WAFFI TV | Feature

Resident Doctors Call Off Strike

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended the warning strike it embarked on two days ago. NARD President, Tope Osundara, confirmed the development on Sunday, stating that members were directed to resume duties without delay, The Cable reports. “The strike has been suspended. Some of our demands have been met. The government has promised to look into other issues. “We did this as a sign of goodwill and to assist Nigerians who are seeking healthcare in our various facilities,” Osundara said. Osundara said the resident doctors will review the federal government’s response to their remaining demands. According to him, the demands “not yet seeking immediate attention” include unpaid arrears and the downgrading of membership certificates from the West African Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. He further highlighted other demands, including addressing the shortage of manpower and the prompt release of the revised remuneration circular for doctors by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC). WAFFI TV recalls that the doctors declared a five-day warning strike on Friday, which disrupted activities in federal hospitals nationwide.

9/14/2025, 11:51:53 AM

Emergency Rule: Tinubu’s Mandate Fulfilled In Rivers~ Sole Administrator, Ibas

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has declared that President Bola Tinubu’s mandate has been successfully implemented in the state. Ibas made the remark on Friday at the Government House in Port Harcourt while presenting the report of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) on the recently concluded local government elections. He noted that Tinubu’s directive to restore order, re-establish democratic institutions, and stabilise the state had been clear and has now been fulfilled. “With the peaceful conduct of local government elections and the swearing-in of elected chairmen and councillors across all 23 LGAs, I can confidently say the mandate has been achieved,” Ibas said. On March 18, 2025, Tinubu had declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State to prevent the outbreak of a political crisis. The declaration led to the suspension of Governor Sim Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the state’s National Assembly.

9/13/2025, 7:11:28 AM

NUPENG Threatens To Resume Strike, Accuses Dangote Refinery Of Breaching Agreement

Less than 48 hours after suspending its strike, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has accused the management of Dangote Refinery of violating the resolutions earlier agreed upon. In a statement jointly signed by its President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, the union warned that it could resume the suspended strike if the breach of agreement involving Dangote Refinery, the Federal Government, and NUPENG’s Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) persists. “We are by this statement placing all our members on red alert for the resumption of the suspended nationwide industrial action and calling on the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade 1 Support Our Dream Union Congress, all regional and global working people, and civil society organisations to rise in support and solidarity against this threat of the capitalist world,” NUPENG stated. The union claimed that at a meeting convened by the Department of State Services and attended by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals agreed to the unionisation of its employees. It further stated that, notwithstanding the resolution reached and signed at the office of the DSS with three on the right of unionisation of the workers, truck drivers who were NUPENG-PTD members for several years were ordered to remove the union’s stickers from their trucks yesterday. The statement partly read, “We call on the Federal Government not to allow the Navy and other security agents who are paid by the resources of this country to be used with impunity against the laws and people of this country. “Security agents should not allow an individual to ride roughshod with impunity, even while not observing terms of agreement reached in meetings in which security agents facilitated, along with ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” The union suspended its strike on Tuesday after reaching an agreement with the management of Dangote Refinery to recognise workers’ rights to unionise. The agreement was brokered during a closed-door meeting convened by the Department of State Services (DSS), with the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in attendance. NLC’s Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah, confirmed the outcome of the talks, while the Ministry of Labour disclosed that a formal statement would soon be issued. The resolution came on the heels of a conciliation meeting organised by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment on Monday, September 8, 2025, after NUPENG had threatened strike action over the company’s initial refusal to recognise workers’ union rights.

9/12/2025, 9:09:21 AM

Air Peace Crew Tested Positive For Alcohol, Drug~ Report

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has indicted an Air Peace pilot and co-pilot for operating under the influence of hard drugs and alcohol. According to accident investigators, toxicology tests conducted on the flight crew returned positive results after the aircraft they operated was involved in a runway excursion at Port Harcourt International Airport on July 13, 2025. The findings were disclosed in a preliminary report signed by the NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji. It would be recalled that on the morning of Sunday, June 13, an Air Peace Boeing 737 aircraft carrying 103 passengers veered off the runway after landing at Port Harcourt International Airport. Fortunately, no damage was recorded. A runway incursion refers to the wrongful or unauthorised presence of an aircraft on a runway. Such incidents are often attributed to miscommunication, human error, equipment failure, or runway defects. However, the NSIB report has now added pilot intoxication to the list of possible causes. The NSIB said, “The aircraft, operating as a scheduled domestic flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt with 103 persons on board, landed long on Runway 21 after an unstabilised final approach. The aircraft touched down 2,264 metres from the runway threshold and came to a final stop 209 metres into the clearway. “All passengers and crew disembarked safely, and no injuries were reported.” According to the report, the domestic flight, which took off from Lagos, experienced an unstabilised final approach before landing long on Runway 21. The NSIB revealed that the aircraft touched down 2,264 metres from the runway threshold, well beyond the recommended touchdown zone, and eventually came to a stop at 209 metres into the clearway. While all on board disembarked safely, the incident raised immediate safety concerns. The preliminary reports say toxicological test results conducted on the flight crew turned out positive. The Tests indicated the presence of alcohol in the system of the crew, while another crew member also tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active compound found in cannabis, colloquially referred to as “India hemp.” The bureau noted that these toxicology results are being assessed within the scope of human performance and safety management, both critical factors in aviation incident investigations. Following the development, the NSIB said it had issued immediate safety recommendations to the airline. The statement further reads, “Initial toxicological tests conducted on the flight crew revealed positive results for certain substances, including indicators of alcohol consumption. A cabin crew member also tested positive for THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis. These results are being reviewed under the human performance and safety management components of the investigation. “The NSIB has issued immediate safety recommendations for Air Peace Limited to strengthen crew resource management training, particularly in handling unstabilised approaches and go-around decisions, and to reinforce internal procedures for crew fitness-for-duty monitoring before flight dispatch. “Toxicological test was conducted on the flight crew at Rivers state hospital management, department of medical laboratory, Port Harcourt, on 13th July 2025, and they tested positive for some substances. Toxicological screening conducted post-incident revealed that Captain and first officer tested positive for Ethyl Glucuronide, indicating recent alcohol consumption.”

9/12/2025, 7:50:36 AM

Secondary Schools With Unqualified Teachers To Lose WAEC, NECO Accreditation~ FG Warns

The Federal Government has mandated that all secondary schools, both public and private, must ensure their teachers are properly certified or risk being barred from serving as centres for public examinations. The directive was issued in a memo on Thursday by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, to the Registrar/Chief Executive of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). According to Alausa, the policy aligns with government efforts to promote professionalism in the teaching profession. He explained that, beginning in 2027, accreditation of secondary schools for examinations such as WASSCE, NABTEB, NECO and NBIAS will be strictly tied to teachers’ registration and licensing with TRCN. “Effective from March 2027 for WASSCE, May 2027 for NABTEB, June 2027 for NECO and June 2027 for SAISSCE, any school whose teachers are not duly registered and licensed with TRCN shall be disqualified from serving as an examination centre,” the memo stated. The minister also directed state governments to take note of the policy and ensure its full implementation in both public and private schools under their jurisdictions. Schools are expected to achieve a minimum compliance rate of 75 percent by 2026 and 100 percent by 2027. To ease compliance, Alausa advised teachers who are non-education graduates but have at least 12 months of classroom experience to enrol in the National Teachers Institute (NTI). He noted that such teachers could obtain an abridged professional certification through short courses of three to six months, after which they would be eligible for TRCN registration and licensing. He urged all stakeholders to give the directive top priority and embark on wide sensitisation to prevent disruption in accreditation for national examinations.

9/12/2025, 7:42:59 AM

FG Makes Tax ID Mandatory For Opening Bank Accounts From 2026

From January 1, 2026, Nigerians and non-residents will no longer be able to open or operate bank accounts without a Tax Identification Number (Tax ID), following the enactment of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025. The law, signed by President Bola Tinubu on June 26, 2025, makes possession of a Tax ID compulsory not only for banking but also for insurance services, stock market transactions, and contracts with federal and state governments. Under the new rule, every taxable person is required to register with the relevant authority to obtain a Tax ID card. Ministries, departments, and agencies across federal, state, and local governments are equally expected to secure their own Tax IDs. The Act further empowers the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) to issue or deny Tax IDs, with a statutory obligation to communicate decisions within five working days. Analysts say the move is aimed at tightening tax compliance, expanding the revenue base, and curbing illicit financial activities. However, critics warn that the policy could impact financial inclusion, particularly for low-income earners and informal sector operators who may struggle with registration.

9/11/2025, 6:34:44 PM

FG Revokes 5% Telecom Tax On Calls, Data Services

The Federal Government has scrapped the 5% excise duty earlier imposed on telecommunications voice and data services in Nigeria. In a statement on Thursday, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) confirmed the withdrawal of the telecom tax, noting that the decision would ease cost burdens on millions of mobile phone and internet users across the country. The duty, introduced under former President Muhammadu Buhari, covered both voice calls and data subscriptions but faced widespread backlash from telecom operators, industry stakeholders, and consumer rights advocates, who warned it would worsen communication costs amid rising inflation and living expenses. Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Aminu Maida, explained that President Bola Tinubu ordered the removal of the levy during deliberations on the recently enacted Finance Act. He said the President’s directive was aimed at shielding citizens from further economic pressure while boosting Nigeria’s digital economy. “The development is expected to bring relief to over 171 million active telecom users across the country, many of whom have faced a 50% tariff increase implemented earlier this year,” the statement added. The 5% excise duty was first announced in 2022, with the justification by the government that it was part of its effort to boost revenue generation amidst dwindling oil earnings. The Ministry of Finance at the time argued that the levy was in line with global taxation practices. Telecom operators, under the umbrella of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), however, warned that the policy would be counterproductive. The ALTON noted that Nigeria already had one of the highest tax burdens on the telecommunications sector in sub-Saharan Africa. Consumer advocacy groups such as the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) also opposed the tax, stressing that it would push millions of low-income users out of digital access.

9/11/2025, 4:02:48 PM

FG Introduces Bricklaying, Plumbing, 24 Other Trades For Technical Education Curriculum

The Federal Government has launched a comprehensive reform of the nation’s technical education curriculum, introducing 26 new trade areas set to commence in the 2025/2026 academic session. According to the Ministry of Education, the revised structure is intended to align skills training with industry needs while easing curriculum overload for students in federal technical colleges. Ministry spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, disclosed that all Federal Science and Technical Colleges (FSTCs) will now be upgraded to full-fledged Federal Technical Colleges, with students required to take one trade subject alongside general courses. She added that the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, emphasized that the reform is designed to develop a technically proficient and industry-ready workforce. The 26 approved trade areas include: Brick Laying, Block Laying and Concreting Woodwork, Carpentry and Joinery Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Computer Hardware & GSM Repair and Maintenance Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Works Mechanised Agriculture (Mechanics/Operations, Smart Agriculture) Autobody Works Catering Craft Practice Solar PV Installation and Maintenance Fashion Design and Garment Making Livestock Farming/Animal Husbandry Fish Farming Activity (Aquaculture) Motorcycle & Tricycle Repairs Painting, Decoration and Finishes (Interior Design) Welding & Fabrication Auto-Electrical Wiring Automobile Mechanics Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology Creative Media (Digital Media Production) Electronic Systems Maintenance Craft Furniture Making & Upholstery Networking & System Security (Satellite TV Antenna Installation and Maintenance) Social Media Content Creation and Management Tiling & Cladding (Decorative Stonework, Floor Cover Installation) Automobile CNG Conversion and Maintenance Leather Works Alongside the trades, a new subject called Citizenship and Heritage Studies will also be introduced. The ministry said it will merge Nigerian history, civic education, and social studies to “ground students in national values” and prepare them for active citizenship.

9/11/2025, 3:36:32 PM

BREAKING: Nigerian doctors Declare 5~Day Nationwide Warning Strike

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced a five-day warning strike beginning Friday, September 12, 2025, to press home its demands. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by Agbor Affiong, General Secretary of the Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory Administration. According to the statement, the decision followed an online meeting of NARD’s National Executive Council held on Wednesday and concluded in the early hours of Thursday, September 11, 2025. “Arising from the NARD E-NEC meeting held on Wednesday, the 10th of September, 2025, which extended into the early hours of Thursday, the 11th of September, 2025, the NEC members unanimously resolved to embark on a five-day warning strike. “The strike will commence at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, 12th September 2025, and will end on Tuesday, 16th September 2025. “All centres are hereby directed to duly inform their hospital managements and continue to press home our collective demands,” the statement reads.

9/11/2025, 7:17:36 AM

How Nepal’s Gen Z Forces Government U Turn On Social Media Bill

Nepal’s streets erupted this week as thousands of young protesters, mostly from Generation Z, forced the government to roll back controversial social media restrictions after days of violent unrest that left at least 19 people dead and hundreds injured. The protests, which began online as a hashtag-driven campaign, quickly escalated into nationwide demonstrations after the government introduced sweeping measures to regulate and temporarily ban several platforms. Officials said the move was aimed at curbing misinformation and cybercrime, but many youths saw it as an attempt to silence criticism of corruption and inequality. Clashes broke out in Kathmandu and other major cities including Pokhara, Biratnagar, and Itahari. Police deployed tear gas, rubber bullets, and in some cases live rounds to disperse crowds. Protesters torched parts of the Singha Durbar government complex and targeted politicians’ residences in acts of defiance. Hospitals reported a surge in casualties as violence spread. Faced with mounting pressure, the government reversed the measures within days. The Home Affairs Minister resigned, and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, widely known as Prachanda, is under heavy pressure to step down. The army was deployed in Kathmandu and curfews imposed in several districts to restore order. For demonstrators, however, the protests were about far more than social media. Placards and speeches highlighted deep-seated frustrations over unemployment, corruption, and the widening gap between Nepal’s political elite and its struggling youth. “They tried to take away our voices online,” one protester shouted during a rally in Kathmandu. “But that only brought us to the streets.” Rights groups including Human Rights Watch condemned the use of lethal force and called for an independent investigation into the killings and mass arrests. International media outlets described the unrest as one of Nepal’s biggest youth-led movements in recent years, underlining the political power of a digitally connected generation. As calm slowly returns, many analysts warn that the rollback of the social media bill may not be enough to pacify the anger. For Nepal’s Gen Z, the protests were as much about jobs, justice, and dignity as they were about digital freedoms.

9/11/2025, 7:01:35 AM

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