President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, has disclosed that the union will soon open negotiations with the Federal Government on the need to raise the minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
The current minimum wage of N70,000 is no longer sufficient amid the prevailing economic situation in the country, Ajaero said at the weekend.
The NLC president spoke during the Rights of Workers Summit in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, over the weekend, saying the union will demand an upward increase in workers’ wages to N500,000.
His remark is coming amid a recent promise by the Presidency that the Federal Government is considering raising the minimum wage in the country for workers to align with current economic realities.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, CoS, Femi Gbajabiamila, made the promise last month at the Good Governance Summit 2026, organised by Working People United, WoPU, in Abuja.
According to Ajaero, who was represented at the event by the NLC Deputy President, Audu Amba, any wage less than N500,000 would be insufficient to cater for workers in the country.
“Anything less than N500,000 cannot cater for workers. The current minimum wage is due for review, and we will soon begin negotiations with the government,” he said.
FG Ready to Increase Workers’ Wage — Gbajabiamila
“This administration has delivered a new national minimum wage. In July 2024, President Bola Tinubu signed into law a minimum wage of N70,000, more than double the N30,000 that workers had endured for years, and recognising that the cost of living does not stand still, the President reduced the strategic review cycle from five years to three years, so that wages may keep closer pace with economic reality.
“The N70,000 wage, which was a milestone in 2024, must be honestly reassessed against today’s realities, and I can confirm to you that when the time comes to begin the process of reviewing the national minimum wage, this administration will approach that endeavour not as an adversary of labour, but as a partner,” he said.
The current minimum wage was approved by President Tinubu two years ago, before then, the least paid public worker in the country earned N30,000 as minimum wage.
Former Youth and Sports Development Minister Solomon Dalung has flayed the extremely divisive and religious sentiments credited to Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, the National Chairman Council of Ulama Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’ah Wa’lkamatis Sunnah ,JIBWIS ,Jos ,to the effect that the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the All Progressive Congress, APC, will assist in establishing and maintaining political dominance in Nigeria by Muslims.
Dalung warned that Nigeria could slide into avoidable abyss of religious crisis and what he described “as religious majoritarianism” should Sheikh Jinjir’s provocative rhetorics and their likes are not urgently checked.
The source reports that the Jos-based Muslim Cleric had, on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at an event in Kano, tagged ” Abba Go Again” lauded President Bola Tinubu for sticking with the Muslim-Muslim ticket ahead of the 2027 elections.
Sheikh Jinjir told his audience, including Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf of Kano, that the Muslim-Muslim ticket which he was, and still a major proponent, both in 2023 and now, was primarily designed to help in establishing Muslim dominance in the political landscape of the country.
He particularly praised President Tinubu ,whom he referred to as, hs “political hero” for his steadfastness in projecting and holding “the Muslim-Muslim flag.”
Barr Solomon Dalung
Sheikh Jinjir emphasized that the Muslim-Muslim ticket has assisted in settling the debate on which religion is in the majority in the country.
“Before the 2023 general elections the infidels (non -Muslims) had believed that they were in the majority. But by the grace of God we roundly defeated them in 2023 Presidential election with the Muslim-Muslim ticket, and with the victory settled the fact that Muslims are in the majority in Nigeria.
“In fact ,the infidels were completely defeated, so much so that they couldn’t even come second, but managed to come third during the 2023 elections.
“And in this forthcoming 2027 general elections, we want to maintain that Muslim dominance in Nigeria. That is why I am in total support of the Muslim-Muslim ticket again.
“Special thanks to my political hero, President Tinubu for promoting this Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“I am one of the staunch champions of the Muslim-Muslim ticket because it has helped us to maintain Muslim dominance.
” I understand that the infidels are not happy with my stand . But I have not stopped the Christians and Traditionalists from carrying out their own campaigns.
“So, I urge you all to go and obtain your PVCs and get ready to vote for the APC Muslim-Muslim ticket ,and all other Muslim candidates”, Sheikh Jinjir stated.
But in a statement shared on his Facebook page on Sunday, Dalung condemned Jingir’s position that the electoral victory of the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2023 has established Muslims numerical strength in Nigeria.
He questioned the basis for the reduction of the country’s complex political and socio-economic problems to just a religious headcount.
According to the former Youths and Sports Development Minister, Nigeria has not become a religious trophy to be appropriated by the faith that can prove numerical superiority.
He emphasized that the nature of a presidential ticket only does not feed hungry families , secure communities from kidnappers and criminal elements , create jobs and fix the country’s dilapidated infrastructural facilities.
“A Muslim-Muslim ticket does not put food on a Muslim family’s table. It does not rescue a kidnapped Muslim farmer; it does not educate a Muslim child or make fuel, food and medicine available and affordable.
“It does not also fix bad roads, restore reliable electricity or provide functional hospitals”, Dalung warned.
Dalung, a chieftain of the opposition African Democratic Congress ADC especially condemned Sheikh Jinjir for calling his fellow country men and women infidels, simply because they do not belong to his faith.
He warned against any attempts by some people to view and turn fellow citizens into religious rivals.
“Your fellow citizens? Your neighbours?. The people whose taxes help fund the Government. You are calling infidels?”, he queried.
Further blasting the Muslim Cleric over his extremist disposition, the former Minister reminded him of Christians who had, and are still supporting Muslim candidates,as well as Muslims rooting for Christian political public officers seekers .
He expressed serious concern and regret that at a time an overwhelming majority of Nigerians are bothered about how to enthrone competent and caring leaderships at all levels, some individuals like Sheikh Jinjir are seeking to establish religious identity and superiority.
Dalung cautioned against allowing political discourse to centre on which religion has the numerical strength, insisting that it portends serious danger for the survival of the nation.
“If the argument has now become ‘we are more in numbers, therefore we should dominate them’, we have moved from democracy to religious arithmetic”, he added
Dalung emphasized that rather than fanning unnecessary religious sentiments, supporters of Muslim-Muslim ticket should defend it based on measurable indices including competence , security, justice, economy, and good governance.
According to him, Nigeria belongs to Muslims, Christians , Traditionalists and others. He warned that no citizens should be told to “Know their limits” as did Sheikh Jinjir in his attempt to promote Muslim-Muslim ticket.
The ADC chieftain also cautioned political actors, religious and community leaders against against promoting rhetorics capable of undermining the national unity and stability.
Femi Fani-Kayode, Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to South Africa, dismissed Sheikh Jinjir’s comments as very provocative and insulting.
Accord Party has not endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports quoting the Lagos State Chairman of the party, Dele Oladeji, who said the incumbent has not been endorsed.
According to Oladeji, the members of the party who endorsed the president for re-election were engaged in anti-party activities.
The party, the magazine reports, is current;y fictionalized into two groups with a faction led by one Prof. Christopher Imumolen through its weight behind President Tinubu’s reelection bid.
Prof Imumolen, factional presidential candidate of the party had recently dropped his ambition for Tinubu.
The magazine has also reported that Governor Demola Adeleke of Osun state, the only state governor representing Accord in the country has also endorsed President Tinubu.
Speaking Oledaeji said the endorsement is a work in futility, because the party had never met to take such decision to back Tinubu for next year’s presidential election.
“Accord has not at any time discussed any endorsement of President Tinubu at any of our NEC meetings.
“So, there is no basis whatsoever for anybody to claim that Accord has endorsed President Tinubu,” Oladeji said.
Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has assured Nigerians that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will ensure that the 2027 general election is free, fair and credible.
Matawalle, a former governor of Zamfara State, gave the assurance while addressing supporters of the Tinubu Again Movement and other political support groups campaigning for the President’s re-election in Kaduna State at the weekend.
The minister, who was represented at the gathering by Dr Auwal Abdullahi, said Tinubu’s actions since assuming office had demonstrated that he would not deploy the machinery of government to intimidate or suppress political opponents.
He cited the recent directive to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to unfreeze the Osun State Government’s account as evidence of the President’s commitment to keeping politics separate from the activities of government agencies.
According to Matawalle, the President had also warned government officials against invoking his name to harass or oppress members of the opposition.
“As far as political leadership is concerned, for a president to instruct a corruption umpire to unblock an account that they blocked because election is coming, that simply tells you that the President says he does not want interference when it comes to issues of politics,” he said.
Matawalle, however, expressed confidence in Tinubu’s chances at the 2027 presidential election, declaring that the President would emerge victorious.
“Bola Ahmed Tinubu is winning the election,” he stated.
His comments come against the backdrop of recent remarks by President Tinubu in which he vowed to fight hard to retain the presidency in 2027.
Speaking when Catholic bishops paid him a courtesy visit at the State House, Abuja, the President said he would not hand victory to the opposition on a silver platter.
Tinubu warned that those seeking to remove him from office should be prepared for a tough political contest.
“Those who would take it from me will try. They will try. All is fair in politics, and there is equal opportunity.
“I won’t offer them a red carpet. I won’t offer them the leash to tie me at home.
“No, we will wrestle each other to the finishing point. That’s the truth. That is fair in politics,” the President told the bishops.
The Super Falcons of Nigeria has for the first time in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, WAFCON, Championship, crashed out at the Quarter Finals stage.
A superb free kick from Myriam Nyadjou that beat Super Falcons Goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, was all the Indomitable Lioness of Cameroon needed to advance to the Semi Finals of the tournament, and book a place at the 2027 FIFA World Cup Tournament in Brazil.
Michaely Bihina, Cameroon Goalkeeper produced brilliant saves to deny the Super Falcons from equalizing, as she bagged the Woman of the Match.
The Super Falcons dominated the entire duration of the match, but met a brickwall, as the Cameroon defence remained resolute denying the Nigerian Ladies a score.
Nigeria could have scored a last gasp equalizer, but Esther Okoronkwo squandered the opportunity as she failed to pass to Asisat Oshoala who was free.
With the defeat, the Super Falcons would now go through the Repchage Route, as the Quarter Finalists that failed to book the Semi Final Ticket and World Cup ticket will play each other.
The Super Falcons would play the Female Elephant of Ivory Coast, while the Bayana Bayana of South Africa would play the loser between the Black Queens of Ghana and the Scorchers of Malawi.
The winner of the match would play against each other, with the winner playing an Intercontinental Playoff in Brazil next year, to fight for the last World Cup ticket.
Amid public scrutiny of the ostentatious lifestyles of Nigerian government officials, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, according to the Chairman of the Nigerian Revenue Service, NRS Zack Adedeji frequently walks to his office from his Aso Rock residence.
Adedeji spoke on Channels Television programme Sunday Politics yesterday saying Tinubu is the most consequential leader since the country returned to democracy, praising some hard decisions taken by the administration to reset the nation’s economy.
The NRS boss also claimed that the president eats once a day, and hardly attends social events or parties, contrary to the suggestions that he and other officials of government are living in opulence in the midst of poverty in the country.
He also defended the purchase of a Cardillac Escalade vehicle by the government as one of the official vehicles for the president, saying Tinubu was not a poor man before he became Nigeria’s leader.
Tinubu only used the car when travelling to the airport, Adedeji said.
Not a few Nigerians insist that the purchase of expensive vehicles for the president and other government officials is very insensitive at a time many families are facing economic hardship, due to the belt tightening policies of the administration.
“Mr President goes from home to office on foot, not even driving except when he is going to the airport. I don’t know where you see the convoy,” Adedeji said.
His comments followed questions about the reported fleet of luxury vehicles attached to the President’s convoy, including Cadillac Escalades, amid widespread concerns over government expenditure and the economic hardship facing millions of Nigerians.
Adedeji appeared unimpressed by the criticism.
“How much is an Escalade that the president of Nigeria cannot afford? Please don’t embarrass this country,” he said.
But beyond the vehicles and presidential convoy, Adedeji sought to paint a picture of a President whose daily routine is dominated by work rather than luxury.
“What is living large?” he asked. “In the last months, he has not even left the shores of this country, trekking and working.”
According to him, Tinubu spends much of his time attending to official documents and government business.
“If you go there now, you will see him review one document or the other,” he added.
Perhaps the most striking part of Adedeji’s defence was his claim about the President’s eating habits.
“The president eats once in a day,” he said, while also pointing out that Tinubu had rarely been seen at parties since assuming office.
“How many parties have you seen him at in the last three years? Tell me where you have seen him, whether on holiday or anywhere?” Adedeji asked.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revealed why he blocked the ambition of Chief Bode George to become the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP).
Wike stated that as at that time, the position was zoned to the South south by the leadership of the PDP.
The FCT minister said he made moves to visit and reconcile with Chief George but was rebuffed.
Wike recounted how he visited the Abuja residence of PDP Board of Trustees member to resolve a disagreement following one of the party’s national conventions, but alleged that George’s wife attempted to ask him out of the house.
Wike said the dispute stemmed from George’s ambition to become the PDP National Chairman.
Wike claimed George acted as though the position was his “birthright,” but that his ambition was opposed because the party’s zoning arrangement at the time favoured the South-South.
“He wanted to be PDP National Chairman and was carrying on like the position was his birthright. We stopped him because it was the turn of the South-South. Since then, he has not stopped being angry,” Wike said.
He recalled that, while serving as governor, he visited George’s residence in Maitama, Abuja, to appease him after the convention.
“As a sitting governor, I visited his house in Maitama, Abuja, to appease him after the national convention. His wife attempted to walk me out, but for the intervention of former governor of Ondo State , Olusegun Mimiko,” he added.
The remarks come amid renewed exchanges between Wike and George over the PDP’s leadership and internal affairs.
Chief George had threatened to take Wike to court over his remarks.
States have been counting gains recorded following withdrawal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu at the inception of the administration.
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has disclosed that the state’s monthly federal allocation has risen to over N16 billion, following the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Governor Sule disclosed this when he hosted members of the Presidential Media Team in Lafia.
He revealed that the reforms have boosted states’ revenue, enabling Nasarawa to spend about N90 billion on projects without taking new loans.
“The economic reforms have given us the room to execute projects and improve the lives of our people without increasing our debt profile,” the Governor stated.
He added that his administration will continue to channel resources to projects that directly impact citizens.
The governor said before the subsidy removal, Nasarawa was receiving between N3.8 billion and about N4.5 billion monthly from the federal allocation, while the local governments were getting between N1.9 billion and N2.5 billion monthly.
Sule added that the monthly allocation to the state has more than doubled after the removal of the petrol subsidy.
The governor said his administration had initiated several projects without borrowing, adding that the president should be credited with creating the fiscal space that made them possible.
“All the projects we are doing in Nasarawa state today, without borrowing from the bank, are as a result of president Bola and his support.”
The Benue State Gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic party, PDP, for the 2027 polls , Michael Andoakaa, SAN, has debunked claims suggesting that he has a subsisting agreement with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume, and the immediate past Governor of the state , Samuel Ortom, to work for the Presidential ambition of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, candidate Atiku Abubakar.
A Group, the International Centre for Transparency Nigeria, ICTN, had claimed that Andoakaa ,a former Attorney -General of the Federation and Minister of Justice under the late President Musa Yar’Adua, is under a pact to promote the Presidential ambition of the former Vice president in Benue state ahead of the 2027 elections.
The group’s claim came on the heels of widespread speculations equally suggesting that Ortom, who is the leader of the PDP in the State, was under pressure to substitute Andoakaa as the party’s Governorship candidate with the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Dr Pius Akutah.
But reacting, Ortom dismissed such claims as false and misleading, insisting that the development was not an accurate representation of the outcome of a recent Benue State prominent stakeholders meeting.
” Chief Michael Andoakaa SAN, remains the duly nominated Governorship candidate of the PDP in Benue state for the 2027 election”, the former Governor stated.
Similarly, Chief Andoakaa, while reacting to his purported agreement to campaign for Atiku, described the claim as totally baseless and fabricated.
This is as he dismissed the ICTN as ” a faceless group out to foment mischief.
” There is no such meeting, agreement, negotiations or political arrangement involving me and the other leaders as alleged”, he stated
He emphasized that the report which is built on unverified allegations is primarily aimed at misinforming and misleading the unsuspecting members of the public.
“Those making the allegation have failed to provide a single piece of evidence showing where such an arrangement was discussed, when it was reached, or what role he supposedly played in it.
“The attempt to drag the Secretary to the Government of Federation, Senator George Akume, into the concoction also does nothing to make the story more credible. Mentioning prominent names cannot transform fiction into fact.
“For the avoidance of doubt, there has been no meeting or arrangement involving Chief Michael Kaase Andoakaa, Chief Samuel Ortom, and Senator George Akume to work for the presidential ambition of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. No such arrangement exists”, he added
The Senator representing Delta North at the National Assembly, Ned Nwoko, has thrown his weight behind the move by popular United States of America Senator, Raphael Edward Cruz, popular as Ted Cruz, to encourage his country to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization.
Senator Cruz had in a video shared by Fox News insisted that going by the alleged violent and destructive activities of the Muslim Brotherhood which is deeply rooted in some Middle East countries, the group should be immediately officially designated and treated as a terror organization.
According to the Texas Senator, the group is strongly believed to be behind spates of violent attacks that have resulted in thousands of deaths and unmitigated destructions across several country’s including Israel.
He blamed the organization for the deadly October 7 ,2025 attack on Israel by the militant arm of Hamas.
“The Muslim Brotherhood is a terrorist organization . They are responsible for thousands of deaths, terror activities.
Hamas, which carried out atrocities on October 7, is the Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine”, Cruz insisted.
In a message shared on his official site, Senator Nwoko, while expressing support for his US colleague, urged President Donald Trump’s administration to pay more than a cursory attention to the activities of emerging terrorist groups around the world.
According to him, the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood is fast spreading across several countries, a development which requires the US and others to be on their toes.
“America needs to wake up and pay close attention to shifting global dynamics”, he warned.
The Delta North Senator said that the group has been discovered to be linked to the festering fratricidal war ongoing in the Sudan where it is alleged to be backing the embattled Government of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
He emphasized the urgent need to check the increasing influence of the organization in African countries ,in the overall interest of regional and continental stability.
