News
Workers Kick Against FG’s Health Insurance Deductions From Salaries
Workers across the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) have come against the Federal Government for skimming off on their salaries for health insurance, saying that the move was questionable and highly unacceptable, especially without notification and dialogue.
They argued that even though health insurance was a welcome development globally and a right for every citizen, especially the worker, it was the duty of the Federal Government to provide health insurance to its workers, just like other employers do.
This came following a circular by the Federal Government, which said deductions made from the October 2025 salaries of civil servants were due to the commencement of statutory contributions to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The clarification followed widespread complaints by federal workers over unexplained salary cuts ranging from N1,000 to N2,000.
READ ALSO:Parents Accuse FG Of Neglect As BEA Scholars Go Hungry Abroad
In the circular titled, ‘Implementation of Statutory Deduction for the National Health Insurance Scheme’, the government explained that the mandatory NHIS deductions began in October, leading to the reduction noticed across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
“The Federal Government wishes to inform all federal public servants that the implementation of statutory deduction for the National Health Insurance Scheme has commenced with effect from October 2025.
Some civil servants who spoke with The Guardian described the move as wage theft, arguing that it was only after their salaries had been deducted that the government was now informing them.
A worker and Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Chris Onyeka, said: “Skimming off on workers’ salaries without dialogue is questionable and highly unacceptable. You cannot deduct and then inform. You notify, dialogue, and then deduct. That is the right order.
“Stating that health insurance for Nigerian workers did not start today, as it has been there for donkey years, even with the NLC represented at the national health insurance agency’s board for decades. However, they said that if it was right, it was not supposed to be contributed by workers but for the workers.”
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He called on the Federal Government to desist and return whatsoever it has deducted from the workers and commit itself to due process as it concerns the welfare of Nigerian workers in all its ramifications.
According to him, the illegal and arbitrary deductions are definitely not a good development, adding that it is the duty of the Federal Government to provide health insurance to its workers, just like other employers do.
Also, a federal worker and mother of three from one of the MDAs, Mercy Adams, told The Guardian that it surprised her upon seeing close to N2000 deduction, saying it was the duty of the government to provide health insurance coverage for its workers.
However, “the way the government went about it was not fair enough,” she said.
The NHIS is a social health insurance programme aimed at providing financial risk protection and access to quality healthcare for Nigerians.
In 2022, the Federal Government mandated all employers and employees in the public, private, and informal sectors to obtain health insurance after former President Muhammadu Buhari signed the National Health Insurance Authority Bill, 2021, into law.
READ ALSO:Lecturers Threaten Fresh Showdown Over FG’s Unfulfilled Agreements
During debate in the National Assembly, the sponsor of the bill and former senator representing Kwara Central (2019–2023), Dr Yahaya Oloriegbe, said the law would establish a “robust, affordable and sustainable financial mechanism for health” and enhance Nigeria’s pursuit of Universal Health Coverage by 2030.
The government maintains that the NHIS will benefit workers by improving access to affordable and quality healthcare, reducing their out-of-pocket medical expenses.
It added that the scheme already covers about 99 per cent of federal employees.
News
N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs
First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.
The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.
At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.
Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.
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Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.
“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.
“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.
This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”
“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).
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“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”
Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.
Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.
Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.
News
Xenophobic Attacks: Oshiomhole Tells FG To Retaliate Against South African Companies In Nigeria
Senator Adams Oshiomhole has called on the Federal Government to retaliate against South African businesses operating in Nigeria following the recent attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
Speaking during plenary on Tuesday, Oshiomhole said the Federal Government should consider revoking the working license of South African owned companies such as MTN and DSTV.
He argued that Nigeria must respond firmly to what he described as persistent hostility against its citizens.
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“I am not going to shed tears. If you hit me, I hit you. I think it is appropriate in diplomacy. It is an economic struggle,” Oshiomhole said.
He argued that while some South Africans accuse Nigerians of taking their jobs, Nigerians should return home and take over employment opportunities created by major South African companies operating in the country, including MTN and DSTV.
“When we hit back, the President of South Africa will not only talk but will also go on his knees to recognise that Nigeria cannot be intimidated.
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“We will not condone any life being lost. If a crime has been committed under the South African law they have the right to bring any such person to justice, but to kill our people as if we are helpless, we will not allow that,” Oshiomhole added.
DAILY POST reports that several Nigerians in South Africa have reportedly been attacked, and their businesses destroyed, in ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.
News
IGP Orders Officers Display Name Tag On Uniform, Gives Update On State Police
The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Tunji Disu, has ordered all police personnel to always have their name tags on their uniforms for easy identification.
Disu disclosed that only police personnel who are undercover are exempted from displaying their name tags.
Speaking on Tuesday, Disu said: “All police officers should have their name tags. All of us on the high table have our names apart from the undercover among us so if you look at all the Commissioners of Police we have our name tags, so it’s not our standard.
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“All the Commissioners of Police are here and that is why we called this meeting, we have list of things like this that we will want to discuss with the Commissioners of Police, we have told them earlier and we will still let them know that every that happens within their area of jurisdiction falls under their control.”
On the issue of state police, the IGP said: “Since we got the signal that the Federal Government of Nigeria intend to establish State Police and since we are the federal police, we decided to take the bull by the horn and put down our own side of what we believe on how the state police should be run.
“A lot of things were taken into consideration, a lot of comparative analysis was done and it has been transmitted to the National Assembly.”
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