News

Strike: NLC To Shutdown FCT After Tinubu’s Project Inaugurations Labour

Published

5 months ago

June 26, 2025

The Federal Capital Territory Chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) says it is mobilising to shut down the territory after President Bola Tinubu concludes his projects’ inauguration on July 3.

The Chairman, Dr Stephen Knabayi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

Knabayi explained that the move was to draw the attention of the FCT Administration to address the area council workers’ lingering strike.

NAN reports that primary health care centres were under lock and key, primary school teachers had been at home while the six area councils’ secretariat were abandoned by the workers for months.

Primary school teachers and other area council workers embarked on a series of strikes over non-payment of minimum wage and 40 per cent peculiar allowance.

Other unresolved issues included the non-implementation of 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases, and the N35,000 wage award, among other benefits.

The NLC chair, who described the development as “very unfortunate”, said that the area council chairmen left the union with no option but to shut down the FCT.

He recalled that the union had on June 13, issued a seven-day ultimatum to the FCT Administration to address the demands of the teachers, health workers and other area council workers.

He explained that the ultimatum followed the resolution of the executives of the joint unions of the NUT, the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees and the National Association of Health Workers Union.

He noted that the ultimatum had expired on June 20 and the NLC was yet to take any action.

Knabayi explained that the union backpedalled to allow President Bola Tinubu to complete the inauguration of projects executed by the FCT Administration, as part of activities to celebrate his second year in office.

“We had to extend the ultimatum because of Tinubu’s movements to inaugurate the FCT executed project.

“Members of the union will take over the streets of Abuja as soon as Tinubu concludes the inaugurations, hopefully on July 3.

“We are waiting for it to end and we will come together to step up our planned action,” he said.

He added that the NLC had already informed the FCT Administration and security agencies of the planned protest to shut down the territory as the last resort to press home their demands.

He said it was very unfortunate that up to this moment nothing has been done to address the lingering welfare cities in the area councils.

He noted that although the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage began across the six area councils in May, it was stopped the following month with no explanation to the workers.

“Like you know, strike or protest is always the last option, but we were left with no other opinion.

“We are not happy and it is not going to be a small thing if they don’t do the needful,” he said.

Knabayi alleged that the area council chairmen were spending huge resources in preparations for the 2016 February FCT Area Councils’ Election.

According to him, the funds being expended will be enough to settle all the workers’ outstanding entitlements.

He called on the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, to take a more decisive action to compel the area council chairmen to settle the council workers welfare concerns.

Recall that Wike had made several efforts to resolve the crisis, including the recent release of N4.1 billion to the area councils to support the payment of minimum wage to the workers.

The minister had explained several times that primary school teachers and primary health care workers were under the purview of the area councils and not FCT Administration.

The NUT Chairman in FCT, Mr Abdullahi Shafa, during a protest on April 24, acknowledged Wike’s intervention to resolve the lingering strike, including the release of the N4.1 billion to the area councils to pay the striking teachers.

On their part, the chairmen of the area councils had in a press conference on May 13, urged the primary school teachers and other council workers to call off their ongoing strike.

Mr John Gabaya, Secretary of the FCT Chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, who addressed the journalists, particularly appealed to the primary school teachers to return to the classrooms.

Gabaya said that the appeal became necessary for the interest of the pupils while negotiation continues.
(NAN)

News

Chief Of Army Staff, Shaibu Announces Recruitment Of 24,000 Soldiers

Published

35 minutes ago

November 19, 2025

Editor

The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has announced plans to recruit and train 24,000 soldiers to boost the operational strength of the Nigerian Army amid rising security challenges.

This was made known in a post on X Wednesday by Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency security expert.

According to the report, Shaibu revealed the plan on Wednesday during an operational visit to the 1 Division of the Nigerian Army in Kaduna, where he addressed officers ranging from second lieutenants to lieutenant colonels.

He said the initiative is part of the Army’s strategy to enhance its readiness and expand manpower for deployments across the country.

According to him, three new training facilities approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will train 12,000 soldiers within six months, with the capacity to double the figure to 24,000 if two streams are run simultaneously.

Shaibu noted that the facilities are strategically located to produce recruits equipped with modern warfare skills, tactical knowledge, and improved weapon handling.

He said the focus is not only on increasing troop numbers but also on ensuring high-quality training.

He added that the recruits will be trained in basic tactics, combat operations, and leadership principles to strengthen the Army’s professional standards.

The COAS reiterated the Army’s commitment to the “Soldier First” concept, promising improved welfare and support systems for both new and existing personnel. He urged senior officers to mentor incoming recruits to sustain discipline, core values, and operational excellence.

The recruitment drive is expected to significantly boost manpower, strengthen troop deployment in critical areas, and enhance the Army’s capacity to respond to threats nationwide.

During his visit, Shaibu also held discussions with officers on operational logistics, welfare initiatives, and ongoing efforts to improve the Army’s capabilities in the North West and other theatres of operation.

News

Kwara Church Attack: ‘Resign Now’, Falz Tells Tinubu

Published

2 hours ago

November 19, 2025

Editor

Folarin Falana (FALZ) and President Tinubu
Nigerian rapper and activist, Folarin Falana popularly known as Falz, has taken a swipe at President Bola Tinubu, demanding his resignation following the bandits’ attack of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Isegun, Eruku, in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Falz, in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, accused the President of failing in his primary duty of securing the lives and property of Nigerians, describing the alleged government inaction as unacceptable.

Tribune Online reports that the Kwara State Police Command confirmed that the attack occurred around 6 p.m. on November 18. Security operatives and local vigilantes were said to have engaged the attackers and eventually repelled them.

During the assault, the armed gang reportedly invaded the church during a service, killed at least one person, and abducted several worshippers.

Reacting to the incident, Falz expressed frustration, questioning the president on the state of insecurity in the country and asking how many more people must die before meaningful action is taken.

He wrote, “How many more people have to be kidnapped and murdered in cold blood? How many more lives do you want to waste? How many more futures do you wish to erase with your incompetence and inaction?

“You have consistently shown your unwillingness to protect the lives and property of our people despite pretending to care in the past. RESIGN NOW!”

How many more people have to be kidnapped and murdered in cold blood? How many more lives do you want to waste? How many more futures do you wish to erase with your incompetence and inaction? @officialABAT

News

Court Jails Two Men 26 Months For N8.5b Fraud

Published

2 hours ago

November 19, 2025

Editor

LJustice Rahman Oshodi of Lagos Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has convicted and sentenced two men, Hamza Zakaria and Nurudeen Ibrahim, to 26 months’ imprisonment each for N8.56 billion fraud.

Zakaria and Ibrahim were convicted and sentenced after the court found them guilty of unauthorised access to a new generation bank’s computer systems. They were formerly arraigned on May 2, 2025, alongside other defendants, on four counts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Their offences bordered on conspiracy, stealing and unauthorised access to a computer system, contrary to Sections 409 and 331 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. They had pleaded not guilty at the time.

The defendants, however, changed their plea following the presentation of amended charges, prompting the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

During the review of the facts, prosecution counsel, Muhammad Bashir, called a witness, Airende Monday, an operative of the EFCC, who tendered documents that were admitted as exhibits.

While delivering judgement, Justice Oshodi stated: “I find the defendants guilty in the two-count amended information, and I convict them accordingly. This is the judgement of the court.”

The court jailed them eight months on count one and one year and six months on count two. Both sentences are to run concurrently, with an option of a N50,000 fine.

The EFCC alleged that the defendants and other persons at large, sometime in January 2025 in Lagos, within the court’s jurisdiction, conspired to transfer and retain criminal proceeds from unauthorised access to Wema Bank’s computer and servers.