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Tag: states

  • Ngige threatens to drag states not paying new minimum wage to court

    Ngige threatens to drag states not paying new minimum wage to court

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has faulted governors yet to pay the new minimum wage to workers in their states.

    Speaking on a monitored Channels Television programme on Sunday, the minister stated that any employer paying its employee below N30,000 was doing so in contravention of the law.

    “If you read the Act well, you will see the applicability of the Act. The applicability is that all parts of the Federation (Section II); Section III also says N30,000 shall be paid, the operating word is shall.

    “It does not give room for picking and choosing, it is a must. The state governors that are not paying are breaching the law of the land,” the minister said.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Minimum Wage Repeal and Re-Enactment Act, 2019 into law on April 18, 2019.

    The Act makes it compulsory for all employers of labour in the country to pay a minimum of N30,000 to their workers and gives workers compelled to accept salary less than the amount the right to sue their employer to recover the balance.

    It also authorises the Minister of Labour and any person nominated or designated by the minister to take action against such an employer on behalf of the worker to recover the balance of the wages.

    The law, however, excludes persons employing less than 25 workers, persons who work in a ship that sails out of jurisdiction, and others in other kinds of regulated employment that are accepted by the Act.

    Two years after the President assented to the Act, some states have begun to pay civil servants the new minimum wage while others still struggle to do so as a result of inadequate funds.

    In his reaction, Ngige faulted governors negotiating with the labour unions in their states over the payment of the minimum wage to workers.

    According to him, they are getting the issues mixed up as the minimum wage is different from the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

    “This is a national law that states what you will pay to the lowest-paid employee (worker) in your establishment; state governments are employers… they are caught in the web of this law until repealed.

    “Any state government or employer that negotiates minimum wage like some of them are doing with their unions, they are running afoul of the law,” the minister stated.

    Asked what the next action would be for erring governors, he said, “I am negotiating with the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF); the law permits me to take them to court.

    “I can take any employer to court. If governors have immunity, I can start from the secretary to the government, to the head of service, and go down to the State Executive Council; take them all to court and I do not need any permission.”

  • See two states missing on NSF medals table

    See two states missing on NSF medals table

    Jigawa and Taraba are yet to register their name on the medals table of the ongoing 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) in Benin as at Monday evening.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the 20th NSF, which commenced on April 2 and will end on Wednesday, have seen a total of 1,308 medals.

    The medals were won by teams from 34 of the participating states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The breakdown of the medals table shows that this consists of a total of 386 gold, 383 silver and 539 bronze medals

    TNG reports that Delta still maintain the lead on the table, a position they have been occupying since the beginning of the country’s biggest sports fiesta with 257 medals.

    This consists of 103 gold, 82 silver and 72 bronze medals.

    They are followed by hosts Edo who have a total of 241 medals, comprising of 88 gold, 80 silver and 73 bronze.

    Edo are followed by Bayelsa at a distant third with 41 gold, 40 silver and 43 bronze medals which summed up to a total of 124 medals.

    Rivers and Lagos are fourth and fifth on the medals table with 24 gold, 24 silver and 39 bronze as well as 19 gold, 23 silver and 39 bronze medals respectively.

    TNG reports that at the bottom of the table are Sokoto state, Benue and Kebbi who have won just three, two and two bronze medals respectively.

    The last two states on the table are Taraba and Jigawa with no medal at the festival which is expected to end on Wednesday.

  • FG, States, LGAs share N640.3bn for January

    FG, States, LGAs share N640.3bn for January

    The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared N640.310 billion to the three tiers of government for January.

    Mr Hassan Dodo, the Director of Information, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, said this was made known in a communique issued at the end of virtual conference of FAAC on Thursday.

    The committee in its communique explained that the amount shared by the Federal Government, States and Local Government Areas (LGAs) included cost of collection to different agencies involved.

    It noted that N640.310 billion shared included cost of collection to Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

    The committee also noted that the Federal Government received N226.998 billion, the states received N177.171 billion and the LGAs got N131.399 billion.

    It added that the oil producing states received N26.777 billion as derivation (13 per cent of Mineral Revenue) and Cost of Collection/Transfer and Refunds got N75.966 billion.

    According to the communique, the Gross Revenue available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) for January was N157.351 billion.

    It stated that this was against N171.358 billion distributed in the preceding month of December 2020, resulting in a decrease of N14.007 billion.

    “The distribution is as follows: Federal Government got N21.950 billion, the states received N73.168 billion, LGAs got N51.218 billion, while Cost of Collection – FIRS and NCS got N11.015 billion.

    “The distributed Statutory Revenue of N482.958 billion received for the month was higher than the N437.256 billion received for the previous month by N45.703 billion.

    “From this, the Federal Government received N205.047 billon, states got N104.003 billion, LGAs got N80.162 billion, Derivation (13 per cent Mineral Revenue) got N28.777 billion and Cost of Collection/ Transfer and Refund got N64.951 billion.”

    The communique also revealed that Companies Income Tax (CIT) and Oil and Gas Royalty, VAT, and Excise Duty recorded marginal to significant decreases.

    However, Import Duty increased only marginally and Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) recorded a considerable increase.

    Furthermore, the balance in the Excess Crude Account as at Feb. 18 was 72.412 million dollars.

  • Just in: DSS uncovers plot to incite religious violence; lists states targeted

    Just in: DSS uncovers plot to incite religious violence; lists states targeted

    The Department of State Services (DSS) said it has uncovered plots to incite religious violence in Nigeria by some unscrupulous elements.

    The spokesperson of the DSS, Dr Peter Afunanya, in a statement, said the targeted states include Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Rivers, Oyo, Lagos and those in the South East.

    According to him, “the DSS wishes to alert the public about plans by some elements working with external forces to incite religious violence across the country. Targeted states include Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Rivers, Oyo, Lagos and those in the South East.

    “Part of the plans is to cause inter-religious conflicts as well as use their foot soldiers to attack some worship centres, religious leaders, personalities, key and vulnerable points.

    “Consequently, Nigerians are advised to be wary of these antics and shun all divisive tendencies aimed at inciting or setting them against one another.

    “While the Service pledges to collaborate with sister agencies to ensure that public order is maintained, those hatching these plots are warned to desist from such in the interest of peace, security and development of the country.

    “However, law abiding citizens (and residents) are encouraged to report suspected breaches of peace around them to the nearest security agencies.”

  • FG lists conditions for release of COVID-19 vaccines to states

    FG lists conditions for release of COVID-19 vaccines to states

    The Federal Government on Friday set and released conditions that states must fulfil before releasing the expected COVID-19 vaccines to them.

    Recall that the government had earlier assured that the first batch of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines would arrive in the country this month (January) and next (February).

    The Director, Logistics and Health Commodities, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) , Hajia Kubura Daradara during a webinar hosted by the agency on Friday said government would not release the vaccines to the states until the states are ready to administer them.

    She explained that states were expected to administer the vaccines within five days to retain their potency and that only states that showed commitment to this would receive the vaccines.

    The Federal Government had said the first batch of the vaccines would arrive in the country between the end of January and February 2021, adding that the vaccines to be used in the country would be safe and effective.

    It also said the 100,000 doses of the vaccine being expected in the first batch were for 50,000 Nigerians as the vaccines would be taken twice by each person at 21 days interval.

    The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said previously that the country would spend N400bn to procure vaccines for the 70 per cent of Nigerians it planned to vaccinate, amid the rising spread of the virus in the dreaded second wave of the pandemic.

    The Senate had on December 21 expressed doubts over the preparedness of the government to effectively store the vaccines upon arrival in the country.

    But speaking at the webinar on Friday, Daradara said, “We are not releasing the vaccines to any state until we are sure that they are ready to implement (administer the vaccines). For the transportation of the vaccines, we will use dry ice in insulated thermal containers that are going to be sealed.

    “So, when a state is ready for implementation, we take the vaccines to them a day to the time they are going to start the implementation. At the state level, the vaccines can stay for +2 to +8, which is at the normal refrigeration level for five days. So, each state would do their implementation for five days, that is when the vaccines will still be potent after we have given them.

    “Once the vaccines are in the states, they can remove the vaccines and put them in their normal refrigerators where it would stay for five days.”

    Speaking further on the available logistics for deploying the vaccines, she stated, “Two weeks before the vaccines come into the country, we would receive a pre-alert that we are expecting the vaccines, we would issue job order to our clearing agents, we also issue notification letters to Customs, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and the National Aviation Handling Company so they can know we are expecting vaccines.

    “Immediately the vaccines arrive, the clearing agents go to the airport with the NAFDAC and Customs to conclude the documentation. The vaccines are immediately taken to the National Strategic Cold Store in Abuja, where we have Ultra Cold Chain freezers where we would store the vaccines.

    “Before loading the vaccines into the UCC, the NAFDAC officer that followed them from the airport to the store will pick a sample randomly from every batch of the vaccine and these would be taken to their office for testing. NAFDAC would then certify if the vaccines are potent and good enough to be used.”

  • FAAC: FG, States, LGs share N601.12bn in November

    FAAC: FG, States, LGs share N601.12bn in November

    The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) shared a total of N601.110 billion to the three tiers of government in November 2020.

    This was announced by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Aliyu Ahmed, after the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The total distributable revenue of N601.110 billion comprised statutory revenue of N436.457 billion; Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N156.786 billion and augmentation of N7.867 billion from the Forex Equalisation revenue.

    The gross statutory revenue of N436.457 billion available for the month of November 2020 was higher than the N378.148 billion received in the previous month by N58.309 billion.

    The gross revenue of N156.786 billion available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) was also higher than the N126.463 billion available in the previous month by N30.323 billion.

    A breakdown showed that the federal government received N215.600 billion, the State governments got N171.167 billion and the local government councils received N126.789 billion.

    The oil producing states received N31.392 billion as 13 per cent mineral revenue, while cost of collection, transfers and refunds had allocation of N56.162 billion.

    The federal government received N190.122 billion from the gross statutory revenue of N436.457 billion; the state governments received N96.433 billion and the local government councils received N74.345 billion. N30.370 billion was given to the relevant states as 13 per cent mineral revenue and N45.187 billion was the total for cost of collection, transfers and refunds.

    The federal government received N21.872 billion from the Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N156.786 billion. The state governments received N72.906 billion; the local government councils received N51.034 billion, while cost of collection, transfers and refunds had allocation of N10.975 billion.

    From the N7.867 billion augmentation from the Forex Equalisation revenue, the federal government received N3.606 billion, the state governments received N1.829 billion, the local government councils received N1.410 billion and the relevant states received N1.022 billion as 13 per cent mineral revenue.

  • You bailed out states during challenging times, Okowa appreciates Buhari

    You bailed out states during challenging times, Okowa appreciates Buhari

    Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari as he turns 78 on Thursday.

    The governor’s felicitation was conveyed in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika on Wednesday in Asaba.

    He said that Buhari’s administration had continued to make progress in some key infrastructure areas, especially the railways and second Niger Bridge and urged him to remain unrelenting in his service to the nation.

    According to Okowa, the president’s patriotic service to the nation has impacted positively in some sectors of the economy.

    “On the occasion of your 78th birth anniversary on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, I heartily rejoice with you and your family on behalf of the government and people of Delta.

    “Your administration has demonstrated concern for the poor and vulnerable and small-scale traders across the country through the Social Investment Programmes designed to make life easier for the people.

    “Your gesture of support to the states through bail-out funds and the Paris Club refunds has remained laudable.

    “The funds came at a time when states were in dire need of funds to attend to some challenges, especially payment of pensions and arrears of local government workers’ salaries.

    “As you celebrate a life of remarkable accomplishments and great personal fulfilment, it is my prayer and that of the people of Delta that God will continue to grant you good health, wisdom and patience as you lead the world’s most populous black nation.

    “On this auspicious occasion, I join your family, friends, well-wishers and other Nigerians to thank Almighty God for granting you a life of great attainments and abiding fulfilment,’’ Okowa said.

  • NBS: 36 States, FCT get N1.7trn in total revenue

    NBS: 36 States, FCT get N1.7trn in total revenue

    The total revenue available for the 36 States of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to spend for the first half of 2020, being January to June has been placed at N1.7 trillion.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) made this known with its report of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) at State level for Half Year 2020 that was published on Tuesday

    The publication shows that the 36 states and FCT IGR figure hits N612.87bn in H1 2020 compared to N693.91bn recorded in 2019, indicating a negative growth of -11.7% year on year.

    Similarly, the Q2 2020 States and FCT IGR figure hits N259.73bn compared to N353.14bn recorded in Q1 2020, indicating a negative growth of -26.5% quarter on quarter.

    Lagos State has the highest Internally Generated Revenue with N204.51bn recorded in H1 2020, closely followed by Rivers State with N64.59bn while Jigawa State recorded the least Internally Generated Revenue.

    Meanwhile, according to the IGR report, the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT received the total sum of N1,121,250,121,801.19 from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), placing the total revenue available to States in the first half of 2020 at N1.7 trillion.

  • Buhari seeks NASS approval to pay N148.141bn to five states

    Buhari seeks NASS approval to pay N148.141bn to five states

    President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a letter to the National Assembly for approval to pay N148.141.969.161 24 3 billion to five States.

    The sum is reimbursement for repair works on Federal roads in the states and approved for payment by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    According to the letter read by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, Rivers is to get the bulk of the reimbursement with N78.953.067.518 29 bn.

    Others are: Bayelsa N38,404,564.783.40 bn; Cross River N18.394,732.608 85bn; Ondo N7.822.147 577.08bn and Osun N4.567.456.673 63bn.

    The President’s letter titled: “Request for resolution of the National Assembly for approval of the reimbursement of N148.141bn through the issuance of promissory notes to Bayelsa, Cross River, Ondo, Osun and Rivers State governments for federal roads projects executed by the states.” reads:

    “The House of Representatives may wish to be informed that the Federal Executive Council, FEC at it: meeting of June 3rd 2020 approved the reimbursement of N148,141.969.161.24 through the issuance of Promissory Notes to the Bayelsa. Cross River. Ondo, Osun and Rivers State Governments for Federal Road projects executed by the States.

    “The Extract from the Conclusion of the meeting referenced EC 11(2020) 4 is attached as Appendix~1.

    “The approval by FEC was subsequent to the recommendation of an Inter-Ministerial Committee which reviewed the requests for reimbursement made by the State Governments for the projects.

    “The Committee reviewed the documents submitted and carried out physical inspection and verification of the projects in the respective States before making its recommendation to FEC. The summary of the amounts approved for each of the five (5) States as stated in the table below:

    1. Bayelsa State 38,404,564.783.40

    2. Cross River State 18.394,732.608 85

    3 Ondo State 7.822.147 577.08

    4 Osun State 4.567.456.673 63 >

    5 Rivers State 78.953.067.518 29

    TOTAL 148.141.969.161 24 3 .

    “In view of the foregoing, I wish to request the House of Representatives to kindly approve through its Resolution, the request for the reimbursement of the total sum of N14314196916124 through the issuance of Promissory Notes to the five (5) aforementioned State Governments for the Federal Road Projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government, as detailed in Paragraph 2 above.

    “The Honourable Minister of Finance. Budget and National Planning shall provide any information that may be required by National Assembly in its consideration of this request.”

  • Many states clamouring for community policing are owing salaries – Garba Shehu

    Many states clamouring for community policing are owing salaries – Garba Shehu

    Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President Muhammadu Buhari said many of the states agitating for community policing owe salaries.

    He said the President was particular about the sustenance of the community policing arrangement, hence, the delay with his assent.

    Before now, states across the country had clamoured for community policing to tackle peculiar security challenges in the localities.

    Earlier in the year, six states in the South-West region came together to form a regional security operation code-named Operation Amotekun, which has since been backed by law in the respective states and launched in Ondo State.

    Recall the Federal Government, recently approved the sum of N13.3bn for the take-off of community policing initiative across the country.

    Shehu, who spoke Tuesday on Channels Television’s programme, Sunrise Daily, said “The essence of the government funding at this time is to do two or three things: one is to ensure training for those who are to be recruited to join the police service, two (is) to enlighten the public about the functionality of the new system and three is to procure equipment. But above all is the need to streamline the processes embarked upon by the states and the sub-regions.

    “As members of the community, we know ourselves better, we know all the nooks, the crannies, we know who is who and so, therefore, it is not difficult for intelligence to be supplied for effective law and order management in the community.”

    Responding to a question on why it took the President some time to approve the community policing arrangement clamoured for by some states, Shehu said,

    “For President Muhammadu Buhari, the concern has always been about the spread and abuse of weapons in the hands of police.

    “He said it repeatedly that, look, a lot of the states that had clamoured for state police, many of them are unable to cope with salary payment. If you hire a community policeman and give him a gun, and keep him for five, six months without salary, what do you expect? Efforts have been taken so that situation of this kind does not arise. So, therefore, there is a standard national procedure and prescription for each of the states to comply with.”