News
Lagos-Calabar expressway: FG inaugurates compensation committee
The Federal Government on Thursday inuagurated the committee expected to review, evaluate and compensate land owners affected by the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal expressway.
The Minister of Works, Mr David Umahi, while inaugurating the committee in Abuja, said that the goal was to ensure transparency in all undertakings.
“The gesture is in line with the renewed hope agenda of the administration of Presidents Bola Tinubu which is transparency.
“The committee is tasked with interacting with the property owners to be affected, and to look at possible compensations to be paid. Where it is possible, the committee should visit the sites,” he said.
He said that the ministry would apply federal goverment rates for the compensations.
“I know very well that there is nobody that you ever compensate that is ever satisfied with how much is to be paid.
“However, we are bound by the law, so we are using the federal rate, which is a lot higher than the Lagos rate, in paying compensation
“We adopted the Federal Government rate since we are the ones paying,” he said.
Umahi said that apart from verifying those to be paid, the committee would also verify the dimensions where possible, and the amount.
He said that after the verification, the property owners would sign, and the contractor would be directed to pay the specified amount.
He, however, said that where there is a title problem, a presidential waiver would be needed before such people would be paid.
“So, only those that have proven titles will be paid as they are brought to us in the ministry, although we shall carry out our own checks.
“We have to make it very clear that 250 metres of the road legally belongs to the federal government.
“So, if you have a title within these 250 metres and it is not a title from the Federal Government, only the President will give a waiver if he so feels, for payment.
“So, I will work within the confines of the law,” he said
Umahi said that the ministry would try not to delay the files so that the process would be shortened.
He assured property owners that within 72 hours, the needful would be done.
Umahi said that property owners would sign and be given a form to indicate their bank accounts.
He said that the moment that was done, within 72 hours, payment would be authorised.
“The contractor is going to be paying directly to all those who are affected. We are committed to doing this, so the verification will start latest by Wednesday in Lagos,” he announced.
Umahi said that the committee members were drawn across board from the ministry, Lagos State, affected communities, among others.
News
Electricity: NLC, TUC condemn higher tariff for non-existent electricity
News
Fuel queues will fizzle out soon – Reps
The House of Representatives, has reassured that the long queues at filling stations in the country, will soon fizzle out soon.
Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere, Chairman, Petroleum Downstream said this at a joint news conference in Abuja on Wednesday.
“We hereby express our concerns over the temporary presence of fuel queues in petrol stations across the country.
“However, we are convinced that this is temporary based on our investigation, and in a couple of days, we shall get over it,” he said.
Flanked by Rep. Henry Okojie, the Chairman, Petroleum Midstream, Ugochinyere said that investigations had revealed that the scarcity was artificial.
“We have discovered that there is availability of petrol products. We have it on good authority that we have in our storage facilities at least, about 1.5 billion liters of petrol,” he said.
He said that 1.5 billion liters can last for 30 days.
“We have gotten assurances from the regulators in the distribution value chain that these bottlenecks have been cleared. In the course of this public holiday, more grounds will be covered.
“From our findings, the issues that necessitated the disruptions that led to the appearance of fuel queues in petrol stations have been cleared.
They said that it would take a few more days for things to return to normalcy, while calling on Nigerians not to panic over this development.
“We have gotten assurances from the regulators and the unions that these challenges will be cleared in a few days,” he said.
Ugochinyere added: “It will require more time, like two to three days, for products to be distributed to all stations nationwide.
“As a committee that is charged with downstream and midstream oversight, we have been monitoring this development.”
News
Some Borno pensioners still earn N4,000 monthly – NLC
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Borno State chapter, has said that some retirees in the state were still being paid N4,000 monthly as pension.
The NLC Chairman, Mr Yusuf Inuwa, said this in an address to mark the 2024 May Day celebration, on Wednesday in Maiduguri.
He advocated for upward review of the pension to improve the social and economic wellbeing of retirees.
“Your Excellency, we wish to table before you that as at this moment there are some pensioners who are still receiving N4,000 as pension per month which is grossly inadequate.
“We, therefore, pray for His Excellency intervention for upward review of the monthly pension”, Inuwa pleaded.
He also called for the implementation of the national minimum wage, payment of outstanding leave and transport grants to local government employees in the state.
The NLC chairman, who noted the commitment of the workers towards the transformation agenda of the state government, lauded the Babagana Zulum’s administration for the feat achieved in the area of workers’ welfare.
He listed some of the achievements to include implementation of promotion benefits to workers in the mainstream, payment of gratuities to families of deceased workers, and provision of subsidised buses for workers and members of the public.
Also, the State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Babayo Hamma, urged the state government to adopt the minimum wage aporoved by the Federal Government.
The state deputy governor, Alhaji Umar Kadafur, lauded the harmonious relationship between labour and the state government.
Kadafur who listed some of the training opportunities provided for the workers including the N2 billion free interest facility, reiterated government to the welfare and training of workers.
Also, Prof. Ibrahim Umara of Political Science Department, University of Maiduguri, who highlighted the theme of this year’s May Day, “The People First”, called for proactive active measures to address energy crisis in the country.
He urged government to adopt siund policies that would enabled the Dangote Refinery, to supply fuel at a subsidised rate to service local consumption.
-
capital market2 years ago
Rt.briscoe, FBNH, Others halts negative performance of stock market
-
Finance3 months ago
Court orders Sen. Victor Umeh to repay N136m bank debt to AMCON
-
Abuja Update2 months ago
UNDP, FG partnership needed to achieve inclusion, equity- Minister
-
Abuja Update1 month ago
Banks drive stock market performance with N147bn gain
-
Business1 week ago
Tingo Group unveils Tingo Electric, Tingo Cola drink at Lagos launch
-
Health2 weeks ago
Capacity training will reduce migration of health workers- NPHCDA
-
News4 months ago
Oil thieves sponsoring malicious media campaign against Navy – Spokesman
-
Infotech1 month ago
World Backup Day: NITDA urges Nigerians to ensure backup of data