FG

By Uzair Adam

Hundreds of tricycle operators in Kano State took to the streets yesterday, protesting the sharp increase in the pump price of petrol, which has now reached N1,200 per liter at several filling stations.

The Daily Reality reported Tuesday that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) sells petrol at N904 per liter within the state.

The protest, which began around the Dangi Bridge area, disrupted traffic for hours, leaving commuters and motorists stranded.

Many tricycle operators deserted their vehicles to join long queues at fuel stations, while passengers struggled with the sudden hike in transport fares.

A tricycle operator, Abdulazeez Ibrahim, reflected on the escalating fuel prices, recalling when petrol once sold for N95 per liter during the late President Shehu Musa Yar’adua’s administration.

“When prices go up in Nigeria, they never come down. This situation is very unfortunate, and it leaves us wondering how we will survive,” he lamented.

Similarly, a passenger, Ramatu Aminu, expressed frustration after being charged N300 for a trip that previously cost between N150 and N200.

“Many passengers were left stranded as there were few tricycles on the road, all due to the fuel price hike,” she added.

The situation is equally dire in neighboring Jigawa State, where petrol prices have soared to N1,350 per liter in the state capital, Dutse.

A motorist, Aliyu Katsina, recounted how he bought fuel at N1,150 in the morning, only for the price to spike to N1,350 later that afternoon.

The rapid increase in fuel prices across Northern Nigeria has left both operators and passengers grappling with the economic impact, as the cost of living continues to rise.

By Uzair Adam

The Federal Government has vowed to take action against contractors involved in constructing substandard school buildings nationwide.

Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, announced this during a training session for the commission’s Department of Physical Planning staff.

The training, in collaboration with the Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) and Tectonics Engineering Group, focused on improving project quality through on-the-spot assessments.

Dr. Bobboyi emphasized that the UBEC would no longer tolerate poor project execution, reiterating the importance of providing a safe and conducive learning environment for children.

To ensure this, the commission plans to deploy monitors to inspect construction sites regularly, equipped with tools to assess material quality and compliance with design specifications.

The UBEC is working closely with NBRRI, led by Professor Samson Duna, and the Council for the Registration of Engineers in Nigeria (COREN) to ensure that the quality of school infrastructure meets the required standards.

Professor Duna highlighted the proactive measures being taken to prevent building collapses, particularly in school environments.

He stressed that contractors must adhere to specified material standards and that UBEC inspectors would be equipped to verify compliance on-site.

The initiative aims to safeguard the well-being of students and enhance the durability of educational facilities across the country.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigerian Senate has unanimously passed the amended National Minimum Wage Act, paving the way for a significant increase in the minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

The bill, transmitted by President Bola Tinubu, rapidly progressed through the first, second, and third readings, and was approved by the Senate in a matter of minutes. 

Following a thorough clause-by-clause examination in the Committee of the Whole, the National Minimum Wage Bill was passed, aiming to raise the national minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000.

This new amount was agreed upon by the Nigerian government and the Organised Labour leadership. 

President Tinubu had urged the Senate and House of Representatives to expedite consideration of the bill, also proposing to reduce the review period for the national minimum wage from five years to three years. 

The bill’s passage marks the end of a prolonged dispute between the government and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), which led to industrial action.

The new law promises a substantial improvement in the minimum wage for Nigerian workers. 

As President Tinubu noted, the increased minimum wage represents a crucial step towards enhancing the welfare of Nigerian workers.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Federal Government has shut down an illegal gold mine site in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The move is part of the government’s efforts to combat illegal mining and reposition the sector to boost Nigeria’s economy.

The operation was carried out by the Mining marshals in Iyeh Odogbe, Isanlu community of Yagba East LGA.

The team dislodged illegal miners who had prevented lawfully authorized miners with licenses from accessing the site for 16 years.

Seven suspects leading various groups of illegal miners were arrested during the operation, which was led by Commander Attah Onoja of the Mining Marshals.

The site workers have been given five days to vacate the site, and operations to secure the area and ensure its full recovery for lawful mining activities will continue.

This crackdown comes after the Federal Government announced the arrest of eight Chinese nationals suspected of illegal mining in Abia State on July 12.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini 

Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday led a high-level federal government delegation on a condolence visit to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, to express sympathies over the passing of her mother, Mrs. Victoria Immaculata Uzoka. 

The delegation included several key cabinet members, including the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari; the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Hon. Zaphaniah Bitrus Jisalo; the Minister of State for Steel Development, Uba Maigari Ahmadu; the Minister of Youth Development, Jamila Bio Ibrahim; and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, among others. 

Later, VP Shettima also paid condolences to Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah on the death of his wife, Hajiya Safiya Na’Allah, who passed away Tuesday evening in Abuja. 

Senator Na’Allah, who formerly represented Kebbi South Senatorial District, served as Deputy Majority Leader in the Eighth Senate.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

In a bid to address rising food inflation and alleviate the economic hardship faced by Nigerians, the Federal Government has announced a 150-day duty-free import window for food commodities. 

The initiative, which is part of the Presidential Accelerated Stabilisation and Advancement Plan, aims to reduce demand for forex by food importers and make food more affordable for Nigerians. 

According to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, the duty-free import window will be valid for commodities such as maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas. 

The government will also import 250,000 metric tonnes of wheat and 250,000 metric tonnes of maize, which will be supplied to small-scale processors and millers across the country. 

The minister noted that the government’s decision to allow duty-free imports was necessitated by the high cost of food items in the country, which has made it difficult for many Nigerians to afford basic foodstuffs. 

He attributed the high food prices to various factors, including infrastructural challenges, multiple taxes and levies, and profiteering by marketers and traders. 

The government’s move has been commended by stakeholders in the agricultural sector, who noted that it would help stabilize food prices and provide relief to millions of Nigerians. 

However, some experts have expressed concern that the initiative may undermine domestic agricultural production and turn Nigeria into a dumping ground for imported commodities. 

The government has assured that it will collaborate with state governments to identify irrigable lands and increase land under cultivation, and will also ramp up production for the 2024/2025 farming cycle through sustained support to smallholder farmers. 

Additionally, the government plans to develop a strategic engagement for youth and women in greenhouse cultivation of horticultural crops and fast-track engagements with the Nigerian Military to rapidly cultivate arable lands under the Defence Farms Scheme.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini 

The governing councils of federal universities, polytechnics, and other tertiary institutions are scheduled to be officially inaugurated on July 4, 2024. 

On Monday, Prof. Aisha Maikudi, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, shared this information during her acceptance speech as she assumed leadership of the institution. 

A combined total of 560 people have been appointed by President Tinubu to serve on the governing councils and boards of tertiary institutions owned by the Federal Government.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in a suit filed by the Federal Government against the 36 state governors over the alleged misconduct in the administration of Local Government Areas.

The Federal Government is seeking full autonomy for local government areas and wants an order to stop governors from dissolving democratically elected local government leaders.

The government also wants funds meant for local governments to be channelled directly to them from the federation account, instead of the joint accounts created by governors.

The suit argues that the constitution recognizes federal, state, and local governments as three tiers of government, and that the failure of governors to put in place democratically elected local government systems is a deliberate subversion of the constitution.

The Federal Government claims that it is not obligated to pay funds to states that do not have democratically elected local government systems in place.

The Supreme Court’s judgment will determine the fate of local government administration in Nigeria and the extent of autonomy they will enjoy.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Federal Government has stated that it cannot meet the labour unions’ demand to increase the national minimum wage from N30,000 to N494,000.

According to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the demand would result in a total wages bill of N9.5 trillion yearly for federal workers alone, potentially destabilizing the economy and jeopardizing the welfare of over 200 million Nigerians.

The government offered a 100% increase to N60,000, which has been accepted by the private sector.

However, labour is seeking a 1,547% increase to N494,000.

The minister appealed to labour to return to negotiations and embrace realistic wages.

The government prioritizes affordability, sustainability, and the overall health of the nation’s economy, considering the welfare of all Nigerians, not just workers.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage is set to reconvene on May 23 to continue negotiations on a new minimum wage for workers.

This comes after the organized labor walked out of the negotiation on May 15, citing dissatisfaction with the government’s proposal of N48,000.

According to an invitation letter sent to labor leaders by the committee’s chairman, Bukar Goni, the government has agreed to shift its position on the proposed minimum wage.

The letter urged labor leaders to attend the reconvened meeting next Tuesday and to speak to their members about the new development.

The organized labor, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has proposed a minimum wage of N615,000, significantly higher than the government’s initial proposal.

The private sector, on the other hand, has proposed an initial offer of N54,000.

The labor leaders had expressed their anger and disappointment over the government’s offer, blaming both the government and the private sector for the breakdown in negotiations.

They have given the government a deadline of May 31 to meet their demands.

The minimum wage negotiations have been ongoing since January 30, when Vice President Kashim Shettima inaugurated the 37-member tripartite committee to recommend a new national minimum wage.

The committee is chaired by the former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Goni Aji.With the cost of living rising following the removal of fuel subsidy, calls for a new minimum wage have intensified.

Labor leaders argue that the proposed minimum wage of N615,000 is necessary to meet the needs of an average Nigerian family of six, given the current economic situation.

The resumption of negotiations next week offers a glimmer of hope for workers who have been waiting for a new minimum wage.

The government’s willingness to reconsider its proposal is seen as a positive development, and labor leaders are expected to approach the negotiations with renewed optimism.