₦airaland Forum

C-river To Cut Back The Minimum Wage To N 10,000


BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU,  Calabar
There are indication sthat the Cross River State government will not continue the payment of N18. 000 to its workforce, rather it may pay N10, 000, following the dwindling fortune of the state resources.

Investigation by Saturday Vanguard revealed that the government and its workforce were back to the negotiating table over payment of the N18,000 minimum wage. Governor Liyel Imoke was among the first governors that accepted to pay the new federal government recommended minimum wage which has attracted commendation to him from the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.

A labour leader who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of victimization, at the governor’s office alleged that the state government has set in motion a machinery to reduce the new minimum wage to N10,000.

The leader said he alongside other labour leaders were invited to the governor’s office last Thursday to dialogue with the state government on how this could be realized without workers resisting it as they are already enjoying the new minimum wage introduced by the Federal Government.

According to him, the meeting was chaired by the deputy governor Mr. Efiok Cobham and the government’s plan was fully revealed but the unionists denounced the move describing it as wicked and capable of disrupting the industrial peace being enjoyed in the state.

At the end of the meeting, negotiators from labour came out with long faces from the office of the deputy governor but Cobham could not be reached for comment and no official statement was made as it was suppose to be top secret for now.

However, one of the labour leaders said both the NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, were ready to exploit all options available to them to resist the planned reduction of the N18,000 minimum wage.

“How can this be possible? Government commenced payment of the N18, 000 new minimum wage in August and now wants to review it downward when every worker now makes his or her budget based on the new pay”, the trade unionist said.

According to him, “this can not be possible and we have told government our mind. In order not to incur our wrath, government should forget the idea in its entirety”.

He maintained that it is unheard of in any place in the world to increase the salary of workers for one month only to start negotiations the following month for its downward review and advised government to drop the plan in view of the high cost of living in the country.

“Politicians are busy amassing wealth, buying cars, building sky scrapers why should the little stipends of the workers be reviewed downwards.

“If there should be any downward review, it should be the salaries of the politicians so that our God given wealth will go round”, they said.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/11/c-river-to-cut-n18000-minimum-wage/

NIGER-DELTA leader and entrepreneur, Chief Moses Efe Odeh, in this interview with Saturday Vanguard explains why President Goodluck Jonathan should perish his idea of removing fuel subsidy, why the former governor of Delta state, Chief James Ibori, presently languishing in detention in Britain for money laundering should be officially pardoned by the Federal Government and other matters. Excerpts:

What is your reaction to the planned removal of petroleum subsidy by the Federal Government?

My take is that our dear President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, should not remove fuel subsidy because it will bring nothing but untold hardship on the common man while it will provide an opportunity for treasury looters to loot. Mr. President should not to allow bad advice to derail his good intentions.


Chief Moses Efe Odeh


Rather than usher in economic growth, the multiplying effect of such action will be inflation and rise in prices of goods and services and, therefore, it should be discountenanced. I also want to bring to the notice of Mr. President the fact that genuine business owners who are indigenes of Delta State have been sidelined by multinationals in the state.

So, what should be done?

I wish to call for the development of Nigerian Ports Authority in Warri and also for an upgrade of Warri Airstrip to an international airport as originally planned. I am happy that the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, is already working along this line. I also appeal for the return of all the oil contracting companies that relocated to some neighbouring states due to insecurity in Warri to return since there is absolute peace now in Warri to complement the efforts of the present administration in the state.

How do you assess Jonathan’s handling of the nation’s security challenges?

You know it is not an easy matter to handle the kind of explosive situations in the country today. But by and large, I want to seize this opportunity to commend Mr. President for courage in tackling the security challenges in the nation and his diplomatic astuteness in ensuring that Nigeria takes its rightful place in the committee of nations. He also deserves kudos for his fight against corruption.

Former Delta governor, Chief James Ibori, is in detention in the UK. How do you feel, as one of his associates?

In fact, I want to appeal to Mr. President to use his good offices to facilitate the release and subsequent pardon of Chief James Onanefe Ibori who is currently facing trials in United Kingdom. I cannot deny Ibori as a brother, philanthropist and a man with a family to cater for; he brought joy and smiles to numerous people in Delta State and Niger Delta. He is one of those that brought the enduring peace we enjoy in Warri today, despite inheriting a state full of insecurity. Such a man should not be allowed to suffer any further in the UK.

I am sure that the government of theUnited Kingdom will not allow any British high government official to suffer what James Ibori is currently suffering in United Kingdom in another country, mostly when the offence committed is against the home country and not a foreign country. Now, let us look at it this way. Is Chief James Ibori the most corrupt politician in Nigeria? Can we then listen to what the bible says about the adulterous woman in the book of John, Chapter 8 verse 3 – 11.

If you support Jonathan’s corruption battle, why plead for Ibori?

While I support the fight against corruption, which is a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabric of the Nigerian society, I urge Mr. President to tamper justice with mercy and ensure an end to Chief James Ibori’s traumatizing experience in United Kingdom because there appears to be more than meet the eye in his case. Corruption is everywhere in the world, including the private sector and for there to be total eradication of corruption, the fight has to be holistic. I remember that the administration of former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, pardoned and returned confiscated properties of politicians back to them when it was established that the action was selective, as we are saying in the current case of Ibori. Like I said before, I commend the efforts of the Jonathan administration in fighting corruption. No country in the world can eradicate it to the zero level. But there is need for Nigeria to get corruption to a tolerant level.

I suggest re-introduction of War Against Indiscipline and Corruption, which was used then to fight corruption in the system. The different anti-graft agencies have done their best and personally, I praise the astute leadership of the Chairman of EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri, who has proved she is a woman of substance.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/11/jonathan-should-pardon-ibori-moses-odeh/

[quote author=Kilode?! link=topic=801609.msg9542910#msg9542910 date=1321138704]Alhaji Agba, how body?

Well, it might be too much for some of us, but for mohammed, who personally witnessed his brutality, it's hard to fault his anger.

How the dye business now? I heard last season was good, happy belated Eid al-Adha. May Allah grant us Al-Janaah despite our shortcomings. Forgiveness is for the immortals.

I'll be disapponted if I see IBB in Al-Janaah tho  [/quote]Amin egbon. Things are going well. Thanks

Aigbofa:
Should I dignify this with a response? Nah!

LOL aigbofa, whether proto-type or not, it is still obsolete really even in the 1970s

Rather, instead of fighting about Ogbunigwe vs Autonov which to me one is a glorified scrape metal and the other just a cast iron filled with gun powder

I rather see, both groups aka the yorubas and the Igbos exchange knowlege with each other on how to make a better product or suggestions on how the 2 "inventors" could have made there "invention better.

That way, threads like this are more productive don't you think ?

[quote author=Kilode?! link=topic=801609.msg9542769#msg9542769 date=1321137880]@alhaji,

There is nothing uncultured about wishing death and pain on your enemies and the oppressors of your family.

I'll argue that it is high-culture sef.

Koran Supports it, Bible supports it, Sango supports it. I support it.

Almost every human culture support it.[/quote]Kilode egbon

ok i suppose, but wishing he dies a violent death is still a bit too much in my opinion

logica:
Why hide his hatred especially when it is expected? Not everybody does things like people like IBB (hiding evil intentions). Some are pretty open; meaning when asked a particular question you get the answer they have in their minds without any diplomacy. By the way I like what IBB became of late with the episode of exchanges he had with OBJ. It shows he finds it hard to hold his cards to his chest these days.

he killed vatsa because of his silly reason ( High school fight)

His fight with OBJ suggested something. He could no longer control him. Yes you are correct he no longer has power as before and that was why he wanted to contest and win the last election but Buhari was the man in the north. But one thing is certain, he still has hands on GEJ. that I am sure

Dawgpound:
Oh I am well vested. I keep track brotha. I see certain things about Nigeria that needs to change and #1 is over concentration of economic activities in Lagos. Its time to diversify and keep things closer to home. If I were to live in Lagos I will just rent instead of buying or building properties in a state where I will always remain a stranger.

Everyone sees this but it is NIGERIAN COMMERCIAL CENTRE AKA COMMERCIAL CAPITAL.

2. when you talk of closer to home, is Lagos seen as a foreign land or what ? Isn't it in the same country

3. what is wrong in opening it in anambra/nnwie and enugu as well as a branch ( NOT THE HQ) is other places ?

Is this not what others have done ?

logica:
This is the funniest part of your post. So why then are you criticizing him? So you hold yourself to a separate set of standards right? If you don't know how you would act under the circumstances then just keep quiet and watch the show.

Gani fawehinwi is a well respected Nigerian before he died and as such his sons action are seen as a media focus point.

Yes he might have hate for IBB and in fact he could have discussed this hate with his colleagues but to the MEDIA IT IS WRONG.

1. I don't believe anyone has any right to wish someone death. I mean what sort of people do we have in Nigeria ?

2. I understand Gani Fawehinmi's son predicament and anger but he went to far by talking as uncultured man. If i were him, I might do worse but I expect him to still have self control. the justice of God supersids anyones anger.

Dede1:
I am mostly disappointed with Ibadan because of its status as a former regional capital. Also, if we have to go by images of the founder and builder of Lagos as created by few loudmouths, one wonders where the charity actually began in the case of Ibadan. I guess the reverse is the case.  

Even before Port Harcourt became a state capital, it will be insane to compare garden city with archaic-looking typical Yoruba town such as Abeokuta.

Nope dede1, I recently visited Ibadan and it is way developed than parts of Lagos and Abuja. FACT !!!!!

I am not looking at it from yoruba etc but objectivity

In fact a multinational franchise like KFC and co would not be in Ibadan if it is as bad as described.

Visit Ogba ibadan, coco city mall, multinational franchises are there

NO MUILTINATIONAL FRANCHISE WOULD BE IN A PLACE THAT IS NOT DEVELOPED. Fact

Ibadan house prices are third to IV and co, Abuja

a typical house rent of a 3 bedroom in lagos is about 200,000 - 400,000 Naira

in ibadan it is 300,000 to 500,000 Naira

oduasolja:
nigga shut up .

half of em aint nigerians.

hey must go back home.

YOU SHUT IT

if not for them, makoko would not be what it is, it would have sank in the ocean u mo.ron

these are the people that make up the REAL LAGOS STATE not the mor.orns in VI and co posting on topics they are clueless about Yoruba mor.on

redsun:
I use to frequent makoko,near iwaya.You know,some how we got to there.It i\is full of deadly mosquitoes.

It is fucntional but filthy and it shouldn't be if there were governments in nigeria,

Very true

Iwaya near iyano church has a canal there, the canal hurbours the mosquitoes

jmaine:
Makoko . . . .The slum with awesome and dashing looking ladies . . .we do go hunting there . . .Though Rev. Frosbel would frown at my post but who cares . . . . Makoko reminds of the biblical verse . . .Can anything good come out of galilee . . . . cos i feel Galilee was the Makoko of the bible and the answer is yes . . .Pretty damsels abound in those shanty floating houses you see

Bros Jmaine, you don live for makoko before ?

if so what around what year, you must be that man that sells the akara and bread

Dawgpound:
Why do people like Jason act like the world begins and ends in Lagos? Such companies should remain where they are and I guess expand if they want but let's practice "charity @ home". There are other cities like PH, Calabar, Warri, where Innoson can get exposure it needs. I'm not against Lagos but let's for once quit thinking Lagos is the land of milk and honey coz its not. i[b]nnoson will provide employment to many people and discourage many from leaving their region to seek jobs in places as far as Lagos and the North. [/b]

What rubbish, what do you mean by the bolded ?

So you mean other companies like dangote and Globacom don't provide jobs for people in the east ?

Do they not open branches in the east ? apart from thousands of other easterners they employ in lagos and the north ?

I would advice you to stop posting crap out of tribalism, rather focus on how Innoson cars would expand. If he concentrates all his resources in Nnewi, enugu and other eastern states as you put it, How would you expect HIS COMPANY TO GROW ??

I think you need to sit down and think before posting.

I can tell you that I have stayed in one of those houses and the people there are nice people.

In fact at night, it is a high live issue there

the interview said, you find many Immigrates including the Nigerians mixing up to earn a living.

further inland, instead of using a coneo, Bridges are used to connect settlements and houses.

Offical language in the slum is broken english and yoruba.

In the Makoko, you would find electrician, carpenter, teacher, bread seller etc so you don't really go out to find other commodities. In fact you would find suya seller there, Iya basira rice, Iya nkechi isiewu etc.

Common food, is akara and bread aka burger, designer rice aka rice with bean, etc

People should visit this places once a while and connect to see how people survive on a daily bases.

igbo2011:
I think it is over, but if it is not you better try and start a new application and finish it off and send it ASAP.

actually application ends in 7 days time or so,

Dede1:
I knew time will vindicate me on Nairaland. The day I tabled the worst state capitals I have gone to or passed by, bigots crawled out of backwater throwing insults.

The dirtiest and structurally dilapidated capitals I have ever seen in Nigeria are:

Ibadan
Abeokuta
Oshogbo
Ado Ekiti

I am tempted to add Akure to the list but it looks progressively modern.

I disagree, Ibadan and Abeokuta should not be there

In fact my recent visit to Ibadan showed that the it is third only after lagos and abuja

the house prices are second to Abuja and sometimes more than Lagos

do you know of the COCO mall built in the heart of Ibadan ?

there is no bigotry here, but Ibadan and akeokuta are far much more advance than any other capital apart from Port harcount

Kano, lagos, Oyo, rivers, anambra and adamawa

Beaf:
Don't talk foolishly.
You sound worse than the people you should be moderating when you try to bully NLers with such inane, "lets beat em up" posts.

You sound ridiculous and silly with this ur childish analogy "lets beat em up posts". Who thinks like that unless a kid ?

Answer the question jare, Why do you keep attacking Buhari on every thread even after he lost the election ?

Why do you want him to DIE when people like OBJ your metro and OGA is enjoying GEJ's loot

Beaf:
IBB now, Buhari next. One by one they will drop to the ground.
IBB bera not die suddenly, its best for the suffering to be long drawn out. That man and other military dictators blighted the lives of millions.

sorry but WHY DO YOU HATE BUHARI SO MUCH ??

How did he dictate ?

hercules07:
I get you now, IBB worsened Nigeria's problems when Buhari and Idiagbon were already on the right path.

Yes sir, he did worsen Nigerian problem

Legalisation of cocaine etc

to top it all, the man IBB surrounded himself with thieves from all corners of the country

ciroma- kan nnamdi- Obj and adenuga

I can keep going on and on

Kobojunkie:
I read the whole thing, but guess what? This to me is akin to PRAISING JOnathan say for announcing that he is sending the troops into the Boko Haram areas. NO DIFFERENCE , so no. Let us start by being honest with ourselves at least. The man has yet to deliver and so praising him is no different from praising Alao akala for announcing his public toilet ideas. NO DIFFERENCE!!

GBAMMMMMMMM

very good kobo

hercules07:
Harem

Can you list how Babangida has served Nigeria well?

my brother, what can I say, he i being sarcastic here.

the only thing I can note IBB for is 3rd mainland bridge and even that was by Shegari

MOST OF OUR ETHNIC PROBLEM TODAY WAS DONE BY IBB.

to be honest I don't like the man at all, but I know some would use sentiment and say all is well.

In the north, he has done NOTHING !!!!!!. In fact the onlything I can think of is Abuja which to me is just one state.

the rest is rubbish. all in all, we can't wish him death. We all Nigerians should pray he recovers

On the payment of salaries of workers in the state civil service, Akere said the salaries of the workers for the month of August had been paid on Tuesday, while that of September would be paid by next week.

Explaining the basis for the delay in the payment of the workers’ salaries, the commissioner said “We have to emphasize again that the delay of payment of salaries was not the fault of the government at all.

“We all know that there was a strike which lasted for a month in August and the workers returned on the 5th of September.

At the Executive Council meeting we had on the 7th of September, we were told by those preparing the salaries that because of the new salary table, the working out of the salaries will take long.

We decided to pay the August salaries with old salary table and we will then use the new table for September as well as paying the arrears, but the leadership of the labour union said that they would wait until the salaries’ preparation is completed with the new table.

hmmmmmm

I don't understand how the salary payment structure works in Naija

good if it is not a lie.

thanks OAM4J

Beaf:
[size=14pt]When will Aregbesola, "the man of vision," pay Osun states workers who are owed several months salaries? Abi "vision" no reach dat side?[/size]
"The man of vision!" There is nothing we don't here on NL these days!

When will the man stop "buying" bridges and trains for the FG, pack home from Lagos and pay the long suffereing Osun state workers?

This I agree, he has to pay the civil workers before wasting money on trains and co.

finally you are using your brain back jk

[quote author=ndu_chucks link=topic=801336.msg9533725#msg9533725 date=1321039900]You are quite right. Too bad a mjority of the new generation of Igbos who post on NL have been weakened by bigotry and misinformation, coupled by preoccupation with a lost war. Quite sad.[/quote]I agree, Just too bigoted that they have changed many posters here on this forum. Really sad, but aboki wat can we do ? We just have to keep hoping that they change so we can have more meaningful discussion.

Already, they have accused you of bigotry.

general, You shall get better Insha Allah

In as much as I did not really like you, I must say, You have served us well in the nation well for giving us OBJ