N70,000 not living wage – Gombe NLC
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The Gombe State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Yusuf Aish, has urged the state government to ensure the full implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage as workers anticipate a living wage.
This came as he said that the recent minimum wage increment of N70,000 announced by the Edo State Government ”is just a gesture by His Excellency Governor Godwin Obaseki and is not a living wage.”
Aish made this disclosure in an interview with journalists shortly after the May Day celebration with the theme; ”People first”, held on Tuesday at Pantami Stadium.
PUNCH Online notes that the N30,000 minimum wage has not been fully implemented across the state and local government workforce, making Aish seek balance and full implementation.
He said, “Balance and implementation of the remaining N30,000 minimum wage. Balances from the agreed N30,000 for state civil service but it’s not 100 per cent the Health sector is 65 per cent and 35 per cent is yet to be implemented whereas in the other civil service of the state, their allowances were not enhanced going by the basic.
“We also agreed that tax should be waived for a period until the government can implement across. As of now, we are paying the old tax because the government has not implemented 100 per cent as agreed. The local government services haven’t done anything in terms of minimum wage at the time of discussing minimum wage there was a serious vacuum, we realised during negotiation that one LGA which was Nafada could pay minimum wage to workers, followed by Funakaye for about 90 per cent workers. Some LGAs can’t pay 10 per cent as at that time Gombe LGA was at a negative balance.
“We agreed that when the situation improves LG workers will get minimum wage. However, before I became NLC Chairman two years ago, no engagement with the government but after I became the chairman we had two series of meetings on how the technical committee needs to work on the remaining balances and see to the implementation. Implementing is good as we are now discussing on living wage.”
Northern governors meet, identify region’s challenges
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The Northern States Governors Forum, NSGF, has noted with concern that climate change, unsustainable agricultural practices and population growth posed significant challenges to the region.
The Forum, therefore, resolved to adopt a holistic approach that promotes environmental conservation, sustainable agriculture and responsible resource management to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of the people and preserve the national heritage of generations yet unborn.
A communique issued by its chairman and governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya at the end of NSGF meeting in Kaduna on Tuesday said, “The Forum noted that Human Capital Development is critical to the progress and prosperity of the region and expressed concern that the region currently bears the burden of having the highest number of out of School Children in the World.
“The Forum committed itself to invest massively in education and skill development, health care and social services in order to address the menace.”
The forum expressed its sympathy and support to the governments and people of Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Plateau and Zamfara states over the unprecedented security challenges currently affecting the states and resolved to stand in solidarity with them during the difficult times.
The forum, according to the communique, received the report of a committee to review the Report of the Technical Committee on the New Nigeria Development Company and resolved that members should study the report for consideration at the next meeting of the forum.
UTME results not available in paper format – JAMB
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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has urged Nigerians to be wary of any candidate parading printed result slips as, currently, the results are not in any paper format.
The body also said that, unlike last year, the results cannot be found on the Board’s website at the moment.
JAMB made this known in a statement released by its spokesperson, Dr Fabian Benjamin, on Wednesday.
He stated that the information became necessary as some individuals were already circulating printed result slips on social media.
The statement read, “The Board, once again, wishes to state clearly that the only way to check the 2024 UTME result is to send UTMERESULT to 55019 or 66019 using the same phone used by the candidate in registering for the UTME exercise. Ensure that the SIM is not on any bundle.
“This is different from what was obtained last year; hence, the results are not and cannot be found on the Board’s website at the moment.
“Candidates are urged to follow the method specified above to obtain their results. They need not visit any cybercafe or patronise any third-party entity to check their result.
London sword attack: Suspect under police custody after hospital recovery
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The 36-year-old suspect in the deadly London sword attack is currently under police custody after recuperating in a hospital, BBC reports.
The suspect, wielding a sword, was arrested after a dramatic pursuit by law enforcement officers.
The Metropolitan Police clarified that the incident was not terror-related, allaying fears of broader security concerns.
Authorities also confirmed that no other suspects are being pursued in connection with the attack.
According to police reports, the suspect was subdued by officers using a taser after attempting to evade capture.
According to a previous report by The Associated Press, the suspect was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment after the van he was driving collided with a building.
Due to the injuries he sustained, officers were unable to conduct an interview with him on Tuesday.
BBC has confirmed that the suspect, 36, is out of hospital and is now in police custody
A 14-year-old British-Nigerian boy, Daniel Anjorin, was confirmed as one of the victims of the attack.
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