EVENTS
Labour rejects FG’s N54,000 new minimum wage offer, talks adjourned till Wednesday
Meeting on the ongoing negotiations on new minimum wage has been adjourned till Wednesday after the organised labour rejected the new N54,000 minimum wage proposal by the Federal Government, a highly reliable source who attended the meeting told our correspondent on Wednesday.
MAGIC FM reported that the Federal Government upped its offer from its earlier proposed N48,000 to N54,000.
Tuesday’s meeting came as a result of the walkout staged by members of the organised labour following the proposal of N48,000 as minimum wage by the Federal Government during last week’s meeting.
During that meeting, the OPS had also proposed N54,000 while labour insisted on its N615,000 living wage demand.
Our correspondent who spoke to sources who attended the follow-up meeting on Tuesday learnt that the Federal Government upped its offer from N48,000 to N54,000.
“Well, during the meeting, the government increased its offer from N48,000 to N54,000. However, labour rejected that offer and the meeting has been adjourned till Wednesday,” a source who asked not to be named said.
When asked if the government’s side was showing any sign of seriousness, the labour leader said, “No seriousness at all. Even state governors did not show up. Those who represented them, like Bauchi and Niger states, did not have the mandates to speak on their behalf.
“As regards the private sector, we did not get to them before the meeting was adjourned but we hope they also increase their initial offer.”
Organised labour on Monday reiterated its May 31, 2024 deadline for the implementation of the new minimum wage.
The National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, insisted on N615,000 minimum wage, arguing that the amount was arrived at after an analysis of the current economic situation and the needs of an average Nigerian family of six.
He blamed the government and the OPS for the breakdown in negotiation, saying, “Despite earnest efforts to reach an equitable agreement, the less than reasonable action of the Government and the Organised Private Sector has led to a breakdown in negotiations.”
In a statement released at the end of the jointly held NEC meeting by the NLC and TUC which was signed by Joe Ajaero, NLC president and Festus Osifo, TUC president, the unions said they acknowledge the ongoing negotiations between the NLC/TUC, the Organised Private Sector and the Federal Government regarding the new national minimum wage.
While appreciating what they described as the efforts made thus far, the NLC and TUC emphasized the urgency of reaching a fair and equitable agreement that reflects the true value of Nigerian workers’ contributions to the nation’s development and the current crisis of survival facing Nigerians as a result of government’s policies.
They also affirmed commitment to ensuring that the interests and welfare of workers are adequately protected in the negotiation process.
President Bola Tinubu through Vice President Kashim Shettima, on January 30, 2024, inaugurated the 37-member Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage to come up with a new minimum wage ahead of the expiration of the current N30,000 wage on April 18.
With its membership cutting across federal and state governments, the private sector and organised labour, the panel is to recommend a new national minimum wage for the country.
During the inauguration of the panel, Shettima urged the members to “speedily” arrive at a resolution and submit their reports early.
“This timely submission is crucial to ensure the emergence of a new minimum wage,” Shettima said.
In furtherance of its assignment, a zonal public hearing was held simultaneously on March 7 in Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, and Abuja.
The NLC and the TUC in different states proposed various figures as a living wage, referencing the current economic crunch and the high costs of living.
In their different proposals on the minimum wage, the NLC members in the South-West states demanded N794,000 as the TUC suggested N447,000.
At the North-Central zonal hearing in Abuja, the workers demanded N709,000 as the new national minimum wage, while their counterparts in the South-South clamoured for N850,000.
In the North-West, N485,000 was proposed, while the South-East stakeholders demanded N540,000 minimum wage.
But organised labour settled for N615,000 as a living wage.
EVENTS
NDLEA alerts on fake medicinal cannabis, recovers large consignment, arrests kingpin
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has alerted the Nigerian public about the circulation of dangerous illicit substances being falsely packaged and marketed to the public as medicinal cannabis.
The public alert comes on the heels of credible intelligence, which led to the arrest of a 28-year-old drug kingpin Afeez Salisu (a.k.a Malu) on Saturday 1st November 2025 at his 2 Akala Street, off Umoru Street, Idi Oro, Mushin-Lagos enclave from where he was packaging and distributing the fake medicinal cannabis in designer pouches and cups.
A statement from NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, says a total of 16.4 kilograms of dangerous and synthetic strains of cannabis including Colorado, Arizona, Canadian Loud and Ghana Loud packaged in designer pouches and cups labelled as medicinal cannabis, were recovered from his store.
The Agency warned Nigerians especially the youth that these so-called medicinal products are, in reality, adulterated and highly potent strains of dangerous psychoactive substances, and are not the regulated, safe pharmaceutical preparations they are purported to be.
Babafemi said iInvestigations by the Agency have confirmed that the seized and recovered products being peddled under the guise of therapeutic cannabis contain dangerously high concentrations of illicit and harmful strains of cannabis, including Loud, known for its extreme potency and severe psychological effects; Arizona, a highly concentrated and destructive variant of cannabis; and Colorado, a potent, often synthetic, strain with devastating consequences on the user’s mental and physical health.
‘’Rather than the purported medicinal cannabis in the designer pouches and cups, the strains are highly addictive and pose a significant, immediate threat to public health and safety because they are associated with severe mental health issues, including psychosis, acute anxiety, paranoia, and other long-term cognitive impairments, especially among young people’’

EVENTS
Anambra community celebrates return of slave descendant from US
The people of Abagana community in the Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State are celebrating the return of one of their sons, whose parent was sold into slavery several years ago, Dr Griffin Lotson, from the United States of America.
The 71-year-old Lotson, who is now a Council Member and Mayor of the State of Georgia, was joyously received alongside other US returnees by the Regent of the community and the Founding Chairman, Igbo World Assembly, the umbrella organisation of Ndi-Igbo in Diaspora, Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze, at his palace over the weekend.
Speaking to South-East Punch at the Palace of the Regent, Lotson appreciated the community for welcoming them back to their ancestral home without any form of rejection and mockery. He said,
“I am delighted to be here with my biological people after over 71-years away. My returned will add prosperity to Abagana community, Anambra State and Nigeria as a whole. I feel so special and humble to be wholeheartedly welcome by this great Abagana Kingdom”
“I am a businessman, historian, a researcher and a Mayor of Pro Tem Georgia, United States of America, USA. And I honestly believe that my return will bring positive changes to Abagana community, Anambra State, Igbo Nation, Nigeria and Africa continent at large.”
In his remarks on behalf of the community, the Regent of the community, Anakwenze and a former People’s Democratic Party, Presidential aspirant in the 2023 general elections, described Mr Lotson’s return from the USA as a significant relief for the entire community.
”This is Mayor Lotson from the State of Georgia, an African-American, through DNA, he was able to trace that he is an Igbo man. His mother was from this community sold into slavery in those days, around 1803 when the white men landed”
”Their parents were some of our people that were taking by force to the United States. Many of the children they gave birth to are now professionals in various fields contributing to the development of the United States and making them world powers. But they did not feel fulfilled and wanted to know where their ancestors came from”
”But today, Mayor and other returnees are here to see where their forefathers came from, and since they came they have been excited and a lot of them have indicated interest to come home. Our people are intelligent and hardworking and their impact will be felt at home,” Anakwenze added.
He appealed to the people to accord the returnees all necessary assistants to enable them have a total stability.
EVENTS
PRESIDENT TINUBU MOURNS FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF AND NSA, GENERAL ABDULLAHI MOHAMMED ADANGBA
General Abdullahi Mohammed Adangba
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expresses a sense of loss at the passing of Major General Abdullahi Mohammed Adangba (rtd.), a former Chief of Staff to Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Yar’Adua.
General Mohammed, who died at the age of 86, left indelible marks on the nation’s security architecture, particularly in the establishment of the National Security Organisation, the precursor to the State Security Services, the National Intelligence Agency, and the Defence Intelligence Agency.
He was also Governor of the defunct Benue-Plateau State between 1975 and 1976.
President Tinubu describes General Mohammed as a disciplined, loyal, and patriotic officer whose remarkable service to the nation spanned decades, marked by distinguished contributions to Nigeria’s stability and governance.
The President notes that General Mohammed brought to public service an uncommon sense of duty, order, humility and integrity that left a lasting imprint on the institutions he served and the people who came into contact with him, particularly in the State House, where he was instrumental in shaping the workings of the Presidency.
“He was a man of exemplary character, who combined the precision of a soldier with the prudence of a statesman.
His years in the State House were marked by humility, efficiency, and unwavering commitment to the Nigerian project,” the President says.
President Tinubu commiserates with the family, government, and people of Kwara State, the Nigerian Armed Forces, and all who mourn this
distinguished son of Nigeria.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)
November 5, 2025
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