Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 19th July 2024
1. Tinubu Approves ₦70,000 As New Minimum Wage For Nigerian Workers
President Bola Tinubu has approved N70,000 as the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
Naturenex reports that Tinubu announced the new minimum wage during a meeting held with leaders of the Trade Union Congress, TUC and the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, on Thursday in Abuja.
A statement by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the new minimum wage will be reviewed every three years.
The statement read, “President approves N70,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers with a promise to review the national minimum wage law every three years.
“President Tinubu also promised to find ways to assist the private sector and the sub-nationals to pay the minimum wage.
“President Tinubu announced the decisions at the meeting held with leaders of TUC and NLC on Thursday in Abuja, the second time the parties met in 7 days.
“The Labour leaders applauded President Tinubu for the fatherly gesture as the President also promised to use his discretionary powers meet the demands of university unions demanding unpaid 4 months salaries.”
2. Reps Slash Salaries By 50% Over Nationwide Hunger
As part of solidarity and support for the economic hardship in the country, members of the House of Representatives have agreed to slash their salaries by 50 percent for six months.
Naturenex reports that the latest development followed the adoption of an amendment to a motion’s prayer moved by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, on the need for lawmakers to sacrifice 50% of their N600,000 monthly salaries to support Nigerians.
He said the salary cut is to be used to support the federal government’s efforts to address the rising cost of foodstuffs in the country to alleviate the hardship Nigerians are going through.
Kalu’s amended prayer was to a motion by Rep Isiaka Ayokunle calling on proponents of the planned nationwide protests to jettison the idea and engage the government in dialogue.
The motion was adopted and referred to the committees on Humanitarian Affairs, Finance and Budget for compliance.
With each member paying N300,000 into a common purse, the legislative chamber will contribute N108 million monthly to the Federal Government and N648 million for six months.
3. FG Reverses Ban For Under 18 Admission Into Tertiary Institutions
The ban on admission seekers into tertiary institutions who are less than eighteen years old, which was announced by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, has been reversed.
The ban was reversed following strong protests by Vice Chancellors and other stakeholders on Thursday at the 2024 Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) policy meeting in Abuja.
It was, however, agreed that the policy would come into enforcement at a future date set to be determined.
The stakeholders agreed that candidates who are 16 years old would be considered for admission into tertiary institutions for the 2024 academic year, however, the entry age would be 18 years from the next academic year.
Recall Professor Mamman had earlier during the meeting on Thursday, declared that candidates below the age of eighteen would no longer be granted admission to tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
According to the Minister, this decision is in line with Nigeria’s law, which prohibits the admission of underage students to tertiary institutions.
He emphasized that no one should recommend anyone less than 18 years old for admission, stressing that this guideline must be strictly followed.
4. Autonomy: Senate Moves To Establish Agency For LG Elections
The Senate has passed the first reading of a proposed Bill that aims to create a federal agency responsible for overseeing local government elections.
Naturenex reports that the Bill, known as the “Local Government Independent Electoral Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2024,” was introduced by Senator Sani Musa, who serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance.
Earlier, the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, declared that the Federal Government is not superior to states in exercising each other’s constitutional roles.
Makinde made this known in Ibadan at an emergency consultative meeting with stakeholders on Monday to appraise last week’s Supreme Court judgement, which granted financial autonomy to the local government areas across the nation.
He maintained that the judgment had created a constitutional lacuna that would throw up different challenges at the local government level.
However, a spokesman for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, has stated that the Supreme Court’s verdict on LG autonomy was not enough, stressing that some electoral reforms have to be put in place for the verdict to be effective.
He argued that the third tier of government, cannot be said to have formidable administrations when governors still “handpick” chairmen for local governments in their states.
5. JAMB 2024 Admission Cut-off Marks Announced
The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) official cut-off marks for the 2024 admission exercise into tertiary institutions in Nigeria have been announced.
The marks were announced on Thursday at the policy meeting held in Abuja, which was presided over by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman and attended by all relevant stakeholders in the education sector.
The policy meeting agreed on a minimum score of 140 for candidates seeking University admission, and 100 for Polytechnics and Colleges of Education.
It was also disclosed at the meeting that there’s no such thing as a ‘cut-off mark’ in the admission process to tertiary institutions in Nigeria, as what’s obtainable is the minimum tolerable score determinable by individual institutions.
6. Labour Union Accepts Tinubu’s ₦70,000 Offer As Minimum Wage, Gives Reason
Leaders of organised Labour have accepted President Bola Tinubu’s N70,000 minimum wage offer for Nigerian workers.
Naturenex reported that Tinubu announced the new minimum wage during a meeting held with leaders of the Trade Union Congress, TUC and the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, on Thursday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
A statement by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the new minimum wage will be reviewed every three years.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the President of NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said the unions had accepted the offer.
Flanked by the President of the TUC, Comrade Festus Usifo, and other representatives of Nigerian workers, who attended the meeting, Ajaero said the unions agreed to the offer because of other incentives attached.
He said another reason for accepting the offer is that President Tinubu promised a review every three years, which was against what was obtained in the past.
7. Ndume: ‘You’re Becoming A Puppet In Tinubu’s Hands’ – Atiku Blasts National Assembly
Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has berated the National Assembly over the removal of the Senator representing Borno South senatorial district, Ali Ndume, as the Majority Whip.
Naturenex reports that Ndume was replaced by Borno North Senator, Mohammed Tahir Monguno, during the plenary on Tuesday, following his criticism of President Bola Tinubu.
Recall that last week, Ndume stated in an interview that the president was unaware of what was happening outside the Villa, alleging that the president had been fenced off and caged.
In a statement via X on Thursday, Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, faulted the highhandedness of the executive arm of the government in attempting to use the legislature against the interest of the masses.
Atiku asserted that the democracy under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu has become an anathema to the general principle of democracy.
He noted that the National Assembly is gradually becoming a puppet in Tinubu’s hands as regards taking a reverse course in its function.
While expressing displeasure over the removal of Ndume, Atiku also recalled the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi, who had earlier criticized Tinubu earlier this year, adding that the National Assembly has become an enabler of executive recklessness.
8. Nigeria Not Merit Driven – Uzodinma
The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, on Thursday, claimed that Nigeria is not merit-driven.
He noted that the Nigerian system must find a way to celebrate and promote merit.
Uzodinma, while delivering a lecture on patriotism and citizenship at the Yoruba Tennis Club event in Lagos State, said, “I believe there must be a way to drive and balance this. We need to create a space where everyone can thrive which promotes merit.”
The governor also explained why Nigeria is battling declining patriotism among her citizens, saying the stakeholders must right the wrongs to elicit the spirit of patriotism among the populace.
He said the mistrust and several heartbreaks the citizens have suffered were responsible for declining patriotism in the country.
The governor maintained the wave of ‘japa syndrome’ was informed by Nigerians’ quest to have a better life and live where the system works.
He said purposeful leadership and accountability must be entrenched by leaders across the country to build trust among Nigerians, adding that this would ensure Nigeria remains a country where patriotism can thrive.
According to him, national unity and inclusivity are paramount in eliciting patriotism among Nigerians.
9. Minimum Wage: President Tinubu To Give 36 CNG Buses To NLC, TUC
President Bola Tinubu has promised to give 36 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to the labour unions in the country.
The President made the announcement on Thursday during his meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to discuss the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
According to the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the move is part of efforts to ameliorate the high cost of living by workers.
He added that the 36 CNG-powered buses have a sitting capacity of 100 each.
10. Why We Blocked NASU, SSANU Members From Leaving Protest Venue – Police
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, said members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) were restricted from leaving the protest ground at the Unity Fountain in line with their commitment.
NASU and SSANU members embarked on a protest on Thursday in Abuja. The higher institution workers who gathered at the Unity Fountain were prevented from moving out of the venue by the police.
According to NASU General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, NASU and SSANU members were to march to the Ministry of Labour and Employment to present letters to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong and Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha.
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, said NASU and SSANU wrote a letter and agreed to remain at the Unity Fountain, make their complaints and address the press.
Adeh added that NASU and SSANU agreed they would not enter the streets to protest, in order to avoid causing lawlessness.
