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By Joan Nwagwu The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the National Assembly (NASS) to expedite action on modalities for the coverage of the new natonal minimum wage. Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President said this during a book launch titled, “The Future of Work: Is the Tripartite Body in Africa Ready for Digital Economy?” on Monday in Abuja. The book was written by Mrs Sharon Ijasan, a TVC’s Labour Correspondent. It would be recalled that on July 24, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, had said during a plenary session that the N70,000 new national minimum wage applied to all workers, including maids and other domestic staff. According to Ajaero, there is need for the National Assembly to come out clean on the area of coverage to the new minimum wage. “There is need...

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on Nigerian leaders to judiciously use the country’s abundant resources to develop the nation. The Methodist Church has significantly contributed to our nation’s development through social justice, education, and humanitarian efforts, transforming lives nationwide.” Mr Tinubu commended the church’s peace and unity promotion, urging continued dedication. “As leaders, we acknowledge our responsibilities and commitment to overcoming obstacles. I call upon you to persist in your compassionate mission, as united efforts are crucial to addressing our national challenges.” In his message, “Our Appreciation and Gratitude to God,” Methodist Church Prelate Dr Oliver Aba, emphasised the importance of appreciating God amidst challenges. Cit...

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a Thailand returnee, Simon Oguejiofor, for importing 13.30 kilogrammes of heroin worth more than N3.192 billion at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos. Mr Babafemi said the combined monetary value of the seized opioids comes to N22.7 billion. He said the illicit consignments were seized from containers watch listed by NDLEA based on intelligence and processed for a 100 per cent joint examination. Mr Babafemi said this was with the help of men of the Nigeria Customs and other security agencies at the three seaports between Monday, October 7 and Friday, October 11. In the same vein, NDLEA operatives in Anambra on Saturday, October 12, arrested a suspect, Okelue Chidera, 29, with 50,000 tablets o...

The federal government has announced a strategic plan to overhaul Nigeria’s health sector. It is to be used to equip healthcare centres with solar energy solutions and other climate-resilient infrastructure, particularly in rural areas,” he said. He said that the NHSRII recognised the crucial role of the private sector in strengthening the healthcare system. According to him, private sector actors are expected to help expand digital health services, improve data reporting, and bolster the local production of pharmaceuticals. The national coordinator said the blueprint also included plans to expand health insurance coverage, aiming to provide financial protection for the most vulnerable through innovative mechanisms like Third-Party Administrators (TPAs). He said the Health ...

The Nigerian Air Force is set to acquire another set of fighter helicopters to boost its combat capabilities. The aircraft are 24 M-346 Fighter Ground Attack jets and 10 AW-109 Trekker helicopters. The service had in June disclosed that it would acquire 50 new aircraft to strengthen its capabilities against armed gangs and terrorists. Already, the service in the last two years had taken delivery of 12 Super Tucano, two additional DA-62 surveillance aircraft and T-129 ATAK helicopters, and two Diamond-62 Multi-Purpose aircraft among others. In a statement on Sunday, Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, said the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, along with officials from the Ministries of Defence and Fi...

Mrs Nkechi Obi, MD/CEO, Techno Oil Group (in green attire) with other participants at the induction into the Bank Of Industry (BOI) Hall of Fame By Emmanuella Anokam Mrs Nkechi Obi, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Techno Oil Group, has described the company’s induction into the Bank of Industry (BoI) Hall of Fame, as an honour well deserved. Obi said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, following the company’s induction alongside other companies for demonstrating integrity in their business operations. She said that Techno Oil had maintained an unwavering commitment to ethical operations, integrity, safety and flawless operational standards since it commenced operations. Obi said that the company would continue ...

By NAN The Public Complaints Commission (PCC) on the 7-11 October, 2024, held a 5-Days training Program for over 57 members of its staff, on Conflict Resolution and Mediation Skills in Maiduguri, Borno State. The Facilitator of of the workshop Aysha Hassan, said the training was aimed at enhancing the capacity of the 57 staff members of the Commission to enable them perform their duties effectively, particularly in resolving conflicts and mediating between conflicting parties. The PCC State Director, Salisu Mohammed El-jummah, while declaring the training open underscored the importance of the program on improving the effectiveness of the Commission in fulfilling its mandate of addressing public complaints, especially within the challenging context of Borno State....

Algeria began repatriating its citizens from Lebanon on Friday due to escalating military tensions between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Community Abroad said in a statement that 306 Algerian citizens were flown from Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport to Cairo International Airport on two specially arranged flights. According to the statement, Algeria’s national airline, Air Algerie, will bring them back home. The ministry said this was the second time such an operation had occurred in recent months, following a similar effort in August that successfully repatriated 125 Algerian nationals. The ministry noted that further repatriation measures would be taken if necessary.Xinhua/NAN

The House of Representatives has urged the inspector general of police to initiate measures to find a missing corps member, Okeke Chukwuemeka Godwin, who has not been seen since May 9, 2024.The call for the rescue was sequel to a motion by Nnolim Nnaji (PDP-Enugu) at a plenary on Thursday in Abuja. Moving the motion, Mr Nnaji said the NYSC was established to engage Nigerian university graduates in effective community services and nation-building across ethnolinguistic boundaries. He said that the scheme had been threatened by myriads of abductions, incessant attacks and murder due to the inadequate facilities and general welfare. The lawmaker said that there is an optimum obligation to provide a safe environment and facilities for NYSC members in federal and state governments in ...

Ado Doguwa (APC-Kano) has commended the Court of Appeal’s judgment that upheld his innocence in a case of murder brought against him by the Kano government. In a statement in Abuja, Mr Doguwa who represents Tudun Wada/Doguwa federal constituency of Kano state in the House of Representatives, said that the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man. The court had ruled that the appeal by the Kano government lacked in merit and affirmed an earlier judgement by the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court which acquitted the lawmaker. It could be recalled that Mr Doguwa was arrested for alleged murder during the 2023 general election which led to the cancellation and rerun of the National Assembly polls in the constituency. In his reaction, Mr Doguwa said that the judgment...

The executives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw local government areas of Bayelsa State on Friday announced the suspension of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, for alleged anti-party activities and the purported factionalisation of the party at the state level. The APC executives also suspended several other key members of the party including its 2019 governorship candidate in Bayelsa state, David Lyon. Also suspended are two commissioners who are currently serving in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Bayelsa State government, and the Commissioner for Power, Engr. Karin Kumoko. The Chairman of the APC in Ekeremor Local Government Area, Mitin Eniekenemi, confirmed the party’s suspension of Lokpobiri and the ot...

By Joan Nwagwu Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu says the African Continent is richly endowed but most of its potential are yet to be fully tapped. Tinubu said this while declaring open a two-day maiden edition of a programms: “Elevate Africa” on Thursday in Abuja. The theme of the programme is: “The Africa We See: Unleashing the Potential to Redefine the Future”. Tinubu, who was represented by Hajiya Nana Shettima, Wife of the Vice President said there were many potential within the great continent of Africa that defined her and the prospect of her tomorrow. According to her, Africa is a blessed continent, from her rich vegetation to her beautiful landscape, abundant natural and human resources, her diversity and culture among others. She, however, said Niger...

Senator Mohammed Ndume, representing Borno South senatorial district, has expressed concerns regarding the looting of crops by terrorists in the Gwoza communities of Borno State. Ndume on Wednesday disclosed that he had been reliably informed by village heads from the affected areas—specifically Ngoshe, Kirawa, Ashigashiya, and surrounding communities—about the dire situation facing local farmers, who are now left frustrated and hungry due to the loss of nearly half of their agricultural produce. Regarding the renewed Boko Haram killings, especially targeting farmers while harvesting their crops, I was reliably informed by the village heads of the affected Gwoza communities that almost half of the crops produced by resilient farmers in Ngoshe, Kirawa, Ashigashiya, and other surround...

The Senate has today passed the bill sponsored by Senator Sharafadeen Alli (APC-Oyo South) on the establishment of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Igboora, in concurrence with the House of Representatives. This is contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Akeem Abas and made available to newsmen on Thursday in Ibadan. With the Senate's approval, the bill will now be sent to the President for assent, bringing the long-awaited medical facility closer to the people of Igboora. This development marks a significant step toward improving healthcare access for the people of Igboora and its surrounding communities. Senator Alli expressed his excitement over the passage of the bill, which he sponsored on the floor of the Senate. He emphasised that the establ...

By Joan Nwagwu The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has urged the informal sector to ensure the unionisation of workers for job protection and decent work in the country. Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President made the call at a two-day workshop organised by the NLC in collaboration with the ILO on Wednesday in Abuja. The theme of the workshop was “Building Networks and Joint Action for Enhancing Decent Work in the Informal Economy”. Ajaero said that it was imperative to unionise the workers based on the challenges they faced in the informal sector. According to him, if you check in almost all government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) there seems to be embargo on employment and nothing is happening but people are creating jobs...

The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has emerged as the highest-ranked public institution in the 2024 Transparency and Integrity Index (TII). Dr Umar Yakubu, Executive-Director, Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity, (CeFTI), announced this at the Public Presentation of the 4th Edition of the TII, in Abuja on Tuesday. Yakubu said that the index was put together by the (CeFTI) in collaboration with the Bureau for Public Service Reform, (BPSR), with support by McArthur Foundation. He said that the TII was an assessment that seeks to evaluate the performances of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) through a peer review mechanism. He said that the review mechanism was in relation to their compliance in proactive disclosure of informat...

The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has emerged as the highest-ranked public institution in the 2024 Transparency and Integrity Index (TII). Dr Umar Yakubu, Executive-Director, Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity, (CeFTI), announced this at the Public Presentation of the 4th Edition of the TII, in Abuja on Tuesday. Yakubu said that the index was put together by the (CeFTI) in collaboration with the Bureau for Public Service Reform, (BPSR), with support by McArthur Foundation. He said that the TII was an assessment that seeks to evaluate the performances of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) through a peer review mechanism. He said that the review mechanism was in relation to their compliance in proactive disclosure of informat...

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer  Sure Switch Tech has inaugurated a digital application known as 'Sure Drivers' to combat  road transport related crimes such as 'One Chance, Kidnapping and others. The Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, Mr Chukwuma Ugbah during the inauguration  on Wednesday in Abuja said the application  would  checkmate the operation of 'One Chanvce Taxi Operstors in Abuja. "Crimes such as kidnapping, robbery, and other vices on our roads have become a menace, affecting the lives of countless individuals.  "The transportation sector, which should represent safety and mobility, is often undermined by such threats. "However, we stand at a turning point, where technology, particularly digital driver identification (Sure Driver...