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Nigerian workers decide on potential strike as minimum wage report awaits presidential action

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Organised labour has revealed plans to hold an emergency meeting over the next line of action as the national minimum wage tripartite committee submits a report to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Spokesperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Benson Upah, said the outcome of the meeting will determine whether organized labour will resume its strike action in the coming days.

“The appropriate organs of the two unions will meet, and once they do, whatever decision they make will be communicated to the public,” Upah said.

However, he did not disclose the specific date the meeting would be held.

Recall that after the minimum wage tripartite committee met on Monday, the federal government offered N62,000 as the minimum wage, while organized labour insisted on N250,000.

Part of the report includes N57,000 and N62,000 minimum wage proposals by state governors and the organized private sector, respectively.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) confirmed receiving the tripartite committee report on Monday.

This development has turned attention to President Tinubu, who is expected to act on the report and pass an executive bill on the minimum wage to the National Assembly ahead of June 12, Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebrations.

Meanwhile, NLC President Joe Ajaero, speaking on Monday at the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, ruled out the resumption of the strike on Tuesday. He noted that organized labour is waiting for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision on the report submitted by the tripartite committee.

“We are waiting for the decision of the President. Our National Executive Council (NEC) will deliberate on the new figure when it is out,” he said.

Recall that organized labour suspended last Monday’s indefinite strike, which shut down the country’s economy for a week.

The federal government had previously offered N60,000 as the minimum wage, which organized labour rejected. The new minimum offer of N62,000 is only N2,000 more than the old offer. Ajaero noted that the difference between N62,000 and N250,000 (Labour’s proposed minimum wage) is a wide gulf.

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BREAKING: Senate passes Rivers 2025 budget for second reading

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The Nigerian Senate, Wednesday passed the Rivers State 2025 budget for second reading.

The budget which stood at N1,480,662592,442 trillion was passed for second reading after it was read by the Senate Leader, Senator Michael Bamidele Opeyemi.

Opeyemi said the Senate has since assumed the powers of legislating for Rivers State having been under the State of Emergency.

In his contribution, Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan said, there was a need for the budget to be legislated immediately so that the people of Rivers could feel the presence of government.

He said, “Mr President, I don’t know under what topic this document is christened but I could see it is about a budget of the state of emergency.

I hereby support that the budget be passed for second reading so that the people of Rivers can feel the presence of government.

In absence of opposition to the bill, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio passed the budget through voice vote and referred it to the Ad-hoc Committee on overseeing Rivers State of Emergency.

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ECOWAS @50: Leaders Promises “Peace and Prosperity to All” by the year 2050

Held under the theme “Stronger Together for a Brighter Future,” the celebration reflects the bloc’s renewed commitment to deepening regional integration and development.

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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has commenced its 50th anniversary celebration with a series of high-level commemorative events in Lagos, Nigeria.

Held under the theme “Stronger Together for a Brighter Future,” the celebration reflects the bloc’s renewed commitment to deepening regional integration and development.

As part of the milestone, the ECOWAS Commission unveiled its long-term vision to transform the organisation from an “ECOWAS of States” into an “ECOWAS of the People: Peace and Prosperity to All” by the year 2050.

The plan aims to empower the region’s estimated 300 million citizens to take ownership of the vision and play active roles in shaping the community’s future.ECOWAS was established on May 28, 1975.

The founding treaty was signed by 15 Heads of State and Government at the National Institute of International Affairs on Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The Treaty of Lagos was signed by the 15 Heads of State and government of Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sénégal and Togo, with its stated mission to promote economic integration across the region.

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FG clears 200,000 passport backlogs, pays ₦28bn debts — Tunji-Ojo

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The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, says the Federal Government has cleared over 200,000 unprocessed passport applications since he assumed office.

Tunji-Ojo also revealed that ₦28 billion in old debts have been paid off, all without extra funding from the government.

He made these announcements during the Access Bank Guest Lecture Series held in Lagos on Monday. He spoke on the topic, “Dare to Dream, Dare to Innovate,” and called for bold leadership, system reform, and the smart use of technology.

“Leadership is not about reacting to problems, it is about foreseeing and solving them before they occur. And for that, you must always ask: What is your purpose? How will you execute it? And when is the right time to act?” he said.

He explained how his ministry used innovation, technology, and planning to clear passport backlogs and debts. New systems like e-visa platforms, contactless passport renewals for Nigerians abroad, and advanced passenger tracking have been launched.

Speaking about Nigeria’s prisons, Tunji-Ojo said the correctional system is in bad shape.

He pointed out that more than 4,000 inmates are behind bars simply because they can’t pay fines as low as ₦50,000.

“This is not a legal crisis, it is a moral one. A society that punishes poverty more harshly than crime has lost its moral compass,” he said.

He added that the ministry is working with private donors to help release many of these non-violent prisoners, noting that it’s also pushing for reforms that focus on rehabilitation, not just punishment.

These include digital case tracking, vocational training in prisons, and partnerships to improve prison conditions.

“A correctional facility must correct, not condemn. Justice without dignity is injustice in disguise,” he said.

Access Holdings Chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, praised Tunji-Ojo’s leadership.

“Innovation is not about big budgets, it is about big thinking,” he said, adding that the Minister’s work shows what real public service should look like.The event brought together business leaders, government officials, and experts from across the country.

It was part of Access Bank’s effort to spark national change through conversations about leadership and service.

In his final words, Tunji-Ojo urged everyone to live with purpose and pursue excellence.

“Let Access Bank not just be a financial institution, let it be a philosophy. Let Nigeria not just be a country of potential, let it be a nation of performance.

It is time to refine our genius, not just export it,” he said.

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