Folarin Kehinde

Amid rising insecurity across the country, the Police Service Commission, PSC, has approved the appointment and posting of new Commissioners of Police, CPs, in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Ekiti, Benue and two other states.

Ikechukwu Ani, the Head of Press and Public Relations in the Commission, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

According to the statement, CP Beneth Igwe is the new Commissioner of Police for the FCT.

He was once DCP Operations in the FCT Command.

Other newly appointed CPs are Peter Ukachi Opara, Osun State; Olughemiga Emmanuel Adesina, Benue State; Akinwale Kunle Adeniran, Ekiti State, and Mohammed Umar Abba, Adamawa State.

Others are Abaniwonda Surajudeen Olufemi, Delta State; Ademola Waheed Ayilara, Akwa Ibom State; David Iloyanomon, Taraba State; Abayomi Oladipo Peter, Ondo State and Hassan Abdu Yabnet, Plateau State.

The PSC Chairman, Dr Solomon Arase, warned the new CPs that the Commission will not accept any excuse for failure to provide effective and efficient leadership.

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, secretly held a meeting with Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the FCT, in Abuja to seek support for Asue Ighodalo’s governorship bid.

According to The Cable, the meeting, took place at Wells Carlton Hotel in Abuja, and also had the presence of Ahmadu Fintiri, the Governor of Adamawa State.

Ighodalo is vying for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket in Edo State in the primary election scheduled for February 22, 2024.

The primary election is expected to be keenly contested, with strong opposition from Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, a former member of the House of Representatives and the preferred candidate of Dan Orbih, a key ally of Wike in Edo State.

Another contender is Philip Shaibu, the current deputy governor of Edo State.

Governor Obaseki, in a bid to create a united front, sought reconciliation with Wike and offered a deal wherein Ighodalo would consider picking Ogbeide-Ihama as his running mate.

However, sources indicate that Wike made it clear that he would not engage with Obaseki due to past grievances and trust issues.

During the meeting, Wike emphasized the need for a level-playing field to ensure a fair primary election where the most acceptable candidate could emerge victorious.

……. Demands N30 million

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have kidnapped two teenage sisters in Guita community, Chikakore, Kubwa, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The incident occurred despite the presence of military personnel and police in the area, with the gunmen taking advantage of the challenging security situation.

This abduction took place just eight days after residents of Chikakore protested to the office of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, expressing their concerns about the deteriorating state of the major road leading to their community, which they believed contributed to the frequent cases of kidnapping.

According to sources, the gunmen, numbering six, forcibly entered a residence and abducted three children—two girls aged 16 and 14, and one boy. The attackers later released the boy with a message for the children’s father, demanding a ransom of N30 million.

The police, upon receiving the report, initiated investigations, but the gunmen had already escaped into the forests and hills in the area.

A police source in the area, who confirmed their kidnap to SaharaReporters on Wednesday, said: “The gunmen have changed their approach, when they came; they didn’t shoot like before, but forced themselves inside.

“While they were forcing themselves inside, the owner of the house (a Calabar man) ran to the vigilante’s office, then, he ran to the commander’s house before the commander could call another person, and rush to his house, the gunmen were already gone.

“It was when they were going, they started shooting, unlike before that they would shoot before the operation and till the end.

“They took three of his children, two girls, and one boy, but they went away with two and sent back one (the boy) from the bush that he should go and tell their father to prepare 30 million naira for their ransom.

“When they were taken, the two girls (16 and 14 years) one of the girls was wearing nightgown, the mother tried to plead with the gunmen to let her wear something for the cold, but instead they beat up the mother. She had no option than to just let the girls go the way they were under the cold.

“Before the police came to the scene, they were already gone. Some of the vigilante later traced them to the railway line, to the rocks but there was no trace anymore.

“The man that his daughters were kidnapped is a front liner security payment and he has made some several donations to the community.”

Organised Labour in Nigeria has proposed a living wage of $300 for all workers, arguing that the current minimum wage of N30,000 has been rendered inadequate by inflation and the high cost of living.

The proposal, presented at a recent meeting of the National Public Service Negotiating Council, comes amid ongoing negotiations for a new national minimum wage. Union representatives argued that the current wage is no longer sufficient to meet basic needs, with the high exchange rate and fuel subsidy removal significantly impacting purchasing power.

Chairman, Trade Union Side, Joint Meeting of the National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Comrade Benjamin Anthony, presented the position of organised labour on Tuesday at the 2023 meetings of the Separate and Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council held at Goshen City, Nasarawa state.

He said: “As earlier stated, the time to review our Minimum Wage has come, in doing this; we must all agree that the current Minimum Wage of N30,000 has since been eroded by the high exchange rate coupled with the abrupt removal of fuel subsidy which has translated into high cost of living in the Country.

“There is no gainsaying that the cost of a bag of rice is far more than the so-called Minimum Wage, and to worsen the situation, the Government is not prompt in the payment of the collectively and freely agreed N35,000 Wage award.

“In light of the above, Labour has proposed a Living Wage of $300 for Nigerian Workers. This is due to the fall in the value of our currency, today if you carry N100,000 to the market you will come back with a leather bag of items.

“We call on Government to immediately pay the arrears of the N35,000 wage award along with the current and expedited action on the process of getting a new living wage to bring succour to the working class people,” he added.

Currently, with the official exchange rate of N1,482, the new minimum wage would amount to N444,600 per month for the lowest-paid worker in Nigeria, based on yesterday’s exchange rate of the naira against the dollar on Tuesday, January 30, 2024.

Anthony, who was represented by the Secretary of the union, Comrade Boma Mohammed, expressed concern over the non-remittance of third-party deductions, such as cooperative and union dues, causing operational challenges for these organisations. This situation, he said, has led to difficulties in paying staff salaries, pensions, and insurance schemes. He urged the government to promptly release and disburse these funds to alleviate the hardships faced by affected workers.

Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, in response, said there is need for dialogue between organized labor and the government to foster peace and stability, ultimately enhancing productivity in implementing government policies. She commended the positive outcomes of previous engagements and highlighted the theme of the current council meetings, focusing on “Digitalization as an effective and efficient tool for service delivery in the Public Service” to improve performance in the workplace.

The Nigerian Senate has summoned security chiefs for an interaction, following the escalating insecurity in the country, with a specific date to be decided later.

Rising from a closed-door meeting that lasted over three hours, the senate condemned the increasing incidents of kidnappings, banditry and the outright murder of innocent citizens by criminals.

Senate Leader, Michael Bamidele Opeyemi, revealed that the motion on insecurity was sponsored by all 109 senators due to its paramount importance.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in his remarks, lamented the continuous banditry and kidnappings.

He noted that the situation has reached a point where middlemen are involved in collecting ransom on behalf of kidnappers.

He strongly condemned recent attacks in Plateau by bandits and the gas explosion in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in his remarks, lamented the continuous banditry and kidnappings.

He noted that the situation has reached a point where middlemen are involved in collecting ransom on behalf of kidnappers.

He strongly condemned recent attacks in Plateau by bandits and the gas explosion in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.

Akpabio added that a specific date will be determined for the security chiefs to appear before the Senate.

The lawmakers observed a one-minute silence in honour of those who lost their lives in the attacks and the Ibadan explosion before adjourning until Tuesday, February 6, 2024.

The immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, is reportedly in hiding and has canceled a planned trip to Okene town to avoid encountering operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) who are said to be seeking him for questioning.

Top government sources suggest that Bello is currently at the Government House, Lokoja, enjoying the “protection” of his predecessor and godson, Usman Ododo.

Sahara Reporters quoted government sources saying Bello canceled his trip to Okene upon learning of the EFCC’s presence.

Some sources claim he is still at the Government House in Lokoja, while others suggest that his location remains unknown.

It had been previously reported that the EFCC’s suit seeking the forfeiture of 14 properties belonging to Bello and the sum of N400 million linked to him was struck out by Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The court cited Bello’s immunity from prosecution under the 1999 constitution during his tenure as governor.

The EFCC, however, filed a notice of appeal, arguing that the court erred in dismissing the suit based on the respondent’s immunity, emphasizing that the immunity does not extend to properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime traced to him.

It is expected that further details will emerge as the situation unfolds.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally inaugurated a 37-man Tripartite Committee to fashion out a new National Minimum Wage.

Vice President, Kashim Shettima inaugurated the committee on behalf of the President, who is on a private visit to France.

Former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, is chairing the Committee.

Prior to the inauguration, Shettima charged the committee members to explore collective bargaining to come up with an acceptable recommendation on a new wage policy.

Members of the committee cut across the Federal Government, State Government, Private Sector and the Organised Labour.

From the Federal Government level, the members include Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Hon. Minister of State, Labour and Employment (Representing Hon. Minister of Labour and Employment), Mr. Wale Edun, Hon. Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister of the Economy; Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, Hon. Minister of Budget Economic Planning; Dr. (Mrs) Yemi Esan, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Dr. Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri, Permanent Secretary, GSO. OSGF and Ekpo Nta, Esq, Chairman/CEO, NSIWC – Member/Secretary.

From the State Government level, Alh. Mohammed Umar Bago, Governor, Niger State- representative from North Central; Sen. Bala Mohammed, Governor Bauchi State- representative from North East; Alh. Umar Dikko Radda, Governor Katsina State- representative from North West; Prof. Charles Soludo, Governor, Anambra State- representative from the South East; Sen. Ademola Adeleke, Governor, Osun State- representative from South West; Mr. Otu Bassey Edet, Governor, Cross River State- representative from South West.

From the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA)- Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, Director-General, NECA; Mr. Chuma Nwankwo; Mr. Thompson Akpabio with also members from the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) include Asiwaju (Dr) Michael Olawale-Cole, National President; Hon. (Dr) Ahmed Rabiu, National Vice President and Chief Humphrey Ngonadi (NPOM), National Life President.

The members from the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprise (NASME) are Dr. Abdulrashid Yerima, President & Chairman of Council; Hon. Theophilus Nnorom Okwuchukwu, Private Sector representative, Dr. Muhammed Nura Bello, Zonal Vice President, North West and also from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) are Mrs. Grace Omo-Lamai, Human Resource Director, Nigerian Breweries; Segun Ajayi-Kadir, mni, Director-General, MAN; Lady Ada Chukwudozie, Managing Director, Dozzy Oil and Gas Limited.