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Lagos State Government Reiterates Security As Top Priority
The Lagos State on Wednesday reiterated that it is committed to ensuring the provision of adequate security of lives and properties of Lagosians, as security remains a priority.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made this known at the State House, Marina, when he received 16 security operations vehicles donated to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) to enhance policing and facilitate quick response time to distress calls in the State.
Speaking during the handing over of the security operations vehicles to LSSTF, Governor Sanwo-Olu assured SNEPCo that the vehicles would be put to good use.
He said the presentation of the 16 vehicles was in fulfillment of the promise SNEPCo made to Lagos State Security Trust Fund during a dinner held few months ago by Lagos State Government to seek support from the private sector.
He said: “We are excited because this is another confirmation of collaboration, another promise kept and another public private partnership that is working for us in Lagos State.
“A couple of months back, even way before COVID-19, we had met at a dinner where we asked and solicited for support from our private sector operators in Lagos and SNEPCo was present at that dinner and they humbly committed to providing something for the state.
“So this was a commitment that was made to us months back but we are indeed happy that despite the very difficult terrain all of us have gone through, they have been able to make it, together with their joint partners – NNPC, Exxon Mobil and other partners.
“They are doing this because we as a government have shown consistent transparency in how we deal with them. We have shown that each time they support us, the support gets to the people and we get to use it for what the support is meant for.
Sanwo-Olu further assured the oil conglomerates that the State Government will continue to see them as development partners in the project of Lagos.
“We have different roles to play but we will continue to collaborate.
“We can assure you that the men that continue to keep us save will get these vehicles. We will determine how they go round. But you can be assured that none of them will be kept in governor’s residence. It will go to the people that truly require them and they will be used for the reason for which they were given.” Sanwo-Olu said.
Speaking on behalf of NNPC, the Group General Manager of National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Mr. Bala Wunti, said the presentation of the operations vehicles is to support the unrelenting effort of Governor Sanwo-Olu in keeping over 20 million residents of Lagos State and their properties safe.
Wunti, who was represented by Mrs. Clementina Arubi, also commended Governor Sanwo-Olu and his team for their commitment in the fight against COVID-19 in Lagos State, the epicenter of coronavirus in Nigeria.
“Today in line with our GMD’s principles of Transparency, Accountability and Performance Excellence (TAPE), which are to be delivered in safe and secure environment, leveraging technology and innovation, we are very proud to handover 16 security operations vehicles to Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) to support the unrelenting effort of the Governor in keeping over 20 million residents of Lagos State and their properties safe,” she said.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), Mr Bayo Ojulari, said the presentation of the 16 security vehicles to Lagos State Security Trust Fund is to enhance policing and facilitate quick response time to distress calls, which are considered to be critical to crime prevention.
His words: “SNEPCo and indeed Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCiN) recognise the tremendous work the Lagos State government is doing to strengthen security in the state amidst limited resources. Our keen and constant evaluation of the state of our community always helps to identify gaps where we believe we can intervene to make a difference.
“In this instance, we recognise the need to support the government’s efforts in keeping the state safe, just as we have continue to support the state in two other areas- education and health. This, to a large extent, aligns with our priority of safety, health and development of our people and communities where we operate.
“Therefore, the 16 units of security vehicles being presented to the state’s security trust fund is to enhance policing and facilitate quick response time to distress calls which are considered to be critical to crime prevention.
Ojulari added that his company will continue to work with the state to seek other areas of collaboration and partnership.
Also speaking, the representative of one of the co-venture partners, Exxon Mobil, the Senior Manager, Security External Relations of Exxon Mobil, Ide Owodiong-Idemeko, urged Governor Sanwo-Olu to continue to do the good work he is doing to ensure that the people of Lagos State are secured and safe.
Other members of the executive at the event include the Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG), Mrs. Folasade Jaji and the Executive Secretary of LSSTF, Abdulrazaq Balogun, among others.
News
Badaru on Operational Tour of 82 Division, other Military Installations in Enugu and Imo States
The Honourable Minister of Defence H.E Mohammed Badaru Abubakar CON mni is currently in Enugu on operational tour of 82 Division of Nigerian Army and other military platforms in Enugu.
He was received on arrival by the General officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army / Commander JTF SE of operation Udoka Major-General H.T Dada and other senior military officers.
The Minister is expected to meet with South East stakeholders on the way forward.
Details later…
Tinubu has granted full oversight responsibilities to Ministers of State over agencies under them amongst whom are Minister of State for Defence Dr. Bello Matawalle, Water Resources and Sanitation, Minister of State for Agriculture and others will henceforth enjoy full oversight responsibilities over such agencies.
President Bola Tinubu at FEC Meeting has approved that ministers of state be given full powers to supervise the agencies under them, the cable reported.
Until now, files pertaining to departments and agencies under their supervision were sent by their permanent secretaries to the senior ministers.
With the new dispensation, ministers of state can now grant all necessary administrative approvals on the governance process of these agencies and departments.
According to a source in the office of the head of service of the federation, “the president was not pleased with the prevailing governing framework in which ministers of states were just ministers in name”.
This, Tinubu reportedly said, led to the “underutilisation of the expertise and capabilities” of most ministers of state.
“The president believes ministers of state should have the right to make decisions and direct action within their areas of responsibility,” the official added.
According to the Cable report, the source said the idea, first mooted by Hadiza Bala Usman, special adviser to the President on policy coordination and head, central delivery coordination unit got an instant buy-in from the President.
With the new directive, the administration hopes “to unleash” the potential of all the ministers, the source added.
…It’s unprecedented to earn above minimum wage in Enugu- Labour
… We’ll commence implementation immediately- ALGON
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has approved N80,000 minimum wage for the state’s work force, including local government workers, effective October 2024, noting a direct link between a motivated workforce and his administration’s vision of growing the state’s economy from $4.4bn to $30bn.
The new minimum wage covers all state employees, primary school teachers, and local government workers.
Organised labour has described the wage as unprecedented, as it was the first time that Enugu workers would be earning above the national minimum wage.
Mbah announced the new minimum wage on Thursday after a meeting with the Enugu State Minimum Wage Implementation Committee headed by the Head of Service, Kenneth Ugwu and labour leaders, including the state’s labour leaders.
Mbah said, “Few weeks ago, I inaugurated a committee with the responsibility to oversee the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage in Enugu State. Today, I’m happy to announce a new minimum wage for workers in Enugu State, reflecting our fidelity to their welfare, in regard of which we have been resolutely committed.
“We have approved the sum of N80,000 as the new minimum wage in Enugu State. This underscores our commitment to bequeathing lasting legacies of improved living conditions.
“Our commitment to improved workers’ welfare runs deep, and is rooted in the firm understanding of the inextricable link between an inspired workforce and the audacious economic targets we had set our sights on.
“We clearly understood that reducing poverty to the barest minimum and achieving an unprecedented economic growth target were contingent on the output of the workforce. Therefore, for us, the best way to acknowledge that labour creates wealth is by ensuring that the workforce, which creates the wealth that oils the wheel of government, is sufficiently motivated.
“We have similarly demonstrated our commitment to workers welfare through the consistent payment of the wage awards, a gesture we had pledged to sustain until a new wage structure took effect.”
Speaking, the Chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Fabian Nwigbo, thanked governor Mbah for always prioritising the welfare of workers, describing the new minimum wage as “a great one for Enugu workers.”
“In the past, when minimum wage is announced, it takes up to one or two years for anything to happen; and when it did, we took anything they gave us as we saw it. But today, you have even given us something much higher than national minimum wage.
“But I am not totally surprised because when other governors were paying N12,000 wage award, you were paying us N25,000. When others paid for some months and stopped, you continued paying it until the new minium wage as you promised. So, we have enjoyed wage award for 11 months and today you announced the minimum wage which is the first of its kind since my 32 years in service,” said.
Speaking to Government House correspondents, the Chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Ben Asogwa, said, “We are so happy. The governor did not just announce ₦80,000 minium wage, but said that it cascades down to even local government workers. He said that he does not want disparity in salary implementation in Enugu State anymore because we all go to the same market.
“This is the first time in history we are seeing the implementation of minimum wage above the approved amount by the federal government. Actually, when we entered into the negotiation, we were afraid because we know quite well that we are not among the states that share in dividends of oil money. We know quite well that we are at the back when it comes to federal allocation, but His Excellency actually surprised us.
“One thing we have seen is that he understands the impact of motivation on productivity. The governor has set a pace and we know that any other person coming after him will have the challenge to meet up with the target set by His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah.”
On his part, Chairman of the Association of Local Government Workers, ALGON, Enugu State, Hon. Okechukwu Edeh, pledged the commitment of council chairmen to implementing the new minimum wage.
“When you motivate workers, they become more productive. What I am promising on behalf of the Enugu ALGON family is that we are going to cascade the new minimum wage to the local government level. Implementation begins immediately,” he said.
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