The threat by the workers, under the aegis of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to shut down the economy if the House of Representatives passes a bill intended to move the minimum wage legislation from Exclusive List to Concurrent List dominates the headlines of Nigerian newspapers on Thursday.
The Guardian reports that workers, under the aegis of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), yesterday, came hard on federal lawmakers and threatened to shut down the economy if the House of Representatives passes a bill intended to move the minimum wage legislation from Exclusive List to Concurrent List.
The Bill, sponsored by Mr. Garba Datti Muhammad, scaled second reading at plenary of the House of Representatives presided by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila penultimate week.
It seeks to alter the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to, among others, transfer the subject matter of minimum wage prescription from the exclusive legislative list, set out under Part I of the second schedule, to the concurrent legislative list set out under part II of the Second Schedule of the Constitution.
Datti (APC: Kaduna) argued that the Bill, referred to the House ad hoc Committee on the Review of the Constitution for consideration, was part of the measure required to ensure true federalism and devolution of powers in the country.
The lawmaker had argued that it was improper for the Federal Government to impose the N30,000 minimum wage on states whose means of income and resources differ.
The newspaper says that the House of Representatives, yesterday, directed the Federal Government to halt the spending plan of the recovered £4.2 million Ibori loot and ensure that the money once returned by the United Kingdom (UK) is handed over to Delta State.
This was the resolution reached after a motion of urgent public importance jointly sponsored by all the 10 lawmakers from Delta State, was adopted at the plenary presided by the Deputy Speaker Ahmed Wase.
The lawmakers insisted that the funds were stolen from Delta State and as such should rightly be returned to the state. They added that the funds are needed for the infrastructural development of the state.
In effect, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Finance to stop forthwith further appropriation/and or disbursement of the recovered looted fund pending the final determination of the matter by the House.
The lawmakers also directed the Federal Ministry of Finance and Attorney General of the Federation to furnish the House with all particulars relating to the recovered money. The House thereby directed its Committees on Finance, Justice and Loans and Recovered Funds to probe into the issue and revert to the House within two weeks.
The UK had on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to return the sum of £4.2 million stolen by former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, to Nigeria.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said the recovery of the stolen fund is part of efforts of the current administration to fight corruption and that the money will be used for the construction of the second Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kano road, and Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The Punch reports Axxela Limited says it has successfully inaugurated an 18km gas pipeline system in Ogun State.
The company said on Wednesday that this was done through its subsidiary Transit Gas Nigeria Limited, and in partnership with the Nigerian Gas Marketing Company Limited, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
The pipeline, which has a capacity of 150 million standard cubic feet per day, runs from Ibefun to Rite Foods Limited’s large-scale factory in Ososa, Ogun State, according to a statement issued by the company.
Axxela Chief Executive Officer, Bolaji Osunsanya, highlighted the company’s commitment to growth and industrialisation.
He said, “This venture is in firm alignment with our near-to-long term market expansion strategy, and emphasises our push to broaden our asset portfolio and strengthen our market play within the gas sector.
ThisDay says American Business Council (ABC), a trade platform and voice of American businesses operating in Nigeria, has restated its commitment to support trade in Nigeria and to grow the Nigerian economy, despite challenges that range from policy implementation, access to foreign currency, political uncertainty, to specific industry regulations.
The council identified the challenges in its recent survey, tagged: ‘2020 Nigeria Economic Impact Survey’, which it administered in collaboration with the United States Embassy, Verraki, KPMG and PwC.
According to survey report, over 65.12 percent of US companies operating in Nigeria, identified Nigeria as the regional hub for their operations in West Africa, yet the report showed that there was a drop in the creation of direct and indirect jobs in 2019 by American companies, compared to what was obtained in 2018. Partner at PWC, Mr. Chijioke Uwaegbute, who presented the report, however called on the Nigerian government to address some of the challenges that were traced to policy implementation and specific industry regulation.
Chief Executive Officer/Executive Secretary, ABC, Margaret Olele, said Nigerian businesses, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), must develop themselves with the right digital skills that are available in the global job market, in order to be part of the digital transformation era.
The Sun reports that barely two weeks after the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) commenced the implementation of the electronic call-up system, to ease traffic gridlock in Apapa, fraudsters have started cloning the system by printing counterfeit call-up slips for truck drivers.
Consequently, the management of the NPA said it has commenced investigating into the matter after some truck drivers were caught with forged e-call up slips.
The NPA in its official tweet @nigerianports on Wednesday, reported that some corrupt elements were trying to forge the e- call-up slip known as ETO slip.
“This is the major factor responsible for the initial confusion on the major road within the first week of commencement of the e-call up system. We are determined to checkmate the illicit act.”
Only recently, Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman, told newsmen that the Authority has also been able to clampdown on contractors that were not remitting government money as and when due, by ensuring that they remit same through the Single Treasury Account (TSA) as required by the Federal Government.
According to her, the agency, then also went further to reduce burden on overhead by cutting off many payments that add up to the cost such as travelling and other unnecessary overheads.
GIK/APA