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Work In Top Gear For Early Implementation of Minimum Wage – SGF

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Lukman Amusa

The Federal Government is working toward early implementation of new minimum wage which has caused a lot of controversies in recent times, Mr Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) has said.

Mustapha made this known on Thursday in Abuja at the opening of a one-day symposium on the 25th anniversary of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) which has “Overcoming the Challenges of Compensation and Productivity in Nigeria” as its theme.

Represented by Mr Olusegun Adekunle, the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Office of the SGF, the SGF said that the present administration was committed to the welfare of Nigerian workers.

He said “I wish to point out that the focus of the national minimum income wage is on government employees, this critical sector ought not to be left behind and nobody will be left behind.

“Such employees are also dominantly found in the informal sector and the small scale organisations.

“However, it is important to know that the revision of the minimum wage should be taken through due process and all key stakeholders carried along.”

Mustapha said that the pay relativity question could not be resolved without the development and implementation of a new job evaluation scheme.

He, therefore, urged the NSIWC to commence the process, adding that government had also observed that productivity needed to take the centre stage in wage determination.

He also urged the commission to leverage on the pilot schemes it was working on in collaboration with the National Productivity Centre to raise a production team in the public service.

The government scribe said that public office holders must bear in mind that remuneration packages for their various offices were appropriately spelt out in the law.

He added that it would be inappropriate for anyone to allow himself to be paid higher than what the law stipulates, noting that “any infraction reported by NSIWC in the course of carrying out its mandate shall be investigated and punished by the anti-graft agencies infuture.”

According to him, government is concerned about the spate of strikes in the country as it affects the economy over the last decade,
especially the public sector.

He called on labour unions to resist the urge to resort to work stoppages without exhausting alternatives and more peaceful
options for conflict resolution.

He said that the Federal Government remained committed to the stability and development of the economy and service delivery
to the public as stakeholders in the nation.

Mr Ayuba Wabba, the President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said that “in our system today, it is the political class that determines the wages of workers, while they the political class determines and collects what it wants, which is higher.

“There must be social justice in wage fixing, therefore, this issue is an issue that I think the wages commission needs to engage our political class and get this information to them.

“We have heard arguments where state governors say workers are a tiny minority, I do not know who is the tiny minority between the political class and the working class.

“The political class are the tiny minority because they cannot say that our workers, including the police, the armed forces, which without
them they cannot sleep with their eyes closed, are the minority.”

Wabba decried the situation where the nation had more than 25 salary structures for the same system “when what should rather be
operational was the principle of equal pay for equal productivity.

“Our compensation process should be a process that can stimulate productivity because the two work together. If a worker is not paid
and cannot take care of his or her family and pay school fees, can he or she be productive?”

“With better condition of service and compensation, I will be able to think well, work well and therefore the two must work together.”

Mr Bala Kaigama, the President of Trade Union Congress (TUC) said that the disparity in the salaries and income wages system was
engendered by the NSIWC and was not fair to core civil servants.

He said that it was of great concern to members of the union, adding that there were many salary structures in the public service.

According to him, of all the structures in existence, that which operates in the civil service is the lowest in terms of remuneration,
while other structures are high.

He noted that “it is, therefore, becoming extremely difficult to explain the reasons behind these differences in salary structure, which in most cases short-changed civil servants.

“Recently, the salaries of the police received an upward review and when you look at what is going on at the top echelon, compared to the top echelon in the civil service, the gap is just too wide.

“You may be surprised to know that in some agencies and parastatals of government, junior officers earn as much as N200,000 per month, while officers in the directorate level in core ministries that supervise these parastatals receive less than that.”

He said that the TUC had produced a memorandum on salary review for the core civil service and had submitted same to Federal Government for necessary action.

Kaigama said that the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council was already involved in implementing the submissions of the memorandum, adding that there was need for the NSIWC to also be involved.

Mr Richard Egbule, the Chairman of NSIWC, said that the role of the commission was essential, as it was set up to examine, streamline and recommend salary scales applicable to each post in the public service.

He said that in the 25 years of its existence, the commission had contributed to adjustments on wages, salary allowances and pensions
in the country.

He, however, explained that many of the commission’s functions relating to income policy guidelines could not operate in today’s deregulated economic space.

This, he said, was because though the commission was established based on the recommendations of the Udoji Commission of 1974,
its enabling Act put an end to the Productivity, Prices and Incomes Board (PPIB) Act and transferred its responsibilities to the NSIWC.

“That is why when people talk about the absence of wage policy, they forget that any wage policy that allows non-wage incomes to
rove about without check, can be counter-productive,” he stressed.

 

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Nigeria Government, UN launch US$159 million plan to avert food security and nutrition crisis in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states

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Nigeria Government, UN launch US$159 million plan to avert food security and nutrition crisis in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

Nigeria’s Federal Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda and the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, today launched the 2025 Lean Season Response Plan for Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states in north-east Nigeria.

The Plan seeks US$159 million for urgent nutrition, food, and health interventions and other life-saving assistance for 2 million people in most severe need in the BAY states over the next six months.

In the BAY states, 1 million children are at risk of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in 2025 – double the number in 2024. Of these children, over 600,000 are at risk of SAM over the next six months. Without access to lifesaving nutrition services, they may die.

An estimated 4.6 million people in the BAY states are also projected to face acute food insecurity during the *lean season starting in June – according to the Government-led Cadre Harmonisé food security analysis results released in March 2025. This marks the sixth consecutive year of severe conditions.

In his remarks at the launch of the Plan in Abuja, Minister Yilwatda emphasized the need for urgent action. “This Plan is not just about structures and strategies. It is about a promise that no child in Borno, Adamawa, or Yobe should have to sleep hungry when the world has enough food; that no mother should lose a child to a condition we know how to treat, and that dignity must never be a casualty of conflict or poverty,” he said.

He also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to leading the response, aligning it to national policies.

The BAY states are grappling with a 15-year humanitarian crisis, which has been intensified by prolonged conflict, economic instability, and climatic shocks. Significant funding cuts for humanitarian operations in 2025 have multiplied the severity of needs and limited access to much-needed lifesaving support.

The health and nutrition sectors have been particularly impacted in the BAY states, with up to 70 per cent of health services and 50 per cent of nutrition services affected. This is threatening gains in malnutrition prevention and treatment.

“Humanitarianism is under threat; solidarity is in short supply, and the lack of resources is putting millions, especially children, at risk,” the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, said. He reiterated the critical role of Government leadership and the need for the private sector and emerging donors to support humanitarians to address the alarming needs.

Early action is critical to mitigate the worst impacts of the lean season on children under the age of five and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. The lean season response plan focuses on the most immediate lifesaving needs, including food assistance, emergency healthcare, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, protection, and agricultural livelihoods. It also calls for sustained investments in locally led responses for longer-term resilience.

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NITDA, SECDOJO, SIGN MOU TO STRENGTHEN NIGERIA’S CYBER RESILIENCE

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AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

In its continued effort toward the implementation of the present administration’s agenda of strengthening national security by committing to robust cybersecurity measures and digital trust to safeguard the nation’s digital infrastructure as well as contribute to the overall peace and prosperity of the nation, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SecDojo, SAS, a Cybersecurity training and upskilling company with headquarters in France, to strengthen national resilience against cyber threats through targeted capacity building initiatives.

The Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, and Chief Executive Officer of SecDojo, Mr. Younes Benzagmout at the signing ceremony, which took place during GITEX Africa 2025 in Marrakech, Morocco.

August24news.com Editor gathered that the signing ceremony took place during GITEX Africa 2025 event in Marrakech, Morocco, with the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, and Chief Executive Officer of SecDojo, Mr. Younes Benzagmout, representing both organisations.

This strategic partnership is designed to bolster Nigeria’s cybersecurity landscape through comprehensive capacity-building initiatives.

The collaboration will focus on the establishment of a Cybersecurity Academy, delivery of advanced training and simulation programmes, development of customised curricula and educational resources, and facilitation of research, knowledge sharing, and professional exchange programmes.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Inuwa expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration, describing it as a key milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward a secure digital future.“We just signed an MOU with SecDojo, which is a cybersecurity capacity-building provider, and this is one of our efforts to strengthen our national cybersecurity to enhance our cyber resilience,” he noted.

He asserted that as Nigeria continues its digital transformation journey, investing in human capital is paramount, describing people as the technology component of any innovation ecosystem.

inuwa also noted the growing global demand for cybersecurity professionals and emphasised Nigeria’s potential to fill the talent gap, given its large and youthful population.“Globally, we have the gap, and in Nigeria, we have a young population that if we harness, well, we can train them and connect them with the global value chain to provide cybersecurity services and also to fill some roles and gaps in the global cybersecurity market,” he averred.

While pushing for digital skills integration into Nigeria’s formal education system, the DG called for deeper collaboration between technology stakeholders and the Federal Ministry of Education to embed digital literacy and cybersecurity training into Nigeria’s formal education system.

He stated that, there is an urgent need to shift from short-term skills acceleration programmes to long-term, systemic integration of digital skills into academic curricula at all levels, from primary to tertiary education.

“For me, this goes beyond NITDA. I see a national opportunity, one that involves the Ministry of Education, to institutionalise digital literacy through formal education,” he said. “Currently, what NITDA offers are skills acceleration programmes because these critical digital competencies are not taught in schools.

But to prepare for the future, we must embed these skills into our national education framework,” he added.

Highlighting successful models such as Cisco’s academic integration, which allows students in over 100 Nigerian universities to earn both degrees and professional certifications simultaneously, he stressed the benefits of a dual-track learning system that equips graduates for immediate relevance in the digital economy.

He noted that while Cisco has led the way, the ecosystem must be open to multiple partners, especially those aligned with Nigeria’s National Digital Literacy Framework, and encouraged tech firms and content providers to collaborate, offering open-source or customized content that can be adopted nationally.

“We don’t want to limit this to a single vendor. The opportunity is open to all.

Google has shown interest, and we welcome more partners. There are committees already working with the Ministry, and we’d love to see more stakeholders at the table,” he concluded.

In his remark, Mr Benzagmout, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to working closely with Nigerian stakeholders.

He noted that the collaboration aims to bring SecDojo’s innovative training platforms and methodologies to support Nigeria’s cybersecurity professionals while contributing to the development and execution of a comprehensive national cyber capacity-building strategy.

“We sincerely thank NITDA for their trust and partnership and we are excited to begin this journey and look forward to building a successful and impactful collaboration,” he assured.

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Transcorp Hilton Announces Great Offerings For Coming Easter Holidays

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AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

Transcorp Hilton Abuja Announces Great Family Offerings This EasterAs families across Nigeria prepare for the Easter holidays, Transcorp Hilton Abuja is positioning itself as the premier destination for a memorable and stress-free getaway.

With spacious accommodations, a delectable Easter Sunday Brunch, engaging activities for all ages, and a commitment to safety and convenience, the iconic hotel is ready to welcome families seeking quality time together in the Federal Capital Territory.

For families traveling with children or extended relatives, Transcorp Hilton Abuja offers a diverse range of thoughtfully designed rooms and suites.

These expansive accommodations provide ample space for relaxation and connection, ensuring a comfortable stay where families can truly unwind and enjoy each other’s company without feeling confined.

Each room is equipped with modern amenities to cater to every need.

A highlight of the Easter celebration at Transcorp Hilton Abuja is the highly anticipated Easter Sunday Brunch at the hotel’s Bukka Restaurant.

Renowned for its authentic local flavours and international cuisine, Bukka will present a special Easter spread featuring traditional delicacies alongside a tempting array of classic and creatively themed Easter desserts.

This promises to be a delightful culinary experience for the whole family to share.Beyond comfortable lodging and exceptional dining, Transcorp Hilton Abuja is dedicated to creating fun and engaging moments for guests of all ages.

The hotel will feature a lively DJ-led poolside experience, allowing adults to relax and soak in the festive atmosphere. Younger guests will be thrilled with the hotel’s well-equipped playground, providing a safe and exciting space to expend energy while parents can relax nearby.

This balanced approach ensures a fulfilling experience for every family member.

Recognizing the paramount importance of safety for traveling families, Transcorp Hilton Abuja maintains a secure environment with professional and attentive staff. From the hotel premises to guest interactions, every aspect is designed to provide parents with peace of mind, allowing them to fully relax and enjoy their time together.

To further ease the complexities of family travel, Transcorp Hilton Abuja collaborates with reputable third-party ticketing and logistics operators.

Guests can conveniently arrange transportation, book local excursions, and plan their Abuja adventures directly through the hotel’s trusted partners, eliminating the stress of independent planning.

The ambiance at Transcorp Hilton Abuja is described as a harmonious blend of luxurious comfort and warm, welcoming hospitality. Guests can unwind by the inviting pool, explore the hotel’s serene gardens, and enjoy the attentive service of the dedicated staff.

The overall atmosphere encourages relaxation and the creation of cherished family moments.More than just a place to stay, Transcorp Hilton Abuja aims to be the backdrop for unforgettable family experiences this Easter.

With its comprehensive offerings and commitment to guest satisfaction, the hotel invites families to create lasting memories in a comfortable, fun, and secure environment.

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