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Taraba APC Clears Air, Denies Granting Automatic Tickets To Lawmakers.
The Taraba State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed reports alleging that Governor Agbu Kefas approved automatic tickets for all serving members of the National Assembly and the Taraba State House of Assembly ahead of the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The party described the claims as false and misleading, insisting that no final decision has been made regarding the selection of candidates for elective positions.
Speaking on Thursday, the APC State Publicity Secretary, Aaron Artimas, said the process of selecting consensus candidates is still ongoing and has not been concluded.
He explained that all procedures would be carried out in line with the party’s internal democratic guidelines.
According to him, Governor Kefas had set up three consensus committees across the state’s senatorial districts to engage stakeholders and ensure a transparent and peaceful selection process ahead of the elections.
Artimas added that the committees are tasked with reconciling interests, addressing concerns, and strengthening unity within the party before any final decisions are reached.
He noted that the committees have not completed their work and have yet to submit any official recommendations for approval by the party leadership.
The APC spokesman urged members and the public to ignore rumours suggesting that automatic tickets had already been handed to serving lawmakers.
He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to fairness, inclusiveness, and due process in choosing candidates for the 2027 elections.
Artimas further stated that the APC would continue to follow established procedures to prevent internal disputes and ensure that all stakeholders are properly represented in the decision-making process.
Meanwhile, there is growing tension in parts of Ondo State over the reported movement of suspected political thugs ahead of the APC primaries scheduled to begin this week.
The situation has raised fears of possible violence, following similar disruptions during recent party congresses in the state.
The APC has scheduled its House of Representatives primary for Thursday, while Senate and House of Assembly primaries are set for May 18 and 20 respectively.
Tensions reportedly escalated after disagreements between Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and some National Assembly members over alleged plans to deny certain aspirants return tickets.
Party sources said the crisis worsened after the APC national leadership rejected a consensus list reportedly supported by the governor and insisted on direct primaries.
The governor was said to be opposed to the direct primary arrangement.
Residents in several communities, including Owo, Akure, Idanre, Irele, Okitipupa, and Akoko South-West, have expressed concern over the influx of unfamiliar individuals ahead of the primaries.
A resident of Irele called on security agencies to increase surveillance to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Prof. Ememabasi Bassey, has appealed to medical unions in Akwa Ibom State to return to their duty posts and resume healthcare services for the public.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
This follows a disruption of services after a confrontation between hospital staff and officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), and other health bodies had withdrawn their services in protest, alleging the unjust arrest and assault of a senior cardiologist, Prof. Eyo Ekpe.
Concerned about the impact of the industrial action on patients, the CMD, while addressing a press briefing at the hospital, urged the unions to suspend the strike. He also condemned the conduct of the EFCC, describing it as the action of overzealous officers that did not reflect the agency’s mandate.
He stressed that while the unions have the right to protest, they must also consider the condition of vulnerable patients, including those in intensive care, accident victims, and newborns requiring urgent attention.
In his words, “We are appealing to our colleagues and unions to consider the human lives involved. Patients are suffering. Newborn babies and critically ill persons are at risk. Whatever grievances we have, human life must come first.
“If not for anything, the Accident and Emergency unit should not be shut, the ICU, even the Special Care Unit for babies, too. My dear union leaders, I plead that you keep these doors open; the harm has already been done, but let us not forget our vulnerable and sick ones.”
Prof. Bassey added that hospital management, including Prof. Ekpe and other senior staff, had remained on ground since the incident to stabilise critical departments and ensure patients continued receiving care.
He also urged security agencies to exercise restraint in the discharge of their duties, assuring that efforts were underway with the intervention of the Minister of Health, the Akwa Ibom State Government, and other stakeholders to prevent a recurrence.
Meanwhile, the CMD disclosed that the disputed issue centred on the verification of a medical report allegedly issued on behalf of a suspect under investigation. He said investigations revealed that the document was fake and did not originate from UUTH.
According to him, “Some actors working in concert with lawyers or whoever for the suspect had opened a folder with no official footing and written a fake medical report on it. To check the authenticity of a medical report is a rigorous process, and after all was done, it was discovered that the document was fake.”
Local government workers in Benue State on Thursday commenced a two-week warning strike over unpaid salaries, delayed promotions, and unresolved pension remittances, bringing activities in all 23 local government councils to a halt.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The industrial action followed the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum and a subsequent seven-day extension issued to the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia by the Benue State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).
In a notice dated May 13, 2026, and signed by State President Joshua Adah Adiniya and State Secretary Aseneshi Musa Yusuf, the union accused the government of failing to address long-standing welfare concerns affecting council staff.
Titled “Notification of Strike Action,” the statement said the union had exhausted all avenues of dialogue before resorting to industrial action.
“Unfortunately, the Benue State Government has remained adamant and ignored all the opportunities offered by the union to resolve these disputes and avert the consequences,” the union stated.
The workers are demanding immediate payment of March and April 2026 salary arrears, implementation of overdue promotions, resolution of BEPCON remittance issues, reinstatement of local government staff disengaged in 2011/2012, and settlement of outstanding salary obligations.
NULGE said its State Executive Council, during a meeting held on April 21, 2026, had resolved to intensify pressure on the government, but noted that no meaningful response had been received.
“The union has been pushed to the wall and is left with no option,” the statement added, directing all local government workers to begin a two-week stay-at-home warning strike effective Thursday, May 14, 2026.
The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) has clarified its position on the reported approval of a 40 per cent peculiar allowance for federal civil servants.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
It stated that it did not approve or formally communicate any such allowance to the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) or any labour union.
The office further explained that the authority responsible for issuing and circulating such official salary-related circulars lies solely with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC).
In a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Eno Olotu, the OHCSF noted that the circular in question was issued by the NSIWC on April 23, 2026.
It also clarified that a meeting convened by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation on May 12, 2026, was purely an intervention and reconciliation session aimed at encouraging dialogue between organised labour and the NSIWC, with the goal of maintaining industrial harmony and preventing any disruption in labour relations within the federal civil service.
Recall that on April 24, 2026, the OHCSF had announced that the Federal Government approved a broad welfare package for civil servants. The package reportedly included full Duty Tour Allowance for approved training programmes, an upward review of peculiar allowance across salary structures such as CONPSS and CONRAISS, as well as increases in estacode, book allowance, and other entitlements.
The government also approved a ₦10 billion housing loan scheme designed to improve access to affordable home ownership for public servants.
The OHCSF reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining peaceful labour relations and sustaining constructive engagement with all stakeholders to ensure continued industrial harmony in the federal civil service.
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