News
Soludo Announces N70,000 Minimum Wage For Anambra Workers
By our reporter
The perceived rumors of face off between Gov Charles Soludo of Anambra state and the civil servants was put paid to following the agreement among the duo of government and the organized labour that workers would be paid N 70,000.00 as minimum wage.
In the same vein pensioners in the state are to be paid the sum of N10,000.00 non taxable award monthly by the state government.
A break down of the minimum wage sum indicates that after all deductions the gross salary can range from N78,000.00 to N84,000.00.
This agreement was reached at about 11 am at the Governor”s lodge Amawbia were fifty six heads of labour Unions met with Gov Charles Soludo over the welfare of workers and Pensioners.
Recall that during the last Workers day this year the Deputy Governor Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim who represented Gov Charles Soludo had announced that the governor has set up a joint committee made up of the heads of the organized labour and government to work out the ratio for the welfare of workers including minimum wage.
Stories however went to town that Gov Charles Soludo’s absence at the 2024 Workers Day was a deliberate ploy to avoid workers and sent his Deputy which almost ended up in crisis when Ibezim made the announcement about the labour, government parley.
According to Soludo shortly after the meeting;
“This evening I held the final meeting with the State Committee on Implementation of Minimum Wage— including 56 leaders of the organized labour”
” We approved the proposal by organized labour to ensure that the Minimum Take-Home for a worker (after all deductions, including tax and Union dues) is at least N70,000 per month ( the gross salary could range from N78,000 to N84,000)”
“We care deeply for the welfare of our workers including the new 8,115 teachers and other 3,300 workers employed since we assumed office barely 30 months ago”
“In addition, we considered the plight of our pensioners”
“We also approved a monthly, non-taxable cash award of N10,000 to our pensioners (in addition to their monthly pension)’
Reacting to this development the Anambra state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu who was at the meeting said that it was a cheering moment.
“It was a cheering moment for the Labour Leaders at Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia this night when against all odds ,Governor of Anambra State, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo announced his approval for immediate payment of the new Minimum wage”
“According to Soludo, the least paid worker in Anambra State is to go home with nothing less than N70,000, even as, it could be more ranging between N78,000 to N84,000, depending on the outcome of the tabulation by the government team”
“This is coming as Governor Soludo announced a monthly cash award of N10,000 to all Pensioners in the state, until a time the Pension salary shall be reviewed. This interim cash award ,he said was necessitated on his goodwill and empathy on the situation of the pensioners who nobody remembers in all the noise about new Minimum wage”
“The Organized Labour leaders were led by Chairman Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Humphrey Emeka Nwafor and Trade Union Congress Chairman, Comrade Chris Ogbonna. The Chairman, Anambra JNC, Comrade Edith Onwuka was there too”
“Almost all the unions were represented by their labour leaders including the NUJ, JUSUN NULGE, NUT ,NUP , to mention but a few, even as Government team had the SSG, Head of Service, Auditor General of the State, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Commissioner for Finance and Chief of Staff among others’
“While assuring the Organized Labour that his government is committed for a better secured Anambra, Prof Soludo announced that the state in days to come shall take delivery of hundreds of security vehicles for the vigilant groups and other security agencies even as other security measures are being negotiated”
“He urged workers to think positively about Contributory Pension scheme to save themselves of Pension agonies, adding that the earlier the state workers return to Contributory Pension scheme, the better for them’
“For the NLC Chairman, the Governor made the negotiations easier by the approvals and thanked him for being worker friendly, even as he requested him to always do more for Anambra workers as a father” he said.
By Okey Maduforo Awka
Six members of the Indigenous People Of Biafra IPOB have been declared wanted by the Nigerian Police .
The six persons led by Mr Chukwuebuka Ohaechesi, include Emma Okonkwo, Jude Uwa, Gentle Okoro, Uchenna Dike, and Emmanuel Nwankwo who are said to be at large.
The were said to have fled to neighboring states in the South East hence signaling the other four Police Commands in the geopolitical zone to assist in the manhunt for them
The Police accused them of executing protests against the detaintion of the leader of IPOB Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is currently serving jail terms in Sokoto Correction Center.
According to a statement issued by the Abia Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASP Eguavon Omokaro, the individuals are suspected members of IPOB who have allegedly participated in protests at various times and locations within the state.
The statement alleged that the protests were organised in connection with the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and demands for justice through the judicial process.
The Police Command further stated that these protests have allegedly resulted in breaches of peace and disruptions to law and order in Abia State. Consequently, the Police Intelligence Department reportedly concluded that the named individuals were among the principal organisers and coordinators of the demonstrations.
The statement further alleged that; ;
“It should be noted that on every 30th day of May, these men and their cohorts convene for the so-called remembrance of Biafra, holding clandestine meetings at various locations in the name of the emancipation of the Biafran Republic and the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
According to the police, the six individuals were invited on several occasions for questioning in relation to the allegations against them.
The statement indicated that the first invitation was issued on 18 December 2025, followed by a second invitation on 7 February 2026, and a third invitation on 3 March 2026.
The police alleged that the individuals failed to honour all three invitations.
The statement further asserted:
“These individuals were invited by the police on several occasions. Firstly, on 18 December 2025, they failed to honour the invitation. Again, they were invited on 7th February 2026 and failed to appear. Finally, they were invited on 3 March 2026, and they also failed to present themselves before the police.” It stated.
As a result, the Abia State Police Command announced that all six individuals had been formally declared wanted.
The police appealed to members of the public to provide any reliable information that could lead to their arrest and prosecution, stating that informants would be suitably rewarded.
The declaration of the six individuals as wanted persons is linked to allegations of their participation in pro-Biafra activities, demonstrations concerning the detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and their alleged association with IPOB, an organisation that has been the subject of extensive scrutiny and security operations by Nigerian authorities.
In a statement shared on social media, VeryDarkMan argued that Wike may not fully understand the pain and trauma experienced by parents of abducted children and affected teachers. He claimed that the minister’s children were educated abroad, away from the security challenges facing many Nigerian families.Nigerian entertainment news
The activist stated that insecurity, kidnapping, and attacks on schools remain serious national concerns and should not be dismissed or reduced to political issues. He stressed that the fears and frustrations of parents whose children face security threats deserve greater attention from public officials.
VeryDarkMan further warned that political power is temporary, urging leaders to remain accountable to the people and sensitive to the challenges confronting ordinary Nigerians.
DSS Detains Novelist Okey Ndibe at Lagos Airport, Awaits Clearance from Abuja
Renowned Nigerian novelist, journalist, and academic, Okey Ndibe, was reportedly detained by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) upon his arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Monday morning.
Ndibe disclosed his situation in a message sent while in custody, stating: “I’ve been with the SSS now for more than an hour. They’re waiting for clearance from some oga before they let me go.”
According to sources close to the writer, his detention follows a pattern that dates back to previous administrations, including that of former President Goodluck Jonathan, during which he was frequently stopped and questioned over his critical commentaries on Nigerian governance and public affairs.
However, associates noted that Ndibe has largely stepped away from active commentary in Nigerian media over the past two years, focusing instead on writing books and his academic responsibilities at University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he teaches.
A close friend of the author and former Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba, said similar incidents had occurred several times in the past. He explained that airport DSS officials typically contacted their superiors in Abuja before eventually releasing Ndibe.
“It is a pity that this agency doesn’t update its database to enable officers on duty at the airport to know that the agency no longer regards Prof. Ndibe as a security threat to the administration,” Adinuba said.
He added that on previous occasions, the DSS had apologized to the respected author after determining that his detention was unwarranted.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the DSS regarding the circumstances surrounding Ndibe’s latest detention. The development has raised renewed concerns about the treatment of government critics and the continued use of security watchlists affecting returning Nigerians.
Hegseth made the disclosure during a press conference at the White House on Wednesday, where he said the directive was issued about a year ago after Trump became aware of attacks against Christians in Nigeria.
He explained that the operation involved behind-the-scenes coordination and deployment of military assets, adding that intelligence gathered during the mission contributed to the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as ISIS’s second-in-command, during a joint operation involving U.S. and Nigerian forces in the Lake Chad Basin.
“Maybe a year ago, he heard the call of Nigerian Christians who were being targeted and killed by ISIS in Nigeria, and he said, ‘Pete, I want the War Department to focus on ensuring that we do everything we can to protect those Christians,’” Hegseth said.
According to him, the operation yielded significant results in the fight against terrorism in the region.
“And we got the assets there, and over the last month, and there hasn’t been much coverage of this, we killed ISIS number two in Nigeria, who’s most responsible for killing Christians and trying to target the U.S. homeland,” he stated.
Hegseth added that working on the Intel gathered, they have killed hundreds of ISIS members who were targeting and killing Christians in Nigeria.
The U.S. defence chief described the operation as part of the Trump administration’s broader commitment to counterterrorism efforts and the protection of vulnerable communities.
“So there are a lot of things we do that the media pays attention to, and a lot of things that the President empowers the Department to do on behalf of the American people that he deserves great credit for,” Hegseth stated.
ISIS second in command, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was killed in a coordinated U.S.-Nigeria military operation in northeast Nigeria earlier this month.
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