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Folarin Kehinde

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FCTA, FCDA Workers Embark on Indefinite Strike, Close Offices

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) workers have commenced an indefinite strike, leading to the closure of government offices across the FCT.

The industrial action follows a prior warning issued last Friday, when the workers announced their intention to down tools over unresolved labour and welfare-related issues.

The strike was initiated by the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC), which directed employees at all levels within the FCT public service to withdraw their services.

JUAC accused the FCTA authorities of ignoring long-standing demands, stating that the strike was triggered after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the administration.

According to the unions, several meetings were held with management during the ultimatum period, but none produced tangible results.

The ultimatum, which began on January 7, 2026, was formally communicated in a statement dated January 8 and jointly signed by the JUAC President, Comrade Rifkatu Iortyer, and Secretary, Comrade Abdullahi Saleh.

The notice was also copied to key officials, including the Minister of State for the FCT, the Chief of Staff, the Head of Service, and the Director of Security Services.

Among the grievances highlighted by the unions are unpaid promotion arrears, delays in staff promotions, and continued service extensions granted to directors and permanent secretaries due for retirement.

JUAC further alleged that the administration has failed to remit statutory deductions, including pension contributions and National Housing Fund payments.

In addition, the unions raised concerns over the handling of the 2024 promotion examinations, describing the process as “poorly managed and unfair to many affected workers.”

 

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Headlines

Impeachment: Fubara Aide Reveals Rivers Lawmakers Were Given ₦350m Each

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

A fresh allegation has emerged amid the impeachment tension in Rivers State, as an aide to Governor Siminalayi Fubara claimed that lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly received N350 million each for constituency projects.

The allegation was made by Darlington Orji, a Special Adviser to the governor, during a television interview on Friday.

He spoke while addressing issues surrounding budget approvals and the growing rift between the executive arm and the state legislature.

Orji said the claim by some lawmakers that certain payments were not properly appropriated did not align with past actions taken by the Assembly members. He argued that the same lawmakers had earlier collected much larger sums without raising similar concerns.

According to him, lawmakers were each given N350 million for constituency projects. He questioned why no objections were raised at the time, especially regarding appropriation procedures.

The governor’s aide also spoke on a N100,000 payment made in December. He explained that the money was paid to civil servants as an end-of-year appreciation. He added that members of the House of Assembly were also extended the same gesture.

However, Orji revealed that some lawmakers rejected the N100,000 payment. He said the reason given was that the money was not captured in the appropriation process.

He described the rejection as questionable. He argued that it was inconsistent for lawmakers to reject a smaller amount on appropriation grounds after accepting a much larger sum earlier.

While speaking, Orji insisted he would not make false claims. He maintained that his statements were based on facts known to him.

He also addressed issues surrounding the budget process. He explained that several adjustments usually take place before a budget is finalized and passed into law.

Orji stated that a presentation was expected from the lawmakers concerning certain interests. He said this presentation did not happen because the governor did not agree with their position.

He further noted that the exact figures being disputed could not be confirmed at the moment due to the absence of the presentation. Despite this, he maintained that the December payments were clear and straightforward.

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Headlines

2026 Budget: Ministry of Works Allocates N500m to Hairdressers and Make-Up Artists

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The 2026 budget proposal has placed the Federal Ministry of Works at the centre of a fresh controversy.

This followed the discovery of multiple non-infrastructure empowerment projects running into hundreds of millions of naira under the ministry’s allocations.

Details from the 2026 Appropriation Bill show that the Federal Ministry of Works plans to spend over ₦500 million on programmes linked to skills training, empowerment schemes, and social interventions across several states.

The budget document indicates that these allocations cover activities such as training hairdressers and make-up artists, distributing grinding machines, motorcycles, mini-vans, and funding anti-drug abuse campaigns.

These projects are spread across different geopolitical zones of the country.

One of the allocations shows that ₦35 million has been earmarked for the distribution of grinding machines to women in Ndokwa/Ukwani Federal Constituency in the South-South. The document did not specify the number of beneficiaries or machines to be supplied.

Another ₦35 million is listed for the training and empowerment of women in hairdressing, make-up, and soap production in Mikang, Shandam, and Qua’an Pan Federal Constituency of Plateau State in the North-Central zone.

In the North-East, the ministry plans to spend ₦70 million on skill acquisition and the provision of trade equipment for youths, women, and seven retirees in the Inyamaltu/Deba area of Gombe State.

The budget also provides for ₦70 million to be used in supplying mini pick-up vans, mini shuttle buses, and motorcycles to constituents in Abakaliki Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State in the South-East.

Another line item includes funding for training, sensitisation, advocacy, and youth empowerment programmes targeted at drug abuse in Zamfara State, located in the North-West.

Similar constituency-based projects appear in other parts of the budget under the ministry.

Nevertheless, the presence of these empowerment and social intervention projects under the Ministry of Works has raised concerns about the core mandate of the ministry, which is primarily responsible for road construction, rehabilitation, and other federal infrastructure.

 

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Headlines

Detained AAU students regain freedom

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Students of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, who were arrested and remanded at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre over a recent protest, have been released alongside other detainees.

The release was confirmed in a statement released on Thursday by the Chief Press Secretary to Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, Patrick Ebojele.

The students were among 52 persons remanded by a Benin High Court on charges bordering on malicious damage and armed robbery.

They were arrested after a peaceful protest against insecurity in Ekpoma last Saturday turned violent.

Hoodlums reportedly hijacked the protest, attacking traders, setting tyres ablaze and blocking roads, scenes which were captured in viral videos on social media.

Okpebholo met with the released students and other affected persons during a stakeholders’ engagement at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Benin, where he assured them of his administration’s commitment to dialogue, reforms and the development of Ambrose Alli University.

The governor said he was deeply pained by the violence, especially given his resolve to revive the university.

The governor said, “I was highly in pain when I saw what was happening in my place. The day I was sworn in, I said I was going to revive Ambrose Alli University.

“They were paying light bills, water, printing, salaries and everything from ₦41 million, which was not enough for anything at all. But on record, one consultant was receiving ₦59 million under the last administration, while the entire university community was receiving ₦41 million.”

He added that his administration increased the subvention to ₦500m as part of efforts to reposition the institution.

He said, “Since then, it has been about how to revive the school, how to move the school forward and how to reposition it again.”

The governor also disclosed that outstanding salary and wage arrears owed to AAU staff stood at about ₦41bn, noting that plans were underway to gradually offset the debt.

He cautioned students against allowing themselves to be used by criminal elements, urging them to focus on their studies and pursue peaceful engagement.

He said, “Somebody said he is a student, and he protests. What are you protesting for? Don’t allow yourself to be used. Read your books so that you can be like us.”

 

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Headlines

BREAKING: Budget Office reacts to Alleged NEDC Secret ‘N246 Billion Salary Account’

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Budget Office of the Federation has dismissed claims making the rounds that the North East Development Commission (NEDC) operates a ₦246 billion salary budget, describing the allegation as false, misleading and based on a poor understanding of the Federal Government’s budgeting structure.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Director General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, the agency said the figure being referenced publicly does not represent a salaries-only allocation, but a statutory lump-sum provision captured under approved budget preparation procedures.

The statement was dated January 15, 2026.

According to the Budget Office, the ₦246.77 billion recorded against the NEDC in the federal budget is a consolidated figure that is sometimes uploaded at aggregate level for statutory and quasi-statutory institutions under the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

It added that the claim suggesting ₦244 billion of that amount is dedicated solely to personnel cost is “factually incorrect.”

The Office explained that in some cases, when agencies have not submitted detailed internal economic breakdowns at the time budget entries are uploaded, the total allocation may temporarily appear under personnel cost as a technical placeholder.

It said this is a recognised convention during budget preparation and does not reflect the final spending structure or intent.

“This technical presentation must not be confused with spending intent,” the Budget Office stated.

Addressing public commentary that only ₦2.70 billion was set aside for capital projects, the Budget Office attributed the figure to legislative adjustments made by the National Assembly, which reportedly restructured capital votes in the 2025 budget and rolled over about 70 per cent into the 2026 fiscal year.

It said the adjustment was a decision tied to appropriation timing and sequencing, and should not be interpreted to mean the absence of development projects.

The agency insisted that project schedules attached to budget documents clearly show multiple ongoing interventions in the North East, including agricultural support programmes, food security efforts, orphanage construction and rehabilitation, reconstruction of internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, borehole projects, security logistics support, and constituency-level initiatives.

The Budget Office criticised what it called selective interpretation of a single budget line while ignoring supporting schedules, warning that such an approach misrepresents the true picture.

It also defended the existence of personnel costs within a development commission, noting that staffing funds are required for the professionals needed to deliver projects effectively, including engineers, procurement officers, project managers, monitoring teams, and financial oversight units.

“No development institution executes its mandate without institutional capacity,” the statement added.

The Budget Office further said the NEDC operates within accountability and oversight structures, including the MTEF, annual Appropriation Acts, National Assembly supervision, quarterly budget performance reporting, and statutory audits.

 

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Sports

Morocco defeat Nigeria on penalties, clinch AFCON final spot

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Hosts Morocco beat Nigeria 4-2 on penalties to reach the Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON final after their semi-final clash on Wednesday finished 0-0 at the end of extra time.

Morocco will play Senegal in Sunday’s showpiece after they defeated Egypt 1-0 in the other semi-final earlier thanks to a Sadio Mane strike.

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Africa & World

U.S. pauses visa processing for Nigeria, 74 others

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The United States government has paused visa processing for citizens of Nigeria and 74 other countries as it moves to tighten enforcement of public charge rules aimed at preventing migrants likely to depend on public benefits from entering the country.

According to a State Department memo obtained by Fox News, the pause will take effect from January 21 and will remain in place indefinitely while screening and vetting procedures for visa applicants are reviewed.

Under the directive, US consular officers have been instructed to refuse visas under existing immigration laws during the review period.

The decision affects nationals of 75 countries, including Nigeria, Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Thailand and Yemen.

The full list of affected countries has not yet been officially released by the State Department.

A State Department spokesperson said that immigration from the affected countries is being paused to prevent the entry of individuals who may rely heavily on welfare and public benefits in the United States.

The public charge rule, which has been part of US immigration law for decades, allows officials to deny visas or entry to individuals considered likely to depend primarily on government assistance. Its enforcement has differed across administrations, with wide discretion given to consular officers.

Officials said exemptions from the pause would be very limited and granted only to applicants who clearly meet public charge requirements after further review.

 

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Sports

Burkina Faso sack coach Traore after AFCON exit

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Burkina Faso sacked their coach Brama Traore and all of his staff on Wednesday following their exit of the African Cup of Nations at the hands of bitter rivals Ivory Coast.

“The decision was taken after results well below what was expected of our national team at the continental tournament,” the Burkina Faso football federation leader Oumarou Sawadogo said.

Sawadogo spoke of “bitter disappointment” and an objective of reaching at least the semi-finals.

Burkina Faso, who also failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup, were beaten 3-0 by neighbouring Ivory Coast, who were defending champions, in Marrakesh last Monday.

Manchester United winger Amad Diallo struck the opening goal and created the second for Yan Diomande before half-time. Substitute Bazoumana Toure completed the scoring.

Burkina Fasio did beat both Sudan and Equatorial Guinea in the group phase but also lost to Algeria.

Traore, 63, took up the job in March 2024 replacing Frenchman Hubert Velud, who was sacked after a last-16 exit at the previous AFCON.

 

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Headlines

Kano govt suspends doctors who left scissors in patient’s stomach

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Kano State Hospitals Management Board has admitted that the death of Aishatu Umar, a mother of five, was caused by medical negligence at the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre in Kano.

In a statement, its Public Relations Officer, Samira Suleiman, said preliminary investigation ordered by the Executive Secretary, Dr. Mansur Mudi Nagoda, confirmed that surgical scissors were left inside the patient’s body after a procedure.

The Board announced the immediate suspension of three personnel directly involved in the case from clinical duties.

It also referred the matter to the Kano State Medical Ethics Committee for further investigation and disciplinary measures in line with professional standards and the law.

“The Board extends its deepest condolences to the family of the late Aishatu Umar and sympathizes with them over this painful loss. We reassure the public that negligence will not be condoned in any form,” the statement read.

Daily Trust had earlier reported how Aishatu Umar died after doctors allegedly abandoned surgical scissors in her stomach following an operation at the government-owned Urology Centre in Kano.

Her husband, Abubakar Muhammad, narrated that his wife suffered severe complications after the surgery, which eventually led to her death despite repeated complaints to the hospital.

The incident sparked outrage among residents and raised concerns about poor oversight and accountability in public health facilities.

Many Nigerians also took to social media to demand justice for the deceased and reforms in the healthcare system.

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Uncategorized

God told me not to collect offerings, says Isaac Oyedepo

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Pastor Isaac Oyedepo, founder of the Isaac Oyedepo Evangelistic Ministries has announced that his ministry will begin holding Sunday services in Abuja and, in line with God’s instruction, will not collect offerings.

Church Times on Tuesday reported that he made this known in an online message it monitored.

In the video, which was posted on Sunday, January 11, Oyedepo emphasised that the ministry’s primary focus is discipleship and equipping people to follow Jesus, rather than traditional financial practices.

Addressing the financial aspect of the ministry, Oyedepo clarified that “God gave him specific instructions not to collect offerings.”

While he maintained that there is nothing inherently wrong with the practice in other ministries, he “noted that for this specific assignment, his focus must remain solely on the spiritual development of the people.”

The announcement coincided with the launch of the ministry’s Sunday Services, which are scheduled to hold weekly in Abuja.

During the broadcast, Oyedepo explained that his approach is modeled after the early ministry of Jesus Christ.

All Jesus did during his early ministry was to make disciples; the fire fell, and they were filled and refilled. Before He left, He commanded us to do the same,” he stated.

He further stressed that spiritual growth requires a “consistent journey” through the Word of God, questioning, “How healthy would our churches be if people were truly deep in the Scriptures?”

This move followed years of dedicated service at Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), the global ministry founded by his father, Bishop David Oyedepo.

 

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