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FG to Inaugurate Minimum Wage Committee Tuesday

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Minimum Wage Committee

By Adedapo Adesanya

The federal government is set to inaugurate a 37-man tripartite committee on national minimum wage for the country on Tuesday.

The planned inauguration of the team follows the approval of President Bola Tinubu, according to a statement on Sunday by Mr Segun Imohiosen for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr George Akume.

The inauguration is scheduled to be held by noon at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, State House, Abuja.

The committee under the chairmanship of the former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr Bukar Aji, cuts across the federal government, state government, private sector and organised labour.

From the federal government, the members include Mr Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, the Minister of State, Labour and Employment (Representing the Minister of Labour and Employment); Mr Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister of the Economy; Mr Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Budget Economic Planning; Mrs Yemi Esan, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Mr Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri, Permanent Secretary, GSO. OSGF and Mr Ekpo Nta, Esq, Chairman/CEO, NSIWC – Member/Secretary.

Also from the state government, Mr Mohammed Umar Bago, Governor, Niger State- representative from North Central; Mr Bala Mohammed, Governor Bauchi State- representative from North East; Mr Umar Dikko Radda, Governor Katsina State- representative from North West; Mr Charles Soludo, Governor, Anambra State- representative from the South East; Mr Ademola Adeleke, Governor, Osun State- representative from South West; Mr Otu Bassey Edet, Governor, Cross River State- representative from South West.

From the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA)- Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, Director-General, NECA; Mr Chuma Nwankwo; Mr Thompson Akpabio with also members from the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) include Mr Michael Olawale-Cole, National President; Hon. Mr Ahmed Rabiu, National Vice President and Me Humphrey Ngonadi (NPOM), National Life President.

The members from the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) are Mr Abdulrashid Yerima, President & Chairman of the Council; Mr Theophilus Nnorom Okwuchukwu, Private Sector representative; Mr Muhammed Nura Bello, Zonal Vice President, North West and also from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) are Mrs Grace Omo-Lamai, Human Resource Director, Nigerian Breweries; Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir, mni, Director-General, MAN; Mr Ada Chukwudozie, Managing Director, Dozzy Oil and Gas Limited.

From the organised labour, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Mr Joe Ajaero, President, NLC; Mr Emmanuel Ugboaja; Mr Adeyanju Adewale; Mr Ambali Akeem Olatunji; Mr Benjamin Anthony and Mr Theophilius Ndukuba.

Also, members from the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) include Mr Festus Osifo, President, TUC; Mr Tommy Etim Okon, PhD, Deputy President I, TUC; Mr Kayode Surajudeen Alakija, Deputy President II; Mr Jimoh Oyibo, Deputy President. III; Mr Nuhu A. Toro, Secretary-General and Mrs Hafusatu Shuaib, Chairperson Women Committee.

Accordingly, members are advised to be early to process their clearance at the Security Gate and should be seated at the Council Chamber by 11.30 am. In addition, a shuttle bus will be available at the Pilot Gate to convey members to the venue.

In addition, members of the Committee are to contact the Head of the Secretariat, Mr Chiadi Adighiogu, Director (Compensation) in the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission for information.

Nigeria’s minimum wage was last reviewed in 2019 and clamour has increased for a need to do this, especially following the removal of the fuel subsidy last year.

In June 2023, for instance, workers and some labour leaders demanded that the minimum wage be increased from N30,000 to N250,000, adding that the current situation would increase the demand for a salary review. The amount was later adjusted to N200,000 monthly.

After fuel subsidies were removed, the President initially promised to pay a N25,000 wage award to workers to cushion its effect.

However, labour was not comfortable with the amount and it was later agreed at N35,000 for six months which would be from September 2023 to February 2024.

Now, as the date towards the expiration of the short-term wage award, the need to deliberate on a new minimum wage for workers is near.

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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QNET’s Global Reach in 100+ Countries: What International Access Means for Local Distributors

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QNET

Global scale means market access and international supply chains. For individual distributors in direct selling, it can shape everything from product availability to income stability and long-term opportunity.

QNET, the multinational wellness and lifestyle direct selling company, positions its business model around that idea: connecting locally based independent distributors to an international operating platform. With activity spanning more than 100 countries, the company sits within a direct selling industry that, according to the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA), has stabilized after several relatively volatile post-pandemic years.

Global Reach Within a Stabilizing Industry

The WFDSA’s latest global report estimates worldwide direct selling retail sales at roughly $163.9 billion in 2024, essentially flat year over year. That flat performance, however, masks gradual improvement beneath the surface. Nearly half of reporting markets showed growth in 2024, and average market growth rates rebounded to positive territory.

The report estimates more than 104 million independent sales representatives globally in 2024, a figure that has remained largely stable year over year.

This stabilization sets a backdrop for companies like QNET. A global footprint is no longer about rapid expansion alone; it is increasingly tied to resilience: operating across regions with different economic cycles, consumer behaviors, and growth trajectories.

For distributors, this matters because opportunities extend beyond individual effort. They are often shaped by the health of the company’s broader channel and product reach.

A Platform Designed for Distributed Entrepreneurship

QNET’s model centers on local execution supported by centralized infrastructure. Products—ranging from nutritional supplements and wellness devices to home and lifestyle solutions—are sold through the company’s proprietary e-commerce platform. Independent distributors do not manage warehouses, shipment logistics, or customer service systems.

As Ramya Chandrasekaran, who heads communications at QNET, explained in a recent interview, the company views direct selling as a form of accessible “micro-entrepreneurship.” The idea is to reduce the operational burden typically associated with starting a business, allowing distributors to focus on product education, customer relationships, and market development.

Why Global Scale Changes the Distributor Equation

One practical benefit of international reach is product continuity. WFDSA data shows that wellness products account for roughly 29% of global direct selling sales, making it the largest category worldwide. In the Asia-Pacific region, the largest direct selling region by sales, wellness represents more than 40% of total category share.

QNET’s emphasis on wellness and lifestyle products places distributors in line with the strongest demand segments globally. Instead of relying on narrow local trends, distributors operate within product categories that have shown consistent global interest.

International scale also supports consistency in training, compensation structures, and digital tools. Distributors in different countries access identical back-end systems, tracking referrals, commissions, and orders through the same platform. This standardization reduces friction and uncertainty, particularly for individuals operating in markets where informal commerce is common.

Workforce Shifts

The WFDSA’s report highlights notable shifts in the global direct selling workforce. Women continue to make up more than 70% of participants worldwide, and representation among individuals aged 35 to 54 remains the largest cohort.

Independent Distributors increasingly value flexibility, long-term viability, and support systems that allow them to operate sustainably rather than aggressively scale. QNET’s emphasis on digital access, centralized operations, and gradual business building reflects those priorities.

For many participants, especially those balancing work with caregiving or other responsibilities, direct selling infrastructure offers a way to stay engaged at their own pace.

Training, Exposure, and Cross-Market Learning

QNET’s international conventions and training programs connect distributors across regions, creating informal networks for peer learning. Events that draw participants from dozens of countries expose distributors to varied approaches to sales, customer engagement, and market adaptation.

This mirrors one of WFDSA’s broader conclusions: direct selling increasingly functions as a global learning ecosystem, with companies providing tools and education that help individuals navigate uncertain economic conditions.

For distributors, exposure to cross-border experiences can recalibrate expectations, reinforcing that success often comes from steady engagement rather than rapid recruitment or short-term activity.

International Access, Interpreted Locally

Despite its global scale, QNET’s business ultimately plays out in local communities. Distributors adapt messaging around wellness, home quality, and lifestyle enhancement to cultural norms and household priorities. The international platform provides reach and structure, but relevance is built locally.

That balance, global systems supporting local relationships, defines much of modern direct selling. The WFDSA describes the industry not as a single growth story, but as a framework that can scale proportionally with economic conditions across regions.

For QNET distributors, international presence does not guarantee income or uniform outcomes. What it offers is access: to resilient product categories, standardized systems, training resources, and a global marketplace that extends beyond any single region. For local distributors navigating today’s uncertain global economic environment, that is an important foundation to maintain.

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FCCPC Unseals Ikeja Electric Headquarters

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Ikeja Electric

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has unsealed the headquarters of Ikeja Electric Plc in the Lagos State capital after a week under lock and key.

According to a statement on Friday, the electricity distribution company committed to a binding undertaking to comply with the remedial process following consumer rights violations.

The statement signed by Mr Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs at the commission, Ikeja Electric undertook to resolve all consumer complaints referred to it by the FCCPC within agreed timelines

The headquarters was earlier sealed on December 11, 2025, because Ikeja Electric allegedly failed to comply with a directive by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to unbundle a Maximum Demand account into 20 individual accounts for a customer who had been without power for over two and half years.

The FCCPC noted that following the resolution, any breach of the undertaking would expose it to renewed and escalated enforcement action under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act.

Reacting, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello, said the Commission’s intervention was necessary to enforce the provisions of the FCCPA (2018).

“Our responsibility is to ensure that consumers are treated fairly and that service providers comply with lawful decisions and directives. Enforcement is not an end in itself. Where compliance is achieved and credible commitments are made, the Commission will respond appropriately,” he said.

Clarifying further, Mr Bello said the outcome reflects the commission’s balanced approach to regulation.

“We intervene decisively where consumer harm persists, and we de-escalate where enforceable compliance is secured. What remains constant is our duty to protect consumers and uphold regulatory accountability,” he said.

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All On’s Clean Energy Access Transforms Over One Million Lives

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All On

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The decision by a leading impact investment company focused on expanding clean energy access, All On, to support over 50 clean energy businesses and provide grants and technical assistance to more than 80 enterprises in Nigeria is already yielding positive results.

This is because the organisation’s Impact Evaluation Report indicated that more than one million lives have been transformed through clean energy access.

The report covered from 2018 t0 2024 and it was discovered that the interventions of All On enabled the connection of over 230,000 households, businesses, and public facilities to reliable energy solutions, while strengthening the operational capacity of energy providers and improving affordability and service reliability for end users.

Prior to the commencement of All On’s operations in 2016, nearly half of Nigeria’s population lacked access to electricity, and the sector faced an estimated 92 per cent annual funding gap.

In response, the group adopted a bold, risk-tolerant strategy—deploying catalytic capital, innovative financing instruments, and ecosystem-building initiatives to unlock private sector participation and drive progress toward universal energy access.

Central to these achievements is All On’s holistic support model, which combines rigorous, tailored due diligence, deep sector expertise, and active ecosystem engagement.

This approach has positioned All On as a trusted partner capable of delivering both commercial viability and systemic impact.

Flagship initiatives such as the Demand Aggregation for Renewable Technology (DART) programme have further amplified results by reducing procurement costs for supported businesses by up to 50 per cent, enabling developers to scale faster and pass cost savings on to consumers due to access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions.

In the report, it was revealed that half of supported households reported improved air quality, enhanced safety, and reduced noise pollution, contributing to better health outcomes and improved quality of life, alongside measurable environmental benefits.

“This report confirms that our approach is delivering real results. By combining patient capital, technical assistance, and ecosystem support, we are enabling scalable and sustainable energy solutions for Nigeria’s unserved and underserved communities,” the chief executive of All On, Ms Caroline Eboumbou.

The company plans plans to scale proven models, strengthen local capacity, and expand its reach—particularly in underserved regions such as the Niger Delta.

“While the progress to date is encouraging, our work is far from done. As we look toward 2030, we remain committed to deepening our impact and creating even more meaningful connections across Nigeria,” Ms Eboumbou added.

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