*** Tells workers, pensioners to prepare for total showdown with FG

By Chuks Okechukwu

As Nigerian workers make fresh minimum wage demands from the federal government, following the persistent high cost of living in the country, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has threatened a total showdown with government.

This is as it vowed that it would continue its national struggle for a thorough review of the national minimum wage, noting that it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.

NLC president, Joe Ajaero, made the declaration while speaking at the commissioning of the Comrade Godwin Abumisi Pensioners Legacy House and Multipurpose Hall in Abuja.

Ajaero said it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.

He called on workers and pensioners to get prepared for the ideological and economic battles that lie ahead.

He said, “the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, is one of the proud affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress. Therefore, your struggle is our struggle, and your welfare remains a priority for the organised labour movement.

“We are currently in the preparatory stages for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.

“However, let me state unequivocally that it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service,” he said.

He noted that the NLC will not only push for a new national minimum wage but will also demand the establishment of a national minimum pension, stressing that It is a historical injustice that men and women who devoted their youth, strength and productive years to the service of this nation should be condemned to live below the poverty line after retirement.

Ajaero noted that the cost of living has risen astronomically as food, healthcare and transportation have become increasingly unaffordable.

He urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins

“This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure; it should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.

“We cannot continue to allow our senior citizens to survive on pensions that have become poverty wages. Every retiree deserves to live with dignity after decades of faithful service to the nation,” he said.

The NLC president pointed out that the working class has always understood that “those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.

He said the completion of the project should serve as a clarion call to all workers and lovers of the masses.

“We must not only build physical structures but also build a strong movement capable of compelling government to honour its commitments.

“We will continue to demand the immediate payment of all outstanding pension arrears and the implementation of a pension regime that guarantees every retiree a life of dignity and security.

“Together, we shall continue to fight until every Nigerian worker and pensioner receives the justice, respect and welfare they deserve,” Ajaero stated.

Tinubu

***Warns importation could affect price stability

*** Again, marketers hike petrol pump price

By Nkem Okereh

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has expressed concerns about the reported increase in the importation of petrol into the country.

IPMAN warned that the uncontrolled rise in issuance of petroleum product import licences could worsen price instability, increase pressure on the naira and push petrol prices higher.

National Publicity Secretary of IPMAN, Chinedu Ukadike, who raised the alarm on Sunday, expressed the association’s concern, noting that imported petrol was entering the Nigerian market at prices above locally refined products, thereby undermining efforts to stabilise the downstream sector.

This is even as marketer have hiked the pump price of petrol across the country, as they now sell between N1200 to N1300 per litre, as against the earlier N1800, citing the rise in crude oil prices and adjustments in depot prices by Dangote Refinery and other suppliers, which it blamed on the renewed pressure on oil, following the return of hostilities between the United States of America (USA) and Iran that brought back uncertainty on the Strait of Hormuz.

It would also be recalled that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, in its June report, said the importation of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, jumped by 207 per cent to 18.1 million litres per day in June 2026 from 5.6 million litres per day in May as daily petrol consumption surged by 7 per cent to 50.6 ml/d.

NMDPRA data showed that while fuel imports surged significantly, petrol production at Dangote Refinery declined by 22 per cent to 32.5 million litres per day in June from 41.5 ml/d in May.

This means that the country imported more PMS in June than in May. This comes as NMDPRA issued import licences to petroleum product marketers in the period in view.

Ukadike said independent marketers had reviewed developments in the downstream sector, including the import licence regime, price fluctuations and the increasing use of foreign exchange for petroleum transactions.

The IPMAN spokesperson called on the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to urgently address the challenges affecting pricing and supply stability.

He noted that the recent approval of import licences, which was expected to serve as a competitive check on domestic refinery prices, had instead introduced more uncertainty into the market, adding that some companies granted import licences were offering petrol at about N1,350 per litre, a price he described as higher than the rate at which Dangote Refinery supplies marketers.

“What is the essence of issuing this price? This will create a lot of tension in society,” he said, warning that continued volatility was making business planning difficult for independent marketers.

He argued that imported petrol has a landing cost estimated to be about 20 per cent higher than locally refined products from Dangote Refinery, adding that reliance on costly imports was putting additional pressure on Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves.

President Tinubu

*** Says Nigeria “has faced a horrific wave of violence, corruption”

*** Motion awaits US Senate backing

By Nkem Okereh (With agency report)

The United States of America (USA), may have beamed its searchlights on activities in Nigeria, as the country’s House of Representatives has voted on Thursday for a total withholding of all financial supports to Nigeria for allegations of Christian genocide in the country.

Recall that a prominent member of the US Congress, Riley Moore had recently accused the Nigerian government of not doing much to protect the nation’s citizens from unending killings by Islamic  militants, who he accused of carrying out genocide against Christians in Nigeria.

The allegations were serially denied by the President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, which also sent a team of the executives, led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, to address the US House of Representatives and other stakeholders on the matter.

President Donald Trump had in 2025, redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over allegations of Christian persecution.

US Congressman, Riley Moore similarly led some other congressmen and women, including religious leaders to visit Nigeria on a fact finding trip in December 2025, touring security flashpoint states like Benue and Plateau.

The visits led to the establishment of a security partnership between  Nigeria and the US, against terrorist groups operating in northern Nigeria.

Following the security partnership agreement, the US army swiftly launched several attacks on December 25, 2025, targeting the terrorist Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP), killing most of its lead commanders, an attack the Donald Trump administration said was towards the protection and stopping further attacks on Nigerian Christians my Islamic militant groups.

But the Congress went further on Wednesday to seek the protection of Nigerian Christians, as it adopted an amended motion sponsored by congressman Gregory Steube to withhold all US assistance to Nigeria until the country meets specific conditions to tackle violence.

The amendment, which was approved by a voice vote on Wednesday, was added to the fiscal 2027 State Department spending bill, which the House later passed 217-209 largely along party lines.

Sponsor of the motion, Gregory Steuben announced the Congress vote on X, wrote, “My amendment to withhold 100% of U.S. aid to Nigeria until its government stops the slaughter of Christians has passed.

“American taxpayers should never bankroll governments that turn a blind eye while Christians are abducted, tortured, and murdered. No more wasteful foreign aid!”

The bill proposed withholding funds appropriated for Nigeria until the US Secretary of State certifies that the country has taken “effective steps to prevent and respond to violence and hold perpetrators accountable.”

Steube told the Congress that Nigeria “has faced a horrific wave of violence that its corrupt government has failed to address,” and argued that withholding only half the funding meant rewarding a government that “fails to meet such a basic obligation.”

He said the amendment does not add new conditions but “only strengthens” the existing ones, and framed it as a matter of accountability.

“Foreign aid should never be a reward for failure,” he said.

Steube also linked his push to America’s finances, asking why the country should keep sending money to Nigeria “as our national debt is fast approaching $40 trillion.”

However, implementation of the House of Representatives adopted motion will still wait until it gets a similar backing from the Senate, and also be signed by the President Trump.