***Says N70,000 minimum wage no longer adequate

*** Admits high cost of living has eroded workers’ purchasing power

*** Calls for FG, Labour meeting over new wages

By Sam Otuonye

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has called on the federal government to interface with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to agree on a new minimum wage to confront the lingering hardship in the country.

Keyamo, a former minister of state for Labour and Employment said the current N70,000 national minimum wage is no longer inadequate to meet the economic pressures confronting Nigerian workers.

The minister,who made the declaration when he spoke at the 2026 National Pre-Retirement Summit organised by XEM Consultants Limited, said the rising cost of living had eroded the purchasing power of workers, adding that there is an urgent need for an upward review of wages in the country.

Keyamo also accused some state governments and other agencies of treating their workers poorly, alleging that they ignore priorities like workers welfare, while senior officials approve large sums for international trips.

He said, “I will have none of it. Without these workers, we will not have a country,” he said.

“It’s not the machines or everything that you [have]; it’s the human factor. Without that, no machine will move.”

The minister stressed that national development depended on prioritising the welfare of workers, describing the human factor as central to productivity and effective public service.

He argued that issues affecting workers’ welfare and productivity should receive priority over bureaucratic considerations, urging ministers and heads of government agencies to make workers’ interests a priority.

Earlier in his remarks, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, called on the Federal Government to use increased oil revenues to cushion workers and other Nigerians from the impact of rising fuel prices.

Ajaero noted that the recent increase in international oil prices had created additional revenue for oil-producing countries and urged the government to deploy part of the gains to support citizens facing higher transportation and food costs.

“As one of the oil-producing countries, they are making trillions because of the problem in the Strait of Hormuz. You can see that oil was pegged at maybe $70 or whatever dollars. It’s $100, so they are making an extra $30 or $40.

“Now, can’t you use this money to embark on some interventionary measures like other countries where this is affected, so that we’ll now be alive till the time when they will say minimum wage?”

The NLC president emphasised that minimum wage negotiations should focus on workers’ real purchasing power rather than nominal figures, taking into account inflation, fuel prices, food costs and other economic factors, saying that a nominally high wage could lose its value if the prices of basic commodities rose sharply.

“Assuming one naira is equal to $1, I would advise Nigerian workers to remain at ₦70,000 because that would be big money for them, but you can see that you can equally get one million naira and a bag of rice is ₦500,000, so what of that? What happens?

“Unless you index it either based on cost of living index or inflation, immediately inflation goes like this, automatically it will adjust to this, as it is affecting pension, so it affects salaries; and those are some of the things that will enable us to agree on something.”

On minimum pension, the NLC president said it should be negotiated alongside the minimum wage because workers and pensioners were both affected by prevailing economic conditions.

He explained that the next minimum-wage review was expected around March or April, stressing the need for an urgent government discussion with Labour over a new minimum wage

According to him, labour’s immediate concern was how workers could cope with the current economic pressures before the next review.

“This minimum wage is supposed to expire March–April, so the conversation ought to start early. That’s a three-year cycle,” he said.

“But now we are more concerned on ‘give us this day’ — how to survive today before that time. Because these policies of the fuel going up, jumping up, and the Nigerian government is making a whole lot of money from it.”

Ajaero also questioned the effectiveness of government measures designed to reduce transportation and energy costs, including the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) programme.

“Are we even producing enough in terms of food, reliance on food? Now, between that time and now, the most troublesome problem for a worker, which happened to be transportation — the CNG policy, did it work? Where and where can you refill your tank? How many vehicles have been converted to CNG? How many electric vehicles are on the road?” he queried

He advised further that controlling factors such as inflation, transportation costs, food prices and currency pressures would make it easier for workers to cope with prevailing economic conditions.

The Chief Executive Officer of XEM Consultants Ltd. and convener of the summit, Dr. Eugenia Ndukwe, said the event was designed to equip senior professionals with strategies and skills for a productive and fulfilling retirement.

*** Stage protest at Finance Ministry

***Say FG loans increasing burden on Nigerians

***As Soludo releases fresh document linking Obi to ₦127bn loan as governor

By Sam Otuonye

As Nigerians groan under hardship and continuous foreign loans servicing by both the federal and state governments, a group of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the ActionAid Nigeria, as well as market women, university students took to the streets in Abuja,   on Thursday to protest the continued granting of killer loans to the federal and state governments by both the World bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Nigeria’s total public external debt is currently  put at approximately $51.9 billion as of the first quarter of 2026, amid mounting economic pressures and rising public concern.

A large portion of Nigeria’s external loans comes from institutions like the World Bank (through the International Development Association) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The National Assembly approved major external borrowing plans exceeding $21 billion for 2025–2026, alongside additional multi-billion dollar credit facilities aimed at infrastructure and port rehabilitation.
The protesters who blocked the gate of the Federal Ministry of Finance in their numbers , displaying sbanners and placards with several anti government and international financial agencies inscriptions  decried what it described as Nigeria’s rising debt stock and the Federal Government’s continued borrowing.

They called on the Federal Government to reconsider further borrowing, while urging the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, IMF, to stop extending additional loans to Nigeria.

They regretted that continued borrowing was placing a growing burden on Nigerians and called on the international financial institutions to “let Nigeria breathe,” expressing concerns over the country’s debt accumulation and its implications for citizens and the economy.

This is as the Anambra state government has released fresh document linking the state’s former governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi to external loans to the tune of $125.77billion obtained during his administration

The government, in a post on its media handle on X on Thursday, shared a graphic listing eight external loan facilities for projects covering malaria control, healthcare, education, erosion management, agriculture and community development.

Governor Chukwuma Soludo had on Tuesday, sparked controversy and debate, when he alleged that Obi left the huge amount in debt as governor, adding that his administration is still servicing the loans obtained by the former governor

The fresh document noted that about eight facilities had a combined original value of $123.77 million, while $92.35 million was listed as outstanding as of June 30, 2026.

The government valued the outstanding amount at about ₦127.37 billion. The figures correspond with those contained in the state government’s earlier statement citing Debt Management Office records.

According to the document, “As of when Obi left office on 17th March 2014, there were 8 different external borrowings for malaria, erosion control, education, healthcare etc (see attached poster) which the present administration services with hundreds of millions of naira monthly,”

Obi has however  rejected the claims, insisting that he left unpaid financial obligations, which were also admitted  by the successive administration of former governor Willy Obiano, before Soludos allegations

Obi in a statement issued on Wednesday by the national coordinator of Obedient Movement, Tanko Yinusa, challenged the state government to provide evidence.

The Obidient Movement, also circulated Obi’s 2014 handover document as part of its response to the allegations.

***Orrire school abductors plead not guilty to seven-count amended charges

By Nkem Okereh

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday re-arraigned five members of the proscribed terrorist Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi Biladis Sudan (ANSARU) organisation who were accused taking part in the May 15, 2026, abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The defendants are also accused of complicity in the killing of two of the victims after they were taken hostages.

The accused were re-arraigned on a seven-count amended charge filed by the DSS on behalf of the Federal Government.

It would be recalled that the Security Services had earlier rejected the life sentence which was passed on the accused when they first appeared in court

All five defendants pleaded not guilty to the amended charges when they were read to them.

Following their not guilty please, head of the DSS legal team, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, asked the court to commence immediate trial of the defendants in line with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

Rotimi, who is also Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation prayed the court to shield the identities of witnesses scheduled to testify and allow them to wear masks during proceedings to protect them.

The defence counsel, Bala Dakum, did not object to the applications.

Justice Salim Ibrahim subsequently granted the requests of the DSS counsel.

According to the amended charge, Mahmud Muhammad and Abubakar Abbas allegedly ordered the other three defendants, described as their “foot soldiers”, to kidnap and kill Nigerians in different parts of the country in the event of their arrest.

The prosecution alleged that the order led to the abduction of about 46 pupils and teachers from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in Oriire Local Government Area.

The defendants are also accused of causing the deaths of Oyedokun and Olaleye, with the charge alleging that Olaleye was decapitated.

In another count, the defendants were accused of failing to disclose information about an imminent act of terrorism and the planned kidnapping to law enforcement or security agencies.

The prosecution further alleged that the defendants conspired with other persons to abduct about 46 schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire LGA.

Three of the defendants, Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani, were separately accused of aiding the alleged kidnapping.

Mahmud Muhammad and Abubakar Abbas were also accused of concealing information about an imminent terrorist act that allegedly led to the May 15, 2026, abduction and the killing of two victims.

The charges were brought under various provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The terrorists in the attack which occurred on May 15, 2026, invaded three schools in the Ahoro-Esiele, Yawota and Alawusa communities of Oriire Local Government Area, where they abducted over 46 pupils and teachers

They held their captives for 56 days at the forest inside the Oyo national park, before they were rescued and freed following a joint security operation.