*** Want. N1.5m monthly for grade level 17 officers

By Nkem Okereh

As Nigerians groan under the hardship that has trailed the Federal Government’s economic reforms, workers at the federal level have demanded an immediate shift from the current N70,000 minimum wage labour negotiated with the federal government, few years ago

Making the demand through the Federal Workers’ Forum, the group called for an increase in the federal minimum wage from ₦70,000 to ₦300,000, arguing that the current salary structure can no longer sustain civil servants amid Nigeria’s rising cost of living.

The forum made the demand in a letter dated September 2, 2026, addressed to President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, and copied to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation

The workers in their demand, also proposed a new salary structure that would place the highest-paid Level 17 officer on ₦1.5 million monthly, while Level 1 Step 1 workers would earn ₦300,000.

Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and Trade Union Congress (TUC) has presented similar request to the federal government, citing the continued high cost of living that trailed the removal of petrol subsidy and floating of the Naira, since the president Bola Tinubu led All Progressives Congress (APC) adminstration came into office in May 2023

“We call for justice and immediate wage review now, adjust the federal minimum wage to ₦300,000 and a maximum wage of ₦1.5m for the Level 17 officers.

“We have been in the battle for full consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage,” the workers union stated in their letter, while stating that the federal government had not fully implemented the 2024 minimum wage agreement, as federal workers had yet to receive the full consequential adjustment and associated allowances.

The forum noted that the 2024 wage review raised the minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000 but resulted in what it described as a uniform ₦40,000 increase across federal civil service salary levels.

“The proposed structure would set salaries at ₦330,000 for Level 2, ₦360,000 for Level 3, ₦390,000 for Level 4, ₦420,000 for Level 5, ₦450,000 for Level 6 and ₦480,000 for Level 7. It proposed ₦510,000 for Level 8, ₦550,000 for Level 9, ₦600,000 for Level 10, ₦700,000 for Level 12, ₦750,000 for Level 13, ₦800,000 for Level 14, ₦1 million for Level 15 and ₦1.2 million for Level 16,” the forum stated

The workers cited the sharp.increase in the prices of food, transport, accommodation, electricity, cooking gas, data and other household expenses as reasons which had made the existing minimum wage inadequate, adding that some federal workers had resorted to borrowing from microfinance institutions and digital loan platforms to meet basic expenses.

The forum further demanded payment of outstanding salaries, promotion arrears and other entitlements, alongside the immediate implementation and payment of arrears of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance and a permanent Cost of Living Allowance.

It also urged the federal government to introduce family support allowances, and end the stagnation in the civil service, comprehensive health insurance for workers and pensioners, car and housing loan schemes, improved pension arrangements and free education for workers’ and pensioners’ children in federal institutions.

They further called on the National Assembly to press the President to act before July 2027, when the statutory three-year review of the minimum wage would ordinarily fall due, arguing that workers could not wait that long under current economic conditions.

*** Like Kuje, Ebonyi LG chairmen, Borno commissioner threatens opposition

**** Warns “anyone who would want to put sand in my ‘garri’ must not come to Ohaukwu LG”

*** Ruling party deploys huge campaign permit payments to frustrate opponents at states

By Eze Nnadi

As political parties and their candidates commence campaigns ahead of the 2027 general election, political stakeholders have expressed concerns over the continuous threat to opposition political parties by the ruling parties at the various state levels.

In some states, DISCLOSURE News gathered, ruling parties, majorly of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have threatened to either evict opposition party supporters from their residence of cut their fingers, if they campaign for any other candidate, except the incumbent president Bola Tinubu and the APC

The threats have highthened, despite efforts by the National Peace Committee and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to promote a peaceful and issue based campaign ahead of the 2027 general election, some political actors have continued to heighten the already flared mention ahead of the polls

The General Abdulsalam Abubarkar led Nationals Peace Committee had in conjunction with INEC, flagged off the first stage if the Peace Accord signing by the presidential candidates and chairmen of all the participating political parties to commemorate the commencement of election campaigns on August 19, 2027

But despite these efforts, stakeholders have raised concerns about the implementation and adherence to the terms of the accord as signed by the political parties and their candidates.

The chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo, had dared residents to either support and vote for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or leave the Kuje Area Council

The chairman , in a widely circulated video, told residents opposed to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to leave the area council ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that he would use his position to frustrate any move to campaign for any opposition candidate in the area.

Shekwolo, who in his video, said he would not tolerate opposition to the APC or President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid within the council.

The chairman argued that residents should support the ruling party in view of what he described as development projects executed in Kuje by the Tinubu administration and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

He added that his position was non-negotiable, even as he vowed to use his office to oppose efforts by residents to work against the APC in the 2027 elections.

He said, “I have said in my area council that it’s either you are for the APC or you leave the area council. I am not arguing about it at all

“You know why? I cannot have the Minister and the President doing what they are doing, then on the day of the election, you will now say you want to match me. I will not agree.

“It’s either you are with us or you are against us,” Shekwolo added

He maintained that his stance was firm, adding that he would use his position to resist any attempt by residents to campaign or vote against the APC during the 2027 election

Few days after Hon Shekwolo’s threat, the Borno state commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Saina Buba joined in another viral video, while he threatened to cut the fingers of opposition supporters who would campaign against the ruling parties and president Bola Tinubu

The commissioner similarly warned that he would mobilise and use his position to frustrate any opposition campaign in the state, warning that such campaigns would not be tolerated in Borno state

These threats came few weeks after Osun east senator, Francis Fadahunsi had charged his supporters to kill the supporters of Accord Party, during the just concluded governorship election in the state

The election was however won by the Accord party candidate, Ademola Adeleke, who was elected with 511, 067voted to defeat his APC counterpart, Bola Oyebamiji

The Nigeria Police had however declared that it has commenced investigations against the three APC chieftains over their inciting comments, even as they have all retracted and apologised to the public

The police disclosed on Tuesday that it had launched a critical probe into the alleged anti democratic comments made by Osun east senator, Francis Fadahunsi, Kuje Area Council chairman in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Danjuma Shekwolo and Borno State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sainna, following their alleged threats and anti democratic positions ahead of the polls

As if that was not enough, the newly sworn-in Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Eze Paul Ituma, on Thursday, warned opposition political parties and their supporters against engaging in political activities in the area ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Ituama’s warning came barely 24 hours after the state governor, Francis Nwifuru, had charged the chairmen to either win votes for the APC in the 2027 general elections or lose their jobs

Governor Nwifuru gave the charge when he inaugurated the 13 newly elected local government council chairmen and their councillors in the state

He said, “Any chairman who fails to win his council will be removed from office and replaced with a councillor. I want this information to be on the headlines of newspapers because, as politicians, we would not speak in secret.

The chairmen know we would win in the state, and if they choose to sleep and allow others to take their areas, they would be removed.”

Acting on the governor’s charge, the Ohaukwu council chairman, who issued the warning while speaking on political activities in the council, said anyone who attempted to operate against his political interests could be declared persona non grata.

“Anyone who dares to do so will be declared persona non grata. This is the time for politics. I don’t have a shop at the International Market; politics is my business. Anyone who wants to put sand in my garri should not come close to Ohaukwu,” Ituama said in a viral video.

In similarly threats, several state governments have introduced measures to frustrate opposition campaigns in the state, with huge financial demands for the display of campaign posters and billboards across the various states

States like Abia, Adamawa and Kogi have through their Advertising and Signage Agencies, released costs, ranging from N50m to N150m to be paid by political parties and their candidates, before their campaign posters and billboards could be mounted in any part of the states

Similar restrictions were extended to use of public places like schools and stadiums for political campaigns with stringent conditions which must be met before such places could be approved for use by political parties for campaigns

These measures are no doubt targeted at the opposition political parties and their candidates, in the ruling party’s determined efforts to frustrate their access to voters ahead of the 2027 general elections

***Says action won’t affect war against terrorism

***US still offers intelligence sharing, training, information support to Nigeria

By Nkem Okereh

The Defence Headquarters has announced the withdrawal of over 200 United States of America (USA) soldiers fighting terrorism from
Nigeria.

Recall that US had provided support for Nigeria in its fight against terrorist groups, with their soldiers and intelligence group operating especially in the North west of the country.

Announcing the action in a joint security media briefing on Tuesday, the Nigerian Army headquarters, however, assured that the planned withdrawal of more than 200 United States military personnel from Nigeria will not disrupt the country’s ongoing fight against terrorism.

The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, noted that the US withdrawals should not be interpreted as a breakdown in Nigeria’s security cooperation with the United States, adding that the security relationship between the two countries remained strong

The Defence Information Director however linked the withdrawal to specific operational and counter-terrorism objectives rather than an end to bilateral military cooperation.

He maintained that despite support from other friendly partners like the US, the primary responsibility for defending Nigeria and protecting its citizens remained with the Nigerian security forces, noting that the partnership with Washington was designed to strengthen the country’s capabilities through intelligence, training and technical assistance.

“The relationship between Nigeria and the United States remains strong, enduring and mutually beneficial

“The responsibility for the defence of Nigeria and the protection of its citizens rests primarily with Nigerian security forces,” Uba said.

He assured that despite the reduction in the number of US military personnel in Nigeria, intelligence sharing, training, information exchange and other areas of professional military cooperation will continue, adding that Nigeria and the US could undertake further joint operations, including strikes, where both countries assessed such action to be necessary.

He said the partnership had contributed to efforts against terrorism and other transnational security threats, while urging Nigerians and the media not to interpret adjustments in foreign military deployments as evidence of a collapse in security cooperation.

Uba said the military remained focused on kinetic operations against terrorists and other armed groups threatening Nigerians, stressing that defeating such groups remained a core responsibility of the Armed Forces.

“Our major job is kinetic operations. As much as possible, we want to take down all the terrorists in Nigeria, or anybody who takes up arms against citizens,” he said.

He however stated that the military would continue to support non-kinetic interventions under the whole-of-society and whole-of-nation approach to tackling insecurity, even as he warned that such efforts would not alter the military’s opposition to dialogue with terrorists or ransom payments.