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WE’LL PROTECT INTERESTS OF NIGERIAN WORKERS IN CONSTITUTION REVIEW, NASS ASSURES

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Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege
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Ahead of consideration of the report of the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Constitution Review, the National Assembly has assured Nigerian workers that their interests would be protected.

This assurance was given by the Co-Chairmen, Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and Rt. Hon. Idris Wase when the adhoc panel hosted a delegation of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja, Tuesday.

Addressing the delegation led by the NLC President, Com. Ayuba Wabba, Chairman, Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution and Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Omo-Agege assured that committee members would not impose their personal views on Nigerians at the ongoing Constitution Amendment exercise.

According to him, committee members would  be guided strictly by best legislative practices, highest ethical standards, integrity, open mindedness, and patriotism in carrying out their assignments.

Omo-Agege said the desire of every Nigerian is that the ongoing process produces positive transformations to the country, adding that all hands should be on deck to enable the 9th National Assembly bequeath to the country a constitution that speaks to every citizen’s yearnings and aspirations.

His words: “Some have been making the case that there should be total devolution of anything labour not limited to just the core labour issues which is also inclusive of minimum wage.

“For some of us, our position is very clear on the issue of the minimum wage. That to me is a no-go area not out of fear but out of the case you have laid as to why that must remain in the  Exclusive Legislative List.

“Anything provided for in the Concurrent Legislative List by way of information, it is just on paper and what do I mean by that? The only way a state can make any law in respect to any of these issues is only if that area has not been covered by the Federal Government and that is the doctrine of covering the field. Once the field has been covered, no state legislature can make a law in that respect.

“To the extent it is not even covered, if they were to make any law, that law can only be in addition to it and not inconsistent with the extant federal law”.

While noting that there was no cause for alarm, he pointed out that once an area has been covered in the Exclusive List in the Constitution, no state legislature can legislate on it.

He said due to importance attached to labour, the committee thought it wise to interact with labour leaders before the final vote on the floor of both legislative chambers at the end of February.

“At the end of the day, we are looking forward to coming up with about 69 to 70 bills from several areas that require intervention. This is just one of several. But because of the importance that we attach to labour, and also given the relationship, we thought at all times we needed to carry you along,” he said.

On his part, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Idris Wase emphasised that the National Assembly is wholeheartedly committed to upholding all tenets of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions that Nigeria is signatory to.

“The committee would not do anything that would go against internationally acceptable labour practices,” he said.

Other Principal Officers who joined the Co-Chairmen to receive the labour leaders include the Senate Leader, Senator Abdullahi Yahaya; his Deputy, Senator Robert Ajayi; Deputy Senate Chief Whip, Sen. Sabi Abdullahi among others.

Earlier, NLC President, Com. Ayuba Wabba, urged the National Assembly not to transfer core labour mandates from the Exclusive to Concurrent Legislative List.

Wabba went down memory lane about the introduction of the minimum wage, noting that it would be difficult to come to the rescue of the private sector if states were allowed to fix their wages?

The labour leader said for the sake of our national interest, security and industrial harmony, Labour should not be devolved to states, adding that the reason for Nigeria’s relative industrial growth and development into investors haven are largely attributed to the willingness of the country to subject itself to international labour standards, norms and practices.

He said: “It is thoroughly harrowing to even imagine the chaotic scenario for businesses and investors to deal with 37 different set of labour laws across the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. There is certainly no deadlier death knell for the Nigerian economy and social fabrics than the suggestion and or recommendation to transfer Labour Matters from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List. It is simply what it is — an Invitation to an unprecedented industrial anarchy of unimaginable proportions.

“We demand that the recommendations of the Joint Committee to transfer all labour matters apart from the National Minimum Wage from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List be withdrawn and should be shot down if it is ever presented for debate in the chambers of the National Assembly”.

On the delegation of the NLC President are the General Secretary, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Com. Musa Lawal; NLC Deputy Presidents, Com. Joe Ajaero, Com. Muhammed Idris, Com. Najeem Yasim, Com. Amaechi Asugwuini; Vice President NLC, Com. Salamatu Aliu among others.

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Benue Lawmaker Rejects FG’s Pilot Ranching Plan, Urges Enforcement of State Anti-Open Grazing Law

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August 13, 2026

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Hon. Arc. Dr. Asema Achado, Member of the House of Representatives for Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency, has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed pilot National Ranching Programme in Benue State, urging the state government and citizens to resist any arrangement that undermines the state’s Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017. The Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha, had announced that Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Adamawa and the Federal Capital Territory were selected for the pilot phase, with rollout already commencing at the Wase Grazing Reserve in Plateau State. In a statement on Wednesday, Achado said while ranching remains a viable and modern approach to livestock production, Benue already has a comprehensive legal framework that must be respected. “Any federal intervention must respect the constitutional powers of the state and the provisions of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017,” he said. He noted that the law was enacted to protect lives and property, promote peaceful coexistence, safeguard agricultural production and encourage modern livestock management. It prohibits open grazing and uncontrolled movement of livestock while providing for the establishment and regulation of ranches. Citing the Land Use Act, 1978, and the 1999 Constitution, Achado said land management is vested in the Governor as trustee, and states have legislative competence on agriculture and land use under Part II of the Second Schedule, particularly items 17, 18 and 20. He therefore urged Governor Hyacinth Alia to “firmly protect Benue’s land, agricultural interests and existing legal regime,” stressing that “no ranching initiative should become a disguised mechanism for the acquisition or occupation of ancestral lands.” The lawmaker recalled that previous attempts to introduce similar schemes, including the RUGA initiative under the former administration, were strongly rejected by Benue people over concerns of land ownership, security and the protection of farming communities. He also cited the May 2025 positions of the Tiv and Idoma Traditional Councils calling for the removal of armed herders from the state and the protection of farming activities, warning that insecurity in Benue directly threatens food production and national food security. Achado further referenced judicial pronouncements, including Attorney-General of Benue State & Anor v. Attorney-General of the Federation & 2 Ors (FHC/MKD/CS/56/2019), as affirming the validity of the state’s anti-open grazing legislation. While rejecting the pilot as currently conceived, Achado acknowledged that the 2017 law could be strengthened. He proposed amendments to address gaps such as longer and clearer ranching lease provisions, financial and infrastructural support for low-capital livestock farmers, livestock identification and tracking mechanisms, and broader stakeholder consultation. He called on the Benue State Government to engage the Federal Government on a law-based partnership to support implementation of the state’s existing ranching framework, and to deploy federal security agencies to support enforcement pending the establishment of a State Police structure. “I reaffirm my commitment to protecting the constitutional rights, security, land and agricultural interests of the people of Benue State, while supporting sustainable and peaceful livestock production that respects the law of the State and promotes peaceful coexistence,” Achado said.

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Police Nab Lagos Pastor for Allegedly Defiling Church Member’s 2 Daughters

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August 12, 2026

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The Police Command in Lagos State has detained a pastor for allegedly defiling two daughters of a church member in the Isolo area of the state.

It was gathered that the suspect, who is the General Overseer and founder of the church, was apprehended following a petition dated July 28, by the father of the victims.

Following the petition, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Fatai Tijani, directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, to conduct a thorough investigation into the case.

A police source told NAN on Wednesday, that the case was reported through a petition dated July 28, by the victims’ father, an adherent of the church, against the suspect.

The source said the suspect allegedly began having sexual intercourse with the petitioner’s eldest daughter when she was 13 years old.

”The pastor allegedly began having sexual intercourse with her at the church when she was 13 years old, and continued until she turned 16 and gained admission into the university,” the source said.

The source added that the sexual escapades of the suspect was exposed after he allegedly sexually assaulted the petitioner’s younger daughter, aged 14, on two occasions.

“This he allegedly did through indoctrinating the naive minor with manipulative biblical injunctions, a gimmick he used on the elder sister.

”After the assaults, the younger daughter reported the suspect to her parents.

”It was after the suspect was exposed that the eldest daughter also opened up to her parents, alleging that the pastor had been having sexual intercourse with her since she was 13 years old.

“The investigation is being handled by the Gender Section of the SCID, Yaba, under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the department, Mr Dayo Akinbisehin,” he said.

The source said the suspect was subsequently apprehended and had allegedly confessed to the offences.

”The investigation is ongoing and the suspect will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation,” the source added

Source: NAN

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Osun Police Summon Senator Fadahunsi Over Alleged Threat to Accord Party Members Ahead of Guber Poll

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August 12, 2026

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The Osun State Police Command has summoned the Senator representing Osun East, Francis Fadahunsi, over a viral video in which he was allegedly heard threatening members of the Accord Party ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

The Command’s spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed on Wednesday that the lawmaker had been summoned by the Commissioner of Police in charge of the election, Samuel Etaifo.

“I can confirm that he (Fadahunsi) has been summoned by the CP. We will make a statement available regarding it,” Ojelabi said in a telephone interview.

The controversy followed two separate videos that circulated on social media on Tuesday.

In one video, Senator Fadahunsi, speaking in Yoruba at the palace of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland in Ilesa during a protest over the alleged killing of three APC members, said: “How many people have you seen the APC kill? We are here to tell you that until the day of the election, if we see any Accord member in Ilesa, we will kill them.”

In a second video, the APC candidate for Ifelodun/Boripe/Odo Otin Federal Constituency for the 2027 elections, Francis Eniade, was heard addressing a campaign rally. Speaking in Yoruba, he said: “I swear to God, anyone who is not an APC member should not come out on election day. Accord Party can’t vote in Odo-Otin. I am the one who said so.”

Reacting, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, described Senator Fadahunsi’s remarks as a “national security threat” and demanded his immediate arrest.

Addressing journalists in Osogbo, Governor Adeleke said: “The second issue has to do with the viral video of a serving Senator, Francis Fadahunsi, who today called for the killing of Accord Party leaders, supporters and their families. In the video, the Senator even threatened that where they cannot get Accord Party leaders, they should kill their wives and children.

“This is now beyond politics. This is now a national security threat that requires the attention of Mr President through the Office of the National Security Adviser.”

The governor said he had raised the matter with the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and that the IGP confirmed the existence of the video and assured him of immediate action.

Senator Fadahunsi, in a statement personally signed by him, denied making a call for indiscriminate killings and accused political opponents of manipulating the video.

He said his attention had been drawn to an edited clip being circulated by Davido on TikTok and Pelumi Olajengbesi on other platforms.

“I made reference to one Rogba, who was killed in Esa-Oke by his co-cultists. The governor had referred to the deceased as his son and was also engaged in a disagreement with a sitting member of the House of Representatives on live television,” he stated.

“My statement was very clear: if the killings do not stop, we shall also retaliate. All those being killed are Nigerians and, indeed, sons and daughters of the same communities. I stated unequivocally that if our party members are killed again, we will not simply fold our arms and watch. We will defend our people, even if such an incident occurs on election day.

“Unfortunately, Davido and Olajengbesi took less than two minutes from a speech that lasted about 24 minutes and circulated it to achieve cheap political objectives. This is a clear case of deliberate misrepresentation and manipulation.”

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