Inflation, Insecurity Drive Nigerians into Worst Survival Crisis in History – NLC - Newstrends
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Inflation, Insecurity Drive Nigerians into Worst Survival Crisis in History – NLC

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LABOUR UNION
Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Joe Ajaero

Inflation, Insecurity Drive Nigerians into Worst Survival Crisis in History – NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a grim warning that Nigerian workers and the wider population are grappling with the worst survival crisis in the country’s history, driven by soaring inflation, deepening insecurity, poor wages, and the collapse of social protection systems.

The labour union said Nigerians are now worse off than workers in several African countries, including war-ravaged nations such as Somalia and Sudan, stressing that financial insecurity has become the defining reality for millions of households.

In a review of the nation’s economic and social conditions, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the current hardship surpasses the suffering experienced during the civil war era and past austerity measures, warning that daily survival has become a relentless struggle for workers.

According to Ajaero, Nigerian workers now sit “at the bottom of the ladder” compared to their African counterparts, as income from work no longer meets basic needs such as food, shelter and transportation. He noted that many workers are heavily stressed, unable to save, accumulate assets or plan for the future.

The NLC linked the crisis to the combined effects of widespread insecurity, including Boko Haram, ISWAP terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping, alongside worsening financial insecurity, which it described as both a consequence of violence and an independent driver of hardship.

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The union said Nigeria’s inflation rate, estimated at over 30 per cent in 2024, has severely eroded purchasing power, despite official claims of easing inflation by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). It added that real wages have stagnated or collapsed, with salaries failing to keep pace with rising prices.

Ajaero described the ₦70,000 national minimum wage as grossly inadequate, noting that the cost of a single bag of rice now exceeds the minimum wage, a situation he said should “prick the conscience of any responsible leader.”

The NLC further blamed the crisis on currency depreciation, which has driven up the cost of imported goods, fuel and services, as well as repeated fuel price hikes that have increased transportation and production costs across the economy.

According to the labour body, food inflation has made proper nutrition inaccessible to many families, with households spending as much as 80 per cent of their income on food. Rising unemployment and underemployment have also expanded the pool of desperate job seekers, depressing wages and fueling insecure, low-paying informal jobs.

The Congress highlighted weak social safety nets, noting that unemployment benefits, health insurance and pension coverage remain inadequate for most workers, especially those in the informal sector. Even within the formal sector, contributory pension schemes were described as insufficient due to low contributions and economic volatility.

Other pressures identified include the high cost of housing and transportation, forcing some workers to stay at their workplaces for days because they cannot afford daily commuting, as well as multiple taxation and deductions that further reduce take-home pay.

The NLC also decried rising electricity and telecommunications tariffs, highway tolls, and the burden of privately funding basic services such as power, water, security and healthcare due to failing public infrastructure.

Ajaero warned that inflation, insecurity, and poor wages have trapped Nigerian workers in a vicious cycle of financial precarity, where saving and investment are impossible and daily survival takes priority.

He called on the Federal Government to take urgent and decisive action to stabilise the economy, raise real incomes and strengthen social protections, warning that failure to act would continue to undermine workers’ well-being and Nigeria’s broader economic future.

Inflation, Insecurity Drive Nigerians into Worst Survival Crisis in History – NLC

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US Lawmakers Raise Fresh Alarm Over Alleged Christian Genocide in Nigeria

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US lawmaker Riley Moore
US lawmaker Riley Moore

US Lawmakers Raise Fresh Alarm Over Alleged Christian Genocide in Nigeria

Several United States lawmakers have raised fresh alarm over alleged Christian persecution and genocide in Nigeria, urging diplomatic intervention, policy action, and international attention to the country’s ongoing security crisis.

Republican Representative Riley Moore highlighted violence by armed groups, including Boko Haram and Fulani militias, which have displaced hundreds of thousands of Christians, particularly in Benue State. Moore described the attacks as “genocidal” and has called for stronger U.S. engagement to protect vulnerable communities.

In Congress, lawmakers have introduced resolutions condemning violence against Christians in Nigeria, with some pushing to designate the country as a “Country of Particular Concern (CPC)”, a U.S. foreign policy measure that could trigger sanctions and diplomatic pressure. Supporters argue the move is necessary to compel Nigeria to strengthen security, while critics caution that such a designation could strain U.S.–Nigeria relations.

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The Federal Government of Nigeria has dismissed the genocide narrative as propaganda and misinformation, noting that Nigeria’s security challenges affect both Christian and Muslim communities. Abuja has also hired U.S.-based lobbyists to communicate its security efforts and clarify that the violence is linked to terrorism and communal conflict, not targeted religious extermination.

Religious and civil society voices remain divided. Some emphasise the real threat to Christian communities, while others warn that framing the situation as genocide oversimplifies Nigeria’s multifaceted security challenges, which include terrorism, banditry, and communal violence.

As debate intensifies, the controversy continues to influence international perceptions, diplomatic relations, and discussions on religious freedom and security policy in Nigeria.

US Lawmakers Raise Fresh Alarm Over Alleged Christian Genocide in Nigeria

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Obasanjo Holds Secret Meeting With Babangida Amid 2027 Election Speculations

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Obasanjo Holds Secret Meeting With Babangida Amid 2027 Election Speculations

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo met privately with ex-military ruler General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida at Babangida’s residence in Minna, Niger State, in a closed-door meeting that has sparked widespread speculation about potential political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The meeting, which lasted about 30 minutes, drew attention as both leaders emerged as key elder statesmen whose counsel and influence are often sought by Nigeria’s political elite. Neither Obasanjo nor Babangida spoke to journalists after the session, and no official statement was released, fueling discussions about behind-the-scenes strategic planning and coalition-building for 2027.

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Political analysts note that such high-profile consultations are common ahead of major elections, as party leaders, former presidents, and influential figures explore alliances, policy priorities, and national governance strategies. Observers also link this meeting to recent PDP and APC elder consultations, signaling continued efforts by senior politicians to shape the electoral landscape.

The rendezvous underscores Obasanjo’s continuing role as a political kingmaker, leveraging his network and experience to influence party strategies, candidate selection, and national discourse. With the 2027 elections approaching, similar closed-door meetings among Nigeria’s top political figures are expected to intensify in the coming months.

Obasanjo Holds Secret Meeting With Babangida Amid 2027 Election Speculations

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Outrage in Borno as APC Excludes VP Shettima’s Photo at North‑East Zonal Hearing

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Vice‑President Kashim Shettima

Outrage in Borno as APC Excludes VP Shettima’s Photo at North‑East Zonal Hearing

There has been widespread anger in Borno State after the All Progressives Congress (APC) omitted Vice‑President Kashim Shettima from the official banner at the party’s North‑East zonal public hearing on constitutional amendments in Maiduguri. The banner, which featured President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the five APC governors from the region, and the party’s National Legal Adviser, conspicuously left out Shettima, a native of Borno State.

The omission prompted immediate backlash from party leaders, including Abdulkarim Lawan, Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, who described it as “provocative and unfair,” stressing that it was inappropriate to sideline a senior party official in his home state. The speaker recalled a similar controversy at an APC event in Gombe State last year, highlighting persistent sensitivities within the party’s North‑East faction.

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Attendees of the Maiduguri hearing, convened to discuss proposed constitutional amendments, expressed support for Lawan’s remarks, with loud applause and calls for the Vice‑President’s recognition. In response, the APC Deputy National Chairman dismissed the exclusion as an oversight by organisers, insisting there was no intention to diminish Shettima’s status and affirming that the hearing’s focus remained on party reforms rather than politics.

The incident comes amid speculation about internal APC dynamics ahead of the 2027 general elections, including questions around representation and leadership within the North‑East. Analysts note that repeated omissions of Shettima at high-profile events could fuel perceptions of internal rifts and affect party cohesion in the region.

Outrage in Borno as APC Excludes VP Shettima’s Photo at North‑East Zonal Hearing

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