Radio Nigeria Ibadan Zonal Station

Tag: FG

  • Forty Farmers Get Grants to Boost Fish Production

    By Oluwatoyin Adegoke

    The Federal Government is collaborating with the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO and the European Union to empower fish farmers and ensure the sustainability of Nigeria’s fishery resources.

    The intervention also included the launch of  a 200 million naira support initiative to boost aquaculture towards meeting the country’s annual fish demand of more than 3 million tonnes.

    At the official launch of the Scaling Fish Farming Fund Project in Ogun State, 40 fish farmers at the Eriwe Fish Cluster in Odogbolu Local Government Area of the State were provided with grants to enhance their production capacity. 

    Speaking at the event, the Director, Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Wellington Omorogbon, represented by Mr. Paul Opuama said the project was aimed at ensuring better livelihoods for the farmers. 

    Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization in Nigeria, Mr. Koffy Kouacou explained that the project funded by the European Union, the GIZ and other development partners in conjunction with both the federal and state governments would ensure the availability of adequate funding for fish farmers, with a view to boosting fish production in the country.

    The FAO Country Representative affirmed that the set of 40 beneficiaries, under the pilot scheme, would receive between 2.5 and 5 million naira each to upscale their fish farming business and production.

    The Agriculture Programme Manager of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Hugh Briggs pointed out that Nigeria was given the lion share of the grant, totalling 5 million Euros to boost fish production in the country through project being implemented in 12 countries of the world. 

    The Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Bolu Owotomo represented by the Director of Fisheries department, Princess Victoria Ojelade, while applauding the intervention also called for the extension of the kind gesture to other fish clusters across the state.

    Other partners and stakeholders in separate contributions renewed their commitment to continuous collaborations with the Nigerian Government and the Fish farmers to further strengthen the aquaculture industry for food security, nutrition, and economic growth.

  • FG Declares June 6, 9 Holidays to Mark Eid-el-Kabir Celebrations

    The Federal Government has declared Friday, June 6, and Monday, June 9, 2025, as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

    The Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in a statement, made the declaration on behalf of the federal government by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Magdalene Ajani.

    On this occasion, Mr Tunji-Ojo congratulated all Muslim faithful both home and abroad, calling them to continue to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice and faith as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim, and to also use the period to pray for a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.

    He assured Nigerians that the people-oriented reforms and initiatives carried out, in furtherance of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s Administration, are to restore Nigeria on the path of progress”.

    While wishing the Muslim faithful a happy Eid-el-Kabir celebration, the Minister urged all Nigerians to join hands with the present administration in its efforts to restore the glory of Nigeria as a great nation,” the statement concluded.

    Channels/Adetutu Adetule

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  • FG Dispatches Delegation to Niger as Death Toll Hits 151

    President Bola Tinubu, on Saturday, dispatched a high-level delegation to Niger State in response to the devastating floods that have swept through Mokwa and surrounding communities, leaving behind a trail of destruction.

    The floods, which resulted in the deaths of at least 151 people and the displacement of over 3,000 individuals, have also destroyed more than 260 homes, township roads, and major bridges in Mokwa and Raba, according to figures released by the Niger State Government.

    Leading the delegation were the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda.

    The team paid a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor of Niger State, Yakubu Garba, to deliver the President’s message of condolence and solidarity.

    This was contained in a statement signed by Idris media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim.

    Speaking during the visit, Idris conveyed the President’s deep sorrow over the tragedy, stating that Tinubu had ordered the immediate deployment of federal resources to support the relief effort.

    “We are here on the directive of Mr. President, Bola Tinubu, to come and see the people of Niger State particularly the Governor and officials of the state government to commiserate with you; to sympathize and empathise with you on what has happened in Mokwa Local Government Area

    Mr. President is personally saddened by this and yesterday he directed that every available resources of the Federal Government should be deployed to Mokwa and that’s why you are seeing me in the company of my brother, the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affair,” Idris said.

    The National Emergency Management Agency has already conducted an assessment of the disaster and mobilised to deliver immediate support.

    According to the statement, Idris confirmed that NEMA is working with state authorities to ensure victims are cared for, bodies recovered, and aid delivered efficiently.

    In addition to the emergency response, the president has tasked the National Orientation Agency with ramping up public sensitisation campaigns, especially in flood-prone communities, to enhance disaster preparedness and response in future incidents.

    “This is also a call to our people to take this as a warning against future occurrences, especially all those living around the areas where this kind of disaster is prone to happen,” he stated.

    In his remarks, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation added that the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons would now take over from NEMA to provide continued assistance to displaced individuals.

    Deputy Governor Garba expressed appreciation for the federal government’s rapid intervention and underscored the severity of the disaster.

    Punch/Adebukola Aluko

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  • FG Closes Ijora Bridge April 27

    The Federal Government has confirmed there will be a full closure of the Ijora Bridge in Lagos from April 27 for critical repair works.

    The Federal Controller of Works, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, disclosed this during an inspection of the bridge on Monday.

    She said that the bridge connecting Ijora Causeway to Apapa needed comprehensive repairs, especially replacement of defective bearings beneath the deck.

    Mrs Kesha said: “This bridge has been awarded for some time now in different phases.

    “We are now at the final phase, which involves lifting the entire bridge deck to change the faulty bearings beneath.

    “A lot of the bearings are defective, and approximately 50 of them will be replaced across three sections.”

    Mrs Kesha emphasised the importance of the Ijora Bridge as a major route leading to Apapa, home to two of Nigeria’s busiest ports, Tincan and Apapa ports.

    She acknowledged the disruption the closure would cause but said that it was necessary for the safety of commuters and to prevent further deterioration.

    The Nation/Adetutu Adetule

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  • FG Declares Monday, Tuesday Public Holiday to Mark Eid-el- Fitri

    The Federal Government has declared Monday, March 31, and Tuesday, April 1, 2025, as public holidays to mark the Eid-el-Fitr celebration or Sallah festival by Muslims.

    The announcement was made by the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on behalf of the Federal Government.

    In his statement on Wednesday by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Magdalene Ajani, the minister congratulated the Muslim Ummah on the successful completion of the 30-day Ramadan fast, highlighting the significance of the holy month in fostering self-discipline, compassion, and spiritual renewal.

     Tunji-Ojo called on all Muslims to continue embodying the virtues of love, generosity, and peace, emphasizing the need for national unity and religious harmony.

    He also urged Nigerians to use the festive period to pray for the country’s peace, stability, and prosperity.

    “As we celebrate Eid-el-Fitr, let us reflect on the lessons of Ramadan, embrace one another with love and forgiveness, and work together to build a more united and prosperous Nigeria,” the minister stated.

    He further encouraged citizens to celebrate safely and responsibly, while extending acts of kindness to the less privileged, in line with the values of Ramadan and Eid.

    On behalf of the Federal Government, Tunji-Ojo wished all Muslim faithful a joyous Eid Mubarak and prayed that the blessings of the season bring happiness and fulfillment to everyone.

    Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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  • Presidency Says Direct Federal Allocations to LGs Starts End of January

    The Presidency has announced that starting from the end of January, local government areas across Nigeria will begin receiving their allocations directly from the Federal Allocation Account Committee (FAAC), marking a significant step towards local government autonomy.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, made this disclosure during an interview on Arise News on Thursday night.

    He reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to implementing the Supreme Court’s landmark July 2024 judgment, which declared state control over local government funds unconstitutional.

    In a unanimous decision delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agbim, the apex court ruled that allocations to local governments should either be paid directly or through states.

    However, given the ineffectiveness of the latter, the court mandated direct payments to local councils.

    The judgment followed a suit filed by the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), advocating for the financial autonomy of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.

    Despite the ruling, implementation had been delayed to ensure proper mechanisms were in place. Dare confirmed that these arrangements are now complete, paving the way for local governments to begin receiving funds directly by the end of January.

    “We have a President who ensures local government autonomy. I spoke to a local government chairman, who said, ‘Oh, I will be getting N2.9bn, instead of the N200m I was getting before’.

    “From the end of this month, LG will receive the money directly,” Dare explained.

    Dare also called for greater scrutiny of state and local government financial management. “One state collected N499 billion last year—nearly four times its previous allocation—yet there’s little to show for it,” he noted.

    He stressed that while the Federal Government often faces criticism, attention must also shift to how states and local governments utilize their resources.

    “The framers of our constitution created the three tiers of government for a reason. It’s time to hold states and local governments accountable,” Dare added.

    Vanguard/Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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  • Breaking: NLC, TUC, Suspend Nationwide Strike

    The organised labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), on Tuesday, suspended their ongoing strike for five days.
    A labour leader, who disclosed this to newsmen, said the unions are expected to issue a statement shortly before the commencement of negotiations with the government.

    The strike, which commenced on Monday, was called to protest the failure of the Federal Government to approve new minimum wage by May 31, as well as its failure to reverse the hike in electricity tariff.
    The leadership of the organised labour met government representatives on Monday night, and the Federal Government expressed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to raise the N60,000 offered as the minimum wage.

    The agreement stated, “The President of Nigeria, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, is committed to establishing a National Minimum Wage higher than N60,000; and the Tripartite Committee will convene daily for the next week to finalise an agreeable National Minimum Wage.”

    The organised labour also agreed to “immediately hold meetings of its organs to consider this new offer, and no worker would face victimisation as a consequence of participating in the industrial action.”
    The organised labour also agreed to “immediately hold meetings of its organs to consider this new offer, and no worker would face victimisation as a consequence of participating in the industrial action.”

    These resolutions were signed on behalf of the Federal Government by Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha
    Newspeak/Punch/Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

  • FG Student Loan Fund Kicks off May 24

    The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFund on Thursday, announced May 24, 2024, as the official date for “the opening of the portal for student loan applications.”

    The announcement was made in a statement by the media lead for the NELFund, Mr Nasir Ayantogo.

    Mr Ayantogo, in the statement, said the opening of the application portal marked a significant milestone in the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to “fostering accessible and inclusive education for all Nigerian students.”

    On June 12, 2023, Tinubu signed the Access to Higher Education Act, 2023 into law to enable indigent students to access interest-free loans for their educational pursuits in any Nigerian tertiary institution.

    A member of the a member of the then Presidential Strategy Team, Dele Alake, said Presidential Strategy Team, Mr Dele Alake, explained that the move was in “fulfillment of one of his campaign promises to liberalise funding of education”.

    The Act, popularly known as the Students Loan Law, also established the Nigerian Education Loan Fund to process all loan requests, grants, disbursement, and recovery.

    Although the government initially announced that the scheme would be launched in September, it suffered several delays leading to an indefinite postponement in early March.

    The presidency had linked the delay to Tinubu’s directive to expand the scheme to include loans for vocational skills.

    After receiving briefing from the NELFund team led by the Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, on January 22, the president had directed the fund to extend interest-free loans to Nigerian students interested in skill-development programmes.

    President Tinubu based his decision on the need for the scheme to accommodate those who may not want to pursue a university education, noting that skill acquisition is as essential as obtaining undergraduate and graduate academic qualifications.

    “This is not an exclusive programme. It is catering to all of our young people. Young Nigerians are gifted in different areas.”

    “This is not only for those who want to be doctors, lawyers, and accountants. It is also for those who aspire to use their skilled and trained hands to build our nation.”

    “In accordance with this, I have instructed NELFund to explore all opportunities to inculcate skill-development programmes because not everybody wants to go through a full university education,” he had said.

    Through the portal, students can now access loans to pursue their academic aspirations without financial constraints.

    The portal, according to the statement, provides a user-friendly interface for students to submit their loan applications conveniently.

    “We encourage all eligible students to take advantage of this opportunity to invest in their future and contribute to the growth and development of our nation.

    “Students can access the portal on www.nelf.gov.ng to begin application,” the statement said.

    Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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  • Easter: FG Declares Friday, Monday Public Holidays

    By Daniel Adejo

    The Federal Government has declared Friday, March 29 and Monday, 1st April, as public holidays to mark the celebrations of 2024 Good Friday and Easter Monday respectively.

    The minister of interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo made the declaration in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Aishetu Ndayako.

    He urged Christians and all Nigerians in general to emulate the sacrifice and love displayed by Jesus Christ in dying for the redemption of man.

    According to the Minister, Easter, beyond religious significance, promotes values of love, forgiveness and compassion which are essential for social cohesion and harmony.

    He called on Christians to imbibe the virtues as they are capable of impacting positively on the socio-economic development in Nigeria by fostering unity, reducing conflicts and encouraging cooperation among Nigerians.

    He further urged Nigerians to show acts of charity and generosity to help alleviate the material conditions of the less privileged in society.

    While wishing Christians at home and abroad a happy and blissful Easter celebration, the Minister also called on Nigerians to join hands with President Tinubu-led Administration in its determination to bring sustainable development and usher in prosperity for all.

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  • Update: FG Files Tax Evasion Charges against Binance

    The Federal Government on Monday initiated proceedings against Binance, a prominent cryptocurrency exchange platform over tax evasion.

    The charges were filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja by the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

    In the suit with number: FHC/ABJ/CR/115/2024, FIRS implicated Binance with four tax evasion accusations adding that it was a decisive move aimed at upholding fiscal responsibility and safeguarding the economic integrity of the country.

    Joined with the crypto company as second and third defendants in the suit are Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, both senior executives of Binance currently under the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    The charges levied against Binance include non-payment of Value-Added Tax, Company Income Tax, failure to file tax returns, and complicity in aiding customers to evade taxes through its platform.

    In the suit, the Federal Government also accused Binance of failure to register with FIRS for tax purposes and contravening existing tax regulations within the country.

    One of the counts in the lawsuit pertains to Binance’s alleged failure to collect and remit various categories of taxes to the federation as stipulated by Section 40 of the FIRS Establishment Act 2007 as amended.

    Section 40 of the Act explicitly addresses the non-deduction and non-remittance of taxes, prescribing penalties and potential imprisonment for defaulting entities.

    The charges further detail specific instances where Binance purportedly violated tax laws, such as failing to issue invoices for VAT purposes, thus obstructing the determination and payment of taxes by subscribers.

    “Any company that transacts business in excess of N25 million annually is deemed by the Finance Act to be present in Nigeria.

    “According to this rule, Binance falls into that category. So, it has to pay taxes like Company Income Tax (CIT) and also collect and pay Value Added Tax (VAT).

    “But Binance did not do this properly. So, the company broke Nigerian laws and could be investigated and taken to court for this infraction,” Adekanmbi said.

    FIRS, by the law setting it up and various others, is empowered to assess, collect and account for revenue accruing to the Federation and administer relevant tax laws.

    Binance pleaded guilty to flouting anti-money laundering laws in the United States in late 2023, settling for a plea bargain that cost the company $ 4.3 billion.

    Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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  • SGF Inaugurates Oronsaye Report Implementation Committee

    The Federal Government, on Thursday, inaugurated a committee for the implementation of the Oronsaye Report, which majorly recommends the merger of the government’s ministries, departments, and agencies to cut the cost of governance.

    The inauguration of the implementation committee followed the announcement by the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government on February 28, 2024, that parts of the recommendations in the 12-year-old Oronsaye report would be implemented.

    The 800-page report recommended that 263 of the statutory agencies be slashed to 161; 38 agencies be scrapped; 52 be merged and 14 be reverted to departments in various ministries, among others.

    A statement on Thursday by the Director of Information, Office of the Secretary General of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen,  said the SGF George Akume,  inaugurated “the Committee on the Implementation of the Recommendations on the Review of Reports and White Papers on Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies, and Commissions.”

    “The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, while inaugurating the Committee on behalf of President Bola Tinubu stressed that the implementation of the White Papers on the report, which would involve the merger, relocation, subsuming or scrapping of some parastatals, agencies, and commissions is aimed at reducing the cost of governance and streamlining efficiency across the governance value chain,” he said.

    Outlining the mandate of the committee, Akume said the committee would “identify redundancies and overlaps or conflicting objectives among the mandates of different organisational units.”

    It will also “define strategic objectives to ensure the revised mandates align with the strategic objectives and priorities of the government.”

    The committee is to “engage key stakeholders and gather input and feedback on the proposed revisions to the mandates.

    “Draft clear, concise, and actionable revised mandates for the organisations involved in the restructuring.

    “Ensure the revised mandates comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies governing government operations.”

    On the committee are the SGF; the Attorney General of the Federation/ Minister of Justice,  Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu; Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, and the Special Adviser to the President, Policy and Coordination, Usman Bala.

    Others are Director-General, Bureau of Public Service Reform, Dasuki Arabi; Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Abdullahi Gumel; Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly (House of Representatives) Ibrahim Olarwewaju;  Principal Secretary to the President, Hakeem Okunola and Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs Office,  Richard Pheelangwah.

    Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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  • FG Sets to Distribute Free Bags of Grains

    The Presidency on Friday revealed that the 42,000 metric tonnes of grains it promised for nationwide release two weeks ago are being bagged for distribution.

    It added that the remaining 60,000 metric tonnes of grains would be purchased from the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria.

    Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed this in a statement he signed Friday night titled, ‘Update on Tinubu administration’s efforts to ramp up food supply in the country’.

    As a temporary response to the nation’s growing food crisis and the rising price of commodities, President Bola Tinubu, on February 8, ordered the immediate release of 102,000 metric tons of various grain types from the Strategic Reserve and the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria.

    Deliberations began in earnest after angry youths and women took to the streets of Minna, the Niger State capital and Kano to protest what they described as the rising cost of living in the country. Similar protests also erupted in Ondo State, Nigeria’s southwest.

    Giving updates on the strategy, the Presidency said, “The Tinubu administration through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is in the final stages of releasing 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted food commodities to support the vulnerable population across the country.”

    “The grains in seven locations of strategic reserve are now being bagged for onward delivery to the National Emergency Management Agency.”

    Explaining reasons for the delayed distribution, Onanuga stated, “The need to bag the grains, caused the delay as the bags were freshly ordered by government,” adding that, “Nigerians will not need to pay for the grain bags, as they are free.”

    This will be complemented by the 60,000 metric tonnes of milled rice to be purchased by the Federal Government from the Mega Rice Millers, explained the Presidency.

    Citing remarks by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, it said with the announcement of the impending releases of food commodities from the Strategic Reserve, there is a noticeable reduction in commodity prices across major grains markets in the country.

    At the emergency meeting on February 8, the FG had revealed plans to inject a yet-to-be-disclosed amount of capital into dry-season farming to ensure a year-round food supply.

    Idris explained, “There is a directive to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to invest massively in conjunction with Nigerian farmers and other producers so that we can have a better season coming up shortly.”

    Giving updates on this, Onanuga said the first phase of the Dry Season Farming under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) Project kicked off in November 2023.

    “It focuses on the cultivation of wheat across 15 wheat-producing states, covering 118,657 hectares and involving 107,429 farmers. The fields are green now and harvest will commence in a matter of weeks”, Kyari said.

    “There are fantastic reports of the growth of wheat from Jigawa State, which is now targeting harvest from about 50,000 hectares, 10,000 hectares more than initially allotted under the programme,” noted Onanuga.

    The Presidency also said Phase 2 of the Dry Season Farming will commence soon, across all 36 states and the FCT.

    “It will cover rice, maize, and cassava. For rice, the target is 250,000 hectares involving 500,000 farmers with the expected output of 1 million metric tons of paddy rice.

    “For maize, we are cultivating 55,000 hectares with 110,000 farmers thereby adding 165,000 metric tons to national maize production while for cassava, we are doing 35,000 hectares with 70,000 farmers to produce 525,000 metric tons of cassava”.

    Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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  • FG Halts Cooking Gas Export to Crash Price

    The Federal Government has banned the exportation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, popularly called cooking gas, in a bid to increase its volume domestically to warrant a crash in price.

    It stated on Thursday that LPG producers in Nigeria and key stakeholders in the industry had been told to stop exporting the commodity out of Nigeria, following the recent jump in the cost of cooking gas.

    Findings showed that the cost of refilling a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas in Abuja, Lagos, Kano and some other states had climbed to about N18,000. It was specifically N17,500 in Abuja on Thursday, a product that sold for less than N9,000 in November last year.

    LPG dealers under the aegis of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers had predicted mid-last year that a 12.5kg cylinder would cost N18,000 going by the incessant hikes in its cost.

    To tackle this, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, constituted a committee in November 2023, headed by the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed.

    But up till today (Thursday), the cost of the commodity has maintained a northward movement, as many LPG users are gradually shifting to the use of charcoal.

    But while speaking on the sidelines of the internal stakeholders’ workshop in Abuja on Thursday, Ekpo stated that the Federal Government had asked LPG producers to stop exporting the commodity.

    In November 2023, a kilogramme of cooking gas was about N700, but the product is now sold at about N1,400/kg. Some operators stated that the cost would increase further if the government failed to intervene.

    Ekpo said, “With the issue of gas, you have seen the demonstration of the Federal Government by withdrawing all taxes and levies from the importation of gas-related equipment. It is a big incentive.

    “On the issue of LPG (cooking gas), we are interacting with the critical sectors to ensure that there is no exportation of LPG. All LPG produced within the country will have to be domesticated. And when this is done, the volume will increase and, of course, the price will automatically crash.

    “I’m in contact with the regulator, NMDPRA, we have meetings almost daily with the producers of the gas like Mobil, Chevron and Shell. So there is that hope that things will turn around.

    “And that is also why we are having this engagement to know exactly what the problems are so that we can address them once and for all.”

    Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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  • Walk Your Talk, NLC Tells FG Ahead 2-Day Nationwide Protest

    The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on Friday, directed its members and affiliate unions to begin mobilisation for a two-day nationwide protest expected to take place on February 27 and 28, if the federal government fails to implement all the agreements signed with it in October 2023.

    The two-day nationwide protest according to the communique signed by the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero and the acting General Secretary, Comrade Ismail Bello will be taking place at the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum it had earlier issued.

    President of the NLC, Comrade  Ajaero, who addressed newsmen at the end of the union’s National Executive Council, (NEC) meeting in Abuja, asked his members to be on standby for an indefinite strike which would commence seven days after the nationwide protest if government still fails to meet its demands.

    Ajaero noted that Labour was no longer interested in empty talks from the government but actions, urging the government to immediately implement the agreement and restore faith in the democratic process, as Nigerians were struggling to survive.

    A communique read by the Congress President at the end of the meeting noted that on Monday,  29th May 2023, President Bola Tinubu announced during his inaugural speech the withdrawal of Subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in Nigeria. 

    It said that that singular pronouncement immediately led to the price of the product, which is central to transportation and power in Nigeria, escalated across the nation, throwing the nation into turmoil and confusion as citizens were left stranded, thus increasing suffering, hardship and angst among the populace.

    It read: “Series of meetings were held with the federal government culminating in the signing of an Agreement which we now call the October 2 Agreement. This Agreement contained several safeguards which we had believed if implemented conscientiously would have gone a long way to ameliorate the suffering and hardship that the ill-conceived and ill-implemented policies of the government have foisted on the masses and workers

    “It also took notice of the decision of the National Administrative Council (NAC) of the both Congresses of the NLC and TUC to demand that the Agreement be implemented. 

    “To this end, NEC unanimously noted its deep disappointment and condemned the actions of the federal government in refusing to implement the agreements and reached the following decisions:

    “That it reaffirms the 14days notice issued by the federal government within which to implement the Agreement and address the mounting crisis of survival in Nigeria.

    “That the Notice expires on the Midnight of Thursday, the 22nd of February, 2024. If on expiration, Congress is not satisfied with the level of the Government’s compliance with the conditions of the Notice, it will be at liberty to take action that will compel the Government to implement the agreement.

    “Declares a 2-day National Protest on 27th and 28th of February to demonstrate outrage on the mounting hardship and insecurity around the nation.

    “If demands are not met after the nationwide protests to issue a Seven-Day notice that will expire on the 2nd day of March 2024 to the federal government after which an indefinite nationwide strike will ensue.  

    “That Nigerian workers and people are not interested in empty talk now but action so, calls on all of affiliates, state Councils and Civil Society Allies to start mobilizing across the nation for effective action as the deadline approaches.

    “As such, in light of the urgency of the situation and the continued suffering of the Nigerian people and Workers, the NEC-in-session calls for immediate action from the federal government to rectify these grievances and restore faith in the democratic process and social dialogue.”

    Vanguard/Simeon Ugbodovon

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  • Efforts Ongoing to Arrest High Cost of Food Items – FG

    By Abdullah Bello

    The Federal Government says it is strategising to arrest the high cost of food items in the country.

    After the first meeting of the Presidential Committee on Emergency Food Intervention, the Minister of Information, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, said succour would soon be felt.

    He explained that the meeting discussed the opening of the strategic food silos across the country, saying however that the modalities of releasing their contents to the public will be laid out in their subsequent meetings.

    “Government is very concerned about what Nigerians are going through; therefore government is taking some action to ensure that Nigerians have some relief, in terms of the availability of food on the table. Some of these will involve unlocking the foods that are available in most of the storage facilities around the country, very soon a solution is in sight for Nigerians”, he stressed.

    He said the government had begun discussions with major local millers and commodity traders to get information on what they have in stock, adding that such will provide insight into the appropriate level of intervention needed.

    Alhaji Mohammed Idris emphasised that the government’s intervention was extremely necessary to thwart the bad intentions of those wanting to take advantage of the situation to make matters worse.

    “What the government is noticing is that there’s still food in this country. Some people are taking advantage of the situation, especially, the depreciation in the value of our currency, which has led to the cost of these food items also going up. What I will tell Nigerians is that the President has directed that government needs to stem this tide. Government will not fold its arms and see the way Nigerians are suffering”, the Minister said.

    The Minister of Information said the government would make a definite pronouncement on the outcome of the ongoing deliberations on the current food crisis being experienced.


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  • FG Seeks Collaboration with Labour Unions on Workers’ Welfare

    The Federal Government has solicited the cooperation of the Nigeria Labour Congress in promoting workers’ welfare and national productivity.

    Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mrs Nkiruka Onyejeocha, stated this in Abuja when she paid a visit to the President and leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, as part of a strategy to mobilize critical stakeholders to align with the government’s agenda in the Labour sector.

    Mrs Onyejeocha remarked that without the cooperation of the Labour union, it would be difficult for the government to better the lot of Nigerian workers.

    According to the Minister, President Tinubu’s deep concern for the well-being of Nigerian workers was at the forefront of our discussions. I reiterated the government’s desire to partner with the NLC in propelling Nigeria forward towards a brighter future”

    She said the government was ready to work with labour unions to promote the wellbeing of workers, as well as boost productivity in the service.

    Mrs Onyejeocha decried the use of strikes to resolve industrial disputes as it disrupts the economy.

    She therefore urged trade unions to regard strikes as the last resort in seeking resolution of trade disputes, pushing for implementation of agreement, or drawing the attention of government to the plight of workers and citizens.

    According to the Minister, “Government is interested in the welfare of Nigerian workers. We are interested in their health and the environment in which they work. We are also interested in the wages they earn”.

    “We will partner with you to ensure that Nigerian workers are satisfied. I am sure you will cooperate with the government to make sure our economy improves. Each time you embark on strike, the Nigerian economy goes down, and we incur a lot of losses.” she stated.

    Responding, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said that the Minister’s visit demonstrated care for Nigerian workers, as well as commitment to collaboration with the union to address their plight.

    Comrade Ajaero promised that the Congress would always work together with the government in the interest of the workers.

    He, however, urged the government to desist from violating Trade Union rights, and defaulting on agreements reached with Labour, as such actions brew trust gaps.

    NLC President urged the Minister to push for the clearing of the backlog of agreements which the government reached with Labour.

    FRCN Abuja Adeniyi Bakare/Adetutu Adetule

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  • FG Declares Holidays for Christmas, New Year Celebrations

    The Federal Government has declared Monday, and Tuesday, December, 25 and 26 2023, and Monday, January 1, 2024, as public holidays to mark Christmas and New Year’s Day celebrations, respectively.

    The Hon. Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government felicitates with Christians and all Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora on this occasion.

    Dr Tunji-Ojo enjoined Christians to emulate the life of Jesus Christ in his practice and teachings of humility, service, compassion, and patience.

    He stressed that peace and security are critical prerequisites for economic development and prosperity

    The minister assured that the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will continue to put in place effective measures for the security of lives and property

    He urged Nigerians to be security conscious, and report any suspicious persons or activities to the nearest security agencies.

    He reiterated that the Yuletide season calls for discipline to protect the lives and property of everyone in their respective communities and the nation as a whole.

    Tunji-Ojo admonished all citizens to remain focused that, the year 2024 will be a better year with the Renewed Hope agenda of the President.

    Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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  • FG Pushes Mortgage Banks for Affordable Housing

    The Federal Government has called on Chief Executive Officers of mortgage banks to explore creative ways to make mortgages more affordable to Nigerians of all income brackets.

    The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr Ahmed Dangiwa who made the call in Abuja at a retreat organised by stakeholders in the mortgage banking sub-sector said the nation’s Capital Market had not been maximally tapped to raise long-term funds to refinance mortgage loans.

    He said adopting the Rent-to-Own and Flexible Monthly Mortgage loan repayments would make commercial loans in the country more affordable.

    The minister cited a report that identified some of the challenges in the sector which include the affordability gap in home ownership, absence of long-term funds, critical need for enhanced capital and resource base of Primary Mortgage Institutions, difficulty in accessing Land and secure title to Land due to the shortcomings in the provision and implementation of the Land Use Act of 1978.

    Others include inadequate legal framework, inadequate housing infrastructure, inadequate incentives, concessions and taxes, non-availability of insurance framework, insufficient production, high cost of building materials and inadequate skilled labour.

    He, therefore, stressed the need for all key players to find ways to navigate the macro, legal and policy bottlenecks to address challenges in the sector.

    According to Mr Dangiwa, this could be achieved through effective leadership and innovations.

    He said the ministry was also poised to establish building materials manufacturing hubs, construct over forty thousand houses which would be tagged the Renewed Hope Cities and upgrade slums across the country.

    “Our Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Program seeks to deliver 40,000 housing units ranging from 1,000 housing units per site in one location in each of the six geo-political zones of the country and FCT namely: Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Borno, Nasarawa, Rivers, and Enugu States”.

    The theme of the event was, ” Advancing Sustainable and Affordable Housing in Nigeria: Navigating Macro-Economic, Legislative, and Policy Frontiers”.

    Philip Ichaba

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  • New salary begins April 1 2024 – FG

    The Federal Government on Thursday said a new minimum wage regime would come into effect on April 1, 2024.

    The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, said the current N30,000 minimum wage would expire at the end of March 2024.

    Mohammed said this on Thursday as an analysis of the 2024 –2026 Fiscal Framework budgets by our correspondents indicated that the Federal Government would spend N24.66tn on salaries in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

    Following the removal of the fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2023, the Federal Government agreed to pay N35,000 to each of its workers to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal.

     But the organised Labour insisted that the N35,000 wage award was a temporary measure, adding that the minimum wage should be reviewed in 2024.

    The Federal Government’s team and the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council on October 18, 2019, agreed on the implementation of the N30,00 minimum wage after months of negotiations.

    However, Labour unions on Thursday confirmed that they had started a negotiation process with the Federal Government, adding that based on the country’s labour law, the minimum wage should be reviewed every five years.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress National President, Joe Ajaero, recently said, “It is open knowledge that the review of the national minimum wage is a matter of the law which is expected to happen in 2024.”

    On his part, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed, said that the improved take-home pay was meant to replace the temporary palliative measure put in place by the government to ameliorate the hardship caused by the fuel subsidy removal.

    He said, “Certainly, there is a new wage regime that will come in on April 1, 2024. That is why these palliatives were targeted so they would cushion economic hardship before then. In our negotiation with Labour, we said that the wage issue was not something one could just fix. A committee that will also involve Labour itself will work on it.

    “The committee is being constituted and we are talking to Labour about it. And by the time this current wage regime expires by the end of March, we will expect that a new wage will begin by April. It is in this wage regime that we will now have a proper salary structure for workers across the length and breadth of Nigeria. We expect that the private sector and state governors will also do the same.”

    A top official of the NLC, in an interview said the organised Labour had initiated talks with the government

    He said, “By April 1, 2024, the current minimum wage will expire. We have all agreed to set up a national wage negotiation committee, and that the committee should comprise all parties.’’

    Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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  • FG Inaugurates Grids Monitor Centre

    The Federal Government has inaugurated an energy management and control centre established in Abuja to monitor electricity mini-grids operating across the country.

    It said the centre, known as the Energy Management System, would serve as the off-grid electricity supervisory control and data acquisition system for mini power grids in Nigeria.

    Speaking at the launch of the centre in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said, “For us, the EMS is not just a tool; it is a mechanism we plan to optimise to alleviate the existential problem of poor energy data in the nation’s energy space.

    “It is surely a gateway to a future where data becomes a strategic asset in our pursuit of reliable, accessible, and sustainable energy. This system will revolutionise the way we manage and utilise energy data across our electrification programmes.”

    The Chief Executive Officer of Rural Electrification Agency, Ahmad Salihijo, said the centre, constructed in the Abuja headquarters of REA, was made possible with the support of the Korean government under its Official Development Assistance.

    He explained that the Electricity Act 2023, under Section 154 (Monitoring of Rural Electrification Projects), mandated the REA to put in place appropriate machinery for the monitoring of rural electrification implementation projects nationwide.

    “Furthermore, the mechanism for rural electrification monitoring should include the use of geographic information systems and geo-mapping technologies to monitor projects effectively and generate and analyse project data without physical visits to projects’ locations.

    “In a landscape where data is paramount, the EMS stands as a beacon of efficiency and transparency. It is a tool that will empower us to make informed decisions, optimise our energy resources, and enhance the impact of our electrification initiatives across Nigeria,” Salihijo stated.

    He said the system would integrate with REA’s existing programmes, providing real-time insights and enabling the agency to navigate the dynamic energy landscape with precision.

    “For instance, the system will further strengthen our collaboration with the power distribution companies on the development, integration, monitoring, and management of interconnected mini-grids,” Salihijo stated.

    Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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  • FG Approves Strategies for Enhanced Healthcare Delivery

    By Kazeem Ayodeji

    The Federal Government has approved the implementation of sector-wide strategies aimed at enhancing the healthcare systems across the country.

    The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, who announced this in Ado Ekiti at the 64th National Council on Health with the theme: “Building a Resilient and Inclusive Healthcare System for a Healthy Nigeria,” highlighted President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to transform the health sector. 

    He said the President’s commitment has paved the way for opportunities and established essential structures for effectively coordinating endeavours to address broader health determinants.

    Professor Pate emphasized the imperative to tackle health sector deficits, prompting key figures such as state governors, commissioners, and development partners to discuss strategic measures to reshape Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system.

    The Minister underscored the complexity of the healthcare ecosystem, stressing the need for innovation and coordination across the spectrum so as to foster an environment where healthcare providers collaborate to share resources, data, and knowledge.

    He also stressed the necessity for governments at all levels to formulate and enforce policies prioritizing health and well-being, adding that there is the need for inclusion of both public and private sectors to ensure effective service delivery.

    In his contributions, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Adetunji Alausa, urged states to build on Federal efforts by allocating more funds to the sector to facilitate the collective achievement of the Universal Health Coverage scheme.

    Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, called on stakeholders to deliver a robust, resilient, and inclusive healthcare system that would guarantee adequate access to quality health services without financial constraints for every citizen.

    The Ekiti State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, on his part emphasized the significance of the 64th National Council on Health and highlighted various achievements by the state government in the health sector.

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  • New Batch of Cassava Growers in Ogun Empowered

    By Olusegun Folarin

    The Federal Government has empowered another batch of sixty cassava growers in Ogun State as part of efforts to strengthen food production in the country. 

    In a message to the empowerment programme held in Abeokuta, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, reaffirmed government’s determination to sustain the implementation of programmes that would enhance the capacity of farmers.

    Senator Kyari represented by an officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Isah Mohammed, said farmers who had earlier been trained were supported with the needed farm inputs, including fertilizers and insecticides to increase cassava production.

    He appealed to the beneficiaries to use the inputs judiciously and complement the efforts of the federal government in addressing food insecurity in the country.

    Also, The Ogun State Coordinator, Federal ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Oluwatoyin Ajayi, gave the assurance that the empowerment programme would be a continuous exercise among farmers in the country, until the target of food sufficiency was achieved.

    In a remark, the Acting Programme Manager, Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme, OGADEP, Mrs Solape Awe, represented by Mr Femi Akinniyi appreciated the Federal Government for the gesture and applauded the state government for supporting all efforts aimed at boosting farmers’ productivity. 

    Some of the beneficiaries including Mr Oke James thanked the Federal Government, and urged relevant authorities to sustain the intervention towards improving cassava production in the country.

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  • FG Approves Appointment of Retired Medical Personnel as Contract Staff

    The Federal Government has approved the appointment of doctors, nurses, and other clinical healthcare workers as contract staff after attaining their compulsory retirement age or years.

    The government, however, said the appointed contract staff would be on the same salary scale level that they retired on if they desire and deserve it.

    A circular obtained by newsmen, dated October 5, 2023, by the Federal Ministry of Health, directed the Chief Executive Agencies, Chief Medical Directors, Medical Directors, and Heads of Regulatory Bodies and Schools to ensure compliance with the circular earlier issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to all staff in their institutions.

    The office of the OHCSF had in a circular dated August 30, 2023, rejected the upward review of the current retirement age of Medical/Dental Consultants and other health professionals from 60 to 70 and 75 respectively.

    The circular titled ‘Re: Review of retirement age to 65 and 70 years for health professionals and medical/dental consultants,’ with reference number HCSF/SPSO/ODD/CND/100/S./145, was addressed to the Permanent Secretary of the FMoH.

    The circular signed by the Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office, Olufemi Oloruntoba, for the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation read partly, “I am directed to refer to the above-mentioned memorandum presented at the 44th National Council on Establishment held from 5th-9th December 2022, in Yola, Adamawa State requesting a review of the current retirement age of Medical/Dental Consultants and other health professionals from 60 to 70 and 75 respectively.

    “After careful consideration of the memorandum, the council rejected the request based on the following: Professionals in the health sector were leaving the country because of pecuniary consideration and unfavourable conditions of service and not as a result of retirement age.

    Some State government had already increased the retirement age of medical doctors and other health workers and this has not addressed the spate of brain drain.”

    It also said it was dissatisfied with health workers’ attitude to work, noting that in spite of efforts by the government to encourage health workers, the exodus of health workers had not abated.

    “Council, however, approved that clinical health workers who have attained the compulsory retirement age/years may be given contract appointment on the same salary scale level that they retired on if desired and deserved.

    “Government should engage the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Medical Association to extract some level of commitment from medical doctors.

    “To address the observed dissatisfaction with the attitude of health workers to work, there is a need to institutionalise an effective performance management system in the public service in order to improve the work ethics of the medical officers and consultant, and medical doctors should show more patriotism in the discharge of their duties and avoid holding the system to ransom,” it added.

    Consequently, the FMoH in its circular urged all executives of agencies, Chief Medical Directors, Medical Directors, and Heads of Regulatory Bodies and Schools to ensure strict compliance with the directive from the OHCSF.

    The circular signed by the Deputy of Appointment, Promotion and Discipline, Daloba Paul Edward for the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, was referenced C.4007/T.2/37.

    Punch / Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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  • TUC Ends NEC Meeting, Set for Parley with FG

    The Trade Union Congress a few hours ago concluded its National Executive Council meeting following deliberations on the new wage award for civil servants in the country by President Bola Tinubu, to cushion the effects of subsidy removal on Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol.

    The labour centre is expected to meet with representatives of the government on whether the offer by the government was accepted by the members.

    The National Deputy President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, made this known in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja on Monday.

    When asked, Etim who doubles as the national president of the Association of Senior Civil Servants noted that the labour leaders met earlier and received recommendations from members of its NEC and would go ahead to meet with the representatives of the government later.

    He said, “We just concluded our meeting a few hours ago and we received some recommendations from our members which we will convey to the government later today.”

    The PUNCH reports that on Sunday, President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, noted that the two labour centres, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the TUC, had some agreements with the government and may end up suspending their proposed nationwide strike.

    According to Gbajabiamila, the Federal Government had agreed to come up with measures that would address the dispute arising from the removal of the fuel subsidy.

    Addressing journalists after the meeting, the NLC president promised to meet with members of the union to consider the offers by the FG to suspend the planned strike.

    Details later…

    Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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  • FG, Labour Agree N35000 Provisional Wage Rise (Video: BAT independence speech)

    Federal Government has agreed to pay a provisional wage increase of N35,000 to all treasury-paid employees for a duration of six months.

    This was the outcome of consultations between a Federal Government delegation and leadership representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Abuja on Sunday,

    President Bola Tinubu had, during an independence day broadcast, announced a N25,000 increase.

    However, this shows N10,000 added to the initial amount.

    NLC had called for an indefinite strike for Tuesday, saying the government revoked the fuel subsidy without providing relief to cushion its effects.

    However, during the discussions, the Federal Government reiterated its commitment to expediting the availability of compressed natural gas (CNG) buses to alleviate the hike in transportation and petrol fares.

    Furthermore, the government pledged support for micro and small-scale enterprises and announced a six-month waiver on VAT for diesel.

    Additionally, the government disclosed its plan to commence monthly payments of N75,000 to 15 million households, disbursed at N25,000 per month, starting from October through December 2023.

    In a statement, the government emphasised its desire for industrial harmony, urging labour unions not to embark on strike actions.

    It pointed out that the pending issues could only be effectively addressed while workers are actively engaged in their duties.

    In response to the labour unions’ request for higher wage increments, a sub-committee will be established to outline the implementation details of all interventions aimed at mitigating the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

    Addressing the longstanding matter involving the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State was also highlighted as an urgent concern.

    The statement, signed by the Minister of Information, Mallam Muhammad Idris, said the unions would review the government’s offer and consider suspending the planned strike action, allowing for further consultations on the implementation of the resolutions reached.

    Governor Abdulrazak Abdulrahman of Kwara State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), as well as Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, participated virtually in the meeting, which was chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Dr. Femi Gbajabiamila.

    Also present were the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong; the Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu; the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite; the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan; and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

    The labour delegation was led by NLC President Joe Ajaero; Dr. Tommy Etim Okon, Deputy President of TUC; NLC General Secretary Emma Ugboaja; TUC General Secretary Nuhu Toro, among other representatives.

    Watch President Tinubu’s 63rd Independence Anniversary speech

    Abdallah Bell

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