Judgment nullifies earlier decision on National Democratic Congress status; INEC yet to issue response

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has set aside an earlier judgment that recognised the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as a registered political party in Nigeria. The ruling, delivered on Friday, brings uncertainty to the NDC’s legal standing ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.

The court’s decision follows a challenge to the previous ruling which had granted the NDC official status among Nigeria’s registered parties. The latest judgment means that, for now, the NDC cannot operate as a political party under the law. Details of the grounds for overturning the judgment were not immediately disclosed at press time.

The status of newly formed or smaller political parties has been a point of contention in Nigeria’s evolving multi-party landscape. Many stakeholders argue that clear guidelines and consistent court rulings are essential for credible elections and inclusive participation.

As at Friday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had not issued an official statement on how the court’s decision will affect future elections or ballot access for candidates under the NDC platform. No comment was available from NDC chieftains or their legal representatives regarding their next steps.

Legal experts expect further clarification from INEC and possibly an appeal from affected parties in coming weeks. The matter highlights ongoing tensions between party registration processes and judicial review, which have shaped Nigeria’s political environment since the return to democracy.

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/890924-court-overturns-judgment-recognising-ndc-as-political-party.html

Presidency says current wage no longer adequate as NLC insists workers face severe hardship under inflation

The Federal Government has announced plans to review Nigeria’s national minimum wage, acknowledging that the current ₦70,000 benchmark is no longer sufficient in light of rising inflation and cost of living pressures. The disclosure came on Thursday at the Good Governance Summit 2026 in Abuja, where Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, addressed labour leaders and policy stakeholders.

Gbajabiamila explained that the Tinubu administration introduced the ₦70,000 minimum wage in 2024 after raising it from ₦30,000 and shortening the review cycle from five years to three. However, he admitted that economic realities have since shifted dramatically. “The ₦70,000 wage, which was a milestone in 2024, must be honestly reassessed against today’s realities,” Gbajabiamila said at the summit.

This development follows sustained agitation by organised labour unions, particularly the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which argue that surging food prices and utility costs have eroded workers’ purchasing power. Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Benson Upah, said: “The truth is that ₦70,000 is not sustainable under the present economic situation. Workers are under immense pressure.” The NLC has indicated it will formally engage government on new wage negotiations ahead of the statutory 2026 review deadline.

While government has not announced any new minimum wage figure or salary increment yet, Gbajabiamila assured that organised labour would be treated as a partner rather than an adversary when formal negotiations commence. He also urged union leaders to pursue dialogue instead of confrontation in pushing their demands. Any new minimum wage must be negotiated among government, employers and labour before being transmitted to the National Assembly for approval and presidential assent.

Some state governments have already moved beyond the national benchmark: Lagos and Rivers States currently pay ₦85,000 monthly (with Lagos previously announcing plans for ₦100,000), while Imo recently adopted ₦104,000. Other states like Bayelsa, Enugu and Akwa Ibom now offer ₦80,000 minimum wage to their workers. Nonetheless, many states still struggle to pay even the existing federal minimum.

With inflation rates above 33 percent according to recent National Bureau of Statistics data and continued naira depreciation against major currencies, many Nigerian families report spending over 90 percent of monthly income on basic food needs alone. The outcome of this next minimum wage negotiation is expected to shape living standards for millions of workers across all sectors nationwide.

Source: https://www.pulse.ng/story/fg-signals-review-of-naira70000-minimum-wage-amid-rising-cost-of-living-2026062613061628191

Tokunbo Wahab admits months of poor waste collection; Sanwo-Olu orders 24-hour evacuation and revives monthly sanitation

Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has publicly apologised to residents over persistent refuse buildup across the state, acknowledging on Friday that waste collection had been “very bad” in the last three to four months. Speaking on Arise TV’s The Morning Show, Wahab said the government is taking urgent steps to address the backlog and overhaul Lagos’ waste management system.

Operational delays in recent months led to piles of uncollected refuse along major roads, street corners and drainage channels in Lagos, sparking widespread complaints from residents. Many Lagosians have taken to social media to express frustration about streets overflowing with rubbish and the public health risks associated with unattended waste. In response to the mounting outcry, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed sanitation agencies to begin round-the-clock evacuation of refuse from public spaces.

Wahab explained that the crisis stems from Lagos’ longstanding reliance on landfill dumping, which has become unsustainable as the city’s population continues to grow. He noted that major landfill sites such as Olusosun and Solous were once on the outskirts but are now surrounded by urban development. “We can’t sustain that. We don’t even have the land. If our total land mass is 0.4 percent of the country’s land mass, 3,355 square kilometres of land, it shows we must think outside the box,” Wahab said.

To permanently address these challenges, Wahab announced that Lagos is transitioning towards a circular waste economy. He highlighted ongoing investments in waste-to-energy projects, including a new biodigester facility at the Ecocircuit Centre for converting food waste into electricity and a larger plant expected to process about 4,250 tonnes of refuse daily. The commissioner added that these reforms are aimed at treating waste as a resource rather than something to discard.

The state government also revived its monthly environmental sanitation exercise in April—nearly a decade after it was suspended in 2016 following a court order. Officials say combining improved evacuation efforts with new processing facilities and regular sanitation will help tackle Lagos’ mounting refuse problem and support public health objectives moving forward.

Source: https://www.pulse.ng/story/lagos-waste-crisis-tokunbo-wahab-apologises-to-residents-over-months-of-poor-refuse-collection-2026062613235018772