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The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, provided insights into the NLC’s rationale behind proposing a monthly minimum wage of N615,000.
This was posted on the Nigeria Labour Congress X handle on Friday, 3rd May, 2024.
It wrote, ”It has become imperative at this point that we inform Nigerians who may not have known already the foundations upon which our initial demand for a N615,000 (Six Hundred and Fifteen Thousand Naira) new National Minimum Wage is based upon.
The figure was a product of a painstaking effort through which we captured the cost of living of Nigerian workers and masses in all parts of the country.
It was essentially an outcome of an independent research conducted by the NLC and TUC on the cost of meeting the primary needs of an average family around the country.
Our research was based on a family with both parents alive and four children without the burden of having other dependents with them.
A questionnaire was designed and sent to all the State Councils of NLC and TUC from where these questionnaires were sent to our members in all the Local government areas in the country to gather the monthly cost of living for the average family as described above.
Below is a summary of our findings and we hope that this will enable Nigerians understand what propels our demand so that better clarity is made to create better engagement around the ongoing National Minimum Wage negotiation process.
A cursory look at the table above shows that we have deliberately removed certain elements from the Basket used in calculations of this nature.
However, it should also be noted that we have not included things like expenditure on calls and data, offerings in churches and Mosques, community dues, entertainment, savings and Security etc.
These are therefore just for the bare necessities. It should be noted that we arrived at this figure before the increase in electricity tariff and the recent scarcity of Petrol across the nation leading to the appearance of long queues with attendant increased transport fares.
Any figure below this amount becomes a starvation wage and condemns Nigerian workers and their families to perpetual poverty.
We have to remember that the old one having expired on the 18th day of April, 2024, a new one is expected to have come into effect on the 19th day of April, 2024.
However, because of government’s inability to comply with the Law that demanded for negotiations for a new national minimum wage to have begun 6 (six) months before the expiration of the existing one, concluding the new one has become unfortunately delayed.
We are sure that our social partners would see our demonstration of understanding, sacrifice and reasonableness in our demands thus accepts this figure without much delay.
We also enjoin all well-meaning Nigerians to implore the Government and Employers to meet our demands for the sake of justice, equity and national development.”
Elder statesman and leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, Edwin Clark said former President Muhammadu Buhari imposed Abdullahi Adamu, a former Governor of Nasarawa State, as national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC despite his alleged corruption charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Clark stated this while speaking during an interview on Arise Television.
The elder statesman decried the freedom enjoyed by alleged corrupt politicians in the country.
He noted that nothing has so far been heard about 15 former governors and ministers who were dragged to court during the period when Nuhu Ribadu was the chairman of the EFCC.
Clark said, “In 2007, more than 15 former governors and ministers were charged to court during Ribadu’s time as the EFCC chairman.
“Some of them were charged to courts in Lagos, Abuja and so on. But after some time, some of these cases were not heard again.
“All we heard was that these same governors had been cleared to contest senatorial seats. Let me take a case of Abdullahi Adamu, who was the governor of Nasarawa State in 1999.
“He was charged to court for embezzling money from his state to the tune of N15 billion with other commissioners who were to be charged to court in Nasarawa State.
“Then after being charged to court he contested election to the Senate and he won and he has been there and nobody cared about him. Thereafter, former President Muhammadu Buhari imposed him as the National Chairman of the APC.
“We have many such people in the APC. Nobody heard about his trial again. He became an honest man and talked about corruption more than any other person,” he said.
THE streets of the world exploded on Wednesday as workers and students, marchers and protesters, sent May Day calls and, in several cities, clashes erupted over local needs and international concerns.
The streets of France, Greece, United States, Chile, Cuba and several cities around the globe, quaked over the Gaza War.
In Nigeria where abysmally low wages, fuel scarcity, a drowning currency and a run-away inflation ruled the waves, the primary international concern for the world-wide protests, was expressly stated. The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, and the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, made a joint declaration about the on-going genocide in the Palestine: “The UN mechanisms have unfortunately become undertakers and not life savers or peace-making.”
Echoing the universal calls on Workers day, the twin labour centres stated unequivocally: “ War does not benefit workers and the masses. It is mainly workers and the people that die in wars! These wars are therefore not for the protection of the people of the world and neither in our interests. It is purely driven by those who profit from wars- the bourgeoisies either in the West or in the East. We call for global peace and cessation of hostilities so that the killing of men and women and the massive suffering will end.”
This message of Nigerian trade unions was re-echoed in German cities with a youth in Berlin carrying the message: “The rich want war — the youth want a future.” Christening the 2024 May Day as “Revolutionary”, German workers displayed solidarity symbols with Palestinians and protested against Israeli violation of Palestinians right to life.
In Greece, thousands of workers marched through Athens bearing twin demands: pay rises that would bring wages to average European standards, and against the war in Palestine. They massed on the Greek parliament waving Palestinian flags, singing solidarity songs and letting balloons fly.
In the United Kingdom, workers marched on the Trade Department in London and blockaded arms factories in Lancashire, Wales and Scotland, demanding that arms export licences to Israel should be revoked. There were pickets at Barclays and BNY Mellon banks in Manchester for investing in Ebit System. The company produces 85 per cent of the land and air munitions used by the Israeli military. Members of the Palestine Action group which initiated the picketing said: “We will not tolerate genocide profiteers on our streets.”
In Cuba, the people practically emptied into the streets of Havana, at the foot of the giant statue of Jose Marti, the prophet of the South American independence movement. The Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, ICAP, stated at the rally: “We demand an end to genocide in Gaza, and Cuba’s removal from the false list of countries that sponsor terrorism.”
These twin demands resonated in some countries. In Nigeria, for instance, where Cuban Ambassador Miriam Morales Palmero on behalf of the international community addressed the May Day rally in Abuja, the Nigerian unions declared: “The economic embargo placed on the nation by the US is an unacceptable punishment for the citizens of Cuba as it seeks to restrict their ability to access the basic necessities of life. The US as the bastion of democratic expressions ought to show leadership in this direction so that the people of Cuba can breathe.”
Clashes broke out in some French cities. In Paris, the clashes led to a number of injuries. The victims included a dozen policemen. The workers led by the labour confederation, CGT, protested for better cost of living, reform of unemployment benefits and, against the genocide in Palestine.
Early morning May Day, pro-Israeli protesters launched attacks on the pro-Palestinian encampment on the University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA, campus in an effort to overrun it.
On the eve of May Day, protesters set up barricades in Santiago, Chile and three persons were wounded by gunfire. On this, progressive President Gabriel Boric regretted: “We are normalising violence, we cannot allow criminal gangs to take over the streets of our country.” His words appeared to have sunk in as there were no untoward incidents during the May Day activities organised by the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores, CUT.
In Istanbul, where thousands took on security forces with 210 persons detained, the protests were over inflation, demands for higher wages, labour rights and for a free Palestine.
The pro-worker Bolivian President, Luis Arce, who joined the workers march, announced a 5.8 per cent wage increase in the country.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a former leader of the labour centre, CUT, announced tax cuts for the poor. He told Brazilians: “In our country, there will be no tax breaks to favour the richest, but to those who work and live off their wages.”
In Lebanon, the workers marched against the economic crises which had also involved banks insolvency, and against the genocide in the Palestine. The crowds poured into the streets of Sri Lanka, a country that declared bankruptcy two years ago. The protests mainly focused on rising prices, especially of electricity and higher taxes.
Some of the largest pro-Palestinians rallies on May Day took place in South Africa. Supporters of the ruling African National Congress, ANC, organised solidarity marches in the streets before heading to the Athlone Stadium where they joined the May Day rally hosted by party ally and, the largest labour centre, the Congress of South African Trade Unions, COSATU. President Cyril Ramaphosa , the country’s President and former scribe of the Mine Workers union, told the rally: “You as workers, need to join this fight to fight for those who are oppressed around the world. And today as South Africa, we have stood up for the rights of those in other parts of the world (who) are currently being subjected to torture, to violence and genocide.” He added: “And that is why as a country and yes, as an alliance, we have stood firm in our support for the people of Palestine. And that is why we say ‘we want Palestine to be free’.”
COSATU President, Zingiswa Losi, declared: “We are here standing in support of our government, of our movement, in support of the Palestinian cause. Our freedom, comrades, is not complete until the people of Palestine are free and they are liberated.”
Alongside Palestine, was the support for the people of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic better known as Western Sahara. Large portions of the country are occupied by Morocco in an attempt to recolonise the former Spanish colony. The Nigeria trade unions declared: “Humanity remains in bondage as long as the United Nations continues to allow the aberration by Morocco to continue.”
The strident 2024 May Day calls will continue, so long as portions of the human race face extinction.
Paid $500M To End Ajaokuta Steel Contract
The Minister of Steel Development, Alhaji Shuaib Abubakar on Thursday disclosed that the Federal Government paid the sum of $500 in order to terminate the concession agreement on Ajaokuta Steel Company.
The minister, who disclosed this during an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on Steel Development in Abuja said the government was working assiduously to find a solution to the Ajaokuta Steel imbroglio.
He said, “It is a problem that has persisted for 45 years. We have gone to China to come and invest in the steel company including setting up a new plant and we have gone to seek financing”.
According to him, the challenges had changed as new technology had come up and there had been innovations and there had been discussions around it but it had not been finalised.
“Funding is a big challenge to the Ministry of Steel Development. Steel industry will be the bed rock of industrialization if we have proper funding.
“I am still at a stage where to find a solution to the Ajaokuta Steel Company.
On the $2 billion being requested to revive the moribund steel company, the minister said it was just a preliminary calculation, adding that the figure might not be up to that.
According to him, this is an estimate that may not be accurate at the last decimal point. It is just a process that will allow us to arrive at the right destination.
“The president has asked me to find a solution to Ajaokuta, so the figure will change pending the outcome of the technical audit.
“It’s clear to Nigeria that for this to happen we need funding and all the help we can get from the two chambers, this is why we need. I need all your support to make this a reality.”
Abubakar also disclosed that the nation spends $8 billion annually to import steel into the country, saying that it is in the best interest of Nigeria for the Ajaokuta Steel Company to work.
He noted that the revival of Ajaokuta Steel will cost money, and we have written a 10 year document for the revival. We will present the document to Mr President.
He said that it was in his own interest for Ajaokuta Steel to work, adding that he is from Kogi State and must push for such interest
Chairman, House Committee on Steel Development, Hon. Zainab Gimba, the urged the ministry to provide it with all the procurement process and other responses demanded by the committee
The committee said that Ajaokuta had remained a nightmare to many, adding that now that the minister had accepted to superintend over it, Nigeria expected more from him.
The Naira has resumed depreciation against the Dollar in the foreign exchange market.
FMDQ data showed that the Naira depreciated to N1402.67 per Dollar on Thursday from N1,390.96 on Tuesday.
This represents an N11.71 loss compared to the N1,390.96 recorded on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, at the parallel market, the Naira appreciated to N1340 per Dollar on Thursday from N1360 per Dollar on Tuesday.
DAILY POST reports that the National President of the Association of Bureaux De Change of Nigeria, Aminu Gwadabe, said its plans to harmonize the retail end of foreign exchange will stabilize the Naira in the forex market.
The 36 state governors under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) have disclosed that they were reviewing their individual fiscal space as state governments and the consequential impact of various recommendations, geared towards arriving at an improved minimum wage that they can pay sustainably.
The governors said that they celebrate with workers across the country for their dedication to service and patience, as all have worked with the Federal Government, labour, the organised private sector, and relevant stakeholders in arriving at an implementable national minimum wage.
According to the governors, while they acknowledge various initiatives adopted recently by way of wage awards and partial wage adjustments, it was imperative to state that the 37-member tripartite committee inaugurated on the National Minimum Wage was still in consultation and yet to conclude its work, just as they said that they would remain committed to the process and promise that better wages would be the invariable outcome of their ongoing negotiations.
In a statement signed yesterday by the NGF Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, at the end of the virtual meeting held Wednesday night, the state executives disclosed that they were committed to looking into issues bordering on the remuneration of state judicial officers and the infrastructure of the courts.
The statement read, “We, members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), at our meeting held today, deliberated on various issues of national importance.
“The Forum celebrates with workers across the country their dedication to service and patience as we work with the Federal Government, labour, organized private sector, and relevant stakeholders to arrive at an implementable national minimum wage.
“While we acknowledge various initiatives adopted recently by way of wage awards and partial wage adjustments, it is imperative to state that the 37-member tripartite committee inaugurated on the National Minimum Wage is still in consultation and yet to conclude its work. As members of the committee, we are reviewing our individual fiscal space as state governments and the consequential impact of various recommendations to arrive at an improved minimum wage we can pay sustainably. We remain committed to the process and promise that better wages will be the invariable outcome of ongoing negotiations.
“Members received the outgoing Country Director, Mr. Shubham Chadhuri, and the incoming Country Director, Mr. Ndiame Diop, of the World Bank, to discuss the Bank’s vision for transitioning. Mr. Chadhuri appreciated the Forum for the strategic role it continues to play in coordinating collective action for developmental change.
“He applauded the non-partisan character of the Forum, the professionalism of its Secretariat, and state governments’ commitment to mutual accountability mechanisms such as performance-based financing interventions by the Bank. Members expressed confidence in the choice of Mr. Diop to lead the collaboration going forward and look forward to a sustained and deepened relationship.
“The Forum discussed the revised National Policy on Justice (2024–2028) from the just concluded National Summit on Justice on 24th & 25th April 2024. Members agreed to consider the submissions from the summit as may concern their individual states, including recommended legal amendments, administrative improvements, and policies to strengthen the justice sector. Also, the Forum committed to looking into issues bordering on remuneration of state judicial officers and the infrastructure of the courts.
“The Forum received a presentation from the National Human Capital Development (HCD) Programme—Core Working Group Secretariat, led by Ms. Rukaiya El-Rufai and Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab. Both highlighted the marginal progress made by states and its contribution to Nigeria’s Human Development Index (HDI), especially across health, nutrition, education, and labour force participation. Having reviewed the previous program design and national strategy, a revised governance and implementation roadmap was proposed to scale up impact and ensure sustainability. Members pledged to support the effective domestication of proposed revisions to the national HCD strategy.
“Members received a briefing from Mrs. Oyinda Adedokun, Program Manager, State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Federal Ministry of Finance Programmeme Coordination Unit. The briefing highlighted states’ performance in implementing advocated reforms relating to land administration; regulatory framework for private investment in fiber optic infrastructure, services provided by investment promotion agencies and public-private partnership units; efficiency and transparency of government-to-business services, under the World Bank financed program.
“The Forum commiserated with the Governors of Rivers State, H.E. Siminalayi Fubara, and Ogun State, H.E. Prince Dapo Abiodun, over the petrol tanker explosion and gas explosion that occurred on April 26th and 27th, 2024, respectively. Members called for proper maintenance of trucks, especially those fitted to convey Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), and recommended appropriate training for truck drivers.
“On enforcement of regulations, members resolved to engage relevant Ministries, Departments, & Agencies (MDAs) in order to align the activities of federal regulators with the operations of officials at the sub-national level.”
The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has ordered full implementation of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Amendment Act 2024.
The order also includes the operationalisation of the National Cybersecurity Fund by all regulators and businesses specified in the second schedule of the Act.
The NSA gave the order in a statement by the Head of Strategic Communications, Zakari U. Mijinyawa.
The statement reads: “ Recall that on 6 July 2022 Nigeria joined 66 other countries that have signed and ratified the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime to enhance international cooperation, provide common platform and procedural tools for efficient and safe cyberspace pursuant to section 41(2) (a) of the Cybercrime Act 2015 requiring conformity of Nigerian cybercrime and cybersecurity laws and policies with regional and international standards.
“This is further emphasized by one of the resolutions reached during the High Level African International Counter Terrorism Meeting which held in Abuja between 22 and 23 April 2024. The resolution called for the improved deployment of greater support and resources towards strengthening cybersecurity activities in Africa and taking concrete steps to prevent the use of social media and other platforms by terrorists and organised criminal groups.
“In view of the need to secure Nigeria’s Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), counter terrorism and violent extremism, strengthen national security and protect economic interests, this notice calls for the full implementation of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Amendment Act 2024, including the operationalisation of the National Cybersecurity Fund by all regulators and businesses specified in the second schedule of the Act.”
The Nigerian government has begun a 15-day emergency supply to end the fuel scarcity nationwide.
The South West Regional Coordinator of the NMDPRA, Engr. Ayo Cardoso disclosed this in a statement.
Recall that fuel scarcity has lingered across Nigeria for days.
Although the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited assured that it had sufficient petrol to go around the country, the scarcity has persisted.
Corroborating NNPCL’s position, Cardoso said barely two days ago, the country received 300 litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
He stressed that Nigerians do not need to panic as the fuel queue will soon vanish.
“As I said earlier, there would be enough fuel across Nigeria soon. We have received over 300 million litres as of Tuesday.
“More have arrived, but I can’t give you the figure. Vessels will keep arriving in Nigeria for 15 days, which started counting on Monday, and we will keep distributing the product nationwide.
“The masses should not panic; all these will soon vanish. We are not prioritising anywhere; each state has its allocation to be delivered accordingly,” Cardoso stated.
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has promised workers in the state that his administration will implement the new minimum wage that is approved by the Federal Government.
Recall that the Federal Government on Tuesday announced 25 percent and 35 percent salary increase for civil servants across various consolidated salary structures.
A statement released on the eve of the Workers’ Day celebration and signed by the Head of Press, National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission, Emmanuel Njoku, stated that the increases took effect on January 1, 2024.
Sanwo-Olu gave the assurance on Wednesday during the Workers’ Day celebration held at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan.
He promised to look at some of the demands of various unions in the state, saying that his administration would continue to ensure good welfare packages for all workers in the state.
“This year’s theme, ‘People First,’ resonates deeply with our administration’s philosophy, which is underpinned by our firm belief in prioritizing the welfare of our people.
“Through various measures, policies, and initiatives, we have demonstrated that the interest and welfare of the people come first and remain the ultimate goal of all our actions. Our response actions are geared towards mitigating the impact of these trying times and offering support to both our workers and citizens alike.
“We have been steadfast and intentional in implementing our social intervention programmes, providing crucial assistance to those in need throughout the state. From subsidised food items through our Ounje Eko, and Eko Cares initiatives to incentives on social services, we have made tangible differences in countless lives.
“Healthcare initiatives that ensure access to quality medical services for all, transportation support, and educational opportunities for our children exemplify our commitment to creating a Lagos where everyone has a fair chance to thrive. Our dedication to putting people first extends beyond mere words,” said the governor.
On his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare, Sanwo-Olu said: “As we look towards the future, I want to reaffirm our commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable society in which the interests of workers receive the attention it deserves.
“We will continue to invest in education, training, and skills development to equip our workforce with the tools they need to succeed in their places of work because we recognize the vital role that workers play in driving progress and prosperity in our society. And we pledge to build a future where every worker is respected, empowered and able to live with dignity and pride.”
London sword attack suspect charged with murder of 14-year-old British-Nigerian Daniel Anjorin
AFOLABIUK police named a 14-year-old boy killed in a sword attack in London this week as Daniel Anjorin and said the suspect will face murder and other charges over the violent rampage.
The teenager died on Tuesday morning as he walked to school in Hainault, in the east of Britain’s capital, when he was attacked by a man wielding what appeared to be a Samurai-type sword.
Police tasered and arrested the suspect, a 36-year-old man who was not previously known to police.
Police named the suspect as a Spanish-Brazilian national, Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo, and said he would appear at Barkingside Magistrates Court on May 2.
He has also been charged with “two counts of attempted murder, two counts of grievous bodily harm, aggravated burglary, and possession of a bladed article”, police said in a statement.
‘Profound shock’
The independent school attended by Anjorin said in a statement on Wednesday that they had been left in “profound shock and sorrow” at the pupil’s death.
“He was a true scholar, demonstrating commendable dedication to his academic pursuits. His positive nature and gentle character will leave a lasting impact on us,” Bancroft’s, in Woodford Green, near Hainault, said.
London’s Metropolitan Police force said Tuesday’s horror unfolded just before 7:00 am (0600 GMT) when the accused crashed a van into a house fence, hitting a 33-year-old man before stabbing him in the neck.
A 35-year-old man was then attacked inside a nearby property, causing lacerations to his arm, before Anjorin was killed.
Police arrived on the scene 12 minutes after the first emergency call and attempted to neutralise the suspect with incapacitant spray and a Taser gun but these had little effect.
The suspect seriously injured two police officers, both of whom required surgery on Tuesday and remain in hospital.
One, a woman, suffered severe injuries to her arm and nearly lost a hand, the Met said.
The man fled again as terrified witnesses took cover in houses before police used a Taser to overpower him, detaining him 22 minutes after the initial call.
“This is a complex investigation due to the number of crime scenes, forensic evidence, hours of CCTV footage and witnesses we need to speak to,” Larry Smith, the detective leading the investigation, said in a statement.
“I know that many people will want answers and we are working to provide them as soon as we can”, he said.
Police have said the attack was not terror related.
It came amid a rise in stabbings in the United Kingdom and shortly before voters decide in local elections on Thursday whether to re-elect London mayor Sadiq Khan for a record third term.
Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has criticised the opposition Labour Party’s Khan for his record on crime.
Anjorin’s death is the second recent tragedy to hit Bancroft’s, after a former pupil, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, was killed in Nottingham last year as she tried to save her friend from a knife attacker.
Valdo Calocane was sentenced to indefinite detention in a psychiatric hospital for stabbing to death 19-year-old O’Malley-Kumar, fellow student Barnaby Webber and 65-year-old school caretaker Ian Coates.
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Commercial banks in Nigeria closed 2.021 million bank accounts in the first quarter of 2024, Q1’24, to clean their books of questionable accounts and comply with regulatory orders on the linkage of bank accounts to the National Identity Number, NIN.
This is contained in a report by the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System, NIBSS, which also indicated that the number of inactive bank accounts grew month-on-month, MoM, by four million or 2.0 per cent to 19.7 million in March 2024 from 19.3 million in the previous month, February.
A bank account is classified inactive when it records zero transactions including deposits, withdrawals, transfers or point-of-sale transactions for six months.
However, details of the “Industry Bank Account Database”, a monthly data reported by banks, and compiled by the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System, NIBSS, also indicated that the number of active bank accounts grew by 6.62 million or 3.0 per cent to 219.64 million from 213.02 million in February.
Recall that in December 2023, the CBN issued a directive to all commercial banks in the country to restrict tier-1 accounts without proper Biometric Verification Number, BVN, and National Identity Number, NIN, that are not linked by Thursday, March 1st, 2024.
According to NIBSS data on BVN enrollment count, 61.6 million Nigerians have BVN as of April 2024.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole has confirmed a widespread consensus among federal and state governments, along with private employers, regarding the necessity to raise the national minimum wage.
Naija News reports that Oshiomhole, while speaking on Channels Television’s “Politics Today,” highlighted the outdated nature of the current N30,000 minimum wage in light of the escalating cost of living.
“The current minimum wage of 30,000 is a joke,” Oshiomhole stated, emphasizing the dire need for an adjustment.
He pointed out the severe drop in purchasing power affecting employees at all levels, from directors and permanent secretaries to entry-level positions.
“You need to beef it up,” he added, suggesting the potential for wages to be indexed to inflation, a practice observed in other market economies.
Expectations for an announcement of a new minimum wage during the Workers’ Day celebrations were unmet, leaving the workforce in anticipation.
However, the Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, reassured workers at the May Day celebration in Abuja that any agreed-upon adjustments would be retroactive from May 1, 2024.
“It is regrettable that the new national minimum wage is not ready before today, but a wide consultation is ongoing to ensure that the document is put together as soon as possible,” Onyejeocha said.
Oshiomhole praised the government’s commitment to implementing the new minimum wage from the specified date.
The current Minimum Wage Act, established at N30,000, was signed in 2019 by former President Muhammadu Buhari and is due for its five-year review to align with the contemporary economic needs of workers.
Authorities in Lagos State have uncovered a network of makeshift apartments beneath the Dolphin Estate Bridge in the highbrow area of Ikoyi.
Tenants were reportedly paying N250,000 per annum for accommodation in the apartments.
A total of 86 partitioned rooms, varying in size from 10×10 to 12×10, were discovered beneath the bridge, according to the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab.
These rooms, along with a container used for illicit activities, were removed by the enforcement team of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources.
Wahab disclosed this in a post via X alongside videos documenting the eviction and dismantling of structures beneath the bridge.
“A total number of 86 rooms, partitioned into 10×10 and 12×10, and a container used for different illegal activities were discovered under the Dolphin Estate Bridge,” Wahab wrote.
Meanwhile, Kunle Rotimi-Akodu, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, confirmed the eviction of squatters from beneath the bridge.
Rotimi-Akodu highlighted the environmental violations and illegal settlement that prompted the eviction, which was carried out by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), commonly known as KAI.
“Squatters dwelling under the bridge leading from inward Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi were evicted today Tuesday, 30th of April, 2024 by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps LAGESC (aka KAI),” Rotimi-Akodu stated.
He further disclosed that 23 individuals were arrested during the eviction process, emphasizing that the law would be enforced to address such violations.
[DailyTrust]
Media
Lagos Govt Discovers 86 Rooms Under Bridge Where Tenants Pay N250,000 Yearly Rent pic.twitter.com/U8eiWPXt0A
— The Whistler Newspaper (@TheWhistlerNG) May 1, 2024
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, has clarified that the 25 per cent and 35 per cent increase in workers’ salaries announced by the federal government is not the minimum wage.
The president of the association, Mr Tommy Okon, clarified while fielding questions from newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.
Okon, who is also the Vice President of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, said that the approval of the salary increase was to close the salary gap that existed in some ministries, departments and agencies.
“Other sectors have benefitted from these increases; it is only the core Federal Civil Service. So, it is a good development, no doubt, but the people need to be informed.
“Some even saw it as if the government had ambushed the labour unions and then come out unilaterally to increase the minimum wage to that amount. Whereas, it is not the minimum wage.
“The minimum wage is ongoing, what the government did was to correct some gaps that existed among the pay of those in those sectors listed,” he said.
Okon said the clarification was important for the generality of workers and the masses at large because the salary increase was to bridge the wage gap in the civil service.
NAN reported that the Federal Government on Tuesday announced an increase of between 25 per cent and 35 per cent in the salary of civil servants on the remaining six consolidated salary structures.
They included Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure, CONPSS, Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure, CONRAISS and Consolidated Police Salary Structure, CONPOSS.
Others were Consolidated Para-military Salary Structure, CONPASS, Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure, CONICCS and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure, CONAFSS.
[DailyPost]