Politics
Breaking: Federal Government’s N100bn Wage Cut Sparks Nationwide Labor Protests (Details)
Labor unions criticized the Federal Government on Wednesday for reducing the supplementary budgetary allocation for wage awards to federal civil servants by N100bn, stating that this was not in accordance with the agreed terms. The Revised 2023 Supplementary Budget revealed that the government replaced the contentious N5bn presidential yacht votes with Navy barges, increased the defense budget from N476.54bn to N546.21bn, and allocated N20bn for the National Intelligence Agency’s capital supplementation…CONTINUE READING....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The recently approved N2.1tn 2023 Supplementary Budget faced controversy due to extravagant items, prompting amendments by the National Assembly. The four-month wage award, initially estimated at around N210bn, was revised to cost the Federal Government about N110bn.
Additionally, the Ministry of Defence’s budget increased by N69.67bn, with the Nigerian Navy receiving an extra N25bn, replacing the controversial N5.095bn for a presidential yacht with a self-propelled barge. The Defence Intelligence Agency and the Office of the National Security Adviser also received additional allocations.
Despite these adjustments, the purchase of official vehicles for the First Lady’s office valued at N1.5bn remained in the budget, and the education loan fund increased to N10bn from the initially allotted N5.5bn.
The decision to reduce the allocation for wage awards sparked criticism from labor unions. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) warned that such actions would be resisted. The NLC stressed that the agreement was for the government to increase the wages of federal civil servants, not reduce them, while the TUC emphasized that the government must adhere to the agreement reached with organized labor.
Efforts to obtain an explanation from the Presidency regarding the reduced award were unsuccessful. The TUC emphasized that the government must fulfill the agreement reached with organized labor, as it was deposited in court. The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, had previously warned that the unions would revisit the agreement if the Federal Government failed to meet their demands.
Workers expressed concerns about the impact of escalating inflation on their finances, urging the government to provide fair compensation. The economic challenges were exacerbated by rising prices of food and increased transport fares, causing financial strain for civil servants.
The Federal High Court has announced that its 2026 Christmas vacation will begin on Monday, December 21, and end on Tuesday, January 5, 2027.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The court is expected to resume regular sittings on Wednesday, January 6, 2027.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Information of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Dr Catherine Oby Christopher.
According to the statement, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, approved the vacation arrangement and the appointment of judges who will handle cases during the period.
Christopher explained that only designated judicial divisions would remain operational throughout the vacation to provide essential judicial services.
She added that the vacation judges would handle only matters involving the enforcement of fundamental human rights, the arrest or release of vessels, and other issues of urgent national importance, including the trial of pre-election cases.
The statement read:
“Pursuant to the provisions of Order 46, Rule 4(c) of the Federal High Court (Civil) Procedure Rules, 2019, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, KSS, OFR, FCIArb. (UK), has approved the Christmas Vacation of the Court for the year 2026 and the roster of Judges designated to sit during the vacation period.
“The Christmas Vacation shall commence on Monday, 21st December 2026, and end on Tuesday, 5th January, 2027.
“Regular court sittings shall resume on Wednesday, 6th January 2027.
“During the vacation period, only the designated Judicial Divisions shall remain operational to provide judicial services to the litigating public.
“It is important to note that, during the vacation period, the Vacation Judges shall entertain only matters relating to the enforcement of fundamental rights, the arrest or release of vessels, and other matters of urgent national importance such as trial of pre-election cases.”
Full List Of Federal High Court Vacation Judges
The judges designated to handle cases during the Christmas vacation are as follows:
Abuja Judicial Division
-
Justice I. E. Ekwo
-
Justice O. A. Egwuatu
Lagos Judicial Division
-
Justice Akintayo Aluko
-
Justice Ogazi F. Nkemakonam
Port Harcourt Judicial Division
-
Justice P. M. Ayua
-
Justice A. T. Mohammed
Enugu Judicial Division
-
Justice F. O. G. Ogunbanjo
-
Justice M. T. Segun-Bello
The statement added that the Chief Judge extended Christmas and New Year greetings to all judges and members of the court.
latest
“Behave Yourself!” – Seyi Tinubu Fires Back At Isaac Fayose Over Port Harcourt ‘City Boy’ Walk.
Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, has criticised political commentator Isaac Fayose over his remarks about the City Boy movement’s walk in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Fayose had taken to social media to question the gathering, describing it as a waste of time and expressing doubts about the number of people who attended the event.
Responding in the comment section of the post, Seyi urged the businessman to conduct himself properly instead of criticising the group’s activities.
He defended the Port Harcourt walk, describing it as a successful and peaceful gathering organised by young Nigerians in support of President Tinubu and his administration.
Seyi wrote: “My content creator Egbon e behave ara yin o. You and I both know that those gallant men and women were there for the city boy walk in PH, which was a success by the way. Vote APC.”
In a related development, Fayose has alleged that he is being targeted with false accusations because of his support for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The younger brother of former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, made the allegation in a video shared on his verified Facebook page on Sunday.
He was reacting to a post by an unnamed blogger linking him to a rape allegation, which he denied, describing it as a fabrication intended to damage his reputation because of his refusal to withdraw support for Obi.
Fayose further alleged that individuals who turn down offers from the All Progressives Congress (APC) are often subjected to smear campaigns.
Celebrity barman and socialite, Cubana Chief Priest, has challenged the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to provide evidence of projects he has executed in the South-East region.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Chief Priest made the challenge in a video shared on social media, where he criticised the minister over the state of infrastructure in the region.
The socialite alleged that a bridge had stopped serving its intended purpose following work carried out on it under Umahi’s supervision.
He also accused the minister of promising votes for President Bola Tinubu without demonstrating sufficient development to convince residents of the region to support the President.
Chief Priest questioned what Umahi was relying on to persuade people in the South-East to vote for Tinubu. He also alleged that the minister was positioning his son to succeed Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru.
“Minister of Works, show us project wey you do for your region; our bridge is no longer bridging since you touched it. Let us go,” he said.
The socialite further criticised the alleged plan to position Umahi’s son for the governorship, arguing that political leadership should not be treated as a family affair.
He also questioned the level of development in Ebonyi State and the wider South-East, accusing the minister of failing to address the region’s challenges.
“Pharaoh, let our people go, honorable Minister of Works; Pharaoh, let the people of the Southeast go,” he added.
-
latest1 year ago“Social Media Erupts As Jim Iyke Declares Rita Dominic Nollywood’s Most Beautiful”
-
latest3 years agoEdo Political Showdown: Oshiomhole Appears At Presidential Villa As Tinubu Hands APC Gubernatorial Flag To Okpebholo (Photos & Video)
-
entertainment3 years agoLove Knows No Age American Woman Defends Marriage To Young Nigerian Man “I’m Not 70”
-
latest3 years agoOlumide Akpata Strikes Again: Drops Killer Track, Sends Edo State Into Frenzy!(Video)
-
Politics3 years agoNigerians React As Pastor Adeboye Foresees Passing Away On A Sunday After Enjoying A Satisfying Meal Of Pounded Yam
-
latest3 years agoFG Identifies 31 States At Risk Of Heavy Flooding In 2024: See Full List
-
Politics3 years agoBREAKING: Inspector-General Of Police Summons Top Police Commanders For Crucial-Security Challenges
-
latest3 years ago5 NYSC Corpers Perish In Fatal Road Accident Returning From Camp