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NLC Meets Governors On Fuel Subsidy Palliatives

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Some state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress have begun negotiations with their respective state governments to mitigate the impact of the fuel subsidy removal, which was recently implemented by President Bola Tinubu.

 

This development comes weeks after the subsidy removal took effect. The national level of the organized labor has expressed its determination to ensure that agreements reached at the state level are strictly adhered to.

 

Recall that President Tinubu announced the end of the fuel subsidy era during his inaugural speech at Eagle Square in Abuja, emphasizing that the absence of provisions for fuel subsidy in the 2023 budget rendered further payments unjustifiable.

Organized labor has been actively involved in discussions with the Federal Government to secure palliative measures aimed at alleviating the impact of the fuel subsidy removal on workers.

Following the demands set by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), representatives from both the Federal Government and organized labor have engaged in meetings with a dedicated committee established to address these demands. Our correspondent’s inquiries on Monday indicated that the committee has a remaining timeframe of five weeks to finalize its report.

Further investigations by our correspondent unveiled that certain state chapters of the NLC are preparing to hold discussions with state governors concerning strategies to mitigate the impact of the subsidy removal.

Several state governments, including Kwara, Edo, Taraba, among others, have already made announcements regarding special interventions aimed at benefiting their citizens. However, no standardized interventions specifically targeting workers have been announced thus far.

In an interview with our correspondent, Pascal Iheme, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abia State, confirmed that the state chapter of the NLC is scheduled to meet with Governor Alex Otti on Wednesday.

He said “We are having a meeting with the state governor on Wednesday. The issue of subsidy will be discussed and also the implementation of the minimum wage. By Wednesday we will meet and you will get the updates.”

Our correspondent has gathered information that in Ekiti State, the local chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has written a letter to Governor Biodun Oyebanji regarding the issue at hand. The Chairman of the NLC in Ekiti State, Olatunde Kolapo, explained that a meeting was initially planned for last week but could not take place due to scheduling conflicts.

He said “It is also important to know that we will need the template from the national body so that it will help in our negotiations with the state government.”

According to Buba Wadumayi, the Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Taraba State, the state NLC is eagerly anticipating an engagement with the government.

“Presently, we haven’t made any engagement with the new governor. But before the former governor left office we had a series of engagements with him, most especially on the issue of minimum wage.

“We want to meet with the new governor too. He has given us an appointment for a courtesy call before now but due to bottlenecks and workloads, we have not been able to meet him.” He said

Terungwa Igbe, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Benue State, informed our correspondent that the state NLC is planning to hold a meeting with the state government. However, he mentioned that this meeting would take place after negotiations have occurred between the national secretariat of the NLC and the Federal Government.

The national organized labor has made a firm commitment to ensuring that state governments adhere to the negotiations reached between the Federal Government and organized labor.

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TCN Restores Power Supply to Katampe Substation After Shiroro Line Fault

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The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has restored bulk power supply to its Katampe 330kV Transmission Substation in Abuja following an earlier disruption caused by a fault on the Shiroro–Katampe 330kV Line 1.

The development was disclosed in a statement released by TCN management on Friday, October 9, 2026.

SEE ALSO: Kainji–Birnin Kebbi Power Line: TCN Begins Final Phase of Restoration

According to the statement, bulk power supply was restored to the Katampe substation at 4:15 p.m. through the Gwagwalada–Katampe 330kV Line 1.

TCN explained that the Shiroro–Katampe 330kV Line 1 remains out of service due to a fault, necessitating the use of the Gwagwalada–Katampe line to restore supply to the substation.

The company also announced the suspension of planned maintenance work on the Gwagwalada–Katampe 330kV Line 1 to enable the line to continue supplying the Katampe substation.

The suspended maintenance work involved replacing defective line isolators and the associated earthing switch.

TCN apologised to electricity consumers in the affected areas for any inconvenience caused by the disruption and maintenance arrangements.

 

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NEWS

2027 Elections: FG Warns Politicians Against Promises on Fuel Subsidy

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The Federal Government has warned politicians against making promises that could reverse Nigeria’s economic reforms, insisting that it will not restore fuel subsidy amid renewed debate over the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPC) petrol discount.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television on Friday, saying the government would not bring back subsidies on petroleum products.

“This government is not bringing back subsidy on fuel products. We need to be clear,” Oyedele said.

ALSO READ: NNPC Petrol Discount: Oyedele Explains How Lower Margins Could Boost Profits

The minister also criticised politicians who, according to him, make promises to win elections without fully considering the implications of implementing them.

He suggested that some politicians make sweeping promises during election campaigns only to offer excuses when confronted with the realities of governance.

“I think I would pardon people who say all manner of things because they want to get elected. It’s almost like ‘whatever I need to say, when I get there, I’ll give excuses.’ But we have the data,” he said.

Oyedele added that he felt a personal responsibility not to remain silent about the economic realities known to the government or allow populist positions to push Nigeria in the wrong direction.

“I feel the personal responsibility that I cannot see what I see and keep quiet, or populism to move our country in the wrong direction,” he said.

NNPC Petrol Discount Sparks Fresh Subsidy Debate

The minister’s remarks come amid renewed debate over fuel subsidy following the Federal Government’s announcement of a 30-day petrol discount at NNPC retail stations.

The initiative was introduced as a temporary measure to provide relief to Nigerians amid elevated global crude oil prices and concerns about the cost of petroleum products.

NNPC Retail had also announced a N66-per-litre petrol discount to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, with the offer scheduled to run until October 31, 2026, across its retail stations nationwide.

The company maintained that the discount was a customer-relief initiative and did not represent a return to the petroleum subsidy regime.

The distinction has become central to the debate, with the government insisting that temporary price relief at NNPC stations does not amount to restoring the subsidy policy abolished in May 2023.

The administration has maintained that the current arrangement differs from the former subsidy system, under which the government intervened to cover part of the cost of petrol.

FG Defends Economic Reforms

During the interview, Oyedele also referred to a World Bank update, saying the institution had acknowledged a reduction in poverty levels and increased spending on infrastructure, particularly roads.

He urged Nigerians not to reverse the progress he said had been made, arguing that the country was approaching a point where the benefits of ongoing reforms should begin to emerge.

 

 

 

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Kaduna Moves to Clear 5-Year Promotion Backlog for 24,000 Teachers

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The Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has commenced a promotion exercise for 24,000 eligible staff as part of efforts to clear outstanding teachers’ promotions dating back to 2021.

The development was disclosed on Friday as the administration of Governor Uba Sani intensifies efforts to address promotion backlogs, recognise teachers’ years of service and improve staff welfare across the state.

The exercise covers outstanding promotions from 2021 to 2026 and is expected to provide eligible teachers and other staff with opportunities for career progression.

SEE ALSO: Kaduna Clears N18bn Pension Arrears, Raises Agric Funding to N100bn

According to the announcement, eligible personnel will undergo an assessment process, after which promotions will be implemented for those who successfully meet the requirements.

The initiative is part of efforts to strengthen the education sector by recognising the contributions of teachers and supporting their professional development.

The state government has emphasised the importance of investing in teachers, noting that a motivated and valued teaching workforce is essential to building a stronger education system.

The exercise is also expected to address long-standing staff concerns relating to career advancement within the state’s basic education sector.

 

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