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The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), under the leadership of National Chairman Alhaji Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, has approved the dissolution of the party’s State Working Committee in Bauchi State, led by Maitakalmin Roba, and the constitution of a caretaker committee.

Consequently, the National Chairman inaugurated a caretaker committee for the state on Tuesday, chaired by Honourable Shehu Wadaji, in line with the party’s constitution.

Represented by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Hamza Akoshe Akuyam, Dantalle said the caretaker committee was constituted to administer the party’s affairs, reconcile the two factions within its ranks and facilitate fresh congresses to elect substantive executives.

He said the committee was expected to organise and conduct transparent congresses from the ward to the local government and state levels, adding that the date for the exercise would be communicated by the party’s national office.

Dantalle urged committee members to discharge their responsibilities with honesty, fairness and transparency, stressing that their conduct during the assignment would be crucial to rebuilding the party’s structure in the state.

According to him, ‘What we are expecting from you is transparency and honesty, and we in the national leadership will give you all the necessary support to do so.’

He described Bauchi State as peaceful and expressed confidence that the committee members, most of whom were familiar with the state’s political environment, would carry out their assignment in the interest of the party.

The APM National Leader and Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, assured members of his administration’s continued commitment to the party, stressing that political association supersedes all other associations.

Mohammed, who was represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Muhammad Awwal Jatau, urged the newly inaugurated caretaker committee to justify the confidence reposed in it by working towards the emergence of a democratic party leadership in Bauchi State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He also called on the committee to strengthen the party’s internal democratic processes, promote unity and reconcile aggrieved members to ensure a more cohesive organisation ahead of the elections.

In his acceptance speech, the caretaker committee chairman, Honourable Shehu Wadaji, expressed gratitude to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) for the confidence reposed in the committee, pledging that its members would justify the trust through loyalty, discipline, transparency and dedicated service.

He said the committee recognised that its appointment was made by the NWC and appreciated the national leadership, under Dantalle, for the confidence placed in them.

Wadaji also thanked Governor Bala Mohammed for his support and efforts to strengthen the party’s structure in Bauchi State. He prayed for God’s continued guidance, wisdom and strength for the governor in his service to the people of the state.

The caretaker chairman acknowledged the contributions of local government and ward executives across Bauchi State, describing them as the backbone of the party’s grassroots structure.

He assured them that the caretaker committee would work with existing executives and other stakeholders through consultation, inclusion, mutual respect and collective responsibility.

According to Wadaji, the committee’s priorities include strengthening the party’s organisational structure, promoting unity and reconciliation, improving communication between state and grassroots leadership, and encouraging active participation among members.

He called on party leaders and members to set aside personal differences and work together to build a united, disciplined and better-organised APM in Bauchi State.

He further reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to the party’s constitution and the lawful directives of the NWC, while inviting local government and ward executives to cooperate with the new leadership.

He said the committee regarded the appointment not merely as an honour but as a responsibility to serve the party and its members.

The inauguration followed the dissolution of the party’s executive committees from the ward to the state levels by the NWC, a decision subsequently ratified by the NEC at its meeting last Saturday.

The caretaker committee is expected to oversee the party’s affairs pending fresh congresses and the emergence of substantive executives at the ward, local government and state levels.

The Delta State Government has said clinical health workers seeking to benefit from the extension of the retirement age from 60 to 65 years must apply six months before attaining the statutory retirement age and undergo medical fitness assessments.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, gave the clarification on Tuesday in Asaba, explaining that the extension was not automatic and would be granted only to eligible personnel who met the stipulated requirements.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori had earlier approved the extension as part of efforts to retain experienced healthcare professionals and strengthen service delivery amid the growing migration of skilled workers abroad.

Onojaeme said the application process and medical assessments were necessary to ensure that officers seeking to remain in service beyond the age of 60 were physically fit to discharge their duties.

He explained that the policy covered several professional cadres in the health sector, including medical officers, nursing officers, pharmacists, dental officers, community health officers, assistant radiographers, speech therapists, dietitians, optometrists and relevant technical personnel.

According to him, the measure was expected to help the state retain experienced personnel, preserve institutional knowledge and address manpower challenges confronting the healthcare system.

The commissioner noted that the continued departure of skilled health professionals had placed pressure on healthcare delivery, making it necessary for the government to explore measures to encourage experienced workers to remain in service.

He said the extension would provide an opportunity for qualified personnel to contribute their expertise for an additional five years, subject to the approved conditions.

On the state’s preparedness against Ebola, Onojaeme reassured residents that no case of the disease had been recorded in Delta State.

He said the government had intensified preventive measures and was strengthening the capacity of health personnel to respond promptly to any suspected outbreak.

The commissioner disclosed that health officers were undergoing training, while the government was procuring protective equipment to safeguard healthcare workers and improve emergency response.

He urged residents to remain calm and support public health efforts, stressing that the government was taking steps to protect the population against potential health threats.

Onojaeme said the retirement policy and measures to strengthen Ebola preparedness reflected the government’s commitment to improving the health system, retaining skilled personnel and protecting residents from public health emergencies.

Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), on Tuesday, called on voters in the South-South geopolitical zone to vote according to their conscience in the 2027 general elections, urging them to choose candidates whose programmes and track records reflect the aspirations of the region.

The forum also challenged the Federal Government and political party candidates to pay greater attention to the Niger Delta, demanding an increase in the derivation allocation to oil-producing states from the current minimum of 13 per cent to the original 50 per cent and the abolition of the onshore/offshore dichotomy in revenue allocation.

PANDEF made the demands in a communique read by its National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali, after a meeting to mark the organisation’s 10th anniversary in Abuja on Tuesday.

The meeting was attended by the Chairman of its Board of Trustees, former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Victor Attah, a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Kanu Agabu, and other leaders from the six South-South states.

The organisation stated, ‘PANDEF calls on the people of the South-South to exercise their civic responsibilities peacefully and vote according to their conscience, choosing candidates at all levels whose programmes, commitments, and demonstrated capacity align with the aspirations of the region.’

The forum urged presidential candidates to demonstrate their commitment to environmental justice by presenting practical, measurable and time-bound plans for cleaning up and restoring communities affected by oil and gas exploration.

PANDEF also commended President Bola Tinubu for retaining the original alignment of the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as a distinct strategic infrastructure project, insisting that its completion must not be compromised.

‘The accelerated, successful completion of the highway is non-negotiable,’ the forum declared, adding that the project would improve connectivity, stimulate trade and investment, and unlock the economic potential of coastal communities.

It called for the rehabilitation of other critical roads, improved rail connections and sustainable financing for the modernisation of the Warri, Port Harcourt and Calabar ports. It also welcomed the proposed Ibom Deep Sea Port in Akwa Ibom, Bonny Deep Sea Port in Rivers and Agge Deep Sea Port in Bayelsa states.

On revenue allocation, PANDEF argued that the minimum 13 per cent derivation allocation had remained unchanged for more than two decades despite the environmental damage and economic burdens borne by oil-producing communities, calling on the federal government, the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the National Assembly to increase derivation to a minimum of 50 per cent and abolish the onshore/offshore dichotomy, arguing that offshore petroleum operations also affect coastal communities, fishing grounds and livelihoods.

The communique stated further, ‘The meeting further calls on the Federal Government, the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), and the National Assembly to urgently address the longstanding and contentious issue of the onshore/offshore dichotomy in revenue allocation.’

The forum urged the federal and state governments to accelerate investment in gas infrastructure, power generation, mini-LNG facilities, LPG and CNG hubs, petrochemicals and other gas-based industries. It noted that the Niger Delta holds more than 209 trillion standard cubic feet of natural gas reserves, which could support industrialisation, electricity generation and employment.

PANDEF also advocated renewed support for modular refineries and agricultural value chains, including palm oil, rice and cassava, to diversify the regional economy and reduce dependence on oil and gas revenues.

On environmental remediation, the forum demanded sustained and transparent funding for the Ogoni clean-up programme and urged the Federal Government to extend remediation to other polluted communities. It specifically identified Nembe Creek in Bayelsa, Odidi in Delta and Kula in Rivers states as requiring urgent attention.

Reviewing its 10-year record, PANDEF cited the establishment of the South-South Development Commission, the commencement of activities at the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State, and the upgrading of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Akwa Ibom State, among its achievements. It also commended its peace-building efforts in Rivers State and continuing engagement over the oil-well dispute between Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.

The forum reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement with the Federal Government, the six state governments, traditional institutions and the private sector, urging public office holders from the region, particularly those at the federal level, to support its efforts to advance the collective interests of the South-South.

PANDEF, formed a decade ago to unite the region’s socio-political and ethnic organisations, maintained that the development of the Niger Delta was inseparable from Nigeria’s progress and called on the authorities to translate policy commitments and announced projects into tangible results.

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has assured Nigerians that the commission will conduct credible elections in 2027.

Amupitan gave the assurance during a readiness assessment visit to Gombe, where he led National Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners from North-East zone, and senior officials of commission to assess facilities and review preparations.

Addressing staff at INEC state office in Gombe, the chairman said presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.

He urged staff to regard the assessment as a call to greater commitment, noting that the commission had limited time to prepare.

‘The readiness assessment is to assess what we have on ground,’ Amupitan said, adding that ongoing renovations in Gombe and other local government areas were part of efforts to improve operational capacity and election logistics.

He charged electoral officers to discharge their responsibilities in accordance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and INEC guidelines.

According to him, the commission must remain impartial and ensure the 2027 elections are free, fair, transparent and credible.

‘We are not candidates of our own, but we will do everything possible to conduct a free, fair, inclusive and credible election come 2027,’ he said.

Amupitan emphasised the importance of Permanent Voter Cards collection, urging officials to mobilise eligible voters to collect their cards ahead of elections.

He described PVC collection as a right rather than a favour and called on staff to take public enlightenment seriously.

He disclosed that some non-sensitive election materials had already been received, while additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines had been ordered, with delivery expected within the week.

He said the commission was also working on storage facilities and had conducted an audit of existing BVAS machines nationwide following challenges experienced during the 2023 general election.

The chairman noted that technology would remain central to voter accreditation and transmission of results.

‘This period, nobody goes on leave again. You should commit your time to support your REC, your administrative secretary, your heads of department and the EOs to ensure that the election is seamless and very successful,’ he said.

As part of the visit, the INEC chairman and delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Gombe, HRH Dr. Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III, at his palace to seek the support of traditional institutions ahead of the elections.

Amupitan described the visit as an important part of the commission’s consultations with traditional rulers, noting that their influence at the grassroots could help promote peaceful participation and public confidence.

He urged the Emir to mobilise residents to collect PVCs, encourage eligible citizens to vote and appeal to political leaders to conduct campaigns peacefully.

He acknowledged security challenges facing parts of the country, saying INEC was working with security agencies to mitigate threats to voters and election infrastructure.

In his response, the Emir of Gombe welcomed the delegation, describing the visit as timely as preparations for 2027 gathered momentum.

He acknowledged enormous responsibility entrusted to INEC, noting that credible elections required careful planning, professionalism, impartiality, transparency and public cooperation.

The Emir assured the commission that traditional institutions in Gombe State and the wider North-East were prepared to support INEC in a non-partisan manner to promote peaceful and credible elections.

He also pledged support for efforts to discourage electoral violence, inflammatory rhetoric and misinformation.

Earlier, Resident Electoral Commissioner for Gombe State, Mukhtar Gajiram Umar, welcomed Amupitan and the delegation, describing the visit as an important opportunity to review preparations.

The INEC chairman and his team also visited the commission’s office in Gombe Local Government Area and inspected the zonal store to evaluate facilities and logistical arrangements.

The Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development has reported improved acceptance of people returning from the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, with some women rebuilding their lives through businesses and children gaining access to formal education.

The foundation’s Executive Secretary, Hamsatu Allamin, disclosed this on Tuesday at the organisation’s end-line reflection and learning workshop in Maiduguri, where stakeholders reviewed efforts to promote reintegration and prevent violent extremism.

Allamin said some women who previously faced rejection were now running businesses and earning the trust of community members.

She recalled that when the foundation began its interventions about six years ago, some women returning from areas affected by the insurgency faced exclusion, even in internally displaced persons’ camps, and struggled to gain acceptance in host communities.

She said attitudes had changed in some communities, citing the example of a returnee whose business was attracting customers and helping her build relationships with residents.

According to Allamin, the progress highlighted the importance of combining economic support with efforts to change community attitudes towards returnees.

On education, she said the foundation had engaged relevant authorities to help children returning from areas affected by the insurgency gain admission to formal schools.

She added that the foundation followed up with schools and teachers to support the children’s integration and monitor their attendance.

The workshop reviewed the foundation’s programme on stability, reintegration and resilience against violent extremism in Borno State, including its achievements, challenges and lessons for future interventions.

Allamin said the programme had documented good practices and recommendations to guide government agencies, civil society organisations and other stakeholders working to reintegrate returnees and prevent violent extremism.

She urged the media to share the lessons learnt and amplify the voices of victims, survivors and vulnerable people affected by the insurgency.

‘Cooperation among communities, religious leaders, government institutions, civil society organisations and the media was essential to building trust and sustaining reintegration efforts’ she explained.

She said involving stakeholders in planning, implementing and reviewing interventions helped them identify challenges and agree on areas for improvement.

Allamin added that the programme had sensitised communities on how to identify early warning signs of violent extremism and respond to emerging concerns.

She urged communities to accept returnees and give them the opportunity to rebuild their lives, stressing the need for peaceful coexistence.

She also commended the Borno State Government and other stakeholders for supporting the initiative.

The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the construction of the Kogi State International Airport at Zariagi, near Lokoja, describing the project as evidence of the Federal Government’s commitment to infrastructure development across the states.

Ododo spoke on Tuesday during an inspection visit to the construction site, where he assessed progress and expressed satisfaction with the ongoing work.

The governor described the airport as a strategic investment that would improve connectivity, stimulate economic growth, attract investors and unlock Kogi State’s economic potential.

He noted that Kogi’s geographical location, which connects it to several major commercial centres, including the Federal Capital Territory, made the airport an important infrastructure project.

According to him, despite its strategic position and commercial advantages, Kogi had operated without its own airport until the Tinubu administration supported the initiative.

Ododo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to monitoring the project regularly to ensure that construction met the required standards and timelines.

He expressed optimism that the project would record significant progress by next year, urging residents to recognise the facility’s long-term economic and developmental benefits.

The governor also challenged critics questioning the feasibility of the airport project to visit the site and see the ongoing work for themselves.

‘Please, I want them to come here to see things by themselves. It is not an AI thing. You can see the equipment working, and they are working day and night. We are not going to make noise about it; we invite them to come and see,’ Ododo said.

Providing an update, the Project Manager of CCECC Nigeria Limited, Kogi State Project Office, Engr. Sun Yishi, said construction had reached approximately 20 per cent completion.

He explained that the current phase of work was focused largely on earthworks for the runway and its associated safety areas.

According to him, earthworks are among the most demanding stages of airport construction, involving extensive excavation, filling, laterite placement and ground preparation before pavement works can begin.

Also speaking, the lead consultant, Architect Adebayo Adidipe of Arcade Consultants Limited, estimated the overall level of completion at between 20 and 25 per cent.

Adidipe expressed confidence in the pace of construction and commended Ododo, the State Ministry of Transportation, the commissioner and the permanent secretary for their support and cooperation.

He added that concerns raised by the project team had received prompt attention, helping to facilitate the smooth execution of the project.

The Sokoto State Government has strengthened disease surveillance and emergency preparedness against the possible spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), assuring residents that the state remains classified as low-risk by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Faruk Umar Abubakar Wurno, gave the assurance on Tuesday after a stakeholders’ meeting in Sokoto to assess the state’s preparedness and strengthen measures for the early detection and containment of suspected Ebola cases.

Wurno said epidemiologists and disease surveillance personnel had been placed on alert, while emergency response mechanisms had been strengthened to ensure prompt intervention if a suspected case was reported.

‘I want to inform you that Sokoto is a low-risk state, as declared by the NCDC. There is no cause for alarm,’ he said.

He, however, stressed the need for continued vigilance, noting that Sokoto’s geographical location and international entry points required constant monitoring to guard against possible disease transmission.

The commissioner identified the Illela international border and the state airport as key points requiring attention, although the airport currently handles domestic flights.

‘We have a very good surveillance system, and our epidemiologists are also active. We have put all of them on alert so that, in case of any alert, we are able to switch into action,’ he said.

According to him, the stakeholders’ meeting brought together officials responsible for disease surveillance, prevention, case management and public awareness to review existing arrangements and identify areas requiring further intervention.

He said the government was committed to maintaining adequate preparedness and ensuring that relevant health institutions could respond swiftly to any eventuality.

‘The level of readiness is intact and ready for any eventuality,’ Wurno added.

On isolation arrangements, the commissioner said the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Amanawa had been prepared to accommodate and manage suspected Ebola cases if necessary.

‘Our Infectious Disease Hospital is ready. We have prepared it for isolation where there is need,’ he said.

Wurno explained that the facility had been equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE) and other essential materials for infection prevention and control.

He added that the hospital’s Chief Medical Director attended the stakeholders’ meeting and briefed participants on its readiness to support the state’s emergency response.

Meanwhile, the commissioner said the diphtheria outbreak in Sokoto was showing signs of improvement, with fewer than 20 patients receiving treatment across three designated centres.

He identified the centres as Specialist Hospital Sokoto, with a 45-bed capacity; Amana, with 100 beds; and another facility with five beds.

According to him, each centre currently has fewer than 10 patients on admission, indicating a decline in the number of people requiring treatment.

‘As it is, we have less than 20 patients on admission in all the three centres, and the case management is going very well, excellently,’ he said.

The commissioner said the progress in managing diphtheria had encouraged the government to sustain its public health interventions while strengthening preparedness against other infectious diseases.

He urged residents to remain calm, rely on credible sources for health information and promptly report suspected cases to the appropriate authorities.

The state government said continuous surveillance, early detection and effective coordination among health agencies remained essential to preventing disease outbreaks and protecting residents.

The Senate has called for stricter tenancy regulations and investigations into travel agencies implicated in the recruitment and exploitation of Nigerians abroad, particularly in Libya, as part of efforts to combat suspected human trafficking networks.

The Red Chamber also called for stronger monitoring of tenants and short-let apartments to help security agencies track criminal networks, while urging the Federal Government to improve the protection and rehabilitation of trafficking victims.

The resolutions followed the consideration of a joint report by the Senate Committees on Diaspora and NGOs, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Foreign Affairs, and Special Duties on protecting Nigerians from trafficking and abuse abroad.

Presenting the report, the Vice-Chairman of the Diaspora Committee, Senator Anthony Yaro, said the committees had consulted relevant stakeholders and examined an earlier motion on the trafficking of Nigerians in Libya.

The Senate recommended a review and stricter enforcement of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, and the Child Rights Act, 2003.

It also urged the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the police, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other relevant agencies to investigate suspected trafficking rings and implicated travel agencies.

The Red Chamber said the investigations should cover recruitment channels, financial transactions and travel arrangements to facilitate the prosecution of those involved.

It also called for increased funding for NAPTIP and related agencies to strengthen investigations, prosecutions and victim support.

The Senate further recommended a national protection and reintegration programme for rescued Nigerians, to be coordinated by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons in partnership with NAPTIP.

It urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intensify engagement with Libya on intelligence sharing, border management, the dismantling of trafficking networks and the repatriation of victims.

Speaking on the matter, Senate President Godswill Akpabio recounted the case of three children abducted in Akwa Ibom State while he was governor. He said the children were moved through Aba, Katsina and Lagos before they were almost trafficked to Ghana.

Akpabio said the children had been missing for 93 days before their rescue. He commended the then Inspector-General of Police and the Akwa Ibom State Police Command for their roles in recovering them and pledged a university scholarship for the eldest child.

The incident prompted Akpabio and other senators to advocate stricter tenancy laws, including a ‘Know Your Tenant’ arrangement and the regulation of short-let apartments, to enable security agencies to identify and trace suspected criminals.

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Senator Aminu Tambuwal recalled an unsuccessful attempt to introduce tenancy registration legislation while he presided over the House.

He cited Sokoto State as an example, noting that a similar measure was later enacted through a Rent Control and Management Commission.

Tambuwal urged other states to adopt comparable measures to strengthen monitoring and accountability in the rental sector.

Other lawmakers, including Senators Neda Imasuen, Babangida Hussaini, Adams Oshiomhole and Mohammed Aliero, cautioned that legislation alone would not suffice without effective implementation.

The senators called for stronger enforcement of existing laws, wider public enlightenment and more employment opportunities to reduce the economic pressures driving Nigerians towards irregular migration and exposing them to traffickers.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for the immediate commencement of negotiations on a new national minimum wage, insisting that rising inflation, the declining value of the naira and increasing living costs have eroded the benefits of the current ?70,000 minimum wage.

NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the launch of an investigative research report on minimum wage and pension payment compliance in Nigeria, conducted in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria.

Ajaero argued that negotiations should begin immediately rather than wait until August, as suggested by the Trade Union Congress (TUC), stressing that current economic realities and the three-year wage review cycle made early discussions necessary.

He explained that the National Minimum Wage Act of 2024 increased the minimum wage from ?30,000 to ?70,000 and reduced the review period from five years to three years.

According to him, the implementation date of the existing law remained unchanged, making it necessary to begin negotiations ahead of the next review deadline to avoid delays similar to those experienced during previous wage negotiations.

‘The time to start negotiation, which in most cases lasts about six months, is now,’ Ajaero said, insisting that workers could not afford another prolonged negotiation process.

He clarified that the differing positions of the NLC and TUC on the timing of negotiations did not indicate a division within the labour movement but reflected different approaches to achieving improved conditions for workers.

The NLC president, however, warned that increasing the minimum wage alone would not significantly improve workers’ welfare unless the government also addressed inflation and the depreciation of the naira.

He said that even a substantial increase to ?500,000 would amount to little if the prices of essential goods and services continued to rise unchecked.

According to Ajaero, restoring workers’ purchasing power through economic stabilisation and currency appreciation could be more meaningful than continually increasing nominal wages.

He also called for an interim financial relief package to support workers while preparations for the next minimum wage negotiations continued. He recalled that a ?35,000 wage award had previously helped workers cope with the transition to the current minimum wage.

Ajaero urged the government to include minimum pension payments in the forthcoming minimum wage negotiations, arguing that retirees were among those worst affected by Nigeria’s economic difficulties.

He said some pensioners received as little as ?20,000 or ?30,000 monthly, leaving them unable to meet basic needs such as accommodation, transportation and food.

The labour leader maintained that minimum pension provisions should be considered alongside minimum wage adjustments to ensure that retired workers were not left behind.

He called for measures to guarantee that pensioners under both the defined-benefit and contributory pension schemes received adequate retirement benefits. He further urged the government to use increased revenue from crude oil exports to provide relief for Nigerians struggling with the rising cost of living.

He noted that higher petroleum prices had significantly increased transportation, food and other household expenses, eroding the gains from the current minimum wage.

The NLC president maintained that the minimum wage debate should extend beyond public servants to cover workers in the organised private sector and the informal economy, including artisans, hairdressers and other self-employed Nigerians.

Earlier, in his welcome address, ActionAid Nigeria Country Director, Dr Andrew Mamedu, supported the call for early negotiations, describing the timing of the research as critical to shaping discussions on the next minimum wage.

Mamedu said waiting until the current three-year review period had elapsed before beginning negotiations could undermine efforts to secure better wages for millions of Nigerians.

He argued that while some macroeconomic indicators might suggest improvement, the everyday experiences of Nigerians continued to reflect significant economic hardship.

According to him, minimum wage compliance affected not only unionised workers but also employees in the private sector and millions of other Nigerians covered by the relevant wage laws.

Mamedu said ActionAid Nigeria was committed to helping lift five million people out of poverty and believed that the payment of decent wages could contribute significantly to achieving that objective.

He explained that the organisation partnered with the NLC to investigate the implementation of minimum wage provisions across the country after concerns emerged over persistent non-compliance with previous wage increases.

Presenting the research findings, Dr Terfa Abraham said that despite increased allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) to states, full compliance with minimum wage requirements remained a challenge across state and local governments, as well as some federal agencies.

He attributed the varying levels of compliance, particularly at the state and local government levels, to weak political commitment and the failure of some governments to prioritise wage obligations in their public spending.

Abraham also identified inflationary pressures and the harsh effects of economic reforms as factors contributing to the problem, noting that increased revenue allocations had not necessarily translated into adequate spending on workers’ wages.

The findings highlighted the gap between government revenue and the fulfilment of statutory wage obligations, raising concerns about the welfare of workers and pensioners amid persistent economic pressures.

The report underscored the need for stronger political will, improved monitoring of compliance and more deliberate prioritisation of wage and pension payments by the relevant tiers of government.

The NLC and ActionAid Nigeria maintained that the findings should inform the next minimum wage negotiations and drive stronger accountability in the payment of wages and pensions across the country.

The trial of businessman Oladipo Olaleye Akanle and his company, Avalanche Trade 1307, over an alleged N23 million theft will begin on November 30, 2026.

This development followed their arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the alleged crime.

It will be recalled that the defendants were brought before Justice Ismail Ijelu of the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja, on a one-count charge of stealing contrary to Section 278(2)(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The charge alleged that Akanle and his company converted N23 million, said to have been erroneously transferred into Akanle’s bank account in January 2023, to their own use.

The anti-graft agency stated that the said sum belongs to Chinedu Iyizoba. However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge, prompting counsel for the prosecution, James Banjo, to ask the court to remand Akanle in custody pending trial.

Counsel for the defence, Lanre Ogunlesi, SAN, applied for bail on eight grounds, assuring the court that his client would not abscond and would be available whenever required.

The SAN informed Justice Ijelu that Akanle had been in EFCC custody, adding that the defendant’s father had died in a plane crash.

The senior lawyer disputed the amount stated in the charge, claiming the sum involved was N13 million, with N10 million already repaid.

Ogunlesi equally informed the court that Akanle had previously been charged before a magistrate’s court but was discharged.

In handing down his ruling, Justice Ijelu declared that the primary consideration in determining the bail application was whether the defendant would attend his trial.

Justice Ijelu granted Akanle bail and released him to his counsel, directing Ogunlesi to write an undertaking guaranteeing that he would produce the defendant in court for every trial date unless otherwise directed.

According to the judge, ‘You shall write an undertaking to always produce the defendant for his trial.’