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Anger as petrol hits over N1,000 per litre in Benue

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

There was palpable anger in parts of Benue state Saturday as most filling stations in the state dispense petrol between the rate of N980 and N1,100 per litre.

Before the sudden adjustment to the new rates, petrol was sold between N850 and N950 per litre at filling stations owned by independent marketers while black marketers sold at N1,000.

Aside the NNPC Mega station which hardly have petrol to sell to the public but dispensed at N617 per litre whenever they have supplies, most of the filling stations in Makurdi and major towns in the state sold the product to angry motorists and motorbike riders at the rate of N980 and N1,100.

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An angry commercial motorcycle operator who simply identified himself as Christopher said the continous increase in pump price of petrol was making life unbearable for him and his family.

He lamented that yesterday he bought the product from a filling station in town for N850 per litre and in less than 24 hours he went back to fill his tank for the day’s business and discovered that the pump price had been adjusted upwards to N980 per litre.

He said, “we did not see this coming. This government wants to impoverish Nigerians the more. What is our sin. Did we wrong them by voting them?

“How can any reasonable government subject Nigerians to this unimaginably level of suffering. Every money we make goes to purchase of fuel. This is not fair to poor Nigerians. This government is not listening to the cry of poor Nigerians.

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“Everything that makes life worth living is being priced out of the reach of the masses. We cannot feed our families, our children are dropping out of school and people do not go to hospital again if they fall sick because they cannot afford treatment. Is this what they promised us during the elections?

“With this how can anyone claim that the rising food proces will come down. This government has failed the masses and we will not forget this traumatising experience they are making us go through in a hurry.”

Also, a commcial bus driver, Comrade Odeka who was heard expressing frustration and anger over the continously increase in the pump price of petrol since the coming of the present administration said, “we are tired of this government, they are bereft of ideas and do not know how to go about the governance of the country.

“Why is this government punishing Nigerians? They are insensitive to the pains Nigerians are facing. We bought fuel few days ago for as high as N850 per litre, today I am buying it for N980, and if you go outside the state capital fuel is being sold for as high as N1,100 and black marketers are selling for N1,200 per litre. And politicians want us to believe that this government means well for Nigerians.

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“This is not what they promised us during the election and it is sad that we are being subjected to this level of unimaginable poverty. This government is not fair to Nigerians.”

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FG increases allowances for Civil Servants

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The Federal Government has approved an increase in peculiar allowances and other welfare benefits for civil servants.

Nigeria’s Head of the Civil Service, Didi Walson-Jack, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, in a move expected to increase the take-home pay of civil servants and boost the morale of the government’s workforce.
Walson-Jack said the increment affects workers under the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) and the Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS).
This is targeted at ensuring a broad-based impact across all cadres of the civil service.
According to her, the allowances have been structured to reflect across all grade levels, leading to better earnings for senior and junior officers.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has approved a review of some key allowances for civil servants.
Some of them include duty tour allowance (DTA), estacode, and book allowance.

The head of service said almost all allowances in the Public Service Rules have been revised.

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One key reform is the approval of 100 percent DTA, which is for civil servants attending approved training programmes irrespective of whether travel is involved or not.
She said, “Even if you are based in Abuja and attend training within Abuja, you are entitled to full DTA.”
Apart from salary-related adjustments, the Federal Government has also introduced an exit benefit scheme for retiring civil servants under the Contributory Pension Scheme.

The scheme, which provides 100 per cent of a retiree’s full emoluments as an exit package, in addition to their pension, takes effect from January 1, 2026.

For the head of service, the move is part of efforts to enhance dignity in retirement. She maintained that no public servant should leave service without adequate financial support.

The Federal Government equally confirmed the operationalisation of the Employee Compensation Scheme, aimed at financially protecting workers who suffer job-related injuries or death.

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Nigeria’s latest reforms followed an increase in calls from labour unions for improved welfare for civil servants as the cost of living continues to soar, putting more pressure on workers.
It comes about two years after the Federal Government approved a salary rise of between 25% and 35% for civil servants on the remaining six consolidated salary structures.

The salary structure includes the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS), Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS), Consolidated Paramilitary Salary Structure (CONPASS), Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure (CONICCS), and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS).
Support for Oyo Workers

In the meantime, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has announced a ₦10,000 monthly transportation support fund for civil servants in the state to cushion the impacts of the rising costs of living.

Makinde said this will run for an initial period of three months. According to him, the move is part of the Oyo government’s response to prevailing economic pressures, particularly the rising cost of transportation.

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The governor said it will help lessen the financial burden on civil servants in the state and ensure uninterrupted service delivery across ministries, departments, and agencies.

“This support is a direct response to the realities our workers are facing,” Makinde said. “We understand that transportation costs have gone up significantly, and as a government, we must act to ease that burden.”
The transport allowance took effect in March, 2026.

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Military set to try suspected coup plotters, set up General Court-Martial

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The Nigerian military on Friday inaugurated a General Court-Martial to try officers accused in an alleged coup plot, marking the formal commencement of proceedings.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the accused officers were brought to the venue of the sitting, the Guards Brigade Scorpion Mess, Asokoro, at about 8:53 a.m. under tight security.

Journalists were, however, denied access into the courtroom as proceedings commenced behind closed doors.

Several civil lawyers were observed arriving at the venue ahead of the inauguration, suggesting the presence of legal representatives for the accused.

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The sitting signals the beginning of the military’s internal trial process following months of investigation into the alleged plot.

The case dates back to October 2025 when about 16 serving military personnel, comprising senior and junior officers, were arrested over alleged acts of indiscipline.

Subsequent investigations by military authorities, however, established that some of the officers had cases to answer bordering on an alleged attempt to overthrow the constitutional government, leading to the decision to subject them to court-martial.

NAN reports that more than 30 accused officer were brought in a “Marcopolo” luxurious bus.

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In a related development, the Federal Government had earlier arraigned several civilian suspects and retired military personnel before a Federal High Court in Abuja over the same alleged coup plot.

The defendants, Including a retired Major General and a serving police officer, were charged with offences bordering on treason and terrorism.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court subsequently ordered their remand in custody pending the hearing of their bail applications.

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The parallel proceedings underscore the dual-track approach, with serving military personnel facing court-martial, while civilians and retired officers are being tried in civilian courts.

Further details of the court-martial proceedings were not immediately available as at the time of filing this report. (NAN)

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Oyedele Formally Assumes Office as Finance Minister Vows to Sustaim Reform Momentum

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The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, has formally assumed office following the completion of the handover process by the former Minister, Mr. Wale Edun, OFR.

The handover was conducted Thursday 23rd April 2026, within the stipulated timeline following President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s directive.

Mr. Edun’s period in office was marked by the advancement of key fiscal and economic reforms aimed at stabilising the macroeconomic environment and repositioning the economy for sustainable growth.

These included efforts to strengthen revenue performance, improve fiscal coordination, and support broader structural reforms under the Administration’s economic agenda.

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The newly appointed Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Oyedele in his remarks commended the outgoing Minister for his service and contributions to the ongoing reform efforts in the economy.

He further expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for the confidence reposed in him to serve in this capacity. He also extoled Mr. Wale Edun for his service to the nation and wished him success in his future endeavours.

Welcoming the new Minister to the Ministry in this new capacity, the Permanent Secretary, Finance, Mr. Raymond Omachi and Permanent Secretary Special Duties, Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma pledged full support and loyalty of the Management and staff of the Ministry in advancing the Minister’s mandates.

Mr. Oyedele reaffirmed his readiness to working closely with the leadership and staff of the Ministry in order to deliver concrete outcomes aligned with the government’s economic priorities.

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He emphasised the need to build on existing reforms while focusing on measurable impact across key sectors of the economy.

The assumption of office signals continuity in the Ministry’s service delivery to the nation, with focus on deepening economic reforms, fiscal discipline, and improved outcomes for Nigerians.

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