•Michael Adeleke

A Nigerian labour leader Domingo Michael Adeleke died today in Geneva, Switzerland, while attending the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC).

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), confirmed the development this morning in a statement, saying that Adeleke was the Chairman of the Lagos State Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) of the union.

According to the statement, Adeleke was in Switzerland as part of Nigeria’s delegation to the conference when he reportedly became ill and was later taken for medical attention. He subsequently passed away.

A member of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Adeleke served as Chairman of the Lagos State Joint Negotiating Council, where he was involved in labour-related advocacy and workers’ welfare initiatives.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has deployed its Emergency Response Team (ERT) to the scene of following an accident involving a passenger train travelling from Itakpe to Warri along the Agbor axis of Delta State on Monday, 8th June, 2026.

In a statement, the Director – General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, confirmed that following receipt of an alert on the incident, she immediately activated the Agency’s response mechanism and deployed an Emergency Response Team.

The Director – General has been in contact with the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and assured him of NEMA’s support.

The Agency’s response team is collaborating with the NRC, security agencies, and other relevant stakeholders to provide necessary assistance to the passengers, ensure their safety, and support operations.

The Federal Ministry of Finance said it has approved payments to more than 1,240 contractors, providing immediate liquidity support to businesses across the country and reinforcing the Federal Government’s commitment to meeting its financial obligations.

The approval, granted by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, follows a verification and reconciliation undertaken by the Ministry to ensure that only duly validated obligations qualify for payment, according to a statement on Monday by Mary-Ann Duke, Senior Special Assistant on Communication and Press Secretary to the Minister of Finance.

The payments covered contractors across various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and represent a significant step in addressing long-standing payment obligations, particularly those affecting indigenous businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

According to the statement, contractors prioritised for payment in the most recent batch are those with verified claims in the region of ₦100 million or less.

The release of funds is expected to provide immediate relief to hundreds of businesses, enabling them to return to project sites, pay workers, settle suppliers, meet financial commitments, and support economic activity across the country.

The release of funds is expected to provide immediate relief to hundreds of businesses, enabling them to return to project sites, pay workers, settle suppliers, meet financial commitments, and support economic activity across the country.

According to the statement, over the past few months, the Federal Government has processed payments exceeding ₦700 billion across various categories of verified obligations owed to local contractors.

Within the month of May alone, approximately ₦436.6 billion in transactions were processed, demonstrating a significant acceleration in payment activity aimed at unlocking liquidity and supporting economic growth.

By prioritising a large number of smaller contractors rather than concentrating payments among a few large beneficiaries, the government said it is broadening the economic impact of these disbursements, supporting businesses across different sectors and regions of the country.

The latest payments are expected to strengthen confidence among contractors, suppliers, and service providers doing business with government by demonstrating the Government’s commitment to honouring duly verified obligations.

“For many beneficiaries, the release of funds represents more than a financial transaction. It provides the certainty needed to sustain operations, preserve jobs, complete ongoing projects, and contribute to economic recovery and growth”, the statement noted.

The Ministry said it remained committed to maintaining fiscal discipline while ensuring that legitimate obligations are settled promptly.

Going forward, the Ministry noted that the move will substantially reduce outstanding liabilities over time, strengthen confidence in public financial management, and support the effective delivery of public services and infrastructure.