Spotlights
Minimum wage – Organized labour’s N497,000 demand unrealistic – Presidency
THE Presidency has said that the N497,000 demand by the organized labour as new minimum wage is unrealistic and advised the labour to be serious in its demand.
The Presidency also said that what should be paramount to arriving at the new minimum wage by the Tripartite Committee on the new minimum wage should be the availability of resources to pay whatever is agreed upon
Speaking exclusively to Vanguard in an interview in Abuja, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, noted that the governments both at the federal and states have a bloated workforce.
Recall that the organized labour had made a demand of N615,000 minimum wage but later reduced the demand to N500,000 and then N497,000, while the government and the private sector in the last Tripartite meeting increased their offer to N57,000.
Fielding question on whether the recent N497,000 wage demand by the organized labour is outrageous, he said, “Well, it’s very simple. I think the demand is outrageous. If you ask Mr. Ajaero or our brother who is the President of the TUC, Osifo how much do they pay their drivers or their lowest paid workers, how much do they pay their cleaners, can they pay them N500,000, can they pay them N615,000. It’s unrealistic.
“We have bloated civil service at all levels. Government is keeping them as a social service, because it doesn’t have other jobs for them.
“The last time someone gave the census of the federal civil servants, they are said to be about 50,000. I am not talking about the police, army or those employed by some agencies. I am talking about the hardcore civil servants.
“If you visit the Federal Secretariat, you will see them milling round.
“You do not expect much productivity from them. Yet these are people Ajaero wants the Federal Government to pay N615,000.
“At the moment, what government is spending on recurrent expenditure, is too high . I don’t foresee any government either the federal, state or local government council spending spending all its money just to pay workers.
“There are still people who are self employed, people who are doing their own businesses to whom government has responsibility to do roads, provide healthcare, provide education and others. So, Labour should be realistic.
“From what I have seen so far, they are unserious, unrealistic with their outlandish demand. I know that what the President has been promising is not just a minimum wage but a living wage.
“It’s too early now to say this is what government will agree to. But I think they are still negotiating. In the coming weeks, they will agree on a figure and then announce it to the Nigerian people.
“Then we have to be worried whether the states have the earning power to pay whatever the minimum wage agreed on because some states found it difficult to pay the old minimum wage of N30,000.
“I read a few days ago that Zamfara state government which failed to pay the N30,000 current minimum wage announced that they will pay.. If some states have not paid minimum wage announced by President Muhammadu Buhari five years ago, it is an indication that the states will also fail the new minimum wage. So labour needs to be realistic.
“In my own view, I think what labour should be talking about is how to make affordable housing available, how to reduce transport cost, how to make food cheap and affordable to our people because by the time you spend less money on food, less money on transport, education and other things, the earning power will improve. I don’t believe in quantum of money, it will not solve the problem.
“We have seen all the wage increases in the past. They ended up creating more frustration to the workers.”
Asked if President Bola Tinubu will rejig his cabinet as the government marks one year in office on May 29, he said that such is not considered presently.
He said, “I don’t have any information about that. The President instead of approving a lavish anniversary, asked the ministers to go out and give their scorecards.
“Some of them have done so . We started on Thursday and Friday and we are taking more ministers on Monday . It will run until we exhaust all the major ministers who have stories to tell, who have score cards to present.
“I am not aware whether the President is entertaining removing some ministers. Don’t forget, those ministers are not one year old, they came in I think late August and they have barely spent nine months or so in the government.
“The President would want to give them some time to really show whether they are performing or not.”
Further asked his personal assessment and whether the ministers have lived up to their responsibilities, he said a good number of the cabinet members have so far discharged their responsibilities creditably.
According to him, “Many of them have done wonderfully well. All of them cannot be on the same level. It depends on what you are doing in your ministry, the kind of subjects you are superintending and so on. But I can say many of them have done well, many of them have been eager to implement the President 8-Point Agenda as it relates to the work they are doing in their ministries. I can say many of them have done well”
Asked how much he would suggest as a fair minimum wage to workers, he insisted that that should be based on the available resources to the government.
He said, “It depends on the purse of government. The government knows how much money is available and how much it can afford. If I want to make my own suggestion, I will say anything from N75,000, anything between N70,000 and N80,000. But the real test is affordability and sustainability by all tiers of government and the private sector.”
On the claims by the organized labour that any amount less than N77,000 is wage reduction, Mr. Onanuga, said the current minimum wage still remained N30,000, adding that any other thing is palliative approved by the government.
He said, “You are talking about workers collecting wage award. The wage award is a temporary thing, it’s a palliative, it’s not permanent, so you cannot say it’s part of the salary, the salary they are being paid is about N30,000.
“Government has to look at its purse, look at what the private sector can pay, look at what states can pay, that’s why they call it a Tripartite Committee. They will look at the figure and say we can afford this or we cannot afford this, that’s how I think it should go.”
Source: Allafrica.com
Proposals for new states in Nigeria are gaining traction after successfully passing the second reading in the House of Representatives.
The bills, sponsored by lawmakers from various regions, aim to create new administrative entities by dividing existing states.
If approved, these new states could significantly alter the country’s geopolitical landscape and governance framework.
Below is a comprehensive listicle detailing each proposed state.
Ibadan State: On 9 October 2025, the Cable reported that a bill seeking to create Ibadan State from the existing Oyo State had passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.
The proposed legislation, sponsored by Abass Adigun—who represents the Ibadan North East/Ibadan South East federal constituency—aimed to amend the 1999 Constitution to facilitate the creation of the new state.
Ijebu State: On 23 October 2025, Vanguard confirmed that the House of Representatives had passed for second reading a bill proposing the creation of Ijebu State from the present Ogun State.
The legislation was sponsored by Hon. Olufemi Ogunbanwo, representing Ijebu Ode/Ijebu North East/Odogbolu Federal Constituency, alongside three other lawmakers.
The bill’s progression through the second reading stage depicted the growing demand for administrative decentralisation in the South-West, with proponents arguing that the Ijebu region deserved its own statehood due to its historical and economic significance.
Oke-Ogun, Ife-Ijesa, and Ijebu States featured in multi-state creation bill: In March 2025, Dailyrust reported that four bills seeking the creation of additional states had successfully passed second reading in the House of Representatives.
Among them was a consolidated bill sponsored by Rep. Oluwole Oke, which proposed the creation of three new states: Oke-Ogun State, Ijebu State, and Ife-Ijesa State.
This legislative package aimed to amend Part 1 of the First Schedule of the 1999 Constitution. The inclusion of Ijebu State in this bill reaffirmed its legislative traction, while Oke-Ogun and Ife-Ijesa emerged as fresh contenders for statehood in the South-West region.
Tiga state proposal gains ground in Kano region: Also among the bills reported by Dailyrust was HB.1308, sponsored by Rep. Ghali Mustapha Tijani. This legislation sought to create Tiga State from the present Kano State, with Rano proposed as the state capital.
The bill’s advancement to second reading reflected growing calls for administrative restructuring in the North-West, where population density and regional diversity have fuelled demands for more localised governance.
Orlu State: Rep. Ikweagwuonu Ugochinyere sponsored HB.1430, a bill proposing the creation of Orlu State in the South-East region of Nigeria. According to Dailyrust, the bill passed second reading in March 2025, marking a significant step in the campaign for increased representation and autonomy in the region.
The proposed Orlu State would be carved from existing territories in the South-East, aiming to address long-standing concerns over political marginalisation and resource allocation.
Etiti State: Another South-East initiative was sponsored by Rep. George Ibezimako Ozodinobi. The bill proposed the creation of Etiti State, with Okigwe designated as its capital.
It successfully passed second reading in March 2025, as reported by Dailyrust. The legislation aimed to carve Etiti State from the existing five states in the South-East, reflecting a strategic push to enhance administrative efficiency and regional development.
While the bills have cleared second reading, they must still undergo further scrutiny and approval before any new states can be officially created.
The Nigeria Police Force has explained the reasons behind the transfer of human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, to Kuje Prison shortly after he was granted bail by the Kuje Magistrate Court in Abuja on Friday, as reported by The Punch.
Sowore was initially arrested by the police on Thursday on charges bordering on incitement and alleged breach of public peace.
His arrest followed his organisation of the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest on Monday, despite prior warnings from the police.
He was subsequently arraigned alongside 12 others before the Kuje Magistrate Court on Friday, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court granted bail to Sowore with N500,000 and two sureties, which his legal team was working to perfect at the time of the police action.
Speaking to newsmen in Abuja shortly after the incident, human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, accused the police of violently attacking and removing Sowore moments after his bail was granted.
Adeyanju alleged that more than 50 armed officers stormed the court premises, descended on Sowore, and took him away by force while refusing to present a valid remand order.
“Sowore had just been granted bail, and while we were conferring with him here, the police suddenly launched an attack. More than 50 officers violently descended on him and took him away by force. We don’t even know where they have taken him,” he said.
He said the officer who led the operation briefly displayed what he claimed was a remand order but refused to allow Sowore’s lawyers to inspect it.
Adeyanju said, “The officer flashed the document, and when we insisted on reviewing it, he pocketed it and ordered that they must go. When we asked where they were taking him, he said Kuje Prison. We demanded to see the remand order as endorsed by the court, but he refused.”
He further alleged that during the scuffle, the police accused Sowore of insulting the Inspector General of Police, saying, “Because Sowore called the IG useless, they must deal with him.”
The lawyer said the officers tore Sowore’s shirt during the confrontation and dragged him away even as his legal team was still perfecting his bail conditions.
However, while responding to Sowore’s re-arrest via X (formerly Twitter), the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the police acted within the law, adding that officers were empowered to use commensurate force to carry out their duties.
Hundeyin, who attached a remand warrant to his post, wrote, “Except we want to be mischievous, we all know that once court grants a suspect bail, it comes with the caveat that until the bail conditions are met, the suspect remains in custody.
“Where it is clearly spelt out on the remand warrant that the suspect be remanded in a correctional facility, not police custody, it is the duty of the police to hand over the suspect to the Nigeria Correctional Service, who would then process his bail conditions.
“This has always been the practice. Why should this be different? Also, as law enforcement officers, we are empowered by law to employ commensurate force to get our mandate achieved.”
Nyesom Wike, who serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Nigeria, has addressed the recent summons for him to testify as a witness in the ongoing terrorism trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the controversial leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which is a group banned by the Nigerian government.
According to reports from Legit, Wike’s response comes amid increasing scrutiny and discussions surrounding the trial, which has significant implications for national security and the political landscape.
Wike, a former governor of Rivers, said he would not appear in court to be Nnamdi Kanu’s witness because the detained IPOB leader mentioned his name, but he would appear if he was summoned by the court.
Wike responds to Nnamdi Kanu
The minister explained that if he were formally summoned by the court to provide or summon, he would not hesitate to comply. He added that nobody has served him with any court summons while speaking during a media chat on Friday, October 24.
His statement reads in part: “You don’t become a witness by reading the newspaper. Nobody has served me any process; nobody has subpoenaed me.”
The minister further disclosed that he was not aware of the reason why the IPOB leader listed him as a witness in the ongoing terror charges against him, but promised to make himself available if he was summoned by the court.
Nnamdi Kanu speaks on his trial
Nnamdi Kanu recently mentioned Wike and one other President Bola Tinubu’s minister and those who worked with late President Muhammadu Buhari as witnesses in his ongoing terrorism trial.
The detained Nnamdi Kanu also mentioned two sitting governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the southeast and southwest, and several top security chiefs from the Buhari administration were also mentioned.
In Kwara, the once powerful Saraki political organization has encountered many challenges, emerging battered yet still resilient.
With a calm determination, he is rallying his supporters and systematically reinforcing his authority. This effort is setting the stage for what could be a crucial moment in the highly competitive electoral landscape of 2027.
The race for the 2027 elections in Nigeria is a big deal for many politicians, whether directly or indirectly through their actions or inactions. Since Dr. Bukola Saraki left public office, the political landscape has changed significantly. The former Senate President and ex-Governor of Kwara is also seeking to regain relevance in politics and plans to make a bold move in the upcoming 2027 elections. To turn his vision and plans into reality, he needs to realign his strategies.
According to a reliable source, about two of Saraki’s close aides have disclosed his plans on how he intends to make a strong comeback in 2027. One of the aides stated, “Dr. Bukola knows that the current administration in the center will not be easily dislodged. Instead of positioning himself as an opposition figure, he wants to align with them to fulfill his next political ambition.”
Additionally, it’s important to note that Saraki was uncertain about the success of the coalition against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, even before some major members of the PDP officially defected to the ADC. It was rumored that Saraki intended to follow Governor Wike’s strategy of remaining in the PDP while collaborating with the ruling government to stay influential at the center.
Many governors from both the APC and PDP have pledged their loyalty to the president in hopes of securing their political futures. This situation implies that opposition governors are unlikely to fund a new coalition, which has made Saraki reluctant to publicly align with any such movement. He remarked a few months ago, “Given the current situation, the possibility of me leaving the party is zero. No current APC governors are ready to defect to the PDP or SDP; in fact, I can name about five PDP governors who are leaning towards the APC. The remaining PDP governors are not willing to support the party financially.”
Currently, there are reports that the former Senate President is working toward regaining a Senate seat in 2027 and aims to install a governor in his home state of Kwara. These two objectives are at the top of his agenda.
So how does he plan to achieve this? It appears he is not looking to confront the APC government directly. One of his media aides stated, “For 2027, he wants to contest for a political office because his constituents have been urging him to run. He feels compelled to run, as people gather at his home daily seeking assistance. For almost a decade, without holding any political office, he has been using his personal funds to support his initiatives, helping the people of his state and many Nigerians in need.” The aide added, “He would not mind working with or aligning himself with the President to realize his ambitions for a second term if it can also help him achieve his goals.”
Several people have suggested that he was interested in a return to the APC, but that has been flatly denied. Insiders say Saraki is not keen on making a spectacle. Instead, he may be charting a Wike-style course: remaining in the PDP, hedging his bets, and leveraging quiet influence rather than seeking visible rebellion. This approach is shrewd in a fragmented opposition where funding is scarce and loyalty is transactional.
Back in Kwara, the Saraki political machine is bruised but not broken. Party leaders insist that the dynasty remains intact, and Saraki appears committed to restoring its strength. He’s not pursuing presidential ambitions—not at least for now. Instead, he is quietly consolidating influence that could prove decisive in the tightly contested 2027 elections.
However, it has been repeatedly stated that the immediate concerns for Dr. Bukola Saraki are to unite the party members and to find solutions for better management of the party.
The Saraki Support Group (SSG) has been diligently working behind the scenes to ensure that the vision for 2027 is achievable. This group is one of Dr. Bukola Saraki’s major political organizations in Kwara State, and its past contributions have been significant.
Reports suggest that the group is prepared to further solidify Dr. Saraki’s relevance in Kwara politics. In Kwara State, particularly in Ilorin, many of the former governor’s loyal supporters remain hopeful, believing that 2027 will bring better prospects.
Currently, there is little love lost between the state’s governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and Dr. Saraki, but the latter is known for his approach to politics, rarely engaging in open confrontations. It’s possible that the two may collaborate in the future for federal interests, especially if it could garner significant support for the President in the state.
Another crucial point is that Dr. Saraki, beyond his personal ambitions, aims to strengthen the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to compete effectively with other major political parties in the future. During our last conversation with Lawal Akanbi Sharafadeen, the media aide to Dr. Saraki, we learned that he is not seeking immediate gains for the PDP. Instead, his primary focus is on repositioning the party and restoring it to its former stature.
Several media analysts have suggested that Dr. Saraki is aware that the presidency may return to the North in 2031. They note that the PDP is currently weakened and unprepared to compete with the All Progressives Congress (APC), prompting him to build a formidable party in anticipation of 2031 when the presidency will likely be zoned to the North.
Dr. Saraki has repeatedly been mentioned as a potential presidential candidate from the North. Being from the North Central region, he is more than qualified to vie for the top position. Even if he does not secure the ticket, he would likely be compensated with a significant role within the party, having been appointed as the head of the committee to resolve internal issues.
Since the inception of this committee, Dr. Saraki has engaged with various stakeholders, including governors and the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to gain an impartial understanding of the challenges faced by the party. Progress has been made in resolving several issues within the PDP, leading to the reinstatement of key figures, such as the party’s secretary and the acting national chairman. Gradually, a sense of peace is returning to the PDP, and with this peace and unity, the party can regain its strength.
However, some individuals may choose to leave the party regardless of these developments due to their personal agendas. Many of these individuals are either trying to maintain relevance or have been rejected at the grassroots level. While some see themselves as the only viable candidates for the party, true democracy should ensure a level playing field for all members. It is essential for the PDP to return to its original guiding principles in order to provide credible opposition to the current governing party. The focus should be on creating an effective alternative so that citizens can find hope in the opposition when they lose faith in the ruling party, as disclosed by his aide.
Additionally, while working at the federal level, Dr. Saraki is seeking clarification from the federal government on how state matters will be managed. Remember that he was a senator representing the Kwara Central Senatorial District, a seat he lost in the 2019 election to the APC’s Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe. Currently, the Kwara Central senatorial district is represented by Saliu Mustapha of the APC, and Dr. Saraki is already working on plans to unseat the current senator.
The Saraki Support Group is actively mobilizing and sensitizing Kwarans, especially those disillusioned with the current governor’s performance, to return to Dr. Saraki’s political camp. In fact, many people who had previously left the PDP for the APC are now returning to the PDP. Dr. Bukola Saraki has remained quiet but is diligently strategizing on how to approach these developments.
Again, a few weeks ago, close media aides mentioned that many people are still uncertain about how Dr. Bukola will align with Wike in the PDP. “While this concern is valid, I would like to provide an insider perspective as someone with a liberal mindset. Rather than focusing solely on Wike’s perspective, let’s analyze the entire situation more comprehensively and recognize Saraki’s unique abilities one of Saraki’s aides offered. “Over the years, he has proven to be a power broker, a team player, and a skilled leader.
“At the onset of the current crisis, the party was in disarray until Dr. Bukola was appointed as the Chairman of the Reconciliation and Strategy Committee. In just a week or two, he achieved what many pundits deemed impossible. Issues that had long troubled the party, where factions claimed they could never work together, were resolved under his leadership.
In a matter of weeks, he managed to bring everyone back to the negotiation table, even in situations where communication had previously been nonexistent. Despite the long-standing tensions since the last election, Bukola took charge and made significant progress in a very short time”.
CityPeople
Real Reason Governor Siminalayi Fubara Has Not Decamped To APC
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has denied reports circulating on social media that he has defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), as reported by Politics Nigeria.
The governor’s reaction followed claims by some online platforms suggesting that Otti had abandoned the Labour Party — the platform that brought him to power — to join the ruling party.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Abia State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, described the defection story as completely false and the work of political mischief-makers trying to distract the government.
Kanu said those behind the rumours are uncomfortable with the governor’s steady performance and growing popularity across the political landscape.
He said, “Governor Alex Otti remains a committed and proud member of the Labour Party, the platform under which the good people of Abia overwhelmingly elected him to serve.”
According to him, Otti’s focus has not changed: it remains on rebuilding Abia, promoting transparency, and ensuring that every part of the state feels the impact of good governance.
The commissioner further reminded the public that during the October edition of “Governor Alex Otti Speaks to Abians,” the governor had clearly stated that his interest was not in political defections or power play, but in genuine service and the transformation of Abia State.
However, the statement reaffirmed Otti’s loyalty to the Labour Party, describing his administration as one guided by the principles of accountability, fiscal discipline, infrastructure renewal, youth empowerment, and inclusive development.
Kanu urged Abians to ignore the rumour, insisting that it was another attempt to divert attention from the progress the state is witnessing under Otti’s leadership.
He added, “We wish to assure Abians that Governor Alex Otti remains resolute in his mission to continue to build a new Abia where truth, justice, and equity prevail under the banner of the Labour Party.”
The Supreme Court on Tuesday, reserved judgment in a suit challenging the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, according to Naija News.
A seven-man panel of Supreme Court judges led by Justice Inyang Okoro, took the decision after parties in the suit made their final presentations.
The date of ruling on the matter will be communicated to the parties involved by the apex court.
Naija News understands that the plaintiffs in the matter are the Attorneys General of 10 states, while the defendants are the Federal Government and the National Assembly.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the fifth plaintiff, Delta State, decided to withdraw from the lawsuit. This decision was not contested by the counsel representing the federal government, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
Fagbemi argued that the declaration by President Tinubu followed constitutional provisions and was done to curb the political crisis which had engulfed Rivers State.
He added that the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara; his deputy, Ngozi Odu; and members of the State House of Assembly were not removed but suspended, as part of extraordinary measures required to bring decorum in the state.
He, therefore, urged the apex court to dismiss the suit in its entirety.
In his submisison, the legal representative for the plaintiffs, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) emphasized that their case does not dispute the President’s authority to declare a state of emergency.
He told the court that instead, the suit questions the scope of this declaration, particularly concerning its impact on the positions of the governor, deputy governor, and the State House of Assembly.
It would be recalled that President Tinubu had in March 2025, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State following the political crisis which enveloped the state as a result of the disagreement between Governor Fubara and his predecessor in office, Nyesom Wike.
The declaration expired in September, leading to the restoration of full democratic processes in the oil-rich state.
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