• Vice-President Kashim Shettima

The Federal Government is set to launch a new learning fund and empowerment platform targeted at unlocking the potential of Nigerian children, women and youths.

The platform – ‘Women and Youth Financial and Economic Inclusion (WYFEI), will be unveiled on Wednesday by the Vice-President Kashim Shettima , at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

This is contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha.

“The initiative, convened by the Office of the Vice President in collaboration with Sterling One Foundation, the United Nations System and other ASIS partners, will form part of the outcomes of the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) 2026 High-Level Policy Engagement,” said the statement.

He emphasised that the WYFEI is the country’s flagship platform for advancing women and youth economic empowerment through compact-based delivery, co-investment frameworks and performance accountability.

“This will make Nigeria the implementation platform of the African Union’s WYFEI programme.

“WYFEI will also be launched in other countries after Nigeria.”

Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) workers, supported by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), staged a protest on Monday at the National Industrial Court in Abuja.

The demonstration highlighted ongoing grievances over unpaid promotion arrears, poor working conditions, and other unresolved welfare issues.

The workers are currently engaged in a total and indefinite strike that has disrupted operations across FCTA departments. Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Pay promotion arrears,” “Enough is Enough,” “No working tools,” “Wike must go!!,” and “Abuja no be Rivers,” protesters demanded the immediate settlement of outstanding entitlements and, in some cases, called for the removal of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

The NLC fully backed the industrial action, stating that the protest and strike followed repeated failed negotiations with FCTA leadership.

Union officials emphasized that months of complaints regarding delayed promotions, inadequate tools, and deteriorating workplace conditions had left workers with no alternative but to escalate the matter.

The demonstration coincided with a court session on the dispute. The National Industrial Court heard arguments in a suit filed by the FCTA authorities challenging the legality of the strike.

Justice Emmanuel Danjuma adjourned proceedings, with a ruling on motions—including any to halt the industrial action—scheduled for Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

The labour dispute has persisted for months, with unions rejecting FCTA claims that certain demands have been met, insisting that critical issues like promotion arrears remain unaddressed.

The strike has reportedly led to widespread disruptions, including school closures in some areas as teachers joined the action.

Security personnel were present at the court premises as protesters chanted solidarity songs and maintained a peaceful picket throughout the day.

In a decisive move to enforce the abolition of the long-standing Monday “sit-at-home” order in Anambra State, Governor Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has directed the immediate closure of the iconic Onitsha Main Market for one full week.

The governor’s action stems from reports that traders at the bustling market failed to open for business on Monday, January 26, 2026, in defiance of repeated state government directives mandating full resumption of commercial activities every Monday. The sit-at-home practice, originally linked to security concerns and separatist agitations in the Southeast, has been officially abolished by the Anambra State Government as part of broader efforts to restore normalcy, boost economic activity, and improve security.

Governor Soludo, who has consistently warned that non-compliant markets, shops, or plazas would face sealing for one week (and potentially longer for repeated violations), invoked this penalty following the apparent non-compliance at Onitsha Main Market—one of Nigeria’s largest and most economically vital commercial hubs.

The closure is expected to remain in effect for seven days, during which trading activities will be suspended. State authorities have emphasized that the measure aims to send a strong message against any lingering adherence to the sit-at-home order, which has previously crippled commerce across parts of the region.

Details on enforcement mechanisms, potential extensions of the closure, and reactions from market leaders and traders are still emerging. The state government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring Mondays are fully operational business days statewide, with similar warnings issued to other markets, schools, and civil servants (including threats of salary deductions for non-compliance).

This development comes amid ongoing efforts by the Soludo administration to end the sit-at-home phenomenon, which has seen varying levels of observance despite improved security in recent times.

Further updates will follow as more information becomes available.