Nation
New Minimum Wage: Stakeholders Urge Quick Resolution
Nigerian workers and pensioners have urged both Federal and State Governments as well as private employers to facilitate payment of the new minimum wage to reduce the suffering of workers.
The stakeholders made the plea at a public hearing organised by the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage for the South-East in Enugu, yesterday.
Comrade Virginus Nwobodo, who spoke on behalf of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), South-East, said that the new minimum wage review and implementation had been overdue.
Nwobodo, also the NLC Chairman in Enugu State, said that the NLC wanted a minimum wage not less than N66,500.
He noted that it was currently difficult for anybody to manage N18,000 whereas most workers at this level had families and dependants to take care of.
“It is long overdue and we are asking for nothing less than N66,500 to meet the current socio-economic realities,’’ he said.
Comrade Chukwuma Igbokwe, who spoke on behalf of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) South-East, called on the Federal Government to conduct a public hearing on political office holders’ wages, so that it would be reviewed. Igbokwe said that the huge amount collected by politicians across board was inimical to the purchasing power of workers, since both patronised the same market.
He also said that the TUC stood with the organised labour on N66, 500 minimum pay for any Nigerian worker at any level.
Comrade Chukwuma Udesi, Zonal Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), called on the Federal Government to inaugurate a Committee for the National Minimum Wage for Pensioners.
He said that by so doing, pensioners would start enjoying increment like other Nigerian workers immediately.
Udesi said, “NUP is demanding a minimum of N40,000 to meet the basic needs of a pensioner and reduce their sufferings’’.
He, however, called on Abia and Imo State governors to pay the backlog of pension arrears in their state.
Udesi also suggested that the Federal Government should create special health programmes and facilities to take care of the aged, especially pensioners.
In his remarks, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State said that the state would remain labour-friendly and implement any fair agreement reached and concluded by the tripartite committee.
Obiano, represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Labour Matters, Chief Godwin Igbokwe, noted that before now, the government had earlier assured the state workers of increment in their salaries.
“The state government is ready to implement the increase but wants to wait for the tripartite committee to conclude their assignment.
Nation
Rivers Deputy Governor Hails PH City One Love For Humanitarian Gesture
Rivers state Deputy Governor Professor Ngozi Nma Odu has commended “The Port Harcourt City One Love,”a Port Harcourt based humanitarian orgnisation For it’s commitment towards alleviating the sufferings of the poor and vulnerable in the society.
Professor Ngozi Nma Odu said this while speaking at this year’s edition of “operation feed the needy” a yearly outreach program of “The Port Harcourt City One Love ” in Port Harcourt.
The Deputy Governor said by feeding more than sixty thousands hungry people within the past six years, the Port Harcourt City One Love Movement has distinguished itself as a club that cares for the less privilege in the society.
She commended the , organization for listing eleven thousand persons to be fed in the current exercise.
Meanwhile The Port Harcourt City One Love has planned a permanent solution to the problem of feeding the poor in the state.
The leader of the group Mr Idaere Gogo Ogan who said this in an interview with newsmen during the distribution of food items to the poor and vulnerables in Port Harcourt said the organization is planning a permanent food kitchen where poor and vulnerable persons can work in anytime and get fed.
Idaere Gogo Ogan said more than sixty thousands poor and vulnerable persons across Port Harcourt City and environs have been fed since the inception of “The operation feed the needy” program six years ago,adding that so far sixty thousands poor and vulnerable persons have beneffited.
He described the group as a platform to promote friendship, brotherhood, community development empathy and feeding the less privilege and hungry people
“That’s what we are doing today here,so we started the exercise six years ago”.he said.
Ogan said the effort was a private sector driven initiative but added “it also involves people in Government because the platform does not recognize any division,we bring everybody together in unity , friendship and brotherhood”he said.
He said the effort will go along way in alleviating hunger especially following the prevailing hunger in the country.
According to him “you know the country is very tough, people are hungry people are starving, there is a whole lot of economic hardship,so for us, this is just our own way of reaching out, our own social contribution to what is very difficult”he said.
Over eleven thousand persons were fed in the just concluded exercise.
Areas of coverage include, Isaac Boro park, Port Harcourt prison/Macoba, Borokiri/Enugu waterside Bundu areas Waterlines and others.
Some of the beneficiaries including an 80 years old widow commended the movement for the annual programm and urged other organizations to emulate them
John Bibor,/Esuuk Oyet/Suotor Memoye /Jeremiah Hannah
Nation
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Nation
SheVentures Open Zero-interest Loan Applications for Women Entrepreneurs
“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively. Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.
“This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs”, Edun said.
Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo said access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs.
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