Business & Economy

By George Mgbeleke
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Friday, called on the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to reject any minimum wage offer from the federal government that is less than N250,000.00 per month.
Frank who was reacting to reports of alleged Federal Government’s offer of N105,000.00 to workers as new minimum wage during their ongoing tripartite negotiation, said: “any amount below N250,000.00 cannot be considered a decent wage for Nigerian workers considering the present socio-economic hardship in the country.”
In a statement in Abuja, Frank accused the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration of double standards in the fixing of salaries, saying what is good for judicial office holders is good for Nigerian workers.
According to the Bayelsa-born political activist, Tinubu recently sent a Bill to the National Assembly in which he proposed 300 per cent increase in the salaries and allowances of Supreme Court Justices, Appeal Court Justices, President of the National Industrial Court, Judges of the Federal and State High Courts as well as Grand Khadi of State Sharia Courts, among others, in the country.
He noted that the Bill has been hurriedly passed as proposed by the President in both chambers of the National Assembly and now awaiting the assent of the President to become enforceable law.
Frank who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, said: “How can you increase the salary of an arm of government that is already earning a humongous salary by 300 per cent and add peanuts to the paltry N30,000 that workers have been compelled to live with in this country as minimum wage in the last five years?
“Why did the President send an Executive Bill to the National Assembly to effect a 300 per cent upward review in the salaries of Judicial Office Holders but set up a tripartite committee to negotiate a “starvation wage” (apologies to NLC President Joe Ajaero) for suffering Nigerian workers instead of a “living wage” he promised them on assumption of office in May last year?”
He said that the executive, legislative and judicial arms of government ought to reduce their salaries and allowances to accommodate Nigerian workers who can barely have one meal a day rather than increasing their take home which is already over bloated and economically, financially and socially suffocate workers.
He however declared that “Nigerians are no fools as they know that the proposed generous increase in the salaries of Judicial Office Holders is meant to pay them for the devious work they did to judicially ratify the stay of key political office holders in this administration in office including President Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, among others, and to compromise them ahead of any judicial challenge in future polls.”
He reiterated that workers are the engine room of the nation’s economy and that paying them a living wage will boost their morale to work diligently and even pay the supreme price in line of duty for the country’s development if need be.
He therefore urged the leadership of organized labour to be resolute in their demand to ensure that workers get a deserved living wage at this time in the Nation’s developmental journey.
He urged them to leave their foot prints on the sands of time by being non-compromising but warned that doing otherwise will inscribe their names in the hall of shame.
Business & Economy
Pastor Reuben Initiative extols founder’s philanthropic gesture

By Idibhar Agadaga, Baylesa
The Director General Pastor Reuben Initiative for Good Leadership and Accountability (PRIFGLA), Eseimokumo Frank Soko has commended Pastor Reuben Wilson’s selfless contributions to the development of Bayelsa State and the Niger Delta region.
Speaking on an enlighment program on Royal FM, 95.5, Eseimokumo Frank Soko, highlighted Wilson’s commitment to education, noting that he has sponsored over 200 students across various universities in the region.
According to Soko, Wilson’s philanthropic efforts extend beyond education, as he has also provided monthly stipends to members of the Initiative ànd numerous individuals in need.
He particularly extolled Wilson’s selfless and sacrificial lifestyle which have positively impacted the lives of many Bayelsans.
He emphasized that Wilson’s charitable works is not limited to any particular political party or affiliation as beneficiaries come from diverse backgrounds including PDP, APC and Labour Party members.
On his part, PRIFGLA’s National Secretary and Special Adviser on Student Matters and Scholarships, Ogbomo Erepamowei, shared Wilson’s inspiring personal story, which has driven his passion for helping others.
Ogbomo noted that despite facing challenges in his own educational journey, Wilson has demonstrated remarkable resilience and generosity, supporting students in various institutions across the Niger Delta.
He added that over 200 students are under scholarship sponsored by Pastor Reuben Wilson in various universities across the Niger Delta region.
In a final statement, Soko expressed gratitude to Wilson, describing him as a “sacrificial leader” who has positively impacted the lives of those working with him.
Business & Economy
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Business & Economy
New Bayelsa Secretariat: Govt Appeals To Host Communities To Maintain Peace

By David Owei, Bayelsa
The Bayelsa State Government has appealed to the people of Yenagoa and Ovom communities currently locked in a dispute over ownership of the land, where the new 9-storey secretariat is sited, to sustain their age long unity and peaceful coexistence.
The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made the appeal at separate meetings with the leaders and critical stakeholders of both communities in Government House, Yenagoa on Tuesday.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, pointed out that there was no need for both communities to feud over the land as government had acquired it for development purposes several decades ago.
According to the Deputy Governor, every land acquired by government with compensation paid becomes its property, stressing that all the communities lying within 15-kilometre radius from Yenagoa make up the Bayelsa State capital.
While acknowledging the sacrifices being made by the communities hosting the state capital, he assured that government would continue to protect their interests by performing its corporate social responsibility.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, however, warned that the present administration would not fold its arms and watch any community or group of people cause crisis to disrupt the prevailing peace in the state for whatever reason.
He particularly cautioned the youths of Ovom against the alleged unwholesome practice of going to ministries, departments and agencies to demand a change in the letterheads and signboards of MDAs to reflect Ovom.
His words: “There is no long-term benefit in conflict. People can disagree, but they can reconcile their differences through the roundtable.
“Yenagoa and Ovom communities have a long history of peaceful coexistence as two sister communities in the Atissa Kingdom in the Yenagoa Local Government Area.
“As communities in the epicenter of the state capital, Ovom and Yenagoa have made huge sacrifices, and they cannot afford to fight themselves over land already acquired by government.
“Our position is that none of the communities own the land of the project site for the new state Secretariat; the ownership of that land now belongs to the Bayelsa State Government by virtue of the Capital City Development Law.
“However, government will continue to protect the interest of the communities who have donated the lands for public use and development.
“We are also receiving reports that some youths of Ovom are going to ministries, departments and agencies demanding for a change of address to reflect Ovom. That attitude is not right, and therefore, must be stopped forthwith.
“We should all know that like any other capital city in this country, the name of Yenagoa has influence over all other communities lying within the 15-km radius of the state capital, and as such Yenagoa is reflected in all addresses.”
In her remarks, the Member representing Yenagoa Constituency 1 in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Ayibanengiyefa Egba, expressed gratitude to the state government for its swift intervention and called on the communities to embrace peace as brothers to foster development and progress.
Others who spoke briefly at the two meetings include the former Technical Adviser to the Governor on Conflict Resolution, Chief Boma Spero-Jack, Hon. Markson Fefegha, Chief Couple Anyamalem, Chief Stephen Abaribote, and Chief Loveday Abaribote.
Top government functionaries present included the commissioners for works, information, marine and blue economy, lands and survey, and that of community development.
Also in attendance were the Chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Hon. Bulodisiye Ndiware, the Acting Surveyor General of Bayelsa State, Geku Tonye Margareth; the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Boundary Matters, Hon. Salem Vote, among others.
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