6 Days After Forum In S/Arabia, Tinubu Yet To Return
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not returned to Nigeria six days after attending the World Economic Forum’s Special Meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Speculation suggests he may have proceeded to London for a private visit, although details remain undisclosed. The Presidency has not provided an official statement regarding the delay in Tinubu's return.
Landmines Kill 11, Injure Five in Borno
In Borno State, over the past week, 11 people have died and five were injured in separate incidents involving landmines in Gamboru-Ngala and Dikwa local government areas. Nine Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) personnel lost their lives when their vehicle struck a landmine near Ngala, with two others sustaining serious injuries. Additionally, two civilians died and three were injured in another incident when a Honda SUV detonated a landmine between Dikwa and Damno during a wedding convoy. Eyewitnesses reported that the victims' remains were collected in sacks for burial.
Minimum Wage: Labour Fires Back at Governors, Says ‘Don’t Cause Trouble With Your Utterances’
Organised Labour has responded strongly to state governors' statements regarding the new national minimum wage (NNMW), cautioning against inflammatory remarks that could escalate tensions in the industrial sector. The Nigerian Governors' Forum (NGF) had indicated they were considering what states could sustainably pay as part of wage negotiations.
Labour insists that governors must work within the established committee responsible for determining the new minimum wage, rejecting the notion that individual states should independently decide payment levels. They argue that the demand for a N615,000 minimum wage is reasonable given economic conditions, suggesting that governors have the capacity to meet this figure.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) stress the importance of negotiation within the tripartite committee, expressing concern that divergent statements from governors could lead to industrial unrest. They highlight the rigorous research behind their wage demand, emphasizing the need for fair compensation to combat poverty among Nigerian workers.
The NLC has provided a breakdown of its N615,000 minimum wage proposal, outlining the methodology used to arrive at this figure. They also dispute the commencement date for the new wage, insisting that it should have taken effect on April 19, 2024, due to delays in negotiation.
NIDCOM Commiserates With Family Of Boy Killed In London
Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), has expressed condolences to the family of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin, who was tragically killed in a knife attack at his school in London. Describing the incident as very unfortunate and sad, she extended sympathies to the deceased's family and the Nigerian communities in the UK. The assailant, already in police custody, will face appropriate punishment, with Dr. Dabiri-Erewa hoping for decisive action to prevent such tragedies in the future.