Business

FG can’t force federal salary structure on us – Govs

Published

6 years ago

March 12, 2021

State governors have rejected the idea of the Federal Government negotiating minimum wage with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and imposing the structure on states.

They say the FG cannot impose its salary structure on them given the differentials in their revenues.

Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, faulted how the FG was treating the sub-nationals under a supposed federal system of government.

He spoke just as governors elected on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) committed themselves to collaborate with the federal government to tackle the insecurity in the country.

A statement by the NGF’s Head of Media and Public Affairs, Mr Abdulrazaque Barkindo, said Fayemi spoke yesterday when the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of state-owned universities visited him in Abuja.

He described governors as victims of Federal Government’s unitary approach to a federal structure.

Fayemi spoke against the backdrop of protests by labour over a bill before the House of Representatives seeking to decentralise minimum wage negotiations.

The organised labour on Wednesday had stormed the National Assembly and states’ Houses of Assembly to protest the bill, which if it becomes law, will allow each state to fix its minimum wage.

But in a subtle riposte to labour’s accusation that governors, if allowed to fix minimum wage will pauperise workers, Fayemi said: “You can’t impose a federal salary structure on states because we do not all have the same economic or financial situations.

“I, for example, do not have the resources of Lagos State; so, you won’t expect me to earn the same salary as the governor of Lagos.

“It’s true that no state has fulfilled payment of salaries to states universities, but states are not always solely responsible for this. The people you appoint as vice-chancellors need to speak truth to power, they need to be able to bite the bullet, and not just be a yes person.

“We need to work together to confront these issues, we are running glorified secondary schools as universities by this system. You have to help us in insisting that the institutions too do the right thing.”

Fayemi also agreed with the team that politics should not be involved in the school system, even though he stated that there are smart people in politics in Nigeria.

“You need people who understand the structure. However, we have a lot of smart people in politics too who can add value, who knows that it is not about winning souls for the party. You can draw up a framework and guide. We can have the same criteria and achieve purpose,” he added.

He added that governments at the sub-national level are worried by the unitary approach to things in the country.

Earlier, the team, led by Pro-Chancellor of Osun State University, Mallam Yusuf Ali (SAN), told Fayemi that it is no longer news that education in Nigeria is in shambles due to paucity of finances, the unionism and students’ activities.

The team, which represents all the 48 universities owned by states, pleaded with the governors to take over the burden of payment of salaries of state universities, reintroduce scholarships for needy students and assist the committee to build a secretariat of to facilitate their activities.

Auto

NADDC Pushes Affordable Auto Loans to Boost Vehicle Ownership, More Jobs

Published

4 hours ago

September 21, 2026

Trends Admin

NADDC Pushes Affordable Auto Loans to Boost Vehicle Ownership, More Job

The National Automotive Design and Development Council has called for far-reaching reforms in vehicle financing to make car ownership more affordable while boosting local vehicle assembly, job creation and industrial development.

The Council said a properly structured financing system could turn vehicle credit from a mere consumer lending product into a major economic tool for expanding productive mobility and strengthening Nigeria’s automotive value chain.

Director-General of NADDC, Otunba Joseph Oluwemimo Osanipin, stated this in an address delivered on his behalf by the Council’s Principal Information Officer, Tanko Kyumnom, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Auto Sectoral Group Symposium in Lagos.

The symposium, held on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at the Henry Fajemirokun Hall of LCCI, was themed: “From Subsidy to Credit: Can Vehicle Financing Replace Fuel Subsidy as Nigeria’s Mobility Equaliser?”
Osanipin said the growing cost of mobility had made it necessary to explore financing models that would enable individuals, businesses and transport operators to acquire vehicles without bearing the full cost of ownership upfront.

According to him, spreading vehicle payments over an agreed period could provide a more sustainable pathway to vehicle acquisition, provided that the financing products are affordable, accessible and structured around the economic realities of Nigerian consumers.

He, however, cautioned that simply making credit available would not be enough.
“Vehicle financing offers a more sustainable approach by enabling individuals, businesses and transport operators to acquire vehicles and pay for them over time,” Osanipin stated.
The NADDC DG said the bigger opportunity lies in linking vehicle financing with the growth of locally assembled and Nigerian-made vehicles.

He explained that increased access to credit for locally produced vehicles could generate wider economic benefits by stimulating demand for domestic assembly, supporting component manufacturers, creating jobs and strengthening local supply chains.

Osanipin therefore urged stronger collaboration among government institutions, financial institutions, vehicle manufacturers and other stakeholders in designing financing schemes capable of supporting both mobility access and automotive industrialisation.

The NADDC boss identified affordable vehicle loans, leasing arrangements, fleet financing, credit guarantees and appropriate interest-rate support as mechanisms that could broaden access to vehicle ownership and productive mobility.

lt also stressed the need for repayment structures that take into account the earning patterns and business realities of Nigerians, particularly transport operators and small businesses whose vehicles are directly linked to their income-generating activities.

Osanipin maintained that the objective should extend beyond increasing the number of vehicles on Nigerian roads.
“The goal is not simply to put more vehicles on Nigerian roads. It is to ensure that Nigerians can access productive mobility without placing an unsustainable burden on government finances or household incomes,” he said.

According to him, a properly structured automotive financing system could create a stronger connection between mobility, economic inclusion and domestic vehicle production.

“With the right policies and partnerships, vehicle financing can become a powerful instrument for mobility, economic inclusion and automotive industrial development,” Osanipin added.

The NADDC’s position places vehicle financing within the broader effort to build a sustainable automotive ecosystem in Nigeria—one in which access to credit supports vehicle users while also creating stronger demand for local assembly, components and associated automotive services.

Auto

Jetour T1 Storms Abuja as Automaker Accelerates Nigeria Expansion

Published

9 hours ago

September 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Jetour T1 Set to debut in Abuja as Expansion Gains Momentum

Following a successful debut in Lagos, Jetour Nigeria will host the Jetour Experience Abuja from September 22 to 24, 2026, positioning its all-new T1 model as a major competitor in the country’s growing adventure SUV market.

The three-day event in the Federal Capital Territory will give prospective buyers and motoring enthusiasts direct access to product demonstrations, expert-led technical sessions, and hands-on test drives.

“Strong participation, extensive test drives, and significant sales enquiries at the Lagos edition, coupled with growing demand from Abuja residents, influenced the decision to bring the experience to the nation’s capital,” the company said in a statement. The show holds at Maha Event Centre, Area 8, Garki.

To support its growing national footprint, Jetour Nigeria has established a network of seven accredited dealers: Elizade Nigeria Limited, New Era AutoVehicle Services Limited, Kojo Motors, Germaine Auto Centre, Tab Autos Limited, R.T. Briscoe Motors, and Mandilas Autos. The partnerships cover retail sales, genuine spare parts supply, and comprehensive after-sales maintenance.

Jetour T1 Set to debut in Abuja as Expansion Gains Momentum

Auto

Abuja Demand Rises as Jetour Brings X70 Plus Experience to FCT

Published

2 days ago

September 20, 2026

Trends Admin

Abuja Demand Rises as Jetour Brings X70 Plus Experience to FCT

Jetour Nigeria is taking its seven-seater X70 Plus SUV to Abuja as rising interest from motorists in the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring states fuels the brand’s latest push to deepen its presence across Nigeria.

The X70 Plus will headline the Jetour Experience Abuja, holding from September 22 to 24 at Maha Event Centre, Area 8, Garki, following the strong response recorded during the Lagos edition, where motorists turned out for test drives and made enquiries about Jetour models.

The Abuja activation is designed to give prospective buyers direct access to the X70 Plus and other models, with opportunities to test-drive the vehicles, engage product specialists and experience their technology, safety and comfort features.

The X70 Plus is positioned as a family-oriented SUV, offering seven-seat capacity and a range of features targeted at customers seeking comfort, technology and practicality.

The SUV is available with 1.5-litre and 1.6-litre turbocharged engine options, with outputs of up to 145kW and 290Nm of torque, paired with a dual-clutch automatic transmission.