₦airaland Forum

The Central Bank of Nigeria has officially made the NAFEX Investor & Exporter forex window rate of N410.25 as its official exchange rate to the dollar. It confirmed this new official rate on its website on Monday night, after it had removed N379/$ earlier in May.

Few weeks earlier, the Punch had exclusively reported that the naira officially depreciated to N410/$, quoting the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele. Emefiele had said the drop in crude oil earnings and associated reduction in foreign portfolio inflows significantly affected supply of foreign exchange into Nigeria.

"In order to adjust for the decrease in supply of foreign exchange, the naira depreciated at the official window from N305/$ to N360/$ and now hovers around N410/$,” he said.

It would be recalled that in April 2017, the CBN established the I&E forex window as part of efforts to deepen the foreign exchange market and accommodate all forex obligations. The purpose of the window was to boost liquidity in the forex market and ensure timely execution and settlement for eligible transactions.

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is yet to implement the new minimum wage of N30,000 for its staff 2 years after it was reviewed.

TheCable understands that failure to adopt the new wage has unsettled the staff of the congress amid talks of a possible strike to push for the implementation. Workers at the NLC secretariat who asked not to be named because they were not authorised to speak on the matter confirmed that the Ayuba Wabba-led management still pays them their previous wage.

TheCable was informed at the secretariat on Monday that none of the congress’ leaders was available for comments as they are all in Kaduna, where they had directed a strike after accusing the state government of “anti-worker policies”. TheCable has contacted Ayuba for comments.

NLC ON THE FOREFRONT OF CAMPAIGN FOR MINIMUM WAGE
President Muhamadu Buhari had in May 2018 signed the wage bill, effectively raising minimum pay Nigerian workers can earn from N18,000 to N30,000. The bill is binding on all employers of labour — both in the public and private sectors.

But while NLC has been threatening industrial action against states yet to implement the adjusted minimum wage, staff at its national secretariat and state offices are still hoping for when they would enjoy such privilege. In April 2019, Wabba, the NLC president, had said that all employers of labour yet to effect N30,000 minimum wage — except those employing less than 25 persons — would be made to face the law.

In January, he criticised governors yet to effect the review, saying: “We call on all our state councils still struggling with their state governments on payment of the national minimum wage and consequential salary increase, and those whose state governments have unilaterally cut wages and are owing workers salary arrears to prepare for mass industrial action and protests this New Year.”

BUT THE NLC PRESIDENT RISKS CONVICTION AS WELL
Section 9 of the national minimum wage act criminalises failure of employers to comply with the new pay, with specified penalties including a fine and payment of all arrears.

Subsection 2 reads: “Any employer who fails to comply with subsection 1 commits an offence and is liable on conviction to pay – (a) a fine not exceeding 5% of the offender’s monthly wage; (b) all outstanding arrears of the workers’ wages; …

“And (c) an additional penalty of not less than the prevailing CBN lending rate on wages owed, for each month of a continuing violation, provided the power to order payment on account of wages under subsection (2) shall not derogate from rights of the worker to recover wages due to him by any other proceeding in a court of competent jurisdiction.”

The act also states that an officer authorised by the minister of labour shall serve a notice of enforcement to employers who fail to pay the minimum wage and where they still do not comply, in part or in whole, the matter shall be referred to the National Industrial Court.

Passport pain: Immigration officials profit from FG’s failure, feed fat on Nigerians’ nightmare

Despite the scorching sun, the crowd at the Nigeria Immigration passport office in Ikeja kept swelling with exasperated Nigerians. Many of the applicants who went with high hopes of getting their passports left in frustration.

One of them was John, who needed the document urgently. Worry and anxiety were written on his face as he called his father on the phone to lament his ordeal. When he was done, he told one of our correspondents how he had become frustrated after pursuing the document for over 3 months.

“I am not in a good mood at all. I've been coming here since February. They keep wasting people’s time. My parents paid for me through someone. Nobody applies online, because they will not attend to you. So many people are just sitting down and their files are unattended to. Documents for processing are not available; they say there are no booklets,” he said.

Another applicant, Patience, was also dejected when one of our correspondents approached her and introduced himself as a journalist. She sneered, wondering how the reporter could help her situation. After some persuasion, she opened up. “I gave up on Nigeria a long time ago. Nothing can be better. For the past 3 weeks, they've been asking me to bring one document or the other. My house is far away and I need the passport urgently. But they are saying there is no passport booklet.

“The officers said if I needed express (service), then I must add something to the fee they had already charged; they demanded between N10,000 and N15,000. But I am ready to even pay, except that there is a problem with my name I needed them to correct. You know how things are done in Nigeria. Online, the fee is N17,000, but I was asked to pay N40,000, and that was because I went directly to an officer I knew. And on top of that, they are asking for extra money for express.”

Several other applicants lamented how they could not secure passports because the officials claimed booklets were not available. The PUNCH, however noted that despite scarcity of the booklets, a few individuals seemed to be getting theirs. Some immigration officers around the security office near the main gate were also observed counting naira notes collected from some applicants.

While our correspondent could not tell the purpose of the payment, it was observed that many applicants paid directly to the immigration officers to ease the process of the application. Several applicants confirmed this to our reporter. A woman, who did not identify herself, said the process of the passport application had been hitch-free for her because “an uncle paid directly into the account of the officer handling it.”

The PUNCH also overheard an agent discussing with a client on the phone and talking about how he had been haggling the price for a 10-year passport for N95,000. He claimed his link in the immigration office was demanding N120,000.

A student of a private university, identified simply as Bimbo, said an intermediary who collected N50,000 from her for a 5-year passport, promised everything would go smoothly. She said the agent connected her with an immigration officer, who called her for data capturing.”

LONG WAIT, SCARCITY CHARACTERISE PASSPORT APPLICATIONS IN FCT
In the Federal Capital Territory, the situation is not different. Findings indicate passport applicants generally go through unofficial routes to obtain the booklets and pay exorbitantly. Checks show many NIS officers are taking advantage of the scarcity to engage in passport racketeering.

Many applicants have yet to get the passports weeks after going for biometric capture, after paying the stipulated fees. Officials blamed the scarcity on inadequate supply of booklets by the contractor, Iris Smart Technology Ltd.

A passport applicant, Anselm Ansadi stated, “I discovered getting the e-passport isn’t as easy as it sounds. After paying the necessary fees and doing biometric capture, I was informed the passport would be ready within a week. After waiting for over 2 weeks without getting any response, I contacted an immigration officer at NIS headquarters, who helped in fast-tracking the issuance. I had to part with additional money.”

A businesswoman, who was asked to pay N100,000 for the 10-year booklet, blamed government for giving room for unending exploitation of Nigerians by passport officials.

EXTORTION & TOUTING BY NIS OFFICERS AT PLAY IN ENUGU
At Enugu NIS passport office, an official asked one of our correspondents to pay N30,000 against the official N18,500, while an urgent passport application went for N35,000.

In a move to cajole our reporter to patronise him, the officer said, “If you want a passport, you must go through an immigration officer to get it in record time. Otherwise, if you apply online, you hardly get the passport. One person I know who applied online has not received it since November last year. Another one who applied since 1st week of February hasn’t obtained his passport till date. However, there is scarcity of passports now. But if you go through an immigration officer (unofficially), you will finish your application and receive the passport booklet.”

At Federal Secretariat Enugu, more than 5 immigration personnel accosted our correspondent, saying, “Oga do you want a passport? Is any immigration officer processing your passport?’’

The State Controller of Immigration, Mr Joachim Olumbah, promised to investigate and fish out those behind the passport racketeering in the command. He said such unprofessional acts could not be denied, but noted it was not an official endorsement from the command.

TRAVEL AGENTS & NIS OFFICERS LEVY PASSPORT APPLICANTS IN BENUE
Nigerians seeking to obtain the e-passport have decried non-availability of the travel document in Makurdi, Benue State. They also frowned on activities of middlemen and travel agents, who go about extorting money from intending travellers on pretext of assisting to facilitate issuance of passports from the NIS office.

When our correspondent in Benue visited NIS passport office located opposite High Court in Makurdi, some applicants were sighted in a queue waiting to collect their passport booklets. But their hopes were dashed as they were turned back and asked to come back another time.

One of the applicants, who identified himself as Donald, said he applied for the passport on 8 January 2021, to enable him to travel abroad for his education. At first, I was told to go to the bank and pay N18,000 into a designated account and bring the printout, which I did; since then, it has been one excuse or the other. I was asked to come today, but when I got here, an officer told me the passport control officer was not available and that I should come another time.

“This is not funny; some people who applied at same time as me, have collected theirs because they were able to grease the palms of officials. That is, after they paid N18,000 in the bank, they still came to the office and paid additional money to officials or travel agents to facilitate immediate issuance of the passport. Those of us who refused to bribe, the officials are unable to get ours.”

Another applicant, Mr Terna Suemo, said he paid for the 32-page booklet in the 1st week of March 2021 but could not get it due to non-availability of booklets. He stated, “However, an insider told me if I wanted to get it officially, it would take time, but if I needed it urgently and pay extra money, he could get the passport for me.”

NIS Public Relations Officer in the state, Mrs Ngufan Akaa, declined to comment.

LONG QUEUES OF APPLICANTS AWAITING MANDATORY BIOMETRIC CAPTURE FOR NIN ARE FEATURES OF RIVERS STATE PASSPORT OFFICE
Though the new complex donated to the service by the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike appears comfortable, it is usually crowded amid complaints of booklet scarcity and delay. No incidence of touting was noticed at the office located at No. 8 Aba Road, Port Harcourt.

Meanwhile, an applicant who simply identified himself as Chidi, said he travelled all the way from Awka, Anambra State, to Port Harcourt, where he was referred to after paying N50,000 as express delivery charges for the 32-page passport, which ordinarily costs N25,000.

“A passport of 32 pages that costs N25,000, I was made to pay N50,000 for express service, because I needed it urgently. I came all the way from Awka, because there was no booklet at the office. I had also gone to Owerri (Imo State) and Asaba (Delta State), but there were no booklets in those states.”

Checks indicated over 1,000 booklets had yet to be collected by their owners. It was also gathered that Rivers was the only state in South-South and South-East currently issuing the e-passport with a 5 and 10-year validity period.

PASSPORT SCARCITY, VIOLATION OF FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT – LAWYER & CSO
A lawyer, Deji Ajare, of the Sterling Centre Abuja, said failure of government to issue passport booklets was a violation of the constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of movement of citizens. “Nigerians in Diaspora, who are reportedly facing some form of difficulty over processing of their passports, can benefit from a renewal by postal service and opening of more centres to cater to this need.”

Speaking in similar vein, Executive Director, United Global Resolve for Peace, Olaseni Shalom, argued that passport scarcity was artificial and meant to subvert due process and enrich pockets of a few corrupt officers.

NIS spokesman, Sunday James, failed to respond to inquiries about what the service was doing to curb unethical conduct by immigration personnel. He did not respond to calls and a text message sent to his phone on Wednesday.

Apparently roused from its slumber by loud complaints from angry Nigerians, the FG announced a policy statement it hopes would assuage the problem. Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said all passport backlogs would be issued on or before May 31, 2021, adding that those with issues with their applications would be contacted.

Jeux:
I have never seen a Governor as useless as this man, hè has turned edo from a developing state to a slum within just 5 years

doggedfighter:
Thankfully he was harmless. Just needed a soft warm bed and food to enjoy himself with

I wish all stories end like this with no one hurt

NLC Kaduna State Council has said over 20,000 state workers have not received their April salaries. Chairman, NLC Kaduna State Council, Ayuba Suileman, told our correspondent workers in the state would begin a 5-day warning strike Monday because of the mass sack of over 6,000 workers by the state government.

Suleiman said, “The strike would commence Monday through to Friday as a warning. The essence of the strike is that we want the state government to reverse the decision of sacking the huge number of workers.

“Workers in the state are not happy. They are jittery. The state government is using random indiscriminate deposition to send people packing. No worker in Kaduna state is at rest. They are jittery and are not performing optimally. While they have paid April salaries, over 20,000 people have not received their salaries.” He expressed hope the state governor, Nasir el-Rufai would rescind his decision.

He said, “The state governor is looking difficult, and from antecedence, he does not have a good relationship with trade unions and the NLC. We will try to persuade him through this strike and hope he rescinds the decision of sacking over 6,000 workers.”

NUPENG TO DOWN TOOLS
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers has ordered tanker drivers in Kaduna State to down tools for 5 days beginning from Sunday. The directive was conveyed in a letter to the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of NUPENG Kaduna. NUPENG said the directive was from the NLC to protest mass sack of teachers and other civil servants in the state and Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s refusal to implement the new minimum wage.

“Consequent upon that directive, you are hereby directed to effect maximum compliance of the directive for the successful execution of the campaign against anti-labour activities and the behaviour of the executive governor of Kaduna State,” the union said.

PCG001:


Edo no вe_________________________________❓

tnerro1:
The only issue I see is where he said if you want to stay the next period, you should pay the rent 3 months before you start the next period. Talk to him, the economy is hard, let him give you a grace of 1 month after your tenancy is up to pay or you agree to pack out if you fail to meet the one month grace period without need for court papers. It should be in writing and both of you sign with witnesses and get it documented in court

incogni2o:
tell him to change the word covenant

dominique:
Confusing English. Which one is demised premises Bayi?

Dollarseeker:
To all those earning well but have all the time to themselves, please what do u do for fun. As in making too much money from home or owning a business that is runned for you by other employees, pls what do u guys do to have fun?

Staying at home all day is someone boring, without fun. Although I am not actually bored because I like quiet and less noisy environment and when alone I am still happy, however, I want to add fun to it.

So I am putting this questions to guys that makes money without stress and not going to work everyday; what do u do to keep u busy or add fun daily in ur lives.

Pls don't pm me.

Emerald04:
Am actually in my HND 1...
Below is the number they've bn using to contact me 09073336568, 09046239221

INTEGRITYA1:
I will talk to you as Real Estate Consultant, sharing of that fliers you're like making mockery of as and still making hardworking fellows to become millionaires. Go and ask.