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Gas – N35,000; Housing – N40,000, …’ : How We Arrived At New Minimum WageNLC—-The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has given a breakdown of how the N615,000 proposed minimum wage was arrived at during its 2024 negotiation with the government and other stakeholders.

The president of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, said the figure was the product of a painstaking effort through which we captured the present reality in the country.

This is contained in a statement signed by the NLC president on Thursday, titled ‘2024 NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE NEGOTIATION: HOW WE ARRIVED AT N615,000.’

It reads : “It has become imperative at this point that we inform Nigerians who may not have known already the foundations upon which our initial demand for a N615,000 (Six Hundred and Fifteen Thousand Naira) new National Minimum Wage is based upon.

The figure was a product of a painstaking effort through which we captured the cost of living of Nigerian workers and masses in all parts of the country. It was essentially an outcome of an independent research conducted by the NLC and TUC on the cost of meeting the primary needs of an average family around the country. Our research was based on a family with both parents alive and four children without the burden of having other dependents with them.

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A questionnaire was designed and sent to all the State Councils of NLC and TUC from where these questionnaires were sent to our members in all the Local government areas in the country to gather the monthly cost of living for the average family as described above. Below is a summary of our findings and we hope that this will enable Nigerians understand what propels our demand so that better clarity is made to create better engagement around the ongoing National Minimum Wage negotiation process.

A cursory look at the table above shows that we have deliberately removed certain elements from the Basket used in calculations of this nature. However, it should also be noted that we have not included things like expenditure on calls and data, offerings in churches and Mosques, community dues, entertainment, savings and Security etc. These are therefore just for the bare necessities.

It should be noted that we arrived at this figure before the increase in electricity tariff and the recent scarcity of Petrol across the nation leading to the appearance of long queues with attendant increased transport fares. Any figure below this amount becomes a starvation wage and condemns Nigerian workers and their families to perpetual poverty.

We have to remember that the old one having expired on the 18th day of April, 2024, a new one is expected to have come into effect on the 19th day of April, 2024. However, because of government’s inability to comply with the Law that demanded for negotiations for a new national minimum wage to have begun 6 (six) months before the expiration of the existing one, concluding the new one has become unfortunately delayed.

We are sure that our social partners would see our demonstration of understanding, sacrifice and reasonableness in our demands thus accepts this figure without much delay. We also enjoin all well-meaning Nigerians to implore the Government and Employers to meet our demands for the sake of justice, equity and national development.”

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KIRS Targets N100bn IGR in 2025

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KIRS Targets N100bn IGR

KIRS Targets N100bn IGR in 2025—-The Kano State Revenue Service (KIRS), has set a target to increase the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to over N100 billion in  2025.

The Executive Chairman of the Service, Dr Zaid Abubakar, made the announcement on Wednesday in Kano, during the agency’s annual performance review for 2024 and its strategic plan for 2025.

Abubakar disclosed that KIRS has developed both medium and long-term plans to enhance the state’s revenue generation.

“For the medium-term revenue collection plan, we aim to collect more than N100 billion in 2025, and in subsequent years, we expect to surpass N200 billion.

“The state government has set a target of N75 billion for 2025, but we are committed to exceeding it,” he explained.

He further noted that the service intended to utilise technology as part of its ongoing digitisation efforts to reduce leakages and improve transparency.

“We will continue to deploy emerging ICT solutions and data management systems to optimise revenue collection, track progress, and ensure efficient administration,” Abubakar stated.

The Executive Chairman explained that the meeting aimed to assess the agency’s activities and performance in the previous year and to strategise for the new fiscal year, aligning efforts to meet collective goals.

He also mentioned that the Kano State Government planned to review the state’s revenue generation laws to strengthen the revenue base.

“The governor has approved a review of these laws, and we expect to complete the process before the end of the first quarter of this year,” Abubakar confirmed.

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Cross Border Trade Will Enhance Economic Growth – Customs

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Cross Border Trade Will Enhance Economic Growth

Cross Border Trade Will Enhance Economic Growth – Customs—-An Assistant Comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Clement Amaweh, has stressed the importance of promoting Cross Border Trade (CBT) to enhance Nigeria’s economic growth.

Amaweh, the officer-in-charge of Ohumbe Outstation, Yewa North, made the statement while delivering a lecture during the Festival of Art for Economic Development held on Tuesday in Idiroko, Ogun.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the programme is themed “Cross Border Trade: Why it Matters”.

Amaweh, a guest speaker at the event, explained that Nigerians needed to promote exports through CBT as a major source of foreign exchange (Forex) earnings.

He said this would help to control inflation and increase Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as well as create employment for sustainable economic growth and development.

He observes that non-documentation of informal trade usually leads to revenue loss, and the absence of statistical data hinders forex earnings, distorting accurate trade records.

“The simplification and harmonisation of customs clearance procedure will encourage most cross-border traders to formalise trade activities through proper documentation and accurate declaration.

“Also, consistency in policy will significantly facilitate CBT and discourage smuggling,” he said.

Amaweh highlights the following as factors militating against CBT: difficulties in policies and porous borders, language and currency, among others.

Earlier, the Area Comptroller, Ogun 1 Area Command, Mr Mohammed Shuaibu, said in an increasingly interconnected world, CBT could be regarded as a bridge enhancing economic growth and promoting cultural exchange.

According to Shuaibu, partnership among nations enables businesses to reach broader markets, encourages innovation and enhances the availability of goods and services for consumers everywhere.

The programme organiser, Dr Bonny Abisogun, said the event was not only a celebration of art, but a reminder of the diverse cultural and economic landscapes for participants to navigate together.

Abisogun says CBT matters because it allows people to share their resources, ideas and innovations as well as strengthen their economies by creating jobs to enhance market access.

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