By Francis Wilfred

The Federal Government has inaugurated the new Board of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), charging its members to provide strategic leadership that will promote fair remuneration, improved productivity and industrial harmony in the country.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Abuja on Friday, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, said the event comes at a critical stage of Nigeria’s economic transformation under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

Akume noted that the government is implementing far-reaching reforms aimed at restoring economic stability, improving workers’ welfare, strengthening productivity and fostering sustainable growth. He described the NSIWC as a strategic institution with responsibilities relating to salary structures, job evaluation, productivity and compensation matters that directly affect workers and government finances.

According to him, the new Board must strike a balance between fair remuneration, productivity and affordability, particularly following the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage framework, which has raised expectations among workers.

The SGF urged the Board to ensure that its recommendations are evidence-based, transparent, equitable and fiscally responsible. He also stressed the importance of robust research, reliable data and stronger digital capabilities to support sound decision-making on wages, productivity and economic growth.

Akume reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that the Commission has an important role in ensuring that the benefits of economic reforms translate into improved livelihoods and a stable industrial environment.

President Tinubu appointed Major General Junaid Bindawa (Rtd.) as Chairman of the Board alongside other members, including former lawmaker Olajumoke Okoya-Thomas as Secretary of the Commission.

IIn his acceptance speech, Bindawa thanked the President for the confidence reposed in the Board and pledged to work harmoniously with organised labour. He assured that the Board would provide responsible leadership in managing salaries, wages, incomes and productivity to enhance workers’ welfare and public service delivery.

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has called for a shift from tractor ownership to service-based agricultural mechanisation to improve productivity and modernise Nigeria’s farming sector. Zulum made the call at a high-level national policy dialogue on agricultural mechanisation organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Abuja.

According to a statement by his media aide, Abdulrahman Bundi, the governor identified low productivity, limited technology, inadequate investment and weak value chains as major challenges facing agriculture.

He said mechanisation should be provided as a service, allowing farmers timely access to land preparation, precision farming, irrigation and other modern technologies. Zulum said his administration’s investment in agriculture was central to efforts to rebuild livelihoods and communities affected by insecurity and displacement in Borno.

He proposed a four-pronged approach involving mechanisation to increase productivity and reduce drudgery; digitalisation to improve precision and efficiency; regeneration of agricultural resources for sustainability; and investment in infrastructure, technology and agricultural enterprises.

The governor also called for increased private-sector participation and innovative financing for local production and assembly of farm machinery, irrigation systems, renewable energy, storage and processing facilities. He said investment should also support value addition and agricultural businesses led by young people and women.

Zulum said Nigeria needed to develop a modern, climate-resilient and inclusive agricultural economy capable of improving food production, creating jobs and supporting rural communities.

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

Islamic cleric Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir has defended his support for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, saying he has no regret over his position despite criticism of his recent remarks.

Jingir, National Chairman of the Council of Ulama, Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa’Ikamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), made the comments in an interview with BBC Hausa monitored in Kaduna on Wednesday. He said he would continue to support the arrangement, arguing that his position was based on his religious convictions.

Jingir clarified that his declaration was not intended as an endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He said he took the position after Tinubu’s administration adopted a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.

The cleric initially made the declaration during a mass wedding organised by the Kano State Government for 1,500 couples, where he urged Muslims to vote in a manner that demonstrated their numerical strength. Jingir also disputed claims that Christians or other religious groups constitute a larger population than Muslims in Nigeria.

Some of his remarks, including his reference to Christians in religious terms, have drawn criticism, with commentators describing them as potentially divisive. Others have defended his right to express his religious and political views.

Jingir said criticism would not change his position, adding that he believed Muslims had experienced political challenges in the past. His comments come as political parties and interest groups begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election.