General News
NLC ESCALATES FIGHT WITH FCT ADMINISTRATION, CALLS FOR MASS PROTEST AT INDUSTRIAL COURT
The Nigeria Labour Congress has escalated its stand-off with the Federal Capital Territory Administration by calling on workers to stage a mass demonstration at the National Industrial Court in Abuja on Monday. This move follows legal action filed by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, against striking workers who are protesting alleged wage arrears and withheld benefits. NLC President Joe Ajaero announced that the national leadership has formally taken over the dispute, framing it as a wider struggle for workers’ rights.
After an emergency meeting with leaders of the Joint Unions Action Council, Ajaero stated, “The FCTA’s actions amount to bureaucratic oppression and exploitation.” He further declared, “This is no longer just a labour dispute; it is a people’s struggle against an insensitive administration.”
Ajaero directed all FCT workers to converge at the Industrial Court on Monday to demonstrate solidarity. In a significant escalation, the NLC has instituted compulsory daily prayer and solidarity sessions across the territory, running from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Congress is also encouraging alliances with civil society groups, student organizations, and community activists to broaden support for the cause.
The grievances driving the strike include the alleged illegal withholding of five months’ wages and promotion arrears. Workers also cite the non-remittance of pension and National Housing Fund contributions since May 2025, as well as intimidation.
Ajaero warned that workers’ patience had run out, insisting the NLC would sustain and intensify the action until the issues are addressed. He vowed to continue until the dignity of workers is restored.
With tensions mounting, the impending showdown at the Industrial Court is poised to become a pivotal moment for labour-government relations in the nation’s capital. It signals both the determination of the workers and the challenges facing the FCTA in resolving the dispute.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has introduced an urgent, coordinated strategy to safeguard food security across West Africa and the Sahel, as global economic disruptions and rising oil prices continue to threaten agricultural production.
The decision followed an extraordinary virtual meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Agriculture held on March 23, 2026, where regional leaders assessed the growing risks to food systems.
The high-level meeting, convened by the ECOWAS Commission through its Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture under Commissioner Kalilou Sylla, brought together key regional institutions, development partners, and financial stakeholders.
Participants—including representatives from the West African Economic and Monetary Union and the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel—reviewed the impact of rising fertiliser costs, driven by global market volatility and increasing energy prices, on agricultural productivity across the region.
Deliberations resulted in the adoption of a medium- to long-term operational framework aimed at strengthening food sovereignty and building resilience within regional food systems.
Key measures outlined in the plan include the immediate establishment of regional agreements to secure strategic fertiliser supplies, as well as the creation of emergency reserves to cushion the effects of future price shocks.
The ministers also approved the introduction of liquidity swap mechanisms through central banks to address foreign exchange constraints faced by importers—an intervention expected to improve access to critical agricultural inputs.
“Our collective response underscores the urgency of safeguarding food security in the face of external shocks,” Sylla said, noting that enhanced regional coordination and targeted interventions would help sustain agricultural production and protect vulnerable populations.
The initiative highlights ECOWAS’ commitment to deepening regional cooperation and implementing sustainable solutions to emerging threats to food security across West Africa and the Sahel.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Monday paid a Sallah homage to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos.
The visit formed part of activities marking the Sallah celebrations, as top government officials and political leaders paid courtesy calls to the President.
During the meeting, President Tinubu also received members of the Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council, a key political body in Lagos State.
Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council
The engagements provided an opportunity for discussions on national issues and strengthened ties between the executive and legislative arms of government.
The Sallah homage is a long-standing tradition in Nigeria, where political leaders and stakeholders visit the President and other top officials during major Islamic festivities.
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has expressed concern over the reported arrest of a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar, describing the development as a threat to Nigeria’s democratic principles.
In a statement issued on Monday, Obi said he was informed that the cleric was arrested by authorities shortly after hosting him in Kaduna on Sunday. He described the situation as “deeply troubling,” warning that it reflects a growing pattern of intimidation and suppression of dissenting voices in the country.
Obi noted that such actions, if confirmed, undermine fundamental rights, including freedom of speech and movement, which he said are essential pillars of any democratic society.
He further stressed that harassment or persecution of citizens based on perceived political affiliations must not be tolerated, urging the government to uphold the rule of law in its dealings with Nigerians.
“This country must defend freedom and free speech, which are the hallmarks of every democratic society,” Obi stated, adding that suppression and intimidation of dissent have no place in a functioning democracy.
The former Anambra State governor called on authorities and all relevant actors to refrain from actions capable of weakening the nation’s already fragile democratic system.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official confirmation from security agencies regarding the alleged arrest.