General News
NLC Rejects Mercantilistic Politicians, Engages In Tactful, Strategic Mobilisation in 2026–Joe Ajaero
By Son Tertsea, Abuja
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in a New Year message signed by Joe Ajaero, its president, on Wednesday promised to hold all levels of government accountable.
The promise to “reject outright those mercantilistic politicians whose stock-in-trade are empty promises, divisive rhetoric and policies that decimate our living standards for the benefit of a parasitic few” seems to point to the direction the labour union is headed in 2027,
However, NLC has an inclination towards those truly serving the people: “We will work with and support only those governments and political actors who demonstrate, through clear, pro-people plans and actionable commitments, a genuine desire to uplift the masses from poverty and oppression.”
The NLC leader also vowed to pursue an upward review of the ₦70,000 minimum wage in 2026, despite the wage being approved by the federal government in July 2024. He praised president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for approving the wage review circle from five to three years. According to the Minimum Wage Act passed in 2024, the next statutory review is not due until 2027.
Despite this, however, Ajaero insisted that the present economic realities call for increased pay “Given the escalating inflation and widespread suffering, we demand an urgent wage review, as workers’ income must guarantee life, not mere survival, in furtherance of Mr President’s promise to pay a living wage.
To achieve this objective, the NLC leader asserted, “We shall pursue this with every legitimate means at our disposal.”
He regretted the pains visited on Nigerians in 2025 while expressing optimism in 2026, “We enter this new year not with naive hope, but with a fortified resolve, strengthened by struggle and clarity. The promise of more faithful and meaningful engagement from the federal government, as pledged by the President, His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, secured through our relentless pressure and collective voice, has opened a potential vista for dialogue. We acknowledge this platform and will engage deeply, consciously and patriotically.”
While urging workers to remain vigilant and patriotic, the NLC assured that its leadership would continue to “organise, mobilise and hold every tier of government accountable” adding that: “Real hope for Nigerians is possible only when burdens are lifted or minimised, or equitably shared; when trust is strengthened, and hopes and dreams are fulfilled, not betrayed.
The union equally praised the advances made in tackling insecurity. “Security remains a fundamental right, and the primary duty of any state is to guarantee it, along with the safety of lives and property. “We acknowledge recent successes and will continue to urge the state to build on the on-going efforts, as the people deserve peace and security wherever they live. The government should not look back.
NLC stressed the unity of workers and citizens to be the bedrock for success in the pursuit of all common goals: “The promise of 2026 is the promise of our unwavering struggle, our collective willingness to refuse to be divided by the ruling elite who seek to sow discord among us. We are the same people, workers and the masses, united by shared oppression and fear,” he added.
General News
Tinubu Announces 26 New Appointments, Gisaor Replaces Byuan at Federal Housing Authority
By Felix Umande, Makurdi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved 26 new appointments into 10 Federal Government agencies and commissions, in a major shake-up aimed at strengthening governance and service delivery.
The appointments were announced on Sunday, 20 July, 2026 and take immediate effect.
Among the key appointments, Gisaor Vincent Iorja, an economist, legal scholar and academic, has been named Executive Director, Finance of the Federal Housing Authority. He replaces Mathias Terwase Byuan, who resigned to contest the governorship election in Benue State. Gisaor currently serves as Secretary of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, BSIEC.
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has been appointed Chairman of the Board of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA.
He will head the board alongside Alhaji Ahmadu Abubakar and Engineer Ilyasu Ibrahim Makinta as members and non-executive directors. The incumbent Director-General of REA, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, and three previously appointed executive directors complete the board.
Major General Junaid Bindawa has been named Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission. President Tinubu also made eight other appointments to the Commission.
Former House of Representatives member from Lagos, Olajumoke Okoya-Thomas, was appointed Secretary of the Commission. Commissioners appointed to represent states include Dr. Ogbole Ene Lilian, Benue; Oladele Olatubosun, Oyo; and Yakubu Umar Barde, Kaduna.
Other members of the Commission are Dr. Mai Adamu Yau, Borno; Ginika Florence Tor, Enugu; Engineer Lawrence Okoh, Edo; and Bello Morenike Iyabode, Kogi.
President Tinubu also appointed Dr. Abuh Mohammed as Director-General of the National Population Commission.
Dr. Akinola Odeyemi as Managing Director of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading, NBET.
Dr. Anthony Inalegwu Godwin as Chairman/CEO of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission.
Engineer Julius Oloro, a former council chairman, as CEO of the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation, NCAM, Kwara, replacing
Dr. A.R. Kamal who died in January.
Tosin Johnson Adeyanju, previously Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund, NLTF, has been redeployed as Secretary of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission.
The President also constituted the board of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission with Dr. Abdullahi Maikano Saidu as Chairman. Members include Mohammed Asmau, Mohammed Aliyu Makama, Dr. Suleiman Gidado, Louis O. Ndukwe, Amaechi Ugwele and Olaniyi Idowu Onikola.
Shuni Muhammad Dahiru was named Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education. He replaces Professor Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu, who was reassigned to the Petroleum Trust Development Fund, PTDF, in April.
According to the Presidency, the appointments are part of ongoing efforts to reposition institutions to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda.
By Nick Ibe, Abuja
DSS is prepared to appeal to achieve death penalty for the two Ansaru terrorist group commanders given life sentences in Abuja were given by Emeka Nwite. The were sentenced on Monday after they pleaded guilty to a 32-count terrorism charge.
The convicts: Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar, described as the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, and Mahmud al-Nigeri (a.k.a Malam Mamuda), his deputy and chief of staff.
The judge handed down the sentence after the convicts changed their plea from not guilty to guilty and, through their lawyer, appealed for leniency.
A senior DSS official, speaking after the judgement, said the agency considers the punishment inadequate given the gravity of the offences.
According to the official, the two men had initially indicated they would plead guilty but later changed their position around the period pupils and teachers were abducted in Oriire LGA of Oyo state by suspected members of the same group.
“For the nearly 60 days the kidnappers held on to the pupils and teachers of Oriire, the Ansaru commanders in our custody changed,” the official said.
“One of the top conditions the abductors gave was the unconditional release of these same Ansaru commanders in exchange for the Oriire kidnap victims.”
The DSS official said the defendants, who had earlier pleaded not guilty, later told the court they were undecided on the plea they intended to enter.
“Justice Nwite even had to hand them an ultimatum to make up their minds on or before Monday’s sitting.
“After the Oriire rescue, they came to court to plead guilty to all the charges.
“Allowing the two terror commanders walk away with life sentences will not serve the cause of justice for the two Oriire teachers beheaded by their abductors.
“The reason the terrorists beheaded the two Oriire teacher’s was to put pressure on government to release these two Ansaru commanders.
“It, therefore, wouldn’t be fair to see two men beheaded and their families are made to live with the losses without adequately bringing the culprits to book.”
By Nick Ibe, Abuja
The Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, (Retd) has denied as malicious and an entirely fabricated rumour circulating across various online and social media platforms alleging that he has expressed an intention to step down from his position.
Debunking this as fake news, a statement signed by Leah Katung-Babatunde
SA (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Defence stated unequivocally, and in the strongest possible terms that:
“These rumours are absolute falsehood borne out of complete mischief.
General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd) remains fully focused on his national security mandate, deeply committed to his duties, and completely dedicated to piloting the nation’s defence strategy with results already being seen.
The release further called the public to disregard the fake news. It also strongly called on the media to desist from spreading unverified information falsehood from the internet and social media platforms but to verify from it before going public.
“The general public is hereby urged to completely disregard this fake news. We strongly advise media outlets and internet users to desist from spreading unverified information and seek clarifications from the office.”
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