Organised Labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, has said it will not accept the N48,000 minimum wage offer proposed by the Federal Government.

The organised private sector had proposed an initial offer of N54,000 as a monthly living wage.

The unions had on Wednesday dumped the minimum wage negotiation after the Federal Government offered to pay N48,000, a figure far below the N615,00 the unions were demanding as the new national minimum wage.

After abandoning the session, the furious labour leaders in an emergency press conference vented their displeasure with the offer, stating that it was “an insult to the sensibilities of Nigerian workers”.

This was the second time in two weeks that the negotiation had run into trouble.

The last session, held on April 29, was deadlocked after organised labour insisted on N615,000 minimum wage.

The Federal Government disagreed with labour’s demand, stating that it was unreasonable.

The National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, stressed that the amount was arrived at after analysing the current economic situation and the needs of an average Nigerian family of six.

He blamed the government and the OPS for the breakdown in negotiation, saying, “Despite earnest efforts to reach an equitable agreement, the less than reasonable action of the government and the organised private sector has led to a breakdown in negotiations”.

Ajaero had, in an earlier interview on the matter, said, “Living wage is such that it will, at least, keep you alive. It is not a wage that will make you poorer and poorer. It is not a wage that will make you borrow to go to work. It is not a wage that will lead you to be in the hospital every day because of malnutrition. For that living wage, we have tried to look at N615,000.

“Let me give you a breakdown of how we arrived at that figure. We have housing and accommodation of N40,000. We asked for electricity of N20,000 — of course, that was before the current tariff increase. Nobody can spend this amount currently. We have a utility that is about N10,000. We looked at kerosene and gas, that is about N25,000 to N35,000.”

Explaining further, the NLC president said, “We looked at food for a family of six. That is about N9,000 in a day. For 30 days, that is about N270,000. Look at health. With the N50,000 provided, there will be no surgery or whatever. For clothing, we looked at N20,000. For education, N50,000. I don’t know about those who tried to put their children in private schools, they will not be able to cope with this amount. We also have sanitation of N10,000.

“I think where we have another bulk of the money is transportation. This is because the workers stay on the fringes and because of the cost of petrol, which amounted to N110,000. That brought the whole living wage to N615,000, and I want anyone to subject this to further investigation and find out whether there will be any savings when you pay somebody at this rate.”

Explaining why the unions would not accept the proposals by the FG and OPS, NLC’s National Treasurer, Mr Hakeem Ambali, said the expectation of labour was cut short with the Federal Government’s N48,000 offer.


He stressed that labour would only come back to the negotiation table when the FG shifts ground and consider paying workers a ‘worthy’ wage.

He said the government must consider food inflation, electricity tariff hikes and the removal of fuel subsidy before coming up with any amount as the minimum wage.

“Our government and employers of labour must show seriousness towards prioritising workers’ welfare and better remuneration. This is because this hardship that is meted out on Nigerians was caused by the policies of the government. All other employers are already benefitting from the increase in allocation in the state and local government.

“Retailers have also increased the price of their goods. Transporters have also increased their rate. Electricity tariff has also been increased. It is only the salary that is static and something urgent must be done. Labour is of the opinion that the right thing must be done. Government must show seriousness towards resolving this issue because it is no longer easy to live in Nigeria as a worker.

“That is why Labour condemned the N48,000 suggestion. Is it meant for feeding alone? If we have a family of six and they are fed with N500 per meal, that will give us N90,000 in a month. This is not adding transport, medical bills and rent. So, the government must also come up with a reasonable minimum wage regime that will address the economic crisis in the country,” he added.

The national treasurer also said FG had refused to engage the main issues on why the N30,000 was no longer sustainable.

He said, “It is not that someone will just tell us, ‘We will give you N100,000 or we will give you N150,0000.’ We will not accept it. There must be empirical data to support it. That is seriousness and collective bargaining.

“We are all living in Nigeria; we are not strangers. How much does it take to go to work for an average worker? How much is rent today? How much is feeding? Our conclusions must be logical.”

Reacting to the position of some experts who proposed N100,000 as a reasonable wage considering the current economic realities, Ambali said anyone who said that was not an expert.

“Those experts must be among the bourgeoisie because how can N100,000 be enough for the worker? Even treating malaria now is a problem for a Nigerian worker. By the calculation of labour, it means no one would be able to live or afford to take care of his family.

“That is why the government was unable to produce something substantial at that meeting because the issues backed by labour are backed by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics. The World Bank said the poverty index is about $2 per person.

“If we have six persons in a family, that is $12 per day. If we multiply $12 by 30 days, using the current exchange rate, we know what we are talking about.

“The government must address both the issue of minimum wage and the galloping inflation rate in the country and put up social policies that would take care of the vulnerable in the society, and not look for a way to pilfer and deep their hands into contributory pension funds, which so many employers are not even paying anyway.

“We believe that the new minimum wage must be a total rework of the workers’ welfare package,” he added.

When asked what organised labour would do if its demands on minimum wage were not met by the government, Ambali said workers might withdraw their services as they would not be able to cope.

He said, “It may not be a strike but it could be withdrawal of services. This is because if workers can no longer go to work, then they will stay at home. If workers trek to work today and trek for one week, they all will relax at home the next week because they may not be able to trek. Workers can’t continue going to work on an empty stomach. Those are the indices that will guide our engagements”.

‘Govt can pay workers’

The NLC treasurer also insisted that the government now had more money with the savings from fuel subsidy removal and could afford to pay workers a decent living wage.

He said,” The Federal Government has said the removal of the subsidy has earned the government over N1trn every month. If 50 per cent of that is reinvested in addressing poverty and the suffering of workers, it will be good.

“This is because the government is about the collective good of the people. We also know that the rate of the tax being imposed on workers is heavy. The poor are being overtaxed in Nigeria while the rich are enjoying tax holidays and exemptions.”

Ambali also called for a reduction in the cost of governance and wasteful government spending, noting that when citizens are going through economic hardship, the most reasonable thing to do is cut the cost of governance where possible.

He lamented that this was not happening in Nigeria with the government at all levels acting as if nothing had changed.

He added, “We have a large retinue of government appointees in Nigeria following elected officers up and down. There are too many. There are too many international trips. These are wastages in the system. There are some appointments that are not adding value to governance. All this should be looked at. Even the size of the cabinet is too much. Let the government reduce all these costs to address the needs of labour.”

The NLC official , however, urged workers to keep faith in the leadership of labour in the battle to get a living wage.

He said, “There is bound to be a lot of propaganda surrounding this matter. Labour leaders would be called names by politicians who will try to divide us and shift focus from the real subject matter. Workers must have confidence in their leaders. Once we are convinced that what is being offered can take an average worker home, we can sign an agreement with the government.”

Similarly, the Deputy National President of the Trade Union Congress, Dr Tommy Etim, said while labour was ready for the Tuesday meeting with the government, it was not ready to compromise on its position that Nigerian workers deserve a decent living wage.

He said, “Labour has already met and our position is very clear on this issue. When we pulled out, we wrote to the two centres (FG and organised private sector), appealing to us to come back for negotiation. They have agreed to shift their grounds and invited us for the continuation of the negotiation.

“We have given our submission. It is up for negotiations. It is based on variables which are known to them. Let them shift ground based on the variables. They have to take cognisance of the cost of accommodation, food, and other important things.

“According to the NBS, a meal is N900. That is official. When we look at what we submitted to them, we put N500 per meal. That is without meat. Let them tell us how they will arrive at whatever they will put on the table for us to consider.”

Labour’s next line of action

He also noted that labour expects the government to take definite action on the minimum wage before its May 31 deadline.

“We gave them May 31 as the deadline for this thing to be concluded. I think they are also working towards making sure the deadline is met. There are several grounds to cover. They know that we have what it takes.

“We believe they will be reasonable this time around to know that they are not playing with children. We want to see their level of seriousness before we discuss the next line of action. They should see the way labour picketed the electricity centres over the tariff. It tells you labour is united for this course. So, there is no cause for going back to the past. Labour is united and there is no going back to our unity,” he added.

Strike an option – TUC

When asked whether labour would consider going on strike over minimum wage, the TUC leader said the strike option was on the table.

He said, “That is one of the options and it is legal. No sane judge or court can give that kind of order to stop workers from exercising their constitutional rights. We are not deterred.”

Oleksandr Usyk beats Tyson Fury to win historic undisputed heavyweight championship fight
Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury by split decision to unify the WBA, WBO, WBC and IBF world titles; Fury and Usyk were fighting at the Kingdom Arena in Riyad to decide the first undisputed world heavyweight champion in 25 years, the first of the four-belt era
By John Dennen in Riyadh
Sunday 19 May 2024 00:52, UK

Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury by split decision to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, the first since Lennox Lewis.

Momentum switched in an astonishing ninth round when Usyk seemingly had Fury out on his feet. The Ukrainian smashed a left hook into Fury's jaw. It shook him all the way through his 6ft 9in tall frame and had him rocking across the ring.

Usyk harried him with further crunching shots, smacking Fury into one set of ropes then another. Fury listed into the strands. He could barely stand and leaned into the rigging.

Tyson Fury made his way to the ring through a tunnel of flames to face Oleksandr Usyk

Referee Mark Nelson darted in then and administered a 10 count, apparently convinced that the ropes had kept Fury up. It could have been a fateful decision. The bell rang to end the round and save Fury from another onslaught.

At the start of the fight Fury had appeared dialled into the best form we've seen from him for some time.

Despite the importance of this fight, the historic nature of the occasion, Fury was showboating, early in the fight too. He shimmied his body when stood in a corner in the first round, slipping his head from side to side.

For a moment in the second round he hid his hands behind his back. But it was his long, flickering jab that was connecting, just directing Usyk's attention away from that right that Fury dug occasionally to the body.

He ended the second round with a cracking right uppercut through the middle that prompted a smile from Fury.

Usyk had shown no sign of being intimidated by his vast opponent. He'd sent a thumping left cross arching over to catch Fury's head in the opening rounds. Solid straight shots hit Fury's long body too.

Usyk tracked forward in the third round, as chants of his name rang out.

Fury stayed elusive in the fourth round, sliding along the ropes. But when Usyk had him in a corner, the Ukrainian unleashed his punches forcing Fury to weave away from them.

When Fury found space to work he could direct his attentions at the Ukrainian's body. But in the sixth round Fury truly sensed blood. A long right to the head hurt Usyk. He had to back away from Fury to recover himself and the crowd warmed to the Briton's efforts.

The undisputed heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk attracted stars from around the world including Cristiano Ronaldo and Anthony Joshua

Fury was in the ascendancy in the seventh round, going about his work with an expression of glee. Only right at the end of the round, when Usyk tagged him with his left cross did he sound a note of defiance to remind Fury he was up against no ordinary foe.

That prompted Fury to start the eighth round battering hooks round either side of Usyk's head. The Ukrainian gallantly pushed himself forward, but it was getting harder for him to find a way round Fury's long punches.

But when Usyk hurt Fury in the ninth it changed the complexion of the fight.

The Ukrainian sought to press home his advantage in the final round, his lead hook strafing Fury's jaw. But the Briton slugged back at him to keep Usyk off and take the fight the distance.

The decision was split,114-113 to Fury on one card but in Usyk's favour 115-112 and 114-113 on the other two.

The Cross River State Government has dismantled no fewer than 50 illegal revenue points in parts of the state.

This follows a monitoring and inspection exercise led by Special Adviser to the Governor on Tolls Collection, Mr Bassey Ita Edet, in the northern part of the State.

Findings indicated that unauthorised persons allegedly use the 50 revenue points to extort money from commuters on the roads within the State. 

Edet told journalists that they are poised to clamp down on the menace of illegal checkpoints and tolls, which is the reason a massive crackdown on such collections has begun.

He stressed that the end to all illegal tolls and checkpoints was in line with the mandate of Governor Bassey Otu’s “People’s First.”

He said the team is given the mandate to enforce, inspect, and monitor all approved checkpoints and toll collection to ensure compliance and due process.

Edet warned those that have constituted themselves as hindrances to the government’s effort to stem illegal collection of taxes, rates, and assessments as a way of creating an enabling environment for commercial users of the roads, saying his team will not condone such any further.

Further findings confirmed that vehicles carrying goods are subjected to paying N27,000, and failure to comply results in impounding ‘offending’ vehicles.

Victims of road harassment by touts alleged that they used military men to enforce the extortions.

A driver, Etom Daniel, who plies the Cross River North routes, lamented other road taxes in other parts of the state.

“This is one of the major reasons for the increment in the costs of food items and farm produce cultivated in Cross River State.

“Some persons who have no idea about public administration are trying to tarnish the governor’s name.

“I am the Governor may not be aware of all these harassment, wickedness and extortions perpetuated by those they’ve given sub-heads,” he said.

In April, it appeared any club between Manchester City, Arsenal or Liverpool could emerge champions.

But Jurgen Klopp’s men fell off, thanks to a run of poor results, ensuring the German will leave with just one Premier League title after nine years.

It is a real credit to the Reds that they managed to insert themselves in the conversation, as many observers expected City and the Gunners to slug it out again this season.

Arsenal have especially performed supremely well.

“I think they’ve been excellent,” Clinton McDubus, a top football analyst and podcaster, tells DAILY POST.

“Many had doubts whether they would sustain the level of 22/23, and they’ve proven now that this team is here to stay and be a contender year after year.

“More importantly, they didn’t collapse in the run-in like the previous year and bounced back from various setbacks.

“Very impressive season, perhaps even more impressive than last year. Looks like they’ve gone up a level.”

As it stands, Mikel Arteta is set to finish as a bridesmaid behind his former boss and mentor, Pep Guardiola, for the second consecutive year.

But a lot of observers feel Arsenal will win it in a year or two.

“No. The only thing definite is the level they’ve shown to this point.

“They’re a genuinely good side so expectations will certainly rise, and they will go into the season fully expected to be contenders, and with the accompanying pressure.

“Anything less than that will bring scrutiny or be interpreted as regression. Man City will still be coming in as favourites and the team to beat.

“Those are the only guarantees. Football is cruel like that.

“Because every season is unique in itself, past performance and even obvious growth cannot guarantee a team going from 2nd to 1st the next year. That’s football for you.

“Arsenal will definitely be an interesting team to observe next season though. It remains to be seen how they’ll react if they miss out on the title narrowly for a second year in a row.”

It was not straightforward for City.

Although they began the season in formidable fashion, they fell off just before Christmas, with draws against Chelsea and Liverpool, before losing to Aston Villa at Villa Park.

However, in typical fashion, they have steamrolled their way to the business end of the season.

“I think it’s been a weird one, by their standards,” Solace Chukwu, Site coordinator, AfrikFoot NG tells DAILY POST.

“A comedown was inevitable following a treble and the loss of Ilkay Gundogan.

However, without Kevin de Bruyne for much of the season, this has been a very functional version of Manchester City.

“There has been less subtlety and more of a reliance on physical and athletic domination to win matches.

“But winning is a self-perpetuating habit, and no team has won as much as Manchester City in the last 5-7 years.

“They’ve found a way, and are on the cusp of success despite not being a vintage version of themselves.”

Perhaps the darker stain on City’s potential title win is the 115 charges hanging over their head.

“Impossible to not have that at the back of the mind when evaluating City, although that applies to the entirety of the project as opposed to this particular season,” Chukwu added.

“The allegations against them relate directly to the expense they incurred laying the foundation for their dominance.

“And, by not cooperating, City are essentially delaying justice for as long as possible, while building their myth in the meantime.

“By the time justice finally arrives, it won’t matter as much in the public consciousness anymore.

“It’s a calculated, if unethical, gamble.”

Junta-run Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have finalised plans to form a confederation after turning their backs on former colonial ruler France to seek closer ties with Russia.

Their foreign ministers met Friday in Niger’s capital Niamey to agree on a text establishing the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). 

“The objective was to finalise the draft text relating to the institutionalisation and operationalisation of the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)”, said Niger Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare as he read the final statement late Friday. 

He said the text would be adopted by the heads of state of the three countries at a summit, without specifying the date. 

“We can consider very clearly, today, that the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has been born,” Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said after meeting General Abdourahamane Tiani, the head of Nigerien military regime.

The third foreign minister at the meeting was Burkina Faso’s Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore.

The Sahel region has been subject to deadly jihadist violence for years, which they accused France of not being able to curb.

The three countries said late January they were quitting The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which they said was under French influence, to create their own regional grouping.

A prosecution witness, Victor Onyejiuwa, on Friday, told the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja that the alleged $600,000 he was asked to pay for the contract he executed for the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, was paid to the  former apex bank Director of Information Technology, John Ayoh and not to the embattled ex-CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

Onyejiuwa who is the Managing Director of Resource Computer Limited, stated this while being cross examined by Emefiele’s lawyer , Mr Olalekan Ojo, SAN.

The witness who stated that  all his communication with Ayoh was done via Whatsapp, noted that first bribe payment he made to Ayoh was $400,000, in Lagos and the second payment of $200,000 was made in Abuja.

Onyejiuwa also stated that he didn’t get any letter of authorization from the CBN management that he should pay bribe for the contract that was awarded to his company but that it was Ayoh that signed the award of the contract and the completion.

He however noted that after Ayoh left the CBN, he still did other contacts with CBN till 2019 when  Emefiele was still in charge and that he was paid in due time and no bribe was demanded from him.

“I have never met him (Emefiele) before. My dealings with the CBN management was through Ayoh.

” I did a new contract with CBN and no bribe was demanded and the payment for the contract was paid in due time

” I executed the contract while Godwin Emefiele was still the CBN governor,” the witness said.

Asked whether he had any conversation with any of the CBN deputy governors, to find out  if Ayoh had the authority to collect the $600,000 bribe he answered in the negative.” No, I did not”. 

When asked if Ayoh showed him any communication between himself (Ayoh) and Emefiele about the delivery of the money, he said no.

The witness was also asked if he showed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC a letter demanding for bribe, he said no.

Asked who the money was delivered to he said it was delivered to Ayoh, in his office and after the payment was made it was an official of the IT department that signed.

The embattled Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, are currently facing trial on 26 counts, bordering on abuse of office alleged $4.5bn and N2.8bn fraud.

The former CBN governor and Omoile pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Onyejiuwa on the last adjourned date in his examination in chief had told Justice Rahman Oshodi, that

he was pressured to pay $600,000 before he was paid for a contract.

According to him, sometime in 2017, he got an ‘enterprise storage and servers’ from the CBN and after executing the job, he was approached by a senior official who told him that his payment would not be approved if he did not pay certain sums.

“The official said there was pressure on him. I told him that our payment was being delayed. He told me that if I didn’t accede to his request, my payment would not be approved.

“After several back and forth, I succumbed to his pressure. I was able to organise the sum of $400,000 and $200,000 to facilitate payment of the contract funds.

“Within two or three weeks after, the payment was made. That is what happened,” the witness said.

However the case was adjourned till July 9, 10, for continuation of trial.

Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the 2023 election, has hinted at the possibility of supporting his Labour Party counterpart in the last election, Peter Obi in 2027.

The former Vice President, who is currently on a merger talk with stakeholders of some opposition political parties, said he will not hesitate to support Obi in the next election if the party picks the former Anambra governor.

According to The Sun, Atiku gave the hint in an interview with BBC Hausa Service.

Recall that Obi and Atiku recently met behind closed doors, sparking speculations about a merger of some opposition political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Confirming the move by opposition parties to align in a bid to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in the 2027 election, Atiku said, “We can merge to achieve a common goal. So, it’s possible and nothing can stop it if we so wish to achieve that.

Atiku said if the new “party decides that it’s the turn of the South-East and Peter Obi is chosen, I won’t hesitate to support him.

“I have said repeatedly and I even said it before the 2023 general elections that if PDP decides to zone the presidential ticket to the South or South-East specifically, I won’t contest it.

“As long as it is the decision of the party, I will abide by it. But I contested the 2023 presidential ticket because it was thrown open to all members of the party”.

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi said the biggest problem of Nigeria’s democracy is the judiciary and not the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Obi stated this at the fifth memorial of late Justice Anthony Aniagolu at the Godfrey Okoye University in Enugu.

According to the former Anambra governor, justice in Nigeria “goes to the highest bidder” and has become “commodified.”

He said, “While the judiciary, today, still boasts of a few outstanding judges, there is an undeniable decline in our judicial system.

“This decline poses a significant threat to the future of Nigeria. Justice is increasingly commodified, and delivered in favour of the highest bidder.

“Whenever democracy is discussed, fingers point to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the problem. But INEC is not the problem, instead, the judiciary is. The judiciary is the biggest threat to Nigeria. If our judiciary is effective, our businesses will thrive.

“When the rule of law is compromised, the most vulnerable members of society are disproportionately affected, and the fabric of our society begins to fray. The integrity of our institutions, the protection of human rights, and the stability of our nation are all jeopardised.

“The rule of law is the highest intangible and most valuable asset of any society, and we must work tirelessly to protect and preserve it. We must prioritise the pursuit of justice above all else.

“I emphasised the urgent need to revitalise our judicial system by safeguarding its independence and promoting the values of character, competence, capability, compassion, and integrity among our jurists, as well as within our political leadership.

“By doing so, we can ensure justice and fairness prevail as we endeavour to build a better Nigeria for all.

“Nigeria has become a country where anything goes. There is no rule of law, there is almost no judiciary. Everybody could be pushed down because there is no rule of law.

“Because the judiciary has become commercialised and depends on how much one pays, it has become difficult to get true justice in the judiciary.

“At any point in time where the judiciary is not working, the society suffers.”

Dangote Refinery is set to buy at least 24 million barrels of US crude over the next year as it ramps up its processing capabilities.

A report by Bloomberg revealed that the $20 billion refinery has issued a term tender for the purchase of 2 million barrels a month of West Texas Intermediate Midland (WTI) crude for 12 months starting in July, which amounts to 24 million barrels of crude in one year.

The call for US oil reflects Nigeria’s struggle to lift its own crude production, which remains well below theoretical capacity, as well as Dangote’s willingness to tap cheaper supplies than it can find at home. It also highlights how influential the refinery will be in global crude and fuel trading. 

Elitsa Georgieva, Executive Director at Citac, an energy consultancy specializing in the African downstream sector, said: “Supply of Nigerian crude is insufficient or unavailable and sometimes unreliable. WTI on the other hand, is available, with reliable supply and competitively priced.

“Buying different feed stocks also provides flexibility and optionality for the refinery, so the tender makes economic sense for Dangote,”

Nigeria has not been able to meet its Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) + quota for at least a year. The nation pumped about 1.45 million barrels a day of crude and liquids in April, still far below its estimated production capacity of 2.6 million barrels a day.

Crude theft, aging oil pipelines, low investment, and divestments from oil majors operating in the country have all contributed to declining production.

To ensure enough local supply to the 650,000 barrel-a-day refinery, Nigeria’s upstream regulator, the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), released new draft rules last month that will compel its oil producers to sell crude to domestic refineries. NUPRC mandated all oil companies in Nigeria to supply crude to domestic refineries that are unable to procure it locally. 

Producers are allowed to export crude only after meeting these domestic supply obligations. 

Under the new rules, NUPRC will act as an intermediary between local refiners and producers when agreements on crude supply are not reached, facilitating a sales purchase agreement using a willing-buyer, willing-seller model.

This new policy could benefit Dangote refinery by enabling it to procure crude oil from local suppliers rather than depending on imports. The plant, currently running at about half capacity, is taking advantage of cheaper US oil imports for as much as a third of its feedstock. Since the start of this year, it has received at least one supertanker carrying about 2 million barrels of WTI Midland each month.

An official at Dangote declined to comment on the report, Bloomberg stated.