NLC, TUC Demand New Minimum Wage as Inflation Bites

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have announced plans to begin negotiations with the Federal Government in July 2026 for a fresh minimum wage review, insisting that the current N70,000 minimum wage can no longer sustain Nigerian workers amid rising inflation and worsening economic hardship.

The labour unions disclosed their position during a joint address at the 114th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland, where they called for the introduction of a “living wage” that reflects current economic realities.

According to the unions, soaring prices of food, transportation, housing, healthcare, electricity and other essential services have significantly eroded the value of workers’ earnings since the implementation of the current wage structure in 2024.

The NLC and TUC argued that while the wage increase approved by President Bola Tinubu’s administration provided temporary relief, persistent inflation and the depreciation of the naira have left millions of workers struggling to meet their basic needs.

Nigeria’s current N70,000 minimum wage was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on July 18, 2024, following months of negotiations between organised labour, state governors and the Federal Government.

The wage law initially provided for a three-year review cycle. However, the Federal Government later adjusted the framework, making the review period every two years, effectively setting 2026 as the next review point.

In preparation for the review, labour leaders said they would formally engage the government in July 2026 to avoid the delays and disputes that characterised previous wage negotiations.

“The current Act expires early next year, and we have announced that renegotiation will commence by July 2026 to avoid the painful delays of the past,” the unions stated.

They added that organised labour would immediately write to the Federal Government to demand the commencement of discussions on a new wage framework.

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The labour centres also strongly opposed any attempt to impose taxes on minimum wage earners, describing such proposals as anti-worker and insensitive to the current economic realities.

According to the unions, taxing low-income earners would worsen poverty and deepen hardship for millions of Nigerians already battling high living costs.

“We demand nothing less than a genuine living wage that reflects today’s harsh economic realities. We also demand immediate relief measures by governments at all levels until a new minimum wage is signed into law. We reject outright any attempt to tax the minimum wage or impose further burdens on the poor,” the labour leaders said.

Beyond wage negotiations, the unions urged federal and state governments to implement emergency relief programmes to cushion the effects of inflation on workers and vulnerable citizens.

They argued that many Nigerians are facing severe financial pressure due to rising costs of transportation, education, healthcare, rent and utilities.

According to labour leaders, waiting until the completion of wage negotiations could leave workers exposed to further economic hardship.

The NLC and TUC also used the Geneva conference to highlight Nigeria’s growing security challenges, warning that insecurity is increasingly affecting workers and economic activities across the country.

The unions said persistent attacks by terrorists, bandits and kidnappers have disrupted livelihoods, displaced communities and made commuting unsafe in several parts of Nigeria.

They noted that thousands of Nigerians have reportedly been killed or displaced by violence in recent months, with the situation negatively impacting productivity and national development.

Labour leaders warned that worsening insecurity could trigger wider social and industrial tensions if urgent measures are not taken to address the crisis.

The unions further expressed concern over rising poverty and unemployment, arguing that economic reforms have yet to translate into improved living standards for ordinary Nigerians.

According to organised labour, millions of citizens continue to struggle with declining purchasing power despite government efforts aimed at stabilising the economy.

The labour leaders maintained that future wage negotiations must focus on protecting workers’ real incomes rather than simply announcing nominal salary increases that are quickly eroded by inflation.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the NLC and TUC disclosed plans to develop a charter of demands that will guide their engagement with political parties and candidates.

The charter is expected to focus on key issues including security, job creation, wage reforms, healthcare, education, social protection and respect for labour rights.

The unions said support from organised labour would be reserved for political actors willing to commit to policies that improve workers’ welfare and address Nigeria’s economic challenges.

The labour organisations also accused some state governments of interfering in union affairs and attempting to undermine democratically elected labour leadership structures.

They insisted that organised labour would resist any effort to weaken union independence, stressing that workers’ rights and collective bargaining must remain protected.

The NLC and TUC maintained that the forthcoming minimum wage negotiations will be crucial in determining whether Nigerian workers receive a wage that reflects current economic realities or continue to face declining living standards amid rising inflation.

NLC, TUC Demand New Minimum Wage as Inflation Bites

Shot by Bandits, Saved by Soldiers: Dramatic Rescue of General’s Wife in Katsina

Nigerian Army troops have rescued the wife of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, following a fierce gun battle with armed bandits in Katsina State.

The dramatic rescue came days after the woman was abducted by gunmen in Matazu Local Government Area, one of several communities in Katsina that have come under repeated attacks by bandits involved in kidnapping, cattle rustling and other violent crimes.

The operation, conducted by troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA under the military’s ongoing Operation CLEAN SWEEP III, was launched after intelligence reports pinpointed the movement of the kidnappers and their victim.

Security analyst Zagazola Makama disclosed the development in a report posted on his verified X account on Monday night, citing military sources.

According to the sources, troops tracked the kidnappers to Tunga village, where they engaged the criminals during a search-and-rescue mission. Overwhelmed by the military offensive, the bandits reportedly fled the area, abandoning their captive.

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“The bandits shot her and fled when we made contact at Tunga village. We have rescued Mrs. Abubakar. She is bleeding. We have given her first aid and are moving her for urgent medical attention,” a military source was quoted as saying.

Although injured during the encounter, Mrs. Abubakar was stabilised by military personnel and evacuated for urgent medical treatment.

The rescue is being viewed as a significant breakthrough in the fight against banditry in the North-West, particularly in Katsina State, which has remained one of the epicentres of the security crisis despite sustained military operations.

Maj.-Gen. Abubakar, who served as Director of Defence Information between 2015 and 2018, was the military’s chief spokesman during some of Nigeria’s most challenging security operations. His wife’s abduction had heightened concerns about the growing audacity of criminal gangs operating across the region.

In recent months, troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA have intensified offensives against bandit enclaves in Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and parts of Kebbi States, leading to the rescue of several kidnapped victims and the neutralisation of scores of armed criminals.

Military authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the latest operation, but security sources described the rescue as a major success in ongoing efforts to restore security across the North-West.

Shot by Bandits, Saved by Soldiers: Dramatic Rescue of General’s Wife in Katsina

DHQ Launches Fresh Offensive in Katsina to Hunt Killers of Retired General Rabe

KATSINA, Nigeria — The Defence Headquarters Joint Task Force North West has launched a fresh military offensive code-named Operation Clean Sweep III in Katsina State, aimed at hunting down and eliminating the bandits and terrorists responsible for the abduction and subsequent death in captivity of the former Defence Spokesperson, retired Major General Rabe Abubakar.

A statement released on Monday by Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North West) under Operation Fansan Yamma, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, said the offensive, which kicked off on Sunday, June 14, 2026, focuses on the Matazu Local Government Area and adjoining communities where the criminal networks operate. The operation was launched in direct response to the incident that led to the retired general’s death, with the military stating that the offensive is aimed at locating and neutralizing the perpetrators of the “heinous act,” dismantling criminal networks, and restoring security within the affected communities.

General Rabe and his wife, Hajiya Amina Abubakar, were abducted by suspected terrorists on May 30, 2026, along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Matazu LGA. The retired general was traveling with his driver and wife to Katsina for a wedding ceremony when the terrorists emerged near a village called Zakin Baure, blocked the road, and opened fire on his vehicle, a red-coloured Peugeot 406 car. The driver escaped with gunshot injuries and was later admitted to a hospital.

While the retired general died while being held in the kidnappers’ den and was buried on June 13, his wife is believed to still remain in the hands of the captors. The late senior military officer was laid to rest on Sunday at about 6:00 p.m. at the Gidan Dawa Cemetery, located opposite his residence in Katsina metropolis, following funeral prayers attended by a large crowd of mourners.

The military confirmed that troops have already recorded notable successes since the operations commenced. To crush the criminal syndicates, fighting patrols, intelligence-led raids, cordon-and-search operations, and thorough clearance missions have been deployed across all suspected terrorist enclaves within the Joint Operations Area.

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The Defence Headquarters revealed that breakthroughs have already been achieved in the Dikkawa Hills general area, as well as surrounding communities including Adua, Nasarawa, and Karaduwa. During these intensive operations, troops successfully searched and combed several criminal enclaves, discovering and completely destroying the terrorists’ life-support structures, operational logistics bases, and camps. The JTF emphasized that the destruction of these hubs has severely degraded the criminals’ ability to launch attacks or operate freely within Katsina State.

The military said the offensive is being conducted in collaboration with sister services, other security agencies, and local stakeholders, whose support has contributed to ongoing efforts to improve security in the state. The Theatre Command reassured residents of Matazu and surrounding communities of its commitment to protecting law-abiding citizens and denying terrorists and bandits freedom of movement within the region.

The Theatre Command also urged members of the public to continue providing credible and timely information that could assist security agencies in tracking and apprehending criminal elements, assuring that all information received would be treated confidentially. The command added that troops would sustain pressure on terrorists and bandits until the objectives of Operation Clean Sweep III are fully achieved, with further updates to be provided as the operation progresses.

General Rabe, who served as the Director of Defence Information at Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters between 2015 and 2017, had a high-profile role as military spokesman. The military paid tribute to the major general, describing the loss as “tragic” and noting that he made “immense contributions to counter-insurgency operations.” According to local media reports, he was 61 when he died.

The abduction and death of Abubakar highlight the continuing security challenges facing parts of north-west Nigeria, where criminal gangs known locally as “bandits” frequently carry out kidnappings for ransom, as well as cattle rustling and attacks on rural communities. Katsina has been one of the states most affected by the violence.

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Some local government areas in Katsina, including Jibia, Batsari, Kurfi, Safana, Danmusa, Matazu, Musawa, Kankara, Faskari, Malumfashi, and Bakori, had previously agreed to establish peace accords with terrorists in their areas. However, while some of these areas have seen relative calm, the situation in Matazu, Bakori, Musawa, Kankia, and Malumfashi has only deteriorated. The Marabar Musawa–Musawa–Matazu–Kafin Soli road where the general was abducted became volatile after the peace deal broke.

Even before the May 30 abduction, there were several cases of abduction on the road as well as attacks on communities and towns in the area. According to reports, Muhammadu Fulani, the terrorists’ leader in the Matazu-Musawa area, accused the state government of arresting three of his men and seizing his livestock. The abductors had demanded the release of detained bandits and the return of confiscated livestock as conditions for his freedom.

On June 6, the terrorists released a video clip of the couple begging for the government to rescue them. The wife, who spoke, asked the government to facilitate the release of some three terrorists arrested by security agents in exchange for the couple’s freedom. On June 8, the terror group leader, Muhammadu Fulani, said he would not release the wife of the general as promised, after the government dispatched security agents to the area to fight him.

On June 12, a special prayer session was organised at the Sa’ad Bin Abi Waqqas Mosque in Barhim Estate, Katsina city, at 5 p.m. Several relatives and friends attended the prayer session, where the Imam called on the government to ensure the safe return of Rabe, his wife, and all abducted victims. On the morning of June 13, a WhatsApp message began circulating, especially in Katsina, saying the general had died Friday night, June 12.

On Saturday, the Katsina State Government confirmed Abubakar’s death, with Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs Nasiru Mu’azu stating that he “died a natural death from complications of diabetes and hypertension.” However, family members and other sources countered the claim, saying the late major general had no history of diabetes. They maintained that he died after being bitten by a snake while being held captive by the kidnappers.

Speaking in an interview with Deutsche Welle (DW), Isyaku Rabe, the deceased’s son, described the government’s account as inaccurate, insisting that his father had no known history of either diabetes or high blood pressure before his abduction. “Our father was not diabetic or hypertensive,” he said. The family also dismissed reports circulating on social media suggesting that the late general’s wife had regained her freedom. According to Isyaku, his mother remains in captivity, contrary to some sources who claimed she was released alongside her husband’s remains.

Recounting the family’s ordeal, Khadija Rabe Abubakar, the general’s daughter, said they initially believed their parents would be rescued alive. “When we heard the news of our father’s death, we were shocked and heartbroken because we had hoped they would be rescued alive and unharmed, based on assurances from many quarters,” she said. “We buried our father without our mother by our side. That pain is indescribable. Every day she remains in captivity deepens our trauma.”

DHQ Launches Fresh Offensive in Katsina to Hunt Killers of Retired General Rabe