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FG to spend N3tn on new minimum wage, pensions, gratuities

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FG to spend N3tn on new minimum wage, pensions, gratuities

FG to spend N3tn on new minimum wage, pensions, gratuities

 

 

The Federal Government is set to spend N3tn on the new minimum wage and the payment of pensions and gratuities.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, disclosed this on Friday during a meeting with the Senate Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Olamilekan Adeola.

The minister presented the general principles of the newly amended 2024 budget to the committee at the meeting.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu had, after a meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress on Thursday, approved a new minimum wage of N70,000 for Nigerian workers. The president also pledged to review the national minimum wage law every three years.

 

 

 

The National Assembly, in both chambers, had on Wednesday passed for first and second readings an amendment of N6.2tn to the 2024 budget, increasing the budget size to N33.7tn.

In a letter to the Senate, read in plenary by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu sought the withdrawal of N3.2tn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for capital expenditure. Additionally, he requested another N3tn for additional recurrent expenditure for the year ending on December 31, 2024.

For expeditious consideration, the Senate gave the requests presented as executive bills, first and second readings, and mandated its committees on Appropriations and Finance to inject more legislative inputs and report back within a week. In his lead debate on the Appropriation Amendment Bill, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, said the amendment sought to authorise the issuance of N3.2tn for capital expenditure and N3tn for recurrent expenditure from the consolidated fund. He explained that this would help fund capital infrastructure development, education, healthcare access, and public welfare initiatives.

 

 

 

Senator Adamu Aliero supported the bills, citing the need to fund the expected minimum wage for workers. Senator Adams Oshiomhole emphasised the necessity of funding the personnel costs arising from the minimum wage adjustment. He stressed that the increase in personnel expenditure must be legally backed to prevent financial shortfalls.

During the Friday meeting with the Senate Committee on Appropriations, the minister noted that the new budget additions would not be funded by loans but by an already reserved profit.

Bagudu explained that priorities were given to projects that would open up roads for investments and emergencies, while other road projects would be addressed in subsequent batches. He highlighted the country’s historical underinvestment in infrastructure as a root cause of recent problems and commended President Tinubu for addressing the infrastructure deficit.

Bagudu assured that the Federal Executive Council would continue to approve funding for other road projects as funds become available. He provided a sectoral overview of the N3.2tn for the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Projects and the N3tn increase in the recurrent component of the budget.

Senator Adeola affirmed the government’s capacity to finance the 2024 budget and requested a detailed breakdown of the N6.2tn approval.

This breakdown, to be submitted next week, will be debated by both chambers of the National Assembly. Senate Spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, confirmed that ministries, departments, and agencies would defend their budget allocations before the relevant Senate committees.

The recurrent budget of N3tn will fund the minimum wage, pensions, and gratuities, while the capital component of N3.2tn will augment existing road projects on state and federal routes, including coastal roads, the Sokoto-Badagry road, railway construction, and dam irrigation.

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THIS MUFTWANG HAS MUCH TO LEARN by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode

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PRESIDENT IBRAHIM BADAMASI BABANGIDA: AN IRREPRESIBLE ENIGMA AND ENDURING INSTITUTION by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode.

THIS MUFTWANG HAS MUCH TO LEARN by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode

 

Caleb Muftwang, the Governor of Plateau, made a grave mistake by hosting the Ambassador of Israel, an ethno-fascist, genocidal, child-killing, terrorist & apartheid nation in his state. I watched the show of shame & almost threw up.

 

As a Christian how does this Muftwang feel about receiving mass murderers, ethnic cleansers & religious bigots in his official residence?

 

 

More importantly, as a human being, how can he sleep at night after doing this?

 

 

Outside of that does he not know about the role that Israel & her strongest allies are playing in the killings in the North & even in his own state?

 

 

 

Does he not know who is really behind the terrorists that have plagued our nation both North & South?

 

 

Does he not know who is really benefiting from the carnage & land-grabbing?

 

Does he not know that their objective is to plunge us into a civil & religious war whilst they pick up the pieces?

 

 

 

Someone tell him to ask his Zionist friends who created, founded, funds and arms ISIS, ISWAP, Boko Haram, Al Shabab, Al Qaeda & virtually every other terrorist organisation in the world.

 

 

Tell him to ask them who uses these evil forces to divide, destabilise & destroy the foreign nations which they seek to control & dominate.

 

 

 

Tell him to ask them why none of the terrorist organisations mentioned above have EVER attacked Israel or targetted the Israelis?

 

 

Tell him to ask them who funded and sold arms to the Biafrans more than anyone else during our civil war.

 

 

 

 

Tell him to ask them how African Jews from Ethiopia (known as the Falashas) that are seeking to become Israeli nationals are treated in the Zionist state and how they are subjected to and injected with strange and toxic chemicals in order to prevent them from having children and “contaminating” the white/European bloodline of the non-semitic Ashkazi Jews that rule that dark and accursed country.

 

 

 

 

Receiving the emissary of an insensitive & callous beast, a bloodthirsty tyrant, a feral psychopath & a delusional meglomaniac like Bibi Netanyahu & showering accolades on him is an insult to the martyred women & children of Gaza & a big slap on the face of those that are fighting Israeli occupation in Palestine.

 

 

Worst still in doing so the Governor has inflicted a deep spiritual wound on himself & his Government.

 

 

Bringing a Jewish snake into your house will not help you to solve your problems in Plateau state no matter what they promise to do for you: it will only make them worse.

 

 

As they say, “beware of the Greeks, especially when they bring gifts!” The Trojans learnt this lesson the hard way! Let us hope the same fate does not befall you.

 

Meanwhile did your guest tell you that they spit on Christians in his country?

 

 

 

Did he tell you that according to their holy book known as the Talmud, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was a liar and a rogue and is now burning in hell whilst swimming in a pool of human faeces?

 

 

 

Did he tell you that they discriminate against both Christians and Muslims and that they detain and slaughter them like flies?

 

 

 

 

I learnt that the day after he left Plateau state no less than 100 more people were killed by the terrorists: why am I not surprised?

 

 

 

This Muftwang has much to learn!

 

 

(Chief Femi Fani-Kayode is the Sadaukin Shinkafi, the Wakilin Doka Potiskum, the Otunba Joga Orile, a former Minister of Culture and Tourism, a former Ministerof Aviation and a former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Olusegun Obasanjo)

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Panic in Lagos as Beheaded Body, Second Corpse Found in Idimu

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Panic in Lagos as Beheaded Body, Second Corpse Found in Idimu

Panic in Lagos as Beheaded Body, Second Corpse Found in Idimu

Tension enveloped the Idimu area of Lagos State on Sunday following the gruesome discovery of two lifeless male bodies, one of which was found beheaded along Oladun Road.

The chilling discovery, made in the early hours of Sunday morning, drew a crowd of shocked residents and passersby, many of whom gathered at the scene in disbelief. The bodies, which were lying several meters apart, were believed to have been killed late Saturday night.

One of the victims was identified by residents as “Baba Oja,” a well-known figure in the community. “We woke up to see their lifeless bodies on the road this morning. We cannot immediately identify the one with a severed head but the other person is Baba Oja. He was popular and often seen directing traffic for flashy cars at the Council bus stop,” said Lanre Ajao, a resident.

Another local, Jamiu Raji, pointed to signs of a targeted killing, suggesting possible cult-related violence. “This wasn’t just a random fight. The nature of the killings points to a cult attack. Things like this don’t usually happen here, which is why everyone is shaken.”

The second victim was later identified as another community member, though his name remained unknown at the time of this report.

Residents also expressed concern over the delayed response from authorities. The corpses reportedly remained unattended for nearly ten hours before police operatives arrived at the scene.

Adding to the tension, a resident who requested anonymity alleged that families of the deceased were forced to pay money before being allowed to retrieve the bodies.

Efforts to reach the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, were unsuccessful. Calls and messages went unanswered as of the time of filing this report.

The incident has reignited fears of renewed cult clashes in Lagos, reminiscent of similar recent killings in Mushin and the Lantoro area of Abeokuta, believed to be linked to long-standing rivalry between the Aiye and Eiye confraternities.

As investigations continue, the community is left grappling with fear and unanswered questions over the brutal killings.

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Barrister Olakunle Afolabi Joins NASRE As Legal Adviser

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Barrister Olakunle Afolabi Joins NASRE As Legal Adviser

 

The Nigerian Association of Social and Resourceful Editors (NASRE) has officially appointed Barrister Olakunle Afolabi, Esq. as its new Legal Adviser.

In a letter addressed to the Lagos-based lawyer, NASRE commended Afolabi’s legal brilliance and steadfast commitment, especially for his fearless defense of four journalists in their recent legal battle against Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO).

Barrister Olakunle Afolabi Joins NASRE As Legal Adviser

“Your performance reminded us that integrity still breathes within Nigeria’s legal system,” the association stated.

In response, Afolabi expressed gratitude and pledged to serve NASRE with a sense of duty that transcends financial compensation.

Barrister Olakunle Afolabi Joins NASRE As Legal Adviser

“I am truly honoured by this trust. My service to NASRE will be guided not by monetary gain, but by a deep commitment to press freedom, justice, and the rule of law,” he said.

The President, NASRE, Mr. Femi Oyewale applauded the legal luminary for his acceptance to be the Legal Adviser for the association, noting that, the group didn’t take this gesture for granted.

Stating that the group will leverage on his extensive knowledge of the law, to carry out its civic duties legally and professionally, he assured him NASRE support to ensure he excel in this role.

Afolabi, principal at Kunle Afolabi Legal Practitioners, is widely known for his constitutional expertise and advocacy for human rights. His portfolio includes work with Huawei, MTN, Dangote Agrosacks, and notable pro bono service with Avocats Sans Frontières.

NASRE described him as a “fearless defender of human rights” whose legal mind and moral compass align with the association’s mission to defend media freedom and protect journalists.

With Afolabi now on board one of the association’s legal adviser, NASRE says it is confident that its legal and ethical backbone are in the right hands.

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