News

Minimum Wage…Labour, State Governors Set For Showdown

Published

3 months ago

June 29, 2024

paraphrase:Organised labour yesterday kicked against a fresh proposal by some state governors in their advocacy for autonomy to set their own minimum wage for workers.

In their recent declaration, the Southern Governors’ Forum called for the consideration of each state to pay the new minimum wage they can afford.

The governors’ advocacy also came a few days after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) stepped down a report to allow President Bola Tinubu make more consultations before sending the new national minimum wage bill to the National Assembly.

However, responding to the governors yesterday, the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), criticised their stance while labelling it as dictatorial and contrary to the foundational principles of a national minimum wage.

NLC’s head of information and public affairs, Comrade Benson Upah, in statement sent to LEADERSHIP Weekend yesterday, emphasised that such a wage is intended as a national baseline to ensure a minimum standard of living for all workers.

He stated that the national minimum wage is a collective agreement designed to prevent workers from being paid below a certain threshold, which is crucial for maintaining their welfare and the stability of the national economy.

According to Upah, the governors’ push to independently determine wage levels undermines this principle and threatens to widen the disparity in workers’ living standards.

While acknowledging that states already have diverse pay structures reflecting their unique financial situations, the NLC pointed out the inconsistency in the vgovernors’ argument by comparing it to the uniform salaries received by political office holders across the country, as determined by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

The congress decried this “double standard”, calling it a significant concern for the nation’s socio-economic balance.

The NLC expressed disappointment at the governors’ apparent ignorance of global best practices regarding national minimum wages, despite their frequent international travels.
This lack of understanding, according to the NLC, contributes to poor governance and exacerbates the suffering of Nigerians.

The labour centre even suggested that such governors should seek further education on industrial relations to better serve their roles.

In the statement, the NLC also commended governors who prioritise the welfare of workers and align their policies accordingly. It however condemned the attitude of viewing workers’ salaries as charitable handouts rather than the rightful earnings of hardworking Nigerians.

The statement said, “The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is compelled to address the recent statements made by some Nigerian governors regarding their desire to pay what they deem fit to Nigerian workers as the minimum wage. The fate of Nigerian workers cannot be left solely in the hands of employers, whether public or private; what the governors are asking for is akin to allowing numerous companies and organisations in Nigeria to pay workers whatever they like. While these companies may not pay the same salaries, they must adhere to the national wage floor, and the same should apply to state governors.

“It is unfortunate that workers’ salaries are often seen as charity rather than the hard-earned income of hardworking Nigerians. It is equally painful that some of these governors fail to realise that workers’ salaries substantially drive the economy.

“We urge President Tinubu, who had promised a living wage (which is superior to a minimum wage) not to allow himself to be blackmailed or boxed into a corner by unpatriotic governors.
“We urge the federal government to stop dithering on the issue of the national minimum wage because of the gang up by some selfish governors.”

Complete Minimum Wage Process To Avoid Unrest -SSANIP
Meanwhile, the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) has called on the federal government to urgently conclude the process for the new national minimum wage to prevent potential unrest by workers.

The appeal was made during the 72nd General Executive Council (GEC) meeting held at Auchi Polytechnic.

In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, SSANIP expressed dismay at the federal and state governments’ slow pace in finalising the new minimum wage law, which needs to be updated as the current one expired since April 18, 2024.

The association warned that failure to address this issue promptly could lead to worker unrest which will be detrimental to the country’s economic progress.

In the communique signed by the SSANIP national president, Comrade Philip Ogunsipe and national secretary, Comrade Nura Shehu Gaya yesterday, the association lauded the efforts of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in negotiating the new wage and urged President Bola Tinubu to fulfill his promise of providing Nigerian workers with a living wage.

During the meeting, SSANIP discussed various issues impacting the polytechnic sector and its members, and expressed concerns over national security, economic conditions while calling for urgent economic policy reforms to alleviate the hardships faced by Nigerians.

CREDIT: LEADERSHIP

News

BREAKING: Edo guber: 90.33% results uploaded on IReV – INEC

Published

34 mins ago

September 21, 2024

ARS NEWS

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has successfully uploaded 90.33 per cent of the results from the Edo governorship election to its Results Viewing Portal, IReV, as of the time of filing of this report.

Accordingly, results from 4,082 out of the 4,519 polling units where elections were held in the state have been successfully transmitted on the portal.

This means that only results from 437 PUs are yet to be uploaded on IReV.

Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo, Anugbum Onuoha, reassured the public during an interview on Arise Television that electronic transmission of results would proceed smoothly, barring any network disruptions.

“We have trained the operators for the BVAS. They are set. BVAS is to accredit the voters and to know the total number of voters that will vote at that level and that polling unit.

“After that, the voters will start voting. At the end of the day, they will count the results, and it will be uploaded to our IReV,” he assured.

This comes as the Peoples Democratic Party’s Asue Ighodalo, All Progressives Congress’ Monday Okpebholo, Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party and others compete for votes from 2.2 million voters with permanent vote cards across the 18 local government areas in the state.

DAILY POST earlier reported that INEC uploaded 86.55 per cent of the results on IReV.

CREDIT: DAILY POST

News

We’ve been fair in distribution of FG palliatives – Abia Govt

Published

37 mins ago

September 21, 2024

ARS NEWS

The Abia State Government said that it has been fair and transparent in the distribution of the four tranches of the Federal Government palliatives to Abia citizens.

The Special Adviser to the Abia State Governor on Policies and Intervention, Rev. Fr. Christian Anokwuru, stated this in Umuahia while briefing the press on the distribution of the palliatives across the state.

He said that the state government first received a total of 16,800 bags of 50kg rice and 13,260 bags of 50kg maize. The government sold the bags of maize and bought rice instead and then added 4,800 bags of 50 kg rice. As a result, a total of 30,800 bags of 50 kg rice were distributed across the state in the first batch.

Anokwuru noted that the state government equally took delivery of 24,000 bags of 25 kg rice as the second batch of palliatives. Out of these, 19,524 bags were allocated to Abia civil servants from salary grade levels 01 to 08. The remaining 4,476 bags were distributed to persons with disabilities, Nigeria Correctional Centre in Abia, Amaudo Itumbauzo Centre for mentally ill, destitute, orphanages, and widows through the Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with the Office of the Wife of the Governor.

According to him, the state government received the third batch of palliative of 13,260 bags of 50kg maize and 3,196 bags of 25kg garri. Of these, 601 bags of maize and 144 bags of garri were given to each of the 17 LGAs, while faith-based organisations received 156 bags of maize and 38 bags of garri. Boarding schools received 23 bags of maize and six bags of garri.

In June 2024, the state received the fourth batch of palliative consisting of 8,900 bags of urea and NPK fertilisers, which will be distributed across 15 LGAs, excluding Aba North and Aba South LGAs, as well as a few wards in Obingwa and Osisioma LGAs, which are urban areas with minimal farming activities.

CREDIT: DIALY POST

News

Edo Governorship Election: Live results from polling units trickle in

Published

43 mins ago

September 21, 2024

ARS NEWS

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, have started announcing results from polling units in the ongoing governorship election in Edo State.

Voting has ended in most polling units and results are being counted and announced in the presence of party agents and voters.

DAILY POST reports that the leading contenders for Saturday’s election include Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress and Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata.

Follow this thread for results from Polling Units, PUs.

Location: PU11, Ward 06, Oredo LGA

Results

PDP: 41

APC: 19

LP: 32

Ward 3, Unit 21, Etsako West

Results

APC: 28

PDP: 30

LP: 11

NNPP: 1

PU05, Ward02 GRA/Etete, Oredo LGA
Results
APC: 15
PDP: 58
LP: 12
The following results are from OREDO WARD 1.
UNIT18
APC—25
LB—-23
PDP—-104
VOID VOTE —2
UNIT19
APC—8
LB—10
PDP—-46
VOID VOTE 0
Unit 20
APC—-38
LB—-10
PDP—105
VOID VOTE —4
UNIT21
APC—-19
LB—-4
PDP—41
VOID VOTE—6
PU62, Ward 01, Ogbe, Oredo LGA, Edo state.
APC: 13
PDP: 19
LP: 02
Location: Ward 11 Unit 14 Etsako West LGA
Result
APC: 157
PDP: 35
ADP: 2
LP: 7
Location: PU1, Okada primary school, Ovia north/east
PDP=51
APC=51
LP=4
Location: PU2, Okada primary school, Ovia north/east
PDP=57
APC=36
LP=2
Location: PU3, Okada primary school, Ovia north/east
PDP=45
APC=25
LP=1
Location: PU21, Amufi primary school, ward 3
PDP=136
APC=38
LP=8
PU001, Uwessan 1, Esan Central LGA
APC: 102
PDP: 1
LP: 1
PU2, Afegbua primary school, Etsako East LGA
PDP: 121
APC: 128
NNPP: 1
Ward 11 PU13 Etsako West LGA
APC: 136
PDP: 34
LP: 4
Location: PU21, Amufi primary school, ward 3
PDP=136
APC=38
LP=8
Location: PU1, Okada primary school, Ovia north/east
PDP=51
APC=51
LP=4
Location: PU2, Okada primary school, Ovia north/east
PDP=57
APC=36
LP=2
Location: PU3, Okada primary school, Ovia north/east
PDP=45
APC=25
LP=1
PU3, Ward 1, Ewohimi, Esan south-east, Edo state
APC 45
PDP 200
Oshiomhole’s polling unit
Ward 10 PU 1 Etsako West
APC: 403
PDP: 1
ADC: 1
PU14, Community Hall Idumodin, Orhionmwon LGA, Igbanke West ward 12
PDP: 95
APC: 84
LP: 5
PU1, Orhionmwon LGA, Igbanke west ward 12, Idumodin Primary School, Idumodin III (Community Hall)
APC: 67
PDP: 35
LP: 2
PU4, Egor LGA, Egor ward 4, Egor secondary school, Egor I
APC: 21
PDP: 32
LP: 5
PU10, Orhionawon LGA, Ugboko ward 5, Ugbugo, Ugbugo Town Hall II
APC: 26
PDP: 11
LP: 0
PU7, Agbor/Ogbokpa primary school, Ewatto ward 3, Esan south LGA
APC: 131
PDP: 78
LP: 0
PU6, ward 14, Oluku, Ovia north east LGA
PDP: 84
LP: 21
APC: 11
PU20, Oredo LGA, Unueru/Ogboka ward 10, Ogboka/Unueru III, Urubi Primary School II
APC: 54
PDP: 46
LP: 4
Edo guber election result
PU14, Urora-Akengbuda Primary school VIII, Ikpoba/Okha LGA, Aduwawa/Evbo Modu ward 4
PDP: 90
APC: 23
LP: 3
PU15, Ujoelen-Ugha Square, Emuhi/ Ukpenu/Ujoelenu/Igor ward 7, Esan West LGA
PDP: 96
APC: 100
LP: 4
PU13, Uromi-Amedokhian primary school IV, Amedokhian ward 7, Esan north-east LGA
APC: 130
PDP: 119
LP: 1