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Nigeria’s Workers’ Day celebration on May 1st, 2024, was a bittersweet affair. While the day traditionally honors the contributions of Nigerian workers to the nation’s development, this year’s festivities were overshadowed by the lingering fuel scarcity plaguing the country and the ongoing fight for a new minimum wage. Across major cities like Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt, long queues snaked around petrol stations, mirroring the frustrations many Nigerians face daily in their pursuit of the elusive liquid gold. The scarcity, which has been ongoing for weeks, has crippled transportation networks, disrupted businesses, and dampened the spirits of workers already…

A dark cloud hangs over London today after a horrific terror attack claimed the life of a promising young boy. Francis Anjorin, a 14-year-old of Nigerian descent, was tragically killed in a knife attack on Tuesday, April 30th, 2024, near the bustling Victoria Station. Details of the attack are still emerging, but British authorities have confirmed it as a terror-related incident. The attacker, a 21-year-old man, has been apprehended and is in police custody. The news of Francis’s death has sent shockwaves through the Nigerian community in London and across Nigeria itself. Tributes have poured in for the young boy,…

Dark clouds are gathering over Nigeria’s already-fragile power sector as organised labour threatens an indefinite nationwide strike over the recent hike in electricity tariffs. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have issued a joint statement demanding the immediate reversal of the increase, raising the spectre of blackouts across the country. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) announced the controversial tariff hike on April 3, 2024. The new rates, which apply to customers enjoying relatively stable power supply (Band A), have been met with widespread disapproval. The unions argue that the increase is insensitive…

Motorists across Nigeria can finally breathe a sigh of relief, but with a cautious edge. The House of Representatives has taken a strong stance against the fuel scarcity crisis, urging security agencies to crack down on oil marketers suspected of hoarding gasoline. This move signals a potential turning point in the weeks-long saga that has seen long queues snake around petrol stations, tempers flare, and businesses grind to a halt. The House Committees on Downstream and Midstream Petroleum Resources, led by Chairmen Ikenga Ugochinyere and Henry Okojie, respectively, issued a joint statement on Wednesday, May 1st, 2024. The statement decried…

Authorities have uncovered a hidden community residing in the unlikeliest of places—under the Dolphin Estate Bridge on Ikoyi Island. On Wednesday, May 1st, 2024, Lagos State’s Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, revealed the existence of 86 makeshift rooms constructed beneath the bridge. These rooms, measuring a meager 10×10 feet or 12×10 feet, were reportedly rented out for a staggering N250,000 ($560 USD) per year. The news sent shockwaves through Lagos, sparking outrage and raising serious concerns about the city’s affordable housing crisis. A Life in the Underbelly: A Glimpse into the Hidden Community Details about the lives…

Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has announced a N10,000 ($22 USD) salary increase for all civil servants in the state. The announcement, made on April 12th, 2024, has been met with mixed reactions from workers, with some expressing cautious optimism and others questioning the adequacy of the raise. A Palliative Measure in Turbulent Times Governor Nwifuru, while announcing the raise, acknowledged the current economic hardship faced by Nigerians. He emphasized that the N10,000 increase is intended to provide some relief to Ebonyi State workers struggling with rising costs of food, transportation, and other essentials. The announcement comes amidst ongoing…

Aspiring patriots across the nation can erupt in cheers as the Nigerian Army, through its official recruitment portal, has finally unveiled the highly anticipated list of successful candidates for the Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) Course 28/2024. This announcement, made on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, marks the culmination of a rigorous selection process that saw countless hopefuls vie for the coveted opportunity to serve their nation in a prestigious officer capacity. The news, which spread like wildfire across social media platforms and traditional media outlets alike, has instilled a sense of immense pride and accomplishment in the hearts of those…

A bizarre situation has unfolded in Kwara State, throwing the spotlight on the precarious state of the nation’s power sector. Employees of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) in the state have sparked outrage and confusion with their unorthodox approach to resolving power outage woes. Darkness Descends, Donations Ascend: A Controversial Request Residents across Kwara have been grappling with persistent power outages, plunging them into darkness and disrupting their daily lives. However, the solution proposed by some IBEDC workers in the state has left many scratching their heads. Local reports allege that these workers have been soliciting donations from residents…

A fiery debate has ignited across Nigeria, sparked by the Labour movement’s audacious proposal for a new minimum wage of N615,000. This figure, a staggering increase from the current N30,000, has sent shockwaves through the nation’s economic landscape. Championed by Aj. Dagga Tolar, the proposal has garnered passionate support from Nigerian workers yearning for a living wage amidst rampant inflation. However, skeptics remain unconvinced, questioning the feasibility of such a dramatic increase. A Long Overdue Raise: Labour Movement Makes a Stand For years, Nigerian workers have grappled with a stagnant minimum wage that struggles to keep pace with the ever-rising…

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and president of Dangote Industries Limited, has launched a scathing critique of the Nigerian economy in 2023. Speaking at the annual general meeting (AGM) of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc on Tuesday, Dangote singled out the dramatic devaluation of the Naira as the “biggest mess created” during the past year. From N460 to N1,400: A Naira in Nosedive The year 2023 witnessed a significant decline in the value of the Nigerian Naira against major foreign currencies, particularly the US Dollar. Dangote pointed to a staggering devaluation, with the Naira plummeting from N460 to a worrying N1,400…