2024 Hajj fare hits N8.5m, payment deadline March 28 – Newstrends
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2024 Hajj fare hits N8.5m, payment deadline March 28

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2024 Hajj fare hits N8.5m, payment deadline March 28

About three days to the close of payment deadline, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced N8.5 million as a fresh fare for the 2024 Hajj.

This is an increase of N3.5 million over the N4.9 million earlier announced.

It also disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, adding that those who had earlier paid the N4.9 million former rate would have to pay additional N1.9 million each not later than March 28.

All these details were contained in the statement on Sunday by Fatima Sanda Usara, an Assistant Director of Public Affairs at NAHCON.

It attributed the sudden increase in Hajj fare to the sharp rise in the foreign exchange rate.

It stated, “Late remittances of Hajj fare by those concerned necessitated the adjustments, resulting in two date shifts with the final being 12th of February 2024.

“Recall that as at 31st December 2023, Naira was still at N897:00 to a Dollar at the banks.

“These shifts unfortunately pushed the Hajj fare collection deadline to fall after harmonisation of foreign exchange rates, presenting a new and significant challenge.

“What the harmonisation meant in the Hajj fare equation was that in the face of global financial challenges, coupled with the new forex policy, Nigerian pilgrims would now be saddled with an unexpected increase in Hajj cost, despite having already paid the fixed fare of about N4.9 million.”

Despite the intervention of the Federal Government states and affluent Individuals to bring down the fare, NAHCON said it “resolved that each pilgrim would now have to pay a balance of N1,918,032.91 in accordance with the current foreign exchange rate.

“Intending pilgrims that still wish to participate in the 2024 Hajj are by this release advised to proceed and pay a balance of N1,918,032.91 latest by 11:59 pm of 28th March 2024.

“The Commission will shut down its system by 29th March and no other payment would be accommodated after.

Affected pilgrims are advised to visit their respective state pilgrims boards to confirm their status.”

It added, “Registration for 2024 Hajj from today, 24th of March will attract the full sum of N8,225, 464.74 from the Adamawa/Borno axis.

“From the North zone, fresh depositors will pay N8, 254, 464.74 whereas fresh payments from the southern zone will attract N8, 454, 464.74 as Hajj fare. All categories are to pay within the same deadline.”

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Just in: FG proposes another new minimum wage, labour kicks again

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Just in: FG proposes another new minimum wage, labour kicks again

There is no end in sight yet on new minimum wage dispute between the Federal Government and the organised labour as no agreement was reached at a meeting held on Tuesday.

The labour on Tuesday rejected the N54,000 proposed by the government as new minimum wage.

This is N6,000 higher than the N48,000 proposed by the Federal Government last week, which labour leaders rejected outright.

Again, the organised labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress at the Tuesday meeting said no to the new proposed minimum wage of N54,000.

The labour last week said they would not accept N100,000 as the new minimum wage.

They however said they would not insist on N615,000, which was presented to the government for consideration.

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BREAKING: Court halts extension of Rivers LG chairmen’s tenure

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Simnalaye Fubara

BREAKING: Court halts extension of Rivers LG chairmen’s tenure

The Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has declared the six-month tenure elongation of the state’s local government executive chairmen by the Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly as null and void, unconstitutional and of no effect.

The court further declared the Local Government Law No.2 of 2024, whose provisions extended the tenure of local government chairmen as invalid.

The court ruled that the law was inconsistent with the 1999 constitution and section 9 (1) of Rivers State Law No. 5 of 2018 which fixed three-year tenure for local government chairmen and councilors.

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The court gave the judgement in a case filed by Enyiada Cookey-Gam & 6 Ors vs. The Governor of Rivers State & Ors.

The presiding judge, Justice, D.G. Kio, in his judgement, declared that Local Government Law No. 2 of 2024, which extended the chairmen’s terms by six months was in conflict with the 1999 Constitution and Section 9(1) of Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018.

The court affirmed that the lawful tenure for the chairmen and councilors remained three years, as stipulated by the 2018 law.

The judge stressed that any attempt to extend the tenure was unlawful and violated the officials’ oath of office.

BREAKING: Court halts extension of Rivers LG chairmen’s tenure

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Kano Assembly set to review law used in dethroning Sanusi

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Former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II

Kano Assembly set to review law used in dethroning Sanusi

The Kano State House of Assembly has commenced the process of amending the Kano State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) Law amidst call for the return of the deposed 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi.

The House resolved to amend the law after the Majority Leader and member representing Dala constituency, Hussien Dala, moved the motion during plenary on Tuesday.

Daily Trust reports that the law was first amended in 2019 during the rift between then-Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and the deposed Emir.

The first amendment had broken the Kano emirate into five different emirates with the creation of Rano, Karaye, Gaya and Bichi Emirates, and the appointment of First Class Emirs for the new emirates, eventually culminating in the deposition of then Emir of Kano.

But following the electoral victory of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who had campaigned with the restoration of the old Kano Emirate system, several groups renew the call for the reinstatement of Emir Sanusi.

One month before Governor Yusuf assumed office, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), the ruling party in Kano, had said issue of the emirates would be reviewed.

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“We campaigned and we are well-known in Nigeria, especially in Kano. What we showed the people is by God’s grace all the good projects we started when we were in government. This governor (Abba Kabir Yusuf) and his team will pick up from where we left off,” Kwankwaso had said.

“We as elders in the movement will continue to advice them to do things that are proper. We tried not to talk about whether the Emir would be removed or not, but now you see, the opportunity is there.

“Those who God made leaders will now decide on the next step and decision to take. They will review it and determine what is the right thing to be done.

“Apart from the issue of changing the emir, the emirates have now been divided into five. All of that will be reviewed too. When a leader comes into power whether in a country, state or local government area, he inherits things that are good and things that are difficult and challenging.

“We are confident God will give the governor (Abba Kabir Yusuf) the wisdom to come and resolve the challenges planted in Kano state so that everyone will leave peacefully in Kano state.”

Kano Assembly set to review law used in dethroning Sanusi

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