Linda Ikeji advises women to focus on achieving financial independence rather than relying on men for support.

She stressed that wealth is not limited to men alone, noting that she personally chooses to work towards financial freedom rather than depending on a man.

Highlighting the importance of fearlessness, strength, determination, and grace, Linda Ikeji encouraged women to take charge of their own destinies by pursuing their dreams, building their businesses, and breaking barriers. 

She also advised women to aim for financial success equal to or even greater than that of their partners, urging them to step up and take control of their own financial futures.

Taking to her Instagram post, Kinda Ikeji wrote :

“Dear young lady, I hear you! If that’s how you see life and want to live life, it’s your choice! To each his own. As for me, I’d rather be as rich as those men who must pay me for being beautiful. Being rich is not the birthright of men alone. I’d rather be their contemporary than waiting for their handouts.

“I know many believe it’s a man’s world; maybe it is, but with fearlessness, strength, determination, and grace, women can dominate and thrive in it. So, instead of waiting for men’s charity, I’d rather start early to fight for my dreams, build my business(es), break boundaries, and if God allows, shatter tables.”

The Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has shared photos of her 70th birthday celebration online.

 Okonjo, in the post via her X handle, described yesterday as one of the happiest days of her life.

While expressing appreciation to WTO Ambassadors, staff and members for their outpouring of love, the former Minister of Finance noted that she had never received as many flower bouquets from all over the world as she got today.

She wrote, “I don’t normally do personal tweets, but today is an exception! It has been one of the happiest days of my life – my 70th birthday! So much outpouring of love from everywhere!! I want to thank all WTO Ambassadors, WTO staff, friends and family! I’ve never received so many bouquets of flowers from all over the world, as I have today! Along with good wishes and prayers. I consider myself blessed to have a loving husband, family, friends and well wishers! All Glory and Thanks to God!”

The House of Representatives member representing Ifelodun/Boripe/Odo-Otin federal constituency in Osun State, Hon. Olusoji Adetunji, was allegedly harassed by his constituents during a recent visit to his hometown.

A viral social media video shows the lawmaker and his group being attacked by residents who allege he neglected their welfare, even though they had given him substantial electoral support.

It was observed in the video that locals surrounded him, screaming and calling for the representative to be beaten.

One woman cautioned the man filming against recording the incident. However, the person behind the camera insisted on filming, insulting the representative and other politicians.

See video below:

The spokesperson of the House of Representatives in the 10th National Assembly, Akin Rotimi, has declared that lawmakers in Nigeria earn ₦600,000 monthly.

He added that it could even be a little less than the ₦600,000 figure, boasting that he could provide his payslip as evidence.

Naija News reports the legislator made the revelation during an interview with TVC on Thursday when he was asked about the recent decision to increase the salary of lawmakers amidst the ongoing hardship in the country.

Confronted with the allegation that the lawmakers don’t have the trust of the people and can’t feel the pain of the masses because they live extravagant lives financed by taxpayers’ money, Rotimi argued that there is a lot of fake news, disinformation and exaggeration about what lawmakers earn.

He added that the House has resolved to take steps against those peddling wrong and exaggerated figures about the earnings of lawmakers in the country.

See the video.

Eight months after the Federal Government commenced payment of N35,000, a wage award in addition to N30,000 minimum wage to workers, and urged state governments to replicate it, 15 states are yet to do so while seven paid briefly and stopped.

The wage award was to lessen the burden of economic hardship on the citizenry pending the implementation of a new minimum wage.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, described the refusal of some states to pay the wage award to their workers as the height of insensitivity, lamenting the suffering workers were going through as a result of the anti-poor policies of the government.

Meanwhile, 15 states are paying sums ranging from N10,000 to N40,000 to their workers as wage awards or salary increments.

States that are not paying include one in the South-East, four in the South-South, three in the North-East, two in the North-Central and five in the North-West.

Meanwhile, states that paid wage awards for one to four months and stopped include Delta, Niger, Plateau, Kaduna, Bauchi and Nasarawa.

On the other hand, states that are paying are Lagos, Edo, Bayelsa, Imo, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, Ondo, Osun, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Kano, Kwara, Cross River and Taraba.

Tinubu’s plea

President Bola Tinubu, in March, during a working visit to Minna, Niger State, urged the 36 state governors to begin payment of wage awards to workers in their states, saying the move will alleviate hardship in the country.

Governors Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos) and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara) were among the governors at the event.

Speaking directly to Abdulrazaq, who is chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, Tinubu said: “I have been paying wage awards pending determination of the new minimum wage. Let all the sub-nationals start paying that. The wage award, with whatever they are taking now, will relieve the public. I am not giving an order, I am appealing to you sub-nationals. It’s a relief to the people.”

States not paying

Despite the president’s plea, many states are yet to commence paying wage awards to their workers.
In Delta State, the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza said the state government will set up a committee to examine wage-related issues.

He said: “Governor Sheriff Oborevwori said during Workers Day that a committee would be set up to look into it so that, at the end of the day, we can be able to be on the same page with labour and workers; that is the line we are following.”

On whether the committee will look into wage awards in addition to minimum wage, Osuoza said: “Anything that has to do with emoluments for workers, the committee will look at it.”

Rivers and Akwa Ibom governments said they were waiting for an official declaration by the Federal Government on the wage increase while the Delta State government had set up a committee to review workers’ wages.

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State assured that his administration will key into the new minimum wage for workers when it comes into force.

“We have directed the compilation of casual workers in the state. We will continue to ensure that we support our workers, and we will continue to do our best to make them happy. We will ensure that we continue to improve our workers’ welfare.

“And on the minimum wage, we will wait for the Federal Government and then we will key into it and come to terms with the minimum wage for Akwa Ibom civil servants,” the governor stated on Workers Day.

The Rivers State Government is also awaiting the outcome of the tripartite negotiations between the Labour, Organised Private Sector, and the Federal Government on minimum wage to determine its next action.

While labour is demanding N250,000 minimum wage, the Federal Government and OPS have offered N62,000. President Tinubu in his Democracy Day broadcast said he will send an executive bill to the National Assembly on the issue soon.

Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, said: “With the robust relationship existing between government and workers in the state, we are only waiting for the outcome of ongoing negotiations between Labour and the Federal Government to do the needful. We will take a position when the parties decide what to pay the workers. We will look at the size of our portfolio and decide on what to do.”

President of Rivers State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Clifford Paul, told Vanguard that Governor Sim Fubara had approved the payment of N35,000 to workers
He said Fubara announced the approval during a meeting with NULGE leadership and principal officers of the local government councils at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

“The governor also approved immediate implementation of the N35,000 wage award approved by the Federal Government to cushion the effect of the removal of .”

The chair of the NLC in the state, Alex Agwanwor, regretted that the governor had not commenced the implementation because of political distractions.

He said: “The state government has not started the payment but plans have been concluded. The problem we have now is the political unrest in the state. The political distraction in the state is much and I think it is affecting the implementation.

“We are not bothered about that now. It is not our priority now. What the governor is doing for the workers in the state is even more. We cannot assess his performance based on that because he is taking care of the welfare of the workers with a good heart,” he said.

Workers plead with Otti

An Abia, Chairman of the NLC, Okoro Ogbonnaya, pleaded with Governor Alex Otti to approve the payment of the N35, 000 wage awards to mitigate the plights of workers in the face of the biting economic hardship in the country.

In his response, Governor Otti promised to look into the workers’ request and take action very soon.

Kebbi sets up minimum wage committee

In Kebbi State, the state government is yet to begin payment of wage award but the governor on May 1, 2024, set up committee to come up with a sustainable minimum wage for workers.

Borno, Yobe distribute foodstuff, palliatives

Although Borno and Yobe states under the leadership of Governors Babagana Zulum and Mai Buni, were yet to pay wage award to civil servants or pensioners, the two states have procured and distributed food and non-food items to the citizenry, including civil servants and pensioners, all aimed at cushioning the economic hardship.

States that paid partially and stopped

In Niger State, the government is paying N30,000 minimum wage. Governor Muhammed Bago paid the sum of N20,000 as a palliative to workers once and inaugurated a committee under the chairmanship of the state Head of Service, Alhaji Abubakar Salisu to work out acceptable minimum wage and salary structure for workers in the state.

The Katsina State government is among the states where some level of compliance had been achieved regarding the payment of some form of palliatives to workers.

Governor Umaru Radda paid N15,000 twice as wage palliative to state and local government workers in the state. Pensioners also got N10,000 twice. The first award was paid in February and second was paid as Ramadan/Sallah package.

Nasarawa State government paid workers the sum of N10,000 twice as wage award.

At the same time, retired workers have been paid the sum of N5,000 for four months.

In like manner, Bauchi State paid N10,000 to its civil servants during the Sallah celebration and gave out some food items as palliatives at other times.

The Plateau State Government has paid N12,000 as palliative to each of its workers for six months.

States paying wage awards

Edo and Bayelsa states have announced wage increment for civil servants in the two states.

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, who signaled the surprise package for workers, gave them a shocker on April 29, two days before Workers Day, when he announced a new minimum wage of N70,000.

He said the new scheme would begin in May, and if the negotiated wage between the Federal Government and labour were higher, the government would make necessary adjustments. As he promised, he started paying the 70,000 minimum wage in May. The Bayelsa State government also approved wage awards for its workers.

A breakdown of the wage awards, worked out by a committee headed by the head of the state’s civil service, revealed that workers from Grades 1–14 received N20,000; 15–17 cadre got N30,000 and Permanent Secretaries N100,000.

Confirming the development, chairman of Trade Union Congress, TUC, in Bayelsa, Julius Laye said: “In Bayelsa State, the payment started last month, although those at the local government received about five months, and it stopped.”

Imo raises wages with N10,000

Governor Hope Uzodinma gave Imo workers N10,000, bringing their current minimum wage to N40, 000.
Imo State government also said it has provided free transportation scheme for workers as part of measures to cushion effect of fuel subsidy removal.

Mbah pays N25000, N10,000 in Enugu

In Enugu, Governor Peter Mbah has been paying wage award since December 2023, to the employees of the state government, local government workers and primary school teachers.

For the state civil servants, the state government pays N25,000 to each worker, but pays N10,000 to employees of local governments and primary school teachers.

Speaking on the issue, Chairman of the TUC in the state, Ben Asogwa, said that workers in the state are happy with the payments, which he described as evidence that the governor is committed to workers’ welfare.

Ebonyi workers get N10,000 extra

,In Ebonyi, Governor Francis Nwifuru added N10,000 as wage award to the salaries of civil servants in the State.

Ondo pays N35,000 to workers, N10,000 to pensioners

In Ondo State, the government is paying N35,000 wage award to workers and N10,000 to pensioners.
Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Ebenezer Adeniyan, said the payment started in October last year.

Adeniyan added that it was supposed to be for three months but the governor extended it, adding that shuttle buses have been provided for workers and schoolchildren across the state by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration.

Osun pays N15,000 to workers, N10,000 to pensioners

In Osun State, the government is paying N15,000 to workers while retirees get N10,000 as wage award. The governor had approved payment of wage award since December 2023, and has been paying the said amount till date.

It’s N10,000 in Ogun

The Ogun State government is paying N10,000 wage award to all categories of workers in the state.
Chairman of the TUC in the state, Mr. Lasisi Akeem, said government has been paying N10,000 transport allowance to all civil servants for the past nine months and N10,000 to pensioners

Akeem added that the state government has paid 40 per cent of the basic salary of workers in the state as Peculiar Allowance, to cushion effect of fuel subsidy removal.

Oyo, Kwara, Anambra workers get boost

In Oyo, the state government pays N25,000 to its workers and N15,000 to pensioners. Governor Seyi Makinde started paying the awards in November 2023.

In addition, the governor also approved payment of 13th month salary to the workers, and released buses to major parts of the state at highly subsidized rates.

Before the six months he promised to pay N25,000 lapsed, he extended the payment of palliatives for another six months making one year. 

In Kwara State, civil servants are being paid N10,000 wage award by the state government.
“We are being paid monthly N10,000 wage award by Kwara State government since subsidy removal,” Muritala Olayinka, the NLC chairman, told Vanguard.

In Anambra, Governor Chukwuma Soludo paid N12, 000 for four months between September to December 2023.
Soludo had earlier announced a 10 per cent salary increase, which the state has been paying since January 2023 as part of his response to rising cost of living.

The workers, however, expressed disappointment when the wage increase was stopped at the end of last year. During the last workers’ day celebration on May 1, this year, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Humphrey Nwafor pleaded with Governor Soludo to re-introduce the wage increase in view of the biting inflation in the country, while waiting for the expected new minimum wage.

Lagos pays N35,000 wage award

In Lagos, workers have been getting N35,000 wage award since December 2023 in addition to N35,000 minimum wage to its workers.

Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pensions, Afolabi Ayantayo, said the payment is in line with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to welfare of workers.

“This is in addition to a three-day work week for Levels 1-13 civil servants, which was introduced this year. This measure aims to provide relief and flexibility reflecting the state government commitment to the workforce’s well-being,” he added.

Kano, Taraba workers get wage awards

The Kano State government has been paying workers N20,000 and pensioners N15,000 as wage awards.
In Taraba, the state government is paying the N30,000 minimum wage, and salary increment of N10,000 to N15,000 to workers.

Governors not paying are insensitive –Labour

Reacting to the development, an official of NLC, who spoke on condition of anonymity since he was not authorised to speak, said: “It is a fact that many state governors are not implementing the wage award which was a product agreement Organised Labour reached with the Federal Government on October 5, 2023. This was a product of the understanding of the huge negative consequences government’s policies had foisted on Nigerian works across the nation. This was supposed to be cascaded down to the states by the governors in a dialogue with NLC and TUC in their respective states.

“Governors that are not complying are mainly those who have continued to demonstrate serious disdain and contempt for the plight of workers who create wealth in their states. It is insensitive for a governor who has adjusted upwards the wages of political appointees in their states to believe that workers do not have the right to have a fair share of the resources of the state.

“It is worthy of note that all the governors are beneficiaries of the increased revenue from FAAC as a result of the hike in the price of PMS which created multiples of revenues to the state treasuries. However, because the welfare of the workers are not prioritized by the governors, they divert them into other projects which sometimes are wasteful. 

“It is unfortunate that many Governors have continued to see workers’ salaries as charity which it is not. This has shaped their mindset into believing that salaries are a waste instead of an investment which it should be for the state because when workers are paid well, productivity increases and vice versa.”

An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti on Thursday sentenced the cleric of a church at Omuo Ekiti in the Ekiti East Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Pastor Enoch, to life imprisonment for raping a minor.

The victim said to be the daughter of one of the church members, was raped by the pastor during one of her visits to the cleric’s residence.

The young girl was said to be a frequent visitor to the mission house to help the pastor’s wife with house chores and as well support the young children in their school assignments.

The Ekiti State Director of Public Prosecutions, Julius Ajibade, who prosecuted the case, said, “It was during one of the minor’s visits to the mission house that the defendant (pastor) sedated her with a bottle of Fanta. The girl slept off after taking the drink only to wake up and find out that she was bleeding profusely from her private parts.

“The defendant was arrested and charged to court. He was charged with the offence of rape contrary to Section 2 of the Gender–Based Violence (Prohibition) Law, 2019.”

The DPP called four witnesses and tendered two exhibits to prove his case.

The defendant spoke through his counsel, Adeyinka Opaleke, who gave evidence in his defence as he called only one other witness.

In his judgment, Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi held that “the prosecution proved the offence of rape against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.”

The judge consequently convicted the defendant and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested three men behind the proliferation of fake websites for JAMB registration, falsifying fake JAMB Admission Letters, System Interference and schemes operating phishing websites to defraud unsuspecting JAMB candidates.

Confirming their arrest to newsmen, the spokesperson of the Police force, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the suspects identified as Effa Leonard Mpama, Ibang Ernest Jerome and Eshiet Odotukana Benson, all male of ages 34, 38 and 38 respectively and others at large, belong to a syndicate who intentionally and knowingly conspired and procured amongst themselves services that enabled them to illegally access JAMB restricted Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) and e-facility respectively, and proceeded to alter and delete other candidates' previous admission letters and inputted fake details resulting in inauthentic admission letter which were acted upon as genuine to secure admissions into tertiary institutions and mobilization for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, thus compromising the entire JAMB admission process with its attendant consequences.  

‘’Upon arrest the suspects revealed their various degrees of involvement in the conspiracy, corroborating the already available overwhelming evidence. The duo of Effa Leonard Mpama and Ibang Ernest Jerome and others at large collect personal details of the prospective candidates and forward same to Mr. Eshiet Odotukana Benson who gets CAPS links from Daniel and Chris; Messrs. Daniel and Chris still at large are working in the JAMB Computer Based Test (CBT) Centers domiciled in FAN and UNICAL respectively in Calabar, Cross River State.  '

In more developments, digital Forensic analysis led to the recovery of 4 fake domains, websites and 2 principal threat actors of a syndicate in Imọ State behind the creation of the fake domains and other associated websites operated by them. Similarly, the third suspect,  Mr Eshiet, who has access to the CAPS links unlike the duo above, proceeds to any CBT centre and opens the jamb e-facility with a login detail of a candidate with previous admission and thereafter superimposes the new details collected to create a fake admission letter.'' Adejobi said

He stated that the offences are contrary to sections 8, 13 and 27 of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015 as amended 

While strongly warning against all sorts of criminal partnerships that promote illegal activities of this nature and others engaging in similar activities, Adejobi mentioned that the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, applauded the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center led by CP Uche Ifeanyi Henry as he reaffirms the commitment of the Force to leveraging on emerging technological advancements to protect the citizens of Nigeria both physically and digital space.

The suspects will be charged in court upon the conclusion of the investigation. 

The Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, on Wednesday, June 12, said governors and other elected officials should earn minimum wage to reflect the current reality of Nigeria. 

He stated that the country was facing a dire financial crisis.  

The governor spoke at a special edition of The Platform.

According to him, Nigeria’s economic woes are worsened by the extravagant lifestyles of government officials, which are sustained at the expense of the nation’s wealth. 

He said: “Let’s come clean and straight with Nigerians. Nigeria is very poor and broke but the lifestyle of government and government officials does not show it, especially with the obscene flamboyance in public display."

He continued: "The poor are hungry and impatient, let’s not annoy them more with our insensitivity. In this case, I agree with reverend father Mbaka, who said elected governors should also earn minimum wage. I agree that we should be paid that so that we can feel that as well. 

“In Anambra, I have not received a kobo as salary since I assumed office. I have donated my salary to the state. 

“It is symbolic. It is not much. I think generally, the system is in denial. There must be some signalling, it is just the symbolism of this.” 

Soludo urged his colleagues and other elected officials to cut wasteful spending. 

“That is why I proposed reinventing the new code of conduct for public officers. For the federal government, the actual projected revenue comes to about N6,160 per Nigerian, per month. 

“For the states, except Lagos and a few states, most states have revenues amounting to less than N3,000 per resident, per month. 

“It is from this shares per citizen that we are expected to provide all the infrastructure, debt service, pay salaries and pensions, build schools, and provide everything. 

“For each of our wasteful spending, let’s be conscious of how many citizens share that we are squandering. Once we lose this consciousness about the public trust we bear, the society dies irredeemably,” he said.

Armed robbers on Thursday evening stormed a bank complex in the Abaji Area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) killing a police man and shooting a security guard of the bank.

The incident occurred at about 6 pm on Thursday when the robbers alighted from a vehicle, shot sporadically at a police station located close to the bank.

After killing an officer, they made their way to the bank premises shooting sporadically.

While a guard was shot as he attempted to flee at the bank premises, the robbers attempted to break into the strong room of the bank but were unsuccessful.

The police reportedly mobilised and were joined by soldiers and vigilantes who engaged the robbers in a shootout killing two of the robbers in the process.

Angry residents reportedly seized one of the robbers and set him on fire, according to one of the residents who spoke to newsmen.

The FCT Police Command while confirming the incident said it has deployed operatives of the anti-robbery squad and local security operatives to trail the fleeing robbers.

Promises to send Executive Bill to N’Assembly

•Says fall at Eagle Square, is ’idobale’ for democracy

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, ABUJA

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu on Wednesday night said that he would approve what is affordable as the new minimum wage, alerting the National Assembly to expect his memorandum on the final settlement.

President Tinubu, who spoke during the 25th Democracy Day Anniversary Dinner, at the Old Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, said that the amount to be forwarded to the National Assembly would be such that Nigerians can afford it.

Recall that at the end of negotiations on Minimum Wage last week Friday, the Federal Government team alongside the Organised Private Sector, OPS, had slightly increased the offer to N62,000 from the initial N60,000, while the organized labour also reduced its demand from N494,000 to N250,000.

However, the last offer of N62,000 made by the government and the private sector and the demand of N250,000 by the labour are now before the President to perhaps harmonise and make the final approval and thereafter, send a bill to the National Assembly for enactment of law.

Speaking on the matter, President Tinubu told the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio alongside his other colleagues at the dinner that the government would do what was expected, but would also pay what it can afford.

He said: “Senate President, Deputy Senate President, you’ll get a notice from me. If I’ve changed my mind on minimum wage, we’re going to do it, what Nigeria can afford, what you can afford, what I can afford. They ask you to cut your coat according to your size, if you have size at all.”

President Tinubu also clarified the circumstances surrounding an incident earlier in the day at Eagle Square, where he tripped while making his way into the parade inspection vehicle.

He explained that as a traditional Yoruba ‘boy’ he was doing dobale (Yoruba word for prostrating to greet elders) at the Eagles Square, saying democracy was worth falling for.

According to him, “June 12 represents the heart and soul of our democratic struggle in the country.

“Early this morning (Wednesday), I had a swagger and it’s on the social media. They are confused about whether I was doing buga or doing babaringa but it is a day to celebrate democracy while doing ‘dobalee’ for today.

“I am additionally Yoruba boy, I did my dobale. Democracy is a day that is worthy of falling for,” he said.

The dinner was attended by five pro-democracy icons, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Chief Segun Osoba, Senator Shehu Sani, George Mbah and the Minister of Solid Minerals, Mr. Dele Alake, who all took to the stage to recall President Tinubu’s role in the struggle that eventually crystallized into what is being celebrated.

President of the senate, Godswill Akpabio; Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu; Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Olukayode Ariwoola; and the SGF, Senator George Akume, were all present.

Also on ground were the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; and the Wife of the Vice President, Nana Shettima.