Index to Nigerian Newspapers

The interim national chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Senator David Mark, announced that the party's newly formed opposition coalition has no preferred presidential candidate for the 2027 election, asserting that prominent figures like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi are all equal stakeholders despite internal bias complaints from Dumebi Kachikwu. This announcement comes amid a massive wave of defections to the African Democratic Congress across states like Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, and Ondo, involving notable politicians such as Mohammed Kumalia, Sule Lamido, Eyitayo Jegede, and Agboola Ajayi. In response to this growing political momentum, President Bola Tinubu’s aides, including Bayo Onanuga, and the All Progressives Congress National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, dismissed the coalition as a desperate gathering of failed, ambitious politicians, while Information Minister Mohammed Idris insisted the administration remains fully focused on its economic reforms. Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, represented by figures like Kamorudeen Ajisafe, Abdulkadir Dukku, and Umar Damagum, downplayed the political threat, stating their party structures remain secure and that many high-profile defections lack formal resignation letters. Adding to the friction, the African Democratic Congress has mobilized a team of ninety-seven lawyers under the leadership of Mohammed Sheriff to fight a federal lawsuit filed by Adeyemi Emmanuel, Ayodeji Victor Tolu, and Haruna Ismaila to oust interim leaders like Senator Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, and Bolaji Abdullahi. The African Democratic Congress claims this legal challenge was deceptively sponsored by the ruling party using fraudulent plaintiffs who are not even registered members.

To resolve a disruptive three-month strike by public school teachers, the six Area Council chairmen in the Federal Capital Territory have agreed to surrender 10 percent of their internally generated revenue over the next six months to clear outstanding debts. This resolution emerged from a closed-door meeting convened by the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, at his official Abuja residence, which brought together leadership from the Nigeria Union of Teachers and the National Association of Nigerian Students. The public school teachers went on strike demanding the full implementation of a tripartite agreement, which includes a 70,000 Naira minimum wage, salary arrears ranging from 25 percent to 35 percent, a 40 percent peculiar allowance, a 35,000 Naira federal wage award, and accumulated promotion benefits. Speaking on behalf of the council chairmen, the Chairman of the Abaji Area Council, Abubakar Abdullahi, acknowledged that while losing their revenue was a painful compromise, the chairmen accepted it in good faith to reopen classrooms for the pupils. The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Olushola Ladoja, explained that the union's demand for a 70 percent upfront payment of the owed money was successfully met through this revenue arrangement. He added that Nyesom Wike also established a committee given two weeks to address remaining demands. Moving forward, the Federal Capital Territory Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Abdullahi Shafas, stated that the union will convene an executive meeting of its state wing to officially review the resolution and decide on calling off the strike.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, supported by several prominent civil society organizations, has declared a nationwide protest for February 4 to oppose a newly approved fifty percent telecommunication tariff hike announced by the Nigerian Communications Commission. Organizers condemned the price increase as an insensitive burden on citizens already struggling with severe economic hardship, escalating fuel costs, and rising inflation, warning that failure to reverse the decision could trigger a widespread boycott of telecommunication services and further mass action. Conversely, telecommunications service providers and subscriber associations have defended the rate adjustment as a vital measure to ensure industry sustainability and improve service quality, arguing that resistance to the finalized tariff will ultimately harm service delivery and that labor unions should redirect their efforts toward core worker welfare issues.