Bangladesh Garment Workers Reject 56% Pay Rise

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November 7, 2023

Bangladesh raised the minimum monthly pay for the country’s four million garment workers by 56 per cent on Tuesday, a decision immediately rejected by unions seeking a near-tripling of the figure.

The South Asian country’s 3,500 garment factories account for around 85 per cent of its $55 billion in annual exports, supplying many of the world’s top fashion names including Levi’s, Zara and H&M.

But conditions are dire for many of the sector’s four million workers, the vast majority of whom are women whose monthly pay starts at 8,300 taka ($75).

Workers have gone on strike to demand a near-tripling of their wages, with violent scenes in recent days, while employers offered 25 per cent.

The minimum wage is fixed by a state-appointed board that includes representatives from the manufacturers, unions and wage experts.

“The new minimum monthly wage for garment factory workers has been fixed at 12,500 taka ($113),” Raisha Afroz, the board secretary added.

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The figure was immediately rejected by unions, which have been demanding a 23,000 taka minimum.

Unions say their members have been hard hit by persistent inflation, which in October reached nearly 10 per cent, and a cost of living crisis partly triggered by the taka depreciating about 30 per cent against the US dollar since early last year.

“This is unacceptable. This is below our expectations,” said Kalpona Akter, head of the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation.

The panel normally sits every five years and in 2018 raised the basic minimum from 5,000 taka to 8,000. Garment workers also get at least 300 taka per month as an attendance fee.

Earlier Tuesday, police fired tear gas at thousands of workers who set a bus on fire outside Dhaka, as tensions rose ahead of the announcement.

Police said violence broke out in the industrial city of Gazipur as about 6,000 workers walked out of their plants and staged protests.

According to the Police, around 600 factories that make clothing for many major Western brands were shuttered last week and scores were ransacked as the worst wage protest in a decade hit major industrial areas and a suburb of the capital.

Four factories were torched and at least two workers were killed in the violence, with tens of thousands of workers blocking highways and attacking factories.

The protests have coincided with separate violent demonstrations by opposition parties demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ahead of elections due in January.

FGN Savings Bonds Subscription Opens

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 7, 2023

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The Debt Management Office (DMO) has announced an offering for a two-year and three-year Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) savings bonds.

In a statement on Monday, DMO said the offers, which opened on November 6, 2023, will close by November 10, 2023, at N1000 per unit.

The agency said the first offer is a two-year FGN savings bond due on November 15, 2025, at an interest rate of 12.464 percent per annum.

DMO opens two FGN savings bonds for subscription at N1,000 per unit

The second issuance, DMO said, is a three-year savings bond maturing on November 15, 2026, at 13.464 percent per annum interest rate.

The organisation also said coupon payment dates are November 15, 2023, February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 2024, respectively.

“They are offered at N1,000 per unit subject to a maximum subscription of N5,000 and in multiples of N1,000 thereafter, subject to a maximum subscription of N50 million,” DMO said.

“Interest is payable quarterly and the bullet repayment (principal amount) is done on maturity.”

The debt office said the latest offers have a settlement date of November 15, 2023.

DMO said that FGN savings bonds were backed by the full faith and credit of the FGN and charged upon the general assets of the country.

The debt office said: “They qualify as securities in which trustees can invest under the trustee investment act.”

“They qualify as government securities within the meaning of the company income tax act (CITA) and personal income tax act (PITA) for tax exemption, pension funds, amongst other investors.”

The agency further said the savings bonds are also listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) and qualify as liquid assets for liquidity ratio calculation for banks.

Maritime Workers Reject Plans to Repeal Ports, Bill

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 7, 2023

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The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) branch of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC) have voiced their strong opposition to the proposed Ports and Harbour Bill in the National Assembly, which seeks to repeal the existing Act that established the NPA.

The two internal unions in the country’s marine sector issued the warning, saying that if the Bill becomes a law, it could threaten the security and the economy of the country and cause many Nigerians including NPA employees to lose their jobs.

At a joint briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, November 7, the President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Prince Adewale Adeyanju, and his NPA counterpart, Akinola Bodunde, claimed that some individuals were secretly introducing the Bill that the 8th National Assembly had rejected and discarded.

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They urged Nigerians to oppose the Bill, which they alleged was intended to appropriate and transfer national heritage to a small number of people.

According to them: “We wish to note that the bill if allowed to be passed into law, will have far-reaching grave consequences on the security of the nation as it will cede harbour, jetty and terminal operations into private hands.

“We are therefore not surprised that the bill is being vigorously sponsored by certain unpatriotic individuals within the maritime sector, who are hell-bent on appropriating our commonwealth and cornering same into the lining of their pockets and that of their cronies.

“We would have thought that given our persistent cry and various notices pointing to the deplorable state of our various nation’s seaports, decrepit state of port access roads, collapsing quay aprons, and the general failure of infrastructures within our ports.

“The focus of this 10 National Assembly would have been to find solutions to the myriad of problems bedevilling our ports, terminals, Jetties, and Oil and Gas platforms and even the need to dredge all the ports, particularly Calabar, Warri, Onne, etc for increased efficiency; and not to clandestinely and recklessly seek to misappropriate public infrastructure through unfriendly legislation for the benefit of individuals whose only interest is capital accumulation and not the general public.

“We are further surprised that the sponsors of this bill outrightly ignored our demand to call the International Oil Companies, IOCs, operating in our sovereign territorial economic zones, who have deliberately refused to obey our extant Maritime regulations, standards, and laws but, find it expedient to sit in the comfort of their hallowed chambers to push for laws that will be detrimental and inimical to the welfare and wellbeing of the working class, Nigerians and our nation’s security and sovereignty.

“The Joint House Unions, MWUN, and SSACGOC use this medium to convey our views to the leadership, members of the National Assembly, and the new Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy that this is certainly not the right way to go as this ploy by these selfish individuals in the maritime sector will cause chaos and anarchy in the industry which has enjoyed sustained peace since the idea of projecting the harsh Bill was killed in 2018 will not be allowed to come to fruition.”

The unions also claimed that a draft of the Bill shows that it offers entirely non-pensionable, non-transferable, and non-terminable work without access to terminal benefits.

They maintained that the Bill has to be removed so it does not conflict with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s pledge to create five million jobs in Nigeria through the newly established Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

The said: “This is the height of inconsideration by the proponents of the Bill to the right of workers to the necessary payment for services rendered by a worker, in accordance to known law, industrial relations practice, equity, and good conscience.

“We believe that allowing this Bill to be passed into law will effectively institutionalize the evil concept of casualization of workers and negate the provisions of the Pension Reform Act 2004 as amended.

“This is in direct contrast to the avowed promises of Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to ensure the provision of about five million jobs for Nigerians through the newly-created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

“Having said this, We, the two in-house unions in the maritime sector; MWUN and SSASCGOC, will not fold our hands and allow a few unpatriotic Nigerians within the industry to rip off the nation’s commonwealth and render our sector unproductive via this infamous Bill that will only create poverty, hopelessness, hunger and generate avid bitterness amongst the already impoverished workers and Nigeria citizenry.

“Consequently, we confirm our absolute vote of confidence on the Nigerian Ports Authority ACT as it currently relates to the Nigerian state and the well-being of the workers in the sector and we will vehemently resist all attempts to push this hellish bill further. We, therefore, demand its withdrawal in its entirety with the laid down laws.”

Strike: NLC, TUC Summon NEC Meeting

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 7, 2023

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The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have summoned what the unions described as an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting.

The National Vice-President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, made this known in an interview with News correspondent on Tuesday afternoon.

The aim of the meeting, according to Etim, is to review the modalities of the planned strike following the brutalisation of the National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero.

He also said the meeting will give room for the review the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Federal Government and the Organised Labour on October 2, 2023, following the removal of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol.

This, he said has caused “untold hardship” to Nigerians.

He stated, “We will be holding an extraordinary NEC meeting any moment from now. The modalities include the injustice meted upon comrade Ajaero, the planned strike and the MOU signed with the Federal Government. More details will be revealed after the meeting.”

Recall that the organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, on Friday, issued a five-day ultimatum over the earlier arrest of the National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, by the police in Owerri, Imo State, on Wednesday.

The labour centres demanded the redeployment of the commissioner of police in the state and the arrest and prosecution of the aide of the government who was alleged to have perpetrated the attack.

The unions also threatened to embark on a nationwide industrial action if their demands were not met in five days from Friday.

Ajaero was arrested by the police ahead of the state-wide protest in Imo on Wednesday. This was disclosed by the NLC’s Head of Information, Benson Upah.

Although, the police denied arresting Ajaero, stating that he was merely taken into protective custody to prevent a mob attack.

The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, had accused the labour leader of meddling in the political affairs of the state.

The attack on the labour leader has been condemned by many prominent Nigerians and civil society organisations, including the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN).

Nigeria Lost N4.3tn to Oil Theft in 5 Years- FG

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 7, 2023

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The Federal Government of Nigeria on Monday revealed that more than N4.3tn worth of crude oil was stolen in 7,143 pipeline vandalism cases within a period of five years.

It disclosed this at the Nigeria International Pipeline Technology and Security Conference in Abuja, with the theme, ‘Bolstering Regulations, Technology and Security for Growth.’ The conference was organised by the Pipeline Professionals Association of Nigeria.

In a presentation at the conference by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, a Federal Government agency, the organisation revealed that oil theft and losses in Nigeria had become a national emergency.

The Executive Secretary, NEITI, Ogbonnaya Orji, said oil theft was an emergency that posed serious threat to oil exploration and exploitation with huge negative consequences on economic growth, business prospects and profit earnings by oil companies.

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Providing data from the agency’s reports to back his claims, he said: “NEITI disclosed that in the last five years, 2017 to 2021, Nigeria recorded 7,143 cases of pipeline breakages and deliberate vandalism resulting in crude theft and product losses of 208.639 million barrels valued at $12.74m or N4.325tn.

“NEITI reports also disclosed that during the same period Nigeria spent N471.493bn to either repair or maintain pipelines.”

Orji pointed out that from NEITI’s 2021 Oil and Gas Industry Report released in September, the sector accounted for 72.26 per cent of Nigeria’s total export and government’s foreign exchange, 40.55 per cent of government revenue, and provided 19,171 jobs.

“However, for us in NEITI, it is not a matter of debate that despite the strategic contributions, the country is yet to derive optimal benefits from its oil and gas resources due to oil theft and losses through pipeline vandalism, pipeline integrity compromise, outright sabotage, and general insecurity in the region.

“From NEITI’s reports over the years, and recently insights from our membership of the Special Investigative Panel on Oil Theft and Losses, we are aware that oil theft is perpetrated mainly through pipeline clamping, illegal connections on major pipelines, exploitation of abandoned oil wellheads, pipeline breakages and vandalism of key national assets to illegally siphon crude into waiting vessels stationed in strategic terminals.

“This criminal exploits take place most times in atmosphere of communities’ complicity and conspiracy of silence,” the NEITI boss stated.

He stressed that it was also a matter of fact that many members of the pipelines association were directly and indirectly involved in providing the skills and knowledge required to perpetrate oil theft.

“As you are aware, illegal connections, pipeline clamping, etc, cannot be done by just anybody. And so, your association is largely complicit by failing to put in place stringent regulation and appropriate sanctions to check involvement of your members.

“For instance, NEITI has put in the public domain empirical data of oil theft and losses at 619.7 million barrels of crude, valued at $46.16bn or N16.25tn between 2009 and 2020.

“In addition, Nigeria lost 4.2 billion litres of petroleum products from refineries, valued at $1.84bn at the rate of 140,000 barrels per day, from 2009 to 2018.

“Thus, the total value of crude losses between 2009 and 2020 is higher than the size of the country’s foreign reserves and almost 10 times Nigeria’s oil savings in Excess Crude Account,” Orji stated.

He told participants at the conference that Nigeria’s economy cannot grow in an atmosphere of oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and general insecurity in the oil producing communities.

Pres. Tinubu Urges African Leaders on Blue Economy

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 7, 2023

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged African leaders to prioritise the Blue Economy to boost job creation and take Africans out of the woods.

Speaking at the 43rd Annual Council of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) conference in Lagos, the President, who was represented by the Minister of Marine and Blue economy, Adegboyega Oyetola underlined the critical role of the Blue Economy and port development in the collective prosperity of African nations, emphasising that the sector holds immense potential for the West and Central Africa when the ports are fully automated.

The conference was tagged “The Role of Ports in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)”

Addressing delegates from 24 African countries at the venue, the President added that Africa’s Blue Economy presents the continent with untapped opportunities for job creation, poverty eradication, growth and development.

Tinubu also urged African leaders to creat the Ministry of Blue Economy in their various countries and tap the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to boost the economy of the region.

Examining Nigeria’s Maritime Industry And Blue Economy

Also, Tinubu said his administration has come up with programmes such as National Agriculture Growth Scheme-Agro-pocket where millions of farmers are supported through training on Good Agricultural Practices, certified inputs such as improved seeds, organic, inorganic fertilisers and irrigation equipments at highly subsidised prices to enhance food and boost farmers’ income.

The President stated this in Abuja at the opening ceremony of the sixth Africa-Wide Agricultural Extension Week.

He pointed out that, despite national boundaries, the waters serve as a natural source of connectivity, emphasising that the region’s shared destiny and challenges require collaborative efforts to resolve.

The President also underlined the significance of technological advancement in the sector.

He emphasized that automation is crucial for maintaining the competitiveness of ports in the global maritime industry. He highlighted the importance of the Port Community System, which serves as a precursor to the implementation of the National Single Window, as essential tools in streamlining port operations.

He noted that the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are substantial, while urging African leaders to work together to eliminate trade barriers and harness these opportunities for the collective prosperity of respective national economies.

His words: “It is with great pleasure and honour that I welcome all the delegates to this historic meeting. We in Nigeria are proud and excited to be members of the Port Management Association of West & Central Africa and the opportunity to host this 43rd Council meeting at a time which coincides with our renewed resolve to transform our maritime potentials to actualities is heartwarming.”

The theme of the conference, Tinubu said, was most appropriate “at this period the continent is eager and determined to reposition the ports for competitiveness.”

He praised the PMAWCA for its role in promoting ports’ cooperation and expressed the Nigerian Ports Authority’s commitment to partnership and support for policies and action steps that will be discussed during the conference.

The President said further that he believed strongly that the cream of industry experts that were assembled by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), to do justice to the critical subject would “provide the needed insight through knowledge sharing for us policy makers in the maritime sector to work assiduously towards the realisation of our ports potential.

FUL Presents N1M Cheque Each To Best Graduating Students

By

Nzubechukwu Anodo

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November 7, 2023

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The Federal University Lokoja has presented checks of one million naira each to the two top graduating students who excelled at the 6th and 7th convocations.

The two outstanding students are Zafirah Eneyamire Isah, the best graduating student in the 2020/2021 Accounting Department, and Mariam Oiza Ibrahim from the 2021/2022 set of the Chemistry Department.

The funds presented to these outstanding students were a pledge made by Rt. Hon. Dr. James Faleke during the recently concluded 6th and 7th convocations.

During the check presentation, the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja, Prof. Akinwunmi Olayemi, expressed his gratitude to Hon. Faleke for honouring his commitment.

He emphasized that this reward would serve as a motivation for other students to work diligently.

The Vice-Chancellor while encouraging all students to remain focused and work hard, he commended the two female beneficiaries, urging them to continue pursuing academic excellence.

Prof. Olayemi also advised the recipients to utilize the money wisely, suggesting they consider using it to pursue their postgraduate degrees.

He disclosed that the university’s policy is to offer employment opportunities to the best postgraduate students when needed and if they continue to excel.

Prof Olayemi further explained that in the future, the university would consider graduates of the institution for employment within the university system and urged Hon. James Faleke to make this reward an annual event to enhance academic competitiveness.

Both beneficiaries, Zafirah Eneyamire Isah, the best graduating student in 2020/2021, and Mariam Oiza Ibrahim, the best graduating student in 2021/2022, expressed their gratitude to Hon. Faleke for his generous gesture.

Zafirah Eneyamire Isah, overwhelmed with joy, offered prayers for Hon. Faleke and assured that she would make judicious use of the funds.

Mariam Oiza Ibrahim expressed her happiness, stating that the money would enable her to continue her studies and she thanked the donor for his support.

Nigeria’s Foreign Trade Hits N12.74 Trn

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 7, 2023

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Nigeria’s import and export trade as at June 2023 stood at N12.74 trillion, with the Netherland topping the list of countries with the nation’s export destination.

Premium Motor Spirit import accounted for 21.5% (N1.23 trillion).

The United States of America, Indonesia are other countries with high export of Nigerian goods.

However, China, the United States of America, Belgium, India and the Netherlands top the list of countries with the highest import of goods into Nigeria as at the end of the second quarters of 2023.

The details are contained in the 2024 – 2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) prepared by the Budget Office of the Federation dated September 2023.

According to the document, the nation’s total export for the period stood at N7.02 trillion while total imports amounted to N5.73 trillion.

Total import from China with the period stood at about N1.27 trillion representing 22.17%) to lead other countries where goods are imported into the country.

Total export to the Netherlands’ export stood at N788.85 billion, representing 11.24% of total exports; followed by United States of America with N718.63 billion; Indonesia with N550.18 billion; France with N540.73 billion and Spain with N504.45 billion.

The document reported that exports to the five countries amounted to 44.23% of the total value of exports.

It said further that total imports within the first six months of the year increased by 2.99per cent compared to the value recorded in the first quarter of 2023 (N5.56 trillion) but declined by 10.37per cent when compared to the value recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2022 (N6.39 trillion).

Also, it said that the values of import from the top five countries amounted to N3.44 trillion representing about 60.05 of total imports.

Other imports included used Vehicles, ang Automotive Gas oll (AGO).

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The document also disclosed that total exports increased by 8.15% when compared to the amount recorded in the first quarter of 2023 (N6.49 trillion) but declined by 5.20per cent compared to the corresponding quarter in 2022 (N7,400.89 billion).

It said that ‘Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude’ valued at N5.59 trillion representing 79.63per cent account for the largest export product was, followed by Liquefies Natural Gas (LNG) liquefied billion and Urea.

In addition, Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) was the largest amount of capital importation by type, US$3.30 billion which is however 34.1per cent lower compared to $5.14 billion recorded in 2020. Foreign direct investment in Nigeria was a paltry $696.78 million, 32per cent lower than the $1.03 billion recorded in the preceding year.

On capital importation, the MTEF/FSP document said “there has been a steady decline in Nigeria’s capital importation for three consecutive years, from an annual level of $16.812 billion in 2018 to a paltry $5.32 billion in 2022.

“Quarterly data also showed capital importation declined by 51.51% from $2.187 billion recorded in Q4 2021 to $1.06 billion in Q4 2022.

“Trade deficits, loans, currency deposits represent the largest component of capital importation in 2022 accounting for 65.17per cent ($691.23 million) of total capital importation in Q4 2022.

“This was followed by Portfolio Investment with 26.89per cent ($285.26 million) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) with 7.94per cent ($84.23 million).”

Alan Fisher Wins GWR For Longest Cooking Hours

By

faith Jegede

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November 7, 2023

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Irish man Alan Fisher, chef and owner of a restaurant in Japan, has broken two cooking-related Guinness World Records titles.

Fisher claimed the longest cooking marathon (individual) after clocking in a time of 119 hours 57 minutes. That is more than 24 hours longer than the previous record held by Nigerian chef Hilda Baci.

Alan then claimed the longest baking marathon (individual), with a time of 47 hours 21 minutes. The previous record holder was Wendy Sandner (USA) with a time of 31 hours 16 minutes.

Even more impressive is that Alan took on both attempts back to back, meaning he was at work in the kitchen for over 160 hours with just over a day of rest in between.

Kano Hisbah To Partner With TikTokers In the State

By

faith Jegede

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November 7, 2023

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Kano state Hisbah, headed by Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, has announced plans to facilitate marriages for TikTokers in Kano, along with providing support for their business endeavours.

This initiative was unveiled during a meeting convened by the Hisbah to guide TikTokers on improving their moral values.

Murja Ibrahim Kunya, a TikToker known for controversial content and other popular tiktokers, was invited to the Kano State Hisbah Command’s headquarters for potential rehabilitation.

The invitation issued by the Deputy Commander-General of Hisbah, Mujahid Aminuddeen encouraged the attendees to bring their educational and business certificates, ensuring their identities remain protected by covering their faces.

The body claimed that the primary purpose of the summons was to offer support to those interested in receiving assistance from the state’s governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf.

The Tiktokers in overwhelming numbers attended the meeting dressed in full traditional regalia and covering their faces with Niqabs.

Speaking while unveiling the scheme the Commander-General of Hisbah board Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, said “We are willing to give you all the necessary support to live a sustainable life, those of you that have fiancees or are interested in marriage we promise to organize a grand wedding and take responsibility for all the expenses.”

He also advised the popular TikTokers Murja Kunya and others in attendance on improving their morals.

Sheikh Daurawa said that all TikTok users who need capital support, should write a business plan and submit it to the Hisbah board, if they are satisfied with the information they have provided, the Kano government will support them with capital.

This initiative, which has gained approval from Kano Governor Engineer Abba Kabir Yusuf, is designed to assist youth in the region and promote moral growth.

The TikTokers responded positively to the offer and engaged in discussions with senior Hisbah officials. To demonstrate their commitment to this endeavour, the Hisbah provided N2,000 transport fare to TikTok participants in these discussions