News
Why governors flout minimum wage law – NLC
Chris Onyeka, the Assistant General-Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), stated that many state governors are disregarding the Minimum Wage Act because they do not respect the law’s authority.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja, Onyeka discussed the challenges surrounding the minimum wage law and its enforcement.
He noted that while workers are eagerly waiting for a new minimum wage law, 15 states have yet to implement the N30,000 wage established in 2019.
Despite increased revenue following the removal of the fuel subsidy and the resulting hardships from the higher pump prices, these states still refuse to pay the minimum wage. The states not complying with the 2019 Act include Abia, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Gombe, Niger, Borno, Sokoto, Anambra, Imo, Benue, Taraba, and Zamfara.
Onyeka pointed out, “A state governor who does not believe in the sanctity of the laws will have a high proclivity to disobeying them. If you examine the history of some of these governors and their handlers, you will find a preponderance of those who came to power by breaking the laws. Is it now that they will obey the national minimum wage act?”
He added that many governors are reluctant to pay civil servants their salaries because they view state resources as their own and are unwilling to share them with the workers who generate the wealth.
Onyeka also highlighted the issue of fiscal mismanagement in many states, attributing it to the personal greed of some governors who divert state resources for private use.
He emphasized the need to reduce the cost of governance and eliminate wasteful spending. Suggested measures include reducing the number of political appointees, cutting down on logistics, official, and operational vehicles, and aligning the salaries and allowances of elected and appointed officials with those of civil servants.
Finally, Onyeka called for streamlined procurement processes to ensure integrity, accountability, fiscal discipline, and transparency at all levels of government.
News
We’ll be forced to export 97% of our petrol – Dangote Refinery warns
Dangote Refinery has announced that it will need to export 95-97 percent of its Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) due to low interest from Nigerian marketers. The refinery, which processes 650,000 barrels per day, revealed that only 3 to 5 percent of petrol marketers are purchasing its fuel.
Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, shared these details during an X Space session hosted by Nairametrics on Wednesday. He highlighted the challenges facing both the Dangote Refinery and Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Edwin explained, “I’m selling 2 to 3 percent to small traders who are willing to buy, while the remaining 95 to 97 percent has to be exported,” referring to the local sales of the refinery’s products.
This situation arises as the NNPCL’s deadline for adjusting the Dangote Refinery’s fuel distribution approaches without a clear plan in sight. It is worth noting that while Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, has announced the refinery’s initial petrol rollout, its distribution to marketers is contingent upon NNPCL’s decisions.
News
FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup: Round of 16 fixtures confirmed [Full list]
The final sixteen teams for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia have been determined following the conclusion of the group stage.
In recent matches, Ghana triumphed over New Zealand with a score of 3-1, and Japan secured a 2-0 victory against Austria.
As a result, Japan has advanced to the Round of 16, joining the other 15 teams in this knockout stage.
The Round of 16 matches are scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
The full lineup for the Round of 16 is as follows:
- Spain vs Canada
- Brazil vs Cameroon
- Colombia vs South Korea
- Mexico vs USA
- North Korea vs Austria
- Germany vs Argentina
- Netherlands vs France
- Japan vs Nigeria
News
Nigerian Army debunks reported mass resignation of soldiers
The Nigerian Army has refuted claims of widespread resignations among its soldiers due to issues like corruption and low morale.
In a statement, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, dismissed these reports as unfounded.
A news outlet had alleged that numerous Nigerian soldiers were resigning because of corruption and low morale. However, the statement condemned these allegations as misleading and a deliberate attempt to create discontent and undermine the Nigerian Army’s reputation and the dedication of its personnel.
Major General Nwachukwu clarified that, similar to other military organizations worldwide, service in the Nigerian Army is voluntary rather than mandatory. This means that personnel have the freedom to resign following established procedures.
He explained that the resignation process allows personnel to prepare and manage their entitlements, including pensions and gratuities, as outlined in the Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service (Officers/Soldiers).
Contrary to the report’s implications, the statement emphasized that Nigerian Army personnel are highly motivated, and their welfare is a priority under the leadership of Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.
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