News
Senate May Move Wages From Exclusive List
The Senate is intending to take wages away from the exclusive list and place it in the concurrent list to enable each state of the federation pay its work force according to its financial resources, the Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, has said.
Dropping the hint in a chat with newsmen in Enugu recently, Chief Ekweremadu noted that the move had become necessary to put a stop to the incessant industrial action embarked upon by workers in various states of the federation to press home their demand for full implementation of the N18,000 new minimum wage by state governments in the country.
According to him, when implemented, this would enable workers who want to earn more money than what they get at the moment to go to states where they think their dreams can be realised fully or half way as the case may be.
His words: “I do not think that in a country like Nigeria, wages should be in the exclusive list instead of the concurrent list. But let me also add that because the issue of wages is in the exclusive list, there is nothing any state governor in Nigeria can do at the moment about payment of N18,000 minimum wage to workers in their various states than to comply”.
The Deputy Senate President said: “I sympathise with the governors anyway, but there is nothing they can do than to comply with the law establishing the new national minimum wage”.
Meanwhile, fielding reporter’s question on the chances of Igbos to produce the next president of Nigeria in 2015, Senator Ekweremadu, quickly advised Nigerians to always talk about a president who sees the entire country as his constituency, and not one from their own ethnic extraction.
He reasoned that presidency is not the major problem or concern of the Igbo man today, advising the Igbos to ensure that they are part and parcel of decision making process in the country, adding that every body cannot be president of Nigeria at the same time.
“What the country needs now is president who looks at the entire country as his constituency, not a sectional president. Every Nigerian, not just the Igbos must have a sense of belonging in an entity called Nigeria. When that is done, the agitation for president of their own ethnic extraction would be less. I am looking forward to a day where there will be president that will be acceptable to all Nigerians, no matter where he comes from”, he further stressed.
The law maker, therefore, urged Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliation to be patient with the federal government, led by Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and always do things that would unite the country, rather than involving themselves in acts capable of causing disunity among the citizenry.
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.00
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
The Tide source had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
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