…Minimum Wage, Salary Arrears, Allowances to Be Addressed Before May 13 — Keyamo

Relief came Thursday night as unions in the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) agreed to suspend their industrial action following a breakthrough meeting with the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who pledged immediate steps to address their demands.

The strike, which entered its second day, had disrupted key operations across the nation’s aviation sector. But after over four hours of negotiations involving union leaders, ministry officials, NiMET and NCAA management, and the Permanent Secretary, the unions agreed to pause the action until May 13, 2025, pending implementation of resolutions.

Keyamo, addressing journalists after the meeting, acknowledged the unions’ concerns as mostly issues of implementation delays and communication gaps. He promised to personally intervene, including writing the President and Finance Minister to expedite approvals.

“We have agreed that I will immediately write to Mr. President and show the unions the acknowledgement copy by Monday or Tuesday. On the minimum wage, NiMET staff will begin receiving the new wage from their next allowance,” he assured.

Comrade Aba Ocheme, National Secretary of NUATE, and Comrade Alale Adedayo, National President of ANAP, confirmed the union’s decision to suspend the strike out of respect for the minister’s sincerity and commitment to resolving their grievances.

The union’s demands included the implementation of the 2019 and 2024 consequential adjustments, immediate payment to 30 staff previously omitted, salary relativity, hardship allowances

…Sole Administrator Threatens Clampdown Over Continued Demonstrations for Fubara’s Reinstatement

Rivers State Sole Administrator, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has issued a stern warning to protesters demanding the reinstatement of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, declaring that he will not hesitate to wield the “sweeping powers” granted to him under the emergency rule if the demonstrations persist.

In a statement released Thursday by his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Hector Igbikiowubo, Ibas expressed concern over what he described as “intermittent protests” that threaten public order, warning that his patience should not be mistaken for weakness.

“The fact that people are able to protest speaks to the administrator’s level of tolerance,” the statement read. “If you check the gazette declaring emergency rule, you will see that it grants the administrator sweeping powers. But fortunately for Rivers residents, the administrator has exercised restraint.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had declared a state of emergency in Rivers on March 18, suspending Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and the State House of Assembly, citing political instability and security threats. Ibas was appointed Sole Administrator for an initial six-month period, a move that sparked nationwide debate and repeated protests in Port Harcourt and beyond.

While asserting his authority, Ibas urged residents to embrace dialogue and unity. “Peace and restoration of democratic institutions in the state will not be achieved through protests, harassment, or attempts to intimidate the administrator,” he said, adding that he remains committed to a peaceful resolution.

He disclosed that he has begun engaging stakeholders to chart a path forward, including a recent meeting with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state. “They had lengthy discussions, and the CAN leadership provided advice on the way forward and the things they would like to see done,” Igbikiowubo said.

As tensions continue to simmer, the administrator’s latest warning appears to signal a readiness to escalate enforcement—should protesters ignore his call for restraint.

***Says coalition will offer credible alternative, not just defeat APC

The Atiku Abubakar-led 2027 National Coalition has said it will not be distracted by the recent wave of defections by opposition governors and political leaders to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), including Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

Reacting to the defections on Thursday, a key figure in the coalition and former Director General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Malam Salihu Moh Lukman, confirmed that more governors are expected to cross over to the APC, but emphasized that the coalition is focused on building a credible alternative for Nigerians in 2027.

“We have gone far, and what has happened in terms of some governors and leaders moving into APC will not distract us,” Lukman said. “Not long from now, the full details of the coalition will be unveiled to Nigerians, including its structure and strategy for the 2027 election.”

Lukman admitted that the PDP has lost steam and that several of its leaders may be working for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s interests. “When PDP governors issued statements against the coalition, we said many of them were aligned with Asiwaju. Now you’re seeing that play out. And more are coming,” he added.

He stressed that the goal of the coalition is not just to unseat Tinubu or the APC, but to correct systemic failures dating back to the Buhari administration.

“We want to restore the aspiration of Nigerians for a stronger country and produce leaders they can be proud of,” Lukman stated. “We are building a political force that understands the failures of the past and will not repeat them. This is about accountability, unity, and responsible leadership—not power for its own sake.”

He concluded by assuring Nigerians that the new coalition will prioritize inclusive leadership and national unity, saying, “We are not building another set of emperors. We’re building a Nigeria for all.”

…Says APC’s 2027 Victory ‘A Done Deal’

As the political temperature begins to rise ahead of the 2027 general elections, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has confidently declared that more governors from opposition parties will soon defect to the ruling party.

Ganduje made the revelation on Thursday in Abuja while formally receiving key leaders of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) from Kano State into the APC fold, including Senator Kawu Ismaila, who represents Kano South in the National Assembly.

Speaking after a closed-door meeting with the new members, Ganduje said the defections are part of a calculated political strategy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” to consolidate national support ahead of 2027.

“More governors are coming into APC, I assure you,” Ganduje stated. “We are expanding across the country. With what we’ve seen in Edo and now Delta, APC 2027 is a done deal. We’re not just growing; we’re becoming unstoppable.”

Joining Senator Kawu in the defection were other prominent NNPP figures, including former House of Representatives members, former commissioners, and top party officials in Kano State. Notable names include Rt. Hon. Kabiru Alhasan Rurum, Dr. A. B. Baffa Bichi, Hon. Abbas S. Abbas, and Hon. Sha’aban Ibrahim Lawal, among others.

Speaking on behalf of the decampees, Senator Kawu described their movement as a “coming together of like minds,” and emphasized that their influence would significantly shift political dynamics in Kano. “If you check the 2023 election results, especially from our polling units where we contested against Kwankwaso, the facts speak for themselves,” he said.

The latest wave of defections follows the recent defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his cabinet to the APC, which Ganduje hailed as a testament to Tinubu’s unifying leadership.

With strategic alignments and mass defections already in motion, the APC appears to be positioning itself for a sweeping victory in the next electoral cycle.

Tensions flared at the National Assembly on Wednesday as members of the House of Representatives Committee on Rivers State Oversight staged a dramatic walkout following the repeated absence of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.

The committee, chaired by Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, had summoned Ibas to appear before it to provide crucial insights into the ongoing state of emergency in Rivers and governance developments under his watch. However, for the second time in a week, Ibas failed to honor the invitation.

Originally scheduled for April 17, the meeting was postponed at Ibas’s request and rescheduled for April 24. But when lawmakers convened in Committee Room 301 at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, the seat reserved for the embattled administrator remained glaringly vacant.

Ibas’s no-show sparked visible outrage among committee members. After a tense few minutes of waiting, lawmakers began walking out in protest, some shaking their heads in disbelief, others muttering in frustration. Committee Chairman Hon. Ihonvbere offered no lengthy remarks, saying only, “No words. I will issue a statement later in the day.”

The snub is seen as a deepening of the standoff between the legislative arm and the Rivers State administration under emergency rule. It also raises questions about transparency and accountability in the state’s interim governance amid heightened political and security concerns.

***Says Tinubu can’t outplay God, vows immediate takeover of Delta structure

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as “very sad and unfortunate” the defection of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, to the All Progressives Congress (APC), vowing to reclaim the party’s political structure in the state immediately.

Speaking at the presentation of Certificate of Return to Chief Jude Ezenwafor, the PDP’s governorship candidate for Anambra State, Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Umar Damagum, said the party was blindsided by Oborevwori’s move, especially given the massive support he and his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, received from the PDP.

“It’s very sad and unfortunate, because if there is any state that shouldn’t think of abandoning the party, it is Delta,” Damagum said. “The PDP gave them everything. From the emergence of the governor to his predecessor, who was our Vice Presidential candidate, we expected loyalty.”

While refraining from naming names, Damagum made a veiled reference to President Bola Tinubu, suggesting that political maneuvers may work temporarily but cannot triumph over divine will. “You may have your tactics, but you cannot outplay God,” he said.

Damagum vowed that the PDP would take swift action to restore its grip in Delta, beginning with the immediate constitution of a caretaker committee. He urged Nigerians to prepare for 2027, declaring it “not APC versus governors, but APC versus Nigerians,” and called for unity across the country to end the hardship inflicted by the current administration.

Meanwhile, Chief Jude Ezenwafor, upon receiving his Certificate of Return, promised to lead the PDP to victory in the upcoming Anambra election. “The result will surprise the world. PDP is Anambra and Anambra is PDP,” he said confidently.

The Federal Ministry of Defence has reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to deepening military and strategic cooperation with the State of Israel, in a renewed push to strengthen national security and build defence capacity across the armed forces.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ambassador Gabriel Tanimu Aduda, made this known during a courtesy visit by Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Ship House, Abuja.

According to a statement signed by Sani Datti, on behalf of the Director of Information and Public Relations, the two officials discussed frameworks for enhancing defence collaboration, including joint operations, knowledge transfer, military training, and modernization efforts.

“The Ministry will engage in strategic initiatives to replicate successful Israeli military cooperation frameworks in Nigeria, thereby enhancing our national defence architecture,” Ambassador Aduda said, noting the urgency of tackling evolving global and domestic security challenges with robust partnerships.

Ambassador Freeman welcomed the strengthened partnership and extended an invitation to the Ministry’s leadership to visit Israel for further collaboration.

He emphasized that the deepened ties would open new avenues for innovative defence solutions and technical cooperation in the development of Nigeria’s defence industry.

“Renewed Hope is visible, not just a slogan,” says Minister as N10bn backs Life Camp Road Project

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, has assured Nigerians that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second year in office will be marked by the commissioning of transformative infrastructure projects across Abuja — a visible demonstration of the Renewed Hope Agenda in action.

Wike gave the assurance on Thursday during an inspection of key ongoing projects, including the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) to Wassa Junction, the Northern Parkway Interchange being handled by Gilmore, and the expansive N5 road project linking Life Camp to surrounding communities.

“By the grace of God, these roads will be inaugurated to mark Mr. President’s second year in office. It will be a packed and impactful anniversary,” Wike said. “This is Renewed Hope in action. These projects are not just plans on paper — they are changing lives already.”

The Minister revealed that N10 billion had already been earmarked for the N5 project under the 2024 budget, which expires in June. He expressed optimism that the National Assembly would approve the 2025 budget promptly to sustain the development pace.

“We’re doing our part — payments are being made, and contractors are working round the clock. There’s no excuse. The people deserve results, and that’s what we’re delivering,” Wike added.

He praised the contractors for the quality of work so far and reiterated the FCT Administration’s resolve to meet its obligations, ensuring that Abuja remains a model of infrastructure excellence under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, has berated the six Area Council Chairmen over their failure to pay primary school teachers, despite receiving N4.1 billion in wage support from the FCT Administration. The minister described the situation as a gross dereliction of duty and a shameful betrayal of public trust.

Speaking on Thursday after an inspection tour of major infrastructure projects in Abuja, Wike expressed outrage over the ongoing strike by primary school teachers and the protest by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT). “I approved the release of funds to the Area Councils to pay teachers. Just yesterday, I got a report that they’ve not done so. I have summoned all the chairmen for an urgent meeting,” he said.

The minister condemned the council leaders’ inaction, questioning their conscience for neglecting those entrusted with educating children. “These are people who take care of our children, and you’re happy not paying them salaries? This is the problem with our system. When you apply the big stick, people cry foul,” he added, insisting that the councils, not the FCTA, are solely responsible for primary school teacher salaries.

Meanwhile, NUT Chairman, Comrade Mohammed Abdullah Shafa, accused the council chairmen of diverting the funds under the guise of ecological projects. During a protest at the FCTA Secretariat, Shafa said, “The Minister intervened and released N4.1 billion, but the chairmen ran away with the money. They’ve failed to honour multiple agreements since December 2024. That’s why we are here—to tell the Minister that his intervention was sabotaged.”

Shafa also emphasized that the unions were following directives from the national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) not to engage in closed-door meetings. “This is a struggle for justice. Let the officials come out and address the workers directly,” he said.

As the strike disrupts learning across primary schools in the FCT, Wike appealed to the NUT for more time, promising decisive action to hold the council chairmen accountable.