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CSJ Calls on FG to Ensure Proposed Strike is Averted
CSJ Calls on FG to Ensure Proposed Strike is Averted
By: Michael Mike
The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has advised the Federal Government to ensure that the proposed indefinite industrial action by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) is averted in public interest.
The non-governmental organisation (NGO) gave the advice on Wednesday in a statement signed by its Lead Director, Eze Onyekpere
He stated that the strike slated for October 2 by the workers unions could have been averted through more considerate and humane engagement by the Federal Government in the post petrol subsidy removal and floating of the Naira negotiations, but noted that: “It is still not too late for the Federal Government to act in the public interest.”
The CSJ acknowledged the importance of President Bola Tinubu’s policy reforms, notably the removal of fuel subsidies and the floatation of the Naira, but nevertheless, the Lead Director of CSJ, Eze Onyekpere, insisted that: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu missed an opportunity to gain widespread support for his two main policy reforms – the fuel subsidy removal and the floatation of the Naira – by not adequately addressing the hardships that followed these policy pronouncements. The expectation was that President Tinubu would announce corresponding relief programmes alongside these policies, and these programmes should have been implemented either simultaneously or immediately after making the policy and reform declarations. Unfortunately, this has not been the case.”
He added that: “For instance, the proposed salary increase for workers, which has been pending for three months now, remains unresolved in a country where the minimum wage is Thirty Thousand Naira ($30) per month. This starkly contrasts with fellow African nations like Algeria, South Africa, and Morocco, where minimum wages are $170, $242, and $360, respectively.”
He noted that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed concerns that the government-appointed committee responsible for negotiating cushioning measures for workers has either intentionally delayed or neglected to commence negotiations, a situation deeply troubling to CSJ.
CSJ argued that the deployment of the Minister of Labour as the chief negotiator with the organised labour is misplaced, considering the financial nature of the negotiations. High-level discussions involving significant political and financial decisions should be chaired by the President, Vice President or in their absence, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), insisting that the team must include the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Labour, etc.
The NGO said in such situations, the Minister of Finance is in the best position to present the government’s financial standing to labour representatives and to recommend decisions including wage increase based on affordability.
The CSJ firmly placed responsibility on the government for the current developments, asserting that the decision to announce the removal of fuel subsidies without proper consideration of the consequences reflects an unacceptable level of arrogance towards the Nigerian people,
while acknowledging that these policy reforms were intended to address issues like fuel subsidy corruption, petroleum smuggling, foreign exchange market manipulation, and fiscal constraints, but stressed that such reforms cannot exist in isolation. “They should be accompanied by strategic interventions across various economic sectors to alleviate hardship, boost productivity, and curb fiscal leaks.”
CSJ also contended that the Federal Government should have taken swift action to combat rampant oil theft and prosecute those responsible for subsidy fraud, as revealed in recent reports by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and previous reports of the Auditor General for the Federation.
Meanwhile, it called upon the Federal Government to engage in meaningful dialogue with the NLC/TUC to resolve the proposed industrial action and implement measures to mitigate the impact of recent policy reforms on the Nigerian populace.
Onyekpere said: “CSJ remains unwavering in its commitment to advocating for social justice and equitable policies that prioritize the well-being of all Nigerians.”
CSJ Calls on FG to Ensure Proposed Strike is Averted
News
Ex-NGF Coordinator Onaiwu urges support for NSA security direction
Ex-NGF Coordinator Onaiwu urges support for NSA security direction
By: Michael Mike
A former coordinator of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, has called on the political class across party lines to support ongoing security efforts of the federal government.
Onaiwu in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday noted that insecurity is colour blind, has no party affiliation and was religious neutral, therefore, the need for politicians to eschew partisan slant on security matters.
He cautioned that failure by the political elite to support the fight against insecurity leading to several ungoverned spaces could disrupt elections, stressing that except there is a country, then elections are guaranteed.
The former NGF coordinator particularly commended the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his coordination and strategic efforts in streamlining security policies and engagements in tackling insecurity.
According to him, the recent delivery of military hardware by the United States Government to Nigeria is a demonstration that the NSA was working and his recent foray to the U.S. is yielding the desired results.
“The season requires patriots and this means that irrespective of party affiliations, every politician worth his name needs to support ongoing security efforts as coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
“Insecurity is colour blind, has no party affiliation, it is religious blind and those not respect societal status. Therefore, Nigerians, especially our political class, should lend their support, proffer solutions and galvanise the people to back the government’s security initiatives.
“Only on Tuesday, the federal government received critical military hardware from the United States Government. This is cheering and it shows that the NSA’s recent visit to the United States and the subsequent hosting of delegations in the country is bearing the desired results.
“Also, renewed military and police onslaughts against terrorists and bandits show that the federal government is taking the fight to those who are intent on denying us our peace and well-being.
“The least we can do as citizens is to support the government, provide real time intelligence from our communities and do not engage in fake news on social media against government’s efforts,” Onaiwu stated.
He further called on governors to match the energy of the federal government by supporting the NSA to address the various security challenges in their states as well as continued logistics and equipment to the military and police.
Ex-NGF Coordinator Onaiwu urges support for NSA security direction
News
Court Threatens Contempt Action Against IGP Over Alleged Disobedience in Anozie Abduction Case
Court Threatens Contempt Action Against IGP Over Alleged Disobedience in Anozie Abduction Case
By: Michael Mike
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, is facing possible committal to prison following contempt proceedings initiated over an alleged failure to comply with a Federal High Court order relating to the abduction and disappearance of Mr. John Chukwuemeka Anozie.
The action was instituted by legal counsel to Mr. Anozie’s wife, Mr. Vincent Adodo, who accused the Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of the IGP of willfully disobeying a judgment delivered by the Federal High Court, Abuja, on September 24, 2025.
In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/865/2025 between Mrs. Nnenna Anozie v. Inspector General of Police, Justice Binta Nyako ordered the IGP to produce for prosecution operatives of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) alleged to have abducted Mr. Anozie from his Lekki residence in Lagos on June 15, 2017.
The court also directed the police authorities to forward the investigation report and legal advice on the matter to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation for appropriate action.
The court further awarded ₦2 million in damages against the IGP for failing to respond to a Freedom of Information request submitted by Mrs. Anozie seeking details of investigations into her husband’s disappearance.
The SARS operatives listed in the judgment include officers attached to the former SARS unit in Akwuzu, Anambra State, who were accused of involvement in the alleged abduction.
According to court documents, despite being served with the judgment in October 2025, the IGP has neither complied with the orders of the court nor paid the damages awarded. This development prompted Mrs. Anozie’s legal team to initiate contempt proceedings by serving the IGP with Form 48 (Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Court Order) and Form 49 (Notice of Committal to Correctional Centre).
The applicant is now seeking an order of court committing the IGP to Kuje Correctional Centre until he complies fully with the judgment.
The motion for contempt has been scheduled for hearing on February 9, 2025, before the Federal High Court, Abuja.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force has not issued an official response to the contempt proceedings.
Court Threatens Contempt Action Against IGP Over Alleged Disobedience in Anozie Abduction Case
News
VP Shettima Lauds Massachusetts Tech Institute’s Impact On Global Innovation Ecosystem
VP Shettima Lauds Massachusetts Tech Institute’s Impact On Global Innovation Ecosystem
Urges African entrepreneurs to close ranks to fully harness continent’s huge potentials
By: Our Reporter
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has lauded the transformative impact of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on the global entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem that has raised over $1.5 billion dollars and created over 30,000 direct jobs in 20 years.
He, however, urged African entrepreneurs to close ranks in order to fully harness the continent’s huge potentials, leveraging MIT’s resource mobilization network and job creation opportunities.
The Vice President made the remarks on Wednesday when he received a delegation from Kuo Sharper Foundry Fellowship 2025-2026 led by MIT’s Executive Director for the Kuo Sharper Centre for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship, Dina Sherif, on a courtesy visit at the presidential villa.

Senator Shettima called for unity of purpose among African professionals and entrepreneurs, saying “Africa is the new frontier and future belongs to the continent but its people must unite to transform potentials into tangible results that impact lives and livelihoods.
“Africa is blessed with enormous human and material resources but its people must fuse into one to benefit from the tremendous opportunities that abound across the continent,” he added.

He disclosed that Nigeria President Bola Tinubu is daring to leverage available opportunities to transform the entire economy, noting that “President Tinubu is not afraid of taking bold decisions that will reposition Nigeria’s economy and better the lives of the livelihoods of the people.”
Earlier in her remarks, the leader of the delegation, Sherif, said the delegation was at the Presidential Villa to brief the Vice President on the activities of MIT’s Kuo Sharper Centre for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship, assuring that the Centre is dedicated to “fueling the engine of entrepreneurship across the world”.
She noted that the team was in Nigeria in view of the Kuo Sharper Foundry Fellowship programme, which, according to her, has helped to entrench the spirit of entrepreneurship across the continent.

Sherif underscored the significance of collaboration among African startups, noting that Nigeria is a leading country, as evidenced in the progress recorded by startups across the continent.
She further assured of improved support for African-based startups from the centre through its various initiatives.

Also present at the meeting with the Vice President were the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, and some fellows of the Kuo Sharper Foundry Fellowship 2025 – 2026 Session across Africa.
VP Shettima Lauds Massachusetts Tech Institute’s Impact On Global Innovation Ecosystem
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