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The Nigerian Financial Intelligent Unit said on Sunday that the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees had reported state governors who had been stealing local governments’ funds.

Also, NULGE has written a letter on August 9 to all the nation’s 774 local governments’ chairmen on August 9 to alert them to the fact that the governors might be planning fresh tactics to steal the LG funds.



It warned the council bosses and workers against helping the governors to steal the LGs’ money.

The National President of NULGE, Ibrahim Khaleel, had told The PUNCH that the state governments had come up with another means of siphoning money from the local governments’ accounts despite the NFIU financial guidelines.

The NFIU had directed the state governments to stop tampering with local governments’ funds.

The NFIU had on May 6, 2019 issued the ‘Guidelines to Reduce Vulnerabilities Created by Cash Withdrawals from Local Government Funds throughout Nigeria.’ By this, governors have been stopped from tampering with the funds meant for local government areas. The guidelines took effect from June 1.

But Khaleel accused the state governments across the country of forcing local governments to pay levies to them from the fund apportioned to the councils from the federation account.

He said local governments were being asked to contribute to the running of some projects in states which ordinarily were the responsibilities of state governments.

When contacted on Sunday on whether the council workers had reported any governor to the NFIU for the alleged diversion of the LG funds, the unit’s spokesman, Sani Tukur, confirmed the NULGE’s letter, adding that NULGE had reached out to the unit officially on the issue.

READ ALSO: Bank robbery, car-snatching kingpins arrested, firearms recovered



He however said he had not been fully briefed on the matter and as such could not give the names of the affected governors.

“I can confirm to you that NULGE has officially informed the unit of the development. I have however not been officially briefed on the matter,” he said.

A source in the unit however told one of our correspondents that the NFIU was working on an advisory that would address the concerns raised not only by NULGE but also by all other stakeholders.

The source added that it was in the interest of the local government officials not to oblige the governors any request that might put them in trouble.

He warned that when the anti-corruption agencies would begin to go after such local government officials, it would not be a tenable excuse that their state governors were the ones who directed them to carry out the illegal transactions.

When also contacted on Sunday, spokesman for the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Abdulrazaque Barkindo, said the issue raised by NULGE had not been discussed at the NGF meeting.

He said, “That issue has not come to the NGF meeting. Governors have not discussed that. You also know that the case is in court, so we are careful the way we talk on an issue that is before the court.”

Council chiefs should disobey govs’ illegal orders – Unit

A source close to the forum however said it was wrong for NULGE to make a blanket pronouncement that state governors were circumventing the guidelines.

He said, “When NULGE claimed that state governors have devised another means; which governors are they referring to? Did governors meet at the level of the NGF and devise the means or are they referring to particular governors?

“Local government chairmen should learn to be able to stand for something. If they are convinced that this thing is wrong, they should not be swayed by any governor to do it.

“They should learn to stand for what they believe is the right thing. If, as a council chairman or treasurer, your governor asked you to carry out an instruction that is against the guidelines, why can’t you refuse to do it?”

Don’t help govs to steal funds, NULGE warns members

When one of our correspondents attempted to get Khaleel’s reaction to the issue, his efforts were not successful.

A text message sent to his mobile telephone line was not replied.

However, one of his aides, forwarded to The PUNCH a letter written on Friday by NULGE to all council chairmen.

The letter, dated August 9, 2019, was signed by Khaleel, the union’s General Secretary, Agunoye Chukwuemeke; and the National Treasurer, Ambali Olatunji.

The letter, with Ref NULGE 26/Vol.TV/164, directed all council chairmen, treasurers of the councils and directors of general services and administration to be cautious in carrying out directives from state governors to transfer LGs’ funds to state governments’ agencies.

The letter stated, “While we have not relented in the struggle to achieve autonomy for the system we operate through constitutional means, we are however encouraged by the content of the NFIU recent guidelines with respect to the operation of the state-local governments’ joint accounts.

“Given the passion with which the Nigeria Governors’ Forum had opposed this initiative, it is clear to us in NULGE that they will go to any length to either bend these guidelines or find ways of administratively/bureaucratically undermining them.


“In other words, from their pronouncements and action, our state governors are still determined to continue the looting of local governments’ resources with their stranglehold on these joint accounts.

“It is with respect to the above context that we wish to use this opportunity to caution the leadership of councils, particularly chairmen, treasurers and directors, general services and administration to exercise a high degree of restraints in carrying out directives of state governors in releasing any fund whatsoever through the back channels to organisations or agencies of state governments.”

Source: https://punchng.com/nulge-has-reported-govs-stealing-lg-funds-nfiu/

The Presidency has replied notable Nigerians opposing the action taken by the DSS in arresting rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the February 2019 election, Mr. Omoyele Sowore

It mentioned the name of Soyinka in particular as one of the critics, saying that much as the administration had respect for him and others, they appeared to be engaging in double-speaking and blackmailing the government.

The Presidency, reacting through the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, noted that the same Soyinka would criticise the government for not taking actions against lawlessness and turned around to attack it when it took actions.



“You mentioned the name of Prof Wole Soyinka. Some of these critics of government are people whom we have great respect and admiration for. When things are going wrong with the law and order in the country, they say the police are not doing their work. They raise their voices, asking that ‘the culprits to be booked and expeditiously punished in the most severe manner.’

“The police under a new leadership is now rising to the occasion, saying ‘we cannot take any more atrocities against the law in our country and they are saying don’t do anything.

“They are calling out President Buhari and comparing him to autocratic leaders. This is an unpardonable blackmail that cannot stop the police and other law enforcement agencies from doing their work,” the Presidency responded.

It added that the administration respected the right of Nigerians to carry out peaceful protests, but not a call to “violence.”

The Presidency added, “A Nigerian is by right empowered to call for a change of government using constitutional means; to protest peacefully against government policies and decisions. But to call for the violent overthrow of a democratically-elected government and President is worse, and is not acceptable under any law in Nigeria. Violence will ever be accepted again as a way to change governments in this country. Those days are gone.

“Nigeria has a well-crafted constitution and elaborate laws governing elections that guide an orderly succession in government. We have a judicial system that actively serves as a watchdog of the people’s rights.

“Yet, we are daily witnesses to obscene display of delight in the killing of our soldiers and policemen, an open contempt for the country’s laws and its people, accompanied by loud cheers from the so-called New Media. Is this the way to grow a country?”

Source: https://punchng.com/soyinka-others-are-blackmailers-revolution-wont-be-tolerated-presidency/

Three Nigerian siblings in the United Kingdom have been sentenced to 16 years in prison for laundering £1m (N440m) for Delta State politician and suspected leader, Augustus Bemigho-Eyeoyibo.

According to UK Crown prosecution, the siblings – Okemiorukaye Nakpodia, 56; Esther Nakpodia, 35; and Unuakpotovo Nakpodia, 46 – were found guilty.



The , which also goes by the name Neo-Black Movement, is a cult that has been fingered in the killing of persons, especially youths across many government-owned universities for decades.

The convicts were alleged to have laundered the proceeds of fraud between 2007 and 2015.

Police identified 174 suspicious transactions entering bank accounts. Money from a number of the victims of the original frauds ended up in the defendants’ bank accounts and was then laundered by the Nakpodias.

The report read in part, “The leader of the , Augustus Bemigho-Eyeoyibo, is the brother-in-law of the three defendants. is a banned organisation in Nigeria and has been linked to decades of murders, rapes, extortion and drug dealing in Nigeria and across the world, with members allegedly swearing a ‘blood oath’ to join.”

The counsel for the CPS, Philip Slough, said the prosecution was able to show that Bemigho-Eyeoyibo, who ran for Warri-North Constituency on the platform of the Labour Party, directed the convicts on how to launder the funds.

Slough said, “We were able to show the Nakpodias were talking to Augustus Bemigho-Eyeoyibo, the leader of , based on conversations found on their devices. They talked about the amounts and what to do with the funds after they arrived, including how much to keep for themselves.

“This strong evidence confirmed that the Nakpodias had been actively involved for a number of years in a conspiracy to launder money which had been stolen by others using phone and email scams.

“This prosecution will play a role in starving a dangerous criminal gang of funds and we will seek to recover their proceeds of crime at a later hearing.”



The Woolwich Crown Court sentenced Unuakpotovo to seven years and seven months; Okemiorukaye for six years and six months while Esther was given two years and six months in prison.

Slough stated, “Esther Nakpodia claimed to have never heard of , denying links to the organisation – this despite the fact her sister has been married to the group’s leader for 14 years.

READ ALSO: Police probe Lekki strippers’ video, Tekno mounts defence

“She denied knowing that Augustus Bemigho-Eyeoyibo is involved in gang activity and said she believed he was a reputable business man. She accepted being in possession of £28,000 when arrested – this was money withdrawn from her bank account and was taking it with her to Nigeria to give to her sister and brother-in-law in person.

“A number of incriminating text messages were found on her mobile phone seized from her upon arrest, revealing her deep involvement in the laundering of these funds.”

The prosecutor noted that Unuakpotovo admitted opening and controlling numerous bank accounts –between January 2007 and February 2015, she received over £700,000 (N308m) of suspicious payments from between 65 and 70 unconnected parties in 16 different countries.

However, Okemiorukaye accepted all transactions relating to the bank accounts attributed to him – he received nearly £50,000 (N22m) of direct suspicious payments from eight unconnected third parties in three different countries but claimed not to know the source of the transfers.

Source:https://www.nairaland.com/5341383/9-banks-scale-cbns-dividend

The name, Delphina Joy, may not ring a bell, but when you mention Savage Trap Queen, many know who she is.

Savage Trap Queen shocked many months back when she declared that she earns between N80,000 and N100,000 for every movie she features in as a porn star.



The svelte damsel who recently quit being a porn star told Saturday Beats the reason for her action. She said, “I was cheated and assaulted as a porn star. I was disrespected, and I wasn’t even paid completely. I don’t think anyone should go into it. I decided to quit when I looked at my life and caution myself. I didn’t know what I was doing. When I was into porn, people assumed I was making a lot of money. However, porn companies make more money than porn stars; they only give them a token. I said to myself that wasn’t the kind of life I wanted to live. I know the society I live in doesn’t accept such immorality. I won’t advise any young Nigerian to venture into it because whether you like it or not, whatever action you take has consequences, either good or bad”.

On how she started her career as a porn actress, Trap Queen noted that the job was packaged to her in the guise of a reality television show.

“I didn’t plan to be a porn star. A friend actually told me about the job. She told me it was a reality TV show and not porn. When I complained to her that some of the faces I saw were the individuals I knew as porn stars, she still maintained that it was a reality TV show. However, on getting there, I realised it wasn’t a reality show; it was porn. The girls and the first person I worked with were convincing and led me into it. I could have resisted them, but I was foolish. I thought it would fetch me money and fame because I love being in the limelight. I love the celebrity lifestyle,” she said.

Savage Trap Queen also shared her plans for the future, adding that she desired not to be judged.

READ ALSO: Very few men can manage successful women –Ara

She stated, “I have embraced a new life and I’m trying hard to penetrate into Nollywood because I want to become an actress. I also love dancing so I can do well as a video vixen or model. I am tired of being judged. I just want to lead a normal and peaceful life, and be happy. I hope Nigerians out there give me another chance so I won’t go hungry or fall into depression again because I have been depressed a couple of times.”
Source: https://punchng.com/i-thought-acting-porn-would-bring-money-fame-savage-trap-queen/

The crisis rocking the Senate over its constituted 69 standing committees worsened on Thursday as aggrieved members took their battle to the social media, accusing the leadership of betrayal.

Some faceless senators, under the aegis of the ‘9th Senate Group For Good Governance,’ on Thursday posted an unsigned message on journalists mobile phones, accusing the leadership of the upper chamber of reneging on its promises during the campaign.



They lamented that despite their moral and financial efforts to ensure the emergence of Senator Ahmad Lawan as President of the 9th Senate, the committee assigned to them fell short of their expectations.

Part of the statement read, “We are some of the senators who contributed our quota in the build up to your emergence as President of the 9th Senate.

“You know very well that those who know you closely did everything possible to dissuade many of us. Many of your opponents raised a lot of questions trying to convince us. We kept away all doubts and vigorously stood by you through thick and thin.

“You promised many of us good committees knowing how hard we tried. Many of us tried to pin you down to specifics but you kept shifting the date of the announcement until the date of our departure for recess.

“When we come back from recess, this issue shall be raised and must be addressed.”

Some lawmakers, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity on Thursday, confirmed that the development was tearing Lawan’s loyalists apart.

One of the lawmakers said, “The issue is generating serious crisis as some loyalists of the Senate President are accusing the Senate leadership of favouring people from the north at the detriment of their southern counterparts.”

Investigations by our correspondent revealed that some principal officers visited the homes of some of the aggrieved lawmakers on Wednesday night to sue for peace.



However, the spokesperson for the Senate, Senator Adedayo Adeyeye, has appealed to his colleagues who may be dissatisfied with the committee allocated to them to exercise restraint.



Adeyeye noted that the chairmanship of committees was meant to give opportunities to individual senators to contribute their quota to the development of Nigeria.

The Senate spokesperson said, “First and foremost, I have not received any call from any Senator complaining about the committees to which they had been placed.

“It has also not come to my notice, apart from you (journalists) now drawing my attention to it, that there has been any senator who expressed dissatisfaction with the committee to which he was appointed to head. I believe that everything is in the realm of rumours and I don’t attach much importance to rumours.”

Source: https://punchng.com/senators-demand-review-of-committee-chairmen/

Two years after a manhunt was launched for him, operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team have arrested a 46-year-old arms dealer, Godwin Chinyere. Chinyere is believed to have sold the firearms, ammunition and rocket launchers used by the suspected billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Owuamadike, alias Evans.

Police sources told our correspondent that Evans, who was arrested in June 2017 in his apartment at the Magodo area of Lagos State by the IRT operatives, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, confessed during interrogation that some of the rocket launchers and AK-47 rifles used by members of his gang robbery and kidnapping operations were supplied by Chinyere.



The sources explained that the IRT operatives launched a manhunt for Chinyere that time, but he went into hiding when he discovered that Evans had been apprehended.

One of the sources said Chinyere came out of hiding recently when he felt that since the Evans case had stalled in court, the IRT operatives might have stopped looking for him.

He was reportedly trailed to his hideout in Asaba, Delta State, where he was apprehended.

Chinyere confessed to journalists that he sold five AK-47 rifles to Evans, adding that he had turned a new leaf before the suspected kidnapper was arrested.

He stated, “I learnt how to make guns from a village known as Abala and I spent three years learning the skill before I started making my own. I usually sell locally-made double-barrelled guns for the sum of N10,000 and the single-barrelled for N6,000, while the short guns were sold for N10,000 each.

“One of my customers, Samuel Nwakpa, who was coming from Kaduna State to buy guns from me, was the one who linked me with big arms dealers in Chad and Niger Republic. They were the people, who supplied me with the five AK-47 rifles that I sold to Evans.

“I met Evans when he came to my village to treat his bullet wound and his native doctor connected him to me. Evans paid me the sum of N1.7m for the five AK-47 rifles. I took my share and gave the rest of the money to Nwakpa, who also supplied rocket launchers to Evans. I knew that Evans was using the arms for armed robbery and kidnapping.

“Before Evans was arrested, I had stopped the business and turned a new leaf, but I fled and went into hiding when he was arrested because I knew he was going to mention my name to the police, and I didn’t know that the police were still looking for me when I came out of hiding. I warned Evans to stop kidnapping when I turned a new leaf, but he didn’t listen to me.”



When the Force spokesperson, Frank Mba, was contacted, he confirmed Chinyere’s arrest and stated that a lot of weapons were recovered from him.

Mba added that investigators discovered that Chinyere was a major arms supplier to Evans and other kidnappers.

Source: https://punchng.com/evans-arms-supplier-apprehended-in-delta/

The Senate President on Wednesday protected the immediate past Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, at the ministerial screening, asking him not to answer any questions but “take a bow”.

Lawan said Amaechi, being a former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, was a lawmaker and thus should be protected from questioning.

Incidentally, Amaechi was grilled by the 8th Senate led by Senator Bukola Saraki.

The Senate Minority Leader, Eyinnaya Abaribe, however, said senators from Rivers State wanted to ask questions.

Lawan quickly rejected the move to question Amaechi.

The Senate President, who has been accused of being President Muhammadu Buhari’s stooge, was, however, in for a shock when Gombe-Central lawmaker, Senator Danjuma Goje, noted that the Senate rules do not extend the “take a bow” privilege to state lawmakers.

Goje, who is also a former House of Assembly member, said he wasn’t shown a similar gesture when he was nominated a minister as he was fully grilled by the Senate.

In his response, the Senate President said even though the Senate rules do not “apply to state lawmakers”, Amaechi should be extended the courtesy.

The Senate President said, “I agree totally that it is not in our rules but we can regulate ourselves even without things in the rules. So, we adopt this because we should extend this privilege to the House of Assembly. I think there is nothing wrong in that. The nominee (Amaechi) is just a beneficiary by chance. We are not doing this for him.”

Source: https://punchng.com/ministerial-screening-lawan-protects-amaechi-asks-him-to-take-a-bow/

Kano State Government has settled over N2 billion outstanding fees of its students in El-Razi University in Sudan.

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje made the disclosure when he received the Chairman Board of Trustees of the University, Prof. Ibrahim Ghandour on Tuesday in Kano.

“My government inherited students from the previous administration with a lot of money to be paid.



“And through good mediation between the University and Kano State, we were able to settle this amount so that our students will complete their studies,” he stated.



Ganduje who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Nasiru Gawuna disclosed that his administration had paid almost 80 per cent of all the fees of its students in India, Egypt and Cyprus, which were also inherited from the previous administration.

The governor added that the administration recently paid over N300 million to Cyprus University to enable students sponsored by the state to complete their programmes.‎

He berated individuals politicizing the issue of education in the state, saying such an attitude would not in any way benefit the state or the country.

“What it entails is not the issue of politicizing any aspect of education, whoever has to be a critic, has to be positive in his criticisms as nobody is perfect. Now that we are patient enough, we have paid the money,” he added.‎

Source: https://punchng.com/ganduje-releases-n2bn-tuition-fees-for-foreign-students/

American actor and ‘James Bond’ movie star, David Hedison has died at the age of 92, in Los Angeles. According to a family representative who confirmed his death, the legendary actor who portrayed CIA agent, Felix Leiter alongside Roger Moore in the 1973 action movie, ‘Live and Let Die’ and in 1989 with Timothy Dalton in ‘Licence to kill’, both 007 movie installments, passed away last Thursday, in the presence of his daughters Alexandra and Serena. David Hedison In an official statement yesterday, the deceased daughters stated that even in the mood of mourning, they are comforted by their late father’s memories. “Even in our deep sadness, we are comforted by the memory of our wonderful father. He loved us all dearly and expressed that love every day.

He was adored by so many, all of whom benefited from his warm and generous heart. Our dad brought joy and humour wherever he went and did so with great style.” [READ ALSO] Regina Daniels’ mother shoots movie aboard Ned Nwoko’s private jet While paying tribute to the late actor, the official James Bond twitter account said; “We are very sorry to learn that David Hedison had passed away. David played Felix Leiter in ‘Live and let die’ (1973) opposite Sir Roger Moore.

He returned to the role in 1989 with Timothy Dalton as James Bond, in Licence to kill. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.” His family said the American actor entertained friends and family with his positive attitude and ‘wicked’ sense of humour. The film star began his acting career under the name Al Hedison, but by 1959, he took his middle name David after signing a contract with Twentieth Century Fox. He branched out into television during his career where he portrayed Captain Lee Crane in long-running sci-fi series Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea. Hedison also played Spencer Harrison on the daytime series Another World.

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/07/james-bond-movie-star-david-hedison-dies-at-92/

Members of the House of Representatives were divided at the plenary session on Tuesday over the call for the release of Sheikh Ibraheem el-Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, also known as the Shi’ites.

The disagreement started with the request to approve additional prayers to a motion moved by Mr Mohammed Bello on the violent protests by Shi’ites in Abuja on Monday.



The protesters had engaged security agents in a scuffle, leaving the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) FCT Command, Mr Umar Bello; and a National Youth Service Corps member attached to Channels Television, Precious Owolabi, among others, dead.

While the House unanimously granted the prayer that the heads of security agencies be invited to address the lawmakers on the measures being taken to check the Islamic sect, they voted out the prayers calling on the Federal Government and the Kaduna State Government to obey court orders and release el-Zakzaky.

While moving the motion earlier, Bello had accused the sect of an “act of terrorism,” saying the act “seriously destabilised political, constitutional, economic and social structures of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The lawmaker said, “This act seriously intimidates the population of Abuja as well as its environs and damages or intends to damage corporate existence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Such violent and unlawful assembly becomes sporadic and leads to the loss of lives and properties.

“The members of the IMN cannot under any guise of protest engage in bloodshed or violence as well as destruction of economic activities which seriously intimidate the population. This activity has been reported widely by both print and electronic media and it is a cause of concern for both national and international community.”

In his comment, the Majority Leader, Mr Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, recalled that the Speaker had mandated him and some other members to lead the intervention by the National Assembly in the face-off between the IMN and the Federal Government.

Ado-Doguwa, however, said he was disappointed that the Shi’ites (on July 9, 2019) a few days after he addressed them to convey the decision by the lawmakers to bring them to roundtable, attacked the National Assembly, injuring some persons and damaging property.

According to him, members of the sect had abused the opportunity given to them by the lawmakers, describing the attack as an affront to the institution of the National Assembly and a breach of the peace deal offered to them.



The Speaker noted that the passion expressed by Ado-Doguwa in his speech reflected the passion of the House on the matter.

Gbajabiamila said, “I was surprised that, like he said, the very next day, there was a derailment on the National Assembly. It is not about the National Assembly; it is about the country as a whole. This thing can spiral into another level that we may not be able to contain. I think it is important we act and act fast.

“I will agree that we extend our invitation still to them, that agreement reached. And I think the carrot-and-stick approach is sometimes what is needed in situations like this. Dialogue must continue. This is something that we need to address and we need to address it now.”

Consideration of the motion, however, took a dramatic turn when another member, Mr Herman Hembe, made an additional prayer “that the House should urge the Federal Government to obey the court orders on the release of el-Zakzaky.”

The prayer was seconded but when the Speaker put it to voice vote and the nays were louder than the ayes.

Gbajabiamila put the prayer to another voice vote the nays still had it.

Amending Hembe’s additional prayer, Mrs Linda Ikpeazu, prayed that the Kaduna State Government and not the Federal Government should obey the court order to release the Shi’ites leader.

The Speaker put the prayer to a voice vote, the nays also had it.

Before Gbajabiamila could rule on the vote; Ikpeazu and other supporters of the prayers began to protest, forcing the presiding officer to call for a division of the House.

The division, which is usually called when those for and against a matter cannot be clearly determined through voice vote, means that lawmakers would be asked to relocate to either sides of the isle based on their votes.

Shortly after calling for a division and the lawmakers had started taking positions in the chamber, the Speaker asked that the process be done behind closed doors, asking the sergeants-at-arms to usher non-members out of the chamber and gallery.

Emerging from the closed-door session, the Speaker asked Mr Wole Oke to present an additional prayer, which he noted would be unanimously seconded by members of the chamber.

Oke prayed that “the House should form an ad hoc committee to interface with the executive and heads of security agencies on how to resolve the Shi’ites lingering problem using peace and conflict resolution mechanism.”

Gbajabiamila put the prayer to a voice vote and it was unanimously approved.

Source: https://punchng.com/motion-on-el-zakzakys-release-divides-reps/

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, has said that unrealistic demand from senior civil servants is delaying the implementation of the new Minimum Wage.

But in a quick response, the Joint National Public Negotiation Council, which is representing workers in the negotiation, said government introduced a new strategy to halt negotiation with the introduction of new figures to come up with its own template.



Labour added that the new template the Federal Government was proposing to implement the new minimum wage would impoverish workers.

Negotiation between the Federal Government and the Joint National Public Negotiation Council broke down two weeks ago because of differences in percentage increase in the salaries of workers.

While the Federal Government’s representatives in the technical committee set up to negotiate the consequential increase had proposed 9.5 per cent salary increase for workers on Grade Level 07 to Level 14 and five per cent increase for employees on Grade Level 15 to 17, the labour representatives are demanding 30 per cent salary increase for workers on Grade Level seven to 14 and 25 per cent for workers on Grade Level 15 to 17.

Some of labour’s demands unrealistic, says FG

While speaking with journalists at the opening of a retreat on 2017-2020 federal civil service strategy and implementation plan organised by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in Abuja on Monday, Oyo-Ita said the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari was committed to the implementation of the new minimum wage.

She called on labour to review its demands.

She said, “President Buhari is keen on the implementation of the new minimum wage and that is why the committee set up on the consequential adjustment arising from the new minimum wage has been meeting unions within the labour union and the public service to arrive at a consequential adjustment.

READ ALSO: We paid $665m to renew three oil blocks —Mobil



“There were a few not very realistic demands from the unions and so as not to continue delaying the implementation of the well-thought-out and clear policy of the President, we have to go ahead and seek his approval for the implementation while we continue discussion on the consequential adjustment.”

Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the JNPSNC, Alade Lawal, has denied the Federal Government’s claim, saying that government has demonstrated its unwillingness to hold fair and healthy bargain with labour during negotiation.

According to Lawal, considering the state of the economy, what the Federal Government tabled as proposal as consequential increase during negotiation that broke down would only make workers poorer.

He said, “The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation was not saying the truth. The whole world knows that we started negotiation with the government with open hands, hoping that we would be accorded same by the Federal Government’s representatives in the committee. At a stage, government became unrealistic considering all variables that had taken place in our economy.

“What the government is putting on the table will only make workers poorer. Some of the actors on the side of government think they know more than everybody. This is why we are where we have found ourselves today. It is the government that is delaying implementation for obvious reason that it is not ready to pay what is reasonable to workers.”

The JNPSNC secretary general added that while negotiation was on, the government introduced what he described as strange terms of reference which would ensure that whatever the committee arrived at as consequential increase must align with what was provided for in the 2019 budget.

Lawal said it was another ploy employed by the government to weaken the bargaining process.

“That clause about 2019 budget alignment was not part of the terms of reference given when the committee was inaugurated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, on May 14.

“We were not consulted when government decided on the figure and inserted it in the budget. How then can that figure be the benchmark for our negotiation?

“That means that government had decided on what it wanted to pay and only wanted us to rubber-stamp it. In that case, why opening negotiation with labour on the minimum wage? If the Federal Government already knew the figure, then there was no need for bargaining. However, in labour matters and industrial relations, collective bargaining is a key process in ensuring fairness. These are questions Nigerians must ask government.”

While accusing government of deliberately stalling negotiation on the new minimum wage with labour, Lawal said he had earlier said that if negotiation took too long to commence, there would be huge arrears of additional salaries to pay and government would introduce difficult technicalities to beat the reality.

“When it was taking too long for the government to set up the negotiating committee, we warned that the arrears could scare government from fair negotiation. That is what we are experiencing now,” he added.


Lawal also accused the Chairman of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Richard Egbule, of acting beyond his powers when he allegedly said that payment of additional salaries to workers who were earning above N30,000 already would begin from the day that agreement would be struck.

“He is being arrogant with his statement. He cannot dictate to us and his statement means that some of them do not mean well for this administration. Posterity is there to judge. They should decide what side of history they want to belong,” Lawal said.

Source: https://punchng.com/fg-minimum-wage-template-will-impoverish-workers-labour/