General News
NANS Stages Symposium to Secure Students’ Future in Makurdi
By Our Reporter
A symposium by the National Association of Nigerian Students NANS has been staged with the aim of preparing Nigerian students for a better future.
The NANS Joint Campus Council (JCC), Benue Axis event took place, at the College of Health Sciences Auditorium of Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi (MOAUM) Auditorium
The symposium, themed “Securing the Future of the Nigerian Student: Navigating Security, Finance, Democracy and Artificial Intelligence,” attracted participants from tertiary institutions across Benue State.
Highlighting the objective of the programme, Secretary-General of NANS JCC, Benue Axis, Sen. Nelson Senongo Iyorkaa, pointed out that the symposium was aimed at equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate emerging realities in security, technology, democracy and economic development.
He said students are often targets of political actors during election periods and that they need guidance to refuse to be adversely used for the wrong and unlawful activities.
He added that the 2027 general elections are gradually gaining momentum and making it imperative for students to understand their civic responsibilities and resist inducement or manipulation could not be over emphasised
Iyorkaa further highlighted the for students to embrace artificial intelligence and other technological innovations:
“We are in very fast-changing times. The political environment is evolving ahead of the 2027 elections, while the world is also witnessing rapid advancement in artificial intelligence. Our students must not be left behind.”
The Vice Chancellor of MOAUM, Prof Timothy Alabar, through the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Member Genyi, urged students to be committed to innovation, academic excellence and ethical leadership. While cautioning against excessive dependence on artificial intelligence, noted that technology should complement learning but not replace critical thinking, creativity and intellectual effort.
Security enlightenment tips were given by the Assistant Director, Department of State Services (DSS), Frank James, calling on students to be security conscious and to report suspicious activities within their communities.
He warned against indiscriminately sharing traveling and other information on social media, explaining that such actions do expose people to harm.
James counseled against cultism, cybercrime, examination malpractice, drug abuse and other negativities capable of undermining their academic and professional aspirations.
Novus Microfinance Bank staff, Mrs Loveth Dooshima Apaa, educated participants on financial empowerment saying the bank provides loan opportunities for education and agribusiness ventures.
Delivering a paper entitled “AI Revolution: Repositioning the Nigerian Student,” Mr Peters Shakune said that artificial intelligence is greatly influencing education, research and career development and there is need to embrace it.
The technology expert added that AI has become a valuable tool for improving productivity and expanding access to information but warned against replacing originality, hard work and the ability to defend one’s ideas.
He encouraged responsible use of artificial intelligence while developing practical skills and critical thinking.
The event which also featured panel discussions provided participants with the opportunity to engage the resource persons on leadership, security, technology and access to finance among other issues.
The event was equally used to give awards to distinguished individuals and institutions in recognition of their contributions to education, leadership development and public service.
Prof. Steven Ugba, representatives of the DSS, Novus Microfinance Bank and other notable stakeholders were recipients of the awards.
Iyorkaa expressed optimism, in his closing remarks, that the participants would share the knowledge gained in leadership development, civic education, AI among others with thousands of students across campuses in Benue state.
He noted that the gathering brought together student union leaders, former student activists and campus representatives who possess significant influence among their peers.
By Nick Ibe, Abuja
To cushion the harsh impact of rising living costs, the Federal Government has approved a N70,000 monthly transport intervention for public service workers across all levels for six months, beginning in November 2026, .
This was one of the outcomes of the conciliation meeting between the Federal Government and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Abuja on Tuesday, following renewed pressure from organised labour over the rising cost of living, workers’ welfare and outstanding agreements.
The government also approved the payment of peculiar allowance arrears, effective from May 1, 2026, in three equal monthly instalments beginning in November.
The parties did not agree on the effective date for implementing the national minimum wage, but agreed that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and commence meetings immediately.
The resolutions were contained in a memorandum of understanding signed at the end of the meeting by the Director-General of Budget, Timi Yakubu; NLC President, Joe Ajaero; the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Garba Abdul S.U.; and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi.
The document made public after the meeting was tagged: ‘Resolutions Reached at a Conciliation Meeting Held at Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment Between the Federal Government and the Leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress on Tuesday, 27th October, 2026’, outlined agreements on minimum wage negotiations, transport support, outstanding allowances, health workers’ remuneration, tax relief and hazard allowances for agricultural officers.
The meeting followed an earlier conciliation session held on October 22, 2026, convened by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to address disagreements between the government and organised labour.
On the transport intervention, the document stated, “That transport intervention of Seventy Thousand Naira (N70,000) commencing from November 2026 would be paid across all levels for a period of six months.”
The agreement trails high transportation costs and the prices of other essential goods following the removal of the petrol subsidy in May 2023, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Organised labour has repeatedly demanded measures to ease the economic pressure on workers, including reductions in petrol prices, improved wages and the implementation of outstanding welfare agreements.
The memorandum also noted the NLC leadership’s concerns about the government’s handling of its demands.
Addressing the disagreement, it stated that the NLC leadership “expressed concern over the Federal Government’s attitude towards the above issues.”
It added that the Federal Government, in response, “stated that it fully respects the right of the Congress to advocate for improved working conditions for Nigerian workers, and is genuinely trying to address every aspect of it through a structured intervention.”
On the national minimum wage, the parties agreed that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and commence meetings immediately.
However, the effective date of implementation remained unresolved.
The document stated, “It was agreed that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and commence meeting immediately. It should however be noted that there is a disagreement on the effective date of implementation.”
The disagreement leaves a key issue outstanding despite the commitment to begin negotiations without delay.
The national minimum wage became a major issue in 2024 when the Federal Government and organised labour negotiated an increase in the statutory minimum monthly wage from N30,000 to N70,000. The new rate was subsequently enacted into law through the National Minimum Wage Act.
The latest agreement refers to further discussions and the implementation date of the national minimum wage but does not provide details of the specific proposal under consideration or when the parties expect to conclude the negotiations.
The agreement indicates that while the government has approved some financial interventions, other workers’ demands remain subject to further negotiations, administrative verification or decisions by relevant government bodies.
“Trump… Please bring my son back to me. I am begging you for mercy.” And what Trump did when he heard those words… may bring tears to your eyes.
Her name was Malphine. She was 95 years old. A mother who had spent years waiting. Hoping. Praying. And one day… she finally got the chance to meet Trump. And stood before him. With all the strength she had left. And spoke the only words in her heart. Please. Bring my son home.
And Trump looked at this 95-year-old mother. Held her hands. And gave her a promise. I will bring your son home.
And Malphine held on to that promise. The way only a mother of 95 can hold on to something. When hope is all she has left.
Days went by. Weeks went by. And then one morning… the news finally arrived. Her son Marc was coming home. After years away. After years inside a foreign prison. After years of a mother waking up every single day, wondering whether she would ever get to hold her child again.
He stepped off that plane. And returned home. And when Marc’s feet finally touched American soil… Trump was there. In person. To welcome him. To embrace him. To look him in the eyes and say… welcome home. America has not forgotten you.
And in that single embrace…
Trump showed the world something that no speech and no rally could ever truly express: That America cares about its people. Wholeheartedly. Unconditionally. And never gives up fighting for them.
And today… I sat thinking about that story. And remembered every harsh word I had ever spoken about this man. Every judgment. Every doubt. Every moment I chose to look away. And I felt something I can hardly describe. Deep shame.
Because Malphine trusted Trump at 95 years old. With all the hope she had left. And he helped bring her son home.
Today… this is the side of Trump that so many people may never take the time to see.
Not the Trump in the headlines. Not the Trump on the rally stage. Just a man. Who listened to a 95-year-old mother pleading for her son. Worked to help answer her prayers. And personally showed up to welcome him home.
If this story touched your heart today… let God and every American reading this feel your .
And tell me honestly, in your own words — after reading this… can you still speak badly about President Trump? Because I truly find it difficult to do so. Not anymore. Not after hearing this story.
Sons of Liberty. Maga Movement
–Calls for NSCDC reforms, compensation for victims
By Son Tertsea, Abuja
Dehydration was cause of the death of the detained miners, the panel constituted to investigate the deaths of alleged illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Niger State Command, has stated.
The chairman of the committee, Jonathan Kure, while presenting the report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja on Tuesday, , said the miners suffered acute respiratory failure.
He also corrected the earlier reports that 37 miners died in custódy, saying 33 miners were confirmed dead.
He said the miners collapsed after calling for water and were ignored by the personnel of the NSCDC.
He added that the detention room was overcrowded and poorly ventilated.
He said the miners were illegally arrested and detained, stressing that they were all detained beyond the legally allowed period.
Part of the panel’s report called for a total reform of the NSCDC as well as solicited compensation for the victims.
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