₦airaland Forum

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, says current Nigerian workers are poorer than those who worked for country in the past.

Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State, also decried the present N70,000 minimum wage, arguing that the celebrated wage when converted to dollars, is equivalent to $42.

The former labour leader stated this at National Institute of Security Studies, Abuja, during a distinguished personality lecture organised for members of the Executive Intelligence Management Course 17.


Comparing the first minimum wage in the country under the administration of Shehu Shagari as President, he noted that the N125 minimum wage at that time was equivalent to $160.


Speaking on the title of the lecture: “National Minimum Wage: Reward system and productivity in Africa”, he said, “When Minimum wage in Nigeria was established under President Shagari, I think around 1981. It was around N125 which was about $160 a month.

“Today, with the fat increase, 100% increase that the labour achieved last year, which is now being implemented this month, according to our current exchange rate is $42.

“So, if you divide N70,000 by N1,650, it gives you $42. So, the working people are much more poorer now than we were so many years ago. So, this opportunity will depreciate, and that affects the quality of life and everything.”


The former NLC president called on the federal government and other states generating high revenues to pay workers more than the agreed N70,000 minimum wage.

Oshiomole also called for the expansion of minimum wage law to domestic staff among others through the amendment of the law.

He said, “But again, if you look at the law in Nigeria, which I hope will be able to amend very soon, although the federal government and the states have agreed on a minimum wage, for example, at 70,000, there are still people who are paying less than that.

“Even under the law, because it says you have to have about 25 to 50 employees minimum for that law to be applicable to a particular enterprise. But with the changing technology, a small ICT company employing 10 people can generate so much turnover. So using the number of employees was appropriate when the economy was more broad-driven not with ICT.”

HitSong:
Mumu man
So what does seeing a minister mean?

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Wednesday, revealed that he discovered he was being ambushed by the peace agreement he signed alongside the faction of the state House of Assembly that planned to oust him from office.

Fubara made the revelation during a non-denominational thanksgiving in Port Harcourt on Wednesday to mark a year he survived an impeachment plot on October 30, 2023, by 27 lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Fubara however clarified that it was not the initiator (President Bola Tinubu) of the peace accord that ambushed him, but those he thought were sincere about resolving the emerging crisis were not.

He explained that it was at the point of realising the sinister motives of the other party involved in the peace deal that he decided not to play into their hands.


He lampooned the pro-Wke lawmakers for not keeping to the peace agreement, describing their actions as fraud.

“We went to Abuja and Mr. President knowing the importance of peace for Rivers State, called out some conditions for peace.

“We came back here, in this state, to do everything that has to do with the conditions of the peace. We went to court immediately and withdrew our matters. And you call yourself honourable when you cannot obey simple instructions.


“I acted as an honourable. I discovered that I was being ambushed not by the person who initiated the peace”, Fubara stated.

The governor thanked all the prominent Rivers people and others who had supported his government in the last year for their belief and resilience to scuttle the plots of enemies of his government.

“I am standing here because of all of you. A lot of people may not understand what happened on the 30th of October, 2023,” he said with nostalgia.

He reiterated his commitment to enthrone peace, acknowledging that his supporters had taken a very difficult part in that last year.

He further said, “We are still complete. Let me tell you, we are still intact. They said we’re not going to last for one week. We are here one year plus.

“They said we would not have local government chairmen. Today, we have local government chairmen.”

“They said commissioners should resign immediately. Today, we have more than 23 commissioners.


“They said they are not going to do anything; they are going to frustrate them, they are not going to succeed. By the grace of God, there are lots of projects that are touching the lives of the people.”

The governor added that his government has demonstrated prudence and transparency in the use of resources of the state, saying that recently, Rivers was commended for showing transparency and accountability by an external body.

To his opponents, he said, “I now ask the question, who is the winner? We are here to appreciate God for the way He did it one year ago, He will do it again.”

Fubara said he would pay contractors, and workers’ salaries and also release local government council funds.

He added, “I ask you again, who is the loser? Who is the loser? You see why you need to be happy? Do you see why you need to celebrate the righteousness of God?

According to the governor, success is when you are succeeding against the expectation of your detractors that you should fail.

He reiterated his resolve to ensure peace reigns in the state against all odds, thanking those supporting his government for the sacrifice they have paid.

Kewtt:
Wike is working. Atiku ruined the chance to have Wike as president.

TemplarLandry:
You ipôb agents are so annoying.

Throwback:
Great appointment.

No coup for the coup plotters.

A rabid enemy of democracy and the constitutional government will not be allowed near any critical structure of power.

AntiZikist:
Trust me, no one in Delta South or central can openly claim another tribe.

Tribal identity is a very serious issue amongst the Itsekiri, Urhobos, Isokos and ijaws. You claim who you are not and you get exposed for it.

Reno is Itsekiri and not Urhobo. Why should he claim Itsekiri when he's not one ?

AntiZikist:
He's Itsekiri and that's why he also reps Ijebu people and culture because Itsekiris are originally Ijebu.

AntiZikist:
Reno is Itsekiri and he has been boasting of both his tribe and his own ancestors' pedigree. His great great grandfather was one of the very few Africans to secure a Western education in Lisbon, Portugal alongside Princes of the Bini Kingdom.

BudgIT, a civic tech organisation, has said that only Lagos and Rivers states can take care of their operating costs without relying on revenue from the Federation Account Allocation Committee.

BudgIT disclosed this in its 2024 State of States Report launched in Abuja on Tuesday.

The report stated that Ogun, Anambra, Cross River, Kwara, Kaduna, and Edo states can generate Internally Generated Revenue, IGR sufficient to cover at least 50 percent of their operating costs.

This comes as the BudgIT’s report revealed that 34 states depend on FAAC receipts for 62 percent of their recurrent expenditures.

Additionally, the report noted that 32 states in Nigeria relied on FAAC receipts for at least 55 percent of their revenue, while 14 states relied on FAAC for 70 percent revenue.

“Rivers and Lagos were the only two states that generated more than enough internally generated revenue (IGR) to cover their operating expenses, with lGR to operating expense ratios of 121.26 percent and 118.39 percent, respectively.

“Several other states, including Ogun, Anambra, Cross River, Kwara, Kaduna, and Edo, managed to generate IGR sufficient to cover at least 50 percent of their operating costs, with the rest relying on federal transfers.

“32 states relied on FAAC receipts for at least 55 percent of their total revenue, while 14 states relied on FAAC receipts for at least 70 percent of their total revenue.

“Furthermore, transfers to states from the federation account comprised at least 62 percent of the recurrent revenue of 34 states, except Lagos and Ogun, while 21 states relied on federal transfers for at least 80 percent of their recurrent revenue,” the report stated.

The report added that in the 2023 fiscal year, the combined revenue of all 36 states in Nigeria increased significantly by 31.2 percent from N6.6 trillion in 2022 to N8.66t trillion.

chrisxxx:
This is not the same. The court never gave power to Obj to do that.
Wike never did this it is the court. Fubara can't be running Rivers State with no House of Assembly Members. This is what the court has said.

Ttalk:
Tell me how can normal person be wearing winter cap when temperature is 40degree and to even formalised it as traditional dress is height of madness

chrisxxx:
Seriously. Unfortunately we can all feel bad. But the law has no eyes or emotions.
Fubara can't spit the law and expect a hug from the same law.

Sharpsharp00123:
shame on u

U were asked to prove him wrong but u brought tinubu to d picture, a typical Igbo will always use tinubu as an escape route once they are boxed to a corner

Ttalk:
Prove him wrong. You convert upholstery cloth to traditional cloth and you are not ashamed.

Corporate2020:
Reno dey whip them with horse tail whip,

AntiZikist:
Still projecting your own insecurities.

Not voting Obi .


Let it pain you more to know this and I will do all I can to dissuade anyone around me from voting the fraud.

AntiZikist:
I hate liars and hypocrites like Obi and his horde of Obidient mob.

As long as you all continue to remain safely outside the affairs of governance ,I am good.

You that can't point to a single model of good governance want to foist your failure on us because of your ethnic agenda.


E no go work. Better focus on Biafra

AntiZikist:
As long as the fraud and liar never smells Aso Rock , I am good.

And stop projecting your own suffer head status on others.

AntiZikist:
The level of mediocrity coming out of the SE is really terrible.


Obi the failure of a governor of Anambra is a performer according to them and the only one capable of occupying the highest office.

Abia own is even far worse .

Celebrating tarring of 800m intercity roads with fake Julius Berger contractors.

Now they have been compelled to pay the new minimum wage despite the fact that they have been paying an outdated wage going back to Jonathan's 18k

OkoAmarashy:
Keep barking. Obidog.

OkoAmarashy:
Donate your advice to your parents at home.

OkoAmarashy:
Let them go after the Ozurumba and the Amaka behind this nonsense.

For the avoidance of doubt, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been an exemplar in terms of service delivery, prudent and judicious management of the public resources.