The Supreme Court on Monday affirmed the election of Abdullahi Ganduje as governor of Kano and dismissed the appeal filed by the PDP and its candidate, Abba Yusuf.

The arguments

Adegboyega Awomolo, Counsel to the PDP candidate had argued that the returning officer had cancelled results in 207 polling units, declared the election inconclusive and rescheduled another election for March 23, 2019.

According to Mr Awomolo, the cancellation after announcing the entire results in the state is ultra vires, adding that the declaration of the election as inconclusive is also ultra vires.

“Therefore, the result of the second rescheduled election of March 23 is null and void.

“The only lawful votes at the Kano State governorship election were those announced by the returning officer on March 11.

“In conclusion, I urge your lordship to allow this appeal on the grounds that the appellant scored the highest votes at the election of March 9, 20,19 and satisfied section 179 (2) a and b.,” Mr Awomolo said.

However, Mr Ganduje’s counsel, M.M Duru, in his counter-argument, said the form EC8D does not contain the results of the 207 polling units.
He, therefore, asserted that there was “absolutely no way the returning officer could have declared a winner out of that result.

Mr Duru added that out of the 207 polling units, 62 polling units were from Gama ward.

“The results from that unit were not collated by relevant officers as agents of the appellant carted away the results, locked himself up in a room with a pen, stayed there for an hour, did not return the results to INEC, but took them to the commissioner of police in the state,” he said.

According to Mr Duru, allowing the appeal would mean “sanctioning election violence, giving credit to somebody who has clearly violated the law and admitted the same”.

Background

On November 22, the court of appeal sitting in Kaduna had dismissed the 24 grounds of appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and its candidate.

In a unanimous judgement on Friday, the chairman of the appeal panel, Justice Tijjani Abubakar, upheld the judgement of the tribunal, saying Mr Ganduje was validly elected.

In its October 2 judgment, the Kano State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal held that the PDP and its candidate did not prove the case of substantial violation of the Electoral Act.

The tribunal chairperson, Halima Shamaki, said the reliefs sought by the petitioners are contradictory and mutually exclusive, and therefore could not be granted because they are not sought for in the alternative.

The judge also said the failure of the petitioners to include results of the votes secured by all the contestants of the March 2019 election was fatal to their case.

She also said the participation of the petitioners in the March 23 re-run election amounts to waiver of the claims of the winning election on March 9.

Mrs Shamaki held that INEC was right to declare the March 9 election inconclusive.

“The carbonised copies of documentary evidences tendered by the petitioners were mostly unstamped, some are unsigned, others were contained re write data hence amounted to documentary hearsay and therefore inadmissible.

“The act of self-locking up by Dr. Yakasai accorded him an opportunity to alter the snatched results.

“Claiming that electoral rules and guidelines have not been complied with in an election you claimed to have won majority of lawful votes is a paradox. It’s like trying to mix oil and water.
“We shall not go into details in the petition. He who asserts must prove beyond reasonable doubt.

“Respondents are not bound to proof. In civil cases, the burden to prove lies on the plaintiff.
“Where the plaintiff fails to prove his case, the case must fail. As such, the petition is hereby dismissed,” she declared.

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Pauline Tallen, has appointed one of her daughters, Violet Osunde, as a special assistant in her office.

It is not clear if the minister’s action violated any law, but critics including academics and lawyers said it suggests nepotism and could be a breach of her oath of office.

Until her appointment in November, Mrs Osunde was a senior executive assistant with the National Databank Management Department of the National Pension Commission.

Mrs Osunde, a 2010 graduate of Business Management and Information Technology from the University of Plymouth, England, also holds a Master’s certificate in Information System Management from Brunel University, London. She joined the National Pension’s Commission in 2016.

But criticisms have trailed the appointment with many Nigerians including lawyers, leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and the spokesperson of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing the development as opportunistic and condemnable.

However, the minister has defended her action, saying she has the right to choose whoever she feels has the capacity to support her efforts towards achieving the mandate of her office.

On November 14, 2019, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ifeoma Anagbogu, through the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics Department, addressed a letter to Osunde, informing her of her choice by the minister as her special assistant.

The letter with reference FMWASD/PS/128/VOL.II/302 reads in part; “I am directed to inform you that a request has been made to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for your release to the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to serve the Honourable Minister’s special assistant. Other correspondences on the subject have been forwarded to appropriate offices.

“As you are aware of Honourable Minister’s itinerary for the coming week, you are expected to travel with her and accompany her to various sessions, therefore you are directed to formally request for release from your organisation to serve as special assistant to the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.”

The new appointee has since resumed office as our reporter met her at the ministry on Friday when the minister had offered to explain the rationale behind her choice. But the permanent secretary, Mrs Anagbogu, chose to speak on behalf of the minister.

Osunde Applies For Four-year Leave Of Absence

In response to the letter received from her mother’s ministry, Mrs Osunde applied for a four-year leave of absence through the head of the databank management department to the National Pension Commission’s head of human capital management department.

The application letter, which was dated November 15, is referenced TECH/NDMD/DMU/2019/574.

It reads in part; “I wish to inform management that I have been appointed as the special assistant to the honourable minister of women affairs. Consequently, I wish to humbly request to be granted leave of absence for a period of four years effective December 1, 2019, to December 1, 2023, to enable me carry out my duties as required under the ministry of women affairs.

“Accordingly, if approved, to ensure all tasks assigned are completed as expected, I will make certain that all assignments are duly concluded and handed over appropriately before my departure.”

ASUU, PDP, others kick against appointment

While the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the body of university teachers across the country, described the minister’s action as opportunistic, the leading opposition party in the country, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the development borders on moral bankruptcy.

Speaking with our reporter on the phone, the National President of ASUU, Abiodun Ogunyemi, said the union has always kicked against the rising culture of opportunism and nepotism by some vice-chancellors, who he noted bring on board members of their families and villages to occupy positions of authorities once they are appointed.

Ogunyemi said; “It is, therefore, regrettable that a serving minister could also do this. So on a moral ground, it is not acceptable that a public office holder will bring in a member of his or her family as an aide. Otherwise, it will bring in nepotism of the highest order, and this is not acceptable in our constitution because we are not running a monarchy.

“Since we are operating a democracy, such appointment should be based strictly on merit, and based on other criteria that are spelt out in our constitution. ASUU condemns it and we invite government to look into it. So as much as we don’t accept it on our primary constituency, which is the university system, I think such practice should not be tolerated in other segments within the larger society. So, on moral, constitutional and legal grounds, we believe that such should not be tolerated.”

Also speaking, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said such practice has defined President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

He said; “Well, we have not confirmed that story but if it were so, it borders on moral bankruptcy, which is a system that has been established by this administration. President Buhari’s administration is about absurdities; they have no respect for morality and they are very divisive.

They also don’t care about the feelings of Nigerians and that can only account for why a serving minister will use her daughter as a special assistant.”

The secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Bwari Branch, Abuja, Olalekan Oladapo, said such action by the minister is a breach of oath of office. “Leadership is imbued with moral rectitude. We would not be wrong to posit that the new appointment was deliberate and for personal reason. But be that as it may, such action is a breach of the Oath of office of the Hon Minister.

“A compound reading of 5th Schedule of 1999 Constitution, Code of Conduct for Public Officer, Code of Conduct and Tribunal Act, and Federal Character Commission Act posits that there is abuse of office, conflict of interest and a violent breach of the law”

Ministry defends action

Speaking in defence of the minister, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Anagbogu, said there is nothing wrong in what her boss has done. She said what should be important is getting the work done and not who is brought on board to get it done.

She said; “As long as I do not pay from my salary, my hourable minister and even me, has the right to choose whoever will give us support and enable us to achieve our mandate. Even if it is that man on the street and I found out he is useful to me I can use him as my aide. I am being very factual and honest with you, what is the big deal in appointing one’s son or daughter as an aide?”

The personal assistant to the minister, Bala Muhammed, also shares the permanent secretary’s view, adding that the minister’s choice was based on competence and merit.

Presidency, APC keep mum

When the position of the presidency on the matter was sought through the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Garba Shehu, he said he could not comment on such matters, as he was busy with his son’s marriage.

But the spokesperson of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Lanre Issa-Onilu, said since he did not know the reason behind the minister’s decision, it would be unfair to him to speak on such matter.

Mr Issa-Onilu said; “I don’t think this is a question that should be pushed to the party. I am sure the minister can explain the reasons behind her decision. So if I speak now, I will be speaking in abstract because I don’t know the reasons for doing it. Actually she hasn’t done anything illegal. And if we are coming from the moral angle, such can only make sense when we know the reason. And even if we disagree, sound reason may completely wipe off the moral sentiment one may be tempted to bring in. So if I don’t have those facts, how am I going to comment on such matter?

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the appeal of the All Progressive Congress and its candidate, Ahmed Aliyu, challenging Aminu Tambuwal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as governor of Sokoto State.

The seven-member of the apex court , in a unanimous judgement on Monday, dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit.

Justice Uwani Abba-aji read the judgement.

The Supreme Court will today deliver judgements on two governorship elections.

They are those of Kano and Sokoto states.

At the conclusion of the governorship elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared governors Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano and Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto the winners in their respective states.

The different appeals before the apex court were filed by the aggrieved candidates.

The candidates are challenging the judgements of election tribunals and the appeal courts, which upheld the elections.

Mr Ganduje’s election is being challenged by the PDP and its candidate. The Kano governor is a member of the APC.

For Sokoto, the election of Mr Tambuwal, a member of the PDP, is being challenged by the APC and it’s candidate.

A seven-member panel of the Supreme Court led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Muhammad, will deliver judgements on the cases.

Stay on this page for live updates from the Supreme Court by PREMIUM TIMES.

The Supreme Court on Monday affirmed Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State as duly elected in the March 23 governorship Election in the state.

In a unanimous judgement read by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta on Monday, the court held that the challenger, Abba Yusuf of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), did not show that the Court of Appeal and the Election Tribunal were wrong in their earlier rulings.

The seven-member panel said the appeal had no merit and dismissed it.

The apex court also struck out a cross-appeal filed by Mr Ganduje, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The Kaduna Division of the Court of Appeal had on November 22, 2019, upheld Mr Ganduje’s election, affirming an earlier decision by the tribunal led by Justice Halima Shamaki.

The Court of Appeal five-member panel, led by Justice Tijjani Abubakar, in a unanimous judgment, dismissed the entire petition of the PDP’s candidate and its party for lacking in merit.

The governor had defeated his opponent after a rescheduled election by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC).

On March 24, 2019, the INEC had declared Mr Ganduje winner, saying

Mr Ganduje scored 1,033,695 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr Yusuf, who got 1,024,713 votes.

Dissatisfied, the candidate of the PDP and his party challenged the outcome at the Kano State Election Petition Tribunal.

Lawyers’ argument

Appearing before the apex court on Tuesday, the lawyer to Mr Yusuf of the PDP, Adegboyega Awomolo, asked the court to allow the appeal and grant all the appellant’s prayers.

Mr Awomolo noted that the returning officer cancelled results in 207 polling units, declared the election inconclusive and rescheduled another election for March 23, 2019.

Mr Awolowo said the cancellation made by the state returning officer in 207 polling units after announcing the entire results in the state was outside his powers.

“Therefore, the result of the second rescheduled election of March 23 is null and void,” he said.

“The only lawful votes at the Kano State governorship election were those announced by the returning officer on March 11.

“In conclusion, I urge your lordship to allow this appeal on the grounds that the appellant scored the highest votes at the election of March 9, 20,19 and satisfied section 179 (2) a and b.”

Opposing arguments

But the lawyer representing INEC, Ahmed Raji, urged the court to summarily dismiss the appeal.

Mr Raji said it was not correct that the returning officer cancelled votes. He said the evidence laid did not prove any cancellation.

Also, the legal team said they had addressed all the issues raised in their brief of argument.

Mr Ganduje’s lawyers, including Alex Iziyon, said allowing the appeal would mean “sanctioning election violence, giving credit to somebody who has clearly violated the law and admitted the same”.

They urged the apex court to dismiss the appeal with a substantial cost of N5 million in their favour.

BREAKING: Supreme Court affirms Tambuwal’s election as Sokoto governor

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the appeal of the All Progressive Congress and its candidate, Ahmed Aliyu, challenging Aminu Tambuwal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as governor of Sokoto State.

The seven-member of the apex court , in a unanimous judgement on Monday, dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit.

Justice Uwani Abba-aji read the judgement.

Details Shortly…

The inauguration of the much-talked South-West security outfit, Operation Amotekun purportedly came to existence on 9th January 2019 following its formal declaration by the governors of the South-West region at the Oyo State Governor’s Office, State Secretariat in Agodi, Ibadan.

From the report, the outfit was designed to tackle kidnapping, banditry and other criminalities in the region.

The Chairman, Western Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Gov Rotimi Akeredolu while speaking at the launch held in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital and attended by Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Deputy Governor of Ogun, Noimat Salako-Oyedele, Deputy Governor of Osun, Benedict Gboyega Alabi, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Otunba Deji Osinbogun and Professor Banjo Akintoye, said that Governors in the region are committed, in all ramifications, to the ideals that will make the country stronger and more united, and not to divide it.

He added that the establishment of Amotekun is without prejudice to the expectations of patriotic discharge of your mandates as provided in our laws, noting that the region is concerned with the security of its people and property.

This text is not to argue about the legality or illegality of the purported establishment of Amotekun because am not a lawyer and not a court of competent jurisdiction, but since the issue borders on security I believe I have some atomic ideas to sell to the public on the scam called Amotekun.

Though the Idea of the Southwest region on forming a synergy in tackling security issues affecting the region must be encouraged by all but the South-West region must also form handshake to ameliorate the poverty in the region.

We have seen a scenario whereby Lagos is partnering with Kebbi on Agriculture- Kebbi rice, and 70 per cent of the youth in the region want to stay in Lagos because of the economic advantage. I can say that no household in Yoruba land that does not have family in Lagos simply because their respective state is not very viable for economic development.

It’s high time we duplicate Lagos Economy for sisters’ state so as to have peace and tranquility. We need the governors to form a common cause irrespective of their political differences; the same energy put into the Amotekun should be replicated to other issues affecting common man in the region.

Let them create south-west economic ministry by an act of parliament and each state to contribute a certain percentage of their allocation directly from the federal government purse and see if the reason for forming of Amotekun would not be defeated.

However, it is no longer news that there have been continuous threats to the security of lives and properties and Security is an important part of our lives, owing to this, protection of lives and properties is an integral responsibility of any government.

The formation of Hisbah in the North is different from AMOTEKUN which was created not by decree or two people coming together to form business.

The Hisbah Board Law of 2003 established the Kano State Hisbah Board. The functions of the Board are set out in section 7(4) and include ‘rendering necessary assistance to the police and other security agencies, especially in the areas of prevention, detection and reporting of offences.

The Hisbah Corps does not have the authority to execute arrests and officers are armed only with non-lethal weapons for self-defence, such as batons. Hisbah officers who observe violations of Sharia are expected to alert the Nigeria Police Force. Other duties of the Hisbah Corps include arbitrating the voluntary reconciliation of disputes, verbally chastising violators of Sharia, and maintaining order at religious celebrations. Hisbah are also trained to assist with disaster response operations.

Comparing “AMOTEKUN” with hisbah does not hold any water, and comparing it with Civilian JTF in Borno is another mistake because CJTF was created by the military as part of the government’s strategy to combat Boko Haram. The Vigilante had been trained and some were integrated into the Military.

Let the South-West state governors go back to the drawing board and plan effectively on how to get it done, defending scam with irrelevant points won’t succeed and the Unity of the Country is not negotiable.

We need to tell ourselves the truth that we are not in a Banana republic where everything goes, we must learn how to do things rightfully.

Why not copy Lagos State Neighbourhood Watch as a template, and see whether it would cause any uproar because any means of cutting the corner to create an appendage of the Police force with the aid of regional security outfit without recourse to the constitution would be a waste of time.

Today, individuals and corporate organizations alike require the services of private security personnel to enhance the general security provided by the Nigeria Police, Department of State Security or the Nigerian Security (DSS) and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The requirements for the registration and grant of licence to a private security company in Nigeria is not a child’s play or by decree but strictly in line with the regulations of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC).

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) is responsible for the licencing, monitoring and the supervision of private guards companies in Nigeria, which means that you cannot just wake up one day and said you want to have own vigilante. No, you need to get appropriate approval so that in future it won’t cause a nuisance to the society or security threat.

It should be noted that until a licence is granted by the NSCDC, the company cannot begin security operations. So answer me where the so-called governors with their attorney generals put their brain before jumping into the scam Amotekun inauguration? Where is the feasibility report? Where is the operational endorsed document?

Where is the Bill passed by each state house of assembly on the formation of the beer-parlour security outfit? Till date, no single operational framework, no addresses of correspondence, and no heads of operation known to the public. It baffles my imagination for Oyo state government procuring 1 vehicle per local government that cannot even serve LCDA. The whole of Ibadan North East is more than Bayelsa state. Tell me what are they taking us for.

Governance is not rocket science, I expected the Governors to study the concept very well before coming to the public, and they only awake the conscience of the Federal government to regig the current security architecture to truly reflect their operational guide.

How much operational efficiency can that provide if not scam and to score political points. If we allow security operative to operate by pronouncement, many tribes would also spring up that they want to protect themselves. Are we not in danger? But if we follow what the Law says on the rightful ways to have security outfit the society would be better for all.

Let’s call a spade a spade, not agriculture tools, if the South-West governors want to have security outfit, let them send a bill to their state of assembly where all issues bordering on its operationality can be unveiled. As it is, the so-called Amotekun is a scam.

If they want a quick fix they should form a private security guard for the protection of the region and the requirements for the licence of private security by the NSCDC are as follows;

1. Application for private guard license addressed to the Commandant General
2. CTC of memorandum and Article of association (2 copies)
3. Photocopies of certificates of incorporation (2copies)
4. Payment of Five hundred thousand naira (500,000.00) only.
5. Tax Clearance Certificate
6. Statement of account
7. Letter from a legal adviser
8. Letter from an auditor
9. Proposed training program
10. Proposed salary structure
11. Veterinary certificate (optional)
12. Personal History Statement (PHS) forms at One hundred thousand naira (100,000.00) only.
13. Credentials of directors (2copies) to be attached with PHS form
14. Letter from bankers
15. Eight (8) passport photographs for each of the Directors.
16. Eight (8) full photographs (postcard 5 X 7 inches) of each of the Directors with a white background, with five fingers print and signature signed at the back of the postcard (photograph) in the presence of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Officers.
17. Photocopy of the signature page of the Directors in the International passport or National ID Card or Driver’s License and this should be stapled at the back cover of the file jacket.
18. PHS form must be adequately filled by the Directors stating Nil or Not Applicable to portions they do not have answers to and no column should be left unfiled.
19. Attestation letters from referees for each Directors.
20. One uniform sample with photograph of a guard in Uniform (2 copies).

It should be noted in respect of the 20th requirement that the proposed uniform of the private security company must be unique and original in design and thus must not bear any resemblance to any uniform of the armed forces or any existing security outfit.

So many things are wrong with the so-called Amotekun and the governors are not sincere.

Written by
Fatai Abiodun
ICT Expert, Journalist and Public Affairs Analyst

The CAF Awards 2019 will hold tonight at 8pm at the Albatros Citadel Sahl Hasheesh, Hurghada in Egypt. It is the 28th edition of the CAF Awards ceremony.

Here are the top three (3) contenders for all the categories (in alphabetical order):

African Player of the Year

Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)

Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Manchester City)

Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)

African Women’s Player of the Year

Ajara Nchout (Cameroon & Valerenga)

Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Barcelona)

Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa & Beijing Phoenix FC)

African Interclubs Player of the Year

Anice Badri (Tunisia & Esperance)

Tarek Hamed (Egypt & Zamalek)

Youcef Belaïli (Algeria & Esperance / Ahli Jeddah)

African Youth Player of the Year

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Borussia Dortmund)

Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria & Villarreal)

Victor Osimhen (Nigeria & Lille)

African Men’s Coach of the Year

Aliou Cisse (Senegal – Senegal)

Djamel Belmadi (Algeria – Algeria)

Moïne Chaâbani (Tunisia – Esperance)

African Women’s Coach of the Year

Alain Djeumfa (Cameroon)

Desiree Ellis (South Africa)

Thomas Dennerby (Nigeria)

African Men’s National Team of the Year

Algeria

Madagascar

Senegal

African Women’s National Team of the Year

Cameroon

Nigeria

South Africa

About ten states have concluded negotiations with workers on consequential adjustments and ready to implement the N30, 000 national minimum wage, the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) has said.

Already, workers in Lagos and Kaduna, along with those at the Federal level, have started enjoying the new minimum wage.

The states, which have concluded discussions on consequential adjustments, according to NLC are:
Adamawa,
Bauchi,
Borno,
Jigawa,
Kaduna,
Kano,
Katsina,
Kebbi,
Lagos and
Ebonyi.

NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, who appeared on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ programme on Monday, said the ten states met the December 31, 2019 deadline set by organised labour.

Organised labour had on December 11, 2019 at a meeting with its state chairmen in Abuja, set December 31 of the same year for all state governors to conclude negotiations with workers in their states following an agreement with the Federal Government on October 18, 2019.

President Buhari had in April 2019 signed the new wage bill aimed at boosting the morale of the Nigerian workers into law.

On October 18, 2019 after about six months of negotiations, the Federal Government reached an agreement with organised labour on the consequential adjustments after a lengthy negotiation process that dragged for months.

The federal government and organised labour agreed on per cent increase of 23.2 for workers on level seven and 20 per cent for workers on level eight, while it agreed on 19 per cent increase for workers on level nine.

Also, both the federal government and organised labour reached an agreement on 16 per cent salary increase for workers on level 10- 14 and 14 per cent increase for workers on level 15-17.

Wabba said about 23 states were still on the discussion table with labour leaders in their states on consequential adjustments.

He insisted that state governor do not have any reason not to pay the N30,000 minimum wage.
According to Wabba, the new wage is binding on all states following Buhari’s assent.

He said: “We are actually on tract. The Federal Government has set the pace. They have been able to meet up with all the obligations, including payment of arrears. Let us also not lose sight of the fact that from the day the President assented to the bill, it becomes a law. Therefore, states have no reason not to respect a law that had been enacted.

“So far so good, we have about ten states that have concluded the process of collective bargaining and some have commenced payment. They are in three categories. First are the states that have respected the deadline (December 31). They are Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Lagos and Ebonyi.

“We have those (states) that are still on the table and they have until yesterday (January 5) to complete the process. This constitutes about 23 states that are on the discussion table and we have seen commitments.

“We insist on the process of collective bargaining because we don’t want an allocation of peanuts to workers. The principle of collective bargaining is enshrined in international law that workers should be able to know what they will be paid because the N30, 000 is already a law. What we are discussing is the consequential adjustment.

“That is why the unions are interested in looking at the details before they sign. Some (states) will want to pay peanut and that is what we are trying to avoid.”

The NLC president said that three states – Cross River, Kogi and Taraba, had yet to set up a committee to negotiate the consequential adjustments, warning that organised labour may be forced to declare a strike.

Wabba said the leadership of the NLC will meet with those of the Trade Union Congress and the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC) to review the situation state by state and take action.

“We have three states that are yet to commence anything. We have Cross River, Kogi and Taraba state. These states are yet to even constitute the negotiating committee and these three states have not shown enough commitment to actually start the process of negotiating and implementing the minimum wage.

“We will engage them but certainly there must be a time to conclude all those processes. Because when we allow the arrears to accumulate then it becomes compounded.

“Certainly, we are not going to set another deadline. That will be on the basic of specific request from states but the deadline we have set for December 31 2019 certainly stands.

“We are going to engage all those states (still on the negotiating table) in the weeks to come in the normal way of labour. We are not fully satisfied but we need to commend those states, particularly the ten that I have mentioned that have actually complied. If the ten that I have mentioned have complied then other states have no reason (not to comply).

“If need be in a particular state where government remains adamant workers will have no option than to go on strike because workers are not slaves. That is the only instrument that we have which is recognised by law.

“Our structures will have meet within the week. The NLC leadership, TUC and JPSNC. We will review the situation state by state and where we need to send in intervention we will send intervention from the leadership and where we need to take some action we will also make sure that workers’ interest are not undermined,” he added.

The Japan international made his Reds bow in an FA Cup third-round derby with Everton and is hoping to contribute significantly over the coming weeks

Takumi Minamino admits his Liverpool debut was “one of the most intense matches I’ve played”, but believes he has much more to offer after being introduced into a Merseyside derby.
The Reds took in a meeting with neighbours Everton at Anfield on Sunday.

Teenage midfielder Curtis Jones netted the match-winner for Jurgen Klopp’s side, allowing him to steal the headlines, but Minamino caught the eye in his first outing for a new club.

Liverpool snapped up the Japan international from Red Bull Salzburg for just £7.25 million ($10m), with his potential having been spotted in domestic and Champions League outings.
He is aware that English football will present plenty of challenges to him, but the 24-year-old is confident that he can tackle them head on.

Minamino told reporters of his debut: “I’m happy that now I’m a part of this team, but from now on I need to show what I can do on the pitch.

“Personally I would’ve liked to score or assist. It was probably one of the most intense matches I’ve played, but I knew the Premier League would be like that so I wasn’t surprised.”

Liverpool’s high-pressing style, with Klopp demanding intensity from his side, is similar to that which Minamino experienced at Salzburg.
Quizzed on whether that will aid his transition, the energetic forward said: “The way we press aggressively, the way we press back, the way we use the space between lines are similar.

“But the system is not the same so I have to understand the difference and fit myself into this team.”

Minamino is now up and running at Liverpool, with any early nerves being eased, and he has also got a first taste of the famous Anfield atmosphere on derby day.

He said of that occasion: “Great, I think this is the best stadium for a footballer.
Article continues below
“The fans were great and I’m just glad we won.”
Having been thrown in at the deep end against Everton, things are not about to get any easier for Minamino on Merseyside.

Liverpool’s next outing is set to see them take in a Premier League trip to Tottenham, before then playing host to old adversaries Manchester United on January 19.