Category: Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (Agency Report) — The Federal Government has paid ₦18 billion in severance benefits to 2,700 former Nigeria Airways workers, more than two decades after the national carrier was liquidated.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed this on Friday at a press briefing in Abuja.

Oyedele said 2,100 beneficiaries in batches one to seven had been paid, while payments to another 600 beneficiaries in batches eight and nine were being finalised.

“Today is about much more than the payment of money, it is about people, dignity, trust, and the responsibility of government to honour legitimate obligations to its citizens.

“For more than two decades, following the liquidation of Nigeria Airways, many former employees have waited for the outstanding severance benefits.

“Today, I am pleased to inform you that following the directive of President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Government have now paid 2,100 former Nigeria Airways workers,” he said.

The minister said the payments represented ₦18 billion for 2,700 former workers, acknowledging the lengthy delay in settling the government’s obligation to the former employees.

He said the intervention formed part of efforts to address legitimate inherited obligations and place people at the centre of public finance.

According to Oyedele, the Nigeria Airways exercise involved extensive verification, including biometric capture and validation of beneficiaries’ personnel and banking information.

He said the government was also addressing cases involving outdated records, incorrect banking details and deceased beneficiaries whose families needed to complete the required processes.

“We are determined to deal with these obligations in a fair, transparent, and orderly manner.

“As we are able to secure resources subject to proper verification, we must protect public funds from fraudulent claims.

“We must ensure that genuine beneficiaries are not denied what is legitimately theirs,” he said.

Oyedele said the government’s first step was to meet obligations based on documented and verified records.

He noted that inflation had reduced the value of money over time, but said any adjustment beyond the documented obligation would require separate consideration.

The minister said benefits due to deceased beneficiaries would be paid to their next of kin, beneficiaries or estates, subject to the required legal processes.

He added that the government was providing support to affected families to enable them complete the necessary procedures and access the benefits.

Oyedele explained that payments were being made in batches because the government had chosen to pay beneficiaries whose records had been fully validated.

“Government cannot pay claims merely because individuals present themselves as beneficiaries without completing the verification process,” he said.

The minister said the government was also addressing outstanding obligations to pensioners and indigenous contractors as part of its wider fiscal reforms.

He said smaller contractors had been prioritised, with government initially paying those owed ₦50 million or less, followed by those owed ₦100 million or less.

(NAN)

LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ebonyi State for the 2027 election has said leadership should be defined by compassion, sacrifice and service to the people rather than intimidation, threats, hate speech or violence.

The candidate, Chief Executive Officer of Orient Group and President of Ultimus Holdings, who is campaigning under the slogan “ANYI GA EMEYA”, made the remarks in a statement he personally issued on Saturday titled, “Answering the Call to Serve My People.”

He said a leader should be judged by the lives touched, difficult decisions made and opportunities created to make the people happier, safer and more prosperous.

“Leadership should never be about the number of people you can intimidate, attack or harm. It should never be about hate speech, threats, provocation or inciting violence.

“True leadership is about compassion, genuine sacrifice and the courage to put your people before yourself.

“A leader is remembered not by the power he wielded, but by the lives he touched, the difficult decisions he made and the opportunities he created to make his people happier, safer and more prosperous,” he said.

Candidate recounts decision to abandon resort project to build houses for the poor

The PDP candidate said his commitment to people-centred leadership was reflected in a personal experience dating back to 2020, when he acquired several hectares of land in his hometown, Isu Achara, to build a private resort.

According to him, contractors, engineers and equipment had already been mobilised and work had commenced when he took a walk around the area and observed the difficult living conditions of many residents.

He said about 95 per cent of his neighbours were living in extremely difficult conditions, with some residing in mud houses with thatched roofs.

“I asked myself: What is the value of building a beautiful private resort when the people around me do not have decent homes to live in?

“I made a decision.

“I immediately stopped and demobilised the resort project and redirected the resources towards providing decent homes for people in the community,” he said.

He said the decision resulted in the construction and completion of more than 35 houses in Isu Achara and over 113 houses across other communities in Ebonyi State.

“For me, that is leadership.

“It is about seeing a need and responding.

“It is about sacrificing personal comfort for the welfare of others.

“It is about using what you have to improve the lives of people around you,” he said.

Candidate highlights education initiative

The candidate also said children from the affected communities had been provided access to education through initiatives under his foundation, including Ebele and Anyichuks Model Secondary School.

He described the school as a two-storey facility comprising six classrooms, ICT facilities and a laboratory.

According to him, the school was completed and commissioned in 2018 by the then Governor of Ebonyi State, Senator David Umahi, who attended the commissioning with members of his Executive Council and the Ebonyi State House of Assembly.

“These are not merely political promises.

“They are examples of what we have already done,” he said.

‘Ebonyi must come first’

The PDP candidate said his decision to contest the governorship election was guided by what he described as a commitment to put the interests of Ebonyi State above personal or political considerations.

“As I answer the call to serve my people, I am guided by one principle:

“Ebonyi must come first.

“Not me.

“Not any individual.

“Not any political party.

“EBONYI FIRST.”

He said the people of the state deserved leadership that would bring hope, opportunity, security, dignity and prosperity.

“Leadership should unite us, not divide us.

“It should build homes, schools, businesses and communities—not fear and hatred,” he said.

The candidate expressed optimism that a “New Ebonyi” could be built where children, youths, women, farmers, workers, pensioners, senior citizens and vulnerable people would have genuine opportunities to improve their lives.

“ANYI GA EMEYA.

“There is hope.

“There is possibility.

“And together, we can do it better,” he said.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has denied that the former president Olusegun Obasanjo is the financier of the NDC. 

Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, made the clarification in an interview with Ojy Okpe on Arise Television’s Morning Show, aired on September 10, 2026, monitored by our correspondent.

Responding to a question on whether former President Olusegun Obasanjo was funding the NDC, Obi said he was not aware of such funding.

“I don’t know who is funding the NDC. I don’t think so. NDC accounting to me is transparent, and I have never seen any credit and any receipt from Obasanjo.”

When asked about the status of the NDC as a political party and whether he was aware that the party was still existing by court order, Obi said: “All this is happening because the government wants to destabilize every opposition party,” he said.

On his relationship with former Vice President Atiku and why he allegedly refused to serve as a vice president to him, Obi said nobody had offered him the position and that he had never refused such an offer.

He also denied ever saying that he could not serve as vice president to anyone, explaining that any such arrangement would require discussions among the political parties and agreement on what was best for the country.

“I am a candidate. My leader, Atiku, is a candidate. Now it’s no longer me or him. It’s a discussion. It’s no longer me Peter talking. It’s not me now. We must be able to talk about things that make meaning. A genuine consensus would be between parties, not me now.”

He said any arrangement would require him to consult his stakeholders, just as Atiku would need to consult his own party and stakeholders, stressing that the decision could not be based solely on his personal position.

Obi noted that the NDC had more than 80 people contesting for Senate seats, more than 20 contesting for governorship positions and others contesting various electoral positions, saying they must all be carried along in any political arrangement.

“I respect the institution that I am coming from. I respect the decision of such an institution. I don’t operate where a leader serves as if he’s accountable to no one. I will make sure every part of the country is involved.”

‘We must agree on what we want Nigeria to be’

Obi said what he was offering Nigerians was responsive leadership rather than merely sharing political positions and resources, noting that his vision was to build a country where opportunities would be available to every Nigerian regardless of background.

“We are talking about the country. We’ll have a country where a child of nobody will be somebody without knowing anybody.”

He said such a country must be founded on unity, law and order, with leaders expected to exemplify the values they want society to uphold.

“We’ll sit down as a country and agree on what we want the country to be.”

Obi said he wanted a coalition capable of making Nigeria work, with priorities including education, job creation, tackling insecurity, educating young people, reducing infant and maternal mortality and creating employment opportunities for youths.

Obi speaks on subsidy removal

On fuel subsidy removal, Obi said the subsidy regime had been affected by corruption and criminality and maintained that any reform must address those issues.

“The subsisdy regime was enmeshed in corruption and criminality. I will remove and fight and remove that corruption and criminality.”

He said there was a need to establish whether subsidy was actually being paid and determine the true level of fuel consumption.

Obi cited Pakistan as an example, saying the country had more vehicles than Nigeria, removed subsidy and subsequently discovered that its actual fuel consumption was lower than previously measured.

He said his administration would supply crude oil to local refineries before addressing the subsidy issue.

Obi proposes agricultural investment

Obi also said his administration would develop Nigeria’s vast uncultivated land, increase agricultural production and provide subsidies and lower interest rates to support productive sectors of the economy.

He cited Indonesia, saying that although its interest rate was about 15 per cent, rates available to small and medium-sized enterprises were significantly lower to encourage productive activity.

Obi argued that Nigeria had continued to borrow heavily despite the removal of fuel subsidy and accused the Tinubu administration of using funds that should have gone into productive infrastructure for consumption and luxury.

“If there is one president the north will celebrate, it’s me. I will deal with the issue of poverty in a non-corrupt way. I will deal with their assets. Well cultivate it. We’ll ensure that we take these poor people, the alamajiri, to education; invest in health and support them.”

He said poverty in northern Nigeria was not caused solely by subsidy removal, arguing that other factors had contributed to the region’s economic difficulties.

Obi blamed the present administration for what he described as reckless management of the country’s resources.

“At times, I believe he is not in charge. If he’s in charge he will be explaining it to the people.”

He said that, if elected president, he would personally communicate with Nigerians rather than allowing others to speak on his behalf.

“If elected, nobody will talk for Peter. I will be talking to the people.”

Obi said his administration would prioritise repairing existing schools and roads instead of immediately embarking on new construction projects.

He said government must first address the decay in existing infrastructure.

“I will not build new buildings until we fix schools and existing roads.”

“We’ll fix what is existing.”

He also called on Nigerian leaders to make the country attractive enough for them and other citizens to spend their holidays at home.

“The Nigerian president should spend his vacation in Nigeria. That’s the country he leads. I will visit other countries but I will not do my holiday anywhere else.”

Obi criticised President Bola Tinubu for what he described as insufficient direct engagement with Nigerians, citing instances where the President visited places such as Jos but ended up at the airport.

He urged Tinubu to visit Benue, Kano and Jos and spend at least three days engaging with communities and seeking solutions to the killings and insecurity.

“I will go to Sokoto and spend the Sallah with the Sultan,” he said.

Obi calls for protection of national values

Obi also called on political leaders to work towards protecting the country’s value system, arguing that institutions must not be manipulated in ways that undermine democratic principles.

He said the Constitution did not permit an electoral body to be manipulated by the National Assembly in a manner that would derail the country’s value system.

“That is nonsensical. We are dealing with the issue of morality. The issues that go beyond court decision.”

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has explained his recent remark that he was “ready to die” for his vote, saying the statement was made in response to a member of the audience who expressed a similar determination at a political gathering in Port Harcourt.

Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, made the clarification in an interview with Ojy Okpe on Arise Television’s Morning Show, aired on September 10, 2026, monitored by Newpost Africa.

Responding to questions about the challenges or otherwise of securing support from northern Nigeria, Obi said his message to the region was centred on his commitment to its future and economic potential.

“I am only trying to tell them that I am committed to your future. We can make more money from agriculture than oil.”

He said the vast arable land in Niger State, for instance, could help feed the country if properly developed.

Speaking on the mistrust created by the Civil War against his Igbo speaking region, and concerns about how the history could affect his candidacy, Obi said Nigerians needed to focus on building a future based on love and unity rather than hatred.

“Yes it happened. But we must build a future based on love not on hatred. I was not involved in it. It’s time to show love. It’s time to show unity. Today, we have a president who said he doesn’t believe in Nigeria. I believe in it. I am committed to it.”

“You cannot hold what happened when I was barely three-four years against me. That was in the past.

“All these are part of our history, which we can overcome with love. You don’t dwell on yesterday. I want to build a new Nigeria that is possible.”

Responding to a question about his earlier promise to serve only one term if elected, Obi said he would not remain in office beyond the period he had committed to.

“I will not stay a day longer. You don’t need a day longer to make things happen.”

He said he made significant changes during his four years as Anambra State governor and would seek to replicate the same approach at the national level.

More on the interview later.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has updated the leadership details of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) on its website and uploaded the party’s modified logo following a judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja directing the electoral body to recognise the design.

The development follows a judgment delivered on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, by Justice J. O. Abdulmalik, which held that INEC’s refusal to permit the modification of the NDC’s colour and logo design was unconstitutional, illegal and an infringement of the party’s rights.

According to the updated information on INEC’s website, Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe is listed as the National Chairman of the NDC, with the position marked as updated “by court order.”

INEC also lists Barrister Ikenna Morgan Enekwelzu as National Secretary, Mr John Odey as National Treasurer, Hon Mainasara Abubakar Sani as National Financial Secretary and Barrister Reuben Egwuaba as National Legal Adviser.

The commission marked each of the five leadership positions as updated “by court order.”

The update follows a suit filed by the NDC against INEC, challenging the commission’s refusal to recognise and upload the party’s modified logo.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1814/2026, was heard by Justice Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

According to a report by Sahara Reporters, the court relied on provisions of the 1999 Constitution, including Sections 7, 14, 40, 221 and 222, as well as Article 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, as applicable in Nigeria.

The court specifically recognised the modified logo adopted by the NDC at its first National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on March 25, 2026.

According to the judgment, the logo is a digitally designed “Two fingers victory sign” with a blue background and the word “NDC” written in red.

Justice Abdulmalik held that INEC’s refusal to recognise the modified logo, despite the party’s alleged compliance with the requirements for its modification, amounted to an infringement of the NDC’s constitutional and statutory rights.

The judge further held that the NDC was entitled to use the modified logo, including its symbol and colours, as its official logo for political activities and elections conducted by INEC.

Justice Abdulmalik consequently ordered INEC to “forthwith approve the modified logo design of the Plaintiff, including its symbol and colours,” for use by the party “for all purposes as a political party including for all elections conducted by the Defendant in Nigeria.”

The court also declared that the modified logo adopted at the NDC’s first NEC meeting “shall be deemed as the proper official logo design of the plaintiff.”

It further ordered that the logo be used by the party for all purposes, including elections conducted by INEC.

The court also issued a perpetual injunction restraining INEC, its officers, servants and agents from stopping or interfering with the NDC’s use of the modified logo.

The judgment specifically barred the commission from interfering with the party’s use of the logo, including its “symbol and colours,” as its official logo.

NDC recounts dispute with INEC

The development comes against the background of a dispute between the NDC and INEC over the party’s logo.

NDC founder, Henry Seriake Dickson, had earlier said the party approved and forwarded its modified logo to INEC after its first NEC meeting.

Dickson said INEC initially uploaded the modified logo but later removed it and reverted to the old logo of the association under which the NDC was originally registered.

“However, without any reason communicated to us, INEC later removed the modified logo and insisted on using the old logo of the association, a position we disagreed with,” Dickson said.

He said the party waited for INEC to resolve the issue before seeking judicial intervention.

“After giving INEC sufficient time to correct the situation without any action taken, we were compelled to go to court,” he said.

Following the judgment, Dickson welcomed the decision, describing it as a victory for the party and a confirmation of its position on the logo.

“We therefore commend the judiciary for its timely intervention and welcome the judgment directing INEC to forthwith upload and utilise our modified digital logo,” he said.

He urged NDC candidates and members to immediately begin using the approved logo on campaign materials.

“We urge all candidates and party members to forthwith adopt and utilise the approved logo in all campaign materials, including banners, posters and other publicity materials,” Dickson said.

The NDC founder acknowledged that some candidates and party members might have already produced campaign materials bearing the previous logo and apologised for the inconvenience.

“We understand that some candidates and party members may have already made arrangements using the other logo, and we regret the inconvenience this may have caused,” he said.

Dickson, however, noted that both versions retained the two-finger victory sign and urged party members to transition to the version recognised by the court.

“However, both logos retain the two-finger victory sign. Candidates should now transition to the logo approved in our party’s constitution, which is the authentic party logo and, indeed, the one that is more widely recognised,” he said.

He also urged party members not to panic over the development, saying the party had experienced leaders capable of managing the situation.

“I want to assure everyone that the party has experienced and strategic leaders who understand what we are doing. Therefore, nobody should panic,” Dickson said.

He described the dispute as part of what he called “administrative machinations” faced by the party, adding that the NDC would continue to defend its position.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has explained his recent remark that he was “ready to die” for his vote, saying the statement was made in response to a member of the audience who expressed a similar determination at a political gathering in Port Harcourt.

Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, made the clarification in an interview with Ojy Okpe on Arise Television’s Morning Show, aired on September 10, 2026, and monitored by our correspondent.

He explained that someone at the political gathering had told the audience that he was prepared to die for his vote, prompting him to encourage the people by saying that he was also prepared to do the same.

Obi said his focus was on ensuring that votes cast at polling units are properly counted, recorded and transmitted.

“We must make sure that every polling unit the votes are counted, recorded properly and counted. We’ll have a dual transmission to INEC portal and to where the people will see it. This time around, we’ll make sure that in every polling unit, we must have a system that transmits to our own situation room.”

He said such a system would prevent anyone from announcing figures that did not emanate from the polling station, adding that in 2023, he and his supporters took certain things for granted by believing that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would carry out its responsibilities lawfully.

Obi alleged that the immediate past INEC chairman worked for the opposition and maintained that he won the 2023 presidential election.

“Everybody knows they (INEC) did the wrong thing,” he said.