The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, has urged Nigerians, particularly the youth, not to leave the country.

He reassured them that the central bank is working towards creating an economy where everyone and every business can succeed.

Cardoso made this appeal during his keynote address at the 59th Annual Bankers Dinner of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) in Lagos.

He emphasized that leaving the country at this time is not advisable for two key reasons. First, those who decide to leave may be forced to sell their assets at low prices, which could be easily taken advantage of by external investors seeking bargains.

Second, he urged Nigerians to be part of the solution to the country’s challenges, as the nation needs collective effort to overcome them.

Highlighting the numerous opportunities in the market, he noted that there has been growing interest in Nigeria, especially over the past year and six months.

Despite acknowledging the tough impact of the reforms on Nigerians, Cardoso stressed that these changes are designed to address current challenges while positioning the country for a prosperous future, ensuring that everyone can thrive in the long run.

“It is not a good idea to japa at this stage.

“Two reasons. One, those who may decide they are going to do that, they will sell and get rid of their assets.

“You’ll be doing it for cheap. Predators, who are outside looking for bargains, will come and take it and pocket it, put it in their pocket and wait for the turnaround and sell it away.

“Number two, you want to be part of the solution. You want to be part of the solution, and this is time that we need all hands on them.

There are opportunities in the market today, which I must say, from my experience over the past year and also for the past six months, a lot of interest from the outside in what is going on in Nigeria

“In taking positions in certain assets, so they see the opportunity, and we, who are here, should be part of the solution for the better things which will come.”

“We are building an economy where every individual, every business, and every community can thrive.

“This vision will not be achieved by one institution alone. It requires all of us — banks, regulators, businesses, and citizens — to work together with steadfast resolve”

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has announced an indefinite strike in 14 states starting Monday, December 2nd.

This action is a response to the non-implementation of the new national minimum wage of ₦70,000, which was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in July.

The law, which raised the minimum wage from ₦30,000, followed extensive negotiations involving the government, organized labour, and private sector stakeholders.

Despite the agreement being in effect for nearly six months, 14 states, including Enugu, Oyo, Kaduna, and the Federal Capital Territory, have yet to comply, leaving workers on the previous wage structure.

The NLC leadership, in its directive, urged state councils in the affected areas to initiate the strike to demand immediate compliance.

Workers in these states will remain off duty until their demands are met, according to the union’s stance.

This development follows prior warnings issued in November by the NLC, emphasizing a nationwide push to enforce the new wage standard across all states.

The 14 states where workers are directed to embark on an indefinite strike include:

1. Abia

2. Akwa Ibom

3. Ebonyi

4. Ekiti

5. Enugu

6. Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

7. Imo

8. Nasarawa

9. Kaduna

10. Katsina

11. Oyo

12. Sokoto

13. Yobe

14. Zamfara

The attention of the National Population Commission (NPC) has been drawn to misleading reports circulating online, which falsely suggest that the Chairman, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, has announced that the next Population and Housing Census in Nigeria will take place in 2025.

We wish to clarify that no official announcement regarding the date of the upcoming census has been made.

The Chairman’s remarks have been taken out of context by individuals seeking to mislead the public and drive traffic to their sites rather than provide accurate information.

To put the record straight, during a media interaction at the 30th Anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Abuja, the NPC Chairman addressed the pressing issue of significant data gaps in Nigeria that impede the tailoring of reproductive health services and interventions to specific demographic groups.

He expressed hope that President Tinubu would issue a proclamation for the census date in the coming year.

It is important to emphasize that while the NPC is constitutionally mandated to conduct censuses, it does not have the authority to set the date for the census. This power rests solely with the President of Nigeria, who is responsible for issuing the proclamation.

Following the postponement of the census by the previous administration, the Commission has engaged with the presidency to determine a new date. As an organization committed to transparency and accuracy, we are currently in the preparatory stage for the upcoming census, and discussions regarding the timeline are actively ongoing.

We urge the public to seek verified information from official NPC channels rather than relying on unsubstantiated claims.

We call on the public and media to exercise caution and verify information before dissemination. For the latest updates, please visit the NPC’s official website and follow our social media channels.
Erelu Taibat Yemi Oloruntoba
Ag. Director, Public Affairs