National News
FG Insists Scavengers Need Adequate Remuneration
FG Insists Scavengers Need Adequate Remuneration
By: Michael Mike
The federal government has called on stakeholders in the environmental sector to recognize recognize the importance of waste pickers (scavengers) popularly called in local parlance Baban Bolla, insisting that they should be adequately remunerated for their valuable contributions to environmental sustainability and equitable waste management system in the country.
Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at a stakeholders consultative meeting on the development of National Digital repository for waste pickers in Nigeria.
He said to address the problem faced by these heroes of waste management, stakeholders must work together to implement solutions that will guarantee better working conditions for waste pickers.
The Minister said: “Some of which include the following measures, formalization and recognition: Integrating waste pickers into the formal waste management sector.
“Training and capacity building: Enhancing skills and knowledge for improved safety and efficiency; Social protection and inclusion, Ensuring access to healthcare, education and social services; Policy and regulatory framework: Strengthening laws and policies to protect waste pickers’ rights and interests.”
Lawan noted that waste pickers are the backbone of the waste recovery, contributing significantly to the recycling and circular economy.
He said: “We cannot speak about sustainable waste management without reference to the operation of waste pickers who form an integral part of the waste management value chain.
“Waste pickers exists as unsung heroes but the truth is that they provide essential services which ensure protection of our environment and public health it is in recognition of this vital role that the Federal Ministry of Environment in partnership with International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Tearfund Nigeria is organizing this stakeholders forum to develop a National Digital repository for waste pickers to address the myriads of challenges they face in the course of performing their duties.”
The minister noted that they form the informal group whose activities encompasses all aspect of waste management from collection, sorting, transportation, processing and selling of recovered and recyclable materials to earn a living.
He said: “They have established such a high network of operation and distribution of valuables both within and outside the country, they can therefore not be overlooked in the value chain, the growing demand for recyclable materials and the transition to a circular economy makes it very imperative for governments and the general public to recognise, regulate and integrate waste pickers into the overall waste management effort in order to unlock the immense economic potential using them as reliable foot soldiers.”
Lawan noted that: “Waste pickers in Nigeria, are confronted with the following challenges, they live in shanties or makeshift house
“Their activities are not formalised which results in lack of coordination and regulation by government agencies, they are exposed to several health hazards and risk due to exposure to hazardous wastes, they lack access to adequate medical facilities or first aid treatment.
On his part, the National Project Coordinator, ILO, Mr Stephen Agugua, said concerted effort is required to ensure that waste streams are effectively controlled using sound waste management practices.
He explained that when managed well, waste offers opportunities for creation of jobs in the circular economy which can contribute to strengthening the resilience of local economies and expansion of opportunities for decent job creation.
Agugua said: “These considerations have motivated the interventions and actions of ILO within this sector, as a UN agency, the ILO is also bounded by the Fair Circularity Principles which applies the expectations and responsibilities outlined in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to the informal waste sector.
These were first published in Shift (2022) cutive Summary, Principles from Corporate Engagement on Human Rights with the Informal Waste Sector. ”
He however lamented that despite the crucial environmental and public health role they play, waste pickers often face significant human rights impacts.
“Under the UNGPs, internationally recognized human rights are defined in the International Bill of Human Rights, ie, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and core ILO standards, the principles concerning fundamental rights in the eight ILO core conventions as set out in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Rights and Principles at Work.” He said.
Agugua, also assured that ILO and its constituent partners are committed to ensuring a sustainable future takes place and meets the requirements of decent work in globally.
He further stressed that the ILO recognize the critical role of informal waste sector workers in plastics waste and recycling value chains.
“To respect the rights of informal waste sector workers by preventing and addressing human rights impacts experienced by those workers, in line with the nature of the company’s involvement, Engage all partners in plastics packaging recycling value chains towards coherent and comprehensive approaches, engage government actors to create enabling environments for rights-respecting business practices.” He said.
FG Insists Scavengers Need Adequate Remuneration
Unidentified visitor dies suddenly at Niger Government House Lodge
By: Zagazola Makama
The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the sudden death of an unidentified man who collapsed and died at Government House Lodge, Minna. Zagazola learnt that the incident occurred on Friday, Aug. 2, 2025.
Sources said that the deceased had visited House No. 8, Government House Lodge, in an attempt to see Mr. Sammy, Chairman of Niger Foods. However, upon meeting his host’s absence, the man suddenly took ill.
Medical doctors were reportedly contacted from the IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna, for urgent attention. Unfortunately, by the time the doctor arrived, the man had already passed away.
Following the report, a team of police operatives from GRA Division visited the scene. The body was photographed and evacuated to the IBB Specialist Hospital Mortuary for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Unidentified visitor dies suddenly at Niger Government House Lodge
Bauchi Guber: Sen Buba accepts calls by Bauchi North APC members to contest in 2027
By Amina Ahmed Dankawuwa
The Senator representing Bauchi South at the national assembly, Senator Shehu Buba Umar has accepted the calls by the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bauchi North Senatorial District to contest for Governorship come 2027.
The Director General of the campaign for the actualisation of Sen Buba’s Gubernatorial ambition, Alhaji Muhammad Sade (Usman) accepted the calls on behalf of the Senator during a town hall meeting held on Saturday by the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bauchi North Senatorial in Azare.
He appealed to members of APC to maintain peace with all other aspirants within the party.
“Let’s respect other aspirants, such that anybody who win the primary election can have will be assisted by others, so we must value and respect each other”, he reasoned.
Muhammad Sade also called on party members to commence looking for delegates for ahead of the party primaries.
“It is now that we have to look for those that have votes. I call on our esteemed supporters to start mobilizing for delegate”, he emphasized.
He also advised social media handlers (citizens journalist) to avoid creating problems for personal gain, adding that social media some times create a lot of problem within and out side the party endorsed Senator representing Bauchi South, Senator Shehu Buba Umar for Bauchi Governor come 2027.
Baushe Daily Times reports that members of the APC gathered in thousands during the meeting in Azare during which they unanimously agreed to support Senator Shehu Buba for Governor come 2027.
Earlier in a welcoming address, former majority leader in the Bauchi state house of assembly, Hon Tijjani Mohammed Aliyu, the choice to support Sen Shehu buba Umar’s Governorship ambition was due to his concern and care he has for the people of Bauchi state.
“He respects us, he values our people politically and he also call on party members to respect each other because politics shouldn’t be considered as a do or die affair”, he said.
Also speaking, Alhaji Bashir Bukar Rimin Zayam charged the youth to cast their votes for the youth only and avoid voting older politicians who will always be going abroad for medical attention.
He therefore, appealed to members of APC to mobilised people to support Sen Shehu Buba for Governor.
Among those who attended the town hall meeting include state assembly member Azare/Madangala Hon Zakariyya sale maigero, comr sabo Mohammed S A to Sen Shehu Buba on media and communication, Hon kasuwa Shehu Damana, Hon Adamu Fanta Misau, Hon maiwada Misau,Hon Mohammed Hassan, Barr Muktar Umar, Alhaji Nura Adamu among others.
Bauchi Guber: Sen Buba accepts calls by Bauchi North APC members to contest in 2027
NHRC: Closure of Badeggi Radio, A Suppression of Press Freedom, Affront to Democracy
By: Michael Mike
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned in strong terms the closure of Badeggi Radio in Niger State by the State Governor Mohammed Bago, discribing it as not only a suppression of press freedom but an affront to democracy.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission Dr Tony Ojukwu, condemned the action while reacting to the ugly incident. He said the governor’s decision to shut down the radio station without following due process is disappointing and a clear violation of the right to freedom of expression, as guaranteed by Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Ojukwu noted that the consequences of suppressing press freedom are far-reaching and can lead to increased government opacity, reduced citizen participation, creat obstacles to accountability, and weakening of democratic institutions.
He said: “The arbitrary shutdown of media outlets undermines the checks and balances essential to a functioning democracy.”
He called on Governor Bago to immediately unseal the Radio Station and allow it to resume full operations, asking him to channel issues concerning any alleged unconstitutional operations of the Radio Station to the appropriate authority and not act with impunity.
He said: “This is both a moral imperative and a democratic requirement.”
Ojukwu who is also the president of the Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa ( NNHRI-WA) urged the governments to protect journalists and media freedom, foster a culture of tolerance, and support independent media. “Journalists must be able to operate without fear of harassment, intimidation, or violence,” He emphasized.
He lamented that the media has severally come under attack in various forms, a situation he termed as unacceptable in a civilized society.
He called on the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to be firm in carrying out its Statutory mandate which must not be abused at any slight opportunity.
He used the opportunity to ask media practitioners to be professional at all times in order to prevent needless censorship by political office holders.
He also called on Nigerian Guild of Editors to provide professional guidance at regular intervals as this will curb the use of hate speech, fake news and other unprofessional conducts capable of adversely affecting the media houses.
He insisted that the Commission remains committed to promoting and protecting human rights in Nigeria and would continue to monitor the situation closely.
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