The UK economy saw no growth in April, according to early official figures from the Office for National Statistics.

This comes after a 0.4 per cent increase in March.

A Reuters poll of economists had anticipated this stagnation, attributing it to wet weather negatively impacting retail sales and construction output.

The ONS report, the last GDP update before the election, revealed that April’s rainfall was 155 per cent above the long-term average.

Details later...

As Nigeria marks Democracy Day, the National Coordinator of the Disciples of Jagaban, Comrade AbdulHakeem Adegoke Alawuje, has appealed to Nigerians to give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a chance to build the country, saying it takes time to build a broken nation

This was contained in a press statement signed by his media aide, Elder Yinka Salaam, and made available to the Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday.

Alawuje congratulates Nigerians and the President in particular for witnessing another Democracy Day in a peaceful atmosphere.

“We must congratulate ourselves for witnessing another Democracy Day in peace, devoid of war, enmity, or rancour, and for having an outstanding democrat like Tinubu as our leader at a critical time like this.

“Tinubu’s only offence is that he volunteered to undertake the onerous job of returning life to a comatose nation. But as Nigerians, we must realise that no president can be successful, no matter how sincere, unless he enjoins the support of the state government, local government, corporate bodies, as well as the citizens.

“Tinubu has only chosen to clear the Augean stable of over 16 years of bad leadership. We should thank God for giving us Tinubu at this time, just as we should pray for him and give him the necessary support as citizens.

“Tinubu never campaigned to attain perfection. He can even attain perfection, but he needs to be put on his toes with constructive criticism, where necessary, as he strives to rescue Nigerians.

“As we celebrate Democracy Day, Nigerians must not allow the hardship and frustration written all over their faces to make them deny the truth. We must always say the truth, support the truth, propagate the truth, defend the truth and be ready to end on the path of the truth.

“Tinubu’s plan and aspiration are to rescue Nigerians who are already struggling to survive. And with our support, he will surely win against all the rapacious politicians whose intent is just to milk Nigerians dry.

“As patriotic citizens, we must be concerned about Tinubu’s success.
if he fails, whoever comes after him will have to start afresh, and that does not augur well for us as a people. It can only draw us backwards.

“The truth be told, organised labour, for instance, has every right to fight for their needs, but if the strike will set our developing economy backwards, they also need to explore another approach to push for their rights. At this delicate and critical period, Nigerians do not need anything that will further stress the already stressed system.

“One of the reasons Nigerians must support Tinubu is because we need to disappoint the Western powers that have already predicted the end of Nigeria as an entity. We must never allow their prediction to come true. Their progress and economic survival are closely linked to our failure. Nigeria must survive because the entire continent is also looking up to us. Our survival is their survival. They are all looking towards the Big Brother to lean upon to grow.

“As we celebrate yet another Democracy Day, we pray God bless Nigeria with and surround the president with sincere and progressive minds who are ready to sacrifice all their endowments for our country.

“As already said in my previous messages, the ministers and other political appointees are urged not to betray Tinubu and Nigerians. Permanent secretaries as well as civil servants must know that they are the backbone of any government. They, too, cannot afford to betray the nation. They should endeavour to guide the ministers rather than lead them astray with wicked guidance.

“Governors and the local government chairmen, the National Assembly members, the ministers and the judiciary are essential part of government. They are critical components to achieving good governance. Mr. President cannot do it alone; it is a collective responsibility.

“Nigeria’s lost glory will surely be restored by the Tinubu administration, but it will take time and a lot of endurance. Let’s be patient and supportive.

Delta North Senator, Ned Nwoko, has proposed a new minimum wage of ₦100,000 for Nigerian workers, saying anything below that would be an insult to workers.

The lawmaker asserted that with the current economic situation in Nigeria, it would be difficult for workers to survive and live a normal life with a minimum wage of less than ₦100,000.

He argued that in determining the eventual minimum wage, the government must be realistic in its evaluation of the economic situation in the country.

Speaking at an award event in Abuja, Nwoko said: “There are so many problems in Nigeria, from the economy to security issues, minimum wage and all of that. If you ask me about minimum wage, I will say that at least, everybody deserves a raise. Even if we say N100,000, I will think it is the ideal thing. But look, what can N100,000 do for anybody? Tell me, how many bags of rice can that buy? How many fuel tanks can that fill? So, we have to be realistic about our economy.

“Government is meant to provide an environment for those who are doing business to do well or create jobs where possible. But we must have a minimum wage. It is not very good, to put it mildly, when people are paid minimum wage that is abysmal and they are not able to achieve the basic needs of life.

“So, I think that a minimum wage of N100,000 is not out of place. That should be the beginning. That kind of amount should be what we should be looking at. Anything less than that is an insult to the civil servant.”

Speaking further, the federal lawmaker expressed support for the proposed ban on open grazing.

He submitted that it is a welcome development which is in the interest of everyone including the farmers and herders.

“It is in the interest of Nigerians, especially the cattle owners, herders and farmers. Everyday, we hear stories of famers/headers clashes. It is either the farmers are killed by armed herdsmen or the herders suffer one casualty or the other. So, with the ban, there won’t be any losses. Everybody deserves to live and move freely as good citizens. Again, owners of cows and herders will benefit a lot. I was discussing with an armed herder on why he was carrying AK 47. He said it was to protect himself and his cows from thieves and cattle rustlers. You can see that while the ban will save farmers, it can also save the herders from being attacked. Second, this movement of cows from one state to another makes our cows look emaciated. If a cow is feeding in one place, it will be well fed and look good. Look at the cows from Morocco and other countries that practice ranching, their cows look well fed, healthier and big. Let’s leave sentiment alone and move this country forward. There is more to gain than to lose with a complete ban on open grazing,” Nwoko submitted.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has launched a scathing critique against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing it of foisting hardship on Nigerians and desecrating the democratic principles established by the late Chief MKO Abiola.

The opposition party asserts that the current socio-economic challenges faced by the populace are a direct result of the policies implemented by the APC.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the PDP spokesperson lamented that the situation in the country had deteriorated under the APC’s governance, leading to widespread discontent and anger among the citizens.

The party highlighted that the economic strategies and governance failures of the APC have not only stifled economic growth but have also significantly eroded the democratic gains made in past decades.

Furthermore, the PDP claims that the APC has failed to uphold the democratic legacies of Chief MKO Abiola, whose struggle for democracy remains a significant milestone in Nigeria’s history.

According to the PDP, the APC’s actions have betrayed the ideals of justice, fairness, and equity that Abiola championed until his death.

PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, charged Nigerians to use the occasion of this year’s Democracy Day to “speak against the anti-democratic tendencies of the APC which is asphyxiating, inflicting hardship, trampling on the Will and rights of the citizens and seeking to foist a totalitarian system on our nation”.

“It is distressing that our nation is observing the Democracy Day under a system that relishes in brazen violation of the Constitution, election rigging, stifling and manipulation of opposition, muzzling of dissenting voices; undermining the judicial system and other democracy institutions in desperation to turn Nigeria into a one-Party State.

“More disquieting is that all the progress and gains made by successive PDP administrations in entrenching democratic practice in Nigeria have been reversed by the APC administrations.”

The main opposition party said the recent opening of the N21 billion luxury mansion for Vice President Kashim Shettima by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, “in a country of collapsing infrastructure; with over 40% unemployment rate; where millions of citizens are literally starving; and where our schools and hospitals lack the basic operation equipment and tools is only a glimpse into the insensitivity, arrogance, impunity and reckless misdirection of resources that pervade the APC administrations.

“Our Party urges President Tinubu to use the occasion of Democracy Day to have a deep reflection on the state of the nation under his watch, especially given the growing public agitation over hunger and high cost of living in the country.

“The PDP again reminds President Tinubu that there is destitution in the land and that the reaction of a hungry people is better imagined. Mr. President should, in keeping with democratic tenets, listen to Nigerians and review policies that are suffocating life in the country.”

PDP said democracy is about the supremacy of the Will of the people, the Rule of Law and the pursuit of the security and wellbeing of citizens, but such ideals have “been completely violated by the APC administrations which leaders have no respect for public opinion but delight in burdening the people through multiple taxes and looting of treasury to finance their luxury appetite while subjecting other Nigerians to a life of fear, uncertainty, despondency and abject poverty.

“It is saddening that instead of celebrating freedom and good governance; the very of essence of democracy which Chief MKO Abiola stood for; Nigerians are in anguish over the exploitive, ill-implemented anti-people policies and programmes of the APC which has weaponized poverty in the country.

“The increase in fuel price and hike in electricity tariff with no corresponding tangible policy or programme directed towards the welfare of the people further show the anti-people stance of the APC administrations.” the statement said.