President Bola Tinubu has approved naming a major arterial road in the nation’s capital after Nigeria’s first Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, in recognition of the renowned writer’s contributions to bringing international acclaim to the country. During the inauguration of the newly constructed road on Tuesday, Tinubu announced that the N20 highway from Northern Parkway to the Outer Northern Expressway (Murtala Mohammed Expressway) will now be known as the “Wole Soyinka Way.” Addressing the event, the President described the 89-year-old Soyinka as Nigeria’s “foremost playwright, novelist, and Nobel Prize winner” who has brought the nation “fame and pride of international acclaim.”…
Author: Editor Francis
The Nigerian Senate has promised to accelerate efforts to pass a new national minimum wage bill into law, but will take a comprehensive approach considering the ability of states, local governments and the private sector to pay higher wages, the Senate President said Tuesday. Speaking during plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended labor unions for suspending an indefinite strike for one week to allow further negotiations with the federal government on increasing the minimum wage. “We will continue to do our best by making contributions and at the same time awaiting the incoming Bill on Minimum Wage for us to…
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) announced Tuesday that the ongoing nationwide strike will carry on, even after reaching a wage agreement with the federal government in negotiations the previous day. In a post on the social media platform X, the labor union stated: “Until we hear from our organs at our meeting scheduled for today, June 4, we are still on strike.” The strike, which began Monday, brought much of the country’s economic activities to a standstill. Businesses, airports, schools, banks and government offices were largely shuttered as workers walked off the job to protest low wages. On Monday evening,…
Financial technology giant OPay has reiterated its firm prohibition of cryptocurrency and virtual asset trading on its platform. As a compliant organisation dedicated to upholding legal, constitutional, and regulatory duties, OPay prioritises the safety, strength, and integrity of the financial system. In a statement to The Nation, Mr. Gotring Wuritka Dauda, Chief Executive Officer of OPay Nigeria, emphasised that the company does not permit any form of cryptocurrency or virtual currency trading. Dauda assured that OPay accounts and wallets would not be used for such activities. To ensure compliance, OPay conducts daily scans of its platform to detect unauthorised cryptocurrency…
Nigeria’s economy ground to a halt on Monday as organized labor unions launched an indefinite nationwide strike. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) called the strike to protest the Federal Government’s failure to implement a new minimum wage and reverse the recent hike in electricity tariffs. The strike action disrupted key sectors, including aviation, power, banking, ports, energy, road transport, and telecommunications. Airports across the country witnessed flight cancellations, leaving passengers stranded. The Transmission Company of Nigeria announced a nationwide blackout as workers shut down the national grid. Banks and financial institutions partially closed operations, while…
On Monday night, the Federal Government and the Organised Labour signed an agreement resolving the ongoing minimum wage controversy. The accord was reached following a marathon meeting facilitated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume. The meeting, convened in response to a nationwide strike that disrupted activities across the country, resulted in several key resolutions. The agreement aimed to address the demands of the Organised Labour and bring an end to the industrial action. The resolutions include: 1. Commitment to Higher Minimum Wage: The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, committed…
On Monday, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) clarified its stance amid ongoing reports about an indefinite strike declared by the Organised Labour. According to the NMA, it is not affiliated with the Organised Labour, and its members remain committed to providing healthcare services. In a press statement signed by NMA’s National Secretary-General, Dr. Benjamin Egbo, the association addressed media reports (excluding The PUNCH) that suggested doctors had joined the strike. The NMA emphasized that it has not declared any strike action, and doctors will continue to be at their duty posts to attend to patients. While the NMA is not…
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, has called an urgent meeting with organized labour in response to the ongoing indefinite nationwide strike. The President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria, Comrade Festus Osifo, confirmed the meeting to The Nation on Monday. According to Osifo, labour leaders from both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and TUC are en route to the SGF office for the discussions. “Yes, we are heading there now,” Osifo stated. Further details will be provided as the story develops.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to delay its ongoing strike until after the Id al-Kabir (Salah) festival. MURIC expressed concerns that the strike would cause significant hardship for Muslims preparing for the important religious celebration. In a statement released on Monday and signed by MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the organisation highlighted the potential negative impact of the strike on Muslims during the festive period. “There is no scintilla of doubt that the strike will make life unbearable for Muslims preparing for Id al-Kabir (Salah), which is just a few days…
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has suspended Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, the Senior Pastor of the City of David parish and head of the Apapa Family of the RCCG. The suspension, reportedly lasting three months, was enacted over the weekend by the church’s Governing Council, as confirmed by a source to The Nation. The suspension follows public outcry over the extravagant 60th birthday celebration of Iluyomade’s wife, Siji, shortly after the death of former Access Bank CEO, Herbert Wigwe, in a helicopter crash in the US. The celebration was widely seen as in poor taste, given Wigwe’s recent passing…
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has reiterated its commitment to bridging the funding gap and providing infrastructure to Nigerian institutions after implementing reforms within the agency. Speaking at an event in Lagos where he received the Outstanding Public Servant of the Year award, TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Sunny Echono, stated that the agency has embarked on reforms to improve its operations and better deliver on its mandate. “Since we came on board, we have embarked on reforms to make the agency work better,” Echono said. “We are aware of the role TETFund plays in the provision of infrastructure and facilities…
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported a deliberate shutdown of the national grid by a striking labour union, resulting in a nationwide power outage. The disruption occurred at approximately 2:19 am on Monday, according to a statement from TCN’s Public Affairs Manager, Ndidi Mbah. The incident began earlier, at 1:15 am, when operators at the Benin Transmission Operator under TCN’s Independent System Operations unit were forcibly removed from their control room. Staff members who resisted were reportedly beaten, and some sustained injuries. This forced evacuation led to the Benin Area Control Centre being brought to a complete halt.…