The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, has opened the 2027 Budget Retreat in Obudu, pledging a thorough legislative review of the proposed budget to ensure prudent resource allocation and effective service delivery.

The retreat, themed “Consolidation and Renewed Hope,” is being held at Centurion Hotel, Obudu.

Ayambem said the retreat would enable lawmakers to critically examine the 2027 Appropriation Bill, assess government spending priorities and ensure that proposed expenditures reflect the needs and aspirations of the people.

He identified agriculture, healthcare, education, infrastructure and human capital development as key sectors requiring adequate attention in the budget.

The Speaker reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to a comprehensive and timely review of the budget estimates, emphasising the need for fiscal responsibility, transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.

He commended Governor Bassey Otu for maintaining a constructive relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government, noting that cooperation between both institutions was essential for effective governance.

Ayambem described the annual budget retreat, sustained by the 10th Assembly for four consecutive years, as evidence of the legislature’s commitment to strengthening budgetary oversight and improving its engagement with the state’s fiscal plans.

He expressed optimism that the deliberations would produce a responsive and people-centred budget that advances the gains of Governor Otu’s People First Administration, promotes sustainable development and translates government policies into tangible improvements in the lives of Cross River residents.

Matthew Okache
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker
October 28, 2026

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed N70,000 transport allowance for workers, demanding an immediate upward review of salaries to N300,000 for the lowest-paid federal employee.
The labour union insisted that temporary financial interventions could no longer address the worsening economic hardship confronting Nigerian workers, particularly amid rising inflation and the increasing cost of essential goods and services.
In a statement jointly signed by its President-General, Comrade Festus Osifo, and Secretary-General, Comrade N. A. Toro, the TUC maintained that the Federal Government must prioritise a substantial salary increase rather than rely on transport allowances as a short-term relief measure.
The congress disclosed that it had formally communicated its position to the government in a letter dated October 8, 2026, following deliberations at its National Administrative Council meeting in Abuja.
It explained that subsequent discussions with government representatives, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, had failed to produce a satisfactory resolution.
According to the TUC, there is no legal restriction preventing the government from increasing workers’ salaries ahead of negotiations for a new national minimum wage.
It consequently proposed raising the earnings of the lowest-paid federal worker from N70,000 to N300,000, with corresponding adjustments across other salary grades.
The union cited several state governments that had already increased their minimum wages beyond N100,000, arguing that the Federal Government had no justification for delaying an upward salary review.
“Negotiations of a new national minimum wage must not become an excuse for postponing urgent pay increment,” the congress declared.
The TUC also expressed dissatisfaction over what it described as the government’s failure to fully implement the N40,000 wage award agreed upon with organised labour on October 2, 2023.
It alleged that while some workers had experienced payment delays of between one and two months, others had yet to receive the award.
The congress further claimed that more than 80 per cent of states, as well as the informal sector, had not implemented any form of wage award.
Beyond salary adjustments, the labour organisation urged governments at all levels to introduce sustainable measures aimed at reducing living costs, guaranteeing prompt payment of salaries and pensions, protecting jobs and eliminating exploitative labour practices.
It equally called for renewed investment in the productive sector to stimulate employment and improve the economic conditions of Nigerian workers.
TUC Demands Implementation of JOHESU Agreement
Meanwhile, the congress has accused the Federal Government of reneging on its agreement with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), seven months after the unions suspended their industrial action.
The TUC recalled that the agreement was reached during a conciliation meeting convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, alongside other senior government officials.
It explained that the agreement provided for the resolution of outstanding issues concerning adjustments to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
However, the congress lamented that the government had failed to implement the agreement despite JOHESU suspending its strike in good faith.
Describing the development as a breach of trust and a threat to collective bargaining, the TUC demanded immediate implementation of the agreement, adequate budgetary provisions, a definite implementation timetable and meaningful engagement with the affected unions.
“While the workers have kept their side of the bargain, the government hasn’t kept its side of the agreement,” the statement noted.
The congress warned that health workers could not be expected to continue delivering essential services indefinitely while the government failed to honour its commitments.
It pledged solidarity with JOHESU and vowed to explore all lawful and legitimate options to compel compliance.
The TUC, however, disclosed that it would await the outcome of a scheduled meeting with government representatives before deciding on further action.
It reiterated that the welfare of Nigerian workers must remain a priority, stressing that agreements freely entered into between the government and organised labour must be respected and implemented.
Clarify N70,000 allowance versus salary
Tighten the repeated TUC attribution
Strengthen the transition to JOHESU

Five persons, including four male students and a young woman, have reportedly lost their lives in a fatal road accident involving a vehicle in the convoy of Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, in Minna, the state capital.

The tragic incident occurred on Monday at Gidan Mangoro community along the Minna–Bida Road when a Hilux van attached to the governor’s convoy reportedly collided head-on with a private Peugeot 206 car.
The female victim, identified as Mrs Nafisa, was reportedly driving the Peugeot when the accident occurred. She was said to be a Programme Manager at Labspace, an NGO, and founder of Wosh Mart Service Ltd.
According to Vanguard, an eyewitness and resident of Gidan Mangoro, Abdullahi Musa, said the accident happened at approximately 11:35 a.m. while the governor and his entourage were returning from Bida.
Bago had reportedly visited the Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, to commiserate with him over the death of Sagi Nupe, Hajia Aisha.
Musa alleged that the accident resulted from wrongful overtaking by the Hilux driver, claiming that the government vehicle veered into the lane of the oncoming Peugeot.
“The accident was caused by wrongful overtaking by the Hilux in the governor’s convoy. The other car was in its lane when the Hilux rammed into it,” he said.
The four male occupants of the Peugeot were suspected to be postgraduate students of the Federal University of Technology, Minna.
A staff member of Minna General Hospital, where the victims were evacuated, disclosed that three persons died at the scene, while two others later succumbed to their injuries.
Some of the injured victims were subsequently transferred to the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Specialist Hospital for further medical attention.
A former local government chairman in Niger State, who was reportedly travelling in the Hilux, also sustained fractures to his legs but was said to be alive as of the time of the report.
Confirming the incident, the Niger State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Aishat Sa’adu, said personnel of the agency arrived at the accident scene after the victims had already been evacuated.
Similarly, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the crash, stating that investigations had commenced to establish the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
“The accident occurred this morning and we are investigating it,” Abiodun said.
The police, however, did not immediately release the identities of the deceased or officially confirm the casualty figure.
Clarify the confirmed casualty figure
Remove repeated accident attribution
Use more cautious identification language

By Chinedu Sabastine

Mainpower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL) has announced a planned power outage in Nsukka and surrounding communities from November 5 to 10, 2026, to enable the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to carry out maintenance work on equipment at its Nsukka station.

The outage, scheduled to run daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., will affect electricity supply to customers served by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), SUMAS and Orba 33kV feeders.

The announcement comes amid a current reduction in electricity supply across Enugu State, which MEDL has attributed to a drop in energy generation and low system frequency, forcing TCN to implement load shedding.

In a public notice issued on Monday, MEDL’s Head of Communications, Emeka Ezeh, said the planned maintenance was necessary to improve electricity supply in the affected areas.

“The planned outage is to enable the TCN technical team to carry out maintenance work on some equipment at the station,” Ezeh said.

He added that the exercise was aimed at improving the reliability and quality of electricity supply to customers.

The communities expected to experience interruptions include Ukopi, Opi Agu, Eha-Alumona, Orba Town, Obollo-Afor, parts of Obollo-Eke, Enugu Ezike, Ibagwa, Nkalagu Obukpa, Okpaligbo, Iheaka, Edem Ani, Agbani, Uzo-Uwani, Obimo, Nkpologu, Lejja, Nguru, Aku and Ogbede.

Other affected locations are Odim Gate, Nkpor, UNN, Nru, Ede Oballa, El Tabera Estate, Ikenga Estate, Wilson Company, Umakashi, Isiakpu, G.R.A. and Ogige Main Market, alongside surrounding communities.

MEDL apologised to customers over the anticipated inconvenience and appealed for their patience and understanding during the maintenance period.

“The exercise is necessary to facilitate essential technical work aimed at improving the reliability and quality of electricity supply to customers,” the company said.

Why electricity supply has dropped

In a separate public notice issued on Monday, the company explained that the current reduction in electricity supply across Enugu State resulted from a decline in energy generation, which had affected the stability of the power system.

MEDL said the situation had resulted in low system frequency, prompting TCN to ration available electricity through load shedding.

“The current reduction in power supply availability is due to a drop in energy generation, which has resulted in low system frequency,” the company stated.

It added that the situation had necessitated TCN’s decision to implement load shedding of the available energy.

“Consequently, the energy allocation to MEDL has been affected, limiting its ability to meet the daily service-level commitments,” the statement said.

The company, however, assured customers that it was monitoring the situation and distributing the available electricity allocation across its network.

“MEDL wishes to assure its customers that it is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to distribute the available energy allocation fairly across its network,” Ezeh said.

The company expressed optimism that normal electricity supply would soon be restored, while regretting the inconvenience caused by the reduction in supply.

It also thanked customers for their patience, understanding and continued cooperation.

Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has taken steps to address the rising cost of renting accommodation in the state by forwarding an executive bill to the State House of Assembly seeking to regulate agency and legal fees charged by property agents and lawyers.

The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Landlord and Tenant Law, Cap. 101, Revised Laws of Enugu State, 2004, with a view to protecting tenants from excessive charges while ensuring fairness and transparency in the property market.

Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uche Ugwu, disclosed this in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Monday, October 26, 2026.

Ugwu explained that the executive bill would complement an earlier legislative proposal sponsored by the member representing Nkanu East State Constituency, Hon. Anthony Okey Mbah, which had already passed first and second readings and undergone a public hearing.

According to the Speaker, the proposed amendment would introduce measures to regulate estate agents, place limits on agency and legal fees, and establish clear procedures for the collection and refund of caution fees.

The legislation also seeks to check arbitrary rent increases and minimise disagreements between landlords and tenants over property damage through joint inventories and professional valuations where necessary.

Ugwu noted that the Assembly would harmonise the proposals to produce comprehensive legislation that addresses longstanding concerns in the state’s housing sector.

“When we are done with dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s, we shall have a document that shall make tenancy-related charges more transparent and predictable, control and limit agency and legal fees, establish a formal regulatory framework for agents,” he stated.

He added that the proposed law would provide a structured mechanism for handling caution fees and refunds while creating an enabling environment for investors in the housing sector.

The development comes amid growing concerns among residents over the financial burden associated with securing rented accommodation, particularly agency commissions, legal charges and other tenancy-related payments.

The Speaker maintained that the initiative was consistent with Governor Mbah’s broader development agenda of positioning Enugu as an attractive destination for investment, business, tourism and residential living.

“According to the Governor’s vision, indeed we can make Enugu the preferred destination for business, investment, tourism and living,” Ugwu added.

The proposed amendment, when passed into law, is expected to provide a clearer legal framework governing the relationship between landlords, tenants and property agents across the state.