PLATEAU: TWO KILLED AS BANDITS RUSTLE 70 COWS

Two persons were confirmed killed on Friday in Turu village in Kuru District of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State by suspected Fulani herdsmen as they rustled 70 cows.

Sources said that three herders who were in control of the cows were taken along with the 70 cows and were declared missing.

However, security operatives were able to rescue the 70 cows and one of the herders, who had been declared missing. The other two herders, aged 10 and 14 were killed during the rustling.

When contacted, the spokesperson of Plateau State Police Command, Matthias Tyopev, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident.

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He warned cattle farmers against employing teenagers but “more matured herders who can take care of the herds and sense danger far ahead of them.”

Tyopev said, “On September 14 2018 at about 19:15hrs, Ezekiel Dalyop of Turu village in Kuru District of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State reported at the Kaduna Vom Police Division that three herders entrusted with 70 of his cattle were missing.

“The Police swung into action immediately the complaint was incidented and were able to rescue one of the herders by name Bitrus Joseph (16 years) unhurt. The police team of detectives also recovered the 70 missing cattle.

“Unfortunately, in the process of rustling the cattle, two of the herders; Meshack Dalyop (14 years) and Pam Danjuma (10 years) were killed and dumped in the bush at Dahool Bob in Kuru District. Their corpses have been recovered and deposited at the Vom Christian Hospital.

“While we commiserate with the families that lost loved ones, we are urging owners of cattle to employ more matured herders who can take care of the herds and sense danger far ahead of them. The command is intensifying efforts aimed at arresting the perpetrators of this dastardly act to face justice.”

FULL TEXT: KEMI ADEOSUN ’S RESIGNATION LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUHARI

14th September, 2018
His Excellency
Muhammadu Buhari
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
State House
Aso Villa
Abuja

Dear Excellency,

Let me commence by thanking you profusely for the honour and privilege of serving under your inspirational leadership. It has been a truly rewarding experience to learn from you and to observe at close quarters your integrity and sense of duty.

I have, today, become privy to the findings of the investigation into the allegation made in an online medium that the Certificate of Exemption from National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) that I had presented was not genuine. This has come as a shock to me and I believe that in line with this administration’s focus on integrity, I must do the honourable thing and resign.

Your Excellency, kindly permit me to outline some of the background to this matter. I was born and raised in the United Kingdom, indeed my parental family home remains in London. My visits to Nigeria up until the age of thirty-four (34) were holidays, with visas obtained in my UK passport. I obtained my first Nigerian passport at the age of thirty-four (34) and when I relocated there was debate as to whether NYSC Law applied to me. Upon enquiry as to my status relating to NYSC, I was informed that due to my residency history and having exceeded the age of thirty (30), I was exempted from the requirement to serve. Until recent events, that remained my understanding.

On the basis of that advice and with the guidance and assistance of those, I thought were trusted associates, NYSC were approached for documentary proof of status. I then received the certificate in question. Having never worked in NYSC, visited the premises, been privy to nor familiar with their operations, I had no reason to suspect that the certificate was anything but genuine. Indeed, I presented that certificate at the 2011 Ogun State House of Assembly and in 2015 for Directorate of State Services (DSS) Clearance as well as to the National Assembly for screening. Be that as it may, as someone totally committed to a culture of probity and accountability I have decided to resign with effect from Friday, 14th September, 2018.

Your Excellency, It has been an exceptional privilege to have served our nation under your leadership and to have played a role in steering our economy at a very challenging time. I am proud that Nigeria has brought discipline into its finances, has identified and is pursuing a path to long term sustainable growth that will unlock the potential in this great economy. Under your leadership, Nigeria was able to exit recession and has now started to lay the foundations for lasting growth and wealth creation. Repositioning this huge economy is not a short term task and there are no short cuts, indeed there are tough decisions still to be made but I have no doubt that your focus on infrastructural investment, revenue mobilisation and value for money in public expenditure will deliver growth, wealth and opportunity for all Nigerians.

I thank His Excellency, the Vice President and my colleagues in the Federal Executive Council for the huge pleasure and honour of working with them. I also thank most specially, the team in the ‘Finance Family’ of advisers and heads of agencies under the Ministry of Finance. Your Excellency, this group of committed Nigerians represent a range of backgrounds, ethnicities and ages. They have worked well above and beyond the call of duty to support me in the tasks assigned. The diversity in my team and their ability to work cohesively to deliver reforms, convinces me that Nigeria has the human capital required to succeed.

Your Excellency, let me conclude by commending your patience and support, during the long search for the truth in this matter. I thank you again for giving me the honour of serving under your leadership, it is a rare privilege, which I do not take for granted. As a Nigerian and committed progressive, I appreciate you for your dogged commitment to improving this nation.

Please be assured, as always, of my highest regards and best wishes

Kemi Adeosun (Mrs)

ONE DAY AT A TIME LYRICS - Cristy Lane

One Day At A Time - Christy Lane

One Day at a time, sweet Jesus

I'm only human, I'm just a woman
Help me believe in what I could be and all that I am
Show me the stairway I have to climb
Lord, for my sake teach me to take one day at a time

One day at a time, sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from You
Just give me the strength to do everyday
What I have to do

Yesterday's gone, sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
Lord, help me today, show me the way
One day at a time

Do you remember when You walked among men?
Well Jesus, You know, if You're looking below, it's worse now than then
Cheating an stealing, violence and crime
So for my sake, teach me to take one day at a time

One day at a time, sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from You
Just give me the strength to do everyday
What I have to do

Yesterday's gone, sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
Lord, help me today, show me the way

One day at a time

Christy Lane

HOW DEFENCE MINISTRY MISSPENT N35bn LOAN ON SUBSTANDARD MILITARY EQUIPMENT – PRESIDENTIAL REPORT

A Presidential Committee report on the Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement in the Armed Forces from 2007 to 2015 has revealed that a N35bn loan given to the Ministry of Defence for the purchase of Contingent-Owned Equipment was misspent on equipment, which did not meet the United Nations’ standards.

The committee, in its Fourth Interim Report, obtained by The PUNCH, said it observed several abnormalities in the Ministry of Defence’s administration and use of the N35bn loan.

The Fourth report, released on October 23, 2016, through the Office of the National Security Adviser, for submission to President Muhammadu Buhari, detailed how the Ministry of Defence and the Debt Management Office did not follow due process in the release and use of the N35bn loan.

It said that the lapses in the disbursement and administration of the N35bn should make the Federal Government call for a review of the “entire DMO loan portfolio with a view to remedying the observed lapses.”

President Buhari had in 2015 approved that the committee should investigate the former service chiefs, military officers and ministry officials who were allegedly involved in the irregularities uncovered in the contract awards and procurement process.

The committee had said it was investigating 18 retired and serving military personnel, 12 serving and retired public officials and 24 chief executive officers of companies involved in the procurement.

Among those the committee is investigating are two former Chiefs of Army Staff, Lt Gen Onyeabo Ihejirika (retd.) and Lt Gen. Kenneth Minimah (retd.), former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Nurudeen Mohammed, and three former Permanent Secretaries in the Ministry of Defence, Bukar Aji, Haruna Sanusi and E.O. Oyemomi.

The committee had in July 2016 released its Third Interim Report on the Audit of the Defence Equipment Procurement, which said that a total of N185bn  and $685m were spent on procurement and operations between 2007 and 2015.

The Third Report stated that between 2007 and 2015, the committee found out that N71bn and $685m were spent on procurements for the Nigerian Army by the ministries of defence, finance, foreign affairs and environment.

Others mentioned in the Third Report were the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Office of the National Security Adviser. The report said that some state governments, notably Adamawa, Kano and Yobe, as well as the ministries of finance and power also funded the army operations with N114bn during the eight years.

Our correspondent obtained the Fourth Interim Report on Wednesday, which further revealed that a N35bn loan given to the Ministry of Defence for the purchase of Contingent-Owned Equipment was misspent and failed to meet the UN standards.

The report partly reads, “In March 2008, the President approved the request of the Ministry of Defence for the procurement Contingent-Owned Equipment with a domestic loan of N35bn by selective tendering through Original Equipment Manufacturers or their representatives and reputable defence vendors. It was estimated that the nation would generate over N4bn annually from the COE and recoup the investment within nine years. Consequently, the Debt Management Office raised and transferred the loan into the MOD Unity Bank Operations Account in June 2008, instead of a dedicated capital project account.

“In spite of the sense of urgency created by the MOD, the funds remained inexplicably unutilised for the intended purpose for over nine months thus stalling the anticipated reimbursement and repayment of the loan for more than two years. MOD awarded the first set of eight contracts with a total value of N9.2bn in October 2018.

However, while some of the equipment procured was not required based on the Memorandum of Understanding Nigeria signed with the UN, others were acquired at highly inflated costs, far above the Generic Fair Market Value recommended by the UN.

“Additionally, equipment that did not attract any reimbursement from the UN were procured in excess of the total requirements of the battalions in the UN Missions. For instance, procurement of the K-38 High-Speed Assault Patrol Boats awarded to Doiyatec Communications Limited at N3.12bn was wasteful as boats were not needed in the landlocked region of Sudan. Moreover, Level II Hospital was procured through Kishalom Nigeria Limited at N475m whereas the UN recommended only N10.5m for such equipment.”

The Presidential Committee report added that the MOD also retained the N35bn  loan at the bank for 21 months and subsequently disbursed the outstanding balance of N28.4bn into six commercial banks.

It said, “Similarly, the MOD procured a large quantity of communications equipment from RCN Nigeria Limited and Richfield Technologies at the total cost of N5.2bn even though the equipment did not attract reimbursement from the UN. These trends manifested in all subsequent contracts awarded by the MOD from the N35bn loan, suggesting that the entire loan package was deliberately packaged to rip off the nation.

“Furthermore, the MOD contravened emphatic Presidential directive that the loan should be used only for procurement of COE that would generate reimbursement from the UN for repayment of the loan. The committee also established that in June 2010, MOD transferred the sum of N2.175bn from the 35bn to the Defence Intelligence Agency as a loan for construction of building for the Defence Section at the Nigerian Embassy in Brazil. However, the DIA could not account for the utilisation of the money released as it was confirmed that only N400m  from the 2010 budgetary appropriation was remitted to Brazil for the stated purpose.

“Over N1bn of the N35bn loan was also used to settle bills of 10 revalidated contracts awarded in 2006. Unfortunately, some of the contractors still failed to perform or return the sum of N262m paid to it as 20 per cent mobilisation fees for contracts worth over N1.31bn. In the committee’s view, it was fraudulent and a disservice for the MOD to commit the funds into expenditures other than those approved by the President.”

Responding to the indictment of the Debt Management Office, Director General, Ms Patience Oniha, said there was actually a Memorandum of Understanding between DMO and the Ministry of Defence.

She said available record indicated that the ministry had been able to repay a significant part of the loan while the balance had been restructured.

Oniha said, “There was a loan to that effect. However, there was a MoU. There were terms. For confidential sake, I will not disclose the figures involved.

“The Ministry of Defence has been servicing the loan. The loan has not been fully repaid but there has been restructuring. They have made a significant repayment but for confidential purpose, I will not disclose the amount involved. For the President to grant a standalone approval means that there was some sense of urgency around it.”

BREAKING: KEMI ADEOSUN RESIGNS

Kemi Adeosun

Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has reportedly resigned from the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to sources, Adeosun resigned over allegations that she forged her National Youth Service Corps certificate.

However, it was gathered that the minister resumed in her office this morning and it is unclear when the reported resignation will take effect.

Adeosun had come under fire with several Nigerians, particularly on the social media, demanding investigations from the Federal Government into the allegations and calling for her resignation for presenting an alleged forged exemption certificate.

The reports claimed that the finance minister, who did not participate in the one-year national youth service, allegedly forged an Exemption Certificate several years after her graduation.

The certificate, which is dated September 2009, was reportedly signed by an NYSC Director-General, Yusuf Bomoi, who already left the scheme in January 2009.

In November 2015, Adeosun was appointed as Minister of Finance under President Muhammadu Buhari after she had been cleared by the Department of State Services and by the Senate.

SOUTHERN, MIDDLE-BELT LEADERS CONDEMN BUHARI’S REMOVAL OF MATTHEW SEIYEFA AS SSS DG

New SSS DG Yusuf Bichi

Some elder statesmen from the south and parts of central Nigeria have condemned the removal of Matthew Seiyefa as the Director-General of the State Security Service by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The leaders said Mr Buhari’s action has further shown that he does not believe in a united Nigeria in which state duties are conducted with fairness and equity.

Mr Seiyefa was replaced by Yusuf Bichi from Kano State Thursday night. He will take office on Friday, the presidency said in a statement announcing the changes.

Mr Seiyefa, from Bayelsa State in the oil-rich Niger-Delta, was appointed on August 7 by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Mr Osinbajo, who was acting-president at the time, took the decision as part of a disciplinary action against Lawal Daura, who was accused of organising organising an SSS siege to the National Assembly without approval from the presidency.

Mr Seiyefa’s appointment was widely hailed by rights activists and pro-democracy campaigners who largely saw him as fitting for the position based on his antecedent in service.

Although he was due to retire next year, there have been strong indications that Mr Buhari was keen on removing him from office in order to appoint someone he feels more comfortable with ahead of 2019 elections.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Seiyefa was pressured into subservience by Mr Buhari’s Chief of Staff Abba Kyari. Mr Kyari overruled some personnel and administrative changes made by Mr Seiyefa shortly after assuming office, despite strong protest from the top spy chief.

Mr Seiyefa was the most-senior official at the SSS when Mr Osinbajo asked him to lead, a development that was widely celebrated at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja and field offices across the country.

It was not immediately clear whether he would be asked to return to his previous position at the SSS training school or be compulsorily retired when Mr Bichi assumes office Friday.

Mr Buhari’s action has drawn criticism from leaders in the southern parts of the country, who condemned the president for being too quick to undo the laudable appointment made by Mr Osinbajo, which also placed a southerner in the top national security position for the first time since Mr Buhari assumed office in May 2015.

The leaders in their statement said Mr Buhari has dismantled all precedents that engendered a united Nigeria in order to satisfy his sectional inclinations.

They said Mr Bichi has retired from service but was only brought back because six most-senior officials at the SSS who should have led the agency based on hierarchy are all southerners.

Mr Buhari has been accused of glaring lopsidedness in his appointments, especially into security and law enforcement agencies. He often pushes back against this claim by pointing to some appointments he made from the south.

Read the full statement as sent to PREMIUM TIMES bellow:

Appointment of new DG-DSS: Buhari’s vote-of-no-confidence in One Nigeria.

The outright disregard for the conditions precedent for a united Nigeria and an inclusive country which President Buhari has become well known for was taken to a new height this evening with the removal of the Acting DG of DSS,Mr Matthew Seiyefa and replacement with Mr Yusuf Magaji Bichi from Kano.

The I-don’t-care and in-your-face attitude of the President in restoring Nigeria security architecture to the provocative situation of having 16 out of 17 service chiefs from his corner of the country is a clear demonstration of the fact that Nigeria for General Muhammadu Buhari is no more than his section of Nigeria and the resources and the constitutionally mandatory votes from other sections of the country.

Since 1960,Nigeria has never had a leader more sectional ,narrow,parochial ,and tribalistic like the current President who went on a global stage to divide Nigeria into “97% and 5%”.

We have looked critically at the profiles of the Acting DG who was removed and the one Buhari just appointed and it is crystal clear that Bichi does not come with any experience close to that of Seiyefa.

The only qualification for this appointment is therefore only the rabid nepotism of the President which has seen him always masking personal and sectional interest as “national interest.”

Besides, Bichi is an out-of-the -system man drafted by Mr Lawan Daura in the days of his nepotism rule at the DSS.

The next six most senior persons in line of succession at the DSS after Seiyefa are from our findings are all southerners which may explain why the President picked a man who already retired from the DSS to lead because of ethnic affinity.

That the President went ahead to deep himself further into the cocoon of ethnic irredentism in making this insensitive appointment shows clearly that he does not care a hoot about the unity ,cohesion and oneness of Nigeria.

We reject this appointment and we do not shy in telling Mr President that he no longer pretends that the country is one under him.

In the last few days, there have been fears coming from the international community about the dangers that would come the way of Nigeria if Mr President returns for another term.

With his latest action,we add that the country is not safe in the remainder of his first term.

Lastly we ask Mr President: Are we still one county?

Chief E.K Clark.

SOUTH SOUTH

Chief Ayo Adebanjo

SOUTH WEST

Chief John Nwodo.

SOUTH EAST

Mr Bitrus Pogu

MIDDLE BELT.

2019: ATIKU ALLEGES THREAT TO LIFE, PETITIONS BUHARI

Atiku Abubakar

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has alleged threat to his life and those of his family members.

He said the threat was as a result of his desire to contest the 2019 presidential election.

Atiku is among the 13 presidential aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The petition, titled “Petition Over Criminal Intimidation And Threat To My Life, That Of Members Of My Family, And Cyber Stalking Using Mobile Phone  Number 08148228704.”

A copy of the petition, dated September 7, 2018,  was also sent to the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus.

In the petition, Atiku alleged that his wife and daughters have received separate text messages from the mobile line, asking him to back out of the race.

He said the callers said that if he refused to drop his presidential ambition, his wife and daughters would be raped and killed.

As a result of this, he begged the President to order the deployment of more policemen around him and his family.

He said the unknown author of the threat text messages said his family was being watched closely.

He also called on the President to order an urgent investigation into the matter.

The petition read in part,  “I present my highest compliments to the president and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and have the honour to request your Excellency to kindly review/investigation an urgent consideration for extra protection for my family and I against some criminal intimidation and threat to my life, that of my family, and the cyberstalking against my family and I, using telephone mobile number +2348148228704.

“The author  threatened that if I don’t  withdraw from the contest, ‘we will kill,  rape your wife and daughters’, whom they identified as Mariam who works at CBN and Fatima, the former commissioner in Adamawa State.’

“The author of the threat messages also said ‘we will blow your plane off the sky and we will poison you and your family. You are going to see what we will do with your family. We know where and where your children travel to.’

“The author of the messages threatened that they will blow up all my property and those of my wife’s. They said ‘we control the aviation towers in Nigeria and South Africa.

‘ We are in government and Buhari will win again. Your party members will never select you and if they do, we will assassinat (sic) you. We will kill you by blowing up your plane.’

“In the separate text messages to my wife and daughter, they asked them to ask me to back down from the contest or they will be harmed.”

Atiku added;  “from the foregoing, Mr. President can see that if adequate and urgent steps are not taken to identify and dealing with these threats,  it could lead to serious breaches and may constitute a real danger to national security.

“Considering that this threats border on the right of my family and I to life as well as my freedom to aspire for and contest for the Presidency in Nigeria, I urge you to commence urgent investigation with a view to identifying the person (s) behind the threat, expose and prosecute the culprit (s) in accordance with the laws.

“I request that you ensure the continued protection of my rights to life, that of my family, my property and my rights and freedoms to associate and aspire to any political office as guaranteed under the 1999 Nigerian constitution (as amended)."

ENUGU RESIDENTS DEFY IPOB’s SIT-AT-HOME ORDER, GO ABOUT NORMAL ACTIVITIES

Residents of Enugu metropolis on Friday went about their normal activities disregarding the Sit-At-Home order given by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

A Correspondent of NAN, who monitored the situation in the metropolis following the order, reports that there were no signs of compliance as business premises were open, the roads busy with vehicular traffic and people were seen going about their activities.

This, however, may not be unconnected with the security arrangement by the government of Enugu State and the security agencies that encouraged people to disregard the order and go about their businesses.

It will be recalled that the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr Mohammad Danmallam, had told NAN that the security community in the South-East had made adequate aerial and land deployment to ensure the safety of citizens.

Danmallam said that the deployment was made at about 8pm on Thursday following a joint security meeting.

The joint security team comprises personnel of the Nigerian Army; Nigerian Air Force; Nigeria Police and Department of State Services.

Others are the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps; Nigerian Prisons Service; Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Immigration ServicService and Nigeria Customs Service.

“The deployment of security personnel, vehicles, aircrafts and other logistics was to forestall the sit-at-home order across the South-East states by IPOB meant to take effect today (Friday),’’ he said.

Danmallam noted that security personnel had also been deployed to protect critical state and government infrastructure as well as public places.

According to him, “We already have our personnel, vehicles, surveillance aircrafts and other logistics out there.”

The IPOB had earlier written to various unions and associations in the states, including local government council areas in the South-East, to shut down businesses and other activities, while it posted notice of the sit-at-home order in strategic locations across the zone.

NAN also reports that both private and public vehicles were in large numbers on the roads going about their normal businesses.

At Trans-Ekulu, Nowas, Nike Lake Resort and Abakpa Nike Market axis there was heavy traffic as people were struggling to go to their work and business places.

A businessman, Mr Ugochukwu Enyivigbo, said that the IPOB had deceived them a lot with its seat-at- home order and at the end of the whole thing nothing would happen.

Enyivigbo said that previous IPOB orders that he observed did not favour him at all, adding that when he came out the next morning some of his colleagues who did not observe it told him business was good.

He explained that he would be the last person that would observe such orders again, describing the IPOB members as jobless people.

Mr Steven Ugwu, a public servant, said that IPOB did not employ him and had no right to stop him from going to work.

Ugwu said that there were no signs of the order in his area as at this morning.

Others who spoke to NAN expressed dismay with the order, saying it was counter-productive to the aspirations of the people on how to have a strong economy and be able to feed their families.

Although Danmallam had charged Divisional Police Officers, head of departments and formations to be pro-active and professional in dealing with trouble-makers, the IPOB is a proscribed organisation.

It will be recalled that the Federal High Court in Abuja on September 21, 2017, gave judicial backing to the Executive Order of President Muhammadu Buhari, outlawing the IPOB and declared its activities as acts of terrorism and illegality.

(NAN)

MINIMUM WAGE: LABOUR GIVES FG 14DAY ULTIMATUM AMIDST FG'S ASSURANCE

Labour leaders in Nigeria yesterday cautioned the Federal Government to stop foot dragging on the New Minimum Wage and allow the tripartite committeeconclude its job to avoid industrial crisis.

The ultimatum coincided with an assurance from the Federal Government on the new minimum wage.

The labour leaders, who are members of the Minimum Wage Committee at a joint news conference addressed in Lagos, gave the federal government 14 days to ensure that the committee conclude its work or be ready to face industrial action.

Mr Ayuba Wabba , Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, said that the committee was not pleased with the comments alleged to have been made by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige.

According to him, Ngige had last week allegedly said that the committee should adjourn indefinitely to enable him do further consultations with the government.

“We view his supposed pronouncement with great concern, suspicion and outrage.

“This new antic certainly is not acceptable to Nigerian workers, who had expected a New National Minimum Wage since 2016, “he said.

The NLC president said that in the course of the meeting, the committee members had time to consult and received memoranda and inputs from 21 state governments, specialized Agencies of the Federal Government, the Organized Private Sector, Organised Labour and the general public.

Mr Joe Ajaero, President of the United Labour Congress, (ULC) said that issues concerning the minimum wage has been concluded and that the committee was expecting government representative to pronounce their own figure.

Ajaero, however, refused to give a likely figure that could be approved as minimum wage and also did not give a clear answer on whether government was sincere on paying the new wage.

He said that the call for a new minimum wage became necessary because it was already overdue, and in view of the increasing cost of goods and services.

The news conference was attended by top labour leaders from NLC, TUC and ULC.

The Presidency on Wednesday reassured workers of the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to an increase in the minimum wage.

Sen. Ita Enang, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Enang spoke in response to alleged lack of commitment by the Federal Government to an upward review of the minimum wage, which has been N18, 000 for over eight years.

“I want to assure you that the Buhari-led administration is very honest and committed to reviewing the salaries of workers.

“If he was not, he would not have set up a committee on minimum wage headed by a retired Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. This is a sign of commitment, the Minister of Labour is part of it.

“So, it shows the level of commitment, and it is not a committee of the Federal Executive Council, it is a presidential committee set up and inaugurated by the president.”

Enang urged NLC to consider unemployed Nigerians in its demand for salary increment.

”The workers and labour should include all those who are qualified to be employed but are not yet employed.

“So, when we are talking about increase in the salaries of workers, let us also make allowance for new people to be employed.

“That is; thinking about those you and I have trained who have graduated, who out of frustration sometimes act and behave in a manner which they ought not to, and sometimes take to social media to harass the government and you.

“Sometimes, they even revolt against you in the house because they do not have what to do.

“So, when we are talking about increase in salaries, I agree to it, but I think we should also factor along creating employment for those who are yet to have.”

The presidential aide said the Federal Government was already working towards achieving that by encouraging its agencies and parastatals to employ young and qualified Nigerians.

Enang stated that the government was also creating self-employment opportunities for enterprising youths through its social investment programme.

He said the government was equally creating the enabling environment in the agricultural and technological sectors for young Nigerians.

The tripartite National Minimum Wage Committee, made up of 29 members drawn from organised labour and the federal and state governments, was inaugurated in May, 2017.

Although the committee was given till Sept. 1 to submit its report, it could not meet the deadline due to disagreement over the minimum wage figure.

On Aug. 21, Minister of Labour and Employment Dr Chris Ngige, however, blamed the delay on the inability of state governors to agree on a figure.

According to the minister, the Federal Government through its Economic Management Team, is working with the governors to find a common ground

Until then, the minister said he could not tell when the new minimum wage would be implemented.

The NLC on Monday said the Committee on National Minimum Wage was yet to agree only on a figure for the new minimum wage for the Nigerian workers.

Wabba said: “However, just before we conclude, the Minister of Labour spoke at that occasion as a representative of the Federal Government, saying the they needed to go and consult before arriving at a figure.

“We felt that since this committee was inaugurated in November and everybody was aware that all stakeholders needed to tidy up whatever consultations they needed to do and make sure that we are able to work within that timeline.

“Clearly speaking, they were not prepared to produce a figure by that date. But our report has been completed. What is left is just to agree on a particular figure as minimum wage.

“All the parameters to be used to arrive at a figure are there. I can say clearly that states have sent in memorandums.

“In fact, 21 states sent in memorandums, with about 12 quoting figures, NECA has submitted a figure, organised labour has submitted a figure.

“With this new development, they are saying that they want to consult, we could say that it is not a fair process if somebody is saying at this point that he has not consulted,” he said.

Wabba noted that the organised labour, would meet formally and issue a formal statement, and also see how they would ensure that the interest of Nigerian worker was not in any way undermined.

According to him, this is where we are and we think that it is proper that we put the fact before our members.

“Labour leaders have already called for our organ meetings where we will brief our members.

“Already, it is in public domain that both the government and labour agreed that the timeline must be respected and they were saying that September is not feasible.

“We are committed to respecting the timeline and that is why we left everything we are doing to do the needful to be able to do a good job.

”All the parameters you can think of have been considered and the report is ready. But the only thing missing is the issue of the figure.”

The NLC president also recalled that individual states had quoted figures and every state was given the opportunity to make its own presentation.

He also noted that a letter was written to every state by the secretariat to send in their memo, making their inputs and 21 of them actually made inputs.

“You are aware of the figures quoted by organised labour. We have enough data to do justice to the work and we have actually done justice to the work. I am telling you that this is what has happened.

“So there was enough time for everybody to make input. This should have been consummated but some people are saying they need time for consultation.

”We thought that should not have been the situation, because of the importance of the issue to Nigerian workers; and the workers can also not continue to be patient,” he said.

STOP PAYING TITHE, PASTOR TELLS FOLLOWERS, SAYS IT’S FRAUD

Dan Owusu-Asiamah.

A Ghanaian pastor, Dan Owusu-Asiamah, has urged Christians to stop paying tithe, claiming some pastors are using it as a means to defraud them.

According to Adomonline, Owusu-Asiamah made the revelation on a radio programme on Monday, where he alleged that some pastors are defrauding church members because they use the tithe to enrich themselves.

He explained that the book of Deuteronomy in the Bible prohibits pastors from extorting money from their congregation.

Owusu-Asiamah added that pastors who collect 10 per cent of their members’ incomes are no different from “corrupt” politicians.

He said, “Tithe-paying is fraud. Under no circumstance was anyone asked to pay tithe in the Bible. Tithing has to do with foodstuffs. Everything they are doing now is wrong. We speak about corruption and talk about politicians. Corruption begins in the church. The church is actively doing these things. In Deuteronomy 14:25, it tells you, a tithe isn’t about money.”

“There is a difference between offertory and tithing, Malachi chapter 3: 8-10 says tithing has nothing to do with money but offering does. I challenge every clergyman to open a passage that says we should pay tithe on a monthly basis. No apostle asked a Christian to give one-tenth.

Now it’s more like a law that some churches even collect the tithe before they bury the dead. How do you mark those who pay tithe in church?”