General News
Delta Govt Moves to Bolster Employer-Employee Dispute Management
The Delta State Government has established a dedicated Civil Service Legal Unit within the Ministry of Justice to oversee all employer-employee disputes involving the state and its agencies at the National Industrial Court.
The move is aimed at strengthening the government’s response to labour and industrial relations cases and ensuring more coordinated legal representation in employment-related matters.
The newly inaugurated team comprises Oghenemine Stephen Onoriose, Esq.; Mrs. Elvon Edirin Ezie; Ugochukwu Paul Okolotu, Esq.; Funkekeme Junior Solomon, Esq.; and Oghenechavwuko Agbatutu, Esq.
At the inauguration ceremony, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, SAN, said the creation of the unit reflects the state’s commitment to enhancing its legal framework in handling labour disputes involving public institutions.
He urged members of the unit to approach their responsibilities with professionalism, thorough knowledge of National Industrial Court procedures, and strict adherence to relevant laws.
Speaking on behalf of the team, Mrs. Elvon Edirin Ezie expressed appreciation for the trust placed in them and pledged that the unit would carry out its duties diligently in service to the state.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has accused the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, of authorizing arrests without proper investigations and interfering in judicial processes.
Speaking in an interview with DCL Hausa, El-Rufai alleged that Ribadu often bypasses due process by directly contacting security agencies to effect arrests before thorough investigations are conducted.
He further claimed that the NSA sometimes attempts to influence court proceedings, alleging that Ribadu pressures judicial officials to deny bail to certain suspects, including individuals he said were detained without sufficient investigative groundwork.
“I feel ashamed when I remember he was once my friend. Nobody is as wicked as Nuhu Ribadu in Tinubu’s administration,” El-Rufai said.
The former governor cited the alleged arrest of former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Bashir Jamoh, by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Kaduna State as an example.
“He is lying, they have not stopped. Even last week, they arrested Bashir Jamoh. What did he do?” El-Rufai said, alleging that Jamoh was still being held in custody.
He described the situation as a violation of constitutional provisions requiring that a detained person be brought before a court within 48 hours.
El-Rufai also expressed concern about his own safety, suggesting that he might be the next target of arrest
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed a budget of ₦873.778 billion for the conduct of Nigeria’s 2027 general election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this while presenting the Commission’s 2026 budget estimates and projections for the 2027 polls before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters.
He clarified that the ₦873.778 billion election budget is separate from the Commission’s proposed ₦171 billion operational budget for 2026, which is intended to cover routine activities, including off-cycle elections and by-elections.
According to the INEC chairman, the projected cost for the 2027 polls does not include a fresh request from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), which is seeking an upward review of allowances for corps members deployed as ad-hoc staff during elections.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Simon Lalong, assured the Commission of the National Assembly’s support, pledging collaboration to ensure the successful conduct of the 2027 general election.
Similarly, Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Bayo Balogun, promised legislative backing for INEC but cautioned the Commission against making commitments it may be unable to fulfil.
The lawmakers reiterated the importance of adequate planning, transparency and accountability in election funding as preparations gradually begin for the next general election cycle.
There was mild tension at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday following reports that security operatives attempted to detain former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, shortly after he arrived from Cairo, Egypt.
Eyewitnesses at the airport claimed that the officers approached the former governor upon arrival, but some bystanders reportedly objected, insisting that any request for his appearance should be conveyed through a formal invitation rather than an on-the-spot arrest.
As of the time of filing this report, the reason for the attempted detention had not been officially disclosed, and relevant authorities had yet to issue a formal statement clarifying the situation.
Earlier, El-Rufai had indicated in a statement that there were moves to arrest him.
Meanwhile, his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, confirmed the incident in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, alleging that security agents tried to take the former governor into custody at the airport. According to him, El-Rufai declined to accompany the officers without a written invitation, after which they allegedly seized his passport from an aide.
“Security agents today attempted to arrest Malam Nasir El-Rufai as he arrived on a flight from Cairo. Malam El-Rufai declined to follow them without a formal invitation. They however snatched his passport from an aide,” Adekeye wrote.
No official response had been issued by security agencies at press time, and further details surrounding the development remain unclear.