General News
Shape 2027 Elections Through Active Democratic Participation, Reps Urge Nigerian Youths
By Saint Mugaga
The House of Representatives has called on Nigerian youths to take centre stage in shaping the nation’s democratic future by actively participating in the 2027 general elections, stressing that the quality of Nigeria’s democracy will largely depend on the choices, conduct and civic engagement of young people.
The appeal was made on Thursday at the Youth Town Hall, one of the flagship events of the 2026 National Assembly Open Week held at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja. The forum brought together lawmakers, senior government officials, development partners, youth leaders, civil society organisations and students to deliberate on expanding youth participation in governance, democratic accountability and nation-building.
Speaking on behalf of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, the House Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, said the 10th House had deliberately placed youth development, inclusion and leadership at the heart of its legislative agenda.
He noted that the Youth Town Hall had evolved beyond a dialogue platform into an institutional mechanism through which young Nigerians contribute directly to national policymaking and legislative reforms.
According to him, several proposals currently being considered as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process and other key national policies originated from recommendations made by participants during previous editions of the Youth Town Hall.
“Many of the ideas now reflected in the ongoing constitutional amendment proposals and other national policies were shaped by contributions made during previous editions of this Town Hall. Your voices have influenced outcomes, and that is precisely why this platform remains relevant,” Ihonvbere stated.
The Majority Leader highlighted a number of youth-focused legislative initiatives already undertaken by the House, including the passage of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Reform Bill, the proposed Nigerian Youth Welfare Scheme Fund Bill sponsored by Speaker Abbas, and the constitutional amendment bill seeking to reduce the minimum age for governorship candidates from 35 to 30 years.
He also pointed to landmark reforms in education financing, taxation, electricity, cybersecurity and the digital economy, describing them as strategic interventions designed to create more opportunities for innovation, employment and economic empowerment for young Nigerians.
With political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections already gaining momentum, Ihonvbere described young people as Nigeria’s largest voting bloc and the most influential force in determining the credibility and direction of the country’s democracy.
“The quality of our elections and the future of our democracy will, to a large extent, be determined by the choices, conduct and active involvement of young Nigerians,” he said.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the House of Representatives to ensuring that young Nigerians become active partners in governance rather than passive beneficiaries of government policies.
The Speaker explained that the House had intentionally pursued legislation aimed at expanding access to quality education, strengthening digital literacy, promoting entrepreneurship, encouraging innovation and modernising institutions capable of creating sustainable employment opportunities for millions of Nigerian youths.
Delivering his goodwill message, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, applauded the National Assembly for institutionalising the Youth Town Hall, describing it as a landmark initiative that has opened the legislature to meaningful youth engagement.
He observed that previous administrations had inadvertently created a disconnect between young people and public institutions but said the current administration was deliberately reversing the trend by promoting inclusive governance and sustained dialogue.
“It is very important that young Nigerians are given the space to speak, ask questions, share ideas and take part in decisions that affect their future,” the minister said.
Olawande disclosed that the Ministry of Youth Development has created several platforms to facilitate direct interaction between government and young citizens while implementing programmes focused on entrepreneurship, digital skills development, vocational training and access to affordable financing.
He listed the Nigerian Youth Academy, digital skills initiatives, youth enterprise support programmes and the proposed Youth Green Fund among key interventions aimed at equipping Nigerian youths for opportunities in the rapidly expanding digital and green economies.
Also speaking, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Khalil Suleiman Halilu, challenged young Nigerians to embrace innovation, technology and artificial intelligence as catalysts for national development and global competitiveness.
Halilu argued that innovation, rather than natural resource endowment, would determine the future prosperity of nations, revealing that NASENI’s Innovate Nigeria programme is providing grants of up to ₦250 million to support innovators, inventors and technology-driven enterprises.
He urged young people to continually upgrade their knowledge and skills while developing innovative solutions capable of addressing Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.
On its part, Yiaga Africa urged Nigerian youths to move beyond discussions and translate their passion into sustained civic engagement before, during and after the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on behalf of the organisation, a representative encouraged eligible young Nigerians to register to vote, participate actively in elections, reject misinformation, violence and hate speech, and hold elected officials accountable based on issues, performance and integrity rather than personalities or ethnic sentiments.
Yiaga Africa, which supports the Youth Town Hall under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Programme, also commended the National Assembly for promoting transparency, openness and citizen participation through the annual National Assembly Open Week.
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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