Author: Gbenga Olaleye

The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the state government to increase the minimum wage for workers to ₦150,000, citing the rising cost of living and recent wage hikes in other states. State NLC Chairperson, Comrade Funmi Sesi, made the demand on Thursday while responding to the recent upward wage reviews by the governments of Imo and Ebonyi states. According to Sesi, Lagos workers currently earn a minimum wage of ₦85,000 and deserve more, especially given the higher costs of accommodation, transportation, food, and basic utilities in the state. READ ALSO: LP accuses NLC’s…

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has dismissed growing speculation that he is positioning himself for the vice-presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Governor Mohammed addressed rumours circulating within political circles, clarifying that he has no personal agenda to secure the party’s vice-presidential slot. “I am not withdrawing because I want to prepare myself for the vice presidency,” Mohammed said. “Of course, if it is within the consensus of our party leaders and the presidential candidate to choose me, I am ready. But certainly, if I…

Authorities in the City of Tshwane have begun demolishing two illegally constructed high-rise buildings owned by Nigerian property developer George Asaba, following multiple court rulings that declared the structures unsafe and in breach of municipal regulations. The demolition, which began this week, follows a March 2025 ruling by the Gauteng High Court ordering the removal of the buildings on Luttig Street in Pretoria West. The court found that Asaba had failed to submit approved building plans and that the buildings posed serious safety and health risks, violating both zoning and construction laws. Despite filing an appeal, Asaba’s case was dismissed…

The Nenadi Usman-led faction of the Labour Party has issued a scathing criticism of President Bola Tinubu over the worsening security situation in the country, urging him to take decisive action or step down from office. In a statement released on Thursday in Abuja, the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Tony Akeni, accused Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of failing Nigerians, particularly in the area of national security. READ ALSO: Labour party issues 48-hour ultimatum to Peter Obi over coalition move The statement pointed to the allocation of over ₦6.5 trillion and several billions of US dollars to…

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over the recent increase in the cost of international passports in Nigeria. In a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, Obi criticised the current administration’s persistent focus on imposing financial burdens on ordinary citizens. The Federal Government announced on Thursday a significant rise in passport fees. Under the new pricing, a 32-page international passport now costs ₦100,000, while a 64-page passport is priced at ₦200,000. Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and a prominent political figure, highlighted the disproportionate nature of this hike, particularly…

Members of the Oyo State House of Assembly have strongly criticised Honourable Ibraheem Shittu, representing Saki West State Constituency under the All Progressives Congress (APC), labelling him an “absentee lawmaker” with minimal participation in legislative duties. In a joint statement released on Thursday and made available, the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin, and Chairman, House Committee on Information, Media, Public Affairs and ICT, Hon. Waheed Akintayo, accused Shittu of consistently missing plenary sessions and committee assignments. Their statement comes in response to Shittu’s recent allegation that the Assembly secretly approved a ₦300 billion loan request by Governor Seyi Makinde during…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refuted claims by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that the voter registration figures recently released for Osun State are implausible. In a statement issued on Thursday, the electoral body maintained that there was “nothing extraordinary” about the data, which recorded 393,269 online pre-registrations in Osun alone within the first week of the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. The ADC had earlier criticised the figures, describing them as “statistically implausible” and inconsistent with historical voter registration trends and demographic data in the state. READ ALSO: Jonathan calls for reforms in INEC leadership selection…

National Leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has reaffirmed the party’s willingness to engage in discussions with other political parties, individuals, or coalitions ahead of the 2027 general elections. However, he insisted that the party is not rushing into any political alliances or agreements. Speaking at the NNPP National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, the former Kano State Governor emphasised that any future collaboration would be a collective decision involving the leadership and grassroots members of the party. “We are ready to talk to anybody who wants us to work together…

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has signed a $2.5 billion agreement with the Ethiopian Government to construct one of the world’s largest single-site fertiliser plants in Gode, located in the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia. The agreement, formalised on Thursday, is between Dangote Group and Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), the government’s strategic investment arm. Under the deal, Dangote Group will hold a 60% equity stake, while EIH will retain 40%. According to EIH, the plant will rank among the world’s top five urea production complexes, with a capacity of up to three million metric tonnes annually. The project, slated for…

The Federal Government has approved an upward review of passport application fees within Nigeria, with the new rates set to take effect from 1 September 2025. This development was disclosed in a statement on Thursday by the spokesperson of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), A.S. Akinlabi, who noted that the revision is aimed at maintaining the quality and integrity of the Nigerian Standard Passport ahead of its full implementation on 1 September 2025. READ ALSO: UK passport fees to rise by nearly 7%, Home Office confirms According to the new structure, a 32-page passport with a five-year validity will now…