The National Administrative Council of the Trade Union Congress has ratified the nomination/election of its President, Festus Osifo, for a fresh four-year term in office.

This is just as the President, Bola Tinubu, counseled affiliate unions of both the TUC and the Nigeria Labour Congress to always prioritise transparency in the election of their leaders.

Osifo and 18 other members of the executive were returned to the office unopposed Friday evening in Abuja during their inaugural quadrennial National Delegate Conference.

Speaking earlier before the election processes began, Osifo lamented that the current economic difficulties in the country have continued to grossly affect Nigerian workers.

Osifo spoke on the theme of the conference: “The Future of Work- Ensuring Fair Labour Practices and Economic Justice in a Digital Era”.

The labour leader explained that Nigerian workers’ challenges were compounded by the devaluation of the Naira by the President Tinubu-led administration.

Commenting on the killings in Plateau, Benue and other places, he said the food insecurity in the country would only continue to worsen if the cases of insecurity continue to rise.

According to him, insecurity has been making it impossible for farmers to gain access to their respective farmlands, adding that unemployment was also fueling the insecurity crisis that was throwing the country into chaos.

“One of the reasons the food prices are skyrocketing today is actually because of the insecurity we are having in places like Plateau, Benue, Borno, and I could go on and on.

“Everybody wants to preserve their lives, because when you go to the farm, your life is not safe. The middle belt of Plateau and Benue is actually the food basket of our country, and this has greatly affected us.

“We call on government to take decisive steps to ensure that the state of insecurity in Nigeria is addressed because that is our primary responsibility of government,” the labour leader said.

He also expressed concerns over the increasing number of out-of-school children in the country, urging the government at all levels to prioritise education by building better individuals.

“We have a lot of Nigerians, youths that are unemployed; we are actually feeding the insecurity net. You are actually saying that if you don’t have a job, people could turn to alternative means.

“We call on the government; let’s see how we can sit down on a round table and develop strategies and systems with which we would have sufficient employment as a country, so that men and women who are able and are willing to work will have jobs to do.

“We are calling on the federal, state, and local governments. They must all come together to quickly address the issues that are affecting out-of-school children.

“We cannot have a country where we have between 20 million and 40 million out-of-school children. We don’t feel that this is correct; we think it’s wrong.

“The state government must wake up because education is at risk. It is not an exclusive prism of the federal government alone.

“They must sit down collectively to develop strategies to address this system because when most of these children are not educated, it gives room to child labour and child labour is one of the tenets that the ILO has been fighting against that trade unions all over the world are also pushing and fighting against.”

Brace up for tough time ahead, labour advised

Meanwhile, the Country Director of the International Labour Organisation in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Ghana, Vanessa Phala, while commending the TUC, advised the labour centre to brace up for tougher times ahead.

She said, “We recognize each and every effort that you have made in trying to really make workers’ lives better in Nigeria. We are also aware that the journey has not been easy, and it is going to be tougher because of the challenges that the President has shared with us.

“But I want to assure you of the ILO’s support in this journey, that we remain committed to working with you in this journey, to supporting you in whatever ways we can.

“We’ve implemented several interventions together. We’ve been behind the TUC in some of the achievements that you’ve had, and I’m very happy that we were able to negotiate a new minimum wage.

“I would also like to encourage you to not fold over and stop fighting, because we know the problem is not the minimum wage, but the implementation of the minimum wage.

“So I do hope that you will work together with the relevant authorities to make sure that each Nigerian worker does not get paid below the minimum wage.”

The ILO official urged the government of Nigeria and the labour centres to always embrace social dialogue in resolving issues, even though dialogue was not always easy, given that the different parties involved do not always agree.

*Prioritize transparency in electing your leaders – Tinubu*

Earlier, the President, Bola Tinubu, encouraged delegates of unions affiliated to both labour centres to embrace integrity and transparency in the election of new leaders who would advance the interests of workers.

He also said his administration would remain committed to improving the welfare of Nigerian workers and ensuring fair labour practices amid growing economic challenges in the country.

Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, said there is a need to prioritize fair labour practices, strengthen labour laws, invest in skills development, and advance economic justice.

“Your demand for better economic conditions following the removal of the floor subsidy in 2023 and your subsequent active participation in negotiations with the government culminated in the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers today, attests to your invaluable efforts.

“You are integral to our mission to build a Nigeria where every citizen can achieve their full potential. Although technology has the power to transform industries, create new opportunities, and drive economic growth, it poses risks of job displacement and widening inequalities.

“It is, therefore, our political responsibility to harness the benefits of digital innovation whilst guiding the principles of fairness, equity and justice.

“I urge you to elect leaders with vision, accountability, and innovation, individuals who will champion workers’ voices in a rapidly changing world of work,” the President said.

At least seven persons were reportedly killed by suspected armed herders on Thursday night in Agbo Vengav Udam community, Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.

The incident occurred just hours after gunmen, also believed to be armed herders, hijacked two commercial vehicles and abducted about 14 passengers near Naka, the headquarters of the local government area.

Sources told our correspondent that the attack took place around 7:00pm when the assailants stormed the community and opened fire indiscriminately on residents.

A local resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed via telephone that the attackers accessed the village through a border community in Otukpo LGA.

“They came in through the Otukpo border village, entered Agbo, and began shooting sporadically. Seven people were killed instantly, and they abducted three others,” the source said.

It was gathered that among the victims was an infant, while the child’s mother was reportedly taken by the attackers.

Five of the deceased have been deposited in a morgue in Naka, while the families of the remaining two opted for immediate burial.

The incident has sparked fear among locals, many of whom have reportedly fled their homes to avoid further violence.

Confirming the attack, Chairman of Gwer West LGA, Mr Victor Ormin, said multiple people were killed in the assault.

“It is true that a number of people were killed in Vengav Udam village on Thursday night. Two others who sustained critical injuries are currently receiving treatment at Naka hospital,” Ormin stated.

He decried the rising wave of attacks in the area, saying: “This is becoming unbearable. The activities of these armed herders in the local government and the state at large are escalating.”

Efforts to reach the Benue State Police Command spokesperson, CSP Catherine Anene, were unsuccessful as calls to her mobile phone went unanswered.

The Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Oba Joseph Oloyede, and a Nigerian pastor, Edward Oluwasanmi, are facing possible prison sentences in the United States after pleading guilty to charges of COVID-19 relief fraud.

Oba Oloyede, a US-based accountant and information system expert, was appointed the new Apetu in July 2019.

The monarch and Oluwasanmi were arrested in early 2024 for their roles in a scheme to fraudulently obtain $4.2m in COVID-19 relief funds.

The two men were charged with 13 counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, and engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property.

They were arraigned before Justice Christopher Boyko of the US District Court of Ohio.

Saturday PUNCH had exclusively reported the arraignment of Oloyede while residents of Ipetumodu were at a loss over his disappearance from the community after a trip abroad.

Our correspondent had reported that there was anxiety in the community after the 62-year-old was absent from several important festivals that required his presence.

After investigating, Saturday PUNCH confirmed that the monarch was being held by the US authorities.

According to court documents obtained by our correspondent, Oloyede and Oluwasanmi submitted falsified applications for Paycheck Protection Programme and Economic Injury Disaster Loans under the US Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act between April 2020 and February 2022, using fake tax and wage documents to secure funds meant to support struggling businesses during the pandemic.

The Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic by issuing loans to small businesses and non-profit entities experiencing revenue loss due to the pandemic.

The Act also authorised the US Small Business Administration to issue advances or grants of up to $10,000 to small businesses.

Oba Oloyede, who was based in Medina, Ohio, before his enthronement, was accused of using some of his companies, including Available Tax Services Incorporated, Available Financial Corporation, and Available Transportation Company, to defraud the government through the COVID-19 relief fund.

Oluwasanmi was also accused of using his companies: Dayspring Transportation Limited, Dayspring Holding Incorporated, and Dayspring Property Incorporated to obtain millions of dollars, which he later diverted for his expenses, in breach of US federal laws.

According to court documents, Oba Oloyede and Oluwasanmi, among other things, fraudulently obtained the sum of $3.76m from the US Paycheck Protection Programme and Economic Injury Disaster Loans scheme.

After about one year in court, the duo pleaded guilty to some of the charges and might face some prison sentences.

On April 10, Oluwasanmi, through his counsel, Henry Hilow, pleaded guilty to counts one, 11, and 12 of the indictment.

In the said counts, Oluwasanmi was accused of using some of the proceeds of the fraud to purchase a commercial property on 422 South Green Road, South Euclid, Ohio, through wire transfer, and transferring money into Dayspring transportation brokerage account.

“Guilty plea entered to counts 1, 11 and 12 of the indictment. Plea agreement executed. Sentencing set for July 2, 2025, at 10am in Courtroom 9A. Defendant’s bond to continue with same conditions as previously ordered,” the document read.

On Monday, April 21, Oba Oloyede submitted his guilty plea before the court.

The court fixed Thursday, April 24, for the hearing of his pleas.

Oba Oloyede’s long absence from his community has been generating reactions from community leaders and chiefs, especially after he reportedly demolished the town’s palace with a promise to build a befitting one upon return from his trip before his arrest.

With the report of his trial in the US, some residents are demanding that the state government investigate the matter and intervene.

Credit: PUNCH