Politics
Presidency Confirms New Minimum Wage Review for Workers
The presidency has officially confirmed that plans are underway to alter the current national minimum wage configuration because the current economic situation has made the baseline salary unsustainable.
Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, made this disclosure while speaking in Abuja on Thursday during an event organized by a group called Working People United.
According to the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, the present N70,000 threshold established under President Bola Tinubu’s administration in 2024 is no longer capable of meeting the practical economic demands faced by citizens across the nation.
Addressing the gathering, the president’s representative pointed out that the current fiscal environment necessitates a thorough re-evaluation of what constitutes a living baseline for Nigerian workers. Nigerian Business Directory
He noted that the “N70,000 wage, which was a milestone in 2024 must be honestly reassessed against today’s realities,” signaling a strong commitment from the executive arm to reopen discussions surrounding statutory labor compensation.
Gbajabiamila assured organized labor groups that the administration does not view workers as adversaries but rather as key contributors to the progress of the country.
He emphasized that the government plans to approach the upcoming negotiations with a high level of empathy and cooperation.
“I can confirm to you that when the time comes to begin the process of reviewing the national minimum wage, this administration will approach that endeavor not as an adversary of Labour, but as a partner,” he said.
He further re-iterated the commitment of the president to human capital development and fair treatment of the workforce.
“President Tinubu has said time and again that the custodians of the nation’s machinery deserve a fair and commensurate wage, and as you all well know by now, this is the president who means precisely what he says and does exactly what he means,” Gbajabiamila stated, defending the president’s record on labor issues.
While urging trade unions and workers to maintain a peaceful posture, the Chief of Staff maintained that sustainable national growth requires an ongoing collaboration rather than perpetual conflict.
He mentioned that “It must be said that good governance is not a performance stage by government for the benefit of a passive audience, it’s a partnership between those who govern and those who are governed.”
He also emphasized that the relationship between the ruling political class and the working population remains the most crucial foundation for industrial harmony.
“No where is that partnership more vital than the relationship between government and the working people of Nigeria,” he added.
Concluding his address, the former lawmaker appealed directly to union leaders to choose the path of dialogue over strikes and industrial actions, which often cripple the national economy.
“It is with this understanding in mind that I ask the leaders of organized labour and the members of working people united to remain what you have so often been at your finest, partners in progress rather than antagonist in perpetuity, let us choose to dialog over disruption, because as we have proved again and again, we achieve far more when we visit together than when we retreat, retreat to our separate corners,” Gbajabiamila remarked.
In a related development, Politics Nigeria earlier reported that civil servants under the umbrella of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) have already intensified pressure on the government, demanding a substantial increase to cushion the effects of inflation.
Organized labor has repeatedly argued that the current purchasing power of public servants has severely deteriorated, making an early review of the minimum wage structure inevitable. Nigerian News Subscription
A recent ruling by a Federal High Court in Lokoja has overturned a previous judgment that required the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to officially register the Nigeria Democratic Congress as a recognized political party.
The decision, delivered on Friday by Justice Isah Dashen, has significant implications for the political landscape in Nigeria.
The court’s announcement was communicated on the same day via a social media update by Lere Olayinka, who serves as the media aide to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
This ruling arrives at a critical juncture for several established opposition parties in Nigeria, many of which are grappling with profound internal challenges. Notable among these parties are the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Accord Party, both of which have been struggling to maintain their political relevance.
In a related development, POLITICS NIGERIA reports that a different Federal High Court in Abuja recently issued orders for the deregistration of the ADC, the Accord Party, and three additional political associations.
This directive was a result of a lawsuit initiated by the National Forum of Former Legislators, which asserted that these parties had failed to meet the constitutional requirements necessary for their continued registration.
According to Nigerian electoral law, political parties are mandated to secure a minimum of 25 percent of the votes in at least one state during presidential elections or to win at least one elective position at the national, state, or local government levels in order to remain registered with INEC.
The court found that these identified parties had underperformed, failing to meet these crucial benchmarks during both the 2023 elections and subsequent by-elections, which raises questions about their future viability in the country’s political arena.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi State has taken disciplinary action by suspending its State Chairman, Abubakar Kana-Zuru, along with the Chairman of Zuru Local Government Area, Aliyu Abiola.
This decision follows recent concerns about the party’s performance in the Zuru State Constituency by-election.
The suspension was communicated through an official statement from the APC State Secretary, Sa’idu Muhammad Kimba, which was shared with journalists in Birnin Kebbi. The statement highlights that the decision was made in response to complaints from stakeholders within the Zuru Emirate.
They expressed dissatisfaction with the actions of the suspended officials, citing a lack of engagement with party activities, ineffective mobilisation of supporters, and failure to adhere to established party protocols.
An internal review and investigation corroborated the concerns raised by stakeholders, leading to the suspension of the officials involved.
As part of the measures taken, Kana-Zuru was suspended, with the Deputy State Chairman directed to assume leadership of the party in an acting capacity pending further directives.
Abiola was also suspended from his position as APC Chairman of Zuru LGA.
In a related development, Governor Nasir Idris has approved the suspension of the Commissioner for Livestock Development and Fisheries, Kabir Zuru.
A statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Yakubu Bala-Tafida, revealed that the suspension takes immediate effect and will remain in force until further notice.
The statement directed the commissioner to hand over all government property and official responsibilities under his custody to the permanent secretary of the ministry pending further action.
Political observers and party stakeholders have linked the suspensions to the outcome of the Zuru State Constituency by-election, which recorded a low voter turnout despite the APC retaining the seat.
Official figures indicated that out of more than 109,000 registered voters in the constituency, only about 5,000 participated in the election.
The APC has not indicated how long the suspensions will last.
However, all efforts made to reach the suspended officials proved abortive, as calls placed to their phone lines and messages sent to them were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.
Senator Garba Maidoki, who represents the Kebbi South Senatorial District, has officially changed his political affiliation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
This announcement was made during a Senate session on Tuesday, when Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin read the letter detailing Maidoki’s defection.
In his letter, Maidoki expressed that his decision was motivated by concerns regarding recent developments within the APC, highlighting issues of alleged injustice and ongoing internal conflicts within the ruling party.
His words: “I am writing to inform Your Excellency, the President of the Senate, and the distinguished colleagues of my defection from the All Progressives Congress APC to the African Democratic Congress ADC.
“My decision is based on the lingering internal crisis of the APC that has made my political inspiration a source of concern. I believe that the ideas of the ADC are better for the benefit of my senatorial district and Nigeria at large.
“The All Progressives Congress APC has not exhibited its slogan as justice, peace, and unity, especially in Kebbi State during the just concluded primary elections.
“It is in this regard therefore that I wish to inform you of my defection to the African Democratic Congress which I believe guarantees my political aspiration.”
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