20 governors under fire for delaying N70k minimum wage

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Alhaji   Haruna Kankara, on Sunday, said about 20 states have yet to implement the N70,000 new minimum wage for local government workers and primary school teachers. The states include Yobe, Gombe, Zamfara, Kaduna, Imo, Ebonyi, Cross River, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Borno and 11 others. The NULGE leader disclosed this in response to questions  on the implementation of the new minimum wage with reference to the LG workers and primary school teachers in the country. Following the signing of…

CBN’s $10.50m funding not loan but grant – World Bank

The World Bank has clarified that the planned $10.50m financing to the Central Bank of Nigeria is a grant, not a loan. According to a source at the World Bank who spoke to our correspondent under the condition of anonymity on Friday, the amount is being provided under the Finance for Development Multi-Donor Trust Fund as part of a partnership between the World Bank and the CBN. It was earlier reported that Nigeria had approached the World Bank for a $10.50m loan to enhance the CBN’s technical capacity and modernise the…

Nigeria’s public debt hits N144.67tn

Nigeria’s total public debt rose to N144.67tn ($94.23bn) as of December 31, 2024, representing a 48.58 per cent increase compared to N97.34tn ($108.23bn) recorded at the end of December 2023. The Debt Management Office disclosed this in its latest report on the country’s public debt profile. The report also revealed a quarter-on-quarter rise of 1.65 per cent from the N142.32tn ($88.89bn) recorded at the end of September 2024, highlighting the continuous increase in the nation’s debt burden during the final quarter of the year. An analysis of Nigeria’s public debt on…

Stolen jewellery: NBA engages Patience Jonathan over ex-workers six years’ detention

The Nigerian Bar Association has waded into the lingering case involving 15 former domestic workers of ex-first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, who have remained in detention for six years over alleged theft of jewellery and other valuables. A top official of the association said the NBA was also engaging with Mrs Jonathan to resolve the matter. Our correspondents had reported that 15 aides of the former first lady were held in the Okaka Custodial Centre, Bayelsa State, for allegedly stealing jewellery from Mrs Jonathan. Those affected are Williams Alami, Vincent Olabiyi, Ebuka…

2027: Atiku, Obi, coalition leaders advocate electoral reforms

The 2023 presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and the National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ahmeh, have called for electoral reform ahead of the 2027 elections. They said electoral reform was a crucial element that would aid the ongoing national coalition negotiations in achieving its objectives. As the election approaches and coalition talks among opposition leaders gain momentum, there have been numerous calls for the amendment or reform of electoral laws. Atiku, through his media aide, Paul Ibe, stated…

Huawei unveils energy storage system, targets Nigeria’s power challenges

Huawei Nigeria Digital Power has introduced an innovative product, the LUNA2000-215 Series, the world’s first hybrid air and liquid cooling commercial and industrial energy storage solution. The launch, which took place at an event attended by industry partners and key stakeholders from the C&I energy sector, marked a significant milestone in the region’s energy landscape. In a statement shared  on Saturday, the company highlighted the importance of this new technology in addressing critical energy challenges faced by businesses. According to the statement, the FusionSolar C&I LUNA2000-215-2S10, a key component of…

Police alert officers to April 7 nationwide protest

The Lagos State Police Command has issued a directive to all commanders and officers within its jurisdiction, alerting them to a planned nationwide protest. It was reported that Civil Society Organisation, the Take-It-Back movement, and other groups had announced a nationwide protest scheduled for April 7, 2025. In a statement on Friday, the National Coordinator of TIB, Juwon Sanyaolu, said the protest seeks to address issues surrounding the misuse of the Cybercrime Act and the ongoing “state of emergency” in Rivers State. Sanyaolu explained that the core demands of the…

BREAKING: Oba Owoade crowned 46th Alaafin of Oyo

Oba Abimbola Owoade has been crowned the 46th Alaafin of Oyo. Owoade succeeds the 45th Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, who died on April 22, 2022, at the age of 83. The coronation event took place today (Saturday) at Oliveth Baptist High School in Oyo, where Governor Seyi Makinde led a host of dignitaries, including notable Nigerians. Dignitaries present at the coronation included the Olubadan of Ibadan,  Oba Owolabi Olakulehin; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye; Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed…

Oyo tightens security ahead of Alaafin’s Saturday coronation

As the coronation of the 46th Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, takes place on Saturday, April 5, 2025, the Oyo State government has put in place heightened security measures, including the deployment of security operatives at strategic locations within the ancient city and surrounding communities. Oba Owoade, who was presented with the staff of office and instrument of office on Monday, January 13, 2025, at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, ascends the throne after the late Oba Adeyemi passed away. The new monarch completed the compulsory 21-day traditional rites…

Akpabio denies Natasha’s assassination claim

The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on Friday, debunked a claim by the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, that he engaged former Governor Yahaya Bello to kill her as ‘false and malicious.’ The clarification was made in a statement issued in Abuja by Akpabio’s media aide, Eseme Eyiboh. Akpoti-Uduaghan made the allegation while addressing her supporters on Wednesday in Kogi. The embattled senator alleged that the Senate President sought the help of Bello to ‘assassinate her in Kogi State rather than in Abuja,’ a claim the state government…