Business

FG Approves N11bn Monthly Wage For PHCN

Published

14 years ago

September 21, 2011

The Federal Government has approved a new monthly wage bill of N11billion for employees of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

Vice-President Namadi Sambo stated this on Monday in Abuja while declaring open a two-day Power Sector Reform Workshop at the State House.

He said that the new wage bill followed the approval of a 50 per cent increase in the salary structure of the staff of the company.

“As a further demonstration of our interest in the welfare of electricity workers, we have also favourably considered the recommendation for a 50% increase in the salary structure of the PHCN staff, in spite of the enormous economic challenges of the moment.

“Suffice it to state that we inherited a huge wage bill of over N7 billion monthly for the PHCN staff.

“However, with the new increase, the monthly salary will escalate to over N11 billion. This figure is interestingly about the same amount the PHCN generates monthly.”

He noted that N57 billion was spent by the Federal Government on the payment of the monetised benefits to all PHCN employees.

He added that more than 99 per cent of the staff, both serving and retired, had received the benefits.

According to him, those with incomplete records or whose next of kin have not been ascertained, make up 0.9 per cent of those yet to be paid.

“Once each case is sorted out, the payment shall be made as enough funds still exist with the Central Bank of Nigeria for the settlement of this outstanding liability.”

Sambo said the Federal Government was committed to promoting the interest of electricity workers.

He disclosed that President Goodluck Jonathan had directed that, a percentage of shares in the PHCN successor companies being privatised, be reserved for the workers.

The Vice-President assured the participants of government resolve to appropriate adequate funds for the immediate payment of retirement benefits to all PHCN staff as soon as the unbundling programme was completed.

He stated that the ongoing Power Sector Reform has been embraced by Nigerians, the African Union and the International Community.

He revealed that the National Council on Privatisation had short-listed 40 firms that would benefit from the concessioning of hydro-power stations in the country.

Sambo further explained that 87 other companies would be short-listed for the thermal stations while 80 others would be lined up for the electricity companies.

He expressed optimism that the change of the status of the Federal Government from being the sole owner of the 17 generation and distribution companies, to a minority shareholder would benefit the country.

He described as instructive and revealing, a situation where most of the Federal Government’s plants did not produce up to half of their installed capacities whereas private electricity producers used up their installed capacities.

“The Power Sector Reform will change Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape, far more than we have witnessed in telecommunications sector following the sector’s liberalisation.

“The power sector reform will not only provide Nigerian people with uninterrupted and quality electricity, but will also attract Foreign Direct Investment, create employment and business opportunities, enhance the living standards of electricity workers, like those of their counterparts in the telecoms sector, enable power sector employees to work with state-of-the-art technology and to regularly undergo domestic and international courses.

“It is obvious that the reform will create thousands of job opportunities for the electricity workers through the development of new power infrastructure that will include but not limited to the NIPP 10 new power plants, 4,000km of transmission lines and several hundreds of substations.”

Sambo, therefore, assured that the power reform was “a win-win deal” for all, and urged Nigerians, including trade unions in the sector to embrace the reform programme wholeheartedly.

On electricity tariff, the Vice President said Nigerians should always be ready to pay the appropriate tariff in view of the huge investments being made by both government and the private investors.

In his remarks, the Chief Negotiator/Conciliator between the Federal Government and the Labour Unions of PHCN, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, commended the Government for implementing the agreements reached between it and the unions.

Sunmonu who is also the Secretary-General, Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU), challenged Nigerian leaders to bring tens of millions of Nigerians out of poverty, and another 30 million into the middle class, within the next 20 years.

“With our enormous human and natural resources, yes, it is possible. If we fix our power sector, yes it is possible.”

Goodwill messages were delivered at the occasion by Ministers of Labour and Productivity, Power and Trade Unions’ Leaders.

Business

Agency Gives Insight Into Its Inspection, Monitoring Operations

Published

1 week ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

The Director, South South Zone National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Pharmacist Chujwuma P.Oligbu has said its thorough implementation of its core mandate of monitoring has no link with witch-hunting or fault finding as perceived at some quarters.

Oligbu, made this known when he spoke as as guest at the maiden Rivers state Supermarkets stakeholders’ Seminar/Workshop in Port Harcourt recently.

Rather, he said they were mere opportunities for education, correction and continuous improvement.

The Agency’s South South Boss, noted that Supermarket operators who maintain transparent records, cooperate during inspections, and promptly address identified gaps demonstrate professionalism and commitment to public health standard.

He listed the deserving essence of supermarket operation to include the key aspects of supermarket operation that deserves emphasis is product sourcing.

“Supermarkets must ensure that all regulated products stocked on their shelves are duly registered with NAFDAC and sourced from legitimate manufacturers or distributors”, he said .

According to him, the presence of unregistered, expired, counterfeit, or improper labelled products undermines consumer confidence and poses serious health risks.

He pointed out that such has the likelihood of exposeing supermarket operators to legal sanctions that could damage their reputation and financial stability.

The NAFDAC Operator, further enlightened the participants that mere registration of a particular product with the Federal agency do not guarantee absolute consumption safety.

“Temperature control, cleanliness, pest control, stock rotation, and proper shelving are not optional practice; they are essential components of compliance”, he said.

The South South zonal director also told the operators of supermarket that their employees rotine training on the basis of the product they display for sale is of utmost importance.

In her presentation a Breast Milk Nutrition Expert , Professor Alice Nte of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), was against the body’s prime attention to breast milk substitute or baby milk in supermarkets as well as its advertisement or promotion.

Nye jerked up the importance of mothers breast milk to the newborn baby and added that it help in fighting against childhood diseases, infections and combating cancer in breastfeeding mothers.

Meanwhile, NAFDAC Deputy Director, South – South Zone , Mrs. Riter Chujwuma educated the participants on the guidelines for global listing, and the need to adhere strictly to rules guiding global listing to avoid confiscation of their imported products.

By: King Onunwor

Business

BVN Enrolments Rise 6% To 67.8m In 2025 — NIBSS

Published

1 week ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) has said that Bank Verification Number (BVN) enrolments rose by 6.8 per cent year-on-year to 67.8 million as at December 2025, up from 63.5 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.

In a statement published on its website, NIBSS attributed the growth to stronger policy enforcement by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the expansion of diaspora enrolment initiatives.

According to the data, more than 4.3 million new BVNs were issued within the one-year period, underscoring the growing adoption of biometric identification as a prerequisite for accessing financial services in Nigeria.

NIBSS noted that the expansion reinforces the BVN system’s central role in Nigeria’s financial inclusion drive and digital identity framework.

Analysts linked the growth largely to regulatory measures by the CBN, particularly the directive to restrict or freeze bank accounts without both a BVN and National Identification Number (NIN), which took effect from April 2024.

The policy compelled many customers to regularise their biometric records to retain access to banking services.

Another major driver, the statement said, was the rollout of the Non-Resident Bank Verification Number (NRBVN) initiative, which allows Nigerians in the diaspora to obtain a BVN remotely without physical presence in the country.

The programme has been widely regarded as a milestone in integrating the diaspora into Nigeria’s formal financial system.

A five-year analysis by NIBSS showed consistent growth in BVN enrolments, rising from 51.9 million in 2021 to 56.0 million in 2022, 60.1 million in 2023, 63.5 million in 2024 and 67.8 million by December 2025. The steady increase reflects stronger compliance with biometric identity requirements and improved coverage of the national banking identity system.

However, NIBSS noted that BVN enrolments still lag the total number of active bank accounts, which exceeded 320 million as of March 2025.

The gap, it explained, is largely due to multiple bank accounts linked to single BVNs, as well as customers yet to complete enrolment, despite the progress recorded.

Business

AFAN Unveils Plans To Boost Food Production In 2026

Published

2 weeks ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The leadership of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has set the tone for the new year with a renewed focus on food security, unity and long-term growth of the agricultural sector.

The association announced that its General Assembly of Farmers Congress will take place from January 15 to 17, 2026 at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industries, along Lugbe Airport Road, in the Federal Capital Territory.

The gathering is expected to bring together farmers, policymakers, investors and development partners to shape a fresh direction for Nigerian agriculture.

In a New Year address to members and stakeholders, AFAN president, Dr Farouk Rabiu Mudi, said the congress would provide a strategic forum for reviewing past challenges and outlining practical solutions for the future.

He explained that the event would serve as a rallying point for innovation, collaboration and economic renewal within the sector.

Mudi commended farmers across the country for their determination and hard work, despite years of insecurity, climate-related pressures and economic uncertainty.

According to him, their resilience has kept food production alive and positioned agriculture as a stabilising force in the national economy.

He noted that AFAN intends to build on this strength by resetting agribusiness operations to improve productivity and sustainability.

The AFAN leader appealed to government institutions, private investors and development organisations to deepen their engagement with the association.

He stressed the need for collective action to confront persistent issues such as insecurity in farming communities, climate impacts and market instability.

He also urged members to put aside internal disputes and personal interests, encouraging cooperation and shared responsibility in pursuit of national development.

Mudi outlined key priorities that include increasing food output, expanding support for farmers at the grassroots and strengthening local manufacturing through partnerships with both domestic and international investors adding that reducing dependence on imports remains critical to protecting the economy and creating jobs.

He stated that the upcoming congress will feature the launch of AFAN’s twenty-five-year agricultural mechanisation roadmap, alongside the announcement of new partnerships designed to accelerate growth across the value chain.

Participants, he said wi also have opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange aimed at transforming agriculture into a more competitive and technology-driven sector.

As part of its modernisation drive, AFAN is further encouraging members nationwide to enrol for the newly introduced Digital ID Card.

Mudi said the initiative will improve transparency, ensure proper farmer identification and make it easier to access support programmes and services.

Reaffirming the association’s long-term goal, he said the vision of national food sufficiency by 2030 remains achievable if unity and collaboration are sustained.

He expressed optimism that with collective effort, Nigeria’s agricultural sector can overcome its challenges and deliver a more secure and prosperous future.

Lady Usendi