the importance of incorporating State policing as a crucial amendment in the ongoing 1999 Constitutional Amendment process to address a fundamental flaw in the national security framework.

The communique read in part “The Forum commiserated with the Governor of Delta State, H.E Sheriff Oborevwori, over the communal clash between Okuama in the Ughelli South Local Government Area and Okolaba in the Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, and which led to the death of many including 16 military personnel. While condemning the heinous act, members observed a minute of silence for the souls of the departed.

“Members reviewed the progress of the National Minimum Wage Committee and ongoing multi- stakeholder engagements towards agreeing on a fair minimum wage.

“Members urged the NMWC to consider the current realities, individual State peculiarities and consequential impact on the capacity of the government as well as private sector employers to pay. Members also emphasized the need for proposals to be data- driven and evidence-based.

“The Forum highlighted the need for State policing as a critical amendment in the ongoing 1999 Constitutional Amendment proceedings to correct a fundamental flaw in the national security architecture.”

The debate for creating state police in Nigeria primarily stems from the centralised nature of the Nigerian Police Force, which many security pundits perceive as inadequate for addressing the unique security challenges across the country’s diverse regions.

Proponents argue that the outfit would bring law enforcement closer to the communities they serve, enhance the effectiveness of policing, and allow for more localised control over security matters.

However, opponents fear that state police could lead to the abuse of power, particularly in states with strong political control, potentially exacerbating regional tensions and undermining national unity.

INEC chairman urges security agencies to ensure smooth Edo, Ondo gov polls

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INEC chairman urges security agencies to ensure smooth Edo, Ondo gov polls

Ahead of the forthcoming Edo and Ondo governorship elections, the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has urged security agencies to leverage on the success of the previous election in both states.

Yakubu stated this at a meeting of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security in Abuja on Friday.

The Edo governorship poll is scheduled to take place in September 21, 2024 and the Ondo governorship poll will be held on November 16, 2024.

Only 12 parties have uploaded the particulars of their candidates to INEC portal with only two days left to the deadline ahead of the Edo poll.

Seventeen out of 19 parties have indicated interest in participating in the Ondo governorship election.

The INEC chairman noted that in the last elections in both states, security agencies prepared themselves early enough which led to the smooth conduct of the elections.

He said, “It is important to start security preparations very early. In particular, the number of personnel and other assets to be deployed to strategic locations should be determined and mobilised early enough.

“It was this proactive approach that led to the successful conduct of the last governorship election in Edo State on 19th September 2020 and in Ondo State on 10th October 2020. There were no security incidents, materials were delivered promptly, logistics deployed smoothly, polling units opened on time, voters attended to efficiently and results collated and announced transparently.

“Let us replicate the successful conduct of the last governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States. In fact, working together, we should ensure that the 2024 governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states are an improvement on the success story of 2020.”

Yakubu stated that at the moment, Edo has 2,501,081 registered voters, 192 Registration Areas/Wards and 4,519 Polling Units while Ondo State has 1,991,344 registered voters, 203 Registration Areas/Wards and 3,933 Polling Units.

Yakubu added that the commission is remobilising to conclude the outstanding state constituencies elections disrupted by hoodlums in Enugu and Kano states.

“You may recall that two months ago, precisely on 23rd January 2024, we met to review the security arrangement for the bye-elections and court-ordered re-run elections in 48 Federal and State Constituencies across the country.

“Except for two state constituencies in Enugu and Kano states, the elections have been concluded and winners declared. We are remobilising to conclude the outstanding elections which were disrupted by hoodlums,” he said.

Labour pushes April date, govs warn against bloated demand

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Labour slashes demand to N500,000

As the National Minimum Wage Committee meets next week, organised Labour is insisting that the implementation of the new wage must start next month,  Okechukwu Nnodim, Gift Habib, and Abdulrahman Zakqriyau write

The Nigeria Labour Congress, on Thursday, said the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers would begin in April this year and that the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage would meet on March 27 and 28, 2024 to submit and deliberate on its zonal reports.

It was also gathered that the current N30,000 minimum wage expires this month, while the new one would take off from next month.

This came as state governors warned against unrealistic demands from Labour and urged the National Minimum Wage Committee to consider the capacities of states to pay the new minimum wage during the meeting on March 27 and 28, 2024.

But Labour insisted that the governors were unwilling to pay workers despite receiving bailouts, for instance, during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari,

They stressed that the payment of salaries was not charity, as workers work hard to earn their salaries.

Speaking with one of our correspondents on the March 27 and 28 meeting, the National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, said, “The zonal committees are submitting the reports of the public hearings on March 27, 2024.

“You know that after the public hearings, all that we have are the several zonal reports, so we will now bring them together to work on them before reaching agreements.”

He explained that the zonal committees would submit their reports to the Minimum Wage Committee “when we reconvene on March 27 and 28 with the reports from our various zones.

“From there we can now look at the various reports, deliberate on them, and do further consultations.”

Asked whether the implementation of the new minimum wage would start on April 20 as speculated in some quarters, Ajaero replied, “They don’t pay salaries on the 20th. The effective date for implementation is April. So if we finish (deliberations), they pay, but if we don’t finish, then they will pay arrears for that month.”

The Federal Government in January this year announced its plan to implement a new minimum wage to reflect the current economic realities.

The current national minimum wage is N30,000, which the labour unions have argued that it is no longer realistic, given the galloping inflation in Nigeria.

President Bola Tinubu, in his New Year broadcast, said his administration was committed to implementing a new minimum wage to give Nigerian workers an improved welfare.

The government subsequently set up a tripartite committee on January 30, 2024, to determine a new minimum wage.

The 37-man committee is chaired by the former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Goni Aji.

The committee had the terms of reference to ‘consult all stakeholders on the issue of national minimum wage and recommend a realistic and practical national minimum wage to the government.’

In furtherance of the assignment, a zonal public hearing was held simultaneously on March 7, 2024 in Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, and Abuja.

The NLC and the TUC in different states proposed various figures as a living wage, referencing the current economic crunch and the high costs of living.

In their different proposals on the minimum wage, the NLC asked the South-West states to pay N794,000 as the TUC mentioned N447,000.

At the North-Central zone hearing in Abuja, the workers demanded N709,000 as the new national minimum wage, while at the South-South, N850,000 minimum wage was demanded.

In the North-West, N485,000 was proposed, while the South-East stakeholders demanded N540,000 minimum wage.

When approached on Thursday to provide updates on the tripartite committee’s activities, another official with the NLC, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of authority to speak on the matter, confirmed the position of the NLC president.

The source said, “There will be a meeting of the National Minimum Wage Committee on the 27th and 28th of this month inside the Villa and we expect that those reports will be submitted and acted upon. Other discussions will be furthered during the meetings and we hope that issues around the figures will receive greater attention.

“The implementation of the new minimum wage can only commence after it has been passed into law and we expect that the entire process which includes passage into law by the National Assembly would have been completed, at least by April 19, which is the day the existing new minimum wage would have expired. So that the new minimum wage will take off by the next day, being 20th of April, 2024.”

Recall that on December 1, 2023, The According exclusively reported that the Federal Government stated that a new minimum wage regime would come into effect on April 1, 2024.

The report stated that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed, disclosed this in an interview with The According in Abuja, and said the current N30,000 minimum wage would expire at the end of March 2024.

However, Labour unions argued that based on the country’s labour law, the minimum wage should be reviewed every five years.

Govs urge wage committee

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum has urged the National Minimum Wage Committee to take into account present circumstances, unique characteristics of individual states, and the resulting effects on both government and private sector employers’ ability to pay when determining the wage amount.

The Federal Government launched the tripartite committee in January to deliberate on the national minimum wage. Vice President Kashim Shettima inaugurated the 37-member panel at the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja.

Comprising representatives from federal and state governments, the private sector, and organized labor, the committee’s mandate is to propose a revised national minimum wage for the nation.

Following consultations nationwide, workers have requested varying minimum wage rates across different geopolitical zones. As a result, the Federal Government Minimum Wage Panel has initiated the compilation of reports from public hearings conducted in various zones.

Reacting to this on Thursday, the NGF, in a communiqué issued at the conclusion of its virtual meeting, and signed by its Chairman, Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, emphasised the importance of incorporating state policing as a crucial amendment in the ongoing 1999 Constitutional Amendment process to address a fundamental flaw in the national security framework.

The communiqué read in part, “The forum commiserated with the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, over the communal clash between Okuama in the Ughelli South Local Government Area and Okolaba in the Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, and which led to the death of many including 16 military personnel.

“While condemning the heinous act, members observed a minute of silence for the souls of the departed. Members reviewed the progress of the National Minimum Wage Committee and ongoing multi-stakeholder engagements towards agreeing on a fair minimum wage.

“Members urged the NMWC to consider the current realities, individual state peculiarities, and consequential impact on the capacity of the government as well as private sector employers to pay. Members also emphasised the need for proposals to be data-driven and evidence-based.

“The forum highlighted the need for state policing as a critical amendment in the ongoing 1999 Constitutional Amendment proceedings to correct a fundamental flaw in the national security architecture.”

The forum reviewed states’ advancement in implementing business-friendly reforms, such as enhancing land administration, fostering Public Private Partnerships, promoting investments, improving infrastructure, and refining regulatory environments through the World Bank’s State Action on Business Enabling Reforms Programme for Results.

It stated “Members discussed the growing concern raised by the United States Embassy over illegal and fraudulent inter-country adoption of Nigerian children by US citizens including systemic fraud and corruption, child-buying, the imprisonment of pregnant women, and unreliable or non-existent documentation.

“Members pledged to engage the relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of government in a bid to address the situation.”

Govs unwilling to pay

Meanwhile, the NLC official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the issue, stated that governors were unwilling to pay workers’ salaries.

The source said, “The ability to pay has always been a factor in negotiating past minimum wage and will still be a factor in the current negotiation. We are talking of a wage that will be able to allow the workers to exist as humans and not as animals.

“This is because the survival of the worker is more important than any other factor, and any wage that would not allow the worker to survive is a starvation wage – a wage unto the death. That is why we insist on a living wage, which is also what the President promised Nigerian workers during his inaugural speech.”

He advised that governors and employers must be willing to pay the new wage to cushion the effects of the economic hardship on Nigerians.

“Governors and employers must be able to match the President and must exercise the willingness to pay decent wages to workers. It is not charity to pay salaries because workers’ pay is earned income and not handouts.

“We emphasise ‘willingness’ because we remember that the problem with workers’ salaries in Nigeria is not capacity to pay but the willingness to pay. We must remember that the former President doled out funds to state governors to pay salaries to workers but they ended up not paying after receiving the funds.

“It therefore tells you that the need is for those in government to demonstrate willingness, realising that workers are human beings like themselves who ought to meet their basic needs to themselves, families, and the society,” the NLC official stated.

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