Labour Leaders Demand New Minimum Wage, Say ₦70,000 Has Lost Value

Labour Leaders Demand New Minimum Wage, Say ₦70,000 Has Lost Value
By Funke Akinbobola

Nigerian labour leaders have called for urgent renegotiation of the national minimum wage, arguing that the current ₦70,000 can no longer meet workers’ needs amid rising inflation and cost of living.

The demand was made on Friday at the Nigeria Rights of Workers Summit 2026 held in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State. The event marked 88 years since trade unions gained legal recognition in Nigeria and was themed “The Rights of Workers: Decent Work and a Just Economy in Nigeria.”

The summit brought together leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress, government officials, employers, civil society groups, workers, and representatives of the National Industrial Court. Discussions cent…
[2:32 pm, 07/08/2026] Bro Benos: NIS Says Passport Services Remain Operational Despite System Upgrade
By Funke Akinbobola

The Nigeria Immigration Service has moved to allay public concerns over alleged disruptions to passport processing, stating that all services across the country remain active and accessible to applicants.

In a statement posted on its verified X account on Wednesday, the Service addressed reports suggesting that a recent adjustment to its passport production system had affected service delivery. The NIS explained that what is underway is an internal upgrade designed to integrate additional passport offices into the Central Personalization Centre.

According to the Service, the integration is part of broader reforms to make passport issuance more efficient and secure. It emphasized that the change is purely administrative and should not be interpreted as a shutdown or suspension of any passport-related activity.

The NIS further clarified the process for applicants. It stated that individuals seeking new passports or renewals are still required to go to their chosen passport offices for biometric data capture. All enrolment centres nationwide, the Service said, are open and functioning without interruption.

On the issue of production, the Service noted that centralizing the personalization of passport booklets at a single facility is intended to achieve three key objectives. These include speeding up processing times, aligning Nigeria’s travel document with international security benchmarks, and safeguarding the integrity of the passport against fraud and duplication.

The Immigration Service also addressed concerns about delivery timelines. It assured Nigerians that the printing of passport booklets is proceeding as scheduled and that there are no backlogs. Completed passports, it added, are being dispatched to state commands within the regular processing window for collection by applicants.

The statement concluded with a call for the public to disregard misinformation and to rely only on official NIS channels for updates on passport matters.