MINIMUM WAGE: CONCILIATION MEETING WITH LABOUR WILL GO AHEAD— NGIGE

Activist Abiodun Aremu speaks in a microphone as he takes part in a march to protest against the government's failure to agree on a new minimum wage during a rally in Lagos, on October 30, 2018. - Workers across Nigeria march to protest government's delay in agreeing on a new minimum wage and threaten to embark on nationwide strike if the authorities fail to meet their demand by November 6, 2018.

MINISTER of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige on Friday said that conciliation on the National Minimum Wage will continue despite the injunction of the National Industrial Court restraining the organized labour from embarking on strike.

The Minister in a statement by the Director Press in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Samuel Olowookere said that the conciliation meeting involving the Organized Labour, the Organized Private Sector and Government scheduled for Sunday, November 4, 2018 at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation by 6:00 p.m was still on course and will hold.

This will be followed on Monday, November 5, 2018 by 11:00 a.m the meeting of the National Tripartite Minimum Wage Committee at the same venue

The Minister used the opportunity to again appeal to all tripartite members to attend these meetings in the interest of the Nation.

Recall that the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Ayuba Wabba, had vowed that the organised labour would not be part of any conciliation meeting or negotiation on minimum wage, alleging that every discussion about minimum wage had been concluded.

He said that the only meeting organised labour will attend will be the signing of the minimum wage report and not negotiation.

ORGANISED LABOUR INSISTS ON NOV. 6 STRIKE

The organised labour on Friday said that there was no going back on the Nov. 6 proposed strike over non-implementation of N30,000 minimum wage. 

The three labour centres – Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress of Nigeria ( TUC) and the United Labour Congress ( ULC) – confirmed this after a meeting of their joint central working committee in Lagos. 

Recall that the Nigeria Governors Forum on Oct. 30 announced that states would only pay N22,500 minimum wage. The organised labour in reaction called for the implementation of the tripartite committee report concluded on Oct. 5 or it would go on a nationwide strike. 

Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC President, who read the communique of the meeting advised affiliate members of the three centres to commence preparation to ensure the strike was effective. 

According to Wabba, the members should be steadfast and dedicated to achieve their objective as workers would never receive improved welfare except through struggle. 

He also said that the ‘no work no pay’ rule by the government was wrong as it negates the labour law and international convention to which Nigeria was a signatory. He urged private employers to cooperate with labour for the strike to be successful. 

Mr Joe Ajaero, ULC President, reiterated that labour would not hesitate to stop the strike if the government fulfilled its N30,000 minimum wage demand. Ajaero said that labour would continue to meet and negotiate with the government until midnight of the expiration of the strike. 

He however said that the labour body had not received any court injunction to stop the strike contrary to any report. ”We are not aware of any court injunction. We will not discuss it because it is speculative. 

We advise that the minimum wage committee be allowed to submit its report,” Ajaero said Also, TUC’s president, Mr Bobboi Kaigama, in a remark said the door of the organise labour remained open for discussion and advised that the report reached by the committee be submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari.

UPDATED: COURT STOPS NLC, TUC’s PLANNED STRIKE

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria has ordered the organised labour, comprising the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress not to embark on its indefinite strike scheduled to commence on November 6.

Justice Sanusi Kado, on Friday, gave the order in a ruling on an ex parte application moved on behalf of the Federal Government by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata.

Agreeing with Apata, Justice Kado ruled that if the strike is allowed it would lead to huge economic loss to both public and private institutions and could jeopardise the health of many Nigerians who would not be able to access health facilities during the period.

The organised labour had threatened to commence an indefinite strike action to press for the increase in the national minimum wage from the current N18,000.

The last meeting of the tripartite negotiation committee on the minimum wage had ended in deadlock after the Federal Government insisted that it could only afford to pay N25,000, while the governors under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum had held on to N22,500 and the labour N30,000.

Apart from the NLC and the TUC, the NGF is also joined as a defendant in the suit.

Justice Kado adjourned the matter till November 8 for the hearing of the motion on notice seeking the interlocutory injunction to stop the strike.

The judge ordered that the court order and other papers be filed on all the defendants.

He ruled, “In view of all that I have been saying above, it is the overall interest of justice and stability of the society to grant the order of interim injunction against the 1st and 2nd defendants (NLC and TUC), their members, privies, agents, proxies, workmen, or servants from embarking on or taking part in the planned strike or industrial action scheduled to commence on November 6, 2018, in whatever form pending the hearing or determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction which is pending before the court.

“It is also necessary to grant an order of interim injunction restraining the 1st and 2nd defendants (NLC and TUC), their members, privies, agents, proxies, employees, workmen, or servants from engaging or taking part in any conduct or act in contemplation or furtherance of the strike or industrial action scheduled to commence on November 6, 2018, pending the hearing and determination5 of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.”

The suit marked, NICN/ABJ/287/2018, was filed on November 1, 2018 in the name of the Federal Government and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, as the 1st and 2nd claimants, respectively.

PHOTOS: BUHARI GETS WAEC CERTIFICATE

The Registrar of the West African Examination Council, (WAEC), Iyi Uwadiae on Friday presented attestation and confirmation certificate to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

President Buhari receives Attestation and confirmation of result from West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) Registrar Dr Iyi Uwadiae in State House on 2nd Nov 2018

The Registrar presented only the attestation certificate because by law it cannot present a new certificate having allegedly issued the first one which the President said was with the Military Board.

Uwadiea came from the WAEC headquarters in Ghana to present the attestation certificate to the President in his mini conference hall.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina in his twitter handle @FemAdesina wrote, “WAEC presents attestation certificate and confirmation of school certificate result to President Buhari. What will the naysayers say next?”

On Friday, the authorities of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) presented President Muhammadu Buhari with his WASSCE certificate in Abuja.

See the photographs:

WAEC INTRODUCES ‘WALK-IN’ CANDIDATES, ALLOWS REGISTRATION 24 HOURS BEFORE PAPER

In a press statement by Demianus Ojijeogu, and made available to journalists on Sunday, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says it will soon conduct the first series of the West African Senior School certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidates.
A spokesperson of the examination council, who signed the statement, also said the examination will be conducted between January and February, 2019.

According to the statement, registration started October 8 and will end December 28, 2018.

The registration procedure has been designed to accommodate biometric features that will be used for validation at the examination centre.

“After obtaining the registration pin, candidates should log on to www.waeconline.org,” it said.

The council also said there is provision for “walk–in” candidates and candidates with special needs.

“Walk –in candidates, who wish to write the examination after the close of entries may be accommodated provided they register less than 24 hours to the scheduled time of the paper they intend to write,” the statement said.

The walk-in candidates’ fee is N25, 000.

The statement said the special needs’ candidates will also register online but “they must state clearly their disabilities: blind, low vision, spastic, speech etc.

“Candidates must conclude registration within two weeks of first access to the website during registration period,” the statement said.

NNAMDI KANU TO STAY LONGER IN ISRAEL, TRAVEL DOCUMENT EXPIRES

The embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, may have to stay longer in Israel where he is currently holed up, following his failure to use the travel document that would have enabled him to move to the United Kingdom.

It was learnt that the Biafran agitator failed to utilise the Emergency Travel Document provided for him by the British authorities until the document expired.

The UK High Commission disclosed this in Abuja on Saturday in response to inquiries by one of our correspondents about its role in Kanu’s escape to Jerusalem.

The UK High Commission Senior Communications Officer, Tinu Adelegan, explained this in an email responding to enquiries on the IPOB leader.

She said, “I’m afraid there’s very little we can say about this for consular confidentiality. All we have done is provided an ETD to a British person who asked for one in Israel, which he has not used and has now expired.”

It could not be ascertained why Kanu, a British citizen, needed an ETD to travel to the UK.

According to the official UK government website, www.gov.uk, a citizen could apply for an emergency travel document (sometimes called an ‘emergency passport’) if he was abroad and needed to travel and can’t get a passport in time.

The website further explained that a Briton could also apply for an emergency travel document if he was outside the UK, had his passport lost, stolen, damaged or full or expired or is with Her Majesty Passport Office or a foreign embassy.

A citizen could also obtain an ETD if he doesn’t have time to renew or replace his passport before he travels.

Kanu had disappeared from the country in controversial circumstances in 2017, following the invasion of his home by troops.

There had been speculations about his whereabouts and safety for over a year before he resurfaced at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem last Saturday.

FG rules out request for Kanu’s extradition from UK

The Federal Government may have ruled out the possibility of requesting the extradition of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, from the United Kingdom government to Nigeria to face his treasonable felony trial.

Kanu, who holds a dual citizenship of Nigeria and the UK, was sighted in a video clip said to be during a prayer session at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.

The video recently surfaced on the Internet, more than one year after he went missing after soldiers deployed in the South-East for ‘Operation Python Dance II’ last year, allegedly invaded his house in Afara-Ukwu, Umuahia, Abia State, on September 14, 2017.

The IPOB leader had, subsequently after the video clip surfaced on the Internet, threatened in a live broadcast, not to ever submit himself to the trial that was abruptly suspended due to his sudden disappearance since last year.

Also, the UK government reportedly informed the Nigerian government last week of its intention to issue all necessary travel documents to Kanu.

But several sources at the Federal Ministry of Justice, the ministry of the Nigerian government which deals with all extradition issues, said there would be no need to ask UK to send the IPOB leader to Nigeria to face his trial.

One of the sources said, “It is absolutely unnecessary. Remember that there is already an ongoing procedure before the Federal High Court in Abuja where he is being prosecuted to compel his three sureties to produce him in court.

“By law, the sureties are the custodian of the defendant and one of their core duties is to ensure that the defendant attends his trial.

“So it is left for the sureties to find how they will bring him to court, not minding the defendant’s threat not to again submit himself to the authorities of the court.

“If they fail to bring him to court, at the end of the ongoing process, they must be ready to face the sanctions, including the forfeiture of their individual N100m bail bonds.”

One of the sources, who is familiar with the extradition process, also doubted the possibility of any success of such extradition process because the UK government had not been on the same page with Nigeria on the proscription of IPOB as a terrorist group.

The source stated, “The UK government has said it does not see IPOB as a terrorist organisation contrary to the Nigerian government’s position.

“So you can see the disparity in the stances of the two countries’ positions on the issue.”

Mr. Salihu Isah, the spokesperson for the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr. Abubakar Malami, could not be reached for the AGF’s position on the possibility or otherwise of the Federal Government requesting Kanu’s extradition from the UK.

Hearing in the trial of Kanu before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has been scheduled to resume on November 14.

Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe and others, who stood bail sureties for the IPOB leader in April last year, are expected to return on the said date to show cause why they should not be made to lose their N100m bail bonds which they entered into to secure Kanu’s bail if they are unable to produce him.

Also, a former Governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, whom Kanu’s lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, had asked the court to summon for insisting that Kanu had escaped to London, is also expected in court at the next hearing date.

BREAKING: EX-PDP BOT CHAIRMAN, TONY ANENIH, DIES AT 85

A former Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Tony Anenih, has reportedly died at the age of 85.

It was gathered that Anenih died at a private hospital in Abuja on Sunday.

One of the sons of the deceased, Mr. Tony Anenih, could not be reached for comments.

But a source close to the family, who confirmed the development on the condition of anonymity, said that the children of the elder statesman would issue an official statement in Abuja soon.

The former minister of works, who lost his eldest son, Eugene, in May, 2017, after the death of his wife, Patricia, turned 85 in August.

The State Chairman of of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, said that the party would make its position on the matter known at the appropriate time.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Government has commiserated with the Anenih family over the death of its patriarch.

Governor Godwin Obaseki, in a statement on Sunday evening said that the entire state was saddened by the loss.

Obaseki described the late politician as a leader who made immense contributions to the development of the state and the country.

He also said that the guidance of the deceased elder statesman would be missed, especially as the country prepares for the 2019 general elections.

NECA EXPLAINS MINIMUM WAGE

Olusegun Ashinowo, NECA DG.

As organised labour prepares for a nationwide strike from November 6 over a new minimum wage, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, has explained what makes up a minimum wage, saying the “clarity on the definition is to eliminate any form of ambiguity on the issue.”

NECA, in a statement by its Director General, Mr. Olusegun Oshinowo, noted that “the component of the national minimum wage had been well discussed and agreed upon in the past.

“It is the total emolument and not just the basic salary. Item (iii) on page xi of the Report of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage 2010, specifically cited the national minimum wage of N18,000 per month as total emolument.

“In the same vein, Clause 2.1.2.8 on page 10 of the Report of the Committee on the Review of Wages, Salaries and Allowances in the Federal Public Service and the National Minimum Wage, April 2000 even went further to give a breakdown of the components of the then wage of N7,500 as basic salary, transport, meal subsidy, utility allowance and rent subsidy (which was then 40 percent of basic Salary in the public service.”

He added that NECA was “constrained to put the information in the public domain to avoid further confusion on the definition or components of the national minimum wage.”

STOP KADUNA KILLINGS NOW, HOUSE OF REPS TELL PRESIDENT BUHARI

Members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday condemned the resurgence of killings and destruction of valuable property in Kaduna State, calling for tighter security by security agencies to quell the attacks.

The lawmakers also made a direct call on President Muhammadu Buhari to halt the frequent killings of innocent Nigerians across the country at the slightest provocation, saying that Nigeria was gradually sliding into anarchy.

Over 50 lives were reportedly lost in Kaduna State, starting from October 18, after a crisis erupted at Kasuwan Magani in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.

It quickly spread to neighbouring communities and Kaduna metropolis within days, forcing the state government to impose a 24-hour curfew on the affected areas.

The Minority Whip of the House, Mr Yakubu Barde, whose constituency was in the heart of the conflict, brought a motion on the floor to inform members that several victims were also abducted and had yet to be released.

Barde said, “The paramount ruler of the Adara people, the Agom Adara, on receiving the report of the crisis, made an on-the-spot visit to the area, and while on his way back, was abducted alongside with his wife and driver by armed men, with other three persons in his entourage losing their lives.

“Just two days ago, the wife was released but he is still being held and we are not sure if he is alive or dead.”

Barde added that but for the intervention of Governor Nasir el-Rufai and security agencies, the mayhem would have continued to spread like wildfire.

The motion asked security agencies, especially the police, to identify the perpetrators of the mayhem and bring them to justice.

As members debated the motion, they condemned the frequent resort to killings as a solution to minor disagreements.

They also noted that there was always a religious and ethnic coloration to conflicts. Lawmakers said this was made worse by the apparent unwillingness of government at all levels to punish the sponsors of such conflicts.

Some of the members noted that the buck stopped on the table of Buhari, the chief security officer of the federation, to ensure that justice was served in all situations.

For instance, a member from Lagos State, Mr Oghene Emma-Igoh, said the lives of Nigerians must be accorded due respect.

He spoke further, “We call on Mr President to put an end to all these killings happening everywhere in the country.

“If we have to deploy more policemen or the military to end these killings and wanton destruction of property, let us do it.

“Life today means nothing in Nigeria. How can armed hoodlums just block a highway, drag people out of their vehicles and hack them to death?”

A similar view was expressed by the Chairman, House Committee on Works, Mr Toby Okechukwu, who said he was saddened that the country was being assessed by the number of mass graves in many states.

BIAFRA: IPOB FINALLY SACKS NNAMDI KANU, GIVES REASONS

Nnamdi Kanu,  IPOB leader

The Director of Strategy and Documentation of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Olisa Mbakwe on Monday announced that its leader, Nnamdi Kanu has been sacked from the group. 

Mbakwe said Kanu was fired for placing more value on his dog than those murdered in the struggle for the realisation of Biafra. 

Speaking during Sunday’s broadcast from his base in Israel, Kanu mourned his dog and “a few other people” in his compound, who lost their lives when military men invaded the place in September 2017. 

Kanu had said during the broadcast, “The Army of the zoo killed my dog Jack and a few other people in my compound. I am sorry for what my sureties are passing through, but I want to assure them that they will have a special place in Biafra. I shall not be honouring the court.” 

Reacting, Mbakwe described Kanu as an “insensitive and callous leader that has no value for his own followers but rather his dog, Jack whom he paid tributes to after his long disappearance from the struggle”.  

In a statement he personally signed, Mbakwe, of IPOB, also insisted that Kanu was a “traitor not worthy of any leadership position anywhere in the world”.