The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, says state governors can afford to pay the proposed N615,000 minimum wage if their priorities are right.

Ajaero made this known on Thursday during an interview with Channels Television.

Organised labour recently declared that N615,000 should be the new minimum wage.

The idea was made in the midst of continuous discussions about the minimum wage between organised labour and the federal, state, and local governments.

The national minimum wage was set at N30,000 by the former president Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in 2019. Some states took an extremely long time to enact the increase in the minimum wage when it was announced at the time.

When asked during the interview if the N615,000 offered by organised labour is reasonable, Ajaero responded that, considering the nation’s rapidly rising inflation, it is the “most realistic” sum.

The NLC president said organised labour considered factors like transportation, housing, and feeding before arriving at the sum.

“If you are talking about being realistic, the N615,000 demand is the most realistic. Being realistic is not about slave wage,” Ajaero said.

“However, N30,000 is big money if inflation is brought down, and at a single digit.

“Look at the indices that create inflation. If you check them, you can talk about being realistic. All other factors in the country are going high and wages remain constant.”

Asked if states can afford the N615,000 proposal, the NLC president averred that it is not about ability to pay but the priorities of states.

“I think we need to understand the issues of ability to pay and not getting the priority right,” he added.

“Most of the states that have shown willingness to pay the current minimum wage are not among those getting the highest revenue.

“During the time of Muhammadu Buhari, some states were declared not having enough money to pay and he released funds for them to pay.

“Those states still refused to pay. It is not the question of either the quantum of money that they have or not, it is what they decide to do with such money.

“If they get their priorities right, then a lot can happen.”

Organised labour has also threatened to embark on a strike if a new minimum wage is not announced before May 31, 2024.

Ibrahim Abdullahi, the alleged mastermind of the 2022 train attack in Abuja and Kaduna, has reportedly been taken into custody by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

Updates on force operations were given by police public relations officer (PPRO) Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Thursday while she was in Kaduna.

According to Adejobi, on January 12, the Kaduna State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) anti-kidnapping squad arrested Abdullahi, also known as Mande. According to a military spokesman, Abdullahi acknowledged leading a kidnapping ring that terrorised the Kaduna-Abuja route.

On March 28, 2022, gunmen ambushed a train travelling from Kaduna to Abuja, killing numerous people on board.

Several others were injured while 61 persons were also abducted during the attack.

All the abducted passengers were released at various intervals, with the latest batch freed after seven months.

Adejobi said Mande was also involved in the abduction of students of Greenfield University in Kaduna state.

On April 20, 2021, armed bandits attacked the institution and abducted 20 students and three officials.

Five of the students and a male warden were killed while in captivity.

The students and staff were also released in batches with the last batch freed on May 29, 2021.

“On January 12, 2024, police operatives attached to the anti-kidnapping unit of the Kaduna State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), based on credible information, swooped on and arrested one Ibrahim Abdullahi, also known as Mande, at the Abuja-Kaduna road flyover by Rido junction,” Adejobi said.

“The suspect confessed to being the leader of a kidnap syndicate terrorising the Kaduna-Abuja highway, ranked among other criminals like Dogo Gide and Bello Turji.

“He had participated in various kidnapping incidents, including the abduction at Green Field University, and he was involved in almost all the kidnappings along the Abuja-Kaduna highway. He was also involved in the popular Kaduna-Abuja train attack but had run away. We promised Nigerians that he would be arrested.”

The police spokesperson said the strategy of the force has paid off.

He added that a helicopter has been deployed to serve as an escort for trains using the route to provide aerial support for the ground troops, including police, and other security agencies deployed along the corridor.

“This proactive measure aims to prevent attacks and act as a first responder in the event of any untoward incidents,” he said.

Adejobi said the police also arrested 81 suspects for armed robbery; 40 for kidnapping; 73  for murder/homicide; 36 for rape; 22 involved in cult-related crimes, and 28 for engaging in other criminal activities.

He said 16 firearms of various calibre with 226 ammunition of diverse types were recovered.

The police spokesperson added that 28 stolen vehicles, over 200 harmful weapons, and 600 bags of fertilisers have been retrieved, while 158 kidnapped victims have been rescued.

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Advisor (NSA), has instructed all law enforcement organisations, regulators, companies, and interested parties to set up procedures for the complete execution and enforcing of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act 2024.

In order to do this, the National Cybercrime Fund will receive payment and be credited with a charge of 0.5 percent of the value of all electronic transactions made by the businesses listed in the Second Schedule to the Cybercrimes Act.

According to a statement by Zakari Mijinyawa, Head of the NSA’s Strategic Communications Office, all obstacles have been removed in order for the Cybercrimes law to fully go into effect.

It reads, “Arising from the high level African International Counter Terrorism Meeting in Abuja between April 22 and 23, 2024, African leaders stressed the urgent need for the improved deployment of greater support and resources towards strengthening cybersecurity activities in Africa and taking concrete steps to prevent the use of social media and other platforms by terrorists and organised criminal groups.

“In view of the need to secure Nigeria’s digital space and safeguard national security and economic interests, as well as deploy additional resources to counter terrorism and violent extremism as provided in section 44(5) of the Cybercrimes Act, all law enforcement agencies, regulators, businesses and stakeholders have been communicated by this office to put in place mechanisms for the full implementation and enforcement of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Amendment Act 2024.

“By this amendment, all impediments to the full operationalisation of the Cybercrimes law have been addressed.

“Consequently, a levy of 0.5 percent of all electronic transactions value by the specified businesses in the Second Schedule to the Act shall be paid and credited into the National Cybercrime Fund.”

It will be recall that on July 6, 2022. Nigeria joined 66 other countries that have signed and ratified the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime to enhance international cooperation, provide common platform and procedural tools for efficient and safe cyberspace pursuant to section 41(2) (a) of the Cybercrime Act 2015.