The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday strongly refuted former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s accusations of betrayal against Nigerian workers in the wake of the ₦70,000 minimum wage settlement offered by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

In a statement titled “Under Saint Matthew of Owu,” NLC President Joe Ajaero criticized Obasanjo’s comments, calling them uncharitable and misleading, particularly the claim that labour leaders had prioritised personal interests over the welfare of workers during negotiations.

Ajaero took aim at Obasanjo’s assertions in his new book, Nigeria: Past and Future, where the former president argued that labour leaders had allowed themselves to be bought off, causing them to fail in defending workers’ rights.

Ajaero responded by clarifying that the NLC’s demand had always been a minimum of ₦610,000, but the government and the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) countered with a significantly lower offer of ₦50,000, leading to a deadlock.

“We had asked for ₦610,000, which we had described as the barest acceptable minimum, complete with a breakdown. The government’s counteroffer of ₦50,000 was made without an explanation of how it would be distributed,” Ajaero said.

The deadlock led to strike action, which was suspended only after President Tinubu intervened and offered the ₦70,000 wage.

Ajaero pointed out that while the ₦70,000 was still insufficient, it was accepted to minimise the pain of the workers, considering that other alternatives would have imposed greater hardship on Nigerians.

Obasanjo’s Criticism Of Labour Leaders’ Political Ambitions
In his book, Naija News reports that Obasanjo suggested that many union leaders were motivated by personal political ambitions and had become ineffective compared to the expectations of the founding fathers of the labour movement.

Ajaero, however, rejected this, explaining that the NLC’s decision to accept the ₦70,000 offer was a necessary compromise given the circumstances.

He said, “It was a difficult decision, but we opted for the ₦70,000 to avoid greater hardship. It came with promises of incentives, such as the introduction of CNG buses for workers and free conversion kits for workers’ vehicles, among others.”

Ajaero took issue with Obasanjo’s critique of labour leaders, urging the former president to reflect on his own past actions, which included suppressing union activities during his time in office.

He accused Obasanjo of being part of the system that undermined labour unions, citing instances where Obasanjo’s administration had attacked union leaders, imprisoned them, and even attempted to proscribe the NLC.

“If Chief Obasanjo has noticed an erosion in the powers of the trade unions, he should do a soul search. Who knows, he might find himself culpable right from arrest and detention of union leaders, killing of protesting workers, and his national broadcast wherein he accused the unions ‘of conducting themselves like a parallel government,” Ajaero said.

He further recalled how Obasanjo’s government attempted to create a parallel labour centre after failing to dissolve the NLC.

The NLC President said, “And above all, his vengeful plan and mission to proscribe the Nigeria Labour Congress. When the plot failed, he created a parallel labour centre. We recall the punishment he meted out to parliamentarians like Honourable Obete Obete for not playing his script

“Given this historical fact, it is uncharitable of Chief Obasanjo to turn on the unions. But then, we respect our elders here.”

Ajaero concluded by calling for governments to stop undermining the unions for selfish political reasons. He urged the public to recognize the historical struggles of the unions and their leaders who have endured attacks while fighting for workers’ rights.

He said, “Governments should stop undermining the unions for their selfish interests. We have faced harassment, intimidation, and litigation, but we will continue to fight for workers’ rights.”

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has accused his successor, Governor Uba Sani, of diverting local government funds to purchase properties in Seychelles, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

Speaking in an interview with Freedom Radio Kaduna over the weekend, El-Rufai alleged that Sani converted local government allocations into foreign currency to acquire these assets abroad.

El-Rufai insisted that during his tenure, he never tampered with local government allocations, allowing the councils to operate independently after deductions for primary education, healthcare, and other statutory obligations.

“When I was the governor, I never took a kobo from local government funds. We gave them their funds to operate. Once we set aside SUBEB, primary healthcare, and other allocations, we gave them their money. Both the PDP and APC chairmen are alive to bear witness,” he stated.

He further alleged that under the current administration, no local government in Kaduna receives more than ₦50 million per month, claiming that the rest of the funds are diverted and exchanged into dollars for property acquisitions abroad.

He said: “As I speak, no local government in Kaduna receives more than N50 million per month. Once the allocation arrives, they siphon it, exchange it into dollars, and use it to buy properties in Seychelles, South Africa, London, and other places.

“They thought when we keep silent, we are ignorant of what is happening. But we know everything. We know how they divert the money, we know the bureau de change… Those who accuse us of stealing are doing worse than what they accuse us of doing.”

El-Rufai also accused Governor Sani of demanding kickbacks from contractors before awarding contracts, alleging that the governor takes 40% of contract sums as bribes.

“Uba goes to Abuja with contract documents to offer contractors and get 40 percent in kickbacks. We know what is happening. They thought that was how we ran the government, but they are wrong,” he alleged.

He challenged anyone who had ever given him a bribe to come forward, asserting that, unlike his successor, he never personally dealt with contractors but delegated such responsibilities to commissioners and permanent secretaries.

El-Rufai said: “I have never stolen a kobo from anybody. If there is any contractor who had given me a bribe, I challenge him to come forward. When ICPC invited many of the contractors, many of them said they had never met me. You could execute contracts worth billions without seeing me as a governor.”

Canada has updated its Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) regulations, enabling international students who graduate from college degree programs to be free from the limitation of a specific field of study requirement.

This requirement applied to graduates from colleges and universities. 

According to ‘The Economic Times’, this adjustment was part of the Canadian government’s efforts to simplify the international education sector.

The previous requirement, which was introduced in 2024, applied only to college graduates and excluded those from universities.

Reports stated that it was part of a larger move by the Canadian government to place more scrutiny on international education, as outlined in a report by ICEF Monitor.

“Graduates of college degree programs will no longer be required to meet the PGWP field of study requirement,” said CEO of the Canadian Bureau for International Education, Larissa Bezo.

The updated guidelines specify that students graduating from Canadian bachelor’s or master’s degree programs, whether from colleges or universities, were eligible for the PGWP, provided they meet the language requirements.

However, experts suggested that it may take time for colleges to regain their position in key international markets, especially as previous immigration policies have caused disruptions, with universities being less affected.

The PGWP program remains well-known and appreciated by international students, and the upcoming changes are anticipated to boost recruitment efforts at Canadian colleges.

With the field-of-study restriction lifted, colleges can now target a broader pool of international degree graduates, strengthening their recruitment capabilities in the competitive global education market.

Men in Lagos State spent an estimated ₦661billion on transactional sex in 2024, according to a survey report.

The findings, published by MO Africa Co, an advisory firm that leverages data to provide solutions across businesses and governments in Africa, shed light on the scale and complexity of a largely underground industry that thrives despite legal and societal constraints.

According to the report, ₦329 billion went directly into the hands of sex workers. Men spent ₦117 billion on gifts alone, ₦83.6 billion on entertainment, and ₦66.9 billion on hotels and short-lets.

The demand for sexual enhancers and stimulants also created a ₦16.7 billion market, with another ₦16.7 billion spent on substances and social vices.

The study surveyed 20 local government areas (LGAs) of Lagos State, capturing insights into spending patterns, social dynamics, and the market’s ripple effects on other industries.

With approximately 3.1 million sexually active men aged 20 to 69 in Lagos, the report estimated that 1.86 million of them engaged in transactional sex throughout the year.

On average, each man spent ₦36,750 per encounter, though prices varied significantly across different areas, ranging from ₦20,000 in Alimosho LGA to ₦100,000 in the affluent Eti-Osa LGA.

The study showed that transactional sex isn’t limited to traditional street prostitution. It also includes services from brothels, high-end escort services, and a growing online market where sex workers use social media and content-sharing sites to find clients.

The reasons for this vast spending stemmed from significant social and economic issues, and many men are said to seek paid sexual services for their convenience, to avoid emotional connections, and to relieve stress, steering clear of the complications that come with regular relationships.

Factors like financial struggles, city growth, and changing views on relationships are also crucial in keeping this industry alive.

Approximately 70% of sex workers identified financial necessity as their primary motivation for engaging in transactional sex, which has become a survival strategy in Lagos due to high living costs and scarce job opportunities.

Their earnings were reinvested in personal upkeep, family support, education, and small businesses.

Nigeria’s Opposition Lawmakers Coalition has flayed the impeachment plan against Governor Siminalayi Fubara by members of the Rivers State Assembly, saying that it’s invalid as the lawmakers who are loyal to FCT minister Nyesom Wike were only trying to dodge the State’s 2025 budget presentation.

Recall that the Rivers State House of Assembly earlier on Monday served a notice of alleged misconduct against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.

This comes amid rising tensions between the governor and the State Assembly over the presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill.

In a letter dated March 13, 2025, and addressed to Speaker Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, Governor Fubara had expressed his intention to present the budget on March 19, 2025, or any other day within the month after being allegedly locked out of the Assembly earlier last week.

The opposition federal lawmakers in a statement by their spokesperson, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, knocked the state lawmakers, urging Rivers people to ignore their latest antics.

Ugochinyere said the latest move of the pro-Wike lawmakers was aimed at causing crisis and raising tension in the state with the antics of commencing an illegal impeachment move.

The Federal lawmakers said there was no valid impeachment notice against the governor but a desperate strategy to divert attention from their constitutional violation of refusing to accept budget because of ‘their evil interest’ to see Rivers people suffer.

The Coalition said, “There is still a valid court judgement barring them from commencing any impeachment move and as long as that order remains, they can only dream of removing Fubara to help their political masturbation but in reality Fubara is above their dreams. These guys are local political blackmailers and propagandist , they suffered Rivers state up to Supreme court and when they won on the budget, the governor compiled and presented the budget and they ran away from receiving him meaning their interest is not the budget but to ensure the people of Rivers their own people suffer and die from hunger.

“The Governor wrote another letter to them and they claimed to have gone on recess on Friday evening and now suddenly the people who went on recess on Friday wakes up on Monday to claim they have commenced a purported impeachment, just to distract the slated budget presentation billed for this week.

“They suddenly fabricated allegations of age falsification to the same Chief Judge they once cleared just to see if they can intimidate him into joining their anti rivers plot, a move that have failed already hence their attempt to undermine the state judiciary for not supporting their plots against their own people.

“How can you fail to receive budget, run away on the agreed date and claimed to have gone on recess and suddenly in your hideout claimed to have commenced non existing impeachment on the same grounds of refusal to present budget, when you are the one running away from receiving the budget, so those allegations of imaginary offences are the desperate Abuja conceited offence for their dream of installing speaker who is Wike errand boy as governor, a move that is dead on arrival, we wish to urge rivers people to go about their business as this latest kindergarten blackmail is dead on arrival and will amount to nothing.”

The All Progressives Congress and other opposition figures on Monday lampooned ex-Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for leading a proposed coalition against President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 poll.

This comes as the plot to raise a formidable opposition against Tinubu’s re-election continued to gain traction.

El-Rufai defected to the Social Democratic Party from the APC last week, citing a growing misalignment between his values and the current direction of the ruling party as the primary reason for his decision.

In an interview with BBC Hausa after his exit from the APC, the former governor called on Atiku, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, ex-Rivers governor Rotimi Amaechi, ex-minister, Rauf Aregbesola and all the opposition leaders to join him in his new party.

El-Rufai had lately been hobnobbing with Atiku, a development that sparked speculations that the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party Presidential candidate may be working with the ex-Kaduna governor to rally a coalition against Tinubu.

Atiku has consistently emphasised the need for unity among opposition parties, noting that he is actively working to bring the opposition parties together in a coalition to oust the ruling party from power.

Also, Obi and the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Governor Bala Mohammed, agreed to work together to ensure the emergence of a new leadership in the country in 2027 after a meeting in Bauchi last week.

Some of the heavyweights said to be involved in the anti-Tinubu plot include the immediate- -past National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Adamu; ex-Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and former Senate President, Ahmed Lawan.

Others are Amaechi; former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha, ex-Cross River State governor, Liyel Imoke, ex-Sokoto governor, Aminu Tambuwal, Aregbesola and other unnamed APC and Peoples Democratic Party chieftains.

Amaechi declined comment when asked if he had plans to join the SDP.  “No comment,’’ he said.

Nwajiuba, Dalung, Adamu and Aregbesola did not respond to calls and messages on Monday.

However, a prominent figure in the Aregbesola-backed Omoluabi movement in Osun, Mr. ‘Lowo Adebiyi, said the group’s next political destination would be announced soon.

“When the time comes, we will announce it. In party formation, a lot of factors will be considered. We will announce it soon,” the former Osun State chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria assured.

A report also said top members of the defunct Congress for Progress Change, one of the founding parties of the APC, are also planning to join the SDP coalition to unseat Tinubu in 2027.

But addressing the growing plot against Tinubu, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, labelled El-Rufai’s invitation to the SDP coalition as ‘’an offer to drink from a cup tainted by vengefulness and a delusion of grandeur.’’

In a statement on Monday, the APC asserted that El-Rufai was traumatized over his inability to secure a ministerial position in Tinubu’s administration.

He said, “His claim that he exited because the party had deviated from its founding values or progressive ideology is a smokescreen to weaponise personal grievance garbed as principled dissent.  El-Rufai appears traumatized by his failure to land a ministerial position.

“Nursing a bruised ego, he now lashes out at the platform on which he rode to political prominence. Assuming that matters of political conviction had anything to do with his exit, exactly how is the Social Democratic Party, El-Rufai’s new political abode, an ideological safe haven?

“Nigerians are far more savvy than El-Rufai thinks, and they know that he is driven by raw self-interest rather than a genuine concern for the country.

“We continue to welcome millions of new members across the country, who are joining to identify with the Party’s lofty values and support President Tinubu’s bold and transformative policies now birthing sustainable growth and prosperity for our country.”

The Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the APC, Cornelius Ojelabi, dismissed the political machinations against the President, saying Tinubu is unstoppable.

He said, “Well, I don’t really see it as a gang-up against Tinubu. They are free to join a coalition or the political party of their choice. We are doing our own. But the truth is that Tinubu is unstoppable.

“His achievement is there for all to see. But you can’t do without having a few disgruntled elements.”

Ojelabi also ruled out the possibility of a coalition stopping Tinubu, saying it is an effort in futility.

“That is not a coalition they are talking about. It is a coalition that is based on their personal interests. By the time they put all their interests together, you will see that the coalition is dead on arrival.

“It is not one founded on principles. It shouldn’t be coming at a time Asiwaju is reshaping the economy of the country,” he stated.

The APC Zonal Publicity Secretary (North-West), Musa Mailafiya expressed doubts about the SDP being a viable nucleus for a formidable coalition against the ruling party.

According to him, El-Rufai is just taking some of his supporters and loyalists on a wild goose chase.

He said, “Is that how to build a coalition? Did you listen to Sule Lamido’s speech? Let us be realistic. Did you see the possibility of a coalition with the rest of the SDP? They are building a coalition based on the nomination of the SDP.

“To me, El-Rufai is just making noise. He is seeking every means to bring down the APC, the same platform through which he became a two-term governor. But we know he will remain in denial. That was why he confessed that the APC left him. But time will tell if the so-called coalition will survive.

‘I read somewhere that he is planning to bring in bigwigs like Abdulaziz Yari to join the SDP. These are people who are working day and night tirelessly for the unity of the APC. Their profiles are far bigger than El-Rufai. He is just desperate.”

A chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Buba Galadima, said the proposed coalition being championed by the former governor is built on illegality and does not serve the public interest.

Galadima in an interview with The PUNCH declared that El-Rufai is merely a placeholder for Atiku in the SDP.

The politician also disclosed that the NNPP 2023 presidential candidate, Musa Kwankwaso, was approached to join the coalition, but he declined because of the faces behind the new frontier and the timing.

He criticized the idea of making the SDP the base for the 2027 coalition, claiming that the intentions of El-Rufai and others are impure.

He stated “I don’t think El-Rufai will succeed because he lacks a track record in public relations and doesn’t have the trust of the people, as he has wronged many. This will be the downfall of SDP itself.

‘’Additionally, El-Rufai is merely a placeholder for someone else who is expected to take over the party. He does not own it. We know exactly who the true owners are, and they too carry baggage from their past actions towards other politicians and governors. They won’t succeed with this approach. You can’t try to take over a government out of anger.’’

Speaking further, the NNPP chief noted, “El-Rufai cannot lead because no one trusts him. He has a history of betrayal and that will follow him.

‘’He has made many harmful statements and hurt countless people. He ditched Obasanjo, Buhari and now Tinubu. In fact, I don’t believe God will allow him to succeed.’’

A former communication minister, Adebayo Shittu, said he had no plan to join the bloc seeking to remove Tinubu from office, adding that he was not leaving the APC.

“I’m APC pure and simple and I’m aspiring to become APC governorship candidate in Oyo State,” he said, admitting that he was being wooed to join the SDP.

He said, “Of course, I have been approached with the offer to join the SDP. But as I earlier said, I am not part of those moving in and moving out of the party. Besides, I have no reason to want to dump the APC and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

“Again, I am not part of the coalition they are talking about because it is not what we need now. Number two, Tinubu still has time to transform Nigeria into the country of our dreams.

‘’You can already see the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and other infrastructural developments by this government. These are national projects we should be proud will bring relief to Nigerians, not a coalition.’’

Former Director-General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Akin Oshuntokun, expressed concerns over the viability of a strong opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking on Arise Television on Monday, Oshuntokun noted that the presidential ambitions of key opposition figures, particularly Obi and Atiku, pose a significant challenge to forming a united front against the APC.

Oshuntokun pointed out the difficulty in bringing together candidates like Obi and Atiku, both of whom contested the 2023 election and are likely to seek the presidency again in 2027.

He emphasized that Obi enjoys strong support from the youth and the Obidient movement, while Atiku has backing from the Northern political establishment.

He warned that unless one of them steps down from seeking to be the presidential standard-bearer, a repeat of the 2023 scenario—where opposition forces were divided—could occur.

Oshuntokun suggested that for the opposition to succeed, Obi might need to reconsider his presidential ambition and instead focus on building a formidable political movement.

“Some people have been promoting the idea of having somebody new altogether to come up as the candidate. So the problem they are going to face is how to solidify that alliance, coalition.

“So what do you do with somebody like Obi? It is a big dilemma. Some will say Obi should run with Atiku and it is a very good argument. But in the process, he is going to lose a lot of credibility among the young people,” Oshuntokun stated.

He cautioned that Obi may struggle to replicate his 2023 success if he runs independently without forming alliances.

“Obi is in a difficult position. There will be pressure on him to run as a vice-presidential candidate alongside a Northern politician. However, the Obidient Movement strongly opposes this idea, as they see him as their chosen leader,” Oshuntokun stated.

He acknowledged calls for a fresh candidate to lead the coalition but highlighted the challenge of unifying opposition forces.

“Some argue that Obi should run with Atiku, which is a valid point. However, doing so could cost him credibility among young voters,” he noted.

“If I were him, I would prioritize building a strong political movement rather than insisting on a presidential bid. Either way, he will face criticism. If he chooses to go solo with the Labour Party again, he is unlikely to achieve the same momentum. In 2023, he took the establishment by surprise, but this time, they are prepared,” he added.

On Atiku, Oshuntokun remarked, “Atiku remains a major player in Northern politics. I cannot see him staying politically active without aiming for the presidency. However, in politics, anything can happen—even 24 hours can change the game.”

Oshuntokun suggested that the APC’s 2015 coalition strategy could be replicated if opposition figures demonstrate the willingness to set aside personal ambitions and resolve internal disputes. He emphasised that Tinubu’s disposition to conducting a free and fair election, as well as the overall performance of his administration, would also be key factors in 2027.

He pointed out that unexpected events could impact the political landscape, citing the Chibok girls’ abduction as a critical moment that weakened former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and fueled public demand for change in 2015.

Moreover, he stressed that for the opposition to stand a real chance in 2027, dissatisfaction with Tinubu’s government must be strong within the North.

“If there is any hope of unseating the APC, the core opposition must come from the North, as discontent in that region would significantly weaken Tinubu’s chances.

“I fear that several people are coming on board to seek the presidency. To have the kind of 2015 alliance, the quality of people coming together matters and their capacity to resolve irreconcilable differences also matters.

‘’If there will be any hope to unseat the present APC-led government, the core of opposition has to come from the North not being happy with Tinubu,” he stated.

An SDP chieftain in Ondo State, Shola Agboola emphasised that the planned coalition is bound to fail because the SDP is divided.

Agboola claimed that regardless of who joined the SDP, the National Working Committee led by its current National Chairman Shehu Musa Gabam, is illegal.

He stated, “Ordinarily when political heavyweights join a particular party, that party should consider itself fortunate, as they are expected to add value.

‘’However, you cannot just accept someone who aims to hijack your party. This has happened to us before, so we are taking our time.

“Sincerely speaking, the Social Democratic Party is factionalized. There are two factions: Faction A, which is the original, consists of the bonafide members of the party, chaired by Simon Adesina.

‘’The other faction, the parallel group, which I call faction B, is led by Gabam. Unfortunately, Gabam is heading a kangaroo National Working Committee of the SDP.

“I will tell you to inquire from Gabam when and how he joined SDP. How did he rise to become the current national chairman? It’s very simple: Whether it was done correctly, through counterfeit means, or whatever. He was the secretary of the SDP, who at a certain point, declared himself national chairman.

“He was never elected to that position. So, you can see the imbalance that has been pervasive in the SDP for quite some time. So, I am not impressed by any of the so-called political juggernauts as long as they lack sincerity of purpose.”

But the SDP National Secretary, Olu Agunloye, denied there is a crisis in the SDP.

Agunloye, who had filed a petition with the Inspector-General of Police regarding an attempted assassination and efforts to forcefully remove him from office, stated that the SDP would welcome more political heavyweights and urged party leaders to support the new entrants.

He stated, “There is no leadership crisis in our great party, the Social Democratic Party under the leadership of Alhaji Shehu Gabam, the National Chairman.

‘’The current situation that is noteworthy is that there is a much-welcomed influx of politicians including high profile elites into our party and we are expecting more to come.’’

On the plot to remove him, the SDP scribe said, “No, I do not think El-Rufai is behind it. The much-respected former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai only joined SDP on 10 March 2025.’’

Meanwhile, a former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the APC and a key strategist in the ongoing proposed coalition of opposition parties, Salihu Lukman, has hinted that his followers and several North-West political bigwigs are still consulting with the leadership of the SDP.

 Lukman, an ally of El-Rufai, explained that there is a need to put certain things into proper perspective before pitching tent with the new party to avoid a repeat of the mistakes many aggrieved members made.

He said, “After discovering that APC is far gone, almost beyond redemption, the project is basically to bring all leaders of the opposition and the disgruntled, what we call internally displaced politicians in the APC to come together and try this time to produce a truly alternative party that will really promote political competition in the country.

“The frustration of Nigerians with the current democracy is that everything is predictable. You can predict, if we continue like this, Asiwaju is going to be the presidential candidate of APC in 2027. You can also predict all the first-time governors will emerge as the candidate for APC, whether they are popular in their states or not.

“All legislators at federal and state levels, whether they have performed or not too. So long as they are in the good books of Asiwaju and the party leadership, they will be returned. So, we may move if the SDP meets our conditions. We are still in discussion. If they meet it tomorrow, fine.”

He bemoaned what he called El-Rufai’s hasty defection to the SDP.

Human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, said on Monday that the youth corps member  Ushie Uguamaye who criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over hardship is under tremendous pressure to apologise.

Sowore, who accompanied the corps member to the NYSC Local Government Inspector’s office in Lagos alongside a team of lawyers, said government officials, including ministers, had been reaching out to pressure Uguamaye to apologise.

Speaking on Arise TV on Monday night, Sowore insisted that the corps members committed no crime by exercising their freedom of expression in criticising Tinubu’s administration.

In a now-viral TikTok video, a Lagos-based corp member, Uguamaye, on Saturday criticised President Bola Tinubu’s government, expressing frustration over Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions, lamenting the high inflation and economic hardship.

She also criticised the President by describing him as a “terrible leader” while questioning the government’s efforts to alleviate the hardship faced by the citizens.

The corp member complained, “I am coming from a supermarket where I went to get foodstuff, and everything has gone up again. It’s just like every single week, prices keep increasing.

“I want to know, what is the government doing about this increase? If a lot of Nigerians come out and start speaking about what we are going through, maybe changes will be made in the government.

“I don’t know if there is any other president that is as terrible as you (Mr Tinubu). But you (Mr Tinubu) are such a terrible president.”

She later alleged that she had received threats over her comments, sparking widespread debate on free speech and political dissent in Nigeria.

She also shared a screenshot of an invitation from the NYSC, summoning her to appear before the LGI office at Eti Osa 3 on Monday at 10:00 a.m

On Monday, Sowore, in a video shared on X on Monday, revealed that he had met with Uguamaye in Lagos and would be accompanying her to the NYSC Local Government Inspector’s office alongside a team of attorneys.

“The journey with youth corper, Ushie Rita Uguamaye, has commenced in Lagos.

“She is scheduled to appear before the LGI (Local Government Inspector) today and we will escort her to their offices. We are all en route with attorneys,” Sowore captioned the video.

Giving an update later, the activist wrote: “We arrived at Eti-Osa LGI offices of the National Youth Service Corps with youth corper, Ushie Rita Uguamaye in Lagos. She was scheduled to appear before the LGI today and we escorted her to their offices with attorneys, Festus Ogun, Adeyinka Oyesomi and Ojienoh Justice but LGI officials had absconded failing to show up throughout our stay. We will be back! #RevolutionNow #tinubuisaterriblepresident.”

Meanwhile, another activist, and journalist, Agba Jalingo, urged Nigerians and authorities to show  Uguamaye empathy and support instead of condemning her for the viral video.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Jalingo said Uguamaye experienced personal tragedy linked to poor government policies when her father, Raphael Ushie, a Chief Inspector of the Nigeria Immigration Service, died in May 2019 after protesting the demolition of his palm plantation for the Obudu International Airport project.

Jalingo explained, “There was a protest by youths and women of the Ukambi community over the demolition of their community farmlands for the Obudu International cargo and passenger airport.

“According to a CrossRiverWatch report, her dad, Ushie, who was also the younger brother of Governor Ayade’s physician, Dr Vincent Ushie, died after he was rushed from a hospital in Obudu to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, having participated in the protest.”

He recounted that Ushie, who was approaching retirement, had invested his life savings in a palm plantation in Ukambi.

Upon hearing that demolitions had begun in neighbouring communities and were nearing Ukambi, he hurried home to protect his land.

“He arrived and went straight to the farm in his uniform and met the bulldozer nearing his plantation. He faced the operator and tried to prevent him from encroaching on his land before other community members joined him. 

“He participated fully in the day’s protest, and the demolition collapsed afterwards. He was rushed to a hospital in Obudu. The matter couldn’t be handled there, and he was moved to UCTH in Calabar, where he passed on,” Jalingo recounted.

Jalingo revealed that despite losing her father and their farm, Uguamaye’s family received no compensation, leaving her mother to struggle with her education.

“And this young girl goes to the market and comes back to complain about what everyone in the country, including the President’s supporters, are grumbling about, and some persons are calling for her head?” Jalingo questioned.

“If you were in her shoes—you live in a country where the system kills your dad for no reason when you are only 19, your mother suffers to see you through school, and when you try to express your frustrations publicly, the same nation that killed your father threatens to kill you too—so where is the freedom of expression?” he added.

Jalingo urged Nigerians to show empathy rather than condemn her.

He stated, “I think that rather than pushing this young girl into additional complications, well-meaning Nigerians should rather sympathise with her ordeal and rise up to support her and the family to regain the missing gaps in their lives.”

Meanwhile, a senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Temitope Ajayi, has called for the immediate expulsion of the corps member from the NYSC.

Ajayi, in a statement on Monday, emphasised the importance of upholding the nation’s long-cherished values of dignity, discipline, and mutual respect among citizens.

“I suggested that blatant disregard for NYSC by-laws and established protocols should be met with the full weight of NYSC disciplinary measures, particularly in light of a corps member’s recent act of imprudence,” Ajayi stated.

He added, “It is well established that the maximum penalty under NYSC regulations is expulsion—nothing beyond the existing rules and guidelines has been suggested or implied.

“The NYSC scheme is a historic and valued national programme that should not be undermined by acts of indiscipline. It stands as a testament to our victory over division and our continued efforts to build a stronger, united nation.”

he Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has lampooned Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, following his return to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Adediran, who was the Lagos PDP governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections,  announced his return to  APC at a news conference on Monday in Lagos.

Adediran, leader of the Lagos4Lagos Movement, announced his resignation from the PDP on March 3, 2025, citing a lack of discipline in the party and betrayal by its leaders.

He was previously a member of the APC before joining the PDP.

Reacting to his defection in an interview with our correspondent on Monday, the Deputy Chairman of the PDP in Lagos, Tai Benedict, said Jandor was never  “our own” and was allegedly planted by the APC to destabilise the PDP.

Benedict said, “He was never our own. He was an agent sent to our party to destroy our party. The very first time I saw him, I told him to explain – that you are an agent of the APC, sent to our party because they knew we had a bright chance to win that election.

“Although he denied it, eventually, I was vindicated.  This was somebody who came to the party, and the first thing he did was to start accusing the leaders and the next thing he did was to disorganise a united party to the national level until he got the ticket of our party from the back.

“You know, it’s very unfortunate, very unfortunate. We have never had it so badly. But all I have to say is we thank God. We’re okay with his exit.

“He came, he singularly picked his running mate. It has never happened. He said because Funke (Akindele) had over three million followers on Instagram, that will make his victory (at the 2023 governorship poll) easier. But we had only 62,000 votes.”

“For me, I thank God that he has left our party. It’s not a good thing to lose membership in parties, I quite agree with that. It’s not good to lose your members to other parties. But there are some members that if they leave, you’ll be happy. One of such members is Jandor.”

Meanwhile, the APC in the state has welcomed Jandor, describing him as a vibrant young man who only traced his roots back home.

The party’s publicity secretary, Seye Oladejo, in an interview with The PUNCH on Monday, said the APC was ready to work with Jandor.

Oladejo said, “Like all politicians, Jandor came to the party with ambition. At the time, that could be realised quickly on the platform of the conservatives, which has been rejected at the polls several times by the people of Lagos.

“So, now that he’s back, we’re happy to work with him. We appreciate the fact that Lagos has been better and safer in the hands of the progressives, who have enjoyed uninterrupted trust and confidence from the people.

“We believe in our party that there is sufficient opportunity for him, like many others, to contribute his quota to the continual success of our government and growth of our party.”

He said the party was expecting more politicians to defect to the APC.

“In the days ahead, we’re expecting more decamps as we approach the next election.”

Dismissing the PDP’s claim that the APC planted Jandor to destablise the opposition, Oladejo said, “It shows how inept ideas this so-called opposition is.”

“We’re talking about a party that’s perpetually in crisis. We’re talking about a party that can’t organise itself, and they want to govern. The electorates in Lagos are informed, they are sophisticated.

“They’re just looking for excuses to justify their incompetence, and the fact that they’re incapable of mobilising whatever modicum of support they have for election victory.”

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has approved the revocation of 4,794 land titles in the FCT, over non-payment of ground rent, estimated at N6.9bn for more than 40 years.

This was contained in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, on Monday, following a press briefing by the Director of Lands, Chijioke Nwanwkoeze, on Monday.

According to the statement, a total of 8,375 property owners in the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama and Guzape, had not paid ground rent in the last 43 years.

He further stated that the property owners owed a total of N6,967,980,119, while 4,794 land titles are in default of ground rent payment for 10 years and above. 

Olayinka noted that the revocation followed multiple publications and announcements on broadcast media by the FCT Administration since 2023, adding that payment of ground rents was provided by extant laws.

“It should be noted that the FCTA made numerous publications in national newspapers and announcements on broadcast media since 2023, calling on defaulters to pay up all outstanding bills and ground rents. All these yielded little response, as several allottees failed to pay.

“It is important to state that payment of ground rent on landed properties in the FCT is founded on extant legislation. It is clearly stipulated in the terms and conditions of the grant of Right of Occupancy, and it is due for payment on the first day of January, each year, without demand.

“Consequently, a list of land titles in default of payment of ground rent has been compiled in the ten oldest districts of Phase 1 of the Federal Capital City (FCC). They are; Central Area District (Cadastral Zone A00), Garki I (Cadastral Zone A01), Wuse I (Cadastral Zone A02), Garki II (Cadastral Zone A03), Asokoro (Cadastral Zone A04), Maitama (Cadastral Zone A05), Maitama (Cadastral Zone A06), Wuse II (Cadastral Zone A07), Wuse II (Cadastral Zone A08) and Guzape (Cadastral Zone A09).

“As of the end of 2024 and up till today, a total of N6,967,980,119 is owed as ground rent by 8,375 property owners. In other words, a total of 8,375 property owners have not paid ground rent up to last year, 2024.

“A total of 4,794 land titles are in default of ground rent payment for 10 years and above. Meaning that in the listed districts, 4,794 property owners have not paid ground rent in the last 10 years. This is in contravention of the terms and conditions of grant of the Rights of Occupancy, in line with the provisions of Section 28, Subsections 5(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act,” part of the statement read.

Olayinka also stated that the land titles of defaulters for 10 years of payment and above have been immediately revoked, while those under 10 years had a grace of 21 days within which to make payments, after which the titles will also be revoked.

“Consequently, the titles of the properties in default of payment of Ground Rent for 10 years and above have been revoked forthwith. A grace of 21 Days is also given to title holders that are in default of payment of ground rent for between one and ten years, after which the affected titles will be revoked.”

Meanwhile, the FCT Minister has directed the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority, Richard Dauda, to immediately effect full payment of compensation for residents of Gishiri Community or be sacked.

Wike gave the directive during a meeting with members of the community, at his official residence in Abuja on Monday.

The meeting followed a demolition exercise, supervised by the minister, to clear structures obstructing the construction of Arteria Road N16 linking the community with the Katampe District.

Members of the community, however, alleged that the FCDA, through the Department of Resettlement and Compensation, only paid N72,000 as compensation, rather than the sum approved by the minister.

They further stated that the department refused to pay non-indigenes any compensation, despite having their houses demolished.

Enraged, the minister ordered the full payment of the N1.3bn approved as compensation payments to the residents, noting that he had increased the amount from the previous N655m, because of the economic hardship.

He further asked the secretary to ensure non-indigenes also received payments, adding that the government did not pay compensation based on ethnicity.

“Go and pay people their money, and the exact amount. If you are doing anything, and I find out, you will regret it. Pay people their normal money.

“And I also hear, and I’ve told you, don’t do that, don’t tell anybody in this world that they are non-indigenes. I’ve warned you. If I have a property, and a road is passing there, why would you not pay me my money? Why would you say that I’m a non-indigene? Where does it work?

“I built a house, or I built a store, for example, and then a road is passing there. You are telling me you won’t compensate me that I’m a non-indigene? What kind of mentality is that? You people should stop this. I will not do that, I won’t. The government does not pay compensation based on where you come from. Compensation is based on who has a property there,” the minister said.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the suspended coordinator of the Edo State Public Safety Response Team (PSRT), Kelly Okungbowa (a.k.a Ebo Stone).

The official was arrested on Monday by EFCC operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate, as confirmed in a statement by the anti-graft agency.

Naija News reports that Okungbowa was arrested after a viral video of him emerged where he was seen spraying and mutilating the Naira at a bar on March 9, 2025.

The EFCC confirmed that he would be arraigned in court as soon as investigations are completed.

“Operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday March 17, 2025 arrested Kelly Okungbowa (a.k.a Ebo Stone) for alleged naira abuse.

“Okungbowa, who until recently was the coordinator of the Edo State Public Safety Response Team , PSRT, now suspended by the State Government, was arrested owing to a viral video where he was seen spraying and mutilating the Naira at a bar on March 9, 2025.

“He will be charged to court as soon as investigations are completed,” the statement reads.

It would be recalled that the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, had last week, announced the indefinite suspension of the Public Safety Response Team (PSRT), which Kelly Okungbowa heads.

Naija News reports that this decision follows several complaints regarding the team’s conduct.

Earlier, PSRT officers allegedly attempted to take control of a moving vehicle in the Ring Road area of Benin City.

This action resulted in the driver losing control, veering off the road, and crashing into a PoS kiosk, tragically leading to the death of a young girl.

In a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhilor, it has been confirmed that the task force is now suspended indefinitely.