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Al-Makura sacked over 7000 workers-NLC
By Abubakar LAWAL Lafia
In apparent reaction to a press statement credited to Nasarawa State Government, to the effect that Government has not sacked a single worker from the Nasarawa State Civil Service in the last four and a half years, the Nigeria Labour Congress, Nasarawa State chapter has alleged that, contrary to that , Governor, Umar Al-Makura has sacked over 7000 workers in the state since assuming office in 2011.
The NLC in a press statement, a copy of which was made available to national TRAIL in Lafia, in reaction to earlier press release by the state government aired on the state owned media claiming that no workers has been relieved of his job since inception of the Al-Makura administration, alleged that so many workers have been sacked.
According to the press release, over 7000 workers were unlawful sacked in all the 13 local Governments Areas of the state, also over 100 employees of Nasarawa Transport Services, popularly called “On The Move’, and all workers of Nigeria Newsday, a state owned newspaper as well as staff of Lafia Hotel among others.
On hids part, Governor, Umar Al-makura has reached out to the National President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Waba seeking for his intervention in ongoing strike in his state, but nationalTRAIL Learnt that the Labour leader asked him to go back and negotiate with the striking workers.
The state Chairman of NLC, Comrade Abdullahi Adeka confirmed this report , adding that they were communicated by the National Headquarters as well as government officials that they are going into another negotiation meeting later today, following the Governor’s futile trip to Abuja. Only yesterday, the Government dragged the worlers before the industrial court in Makurdi, Benue state, where they were also directed to exhaust all avenues of negotiation.
The organized labour stated in its release that, at a time many states cannot pay their workers, including Nasarawa state, it is ill advised to embark on flamboyant projects, that have no direct economic benefits to their citizens.
While drawing the attention of Government to the issue of implementation of N18, 900 minimum wage, in line with the new national minimum wage Act 2011, labour argued that it is not a gesture from the State Government, rather the right of workers, but that the nasarawa state Government has consistently refused to implement, besides the deniels of promotions and annual increment as required in public service rule 040202.
They described as a mere propaganda, that workers constitute only one percent of the total population of the state, but consume 95 percent of the statutory allocation, leaving 5 percent for other capital projects, arguing that it was fallacious and misrepresentation of facts , as workers and their dependents constitute more than 70percent of the entire population of the state.
” This”, they argue, “can be testified by the fact that the economic activities in major cities has paralyzed due to the non payment of workers January salaries in the state”.
They further debunked government position that salaries of workers is promptly paid at the end of every 30 working days, saying Government was merely fulfilling its duties, just as the federal Government remits money to her from the federation Accounts every month, from which they pay workers’ salaries.
” Since 2011 Local Government workers in the state have been collecting their salaries based calculations till date, and this is part of what is not acceptable to labour. We have warned that the payment of percentages is not lawful and any responsible government should not even contemplate”, the statement added..
This is even as the state Chairman of the organized labour , Comrade Abdullahi Adeka confirmed to our correspondent that fasting and prayers remain their option , as the state Governor is avoiding meeting with them to resolved issues that has a direct impact on workers only playing around the gallery.
nationalTRAIL authoritatively gathered that series of meetings were held between the organized Labour and Government officials , Members of the state house of assembly and Elder statesmen and Traditional Rulers with a view to a consensus but nothing meaningful come out at the end of the day.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain the status quo in a dispute over the party’s candidates emerging from the Benue State APC primaries for the 2027 general election.
The order was made on Thursday by Justice Inyang Ekwo during proceedings in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026, filed by Engr. Sesugh Akaagba and other aggrieved APC candidates from Benue State against the APC and INEC.
The plaintiffs had, through an ex parte motion filed on July 5, 2026, sought six interim reliefs, including an order restraining the APC from substituting its validly nominated candidates in Benue State through its June 29, 2026 correspondence, or any subsequent communication, to INEC, pending determination of the substantive suit.
They also sought an order compelling the APC to immediately transmit to INEC the names of candidates validly nominated during the primaries monitored by the electoral commission.
When the matter first came up on July 8, 2026, the court declined to grant the interim application immediately, directing both APC and INEC to appear and respond before any decision was taken. The matter was adjourned to July 16.
At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel representing the APC and INEC were present in court, while the plaintiffs were represented by Mohammed Ndarani, SAN, alongside his legal team.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that since issues had been joined by the parties particularly with INEC now before the court, the defendants were required by law to preserve the subject matter of the litigation pending determination of the substantive suit.
When counsel to the plaintiffs urged the court to caution APC and INEC against taking any further action that could affect the disputed list of candidates, the judge responded that it was “not a matter of advice but of law,” stressing that the defendants were bound to maintain the status quo.
The court consequently restrained APC and INEC from taking any action capable of altering the disputed list of candidates pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The defendants did not object to the restraining order.
At the commencement of proceedings, the court noted that all parties had voluntarily submitted to its jurisdiction by duly filing and exchanging their respective processes.
It held that there was no procedural or jurisdictional impediment to the expeditious determination of the substantive action, and directed that the matter be heard without further delay.
In furtherance of the objective of preserving the res and safeguarding the efficacy of the judicial process, the court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive suit, restraining any act or omission capable of prejudicing the rights of the parties or rendering the proceedings nugatory.
The court further directed that INEC be served forthwith with the originating and all consequential processes.
The effect of the subsisting order is that INEC is restrained from tampering with the existing list of candidates pending final determination of the suit, and from receiving, recognising, or acting upon any purported substituted list of National Assembly candidates from Benue State submitted by the APC.
The matter was adjourned to July 21, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and former First Lady Patience Ibifaka Jonathan recently celebrated a significant family milestone as they attended the graduation ceremony of their son, Ariara Goodluck Jonathan, at Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom.
The proud parents joined family members and well-wishers to witness Ariara receive his degree, marking the successful completion of his academic programme. The occasion was filled with joy as the Jonathan family commemorated the achievement, highlighting the importance they place on education and personal development.
The graduation ceremony attracted warm congratulatory messages from friends, associates, and admirers, who wished the graduate continued success in his future endeavours.
The Following names joined the political family of Sen. Dr. George Akume today after leaving the sinking Alia ship .
Under the leadership of Barr. Emmanuel Jime .
The are ;
Chief Nelson Alapa
Douglas pepe SAN senatorial Aspirant zone A,
Engr Peter Ashiekaa
QS Clement Beetseh
Former commissioners
Joy Luga
Ann itodo
Barr martins Shaagee
Miss Dorcas
Prof Usar Joseh
Prof Cephas Tushima
Chief Patrick Idoko
Hon Patience Akor
Hon Fred Idoko
Hon Lawrence Ekpo Onoja Jnr
Hon Andrew Abah
Hon Agbo Innocent Ikwumonu
Hon Simon Omachoko
Hon David Egboja
Dr John Garba
Among together,
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