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Nigeria’s corruption problem runs deep

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Nigeria’s corruption problem runs deep

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu’s remarks that Qatari investors should report Nigerian officials who solicit bribes from them while doing business in the country to him buttresses the deep-seated corruption afflicting one of Africa’s largest economies. On the final leg of his recent two-day state visit to Qatar, the President said he would grant investors direct access to him to report any official who asked for a bribe. It takes courage for the President to make such an open admission of the sleaze in his country before a global audience. To reap the benefits of his avowal, Tinubu must lead from the front, cleansing the rot from within by his actions and disposition.

Since becoming President, one of Tinubu’s pet projects is to reignite the inflow of foreign direct investment into Nigeria, partly constricted by corruption. At minus $198 million, FDI inflows into Nigeria entered negative territories in 2022, compared to $3.31 billion in 2021, per Statista.

With a private sector background, Tinubu says he will reverse the trend by fighting corruption. In Doha, he said, “I am here to give you the assurance that reforms are going on; forget about whatever you heard in the past. Do not offer a bribe to any of our people…. Whatever the obstacle or problem that some of you might have experienced; it is in the past because there is no obstacle in the future. And I am assuring you, it is free entry and free exit.”

Truly, Nigeria’s past was littered with corruption, which has had a toxic impact on the country’s ease-of-doing business ranking. Out of 180 countries, Nigeria ranked 145 in the Transparency International 2023 Corruption Perception Index with 25 points over 100. This is extremely poor. It is below the sub-Saharan average of 33 points and the global average of 48.4 points.

In that past, the Society for Forensic Accounting and Fraud Prevention calculated Nigeria’s annual losses to corruption at N2.5 trillion in 2020. The Anti-Corruption Agencies of Nigeria said in 2022 that financial crimes cost Nigeria nearly $18 billion annually. The immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari, said Nigeria lost $150 billion to stealing in the oil industry in the 10 years to 2015.

Although some citizens have condemned Tinubu for washing Nigeria’s dirty linen in public, Nigeria has a corruption problem. At an anti-corruption summit in London in 2016, the then British Prime Minister, David Cameron, was overheard telling the late Queen Elizabeth II: “We’ve got some leaders of some fantastically corrupt countries coming to Britain… Nigeria and Afghanistan, possibly the two most corrupt countries in the world.” There is no worse international odium than this.

Under Buhari, two former governors were jailed for corruption. Inexplicably, Buhari pardoned them. That government withdrew the case of a third former governor on trial for stealing after he visited the Aso Rock Villa during contest for the Senate Presidency in 2019.

In what Buhari’s deputy, Yemi Osinbajo, described as “grand corruption,” connected officials looted cash from the Central Bank of Nigeria vaults pre-Buhari era. The trial of Sambo Dasuki, President Goodluck Jonathan’s National Security Adviser, and top officials over the alleged theft of $2.1 billion arms fund is in limbo.

Already, Tinubu’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, is on suspension for alleged graft. Her immediate predecessor is also under investigation for a similar offence.

The police, security agencies, judiciary, and ministries, departments and agencies are not left out of accusations of graft.

The President owes Nigeria a debt of rectitude. To make his tenure count, he must punish any whiff of corruption around him. He should adopt the strategy of modern Singapore leader, Lee Kuan Yew, who started the cleansing of the Asian country from his own inner circle.

Residents seek Uzodimma’s intervention in Umuguma-World Bank road

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Residents seek Uzodimma’s intervention in Umuguma-World Bank road

Worried residents of World Bank/Umuguma, Owerri, have cried out to the governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, urging him to use his powers to compel the contractor handling the World Bank-Umuguma road construction to complete the project on time.

Speaking to South-East According, the residents maintained that the call on the governor to wade into the issue of the abandonment of the project by the contractor became imperative and urgent in view of the imminence of another rainy season and subsequent hardship and suffering they would face occasioned by the road, when the rain starts.

They opined that road construction was usually a dry season project, which meant that the contractor handling the road was supposed to be very much on ground now, working to deliver the road ahead of the rainy season.

Lamenting that what they were witnessing was the opposite of that ideal situation, the residents further disclosed that an in-depth investigation they carried out revealed that it was the contractor handling the project, said to be from Okigwe geo-political zone of the state, who was responsible for the unfortunate situation, having been fully paid by the Uzodimma administration.

They disclosed that it was the shocking discovery that propelled them into speaking out and calling on Uzodimma to intervene and use his executive powers and authority to ensure that not only did the contractor quietly goes back to site, but he also completes the road before the 2024 rainy season sets in fully.

They noted that if Uzodimma didn’t act quickly or fail to order the erring contractor to return to work immediately, it would mean pushing residents of the area to a fate worse than that of refugees.

They said, “This is because what we would suffer this year on the road would be far worse than what refugees experience in refugee camps.”

They however, expressed the hope that Uzodimma would never allow them to be subjected to that type of untold hardship.

Abia owns equity in Aba power plant – Geometric management

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Abia owns equity in Aba power plant – Geometric management

Management of Geometric Power Plant, Aba, Abia State, has cleared the air over the controversy surrounding Abia State government’s alleged five per cent equity stake in the project.

Spokesman of Aba Power Limited, Mr Chijioke Ogbodo, in a statement, said the Abia State government has “three and a half per cent equity” in the $800 million power plant.

Ogbodo spoke against the background of the controversy between  aides of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, and the incumbent Governor, Alex Otti, over the actual equity stake of the state government in the project, contradicting their earlier statement of “no equity for Abia State government” in the plant.

Recall that the immediate past Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, had claimed in a statement that Ikpeazu’s administration invested five per cent equity in the project.

Governor Otti’s Media Adviser, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, had said that the incumbent governor has no evidence before him to authenticate the claims.

He had said, “At this point, we do not have any document, any information. Of course the former government did not submit any document to us upon which we would base whatever comment we are going to make. So, as long as we do not have any document, what it implies is that to the best of our knowledge, such does not exist.

“We have heard from the spokespersons of the former government, who claimed that there was an agreement. Of course, we have been told that the state invested $5 million in Geometric, which gave the state five per cent equity in the project; now from what I read and I believe others read a few days ago, the former Commissioner for Information still repeated the same claim, but this time around, they claimed that the whole money was not paid, that certain amount of money was paid; and I think that formed the basis for the Chairman of Geometric to have said what he said a few days ago, because if there was an agreement or may be a verbal agreement that a certain amount of money would be invested and which will give you the platform to have the said equity and you did not fulfill your own side of the agreement, it would be assumed that it never happened.

“As a government, we will actually be happy to see that something was invested, that we are inheriting something from these people; that we have a stake; but I am saying there is no document to prove it. And if you started a process with these people and you refuse to keep your own side of the bargain, you have given such people the opportunity to say nothing exists, you do not have any stake. So, that is the situation. We wouldn’t want anybody to say that we are trying to dismiss whatever claims the former government may be making, but we are saying we would need to have evidence.”

CBN printing of N22tn under Buhari fueled inflation –Edun

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CBN printing of N22tn under Buhari fueled inflation –Edun

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy, Wale Edun, has said the N22.7tn printed by the Central Bank of Nigeria through Ways and Means overdraft for the Federal Government from 2015 to 2023, under former President  Muhammadu Buhari, threw the country into the current inflation.

 Edun, who made the lamentation on Wednesday during an interface with the Senate Committee on Finance, said during the period, the printing of naira in trillions was carried out without any corresponding productive activities.

According to him, the consequence of the eight years of printing money without productivity is the high inflation confronting the country now.

The Senate had two weeks ago resolved to probe the N30tn Ways and Means overdraft obtained and spent by the Buhari administration.

It further stated that the alleged reckless spending of the overdraft collected from the CBN under  Godwin Emefiele largely accounted for the food and security crises facing the country.

The Red Chamber then resolved to set up an Ad -hoc committee, to investigate the overdraft  because the details of the spending  were deliberately not made available to the National Assembly.

He said, “We talked about inflation, and you have helped to solve that. Where has it come from?

“It came from the eight years of just printing money not matched by productivity. It’s not like when you earn dollars and you free the naira alongside it, although there’s even a better way than that. But that’s still not as bad.

“It’s not as if the money is matched by productivity increase in output. It is not. And what happened was that for eight years, the weak were left to their own devices. It is the privileged few that took everything..”

He added, “You distinguished senators have helped. You have given us the mandate to raise N7tn, which we will do by sucking money from the market, using it to pay back the central bank and giving the government a balanced book. We are going to audit even the N22.7tn printed aimlessly.”

He, however, assured the committee members that various damage-mitigating economic policies being rolled out by the present government, would in no distant time, bring about great recoveries in terms of lower Inflation rate and improved GDP growth rate.

He specifically informed the committee members that rather than indulging in such money printing or seeking for avoidable loans, the President Bola Tinubu-led government is succeeding greatly in the area of revenue generation with over N13tn revenue generated from the non-oil sector in 2023,  adding that the trajectory is being improved upon in 2024.

He stated, “We should not be despondent. We have done the hard part. Mr. President, through the bold and courageous measures which are recognised around the world as being beyond the usual, what you would normally see.

“To so riskily and robustly change the things that are wrong. And it wasn’t just a set of measures. It’s not just lifting of subsidy here or margin of rates there. No. It is a strategic plan, the whole fiscal side, the government’s finances have been repaired.”

Edun further stated, “You, distinguished senators, have helped further to encourage and enroll the executive to further repair the finances, the fiscal situation of this country by endorsing and urging us to do something about the leakages in the import duty, waiver system. And we have explained to you what we will do. And even from your body language, I believe you feel that that is in the right direction.”

In his closing remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Sani Musa ( APC Niger East), said the interactive session would be a continuous exercise in knowing the short-term and long-term plans of the government on its way out of the precarious situation.

FG threatens to revoke DisCos licences

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FG threatens to revoke DisCos licences

The Federal Government, on Wednesday, declared that it would withdraw the operating licences of power distribution companies that were intentionally not supplying electricity to consumers across the country, leading to widespread blackouts in Nigeria.

It stated that despite efforts by the Federal Ministry of Power and electricity generating companies, some Discos were not distributing the power supplied to them by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, which had resulted in abysmal supply since this year.

Power supply across the country has been terrible since January 2024, as many towns and cities nationwide have been thrown into darkness for weeks due to the lack of electricity.

In a post on his official X handle on Wednesday, the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, lamented the poor supply of electricity across the country, stressing that this was despite efforts by the government in tackling the challenge.

He, however, pointed out that findings by his ministry revealed that some power distribution companies were willfully not distributing electricity to end users in their various franchise areas.

Adelabu said, “It is disheartening to witness the decline in power supply despite the concerted efforts to improve the situation. The ministry has been exerting pressure on the generating companies to enhance their performance, resulting in a recent increase in generation to over 4,000MW.

“Despite this progress, certain distribution companies are failing to adequately distribute the power supplied by TCN, while vandalism of power infrastructure exacerbates the problem in regions such as Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan.

“Moving forward, I am committed to holding all distribution companies accountable for their performance. Willful non-performance will not be tolerated, and severe consequences, including licence revocation, may be imposed.

“Additionally, I have instructed TCN to prioritise repair works on damaged transmission towers and power lines to improve supply in affected regions.”

Recall that The According exclusively reported on Monday that despite the widespread blackout and the worsening state of electricity supply in Nigeria, latest figures on daily load summary of power distribution companies indicated that the firms failed to distribute about 1,769.91 megawatts of electricity between February 1 and 14, 2024.

The report pointed out that data from TCN showed that though some of the power firms received excess electricity load allocation during the period, most of them failed to utilise all the quantum of energy allocated to them by TCN.

The report also quoted Adelabu as saying in an earlier statement that “findings revealed that some distribution companies were deliberately not taking up power supply from TCN while some power lines were also damaged by vandals in Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt and Ibadan regions.”

Nigeria has 11 power distribution companies and they include Abuja, Benin, Eko, Enugu, Ibadan, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt and Yola Discos.

The report, which gave details of the daily quantum of power rejected by the Discos, stated that on February 1, 2024, for instance, seven of the power distributors failed to utilise a total of 128.62MW of electricity, while four others including Benin, Ibadan, Port Harcourt and Yola took a cumulative excess load allocation of 61.91MW.

By taking excess load, it means the Disco’s actual energy consumption for that particular day was higher than the load allocated to it by the Transmission Company of Nigeria.

However, the actual consumption figures of most Discos are usually lower than their allocated load, leading to unutilised or rejected energy by the power distributors.

Meanwhile, in his Wednesday’s post on X, Adelabu reiterated that he had summoned some power distributors and TCN over the poor power supply situation in Nigeria.

The minister also noted that “during recent supervisory visits to power generating plants, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by the sector.”

He added, “Plans are underway to settle outstanding debts owed to power generation and gas supply companies, which will alleviate the financial strain and contribute to improved generation levels nationwide.

“I urge electricity consumers to remain patient as we work tirelessly to address these issues and provide better service to all Nigerians.”

Nigerians are, however, watching and hoping to see a positive change in the country’s power supply as promised by the minister.

Gas will solve Nigeria’s energy challenge, says Seplat

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Gas will solve Nigeria’s energy challenge, says Seplat

SEPLAT Energy Plc has said gas development is a clear solution to Nigeria’s immediate energy challenge and remains a longer-term transition fuel.

 The Director of New Energy at Seplat, Mr Effiong Okon, said this while delivering a speech during the Gas Stakeholders Conversation panel session at the just-concluded 2024 Nigeria International Energy Summit held in Abuja.

“Increasing the supply of reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy is Nigeria’s greatest challenge; but gas is the logical transition fuel, we need to realise this,” Okon said.

He linked gas development to power, liquefied natural gas export, compressed natural gas production, fertiliser production, liquefied petroleum gas production, building materials production, among others.

He added: “Today, we have acute housing and infrastructure shortage, but no commercially viable substitute for the production of building materials like cement, glass, steel; about 90,000 deaths are recorded per year due to biomass cooking; and rising population presents an urgent need to improve agricultural production. We can fund all of the above with gas.

“We can also reduce reliance on petrol, increase and decarbonise domestic transport fuel if we leverage on gas. Of course, these would in turn strengthen our focus on sustainability.”

Okon stressed that the Nigerian energy industry must focus on end-to-end solutions to unlock the full value of Nigeria’s gas, noting that exploration, production, gas processing, and delivery of gas to the last mile remained germane to maximising the dividends of the resource.

For a sustainable gas development programme in Nigeria, the Seplat new energy director emphasised the need for bankability and access to low-cost capital; the use of technology, the Internet of Things, and smart metering to reduce aggregate technical commercial and collection losses.

He suggested technology-enabled revenue delivery opportunities to aid fund collection.

At the NIES 2024, Seplat Energy won the award of the Gas Infrastructure Project of the Year, received by Okon on behalf of the company.

Edo PDP, APC, LP battle primary crises ahead of gov election

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Edo PDP, APC, LP battle primary crises ahead of gov election

With the party primaries for the September 21 Edo State governorship election concluded, ADEYINKA ADEDIPE writes on the chaos generated by the exercise which may take some time to clear up

The just concluded primary elections by the major political parties in Edo State to choose their candidates for the September 21 governorship election were chaotic, at some point dramatic, and confusing. While some aspirants desired to win at all costs, the seeming bias to skew the election in favour of certain aspirants by party executives, brought tension into the race.

From the Peoples Democratic Party, and the All Progressives Congress to the Labour Party, the story was the same as disaffection among party executives, aspirants, and party members became the order of the day.

Events leading up to the primaries of all the political parties gave a hint of what to expect as party executives fell apart, aspirants bickered while party members and aspirants did not trust the executive to organise free, fair, and credible elections that would produce worthy candidates.

For the ruling PDP, the choice of who would become the party candidate damaged the cordial relationship between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu as both no longer see eye to eye. Shaibu has been kicked out of the Government House while the weekly devotion he organised at the chapel within the Government House no longer holds there as the chapel is undergoing renovation. He has since taken the prayer session to his new office.

Before their relationship hit the rock mid-last year, the bond between Obaseki and Shaibu could have passed them as brothers from the same parents. Shaibu referred to Obaseki as his elder brother and they were always together at different fora grinning from ear to ear. Such was the trust Obaseki had in Shaibu that he put his deputy in charge of the local government and sports in the state. Shaibu handled both jobs diligently with sports getting the needed development and the revenue generated from the state’s local government areas increasing over time.

They also battled a former governor of the state, Adam Oshiomhole, who was instrumental in their ascension to the “throne”. They felt that Oshiomhole was becoming overbearing and they needed to check his excess, which they did with all they had. In fact, Shaibu who is from the same area as Oshiomhole was more vocal, slamming Oshiomhole’s desire to play the godfather, which he fought against during his tenure as the governor.

With all these, it was shocking when Obaseki and Shaibu fell apart due to the ambition of the latter to succeed his boss as the governor of the state. The governor, on the other hand, preferred and backed a candidate from Edo Central and former Chairman of Sterling Bank, Asue Ighodalo, who eventually became the party’s candidate.

But before Ighodalo was declared the winner at the primaries conducted on February 22, at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, supporters of Shaibu held a parallel election and declared the deputy governor the candidate of the party. Shaibu’s aggrieved supporters said they were not accredited to take part in the congress at the stadium. Ighodalo got his certificate of return at the party secretariat in Abuja but this may not put an end to the crisis as Shaibu has vowed to pursue the mandate given to him by the “authentic party delegates”.

Speaking to the protesting delegates, Shaibu said, “I appeal to all of you to be peaceful. I don’t want anybody to be injured, I don’t want anybody molested and I am happy with the way you have conducted yourselves peacefully and have come to report to me that you were not allowed to be accredited but I want to tell you that no one man can determine the destiny of a people and by the grace of God they cannot disenfranchise you people.

“The law is clear that you people are the authentic delegates. Now that they have pushed you away, they want to go and replace you but I assure you that your vote must count; they cannot change and replace your names. I assure you that I will take your protest to the committee that is coming but you must remain peaceful in everything you are doing.”

Later that day Shaibu told journalists, “I saw the crowd outside and I asked who they were and they said they were delegates. I said they should be directed to the venue of the accreditation but they said they were protesting because they have been sent away from the venue of accreditation despite winning their delegate election at the ward level.”

However, the Edo State PDP chairman, Tony Aziegbemi told The According that what Shaibu did with his supporters was senseless and not worthy of his comment. He said, “What he did with his supporters was senseless. I don’t really know what he thought he was doing. Such action is not worthy of my comment,” he added.

Before the primary, the other PDP aspirants had expressed worry over the way the ward and national delegate congresses were done by the state exco in conjunction with the party’s National Working Committee to allegedly favour Ighodalo. And when he emerged with 577 votes with Shaibu and Anslem Ojezua getting a vote apiece at the primary held at the stadium, their initial fears may not have been misplaced.

While Omosede Igbinedion stepped down for Ighodalo on election day another top aspirant, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama who withdrew from the race blamed irregularities and corrupt process by the party’s NWC for his decision.

The APC congress turned out to be the most cumbersome and chaotic as it took some kind of supernatural power to prevent the loss of lives. The initial election took place on February 17 across the 192 wards in the state. By mid-day, results had started coming into the Lushville Hotel and Suite designated for the collation and announcement of results. The returning officer, Stanley Ugboaja had announced results from eight local government areas with Senator Monday Okpebholo in the lead and House of Representatives’ member, Dennis Idahosa in second.

Just as Ugboaja called for recess, suspected political thugs descended on the venue disrupting the live broadcast while journalists covering the event were attacked before they could gather their equipment and work tools together. Several journalists, including an NTA cameraman and a Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria reporter, were manhandled and their equipment destroyed. The presence of the state Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adeboye did not deter the hoodlums from engaging in the free-for-all.

More confusion as the Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the primary, Governor Hope Uzodinma announced Dennis Idahosa as the winner at the Protea Hotel, while returning officer, Stanley Ugboaja declared Monday Okpebholo as the winner after concluding the announcement at the residence of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who had withdrawn from the race on February 16. Also, Ojo Babatunde, who claimed to be representing the returning officers in all the local government areas declared Anamero Dekeri as the winner of the election.

The chaos degenerated on February 19, as the youth leader of the party, Tony Adun, popularly called Kabaka, led youth and women to take over the party secretariat. The crowd forced their way into the offices and brought out the furniture, bags of rice and other types of items, vowing to stay on the premises for seven days or till the exco was dissolved.

Adun said that they were protesting against the conduct of the officials at the primary election of the party which threw up three winners, saying it was obvious the exco worked against the party.

Adun said, “It is clear that the party executive in the state is no longer working in the interest of the party so it is time for them to leave. We are here in solidarity with Hon. Dennis Idahosa who the party has nominated. We call on party members to back Idahosa’s candidacy in the governorship election in September.

“As you can see, we are here in large numbers, youths, and women, to show our displeasure over the way the exco handled the election.

“I want to send a message to the National Working Committee that since the state Working Committee can disobey what the NWC wanted, they need to be suspended from the party and if that is not done, nobody will enter this secretariat again,” he added.

To ensure calm returns to the party in the state, the NWC ordered a rerun on February 22, with the Governor of Cross Rivers State as chairman of the Electoral Committee. The rerun produced Okpebholo as the party flagbearer. Idahosa came second. Idahosa is contesting the result and there have been protests in Abuja and Benin in support of Idahosa. In a swift U-turn, the youth leader of the party apologised for the disruption that took place on February 17 and expressed his support for Okpebholo.

The Labour Party primaries seem to be the most chaotic and full of drama with four people laying claim to the party governorship ticket.

While the Julius Abure faction was declaring a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata, as its governorship candidate on February 23 after he defeated the like of Kenneth Imasuagbon and Sergius Ogun to the ticket, the Lamidi Apapa faction in a letter dated February 22 addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission submitted the names of Anderson Asemota and Monday Mawah as the LP governorship candidate and running mate.

However, in another twist on February 25, a United Kingdom-based legal practitioner, Hilton Idahosa announced himself as the party’s third factional candidate, stating that the election of February 22 under the Apapa faction was postponed till February 24, which he won.

Also, Imasuangbon who lost the Julius Abure-led faction ticket to Akpata on Tuesday accused the leadership of the party of skewing the primary in favour of Akpata. He also called on the leaders of the party to declare him the governorship candidate of the party.

He said: “I want to first of all use this opportunity to thank my well-wishers and staff of Pacesetters Schools for standing by me during my political sojourn. I also extend my thanks to the Edo people and my supporters across the state.

“My interest in politics is to change the narratives of Edo and improve the lives of the people. I want an Edo where jobs would be available, where food would be cheap, where our teeming unemployed youth would be meaningfully engaged but the godfathers refused democracy to strive in Edo.

“After 21 years in politics, I do not think it is proper or politically right for political parties to skew party primary to favour a particular candidate. I hope, one day, democracy will be allowed to thrive in Edo.

“I have worked hard in the last 21 years to impact on lives of our suffering Edo people with my hard-earned personal resources, unfortunately, anti-democratic forces will not allow the free will of the people to prevail. I am issuing a one-week ultimatum to the leadership of LP to reverse the recognition of Akpata as our party’s candidate. I should be declared winner,” he added.

FG tackles manufacturer over delayed 2,000 tractors

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FG tackles manufacturer over delayed 2,000 tractors

The Federal Government, on Wednesday, expressed worry over the delay in the delivery of 2,000 tractors to improve mechanised farming for farmers in Nigeria.

It stated that 500 of the tractors ought to have arrived the country by now and wondered why the firm that is in charge has not been able to deliver.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, who disclosed this in Abuja while speaking with John Deere, the agricultural equipment manufacturer in charge, stated that by now the first set of the tractors ought to be delivered to meet up with promises made to Nigerian farmers.

Recall that the Federal Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with John Deere in November 2023 for the supply of 2,000 tractors annually for the next five years.

Kyari told the team from John Deere that Nigerians had been assured of the delivery of 2000 tractors in 2024, “and by now we should have 500 tractors on ground.”

He said, “The only concern that I have and we have here at the ministry is that there seems to be a slow pace in some of the concepts that we have lined out.

“But here we are, we are a bit stuck in the mud and we want to run away from all the problems that we

have envisaged in the past. And if there are any naughty areas that we need to look at, we need to do it assiduously.”

Kyari noted that there should be quick action on the delivery of the tractors as the wet season is fast approaching, adding that there is the need to quickly see the effect of the tractors for the benefit of farmers and the country at large.

He explained that to increase agricultural yields, there was the need for tractors, stressing that this was very adequate for ramping up the production of food.

“We are challenged as a nation and the land is shrinking, hence we need to increase yield. We are under-tractorised right now as a country. And I think any journey begins with a step. So if you have taken this step, you should commend the Federal Government for taking this step.

“And you’ll find out what I’m talking about. So I think this is the right step in the right direction. The Federal Government, under the

leadership of President Bola Tinubu  has decided that this time this should work.”

The Managing Director, John Deere, Stephan Gouws, told the minister that access to finance had been the challenge confronting his company as regards the supply of the tractors.

“The aim is for mechanisation for higher yields. So the challenge that we see is that the yields are there but its sub optimal. So we have to increase those yields with the land we have. However, access to finance is the biggest stumbling block for us.”

Gouws noted that the goal of his firm was to increase yield and profitability using technology and training and expressed optimism in delivering the tractors once the last couple of hurdles were crossed.

Independent marketers to commence CNG sales – Official

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Independent marketers to commence CNG sales – Official

Members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria have disclosed they are in talks with the Federal Government to commence the sale of compressed natural gas in their filling stations.

The National Vice President of IPMAN, Hammed Fashola, in an exclusive interview with The According on Tuesday, said marketers’ existing filling stations would serve as CNG refilling points to hasten the adoption of gas in the country.

With the removal of fuel subsidy, the Federal Government have been making efforts to invest in gas as a cheaper and cleaner alternative to petrol and diesel.

However, the unavailability of CNG stations has been a major hindrance to the Tinubu gas initiative.

He noted that independent marketers had met with the Federal Government to fine-tune ways of making the product available across Nigeria.

IPMAN boasts over 80 per cent of the filling stations across the nooks and crannies of the country.

He stated that many independent marketers already sell liquefied petroleum gas, also known as cooking gas, in their stations, saying CNG was the next target.

He said trucks would be converted from diesel to CNG-powered engines, while kits would also be available.

“Most of our members are into LPG already. You see scales in their stations for the sale of domestic gas.

“Now we are looking at CNG. We are talking with the government; we want to partner with the government on that. It is very easy for us. We already have the facility; we have the filling stations. It is just to add up, and then we are good to go.

“And if we have CNG, it is an alternative to petrol and diesel. It will be cheaper, and people will have an option. That is why we said let’s go for CNG,” he stated.

According to Fashola, IPMAN members want to be selling CNG and kits as they currently sell petrol at their filling stations.

“When you enter a filling station, you can go for whatever you want, either petrol or CNG,” he averred.

On the high cost of transporting the product and the need for pipelines, he said seminars were being held on how to make the distribution process seamless.

“We had a seminar with a consultant, who explained to us that the process would be easier. They want to break it down just like we have our petrol depots. There will be smaller depots to service various CNG stations.

“Though we have not finalised it, the way they explained it, it is doable and possible. And we will be getting the product directly from the source. It won’t be like petrol where we rely on third parties to get fuel,” he explained.

Labour slashes demand to N500,000

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Labour slashes demand to N500,000

There are strong indications that organised Labour will push for N500,000 as the minimum wage as the zonal public hearing on the new wage structure begins on Thursday (today) in Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, and Abuja.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, in an interview on Arise TV on February 11, had stated that if the ongoing inflation continued, organised labour might push for a new minimum wage of up to N1m for Nigerian workers.

However, a top official of the NLC, who confided in The According on Thursday said based on proposals submitted by state chapters to the congress’ headquarters, the organised Labour might push for N500,000 at today’s meeting.

The public hearing on the new minimum wage, which will be held simultaneously in all six geopolitical zones, is expected to receive inputs from organised Labour, state governors, ministers, civil society groups, and the organised private sector on a new minimum wage reflective of the current economic realities and the workers’ aspirations.

The According learnt that the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, will chair the meeting in the North-East taking place in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, will preside over the South-West hearing taking place in Lagos.

President Bola Tinubu through his deputy, Kashim Shettima, on January 30, 2024, inaugurated a 37-member panel on the new minimum wage at the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja.

With its membership cutting across the federal and state governments, the private sector, and labour, the panel is to recommend a new national minimum wage for the country on or before April 1 following the expiration of the current N30,000 minimum wage as provided by the law.

Though the tripartite committee met a few times in Abuja, it has yet to deliberate on any figure for the minimum wage.

However, the President of the NLC, Ajaero, in an interview on Arise TV on February 11, stated that if the ongoing inflation continued unabated, organised labour might push for a new minimum wage of up to N1m for Nigerian workers.

Ajaero said the demand from organised labour would be influenced by the cost of living which has been increasing since President Bola Tinubu assumed office, notably due to the removal of the fuel subsidy and other policies.

He said, “This N1m may be relevant if the value of the naira continues to depreciate; if the inflation continues unchecked because the demand of labour is equally dependent on what is happening in the society.

“You will remember that by the time we were contemplating N200,000 (as minimum wage), the exchange rate was about N800/N900 (to a dollar). As we talk today, the exchange rate is about N1,400 or even more.

“Those are the issues that determine the demand and it is equally affecting the cost of living. And we have always said that our demand will be based on the cost of living index. You will agree with me today that even a bag of rice is going for about N60,000/N70,000 or more.

“A bag of locally produced corn is about N56,000 or more. Foodstuff is getting out of reach, now are we going to get a minimum wage that will not be enough for transportation even for one week?’’

States’ proposals

However, speaking in an interview with The According on Wednesday, a top official of the NLC said organised labour would insist on any amount slightly above N500,000 as minimum wage based on the analysis of proposals got from state chapters.

The official, who spoke in confidence because he was not authorised to speak to the media on the negotiation, explained that the cost-of-living analysis carried out in states was N900,000.

“In reality, what they gave us from the states when we deflate inconsistencies is over N500,000, as the cost of living of an average family of six to meet their basic needs, for an average family to survive.

“But we know that when NLC deflates it taking into consideration some of the things we think are padded, it will come to around slightly over N500,000,” he said.

He added, “ The NLC has done some scientific research on these parameters and the N30,000 that was paid. If you divide N30,000 in the last five years considering what that amount can purchase now, and how much a worker is to earn to buy the same thing, that’s nearly about N300,000 for that same amount.”

He, however, said the NLC’s demand would depend on the proposals submitted to its headquarters from state and local government chapters.

“So, the reality is that the NLC will not ask for a national minimum wage that would be less than what the people from all the local governments in Nigeria have given us.’’

The official confirmed that Ajaero would preside over the hearing in Yola, the capital of Adamawa state.

He said, “There will be a zonal public hearing on the National minimum wage in all six geopolitical zones simultaneously on Thursday (today).

“The president of Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, is the chairman of the meeting in the North-East taking place in Yola; there is also a meeting in the South-West, South-East, and South-South in Port Harcourt, Lagos, Abuja, and other states.’’

According to him, the NLC state chapters do not negotiate the national minimum wage because they are not members of the tripartite committee.

Exclusive list

As the zonal public hearing takes off today, the state chapters of the Trade Union Congress in Ogun and Katsina have called for the minimum wage to be retained on the exclusive legislative list.

The Ogun State TUC Chairman, Akeem Lasisi, declined to speak on the amount being demanded as the minimum wage by his union, noting that the union’s national leadership would provide the direction in that regard.

However, he insisted that the government comply with the International Labour Organisation convention on labour remuneration.

Lasisi stated, “The national will give us the agreed amount but we are demanding that the clause in the last minimum wage that says ‘minimum wage affects only employers of labour with 50 workers should be removed.’

“It should affect everybody. Nigeria must comply with Convention 131 of the International Labour Organisation

“We are also demanding the National Minimum Wage be retained in the exclusive legislative list because a country must have a national minimum wage.

“I am submitting a memorandum at the public hearing. I want the national (TUC leadership) to give us the directive before I release it.’’

The Katsina State NLC Chairman, Husseini Hamisu, said the council would present at the public hearing.

“We have been invited and we shall be there. I will not be there but I am sending my representative I’m on my way to Abuja now for another official assignment,” he disclosed.

The state TUC chairman, Muntari Lawal, said he would make a presentation about “a befitting minimum wage for workers.”

He added, “We shall also suggest that the issue of national minimum wage be on the exclusive list.”

Speaking in the same tone, the Kwara State NLC Chairman, Muritala Olayinka, insisted that workers’ wage should be retained in the exclusive list and be determined by the Federal Government.

He disclosed that the North-Central meeting would be held in Abuja.

He argued, “There should be no difference in the salary paid to the federal and state workers because they buy food and other goods from the same market but allowances should vary from state to state.’’

The labour leader suggested that state governors ought to attend the zonal meeting of the minimum wage committee.

Warning against any delayed implementation of the envisaged new minimum wage, Olayinka stated, “We want the implementation of the minimum wage at the federal and the state levels to take off at the same time because we don’t want the state governments to complain that they don’t know what was discussed on the new minimum wage.’’

“We will also give the committee an amount of money that every category of workers would earn based on the economic reality in the country. The government should not tell us that there is no money when it comes to the turn of the workers.

“If the government has the funds to purchase vehicles of about N160m for each Senator and N130m for each member of the House of Representatives, it should not complain that there is no money when it comes to the turn of the workers,” Muritala cautioned.

Commenting on labour demand, the Sokoto State Commissioner for Information, Sambo Danchadi, said the state government had not decided whether the minimum wage should be moved to the concurrent list.

“If I have to give my personal opinion, I would have said move the minimum wage from the exclusive list to the concurrent list to allow governors of each state to determine the minimum wage of their workers.

“I’m sure if you look at it, the economy of this state cannot be compared to that of Lagos state or Rivers state. So, allowing every state to determine their wage will be a good thing,” he added.

For the Kano State Commissioner of Information, Baba Dantiye, the issue of whether the minimum wage should be moved from the exclusive list to the concurrent list has to be brought before the State Executive Council for deliberation.

“The issue has not come to the Executive Council for deliberation but as soon as a decision is taken certainly it will be made public,” Dantiye said.

The labour leaders in Kebbi, Bayelsa, Benue, Kano, Ekiti, Rivers and Delta, have also said they would be at the meeting to present their proposals.

The Kebbi state NLC Chairman, Murtala Usman, noted, “Yes, we have been contacted about the meeting. I am sure you know it is already segregated into zones and we in the North-West, ours is expected to take place in Kano.

“We will hold a meeting on who will present our demands at the meeting. I can assure you that we have gotten the invitation and already looking forward to the meeting,” he added.

The labour leaders in Benue said they would present their demands to the committee during its sitting today.

Chairmen of the state chapters of NLC and TUC, Terungwa Igbe and Gideon Akaa, spoke to The According in separate phone interviews.

But while the NLC proposed N300,000 minimum wage for workers, the TUC said N150,000 is a realistic demand.

“The meeting will be held in Abuja on Thursday; our demand as labour from Benue State is N300,000,” Igbe said.

On his part, the TUC chairman said, “We have forwarded our demands to our national headquarters in Abuja from Benue State; our demand is N150,000.

“We also demanded that the Federal Government should ensure that the exchange rate comes down and stabilize because if you demand N500,000 as minimum wage and the foreign exchange rate continues to rise, there is no sense in that.’’

Bayelsa TUC

The Bayelsa State TUC said its proposal to the minimum wage committee would not be different from the demands that the TUC representatives in the committee would make at the zonal meeting.

The state TUC chairman, Julius Laye, said, “We are invited. The zonal sitting will take place at Ibom Hall, IBB Way, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

“On the minimum wage, our people are still talking. They have not given us a final amount to demand. You know it’s a tripartite committee. So, for us, whatever our people who are also members of the committee table, is what we will support.”

Speaking with one of our correspondents, the Delta State TUC Chairman, Mathine Bolum said he would align with the demands made by the union’s national leadership.

His counterpart in the NLC, Goodluck Ofobruku, could not be reached for comment.

The TUC Chairman in Ekiti state, Sola Adigun, said that the labour centre in the states comprising the Southwest is strategizing for a common front.

Adigun said the TUC in the Southwest states were also making efforts to ensure that their positions at the meeting were not at variance with that of the national body of the labour union.

The TUC state chairman, however, assured that the labour body would not short-change its members in the bid to have a new national living wage

“By the grace of God, TUC Ekiti State under my leadership will be represented there to present our positions. However, like the governors are trying to synergise and come up with a common front, TUC in the Southwest wants to do likewise,” he stated.

 Additional reports by: Animasahun Salman, Tukur Muntari, Bankole Taiwo, John Charles, Olaide Oyelude, Daniels Igoni, Tunde Oyekola, Matthew Ochei, Abiodun Nejo, Tukur Muntari Animasahun Salman, Dennis Naku, Tunde Oyekola and Peter Dada

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