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Workers as the Backbone of a Nation: Nigeria’s Labour Force Must Lead the Rescue Mission

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Workers as the Backbone of a Nation: Nigeria’s Labour Force Must Lead the Rescue Mission

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

“All great nations are built by workers who do their best for themselves and the country.” These compelling words by Otunba Dr. Segun Showunmi remind us of a timeless truth: no nation rises above the dedication, sweat and courage of its workers. As Nigeria commemorates Workers’ Day, it is not enough to chant praises or post hollow tributes online. The Nigerian worker must now awaken to a more pressing, revolutionary responsibility, to be the moral and political vanguard in rescuing a country teetering on the brink of collapse.

For decades, Nigerian workers have toiled under unimaginable economic pressures, living from paycheck to paycheck, many without dignity, fair wages, or basic social security. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), once potent forces of resistance against tyranny and injustice, have become shadows of their former selves and crippled by political compromise, internal corruption and systemic intimidation. It is time for a rebirth.

Nigeria: A Country in Reverse Gear
Nigeria, once touted as the “Giant of Africa,” has become a failed promise. Despite having the largest economy in Africa by GDP size, over 133 million Nigerians are classified as multi-dimensionally poor (National Bureau of Statistics, 2023). Unemployment stands at 33.3%, and inflation continues to crush the purchasing power of an already overburdened citizenry. The current minimum wage of ₦30,000 (about $20 monthly) is not only a moral embarrassment, but a statistical absurdity in the face of skyrocketing fuel, electricity, food, rent and healthcare costs.

The recent calls for a ₦70,000 minimum wage by labour unions have been largely ignored by over 20 state governments, despite the Nigerian Constitution’s directive on equitable welfare. Workers are being enslaved in their own country while politicians feast.

Yet, in the face of this adversity, Nigerian workers must remember: they are not powerless. They are the makers of nations. They are the unseen hands that build cities, schools, roads and factories. They are the intellectuals, the civil servants, the farmers, the teachers, the doctors, the engineers. They are more than voters, they are a force of transformation.

Labour Must Become a Political Weapon
To rescue Nigeria, the working class must reawaken their political consciousness. The time has come for Nigerian labour to evolve beyond protests and strikes into full electoral participation. Workers must become the builders not only of infrastructure but of democracy itself. They must demand policies, shape leadership and hold power accountable.

Thomas Sankara, the revolutionary Burkinabè leader who transformed Burkina Faso in four short years, famously said: “You cannot carry out fundamental change without a certain amount of madness… the courage to turn your back on the old formulas.” Nigerian workers must embrace such boldness. Voting every four years and returning to silence is no longer sufficient. A deliberate, organized movement of workers must be forged to disrupt the current cycle of kleptocracy and mediocrity.

Workers as Nation Builders: Historical Truths
History offers proof that great nations were built by empowered labour. In the United States, the New Deal reforms of the 1930s, which rescued America from the Great Depression, were largely driven by union pressure and workers’ demands. In South Africa, COSATU (Congress of South African Trade Unions) was pivotal in fighting apartheid alongside the ANC. In Ghana, the Trades Union Congress played a key role in resisting colonial rule.

What about Nigeria? Our own past glows with examples: the nationwide strikes led by Michael Imoudu in the 1940s energized the nationalist movement. Pa Hassan Sunmonu and Adams Oshiomhole were once symbols of principled resistance. Sadly, today’s labour leadership, rather than mobilize for systemic change, often appears co-opted by the same ruling elites that perpetuate oppression.

The Struggle of Our Heroes Past Must Not Be in Vain
The Nigerian national anthem reminds us: “The labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain.” But what do we make of that line in a country where pensions are unpaid, workers are retrenched for unionism and salaries are swallowed by inflation? If we are to honor our heroes, then we must finish the battle they began.

Ken Saro-Wiwa, the slain Niger Delta environmental activist, once said: “The Nigerian nation is at war with its people.” Today, that war continues, not with guns and tanks, but with poverty, corruption and misgovernance. Nigerian workers are under siege. It is time to fight back, not with violence, but with unity, organisation and bold political engagement.

As Amílcar Cabral of Guinea-Bissau asserted, “Tell no lies, claim no easy victories.” Nigeria’s problems are rooted in a corrupt elite who have hijacked every arm of governance; executive, legislative and even labour. The fight for a new Nigeria will be hard, but it is a fight worth waging.

Reclaiming the Soul of Nigeria through Workers’ Power
Imagine if every teacher refused to teach until state governments invested 25% of their budgets into education. Imagine if all health workers grounded the hospitals until every Nigerian had access to basic healthcare. Imagine if the NLC and TUC backed credible worker-friendly candidates and mobilized 20 million votes in the 2027 elections. Imagine if we had a working-class party, not as a fringe movement, but as a national force built from the ground up.

The 2023 elections showed that a hunger for change exists among Nigerians. Yet, the political establishment manipulated the process with impunity. The working class must therefore not only vote but guard their vote, mobilize their communities and demand electronic transparency and judicial accountability.

What Must Be Done?
Revamp Labour Leadership: Current union leaders must be held accountable. The rank-and-file should demand transparency and replace docile leaders with visionary fighters.

Form a Worker-Centric Political Front: A credible, pan-Nigerian platform must emerge from the working class. Not another ethnically hijacked party, but one with ideology, focus and inclusivity.

Invest in Civic Education: Workers must understand their rights, the Constitution and how policy affects them. Knowledge is power.

Support Economic Sovereignty: Workers must pressure the government to invest in local production, revive industries and end dependence on imported goods.

Resist Divide-and-Rule Tactics: Ethnic and religious differences must not be used to weaken worker unity. The oppressor thrives on division.

In the Words of Giants
To conclude, let us borrow from the wisdom of Nelson Mandela: “Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity; it is an act of justice.” Nigerian workers must now pursue that justice, not beg for it. Martin Luther King Jr. once declared: “The labor movement was the principal force that transformed misery and despair into hope and progress.” Let the Nigerian labour movement rise again, this time not just as a protest group, but as a nation-saving force.

Happy Workers’ Day to all Nigerian workers, may your courage light the path to a new Nigeria.

Workers as the Backbone of a Nation: Nigeria's Labour Force Must Lead the Rescue Mission
By George Omagbemi Sylvester

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Ramadan: Adron Homes Felicitates Muslims, Preaches Hope and Unity

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Ramadan: Adron Homes Felicitates Muslims, Preaches Hope and Unity

Adron Homes & Properties Limited has congratulated Muslim faithful on the commencement of the holy month of Ramadan, urging Nigerians to embrace the virtues of sacrifice, discipline, and compassion that define the season.

In a statement made available to journalists, the company described Ramadan as a period of deep reflection, spiritual renewal, and strengthened devotion to faith and humanity.

According to the management, the holy month represents values that align with the organisation’s commitment to integrity, resilience, and community development.

“Ramadan is a time that teaches patience, generosity, and selflessness. As our Muslim customers and partners begin the fast, we pray that their sacrifices are accepted and that the season brings peace, joy, and renewed hope to their homes and the nation at large,” the statement read.

The firm reaffirmed its dedication to providing affordable and accessible housing solutions to Nigerians, noting that building homes goes beyond structures to creating environments where families can thrive.

Adron Homes further urged citizens to use the period to pray for national unity, economic stability, and sustainable growth.

It wished all Muslim faithful a spiritually fulfilling Ramadan.

Ramadan Mubarak.

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Underfunding National Security: Envelope Budgeting Fails Nigeria’s Defence By George Omagbemi Sylvester

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Underfunding National Security: Envelope Budgeting Fails Nigeria’s Defence

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by saharaweeklyng.com

“Fiscal Rigidity in a Time of Crisis: Lawmakers Say Fixed Budget Ceilings Are Crippling Nigeria’s Fight Against Insurgency, Banditry, and Organized Crime.”

Nigeria’s legislature has issued a stark warning: the envelope budgeting system; a fiscal model that caps spending for ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) is inadequate to meet the country’s escalating security challenges. Lawmakers and budget analysts argue that rigid fiscal ceilings are undermining the nation’s ability to confront insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, separatist violence, oil theft and maritime insecurity.

The warning emerged during the 2026 budget defence session for the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) at the National Assembly in Abuja. Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC‑Kebbi North), chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, decried the envelope system, noting that security agencies “have been subject to the vagaries of the envelope system rather than to genuine needs and requirements.” The committee highlighted non-release or partial release of capital funds from previous budgets, which has hindered procurement, intelligence and operational capacity.

Nigeria faces a multi‑front security crisis: persistent insurgency in the North‑East, banditry and kidnappings across the North‑West and North‑Central, separatist tensions in the South‑East, and piracy affecting Niger Delta oil production. Despite declarations of a national security emergency by President Bola Tinubu, lawmakers point to a “disconnect” between rhetoric and the actual fiscal support for agencies tasked with enforcement.

Experts warn that security operations demand flexibility and rapid resource allocation. Dr. Amina Bello, a public finance specialist, said: “A static budget in a dynamic threat environment is like sending firefighters with water jugs to a forest fire. You need flexibility, not fixed ceilings, to adapt to unforeseen developments.”

The Permanent Secretary of Special Services at ONSA, Mohammed Sanusi, detailed operational consequences: irregular overhead releases, unfulfilled capital appropriations, and constrained foreign service funds. These fiscal constraints have weakened intelligence and covert units, hampering surveillance, cyber‑security, counter‑terrorism and intelligence sharing.

Delayed capital releases have stalled critical projects, including infrastructure upgrades and surveillance systems. Professor Kolawole Adeyemi, a governance expert, emphasized that “budgeting for security must allow for rapid reallocation in response to threats that move faster than political cycles. Envelope budgeting lacks this essential flexibility.”

While the National Assembly advocates fiscal discipline, lawmakers stress that security funding requires strategic responsiveness. Speaker Abbas Ibrahim underscored that security deserves “prominent and sustained attention” in the 2026 budget, balancing oversight with operational needs.

In response, the Senate committee plans to pursue reforms, including collaboration with the executive to restructure funding, explore supplementary budgets and ensure predictable and sufficient resources for security agencies. Experts warn that without reform, criminal networks will exploit these gaps, eroding public trust.

As one policy analyst summarized: “A nation declares a security emergency; but if its budget does not follow with real resources and oversight, the emergency remains rhetorical.” Nigeria’s debate over envelope budgeting is more than an accounting dispute; it is a contest over the nation’s security priorities and its commitment to safeguarding citizens.

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Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin) Celebrates as She Marks Her Birthday

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Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin) Celebrates as She Marks Her Birthday

 

Today, the world and the body of Christ rise in celebration of a rare vessel of honour, Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba, fondly known as Eritosin, as she marks her birthday.

Born a special child with a divine mark of grace, Rev. Mother Eritosin’s journey in God’s vineyard spans several decades of steadfast service, spiritual depth, and undeniable impact. Those who know her closely describe her as a prophetess with a heart of gold — a woman whose calling is not worn as a title, but lived daily through compassion, discipline, humility, and unwavering faith.

From her early days in ministry, she has touched lives across communities, offering spiritual guidance, prophetic insight, and motherly counsel. Many testify that through her prayers and teachings, they encountered God in a deeply personal and transformative way. Near and far, her influence continues to echo — not only within church walls, but in homes, families, and destinies reshaped through her mentorship.

A mother in every sense of the word, Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba embodies nurture and correction in equal measure. As a grandmother, she remains energetic in purpose — accommodating the wayward, embracing the rejected, and holding firmly to the belief that no soul is beyond redemption. Her life’s mission has remained consistent: to lead many to Christ and guide them into the light of a new beginning.

Deeply rooted within the C&S Unification, she stands tall as a spiritual pillar in the Cherubim and Seraphim Church globally. Her dedication to holiness, unity, and prophetic service has earned her widespread respect as a spiritual matriarch whose voice carries both authority and humility.

As she celebrates another year today, tributes continue to pour in from spiritual sons and daughters, church leaders, and admirers who see in her a living reflection of grace in action.

Prayer for Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin)

May the Almighty God, who called you from birth and anointed you for His service, continually strengthen you with divine health and renewed vigour.

May your oil never run dry, and may your prophetic mantle grow heavier with greater glory.

May the lives you have nurtured rise to call you blessed.

May your latter years be greater than the former, filled with peace, honour, and the visible rewards of your labour in God’s vineyard.

May heaven continually back your prayers, and may your light shine brighter across nations.

Happy Birthday to a true Mother in Israel — Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin).

More years.

More anointing.

More impact.

If you want this adapted for a newspaper page, church bulletin, Facebook post, or birthday flyer, just tell me the format and tone.

Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin) Celebrated as She Marks Her Birthday

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