NEWS

The National Public Service Negotiating Council, representing organised labour, has proposed a new monthly minimum wage of ₦154,000 for public sector employees, alongside a 120 per cent increase in salaries and allowances nationwide. The demand was conveyed in a letter dated March 12, 2026, addressed to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. In the correspondence, the council also commended the recent approval of gratuity payments for retiring workers. The letter, signed by National Chairman, Benjamin Anthony, and National Secretary, Olowoyo Gbenga, emphasized the urgency of reviewing workers’ pay. According to the council, many public servants are currently facing severe financial strain despite their critical role in sustaining government operations. I...

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called for restraint after a reported projectile strike at Iran’s only operational nuclear power plant. According to Iranian officials, the incident occurred on Tuesday evening at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. Despite the impact, authorities confirmed that there was no damage to the facility and no casualties among staff. In a statement shared online, the Vienna-based agency said it had been informed of the strike and reassured that the plant’s operations were not affected. IAEA Director-General, Rafael Grossi, warned against further escalation, stressing the importance of avoiding any situation that could trigger a nuclear accident. The Bushehr facility, located in southwestern Iran, remains the country’s only functioning nu...

President Bola Tinubu has ordered all political appointees in his administration planning to run for elective positions in the 2027 general elections to vacate their offices on or before March 31, 2026. The directive covers a wide range of officials, including ministers, ministers of state, special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants, personal aides, as well as directors-general and chief executives of federal parastatals, agencies, commissions, and government-owned enterprises. The order was conveyed through a circular from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, in line with Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, and the timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission ahead of party primaries for the 2027 polls. T...

Joe Kent, the outgoing director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, has stepped down in protest over the Trump administration’s military action against Iran, drawing a sharp response from Donald Trump. Kent announced his resignation, stating he could not support what he described as a war lacking clear justification. He argued that Iran did not pose an immediate threat to the United States and suggested the conflict may have been influenced by external pressures—claims strongly dismissed by Trump. Speaking at the White House, Trump criticised Kent, labeling him “weak on security” and insisting there was no room in his administration for officials who downplay the risks posed by Iran. “They’re not smart people, or they’re not savvy people,” Trump said. “Iran was a tremend...

The head of the National Counterterrorism Center resigned on Tuesday, becoming the first and most senior member of US President Donald Trump's administration to resign over the war in Iran, saying Tehran posed no imminent threat to the United States. "I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful lobby," Joseph Kent wrote in a letter to Trump posted on X. Some experts have said an imminent threat would be required for the United States to launch a war under current law. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence also did not immediately. Kent is close with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who has kept a lo...

Jimmy Kimmel has sharply criticised Donald Trump over threats linked to media coverage of the Iran war, escalating their long-running public feud. During a segment on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel accused Trump of targeting broadcasters through the U.S. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr. Kimmel mocked Carr, calling him Trump’s “attack schnauzer,” after Carr posted on X accusing broadcasters of spreading “hoaxes and news distortions” and warning them to “correct course before their license renewals come up.” Carr also warned that broadcasters could lose their licences if they fail to “operate in the public interest,” adding that the media has “earned itself the label of fake news.” Kimmel pushed back strongly against the claim, saying the label was not earned by ...

The Benue State Government has reported a rise in suspected cases of Lassa fever, with health authorities confirming ongoing efforts to contain the outbreak. The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Paul Ogwuche, disclosed that suspected cases have increased to 383, with 47 confirmed positive cases. He also confirmed that the total number of deaths has reached 14 since the outbreak began, although no new fatalities have been recorded in the past 11 days. Ogwuche said: “We have not recorded any mortality in the last 11 days. So far, the cumulative figure of suspected cases has moved from 251 to 383, while 47 cases are confirmed cumulatively.” Providing further details, he noted that laboratory testing over the last 11 days confirmed only six new positive cases, indicating a ...

The U.S. State Department has reduced the fee required for Americans to formally renounce their citizenship by about 80%, marking a significant policy shift after years of legal challenges. According to the U.S. State Department, the cost has dropped from $2,350 to $450. The new rule was published in the Federal Register and took immediate effect, bringing the fee back to what it was when charges were first introduced in 2010. Renouncing U.S. citizenship remains a detailed and rigorous process. Applicants must repeatedly confirm, both in writing and verbally, that they understand the consequences before taking a formal oath before a consular officer. The decision is then reviewed by the department. The fee had previously been increased in 2015 to $2,350, largely to cover a...

Argentina has formally withdrawn from the World Health Organization, its foreign minister confirmed, following a similar move earlier this year by the United States. The decision comes under the government of Javier Milei, who had announced plans to leave the WHO a year ago, criticising the organisation’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to Argentina’s Foreign Ministry, the withdrawal process has now been completed in line with international treaty timelines. Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno said: “Argentina will continue to promote international cooperation in health through bilateral agreements and regional forums, while fully preserving its sovereignty and its capacity to make decisions regarding health policies.” He added that the country intends to maintain globa...

Iran’s new supreme leader reportedly survived the Israeli strike that killed his father because he stepped outside the compound for a walk in the garden minutes before the blast. Leaked audio from a meeting about the Feb. 28 strike on Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s compound revealed that his son, the new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, was with his father in Tehran when he stepped out “to do something,” The Telegraph reported. The audio also revealed gruesome details about the strike, with Iran’s military chief blown to bits, so that all that was left to identify him was “a few kilos of flesh.” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s son-in-law was also found with his head split in two from the blow. As soon as Mojtaba was away from his father, Israel’s space-faring Blue Sparrow ballistic missil...