Category: PM News

The Federal Government has released ?4.04 billion in severance benefits for 600 former employees of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited, ending another phase of the workers’ prolonged struggle for their outstanding entitlements.

The Federal Ministry of Finance announced the release on Monday, October 19, 2026, in a statement signed by Maryann Duke, Senior Special Assistant on Communications and Press Secretary to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.

According to the ministry, the payment covers Batches 010 and 011 of verified beneficiaries and represents the second tranche of the government’s severance settlement programme.

The ministry disclosed that the gross entitlements of the 600 beneficiaries amounted to ?4,251,043,000.19, from which ?212,552,150.01 was deducted, leaving a net payment of ?4,038,490,850.18.

The latest release follows the ?18 billion severance settlement announced in September for 2,700 former Nigeria Airways workers across the first nine batches.

The government explained that payments were being processed in batches to ensure that only eligible beneficiaries with verified records received their entitlements.

‘The Federal Government recognises the prolonged wait experienced by former employees and their families and remains committed to resolving legitimate outstanding claims through an orderly and transparent process, while safeguarding public funds through appropriate verification,’ the statement read.

Nigeria Airways, once Nigeria’s national carrier, ceased operations in 2003 and was subsequently liquidated in 2004, leaving thousands of former employees pursuing unpaid severance benefits for more than two decades.

The Ministry of Finance reaffirmed its commitment to settling outstanding obligations through established payment procedures.

‘The Ministry of Finance will continue to support the implementation of approved government obligations in line with established procedures and the applicable payment process,’ it added.

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday dismissed an application by Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of African Action Congress, AAC, seeking an order compelling the Director-General (DG) of Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi, to testify in his defence.

Justice Mohammed Umar, in a ruling, held that the application by Sowore, the presidential candidate of Action Action Congress (AAC), would not serve the interest of justice.

The Judge added that the DSS DG or any designated officer of the service who had full knowledge of its official and other relevant business could testify before this court for the defendant (Sowore).

Sowore is being prosecuted by the DSS on allegations bordering on cybercrime.

The defendant was alleged to have, in August 2025, published posts on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, describing President Bola Tinubu as a ‘criminal’ and accusing him of lying about the level of corruption in the country.

Sowore, through his lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide Fusika, SAN, had sought an order of the court compelling the DG’s appearance to testify relating to the cyberbullying case instituted against him.

The DSS’ lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, had opposed the move, arguing that another official of the agency could testify on his behalf.

The senior lawyer argued that it was absurd for Sowore to insist on the DSS DG’s appearance in court in an action that was purely official and not personal.

In his ruling, Justice Umar agreed with Kehinde’s argument that the subpoena concerned an official act of the DSS and that the expected testimony was not personal to the DG.

According to the judge the testimony that is expected from the Director General is not personal, but in respect of an official act or engagement.

Justice Umar consequently ruled that another DSS official could appear to give evidence on the agency’s behalf.

Following the ruling, defence counsel called the 3rd defence witness, Michael Jego, an investigating officer with the DSS.

Jego said he was a member of the DSS investigation team which flagged the controversial post of Sowore on X and Facebook and subsequently advised him to retract it.

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ýThe witness said the posts made on 26 Aug. 26, 2025 had the potential of posing a significant threat to national security.

The witness told the court that he was part of an investigation team that monitored reactions with relation to the post.

The United Nations has highlighted Nigeria’s rural electrification programme as a successful example of expanding electricity access through targeted subsidies and private investment.

The recognition is contained in the World Social Report 2026, released by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA).

The report identifies Nigeria’s Electrification Project as an example of how developing countries can expand access to affordable energy among underserved populations.

Citing earlier World Bank data, the UN said the programme supported the establishment of 125 mini-grids and the sale of more than one million solar home systems.

It said these interventions provided electricity access to more than five million Nigerians and supported the creation of over 5,000 green jobs.

The report described Nigeria’s use of subsidies for rural mini-grids as a successful policy experience in combining affordable electricity with private-sector participation.

It explained that targeted financial support could help lower electricity costs for poorer households while encouraging investment in underserved communities.

The UN also identified Nigeria and Ghana as countries pioneering the integration of solar panels into agricultural land.

According to the report, such initiatives could enable farmers to generate electricity while continuing food production on the same land.

It said integrating renewable energy with agriculture could strengthen food security, improve water management and expand economic opportunities in rural communities.

The report also assessed Nigeria’s performance in a new framework measuring economic transformation alongside social inclusion.

Nigeria recorded a transformation score of 44.30 and an inclusiveness score of 56.36, producing a combined index score of 100.67.

The assessment forms part of a comparative analysis covering 168 countries and examining economic, digital, energy and social development over 2000-2024.

The UN emphasised that economic growth and technological progress did not automatically guarantee that vulnerable populations would benefit from development.

The Olowu of Kuta Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Hammed Adekunle Oyelude Makama, Tegbosun III, CON, has congratulated the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, on his 52nd birthday, wishing him good health, wisdom and a peaceful reign.

In a congratulatory message issued from his palace, Oba Oyelude Makama offered prayers for divine guidance for the Ooni as he continues to discharge the responsibilities of his revered throne.

The Olowu prayed for the continued preservation of Yoruba cultural heritage, traditions and values, expressing hope that successive generations would remain connected to the history and customs of their forebears.

He further wished the Ooni renewed strength, personal fulfilment and continued well-being, while expressing hope for sustained peace and progress in Ile-Ife, and Yoruba land.

‘On behalf of the people of Kuta Kingdom, I extended my goodwill to the Olofin Adimula on the occasion, wishing him a rewarding new year and a reign marked by peace and the preservation of cherished traditional values,’ Oba Makama said.

A former Kaduna State Commissioner for Finance, Muhammad Bashir Sa’idu, has dumped the African Democratic Congress for the All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that a family had taken control of the opposition party.

Sa’idu, a former ally and Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai, declared that the ADC no longer had a credible opposition structure in Kaduna after his group’s departure.

He spoke on Saturday in Zaria at a ceremony to receive him, former ADC governorship aspirant Jafaru Sani, former Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari and other defectors into the APC.

Sa’idu claimed that more than 200,000 card-carrying ADC members had moved to the ruling party with his group.

He said Kaduna De-Initiatives, the group he led, built the ADC’s structures from ward to state level but decided to leave after individuals who joined later allegedly hijacked the party.

‘We built ADC with our strength, sweat and blood, but unfortunately, a few individuals who later joined the party hijacked it. We discovered that the party was being teleguided by a family, a situation which we found unacceptable,’ he said.

Sa’idu did not identify the family.

He said the group compared candidates who emerged from the ADC primaries with their APC counterparts before convening an emergency steering committee meeting and resolving to return to the ruling party.

‘We have returned home. As of one month ago, the number of card-carrying ADC members who defected with us was about 100,000. Between then and now, over 100,000 more defectors have also joined the APC,’ he claimed.

Sa’idu dismissed the ADC’s chances in the 2027 elections, predicting that it would finish a distant third.

‘There is not a single bona fide politician remaining in the ADC. There is now no opposition in Kaduna State because we were the opposition,’ he said.

Welcoming the defectors, Governor Uba Sani described their return as a major political development and praised Sa’idu as principled and trustworthy.

‘He is a man of the people, and even when he went to the ADC, we were confident that he would return home. He stands for justice. Jafaru Sani is also someone who can be trusted and is a seasoned public servant,’ the governor said.

Sani assured the returning members of equal treatment, saying their date of entry would not determine their standing in the party.

‘The person who joins today, the one who joined yesterday and the one who will join tomorrow, we are all one,’ he said.

He added that no member, including himself, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and APC North-West Zonal Vice-Chairman Garba Datti Babawo, was more important than another.

The governor also raised the APC’s projected vote target in Kaduna from two million to three million ahead of the 2027 elections.

‘Before now, we were promising to deliver two million votes, but we have now upgraded to three million votes, God willing. There are 4.6 million registered voters in Kaduna State, and 96 per cent have received their Permanent Voter Cards,’ he said.

Sani said the APC would undertake house-to-house campaigns for President Bola Tinubu and other party candidates.

He urged residents to support Tinubu’s re-election, citing Federal Government projects and appointments given to Kaduna indigenes.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) Support Groups Mobilisation Directorate has unveiled an online registration portal for support groups ahead of the 2027 general election.

Mr Silas Agara, Director of the Directorate, announced this at a news conference in Abuja on Sunday, saying the platform would coordinate support groups and mobilise voters for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.

Agara said the portal was designed to build a stronger, better-coordinated nationwide network of support groups for the campaign.

He said support groups served as a vital link between the party, the campaign organisation and Nigerians by bringing together communities, professional associations, interest groups and volunteers.

He added that the groups helped communicate government policies, explain its achievements and engage citizens on issues affecting them.

‘Today, we are officially launching our online support group registration portal at https://www.pccsupportgroups.com/.

‘The portal goes live today, October 17, and will remain open for five days, closing on October 22,’ he said.

Agara urged all APC support groups and volunteer networks working for Tinubu’s re-election to register within the stipulated period, including those previously registered with the party or other campaign structures.

He said the exercise would enable the Directorate to verify participating groups, assess their geographical spread and organisational capacity, and establish a reliable database for effective coordination and nationwide engagement.

‘Our objective is to build a unified mobilisation structure that is organised, accountable, responsive and prepared for the demands of the campaign ahead.

‘Our mobilisation effort is anchored on the record of the Tinubu-led administration and its Renewed Hope Agenda,’ he said.

Agara said the administration had undertaken major economic and institutional reforms over the past three years to address structural challenges and promote sustainable growth.

He listed the removal of the petrol subsidy, the unification of foreign exchange rates, measures to strengthen local government autonomy and tax reforms among the initiatives.

He also cited the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund to expand access to financing for eligible students and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation to broaden access to consumer credit.

‘In healthcare, the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative is supporting efforts to improve service delivery, strengthen primary healthcare and expand access to specialised treatment, including cancer care.

‘We believe that the progress being made provides a basis for continued reform, stronger institutions and improved national prosperity.

‘Our responsibility is to communicate the administration’s achievements accurately, explain its policies clearly and listen to the legitimate concerns of Nigerians.

‘The task ahead is not merely to promote a political message; it is to engage citizens respectfully, provide credible information and demonstrate that the Renewed Hope Agenda can deliver meaningful improvements in their lives,’ he said.

Agara urged support groups across the country to take the campaign message to communities, workplaces, markets and neighbourhoods.

He called on them to bridge differences, promote constructive dialogue and mobilise support through credible engagement, service and responsible conduct.

He also urged group leaders and members to register within the stipulated period, remain active and work closely with the Directorate.

Agara said unity of purpose, effective coordination and a shared commitment would be critical to the campaign, adding that the 2027 election would require organisation, discipline and sustained engagement.

‘By working together, we can build a formidable national network that communicates the administration’s record, engages the electorate and supports President Tinubu’s re-election bid.

‘As we launch this portal, I invite the media to help publicise the registration window and inform eligible support groups of the opportunity to participate.

‘Together, let us build a stronger mobilisation platform in support of national development, shared prosperity and the Renewed Hope Agenda.’

He said the Directorate’s mandate was to coordinate support groups, strengthen their organisational capacity and ensure their activities complemented the broader objectives of the APC PCC.

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has deployed 25 trucks for emergency waste evacuation in Oshodi to address refuse buildup and improve environmental sanitation.

The Head of Private Sector Participation (PSP) Services at LAWMA, Mr Tunde Suleiman, disclosed this in an interview on Sunday in Lagos. Suleiman spoke on the sidelines of the exercise at Bolade, a suburb of Oshodi.

He attributed the waste buildup to high population density, increased waste generation, inadequate waste containers and low tariffs paid by residents for collection services.

Suleiman said Oshodi, which has more than 350 streets, remained one of the local government areas with the lowest waste collection tariffs in Lagos State.

According to him, residents still pay N750 per room, a rate he said was no longer commensurate with the operational costs of PSP operators.

He explained that some operators travelled long distances to evacuate waste, making it difficult to sustain efficient services under the existing tariff structure.

‘We need to look at the rates. The people are still holding on to the old rates, which are not commensurate with the operational costs of PSPs today,’ he said.

Suleiman said LAWMA had engaged PSP operators, Community Development Associations (CDAs), local government representatives and concerned residents to address the situation.

He said the immediate priority was to clear accumulated refuse before stakeholders resumed discussions on an appropriate tariff structure.

The LAWMA official added that the state government was conducting a statewide tariff review to address the challenges confronting waste collection services.

He said the emergency intervention would address residents’ immediate concerns while broader discussions on the tariff structure continued.

Suleiman said the deployment involved 25 trucks, supported by a working floor capable of accommodating four trucks at a time.

He noted that LAWMA had commenced similar interventions in other parts of Oshodi, including Folorunsho Street and Oluwole, off Oshodi Road.

He said the exercise involved collaboration with the local government, CDAs and residents concerned about the deteriorating waste situation.

Suleiman stressed the need to ensure that private waste operators received adequate remuneration to sustain their investments and provide effective services.

He said LAWMA had a desk officer at the local government secretariat to receive and channel complaints appropriately.

He added that several PSP operators serving the area, including Excellence, Tunap, Buckler Enterprises and Pepet, had offices residents could contact over waste collection challenges.

Suleiman identified inadequate waste containerisation as another major factor contributing to refuse accumulation in Oshodi.

He cited a residential building with about 16 flats but only two bins, saying the containers were insufficient for the volume of waste generated.

According to him, inadequate containers cause refuse to overflow shortly after collection, leaving streets and surrounding areas unsightly.

He said LAWMA was promoting an ‘Adopt-a-Bin’ initiative to encourage households to provide containers suitable for their population and waste generation levels.

Suleiman also urged residents to embrace waste sorting and recycling, particularly of plastic bottles, cans and paper, to reduce the volume of refuse requiring evacuation.

He explained that registered recyclers could purchase recyclable materials from residents, potentially helping households offset part of their waste management expenses.

He added that LAWMA was implementing an incentivisation scheme through its Oshodi plant to encourage recycling.

Suleiman said Oshodi was previously regarded as one of the cleanest local government areas but had faced challenges from changing settlement patterns and population growth.

He explained that converting older bungalows into multi-storey buildings had increased population density, making it necessary to provide adequate waste management infrastructure alongside urban development.

On the frequency of emergency waste evacuation exercises across Lagos, Suleiman said such interventions were not intended to become routine but were necessary when serious waste management challenges arose.

He said LAWMA assessed the causes of waste accumulation before intervening and deployed advocacy teams to sensitise residents on proper waste disposal practices.

According to him, sustained public awareness, improved compliance and adequate waste containerisation would help prevent repeated emergency interventions.

He urged residents to cooperate with LAWMA and PSP operators by paying appropriate waste collection charges, providing adequate bins and adopting responsible waste management practices.

Nigeria Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has ruled out the withdrawal of the party’s presidential ticket for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar or any other candidate in the 2027 election.

Kwankwaso also rejected accusations that he and NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi were working for President Bola Tinubu, accusing the African Democratic Congress presidential campaign of targeting them instead of promoting its own candidate.

‘Let me state clearly and unequivocally: we will not withdraw our candidature for the ADC or any other party. We remain confident in our capacity, competence, and readiness to lead Nigeria,’ he said.

The former Kano governor spoke in a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Sunday, following criticism from the ADC Presidential Campaign Council over his call for Atiku to step down for Obi.

The council’s Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, had accused Kwankwaso of advancing Tinubu’s political interests through the proposal, which he made during an interview on Channels Television.

In a statement on Friday, Ologbondiyan described the intervention as self-serving and capable of deepening divisions within the opposition.

He questioned why Kwankwaso was targeting opposition leaders rather than challenging the Tinubu administration over economic hardship, hunger, poverty and insecurity.

Responding, Kwankwaso accused the ADC campaign of directing unnecessary attacks at him, Obi and the NDC.

He said the campaign should present its candidate’s credentials and policy proposals rather than suggest that the NDC was working for the ruling All Progressives Congress.

‘The OK ticket is neither working for nor acting on behalf of the APC or any of its candidates,’ he said.

Kwankwaso dismissed suggestions of a last-minute withdrawal for Atiku and warned that similar claims could be circulated on the eve of the election to mislead NDC supporters.

He insisted that there was neither a reason nor any possibility of the ticket stepping aside for the ADC candidate.

Kwankwaso urged Atiku’s campaign to address allegations reportedly made against its candidate by Vice-President Kashim Shettima rather than attack the NDC leadership. He did not specify those allegations in the supplied statement.

He also criticised the APC-led government and the ADC, arguing that neither offered the alternative Nigeria needed.

According to him, the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket would prioritise national unity alongside security, education, agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare and the economy.

He maintained that the ticket had the capacity, credibility and support across northern and southern Nigeria to pursue its agenda.

‘I, therefore, urge all our supporters and well-meaning Nigerians to continue working toward the victory of our great party,’ he said.

The Police Command in Benue has rescued Rev. Fr. John Otache a Catholic priest, and five other residents from their abductors in Ohimini Local Government Area of the state.

Aondogu Orchia, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, disclosed this to newsmen on Sunday in Makurdi.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Otache, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo in Benue, was kidnapped on Oct. 13 along the Otobi-Amejo-Ajegbe Road.

Orchia said the victims were rescued by security personnel on Sunday evening.

He added that the rescued victims had been taken to Otukpo Teaching Hospital for medical checks.

The Presidency has rejected Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s allegation that the Federal Government withheld N250 billion in Nigeria LNG dividends due to each state until after the 2027 elections.

In a statement issued on Sunday, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga described the allegation as false and accused the governor of using misleading claims to advance his presidential ambition.

Makinde had raised the allegation on Friday during the 2027 Budget Stakeholders’ Consultative Engagement at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.

‘Each state was supposed to get ?250 billion. We had already identified projects that would expand Oyo State’s economy. But they have now said the money will not be paid until after the election. Is the election more important than the people of Nigeria?’ the governor said.

According to the Presidency, Makinde also alleged that the Federal Government had spent the money.

Onanuga challenged the figures behind the governor’s claim, arguing that paying N250 billion to each of the 36 states would require N9 trillion for the states alone, excluding allocations to the Federal Government, the Federal Capital Territory and the 774 local government councils.

He said states receive 26.72 per cent of distributable Federation Account revenue under the Federation Account Allocation Committee formula.

For their combined share to reach N9 trillion, he argued, NLNG would have had to pay more than N33.68 trillion, approximately $25 billion, into the Federation Account in a single declaration.

‘NLNG has never paid $25 billion in dividends to the Federation Account in a single payout,’ the statement said.

The Presidency put the company’s total dividend payments to the Federation over the past 25 years at approximately $21.5 billion, with less than $3 billion received since President Bola Tinubu assumed office.

‘Therefore, any claim that a single payout exceeds the company’s entire lifetime distribution to the Federation-and is being withheld-defies basic logic and economic reality,’ Onanuga said.

The presidential adviser accused Makinde of making increasingly misleading statements since embarking on what the Presidency described as his presidential bid.

He also recalled the governor’s description of increased financial flows from the Federation Account to states, including Oyo, as ‘voodoo’.

‘Under Nigerian law, Governor Makinde is free to pursue his presidential ambition. He should desist from making falsehoods and disinformation the hallmarks of his campaign,’ Onanuga said.

The Presidency urged Nigerians to disregard the allegation, saying it could mislead citizens and fuel disaffection against the Federal Government.