Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State Tuesday said that the new
N30,000 minimum wage in the actual sense cannot take workers home
due to the prevailing economic situation in the country.
The Governor also said that what Nigeria needed presently was
not strong men rather strong institutions to ensure growth and
stability.
This is as the organized labour has said that it would amount to
wickedness for any state governor not to pay the new minimum wage
of N30,000 and threatened to put the governors on their toes to
ensure that they pay the new wage.
The organized labour has also berated policies of the federal
government, saying that its only working policy was the gathering
in Abuja every month to share monthly allocations.
Both Governor Obaseki and the leaders of the organized labour
spoke at the 7th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the
Non-Academic Staff Unions of Educational and Associated
Institutions, NASU, in Abuja.
Speaking at the conference, with the theme, “Funding Education,
Health, Research Institutions and Other Social Services in a
Depressed Economy: Challenges and Prospects”, Governor Obaseki said
that presently, Edo State was paying N25,000 introduced by his
predecessor when the national minimum wage was N18,00, adding that
paying N30,000 would not pose any problem to the state.
He said, “I want to assure you, due to the work my predecessor
in office did, we have currently the minimum wage of N25,000 in Edo
state, so moving to N30,000 is not going to be a big thing for us
at all.
“For me personally, I don’t think the emphasis should be on
N30,000 minimum wage, the emphasis should be on improving the
environment in which workers work such that they can be more
productive and justify what we pay. N30,000 you can agree with me
cannot take workers home.
“So what we should be angling for is to demonstrate that workers
are producing much more they are being paid and on the basis of
that, demand a fairer share of what they are producing. We must
continue to insist that education is key, not only for the
development of human capital, but also for attractive citizenry
poised to the development of our community and country at large.
“
The Governor also said that for the country to develop, what it
required was strong institutions and not strongmen.
According to him, “For our country to survive, we must begin to
think on how to strengthen our institutions, be it educational,
health, research or social services. What is key for us for our
development is to make sure that we have strong institutions.
“Nigeria does not need strong men, what it needs are strong
institutions. Strong institutions are the cornerstone of any stable
government and for institution to function optimally; it must be
guaranteed stable and assured funding.
“Funding of education, healthcare and research institution and
other social services are critical functions of the state and that
function must be prioritized because it is conditional to the
organization and development of the state.
“In the quest of the need to build strong institution, we are
constantly faced with the concern over the insufficiency of funding
which is required to guarantee optimal effectiveness and service
delivery. Our reality is that government particularly the federal
government no longer has the requirements to meet its
responsibilities.
“So for us to work with the insufficiency resources that are
available to deliver results to our people, we need to think more
creatively and more innovatively and reach out to other sources of
capital for government to function. Any government that believes
that it can do it itself, it can carry out the total function on
its own today is only deceiving itself.”
President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba
in his remarks said that the congress had come up with strategies
for the enforcement of the new N30,000 minimum wage by state
governments.
Comrade Wabba who was represented by the Deputy National
President of NLC, Comrade Amaechi Asuguni said, “Let me use this
opportunity to call on the state governors and the employers of
labour to make haste to implement the new minimum wage. On behalf
of Nigeria Labour Congress, we are here to ensure that state
governors comply with payment of the new minimum wage.
“Strategies are already on by NLC ant TUC, they are giving close
monitoring in ensuring that no state will fail to comply with
payment of the new minimum wage and we are willing to do everything
legitimately in order in ensuring that we put them on their toes in
putting welfare of the workers as priority. There is no state in
Nigeria that will say N30,000 is too much for workforce. We are
more than that and we believe, he who has put in his best deserves
his wage.”
He said that the leadership of the Congress will continue to
stand strong with members of its affiliate unions including NASU as
he commended the tenacity of members of the union who have
continued to give their best despite the challenges surrounding the
economy.
The National President of NASU, Chris Ani in his welcome address
took a swipe at the governments at all levels in the country,
describing them as bunch of lazy people.
He said, “The statement that Nigeria’s economy remains in a
state of comatose as a result of over-reliance on revenue from oil
cannot be overemphasized. Governments at all levels in this country
have become extremely lazy in terms of fashioning out and
implementing policies that will grow the economy and bring about
real development of the nation.
“The only viable economic policy known to the federal and state
governments is the monthly convergence in Abuja by Ministers of
Finance, State Commissioners of Finance and other government
functionaries to share revenue from the federation account
generated through the sale of crude oil and taxation.
“This state of affairs continue to foist on the nation, economic
crisis, which governments at all levels hide under, to downplay the
role of the State, in favour of the role of markets in economic
development; attacks on collective bargaining and agreements; cut
on public expenditure on staff welfare; wage freezes/wage
stagnation; less protection for workers who are left at the mercies
of powerful employers including governments.
“Permit me to emphasise what has consistently been said that
Nigeria’s economy needs to be diversified and that economic policy
of governments must aim at grown and development. The policies must
have as its focus, the wellbeing of citizens.”
On taxation in the country, he said, “Workers have been
consigned by the Federal and State Governments, under the weight of
the burdened of over taxation. As if such burdens are not enough,
new tax burdens are introduced daily by the present Federal
Government. The increase in Value Added Tax and the increases in
the charges of withdrawals and deposits by the Central Bank of
Nigeria to say the least is very provocative to a workforce that is
already overburdened with excessive PAYE tax.
“The tax system in Nigeria is not broad base as it is very clear
that only workers pay taxes in this country. It is unacceptable
that the country is ever ready to give tax concessions and tax
holidays to business while increasing taxes that affect workers
adversely. The Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS)
has indicated government’s intention to cap it up with what he
calls communication tax because according to him, Nigerians talk a
lot.
“This mindless taxation is carried out to prove to Bretton Wood
Institutions and other foreign lenders, that the country can
internally generate sufficient revenue to settle the every
increasing foreign debt. We must rise as a movement to challenge
this insensitivity of Governments to the tax burden that is
crushing Nigerian workers.”
The NASU President while speaking on corruption in the country
said that it had remained a hydra-headed monster destroying the
economic, political and social fabrics of the nation.
He said, “It has become a way of life in the country, thereby
making a culture. Citizens are beginning to leave with the
impression that successive governments are only paying lip services
to the fight against corruption as it is beginning to look as if
successive governments are competing among themselves, to see which
one will be more corrupt that the other.
“It is a matter of great concern to us as a Union, that
institutions established to fight corruption and other crimes have
failed to adequately carry out the assignments for which they were
established.
“We call on the Federal Government to stop paying lip service to
the fight against corruption and develop the political will and
courage to tackle the issue of corruption. To us, giving political
appointments to persons who have pending cases of corruption in
court or have ever been indicted by any tribunal amounts to
administrative pardon.”
On insecurity, Ani said, “It is a core responsibility of every
government to secure the lives and property of its citizens.
Insecurity of lives and properties in Nigeria is symbolised by
resurgence of kidnappings for ransom and armed robberies, communal
clashes and persistent Boko Haram attacks among others.
“We are saddened that security agencies are beginning to show
symptoms of that they are losing the fight of securing lives and
properties in Nigeria. We call on the Federal Government to ensure
that money released to security agencies for the war against
insecurity is used for the purpose adequately and accounted
for.”
In his goodwill message, the national President of Academic
Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Prof, Biodun Ogunyemi decried
poor funding of education in the country.
He said, “Successive governments since we returned to civilian
rule in 1999 have played mere lip service to addressing the rots
and decay which permeate educational, health and research
institutes. For instance, the federal government budgetary
allocation to the education sector in the last five years has
hovered between five percent and seven percent at a time, Ghana,
Kenya, South Africa and Egypt were locating 20 percent or more.
“Apparently, Nigeria has performed far below the 2006
recommendation of the United Nations Educational Scientific and
Cultural Organization, within the education for all frameworks that
15 to 20 percent of the annual budget of every developing country
should be allocated to education. Worse still, nearly half of what
was allocated to Nigeria ever got released. “
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NAF Fabricates APU Test Stand for Aircraft
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has recorded another feat in the
area of Research and Development (R & D) as it has successfully
fabricated a GTCP85 Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) Test Stand for the
C-130H aircraft fleet. The local production of this Ground Support
Equipment (GSE), carried out by personnel at 631 Aircraft
Maintenance Depot (631 ACMD) Ikeja, is another innovative project
that would facilitate the operations of the C-130H fleet, thereby
enhancing its availability for logistics missions. The feat is
coming barely a month after the successful local production of the
hydraulic diaphragm for the L-39ZA aircraft fleet at the 403 Flying
Training School, Kano.
Speaking while commissioning the APU at the 631 ACMD today, 2
December 2019, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal
Sadique Abubakar, stated that the NAF had continued to develop
human capacity through robust and result oriented training that has
in turn had tremendous impact on its R&D efforts to develop
indigenous technological solutions to engineering and technical
problems. He said, in a bid to ensure the continued development of
local capacity, the NAF has entered into partnerships with a host
of local and international organizations as well as academic
institutions, including some Nigerian Universities. He said the
local production of the APU Test Stand was a product of these
initiatives and was in line with the commitment to reinforce the
culture of self-reliance through R&D.
The CAS therefore commended the Commander 631 ACMD, Air Vice
Marshal (AVM) Moses Onilede and his team for a job well done. “I am
equally happy to note that the equipment stands out among its kind.
The use of this equipment will save the nation huge foreign
exchange and has equally repositioned the Depot for better service
delivery. It is quite important to state that our modest
accomplishments so far have greatly enhanced the serviceability of
our aircraft holding, thereby enabling us to project Air Power not
only within our country but also beyond the shores of Nigeria. The
NAF thus stands ready to continue to fulfill its primary
responsibility whilst also providing aid to civil authority in
whatever roles that may from time to time be required,” he
assured.
Air Marshal Abubakar also implored aircraft engineers not to
rest on their oars but to continuously conduct research so as to
keep pace with technological advancements in the world with a view
to providing solutions to various challenges. “You would agree with
me that the world is ever-evolving, and that engineers play a
critical role in providing technological solutions to societal
problems. Engineers are therefore expected to work extra hard to
provide innovative solutions to make things happen by exploring a
good mix of knowledge with innovative ideas and creativity”, he
said. While thanking the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed
Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, the CAS stated that the various
achievements recorded by the NAF over the years would not have been
possible without the enabling environment and resources provided by
the Federal Government.
It would be recalled that upon the passing of the Air Force
Institute of Technology (AFIT) Bill and establishment of the Air
Force Research and Development Centre (AFRDC), the number of NAF’s
successful R &D breakthroughs has continued to increase. For
instance, the NAF was able to design and produce the first
indigenous operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle named ‘Tsaigumi’.
The NAF also acquired patent rights for the production of Hydraulic
Accumulation Diaphragm, which is a critical item required to
operate the Mi-35 helicopter gunship thereby boosting NAF
operational capabilities in the North East. Weaponization of some
A-Jet aircraft, L-39ZA, Bell 412, Agusta 109LUH, Mi-17 and EC-135
helicopters for deployment in the ground attack role were also
successfully carried out. Moreover, the Design and production of a
test bench for the Alpha Jet anti-skid system in collaboration with
the University of Maiduguri as well as the local repair of Alpha
Jet Engines by NAF Technicians are some of the giant leaps the NAF
had taken to conserve foreign exchange while ensuring maintenance
of capacity to perform the critical role of conducting air
operations in support of surface forces and in response to national
security imperatives.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commander 631 ACMD disclosed
that the APU test stand was fabricated by personnel who were
trained on equipment at the reactivated Machine Tools and
Structural Repair Workshops of the Unit. According to him, the APU
test stand is a unique Aircraft GSE designed to serve many purposes
such as ground power unit to supply electrical power for the
aircraft, air cart to produce bleed air to start aircraft engines
as well as test the C-130 generator. AVM Onilede further disclosed
that, with the Test stand, the capacity of 631 ACMD to maintain and
repair the APU has been greatly enhanced. The APU Test stand, the
Commander said, has been used to repair one unserviceable APU in
the Unit. He said most of the parts used to fabricate the test
stand were sourced locally while those requiring machining were
machined in the reactivated Machine Tools Workshop without any
foreign assistance. The Team that fabricated the APU was composed
mainly of young officers led by Flight Lieutenants Olajide Oyekunle
and Gabriel Onoh.
IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
………….
NAF GROUND TRAINING COMMAND HOLDS MAIDEN SEMINAR ON LAWS OF
ARMED CONFLICT
In view of the need to sustain the awareness among personnel on
the imperatives of strict observance of the Laws of Armed Conflict
(LOAC) during military operations as well as ensure Commanders
remain conversant with their responsibilities, the Nigerian Air
Force (NAF) Ground Training Command (GTC) today, 2 December 2019,
commenced its Maiden LOAC Seminar. The two-day Seminar, with the
theme “Observance of LOAC: A Panacea for Successful Military
Operations”, is holding at the 551 NAF Station Jos.
In his remarks during the opening ceremony, the Chief of the Air
Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who was represented by
the Air Secretary Headquarters NAF, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Mohammed
Ahmed, noted that one of the focal points of his vision is the
development of human capacity for enhanced professional
performance. This, he stated, was premised on the fact that he is a
firm believer that an individual can only give what he/she has and
a human being can only add value to society if he/she has what it
takes to do so. Besides, he observed that an individual’s value to
any community is substantially defined by how much knowledge and
capacity he/she has. He said this focus has had tremendous impact
on the ability of the Service to effectively discharge its
constitutional roles. “I am happy to note that we have made
substantial progress in the development of human capacity in all
specialties within the NAF. This Seminar is one case of such
efforts”, he said.
While recounting that the NAF Directorate of Legal Services had
organized a similar Seminar in March 2019, the CAS emphasized that
the GTC Seminar was aimed at further expanding the target audience
in the wake of increasing observations of human rights abuses
within the theatres of operation and their attendant negative
consequences on military operations. According to the CAS, “it has
become increasingly important to constantly remind ourselves on the
rules and regulations guiding the use of arms in crises situations
particularly during internal security operations”. Air Marshal
Abubakar, who expressed confidence in the calibre of resource
persons at the Seminar, urged participants to be broad minded and
come up with innovative ideas that would improve the observance of
human rights by the NAF in the performance of its constitutional
roles. He added that the NAF, in keeping with its usual practice,
would use the recommendations of the seminar to improve its
processes and procedures.
In his welcome address, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) GTC,
Air Vice Marshal Idi Amin, said the Command was aware that the
products from its various training institutions, particularly
Regiment and Special Forces personnel who are deployed mainly for
ground operations in various theatres of conflict within the
country, need to be equipped with requisite knowledge that would
guide their conduct. He said the Seminar was accordingly being held
to increase awareness among the personnel as well as create
consciousness among Commanders of their responsibilities with
respect to LOAC. He said the outcome of the Seminar would also be
used to enhance the training curricula of both the Military
Training Centre and the Regiment Training Centre. While thanking
the CAS for his guidance, support and visionary leadership, the AOC
pledged the commitment of the officers and airmen/airwomen of the
Command to continue contributing their quota towards the
accomplishment of the NAF’s Mission.
The first paper titled “Observance of the Law of Armed Conflict
During Military Operations” was delivered by AVM Ahmed and
discussed by Professor CJ Dakas of the University of Jos, Brig Gen
FJ Udaya (rtd) of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic
Studies (NIPSS) and Major AB Bello (rtd) of the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Other papers to be delivered
during the Seminar are “Command and Individual Responsibilities
during Asymmetric and Internal Security Operations” and “Ensuring
Human Rights and Public Trust during Military Operations in
Internal Security”. In attendance at the Seminar are Branch Chiefs
from Headquarters NAF, Air Officers Commanding as well as many
other senior military officers, both serving and retired, and
personnel from units under GTC.
IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force