Programme: CITY TALKS WITH REUBEN ABATI

Time: 12:00pm

Guest: Dr. Mrs. Adetoun Emiola Department of Art & Social Sciences Education, University of Lagos.

Topic: "18-year age limit for NECO, WASSCE, varsities"

Date: 31st August, 2024                          

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/92877141732?pwd=VEJWb29OL2VVekZUTHRpdWYxK0xxZz09

Meeting ID: 928 7714 1732

Passcode: 600206

There are and will always be all kinds of children. They consist of those that are well brought up and those that are ill-bred. There will be good children and vagabonds will abound. There are deprived ones, evincing lack of parental responsibility and care.  A legion of them flooded the streets during the recent #EndBadGovernment protests which they seized as cover to break into shops and department stores, looting. There are on the other side of the divide a host born into indulgence in the name of love and chest-beating showmanship, but with attendant blighted future. It cannot be for nothing that the Scriptures admonish parents: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverb 22:6) Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible; King James Version (Proverb 22:6). And here following is an account I received during the week which is thought-provoking. It is a letter written to all parents. The writer starts with her experience observing child upbringing in the United Kingdom and the same discharge of parental responsibility in Nigeria. The account is better in her own words and it reads:

“Dear All—Let’s be real. I wish to start by adding the benefit of my time as a student and then resident in the UK. Living in Abuja now. The first thing that I discovered about UK-born White, English undergraduates was that all of them did holiday or weekend job to support themselves—including the children of millionaires amongst them. It is the norm there—regardless of how wealthy their parents are. And I soon discovered that virtually all other foreign students did the same—except status-conscious Nigerians.

“I also watched Richard Branson (owner of Virgin Airline) speaking on the Biography Channel. To my amazement, he said that his young children travel in economy class—even when the parents (he and his wife) are in upper class. Richard Branson is a billionaire in Pound sterling. A quick survey would show you that only children from Nigeria fly business or upper class to commence their studies in the UK. No other foreign students do this.” When the writer lived in the UK, and until recently, there was no aircraft attached to the office of the Prime Minister in the UK. “He travels on BA (British Airways, a commercial airliner). And the same goes for the Royals.” The Queen did not have an aircraft for her exclusive use.

“These practices simply become the culture which the next generation carries forward. Have you seen what Kate Middleton (the wife of Prince William) drives? VW Golf or something close to it. But there is one core difference between them and us (generally speaking), they (even the billionaires) work for their money, most of us steal ours.

“If we want our children to bring about the desired change we have been praying for on behalf of our dear country, then please, please let’s begin now and teach them to work hard so they can stand alone and most importantly be content and not having to ‘steal’ which seems to be the norm these days. We have Nigerian children who have never worked for five minutes in their lives insisting on flying ‘only’ first or business class and using the latest cars fully paid for by their ‘loving’ parents.

“I often get calls from anxious parents: ‘My son graduated two years ago and is still looking for a job, can you please assist!’ ‘Oh, really! So where exactly is ‘THIS CHILD?’ is my usual question. ‘Why are you the one making this call dad/mum?’ I am yet to get a satisfactory answer, but between you and I, chances are that the big boy is cruising around Abuja with a babe dressed to the nines, in his dad’s sparkling new SUV with enough ‘pocket money’ to put your salary to shame. It is not at all strange to hear a 28-year-old who has NEVER worked for a day in his or her life in Nigeria but ‘earns’ six figure ‘salary’ from parents for doing absolutely nothing. 

“I see them in my office once in a while, 26 years old with absolutely no skill to sell apart from a shiny CV, written by his dad’s secretary in the office. Of course, he has a driver at his beck and call and he is driven to the job interview. We have a fairly decent conversation and we get to the inevitable question—So, what salary are you looking to earn? Answer comes straight out—N250, 000. I ask if that is per month or per annum. ‘Of course, it is per annum.’ Oh, why do you think you should be earning that much on your first job?’  ‘Well, because my current pocket money is N200, 000. 00 a month and I feel any employer should be able to pay me more than my parents.”

“No wonder corruption continues to thrive. We have a society of young people who have been brought up to expect something for nothing, as if it were a birthright. Even though the examples I have given above from parents of considerable affluence, similar patterns can be observed from Abeokuta to Adamawa. Wake up mum! Wake up dad! This syndrome—‘my children will not suffer what I suffered’ is destroying your tomorrow. You are practically loving your child to death.

“I learnt the children of a former very senior public functionary with all the stolen (billions) monies in their custody, still go about with security escort as wrecks. They are on drugs; several times because of the drug, they collapse in places. The escort will quickly pack them and off they go. What a life! No one wants to marry them. 

“Henry Ford said, ‘Hard work does not kill.’ We are getting everything wrong in Nigeria now, including family setting. It is time to prepare your children for tomorrow, the way the world is going, only those that are rugged, hardworking and smart working will survive. How will your ward fare?”

All that is narrated in the foregoing is borne out of ignorance of the purpose of life on earth on the part of the parents concerned and the children who are the beneficiaries of misplaced love. As the writer has rightly observed the attitude of the parents is “my children will not suffer what I suffered.” The suffering of the parents itself had its origin, all in ignorance, not even just of the purpose of life, but also of the unswerving mechanisms that govern life in which they will find their role as parents. There may have been over-breeding by equally ignorant forebears of the parents themselves necessitating scarce resources being spread thin. That was also where the forebears had a faint sensing of the place of education, using the old Western Nigeria as an example. Children were sent to school with the proviso that after school hours or/and during holidays, the wards would join them on the farms. In 1954, wards joining parents on the farm soon became a campaign weapon. The NCNC campaigned that the free primary school education of the ruling Action Group was designed to deprive parents of their children joining them on the farm. They also incited voters against capitation tax levied on taxpaying adults to fund education and health. It was one of the four reasons the Action Group lost the Federal parliamentary election into the Federal House of Representatives of that year but won the elections into the Regional Assembly of 1956 and other subsequent elections as enlightenment through education ensued and spread. 

The other three reasons were land acquisition for agricultural development particularly of rubber plantation for domestic use as well as for export. The land owners organized to vote against the Action Group. Another reason was the Customary Court reform which ended illiterate and old men being President and members of customary courts in the region. They were replaced by educated people. The aggrieved backed by Mabolaje/NCNC alliance mobilized to vote against the party. The fourth reason was the 1953 law which brought about the democratization of the local government councils. The law required that councilors were thenceforth to be elected. Hitherto, they were nominated and handpicked. As of that time, elections were held only into Lagos Municipal Council in the whole country. These were the hot potatoes which the Opposition sold to the electors. However, as the bandage dropped from the eyes of the electors, especially as more illiterates began to benefit from the government adult education programme, the ruling Action Group won all subsequent elections from 1956. This distinction by way of digression has to be made so that the 1954 federal polls are not confused with the 1951 elections into the Western House of Assembly which Awolowo’s Action Group won, beating the NCNC with a wide margin: AG, 38 seats to NCNC: 24. Independent parties’ alliance with AG, 15 and similar alliance with NCNC: 3. The total number of seats was 80.

According to the Daily Times publication of 08 January, 1952: “Action Group majority in the Western House of Assembly was publicly and officially acknowledged at the first meeting of the Western Regional Legislature held here this morning.  Forty nine of them with badges pinned on their dresses waited outside the hall and posed for photograph. They insisted on sitting together as a party and the Civil Secretary, Western Region, granted their request.”

What I am getting at is that in the early days, many struggled to pay their way until the free education revolution in the Western Region came about in 1955. The next stage of struggle was to have secondary education and university studies. Many had to be sponsored by the church and their communities. Many after the secondary school education fought their way to Europe where they combined work with studies. They returned to form the first crop of the elite circles, and these were and still are those who, remembering what they went through, mostly vowed that their children would not go through their thorny and harrowing paths to get to the summit of the mountain. 

In the realization of their resolve, they took away the struggle from their children, the souls lovingly put under their care by the Creator in answer to their supplication. They did not know that their own experiences were good for them and, indeed, greatly beneficial to them. Lacking in knowledge, they sought to spare their children of similar struggle and experiences. They were unaware that life is a struggle. Today, children have been made to develop a sense of entitlement and make demands on their parents. In struggle lies the unfolding of talents and abilities. It is through friction with material substances that we gain in consciousness to move into self-consciousness which is the whole purport of life. This cannot be achieved by standing aloof and distancing oneself from struggle. Dr. Stephen Lampe puts it this way in his book, The Spirit of Truth Brings the Everlasting Testament: “The variety of experiences acquired between the Spiritual Realm and the earth activate consciousness and then self-consciousness.” In the struggle we break from within to recognize the omniscience and omnipotence of the Most High. The more successful we are the more we recognise the greatness of the Most High Creator—that it is immeasurable; it is inconceivable. 

Daniel Swarovski, industrialist and author, says in his treasure book, The Time is Ripe: reflections, essays and lectures: “The tendency of physical and mental laziness is contrary to the necessity of life on earth which requires movement, for without work, without industry we cannot master life…Many strangers to nature find the necessity to work irksome. And politicians try to soften the blow, wooing the masses for votes…” 

According to the enlightenment of these times, each human being is here on earth at his own request or because of his own fault to atone for, and he is led to the parents and circumstances that he deserves and which will facilitate the fulfillment of the purpose of his sojourn. The journey is far and great the exertion, it is revealed in higher knowledge. Children may therefore not make claims on their parents. The incomparably unique Work, In The Light of Truth, The Grail Message, states: “Parents merely provide the possibility for an incarnation, and nothing else. And every incarnated soul must be grateful for the opportunity offered!

“The soul of the child is only the guest of its parents. This fact alone gives sufficient explanation to enable one to know that in reality a child can claim no rights in regard to its parents! It has no spiritual claim on its parents! Earthly rights, however, have arisen solely out of a purely mundane social order, brought about by the State so that it need not take any obligations upon itself.”

As I have stated often, man is a spirit. The wrappings around him in which he manifests as a body are his garments he needs for his sojourn on earth and which he discards at death. He enters the Beyond as soul in which he is encased, another set of wrappings made of substances of that plane. The Message states:   “Spiritually, the child is a complete personality in itself. Apart from its physical body, which it needs as a tool for its activity on this gross material plane, it has received nothing from its parents—only a dwelling which the already independent soul can make use of.

“Still through procreation the parents assume the obligation to care for the dwelling place they have thus created, and to maintain it until the soul which has taken possession of it is itself capable of undertaking its maintenance. The natural development of the body will indicate when the moment for this has come. Whatever is done beyond this is a gift from the parents.”

Because of the relatively inner maturity of a sizeable population in Europe, permitting them considerable inner radiance, the White community is closer to the truth with children learning early in life that they are on their own; they do holiday or weekend job to support themselves. We Africans may be beating them in class and examinations; intellectual sagacity is different from inner maturity which is evinced in their refinement, nobility of spirit, etiquette and standards, and the beauty of their environment as well as their sense of orderliness. Of course, there is no gainsaying that decline has set in everywhere, in all parts of our world. 

In the bustling markets, noisy motor parks, and crowded beer parlors of Nigeria, the pulse of the nation’s economy is often felt most acutely. These are places where everyday conversations are garnished with idiomatic expressions that vividly capture the realities of life under economic pressure. It is no surprise, then, that when someone remarked in pidgin, “If government Na healing balm, dis one Na Aboniki,” the sentiment resonated deeply with many.

Aboniki, a popular menthol balm known for its intense heat and powerful sting, has become a fitting metaphor for the kind of government policies that, while meant to alleviate pain, often seem to cause more discomfort than relief. Today, the economy is unarguably as pepperish as Aboniki, with its sting is been felt by millions of people across the country.

Descriptively put, Aboniki is a well-known product in Nigeria, widely used for its potent effects in relieving pain and soothing muscle aches. However, its application is not without a sharp, burning sensation that can be overwhelming, particularly when applied to sensitive areas. This duality, offering both relief and a searing sensation, makes it an apt symbol for the current state of the Nigerian economy. Just as Aboniki balm can both soothe and irritate depending on how it is used, the economy today has become a source of intense discomfort for many, as rising prices, high unemployment, and dwindling purchasing power have left people struggling to cope with the harsh realities of daily life. The comparison to Aboniki underscores the paradox of policies that, instead of easing the pain of economic hardship, seem to intensify it, leaving citizens feeling the burn rather than the balm of relief.

Given the foregoing views, it is expedient to let the government realize the fact that its initiated policies since May 29, 2023, and which are all at the implementation stages are stinging, and that the Tinubu government must rethink its approach as the people can no longer afford to be suffering in pain.

In fact, as Nigeria grapples with its current economic challenges, the policies of the Tinubu administration have come under intense scrutiny. The government has frequently assured the public that the discomfort being experienced today is temporary, a necessary phase in the journey toward eventual economic stability and prosperity.

However, for many Nigerians, this promise of future comfort does little to soothe the immediate pains of soaring prices, dwindling job opportunities, and an overall decline in the standard of living. The current situation presents a glaring contradiction: policies intended to bring relief are instead causing widespread distress, much like applying a balm that burns more than it soothes. It is clear that the government must rethink its approach and develop policies that can deliver relief without the accompanying pain.

To achieve this, the Tinubu administration needs to think outside the box, moving beyond conventional strategies that have repeatedly failed to yield the desired outcomes. The focus should shift from policies that require the public to endure hardship now with the hope of future benefits, to those that can provide immediate, tangible relief. This could involve re-evaluating policies that disproportionately affect the poor, implementing targeted subsidies that ensure basic goods remain affordable, or creating job opportunities that provide real income growth. Moreover, there need to be a concerted effort to restore public trust by ensuring transparency in how government funds are used and by genuinely addressing the corruption that siphons off resources meant for public welfare.

Without a doubt, Nigeria’s economic challenges are complex and deeply rooted, but they are not insurmountable. The key lies in adopting innovative, people-centered policies that prioritize the well-being of citizens today, not just in some distant future. The government must recognize that the pain currently being felt across the nation is not just an unfortunate side effect of economic reform, but a clear indication that the current approach is flawed. By listening to the needs of the people and crafting solutions that provide immediate relief, the Tinubu administration can begin to rebuild the trust and hope that are essential for any lasting economic recovery.

In fact, in the unfolding narrative of Nigeria’s economic struggle under the Tinubu administration, the situation has become painfully reminiscent of a child being beaten for crying out in hunger. Just as it is unjust to punish such child for expressing a basic need, it is equally troubling to see a government attempt to silence the legitimate cries of its citizens. The analogy goes further: the people are not just hungry; they are in pain, as if the administration has rubbed Aboniki, an ointment known for its burning sensation, into their eyes. Rather than addressing the root causes of the suffering, the government seems more intent on covering people’s mouths, preventing them from voicing their grievances. This approach is not only counterproductive but also deeply unjust, and undemocratic.

In a democratic society, the right to express dissatisfaction is fundamental. When citizens speak out against policies that have worsened their living conditions, they are not merely complaining; they are holding their leaders accountable. The Tinubu administration’s attempt to stifle dissent, whether through intimidation or rhetoric, only deepens the sense of alienation and frustration among the populace. Instead of silencing the voices of those who are suffering, the government should heed their cries and take meaningful action to alleviate their pain. This means acknowledging the failures of current policies and making necessary adjustments to ensure that relief, not further hardship, is delivered.

In fact, the administration’s focus should shift from managing public perception to addressing the very real issues that are causing widespread distress. The people are not asking for the impossible; they are simply demanding what is rightfully theirs, a chance to live with dignity, free from the crushing weight of economic hardship. The government must do the needful by implementing policies that provide genuine relief, rather than continuing to inflict pain and then punishing those who dare to speak out. True leadership listens to its people, understands their plight, and works tirelessly to improve their lives. Therefore, It is time for the Tinubu administration to embrace this principle and make the well-being of Nigerians its top priority.

BUA Cement has announced a dividend payment of N2 per ordinary share to its registered members during the 8th Annual General Meeting held on August 29, 2024.

The company also ratified the appointment and re-election of members to key positions within the organization. 

In its recently released second-quarter results for 2024, BUA Cement reported a significant 77% year-over-year increase in revenue for the period ending June 30, 2024. However, the company faced a 54% year-over-year decline in pre-tax profit due to foreign exchange expenses. 

Despite this, the company has approved a dividend of N2 per ordinary share of 50 kobo for the period ending December 31, 2023. 

Other Resolutions: 

• The company approved the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023, along with reports from the directors, auditors, and the audit committee. 

• A dividend of ₦2.00 per ordinary share of 50 kobo for the period ending December 31, 2023, was approved. 

• The directors were authorized to remunerate the company’s auditors for the year ending December 31, 2024. 

• The remuneration of the company’s managers was disclosed in compliance with Section 257 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020. 

• The remuneration for the year ending December 2024 was set at ₦9.1 million for non-executive directors, ₦10.4 million for independent non-executive directors, and ₦13 million for the chairman. 

Additionally, a resolution was passed in accordance with Rule 20.8(a) of the Nigerian Exchange Rules concerning transactions with related parties or interested persons. 

The company and its related entities were granted a general mandate covering all recurring transactions with a related party or interested person, provided these transactions are of a revenue or trading nature or necessary for the company’s day-to-day operations. 

Election & Re-election

• Appointment of Ms. Ganiat Adetutu Siyonbola as an independent non-executive director and Mr. Chikezie Ajaero as executive director. 

• Re-election of Mr. Chimaobi Madukwe, Mr. Kabiru Rabiu, and Mr. Abdul Samad Rabiu, CFR, as directors of the company, who are retiring by rotation. 

• Selection of members to constitute the statutory audit committee for the financial year of 2024: 

• Shareholder Representatives: Mr. Ajibola Ajayi, Mr. Kabiru Tambari, and Mr. Oderinde Taiwo. 

• Board Representatives: Mr. Kabiru Rabiu and Ms. Ganiat Adetutu Siyonbola. 

The chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, in a statement emphasized the company’s commitment to delivering value to shareholders.  

BUA Cement remains committed to maintaining efficient operations despite challenges related to foreign exchange expenses and the overall business climate.

[Niairametrics]

The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has furiously lamented the structure of an event that was organised for the Ministry without her consent.

In a video making the rounds on social media, Kennedy-Ohanenye warned that she would disgrace the organisers if the situation repeats itself.

She explained that she is not against organizing workshops and seminars but that organisers of such programmes must ensure they infuse empowerment of women in their activities.

The Minister lamented that a huge amount of money should not be spent on organising seminars while people are hungry.

She stated that she does not care if people resort to name-calling, but she would ensure that she changes the narrative.

According to her, “Let this be the last time Women Affairs will organize anything that I am not aware of. You try next time, I will come here and get you people disgraced. I know what I am going through in this country. For a while, this is what we keep on organizing. Few weeks ago, there was hunger protest and they talked about peace and security.

“Women are not empowered. Children are suffering. Nigerians are suffering but we waste money all the time in frivolous things that don’t make sense. I am sorry. Many people may misunderstand me but I am ready to be misunderstood. I am ready to be tortured. I am ready. I have changed the narrative, I said no programme without empowerment.

“You are talking about peace and security. With poverty, how can you solve it? You keep talking, doing workshops. With poverty, where are we heading to? How do we solve that poverty? By directing money to the wrong channels that don’t make impact on humans? On those people you want them to change and give you peace?

“I have changed the narrative. I said do not do any programme without empowerment. They give monies in the Ministries and it is used for travel, programmes. Nothing that will impact the nation. If you hear the monies the government gives out to ministries, you will be shocked. Why should it continue like that? Why should we fold our hands and these things will continue? Who do you think will save you? It’s you that will save yourself. Let them call me names, troublemaker’, ‘mad woman’, I am ready to take it.’’

Watch the video below:

One month after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the N70,000 new National Minimum Wage Act, most states of the federation are yet to take serious measures to implement the law.

Except for Adamawa State, which has implemented the law by paying its workers the national wage this month, the best a few other states have done is to set up minimum wage implementation committees, whose reports are being awaited.

This situation is further compounded by the federal authorities’ failure to develop a consequential adjustment template on which the new wage would be computed for full-scale implementation.
LEADERSHIP Weekend’s investigations revealed that even the organised labour has resolved to wait for the release of the adjustment modalities before any further negotiations with the state governments.
The labour leaders told our correspondents that any negotiation without the template would be an exercise in futility.

They, therefore, appealed to the members to exercise patience and await the release of the modalities to ensure better negotiation outcome.

President Tinubu signed the wage law on July 29, 2024 after a long-drawn negotiation with organised labour.

Before the president’s assent to the bill, the Edo State government had raised the minimum wage for its workers to N70,000. This makes Adamawa and Edo states the only two of the 36 states of the federation paying the minimum wage.

In Akwa Ibom State, LEADERSHIP Weekend learnt that the state branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was yet to begin talks on the wage ceiling for the workforce.

In separate interviews with our correspondent, the chairman of the NLC, Sunny James, and the head of service, Elder Effiong Essien, explained the reasons behind the implementation delay.

“We have not started anything on the new minimum wage in Akwa Ibom, and my position is very simple: when there’s new minimum wage legislation, the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), in conjunction with the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC) of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), will have to meet and agree on consequential adjustment.

“We have N70,000 new minimum wage, so there has to be a consequential adjustment to make the salary table flow in a seamless manner. If you apply the 133 percentage uniformly, salaries of those on Level 14, and 15 will be very high.

“Akwa Ibom State governor will not complain that he cannot pay N70,000. And there’s no way we can collect anything less than N70,000 as the new minimum wage. We will not accept that. The governor has not also said that he will not pay,” the NLC chairman said.

For his part, Essien said discussions would commence as soon as the federal government releases the circular on the consequential adjustment.

In Zamfara State, the government said it would establish a committee to devise the modalities for paying the N70,000 minimum wage.

The director-general of media and communications (DG), Nuhu Salihu Anka, said the government is moving towards implementing the new minimum wage.

He said that as part of the preparations, the government would set up a committee to determine how the wage would be paid and the payment modalities.

The state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Sani Halliru, told LEADERSHIP Weekend that the workers would meet with Governor Dauda Lawal on the new N70,000 minimum wage payment.

He said a letter on the new minimum wage had been sent to the governor for a meeting on the matter.
In an interview with LEADERSHIP Weekend, the Kano State chairman of the NLC, Kabiru Inuwa, said labour union was waiting for the National Income and Wages Commission to release the consequential adjustment, which will serve as a guide for the state.

Without the table, there is no basis for confronting the government, he said, noting that even the federal government had not started implementation.

Inuwa further said the union is also waiting for the advisory committee set up by the state government on the new minimum wage implementation. As such, the union cannot venture into anything until they have all the provisions.

Recently, the state commissioner for planning and budget, Musa Shanono, told newsmen that the state government had submitted a supplementary budget of N99. 221 billion to the House of Assembly for approval, which would cover the payment of the minimum wage.

In Sokoto State, there are no official moves to implement the new salary scheme.

The state government has neither constituted any committee to work out the modalities of paying the new wage, nor taken a position on whether the state will pay.

Mum was the response from the state government as those contacted on the matter declined to comment.

However, state workers are patiently waiting to see what path the state NLC executives will toe to make the payment of the new wage a reality.

In Plateau State, the commissioner for information and communication, Hon. Musa Ashoms, told our correspondent that those who know the state’s financial status are examining the situation to ascertain whether the administration can pay the new minimum wage.

He said, “If we can pay or there is contrary reason, the state government will engage the leadership of the NLC in the state.”

The state chairman of the union, Comrade Eugene Mangji, when contacted on phone, said although President Tinubu has signed the bill into law, the state government has not issued any circular stating whether it is going to pay.

In Cross River State, the NLC chairman, Comrade Gregory Olayi, said the state government is yet to comply with the payment of new minimum wage.

He said that the union had not force the state government to commence the payment because it was waiting for the template to be used for the exercise.

“We are waiting for the table so we don’t goof at the end of the day. The table will assist us in ascertaining where to start and end, so we don’t run into problems.

“Once the table is out, the union will swing into action to do what our members expect of us. We want to ensure that everything we do is backed by law,” he said

The chief press secretary to Cross River State governor, Mr. Nsa Gill, said the government had not complied with the N70,000 minimum wage declared by the federal government.

The CPS, who could not say whether Governor Otu’s administration was ready to comply with the directives, said, “For now, we are still paying N40,000 minimum wage because our administration has yet to find a modality to comply with the directives of the federal government regarding payment of the new minimum wage.”

In Ondo State, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has promised to implement the N70,000 minimum wage. However, no date has been fixed for its commencement.

A credible source said the leadership of organised labour and the government’s team were still meeting to discuss the payment modalities.

Recently, the Ondo Joint Negotiation Council, headed by Comrade Olapade Ademola Adeniji, constituted a nine-man Technical Committee on Minimum Wage.

A statement by JNC secretary, Comrade Esther Foluke Akinleye, said: “The primary mandate of this committee is to work on the pressing issues of New Minimum Wage. Their task will be to carefully review, analyse, and develop different salary tables after comparing them with those of other states.

The commissioner for information and orientation, Hon. Wale Akinlosotu, told our reporter that talks between labour and the government were ongoing.

The Ebonyi State government has assured the workers of its readiness to implement the new wage when all the issues are concluded and the salary chat is made available.

The commissioner for information and state orientation, Mr. Jude Okpor, said the governor and other relevant stakeholders had been meeting to reach a conclusion on the wage.

When contacted, the chairman of NLC, Comrade Oguguo Egwu, said the new wage issue had not been discussed in the state.

He said, “This is because the state council of NLC is waiting for the directive from the national secretariat to initiate the wage implementation process. This directive will have a well-processed chart for consequential adjustments and subsequent implementation.

“However, the state council is hopeful that our worker-friendly governor will not hesitate to pay when the chart is released. The moment it is released, we will initiate the process with the state government setting up an implementation committee,” he said.

Meanwhile, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has inaugurated the committee to implement the New National Minimum Wage for Civil and Public Servants in Enugu State, giving the Committee a maximum of one month to submit its report.

Federal Civil Servants Lament Delay, Give FG September Deadline

Meanwhile, federal civil servants have decried the delay in implementing the approved minimum wage.

They, however, expressed the hope that the payment would begin soon to alleviate their plight as the cost of living crisis bites harder.

A senior director in the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation who preferred anonymity said that, at present, nobody can say when it will begin.

He said, “It was not long ago that the president signed the minimum wage into law. I believe that it will be implemented soonest, but as we are talking, I cannot tell you when it will be implemented. We should wait to receive August’s salary; that is when we will find out.”

However, a union leader in the federal civil service, Tersoo Zamber, said the investigation revealed that the implementation of the minimum wage was not captured in the August salary, and workers are hoping it will be reflected in the September salary.

He said, “We thank the federal government for approving the wage, even though it was below our expectations. They have not started the implementation of the minimum wage, which ought to have started since May.

“But we understand that the negotiations dragged on for too long and were concluded barely a month ago. We are hoping that the implementation of the minimum wage, which is still not okay, will be done very soon because of the country’s biting economic challenge.

“Things are getting worse, and when you have given people the hope and the minimum wage has been signed into law, and it is just on paper and the media, but not entering people’s accounts, it further aggravates that anxiety,” he said.

He further said that it is another call to the federal government to ensure that the implementation takes effect immediately and that the arrears, which have run for about four to five months now, are promptly paid to workers.

“As I said earlier, this is not what Nigerian workers expected. The president said he would give workers a living wage, but given the country’s economic situation, N70,000 is not a living wage.

“However, they have reduced the review period from five to three years, which is also commendable, but we are calling for immediate implementation to reduce suffering.

“From our investigations, it is sad that the implementation is not included in the August salary, and workers are taken aback. We are hoping and praying hard that it will come by September, but I can confirm to you that it is not included in the August salary, and we are wondering why,” he said, adding that government should not take workers’ patience for granted.

[Leadership]

Victor Osimhen’s move from Napoli to Chelsea on transfer deadline day failed to materialize. 

The Nigeria international had been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge on deadline day but the parties were unable to reach an agreement, leaving the 25-year-old in a difficult position.

According to Italian sports journalist, Fabrizio Romano, negotiations between Napoli and Chelsea broke down late in the window.

“No agreement between Victor Osimhen and Chelsea even after a new proposal was presented two hours ago. Deal completely off for Victor Osimhen. No agreement with Chelsea, and the #CFC delegation is now leaving Napoli.

“If nothing happens from Saudi in the next three days, Osimhen will stay at Napoli but he’s not gonna be part of the first-team squad. Relationship currently completely broken,” Romano wrote on his social media platforms.

Osimhen was asking for a wage package worth over £300,000-a-week, according to Sky Sports.

Chelsea were reportedly ready to continue talks with the striker but their approach went unanswered, leaving the Blues to consider the deal off.

Napoli had also been in negotiations with Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli for Osimhen‘s transfer, reportedly for an €80 million proposal.

While Osimhen had agreed on personal terms with Al-Ahli worth a massive €30 million per season, Napoli demanded an extra €5 million in bonuses on top of the €80 million offered, causing the deal to fall through.

Osimhen’s future now appears uncertain. With his relationship with Napoli coach Antonio Conte strained and the club unwilling to pay him a substantial salary while keeping him benched, his options are limited.

There remains a faint hope of a last-minute transfer to Saudi Arabia, as the transfer window in that region remains open until September 2.

 [DailyTrust]

Arsenal legend, David Seaman, has told goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale that the club’s fans will ‘never forget’ his massive contribution to getting the Gunners back in the UEFA Champions League following his transfer deadline day move to Premier League side Southampton.

Recall that Ramsdale completed a £25m move to the Saints on Friday.

The 26-year-old signed a four-year contract with Southampton with an option of another 12 months.

Reacting, Seaman wrote on X:

“Wishing the very best of luck to a great friend and goalie Aaron Ramsdale as he makes his move to the Saints, a great opportunity to see him playing in the Premier League again.

“We’ll never forget his match-winning saves and massive contribution to getting us back into the Champions League again.

“I look forward to watching his progress and the continuation of his career from afar! See you on the golf course soon mate. Good luck!”

[DailyPost]

• Soldiers kill nine terrorists in Kaduna shootout

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists struck afresh yesterday in Yobe State, attacking an Islamic school boarding facility where they dragged  out three students  from  bed and shot them dead.

One other was wounded.

Simultaneously, soldiers  killed nine suspected  terrorists during an encounter  in Kampani Doka and Rifigoro communities in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Attacked  by Boko Haram yesterday was Faudiya School in Geidam Local Government Area about 180 kilometres from Damaturu,the state capital.

The school is owned  by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), a Shiia sect.

The victims were named as Muhammadu Saleh (22 years), Ahmed Abdulrahman (21) and Abdullahi Adamu (21).

Sani Haruna (25) who was wounded  is currently receiving medical treatment.

Police spokesman in the state , Dungus Abdulkarim, a deputy superintendent of police, confirmed the attack.

His words: “It is confirmed, the divisional police headquarters at Geidam received the report this morning by a certain individual that there was an attack on a particular school,” Abdulkarim told TheCable.

“We mobilised our men, and they went there and evacuated three dead persons and one with a bullet wound and was admitted to the hospital.

“The attackers came on a motorcycle, about 10 of them, carrying deadly arms such as AK-47 rifles and other items.

“They entered the school and took four of the students and killed three instantly and injured one person.

“The information we received from one of the injured persons was that the attackers invaded and told them they were there to abduct them to the forest and kill them, but they did not want to carry any load; in that regard, ‘we will just kill you here’.

“We are still investigating to find out the perpetrators and why the attack on the school.

“The attack occurred at exactly 3:45 to 4:00 am today. The school is a day and boarding school. There is a quarter in the school.”

Boko Haram has repeatedly attacked educational institutions especially western-oriented schools in Borno and Yobe states.

On February 25, 2014, they invaded Federal Government College, Buni Yadi in Yobe State killing 59 boys and  setting  fire on 24  buildings in the school compound.

The  attack came  overnight when students were in their dormitories.

Two months later, precisely on the night of April 14-15,the terrorists invaded the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State and abducted over 250 girls.

Many of the girls are yet to be found although some have managed to either escape or rescued by troops after years in captivity.

Some of the rescued girls said they were married out to fighters of Boko Haram and bore them children.

Amina Ali, one of the missing girls , was found in May 2016. She said six of the girls had died.

Soldiers kill nine terrorists in Kaduna shootout

However, nine other suspected terrorists operating  in Kampani Doka and Rifigoro communities in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State ran out of luck after engaging soldiers in a shootout.

They were all gunned down.

The soldiers were on offensive operations in the terrorists’ stronghold near Kampani Doka when the confrontation ensued.

 “In a shootout that lasted for hours, the gallant troops subdued the criminal elements with superior firepower, thereby neutralising seven of the terrorists,” the army said.

“The troops recovered three AK-47 rifles, eight AK-47 magazines (four fully loaded with 120 rounds of 7.62mm Special), a magazine carrier and motorcycles.

“Other items include three mobile cell phones, two Baofeng communication radios, and three pairs of civil clothes,’’ it said.

[TheNation]

Why we celebrated Bichi’s exit – DSS officers

The reasons the immediate past Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, and the DG of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar, resigned from their positions have been revealed.

Sources within the Presidency told Saturday PUNCH that President Bola Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, questioned the intelligence gathering mechanisms of the two agencies following the violent nature of the #EndBadGovernance protests in some northern states and the seizure of three presidential aircraft in France.

While Bichi was held responsible for lack of functional intelligence on the protest, Abubakar was reportedly queried for the NIA’s inability to have reports ahead of the seizure of the jets by a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited.

A French court had sanctioned the seizure of three Nigerian presidential jets, including a newly purchased Airbus, amid a legal dispute between Zhongshan and the Ogun State Government.

The #EndBadGovernance protest, which began on August 1, turned violent in Kano, Gombe, Yobe, Borno and Bauchi states while demonstrations in the South-West were peaceful.

During the protests in some northern states, public and private facilities were destroyed, while hoodlums looted shops and caused mayhem. This led to the imposition of curfews in Kano, Bauchi, and Plateau states.

The protest was driven by widespread hardship resulting from the removal of fuel subsidy, electricity tariff hike and the high cost of living, among other issues.

Bichi, who hails from Kano State, where widespread destruction and looting occurred, was appointed on September 14, 2018, by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Abubakar, from Katsina State, was also appointed by Buhari on January 10, 2018.

According to credible sources, Tinubu and Ribadu were embarrassed by the turn of events on the seizure of the presidential jets and the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations.

“The seizure of the presidential jets and violent nature of the #EndBadGovernance protest embarrassed the President nationally and internationally.

“The President was displeased with the NIA and DSS bosses. This was why he requested the resignation of the two security chiefs,” said one of the sources.

Another source told Saturday PUNCH that Bichi and Ribadu had been having a running battle before the protest, with the fallout from the northern demonstrations serving as the final straw.

He stated, “The former DSS DG and the NSA boss had been on bad terms for some time. Their issues escalated to the point that Bichi was unable to meet the President for a while. The Presidency finally had a valid reason to dismiss him due to the #EndBadGovernance protest.”

Abubakar announced his resignation on Saturday, August 24, after meeting with President Tinubu.

In contrast, Bichi’s resignation was announced in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on Monday, August 26.

Why we celebrated Bichi’s exit – DSS officers

Bichi’s resignation elicited reactions from DSS staff and the public.

Some DSS officers, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH on condition of anonymity, described his exit as ‘freedom from unprofessionalism’.

The DSS officers listed Bichi’s alleged misconduct to include undue interference in the service’s operations by his wife and son, Yusuf Bichi.

A video of some DSS staff members allegedly celebrating Bichi’s resignation surfaced online immediately after his departure.

However, an X user, Sanusi Jibrin, said the clip was recorded at the Kogi State DSS office, where personnel were celebrating Ajayi’s appointment, as he was a former director at the state command.

A DSS officer, however, said personnel of the agency were happy with his removal.

“We believed his regime was a punishment for us. He impeded the career advancement of many officers by extending the service years of those due to retire. Some senior officers, who were due for retirement in 2021 and 2022 were retained in the service,” he stated.

Another officer alleged that Bichi was indifferent to the welfare of workers.

“The Federal Government increased our salary by 40 per cent, but there was no implementation. We were earning more than the police before, but the police are now earning more than us because they implemented their 40 per cent increment. However, there was a proposal to increase our salary by 25 per cent this year, but it has yet to be realised,” the officer said.

Speaking on the recruitment of personnel, another secret agent described Bichi’s recruitment as nepotistic.

“Bichi’s recruitments were arbitrary and lopsided. Three different training sessions have been conducted for some people we didn’t know when they were recruited this year alone. Most of the newly recruited personnel are northerners.

“His first recruitment in 2019 brought in either 420 or 450 persons from Bichi Local Government Area in Kano alone. In the history of the service, 450 was the maximum recruitment we ever had before Bichi, but he recruited 1,000 personnel at once.

“There was no southerner among the national directors and deputy directors at the headquarters until January this year when he was directed by the Presidency following a petition. His wife is another issue; she abused her husband’s office. His son, too, was power drunk.

“Just two weeks ago, his wife slapped a DSS director in a northern state. She also slapped at least two deputy directors at airports.”

Tweeps also criticised the former DSS boss, accusing him of allowing his family to abuse power because of his position.

The publisher of Daily Nigerian, Jafaar Jafaar, while commenting on X, said Bichi turned the DSS into a “graveyard of career aspirations.”

“He lowered the recruitment bar, removed the multi-layer screening process to recruit personnel who couldn’t even pass the Halogen Security aptitude test. Bichi arguably recruited the highest number of Cotonou ‘graduates’ into the service. He wilfully extended the tenure of some retired directors in his good book for years, killing the ambitions of the aspiring directors. He allowed his wife to lord over the service, influencing recruitment, promotion and discipline,” he stated.

Jafaar alleged that Bichi’s wife oppressed people with “a superfluity of everything at the expense of public funds,” adding that she moved around in a long motorcade, harassing motorists.

“She was a stormy petrel, who was majorly in the news for either assaulting her tailor for failing to meet a deadline or picking a fight with opposition politicians. His impudent, spoiled brat son shrugged off public criticism to gleefully display a fleet of luxury cars on social media.

“At the expense of public funds, he has a number of DSS operatives giving him cover at football arena, nightclub and political campaign rallies.”

Our correspondent, while checking Bichi’s son, Yusuf’s X page, saw a video clip of when he rode in a long convoy of security operatives, suspected to be men of the DSS.

In 2023, the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, had also claimed that Bichi’s wife threatened to prevent him from becoming the state governor.

The governor, in a viral video, also alleged that the woman abused and insulted him before preventing him from boarding a commercial plane.

The Executive Director of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, stated that the alleged celebration of Bichi’s resignation by some staff members did not necessarily mean he was a good or bad leader.

According to him, workers do not like disciplined bosses who insist that everybody should do the right thing and reject corruption.

“I’m not saying the former DG is good because we could see a lot of loopholes in intelligence gathering and security issues.

“That staff and colleagues are celebrating his exit, it’s neither here nor there. It could be that he is very, very strict or it could be that he has not been taking care of their welfare and whatever.

“It could also be that he didn’t allow them to do their work the way they wanted to do it. And maybe his exit will allow them to prove their mettle, that they could work better than they were doing under him”, he added.

Illegal arrests, violation of court orders

Under the leadership of Bichi, the DSS was involved in many controversial operations, including the arrest of a former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

Emefiele was arrested on June 9, 2023, and was only arraigned more than a month later.

On 25 July, despite a Federal High Court order granting him bail and ordering his transfer to a correctional centre, the DSS re-arrested him, with operatives reportedly assaulting a prison official at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, in the process.

A former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, was also a victim. He was arrested on August 3, 2019, just days before a planned protest tagged #RevolutionNow against “bad governance”.

Although released on bail on December 5, Sowore was re-arraigned on December 6.

The DSS attempted to re-arrest him inside the courtroom but were prevented by his supporters; however, they succeeded in re-arresting him outside the court.

Another case involved a citizen Anthony Okolie, who was detained by the DSS for 10 weeks for purchasing and using an MTN SIM card previously used and discarded by Hanan Buhari, the daughter of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Also, the Regional Editor of The Conversation Africa, Adejuwon Soyinka, was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos last Sunday and detained for hours before his release. However, his passport was confiscated.

Efforts to reach Bichi proved unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

[Punch]