Author: Friday Omosola

Vice President Kashim Shettima has reiterated the federal government’s (FG) dedication to improving workers’ welfare, implementing wage reforms, and fostering inclusive economic policies.  He made this assertion yesterday during a meeting with the Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Gilbert Houngbo, alongside the Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Muhammad Dingyadi. Shettima praised Nigeria’s labour movement for its contributions to national development, emphasising President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the well-being of Nigerian workers. “We raised the minimum wage, and most states have started implementing it. Some have even gone beyond the N70,000 agreed at the national level. I commend…

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has set March 3 as the date for parties involved in the petition to present their final written arguments. This decision follows the All Progressives Congress (APC) closing its case without introducing additional witnesses to support Governor Monday Okpebholo’s victory in the September 21, 2024, election.   The tribunal is currently reviewing a petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who are contesting the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration of Okpebholo as the election winner. On Wednesday, the APC had indicated plans to present 28 witnesses to…

MTN, Nigeria’s leading telecom provider, has apologised to its customers after widespread backlash over a sudden surge in data prices. The New Daily Prime earlier reported that an unexpected increase saw the cost of a 15GB weekly data plan jump from N2,000 to N6,000—a staggering 200 per cent hike that left many subscribers frustrated.  The increase led to customers flooding social media with complaints on Wednesday as users expressed their outrage. In response, MTN, in a statement on its social media on Thursday, acknowledged customers’ frustrations and attempted to ease tensions. “To our 15G digital bundle lovers. You dey vex.…

The Lagos State government has reaffirmed its commitment to making legal information more accessible by translating state laws into Yoruba.  According to the state government, the initiative aims to bridge the language barrier that prevents many residents from fully understanding their legal rights and responsibilities. The announcement was made yesterday at the Stakeholders’ Meeting organised by the Lagos State Law Reform Commission (LAWRECOM) in collaboration with the Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget. The meeting, held at the STO Resource Centre, Debt Management Office, Ikeja, focused on the findings of the 2024 People’s Perception Survey on translating…

A Kano State High Court has rescheduled the hearing of all pending preliminary objections in the bribery and misappropriation case involving APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, his wife Hafsat Umar, and six others.  The New Daily Prime earlier reported that the Kano State Government levelled an eight-count charge against the defendants, alleging bribery, mismanagement, and the diversion of public funds worth billions of naira. Others named in the case include Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited. READ ALSO: Tinubu returns from Saudi Arabia During Thursday’s proceedings, the prosecution…

Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), has refuted reports linking him to Nigeria’s 2027 presidential race.   Recent media speculation suggested Adesina hinted at a possible run during a recent interview. However, he has categorically denied any such intention. Addressing the rumours on his X handle on Thursday, Adesina clarified that his remarks had been taken out of context and misrepresented by several Nigerian media outlets. “A segment of my recent interview on ARISE TV has been both misinterpreted and misrepresented in several Nigerian media outlets. What I said was, ‘I will be available to serve in any…

The Nigeria Police has clarified that 3,907 arms were unaccounted for in its armoury before Kayode Egbetokun assumed office as the Inspector General of Police (IGP).   In a statement, the Force spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi said some of these weapons were taken by hoodlums during episodes of civil unrest.   “The Force wishes to clarify that this report appears to be based on an assessment of a 2019 audit by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (AuGF), likely reflecting records compiled before the current Inspector-General’s tenure,” he stated. According to the report—specifically, Issue 3b, Subsection (iii)—the 3,907 arms were classified…

As the world celebrated World Radio Day, the Federal Government (FG) called on all radio stations in Nigeria to leverage their platforms to raise awareness about climate change and its impact on the nation.   World Radio Day, observed annually on February 13, was established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to highlight the vital role of radio in shaping societies. In a statement on Thursday, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, emphasised that through informative and educational programming, radio stations can equip communities with the knowledge and tools needed to adapt to climate change…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the recent 50% increase in telecom tariffs, calling for an immediate rollback to the previous rates. The union has threatened to shut down the operations of telecom providers if the hike is not reversed by March 1, 2025.  The NLC and the Federal Government previously formed a 10-member committee to review the tariff adjustment and provide recommendations before any implementation. However, despite this agreement, telecom companies went ahead with the price increase, prompting the NLC’s strong response. In a communique signed by President Joe Ajaero and General Secretary Emma Ugboaja after a Central…

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives advanced four tax reform bills submitted by President Bola Tinubu in 2024, approving them for the next legislative stage after scaling second reading. The bills Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill—were drafted following recommendations from the Taiwo Oyedele-led Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms. With their second reading completed, the bills will now proceed to a public hearing for further scrutiny. Despite making progress in the House, the bills have faced significant opposition from various quarters, including northern governors and opposition…