TheNewsGuru

Tag: Mohammed Idris

  • Tinubu govt to pay jobless graduates monthly stipends

    Tinubu govt to pay jobless graduates monthly stipends

    The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has claimed that President, Bola Tinubu is working on a policy to see young university and polytechnic unemployed graduates in the country receive stipends.

    The minister made this known when he received the Charismatic Bishop Conference on a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja on Wednesday.

    He said, “There is also another new policy that the President has formulated, which will begin to be seen very soon and that is that all young men and women who have finished universities and polytechnics and have certificates and have done their mandatory NYSC and have not been able to get jobs, will have something from the government to keep them afloat until the time they get jobs.” 

    He said the jobless will be paid pending their formal employment in any sector of the economy.

    He further noted that, while Nigerians have the constitutionally guaranteed right to protest, the government was aware some people were planning to hijack the demonstration to cause trouble.

  • Tinubu sends strong message of appeal to Nigerians over planned nationwide protest

    Tinubu sends strong message of appeal to Nigerians over planned nationwide protest

    President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday appealed to Nigerian youths to shelve their plans to carry out protests across the country.

    Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation,  disclosed this while addressing State House correspondents after a meeting with the President.

    According to Idris, the President does not see any need for protest, he has listened to them, and asked them to await the government’s response to all their pleas.

    “Mr President has asked me to again inform Nigerians that he listens to them, especially the young people that are trying to protest.

    “Mr President listens to them, he takes what they say seriously and he is working assiduously to ensure that this country is good not just for today but also for the future,” he said.

    He said the government was doing a lot of things to cushion the hardship experienced by Nigerians.

    “Today, the National Assembly has expeditiously passed the bill on National Minimum Wage.

    “You can see how the President is working, it was transmitted only yesterday and today it has been passed.

    “A lot of other interventions that the President has put in place are also going to be looked at expeditiously in the interest of Nigerians.

    “So, there is no need for protest, the young people out there should listen to the President and allow him more time to see to the realisation of all the goodies he has for them,” Idris said.

    The Minister said the highlights of other policies to cushion the effect of the hardship Nigerians were feeling included distribution of grains and rice by the Federal Government to state governments.

    “Like I said, it is just the necessary first step. Government is going to continue in that direction, assuring that whatever intervention the Federal Government has put in place will go to those that should benefit.

    “The Federal Government is looking at strategies that every intervention will go directly to those who benefit from those interventions, not middle men intercepting them along the way,” he said.

    He added that another important intervention by the Federal Government was the students loan.

    “Mr President is very passionate about it, that everyone that should go to school will have the opportunity to do so.

    “It is no longer a time for our young men and women who have passed examinations to go to tertiary institutions not to be able to do that because their parents cannot pay for their fees,” said the minister.

    He said the government was also perfecting a scheme to support graduates of universities and polytechnics that were not able to get jobs until they got employed.

    “The whole idea is that no one is left behind, it is an all inclusive government and the President is determined to ensure that no one is left behind in this attempt to march Nigeria towards progress,” said Idris.

    The minister said his meeting with the President was to discuss issues relating to the government’s media organisations such as NTA, FRCN, NAN and VON.

    “We have discussed all that, we have also arrived at situations that will help their positions as public information platforms of the country.

    “They should be in the forefront and we are doing everything possible to make sure that they are being repositioned so that they can serve Nigeria very well,” he said.

  • How FG is tackling hardship in Nigeria – Minister

    How FG is tackling hardship in Nigeria – Minister

    Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, says the Federal Government is taking additional measures to ensure that the hardship experienced by Nigerians is drastically reduced.

    The Minister said this while briefing State House Correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Monday.

    He said the council deliberated on the state of affairs of the country, especially the shortage of food.

    He said the council took note of some of the complaints by Nigerians in terms of transportation, food prices or food shortages in many homes around the country.

    “After exhaustive deliberation, the Minister of Agriculture was directed to ensure that food is made available to Nigerians.

    “And the understanding is that about 20 trucks of rice have already been supplied to each of the states of the federation, including the federal capital territory.

    “Each of the trucks of course is carrying about 1,200 25kg bags of rice,” said Idris.

    He explained that this was part of the measures the government was taking, in addition to so many others, to ensure that the hardship experienced by Nigerians was drastically reduced.

    “This is a first step and the federal government will continue to support all the state governors and local governments, so that the hardship being experienced by most Nigerians in terms of shortage of food supply is reduced.

    “It is expected that the state governors will distribute the food items to the most vulnerable so that the hardship will be brought down significantly,” he said.

    The minister said the distribution of food items was in addition to the effort that government was making in terms of fertiliser supply.

    “Recall that the Central Bank of Nigeria had earlier made available over 2.1 million bags of assorted fertiliser to the Ministry of Agriculture for onward distribution to the states. So that is also in progress,” he said.

    On transportation, the minister said the council directed the presidential Committee on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), to expedite its activities to supply buses and make conversion kits available at affordable costs to Nigerians.

    “Already, they have started but the council asked them to redouble their efforts so that conversion kits that we need for the CNG initiative will be made available.

    “Also, the conversion centres that have earlier been approved will also be significantly upgraded so that Nigerians will have more conversion centres,” said the Minister.

    According to him, the Federal Government has directed that the compliance level of CNG should go up to reduce over reliance of Nigerians on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

    He said this would in turn aid the transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy.

    “Now, you are also aware that last week, the National Labour Congress met the president. This of course was part of the consultation that the President has agreed to carry out.

    “Recall that he had met the Organised Private Sector (OPS). He had also met subnationals after the tripartite committee on minimum wage had submitted its report,” he said.

    He explained that the consultation was to ensure that there was a thorough analysis of the situation, so that government would come up with a minimum wage that worked for all Nigerians.

    Idris said the Federal Government had also directed the ministry of budgets to come up with additional support for the 2024 budget.

    He said this was to cover any differential or gaps in the 2024 budget that was approved.

  • Idris chairs unveiling of Writing for Media and Monetising It

    Idris chairs unveiling of Writing for Media and Monetising It

    The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, will chair the unveiling of Writing for Media and Monetising It, the new book on getting rewards from valuable content written by the Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP, Azu Ishiekwene, and published by Premium Times Books.

    The event will take place on Wednesday, June 26, at 10 am at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja. A “two-in-one event”, it would also feature a panel discussion themed “Reflections on the Media.”

    A statement by Azu and Premium Times Books described the unveiling as “one of the most genuinely anticipated events in the media in the first half of 2024.”

    “We are delighted,” the statement said, “that after weeks of promotional efforts and reviews to highlight a book that offers significant value and reward for content creators, especially the media, the public will finally get this book in their hands.”

    Vice President Kashima Shettima, known for his love of the literati, is expected as the special guest of honour. Chairman of the event, Idris, said of the book: “It significantly closes the gap between practice and entrepreneurship – a gap that has impoverished the media industry.”

    Also expected at the event that will be hosted by the Chairman of LEADERSHIP, Zainab Nda-Isaiah, are the Publisher of Vanguard, Mr. Sam Amuka; the Chairman of TRUST and NPAN President, Malam Kabiru Yusuf; and the Founder/CEO of Premium Times, Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi.

    Other publishers, media owners and top executives, including the Founder of Folio Media Group and NPAN Treasurer, Mr. Fidelis Anosike, are also expected.

    ARISE News anchor and journalist Dr Reuben Abati is the book reviewer, while the panel on media comprise the founder/CEO of RadioNow 95.3FM, Ms. Kadaria Ahmed; professor of Mass Communication/Dean of Post-graduate School, Professor Abiodun Adeniyi; Editor-In-Chief of PUNCH, Mr. Adeyeye Joseph; CEO of Aegis & Blue, Mr. Emeke Ishiekwene; and newly graduated Mass Communication student, Miss Chisom Ukomah.

    In feedback that signalled a wider interest in the book outside the media, some present and former governors, ministers, heads of parastatals and agencies, captains of industry and NGOs, and members of faith-based groups are also expected to attend.

  • NLC strike: Real reason FG can’t pay N494,000 minimum wage – Minister

    NLC strike: Real reason FG can’t pay N494,000 minimum wage – Minister

    …don’t go on strike, return to negotiation table – FG tells Labour

    Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said the federal government cannot pay N494,000 as minimum wage demanded by organised labour for workers in the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Idris to have said the N494,000 minimum wage demand by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) will amount to N9.5 trillion annually.

    This is contained in a statement released on Saturday by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Information and National Orientation.

    The Minister stressed that the sum of N494,000 national minimum wage being demanded by organised labour, which cumulatively amounts to the sum of N9.5 trillion bill, is capable of destabilising the economy and jeopardising the welfare of over 200 million Nigerians.

    According to the statement, Idris stated this at a news conference in Abuja in response to the threat by the organised labour to embark on strike if their demands were not met.

    He said the offer of N60,000 minimum wage by the Federal Government, which translates to a 100% increase on the existing minimum wage of 2019, has been accepted by the organized private sector, which is a member of the tripartite committee of the negotiations team.

    “The Federal Government’s New Minimum Wage proposal amounts to a 100% increase on the existing minimum wage 2019. Labour, however, wanted N494,000, which would increase by 1,547% on the existing wage.

    “The sum of N494,000 national minimum wage which Labour is seeking would cumulatively amount to the sum N9.5 trillion bill to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    “Nigerians need to understand that whereas the FG is desirous of ample remuneration for Nigerian workers, what is most critical is that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not encourage any action that could lead to massive job loss, especially in the private sector, who may not be able to pay the wage demanded by the Organised Labour,” he said.

    The Minister said even though Labour is keen on the take-home pay of about 1.2 million workers, the Federal Government is concerned with the welfare of over 200 million Nigerians based on its Guiding Principle of Affordability, Sustainability, and the overall health of the nation’s economy.

    Idris appealed to the Organised Labour to return to the negotiating table and embrace reasonable and realistic wages for their members.

    He said because of the commitment of the Tinubu administration to the welfare of workers, the wage award of 35,000 for Federal workers would continue until a new national minimum wage is introduced.
    Rabiu Ibrahim.

  • After TNG Editor’s proposal, FG to start granting loans to media orgs

    After TNG Editor’s proposal, FG to start granting loans to media orgs

    Following an appeal by Mr Ediri Oyibo, Editor of TheNewsGuru.com (TNG), for stakeholders to rethink funding models for media organisations, the federal government has said media organisations in the country will now have access to single-digit interest loans through the Bank of Industry (BOI).

    Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris made the position of the federal government known on Monday at the Third Ministerial Sectoral Update at the National Press Centre in Abuja.

    Mr Oyibo had in a paper presented on the survival of newsrooms in Nigeria at the Centre for Journalism, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, stressed the need for institutional support for media organisations in the country.

    Citing the example of Google News Initiative (GNI) Journalism Emergency Relief Fund (JERF), the TNG Editor noted that quality journalism is capital-intensive. He joined professionals and scholars in the media industry to call for the establishment of a National Media Development Fund in Nigeria.

    Announcing the single-digit interest loans, Idris urged media houses to develop bankable proposals to enable them benefit from the loans, which he said would be facilitated through the Ministry of Trade and Investment as well as the BOI.

    The single-digit interest loan offered by the government to media firms in the country is coming at a time when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) jacked up interest rate from 24.75 per cent to 26. 25 per cent.

    In another development, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has said that an estimated 309 billion naira has been injected into the Nigerian economy through harvest in the past one year.

    Kyari made the announcement while giving an update on the achievements of the ministry as part of activities marking the first anniversary of President Bola Tinubu.

    He revealed that as part of efforts to address food and nutrition security, the government has launched the dry season farming with cultivation of 118,657 hectares of wheat in 15 states in acceleration of all-year round farming.

    He also said the government has procured and distributed to all states and the Federal Capital Territory, 58,500 metric tones of milled rice to dampen escalating prices and the fortification of crops with vitamin A micronutrient to enrich nutrition content and health value of commodities.

    In response to persistent food inflation, the minister explained that the government has taken measures to distribute 60,432 metric tones of improved seeds, 887,255 metric tones of seedlings and 62,328 metric tones of inorganic fertilizers and equipments to farmers across different value chains to enhance production.

  • FEC continues on Tuesday – Minister

    FEC continues on Tuesday – Minister

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, said on Monday that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting would continue on Tuesday.

    Idris stated this while briefing the State House Correspondent at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said: “there is no briefing today. A lot of far reaching decisions are being taken and the conclusions will be made available tomorrow (Tuesday).

    “Therefore, FEC will continue tomorrow,” he said.

    The meeting which is presided over by President Bola Tinubu was attended by the Vice President Kashim Shettima, and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike.

    Others are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola and the Minister of State Police Affairs, Imaan Sulaima-Ibrahim, among others.

    FEC comprises cabinet members and is part of the executive branch of the government.

    It determines the general direction of domestic and foreign policies of the Government; coordinating the activities of the President, the Vice-President and the Ministers in the discharge of their responsibilities.

  • Press Freedom Day: Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris speaks of incarceration of journalists under Tinubu’s administration

    Press Freedom Day: Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris speaks of incarceration of journalists under Tinubu’s administration

    Mohammed Idris the Minister of Information and National Orientation, has noted that no journalist has been incarcerated under the Bola Tinubu administration for practicing responsible journalism, stressing that the media is largely free in Nigeria.

    Idris  assured that the federal government would continue to protect the interests of journalists and will not compromise press freedom.

    They cited the arrest and prolonged detention of journalist and FirstNews Editor, Segun Olatunji, and the brother to Reportera News owner, Chika Victor Ibezim, which negate the minister’s comment.

    It would be recalled that Olatunji was held for 14 days over a publication allegedly abusing the Chief of Defence Intelligence, while Ibezim has been held for over eight months after security operatives failed to arrest his brother for a publication linking former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola to the Presidential Election Petition Court’s judgement.

    However, in his reaction,  the minister of information said spreading falsehood and misinformation is irresponsible journalism, and cannot be equated with genuine expression of press freedom.

    He said President Tinubu recognizes the importance of responsible media coverage in enlightening, informing, and educating Nigerians and the world, adding that through credible and timely information, everyone can be well-informed, and the media can serve as a valuable tool for fostering transparency and accountability.

  • Press freedom not license to fake news – Minister

    Press freedom not license to fake news – Minister

    Alhaji Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, says press freedom is not a license for practitioners to spread fake news, misinformation and disinformation.

    Idris stated this on Friday in Abuja while responding to questions from Journalists at the joint Ministerial Press Briefing in celebration of the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD).

    Idris explained that the safety of Journalists is a global challenge and not peculiar to Nigeria.

    He stressed that the press in Nigeria was largely free.

    “The fact that the press briefing is holding in an amicable atmosphere is a testimony to that fact.

    “I can tell you that there is no Journalist in the life of this administration that has been killed, jailed or sent on exile.

    “You may want to refer to some incidences that happened in the past, not in this administration, but we have also worked to address them in a way that is also responsible.

    “There is no way you can take away responsibility in journalism. Your freedom to express yourself ends where another person’s freedom begins.

    “If you spread falsehood, misinformation, disinformation and fake news, there is no way it can be called press freedom. Press freedom is not the same thing as spreading falsehood and misinformation.

    “I had earlier talked about patriotism, responsible journalism and love for nation. It is our responsibility to ensure that this country is safe, united and peaceful.

    “Always have it at the back of your mind that you are reporting so that the society can learn. So, responsible journalism not only enables you to report factually, honestly and transparently, but also challenges you to maintain the integrity and sanctity of your own country,” Idris said.

    The minister explained that a journalist should not tear his country apart “just because he wants to talk about press freedom”.

    He said the administration of Tinubu had consistently advocated for direct foreign investments into the country.

    “You cannot have your newspapers and radio stations flashing insecurity all the time. You cannot be flashing unpalatable things about your country and expect other people to come and invest in same country.

    “I can tell you that once you report factually, honestly and transparently, nobody will invite you to come amd answer questions.

    “In Nigeria, the press is largely free, but that freedom would further be consolidated if honesty and transparency is upheld in the manner that we report,” Idris declared.

  • Tinubu committed to improving well-being of Nigerians – Info Minister

    Tinubu committed to improving well-being of Nigerians – Info Minister

    The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, says President Bola Tinubu is committed to the improvement of the overall well-being of Nigerians.

    Idris stated this on Saturday when featured  in the flagship live Phone-In programme of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Kaduna,’ Hannu da Yawa’.

    Speaking on agriculture,  Idris said that Tinubu’s administration was keen towards ensuring food security and it had rolled out measures and programmes that were targeted directly at the actual farmers.

    This, he said, was a turn from the previous practices and programmes which usually ended up in the hands of people who capitalized on such programmes for their selfish interests.

    “Before President Tinubu’s administration, farmers were not the beneficiaries of funds made for agricultural activities.

    “President Tinubu has put more effort in ensuring productive outcomes in dry season farming, a lot of measures have been put in place in restructuring loans and other interventions for agriculture,”he said.

    Speaking on alleged abandoned projects in the Northern parts of the country, Idris said that no responsible government can abandon projects which funds had already been put into.

    The minister explained that the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline and the Mambilla Power Project, among numerous projects in the Northern parts of the country, were still in existence.

    He, however, said people always criticise governments without facts, adding that the projects may experience delay, but they have not been stopped.

    Also speaking on the security of lives and properties, Idris said that talks were ongoing about the creation of state Police as being revived by the president due to its importance.

    Idris said this was to ensure economic growth and development especially as it affects farming and other activities, which could improve livelihood.

    He frowned at a section of the public, especially the media who tend to promote more the activities of criminals and terrorists, while playing down the successes hugely recorded by the armed forces and other security agencies.

    Answering a question on fuel subsidy removal, Idris reminded the public of Tinubu’s provision  of wage allowances, among other palliatives for the poor and vulnerable households, which were aimed at shielding the effects on the people.

    He disclosed that the conversion centres of cars using petrol to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) would soon be inaugurated by Tinubu across the federation, all inthe  bid to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.

    The minister restated Tinubu’s commitment to the fight against corruption, while urging the public to shun fake news and other comments aimed at discrediting the government.

    Idris also urged the public to be patient with Tinubu’s administration, stressing that a lot of viable programmes and measures would be rolled out to make the people’s live better.