News
Nigerian workers embark on strike to demand reversal of Tinubu’s reforms
• Federal secretariat, UCH mini-gate shut in Ibadan
Nigerian workers went on strike on Tuesday to demand a reversal of President Bola Tinubu’s reforms aimed at reviving growth in Africa’s largest economy which has compounded a cost of living crisis.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), which represents millions of workers across most sectors in the West African nation, called on Friday for a two-day strike in preparation for an indefinite strike on Sept. 21.
Tinubu, who inherited a struggling economy with record debt and high inflation, scrapped a popular but costly petrol subsidy which caused pump prices to more than triple. He also lifted currency restrictions, causing the naira to weaken sharply.
“Today’s action is to see how government can reverse its policy because every family is feeling the pain of harsh policies … which has resulted in the astronomical increase in transportation, food, goods and services … just to name but a few,” said NLC’s Bayelsa state secretary, Angese John.
Unions staged a strike a month ago but suspended their action following an offer of talks with the government, but those did not result in concessions sufficient to placate organised labour.
Most banks in the capital city of Abuja were shut on Tuesday while electricity workers were locked out of their premises by unions, causing power cuts in most homes and offices in the capital.
“We are all outside while other workers have gone home. Now, there’s even no supply centrally to Abuja,” one electricity worker said.
In the commercial capital of Lagos, the strike was more muted because most workers are employed in the less unionised private sector while in parts of Kano state union officials were enforcing a stay at home at schools and banks.
From Oyo state, the state chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Kayode Martins on Tuesday, September 5, expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance by workers in the state on the two day warning strike called by the national body of the union.
He stated that a call to all affiliate unions showed that they all complied, saying there would be an indefinite strike if government fails to listen to agitation of workers within 14 working days after the warning strike.
Martins, however, urged federal government to do something urgently about welfare of workers, saying the removal of subsidy has affected them alot.
Public institutions like Nihort, FRIN and some banks visited by our correspondent in Ibadan metropolis indicate that they complied totally while offices were under lock and key.
In compliance with directives by leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Federal Secretariat, Ikolaba, Ibadan was on Tuesday, September 5, shut.
Many workers who arrived early with the hope of reporting for duties were denied entrance.
It was observed at the secretariat that palm front were placed on different parts of the gate symbolising barred entry.
• The gate of the Federal Secretariat, Ikolaba, Ibadan shut on Tuesday
Union leaders under the aegis of the Federal Workers Forum were seen manning the entrance of the secretariat complex, resisting few workers that reported for duty from entering the secretariat complex.
The National Cordinator, Federal Workers Forum, Andrew Emelieze, said the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has given a directive that workers should go “on a 2-day warning strike
He said: “In that sense we have decided that the federal secretariats across the country should be shot down, because there’s no worker who is not affected by the current hardship.
“There’s no worker that is not going through suffering, workers are feeling disappointed, feeling that they have been betrayed and cheated by the system.”
According to Emelieeze, in the past three months subsidy have been removed and within this period prices of petroleum has been increased twice.
He added: “Yet salaries have been stagnant to the extend that workers are finding it difficult to survive. It is on this basis of hardship that workers decided to embark on the warning strike.”
Banks, govt offices shut in Ebonyi
Government offices and banks were under lock on Tuesday, September 5, as workers observed the two days strike action called by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).
From Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital, reports said the closure of the banks left customers stranded.
While some resorted to using the Automated Teller Machines, many complained that they had other transactions they wanted to carry out.
The state Headquarters of the Judiciary opposite Old Government House was also under lock as Lawyers and Judges stayed away.
Same situation was noticed at the Ochudo Secretariat where all the Ministries are quartered.
The situation forced some top government officials to rescheduled meetings and events they had already planned to hold on Tuesday in their various Ministries.
The state chairman of NLC, Ogugua Egwu confirmed compliance of workers to the strike.
He described the compliance as total, impressive and satisfactory.
Egwa: “All Offices are locked from Judiciary to UBEB to Secretariat. I am glad and impressed that our people are beginning to see the need for them to make their voices heard.” (Reuters, Nation)
President Bola Tinubu administration has approved the comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Under the new arrangement, the military will no longer head the scheme.
Instead, the agency will be led by a civilian in its operational leadership, while the military will continue to handle security for corps members across the country.
The development was announced on Monday by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Tinubu also directed the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, and the Minister of Youth, Ayodele Olawande, to amend the NYSC Act and its regulations to reflect all the approved reform measures, enabling immediate implementation of the new framework.
Some of the landmark reforms include:
A technology-driven call-up process.
Risk-sensitive deployment to better protect corps members.
A redesigned six-week orientation programme with a stronger focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills, and specialised career streams.
Skills-based primary assignments aligned with academic background and career pathways.
Modern governance with civilian operational leadership while the military continues to provide security support.
Improved camp standards through a national grading and certification system.
A new graduation ceremony to replace the Passing Out Parade, and a redesigned NYSC uniform that reflects professionalism and national pride.
The Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy (CFRPA) has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Kano seeking the disqualification of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the 2027 presidential election over allegations of certificate forgery.
According to court documents seen by Daily Trust, the plaintiff alleged that Tinubu presented forged academic certificates from Chicago State University and a fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the 2023 elections.
The suit, marked FHC/K/CS/312/2026, lists Tinubu, INEC, and Chicago State University as defendants.
The plaintiff contended that Tinubu never attended Government College Lagos as claimed, noting that the school was established in 1974, four years after Tinubu allegedly graduated.
The CSO further argued that Tinubu does not possess a valid secondary school certificate, which is the minimum constitutional requirement to contest for the presidency.
It claimed that INEC had failed to act on its petition dated June 19, 2026, demanding clarification on Tinubu’s eligibility.
In its statement of claims, the group referenced a 2023 U.S. court ruling in Re: Application of Atiku Abubakar (No. 23 CV 05099), which compelled Chicago State University to release Tinubu’s academic records.
The plaintiff insisted those records revealed false entries and inconsistencies, including a forged University of Cambridge General Certificate of Education.
The prayers asked by the plaintiff included declaration of forgery against Tinubu’s Chicago State University certificate, issuance of an order directing INEC to disqualify him from the 2027 presidential election, directing CSU to strike Tinubu’s name from its records and perpetual injunction restraining INEC from uploading Tinubu’s name as a candidate.
The plaintiff also submitted affidavits of non-multiplicity of action, witness statements, and letters to the NYSC and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, demanding disclaimers on the alleged fake NYSC certificate.
Ojukwu Transport Limited, OTL, has raised concerns over what it described as the repeated absence of court records in its ongoing property dispute with Bianca Ojukwu and her sons, even as it filed a motion for stay of execution pending the determination of its appeal.
Proceedings before Justice A.M. Lawal of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, last Monday were stalled for the second time in six weeks due to the unavailability of the case file.
The matter was adjourned after the file was reportedly not returned to court.
A similar situation occurred on May 8, 2026, when the case could not proceed because the file was unavailable.
OTL alleged that the file had been taken from the Ikeja Judicial Division to Lagos more than two months ago for the execution of a warrant and had not been returned.
The claimants’ legal representatives were absent from court on both occasions.
Describing the development as troubling, OTL said the repeated absence of the file had effectively stalled proceedings and raised questions about accountability in the handling of court records.
Amid the delays, the company disclosed that it had filed and served a motion for stay of execution at the Court of Appeal, seeking to halt enforcement of the judgment pending the determination of its appeal against the 2022 decision in Suit No. LD/1539/2012.
OTL maintained that the application became necessary because steps were being taken to enforce the judgment despite its pending appeal.
The company also contended that the properties in dispute had previously been the subject of a warrant of execution arising from a separate judgment delivered in 2018 by Justice Adedayo Oyebanji in Suit No. LD/794/2011.
The case was subsequently adjourned to October 8, 2026.
Present in court on both adjourned dates on behalf of Ojukwu Transport Limited was one of its directors, Dr. P. Ike Ojukwu.
Counsel to OTL are Ifeanyi Okumah Esq and Chief O. Ugolo, SAN, while Bianca Ojukwu and her sons are represented by Nick Omeye Esq and Co.
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