 Thank you for staying with us. You're still watching the breakfast and plus TV Africa right now It's time for the paper review to see what the national dailies are saying this morning and just taking headlines We can rounds across Nigeria and right now to review the paper with us is Chris candy wonder He's a member of the chattered Institute of Abitrators in the UK and is joining us from here in Lagos state Good morning, Mr. Chris. Thank you for joining us Thank you for having me. Good morning Good morning to you. Okay, so let's just dive right into the papers. We'll be starting with the punch this morning and One one of the small headline on the top here That's why I would like to start says minimum wage Private sector states force labor push for one million narrow So minimum wage private sector states force labor push for one million narrow What do you think about this one? Do you think one million are is too much to ask for the minimum wage or do you think maybe even too little? Do you think we should be looking at the value of the dollar? So everything right now should be at the current value of the naira to the dollar But what do you just think about this whole minimum wage thing? well, I think we should stop learning I don't know the Take home of most workers in Nigeria now in a year is up to one million I totally agree that there should be an increment of minimum wage of major workers Situation of things and the current economic situations It shows like as a practically They say the last statistics is about eighty eight point eight million Naira, but I'm sorry it's eight point eight million in terms of the severe poverty line You know, so I think it's more than that for me. I would say about 80% or 90% of Nigerians who are the so-called there's nothing, you know, we used to have upper class middle class and lower class But now it's looking like a middle class against just the upper class and those of us in the down the ladder so So I totally agree that the current economic situation is necessary for us to have a Change and they are not good review of the minimum which whatever it will be is okay That glimmering for one million naira is just a little bit, but who's going to pay that don't forget that currently the minimum Which is about 30,000 naira or there about and most states in Nigeria cannot be that 30,000 naira most of Nigerian states cannot pay that they are not being so Maybe I'm saying that you want to now increase the ago we want to increase this from 30,000 to one million. So what we happen? Where would I get such money from so what I believe that? People have not done his job. Well, the label had drop his ball Where do we when they spend them to our form of able to represent Nigerians? Effectively Religion on what it is. So every night you see Hydro-led NSC Giving government or to meet on two in four hours before the expiration of the term is just a bag So I don't Nigerians don't even believe in this Label union as it were but as I said to have The former governor of Lagos once said that I think last week he said that States should be left to determine what the minimum wage would be Do you buy that as well because now even some states now that they say it's a blanket thing Some states are still not paying 30,000 naira minimum wage Do you buy the idea that states should be allowed to determine what their minimum wage would be because for some states, right? Even the 30,000 naira is not enough. So for living in let's let's use Lagos for instance The cost of living here is higher because obviously rent is higher Transportation's even food having to come all the way from the north. So do you think each states should be able to? Actually carve their own out and say, okay This is the cost of living here and the minimum wage should be based on that cost of leaving We're using a Pre-federation means that every component of that unit is Independent of each other federal government is different from the state government the state government is different from Government that is the Constitution 99 Constitution as amended which we are operating is every every of Three tiers of a government Governors as it is the federal government as well So I totally agree with you each state should be able to make a share that a federal government cannot Be honest sit on his high horse and not be disturbing what states are going to pay Because we don't know my way view. We don't know how much Getting us idea. How can you compare state like mine in the state make a state? And you say that with a blanket and this you know with that of river states that gets much of the furniture I can't Yes Which states like the ones in Bono or the ones in there You'll be and the rest of them. So I think the federal watch Everything should be allowed to our way of talking of remote, you know We're talking about the federal government workers and single men workers. What are the private sector? Nobody talks about the private sector. So is only when you say the minimum with this one million I see the acclamation it is for federal government workers simple servants and also states Which we just asked it to be able to determine they are the one that employing this Everyone and they can be able to determine how much they are going to pay them and the way it is if you are not ready to take Pay them what else often we have said that you resign or you just did you so best Pray I totally disagree that the government federal government should be the ones negotiating and that person is the Government and you look at government as we're writing said that I said in my opinion most of the states over three years now since the Memo which was increased to used to be about 50,000 because it was 30,000 most state team now still campaign at 30,000 So we are they going to get 1,000,000 Okay, all right, let's let's move over to another small headline at the bottom It says IMF forecast eight billion dollar fall in Nigeria's 2024 foreign reserves What's your take on this one? Well, I For me, I thought listening because part of the problem we've had since the independence is aligned for Donate agencies and You can see that other progressive countries like China don't even listen to what the IMF But they can do that because they don't go cap in hands to grow money or perform from you Who goes a boy who's a story and that is what happens because where they where you go to go For the My sister I Make you dance Situation Even the so-called devaluation that is Present it is not even what is not even what anything we are the We are going back to the to what Venezuela experience and the what happens during the days of Even Nobody's doing anything to get first on this slide in mirror and also the cost be the many party told me That I'll buy a loaf of bread for 1,000 back Even the I can give bread used to be our state my brother. You know, I can give break So So personally, yes I am a work bank or whatever I can say whatever they want But the fact is that we on our own has to buy if we were productive enough as we're supposed to Then we've ourself in any way any country or any don't agency I mean, let us take for example the shop. I don't know That you have seen high quality the power has been in the past foods. In fact, the rate of heat did What is going to a killing agenda is the heat the heat level around and how hot the weather is As I put me to you, I don't have power in the past three days. I don't have power in my house You know, how much them a little Children cost now. I'm in Italy to learn even if I say I'm going to use inverter or whichever one, you know How much it has so those are the issues that was facing fundamental Let us be able to raise our Productivity let us start exporting now so that we can and not point this change But then that we cannot sit back and look the IMF and all back in the island say go ahead We don't need your money We are going to determine what I would bet as much as we go to the IMF and the work bank or whatever doing agencies or countries They will continue to determine what you do with the money that giving you and that is the fact Okay, let's move to the daily trust newspaper right now We're going to take something from outside Nigeria more or less Even though it involves Niger it involves a coas the Niger junta has vowed that they're not returning to a coas at all I don't know how what you see about that because a lot of people have begun to say that the past of a coas is dwindling and The three countries leaving a coas will further weaken a coas. What do you think? Yes, I agree with you that let us look at streets that they cover up the daily trust We see there's hashing in the land and that is by the IMF who was telling the wife of the president the first lady Mrs. Tunibu yesterday who did come on? I only did the You know I can't tell the government and the Indians are suffering with us and the earlier the government The better for us there has been protest in Niger states from Niger state to move to a shoe state There have been some level of protest and before it it will escalate and go around if this is not checked I'm going to add the answers Protest is going to be a choice play if government is not able to Even this I'm able to put the right thing by checkmate the rising cost of living in Nigeria a humble mind agreement And I said it in this program Which are not sleep because the poor are weak and that is what it is. So Service and trying to say oh, we are going to The results we are going to give grace We're going to have give grace to stay to give grace to this that is not the issue that is just been transmitted It's just like what the first of materials appears in the last time they said they were distributing money to Ninety-years and the forest of the quiet in the old pizza. So what is the gold main doing about the rest of Living in Nigeria bag of rice is more than seven thousand and seventy thousand And now that's the bag of rice a mood of rice. How much is it even the same before like Gary? How much is a mood of Gary? What a piece only us to make use and the lights So those are the students and Indians are already crying up. It has never been this but it has never been this terrible So the more we look at ourselves. I just like My cage as it said in the soft man in the mirror, you have to be the mind So we don't need a name here. We don't need a post-class All bar or you pay or whatever to tell the federal government We have ministers we have advisors and I hope that advices the country right on this issue of uprising possible Because it will go into the highest level of insecurity is inability to feed your people That is the highest level of insecurity and also you have to also look at the issue of the security that is rising on you Because it tied it to together farmers are not going to the farm because I've been kidnapped. What are you doing about in security? We're on top of the we're on top of it. That is what the police and top of it and top of it That's why about that Service to ensure Insecurity is becoming so deadly now that you cannot even move out of your house if why is it? Sees of proxies be in the people's living in your houses and that is We go men's must be told Nigerians are very very hungry and as I repeat again a hungry man is an aggravated Yes Passes I've said that they're no longer members of it was in as much as the truth is that Before you can exit the the union as it were you have to inform the Organization within a certain period of sympathy cannot force it If I say I'm not married you that is what it is the worst case scenario go to court and this up They have come to realize that they are being in In a co-wass is not happy matters at all and that a co-wass doesn't seem to understand Yeah, I totally agree. Some of the statistics are that you should not encourage the issue of crew in any of this But the party was also as you said that those that are in government where they think that I'm talking about the civilian civilians Regives as it were so I don't think that they go as and they just handle the issue properly because the inability to that issue properly now open the door for a country like Russia to come in and we put to establish a seven this week I think this issue can be resolved dramatically now We are getting some fillers or do not confirm that one of the countries as Nigeria not apply over is this piece I don't know how to that if that is going to be the issue then it's going to be a problem because if they close their S This week is closer to Nigeria and that means it and should I come into Nigeria thinking that as it have to go to a longer route And which is what is happening in the race in now between the fight the fight going on between Israel and Hamas We are Rivers have not making life difficult for sheep moving on the Red Sea to not take because of the attack They are making a longer route a journey that takes the ship about two weeks in that thing about points And that in each step increase the price of flights Across the globe and costing a lot of But as he said that the economic Equal as leaders as we are Do more dramatic Shortening between this between equal as this country's way to bring them together You don't just throw away your child because it's not here or he's back You have a way of people to talk to you there. It's not all different. I can be here the same way But you are sitting further. So it is your duty as if you will be able to bring even those that are falling off line To be able to bring them to the table and be able to determine and make sure that everything That All right, well, I know you said something about Hungry man is an angry man and it's It's worthy to know that on the daily trust the major headline on that one even says there's hardship in the land says Can you Yeah, there's hardship in the land. Anyway, so I want to move over to the Guardian and he talks about import duty FX rates raised for time in February now 1,444 point six Naira to the dollar. So really there's hardship in the land So what do you think about this import duty FX rates that has been raised for time for the fourth time in February? We're just a few days into February This is the 13th day of February and we're looking at this import duty being raised four times already Yes, you know in touch enough rights In foreign currency, and that is what is happening and that is what Remember the problem we had in the past some time in the past We have because of the cost of the trading goods and services Especially cars into Nigeria most importers bringing vehicles into the area and I resorted to a good to know You remember really what happened this period They were they were at that part. They are Containers to put to know and from there and here as we close the import I just say put to know and bringing those goods That is also happening now and that is why you're having So that in itself is affecting the economy because apart from the apart from what we made from And what comes from the next level of income that really is from customs and also then from the MP Tasks made on goods coming into Nigeria so but As the paper reported In February alone that you can imagine what 13th a day to Valentine and Let me say happy Valentine to you my sister Thank you happy Valentine's day You know we must continue to celebrate Nigerians are tourism and that is why when it does that take us for granted because They say that we are the happiest people in the world. Right. You see a situation where a very big theory He much has to say that the Niger problem is a spiritual and I was laughing spiritual Instead of blaming our leaders for what we say that one problem is which and who does that that we are not Is it that we are not spiritual enough? I'm telling you that in Nigeria We hide the highest number of churches in this country than anywhere in the world. Yeah You know that there is no beauty in fact some beauties in because we have three churches One down another church They have been thanks with about six that I know six eight even It's true. You have six you have six large. I have six various churches. What are we talking about? So spiritual and I ask myself they develop me called develop countries like china Do they go spiritual? How spiritual is a chinese man? And they have the Times is just common sense It doesn't make any sense. My sister doesn't make any sense. Let us put the blame. We are the blame in this clearly and I'll put you as the question Our problem is is that of leadership or follow-up? Until we answer that question to constitute men where we are I think it's follow-up ship anyway We would have loved to continue we had more time especially as they say 113.8 million Nigerians are undocumented and I don't know how People are talking about our population Are we really 220? Are we really up to that or are we more than that? We don't even know We were supposed to have a census last year. We couldn't have it They are promising us that we are going to have a census this year or something like that So, I don't know 113 undocumented. This is a lump sum. What do you think very briefly because our time is up Well, 113 13 or 30 whatever undocumented Then the question has what happened to the name that we did Sort of the name Yeah, was the name not meant to capture every Nigerian as it were Do you think people queue or be aware on the queue for hours during the what happened to that information that was gathered? What happened to the information that we used the the bvm? Um FRC license a diverse license What of the passport? It's so obvious that some people are just branding This team here and there because the essence of the need is to be able to capture every Nigerian irrespective of age That every Nigerian must be captured the national ID card project that we started over close to 20 years ago I'll see that now we cannot be not be able to finish it Do you say have your national ID card if you have hasn't he aspired? That is Nigerian for you. So I don't know this is one of the countries in the world where you don't have enough data to be because even if you don't have the data Then how do you plan? Yeah We talk of national plan how do you plan for your people when you do not know Why the us isn't what is doing to you because he knows every single person in the united state And that is how you can determine their per capita income But in Nigeria, nobody knows we don't even know how many where if you go out tomorrow and see a canyon on the street of late Because who you knowing? That is Nigerian for you So, uh, totally my brother when they start writing all these figures, it's not a system. I don't believe it It's all the so-called statistics. Is this the statistics? They will say that like for Nigeria's is improving Nigeria is the cheapest thing when it comes to cost of living and the rest of them and MBS will come out with also fake so many fake Um But you go to the market. You cannot buy just a just a mood of gary and they tell you It is Happy Valentine to you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Happy Valentine's day to you tomorrow Thank you. Mr. Chris. All right That's it on our paper review. We've been speaking to Chris candy wonder. He's a member of the chat Institute of Abritrators in the UK who is joining us for here in Lagos State We'll go on a short break when we return. We'll be looking at our hot topic. Please stay with us