…As Buratai says “Army yet to access $1b equipment fund”***

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Sunday described the Federal Government’s silence on the N30,000 minimum wage proposal as provocative, stressing that it expected President Muhammadu Buhari to have sent a draft bill to the National Assembly weeks after report on the minimum wage was submitted to him.

Organised labour said it would not wait till eternity for the government on the issue.

In an interview, the General Secretary of the NLC, Mr Peter Ozo-Eson, said members of the union were becoming restless with the way the government had handled the issue, adding that unless government acted fast, the union might meet again to review government’s position and take necessary action to press home its demand.

But he did not say when the leadership of the union would likely meet.

Ozo-Eson said, “The latest about the issue of the minimum wage is clear. We expect that since the Presidency had already received our report, the President should have drafted an executive bill to the National Assembly on it so that they can begin to legislate on it.

“That has not been done even though we expect that it should have been done already. We cannot continue to wait forever.

“The next step as I said is for the President to transmit a draft bill to the National Assembly. The FG’s delay on the issue is provocative, our members are becoming restless and the FG must act fast on our report.

“If the delay continues, our next step will be made public after we meet again to review the steps taken so far.”

In the meantime, the Nigerian Army is yet to access the $1 billion approved by the Federal Government for procurement of arms to fight the raging Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, disclosed yesterday.

He told newsmen in Maiduguri that “you know the process of funding is another major issue. The bureaucracy and so on is (are) another issue. Approvals are given but before you really get the money out is another challenge.

“So, the people are talking or the media have been talking of $1 billion that has been approved but I tell you up till today, the fund that is supposed to come from that amount to the army in particular, is still in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) further quoted the COAS as saying: “The Ministry of Defence is yet to access the fund. When the ministry gets the fund, they will get the right equipment for us as proposed.’’

The presidency was, however, silent of the issue when contacted.

Specifically, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the money in April this year.

Army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, had also confirmed the non-release on a live programme.

But the presidency was not forthcoming when The Guardian sought to know what the authorities were doing to fast-track the release of the money in view of the prevailing insecurity in the country.

In a terse response via an email, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, simply said: “Your question has already been answered by Army spokesman.”

Buratai raised the alarm that fake news not only poses threat to national security but also makes the ongoing counter-terrorism fight more difficult.

He urged Nigerians to be patriotic.

The COAS regretted that after the recent attack on troops of 157 Task Force Battalion at Metele, Borno State, numerous casualty figures were bandied about, adding: “The figure so far has been 23, even if it is one, it is unfortunate. But to go out of the reality, to continue to spread false information is really unfortunate.’’

NAN reports that after the incident, various media reports at different times put the casualty figures at 44, 70, 100 and above until a few days ago when the army confirmed 23 dead and 31 others wounded.

He said the military was working to counter fake news being spread about it and its operations through its newly established Cyber Warfare Command.

However, two soldiers are feared to have been killed when suspected Boko Haram terrorists reportedly attacked the Buni/Gari community military base in Yobe State at the weekend.

The settlement is located on the southern fringe of Sambisa Forest, and 60 kilometres south of Damaturu.

Confirming the incident yesterday in the state capital, a military officer, who craved anonymity, stated: “We were caught unawares when the insurgents burst into our base along Damaturu-Biu road amid sporadic gunshots.

“By the time we could respond, the terrorists set our Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and base ablaze before being pursued with a fighter jet and a helicopter gunship.”

The officer said some of the homes in the locality were equally torched, as dozens fled into farmlands and the adjourning Buni/Yadi settlement.

The two communities have in the last six years witnessed their fair share of insurgency.

Efforts to get official statement yesterday from the Operation Lafiya Dole, Theatre Command, Maiduguri were futile.

Punch with additional report from Guardian NG