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THE NATION ON SUNDAY JULY 31, 2011
News
Adoke, Waziri resolve rift • Hold midnight peace meeting in Abuja
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FTER almost two weeks of crossfire, the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) and the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mrs. Farida Waziri, at the weekend met and decided to sheathe their swords. It was learnt that the reconciliation was at the instance of President Goodluck Jonathan. The two had disagreed sharply over a gazette regulating the operations of the EFCC, especially on deference to AGF on cases before the anti-graft agency. The disagreement later culminated in a media war, including a damning verdict against anti-graft agencies in the Senate by Adoke and the sudden investigation of the exit rank of the EFCC chairman from the Nigeria Police and a counter probe of the AGF over alleged $26m fines paid by Julius Berger on Halliburton bribery scam. While the cold war lasted, the two officers were at daggers drawn while their friends and associates opted for media campaign against each other. Last week Waziri had in a statement by the commission signed by its spokesman Femi Babafemi, alleged that a senior government official was frustrating her anti-graft crusade. The statement said, “after several moves to distract the Commission and frustrate efforts to investigate and file charges against their corrupt paymasters have failed to yield their desired goal, certain known elements in the defence of the corrupt fold have come up with a different identity and have found partnership in official quarters to wage war against EFCC and its officials especially the chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri” Investigation, however, revealed that the AGF and the EFCC chairman were brought to the peace table on Friday night at a secret location in Abuja . The meeting took place between 8pm and 11pm with the two parties giving a commitment to ensure sustainable peace. Although the list of the mediators was kept under wraps, findings by our correspondent revealed that the peace meeting was at the instance of President Goodluck Jonathan. It was learnt that the President, who had separately met with the two leaders, felt their cold war was distracting not only the government but could derail the anti-corruption crusade of his administration. Also, some eminent Nigerians were said to have intervened in the crisis. A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Having listened to the two leaders with sufficient evidence the President felt that there was no basis for disagreement. He asked the two leaders to return to the peace table, iron out their differences, and give anti-corruption war the much needed bite he is envisaging. “Following the intervention of the President and some eminent
From: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation
Nigerians, the two officers met at a location in Abuja on Friday night and resolved their differences. At the meeting, the AGF made his feelings known including bad press he had been receiving which he attributed to the EFCC chairman. But the EFCC chairman insisted that she knew nothing about negative publications against the AGF. She also alleged that on the contrary, she had been at the receiving end of attacks from some media. “At the end of the day, those at the meeting agreed that there had been a breakdown in communication between the AGF and Waziri. They agreed to sheathe their swords and ensure the return of the harmonious working relationship they have had in the past.” Speaking to our correspondent after the meeting at about midnight, Adoke said: “Please, tell the whole world that I am no longer having any issue with my sister, Mrs. Farida Waziri. Some corrupt elements tried to cause a division between us but we have resisted that. We are now one and there is no more crisis. We will join hands to ensure a robust anti-corruption war. “All those who are taking advantage to write nasty things against us should stop. The media war should also end. I have nothing against Mrs. Waziri; I remain committed to the anti-corruption crusade of this administration.” On her part, Mrs. Waziri said: “We have reconciled, I have no issue with my brother, the AGF again. I told him that I was never the sponsor of those critique or mudslinging in the press about him. I have no reason to bring down anybody, not even the AGF that we have always worked together. We have decided to move ahead as one to achieve the ultimate goal of fighting corruption in this country. I appeal to those writing all these things against the AGF or myself to stop.”
L-R: Wife of the Speaker Osun State House of Assembly, Mrs Bimpe Salam, wife of the state governor Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola and Chief of Staff to the governor, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola at a reception organised for the wives of the state lawmakers in Osogbo on Thursday
Minimum Wage: FG, Labour meeting deadlocked again • Union leaders reject government’s offer
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INAL negotiations between the federal government and Labour unions on the implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage was deadlocked in Abuja yesterday. Representatives of the Labour unions walked out on the government negotiating team. The team included Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, Head of Service of the Federation, Prof. Afolabi Oladapo, Chairman National Salaries and Wages Commission, and Chief Richard Ebgune. At 5.30pm, the workers’ representatives including the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Chief Economist, Dr. Peter Ozon-Eso, the NLC Acting Secretary General, Comrade Owei Lakemfa, the NLC
From John Ofikhenua, Abuja
Head of Human Resources, Emma Ugwaja, Trade Union Congress, Secretary General, Comrade John Kolawole left the meeting at the SGF’s residence in Shehu Shagari House, Abuja unannounced. But Maku, who briefed journalists on behalf of the Federal Government said the labour leaders left the meeting because they had not reached an agreement with government on the issue. “Labour believes we should not address a joint press conference until all the issues are reconciled.” At a joint press conference at the Labour House, the NLC and TUC said :”The Federal Government team declined to discuss scenarios worked out by the Joint Government-Labour Team. Rather it made an offer which was completely unacceptable to the Labour
• Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio (right) Dr. Maurice Ebong and Dr. (Mrs) Usen Ikpe at meeting with stakeholders from Uyo Senatorial District of the state, yesterday
team.” The statement which Lakemfa and Kolawole signed noted that the labour team rather than register a deadlock on the negotiations, asked the Federal Government to rethink its position and make a concrete offer. On this basis, both sides decided to meet again today (July 31). Continuing, the workers noted that they have not seen any light at the end of the tunnel but hoped that the Federal Government will make a genuine offer at the resumed negotiation. According to Maku, government has agreed to implement the N18,000 new national minimum wage. He added that government put it to the labour movement that the issue is not salary review because the Federal Government increased salaries by 53.46% last year. His words: “Last year labour and government reviewed according to indices by 53.46% amounted to raising the wage bill from N973,048,,123,553 to N1.497,054,140,242. From last year, the wage bill went up by N500billion per annum.” Government, said Maku, is set to implement the N18,000 for grade level 01 to 03 but labour is arguing that “Because of the Act they are demanding an adjustment, which government has not refused. Government has agreed to make all the adjustments. Government and labour have agreed to adjourn the meeting to tomorrow (today).” He also explained that government has not reneged on its agreement with labour, adding that it is only addressing the clause three, which is detail negotiation of all the scenarios. It would be recalled that the unions had given the government a three day warning strike notice, which expired this month before the National Assembly and other Nigerians prevailed on them to suspend the industrial action.