EVENTS
Minimum wage: NLC strike may fail as states pull out

Published
4 months agoon
By
Ekwutos Blog
There are strong indications that the planned December 1 strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress may suffer a setback following the declaration by some state chapters of the union that they will not be part of the proposed industrial action.
President Bola Tinubu had in July approved a new minimum wage of N70,000 for Nigerian workers, including civil servants, and pledged to review the wage every three years.
Many states agreed to pay above the N70,000 minimum, with Lagos and Rivers states offering the highest pay of N85,000.
However, 13 states and the Federal Capital Territory have yet to begin the implementation of the new minimum wage.
Some of the affected states include Abia, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Imo, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Katsina.
Others are Oyo, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara, Enugu states, and the FCT.
But less than 24 hours to the planned strike, some state chapters of the NLC withdrew and distanced themselves from the industrial action.
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Some of the affected states include Abia, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Imo, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Katsina.
Others are Oyo, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara, Enugu states, and the FCT.
But less than 24 hours to the planned strike, some state chapters of the NLC withdrew and distanced themselves from the industrial action.
Imo
In Imo State, the NLC Chairman, Uche Chigaemezu, said on Saturday that there was no plan to embark on any strike.
Speaking in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, Chigaemezu said, “We cannot think of embarking on any strike because we have reached an agreement with the state government led by Governor Hope Uzodimma.
“He has shown commitment to the payment of N70,000 minimum wage to Imo workers. We have communicated our position to the national body, and they are aware of the decision of the government to pay the minimum wage soon.”
A civil servant, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that there was no plan to embark on strike in the state.
Sokoto
In Sokoto State, following the approval of N70,000 minimum wage for state workers by Governor Ahmed Aliyu, the NLC opted out of the planned national strike of the union.
Recall that the state governor, while presenting the 2025 appropriation bill to the state House of Assembly on Friday, announced that his administration was ready to adopt N70,000 as the new minimum wage.
The governor, however, disclosed that the implementation of the new wage would commence in January 2025.
Speaking with our correspondent on the next line of action, the secretary of the NLC in the state, on Saturday, said the union had withdrawn from the proposed strike action.
He said, “We are not joining the strike action; representatives of the labour union and the state government have signed a memorandum of understanding on the implementation of the new minimum wage.”
Oyo
Similarly, organised labour in Oyo State dissociated itself from the strike.
The NLC state chairman and his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Kayode Martins and Bosun Olabiyi, respectively, in separate interviews with Sunday PUNCH in Ibadan, the state capital, said labour would not participate in the strike.
Martins said, “We have liaised with the national secretariat, and we let them realise the stage we are. Already, we have Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday for the conclusion of everything.
“We wrote in our press release that we have a good rapport with the government.”
In his submission, Olabiyi said, “We are dissociating ourselves totally from the strike in the state. We have an understanding with the state government; we are not going on strike because everything is fine in this state.”
Katsina
The NLC Chairman in Katsina State, Hussaini Danduna, was also part of the withdrawal spree, saying workers in the state would not join the planned December 1st industrial action.
He said, “We have signed an agreement with the Katsina State Government, and based on this, we are not going to join the strike action declared by the national executive council of our union.”
Also, the TUC Chairman, Katsina State chapter, Mukhtar Abdu-Ruma, said workers would not join the action following the agreement reached with the state government on Saturday.
“The new minimum wage will be implemented in December, and we have agreed on the minimum wage and consequential adjustment,” he stated.
Akwa Ibom
Meanwhile, the TUC Chairman in Akwa Ibom State, Dominic Abang, said public civil servants would not participate in the planned industrial action by the NLC over the non-implementation of the new minimum wage.
Though the state NLC Chairman, Sunny James, could not be reached on the phone, Abang told one of our correspondents in Uyo, the state capital, that the TUC had gone far at the committee level, hence there was no need to join the strike.
Kaduna, Nasarawa, Zamfara, FCT confirm participation
The Kaduna State chapter of the NLC on Saturday confirmed its participation in the planned nationwide strike scheduled for December 1, 2024.
The Chairman of the Kaduna State NLC, Ayuba Suleiman, confirmed the state’s participation to Sunday PUNCH on Saturday.
When asked if the NLC was prepared to embark on the nationwide strike, Suleiman replied, “Yes, we are set for the strike.”

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EVENTS
Former President Muhammadu Buhari sends his heartfelt condolences to the family of the of Alhaji Abbas Sunusi, Galadiman Kano, who passed away yesterday.

Published
17 hours agoon
April 2, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of Alhaji Abbas Sunusi, the Galadiman Kano, who passed away yesterday.
In a gesture of solidarity, Buhari also offered his sympathies to the Kano Emirate Council, the government, and the people of Kano State.
This move is reminiscent of Buhari’s previous condolences to the people and government of Kano State, following the passing of notable figures such as Alhaji Ibrahim El-Yakub, a former Federal Commissioner of Water Resources
EVENTS
Enugu Police dismiss alleged invasion of Eha-Amufu by herdsmen, decalres rumour misleading

Published
18 hours agoon
April 2, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
The Enugu State Police Command has dismissed reports alleging that herdsmen have invaded and occupied homes and schools in Eha-Amufu, describing them as “baseless, mischievous, and misleading.”
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, stated that no community in Eha-Amufu or any part of Enugu State is under siege.
He clarified that the affected farm settlements are temporary structures used by farmers, not permanent residences.
“While it is true that there were farmer-herder clashes in 2021 and 2022, peace has since been restored through joint security operations,” Ndukwe said.
He further highlighted the efforts of the Enugu State Government under Governor Dr Peter Mbah to bolster security in the area.
These measures include the deployment of 150 military personnel, the establishment of security barracks, and the near completion of the 21.7km Agape-Agu Mgbuji-Ogbete access road leading to farm settlements.
The Police Command also accused the media outlet responsible for the report of using unrelated and outdated images to mislead the public.
“For instance, pictures of burnt houses posted by Amnesty International regarding an attack in a neighboring state on February 4, 2025, were falsely presented as recent incidents in Eha-Amufu,” Ndukwe noted.
Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, urged the public to disregard the false report and assured residents of the state’s commitment to security.
“We remain steadfast in ensuring law, order, and peace across Enugu State,” he said.
The police encouraged residents to report any security concerns through official channels and cooperate with law enforcement agencies.
EVENTS
EFCC, ICPC asked to probe defence minister over alleged abuse of office

Published
1 day agoon
April 2, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
An anti-corruption advocacy group, the Young Guardians of Accountability (YGA), has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to investigate the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar Badaru, over allegations of abuse of office and conflict of interest.
In a petition signed by its chairman, Adediran Raymond, YGA accused the minister of violating federal laws that prohibit public officials from engaging in private business activities.
The group alleged that Badaru maintains directorships in multiple private companies despite his ministerial position.
YGA demanded an inquiry into whether the minister fully disclosed his business interests in his official asset declaration, arguing that his continued involvement in the companies represents a “brazen disregard for the rule of law”.
As of press time, neither the minister nor his representatives had responded to the allegations.
The EFCC and ICPC have also not issued any official statements regarding the petition

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