President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on the Governors of the 36 States of the federation to as a matter of urgency commence the payment of the wage awards pending the determination of the new minimum wage committee to reduce the economic hardship in the country….CONTINUE READING
This was as he said that if the states had implemented the wage awards, it would provide much-needed relief without causing inflationary pressures.
Speaking at the flag-off of the agricultural mechanization revolution for food security and the commissioning of the remodelled domestic terminal of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport, the President stated that all states need to adopt the wage award saying that the National Executive Council (NEC) would also adopt it.
He said: “If all of you, the sub-nationals have been paying the wages award, pending the determination of the new salary wage. Let all the states start paying the wages award. Whatever they are taking now plus the wage award would relieve the public.
“Please, I am not giving an order, I am appealing to you states, start paying the wages awards, let everyone start paying it. It is a relief to the people.
“The mechanism is the fact that it won’t be inflationary if we announce the new salary wage in a few weeks or months, they would have gotten used to the basic wages of N30,000 plus the wages award, and it will have a dampening effect on the market. Please get sub-nationals together and NEC should adopt this.”
The President assured that the student loans and other economic measures would soon commence as steps are being taken by the government to relieve the people of hunger.
“The student loan programme will commence, there will be unemployment benefits for our graduates, and the social security programme for the elderly and vulnerable will commence, we are fine-tuning all these areas. We will relieve people of hunger.”
Tinubu also outlined plans for a comprehensive programme to address the challenges of violent attacks, cattle rustling, and other related issues pledging to organize an inauguration of the Livestock Change programme in Nigeria within the next few weeks, aiming to transform the current challenges into economic opportunities.
“Give me two to three weeks. You will be part of the inauguration of the livestock change in Nigeria. I know what it means to economic sabotage for roaming cows to eat up the crops and vegetation of our lands, it could be painful but when we reorient the herders and make provision for cattle rearing. The Governors should provide the lands and as the President, I am committed to giving you a comprehensive programme that will solve this problem.”
He applauded the continued and aggressive determination of the Niger state governor in ensuring agricultural revolution for food security including efforts being put in place for Niger state to be one of the top food producers in the country while pledging his support to the state government.
He added: “We have seen the level of commitment here from the state level, we have seen leadership and the success story of any leader is the ability to do what they ought to do at the time they ought to do it. You are doing the job, you are walking the talk and I must support you.
“Whatever support you need, you will get. We appreciate your efforts in the infrastructure development of the state, and I guarantee you the federal support. We flag off the hope, you deliver the hope and you reassure Nigerians.”
He stated that his administration is not concerned about making excuses or blaming the past government adding that he intends to take action, do his best to reengineer the finances of the country, and stay ahead on the right path.
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago said that agriculture is key to the government’s commitment to addressing the challenges in critical sectors of our economy adding that his administration intends to seize every opportunity for the attainment of growth and engender prosperity for the people of the state and Nigeria.
He disclosed that when he assumed office as a Governor, he met the infrastructure of the state comatose including the rural and urban roads adding that despite the strategic roles the state plays in the nation’s economy as a crucial transit corridor connecting the North and South parts of Nigeria, the current state of dilapidation of these infrastructures across the state is terrible.
He noted that the state government had embarked on some ambitious initiatives to rehabilitate and expand some federal roads to address these challenges and establish efficient road infrastructure and cost-effective and secure movement of goods and services.
The governor stated that the state has approved 3,000 hectares of land for the special Agro-processing Free Zone out of which 1,000 hectares is dedicated to greenhouses, 1,000 for dairy and meat processing, and the other 1,000 hectares for Agro-processing storage, aggregation, and other value chain development components.
Bago then stated that the state government has prioritized agricultural development as a catalyst for economic growth and poverty alleviation in the State as part of its efforts to advance the federal government’s aspiration towards food security in Nigeria.
“To further buttress the lead role Niger State is playing in agriculture and contributing to the overall food security of Nigeria, we shall explore over three million of the 8.3 million hectares of arable land, large water bodies with a multitude of tributaries, 23 grazing reserves, and 94 forest reserves.
Therefore, Niger State stands as a beacon of hope and promise in the realm of agriculture and our springboard to harvest our potentials in the Green Economy and associated gains.
The Governor assured the President that Niger State shall serve as a champion for the food security agenda in the country stating that the state had procured a substantial number of agricultural equipment and inputs for enhanced agricultural activities in the state
The Governor disclosed that the state is well positioned to produce 50 million metric tons of assorted food crops annually utilising about three million hectares of land by 2030, “On overall, Niger State intends to be the largest sub-national food exporter in Nigeria. To achieve this objective, we are determined to attract investments, private sector equity, and loans totalling 500 billion Naira annually over the next seven years.”
Bago also announced the partnership between the Niger State Government and the Lagos State Government designating Lagos State as the off-takers of the state agricultural produce saying, “This strategic initiative will attract over N1 trillion in investment into our agricultural sector, consequently fostering the creation of more than one million direct and indirect job opportunities. This collaboration symbolizes a significant step towards economic empowerment that you laid the solid foundation.”
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu stressed the importance for the nation to grow what they eat and eat what they grow saying that the partnership and agreement between Lagos, Niger, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, and Osun states would go a long way to enhance food security in the country.
He said that Lagos state is building the largest food storage to store all the food produced from these states adding that Lagos state can make the food security of the federal government become a reality.
The programme was also attended by Benue state Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, Kogi state Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, Kwara state Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Osun state Governor, Ademola Adeleke, Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security, Senators and Legislators from the federal and state.
The High Court in Kampala has declined to temporarily release Molly Katanga who was seeking to gain freedom as she faces charges of murdering her husband businessman Henry Katanga.
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Criminal Division Judge Isaac Muwata on Tuesday denied Molly bail on grounds that she has not proved exceptional circumstances as required under the law such as being of advanced age and having grave illnesses which cannot be managed in prison.
Molly who has today appeared before Court on zoom connecting to court from Luzira Women’s Prison through her lawyers; Peter Kabatsi, McDusman Kabega, Jet Tumwebaze, Bruce Musinguzi, and Ellison Karuhanga applied for bail last month saying she is ready to abide by all terms set by Court.
She presented her nephew, Dr Patrick Kabayo, a retired civil servant, Rtd Gen Emmanuel Burundi Nyamwanisa, a farmer in Nyabusozi in Kiruhura, her cousin businessman Geoffrey Kamuntu, and the state minister for Health Margaret Muhanga as her sureties.Molly’s lawyers then told the Judge that their client was innocent of the charges preferred against her.
According to Molly, before being committed to the High court and later remanded to Luzira Women’s Prison, she had spent over two months at C-Care IHK hospital where she received specialized treatment and underwent five major surgeries to her scalp and hands.She added that the injuries require a lot of specialized post-operative care for her recovery, which is not available in prison.
She argued that she was at all times under detention while in C-Care IHK hospital where she was admitted for treatment on November 2, 2024, and couldn’t be accessed by any of her relatives and friends without permission from the Uganda police force.According to the accused, she has a fixed place of abode at Mbuya I, Mbuya Hill village, Nakawa Division, and Kampala district within the jurisdiction of the High court.
Mrs Molly Katanga also noted that investigations into the case were completed and as such, she has no capacity and shall not interfere with the investigations and witnesses once released on bail. She added that she is of advanced age (55 years), has always been a law-abiding citizen, and has never been charged or convicted of any criminal offence.
Molly Katanga thus asked court to release her saying that although she is gainfully employed, she is the sole breadwinner of her family and the mother of a child of tender years who is dependent on her.
However, the Prosecution led by Jonathan Muwaganya Chief State Attorney, and Samalie Wakooli opposed the application arguing that the sureties presented were not substantial since two of them were of advanced age.Muwaganya also said that one of the sureties Kamuntu is under investigation for obstructing the police from doing their lawful duty about the investigations in the case and is being investigated under SD 14/12/12/2023.
Muwaganya said that Molly Katanga was admitted at IHK hospital under a private special arrangement for protection by officers of Special Forces Command (SFC) attached to Kamuntu, and this deployment impeded and obstructed police investigations in the main case.
Muwaganya said if such a person is capable of obstructing at the stage of investigations, the risk is even higher now that the case is set for hearing on July 2nd, 2024. He asked Court to prioritize hearing of the main case.
The court also heard that by the time Molly Katanga was arraigned, she had been fully discharged from the hospital and she had previously shown that she was incapable of honouring the court process, having appeared in court following a warrant of arrest by the Chief Magistrate’s court.
In his ruling, Justice Muwata has indicated that whereas an accused person has a right to apply for bail, court can grant bail on terms it finds reasonable.He said the Court must consider the gravity of the offence and it’s impact in the society before granting bail and then go ahead to strike a balance between the two, also while considering the Bail Guidelines of 2022 which provide that while granting bail, Court must consider the right to liberty of the accused person, the need to balance rights of the accused person, the interests of justice and if there is a certificate of no objection from the DPP and proof of exceptional circumstances.
Justice Muwata noted that the Trial Indictments Act explains exceptional circumstances as grave illnesses which can’t be treated in prisons which can only be proved by a report from the medical personnel in a prison facility where an accused person is.
In this case, the Court has heard that Molly Katanga presented medical letters from Dr Patrick Sekindi and Dr Joel Kiryabwire dated November 13th 2023 from C Care IHK assessing her medical condition and her lawyers requested for a further comprehensive examination about her health from Mulago Hospital.
However, according to the Judge, all the said letters fall short of what is required under the law. Justice Muwata has indicated that it is the Prison’s Medical officer who is required to prove that one’s condition cannot be handled.On the issue of advanced age, the Judge has ruled that Molly Katanga is only 55 years old and therefore, she is not of advanced age.
He added that Molly is already committed for trial and there is no likelihood for delay. Although the Court has found Molly’s sureties to be substantial, he explained that the circumstances doesn’t warrant them to be considered. He said the ends of Justice must be served and went ahead to dismiss Molly’s application with advice that she should prepare for trial of the murder case against her which is already fixed for hearing on July 2nd 2024.
While denying her bail, Justice Muwata also borrowed precedents in the case in which businessman Francis Onebe was denied bail on charges of murdering his wife
.Prosecution states that businessman Katanga was shot dead by his wife Molly on November 2, 2023, at their home on Chwa II Road in Kampala.The prosecution further contends that Katanga’s daughters Patrica Kakwanzi and Martha Nkwazi destroyed valuable evidence that they would use to prove their father’s murder while the family’s shamba boy George Amanyire and a male nurse Charles Otai are charged with being accessories after the murder.
The four suspects were granted bail in February 2024 at Shs 2 million by the same Judge who has denied Molly bail.
