Metro

Nigerian govt insists on N62,000 minimum wage despite Labour’s stance

Published

2 weeks ago

June 17, 2024

The lingering feud between the Nigerian government and organized labour on the minimum wage saga may not have an end soon as the government has insisted that it will not pay a dime above the N62,000 it had proposed despite labour pegging its demand at N250,000.

A statement from the Presidency on Sunday stated in clear terms that the N250,000 minimum wage clamour by Organised Labour was unsustainable, warning that the Federal Government could not channel all its resources to meet such a demand.

The position of the Nigerian government is coming after the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) also raised concerns over the amount being proposed by the FG in the face of escalating inflation and high cost of living.

ALGON, had, in a statement, said if approved, the wage may put a strain on the councils’ financial burden.

Several rounds of talks between government and labour leaders have stalled as the Tripartite Committee set up to negotiate on behalf of government has failed to reach a compromise with labour.

The labour unions have described the proposal as an insult to the intelligence of the average Nigerian worker, whom they say deserve far better than what the government offered.

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in an interview, disclosed that unless the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress were selfish, they should consider that the resources meant for the entire Nigerians could not be channeled to only the benefit of their members who are not more than 10 per cent of the entire population.

“That is why we keep telling labour to be realistic because the government cannot use all its resources to pay workers. They have other things to do. The workers we are even talking about are not up to 10 per cent of the population.

“Many people are self-employed or engaged in the private sector, who are not members of Labour, and are not affected by this demand.

“This is even more reason why labour has to reconsider their decision critically instead of always striving to shut down the system. What the FG did was in consultation with the private sector and others.

“Only Labour, which appears to be in the minority, kept saying they won’t accept N62,000. They are not even employers but employees.

“Let us wait and hear what they are going to say after their return from the ILO conference. But they have to be realistic,” Onanuga reiterated.

Onanuga added that the Federal Government might not meet the Labour leaders again unless something cogent turned up.

“I am not sure whether the FG is meeting with them or whether its position on the minimum wage has changed. Don’t forget the current amount on the table was arrived at by the committee that also has the private sector where the NECA and NACIMMA were also represented.

“That was the figure the FG delegation, sub-nationals, employers, NECA and other sectors agreed on. So, the FG cannot just decide on any other amount of money on its own without carrying these people along.

“And the government cannot just decide anything without ensuring that the state and local governments are able to pay,” he said.

Related Topics:Featured FG Labour Minimum wage Nigeria

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Metro

Nigeria to strengthen defence partnership with South Africa

Published

7 hours ago

July 2, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Nigerian government has set plans in motion to strengthen defence partnership with South Africa in a bid to address the multifaceted security challenges bedevilling the African continent.

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence
Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, who made this known during an official visit to the Chief of South Africa National Defence Force, Gen. Rudzani Maphwanya, in Pretoria, called for reinforcement of ties between the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the South African National Defence Force

In a statement by the Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, on Tuesday in Abuja, the CDS described the meeting as a “panacea to addressing the multifaceted challenges bedevilling the continent”, adding that the “need for cooperation and reinforcement of bilateral ties were also paramount.”

Musa stated that the meeting with his South African counterpart was focused on various measures to address regional security challenges.

According to the Nigerian Army chief, the exchange of expertise and forging stronger ties between the two countries is for the betterment of the continent were considered.

“During the meeting, the Chief of SANDF highlighted the significance of the meeting between the two largest economies and military powers on the African continent,” the statement noted.

“Present at the meeting were the SANDF Chiefs of Intelligence, Policy and Plans, International Affairs and Joint Operations amongst other departmental chiefs of the SANDF,” he added.

Metro

Three Zambians, Tanzanian national arrested for smuggling illegal immigrants

Published

23 hours ago

July 1, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Zambian police in the Kapiri-Mposhi District have arrested three Zambians and a Tanzanian national for conveying and smuggling illegal immigrants into the country.

Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Danny Mwale, who confirmed the arrests in a statement issued in Lusaka on Monday, said the suspects were arrested at the Nkumbi Checkpoint in Kapiri-Mposhi on Sunday, June 30.

Mwale said the arrests were made possible after officers, acting on a tip-off from concerned members of the public, intercepted a Scania tanker truck with registration numbers T711 DMV and T214.

The police spokesman said the intercepted truck was driven by the Tanzanian, Ramadan Ayoub, 32, from Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania, and belongs to World Oil Limited Company based in Tanzania.

“Upon searching the tanker truck, officers discovered four males, believed to be Ethiopians, concealed on a bed inside the vehicle,” Mwale stated.

He added that the truck driver, upon interrogation, disclosed that an accomplice was waiting for the illegal immigrants in Kapiri-Mposhi town.

Following this lead, officers arrested Moses Mfula, 42, from Soweto compound in Kapiri-Mposhi District, the police spokesman said.

He stated further that Mfula cooperated with the police and directed them to two other individuals en route from Lusaka to collect the illegal immigrants.

“Subsequently, a Toyota Land Cruiser with registration number ALG 9063 arrived near the tanker truck.

“The two occupants, identified as Charles Mwanza, 43, and Taonga Mukwakwa, 32, from Lusaka’s Chawama compound and Matero township respectively, were arrested after engaging with the truck driver.

“All suspects are currently detained in police custody in Kapiri-Mposhi, while the four illegal immigrants are held in Mkushi District,” the statement said.

Mwale added that investigations are ongoing, with police coordinating with the Department of Immigration.