Category Nigeria News

Sanae Takaichi, the first woman to lead Japan in history, was honored with honors by President Bola Tinubu, who described her as a milestone accomplishment that reflects her long-standing contributions to Japanese politics and governance.

After overcoming a decades-long gender barrier in the leadership of the world’s fourth-largest economy, Takaichi, a veteran politician and former minister of internal affairs and communications, won majority support in Japan’s parliament.

The President reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic, economic, and strategic ties with Japan under Takaichi’s administration in a statement released on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President’s representative on Information and Strategy.

READ MORE: The New Japan PM plans to “take New Heights” with Trump.

He wished the Nigerian government and people well, while highlighting the shared values that govern Japan-Nigeria relations.

Tinubu claimed that her victory demonstrated both the support for her political party and the legitimacy of her victory.

The President congratulated her on becoming the first woman to serve as prime minister of Japan, “on behalf of the people and government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Your victory as the Liberal Democratic Party’s leader and, ultimately, as Japan’s Prime Minister, is a remarkable testament to the good people of Japan’s confidence in you.

Your election as Japan’s first female prime minister also demonstrates how much you have contributed to the development of your political party and administration.

Tinubu also reaffirmed Nigeria’s desire to grow bilaterally. Under her leadership, he expressed hope that both nations’ economic and diplomatic ties would grow.

You can be assured of Nigeria’s continued goodwill and support for Japan as you assume this position.

Over the years, Nigeria and Japan have developed a strong, productive, and strategic relationship that covers a number of areas of bilateral cooperation.

I have faith in our partnership to advance the foundation that has been laid, as well as to strengthen and enhance our bilateral relations.

Therefore, I look forward to meeting with you as soon as possible to discuss these options.

Nigeria’s inclusion on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list has been welcomed by President Bola Tinubu.

After the FATF identified strategic flaws in its Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) systems, Nigeria was placed on the grey list in February 2023.

Following the country’s successful implementation of a 19-point action plan to strengthen its (AML/CFT) framework, the FATF removed Nigeria from the list more than two years later.

In a statement released on Friday, Tinubu referred to the development as “a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward economic reform, institutional integrity, and global credibility.”

NFIU: Nigeria No Longer On the Global Financial Watch List

This was stated in a statement from Bayo Onanuga, the president’s spokesman.

Onanuga stated that Tinubu applauded the vital support of the National Assembly and the Judiciary as well as the Minister of Defense, the Minister of Defense, the Minister of Defense, the Minister for Defense, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of State for Finance, the National Security Advisor, and the Secretary to the Federation for Government.

The President praised Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, the country’s director/chief executive officer, and the staff for their diligence in ensuring the country’s Action Plan’s complete and timely implementation, according to the statement.

He noted that the international community has recognized the progress Nigeria has made in strengthening its measures to combat serious crimes as a result of the NFIU’s work.

“Our success could not have been possible without their hard work and sacrifice,” they said. President Tinubu praised their efforts, and urged other parties to uphold their standards.

Tinubu also praised all ministries, agencies, their heads, and private sector leaders for their active AML/CFT participation in the National Task Force.

Governor Uba Sani has been commended by a coalition of state employees who work in Kaduna State for implementing the new national minimum wage and making necessary adjustments.

READ MORE:  Ondo Workers Demand 256, 950 Minimum Wage

At a joint press conference in Kaduna, the unions, the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), and the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), presented the commendation.

The governor’s actions were characterized by their leaders as a display of compassion, fairness, and commitment to the welfare of workers, according to Rayyanu Turunku (NULGE), Ibrahim Dalhatu (NUT), and Umar Fatika (MHWUN).

Following the governor’s approval, the wage adjustments for all local government employees, including those under SUBEB and the Primary Healthcare Board, will be effective from October 2025. They also announced that their planned warning strike will be suspended.

They praised the governor’s choice to implement the new wage structure in the face of financial constraints, citing compassion, sincerity, and respect for the dignity of labor.

The administration’s efforts to transform the fields of education and healthcare were commended by the labor unions.

Major milestones were identified as the renovation and modernization of classrooms in all 23 local government areas, the enactment of the 65-year retirement age or teacher’s 40-year service policy, and the refund of more than $500 million in ENDWELL savings deductions.

The workers also praised the government’s decision to correct check-off fees and the successful staff verification exercise, which improved accountability across the public service, noting that the welfare scheme provided crucial support for teachers and their families.

The unions applauded Governor Sani’s reforms, including the hiring of 1,800 health workers each year for the next five years, and the revitalization of 255 Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) that have already been established.

They also acknowledged Kaduna’s rise as the North West Zone’s champion of the 2024 Primary Healthcare Leadership Challenge and the implementation of the 2024 CONMESS and CONHESS salary scales.

The governor’s leaders also praised the governor for launching 100 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses to provide free transportation for both employees and students, citing the initiative as a timely way to lessen living expenses and reduce the impact of the elimination of fuel subsidies.

They reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful engagement and pledged to continue working with the Kaduna State Government to improve the progress made under the Uba Sani administration.

They urged their members to show commitment, discipline, and professionalism in response to the government’s goodwill.

Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist and publisher of SaharaReporters, was bailed by a federal court in Kuje, Abuja along with several other protesters who were detained during the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow demonstration.

Aloy Ejimakor, Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), and Prince Emmanuel Kanu, his brother, are also on bail.

Joshua Emmanuel, Wilson Anyalewechi, Okere Kingdom Nnamdi, Clinton Chimeneze, Gabriel Joshua, Isiaka Husseini, Onyekachi Ferdinand, Amadi Prince, Edison Ojisom, Godwill Obioma, and Chima Onuchukwu are also on bail.

Following the defendants’ arraignment on charges of unlawful assembly and disturbance of public order, the court, led by Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’I, presided over the bail order on Friday.

READ MORE: Police Arrest Sowed In Court;

According to the ruling, the court granted bail to Sowore and the other protesters on the condition that they provide a verified National Identification Number (NIN) upon request.

The defendants were also required to submit their passports and three-year tax clearances as part of the bail conditions by the magistrate.

After leaving the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, Nigerian police officers detained Sowore.

The All Progressives Congress (APC)’s National Secretariat in Abuja was attended by angry Ekiti State members on Friday.

Before the 2026 elections, the protesters demanded that the National Working Committee (NWC) hold a legitimate governorship primary election in the form of placards and chanting solidarity songs.

They objected to the alleged effort to impose a party-wide candidate in the state.

In some of the protesters’ placards, there were words like “We don’t want consensus,” “Women say no to consensus candidate in Ekiti,” and “Disqualification is political harassment.”

READ MORE: PDP Northern Stakeholders Support Turaki As Consensus Candidate for the National Chair

A consensus arrangement, in the opinion of the protesters, is a deliberate attempt to prevent other candidates from running for governor.

On Friday, members of Australia’s defense forces filed a class-action lawsuit alleging widespread and systematic sexual abuse, harassment, and discrimination.

The Australian government received a case involving abused women who could have been victims of abuse any time during the 21-year period November 2003 to May 2025.

The threat of sexual violence at work is frequently the biggest safety concern for female ADF personnel, according to attorney Josh Aylward of the law firm JGA Saddler.

The reports of sexual assault, harassment, victimization, rape, and physical threats, according to a statement from he said, “but even more disturbing are the brutal assaults against those women who dare file a complaint,” he added.

READ MORE: &nbsp, France Poised To Define Rape As Lack of Consent

All women serving during that time are enrolled in the case, which is being filed at the Federal Court in Sydney, unless they declare that they have not experienced the alleged abuse.

According to the company, the class action was expected to involve a large number of women.

The complaint was made known, according to the Australian Department of Defense.

A department spokesperson said that “everyone in the Defence industry has a right to be respected and deserves a positive workplace experience.”

The spokesperson continued, “There is no place in the Defence for sexual violence or misconduct.”

Defense acknowledges that work needs to be done.

“Desire for action”

Following an investigation into veteran suicide and defense, the government announced that it would implement “as a priority” recommendations relating to sexual violence in 2024.

A “comprehensive sexual misconduct prevention strategy” was also being developed.

One of the four lead applicants in the case claimed that after attending an on-base party, she allegedly awoke naked, hurt, covered in bruises, and had scratches after being informed that she had left with four service members.

According to a statement from JGA Saddler, she was sexually assaulted in a storage room.

The woman’s movements were restricted while the alleged perpetrator was free, according to the complaint.

She allegedly received abusive messages from service members, was later posted to a different base, and was also prohibited from using shared base amenities.

The defense force is “vicariously liable” for failing to protect women from sexual harassment while serving, according to the class action.

According to the legal team, repeated reports into sexual harassment, followed by commitments to cultural reform, “never” led to significant change.