By Suleiman Shehu

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Oyo State Council, says the state-owned tertiary institutions, judiciary and some ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) are yet to receive the new minimum wage.

Chairman of the Council, Mr Kayode Martins, stated this during the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration in Ibadan on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the celebration is “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the Midst of Economic Hardships,”.

Martins although said Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo had approved N80,000 as minimum wage in the state which have been paid to some workers.

He, however, noted that such approval of N80,000 minimum wage requires the increment of subvention for some MDAs, state-owned tertiary institutions and the judiciary for them to be able to pay the new wage.

“As we are talking, some MDAs, judiciary and state tertiary institutions are finding it difficult to pay the increment in salary, as a result of the approval of N80,000 as new minimum wage, even the retirees have not been enjoying it too.

“We want the state government and other authorities to take note of this and act on it” he said.

Martins, however, appreciated the Oyo State government for paying N80,000 minimum wages, an amount higher than the one approved by the Federal Government for workers.

He further said that the new minimum wage was no longer enough for workers due to some policies of the government which had caused hardship to the workers and citizens.

The Chairman said that the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration was to call the attention of the Federal Government to the hardship faced by workers and citizens in the country.

Also speaking, Oyo State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Bosun Olabiyi-Agoro, said the organised unions in the country would not relent in fighting for the rights of workers and citizens in the country.

He called on government at all levels to prioritise education, welfare and protection of citizens.

Olabiyi-Agoro said the union would not act as antagonists to favourable policies of government and would continue to provide useful advice to the government.

The Secretary of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Oyo State Council, Dr Olusegun Abatan, commended Gov. Makinde for approving the review of pension in the state.

Abatan said that the review had placed the pensioners in Oyo State as one of the highest paid among pensioners in Nigeria.

Speaking, Gov. Makinde, represented by his Deputy, Adebayo Lawal, pledged the commitment of government to the welfare of workers in the state and promised not to marginalise them in the scheme of things.

Makinde, who reeled out his achievements to workers since assuming office to include prompt payment of salary, promotions, among others, said government would continue to support and create conducive environment for workers to discharge their duties effectively.

“We are committed to eliminating promotion backlog of workers and ensure workers are given their due,” he said.

NAN reports that the highlight of the celebration was the march past by public and private organisations and the presentation of gifts to deserving workers. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Yinusa Ishola and Benson Iziama

By Joan Nwagwu

Organised Labour has appealed to the Federal Government not to compress the civic space by restricting citizens from freely expressing themselves.

Mr Joe Ajaero, President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), made the appeal on Wednesday in Abuja, at the 2025 Pre–May Day Lecture, organised by the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the lecture has the theme, “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the Midst of Economic Hardship”.

Ajaero stressed the need for government to open up the civil space to enable workers and unions to freely express themselves in line with democracy tenets.

He assured that the labour movement would continue to talk truth to power and fight for the rights of Nigerians.

Prof. Christopher Chukwuma from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, while delivering the keynote address, called for the review of laws restricting, criminalising civic engagements in the country.

Chukwuma, a Professor of International Law, said it was imperative to review the Cybercrime Act and the Public Order Act, which, according to him, are restricting and criminalising civic engagement.

He said that the civic space was essential for the functioning of democratic processes. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

By Constance Athekame

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has signed grant agreements with nine renewable energy companies to provide electricity access to 17.5 million Nigerians.

The companies are: Privida Power Limited, Baobab Plus, Salpha Energy, Asolar, NTA-StarTimes, A4&T Power Solutions, Sunking Greenlight Planet, Bboxx, and D.Light.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this marks the first signing under the World Bank-funded Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) project, following its official launch in 2024.

“This initiative also contributes to the broader Mission 300, a global effort to deliver energy access to 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030, as Nigeria advances toward achieving universal electricity access,” REA said.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja, the Managing Director of REA, Abba Aliyu, said the project aimed to electrify 17.5 million Nigerians by deploying 1,350 mini-grids.

He explained that the interconnected mini-grids being deployed were intended to enhance the reliability of electricity supply to Band D and E customers, while also expanding access to underserved communities.

Aliyu said the project’s implementation was divided into two components:

“Deployment of mini-grids (both isolated and interconnected), and deployment of solar home systems.

He stated that 198 sites had already been submitted under the project, projecting an estimated 340,000 new connections and the addition of 47 megawatts of clean, reliable electricity to the national grid.

“The 11 sites we are signing with Privida Power Limited alone will add over 2.5 megawatts of reliable energy, resulting in an additional 11,000 connections,” he said.

“Meanwhile, eight companies will deploy 1.6 million solar home systems across rural areas.”

According to him, this effort demonstrates REA’s commitment to scaling up access to electricity and tackling the challenges in Nigeria’s power sector.

He noted that the government, under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, was aggressively addressing the nation’s electricity challenges.

“The issue of 18 million Nigerians without access to electricity will soon be a thing of the past, thanks to interventions like DARES and other REA projects,” Aliyu added.

“Today’s signing is not just a contract; it is a commitment to communities long underserved by conventional infrastructure.”

Also speaking, Mr Olufemi Akinyelure, Head of the Nigeria Electrification Programme (NEP), emphasised the broader impact of the initiative.

“Every connection made under DARES represents a doorway to education, healthcare, commerce, and inclusion,” he said.

“The over 11,027 new connections to be delivered under this project symbolise lives transformed, futures energised, and a Nigeria that leaves no one behind.”

He noted that partnerships like these served as a blueprint for achieving Nigeria’s national energy access goals.

Akinyelure explained that DARES, a key initiative under NEP, was structured to catalyse the off-grid energy market through targeted grant support for mini-grid and standalone solar projects.

“These renewable energy solutions are crucial for providing reliable and affordable electricity to off-grid communities, unlocking their potential for social and economic advancement,” he said.

Under the Performance-Based Grant sub-component for isolated mini-grids, Privida Power Limited secured a grant to deploy solar mini-grids across 11 communities in Kogi, providing over 11,027 new connections.

In addition, the eight other companies under the Standalone Solar Systems (SAS) component signed agreements to roll out Tier 1 and Tier 2 plug-and-play solar solutions for households and MSMEs to expand energy access across rural Nigeria.

Speaking on behalf of the companies, Mr William Akalume, Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Privida Power Limited, expressed commitment to the project.

“We are committed to the success of this project and appreciate the REA for the impactful work they are doing to improve the lives of Nigerians,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa

By Oluwatope Lawanson

Candide-Johnson Law Practice has announced the appointment of its Senior Partner, Mr Adeyemi Candide-Johnson, as a Trustee of Ikoyi Club 1938.

Ikoyi Club is an assembly of leaders across business and public sectors.

Mrs Blessing Brownson, Public Affairs Officer of the club, said that the appointment recognised Candide-Johnson’s longstanding leadership in the legal profession and his sustained commitment to corporate governance and institutional excellence.

“A distinguished figure in the law, he has pioneered impactful reforms and served with distinction, earning a reputation as a forward-thinking and principled advocate for justice.

“Candide-Johnson currently chairs several prominent boards, where his strategic insight and depth of experience continue to shape governance at the highest level.

“Within our firm, he has led with integrity and discernment for over three decades, guiding our practice through evolving legal landscapes with clarity and conviction,” she stated.

Brownson said Candide-Johnson’s new role as Trustee was both a fitting continuation of his dedication to public service and an affirmation of his stature among the country’s most respected legal and civic minds. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

By Dorathy Aninge

Benue Commissioner for Finance, Mr Michael Oglegba, says the Alia Cares Scheme has so far given ₦150,000 grants to more than 4,000 small business owners to expand their businesses.

Oglegba made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Makurdi.

The commissioner said that some big business owners were also given N500,000 grants each to grow their businesses.

He said that the scheme was funded by the state government with the support of the World Bank to boost the state economy.

“So far, we have given more than 4,000 people a grant of N150,000 to inject into their small businesses and make a profit to expand.

“This is done across the state, and we are still getting more requests.

“Not only small businesses; we also gave out grants of N500,000 to big businesses like saloons to also inject and build bigger businesses.

“Farmers are also not left out in the scheme; we have Fadama, which is a direct intervention for farmers where they are given inputs like fertiliser. Those interested in piggery can get a female and male piglet to breed.

“If you are a poultry farmer, the scheme gives you day-old chicks. It also gives out cassava stems to farmers to plant, while those who do cassava processing were given hundreds of cassava processing machines.

“So, all these projects are funded through contributions from the state government and support from the World Bank, and the scheme has been successful,” he explained.

Oglegba said that the scheme was also providing immediate support to the poorest of the poor in the society.

According to him, beneficiaries are supported through direct cash transfers on a monthly basis.

He said that the direct cash transfers were done in batches so that all vulnerable persons could benefit from the scheme.

“We have a scheme for the elderly where we pay them 10,000 monthly but use different parameters in the state and try to determine who is poor and most vulnerable.

“This programme runs for nine months to a year, then we start with another set of beneficiaries so that this can go round to the most vulnerable in the state,” he said.

He said another ongoing intervention was for the strong who were unemployed and were given a stipend and a task to do to justify the pay.

“The beneficiaries of this intervention are drawn from the social register across the state, and they do some menial jobs within the state and then get paid.

“We also have a scheme under Alia Cares that supports communities in need of direct intervention. There is a list of services which they choose from while the government gives out the funds for the project.

“We ask what the basic needs of the community are, be it schools, boreholes or even primary healthcare; the community chooses its contractors and team while the government funds the project to completion.

“Presently, from January to date, 54 of these community projects have been done to completion across the state through the intervention and are one hundred per cent successful,” Oglegba said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Peter Amine