Category Nigeria News

A former Interior Minister and interim national secretary of the party, Rauf Aregbesola, has cautioned members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) against insulting or attacking supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), following the formal launch of the party in Abuja.

Aregbesola, who returned to Lagos on Friday, posted the advice in a statement released via his social media handles.

His advice comes as the newly formed coalition plans to unseat the Tinubu administration in the upcoming 2027 general elections.

The former minister thanked supporters who came to receive him at the Lagos airport, urging them not to fight, attack, or insult anyone, but to challenge APC with facts about the state of the economy.

He added that the task before them is immense.

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The statement read, “I sincerely thank our supporters and members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) who came out to receive me on my arrival in Lagos. The task before us is immense, and I reminded everyone that we do not need to fight, insult, or attack anyone.

“When others resort to abuse or name-calling, we must rise above it. Instead, ask them one simple question: Are Nigerians better off today than they were before? Challenge them with facts  on food inflation, the economy, the rising cost of living, and the deepening poverty affecting millions.

The Zamfara State Chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has extended an open invitation to Governor Dauda Lawal and other credible politicians in the state to join the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking with newsmen in Gusau on Friday, the State Chairman of ADC, Kabiru Garba, disclosed that the party had already received over 100 new members from various political parties in the last ten days, describing the defections as a major boost to the party’s strength and credibility.

“As I am speaking now, over 100 members from various political parties have so far defected to the ADC in Zamfara within the last ten days,” Garba said.

He expressed optimism that more politicians from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would soon join the ADC fold in Zamfara, emphasising that the party is open to all who possess political integrity and a commitment to good governance.

“We are appealing to credible politicians who have a good record of political integrity to join the ADC. All we need is credibility,” he added.

Garba affirmed that the ADC leadership in the state remained solid and prepared to lead the party to victory in the upcoming election cycle. He said the party’s structure and manifesto are well-positioned to address the developmental needs of Zamfara State and Nigeria at large.

“We are ready to lead this party to success in 2027. We are capable, and our party’s manifesto is tailored toward the development of Zamfara and the nation as a whole. ”

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The ADC chairman described the party as a welcoming platform for all leaders who are focused on positive change.

The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has disbursed over ₦38 million as relief support to 28 victims affected by separate fire incidents in Minna, the state capital, in 2024.

The Director General of NSEMA, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, disclosed this during the symbolic presentation of cheques to some beneficiaries at the agency’s headquarters in Minna. Others, he said, will receive their payments electronically.

Baba-Arah conveyed Governor Umaru Bago’s heartfelt sympathy to the victims and advised residents to take fire safety precautions seriously by switching off all electrical appliances when leaving homes or business premises.

The DG explained that the fire outbreaks occurred at three locations across Minna: Tunga Locust, where several shops were razed in an incident on February 9, 2024; Maitumbi, where a residential house was destroyed by fire, resulting in significant property loss; and Chanchaga, where a single victim was affected.

He added that Governor Bago has approved the disbursement of 25% of the total estimated losses to both landlords and tenants — a significant improvement from the 10-15% compensation practised in previous administrations.

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One of the beneficiaries, Mahmoud Mohammed, a landlord at Tunga Locust, expressed deep gratitude to the state government, commending the governor’s empathy and timely intervention.

Additionally, another beneficiary, Juliet Nwabuze, expressed that she was overwhelmed with joy.

“We are truly grateful to the governor. I had already lost hope, especially when I remembered how my friend lost everything to fire during the last administration and received nothing in return,” she said.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has vowed to resist any attempt by the National Assembly to remove labour matters — including the minimum wage — from the exclusive legislative list of the Federal Government to the concurrent list, where individual states would determine their workers’ wages.

NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, issued the warning on Friday during the National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting of the Central Working Committee held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Describing the move as “an exercise in futility”, Ajaero argued that the issue of minimum wage is treated globally as a national matter in line with International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, which regard member countries as entities, not sub-national units such as states.

He alleged that the plan by lawmakers was a calculated attempt to “bastardise” the national minimum wage structure and shift other labour-related responsibilities to the states, including the establishment of state industrial courts that would independently handle wage disputes — a move he said violates ILO principles.

“The National Assembly should not go into this exercise in futility unless members will also allow their respective states to determine their wages.

“If they attempt to smuggle labour matters into the concurrent list, we will mobilise workers to protest against it, even up to election day,” the labour leader said.

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Speaking later with journalists, the NLC President reaffirmed that organised labour would firmly oppose any effort to undermine the minimum wage, calling on lawmakers to uphold justice and protect the interests of the citizens they represent.

“All over the world, there is a minimum wage for the protection of workers. In Nigeria, there is legislation for a minimum wage of ₦70,000. The law permits states to pay more than that, and in fact, many states currently pay above the minimum wage,” he said.

Ajaero insisted that states must not be allowed to determine minimum wages independently, warning that such a move would endanger the welfare of average workers across the federation.

He also clarified that the NLC leadership was not aware of any state that had refused to pay the newly approved minimum wage.

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike says those questioning his source of wealth know little about his background and has defended his usage of a Rolls-Royce.  

A former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, had questioned Wike’s source of wealth during Thursday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today, especially when he was spotted with the luxury car.

However, a day after, Wike said he was born into a comfortable family before taking up political leadership.

“I have a Rolls-Royce. So what? Nobody gave it to me. Before harmattan, there was cold. I didn’t come from the same background as Rotimi Amaechi,” the FCT minister said on Friday’s edition of the show.

“As a student, I was using a Mercedes-Benz. My father was the general manager of many companies. I will not say [my family was] too rich like the Dangotes. ”

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Watch Wike’s response to those questioning his source of wealth below: