President Bola Tinubu has given his approval for a N35,000 wage award to be given to civil servants to alleviate the impact of fuel subsidy removal


This information was revealed in a memo issued by Ekpo U. O. Nta, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.

The memo states that all Federal Civil Servants will be beneficiaries of this wage award, which will take effect from September 1, 2023.

Dated October 19, 2023, the memo was addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ministers and Ministers of State, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Chairmen of Federal Commissions, Federal Permanent Secretaries, Clerk of the National Assembly, Secretary of the National Judicial Council, and Secretary of the Federal Judicial Service Commission.


Other recipients of this memo include Directors-General and Chief Executives of Parastatals, Agencies, and Government-Owned Companies, the Auditor-General of the Federation, Accountant-General of the Federation, and the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation.

The memo states, “I refer to the Memorandum of Understanding reached between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Monday, 2 October 2023, as a result of the dispute arising from the withdrawal of subsidy on the price of premium motor spirit (PMS) and hereby convey the approval of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the grant of a wage award of N35,000:00 (thirty-five thousand Naira) only per month to all Federal Government workers with effect from 1 September 2023 pending when a new national minimum wage is expected to have been signed into law.”

NewsNow recalls that the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and other organized labor unions embarked on an industrial action due to the hardship caused by the removal of fuel subsidy.

The strike was later suspended for one month after the administration led by Tinubu offered the sum of N5 billion for the provision of palliatives to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has approved the release of letters to over 230 successful serving officers who sat for the 2021 and 2022 Upgrading examinations and were successful in extended interviews into higher cadres from the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the service.

The Chairman, Civil Service Commission, Engr. Tokunbo Odebunmi disclosed this in a release issued in Abeokuta, saying the successful candidates were officers who had obtained higher academic qualifications through self- development and sailed through the entire process of Upgrading.

Engr. Odebunmi, in a statement signed by Mrs. Funmi Onafowope, Press Officer, CSC, further revealed that those candidates who passed the three stages of the upgrading process and categorised into both professional and sub-professional cadres based on their certification, would have the opportunity of utilising their potentials in improving the civil service.

The Commission's Chairman emphasized that the purpose was aimed at gearing up workers in the service to develop themselves in their relevant fields for effective service delivery, adding that this would go a long way at ensuring progress in their chosen careers.

He therefore urged concerned officers to reciprocate the Governor's kind gesture through more dedication to duty and improvement in productivity, saying the present administration will leave no stone unturned to improve workers’ productivity and development in critical areas of needs.

I am deeply saddened by the passing of Bode Agusto, an outstanding accountant, banker, mentor and a true icon of Lagos State. His legacy as an eminent citizen of Lagos State and a distinguished Nigerian who was unrepentantly committed to our nation’s economic development will forever be etched in the annals of our history.

Bode Agusto was not only a financial maestro but also a dedicated public servant, who contributed significantly to the development of Lagos State and Nigeria. His contributions to the fields of accounting, finance and economics were quite remarkable and he played a pivotal role in shaping our nation's economic policies. His track record in the private sector and public service earned him the national award of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).

As Lagos State Governor in January 2017, I'd determined that Lagos State had reached a point where we needed to bring independent perspectives from the private sector to work with the government to jointly plan the future economy of Lagos State and re-engineer its business environment for global competitiveness and enhance opportunities for our people. I consequently set up the Lagos State Economic Advisory Committee, a 12-member private sector-dominated advisory body that comprised some of the best brains in our country and, in determining the chairmanship of the strategic committee, I turned to no other person than the late Bode Agusto and he graciously accepted unconditionally.

The Committee served out their assignment meritoriously without demanding financial compensation for themselves. Such was the patriotism and selflessness that defined the man Bode Agusto.

Lagos State and Nigeria has lost a true luminary and trail blazer. As we mourn his exit, I extend my deepest condolences to the Governor of Lagos State, his family, loved ones, professional colleagues and the entire people of Lagos State. Let us honor his memory by continuing his legacy of service, dedication and excellence.

Mr. Agusto has played his part in nation building and will forever live in our hearts. May his memory be a blessing that continues to inspire us to work collectively for the advancement of our nation.

His Excellency, AKINWUNMI AMBODE, FCA,

Former Governor of Lagos State.

President Bola Tinubu’s decision to withdraw the appointment of Imam Kashim Imam, a 24-year-old first-class Mechanical Engineering graduate, as the Board Chairman of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has ignited criticism from some northerners.

President Tinubu had reconstituted the governing board and management team of FERMA for a renewable term of four years, naming Imam as the Board Chairman.

Imam, the son of prominent Borno politician, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, had gained attention for his academic achievements after his appointment, including a first-class degree from the University of Brighton in the UK and a master’s degree from the same institution.

But he had only completed his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in August 2022, prompting questions about his readiness for such a high-ranking government position.

Criticism of Imam’s appointment intensified as many Nigerians questioned whether his academic qualifications were enough to justify the appointment, given his supposed lack of work experience.

This sentiment was shared on the micro-blogging app, Twitter (now X).


Amid the criticism, President Tinubu ordered the reversal of Imam’s appointment, without offering any explanation for his action.

The President’s decision was met with criticism from some northerners who expressed their disappointment on social media.

While some had initially called on Tinubu to withdraw Imam’s appointment claiming he lacks the experience required for the position, northerners who reacted to Imam’s withdrawal on Thursday accused the president of marginalising the north by withdrawing the appointments of two young northerners who were appointed to key positions in his government.

They noted that Imam’s withdrawal was reminiscent of a similar situation involving Maryam Shettima, popularly known as Maryam Shetty, who had her ministerial appointment withdrawn just hours before her scheduled Senate screening.

Shetty, from Kano State, had arrived at the Senate and was waiting to be screened when news of the withdrawal broke.

 

 

The Lagos State Police Command has issued a warning that no gathering will be allowed at the tollgate in Lekki.

 

This announcement comes in response to plans by civil society organizations to hold a peaceful march commemorating the third anniversary of the incident that occurred on October 20, 2020, during the #EndSARS protest in Lekki, Lagos.

SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos State Command Police Public Relations Officer, made it clear that no gathering or convergence will be permitted in the vicinity of the toll gate.

 

In a statement on his official X handle (formerly Twitter), Hundeyin stated that the police will be present to ensure the security of all participants in the peaceful walk, as long as they do not disrupt traffic.

He stated, “Uses at/by Oriental Hotel suggest stopping/waiting of buses and gathering of passengers. For the avoidance of doubt, no gathering/convergence whatsoever would be allowed anywhere around the toll gate.

However, men of @LagosPoliceNG would be fully on the ground to ensure security for all persons participating in the peaceful walk as long as they are not obstructing traffic.

The #EndSARS protests were a public outcry against police brutality, extrajudicial killings, extortion, and abuse of power, particularly by officers of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The initial protests prompted the federal government of Nigeria to dissolve SARS.

Unfortunately, the protests later turned violent as hoodlums took advantage of the situation, burning police stations, public facilities, and attacking both officers and citizens.

The FIRS has stated that there are no intentions to further increase taxes.


In a statement by Dare Adekanmbi, the Media and Communication representative of FIRS, the Acting Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, made this disclosure on Thursday.

Addressing prominent tax-paying companies in Nigeria, Adedeji assured them that the government has no plans to raise taxes, despite its efforts to increase the tax-to-GDP ratio from 10.86% to 18%.

“As a revenue-generating agency, our focus is not to introduce any new taxes but to enhance compliance through the use of data,” he said.

Adedeji further added, “Our strategy is simple: we aim to boost tax revenue by taxing prosperity, not poverty. Therefore, it is not our intention to destroy the very source of wealth creation.”

In the ongoing appeal of the petitions filed by Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Chichi Ojei, Nigeria’s Supreme Court has formed a panel of seven justices to preside over the case.


The three candidates, who represent the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) respectively, are contesting the outcome of the February 25 presidential election.

The court notices, signed by Zainab M. Garba from the registrar’s office, state that, as per Order 2 Rule 1 (2) of the Supreme Court’s Rules 1985, the notice is considered duly served on all parties involved.

According to the notice, the list of justices on the panel includes Musa Dattijo Muhammad, Uwani Musa Abba Aji, Lawal Garba, Helen M. Ogunwumiju, I.N. Saulawa, Tijjani Abubakar, and Emmanuel Agim.

Furthermore, the Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for Monday, October 23, regarding Atiku’s motion to present new evidence demonstrating that President Bola Tinubu submitted a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

There have been concerns about fuel scarcity in certain areas of Nigeria, but the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has reassured the public that there is no need to worry.


In a statement released by the company’s retail subsidiary and posted on its official X handle on Thursday, NNPCL attributed the appearance of queues in Lagos and some parts of the Federal Capital Territory to reduced depot loadout in Apapa, Lagos over the past few days.

However, NNPCL has taken steps to address the issue and has confirmed that it has an adequate supply of petrol for the next 30 days.

The company has advised motorists not to engage in panic buying as the distribution of fuel will return to normalcy soon.

“NNPC Retail Ltd. notes the appearance of fuel queues in some parts of Lagos and a few other locations around the country. This is due to reduced depot loadout in Apapa, Lagos over the past few days, and the root cause has since been addressed. We assure all Nigerians that there is ample supply with a sufficiency of at least 30 days. Motorists are advised to desist from panic buying as distribution will normalize over the next few days,” the statement said.


It is important to note that fuel queues emerged in Lagos and some parts of Abuja on Wednesday, causing panic among motorists.

In June, the Federal Government removed fuel subsidy, resulting in an increase in the petrol pump price to over 617 naira per litre.

A nationwide strike looms as the agreement between the Federal Government and Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on the implementation of measures to cushion the effects of petrol subsidy removal is currently threatened.

 

The NLC yesterday accused the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, of deviating from the agreement.

 

Recall that Organized Labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, suspended its planned nationwide strike, following an agreement reached with the government on October 2, 2023, to, among others, pay N35,000 wage award to federal workers and ensure non-interference with the activities of the NURTW.

Efforts to speak with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, yesterday proved abortive as calls put through his mobile phone rang out without response.

However, the Director of Press in the Ministry, Mr Olajide Oshundun, said he had not seen the NLC statement, since the ministry was not copied.

He said: “If I see the statement, I will discuss it with my minister to respond appropriately. As of now, there is nothing I can say until I see the statement.”

But the NLC alleged that the labour minister was trying to foist a new leadership on the NURTW, in violation of both ILO Conventions 87 and 98, and the agreement reached between the government and labour.

The 30-day deadline for the agreement to come into fruition to avert a nationwide strike expires in less than two weeks

The NLC in a statement issued by the General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, vowed to continue to stand by the democratically elected NURTW leadership and work with them as the legitimate representatives of workers in the transport sector.

‘Not in good faith’

According to the Labour Centre, the current effort by the minister to scuttle the deal with the Federal Government is a clear indication that the government’s negotiation is not in good faith.

It said every avenue would be explored to shield the trade union movement from what it described as emerging irresponsibility.

The statement, titled “Minister Lalong’s reckless move to undermine the critical labour-federal government agreement of October 2, 2023,’’ read: “In a shocking turn of events, the Federal Minister of Labour, Mr. Lalong, has thrown a spanner in the wheel of the implementation of the Labour-Federal Government Agreement by his unmasked partiality in handling a critical item in the agreement which is the apparent government meddling in trade union matters by siding with people, who had illegally seized the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, headquarters with police support.

“This group is now being encouraged to conduct its own delegates’ conference, both at zonal and national levels, to confer legitimacy on their action.

‘’This flagrant act not only constitutes an egregious intrusion into the internal affairs of a union, in violation of ILO Conventions 87 and 98 but also represents a clear attempt to sabotage the recently ratified agreement between the labour movement and the Federal Government.

 

“It is unfathomable that a federal minister of labour, tasked with safeguarding the rights and interests of diverse stakeholders in our industrial relations landscape, would opt to take actions that could undermine the very foundations of our collective engagement.

‘Minister’s decision untenable’

“The minister’s decision, which is clearly morally reprehensible and legally untenable, marks a disheartening departure from the expected standards of conduct within the nation’s industrial relations sphere.

“Despite initial assurances from the minister regarding the illegal occupation of the NURTW’s national headquarters, the democratically elected leadership, led by Comrade Tajudeen Baruwa, has not been reinstated.

‘’Instead, the minister has chosen to endorse and legitimize this hijacking with the state’s backing. This blatant power grab, subverting legality and moral integrity, is an affront on the principles of democratic governance.

“It is now abundantly clear that the federal government never negotiated in good faith and, consequently, was never genuinely committed to honouring the terms of the October 2, 2023 Agreement.

“This serves to affirm our earlier apprehension that the state was manoeuvring to orchestrate a coup d’état against the democratically elected NURTW leadership, potentially alluding to the support of the government, as suggested by Minister Lalong’s actions and statements.

“There is no doubt, both to us and the Nigerian public, about the government’s intentions regarding the implementation of the October 2, 2023, Agreement. It is evident that akin to the NURTW issue, the execution of other facets of the agreement may be jeopardized.

‘’Therefore, we take heed of Minister Lalong’s actions, which flagrantly violate an accord responsibly endorsed by all involved parties.

“We reiterate and emphasize the following points: The NURTW leadership crisis was engineered by the federal government through the Police, aiding the Lagos group, who were members of the lands, parks and garages commission in Lagos State, not the NURTW, to forcibly occupy the union’s headquarters in Abuja.

“Comrade Tajudeen Baruwa’s leadership was democratically elected, adhering to union statutes, the national laws and ILO Conventions.

“The election process began in May 2023 at the zonal levels, culminating in the national delegates’ conference of August 2023 that inaugurated the current leadership of Comrade Baruwa in August 2023.

“The governor of Lagos State previously created Lands, Parks and Garages Commission which led to the Lagos group in 2022 renouncing their membership of the union and taking up offices in the government agency.

“It is inconceivable for non-union members to seize national leadership, bolstered by the coercive powers of the state, invoking the name of the President as a shield and sword.

“The Nigeria Labour Congress firmly rejects Minister Lalong’s endorsement of the holding of illegal conferences. Any deviation from the spirit of our prior agreement on this matter forebodes grave consequences.

‘’The government cannot flout ILO conventions, the Constitution, and our statutes with impunity and believe that all will be quiet.

“As Minister Lalong recklessly steers our nation towards an industrial crisis, we pledge unwavering resistance to all forms of malfeasance and misconduct within Nigeria’s trade union sphere.

‘’We will marshal our resources to ensure that political interference and lawlessness do not corrupt leadership selection processes within the trade union sector.

“Minister Lalong, having descended into the arena, has stripped himself of the moral high ground and authority to continue midwifing the process of implementing the October 2 Agreement.

‘’We will, therefore, be highly constrained to attend any meeting he calls for the purposes of the implementation of that Agreement.

“A Minister of Labour is supposed to be an arbiter and as expected, to provide professional guidance to the government on this matter, instead he chose to contaminate the process with the same level of politics of the murky waters playing out in the larger polity.

“We implore the President to rein in Minister Lalong, and if this does not occur, we will conclude that the minister’s actions align with the President’s directives.

“Our allegiance is to upholding the rule of law and democratic principles, even if the minister chooses to disregard them. We will continue to stand by the democratically elected NURTW leadership, working with them as the legitimate representatives of workers in their sector, to thwart those seeking to contaminate the trade union sphere with political machinations.

“Every avenue will be explored to shield the trade union movement from this emerging irresponsibility.

“We steadfastly uphold the provisions of the October 2, 2023, Agreement, and any continued non-compliance after 30 days will compel our relevant bodies to take necessary actions.

“The onus now rests with the government to either honour the essence of the agreement or persist on Minister Lalong’s perilous course, inevitably leading to a national industrial crisis. The blame for such an outcome will squarely fall on the Minister of Labour, Mr.
Lalong.”

Nigeria, China Harbour sign Lekki Deep Blue Seaport contract

As Nigeria continues to reap heaps and bounds of dividends from the 3rd Belt And Road Initiative (BRI), the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and three Chinese partners have signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) for new projects valued at $2 billion.

Another $4 billion is the worth of letters of intent for new projects and investments.

This is just as the Federal Ministry of Works also signed an MoU with China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd for the construction of the Lekki Blue Seaport contract at the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who is representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Belt And Road Initiative Forum in Beijing, China, today witnessed the event, which also had the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Power, Works and other top government officials present.

The Vice President who commended all stakeholders and their Chinese counterparts said Nigeria has never been this ripe and ready for businesses to thrive in.

He said with the painstaking efforts by the Tinubu administration to ensure a level playing ground for all investors following the removal of all bottlenecks, the coast is now clear for deepened economic and trade collaborations.

Khalil Halilu, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NASENI, said the crystallisation of the agreements was a fulfillment of NASENI's commitments towards boosting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) drive of the Tinubu administration.

“This is a very important day for us at the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure because it is a day to show the results of some of the work that we have been doing in the last six weeks since I assumed the leadership of NASENI," the Executive Chairman said.

The MOUs to partner NASENI for investments in Nigeria were listed in a release by NASENI to include: i. Shanghai Launch Automotive Technical Co Ltd – an MOU to establish a new energy automobile facility for the production of new energy electric vehicles.

ii. .China Great Wall Industry Corporation – an MOU for the turnkey delivery of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) assembly line projects.

iii. Newway Power Technology Company Ltd – an MOU for the transfer of technology on lithium batteries, electric vehicles and allied technologies.

The ten Chinese firms who presented Letters of Intent to the Vice President to pull together 4 billion US Dollars in investments are TBEA (solar products); DongFeng Vehicles Co. (vehicle design and production) and HiLong Energy (CNG, LNG, methanol)

Others are Space Star Technology (Drone technology transfer); ENRIC (clean energy utilization technology); and Hidier Group (development of new industrial park), China State Construction Company (building technology and materials); CIMC (natural gas infrastructure delivery); Value Platform International Services Ltd (vocational training) and Acadia Technologies (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd. (smart grids and microgrids).

During the signing of the MoU on the construction of the Deep Blue Sea Port at the Lekki Free Trade Zone, the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, said the massive project was yet another indication that Nigeria still remains an industrial haven for many investors.

The event which was held at the Nigerian Embassy in Beijing later saw the Vice President meeting with several communications, tech, railway, power and construction giants.

They include the China National Electric Engineering Co. Ltd, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), China Railway Construction Corporation ( CRCC), China Communications Construction Co. Ltd (CCCC), HUAWEI Technologies, Senteng International Company Nigeria Limited, China National Electric Engineering Co. Ltd and Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co. Ltd.

Stanley Nkwocha
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications
(Office of the Vice President)
19th October, 2023