Index to Nigerian Newspapers

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has lost the Kogi central senatorial seat to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), marking the second loss in Kogi State. The Election Petitions Tribunal in Lokoja nullified the victory of Jibrin Isah of the APC and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct supplementary elections in the district. The tribunal also upheld the election of Senator Sharafadeen Alli of the APC, dismissing the petition filed by PDP candidate Chief Joseph Tegbe. The tribunal also declared Nkeiruka Onyejeocha winner of the February 25 National Assembly election.

The Academic Staff Union of Universties (ASUU) yesterday declared a "comprehensive total and indefinite strike". It cited the alleged failure of the Fedral Government to address its demands. The indefinate strike took effect from 12.00am yesterday. ASUU took the decision at the end of an emergency National Executive meeting at its secretariat in Abuja. 

Prof. Chu S.P. Okongwu, a Harvard trained economist and former Minister of Finance, has died. President Buhari believes his perspective on governance and economics, which focused on improving the lives of Nigerian, will not be forgotten.

The Fed Govt and the academic staff union yesterday shed more light on why the six strike ended in a deadlock. Why the govt claim that ASSU's insisted on the payment of backlog of its members salaries was prolonging the strike, the union blame the deadlock on the provocative indifference of the government. However, the minister advice ASSU to see the no-work, no-salary stance of the government as its members' compensation to students for the period they have stayed at home.

Nigeria's Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, has announced that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) will soon receive a wage award, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu potentially revealing it next week. The NLC has demanded tax exemptions, allowances, Compressed Natural Gas buses, modalities for SMEs, and a reversal of anti-poor policies. The government has approved N5 billion each for 36 states to cushion the pain of subsidy removal.

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero has stated that the NLC cannot be compelled to work with other organizations in the struggle for workers' welfare. The NLC's decision to stage a two-day protest against rising living costs was influenced by its National Executive Council (NEC). The NLC announced the suspension of the second day of the protest, stating its objectives were achieved on the first day. Ajaero stated that the NLC is independent and may collaborate with organizations, NGOs, or human rights organizations, but does not owe them explanations.

Organised Labour has warned the Nigerian government against a planned 40% increase in electricity tariffs by July 1, claiming it will increase the burden on Nigerians. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has removed the petrol subsidy and unified Naira exchange rates, causing financial pressure on many Nigerians. The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is currently reviewing the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) and will implement the review from July 1. The major determinants of the review are inflation rate, Naira/Dollar exchange rate, and gas price. NLC President Joe Ajaero criticized the plan as insensitive and callous, citing the over 100% increase in pump prices of premium motor spirit and a shift in exchange rate. The NLC believes the issue of capacity to pay and quality of service delivery is superior to market rationalization. The NLC advises market fundamentalists to check their conscience and consider the potential consequences of the proposed tariff hike for collective safety.

The Nigeria Labour Congress has asked the Federal Government to rescind the decision to reintroduce excise duties on non-alcoholic and carbonated drinks, which could cost the beverage sub-sector N1.9 trillion in sales.

The Nigeria Labour Congress has asked the Federal Government to rescind the decision to reintroduce excise duties on non-alcoholic and carbonated drinks, which could cost the beverage sub-sector N1.9 trillion in sales.

The Nigeria Union of Local Government empolyees (NUGLE) has said only Jigawa State is  implementing local government autonomy in the country. NUGLE said Jigawa is the only state paying local government allocations directly into their accounts. Presidnt of the NUGLE, Comrade Ambali Olatunji said during a pree conference to restate the call for local government autonomy in the country following the comments made by president Muhammadu Buhari on the relationship between state and local government in interview with the Channels Television. Olatunji accused state governors of pauparising th local governments, while accusing them of destroying local goverment system in Nigeria. "it is only one state in Nigeria that has demostrate implementation in good spirit of the costitution; that is Jigawa government and wesay boldly ,having received the report from jigawa branch of our union that the governor of thestate has demostrated the tenets of a democrat in releasing the allocation of local governments to them directly;

The National Assembly will send an amended version of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2010 to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent before Saturday. The reworked bill by the Senate and House of Representatives will be passed today after meeting behind closed doors with Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The President had refused to assent to the bill, citing the direct primary provided for political party primaries to select candidates for elections as his core reason. Lawan said the grey areas had been attended to and the bill would be sent back to Buhari before the end of the week. Lawan is optimistic that the cleaning process will not take more than a day, but if it does, it has to be early next week. Before meeting with Buhari, Lawan had listed the need to rejig the controversial bill and the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution as the major planks of the Senate's Legislature Agenda. The Senate dissolved into an executive session to discuss the response of Mr. President on the bill.

The National Assembly will send an ammended version of the proposed law to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent today. Senate President Ahamed Lawan disclosed this after meeting behind closed doors with Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Lawan had listed the need to rejig the controversial bill and the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution as the major planks of the Senate's Legslature Agenda. The House will reintroduce the amendment and work quickly to address the miligating concerns, pass the bill and send it back to the president for assent.

The National Assembly will send an ammended version of the proposed law to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent today. Senate President Ahamed Lawan disclosed this after meeting behind closed doors with Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Lawan had listed the need to rejig the controversial bill and the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution as the major planks of the Senate's Legslature Agenda. The House will reintroduce the amendment and work quickly to address the miligating concerns, pass the bill and send it back to the president for assent.

The Federal Government yesterday urge the Academic Staff of Universities (ASUU) to reconsider the "comprehensive, total and indefinite strike action" it declared on Monday.The government said it had invested in education sector, especially the universities. Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Opaih, made a presentation to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutiions and TETfund during an oversight visit to the Federal Ministry of Education. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media Public Affairs, Kelechi Mejuobi, Opiah said all demands of ASUU had been met. He said Federal Government only came up with a standard principle of "no work, no pay" which he said was a universal policy. "The govornment has yielded to all the demands of ASUU. The only thing is that government does`nt support anyone who doesn`t work but wants pay", the minister of state said. Opiah, who stood in for Minister of Eduction, Mallam Adamu Adamu, belives more had been spent through TETFUND on universities in infrastructure than ASUU requested. He said the issues related to welfare had also been settled. The minister of state, however, did not provide specifics of ASUU`s academic he claimed the government met. Apart from seeking payment of the withheld salaries of its members, ASUU is demanding for the revisitation of public universities: payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) Eared ALLOWANCES (EA) and payment of salary shortfalls.

The Nigerian government and Labour team met to discuss the removal of fuel subsidy, which led to a nationwide strike. Negotiations will continue tomorrow on the demands, with the government team stating that Labour's demands are "not impracticable." The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) leadership, which attended the meeting, declared its intention to go ahead with a strike. The government received more support for the subsidy removal from manufacturers, investors, and business concerns. The government will consider wage increases, with a tripartite committee consisting of the Federal Government, states, organized labour, and private sector. The committee will study the dynamics and categories affected.

Labour argues that the cost of living will rise with subsidy removal, reducing purchasing power. Minimum wage is the top priority.

The Organised Labour has intesified consultations ahead of its Thursday nationwide rallies against the proposed removal of petroleum products subsidy. Leaders of Civil Society Organisations (CSO) in support of the protests had been briefed on the activities planned for that day. the National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had recommended an incresase in the pump price of fuel from N162.50 to N302.00 per litre.The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has listed conditions that the Federal Government should fulfil before removing petroleum products subsidy. It said the government should first fix the existing refineries, establish new ones including modular refineries, and ensure effective policing of the nation's borders to curb smuggling. These were contained in a communique by TUC president, Quadri Olaleye, at the end of the Executive Council meeting of the congress at the weekend. TuC warned that if  the Federal Government failed to meet ther conditions, its state councils and affiliates should commence mobilisation of their members for industrial action.