News

Strike: Why Labour Didn’t Attend Meeting With FG

Published

2 years ago

September 30, 2023

Ahead of the October 3 commencement of indefinite strike by organized labour, the meeting convened by the Federal Government with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, could not hold as a result of the short notice given to labour.

The Federal Government had invited the leadership of the two labour centers for a meeting on Friday at the Presidential Villa Abuja over the proposed strike.

Vanguard reliably gathered that the meeting did not hold as many of the labour leaders were said to have left Abuja before the invitation for the meeting was received.

A highly placed source privy to the labour struggle told Vanguard that the notice for the meeting emanating from the Ministry of Labour and Employment was received at about 10 am on Friday which was about two hours to the scheduled time.

According to the source: “We got notice for the meeting about 10 am and it was scheduled to take place at the State House by 12pm. As at the time we got the invitation, the majority of the leaders had left Abuja to their various states.

“I think that the government was not prepared to meet with us. How can you fix a meeting by 12 pm and send the invitation or notice for the meeting by 10 am, just about two hours before the scheduled time?

“You are aware that many of the leaders of the two labour centers are not living in Abuja and many of them had left before the invitation came.

“One thing we know is that we are always ready to meet with the government to negotiate in the interest of the country and the masses.

“We cannot refuse to dialogue and negotiate with the government but we have not seen any seriousness on the side of the government instead, it is only intimidation, blackmail and sponsoring of groups to attack labour.

“Since the removal of petrol subsidy by the government, Nigerians are passing through hardship and things are getting worse on a daily basis. It’s difficult for people to eat a square meal every day and workers cannot afford the high transportation price with the N30,000 minimum wage.

“There is no palliative to cushion the effect of the harsh economic condition the government has subjected the masses to. What we have been getting from the government in the past four months that the rash decision was taken is promises and intimidation. Are we going to continue to live like that?”

At the time of filing this report, there was no information on whether the government was planning to reschedule the meeting or not.

News

DSS Issues Warning, Arrests Man For Circulating Fake Recruitment Materials

Published

6 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

The Department of State Services (DSS) has disclosed the arrest of one Mr. Eze Ezenwa Benard, who was recently apprehended for circulating fake DSS recruitment past questions and answers on Facebook.

The agency, while warning the public in a statement on Saturday, said the suspect operated through a page known as “Jobs and Education”, where he advertised the fraudulent materials and charged unsuspecting members of the public one thousand naira (N1,000) for access.

“The public is hereby cautioned to disregard any materials, as the DSS does not sell or distribute recruitment questions, answers, or examination guides through private individuals or social media pages. Recruitment into the Service, when necessary, follows specialised procedure in accordance with extant laws and due process,” the statement reads.

News

‘Na Only People You Gave Work Love You,’ Singer Speed Darlington Tells Tinubu

Published

7 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Singer Speed Darlington has told President Bola Tinubu that public admiration cannot be bought, warning that only those who received appointments or jobs from the government truly support him.

In a video posted on Saturday, August 23, the singer said, “Everything isn’t about the economy! There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you.”

Darlington, an Igbo man, urged Tinubu to focus on police reform and respect for human rights. “The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate. Please, before you leave office, please speak to your Yoruba brother IGP man,” he added.

News

Before You Leave Office, Reform The Police — Speed Darlington Urges Tinubu

Published

7 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Popular controversial singer Speed Darlington has called on President Bola Tinubu to reform the Nigerian Police Force, urging the government to prioritise citizens’ rights alongside economic growth.

In a video posted on Saturday, the entertainer criticised what he described as the police’s systemic human rights violations and oppressive practices.

“Mr President, before you leave office, whether you secure a second term or not, try your best to improve Nigeria. Everything isn’t about the economy!

“There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you,” he said.

The singer, who identifies as Igbo, urged Tinubu to engage with the Inspector-General of Police and implement reforms.

“As an Igbo man, the advice I can give you so people will know your name and remember you for something good is to reform the police. Reform the police.

“The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate,” he added.

Darlington also recounted his personal ordeal with law enforcement, highlighting the system’s abuse of power.

“I was held for two months after the judge had ordered my release. FID held me for two months. According to my lawyer, the Nigerian law gives only 28 days for investigation.

“They held me for two months. What is the extra month for? Because they can. If you give them money, they oppress your enemy. I have experienced it,” he said.