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Each state should be allowed to negotiate minimum wage — Southern Govs
This was contained in a communique issued at the end of their meeting held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
“The Forum discussed the minimum wage issues demanded by labour and unanimously agreed that the minimum wage should be reflective of the cost of living and ability to pay, and each State be allowed to negotiate their minimum wage,” the communique partly read.
In the 16 points communique, the Forum called for strengthening of fiscal federalism and devolution of powers and expressed concern over current practices where mineral licenses are issued and explorations undertaken without recourse to state governments.
It noted that issuing mineral licenses without carrying the states along have resulted in criminal activities, attendant negative environmental impact, ecological degradation, and with no remediation commitment or revenue accruing to the States or the Federal Government.
The governors maintained that being the economic and industrial region of the country, there was need to address the inadequate power supply in the region by taking advantage of the recent constitutional amendment that now allows States to regulate, generate, transmit and distribute electricity whilst also considering optional sources like renewables.
The southern governors said they have resolved to aggressively embark on energy transition plan from fossil fuels (petrol and diesel) to cleaner energy and specifically CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) and ultimately EV’s (Electric Vehicles) to help reduce the cost of transportation, which would lower the cost of food, goods and services of the citizens and residents.
The meeting also called on the Federal Government to rehabilitate, repair and reconstruct Trunk A roads and transfer some roads to States that have expressed interest in taking them over, applauding President Tinubu for conceptualizing and commencing the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, which cuts across eight states of the region.
The Communique hinted that the governors have resolved to commission a regional multimodal transport master plan that would prioritise connectivity of rail, road, air and water transportation, to facilitate interstate, intra-regional movement of persons, goods and services and thereby enhancing the ease of doing business.
It further stated that Southern States Development Agenda (SSDA) would comprise of a team whose primary responsibility is to outline a holistic plan to foster trade and investment, sustainable growth and development, economic prosperity, social harmony and food security for the region would be set up.
The Development Agenda, the governors added would work hand in glove with individual State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agencies, the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and other relevant MDA’s and multilateral agencies as necessary.
On issue of state police, the Governors resolved to continue to advocate for the creation of State police against the backdrop of the success of the regional community based security outfits, which have been effective in intelligence gathering.
The governors, the communique further stated, resolved to remain united and committed to oneness of purpose, noting that the physical boundaries that divide the people of the south could not be compare to the strong bonds of enterprise, resilience and culture that they share just as they have resolved to be deliberate and intentional about intra region trade, partnerships and investment facilitation and promotion which was agreed would require a structured and coordinated collaborative approach.
The members of the Forum commended Mr President Tinubu for the food palliative support to States and the laudable economic recovery reforms and policies through the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda pledging to support him in his unwavering resolve to reposition the country and build a greater future for all.
It would be recalled that at the end of the meeting, Prince Dapo Abiodun was chosen to provide the needed leadership as Chairman of the Forum, while Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, the governor of Anambra State waa appointed as the Vice Chairman.
The communique concluded that quarterly meetings of the Forum would be held and rotated among member states.
Six mourners are reportedly missing after a boat carrying more 70 people capsized on the Buruku River in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State on Saturday.
The incident reportedly occurred around 11am as the mourners, who were from neighbouring Gboko Local Government Area, were returning from a burial ceremony.
The Chairman of Buruku Local Government Area, Raymond Zege, confirmed the incident, saying the boat’s engine reportedly developed a fault while it was on the river.
According to him, the occupants struggled to manoeuvre the boat and remain afloat before another boat arrived to rescue them.
He said the boat was overloaded and the occupants reportedly panicked as they encountered water waves, causing the vessel to sink.
Zege said, “There are over 70 people on board but we have not seen about six persons.”
The chairman also expressed concern over compliance with safety measures among commuters using the river crossing, noting that authorities had provided life jackets but enforcement had been difficult because some passengers complained that wearing them was uncomfortable.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Denis Iyaghigba, said preliminary reports indicated that a strong water current swept the boat into an abandoned barge at a corner of the river, causing it to overturn.
Iyaghigba urged families and members of the public to remain calm while authorities continued efforts to establish the facts and locate those still missing.
He said he had directed boat operators and their union downstream to mobilise and support the ongoing search and rescue operation.
A funeral ceremony in Aleto, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, reportedly turned tragic on Friday after a pastor collapsed and died while delivering a sermon on the certainty of death.
The cleric was identified as Deacon Steve Eyo, the Resident Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Aleto.
He was preaching before more than 300 mourners when he suddenly collapsed as he was concluding his message.
Eyo’s sermon was titled “The Certainty of Death and Hope Beyond.”
According to eyewitness accounts cited by multiple local news outlets, he began preaching at about 1:10 p.m., speaking about the inevitability of death and urging those present to live their lives with the awareness that nobody knows when death will come.
In illustrating his message, the pastor reportedly compared life to going to the market, explaining that some people leave early while others remain until later, just as some people die young while others live longer.
About 15 minutes into the sermon, at approximately 1:25 p.m., Eyo reportedly collapsed while rounding off his message.
His sudden fall initially confused some mourners, with eyewitnesses saying some thought the pastor was demonstrating the suddenness of death as part of his sermon.
The situation quickly became clear, however, as church ministers, choir members and others rushed to his aid.
People at the scene reportedly prayed for him while individuals with medical knowledge attempted to administer first aid.
He was subsequently taken to a nearby medical facility in the same ambulance that had been hired to convey the remains of the deceased person whose burial was taking place.
He was reportedly confirmed dead at the hospital, after which his remains were taken to a mortuary.
The circumstances surrounding Eyo’s death have not been publicly established in the reports reviewed, and no specific medical cause of death was disclosed.
However, the timing of the incident has left mourners and members of the Aleto community deeply shocked because of the subject of his final sermon.
According to eyewitness accounts, Eyo had urged the congregation to “number your days and prepare, for it can happen anytime” shortly before he collapsed.
The incident transformed what had begun as a solemn farewell for one deceased person into another moment of mourning, as attendees were confronted with the sudden death of the minister delivering the funeral sermon.p pm
Mahmoud Adam, a suspected militant allegedly linked to deadly attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, has reportedly been arrested in Plateau State.
The arrest was disclosed in an exclusive report published on Friday by the US-based Daily Caller, which identified Adam as an alleged secret leader of the Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM) operating in Plateau State and surrounding parts of the Middle Belt.
According to the report, Adam was arrested in the early hours of September 12 at his compound in Plateau State, where he was known as a prominent Fulani community leader.
A former US intelligence officer with expertise in Islamist terrorism reportedly confirmed Adam’s alleged role in FEM, while Nigerian journalist Masara Kim of Truth Nigeria was also cited as having reported evidence allegedly linking him to deadly attacks in Plateau State.
The Daily Caller said information from a whistleblower indicated that Adam had previously established contacts with senior Nigerian military figures and had allegedly received high-value gifts from military officers.
The report also alleged that a serving senator had intervened in 2024 to secure Adam’s release following an earlier arrest.
The senator, Shehu Buba, has previously denied allegations of links to criminal networks. Separate reports said photographs showing Buba and Adam together have emerged, prompting calls for further investigation.
The Daily Caller reported that Adam was previously released from custody several days after his 2024 arrest following the alleged intervention.
Photographs cited by the publication reportedly show Adam meeting a Nigerian major general in 2023. According to the account accompanying the photographs, the military officer handed over five motorcycles to Adam and associates as part of efforts described as aimed at restoring peace in Plateau State.
The latest arrest comes amid renewed security concerns in Plateau State, where several communities have experienced deadly attacks in recent weeks. Local reports have linked some of the violence to armed groups, although attribution for individual attacks remains subject to confirmation by security authorities.
Reports of Adam’s arrest have also generated reactions in the United States. US Representative Riley Moore welcomed the reported arrest, describing it as evidence of increased US-Nigeria security cooperation, while the circumstances surrounding the allegations against Adam remain subject to official investigation and clarification.
As of the latest reports, the Nigerian security agencies had not publicly released a detailed statement outlining the charges against Adam or the evidence being relied upon in the investigation.
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