NEWS
Economic Collapse: NLC criticises NGF’s recommendations to FG
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has criticised the Nigerian Governors Forum recommendations to the Federal Government on how to save the country from economic collapse.
The NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba said this in a letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari and made available to newsmen on Friday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that it was alleged that the governors had proposed the elimination of PMS subsidy/under-recovery estimated at N6-7 trillion.
They had also proposed early retirement of civil servants from age 50 and above and the implementation of the reviewed Oronsaye Report which suggests ending financing of government’s budgetary expenditures.
The governors also proposed putting a final stop to fuel subsidy, eliminating NNPC’s federation-funded projects, capping Social Investment Programme (SIP) and National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy budgets at N200 billion among others
Wabba had described the governors’ recommendations to the Federal Government as insensitive, selfish and hypocritical.
“Your Excellency, while we do agree that the economy is in need of revitalisation, we are dismayed by some of the prescriptions of the governors as they smack of extreme selfishness and insensate cruelty.
According to him, the governors have canvassed for the premature termination of the appointments of public servants from age 50 and above in clear violation of their contracts of employment which is a subsisting law.
“We find this repugnant, shameful and utterly irresponsible. Aside from running contrary to your mission and principle of creating 100 million jobs.
”Aside from poverty intervention schemes,this policy is clear invitation to anarchy and damnation.
“Pursuant to this, if State Governors strongly believe that age 50 is the problem, we demand that all governors, public office holders and politicians above 50, as a mark of good faith, should immediately step aside.
”Leading by example would spur public servants to take a cue.
“Beyond this however, implementation of this policy in the public sector will give a cue to the private sector to follow suit, with all its attendant devastating consequences,’’he said.
Wabba also said that Nigerian governors were famous for ”lavish spending and wastage” and there was no assurance that money saved from stopped oil subsidy would be channeled to good use.
He also said on the issue of removal of fuel subsidy that the congress found it ” unrealistic, insensitive and hypocritical.”
”We find it distasteful that petrol subsidies in Nigeria create distortions in the economy but they do the opposite in US or Western Europe.
“Truth is that removal of the little benefit the average person in Nigeria enjoys could lead to unintended consequences which we would be better off without.’’.
He, therefore, said that the solution to subsidy and the increasing deficits laid in domestic refining, effective management of Nigerian refineries.
Wabba added,” this also to create an enabling environment for effective and efficient public sector leadership in the building and management of local refineries.”
Wabba further described as ”heartless,” the recommendation that the planned 22 per cent salary increase for workers be put on hold due to the massive devaluation of the Naira.
“At over N600 to a dollar, the minimum of N30, 000 amounts to no more than $42.8 for a family of four for 30 days.
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“The implication of this is all too clear to see already, with the rapidly rising crime wave, and the intensifying epidemic of insecurity.
“While we commend you for your thoughtfulness for a wage increase, truth of the matter is that given the misfortune that has befallen the Nigerian populace, especially workers with fixed incomes.
“There is an urgent need for a massive intervention much deeper than the 22 per cent.
”We would recommend a 50 per cent salary review across the board given the realities on ground,’’he said.
On the recommendations for the introduction of state sales taxes at 10 per cent, Wabba said that this seeks to make the poor pay more taxes while the rich pay little or nothing.
He added that this was clear violation of the well-known norm of the rich paying taxes to cover up for the poor, adding,” It is a global norm and practice.”
Wabba therefore called for a raise in taxes across the board for the rich, including increased taxes on luxury goods and lifestyles.
“Your Excellency, instead of embracing jobs termination which will compound the existing crises in our country, we should adopt the positives of retaining our best hands as a way of motivating the public service.
“We find ludicrous the recommendation for the expedited privatisation of non-performing assets because our privatisation story has been a sad and painful one that and hath no need of re-telling here.
“ It has been replete with asset-stripping, incapacity (financial, operational and management) and total failure.
“At a time most Nigerians are calling for a reversal, especially in the power sector, it is ill-advised to privatise more entities, ’’he said.
The NLC boss also said that one of the reasons why the economy was performing below expectation was ”due to the fact that TSA and IPPIS have been compromised negatively.
”Accordingly, we call for severe sanctions that will send a clear message to all that the practice of popular democracy is not synonymous with violation of extant laws or promotion of corruption.
“Closely-linked to this, is the cost of governance which comes in the twin form of unacceptable indulgences and celebration of greed to the detriment of the greater majority.
“ This leads to the promotion of negative values with collateral consequences.
”We need not remind you that we have enough resources to go round everyone one of us but for the expensive life style, the insatiable greed and the mischief of a select few.”
”In the light of this, we urge you to go forth and recover all the money cornered by the governors and any other public office holder, to the last kobo irrespective of party affiliation, creed or sex,’’he said.
The Nigeria Police Force has disclosed a series of operational successes recorded across eight states, including the rescue of kidnapped victims, the recovery of firearms and rocket launchers, the repulsion of bandit attacks and the arrest of suspects linked to armed robbery and murder.
The Force made the disclosure on Saturday, October 3, 2026, in its 24-hour operational update covering security operations recorded on October 2 and related reporting periods.
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According to the Police, the operations were recorded in Sokoto, Benue, Katsina, Ogun, Taraba, Cross River and Oyo states.
Sokoto: Police Foil Bandit Attack, Recover Rocket Launchers
In Sokoto State, Police tactical teams, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) engaged suspected bandits who attacked Tsabre Village.
The Police said the attackers were overpowered and fled into the forest with casualties.
A subsequent bush-combing operation led to the recovery of two rocket launchers, two empty AK-47 magazines, a Tecno keypad phone, a torchlight, an army jungle hat, a sweater cap, five pairs of sandals and a rain jacket.
The Police said no casualty was recorded on its side.
Katsina: Bandits Repelled on Funtua-Zaria Road
In Katsina State, a joint team comprising VCRU, 83 Police Mobile Force (PMF) and other tactical operatives engaged suspected heavily armed bandits who reportedly blocked the Funtua-Zaria Road and opened fire on commuters.
The Police said the attackers were repelled and traffic flow was restored along the road.
Four injured commuters were evacuated for medical treatment.
The incident is being investigated by the SCID, Katsina.
Ogun: Police Rescue Nine Kidnapped Travellers
In Ogun State, the Police disclosed the rescue of nine travellers who were kidnapped on September 29, 2026, by armed men along the Benin-Sagamu Expressway.
According to the Force, the victims were released unharmed following sustained pressure mounted by the Police and sister security agencies.
“Their statements were taken and they were reunited with their families,” the Police said.
The case is being investigated by the SCID, Abeokuta.
Katsina: Four Kidnap Victims Rescued
The Police also reported the rescue of four kidnapped victims in Katsina State, as reflected in its consolidated operational returns for the reporting period.
The Force said the matter was being investigated by the SCID, Katsina.
Oyo: Three Arrested Over Alleged Robbery, Murder
In Oyo State, operatives of the VCRU arrested Akinrinola Oluwatobi, 28; Okunola Mathew, 24; and Ibrahim Rabiu, 23, in connection with the alleged armed robbery and murder of Mrs Wahab Rukayat.
The Police said the suspects were arrested following credible intelligence after operatives raided a criminal hideout in the Sabo area of Ibadan.
An iPhone 7 Plus belonging to the deceased was reportedly recovered during the operation.
The Force further stated that the complainant identified the suspects during an identification parade and that they confessed to the crime.
The case is being investigated by the SCID, Ibadan.
The Police said the various operations formed part of its ongoing efforts to combat banditry, kidnapping, cult-related activities, armed robbery and other crimes across the country.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has attributed renewed investment and stronger performance in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector to the economic reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, particularly the removal of petroleum subsidy and reforms in the foreign exchange market.
Shettima spoke on Friday in Lagos while commissioning the ultra-modern corporate headquarters of Northwest Petroleum & Gas Company Limited in Victoria Island.
The Vice President said the reforms had confronted distortions that previously discouraged productive investment, while improved market stability was helping businesses make longer-term investment decisions.
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According to him, greater exchange-rate predictability strengthens procurement, improves investment decisions and supports production.
“The stabilisation of the market is restoring the confidence businesses need to commit capital beyond the next quarter. A business must be able to plan before it can expand.
“Greater exchange rate predictability strengthens procurement, improves investment decisions and supports production,” Shettima said.
He assured investors that the Federal Government would continue to create conditions that reward enterprise, encourage technological advancement and sustain economic growth.
“We recognise the sacrifices reform has demanded, and our obligation is to translate economic progress into better lives,” he added.
Speaking on the newly commissioned Northwest Petroleum facility, Shettima described the headquarters as a significant expansion for the indigenous company and said it demonstrated the capacity of Nigerian businesses to compete, innovate and deliver at international standards.
He said the facility sends a message to investors, customers and Nigerians that Northwest Petroleum is preparing for decades of service in a changing global energy economy.
“We take particular pride in seeing an indigenous enterprise expand with such conviction. Nigerian ownership must mean Nigerian capacity to compete, invent and deliver,” the Vice President said.
Shettima also stressed the importance of private enterprises in creating employment and economic opportunities, noting that government alone cannot manufacture prosperity.
He commended Northwest Petroleum for building a strong Nigerian presence across the oil and gas value chain since 1998, saying its continued expansion could create opportunities for young Nigerians, professionals, suppliers, transport operators, maintenance providers and other businesses.
The Vice President urged the company to use its new corporate hub to improve efficiency, coordination and productivity across its expanding operations.
He also expressed confidence that the facility would nurture creativity, reward innovation, generate profitability and contribute to Nigeria’s economic development.
Earlier, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu commended private-sector investors for contributing to the growth of the state.
Sanwo-Olu described the private sector as the “oil of growth” and reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
He also thanked investors in the oil and gas, financial services and construction sectors for their contributions to the development of Lagos.
The Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Northwest Petroleum & Gas Company Limited, Winifred Akpani, said the new facility represented the company’s growth, confidence in Nigeria’s future and determination to build a modern Nigerian company capable of operating to high standards.
Akpani said the smart building was designed to promote collaboration, strengthen operational efficiency, encourage innovation and empower the company’s workforce.
She added that the future of the energy industry would increasingly depend on innovation, technology, responsible investment, strong partnerships and the development of Nigerian talent.
Also present at the commissioning were former Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; Fatima Aliko-Dangote, Group Executive Director, Commercial Operations, Oil and Gas, WAEP, and Fertilizer, Dangote Industries Limited; former Delta State Governor James Ibori; and other business and industry leaders.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Lagos to commission the new corporate headquarters of Northwest Petroleum & Gas Company Limited.
Shettima, who is the Special Guest of Honour at the event, is expected to deliver the keynote address and officially commission the facility alongside Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other government and private-sector leaders.
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The development was disclosed by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President on Friday.
Northwest Petroleum & Gas Company Limited is an indigenous oil and gas company involved in the importation, supply, distribution and storage of petroleum products, as well as crude oil export activities.
The investment is being positioned in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda of mobilising private capital, strengthening indigenous businesses and expanding the role of the private sector in Nigeria’s economic development.
The Tinubu administration has continued to emphasise private-sector-led growth and investment mobilisation as key components of its development strategy, with a focus on job creation, increased productive capacity and a more competitive economy.
The commissioning brings together senior government officials and private-sector stakeholders as the administration seeks to encourage greater domestic investment and enterprise development.
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