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FG didn’t see strike coming, says minister

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The Minister of Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, has disclosed that the Federal Government was caught off guard by Monday’s nationwide strike because it didn’t see it coming.

Onyejeocha made the claim when she featured as a guest on Monday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today

The minister, who accused the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of failing to imbibe the spirit of social dialogue, said that their leaders were not patient enough to see through the negotiation they were having with the tripartite committee.

Onyejeocha also argued that it was wrong of labour to expect the FG to fix salaries for state governors and local government authorities to pay their workers.

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She said, “How will I see it (strike) coming when I am sure we are negotiating and you know that it is tripartite? The Federal Government cannot impose salaries for local government and, of course, the governors.

“The Organised Private Sector is involved and they have the ability or level of what they can pay. And if they say they can’t pay a certain amount, is the FG going to force them?”

Her protest comes in the wake of the Federal Government’s invitation to Labour leaders through the National Salaries Wages and Income Commission.

Monday’s nationwide strike had seemingly impacted commercial activities across the country as major government parastatals, schools, banking institutions, and other businesses were shut down.

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But Onyejeocha insisted that all the relevant parties were still in the middle of dialogue before the unionists walked away from the negotiation table.

While lamenting Monday’s disruption of commercial activities and untold suffering visited on the masses, the minister appealed to the NLC and the TUC to consider returning to the negotiation table.

“We were negotiating and didn’t conclude before Labour walked out. That is not in the spirit of social dialogue. The truth of the matter is that we have entered a negotiation and all the parties should be patient enough to conclude it.

“Having experienced what took place today, the national grid was affected and, of course, people were stranded in our airports today. And you know what it is. People already suffered a lot of hardship and setbacks because of today’s strike. The natural thing to do is for Labour to rescind its decision and come back to the negotiating table.

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“As I always say, strike should be the last option because we know what the issues are and we are available for discussion and negotiation. We believe there is nothing that can’t be resolved. But embarking on strike is taking the matter to the extreme which, of course, has a negative implication to both our economy and the welfare of the people,” she pleaded.

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Video: Watch moment Senator Manu tasks NAFDAC officials on poor budget presentation

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The Senator representing Taraba Central, Manu Haruna white washed officials of NAFDAC for poor budget presentation during 2025 budget defense on Friday.

In a video, Senator Manu a former Deputy Governor of Taraba State opened the underbelly of NAFDAC on improper presentation of figures in the outlines.

He pointedly told the officials that the presentation was designed to mislead senators.

Watch video below:

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Why I returned N100m excess fund to Kano Govt Commissioner

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The Kano State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Tajo Othman, who was recently in the news for returning N100 million excess fund to the state government, has revealed the reason behind his action.

The commissioner while addressing newsmen in Kano on Friday said his action was influenced by the state governor’s “exemplary leadership style,” adding that in an ideal situation, leaders are always a pace setter for others to follow.

He said he did not expect Governor Kabir Abba Yusuf to reveal the act to the public, but the governor chose to do so during the flag-off of the free uniform distribution to encourage the future generation to be transparent.

He said, “In an ideal governance setting, the leader is a pace setter for others to follow. We have seen the governor’s body language and as such we fall in. That is what exactly happened. it is the wish of the governor that everybody should be as transparent as possible.

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“He is a transparent governor and therefore we should be transparent as well. I never expected the governor to go public with it, but I believe the reason behind his announcement is indeed genuine.”

The commissioner added that as the head of the committee for school uniform distribution, the state governor entrusted him with the task and advised the committee to execute it to the best of their ability.

The commissioner who was a retired customs officer was in the news when the Governor Yusuf publicly commended him for returning N100 million in unspent funds from a N2 billion budget earmarked for the production of 798,000 uniforms for pupils of primary 1 in the state.

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Nigerian Online Population Shows Strong Enthusiasm for AI – Report

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A new global survey report from Ipsos and Google has shown widespread use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools among Nigerian online population.

The study, tagged: “Our Life with AI: From Innovation to Application,” surveyed 21,000 people across 21 countries, and observed that global AI usage has jumped to 48 per cent and excitement about its potential now exceeds concerns (57 per cent vs. 43 per cent, up from 50 per cent / 50 per cent last year).

According to the report, in Nigeria, AI adoption and enthusiasm are even higher, as 70 per cent of the Nigerian online population used generative AI, surpassing the 48 per cent global average. Moreover, 87 per cent are excited about AI’s potential and see its benefits outweighing the risks.

Analysing the report, President of Global Affairs, Google & Alphabet, Kent Walker, said: “AI is starting to deliver magic at scale, making people’s lives easier and better. The survey results show the more people use these tools, the more excited they get about the possibilities and about the personal, professional, and scientific breakthroughs on the way.”

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The survey results indicate that optimism about AI is growing within the surveyed online community in Nigeria. Key findings from the survey, show that among survey participants in Nigeria, 70 per cent reported using generative AI in the past year, which is significantly higher than the global average of 48 per cent. A substantial 87 per cent of Nigerian respondents feel that AI’s potential benefits outweigh the associated risks, suggesting a strong belief in the positive impact of AI. A significant 81 per cent of surveyed Nigerian adults believe AI will positively change the economy.

Furthermore, 90 per cent of the survey respondents in Nigeria anticipate AI having a positive impact on science and medicine, demonstrating the widespread belief in the potential of AI to drive progress in these sectors.

According to the report, Nigeria’s online population demonstrates a higher level of excitement and adoption of AI when compared to other regions. The survey indicates: Nigeria is among the top countries in terms of AI usage and excitement about its potential.

This contrasts with more cautious sentiment in some European and North American countries.

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The report also said the Nigerian online community saw immense potential for AI in science and medical advancements:

“A significant 90 per cent of survey respondents expect AI to have a positive impact on science and medicine. This is one of the highest rates globally, highlighting the strong anticipation of breakthroughs in these fields through AI,” the report said, and onlinerd that the population in Nigeria recognised AI’s potential to enhance personal and professional development:

“Many believe AI can make people’s lives better by boosting productivity and providing access to resources. Within the Nigerian online population surveyed, there is a prevailing sentiment that supports the fostering of AI advancement rather than restrictive regulations. This suggests that those surveyed are keen to embrace innovation,” the report further said.

The survey results highlight the strong enthusiasm and optimism of the surveyed online population in Nigeria about the role of AI in various aspects of life, particularly in the economy, healthcare, and scientific advancement. The findings suggest that Nigeria’s online community is among the most enthusiastic globally about the transformative potential of AI.

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Google has been pursuing AI boldly and responsibly for years. In 2018, Google was one of the first companies to establish AI Principles grounded in beneficial use and avoidance of harm. Two years ago, it unveiled its opportunity agenda, which shard concrete recommendations for governments to ensure AI benefits the broadest range of people possible.

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