President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), as the co-chairman of the NCDMB governing council.

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) is charged with increasing local content for job creation, boosting the domestic private sector, facilitating technology transfer, and building a competitive local workforce.

The new appointment is in line with Mr Tinubu’s commitment to establish a more efficient, targeted, and consistent approval process for unique oil and gas projects in the country.

A statement by presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said this was also to ensure further effective oversight of the gas aspect of the nation’s assets.

Mr Ngelale said the president remains committed to unlocking Nigeria’s immense gas potential to stimulate industrial development, job creation, and sustainable economic growth.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Chukwuemeka Woke as the managing director and chief executive officer of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority.

This is contained in a statement by presidential aide Ajuri Ngelale on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr Ngelale said the appointee is a seasoned engineer and politician.

He said Mr Woke had served as the chairman of Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers and was the chief of staff to former Governor Nyesom Wike for many years.

The presidential aide said the president expected the new appointee to discharge his duties with integrity and in conformity with the highest standards of transparency.

Mr Ngelale added that Mr Tinubu directed Mr Woke to harness and develop the water resource potential of the area and ensure that the authority becomes a channel for holistic and integrated industrial, agricultural, and community development.

Elder Statesman and Dean of Borno Elders Forum, Prof. Khalifa Dikwa, had said that President Bola Tinubu’s administration was blackmailed into approving the cybersecurity levy policy initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

Dikwa made this statement in an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday, saying: “These forces can’t be seen and rely on intimidation to get their bidding done while saying the Tinubu administration is blackmailed into making these policies.

“It is the wrong time to impose the cybersecurity levy. I’m not surprised by the directive because Nigeria is seemingly controlled remotely by external forces.”

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has stepped down a motion seeking the suspension of the cybersecurity levy which has brought about negative reactions from Nigerians.

Honourable Manu Soro, who moved the motion on the floor of the house on Wednesday, noted that the levy was coming at the wrong time, considering the current living conditions of Nigerians. He had argued that the National Security Adviser is a political office and has no mandate to manage accruals.

The Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, however, urged the lawmaker to step down the motion to allow the leadership of the House to deliberate on how best to tackle the situation.

Similarly, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, had described the planned cybersecurity levy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, on all electronic transactions as another burden on Nigerians.

The levy’s introduction has sparked widespread criticism among Nigerians and civil society organisations.

Rejecting the policy, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in a statement, said such deductions directly affect the disposable income of workers and further diminish the purchasing power of common citizens.

He said the directive is another gang-up by the ruling elite to continue its extortion and exploitation of helpless workers and the masses.

“The Nigeria Labour Congress recognises the importance of cybersecurity in today’s digital age,” the statement reads.

The Federal Government on Wednesday presented 1,437 metric tonnes of assorted food commodities to the Niger State Government for distribution to vulnerable persons in the state.

The Director General, National Emergency Management Agency, Hajiya Zubaida Umar, stated this during the presentation of the items to Governor Umaru Bago, at the Government House, Minna.

Ms Umar said that the gesture was part of the Federal Government’s efforts to cushion the effects of the high cost of food items in the country.

She said, “In fulfilment of his promise to reduce the impact of the current economic downturn being experienced in the country in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, Mr President approved the release of 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted food commodities from the National Strategic Reserve.

“The assorted food commodities include maize, millet, sorghum and garri. After sharing the commodities and successfully transporting the quantity allocated to Niger State, today we are here to hand over the food items to the state government for distribution to the identified deserving beneficiaries in the communities, through the constituted committees in each local government area.

“It is worthy of note that based on the allocation table, Niger State has been allocated; 550 metric tonnes of maize (11,000 bags of 50kg), 650 metric tonnes of sorghum (13,000 bags of 50 kg) and 237 metric tonnes of millet (4,750 bags of 50kg).”

The DG explained that based on the directive of the Federal Government, 20 per cent of the food items due for each LGA would be given to religious organisations and three per cent to be handed over to boarding schools in the area.

The NEMA boss used the opportunity to alert the state governor on the 2024 seasonal climate prediction and the annual flood outlook and urged the state to be prepared.

She said that the predictions indicated that in April, May and June, 25 states and 72 LGAs were flood high-risk areas, indicating heightened vulnerability to flooding.

Mr Umar said that the vulnerability would persist into the subsequent months of July to September, with 33 states and 135 LGAs identified as high-risk areas, while the period between October and November had 19 states and 44 LGAs.

She said, “This year, the probable flood risk areas in Niger State are Agwara, Bida, Magama, Muya, Agaie, Shiroro, Bosso, Kontagora, Gurara, Chanchaga, Rafi and Lavun local government areas. In view of the foregoing, I wish to request the state government to kindly take proactive and necessary measures in addressing these issues.’’

Responding, Mr Bago directed the committee in charge of the distribution of the food items and the security agencies to ensure that the identified vulnerable persons got the commodities.

The governor said that no beneficiary was to pay for the food items. He promised that the state government would soon set up a committee to tackle the issue of flooding this year.

Also speaking, the Women Leader, Polio Affected Persons in the state, Habiba Garba, said that members of the group received one bag of maize, millet and sorghum each.

Mrs Garba, who thanked the Federal Government for the gesture, said that the association would ensure that the items get to their members.

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja after spending two weeks abroad.

Tinubu returned to his official residence at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, in the early hours of Wednesday, PUNCH Online confirmed.In a tweet on Tuesday evening, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, revealed, “President Bola Tinubu, along with his aides, will return to Nigeria tomorrow from Europe.”

Two weeks ago, on April 23, 2024, the President departed Abuja for The Netherlands for a three-day official visit, honouring an invitation from the Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte.

While in the Netherlands, he participated in the Nigerian-Dutch Business and Investment Forum, which brought together heads of conglomerates and organisations in both countries.

He also held separate meetings with His Royal Majesty, King Willem-Alexander, and Queen Maxima of the Kingdom.

As earlier announced by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu proceeded from The Netherlands to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to attend a World Economic Forum Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development scheduled for April 28–29.

He joined over 1,000 leaders from business, government, and academia from more than 90 countries to review actions taken since the inaugural Growth Summit held in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2023.

It was his second visit to the Gulf state in five months.

After the summit, however, the President did not return to the country immediately.

Although no official statement was issued on the President’s further engagements, sources within the Presidency confirmed that he proceeded to London for a private visit and was billed to return last weekend.

Tinubu embarked on a similar private visit to London between June 24–28, 2023, where he met his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari. He had attended the Paris Summit for the New Global Financial Pact days earlier.

His return on Wednesday concludes his 20th foreign trip since assuming office last May, logging 96 days abroad.

So far, he has visited Paris, France (thrice); London, the United Kingdom (twice); Bissau, Guinea-Bissau (twice); Nairobi, Kenya; Porto Norvo, Benin Republic; New Delhi, India; Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates; New York, the United States of America; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (twice); Berlin, Germany; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Dakar, Senegal; Doha, Qatar; and The Hague, The Netherlands.

The Plateau State Government has settled a five-year outstanding clothing allowance for solicitors in the state Ministry of Justice.

The state Commissioner for Justice, Philemon Dafi, who made this known in an interview, said the payment covered between 2018 and 2023.

Mr Dafi said the payment was made to motivate state counsel to put in their best and increase productivity.

He said, “The ministry will do all it takes to improve staff welfare and encourage state counsel to dress well. Dressing well can also help you feel empowered and confident to take on new challenges, meet new people and progress in your career.’’

He also said that the government created opportunities for training programmes, workshops, and mentorship opportunities to help employees enhance their skills and grow in their careers.”

The state has trained prosecutors and investigators and also holds continuous legal education for lawyers as well as hosting webinars on topical issues in the ministry”, he stated.

He further said that some state officials had been sponsored on study tour to Lagos State to understudy the workings and operations of the Ministry of Justice, Lands and Bureau and the office of the Surveyor-General.

The House of Representatives has expressed worry over the continual rise in the price of cement, saying it is detrimental to the entire economy.

Deputy speaker Benjamin Kalu said this at an investigative hearing on Arbitrary Increase in Cement Price in Abuja on Tuesday, organised by the House Joint Committee on Solid Minerals, Industry, Commerce and Special Duties in Abuja.

Mr Kalu said that cement remained a fundamental component in constructing vital infrastructure such as bridges, dams, houses, waterworks, and roads.

He said that Nigeria had a housing deficit of 16.9 million, according to statistics.

“According to the World Bank, Lagos, Ibadan, Kano, and Abuja have a 20 per cent rise in housing needs yearly,” he stated.

Mr Kalu said the total output in the formal housing sector was estimated at not more than 100,000 units.

The lawmaker added that bridging the gap required affordable and accessible cement prices for both the government and the private sector. He said while factors such as exchange rates had contributed to the rising prices of commodities, it was encouraging to see the value of the naira increasing sharply against the dollar.

“Notably, the naira has shown remarkable strength against the dollar in past weeks, and Fitch Ratings, a global credit rating agency, recently revised Nigeria’s credit outlook to positive from stable. We are also dedicated to enacting laws that prevent a recurrence of the factors that led to the current situation,” Mr Kalu said.

The committee’s chairman, Jonathan Gaza, said the recent hike in the price of cement was worrisome.

“Nigeria has a high deficit of housing and other infrastructure. To close this gap, both government and the private sector must be articulate and deliberate in putting the right policies and parameters in place to encourage development.

“Therefore, should the price of cement which is a major component for infrastructure development continue to soar uncontrollably, the tendency to stifle life out of that sector is high and the consequences very detrimental,” Mr Gaza said.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nigeria, Kim Pankyu, has promised to explore avenues of assisting Nigeria to tackle the security challenges in the country.

He said this at a media parley in Abuja.

Mr Pankyu, who had just spent about 50 days in Nigeria, pledged to work towards expanding the partnership between the two countries for mutual benefit.

He said that Korea had at different times offered capacity building programmes for the Nigerian military and other security agencies towards enhancing their capabilities.

“I intend to expand this kind of opportunity for Nigeria. I believe that counter-terrorism courses and training programmes are useful for Nigerian military officers.

“We will also explore ways to have the Nigerian government provide itself with proper hardware. The Korean Navy has donated a patrol ship that will arrive in Lagos in a few months. I will explore ways to expand this kind of assistance.

“I will also explore ways to deepen security cooperation to help the country address insecurity. I will do that by using my expertise in military and security affairs, which saw me through my 40 years in the Korean Navy.

“On this, I will also like to focus on promoting corporations on maritime security because securing maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea will essentially benefit many countries, including Korea. In addition, I will like to expand Korean support for capacity building for Nigerian military and security officers,” Mr Pankyu said.

He said that Nigeria remained a strong Korean partner in Africa, adding that the two countries could do more together.

He lauded the federal government for introducing reforms aimed at improving the business environment in the country.

“I will explain these changes to Korean companies and encourage them to venture into Nigeria and make investments. I will facilitate a people-to-people exchange between Nigeria and Korea because I believe that culture has the power to connect people and improve understanding among them,” he said.

He commended the Korean Culture Centre in Nigeria for playing significant roles in introducing Korean culture to Nigerians, promising to provide opportunities for Nigerians to experience Korean content.

Mr Pankyu also promised to explore avenues for increasing study slots for Nigerians wishing to study in the Republic of Korea.

He said that the Korean government had provided numerous support for food self-sufficiency in Africa through various projects such as the K-Rice Belt Initiative to enhance high yields and food security on the continent.

“We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with 10 African countries to promote K-Rice Belt projects. Nigeria’s joining this project is being discussed and when it is realised, it will surely contribute to its agriculture sector,” he said.

The envoy said that the Korea-Africa Summit, slated for June in Seoul, Korea, would help solidify the relationship between Korea and Africa and also between Korea and Nigeria.

“The inaugural Korea-Africa Summit is expected to be the largest international gathering. This reflects Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol’s commitment to fostering a mutually beneficial, sustainable and strategic partnership with Africa.

This also marks significant steps in Korea’s comprehensive strategy to engage deeply with the global South, reflecting our commitment to global inclusiveness and cooperation.

“During the summit, we will host many side events and provide opportunities for Nigeria and Korea to explore ways to expand their bilateral economic and cultural exchange between the government and private sector.

“I’m positive and believe that the coming summit will set a new milestone in the relationship between Korea and Africa,” Mr Pankyu said.

He said that Korean people were largely Super Eagles fans, as they enjoyed their superlative performances in international tournaments.

“The Korean people know Wole Soyinka, the literary icon and they know the role of Nigeria in peacekeeping in Africa,” he said.

The United States of America and Nigeria held the sixth U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission meeting in Abuja, deliberating on “a wide range of bilateral and global issues,” including creation of state police in Nigeria.

A “joint statement on the 2024 U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission” released on Monday indicated that salient issues were deliberated during the April 29-30, 2024 meeting between Nigeria and U.S. officials.

U.S. and Nigerian delegates at the meeting “discussed President Tinubu’s creation of a police reform commission, and the United States offered its expertise to the Government of Nigeria,” the statement noted.

It stated, “Both also discussed the potential challenges and needs of state police forces should the Nigerian Assembly pass an act creating such.”

It added that “the United States demonstrated a strong commitment to support Nigeria’s efforts to build the capacity of Nigeria’s criminal justice system and strengthen police reforms and accountability in Nigeria.”

This comes amid renewed clamour for state police creation to tackle security challenges in Nigeria.

According to the statement, this year’s Binational Commission built on the strong foundation agreed during the January 23, 2024, meeting between President Bola Tinubu and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken in Abuja, as well as the momentum from the last BNC held in Washington, D.C., in February 2020.

Nigerian minister of foreign affairs, Yusuf M. Tuggar, led the Nigerian interministerial delegation, while Deputy Secretary of State Kurt M. Campbell and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Molly Phee, headed the U.S. delegation of federal departments and agencies to the meeting.

Chad will hold presidential election on Monday to stop the three years of military administration and usher in democracy.

It was gathered that General Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, who seized power in 2021, suspended the constitution, and was installed as the president of the Transitional Military Council, is the favourite among the 10 candidates.

The 40-year-old became the central African nation’s leader when his father, who had repressively ruled Chad since 1990, died from wounds suffered on the front line as he visited troops in the north battling rebels.

It was further gathered that the country of around 19 million people has never experienced a peaceful transfer of power since its independence from its former colonial power France in 1960.

Déby promised that his presidency was only a temporary placeholder until Chad had transitioned to a new democratic government.

But he has crushed opposition demonstrations, voters and observers alike doubt that the election will be fair.

Uchechi Kanu, wife of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has visited the Biafra agitator in custody of the Department of State Services, DSS.

She disclosed that her visit to Kanu in DSS custody was facilitated by Anambra South Senator, Ifeanyi Ubah.

Mr Kanu had been in the custody of DSS since 2021, after he was renditioned from Kenya.

Before her visit, it was gathered that Mrs Kanu had been repeatedly denied access to her husband.

Addressing IPOB members on radio in the United Kingdom on Sunday, Uchechi commended Ubah for facilitating the visit.

She said: “Let me use this opportunity to thank Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who moved swiftly to facilitate my visit to my husband in DSS custody. I thank you, sir.

“I thank other Igbo politicians, governors, and political office holders who are concerned about the plight of my husband.

A lot of these elites are concerned about the unlawful detention of my husband, and are working silently to secure a round table discussion for his release. I’m thankful to them.”

President Bola Tinubu is set to inaugurate three critical gas infrastructure projects being undertaken by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL) and partners.

A statement by presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, on Friday in Abuja, said that this was in line with Mr Tinubu’s commitment to leverage gas to grow the economy.

“The projects support the federal government’s effort to grow value from the nation’s gas assets while eliminating gas flaring.

“The delivery of the projects was accelerated from the inception of the administration in keeping with the overall objective of deepening domestic gas supply as a critical enabler for economic prosperity,’’ he said.

Mr Ngelale said that the projects are AHL Gas Processing Plant 2 (GPP – 2) – 200mmscf/d.

He said that the project was an expansion to the Kwale Gas Processing Plant (GPP – 1), which currently supplies about 130MMscf/d of gas to the domestic market.

He said that the processing plant was designed to process 200MMscf/d of rich gas and deliver lean gas through the OB3 Gas Pipeline.

“This additional gas supply will support further rapid industrialisation of Nigeria. The plant will also produce about 160,000 MTPA of Propane and 100,000 MTPA of Butane, which will reduce the dependency on LPG Imports.

‘’The AHL Gas Plant is being developed by AHL Limited, an incorporated Joint Venture owned by NNPC Limited and SEEPCO.’’

The presidential spokesman said that the second project is the ANOH Gas Processing Plant (AGPC) – 300MMscf/d.

He said that this gas plant was an integrated 300MMscf/d capacity gas processing plant designed to process non-associated gas from the Assa North-Ohaji South field in Imo.

‘’The plant will produce dry gas, condensate, and LPG. The gas from ANOH gas plant will significantly increase domestic gas supply, leading to increased power generation and accelerated industrialisation.

‘’The ANOH Gas Plant is being developed by ANOH Gas Processing Company, an incorporated Joint Venture owned by NNPC Limited and Seplat Energy Plc on a 50-50 basis.’’

According to Mr Ngelale, the third project is the ANOH-OB3 CTMS Gas Pipeline Project.He said that the project involved the engineering, procurement, and construction of 36”x23.3km ANOH-OB3 Project.

‘’The Transmission Gas Pipeline will evacuate dry gas from the Assa North-Ohaji South (ANOH) primary treatment facility (PTF) to OB3 Custody Transfer Metering Station (CTMS) for delivery into the OB3 pipeline system.

‘’About 600MMscf/d is estimated to be available from two separate 2 x 300MMscf/d capacity gas processing production trains from AGPC & SPDC JV.’’

The three new gas projects, when inaugurated, will increase gas supply to the domestic market by approximately 500mmscf/d, creating a better investment climate and promoting balanced economic growth.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has submitted additional proof of evidence against the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.

During the court hearing on Friday, Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo requested an adjournment to review the new evidence before continuing the cross-examination of John Ikechukwu Ayoh, the second prosecution witness.

Ojo accused the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, of engaging in “trial by ambush” and not being diligent in their prosecution.

He told the court that he just received the additional proof of evidence from the EFCC.

He said the new proof of evidence was filed on Thursday, saying he needed to study the additional proof of evidence to cross-examine the prosecution witness.

He told the court, “My lord, there is a need to adjourn this case. We were just served these huge documents by the EFCC in court.

“The prosecution keeps dumping documents on us at every sitting. This is trial by ambush.”

Sharing the same sentiment, the counsel to the second defendant, Adeyinka Kotoye, also said he was served the additional proof of evidence five minutes after arriving in court.

In his defence, Oyedepo argued that they provided documents from a former aide to Emefiele in preparation for his testimony, saying it did not affect the ongoing cross-examination.

He added that it was unfair to describe the service of processes by the prosecution as “ambush by trial”.

Oyedepo emphasised that the additional evidence submitted were documents obtained from the phone of a former aide to Emefiele, John Adetona, who is set to testify as a witness.

He also clarified that these documents were provided in advance for Adetona’s future testimony and that he was not scheduled to appear in court on the present or upcoming hearing on May 9.

“The witness (Adetona) whose device the documents were printed from has not given evidence before the court,” Oyedepo said.

“In preparation for his testimony which is not coming up today or May 9, the prosecution rather waiting for the defence to formally demand the hard copies the prosecution team printed the documents out.

“How does that amount to prosecutorial unfairness?”

Oyedepo, however, requested that the court instruct the defence counsels to conclude their cross-examination of the second prosecution witness.

He clarified that the introduction of new documents does not hinder or impact the ongoing cross-examination of this witness.

However, Emefiele’s lawyer disagreed, stating that he needed time to review the new documents as they may contain valuable information for use during cross-examination.

In his ruling, the presiding judge, Rahman Oshodi, agreed with the defendant’s counsel.

Oshodi then adjourned the matter to May 9.

Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, are currently being tried in a Lagos high court on a 26-count charge.

Both the former CBN governor and Omoile pleaded not guilty to all the charges against them.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has again blamed erstwhile President Muhammadu Buhari, his party man, for the unprecedented economic calamity Nigeria and its people are enduring consequent upon the removal of the petrol subsidy and floating of the naira amid several years of unsustainable borrowings by Mr Buhari’s regime.

Despite several prominent figures opposing Mr Buhari’s wayward economic policies and wanton borrowings, he was egged on by many of his acolytes as even former President Olusegun Obasanjo could not prevail on him to change the nation’s economic course heading for the precipice.

More aptly, on Thursday, Mr Shettima admitted that what Mr Buhari left his successor, President Bola Tinubu, was a “death sentence” economic crisis.

From the get-go, Mr Tinubu’s economic steps faltered, plunging citizens of Africa’s most populous nation into historic stagflation and abject poverty.

The president and his team have continued to harp on the message of hope for a better tomorrow while Nigerians seek immediate remedy to the starvation and poverty that assail them, with their purchasing power eroded.

“The year before we took office, Nigeria’s debt service-to-revenue ratio had grown to 111.8%. The anticipated debt crisis may sound like fancy economic jargon to the man on the street, but you and I are in a better position to understand how such miscalculations have played out in other countries. It’s an economic death sentence,” Mr Shettima said.

The Nigerian vice-president made this statement explaining the reasons for the Tinubu-led government’s removal of fuel subsidy while speaking at the 2nd Chronicle Roundtable organised by 21st Century Media Services and held at Ladi Kwali Hall, Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja.

Lamenting Nigeria’s debt crisis under Mr Buhari’s regime, Mr Shettima said, “In plain terms, our debt servicing was such that if you earned, say, N100,000, the entirety of the money wasn’t only paid to your debtor; you were forced to borrow an additional N11,800 to pay the debtor. How do you intend to survive this, and how many more loans before you become a pariah?” Mr Buhari left office last May.

His predecessor, Mr Tinubu, will clock one year in the saddle on May 29 amid a cauldron of chaos of economic and security crises.

“Can we continue to service external debts with 90% of our revenue? It is a path to destruction. It is not sustainable,” said Mr Tinubu last August at the annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association.

“We must make the very difficult changes that are necessary for our country to get up from slumber and be respected among the great nations of the world.

Governor Mai Mala Buni has ordered the Yobe State Geographic Information Service, YOGIS, to register all land vendors operating in the state.

Buni gave the order on Thursday at the official launching ceremony of the new digital process for land administration and management.

He said the move is to reduce the menace of land-grabbing, racketeering and scams in the state.

“To reduce the menace of land-grabbing, racketeering and scams, I hereby direct that all land vendors must be registered for proper record and security before they are allowed to operate,” he ordered.

Buni, similarly, ordered filling stations, hotels, bakeries, water factories, private schools, corner shops and other commercial businesses in the state, to settle their dues.

“I am optimistic that, with the new process, YOGIS will provide seamless, effective and efficient service to its clients,” he said.

YOGIS was established in November 2020 by Executive Order 1.

Governor Buni assented to the law in October 2021 for effective land administration and management in the state.

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has announced a new minimum wage of N40,000 for the state’s workers.

The governor made this announcement during the Workers’ Day celebration at the U.J Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

Mr Otu, who said that the new wage implementation aligns with the realities of the time in the state rather than sentiments, revealed that under his administration, the payment of salaries, workers’ wages, and pension entitlements continues to be prioritized as a first-line charge.

“Owing to the peculiarity of Cross River State regarding its lean finances occasioned by low Statutory Federal Allocation and aggravated by the unfavorable State GDP to Debt servicing ratio, the new wage implementation is in line with the realities of the time rather than sentiments,” he said.

For the backlog of gratuity in the state, which dates back to 2014, the governor appealed for patience, saying, “Government is presently on the verge of concluding necessary arrangements for the staggered payment of outstanding gratuity to its retired workers.”

He stressed that the theme for this year’s Workers’ Day is “People First,” and interestingly coincides with my administration’s mantra.

“Accordingly, whatever action aimed at alleviating the suffering of the workers is readily embraced by me. One of such measures is the payment of a living wage to the workforce. May I, therefore, state categorically that the government of Cross River State, under my leadership, is willing and ready to put smiles on the faces of its workers and in line with the season of sweetness which characterizes my administration,” the governor added.

Anambra State workers on Wednesday expressed anger over the absence of the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo at the worker’s day rally.

Soludo was represented at the Alex Ekwueme Square by Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, the state Deputy Governor.

The workers said Soludo stayed away from the function because he was afraid of addressing the long list of needs presented by the NLC and TUC. They insisted he was not a worker friendly governor.

The workers who initially refused to file out for the usual parade which has become synonymous with the rally, said Soludo’s absence was deliberate.

They repeatedly shouted “No” to appeals for them to file out for the parade, insisting that Soludo has never attended workers’ function since he became governor. They eventually grudgingly undertook the parade.

The Deputy Governor who later addressed the protesting workers after several efforts to calm them, assured that their grievances would soon be addressed.

He said: “Governor Soludo as a worker-friendly governor is aware of your plights. You will definitely hear from him soon.”

Earlier, workers in the state had presented a long list of demands. They called on Soludo to suspend the deduction of the contributory pension from their salaries to ensure industrial harmony in the state.

The state Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Humphrey Nwafor, said the workers are worried over what he called improper introduction and implementation of the contributory pension scheme.

He said, “From the beginning of the scheme, monies deducted were rarely remitted to the Pension Fund Administrators (PFA).

“Before the present administration came on board, the state were deducting only the workers part of the contribution even without remitting same to the various PFA’s and refused to pay the government part.

“The organized labour is dissatisfied with the continued deduction even after the reoccurring May Day prayers by organized labour requesting for the suspension of the scheme.

“We call on the governor, who we believe is not only worker friendly but hate injustice with passion, as a matter of urgency, to suspend the deduction of the contributory pension from the workers’ salary so as to ensure industrial harmony in the state.”

Ebonyi State House of Assembly has passed a bill into law for the establishment and regulation of the Correctional Service.

The bill inculcates effective management of offenders, promotion of reformation, rehabilitation, reintegration and public safety.

The passage of the bill took place at the Legislative Complex, Abakaliki after extensive deliberations on the bill by the members.

The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Moses Odunwa said the bill was in tandem with the Governor Francis Nwifuru’s People’s Charter of Needs manifesto which placed high premium on the welfare and core needs of the people.

He expressed happiness over the unanimous and speedy passage the House members accorded the bill and maintained that offenders who have turned a new leaf in the correctional centre could be rehabilitated to become responsible members of the state.

Earlier, the Leader of the House, Hon. Kingsley Ikoro said the bill provided for the administration of custodial and non-custodial services in the State.

He emphasized that some of the inmates were innocent of the crimes being accused of and expressed the hopes that their proper rehabilitation and integration into the society would aid productive input to the labour market of the state.

Other members who spoke in favour of the speedy passage of the bill include the member representing Ishielu South, Hon. Arinze Lucas Chukwu, the representative of Ivo, Hon. Onyebuchi Ogbadu and his Ezza South State Constituency counterpart, Hon Friday Ogbuewu.

They commended the Governor, Francis Nwifuru for always prioritizing the interest of the people in his agenda.

There was also a motion for the immediate rehabilitation of a portion of entrance road leading to the Chief Judge of State and the Speaker’s quarters.

The motion was moved by Hon. Abiri Godwin Abiri representing Izzi West Constituency and was seconded by Hon. Oluchukwu Ukie Ezeali representing Afikpo North East.

The Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, adjourned till May 15 for the fourth arraignment of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.

Emefiele will be arraigned before Justice Maryanne Anenih in a case, marked CR/264/2024, bordering unlawful printing of naira notes.

It is the fourth criminal case filed against him by the Federal Government since his suspension in June last year.

Although the latest charge was listed in Justice Anenih on Tuesday, neither the prosecution nor the defence was in court.

It was learnt that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which is prosecuting the case, had requested an adjournment.

In the charge sheet sighted by our correspondent, the EFCC accused Emefiele of “knowingly disobeying the direction of Section 19 of the CBN Act, 2007, by approving the printing of N375,520,000.00 pieces of colour-swapped N1, 000 notes, at the total cost of N11,052, 068,062 without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

It is the fourth criminal case filed against Emefiele by the Federal Government following his removal from office last June by President Bola Tinubu.

The DSS first arraigned him before the Federal High Court in Lagos for illegal possession of firearms. The case was later withdrawn.

He was subsequently arraigned by the EFCC in November before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Territory High Court on charges bordering on procurement fraud and forgery of the signature of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.

Again, on April 8, he was arraigned before the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja.

The 23 counts against him before Justice Rahman Oshodi border on “abuse of office, accepting gratifications, corrupt demand, receiving property fraudulently obtained, and conferring corrupt advantage.