News

FG Awaits Minimum Wage C’ttee Report

Published

9 years ago

March 17, 2017

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, says that the Technical Committee on Minimum Wage and Palliatives will submit its report to the Presidency soon.
Ngige said this while briefing newsmen on the update of the meeting held between government and labour at the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) office, on yesterday in Abuja.
Our correspondent learnt that on June 3, 2016 a joint technical committee of the Federal Government and organised labour was inaugurated on palliatives and minimum wage.
According to sources, the move was to cushion effects of the increase in the pump price of petrol after the NLC nationwide strike and protest against the increase by the Federal Government from N86.50 to N145.
The Technical Committee was expected to discuss the minimum wage and other palliatives to cushion the effect of the hike on the workers as well as other Nigerians.
According to Ngige, the committee at its final meeting between the Federal Government and Labour made recommendations on the issue of the review of minimum wage and the prescription of palliatives.
“The committee is supposed to put up a framework for the composition, functions and establishment of a minimum wage tripartite committee to review the hitherto existing 2011 minimum wage.
“The committee is to prescribe to government the areas of palliatives that will cushion the effect of the increase in pump price of petrol.
“The committee has finally finished its work, so we held a meeting to finalise the report.
“If everything goes well and date is agreeable to everybody, we may be submitting the technical report sometimes next week to the presidency, ‘’ he said.
Ngige said that the presidency is expected to set up a tripartite committee which would include government, employers and Labour.
He noted that the technical committee made far reaching recommendations but subject to the approval of the presidency.
“For the first time we recommended that three governors should be nominated by their colleagues to represent them in the committee to review the minimum wage.
“Because, from the past experience, even some states have not been able to pay the minimum wage, so it does not make sense if we do not involve them as employers.
“So, when the National Minimum Wage Committee finishes its work, it will go to the National Assembly because it is an issue on the exclusive list,‘’ he added.
He, however, said the technical committee also made some recommendations on palliative, which the Federal Government was already implementing.
Ngige said that the 2017 budget for instant, would tackle the issue of housing deficit head-on.
He also noted that it was part of the recommendation that the Ministry of Power Works and Housing should inject N45 billion for mass housing, while the Ministry of Finance has voted more fund for mass housing
Ngige added that the Office of Head of Service was also doing something on mass housing for workers.
“Our recommendations also talk about how the Federal Mortgage Bank will be strengthened through capitalisation by all stakeholders including government to discharge its functions to workers. “We also made recommendations on how the mass transit bus for workers should be strengthened.”Other recommendations on the palliative are N-Power, Conditional Cash, Transfers, School feeding programme, among others,‘’ he said.

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

2 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

2 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa

News

RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

Published

2 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.