National
Revisiting The 134% Increase In Minimum Wage (70k): Ajaero, Osifo And Organized Labour Living And Leaving To Fight Another Day
I am compelled to do this incisive effort which is apparently targeted at putting the records straight ditto the decision of Organized Labour to settle for a 134% increase in Minimum Wage thus taking the minimum wage from 30k to 70k rather than insisting on the 250k which was the position until the last meeting Organized Labour had with Mr. President and his Team.
There is a preponderance of angry opinions out there seeking to lampoon and vilify the position of Organized Labour, some have said that Labour sold out, others have argued that 70k is not good enough, and some have argued that Labour should have insisted on 250k, and should that fail, that Labour should shutdown the economy. These are apparently valid positions and arguments, but centered more on populism than research.
Yes, this Government is a slave to profligacy, waste and wanderlust. Yes, this Government has refused to prioritize the well-being of workers and the masses. Yes, this Government spends our collective patrimony with reckless abandon, spending so much on Political office holders, their apparatchik and running a bloated government rather than a lean government. And yes, this Government spends more yearly on the 469 members or so of the National Assembly than it spends on thousands of workers across the board. How inexplicable. This therefore provides fuel for those who insist that Organized Labour settled for a figure too low to be happy about.
Don’t overlook the fact that the State Governors had argued for something between 50k and 60k. And the Federal government had offered 62k. It was therefore incumbent on Organized Labour to work the figures and settle for something presently realistic and realizable, or insist on 250k, shutdown the economy and increase the general pain, hardship and anger in the land, don’t forget that to get a minimum wage that is perhaps presently unimplimentable would amount to pyrrhic victory, as some States before now were not up to date regarding paying the former minimum wage of 30k. And the Representatives of the Private Sector had also argued that anything above 60k would be difficult to pay. It thus became an uphill puzzle for Organized Labour to undertake.
Organized Labour in insisting on 70k as a new minimum wage and pushing through with a commitment from Government for an upward review every 3 years was clearly living true to the fact that he who fights and beats a retreat, would live to fight another day. Organized Labour was leaving the call to shutdown the economy on issues of workers wages alone, for a holistic collaboration with the Civil Society and the Nigerian people in demanding wholesale recalibration of the economy and the levers of governance for the collective good.
Organized Labour did not only get a 134% increase in pay for workers, it got palliatives including Vehicles/Buses for Labour across the States, and it also got a commitment for upward review of Wages every 3 years. They have chosen to sheath the sword on issues of workers wages, but have not retreated on issues bothering on the well-being of the masses ditto insisting that Political Office Holders must cut down the cost of governance, that government must prioritize its expenditure to projects that directly impact the larger number, that government must deal with issues bothering on National Security, ensure that Farmers and the farms are safe so that the present food insecurity and inflation does not consume us all.
Joe Ajaero, Festus Osifo and the Organized Labour in settling for the 70k increase have not betrayed the Nigerian Worker they have only stooped to conquer. And need I say that the Civil Society must come to terms with the fact that the battle for a nation that works for all is not the sole responsibility or exclusive preserve of the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC and the Trade Union Congress TUC, we must wake up to the urgency of now and learn to rework and re-ignite the levers of public discontent and popular action, we must realize that true change will come from the people through mass collaboration. Yes, it must be the product of healthy collaboration between Organized Civil Society, Students, True Progressives, and Organized Labour.
On the minimum wage debate, what is incumbent on Organized Labour is to ensure that the new minimum wage is signed into Law, and that it is operational across the nation without delay, such is presently the inexcusable minimum. It is only when and if, God forbid, Organized Labour Labour fails to achieve that, that we can accuse them of failing the people or selling out.
Nigeria can only truly come through for the masses when we rise up as a People to demand for responsible and responsive leadership not in singling out a sector or grouping for the task that must be a collective one. God Bless Nigeria.
I’m CHUKWUDUMEBI.
Chris Mustapha Nwaokobia Jnr.
Convener COUNTRYFIRST MOVEMENT.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially dissolved the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which includes the removal of Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) Mele Kyari and Chairman Pius Akinyelure, along with all other board members appointed in November 2023.
In an announcement, the President introduced an 11-member restructured board, appointing Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the new GCEO and Ahmadu Musa Kida as the Non-Executive Chairman. These changes are effective immediately, as stated by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy.
Emphasizing the need for “enhanced operational efficiency, restored investor confidence, and a more commercially viable NNPC,” President Tinubu exercised his authority under Section 59(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 to implement this significant reorganization.
The newly formed board comprises Adedapo Segun, who continues as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), alongside six non-executive directors representing Nigeria’s geopolitical zones: Bello Rabiu (North West), Yusuf Usman (North East), Babs Omotowa (North Central), Austin Avuru (South-South), David Ige (South West), and Henry Obih (South East). Additionally, Mrs. Lydia Shehu Jafiya, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, and Aminu Said Ahmed, representing the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, will serve on the board.
The President has charged the new board with conducting a strategic review of NNPC-operated and Joint Venture assets to optimize value. This includes increasing crude oil production to 2 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2027 and 3 million bpd by 2030, boosting gas production to 8 billion cubic feet daily by 2027 and 10 billion by 2030, and expanding NNPC’s refining capacity to 200,000 bpd by 2027 and 500,000 bpd by 2030. The administration also aims to attract $30 billion in oil investments by 2027 and $60 billion by 2030, building on the $17 billion secured in 2024.
Ahmadu Musa Kida, the new Chairman, is a Borno-born engineer and former Deputy Managing Director of Total Nigeria. He also has a background in basketball, having served as the ex-president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF). Bashir Bayo Ojulari, the newly appointed GCEO, hails from Kwara State and was previously the Executive Vice President of Renaissance Africa Energy, where he led a $2.4 billion acquisition of Shell’s Nigerian assets. He brings extensive experience from Elf and Shell, having worked across Europe and the Middle East.
President Tinubu expressed gratitude to the outgoing board for their contributions, particularly their efforts in reviving the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, which have resumed production after years of dormancy. Analysts view this leadership change as part of Tinubu’s broader reforms in the oil sector, following last year’s removal of fuel subsidies and the promotion of private refinery investments. With the new team established, there are high expectations for enhanced transparency, efficiency, and profitability within Nigeria’s state oil enterprise.
Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources, says the federal government plans to commence implementing the drill-or-drop provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Section 94 of the PIA gives operators a period of three years to begin oil production or relinquish the assets to the federal government.
Speaking during the Cross Industry Group (CIG) meeting held on Tuesday in Florence, Italy, Lokpobiri said it is in the best interest of the country that all inactive wells go to work.
He said the federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, has provided every necessary incentive to ensure international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria run smoothly and profitably.
“Now, it is imperative for these industry players to match the government’s efforts with increased investment by announcing final investment decisions (FIDs),” he said.
Furthermore, Lokpobiri discussed “the challenges, expectations, and measures to enhance the sector’s contributions towards domestic energy needs and regional expansion across Sub-Saharan Africa”.
He emphasised that while IOCs have highlighted engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors as a challenge, “EPCs will not come unless they see strong commitments from industry players”.
“The government has done its part to provide the requisite and investment-friendly fiscals, the ball is now in the court of the IOCs and other operators to make strategic investment decisions that will drive increased production and sustainability in the sector,” he said.
“We must also recognise that domestic crude supply is essential to national energy security. The best solution to this challenge lies in increasing production, which will ensure a balance between domestic supply obligations and external commitments.”
The minister further urged industry players to explore collaborative measures, such as shared resources for contiguous assets and the release of underutilised assets to operators ready to invest in production.
The minority caucus in the house of representatives has condemned the killing of 16 Kano-bound hunters in Edo state.
On Thursday, a mob in the Uromi area of Edo killed 16 hunters of northern descent who were travelling from Elele, Rivers state.
The travellers were attacked and lynched after some vigilance group members raised the alarm on suspicion that they were kidnappers.
The Edo state government said 14 suspects arrested in connection with the killing would be transferred to Abuja for further interrogation.
During a visit to some of the families of the victims at Bankure LGA in Kano, Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo, assured that justice would be served.
In a statement issued on Monday, the minority caucus described the killing of the hunters as “barbaric”.
“We find such brutal killings of innocent Nigerians in any part of the country by lawless mobs very reprehensible, and if allowed to fester without being put in check by responsible organs of the federal government, such actions could threaten the peace and unity of the country,” the statement reads.
The lawmakers asked Nigerians never to resort to jungle attacks on fellow citizens but to always report any concerns to security agencies.
“We are a nation under the rule of laws, and our law enforcement agencies are always available to partner with every Nigerian to assuage their concerns,” the caucus said.
While noting that the incident is “already setting emotions on edge” in parts of the country, the legislators urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure that the security agencies investigate this matter and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“Also, adequate compensation should be paid to the affected families,” the caucus said.
The lawmakers implored Nigerians to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding and allow the federal and state governments to investigate the matter and ensure justice is served.
The statement was signed by Kingsley Chinda, minority leader; Ali Isa, minority whip; and Aliyu Madaki, deputy minority leader.