Organised Labour has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reverse policies on the floating of the national currency and rising energy costs, citing the need to reduce the economic hardship faced by Nigerians and businesses.

Naija News reports that the appeal was made in Ibadan, Oyo State, during the 6th Quadrennial and 13th National Delegates Conference of the National Union of Shop and Distributive Employees (NUSDE).

Speaking at the event, NUSDE President, Aminu Megbontowon, highlighted the significant challenges posed by the current economic policies.

“Nigerian workers and businesses are experiencing tough times due to some of the policies implemented by this government. The high cost of energy has severely impacted production, services, and workers’ welfare,” he stated.

Megbontowon criticized the soaring prices of petroleum products, which now exceed N1,000 per liter, and the increased electricity tariffs, which have risen from N68 to N227.

He emphasized that these costs are unsustainable for an oil-producing nation like Nigeria, especially when the purchasing power of its citizens remains alarmingly low.

He warned that the rising costs of production and living are driving many Nigerians into poverty, resulting in widespread job losses and the collapse of numerous businesses.

“Many factories are unable to sell their products, leading to redundancies and closures. This has a direct impact on our membership as workers lose their jobs daily,” he added.

The NUSDE President called for urgent government intervention, including the reversal of deregulation policies and the reduction of energy costs.

He also urged the President to end the devaluation and floating of the Naira, which has made imported goods and raw materials unaffordable.

“Nigeria’s economy needs cheaper energy, single-digit interest rates, and basic infrastructure to support production and services industries. The government must also embark on an ambitious industrialization plan to grow the economy,” he said.

Other demands include drastic cuts in electricity and petroleum product prices, affordable lending rates, and massive investments in infrastructure such as roads, refineries, schools, and hospitals to boost economic productivity and improve the quality of life for Nigerians.

Organised Labour has warned that failure to address these pressing issues could lead to further economic deterioration and increased hardship across the nation.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says Nigeria must appoint new, credible leaders for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with short tenure to prevent corruption and re-establish trust.

Obasanjo spoke during the Chinua Achebe leadership forum held at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

In his keynote address at the forum titled ‘Leadership failure and state capture in Nigeria,’ Obasanjo described the 2023 general elections as a “travesty”.

The former president said reforming the electoral system is a key issue for the country, adding that INEC officials need thorough vetting to prevent partisan appointments.

“As a matter of urgency, we must make sure the INEC chairperson and his or her staff are thoroughly vetted,” Obasanjo said.

“The vetting exercise should yield dispassionate, non-partisan actors with impeccable reputations.

“Nigeria must ensure the appointment of new credible INEC leadership at the federal, state, local government, and municipal—city, town, and village levels—with short tenures—to prevent undesirable political influence and corruption and re-establish trust in the electoral systems by its citizens.

“The INEC chairperson must not only be absolutely above board, but he must also be transparently independent and incorruptible.”

Obasanjo said Nigeria must prevent electoral interference at every level, protecting elections from foreign and local malevolent actors to safeguard democratic integrity.

He added that there should be an implementation of clearly defined financial regulations for political campaigns to ensure transparency and accountability.

“On the local level, we should implement and enforce clearly defined financial regulations for political campaigns and establish effective control and enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with financial regulations,” the former president advocated.

“And intensify activities to prepare and secure the voting infrastructure, such as safeguarding the technology used to collate, transmit, verify, and disseminate election results.”

Obasanjo alleged that INEC intentionally failed to utilise the bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS) and election viewing portal (IReV) technologies during the 2023 presidential election.

“The BVAS and IReV are two technological innovations that, prior to 2023, were celebrated for their potential to enhance the accuracy and transparency of our election results, eliminate the threat of election rigging, and boost public trust in electoral outcomes,” he said.

“These technologies were touted by the INEC chairman himself. In the end, these technologies did not fail.

“INEC willfully failed to use or implement them, which resulted in widespread voting irregularities. It was a case of inviting the fox into the henhouse”

Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Ondo state governor-elect, says he wishes Rotimi Akeredolu, his late principal, was alive to witness his victory.

Aiyedatiwa, the incumbent governor of Ondo, secured victory in all 18 LGAs, garnering 366,781 votes to defeat his closest rival, Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 117,845 votes.

Aiyedatiwa took over the leadership of the state after Akeredolu died from protracted prostate cancer in 2023.

Speaking in an interview on Channels Television after his victory, Aiyedatiwa said Akeredolu wanted him as his successor.

“How I wish he was present in that banquet hall when I was declared in the company of other brother governors. That would have been really good, but God knows better,” he said.

“It is so sad and painful that he didn’t live to see the manifestation of what he himself spoke about. I do refer to him sometimes as the man who saw tomorrow.

“He knew that I was going to succeed him as governor. He knew because he wanted me to and was ready to give me the full backing.”

Governor Umar Namadi’s government of Jigawa State has introduced a new digital tax payment system to enhance revenue collection and address the issue of multiple taxation.

Dr Nasiru Sabo Idris, the Chairman of the Jigawa State Internal Revenue Service (JIRS), announced the launch of the Jigawa Integrated Tax Administration System (JIGTAS), which is intended to modernize the processes of revenue mobilization and payment throughout the state.

During a recent event in Dutse, Idris highlighted that a workshop was conducted for accountants and revenue mobilizers from various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to improve their skills in effectively utilizing the new system.

The JIGTAS system is specifically designed to facilitate the collection and remittance of internally generated revenue (IGR) across MDAs.

In a related development, the Akwa Ibom State Government has announced plans to fully digitize all tax collection processes starting in the 2025 fiscal year.

The Executive Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Revenue Board, Okon Okon, disclosed this during a media briefing in Uyo on Sunday.

He explained that the implementation of electronic assessment, e-tax clearance processes, e-filing of tax returns, and the automation of registration and reporting processes is expected to significantly enhance revenue generation in the state once the digitalization initiatives are put into action.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has hailed the re-election of Ondo State Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in the November 16, 2024, gubernatorial election as a resounding vote of confidence in the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Governor Aiyedatiwa, who contested under the APC banner, was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after the collation of results concluded on Sunday.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, Governor Oyebanji described the victory as an endorsement of good governance under the APC’s administration in Ondo State and highlighted the people’s trust in the party’s leadership. He praised the electorate for supporting the APC since it came to power in Ondo in 2016, attributing the success to verifiable governance achievements.

“This triumph places a renewed responsibility on Governor Aiyedatiwa to intensify efforts in delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Ondo State, who have shown unwavering support,” Oyebanji noted.

The Ekiti governor also emphasized that the victory reflected Nigerians’ faith in President Tinubu’s socioeconomic policies, expressing optimism that the administration’s programs would lead to lasting development and economic prosperity.

He commended APC’s National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje; the Progressive Governors’ Forum; the APC National Campaign Council; and other stakeholders for their contributions to the electoral success.

Oyebanji lauded Ondo residents for their peaceful conduct during the election and praised INEC for improvements in election administration, especially the prompt release of results. He also recognized the professionalism of security agencies in ensuring a smooth electoral process.

He urged Governor Aiyedatiwa to remain magnanimous in victory by reaching out to his opponents for inclusive governance. Oyebanji specifically thanked Ekiti indigenes in Ondo for supporting Aiyedatiwa and expressed confidence that they would benefit from the governor’s leadership.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Ekiti State, I congratulate my dear brother, Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa, on this well-deserved victory. We look forward to a stronger partnership between our states for mutual benefit,” he said.

Oyebanji also extended congratulations to President Tinubu for his leadership and efforts in improving the electoral process, as well as to the APC and the people of Ondo for choosing continuity under the party’s governance.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has congratulated Lucky Aiyedatiwa for winning the Ondo governorship election, commending the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and others who played critical roles in the successful conduct of the election. 

Aiyedatiwa, the incumbent governor of the state, was declared as the winner of the election around 2:30 pm on Sunday, defeating his closest rival Ajayi Agboola who flew the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s flag in the poll.

Minutes after the declaration, the APC said the victory was a testament that Aiyedatiwa’s policies were in alignment with the people’s wishes.

“The All Progressives Congress (APC) heartily congratulates the Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, on his re-election,” APC spokesman Felix Morka said in a Sunday statement.

“Your Excellency’s resounding victory in the just-concluded Ondo state gubernatorial election is a clear attestation that your administration’s policies and programmes, and campaign message of hope and consolidation have resonated deeply with the electorate.

“With this renewed mandate, we are confident that you will build upon your accomplishments, and take the state to even greater heights of social and economic development for the benefit of the good people of Ondo state.”

The APC also thanked INEC and other stakeholders for their “professionalism and patriotism” in the conduct of the poll.

“We commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies for their professionalism and patriotism in the discharge of their constitutional roles during the election,” Morka said.

“We thank the Ondo electorate for their sustained and highly valued support of our great Party.”

The Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled that the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) must refrain from using the NBC Act and Nigeria Broadcasting Code to impose fines, threaten sanctions, or intimidate broadcast stations and independent media outlets across the country.

Delivering judgment, Justice Nicholas Oweibo declared that the NBC lacks the legal authority to unilaterally impose penalties, including fines, license suspensions, or any form of punishment on media organizations for disseminating diverse information on public-interest issues.

The ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).

The certified true copy of the judgment, dated June 13, 2024, was obtained last week.

The case was initiated after the NBC fined Trust TV, Multichoice Nigeria Limited, NTA-Startimes Limited, and TelcCom Satellite Limited N5 million each in 2022 for airing documentaries on terrorism.

The NBC alleged that the programs glorified banditry, undermined national security, and violated the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

Justice Oweibo addressed the objections raised by the NBC, affirming that SERAP and CJID had the legal standing (locus standi) to file the lawsuit.

He cited the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules of 2009, which prioritize public interest litigation and eliminate strict requirements for locus standi.

In his judgment, Justice Oweibo held that, “The issue of the locus standi of SERAP and CJID need to be resolved first being a threshold issue. It is trite that the Statement of Claim must disclose the Plaintiff’s interest sufficient to clothe him/her with the requisite capacity to sue.”

Justice Oweibo also stated that, “SERAP and CJID have been vested with locus standi. Looking at the provisions of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 and particularly the preambles to the Rules, the general requirement of locus standi has been done away with. SERAP and CJID are not meddlesome interlopers.

“I have looked at the affidavit in support of the suit, which in this case stands in place of a Statement of Claim. Considering the core mandates of SERAP and CJID and the affidavit in support of their suit, it is to be seen that this is a public interest case.”

The court ruled that NBC’s actions breached the constitutional rights to freedom of expression, access to information, media freedom, and fair hearing as enshrined in sections 22, 36, and 39 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended).

SERAP deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare said, “We urge the NBC to demonstrate its commitment to the rule of law by immediately obeying and respecting the judgment of the Court.

“We also urge President Bola Tinubu to direct the Ministry of Information and Culture, the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and the NBC to immediately disclose the details of the Twitter agreement, as ordered by the court.

“The immediate enforcement and implementation of the judgment will be a victory for the rule of law, freedom of expression and media freedom in Nigeria.”

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa says his victory in the just-ended governorship poll is a call to deliver more for the people of Ondo State.

Aiyedatiwa won the Ondo governor election which was concluded on Sunday, beating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Ajayi Agboola in the largely peaceful exercise.

Speaking to reporters after he was declared as the winner of the poll, the Ondo governor promised better days for residents of the South-West state.

According to him, having visited every part of the state during campaigns, he is more in tune with the needs of the people.

“The people should expect better service. And that’s what they’ve been looking forward to because I campaigned across the entire local government,” he said.

“The only candidate that went through the entire local government, not just the capital city of the local government, all communities. In almost all the communities we visited, we saw the roads and the way they look like, the environment they are living in, we heard their voices, we read their messages and we listened and responded to questions and their yearnings and aspirations.

“So, they have that belief that their hope is in me. They believe that whatever we say is what we will do. We will not tell them what we cannot do. We will do all that we have promised within the limited resources available to us.”

The new terror group, Lukarawa, set up camps in 10 local government areas of Sokoto and Bauchi states before its operations became known to the public three weeks ago, Sunday PUNCH reports.

According to sources, members of the terror group initially established camps in some villages bordering Nigeria and Niger Republic, including Gwanaguano, Mulawa, Wassinya, and Turigaic communities.

They eventually infiltrated Nigeria and set up camps in different communities, especially in Gudu and Tangaza LGAs of Sokoto in 2018.

Some leaders of the group, according to credible sources, include Abu Khadijah, Abdulrahaman (Idi), Dadi Gumba, Muhammed Abu, Usman Shehu, Abu Yusuf, Musa Walia, Ibrahim Suyaka, Ba Sulhu, and Idris Taklakse.

Our correspondents learnt that they use Hausa, Fulfulde, and Arabic languages in their preaching while they name their camp, Darul Islam.

A source said, “Their ages are between 18 and 50 years. They have been attacking villages in Gudu, Tangaza, Illela, and other local governments to collect taxes, though they did not kill anyone until the recent Mera attack.

“They will count the number of cattle in their custody and calculate the tax based on the percentage which they will take from the cattle,” a community leader in Tangaza LG said.

A researcher with the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Dr Murtala Rufa’i, told Sunday PUNCH that the group had been planning to establish its caliphate for over 25 years.

He said though members of the group had camps in different communities in about 10 LGAs in Sokoto and Kebbi states, they did not stay in a particular place as they were always on the move.

“They are always on the move using their motorcycles. You can see them today in Bachaka or Kangiwa and see them tomorrow at Bachaka Tambo and the next day at Bachaka in Gudu. This makes it very difficult for our security operatives to locate them unless their paths cross,” the don added.

He disclosed that the group had between 1,500 and 1,800 followers, including clerics and youths in the Tangaza and Gudu axis, the ancestral home of the Lukarawa leaders.

Rufa’i said the group was dislodged by combined security agents around 2020, but later regrouped in December 2023.

“Since then, Lukarawa’s activities have spread to about 10 local government areas which include Tangaza, Gudu, Illela, Gwadabawa, Kware, Silame, Binji in Sokoto State and Augie and Kangiwa, Argungu, in Kebbi State,” he stated.

Lukarawa, according to the don, is a Malian-based group known in the Sahel as Jama’atu Muslimina with members cutting across different tribes and sects.

He identified the leader of the group as Ahmadu Kofa, whose ancestors were originally Nigerians from a community called Kofa under the old Kebbi empire.

Rufa’i said, “He is from Kofa. He has siblings like Ibrahim Kofa, Umar Kofa. They are presently in Mali, but their ancestors were Nigerians, from the Kebbi empire.

“Their parents and grandparents like Umar Kofa and Sa’idu Kofa had all acquired their religious knowledge in a place called Balle, the present headquarters of Gudu LGA of Sokoto.”

He noted that the group was luring locals with money, farm inputs, and pumping machines, adding that some of the people joined Lukarawa because of hunger.

Rufa’i described members of the group as criminals hiding under religion.

The don said some of the residents of the affected communities were afraid to report members of the Lukarawa because they threatened them.

“When they came back, they assembled the people of those areas and told them they were using drones to monitor them and their activities. They threatened to kill anyone who tried to report them. So, the locals are in perpetual fear. They don’t discuss their issue,” he stated.

Narrating his experience, a resident of Gongono in Tangaza LGA, who identified himself as Mainasara, confirmed the presence of Lukarawa in the area.

He said, “The Lukarawa people, a few days ago, abducted and killed one of our youths whom they accused of having a link with security operatives.”

Counter-terrorism centre allays fear

However, the National Counter-Terrorism Centre has estimated that Lukarawa had about 150 fighters, describing the group as insignificant.

The Centre attributed the group’s current recruitment drive to efforts aimed at increasing their numbers.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, the National Coordinator of the centre, Major General Adamu Laka, downplayed fears surrounding the group’s presence, stating that the threat was not as severe as perceived.

Laka assured Nigerians that, with ongoing counter-terrorism efforts, the Lukarawa group would soon be eliminated as a security concern.

He also cautioned Nigerians against spreading fears in the minds of the populace about the group.

Laka said, “Their total number is not more than 150 to 200. However, they are looking for more people to join them, and Nigeria is resilient, that’s why the issue came up. They are looking for people to recruit.”

He also doused fears that the group might expand its activities beyond its current location, insisting they lacked the numerical strength.

Laka added that intelligence agencies were working tirelessly to deliver timely and actionable intelligence to prevent and counter threats the group poses.

Security experts call for decisive step

A security expert, Kabir Adamu, attributed the emergence of Lukarawa to a lack of intelligence and coordination by the security agencies.

He said security agencies should have taken note of the activities of the group and crushed it before now.

“This group, a couple of years ago, killed a member of our security forces. They attacked the Tangaza LGA of Sokoto State several times. So, they are not new. We should have taken note of developments in the Sahel region where we have seen terrorist groups taking strongholds across the Sahel.

“If we had taken note of that, we would have seen the steady progress and incursion of this group into what has been described as the littoral states, the states that share borders with the ocean,” he stated.

Adamu noted that security agencies should have planned to prevent the incursion of the terror group into Nigeria, warning that other new terror groups might have infiltrated the country as well.

He called on security agencies to implement the provisions of the national counterterrorism strategy.

What is missing in Nigeria’s security system, according to Adamu, is intelligence and coordination, stating that the agencies are more interested in operations.

Adamu added, “They’ve forgotten their role as coordinators. They should have galvanised us and made sure that every Nigerian understands the provisions of that national counterterrorism strategy and supports it.

“But the coordinators are more interested in operations than actually doing their work, which is the coordination of our national counterterrorism strategy.”

Also, a former director of the Department of State Services, Mike Ejiofor, advised security agencies to take decisive steps and prevent the new group from forming alliances with bandits in the region.

He said, “The government should take decisive action to uproot them before they take root now that they are only in Sokoto and Bauchi states. They should not be allowed to ally with any bandit groups, because if that happens, it becomes a greater security challenge for the northwest and the country at large.

“The government should also call for support from the local populace and the society for necessary information, which is converted to intelligence to get the group uprooted.”

A retired brigadier general in the Nigerian Army, Bashir Adewinbi, attributed the presence of the terror group to the country’s porous borders and the compromise of some people.

Adewinbi said the porosity of Nigerian borders made it possible for criminals to infiltrate border communities to perpetrate evil.

He said, “Our borders are too porous; anybody can come from outside and do anything they like in Nigeria. It’s not supposed to be like that. They should fortify our borders, seriously. Any criminal can come in and organise whatever they like.

“The security agencies should first of all flush the terrorists out and make sure they don’t have freedom to operate. They should also monitor our borders.”

Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian President, has conferred Nigeria’s second-highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger on Narendra Modi, the Indian Prime Minister.

Tinubu made the announcement during a bilateral meeting with the Indian leader at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President stated that the honour was “to signify our appreciation of India as Nigeria’s partner.”

Modi, who arrived in Abuja on Saturday evening, was received at the forecourt of the Villa at around 10:20 a.m. on Sunday.

Upon arrival, the Indian leader was welcomed with the Indian anthem, after which a Guard of Honour, mounted by a Brigade of Guards, rendered the Nigerian anthem and led the visiting PM in an inspection of the mounted parade.

This was followed by a 21-gun salute, after which Modi inspected the Guard of Honour.

Tinubu then led him into his office for closed-door talks.

Both leaders are expected to discuss and sign several bilateral agreements during their private meeting.

According to the Presidency, Tinubu and Modi will seek to further strengthen Nigeria-India ties during this visit.

“President Tinubu and Prime Minister Modi will aim to deepen Nigeria’s and India’s ties during their bilateral discussions.

“Both leaders will exchange signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to enhance collaboration in critical sectors,” the Presidency said on Saturday.

Modi’s visit is the first by an Indian PM since Dr Manmohan Singh’s state visit in 2007 when the two nations established a strategic partnership.

Details later…