Spotlights
Minimum wage – Organized labour’s N497,000 demand unrealistic – Presidency
THE Presidency has said that the N497,000 demand by the organized labour as new minimum wage is unrealistic and advised the labour to be serious in its demand.
The Presidency also said that what should be paramount to arriving at the new minimum wage by the Tripartite Committee on the new minimum wage should be the availability of resources to pay whatever is agreed upon
Speaking exclusively to Vanguard in an interview in Abuja, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, noted that the governments both at the federal and states have a bloated workforce.
Recall that the organized labour had made a demand of N615,000 minimum wage but later reduced the demand to N500,000 and then N497,000, while the government and the private sector in the last Tripartite meeting increased their offer to N57,000.
Fielding question on whether the recent N497,000 wage demand by the organized labour is outrageous, he said, “Well, it’s very simple. I think the demand is outrageous. If you ask Mr. Ajaero or our brother who is the President of the TUC, Osifo how much do they pay their drivers or their lowest paid workers, how much do they pay their cleaners, can they pay them N500,000, can they pay them N615,000. It’s unrealistic.
“We have bloated civil service at all levels. Government is keeping them as a social service, because it doesn’t have other jobs for them.
“The last time someone gave the census of the federal civil servants, they are said to be about 50,000. I am not talking about the police, army or those employed by some agencies. I am talking about the hardcore civil servants.
“If you visit the Federal Secretariat, you will see them milling round.
“You do not expect much productivity from them. Yet these are people Ajaero wants the Federal Government to pay N615,000.
“At the moment, what government is spending on recurrent expenditure, is too high . I don’t foresee any government either the federal, state or local government council spending spending all its money just to pay workers.
“There are still people who are self employed, people who are doing their own businesses to whom government has responsibility to do roads, provide healthcare, provide education and others. So, Labour should be realistic.
“From what I have seen so far, they are unserious, unrealistic with their outlandish demand. I know that what the President has been promising is not just a minimum wage but a living wage.
“It’s too early now to say this is what government will agree to. But I think they are still negotiating. In the coming weeks, they will agree on a figure and then announce it to the Nigerian people.
“Then we have to be worried whether the states have the earning power to pay whatever the minimum wage agreed on because some states found it difficult to pay the old minimum wage of N30,000.
“I read a few days ago that Zamfara state government which failed to pay the N30,000 current minimum wage announced that they will pay.. If some states have not paid minimum wage announced by President Muhammadu Buhari five years ago, it is an indication that the states will also fail the new minimum wage. So labour needs to be realistic.
“In my own view, I think what labour should be talking about is how to make affordable housing available, how to reduce transport cost, how to make food cheap and affordable to our people because by the time you spend less money on food, less money on transport, education and other things, the earning power will improve. I don’t believe in quantum of money, it will not solve the problem.
“We have seen all the wage increases in the past. They ended up creating more frustration to the workers.”
Asked if President Bola Tinubu will rejig his cabinet as the government marks one year in office on May 29, he said that such is not considered presently.
He said, “I don’t have any information about that. The President instead of approving a lavish anniversary, asked the ministers to go out and give their scorecards.
“Some of them have done so . We started on Thursday and Friday and we are taking more ministers on Monday . It will run until we exhaust all the major ministers who have stories to tell, who have score cards to present.
“I am not aware whether the President is entertaining removing some ministers. Don’t forget, those ministers are not one year old, they came in I think late August and they have barely spent nine months or so in the government.
“The President would want to give them some time to really show whether they are performing or not.”
Further asked his personal assessment and whether the ministers have lived up to their responsibilities, he said a good number of the cabinet members have so far discharged their responsibilities creditably.
According to him, “Many of them have done wonderfully well. All of them cannot be on the same level. It depends on what you are doing in your ministry, the kind of subjects you are superintending and so on. But I can say many of them have done well, many of them have been eager to implement the President 8-Point Agenda as it relates to the work they are doing in their ministries. I can say many of them have done well”
Asked how much he would suggest as a fair minimum wage to workers, he insisted that that should be based on the available resources to the government.
He said, “It depends on the purse of government. The government knows how much money is available and how much it can afford. If I want to make my own suggestion, I will say anything from N75,000, anything between N70,000 and N80,000. But the real test is affordability and sustainability by all tiers of government and the private sector.”
On the claims by the organized labour that any amount less than N77,000 is wage reduction, Mr. Onanuga, said the current minimum wage still remained N30,000, adding that any other thing is palliative approved by the government.
He said, “You are talking about workers collecting wage award. The wage award is a temporary thing, it’s a palliative, it’s not permanent, so you cannot say it’s part of the salary, the salary they are being paid is about N30,000.
“Government has to look at its purse, look at what the private sector can pay, look at what states can pay, that’s why they call it a Tripartite Committee. They will look at the figure and say we can afford this or we cannot afford this, that’s how I think it should go.”
Source: Allafrica.com
The Minister of Works, David Umahi has said that the Federal Government is ready to negotiate the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra.
Umahi said Kanu’s release should not be used as a condition for any form of political support.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos on Friday, the Minister said the release of Kanu should not be used as a bait for the support of President Bola Tinubu by the people of the Southeast region.
“Somebody asked me about Nnamdi Kanu, and I said his matter is not a condition for the South East to support the President.
“We are willing to negotiate his release, but no one should make it a condition because the President did not put him there,” Umahi said.
According to Umahi, the IPOB leader’s release would come through divine intervention and dialogue with the appropriate authorities.
“President Tinubu may not be perfect, but he is doing most things right. Look at where he picked up the economy from.
“The international community has confidence in his reforms. That is why we are getting support for our projects,” Umahi said.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has launched a blistering verbal attack on veteran journalist, Dele Momodu, questioning his credibility and recounting personal anecdotes meant to discredit the Ovation Magazine publisher.
Wike, who is known for his no-holds-barred style of political engagement, made the scathing remarks in response to Dele Momodu’s recent criticisms of his political maneuverings and conduct in national discourse. Momodu had taken to various platforms to question Wike’s style of governance and political allegiances, accusing him of playing double standards in the evolving dynamics of the opposition landscape.
In a fiery rebuttal, Wike declared: “Dele Momodu does not have any credibility. He came to my house and stayed for some weeks. When he’s eating, food will be falling down from one side of his mouth.”
Wike’s comments, laced with mockery and disdain, appeared designed to publicly humiliate the respected journalist and undermine his moral standing. The minister’s comments are already making waves across the political and media circles, sparking fresh controversy around the FCT Minister’s confrontational rhetoric.
This outburst adds to the growing list of public figures Wike has confronted head-on, further cementing his image as a political strongman who spares no words when responding to dissent.
Observers have described Wike’s attack as both personal and unnecessary, noting that the dispute could have been addressed through more civil and policy-focused dialogue rather than character assassination.
Meanwhile, Dele Momodu is yet to issue a formal response to Wike’s statement, but insiders suggest that he may address the issue in his next column or media appearance.
As the drama unfolds, Nigerians are once again reminded of the widening gulf between political actors and public commentators, where personal relationships often give way to brutal political vendettas.
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has denied joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to Naija News, Adeleke reaffirmed his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Recall that rumours had emerged on Friday after claiming that the Osun state governor has concluded plans to dump the PDP and contest for his re-election in the APC.
But in a statement to Naija News on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke noted with concern the widespread rumour.
He reassured his supporters and admirers that he remains a member of the PDP and the leader of the party in the state.
Governor Adeleke, who restated his preoccupation with the implementation of the administration’s five point agenda, urged Osun people to ignore fake news, promising more delivery of good governance and democratic dividends.
“I assure the good people of Osun that I remain part and parcel of the PDP family. I am not defecting to any party”, the governor was quoted as clarifying.
Governor Adeleke, alongside his elder brother Deji Adeleke and Afrobeats star David Adeleke, also known as Davido, had recently met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at his Lagos State residence some weeks back.
Former Interior Minister and Interim National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rauf Aregbesola, has appealed to party supporters to refrain from engaging in any form of altercation with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a post shared on his X account on Friday, the former Osun State Governor urged supporters of the coalition-backed party not to fight, attack, or insult anyone, but to challenge them with facts about the state of the country.
”I sincerely thank our supporters and members of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, who came out to receive me on my arrival in Lagos.
”The task before us is immense, and I reminded everyone that we do not need to fight, insult, or attack anyone. When others resort to abuse or name-calling, we must rise above it. Instead, ask them one simple question: Are Nigerians better off today than they were before?
”Challenge them with facts – on food inflation, the economy, the rising cost of living, and the deepening poverty affecting millions. Let our debates remain focused on the issues that matter.
”Articulate our position clearly and confidently. Explain why our new political home, the ADC, represents a credible and necessary alternative for Nigeria’s progress and long-term sustainability,” he said
Aregbesola was once a political ally of President Bola Tinubu, a relationship that dates back to 1999 when Tinubu was governor of Lagos State. They fell apart in 2022 when Tinubu’s nephew, Gboyega Oyetola, who succeeded Aregbesola, was running for a second term in Osun State on the platform of the APC.
Aregbesola’s political group, ‘Omoluabi’, failed to support Oyetola’s candidacy, but rallied behind Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Consequently, Oyetola lost his re-election bid to Adeleke.
At least five serving governors are expected to defect to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), now the platform for Nigeria’s newly formed opposition coalition, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It is understood that the ADC is leveraging the internal crisis within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to attract aggrieved governors.
According to one source, a former senator from Katsina State, five governors from the PDP have already given their word but are waiting for what he described as “the end of Wike’s drama in the PDP” before making public moves. He added that discussions with some All Progressives Congress (APC) governors also began as far back as a year ago, and those talks are still active.
The source said, “Five PDP governors have given us their commitment; they are going to join us, but they want to see the end of Wike’s drama in the PDP. Hopefully, we will meet them by the end of their next convention and review things.
“What people don’t know is that some of the governors, including those in the APC, are supporting us. We started this coalition planning 18 months ago, and some APC governors were contacted about a year ago. So, they are with us, but I won’t tell you any names.”
Another source close to one of the coalition leaders, a former governor, confirmed that conversations are ongoing with seven governors across party lines and regions. While declining to reveal names, the source said the governors are from both northern and southern parts of the country and are being carefully engaged to avoid political backlash.
“Why are you interested in knowing the governors we’re talking to? You want us to put everything we’re doing on the pages of a newspaper? No! But I can tell you that we are talking to seven governors, and they are from the southern and northern parts of the country,” the source said.
The move comes just days after key opposition leaders—including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Senate President David Mark—publicly adopted the ADC as the platform for the coalition that aims to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
At a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, David Mark was announced as the Interim National Chairman of the ADC, while former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, was named Interim Secretary.
The launch of the coalition was attended by major political figures from both the APC and PDP. Former APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, former Attorney General Abubakar Malami, and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi were among those who renounced their membership of the APC and pledged allegiance to the ADC. From the PDP, former National Chairman Uche Secondus, former Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal, and former governors of Jigawa, Cross River, Benue, Imo, Niger, and Ebonyi States—Sule Lamido, Liyel Imoke, Gabriel Suswam, Emeka Ihedioha, Babangida Aliyu, and Sam Egwu—have also joined the coalition.
Labour Party senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe, was also present at the unveiling event.
Asked to comment on the governors expected to join the movement, the immediate past National Chairman of the ADC, Ralph Nwosu, declined to offer details, saying the matter was “top secret” and would not be made public at this stage.
“That is a top-secret matter. You can’t hear it from me. If you ask about other matters regarding the coalition, you are very welcome,” he said.
The developments come just weeks after Dr. Sani Dawop, an ADC chieftain in Plateau State, revealed in an interview with Trust TV that six to seven APC governors were already quietly funding the opposition coalition in protest against the direction of the Tinubu-led administration.
“There are a lot of issues happening, and even within the APC, there are those who are not happy with the way things are going,” Dawop had said.
The Rivers State Women Association of Nigeria (RIVSWAN) has condemned what it described as an “unwarranted and malicious attack” by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, against former First Lady of Rivers State, Dame Judith Amaechi.
The group, through its acting president, Ichechi Welendu, was reacting to a recent claim made by the FCT Minister on a national television programme, where he alleged that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was paying Dame Amaechi ₦4 billion monthly to train Niger Delta women.
In a strongly worded statement, RIVSWAN described Wike’s claims as “baseless falsehoods driven by bitterness, ignorance, and a worrying lack of self-restraint.” The group called on the general public to disregard what it termed “a concocted story fueled by personal vendetta and misinformation.”
“The entire allegation is not only laughable but an embarrassment to public discourse,” said Welendu. “It reflects either a gross misunderstanding of the NDDC’s budgetary structure or a deliberate effort to smear the name of a respected woman of substance.”
Welendu praised Dame Judith Amaechi’s legacy, citing her philanthropic work through the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) — a non-governmental organisation that has reportedly supported girl-child education and women’s empowerment across the region.
The association said the former first lady had spent her resources to uplift women in the Niger Delta and should not be subjected to public ridicule based on unfounded accusations.
The group also condemned Wike’s remarks on live television, describing them as a “slap on the face of Rivers women” and a “disgraceful abuse of national platforms.”
They challenged the FCT Minister to publicly present documents backing his claims or withdraw the statement.
“Dame Judith Amaechi is a moral compass, a gospel preacher, and a champion of good governance,” the group declared. “Her support for her husband, former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, during his era of infrastructural transformation is well documented.”
RIVSWAN warned that failure by Wike to back up his allegations with proof could lead to “legitimate actions, including peaceful protests across Rivers State.” The group further urged President Bola Tinubu to caution the Minister, saying his “unguided utterances are unbecoming of a federal cabinet member.”
In closing, the women reaffirmed their support for Dame Judith Amaechi, describing her as a “pillar of progress and a matriarch of the Rivers women’s movement.”
“Her contributions helped restore Rivers State to its cherished status as the Garden City. We stand with her,” Welendu concluded.
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