Canada has introduced stricter rules in its Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), raising concerns among skilled foreign workers, including many Nigerians, who now face greater risks of deportation due to tighter hiring conditions.

Under the new regulations, employers must raise wages for high-skilled foreign hires to at least 20% above the regional median wage.

Companies can now only fill a maximum of 10% of low-wage roles with foreign workers.

These reforms, which took effect between September and November 2024, are designed to prioritise Canadian citizens for available jobs.

The government has also reclassified an estimated 34,000 positions from the high-wage to the low-wage stream, exposing more foreign workers to stricter oversight, fewer benefits, and increased job insecurity.

Many employers, particularly in sectors like hospitality, construction, and agriculture, said the changes are forcing them to scale back foreign hires or avoid renewing contracts due to rising labour costs.

For temporary foreign workers, this means expiring permits without renewal and limited options to secure new qualifying job offers, both of which can lead to deportation.

The caps and wage hikes are also reshaping Canada’s reputation as a top destination for skilled international talents.

Critics warned the policies may deter future applicants, disrupt travel and seasonal employment sectors, and trigger a loss of much-needed labour.

While the Canadian government insisted the reforms protect domestic employment, businesses and migrant advocacy groups are urging for a more balanced approach that recognizes the vital role foreign workers play in sustaining the country’s economy.

Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential campaign, says there is nothing wrong in Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi meeting for talks.

On Monday, there were reports that Abubakar’s campaign team was offering Obi a running mate role ahead of the 2027 vote.

Obi was Abubakar’s vice-presidential pick in the 2019 election on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform. They lost the election to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking on Arise Television on Monday, Okonkwo said it is typical of politicians to negotiate and discuss at every turn.

“In politics, candidates have the choice to get into their own discussion and negotiation. My own take is that whoever believes he is qualified to be president should submit himself for a free and fair primary election,” he said.

“The toughness of the primaries will determine who has the capacity to face the tough challenge in the general election.

“I’m not in the league of people trying to persuade anybody to step down for anybody; that should be the decision of the candidate himself. So whatever Atiku and Obi are discussing should be left to them.”

Okonkwo also highlighted the need for opposition unity ahead of the next election.

He said a divided opposition in 2023 handed the presidency reins to the APC on a platter.

Okonkwo urged opposition parties to form coalitions that would offer Nigerians viable alternatives.

“The way forward is that the opposition should come together in a coalition, and when they come together, they would give Nigerians the alternatives in integrity, character and knowledge,” he said.

“The opposition must come together, set their houses in order and then take out this government that has become a scourge on the Nigerian people. There is a saying that your biggest teacher is your last mistake.

“In 2023, the opposition made a mistake of dividing itself, and a minority party that got about 37 percent of the votes now became the ruling party.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says the country’s banking sector remains resilient and safe.

In a statement on Monday, Hakama Sidi-Ali, acting director of corporate communications at the CBN, dismissed recent media and online reports suggesting instability in the operations of “a regulated financial institution”.

The apex bank described the reports as misleading and urged the public to disregard unverified claims.

“The CBN wishes to categorically reassure the public, depositors, and stakeholders that the Nigerian banking sector remains resilient, safe, and sound,” the statement reads.

“Like all other regulated institutions, the institution referenced in these reports is held to stringent regulatory requirements, and there is no cause for concern regarding the safety of depositors’ funds.”

The regulator said strong supervisory mechanisms are in place to safeguard the financial system, including frameworks for early warning signals and risk-based supervision.

The bank said the tools would help identify and address potential issues before they escalate.

It also cautioned against the spread of sensational information, encouraging Nigerians to rely only on official sources for updates on the banking sector.

“We urge the public to disregard sensational or unverified claims and rely solely on official channels for information about the financial system,” CBN added.

The CBN reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a secure and stable financial environment, pledging to continue evolving its regulatory strategies to protect depositors and the wider financial ecosystem.

“The CBN remains dedicated to fostering a secure banking environment where depositors can be fully confident in the safety of their funds,” the bank said.

The apex bank also promised to continue to monitor and adapt strategies to safeguard the financial interests of all Nigerians and stakeholders in the financial system.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has disqualified six registered athletes from competing at the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF) in Ogun.

In a statement on Tuesday by Kehinde Ajayi, NSC media director, the commission said the athletes’ disqualification was due to “doping issues”, which is “in line with global best practices and the World Anti-Doping Agency ( WADA) code.”

The disqualified athletes are Ogunsemilore Cynthia representing Bayelsa state in kickboxing, Omole Dolapo Joshua representing Bayelsa state in kickboxing, Ayabeke David Opeyemi representing Bayelsa state in Gymnastics, Kareem Shukurat representing Lagos state in kickboxing and Animashaun Sofia representing Lagos state in para powerlifting.

Bukola Olopade, the director-general of NSC, advised all the participating states to take note of this and reiterated the commission’s commitment to ensuring that every athlete competes very clean.

“The issue of anti-doping is one important mandate of the Commission to ensure that Nigeria is devoid of drug problems at both domestic and international competitions,” he said.

“We are happy now that the National anti-doping law has finally been passed by our Sports-loving President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the ripple effect of such a landmark feat must swiftly be felt in our Sports, starting with the current Sports Festival.”

The 22nd National Sports Festival holds in Ogun state from May 16 to 30.

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have reportedly arrested an alleged notorious bandit and kidnapper in Sokoto during the screening of intending Muslim pilgrims.

According to Daily Trust, the suspect, identified as Sani Galadi, was arrested on Monday at Sultan Abubakar International Airport, Sokoto, after he was trailed by the operatives.

The arrest comes about 24 hours after security forces nabbed a suspected bandit and kidnapper at the hajj camp in Abuja.

A source at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) told TheCable that the suspect, identified as Yahaya Zango, is linked to multiple kidnapping incidents in Abuja and Kogi.

TheCable learnt that Zango was arrested by security operatives, including the DSS, on Sunday during the screening of intending pilgrims.

On May 12, NAHCON completed the airlift of intending pilgrims in four states to Saudi Arabia, while 64,188 Nigerians are expected to take part in this year’s pilgrimage.

There has been an uptick in violent attacks in the northern part of the country, with military bases not spared.

On Friday, Christopher Musa, the chief of defence staff, said the military has procured new equipment to strengthen efforts against insecurity, including the resurgence of insurgent attacks.

Transparency International Nigeria has blamed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his predecessors, Muhammadu Buhari and Olusegun Obasanjo for the years of unaccounted remittances and fraud in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

TI Nigeria country director, Auwal Rafsanjani made this known in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST on Monday.

This comes as the World Bank Nigeria Development Update report released last week indicted the state-owned company over failure to remit crude revenue amounting to N500 billion to the Federation account for October 2024 and December 2024. 

A detail of the revelation in the World Bank’s NDU report showed that out of the N1.1 trillion revenue from crude sales and other income in 2024, the NNPCL only remitted N600 billion, leaving a deficit of N500 billion.

The unaccounted N500 billion has stirred fresh controversies over lack of transparency and corruption in the country’s oil behemoth, NNPCL.

Similarly, the International Monetary Fund had also called for a more transparent transfer of fuel subsidy gains by the NNPCL in its recent report.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, on Sunday raised the bar on calls for a thorough probe of the unremitted N500 billion fund by the NNPCL.

DAILY POST reports that the financial opaqueness of NNPCL has continued unhindered despite the president being the substantive minister of petroleum. Since 1999, of the five Nigerian presidents, three were substantive petroleum ministers, including Obasanjo, Buhari, and most recently Tinubu.

Reacting, Rafsanjani blamed the rot in NNPCL on Nigeria’s presidents and the National Assembly.

According to him, the probe of NNPCL finances needs to go beyond its former Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari.

He explained that the financial transactions of the state-owned oil firm should be comprehensively audited to unravel all the missing money lost since 1999.

Rafsanjani also blamed the National Assembly for the lack of an adequate oversight function on a critical government agency such as the NNPCL.

He kicked against Nigerian presidents appointing themselves as petroleum ministers.

“The need to carry out a comprehensive audit of NNPCL is necessary to ascertain the level of financial transactions under Mele Kyari and other leadership of NNPCL.

“If we want to have a comprehensive audit to know all the missing money lost from 1999 to date, it is only a thorough audit that will ascertain this. It is not only Mele Kyari, but it has to be comprehensive.

“All these happened under the president, who is the substantive petroleum minister. The president is responsible. Whether Buhari, Tinubu, or Obasanjo. That is why we have advocated for a substantive minister of petroleum.

“They must stop appointing themselves as ministers of petroleum. This showed that the National Assembly is not carrying out its oversight function. So it is a shame. The indictment should be to the president and the National Assembly for the mess in NNPCL.

“The subsidy is not the problem, but the corruption in the process is. The missing money must be recovered and used for the good of all Nigerians,” he told DAILY POST.

NNPCL probe long overdue — Energy expert, Madaki

An energy expert, managing partner of BBH Consulting, and convener of the Public Interest Advocacy Network (PIAN), Barr. Ameh Madaki said that a comprehensive audit of NNPCL is long overdue.

According to him, the company had continued to exist in opaqueness for too long without adequate scrutiny.

“The probe required in NNPCL under Mele Kyari goes far beyond the N500 billion referred to in the World Bank report under reference.

“The opaque nature of the operations of the NNPCL over the years and the selective amnesia of the Nigerian public ensure that massive fraud is covered up by the organisation.

“For instance, what happened to the $3.3 billion borrowed by NNPCL to shore up the value of the naira on crude oil futures sales contracts?

“What was done with the money when the currency went into a disgraceful free fall? And this is not the first time NNPCL is not remitting funds to the federation account!

“Throughout the second term of President Buhari, NNPCL did not remit a dime to the Federation account because they said they had become a limited liability company like NLNG and would only remit profits after expenses and tax to the Federation account after the audit.

“This kept the states and local governments in dire straits financially under that government, and nothing happened.

“So why would anyone cry wolf over one month’s remittance to the Federation account? NNPCL has declared losses for several years under one frivolous guise or the other, but nobody has asked for a probe.

“Bayo Ojulari, the new GCEO of NNPCL, as a square peg in a square hole, must do the needful and purge the organisation of its opaqueness so that Nigerians can, for the first time, reap the benefits of having a National Oil and Gas Company,” he told DAILY POST.

Call for Kyari’s probe

DAILY POST reports that the missing N500 billion in unremitted funds had heightened calls for Kyari’s probe.

Recall that Tinubu’s administration on April 2 sacked Kyari and other NNPCL board members over mounting concerns about their performance.

Kyari announced the commencement of petroleum products production at Port Harcourt and Warri refineries last year, in November and December, respectively.

However, the petrol production capacity of the resuscitated refineries remained under contention before the exit of Kyari.

The development had fueled mixed reactions over calls for his probe by several groups and civil societies in the last two months.

Ebonyi State Governor Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has increased the monthly allowances of the newly employed Medical Doctors working at the General Hospitals across the State, from N150,000 to a minimum of N500,000.

The Governor disclosed this during the flag-off of a health activation programme, which included the launch of a drug revolving fund and the distribution of medical equipment to general hospitals.

Governor Nwifuru informed that his administration has approved over N10 billion for the upgrading of health facilities, medical equipment, and manpower in Ebonyi.

“This event is not just a ceremony, it is a declaration of our administration’s commitment to revitalising the healthcare system of our dear state.

“For some time now, the health sector in Ebonyi has suffered from insufficient funding, inadequate personnel, and a lack of basic equipment. This narrative must change, and it must change now,” Nwifuru declared.

The Governor further announced the recruitment of 195 healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and laboratory scientists who have been deployed to general hospitals to ensure improved service delivery.

Nwifuru launched the Drug Revolving Fund to guarantee the continuous supply of essential medicines at affordable rates, especially benefiting rural communities.

“The revolving nature of the fund ensures sustainability, transparency, and accountability.

“We have already achieved over 60% delivery of essential drugs, and the process continues until full coverage is attained.

“To further enhance healthcare services, the government is distributing modern medical equipment, including hospital beds, mattresses, patient monitors, drip stands, and other critical consumables.

“These are not for decoration; they are instruments of life-saving service. This investment, worth over one billion naira, marks a significant milestone in our journey to reposition Ebonyi’s health sector,” Nwifuru emphasised.

The Governor also appealed to community leaders, traditional rulers, and civil society groups to monitor the use of health resources, stressing that accountability is a duty, not an option.

“Any mismanagement or diversion of public resources will be met with firm action,” he warned.

Nwifuru outlined plans to establish specialist hospitals in the state’s three senatorial zones to reduce medical tourism and improve healthcare access.

He also mentioned ongoing efforts to explore partnerships for healthcare financing and digital health systems aimed at boosting efficiency.

“Today is a new dawn for health in Ebonyi. Let this flag-off be a call to action to all stakeholders.

“Working together will accelerate our vision to build a system that delivers hope, healing, and health to all,” he said.

Former Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Political Affairs, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has faulted All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders’ second term endorsement.

Recall that APC North West Stakeholders last Friday, including the party’s National Chairman, Umar Ganduje; House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, all the party’s governors in the region, all members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) from the region, all the party’s elected officials in the region and party’s chieftians from the region, endorsed Tinubu for second tenure in 2027.

Baba-Ahmed said the endorsement does not reflect the intentions and desires of the citizens of the North West.

In a statement on his ? handle on Monday, the former spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) stated that the people of the region who are suffering hardship, hunger, and are under the weight of insecurity will judge who wins in 2027.

He added that the North West Stakeholders’ endorsement showed they didn’t care about the people.

“APC Govs in NW recently endorsed PBAT, endorsed themselves and every elected office holder and defectors from the region. They forgot the people who will judge all politicians against their exposure to violence, death and poverty. It’s almost as if they think people don’t matter,” he wrote.

The UN says it has been forced to cut spending, freeze hiring and scale back some services as the global organisation faces a worsening cash crisis.

Member States on Monday, urged members to pay up, warning that the deepening financial crisis threatened the world body’s ability to carry out vital work.

The General Assembly’s Fifth Committee met throughout Monday to discuss the multilateral organisation’s financial health.

With a growing shortfall in contributions, member states owed $2.4 billion in unpaid regular budget dues and $2.7 billion in peacekeeping.

Officials warned that the non-payment of contributions risked eroding the UN’s credibility and its capacity to fulfil mandates entrusted to it by member states.

Switzerland’s delegate, speaking also on behalf of Liechtenstein, said “Each delay in payment, each hiring freeze, each cancelled service chips away at trust in our ability to deliver”.

One proposed solution was to allow the UN to temporarily keep unspent funds at year’s end, instead of returning them to member states as credits.

Currently, this return is mandatory, even if the funds arrive late in the year, giving the UN little time to spend them.

The suggested change would be expected to act as a buffer to keep operations running, particularly in January when payments tend to lag.

Delegates also backed limited use of “special commitments”, which is emergency funding tools, early in the year to bridge gaps caused by delayed contributions.

While these fixes might help, several speakers, including delegates from Kazakhstan, Norway and the United Kingdom, emphasised that the root cause was the continued late or non-payment of dues.

Norway noted that such temporary measures would not solve the underlying problem and urged member states to support bold financial reforms.

The European Union stressed that the crisis was not abstract, adding they were real operational risks and the burden could not fall solely on countries that paid on time.

Singapore, speaking for the Southeast Asian group of nations, ASEAN, echoed concerns that the UN’s liquidity problems had become routine.

It cited the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific’s (ESCAP) need to shut its offices for three months and suspend travel and hiring.

Particularly troubling to many delegates was the fact that one country, unnamed in the meeting but widely known to be the U.S. was responsible for over half of all unpaid dues.

The U.S. under President Donald Trump, is reportedly withholding the funds due to the UN for political reasons.

Russia called for more transparency in how the UN managed cash-saving measures, cautioning against actions taken without member states’ input.

Catherine Pollard, the UN’s top management official, noted that since May 9, a handful of countries had paid in full across several budget categories, while the number of nations who had paid in full for the regular budget stood at 106 for the year.

As of May 19, the UN records showed only 61 countries had met all their UN’s obligations in full.

The message from member states on Monday clearly states that without broad, timely financial support, the UN’s ability to serve the world, especially in times of crisis, is at serious risk.

The Obidient Movement says Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) standard bearer of the 2023 general election is still with the party and has not joined any coalition.

The Director, Strategic Communication and Media, Obidient Movement, Nana Kazaure, made this known in a statement signed on Monday in Abuja while reacting to speculations by some media reports.

According to Kazaure, Mr Peter Obi remains in the Labour party and if ever this changes, he will make that announcement himself.

He said that the movement had been inundated with calls from LP members regarding media publication that Obi had been offered the running mate position to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in a new coalition being formed ahead of 2027.

“Even as we know that the publication is imaginary to the author, we are tempted not to ignore it because of the possible far-reaching misconception it will have in the public space.

“While frank and cordial engagements with our partners and stakeholders towards a coalition continue amicably, the Obidient Movement would like to state emphatically that there is no truth or basis to the reports whatsoever.

“Without any risk of contradiction, we would like to reiterate that Mr Obi has maintained that his objective and his involvement in a coalition is to provide a united front against bad governance.

“To tackle issues of bad governance, corruption, hunger, poverty, poor healthcare, out of school children and the myriad of other problems daily afflicting the people of Nigeria.”

Kazaure said that the movement wanted politics that was progressive, standing firmly with the people and serving the great people of Nigeria and not politics just for the sake of grabbing power.

The movement, therefore, advised against sensationalism and speculation.

“At this difficult time, all Nigerians and the Media, inclusive, should emphasise and contribute to building a better country.”