₦airaland Forum

Upada:
It won't help anything, they'll still sell 100bags to one person. No be Nigeria?

who will sell it,is it tinubu or those in authority like you

RickyJesus:
What's the relationship between banditry and bag of rice?

There is, because if they cannot track bandits and kidnappers with nin, they can equally not be able to know those who are buying the bags of rice whether they are Nigerians or not

Doctorova:
😂 I dedicated this top10 comment to my late dad… it really means a lot to me

post homous birthday or remembrance,my thoughts are with you

vanbonattel:
That's unnecessary.

why

The Edo State Government has announced an indefinite postponement of resumption of all schools in the state over the hike in fuel price.

The government announced this, in a memo by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Ojo Akin-Longe, in Benin on Saturday.

The Permanent Secretary said the resumption, scheduled for Sept. 9, was postponed until further notice.

“The Edo State Government hereby announces the postponement of the resumption of all public and private schools in Edo State, originally scheduled for Monday, 9th September 2024, until further notice.


“The government urges parents, guardians, and caregivers to monitor the activities of their children and wards closely, given the current situation and the rising tension caused by the fuel price hike,” Akin-Longe said



Copyright © 1994 - 2024 PM NEWS |

Chief Edwin Clark, leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), has asked Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), to arrest Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), over a comment credited to him.

Wike, the immediate past governor of Rivers State had while speaking at a congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers state in August, said he would “put fire” in the states of governors siding with Siminalayi Fubara, his successor.

Wike and Siminalayi have been at loggerheads over issues concerning Rivers.

In an open letter addressed to Egbetokun entitled ‘Arrest Wike Now With a Warrant of Arrest’, the elder statesman said Wike “has gone overboard in his macabre dance”.

“As we lawyers say, nobody is above the law and the law must take its course,” he said.

“If you could in the past arrest Omoyele Sowore for similar or less implicating threats against public peace and public officials, if you are right now leading prosecution in law courts against people who participated in ‘End Bad Governance’ protest, what are you waiting to act in this case of Wike?

“My dear IG, at well over 97 years of age, and having held various positions in government including being a Minister over 50 years ago, I am shocked that a public officer who is an appointee of a serving President can descend to this level.

“When we worked under Gen. Yakubu Gowon, GCFR, in the Federal Executive Council, the code of conduct which we were expected to keep especially as it pertained to being instruments of public order was at the highest level.

“There is nothing that Wike has not done in his attempt to sabotage the government of Siminalayi Fubara and install the former speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, his brother, as Governor.

According Clark, Wike should not be allowed to change the rules of the party arbitrarily because of his feud with Fubara who is the leader of the PDP in Rivers.


Copyright © 2024 Business Hallmark Newspapers

A financial statement published by the World Bank has placed Nigeria as the third largest debtor to the Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) as of June 30, 2024.


According to the financial statement, Nigeria’s exposure to IDA rose to $16.5 billion as at June 30, which is an increase of $2.2 billion, or 14.4% over $14.3 billion recorded at the end of 2023.


IDA is a key arm of the World Bank which provides concessional loans and grants to the world’s poorest countries. The loans are designed to promote economic growth, reduce inequalities, and improve living conditions in developing nations, and are characterised by low interest rates and long tenors.

On top of the IDA debt list is Bangladesh with $20.5 billion, followed by Pakistan with $17.5 billion exposure.

Nigeria pushed India to the fourth spot with $15.9 billion after the country reduced its IDA exposure from $17.9 billion in 2023; while Ethiopia, Kenya and Vietnam followed with $12.2 billion, $12.0 billion, and $12.0 billion, respectively.

The three countries at the bottom of the list are Tanzania with $11.7 billion, Ghana $6.7 billion, and Uganda with $4.8 billion.

“As of June 30, 2024, the ten countries with the highest exposures accounted for 63% of IDA’s total exposure.

“Monitoring these exposures relative to the SBL requires consideration of the repayment profiles of existing loans, as well as disbursement profiles and projected new loans and guarantees,” the World Bank said. Recall that the Debt Management Office (DMO) reported that Nigeria’s total public debt increased to N121.67 trillion in the first quarter of 2024, compared to the N97 trillion recorded in December 2023.

According to DMO, the increase was primarily due to new domestic borrowing by the federal government to partly fund the deficit in the 2024 budget as well as disbursements by multilateral and bilateral lenders.

The debt office said total domestic debt was N65.65 trillion ($46.29 billion), while total external debt was N56.02 trillion ($42.12 billion).



© 2024 Vanguard Media Limited, Nigeria
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NNPC Limited’s net debt grows almost seven-fold to hit N156.4trn
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Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited’s net debt has increased by almost seven-fold to N156.4 trillion in 2023 from N22.7 trillion in 2022.

BusinessDay analysis reveals that in value terms the fully-owned government company recorded N133.7 trillion more in net debt in 2023 as compared to the previous year.

Further analysis reveals that NNPC Limited’s lease liabilities increased to N400.9 billion from N6.47 billion and trade and other payables surged to N163.7 billion from N25.03 billion.



After-tax profit surged to N3.29 trillion from N2.52 trillion while revenue from contracts with customers surged to N23.99 trillion from N8.82 trillion.

Umar Ajiya, chief financial officer of NNPC Limited said in a statement that NNPC Ltd will announce Initial Public offer (IPO ) once the shareholders and board make a decision.


He also debunked claims on subsidy payment, saying the company was only taking care of PMS importation shortfall between it and the Federation.

The firm’s selling and distribution expenses surged to N132.6 billion from N22.89 billion. General and administrative expenses grew to N2.99 trillion from N1.7 trillion.


NNPC Limited’s net impairment reversal on financial assets grew to N426.8 trillion from N311.1 trillion.

Cash and cash equivalents surged to N7.72 trillion from N2.32 trillion during the period.

BusinessDay’s findings has revealed that petrol is expected to sell at N1,300 per litre, largely due to the cash crunch that has hit the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.


The NNPC, which is the sole importer of petrol into Nigeria, has consistently denied subsidising the cost of PMS but refused to disclose the landing cost of the product. However, it admitted on Sunday that it is facing a financial strain due to the supply costs of the PMS.

Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy said in a statement made available on social media X on Tuesday that meanwhile, the presidency has for the umpteenth time denied a return of the gasoline subsidy regime, the state-owned oil company can no longer keep up with its ‘generous disposition’

“That generous disposition by NNPC Limited, backed by a compassionate president unwilling to let the people suffer, has been under threat for months, because of the rising cost of crude and the devalued Naira,” Onanuga stated.

He said the NNPC cried out recently because it can no longer sustain the price differential on its balance sheet without becoming insolvent, while adding that the situation has greater implications for the ability of the three tiers of government to function as the NNPC has failed to pay into the Federation Account, the money that should go to the government.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited is a state oil company in Nigeria. Still a fully-owned government company, it was transformed from into a limited liability company in July 2022. NNPC Limited is the only entity licensed to operate in the country’s petroleum industry.


© 2023 - Businessday NG. All Rights Reserved.

gare:
that is the truth, but a very hard bitter pill to swallow and most of then have not completed payments of loans collected to build the depots, it is well

with the huge profit they are making

bigpicture001:
Dangote cannot b producer and marketers at same time ..

So wen marketers buy, they need a place to store before disbursal to the locality they are

Producers and manufacturers the world over has their marketing arm to dispose their products, even NNPC has a marketing subsidiary .PPMC

nedu666:
Even abroad there are fuel depots

these one's are different from the ones abroad,these people are individual petroleum products importers

slimfit1:
These people will vandalise Dangote refinery if Dangote don't find something for them to do.

They can buy from dangote refinery and sell through their retail outlet (filling station)

Earthstorms:
The fingerprints of the kidnappers will be on the recovered guns and in the vehicle.

The police can identify the kidnappers easily if they want to work.

We need state police, local government police and city police. Let everyone have their own police and recruit the best people that can secure them.

does Nigeria has finger print data

Following the commencement of petrol production at Dangote refinery, billionaire businessman Femi Otedola has warned depot owners that it might be wise to sell their depots for scrap before the market shifts.

Sell your depots as scraps before it's too late, Otedola tells depot owners
Sell your depots as scraps before it's too late, Otedola tells depot owners
Femi Otedola congratulates Aliko Dangote on petrol production at $20 billion refinery.
Otedola praises Dangote for ending Nigeria's dependence on foreign powers for fuel supply.
The project has been hailed as a transformative force for Nigeria and the energy sector in sub-Saharan Africa.


He made this statement while congratulating his associate, Aliko Dangote, on the successful launch of petrol production at his $20 billion refinery.

In a letter posted on his official X handle, he pointed out that while the Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries have remained inactive and their promises unmet despite billions spent on so-called turnaround maintenance, Dangote has achieved what many believed was impossible.


Otedola stated that with petrol now being produced by the Dangote Refinery, the era of Nigeria depending on foreign powers for its fuel supply has come to an end.

What Otedola said:
"I am reminded of the time you revolutionized the cement industry in Nigeria. Ships that once brought in cement turned into rusting relics, scraps of a bygone era. Now, with your refinery in full swing, I foresee a similar fate for fuel imports,"

"The depot owners should take heed—it’s time to dismantle those depots and sell them as scraps while the market is still high. The world has changed, and those who do not adapt will be left behind,"


"You have beaten all the skeptics, silenced the naysayers, and proved wrong those who doubted your resolve, even those who never wanted this project to succeed,"

“You have dealt a death blow to the so-called local cabals who have fattened themselves for years, feeding off our nation’s economic slavery. These cabals, who have grown rich by keeping Nigeria in a perpetual state of dependence, must now face the reality that their era of easy gains is coming to an end,” he stated.

The business mogul also thanked President Bola Tinubu for his steadfast support and belief in realizing this monumental achievement during his administration.

The long-awaited refinery has been hailed as a transformative force for Nigeria and the energy sector across sub-Saharan Africa. The refinery's fuel production and sale is expected to significantly ease Nigeria's foreign exchange burdens, and halt petrol shortages.


© 2024 africa.businessinsider.com

Two policemen and a driver were reportedly killed by gunmen in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State as suspected kidnappers moved to abduct Mrs. Christy Uroye, wife of the lawmaker representing Warri South Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Augustine Uroye, on Monday night.

Eyewitnesses said the abductors shot dead the three victims, in their struggle to kidnap the woman whom the policemen were escorting in the SUV conveying her along Jakpa road, during the incident.

PUNCH Metro however gathered that the abductors’ getaway vehicle got disrupted as it crashed while making a frantic bid to escape with the captive, along the busy road, thus allowing for Mrs. Uroye’s rescue.

The victim is said to be currently receiving treatment at a nearby private hospital.

Eyewitnesses narrated that during the attack, residents of the area were forced to flee from the scene to avoid getting hit by bullets.

When PUNCH Metro contacted the Delta State Command Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, on Monday night, he confirmed the incident but claimed that the operation was “not successful.”

Edafe further stated in a terse message that three AK-47 rifles were recovered from the suspects’ vehicle.

Corroborating the PPRO’s statement, a family source who spoke with our correspondent, on Tuesday, on the condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to speak with the media, also affirmed that “the abductors’ vehicle got involved in an accident along the road with their captive while the woman is now receiving treatment in a private hospital in the locality.”

The source did not, however, confirm whether or not the abductors were arrested in the ensuing melee.

.

Nigeria has been delisted from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Category One Status (USFAA CAT 1) International Aviation Safety Assessment Programme (IASA). This means that no Nigerian registered carrier can operate to any US destinations until Nigeria returns to the status.


Nigeria was delisted because no Nigerian registered airline had operated to the US for about seven years and according to the new FAA regulation, a Category One status country that failed to operate to US after two years will be delisted from the status.

Category One Safety Status means that the country certified by the status has met US safety standard to operate flights to the US, which includes compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.

To designate and certify a country worthy of Category 1 Status, FAA inspectors will assess the country’s civil aviation authority and determine its licences and oversees air carriers in accordance with ICAO aviation safety standards.

The airlines from the assessed state may initiate or continue service to the United States in a normal manner and take part in reciprocal code-share arrangements with US carriers, as long as that country maintains the safety standard that earned it the certification.

Nigeria gained the USFAA CAT 1 Status in August 2010 after a rigorous exercise that spanned about five years, but due to the failure of any Nigerian airline to operate directly to the US for seven years, the country was delisted.

FAA’s International Air Safety Assessment (IASA) programme determines whether a country and its airlines will be allowed to fly into the US.

Reacting to the report, Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, in a statement, explained that the decision taken by USFAA had nothing to do with safety.

Najomo stated, “To operate into the United States of America, Nigeria, like most countries, must satisfactorily pass the IASA Programme and attain Category 1 status. Upon attaining this status, Nigerian airlines would be permitted to operate Nigerian registered aircraft and dry-leased foreign registered aircraft into the United States, in line with the existing Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA).

“The first time Nigeria attained Category One Status was in August 2010. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducted another safety assessment on Nigeria in 2014. A further safety assessment was conducted on Nigeria in 2017, after which Nigeria retained her Category One status.

“However, with effect from September, 2022, the US FAA de-listed Category One countries who, after a two-year period, had no indigenous operator provide service to the U.S. or carrying the airline code of a US operator. Also removed from the Category One list were countries who the FAA was not providing technical assistance to base on identified areas of non-compliance to international standards for safety oversight.”

Najomo stated that no Nigerian operator had provided service into the United States using a Nigerian registered aircraft within the two-year period preceding September 2022. He said it was expected that Nigeria would be de-listed, as were other countries who fell within this category.

Nigeria was de-listed since 2022 and was duly informed of this action in 2022.

The NCAA director-general said, “It is important to clarify here that the de-listing of Nigeria has absolutely nothing to do with any safety or security deficiency in our oversight system. Nigeria has undergone comprehensive ICAO Safety and Security Audits and recorded no Significant Safety Concern (SSC) or Significant Security Concern (SSeC) respectively.

“It is furthermore necessary to add that a Nigerian operator can still operate into the US using an aircraft wet-leased from a country who has a current Category One status.”

According to Najomo, NCAA continues to adhere strictly to international safety and security standards and respects the sovereignty of states, including the United States of America, as enshrined in Article One of the Convention on International Civil Aviation. This provision gives states complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above their territories.

Najomo said, “Furthermore, it is in full realisation of this situation that has since prompted the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), to embark on an aggressive international campaign to empower our local operators to access the dry-lease market around the world, which culminated in the visit to Airbus in France earlier this year and the MOU signed with Boeing in Seattle, Washington just last week.

“The minister has also done a lot of work to make Nigeria comply fully with the Cape Town Convention, which will bring back the confidence of international lessors in the Nigerian aviation market. We are confident that with these steps of the minister, it is only a matter of time that Nigeria, not only regains, but can sustain its US Category One status.”

Also, reacting to the delisting of Nigeria from by the USFAA Category 1 status, shareholders of Arik Air, in a statement by Lanre Bamgboshe, recalled how FAA inspectors audited the airline and used it to rate Nigeria.

Bamgboshe said the takeover of Arik Air downgraded the industry, hence, the delisting of Nigeria by USFAA.

He stated, “It should be noted that Arik Air invested in the rigorous and painstaking audit and certification programmes that resulted in the Cat 1 certification for Nigeria and Nigerian air operators, in collaboration with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Ministry of Aviation and Arik Air between 2009 and 2010.

“To achieve this, Arik Air made direct investments of over $12 million in engaging a world class consultant, SH&E from USA, to develop manuals, procedures, supervise and facilitate the implementation of the Cat 1 certification process.

“SH&E USA assisted the Nigerian civil aviation authorities and Arik Air, to train several professionals to achieve the USFAA Cat 1 certification for Nigeria and airline operators in Nigeria between 2009/2010.

“During this process, several flights, safety and operations professionals of Arik Air, NCAA and FAAN were trained and certified by USFAA, this is in addition to their respective NCAA certifications. Also, the entire check-in, boarding, security of Nigerian main airports (Lagos/Kano, Abuja & Port Harcourt) related operation support for airlines were enhanced as recommended by the Consultants and approved by FAA.”

Since Arik Air stopped flights to the US in 2017, no registered Nigerian carrier had started operation to any destination in the US.




Founded on January 22, 1995, THISDAY NEWSPAPER

Angry drivers honk as cattle slowly march across and feed on the grass in the middle of the streets. It is a common sight for drivers in Nigeria's capital city Abuja. For the young herder guiding them, Ismail Abubakar, it is just another day.

Abubakar did not choose to bring his cattle to the city center. His family is from Katsina State in northern Nigeria, where a changing climate turned grazing lands into a desert. He moved to Idu — a rural less developed part of Abuja — many years ago. But it now has a large train station and many homes and businesses.

Herders like Abubakar usually bring their cattle to the wild countryside to graze. But the need for housing, crop farming and climate change are taking away the land and their way of life.

To keep cattle off Abuja’s streets, some suggest that herders need to start buying private land and operating like other businesses. But to do that, they would need money and government support.


Baba Ngelzarma is the president of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, a herders’ support group. He said, "The herders take the cattle wherever they can find green grasses and water at least for the cows to survive, not minding whether it is the city or somebody's land.”

He added that part of the problem is the lack of government support for the industry, such as water, animal care, and price control. The government announced a new ministry to support the industry in July. But it does not have a minister yet

Nigeria is home to over 20 million cows, mostly owned by herders from the Fulani ethnic group. The country has the fourth-largest cattle population in Africa. Its dairy market is valued at $1.5 billion. But, the US International Trade Administration says imports meet about 90 percent of local demand.

It shows how poorly organized the industry is, Ngelzarma said, as cows affected by constant moving and poor diets cannot produce milk.

There are four areas surrounding Abuja that have been put aside for cattle grazing. But they are not readily available and have been taken by other crop farmers and illegal settlers, Ngelzarma added.

Without grazing land, herders set up settlements anywhere and stay for as long as they can before land owners claim it or the government builds on it.


Mohammed Abbas is a 67-year-old herder. He has repeatedly had to move over the years. Most of his current settlement in the city’s Life Camp neighborhood has been taken over by a newly constructed gas station. The remaining land will soon be claimed by another owner.

Abbas said that he would have to sell all his cows to have enough money to buy land for a settlement. It means that he would have nothing left “to put on the land.”

Hassan Mohammed’s family now occupies a piece of land near the Idu train station. Once a large area of grassland, the area has turned into housing and roadways. Despite repeated orders from the owners to leave, Mohammed said that his family would stay put, using the land as their home base while taking their cattle elsewhere each day for grazing.

“Many don’t have anywhere to call home, so they just find somewhere to sleep at night with the cattle,” said Mohammed. “But for us, we are not leaving except there is a new place within Abuja.”

Folawiyo Daniel is an Abuja-based housing developer. He said the issue is a failure of urban planning and urged the government to bring back grazing areas in the city for herders.

ActiveFarms:
This guy na chronic trouble maker

No,he is a freedom fighter

CyrusVI:
Dont derail the thread, guy

Theres nothing smart in trying to justify evil acts. Lets talk about this Amaka case today...Ikenna, No bring up ancient topics

shut up and face the truth,

CodeTemplarr:
I hope the average lifespan of the lecturers versus student is compared also?
Without that in place, the OP is simply glorifying fast lane mentality.

not even lifespan but sustainable wealth

Kingpele:
Nawaoh both the robbed and the robbers are the same ...God gave you private part freely then you decide to use it to make money ..then u make the money bought expensive phones only to be robbed the very time you were on your way to sale kpekus....prov6:28 a man cane hire a prostitute for a piece of bread but adultery will cost him all he has

Ashawo is legitimate but armed robbery is illegal

Amid calls by Nigerians for a lower cost of governance, the personnel costs of the 36 states in Nigeria for the 2024 financial year have hit N2.76tn, an analysis of the budgets by The PUNCH has revealed.

In 2023, the wage bill of the states according to their approved budget documents available on Open States powered by civic-tech innovation platform, BudgIT, stood at N2.26tn indicating that about N901.88bn had been added to the wage bill in two years and N501.16bn in one year.

The analysis of the data showed that most of the states have consistently increased their wage bill over the years. However, the increase made by Taraba State to its wage bill in 2023 was significant.

The sum of N37.62bn had been budgeted as personnel costs in 2023, however, the final budget showed a jump to N109.65bn. In terms of actual budget performance from January to September 2023, it was N28bn, which was far below the originally budgeted amount. The wage bill for 2024 stood at N54.47bn.


In 2024, the wage bill for Imo State surged by 134.12 per cent to N61.18bn from N26.13bn. The 2023 budget performance (January to September) stood at N20.35bn. About N30.19bn had been expended on wages in 2022 in Imo State.

Rivers State was another subnational whose wage bill nearly doubled in 2024. The approved budget for personnel cost in 2024 in the oil-rich state rose to N252.89bn higher than N128.78bn in the 2023 revised budget indicating about 96.36 per cent increase.

On the flip side, both Bayelsa and Ekiti States reduced their budget for personnel costs in the 2024 budget. Bayelsa’s wage bill dropped to N69.12bn from N81.77bn in 2023; a 15.47 per cent drop. Ekiti’s wage bill was marginal at a 1.21 per cent decline to N31.02bn from N31.40bn.


States with a wage bill above N100bn include Oyo (N132bn), Ogun (N122bn), Delta (N164bn), Akwa Ibom (N127bn), Lagos (N302bn) and Rivers (N252bn).

Meanwhile, about 12 state governors have appointed no fewer than 4,385 aides since assuming office in 2023, according to a recent report by Saturday PUNCH.

While some of the new governors hired fewer than 50 aides, others, especially the governors of Taraba, Ekiti, Niger, Enugu, Adamawa, Kano, Plateau, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Borno, Yobe, and Kogi States, have so far appointed a combined 4,385 aides since coming into power last year.

While these governors go on their aide-hiring spree, their domestic and external debt profiles increased greatly within the first six months of their administrations.

According to the data published by the Debt Management Office recently, the domestic debt of Niger State increased from N121.95bn to N139.80bn in the six months between June and December 2023 under Governor Mohammed Bago.

Similarly, Plateau State’s domestic debt surged to N173.93bn from N157.62bn within the same period under Caleb Mutfwang.

The same is true for Cross River State, as its domestic debt moved from N204.05bn to N220.20bn in six months under Bassey Otu over the same period.


Also, about eight states incurred a total of $89,747,901 in external debts within the first six months of the new administrations, according to the DMO.

Cross River recorded the highest foreign debt increase during the period, as it moved from $153,168,738 in June to $211,125,104 in December last year. It was followed by Ekiti, whose external debt stock rose from $103,479,209 to $121,049,293.

Kano’s debt was the third highest, moving from $101,319,905 to $107,920,953, while that of Adamawa increased from $100,919,509 to $103,196,881.

Niger State’s debt rose from $66,791,105 to $68,056,534, and Taraba’s debt moved from $21,918,173 to $23,427,411.

The PUNCH reported in July that at least 24 states of the federation would not be able to pay workers’ salaries this year without having to wait for federal allocations from the central government.

Only 11 out of the 36 state governments of the federation can independently pay their workers’ salaries without depending on federal allocations, according to an analysis of the state governments’ approved budgets for the 2024 fiscal year.

The states with robust internal revenue are Lagos, Kano, Anambra, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, Kwara, Osun, Ogun, and Zamfara.

The 24 states that cannot fund salary payments from their Internally-Generated Revenue, may have to rely on Federal Government allocations or borrowing from banks and related institutions.

The development also means that the respective wage bills of the affected states surpassed their various IGRs, raising concerns about workers’ productivity and state governments’ efficiency in internal revenue generation.

This plays out amid plans for a higher minimum wage. Although details of the new minimum wage are yet to be finalised, it is expected that it would bump the wage bill of states and even the Federal Government higher.


The report indicated that states like Benue, Osun, Oyo, Yobe, and Kogi, which were in the bottom five, would struggle while states like Lagos, Imo, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Ebonyi would fare better.



The economist submitted that states need to improve their fiscal conditions to increase their ability to pay a higher minimum wage going forward.


“Borrow funds, but ⁠consider the state’s current level of indebtedness. Note that interest rates are currently high. Borrowing to pay a salary is not a sustainable strategy. Seek aids and grants from FGN and development partners, but ⁠will need to use such assistance for development purposes to free resources for workers.”

Other proposals include the reduction of instances of ‘ghost’ and redundant staff, commercialisation of relevant state projects and facilities and tackling of corruption. Corruption needs to be significantly minimised with wastes and leakages avoided for States to be able to find resources to finance higher minimum wage sustainably.”

Speaking with The PUNCH, the economist said that some states that are struggling fiscally may decide to pay for political reasons.

“Based on the facts on the table, the more green you are, the more your ability to pay. The states that are tending towards red can pay, paying is political but this is an economic analysis to say that if you are spending a lot of your money on salaries, if your IGR cannot pay your salaries, it would be difficult for some states to pay a higher minimum wage unless they want to rely on federal allocation which is not stable. Lagos for instance can pay a higher wage from its IGR alone, Enugu too if you check the 2022 actual data but the other states cannot even pay.

“If the states who can’t pay decide to go ahead, their fiscal conditions would worsen because it is not even very good to start with except they can finance it through those methods proposed.”

Commenting on the need to reduce the cost of governance across the country, the Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors in the Lagos chapter, Olujide Oke, recently said cutting needless spending and pruning the size of government appointees would help state governments have more funds to channel into crucial areas for development.

Also, Professor Seth Akutson of Kaduna State University, pointed out that with the new minimum wage, the wage bill will go higher, hence a need to rightsize the workforce and block leakages.

He said, “We don’t have social insurance for workers. The only way you can give people survival is to employ them. Some people are earning salaries but not going to work. They have to do away with those. You must understand that political consideration got those people the job, not qualification. Some of the governors have more than 1,000 aides, so you can imagine the impact on the wage bill. There are a lot of allowances, estacodes, and expenses that need to be cut off.

“Also, the workforce needs to align with the budget and ability to pay principle. Now that the wage has increased by more than 100 per cent, that N2.79tn you are talking about may get closer to about N5tn. They need to begin to rightsize the workforce. To look at the cost of governance, to negotiate a percentage decrease in the pay of some of the political appointees. Also, they need to close all the leakages found around governance.”

A professor of economics at Babcock University, Segun Ajibola, said, “The states must do all they can to raise internally generated revenue without putting undue pressure on their citizens. Secondly, they must reduce the cost of governance, block wastages, do proper streamlining of ministries, departments, and agencies, shun profligacy, and ensure accountability and transparency in government.

A former chief economist at Zenith Bank, Marcel Okeke, pointed out that the increase in the ministries and governance at the centre would trickle down to the subnationals and impact their wage bill.

“Most of the things these governors do are done out of political considerations and not economic ones, from the location of companies to the appointments of aides; special advisers, senior special advisers, and so on. There are notorious cases of governors appointing hundreds or thousands of assistants. What are those people doing and they are paid money? Can they not do with a fewer number of them?

“Do you know we have bloated staff? In some ministries that should only have about 100, they have 400 to 500, so a job that should be done by one person, you have about five persons hanging around. What some people do is to carry files and they have no job. When these states do staff audits, they report ghost workers. If they look into this area, they can reduce cost,” he said.

Also speaking on the development, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Ibrahim, faulted the governors’ appointments, noting that the governors had followed the step of the President who also expanded portfolios of aides.

“The governors are equally copying what the President is doing, but sadly, this is not a positive thing that should be copied or should be done at all.

“So this system has to be disrupted to bring sanity to how public officials are spending, wasting, diverting, and appropriating resources. No country can survive this kind of indiscriminate spending and borrowing that we are seeing now in Nigeria”, he said.

The Chairman of the Centre for Accountability and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, condemned the development, urging the National Assembly to draft a legislation to curb such frivolous spending.

“It is part of the life governors are living by creating appointments for the boys. So it is unfortunate and it is unwarranted. It is not the right thing to do during this period.

“What we advised before now is to reduce the number of political appointees and to ensure they have optimal productivity. And what we are suggesting is the National Assembly should do a law that will peg the number of political appointees that the governors and other heads of MDAs can engage,” he stated

The Accountability Lab Country Director Country, Friday Odeh, criticised the Nigerian government for hiring more aides despite the country’s severe economic issues, including over 35 per

cent inflation.

Odeh argued that this decision exacerbates financial strain on state governors and worsens the economic hardships faced by citizens.

He believed that using limited resources for additional aides is imprudent and politically motivated, rather than addressing real development needs.

“Hiring more aides in an economy where the government claims there is no money and inflation is over 35 percent is insensitive and problematic.

“Nigeria government is facing financial difficulties, adding more aides is a strain on the lean allocations received by state governors (of which their revenue generation is not sufficient for the state) which is worsening the economic situation citizens are complaining about with bad governance and cutting down the cost of their luxurious lifestyle.

“Instead of using the limited resources on tangible projects and human development, expenses on aides is not a wise decision but for political reasons across all the states. the government is certainly not prioritizing the needs of the people they swore to serve but serving political interest,” Odeh noted.

The country director suggested that the government should focus on enhancing the efficiency of existing aides or investing in technology to streamline operations, rather than increasing bureaucracy and political patronage.

He added, “Adding more aides will not solve any development issues but rather increase bureaucracy.

“State government should explore other cost-effective measures, such as improving the efficiency of current aides or investing in technology to streamline operations that create unnecessary burdens for the states FAAC resources.”

Also, the Executive Director of the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, Okechukwu Nwagunma, lambasted Nigerian government officials for their lack of vision, sincerity, and patriotism.

Nwagunma pointed out that despite promises from the president to cut the cost of governance by reducing the number of appointees and ministries, the reality is the opposite—new ministries are being created, and a record number of appointees are being appointed.

He said, “The government at all levels in Nigeria is composed mainly of people who are visionless, insincere, unpatriotic, selfish, and insensitive to the suffering of the people they claim to serve.

“They do the opposite of everything they claim they will do. The president talked about reducing the cost of governance by pruning down the numbers of government appointees and ministries. But the president is busy creating new ministries and appointing the highest ever number of appointees, both as ministers and aides.

“The same thing is happening at the state levels. State governors appoint needless numbers of aides with almost every other aid having their aides. While the state of the economy continues to worsen, with government policies unable to alleviate the suffering of the majority of Nigerians who continue to groan in deprivation, poverty, and hunger, the same government officials continue to live in obscene and provocative opulence and extravagant lifestyles. And they ask Nigerians to be patient and to continue to make sacrifices.”

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Harnny:
poverty is a state of mind. It has so much to do with contentment.. he is rich and you are clearly poor.

Stop deceiving yourself with textbook theories,who is contended in poverty

Dreal1247:
Orogun speaks Igbo and Uhrobo

ukwani and urhobo

AmericanIdiot:
Ur generation is the biggest fool
How can you throw away $10k dollars
Are u mad?😡

kiddo,it seem you have comprehension problem

Basicend:
You speak for yourself, Mr Man. Is that not one person that just returned it therein? That you are corrupt, does not mean every man is corrupt.

define corruption

AmericanIdiot:
The guy is a big fool
A BIG fool❗️❗️❗️

You are the bigger foooool,think deep, hypocrite

Basicend:
I am surprised people still liked you comment. It shows why Nigeria is where we are today.

Stop that pretence, even the world holiest people will never return the money,stop being an hypocrite

Calitoscassius:
Gift from God? What kinda Bloody crooked God gifts people other people's hard earned money?

Would you say that God gifted him $10000 if the money had been yours?

Would you not want him to return your hard earned cash, cash that you need to solve your own financial problems?

You think $10000 would solve his financial problems? You better think again!

Some of you do not understand the dynamics of Life, it's a difficult puzzle

He threw away a gift from God to be financially independent a wasted opportunity

Nigerians have begun to express their dissatisfaction over Seyi, President Bola Tinubu’s first son’s presence at the swearing-in ceremony of the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

Kekere-Ekun took the oath of office and signed the oath register at 11.40 am at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja on Friday as the 23rd CJN, pending her confirmation by the Senate.

She succeeded Olukayode Ariwoola, who assumed office on June 27, 2022, and bowed out on Thursday upon attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 years.

However, a picture of the president’s son at the event went viral on Monday, with netizens questioning what he was doing in a place where only cabinet members and top government functionaries were supposed to be.

A user who tweets with #Beta Countri said, “Please, I want to ask Nigerians, what exactly is the portfolio of Seyi Tinubu in this government that he is allowed in the front at the swearing-in ceremony of Justice Kekere-Ekun as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria?”

On X.com, #Ayemojubar who tweets anonymously said, “What is Seyi Tinubu doing at the swearing-in ceremony of Justice Kekere-Ekun as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria?”

“He is learning the Process…Once him papa comot… He will enter… greatest Political Family Heritage.. Una never sees anything,” one IbukunOluwa, who tweets with the handle #Hybikay07 wrote.

Another user who identifies as Maysbabs opined, “A decision maker has to be where decisions will be taken, the truth in whatever Seyi says surpasses others’ opinions at this point… rooting for his father.”

“He is doing an internship on how to become the future president. If my dad was president, I will do the same too,” a user with the handle #ToppyAFC wrote.

Another user on X, who identifies as #Cheryl deBlaq said, “Learning the ropes so he knows how it’s done when his dad hands over to him!”

However, while some saw his presence at the event as wrong, others justified that Seyi Tinubu could be there.

A user who identifies as The Philosopher on Facebook wrote, “If your father was President, I’m very sure u will be sitting at that same position or infront sef. Hypocrites everywhere.”

“Nigerians and the way they reason. If you intend to go far in your chosen career, you learn how it is done. These are classes someone at his level should take to understand how it is done. Nothing new,” a user on Instagram with the handle #Adelion said.

One Igonor Mathias on X.com said, “If my Father happens to be Thê President of Nigeria. My best advice to him is to make any of my brothers or Me his Personal Assistant. So Seyi Tinubu, always being around us, father, is no offence or crime. Inasmuch as I don’t like Tinubu being my President, Seyi Tinubu has to protect his father in many ways.”




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