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Reps Task FG On Living Wage For Nigerian Workers

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Members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday tasked the Federal Government on the need to accede to clarion call by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) by providing living wage for workers across the country.
This is as the lawmakers warned that, “unless very immediate and pragmatic steps are taken to improve the income of Nigerians, more Nigerians will go down the economic line, with the poor population increasing. This in effect, would lead to desperation and a loss of faith in the government.”
The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by the Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Hon. Bamidele Salam and 36 other lawmakers, who affirmed that “presently, no labourer can live in Nigeria with a wage of less than N100,000.”
Leading the debate, Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Aliyu Madaki expressed grave concern over the rising rate of inflation in the country, which has made it difficult for the average Nigerian to afford basic needs such as food, water, housing, education, healthcare, transportation and clothing.
“The House also notes that the rising inflationary rate in the country has also had a negative effect on the cost of living, with the cost of food, accommodation, education, and transportation skyrocketing.
“The House is aware that Nigeria is a signatory to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Article 23 of the Declaration states that ‘every individual who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration to ensure such a person and his or her family exist in dignity’.
“The House is also aware that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have a 2030 achievement deadline, and eight out of the 17 SDGs of the United Nations require the payment of a living wage to be achieved.
“The House recalls that when the fuel subsidy was removed in May 2023, the federal government offered palliatives to cushion its effects. However, the ameliorative effect of this measure has been overtaken by the continued nse in the cost of goods and services.
“The House is further aware that the minimum wage (in Nigeria) was increased by the President recently, but the purchasing power is low owing to the continued rise in the cost of living in the country and the fall of the Naira.
“The House is again aware that Trade Economics in 2018 reported the living wage for an individual Nigerian and a Nigerian family to be N43.200 per month and N137,600 per month, respectively. This is a pre-subsidy removal report:
“The House further notes that presently no labourer can live in Nigeria with a wage of less than one hundred thousand Naira.
“The House is concerned that according to the World Bunk report, low purchasing power in the country occasioned by a huge inflationary rate, thus led to an increase in poverty across the country.
“The House also recalls that the Rt. Hon. Speaker of the House of Representatives had on September 29, 2023, at the State Banquet in Abuja, opined that it is only a living wage that can ameliorate the insecurity and corruption pervading the country.

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Nwodo, Secondus Hail New PDP National Secretary, NWC

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Two former National Chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo and Prince Uche Secondus, have congratulated the new National Secretary of the party, Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye.
They also expressed gratitude to members of the National Working Committee (NWC) for standing firm in defence of the rule of law and party discipline.
The two former national chairmen said this in a joint statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday.
Media adviser to Prince Secondus, Mr. Ike Abonyi, made this public in a statement he signed on their behalf.
He quoted both men as saying that by recognising Chief Ude-Okoye, the party leadership had demonstrated its total commitment to the rule of law and rightly portrayed the party as a truly democratic institution.
He said, “Nwodo and Secondus warned the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Federal Government to allow the opposition parties to breathe, as a strong opposition is the right measure for vibrant democracy all over the world.”
According to him, the two former chairmen also commended the PDP Governors Forum, the Board of Trustees (BoT), and particularly the chairman of the Governors Forum, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, for being resolute in defense of the rule of law.
The experienced party leaders advised the new secretary and the members of the NWC to work towards strengthening the party to position it as the party to beat in the subsequent elections.
The party leaders also advised the party leadership to be forward-looking and not allow their acrimonious past to affect their vision for the party.

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No Delta Assembly PDP Lawmaker Defecting To APC – Majority Leader

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caucus in the Delta State House of Assembly, on Wednesday, said that none of the assembly members was warming up to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Majority Leader of the House, Mr Emeka Nwaobi, said this in Asaba while reacting to the allegation that 10 out of the 22 members of the assembly were planning on joining the APC.
Mr Nwaobi said that all the 22 PDP members in the House were irrevocably committed to the thrust of the party, and their loyalty to the PDP was unquestionable.
He, however, disclosed that five out of the seven APC members in the assembly were already indicating interest in joining the PDP, adding that their defection plan was already in the pipeline.
Similarly, the Speaker, Rt Hon. Dennis Guwor, advised residents of the state, particularly PDP faithful, to discountenance such allegations.
According to him, members of the party were solidly loyal to the party’s ideals in the House.
“There is no doubt that the 22 members of the PDP in the state house of assembly are intact. There is no indication anywhere that any member of the party is planning to join any other party.
“Rather, there is strong indication that no fewer than five out of the seven members of the APC in the House are already warming up to join the PDP.
“So let me use this forum to inform them that the umbrella is wide enough to accommodate as many that are interested in joining us,” he said.

 

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Rivers Assembly Tasks LGAs On Youth Restiveness …Confirms Assembly, LG Service Commissions

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The Rivers State House of Assembly has called on local government chairmen in the state to aggressively tackle violent disturbances in the local government areas through empowerment schemes.
Deputy Speaker and Chairman, House Committee on Local Government Affairs, Rt Hon. Timothy Adolphus, gave the charge when the Committee visited Akuku-toru, Degema and Asari-toru local government areas on an on-the-spot assessment of projects inspection as part of its oversight function.
The Deputy Speaker, who noted that lack of empowerment or job creation brings about agitations, said the youths’ involvement in criminal activities could be reduced to the barest minimum if they’re meaningfully engaged.
Also speaking, the House Leader, Hon Sokari Goodboy, said the committee’s visit was not to ridicule any chairman, adding that the administration in the state has placed emphasis on the principle of checks and balances.
Hon. Goodboy stressed the need for council chairmen to replicate the good examples of Governor Siminalayi Fubara in their various councils, especially in projects execution and empowerment of the people.
According to him, Governor Fubara had spread development projects to all the 23 local government areas in the state and therefore enjoined them to replicate same in their council areas, adding that it is by so doing that the people at the grassroots would feel the impact of Governor Fubara’s administration.
The Committee, however, commended the various council chairmen for doing a good job and urged them to redouble their efforts in projects execution and empowerment of the people.
In Akuku-toru Local Government Area, the Chairman, Mrs Tonye Briggs-Oniyide, said her administration was following in the footsteps of Governor Fubara.
She said her mantra is service before self, adding that her administration had embarked on impactful projects that will benefit the people such as renovation of Obonoma health center and the doctors quarters; renovation of the local government headquarters to provide conducive work environment for the staff and strengthened security in the area.
According to her, the Abonnema cemetery was being reconstructed and remodelled, while her administration has given the people of Abonnema 18 hours power supply while empowering them in various capacities.
On his part, the Chairman of Degema Local Government Area, Dr Agiriye Harry, said his administration had carried out several renovation work at the council secretariat, procured 150 solar lights, configured and renovated some health centers and empowered about 200 widows.
The Chairman of Asari-toru Local Government Area, Engr Sule Amachree, on his part, informed the Committee that all projects executed by his administration followed due process as transparency is his watch word.
He said his aim was to embark on projects that would increase the internally generated revenue of the council, adding that his administration has made arrangements to attract the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to the local government, functional judicial system as well as sustainable housing programme to create jobs for the youths.
The committee had earlier visited Abua/Odual ,Ogba Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas where similar charges were given.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State House of Assembly has screened and confirmed chairmen and members of the Rivers State Assembly Service Commission and the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission.
Those screened and confirmed for the Rivers State Assembly Service Commission were: Dr Tamunosisi Gogo Jaja, chairman; Barr Jones Ogbonda; Dr Kennedy Ebeku; Mr Soberekon Clark and Engr Kingston Sylvanus.
For the local government service commission, the House screened and confirmed GoodLife Ben as chairman, Chief Emmanuel Jaja, Mrs Betty Warmate, Barr Jerome Chimenem, Barr Philip Okparaji and Mr Christian Amadi.

John Bibor

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