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Senate seeks better pay for soldiers

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Worried by the rising cost of living and worsening economic hardship, the Senate has urged the Federal Government to consider reviewing upward the minimum wage and salary structure of the men and women of the Nigerian Armed Forces in line with current realities.

Former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, raised the motion titled “Urgent Need to Increase the Minimum Wage and Improve Conditions of Service for Members of the Nigerian Armed Forces and Other Security Agencies,” on Tuesday.

In the motion, Ndume said the nation’s troops and security operatives deserve better compensation, given the scale of risks and sacrifices they undertake to preserve national security.

The Borno South lawmaker reminded the Senate that Section 217(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) empowers the Armed Forces to defend Nigeria from external aggression, maintain territorial integrity, and assist civil authorities in restoring order when called upon.

“The current remuneration and minimum entry-level wage for many personnel across the services have been outpaced by rising living costs, with knock-on effects on morale, recruitment, retention, and operational effectiveness.

“The current minimum monthly wage for junior personnel in the Armed Forces ranges between ₦50,000 and ₦60,000, depending on rank,” which he described as “grossly inadequate in light of current economic realities, inflationary pressures, and the soaring cost of living,” Ndume stated.

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The senator further observed that soldiers in other African countries earn far more than their Nigerian counterparts.

“In Ghana, the entry-level pay for a private soldier is equivalent to about ₦180,000 per month; in South Africa, ₦250,000; in Egypt, ₦230,000–₦280,000; and in Kenya, about ₦200,000, excluding operational allowances,” he said,

According to him, the wage level in Nigeria does not reflect the magnitude of sacrifices made by our troops who daily risk their lives in internal and external operations under extreme and hazardous conditions.”

The Senate, adopting Ndume’s motion, urged the Federal Government through the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to review and substantially increase the pay and allowances of members of the Armed Forces.

It also mandated its Committees on Defence, Army, Navy, and Air Force to liaise with relevant agencies to determine realistic remuneration benchmarks comparable to international standards.

Ndume insisted that boosting soldiers’ welfare is not only a moral obligation but a strategic necessity.

Ndume had earlier decried the poor remuneration for security agencies, saying that recruits are paid less than N50,000 a month.

Ndume, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, asked the Federal Government to urgently review the stipends and salaries of serving military personnel.

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NDLEA arrest Pretty Mike, 100 others at Lagos Club

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Mike Eze Nwalie Nwogu a.k.a Pretty Mike
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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested over 100 suspects, including Lagos socialite and club owner Mike Eze Nwalie Nwogu, popularly known as Pretty Mike, following a midnight raid at Proxy Night Club, located at 7 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The operation, which began in the early hours of Sunday, October 26, 2025, was launched after intelligence reports indicated that the venue was hosting a drug party.

In a statement on Sunday, the NDLEA said its officers recovered cartons of illicit substances, including Loud (a strong strain of cannabis) and laughing gas (nitrous oxide), from both partygoers and the club’s storage areas.

“NDLEA operatives, who were embedded at the party from 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, disrupted the gathering around 3:00 a.m. on Sunday in line with Standard Operating Procedures,” the statement read.

All arrested suspects were taken into custody for screening, while exhibits were secured as part of ongoing investigations.

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, intercepted 70 parcels of cocaine weighing 3.60 kilograms concealed inside cocoa butter body cream containers destined for London, United Kingdom.

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The illegal shipment, discovered on October 14, 2025, during examination of cargoes labelled as “personal effects” on an Air Peace flight, led to the arrest of a cargo agent, Lawal Mustapha Olakunle, who presented the consignment.

Subsequent investigations spanning two weeks uncovered a wider drug network, resulting in the arrest of a female healthcare worker, Ogunmuyide Taiwo Deborah, on October 18, and Mutiu Adebayo Adebiyi, CEO of Mutiu Adebiyi & Co Travel Agency, at his Ikeja GRA office on October 20.

According to NDLEA, the suspects were linked to an organised attempt to smuggle the class A drug into the UK under the guise of cosmetics exports.

In Badagry, Lagos, Jacob Ojugbele was arrested with 55kg of skunk, and Amusa Oluwabukola with 121.3 litres of “skuchies”, a dangerous cocktail made from blackcurrant drink, cannabis, and opioids.

NDLEA operatives also arrested a mother of two, Oyonumoh Glory Effiong, described as a major distributor of Canadian and California “Loud” across Lekki, Ajah, Ikoyi, Victoria Island, and VGC.

She was apprehended on October 17 during a raid at her Lekki home, where 500 grams of Loud were recovered.

In Ikorodu, Lagos, NDLEA officers raided the residence of Ogunyabo Adenigbigbe at Solomade Estate, where 275 litres of skuchies were seized on October 23.

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BREAKING: Hospitals to shut down as Nigerian doctors embark on nationwide strike October 31

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The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced a total and indefinite nationwide strike beginning on Friday, October 31, 2025, at 11:59 pm.

This decision means public hospitals across the country may experience major service disruptions in the coming days.
NARD President, Dr. Muhammad Suleiman, confirmed the decision, saying it was reached after the association’s National Executive Council reviewed the government’s response during an emergency virtual meeting.

“The NEC of NARD has declared total and indefinite strike action starting November 1st of 2025. As a matter of fact, the NEC said all the 19 points are our minimum demands, and there is no going back. The notice for the strike will be out maybe later today or tomorrow,” Suleiman said.

The association stated that the strike followed several unfulfilled promises and delays in addressing key issues affecting its members’ welfare and training.

Among their grievances are unpaid arrears from the 25 and 35 percent upward review of CONMESS, which the government promised to settle by August 2025. NARD also expressed anger over the non-payment of promotion arrears and the 2024 accoutrement allowance, despite multiple assurances from the Ministry of Health.

The doctors also decried the unjust dismissal of five resident doctors from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, describing it as insensitive amid the worsening brain drain in the country.

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Other issues include delays in upgrading resident doctors’ ranks after passing postgraduate exams, the exclusion of residents from specialist allowances, and the removal of medical and dental house officers from the civil service scheme. The group said these policies have led to salary shortages, arrears, and poor morale among doctors.

Dr. Suleiman noted that resident doctors continue to face excessive work hours and poor conditions, endangering both their health and patient safety.
As the strike date approaches, Nigerians fear another breakdown of hospital services, especially in teaching and federal medical centers that rely heavily on resident doctors.

However, this will not be the first time Resident Doctors have downed tools over poor welfare.

The association embarked on similar nationwide strikes in 2023 and 2024, which left many government hospitals struggling to deliver essential healthcare services.

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Enugu Govt sets December 31 Deadline for ongoing 105 Layouts for Revalidation, Digitization Drive (FULL LIST)

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In a decisive step toward modernizing land administration and curbing fraudulent claims, the Enugu State Government, through the Office of the Surveyor General, has announced the revalidation and digitization of 105 layouts across the state. The initiative, part of the government’s Survey Records Modernization Programme, aims to create a transparent, verifiable, and fully digital survey database that secures property ownership and enhances service delivery.

PRESS RELEASE

ENUGU STATE GOVERNMENT

OFFICE OF THE SURVEYOR GENERAL

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: ENUGU STATE GOVERNMENT LISTS 105 LAYOUTS, SETS DECEMBER 31 DEADLINE FOR REVALIDATION AND DIGITIZATION

The Enugu State Government, through the Office of the Surveyor General, has released a list of 105 Layouts across the State earmarked for Revalidation and Digitization under its ongoing Survey Records Modernization Programme.

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This exercise is designed to create a comprehensive and verifiable digital survey database that will enhance transparency in land records, protect ownership rights, and improve service delivery.

What Landowners Must Do

All landowners, estates, and plots within the underlisted areas are required to submit their layout and survey documents for:

• Verification and Revalidation

• Digital Conversion and Plot Mapping

• Issuance of New Electronic Survey Plans and Certificates

Deadline: December 31, 2025

The government has set December 31, 2025 as the deadline for compliance. After this date, any layout not revalidated will lose official government recognition, and all plots within such layouts will be classified as unverified in the State Land Database.

Property owners are strongly advised to act promptly by visiting the Office of the Surveyor General or their respective Local Government Survey Desks to complete the process.

Ministry of Lands and Urban Development

Independence Layout (Phases I–III, ECS, and Extensions)

Central Business District, Old GRA

Emene Industrial/Residential Layout

Nkpokiti Layout

Idaw River Layout

Station Estate

Heritage Estate

Prime City Estate

Innovation Estate

Paradise City Estate

Ropabike Estate

Royal District Layout

Sun City Layout

Evangel Garden, Trans-Ekulu

Diamond City Estate, GRA

Asata Layout

Akaegbe Ugwu Mechanic Village

Uwani Extension Layout

Golf Annex Phases I & II

New GRA, Old GRA Nsukka

Police Refresher School, Uwani

NTA and Adjoining Premises

One Day, Awkunanaw

Legacy Estate

Agangwu Layout, Coal Camp

Oasis Layout

Springfield Gardens Estate

Airport Gate Estate

Sunshine Estate Phase II

Block DB New Town, Ibagwa

Enugu State Housing Development Corporation (ESHDC)

31. WTC Ogui New Layout

32. Trinity Estate

33. Heritage Estate, Kingsway Road GRA

34. Victory Estate

35. Harmony Estate Phases I–III

36. Delight Estate

37. Valley Estate Phases I & II

38. Citadel Estate Phases I & II

39. Maryland Estate Phases I & II

40. Rock City Estate

41. Riverview Estate Phase I

42. Gateway Estate, Owo

43. Fidelity Estate

44. Himalayas Estate

45. Network Estate

46. Coal City Eastern Alliance Estate

47. Blossom Estate

48. Veritage Estate

49. Coal City Garden

50. Ebeano Estate

51. Ivory Estate, Parcel B

52. Greenland Estate Phases I & III

53. Liberty Estate Phases I & II

54. Zoo Estate

55. Tourist Estate

56. Platinum Estate, Trans-Ekulu

57. Golf Course Layout Phases I–V

58. Riverside Estate, Abakpa

59. Lakeside Layout, Onungene Umuenwene Iji-Nike

60. Transparency Estate, Uwani

61. Sunrise Estate, New Abakaliki Road

(The full list of all 105 layouts is available at the Office of the Surveyor General and on the official notice board.)

Signed:

Surv. Chime Justus U.

Surveyor General of Enugu State

Friday, October 17, 2025

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