Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

Alex Otti, governor of Abia, says Julius Abure, factional chairman of the Labour Party (LP), is well aware that his reign is over. The LP has been embroiled in a leadership crisis, with Abure and his allies on one hand, and the caretaker committee led by Nenadi Usman on the other. The Usman committee is supported by Peter Obi, the party’s ex-presidential candidate, and Otti. Last month, the supreme court ruled that the court of appeal lacked the jurisdiction to pronounce Abure chairman of the LP. Since the verdict, there have been various interpretations of the apex court’s pronouncement, with…

The Federal Government yesterday issued a stop work order on the 12-kilometre Sagamu-Iperu Road by the Sagamu Interchange on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Works Minister David Umahi gave the directive during an inspection tour of ongoing federal road projects in Lagos and Ogun states. He expressed displeasure at the quality and speed of work on the road. The minister gave a seven-day ultimatum to the contractor handling the project to remedy the default and remove the stone base. Umahi also directed the contractor to bring in the right milling machine and the right mixture of stone base. He directed the contractor…

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) yesterday said their searches for investigative records on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu were ongoing. They hope to complete the process in 90 days and submit a joint report on or before July 31. It was anticipated that the agencies would release the records today as ordered. A United States District Court for the District of Columbia ordered both agencies to release the records following a Freedom of Information (FoI) request by an American, Aaron Greenspan. Judge Beryl Howell on April 8 ordered the FBI and DEA to release…

Funke Akindele, a famous Nigerian actress-turned-politician, has announced her political plans after an unsuccessful attempt in the last general elections. The actress was the running mate to Abdulazeez Adediran, the Lagos State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2023. Following their defeat by Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Funke Akindele took to her social media page to delete all politically related posts. However, in response to her loss during her most recent interview on the premiere live episode of the ‘WithChude’ podcast, the actress, who had been mute on political topics since 2023, stated…

Senator Sani Musa, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, has announced that certain categories of civil servants in Nigeria will be exempt from paying tax, specifically those earning below N1 million per year. The Senator made this revelation in Minna, Niger State, shortly after the Workers’ Day celebration. He revealed that the tax reform bills, which include this provision, are set to be presented to the National Assembly next week for passage. “The Tax Reform Bills are ready for presentation before the National Assembly next week,” Senator Musa said. “Once passed, any worker earning below N1 million annually will…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the federal government to raise the retirement age for all civil servants to 65 years or 40 years of service, aligning with conditions already granted to select sectors. Speaking during the May Day celebration at Eagle Square in Abuja on Thursday, NLC President Joe Ajaero made the appeal while presenting the union’s key demands. “It is imperative to extend the revised retirement age of 65 years or 40 years of service currently enjoyed by teachers, health professionals, and judges to all public servants,” Ajaero stated. He emphasised that equal treatment across all…

Governor Monday Okpebholo has raised the minimum wage for workers in Edo State from ₦70,000 to ₦75,000 in a bid to improve their living standard. The governor announced this on Thursday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City during the celebration of this year’s Workers’ Day. “Today, I am proud to announce that our administration has approved a new minimum wage of N75,000 per month for Edo workers. “It’s our way of saying thank you, Edo workers. We believe this will make a real difference, and in return, we count on your renewed dedication as we build a better…

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has responded to recent public comments made by legal luminary Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) regarding her sexual harassment allegation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Agbakoba, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), had in a letter dated April 14, 2025, demanded that Senator Natasha retract her allegations and provide evidence that Akpabio sexually harassed her on December 8, 2023. In her response dated April 30, Natasha stated that she had not received any letter from Agbakoba through post, courier, or personal delivery, and therefore rejected any suggestion of deliberate silence. “I place it…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said that workers play a key role in helping the country grow and succeed. In a statement to mark the 2025 Workers’ Day on Thursday, he called on the Federal Government to see workers not just as tools for economic growth but as important partners in building a great nation. Atiku said, “The Nigerian worker remains the indomitable engine driving our nation towards the long-anticipated promise of prosperity. “In the face of persistent hardship and inadequate remuneration, Nigerian workers have continued to shoulder the burdens of our economic ambitions with quiet heroism. “It is…

Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti has approved a new salary scale for Abia Health Care workers, Abia State Health Workers Salary Scale (ASHWOSS) with effect from May 1st 2025. In a statement by Prof Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche Commissioner for Health on Wednesday disclosed that, with the approval of ASWOSS will be at par with the Federal salary structure for Health workers namely CONMESS – (Consolidated Medical Salary Scale for Doctors) and CONHESS – Consolidated Health Salary Scale for Nurses, Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Optometrists, Physiotherapists, medical laboratory scientists and radiographers. He also announced the approval of the Governor for the recruitment…