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Miyetti Allah backs governors ban on open grazing
Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria says it supports state governors’ decision to ban open grazing, stressing that the decision will address farmers-herders’ crisis.
National Patron of MACBAN, Senator Walid Jibrin, made the position known in Kaduna on Thursday.
He said that cattle rearing had been practised in Africa for over 100 years without any consideration for free movement of cattle or any grazing reserve.
He said this was carried out because there were few herders, farmers and cattle especially in Nigeria in the past.
He noted the population of farmers and herders had increased with modern techniques of farming consuming land tremendously.
Jibrin, who is also the Sarkin Fulani Nasarawa, said with the current International concern on cattle rearing in Africa, especially Nigeria, there is need to look at how best this practice will be carried out successfully.
He said, “As a concerned Fulani Leader in Nigeria, I have a free mind on anyone recommending a ban on open grazing, free movement of herders and cattle in Nigeria because the practice is getting outdated internationally and is therefore necessary for Nigeria especially Fulani race to study critically the traditional open grazing believing that the 21st century may never accommodate it.
“When you look at the practice of open grazing in Nigeria compared with what is happening Internationally, Nigeria can never continue with traditional open grazing practice.
“In order to effect a change, the Fulani elites should be bold enough to come out with alternatives to open grazing and advise the Fulanis in Nigeria accordingly.
“Most importantly the various Fulani Associations with Membership up to 50 must come together and talk with one voice on this tradition of open grazing and not necessarily allow any group to come out to do it for them.”
He added, “I have fully observed the feeling of many groups and individuals in Nigeria about open grazing. There is so much condemnation from Nigerian Governors, Northern Governors, Southern Governors etc.
“These groups and individuals should never be condemned and must be praised for their bold comments trying to modernise and improve cattle rearing in Nigeria.
“Another reason why we should shun away from open grazing is the way old methods of settlements of crises between herdsmen and farmers have been abandoned.
“May I seize this opportunity to congratulate all the Governors for the bold steps they are taking to curve the menace of open grazing, kidnapping and banditry.
“Nigeria must remain one entity and one Nigeria as against what is happening now. We should rely more on dialogue and mediation with herders, Fulani leaders, Traditional rulers and our Governors in order to end this feud.
“Finally I strongly appeal to the Federal and State Governments to maintain all existing grazing reserves by providing special amenities mentioned in my earlier suggestions.
“It is also necessary that Government uses the services of World Bank to archive all plans that will come out of well modernised grazing reserves in Nigeria.”
News
Two million bank accounts closed over BVN, NIN, others
Two million bank accounts closed over BVN, NIN, others
Commercial banks in Nigeria closed 2.021 million bank accounts in the first quarter of 2024, Q1’24, to clean their books of questionable accounts and comply with regulatory orders on the linkage of bank accounts to the National Identity Number, NIN.
This is contained in a report by the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System, NIBSS, which also indicated that the number of inactive bank accounts grew month-on-month, MoM, by four million or 2.0 per cent to 19.7 million in March 2024 from 19.3 million in the previous month, February.
A bank account is classified inactive when it records zero transactions including deposits, withdrawals, transfers or point-of-sale transactions for six months.
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However, details of the “Industry Bank Account Database”, a monthly data reported by banks, and compiled by the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System, NIBSS, also indicated that the number of active bank accounts grew by 6.62 million or 3.0 per cent to 219.64 million from 213.02 million in February.
Recall that in December 2023, the CBN issued a directive to all commercial banks in the country to restrict tier-1 accounts without proper Biometric Verification Number, BVN, and National Identity Number, NIN, that are not linked by Thursday, March 1st, 2024.
According to NIBSS data on BVN enrollment count, 61.6 million Nigerians have BVN as of April 2024.
Two million bank accounts closed over BVN, NIN, others
News
Senate insists on 16 years as requirement for tertiary institution admission in Nigeria
Senate insists on 16 years as requirement for tertiary institution admission in Nigeria
The Nigerian Senate has moved to clarify recent discussions regarding the minimum age requirement for admission into tertiary institutions.
The red chamber assured Nigerians that the current age requirement of 16 years has not been altered and that recent comments suggesting an increase to 18 years were personal opinions.
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Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Adeyemi Adaramodu, emphasised that any changes to the age requirement would require legislative action following due process.
Adaramodu explained in an interview with journalists that comments made by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, about increasing the minimum age limit were not legally binding but rather personal opinions.
The Minister of Education had previously hinted at plans to review and raise the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions to 18 years.
Senate insists on 16 years as requirement for tertiary institution admission in Nigeria
News
Minimum wage: Labour threatens nationwide strike by end of May
Minimum wage: Labour threatens nationwide strike by end of May
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have given President Bola Tinubu until the end of May to finalise the implementation of the new national minimum wage for workers.
NLC president Joe Ajaero made the demand on Wednesday in Abuja at this year’s International Workers Day.
Mr Ajaero said, “All parties in the tripartite process are well represented, and the engagement has been robust. We have placed our demand of N615,000 only before our social partners while we await their offer. If, however, the negotiation of the minimum wage is not concluded by the end of May, the trade union movement in Nigeria will no longer guarantee industrial peace in the country.”
Ajaero also said labour demanded that the new act have a two-year life span and included an agreement for automatic wage adjustments at any time inflation exceeded 7.5 percent.
He said the union further demanded that every employer with up to five workers pay the new minimum wage. Mr Ajaero called for strengthening monitoring and compliance mechanisms to penalise non-complying state governments.
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He said that Nigerian workers deserved to have a national minimum wage that approximated to a living wage.
“Our figures are based on objective realities around the nation and not based on some fantasy but on what confronts us as workers around the nation. We want to be able to buy foodstuff and housing, among others. Any wage that is below this living wage condemns workers to starvation,” the NLC president said.
Ajaero, however, said, “We must not let our guards down but be alert so that together, we can assist government take the right decision and pay workers a living wage as promised by Mr President. We will not allow our interest to sabotage the desire of the president concerning a living wage for workers.”
The NLC president also said the contributory pension scheme needed to be reviewed. He noted that there had been complaints about it, such as the delay or non-transmission of contributed money to the Pension Fund Administration.
Ajaero also called for the reactivation of gratuity to public servants. He further called for the upward review of the retirement age in the entire public service from 60 to 65 years and 35 years to 40 years in service just as was done for teachers and judges.
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