General News
Sen. Zam Charges North Central Commission to Impact Region with Projects
By Son Tertsea, Abuja
The North Central Development commission’s management has been charged by Senator Titus Zam to ensure the prompt utilisation of its monthly allocations to deliver visible projects across the region, and not to lay back complaining about inadequate funding.
Zam, chairman of the Senate’s North Central Development Commission Committee, made the call while addressing journalists after a closed-door meeting with the commission’s management in Abuja.
Established to drive infrastructure, economic development and rehabilitation across the North Central states, particularly in communities affected by insecurity and underdevelopment, the commission is expected to complement federal and state government efforts in improving rural infrastructure, agriculture, mining and other critical sectors.
The North West Senator from Benue state said the committee reviewed the commission’s implementation timeline and stressed the need for accountability in the use of available funds. In his own words:
“What we have done is to meet with the management of the North Central Development Commission on the timelines for their activities. You know that this commission is about developing our rural communities.
“And we have heard the MD say that the Federal Government has started funding them, even though what is being given is not as much as they would expect. But there is always a gap between our wishes and reality.
“So the FG has started giving them some allocation each month. And we have met with them and agreed that those funds should be promptly used so that there will be deliverables at the end of the year in tandem with their mandate.”
Accordingly, the committee has resolved to do oversight visits beginning with the commission’s headquarters in Lafia, Nasarawa State, then inspecting projects across the six North Central states.
“We also agreed to commence immediate oversight visits first to their office in Lafia, Nasarawa and thereafter move around the North Central states to see the programmes and projects they have executed or planned to carry out.
“So, we have all agreed to work together to support them, and they have agreed to also perform credibly to avoid disappointing Mr President, Bola Tinubu, who brought this idea to fruition,” he stated.
While responding to questions, Zam revealed that the commission currently receives N2.9bn monthly from the Federal Government, which he said was insufficient when compared with its approved budget.
“Every month, they are given N2.9bn. And that’s just a drop in the ocean. For now, that’s what is being given to them. Remember that they had a budget of N140bn. If you give someone who has a budget of N140bn and he gets N2.9bn, multiply by 12 months. That is still not up to half of its budget.
“So we thank Mr President for, at least, dropping something for the take-off. I suppose that is just a takeoff funding. When the commission finally comes on stage, it is expected that much more will be released. For now, that’s what they are being given.”
The senator added that the committee had also advised the commission on priority areas that should receive immediate attention to maximise the impact of its interventions.
“Actually, the North Central region has certain comparative advantages over and above other regions. For example, North Central is mostly agricultural land. We have arable land, good rainfall and vegetation conducive for agriculture. So, we urge the management of NCDC to take agriculture very seriously.
“We also spoke about mining. Most North Central states are into mining, which needs to be supported. We also have a challenge of insecurity. The commission is advised to support the security forces and the state government to complement their efforts towards mitigating the tides of insecurity within the region.
“We also ask them to take rural development very seriously because we are also rural in nature. Apart from state capitals and a few local wetlands, most of North Central is rural. So they have to concentrate on doing things like culverts, bridges and so on,” he noted.
Zam said the Senate committee would continue to work closely with the commission to ensure it delivers on its mandate and provides tangible development projects across the North Central region.
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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