JUST IN; Implement Minimum Wage, consequential adjustment to avoid strike – TUC warns
JUST IN; Implement Minimum Wage, consequential adjustment to avoid strike – TUC warns
Trade Union Congress (TUC) has called on state governments yet to implement the new minimum wage and its consequential adjustments to do so to avoid industrial action in the states.
Mr Festus Osifo, President of the TUC, made the call while addressing newsmen at the end of its National Executive Council meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.
Osifo said that NEC in session had raised concerns about the slow pace of implementation in some states, and also on issues that were affecting workers and the downtrodden Nigerians.
According to him, some states have made progress with the implementation of the minimum wage with up to 80 per of the necessary adjustments processes already in place, while others remain significantly behind.
“But there are still some states like Zamfara and Cross River that are still backward, and that is why today the organised labour in Cross River is organising a two day warning strike.
“If the government is not responsive, that two days will now escalate to an indefinite strike. In Zamfara, similar thing may likely happen.
“We are calling on them to quickly get to the table, have a conversation and reach a conclusion on what the consequecial adjustment should be,”he said.
Osifo said that the minimum wage issue was beyond the simple announcement of wage figures such as N30,000, N80,000, or N90,000.
He said that the core issue was the implementation of the necessary adjustments to align wages with the new national standard.
The TUC president, therefore, urged the state governments to prioritise the welfare of workers and engage in meaningful dialogue with labour unions to resolve the matter.
“There are some states where there is no conversation whatsoever about the implementation of the new minimum wage.
“We call on these states to implement the new national minimum wage, along with the consequential adjustments so that workers can start benefiting,” he said.
Osifo also said that the issue of rising taxes would increase the tax burden on citizens and this could lead to tax evasion.
He, therefore, urged government authorities to reconsider any proposed tax hikes, particularly at a time when many workers were struggling with the delayed implementation of wage adjustments.
Speaking on the recent GDP report for the third quarter, Osifo said that while the economy is growing, the service sector, especially banking, played a dominant role in that growth.
He called on the government to focus on encouraging investment in other key sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, and real estate, which he said could create more jobs and reduce unemployment.
“Government should encourage these banks to lend more to the real sector of the economy.
“It is that sector that hire a lot of Nigerians, that will hire a lot of workers. We want Nigerians to be engaged.
”So we hereby call on government, through the CBN, to come up with robust policies that will encourage the banking sector to lend much more to the real sector of the economy,” he said,.(JAN)
News
Report any officer asking for money for release of suspect as Police insist bail is free
Report any officer asking for money for release of suspect as Police insist bail is free
The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has insisted that bail is free, and called on the public to report any officer asking for money to release a suspect on bail.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
Adeh spoke in reaction to public outcry that some police officers were demanding money to release suspects on bail in the territory.
She said the report of the erring officers would serve as a deterrent to others, adding that it was fraudulent to demand for money to release a suspect on bail.
Adeh blamed the yielding to such fraudulent demand on ignorance on the part of the victims who refused to stand on their rights.
“A similar case was reported where an officer demanded money to release a suspect on bail and when the matter was reported, we requested for evidence from the victim.
“The evidence was provided because the money was transferred to the officer’s account and actions are being taken on the issue.
“So, I encourage the public to take advantage of the FCT Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU) lines on 08107314192 to report such misconduct with evidence,” she said.
Adeh urged the public to always insist on their rights and refuse any form of payment to release a suspect on bail.(NAN)
News
Former President sentenced to five years in prison by Court
Former President sentenced to five years in prison by Court
South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk Yeol was on Friday sentenced to five years in prison for obstruction of justice.
The Seoul Central District Court found that the 65-year-old conservative, with the help of the presidential security service, had tried to prevent his own arrest and deleted multiple documents related to the investigation against him.
Yoon shocked the nation by imposing martial law on December 3, 2024, amid a budget dispute with the opposition, plunging the country into a political crisis.
He justified the drastic measure as necessary to protect South Korea’s democratic order and accused the left-leaning opposition of being infiltrated by communists with ties to China and North Korea, though he provided no evidence for these claims.
In a separate trial, prosecutors have sought the death penalty for Yoon on charges of incitement, with a verdict expected on February 19.
While the death penalty remains legally in force in South Korea, it has not been carried out for nearly 30 years.
Yoon’s actions previously alarmed international investors and led to withheld investments, damaging the reputation of South Korea as a political and economic model for the region.
Since last summer, South Korea has been led by President Lee Jae Myung, a left-leaning centrist and long-time political rival of Yoon. (dpa/NAN)
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JUST IN; Imam that famously shielded 262 Christians from death during Plateau attack is dead
JUST IN; Imam that famously shielded 262 Christians from death during Plateau attack is dead
The Imam of Nghar village, Abubakar Abdullahi in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, who famously sheltered 262 Christians during communal violence, has passed away.
The Imam’s Son Saleh Abubakar, confirmed the development to Daily Trust on Friday, saying that the cleric died on Thursday night at the Plateau Specialist Hospital in Jos.
The Son said, his father “died ten days after he was admitted” in the hospital.
“He was initially diagnosed with a heart problem. He’d go for check-ups and return. His health hadn’t been stable since the heart disease diagnosis.”
Imam Abubakar died at the age of 90. He is survived by 19 children – 12 sons and seven daughters.
Tecall that in June 2018, during violent, faith-based communal clashes that affected 10 villages in Barkin Ladi, Imam Abubakar sheltered 262 Christians in his mosque and residence until the violence subsided, saving them from certain death.
His courage earned him widespread recognition, including the International Religious Freedom Award presented by the United States Department of State in 2019.
The late cleric will be laid to rest on Friday (today) in Nghar village after the Juma’at prayers.
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