President Bola Tinubu has told state governments to begin to pay wage award to workers pending when the minimum wage is increased.
He made the call on Monday at the flagging off of the Food Security and Agricultural Mechanization Programme, an initiative of the Niger State government.
President Tinubu said the payment of the wage award by the sub-national will serve as an immediate intervention measure and will complement the efforts of the federal government in easing the burden of citizens.
He stated: “I am equally here to partner with you to banish hunger. You are doing the job. And it is necessary for me to support you; it is mandatory as Nigerians. When we read newspapers, some of us are confused about whether to abuse the past or the present or to make excuses for the future. But that is not in my dictionary. I think the action now, re-engineer the finances of our country and steer it on the right path.
“The student loan programme will commence. There will be unemployment benefits for our graduates. The social security benefits for the elderly and the vulnerable will commence. We are fine-tuning all of that area. We need to relieve our people of hunger. Let all the sub-nationals start paying wage awards, pending when the minimum wage is increased. I am not giving an order; I am only appealing. NEC should adopt this.”
President Tinubu emphasized that his administration remains committed to ensuring food sufficiency and protecting local industries for sustainable economic growth.
Speaking on the Niger government initiative, Tinubu affirmed that it is for the deployment of cutting-edge agricultural machinery and technology for large-scale agro-value chain development in the state.
He said the event represents another step in the food security and agricultural mechanization agenda, declaring that Nigeria must enhance its capacity to feed its people and have enough for export.
The president lamented that cows are allowed to roam and eat up crops and vegetation, calling on state governments to provide land for cattle rearers to graze their herds.
President Tinubu added: “We have seen the level of commitment here. We have seen leadership. The success of any leader will depend on the ability to do what needs to be done when it ought to be done. It is now time for us to address the challenges and make Nigeria an economy of opportunities. We must care for our people; and re-orient our people. I do not see why Nigeria cannot feed all students in its schools.
“I know what it means for roaming cows to eat crops and the vegetation of our land. I know it is painful. But when we re-orient the herder and make provision for cattle rearing, we can address that. You are the governors who are to provide us with land. I, as President, I am committed to providing a comprehensive programme that will solve this problem.”
In his remarks, Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State appreciated the president for honouring his invitation and inaugurating the facilities, noting that four states including, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, and Lagos had already signed memoranda of understanding on building partnerships for the development of agriculture.
Bago said: “Mr. President, your presence here today underscores the importance of this occasion for our state in particular and Nigeria as a whole, as we gather to celebrate a good example demonstrated in our modest contribution to infrastructure and agricultural development encapsulated in our New Niger Agenda.
“For us, agriculture is key to addressing the challenges in critical sectors of our economy, and we shall seize every opportunity for the attainment of growth and engender prosperity for the people of our beloved state and by extension our country, Nigeria.”
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari disclosed that the federal government had signed an agreement with the Brazilian Government and German Deutsch Bank Group as financiers of a facility of 995 million euros for the Green Imperative Programme which will provide mechanization hubs across the 774 local government areas in Nigeria when implemented.
“A memorandum of understanding between the federal government and the John Deer Group, a subsidiary of Tata Equipment, was signed. The manufacturer has signed to deliver 10,000 units of tractors and implement them in tranches of 2,000 units per annum for the next five years.
“The Greener Hope Initiative is another veritable platform the federal government is deploying to ultimately change the deficit narrative in the Nigerian agricultural mechanization space,’’ he added.
A statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) informed that while in Niger State, President Tinubu also visited and had fruitful discussions concerning the advancement of the nation with former Nigerian Heads of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, and General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
