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JUST IN: Workers’ Day: FCT Minister Stops NLC From Using Eagle Square

Published

3 years ago

April 28, 2023

Editor

Barely three days to Workers’ Day celebration, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Malam Muhammad, has disapproved the use of Eagle Square, Abuja, by the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, on Friday, the General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, expressed disappointment by the sudden decision of the FCT Minister.

According to him, the minister explained in the letter that the reasons for the withdrawal borders on preparations at Eagle Square ahead of the May 29 inauguration of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.

He said the withdrawal, which was contained in a letter sent to the Congress on Thursday, would not deter workers from celebrating that day, urging all workers to brace up for a war cry on May Day.

He explained that the reason for the withdrawal was to allow for fast renovation of the Eagle Square ahead of the May 29 swearing in ceremony of the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“They have withdrawn the permission and they don’t want to talk to us, the Minister of FCT has withdrawn our permission to use Eagle Square for the May Day and clearly he is speaking for his government, it means the government does not want to address the workers, so they do not appreciate the work the workers have put over the years and we will not fail to appreciate ourselves.

“The withdrawal has no implication on workers. The Mayday will hold but not in Eagle Square. The workers will mark their day from the NLC to every nook and cranny of Nigeria.

“The reason they gave was that they were renovating the Eagle Square for usage on May 29 and we will find it to be ultra lame. This is not the first time there will be an inauguration. We have had more than five to seven inaugurations in the past two decades and we have always held Mayday in the Eagle Square.

“The minister of FCT, through his agency, sent us a letter yesterday, It’s Workers’ Day and we have sought permission to use a venue and it was granted to us and later withdrawn, so it has nothing to do with the minister of Labour. If the withdrawal of our permission to use Eagle Square is a snippet of what they (workers) should expect, we are ready. The way we have adjusted to it will prove to them that we are ready for whatever they are going to throw at us.”

He added: “Workers should be prepared for the worst, the indicators do not point towards any rosy future if we do not struggle. So it is going to be a war cry on May 1st, just for us to brace up to take the challenges we see coming forward.”

Related Topics:#FCT FCT Minister Woekers' Day

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Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

1 hour ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

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Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

7 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

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Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

7 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.