As labour unions shut down critical sectors of Nigeria’s economy to press home their demands for a N494,000 minimum wage, an investment banker and economist, Atedo Peterside, has accused the Federal Government of ‘poisoning’ the atmosphere for negotiations on a new minimum wage for workers.

THE WHISTLER reported that negotiations between the organised labour and Federal Government’s representatives broke down after they failed to reach a consensus.

The government had insisted that the demand was not in tune with the current economic realities, arguing that implementing such a high minimum wage may lead to job losses.

Currently, the minimum wage is set at N33,000 and the government is offering to double it to N60,000.

Reacting, Nigerians took to micro-blogging platform X (formerly Twitter) to air their thoughts on the proposed minimum wage.

Peterside wrote “The Nigerian minimum wage negotiations were going to be unnecessarily difficult because FG ‘poisoned’ the atmosphere for responsible negotiations by approving a reckless N90bn Hajj Subsidy, Luxury SUVs for Legislators etc thereby creating the false impression that FG was rich”

An X (Twitter) user, Aziz Bakare, tweeted, “A government that can subsidize Hajj with almost N100 billion can pay 200k minimum wage. If you have to scrap all the religious pilgrimage agencies to afford it, do it.”

He added, “A govt that gave 469 lawmakers N150 million each to buy luxury cars that their forefathers did not use while millions of Nigerians slip into poverty CAN pay N200k minimum wage.

“If National Assembly members have to sell those vehicles & slash their emoluments in half, do it.”

Benkingsley Nwashara, another X user, wrote, “You’re worried about the national grid more than the fact that someone is being paid 30-40k as salary in 2024. This issue of Minimum wage has been on for nearly 10yrs. Nothing tangible has been done. Meanwhile N90billion was released for Hajj. Shutting down National grid is necessary.”

Ibrahim Shuwa wrote, “Billions for VP’s residence renovation, Billions on NASS carport, 47 ministers appointed, Presidential yacht & expensive travels with hundreds of aides. But you want the public to believe the govt can’t afford the requested minimum wage.”

However, some Nigerians argued that the private sector would struggle to pay such a high wage, considering the state of the economy.

David Onyemaizu wrote, “Nigeria has an inflation problem. Even if the Nigerian government can magically approve the 494k minimum wage demand, it will only increase the inflation rate.

“I believe NLC and TUC pegged it high, so there can be room for negotiations. A more realistic minimum wage will be around 100-150k.

“And they should work heavily on lowering the inflation rate and for God’s sake, bring back the fuel subsidy. Tinubu’s failed policies have gone on long enough.”

Another user @fozadoza wrote, “NLC really thinks 494k minimum wage will fly? Lmaooo. You want a further unemployed and overworked economy? Everyone shouting it won’t affect private sector are hypocrites.”

Mark Amaza wrote, “It is unrealistic. I’m saying it with my full chest. You people think the minimum wage is only for govt to pay but even the govt itself cannot pay that. But can the private sector pay that either? Can you pay your security man, your cleaner, etc this wage? I’m guessing it’s a no”

@odogwu_cc wrote, “A 400k minimum wage is an unrealistic ask. However, we should remember that the National Assembly earns tens of millions monthly for doing absolutely nothing. Cut their earnings and use it to fund a new minimum wage pay scale.”

The Presidency on Monday accused the Nigerian Labour of playing politics with its ongoing nationwide strike.

President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga said the organised Labour in Nigeria is harming the people it should be fighting for.

He lamented that sick people cannot have access to medical care at government hospitals due to the nationwide strike.

Posting on X, Onanuga wrote: “It’s saddening that Labour could go to this extreme. But it is not surprising to the perceptive minds. Labour is harming the Nigerian people they claim to be fighting for. Today, many sick Nigerians cannot access medical care at government hospitals.

“Not even those with critical medical conditions. It appears labour is playing politics by other means. Many of the affiliates of the two central unions, NLC and TUC are members and supporters of the Labour Party.

“They logically bear ill will and grudges against the Tinubu administration. Otherwise, the issue they claim to be fighting for cannot be resolved by blackmail or sabotage, they cannot even be resolved by the Federal Government unilaterally, the Labour leaders will still have to return to the negotiating table.”

Edo North senator, Adams Oshiomhole, on Sunday declared that the All Progressives Congress, APC, will return to power at the end of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s tenure in November.

Oshiomhole said Edo State will rise again starting November 12 when APC governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo, succeeds Obaseki.

He spoke at the new APC secretariat on Ikpokpan Road, off Boundary-Sapele Road in Benin, while welcoming a PDP chieftain, Nosa Adams, along with thousands of PDP members into APC.

According to Oshiomhole: “We will work very hard to ensure the defeat of PDP, Labour Party, and the 13 other participating political parties in Edo.

“APC will return to governance of Edo State on November 12, 2024, when the second tenure of PDP’s Godwin Obaseki will expire.

“Okpebholo, a grassroots politician, will re-ignite the engines of growth and development in this great Edo State, without speaking big grammar, consultancy or memoranda of understanding.

“We need a governor who can do, not a governor who can talk. Okpebholo, the incoming governor, will work very hard for Edo residents.

“The way to keep a political party together is to respect the elders. I am very excited with the transparent manner in which Nosa Adams meticulously identified and presented the defecting members of the executive at the ward and local government levels in Egor LGA of Edo State. No PDP member is left in Egor LGA.”

Nigerian music sensation Patoranking has taken to social media to proudly announce his graduation from Harvard Business School.

The celebrated artist took to his Instagram page to share the exciting news with his fans and followers.

In a post that quickly garnered attention, Patoranking posted a photo of himself standing proudly behind the renowned Harvard Business School.

Accompanying the photo was a heartfelt caption expressing gratitude and acknowledging the role of a certain Professor Anita Elberse in his academic journey.

The second slide of his post featured Patoranking holding his hard-earned certificate alongside Professor Elberse.

Captioning the post, Patoranking humbly wrote;

“Welcome the new @harvardhbs Alumnus ❤️ God runs this Show…Thank You @anitaelberse ❤️”,

The news of Patoranking’s graduation from Harvard Business School has sparked an outpouring of congratulations and well-wishes from fans and fellow celebrities.

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), stated that the 2023 general elections have proven that the Yorubas do not hate the Igbos.

Obi made this statement while receiving the 2024 Courageous Citizen Award from the Nigerian-American Coalition for Justice and Democracy (NACJD) in Abuja on Saturday.

The former Anambra State governor emphasized that the election was not a Christian or Igbo agenda. He highlighted that Nigerians united across tribal and religious lines during the election, which corrected the impression that Yorubas hate Igbos.

Obi noted that the significant shift in voter behavior indicated a widespread desire among Nigerians for a change from the status quo.

“It was a time that Nigerians united and spoke with one voice regardless of tribe, tongue or religion. The 2023 election wasn’t a Christian or Igbo project.

“It was a Nigerian project. I saw our legends and elder statesmen come together for the first time. I was glad to see people like former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Pa Ayo Adebanjo and others stand their ground.

“I am saying this to correct the impression that the Yorubas hate Igbo people. A lot of people made certain sacrifices because we just wanted to say ‘Enough is enough’ in Nigeria. Imagine those who had lost their lives for the cause of a new Nigeria,” he said

The Federal Government has admonished workers to refrain from partaking in the indefinite nationwide strike declared by the Labour Union.

It warned that any worker who joins the industrial action risks six months jail term.

In a statement on Sunday, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said there is a subsisting valid court injunction restraining the Labour Union from embarking on any strike.

Fagbemi also noted that Section 18 of the Trade Disputes Act mandates a worker employed in any essential services to give their employer 15 days notice before ceasing their services and any who did not comply would be liable on conviction to a fine or imprisonment for six months.

He said the fundamental importance of the 15-day notice is underscored by the fact that Sections 41 and 42(1)(b) of the Act criminalize non-compliance with the provision.

He noted that the federal government had been engaging stakeholders in the tripartite committee to determine a new national minimum wage and had not declared an end to negotiation.

The AGF further noted that the proposed strike is a violation of an order of the National Industrial Court and ongoing mediators’ settlement efforts to resolve the minimum wage impasse.

“You are further invited to recall the pendency of the interim injunctive order granted on 5th June 2023 in suit no: NICN/ABJ/158/2023 — FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA & ANOR VV. NIGERIAN LABOUR CONGRESS & ANOR, which order restrained both Nigeria Labour Congress und Trade Union Congress from embarking on any industrial action or strike of any nature,” he said.

“While the government assures that it would continue to adopt a conciliatory approach to resolving matters pertaining to workers and citizens welfare in the spirit of collective bargaining, I would like to urge you to kindly reconsider the declaration of strike action and return to the ongoing negotiation meetings, which has been adjourned to a date to be communicated to parties.

“This would be a more civil and patriotic approach and will enable your Congress pursue its cause within the ambit of the law and avoid foisting

The Nigerian Labour Congress has ordered Nigerian workers to remain at home as the Nationwide strike commences today June 3.

 The NLC made this known in a post shared on its X handle this morning June 3.  

The decision of the Organised Labour to continue with its nationwide strike followed the deadlock meeting it had with the Federal Government and the National Assembly leaders over a new national minimum wage and reversal of the recent hike in electricity tariffs. 

The labour unions argue that the current minimum wage of ₦30,000 can no longer cater to the wellbeing of an average Nigerian worker, lamenting that not all governors are paying the current wage award which expired in April 2024, five years after the Minimum Wage Act of 2019 was signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari. The Act should be reviewed every five years to meet up with contemporary economic demands of workers. 

Labour later handed the Federal Government a May 31 deadline for the a new minimum wage. On May 31, the Labour union declared a nationwide strike beginning from Monday, June 3, 2024 over the government committee’s inability to agree on a new minimum wage and reversal of electricity tariff hike. 

During the failed talks with the government, Labour rejected three government’s offers, the latest being N60,000. Both the TUC and the NLC subsequently pulled out of negotiations, insisting on ₦497,000 as the new minimum wage.

The Police in Anambra State says it has deployed its operatives to strategic parts of the state to ensure that any attempt to enforce the strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is thwarted.

A press release by the spokesperson of the state command, SP Tochukwu stated that the command stands with the federal government which has declared the strike as illegal, and will stop at nothing to thwart its enforcement, including any attempt by unscrupulous elements to hijack the enforcement and cause breach of peace.

Ikenga in the release said: “The Federal Government has declared the planned strike by the Nigerian Labour Congress as illegal and premature.

“The Anambra State Police Command reiterates the command’s commitment to enforce the legal recommendations and calls for caution to prevent a breach of public safety and peace.

“Police operatives have been deployed to different strategic areas, and tasked with the responsibility against any miscreants using the opportunity to cause any breach of public safety and peace in the state.

“The Command understands the right of organized labour to engage in such actions to advocate for the interests of all workers, but noted the importance of adherence to the existing laws governing such activities.

“To this end, the command encourages the good people of the state to go about their lawful businesses and be law-abiding, vigilant, and security-conscious.”

The command called on residents of the state to use their helplines to report any security-related incident for prompt response.

“The ‘npf rescue me app’ is also available for free download on both Android and Apple IOS, for Android and iPhone users respectively,” the command said.

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso has said that the introduction of Islamic Banks in Nigeria was spearheaded by an assistant pastor.

Cardoso disclosed this weekend at a reception organised to honour the Secretary-General, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Arbitration Centre, Dr Umar Oseni in Abuja.

According to him, it was now clear to Nigerians that the introduction of Islamic banks in Nigeria was not to Islamise the country but for small and medium-scale businesses.

Cardoso, represented by the CBN Director of Legal Services, Kofo Salam-Alada, said that more Shariah-compliant banks are being considered for approval due to the immense benefits it has brought to the citizens.

He noted that Islamic banks like Jaiz, Tajj, and Alternate Bank have stood the test of time since their establishment.

“Some years back, the Central Bank of Nigeria started a journey for the introduction of the Islamic Banking and Financing in Nigeria.

“It came when a young man was appointed governor of CBN. But most people never knew that the first person who spearheaded the journey was to be a pastor of the church.

“He was also a part-time pastor when this journey started. So it was never an attempt to Islamise Nigeria or Islamise financing in Nigeria. When the Prince (Emir Sanusi) came, he continued the journey”, he stated.

Recall that the first Islamic Bank in Nigeria, Jaiz was established during the reign of Chukwuma Soludo as the apex bank governor.

Nigeria currently has four Islamic banks out of 43 Deposit Money Banks, according to CBN’s recently updated list of approved banks in Nigeria.