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RYNI News | Omotayo Stephen . O
6 September 2025

Few weddings can claim to have captured the imagination of the world quite like the union of Afrobeat star Mr Eazi and fashion entrepreneur Temi Otedola. In a dazzling trilogy of ceremonies that spanned Monaco, Dubai, and Iceland, the couple transformed matrimony into a globe-trotting celebration of love, culture, and unbridled luxury.

The odyssey began in Monaco, the Mediterranean jewel famed for its understated opulence. Against a backdrop of azure waters and terraced hills, Eazi and Temi exchanged vows in an intimate gathering that set the tone for what would become one of the most talked-about weddings of the decade. Temi, daughter of billionaire philanthropist Femi Otedola, captivated in a bespoke couture gown that drew as much praise as the heartfelt Yoruba-infused traditions woven into the ceremony. Mr Eazi, ever the gentleman of global stage presence, opted for a sharp ivory tuxedo that mirrored the ceremony’s blend of sophistication and sentiment.

From the Riviera, the celebration soared to new heights in Dubai, where extravagance met spectacle. Guests were ushered into a desert dream as vows were renewed beneath the glow of a setting sun, before fireworks burst across the horizon in a crescendo of brilliance. The Dubai affair pulsed with energy—complete with live performances from African and international artists, golden décor, and a guest list studded with influencers, dignitaries, and admirers of the couple’s journey. If Monaco whispered elegance, Dubai roared magnificence.

Yet it was Iceland that offered the most poignant chapter of the couple’s marital journey. In a scene almost cinematic, the pair exchanged vows under the ethereal glow of the Northern Lights. Minimalist styling and snow-draped landscapes lent an air of purity and permanence, a fitting metaphor for a union designed to withstand the test of time. Reserved for only their innermost circle, the Nordic gathering was both serene and symbolic—a breathtaking finale to a love story told across continents.

At every stop, the couple ensured their identity remained at the heart of the celebration. From Yoruba cultural elements to curated fashion statements and carefully chosen music, each detail spoke to a narrative of self-expression and intentionality. As Temi reflected, “Eazi and I have always done things our way. We honoured our culture while making sure every moment truly reflected us.”

What emerged was not just a wedding, but a global statement: a declaration that love can be as boundless as ambition, as vibrant as culture, and as enduring as tradition. In Monaco, Dubai, and Iceland, the world witnessed not simply vows, but a vision—love without borders, etched forever in memory.

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RYNI News | Omotayo Stephen . O
4 September 2025

In a gesture of unity and reverence, the Federal Government has officially declared Friday, September 5, 2025, as a public holiday in honor of Eid-el-Maulid, the celebration of the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.

This announcement was made on Tuesday through an official statement issued by Dr. Magdalene Ajani, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, on behalf of Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior.

The public holiday aims to provide Muslim faithful and all Nigerians an opportunity to reflect on the values of peace, compassion, and humility, virtues deeply associated with the life and teachings of the Prophet.

Dr. Tunji-Ojo, via the ministry’s communiqué, extended warm greetings to the Muslim community and urged citizens across the country to use the occasion not only for celebration but also for introspection and spiritual growth. He emphasized the need for all Nigerians, regardless of religious affiliation, to embody the Prophet’s teachings by promoting tolerance, harmony, and love for one another.

“As we mark this sacred occasion,” the Minister noted, “let us remember that Nigeria’s strength lies in its diversity. This celebration is a moment to reinforce our collective commitment to peace, unity, and nation-building.”

Eid-el-Maulid is a significant event on the Islamic calendar, observed by millions around the world. It offers a time to remember the Prophet’s legacy of justice, kindness, and devotion to God, while also serving as a reminder of the moral and spiritual path Muslims are encouraged to follow.

The Federal Government encourages all Nigerians to celebrate responsibly, obey public safety guidelines, and continue to support efforts that foster mutual respect and coexistence in the country.

With Friday now declared a national holiday, citizens can prepare to mark the day with prayers, communal gatherings, charitable acts, and educational events, all centered on honoring the Prophet’s memory.

Let this year’s Eid-el-Maulid be a beacon of hope and a renewed call for peace across our beloved nation.

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RYNI News | Omotayo Stephen . O
2 September 2025

Nigeria’s civil service community was thrown into mourning on Monday following the sudden death of Mrs. Grace Adayilo, the pioneering Head of the Civil Service of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the first woman to ever hold the position.

Adayilo, who only a year ago was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to lead the FCT civil service, reportedly collapsed in the early hours of September 1 and was pronounced dead at a hospital. Sources confirmed she had suffered complications linked to high blood pressure.

Until her death, Adayilo was a symbol of resilience and dedication in public service. Her appointment on October 6, 2024, marked a historic milestone, as she became both the first Head of Service for the FCT and the first female to occupy the office. Before her elevation, she served with distinction as Permanent Secretary in the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, where colleagues described her as “diligent, disciplined, and deeply committed to her duties.”

Reacting to the shocking development during a scheduled media chat in Abuja, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, could barely contain his grief. “This is really pathetic. The late FCT Head of Service was very hardworking,” he said. “I had even written to President Tinubu to extend her tenure beyond retirement because of her diligence. If I had gotten the news earlier, I would have called off this media briefing.”

The minister, visibly shaken, recounted how he was informed of her death just minutes before facing the press. “I never heard she was sick. My Chief of Staff told me she was supposed to preach in church yesterday but couldn’t because of high blood pressure. Before they got her to the hospital, it was too late. It is very unfortunate,” Wike lamented.

Her sudden passing comes only days after her last official assignment—representing Wike at a high-level G7 security meeting in Abuja. Colleagues who interacted with her at the event described her as energetic and focused, making her untimely death all the more devastating.

Beyond her official duties, Adayilo was admired as a mentor and role model, particularly for women in public administration. Her rise to the pinnacle of the FCT civil service was celebrated as a breakthrough for gender representation in leadership.

Wike announced plans to visit her family immediately after the briefing, promising that the FCT Administration would stand with them during this period of grief.

For many in Abuja and beyond, Adayilo’s death represents not just the loss of an accomplished civil servant, but the dimming of a trailblazing light whose legacy of hard work and integrity will not be forgotten.

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RYNI News | Omotayo Stephen . O
2 September 2025

A Finnish district court has delivered a seismic judgment against Nigerian-born political activist Simon Ekpa, sentencing him to six years in prison for terrorism-related crimes and other serious offences.

The verdict, handed down on Monday at the Päijät-Häme District Court, marks the climax of a high-profile trial that has gripped Finland, Nigeria, and the wider international community.

Ekpa, 40, a former municipal councillor in Lahti, was convicted on multiple counts: participating in the activities of a terrorist organisation, incitement to commit terrorist crimes, aggravated tax fraud, and breaches of the Lawyers Act. The panel of three judges ruled unanimously, ordering that he remain in custody.

According to official court documents, Ekpa’s actions spanned from August 2021 to November 2024. During this period, he actively promoted the independence of southeastern Nigeria’s so-called Biafra region through methods the court deemed illegal and violent.

The judgment revealed that Ekpa wielded social media as his primary weapon, carving out an influential political niche for himself by exploiting divisions within Nigeria’s separatist circles. “He played a significant role in transforming the movement into a more structured organisation,” the court stated.

Investigations disclosed that under his influence, armed groups classified as terrorist organisations were formed. Prosecutors argued—and the court agreed—that Ekpa supplied these groups with weapons, explosives, and ammunition via an international contact network. He also used his platform on X (formerly Twitter) to incite followers to commit crimes in Nigeria.

The case drew considerable attention, not only for the charges but also for the defendant’s background. Ekpa, once regarded as a rising politician in Finland’s local government, rose to notoriety for his uncompromising rhetoric and inflammatory broadcasts from abroad. While his supporters hailed him as a freedom fighter, critics accused him of orchestrating violence in a homeland he had long left behind.

The trial, conducted over 12 sessions between May 30 and June 25, 2025, laid bare the complexity of transnational activism in the digital era. Finnish authorities first arrested Ekpa in December 2024, holding him on suspicion of incitement to terrorism. Although four other suspects were initially detained, they were later released without charges due to insufficient evidence.

Ekpa denied all allegations throughout the proceedings, insisting he was targeted for his political views. However, the unanimous verdict underscored the weight of the evidence presented against him.

For Finland, the case signals a firm stance on terrorism offences committed within its borders, regardless of international context. For Nigeria, it reopens old wounds of separatist agitation and raises fresh questions about the role of diaspora actors in fueling unrest back home.

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RYNI News | Omotayo Stephen . O
1 September 2025

Abuja, Nigeria — The nation woke up to somber news on Saturday as reports emerged of the passing of Solomon Ehigiator Arase, Nigeria’s 18th Inspector-General of Police and former Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC). He died in Abuja at the Cedarcrest Hospital.

Arase’s death closes the chapter on a life of remarkable service to Nigeria — a man whose name became synonymous with reform, discipline, and a human-centered approach to policing. Born on June 21, 1956, in Edo State’s Owan West Local Government Area, Arase embodied the Nigerian story of grit, perseverance, and public service.

After studying Political Science at Ahmadu Bello University in 1980, he joined the Nigeria Police Force the following year, launching a career that would span more than three decades. He later fortified his intellectual arsenal with a Law degree from the University of Benin and a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos.

Within the Force, Arase was known not only for his sharp intelligence but also for his ability to balance firmness with fairness. He rose steadily through the ranks, serving as Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Principal Staff Officer to successive Inspectors-General, and eventually Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of intelligence. His international footprint was also significant, having represented Nigeria on a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Namibia.

Appointed Inspector-General of Police in April 2015, Arase wasted no time in rolling out initiatives that modernized policing. He strengthened the Intelligence Response Team, launched the Complaint Response Unit to give citizens a voice against misconduct, and restructured highway patrols to restore safety for travelers nationwide. Analysts hailed him as a “thinking policeman,” a reputation reinforced by his focus on community trust and welfare of rank-and-file officers.

Even after his statutory retirement in June 2016, Arase remained active in public life. His appointment in January 2023 as Chairman of the Police Service Commission underscored the trust successive governments placed in his integrity and expertise.

Away from uniforms and medals, Arase invested deeply in the next generation through the Solomon Ehigiator Arase Foundation (SEAF). Only last year, the foundation awarded scholarships to 29 students, many of them children of late police officers, in fields ranging from Medicine and Engineering to Criminology and Political Science. For him, it was more than charity — it was a deliberate effort to craft a fairer, more empowered Nigeria.

Today, tributes pour in for a man remembered as a patriot, reformer, and mentor whose legacy extends beyond the barracks. In the words of one admirer: “Arase did not just serve the Force — he served the nation, and he served the future.”

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RYNI News | Omotayo Stephen . O
27 August 2025

A Kaduna-bound passenger train veered off its tracks on Tuesday morning, unleashing scenes of panic and confusion as terrified commuters scrambled to safety. The incident, which occurred at about 11:09 a.m. between Kubwa and Asham stations, has once again thrown Nigeria’s troubled rail corridor into the spotlight.

Eyewitnesses described the moment as “chaotic and unforgettable,” with passengers shouting, praying, and clutching their children as the coaches screeched to a halt before tumbling off the tracks. “I was thrown to the floor; people were screaming. Some children even lifted chairs to shield themselves,” recalled Emmanuel Akpor, one of the survivors.

According to officials, at least 14 passengers sustained injuries and were rushed to health facilities in Idah, Kagarko Local Government Area, where they received first aid before being transferred to Kaduna for further care. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported.

The ill-fated train, which had departed Abuja’s Kubwa station after a delayed start, was carrying 10 coaches. By the time the dust settled, nearly all the coaches had been derailed except the executive coach—ironically the only one left standing. Two coaches sustained heavy structural damage.

Officials suggested that the derailment may have occurred at the interchange point near Asham, where trains are required to either slow down or halt briefly. “It is not yet clear if the driver followed the procedure,” one source disclosed, adding that excessive speed or track-switching failure could have played a role.

Rescue operations quickly swung into action as a multi-agency team led by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), backed by military personnel, police, immigration officers, and civil defence operatives, secured the scene. NEMA’s Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, confirmed that injured passengers were stabilized at the site before being evacuated.

In Abuja, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, announced the immediate suspension of Abuja–Kaduna train services, pending investigations. He assured passengers of refunds and dismissed claims of poor maintenance, insisting that NRC adheres to international safety standards. “Our technical staff, together with the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), are already conducting a full probe,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the NSIB confirmed that its investigators had been dispatched to the site. Director-General Captain Alex Badeh Jr. vowed that findings would be made public: “We are committed to uncovering the root cause and making safety recommendations to prevent future tragedies.”

The derailment rekindles memories of previous mishaps on the same corridor. In May 2024, another derailment occurred near Jere Station, while in September 2023, a similar accident was recorded at Kukere. More haunting, however, is the March 2022 terrorist attack on the Abuja–Kaduna train that left nine people dead and dozens abducted—a tragedy still fresh in the minds of many Nigerians.

From São Paulo, Brazil, where he is on an official visit, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed sadness over the incident. In a statement posted on his official X handle, he assured Nigerians that corrective measures would be taken: “I have been fully briefed and my prayers are with the injured and their families. Steps will be taken to ensure this does not happen again.”

For the hundreds of stranded passengers, however, the experience will not be forgotten soon. As one female commuter, identified simply as Hajiya, put it: “I woke up to chaos. A box fell on my head, people were shouting, and we were told the train had crashed. It was terrifying.”

As investigations continue, Tuesday’s derailment serves as yet another reminder of the fragile state of Nigeria’s railway lifeline—an artery of hope that too often flirts with disaster.

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RYNI News | Omotayo Stephen . O
24 August 2025

The battle against youth unemployment leapt from statistics to action on Friday, August 22, 2025, as the Resourceful Youth Network Initiative (RYNI) collaborated with the Students’ Union Government of the Petroleum Training Institute (SUG-PTI) to host the August edition of National Youth Empowerment Summit.

Held virtually under the theme “The Unemployment Dilemma: Government or Citizens to Blame? Navigating the Job Crisis and the Future of Nigerian Youths”, the summit brought together distinguished speakers from Nigeria, the UK, the USA, and Canada, along side students , graduates and young professionals across the nation, all committed to confronting the roots of Nigeria’s job crisis and charting pathways forward to secure a future where skills—not certificates alone—drive opportunity.

A Rallying Call at the Opening

Opening the session, Comr. Stephen Omotayo introduced the panel and acknowledged both the Chief Host and moderator, Dr. Lawson Obazenu, CEO of RYNI (UK) and Co-host , Comr. Temisa Collins Oghenevwede , president, SUG- PTI.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Obazenu cut straight to the heart of the matter. “This is not about politics or statistics,” he said. “It is about finding real solutions. Nigeria’s greatest resource is its youth—not as job seekers, but as job creators. Innovation and creativity are the lifelines we must seize.”

Echoing this sentiment, Comr. Godgift Oghenegavwraye, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee and SUG-PTI representative, declared that the program belonged to the Nigerian youth. “This is our fight, our future. Today’s conversation is for every student and every graduate caught in the web of joblessness,” he affirmed.

Debating the Causes—and the Way Forward

The panel tackled questions that peeled back the layers of Nigeria’s unemployment dilemma, revealing a mix of governance failures, systemic neglect, and personal responsibility.

• Engr. Gloria Evbaru-Okhuaihesuyi, lecturer at the University of Benin and founder of a thriving agro-processing enterprise, described unemployment as a dual crisis. “Corruption chokes economic growth. Our graduates leave with certificates but not with skills. Government must finance small businesses and reform education, while youths must pursue skill acquisition with urgency.”
• Engr. Donald Umunna, UK-based energy transition consultant with a portfolio spanning green technology and oil sector reforms, argued that Nigeria’s problem is not policy absence but execution paralysis. “Policies exist, but execution fails. Nigeria thrives informally because formal systems break down. Collaboration is the secret—no tree makes a forest.”
• Dr. Ndudi Francis Ejimofor, Director at SERVICOM and entrepreneurship development expert, lamented the gulf between academia and industry. “Our universities manufacture certified graduates, not skilled ones. We need economic policies that engineer jobs, not just paper qualifications.”
• Mr. John Amagbor, entrepreneur and CEO of Oshionela Global Ltd, challenged the narrative of entrepreneurship as a triumph. “Youth entrepreneurship in Nigeria is not a win-win, but survival. Without capital, policies, and infrastructure, businesses struggle to live beyond start-up dreams.”
• Engr. Ochuko Adogbeji, Canada-based cybersecurity expert and youth mentor, compared Nigeria’s neglect with global models. “Nigerians excel abroad because systems abroad support them. A Canadian student gets grants worth tens of thousands of dollars. At home, our youths wrestle with policies that ignore them.”
• Osi Avwunudiogba Diji, US-based IT consultant with decades of corporate experience, spotlighted the digital economy. “Exchange programs, virtual jobs, and coding from childhood are game changers. In Nigeria, we must learn to PUSH—Persist Until Something Happens.”

Audience Engagement

Participants fired off pressing questions: how to identify legitimate remote job platforms, where to access funding for startups, and how universities could bridge the gap between learning and labour. The speakers underscored skill acquisition, digital leverage, and systemic reform as urgent priorities.The panelists agreed on one point: skills are the new currency. Degrees may open doors, but skills keep them open.

Dr. Uyilawal Okhuaihesuyi, a physician and youth advocate based in USA, stressed the need to cut bureaucratic red tape that blocks employment pathways. “Youth potential is not lacking; it is policy that strangles opportunity,” he remarked.

Mr. Emmanuel Onwuka , a UK- based IT systems specialist, added a pragmatic note, urging Nigeria to build a national database. “We cannot solve what we do not measure. Data must guide policies if we are serious about jobs,” he insisted.

A Call to Action

In their closing remarks, Dr. Obazenu challenged participants: “The future is not given—it is taken. We must stop waiting. We must start building.”

Comr. Oghenegavwraye ended with a rallying cry: We have lit a torch today. PTI students and Nigerian youths must carry it into every home, every street, every boardroom.

Beyond the Summit

What began as a virtual dialogue has become a movement. Nigeria’s unemployment crisis is far from over, but the summit left participants with a powerful realization: they hold the hammer to reshape their own destinies.

With RYNI and SUG-PTI leading the charge, Nigerian youths are no longer waiting for opportunities. They are creating them—transforming despair into innovation, defiance into leadership, and unemployment into opportunity.

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RYNI News | Blessing Isiuwa
23 August 2025

Nigeria’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has fired back at critics who accuse him of monopolising critical sectors of the economy, insisting that his rise is anchored not on undue privilege but on vision, grit, and strategic timing.

The billionaire industrialist, whose $20 billion refinery has transformed Nigeria into a net exporter of petroleum products for the first time in three decades, dismissed claims that his business practices are designed to suffocate competition. Instead, he argued, his achievements are rooted in first-mover advantage, an entrepreneurial edge he believes is crucial for Africa’s industrial future.

“If you are going to call first movers monopolists, then you will never build a manufacturing base, or even a country,” Dangote said, countering reports, including a recent Bloomberg feature, that portray his dominance as the product of political connections and import restrictions.

For years, detractors have argued that Dangote Industries flourishes in sectors where imports are restricted—cement, sugar, and now oil. A leaked U.S. diplomatic cable from 2007 went further, branding Dangote a “predator” who leveraged Nigeria’s political economy to tilt the field in his favour. Dangote, however, insists the narrative is misleading. “Those items were not banned when we invested,” he said, maintaining that he seized opportunities where others hesitated.

The businessman admitted that building the world’s largest single-train refinery was fraught with hardship. With unreliable public services, his team had to provide their own infrastructure from scratch—roads, power, water, and even port facilities. “If I knew what I was going to go through, I wouldn’t have tried it,” Dangote confessed.

Yet the gamble appears to be paying off. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, his net worth has surged by $1 billion in just three months, bringing it to $28 billion, buoyed by the refinery’s ramp-up. The facility, his executives say, is already “changing the face of business” in Nigeria, exporting refined products rather than raw crude.

Still, controversy lingers. In September 2024, Dangote Industries filed a court injunction seeking to halt petroleum imports, arguing that the refinery could meet national demand. Regulators pushed back, warning such a move could entrench a monopoly. The case was later withdrawn, with Dangote’s deputy, Devakumar Edwin, stressing that dialogue with the government had improved following President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the facility.

Edwin defended the company’s stance, drawing comparisons with the United States and China. “These countries protect their industries. All we are saying is, do the same. Otherwise, we will continue exporting raw materials and creating jobs abroad, while importing finished products that add to someone else’s GDP.”

For Dangote, who began in the 1970s with a $3,000 loan from his uncle, trading in grains before moving into cement and other ventures, the story is one of relentless reinvention. From his first Mercedes bought for ₦5,100 to the behemoth refinery now standing as a symbol of Nigeria’s industrial aspirations, he presents himself less as a monopolist and more as a pioneer.

“We are not part of corruption,” he declared. “We are part of the problem-solving.”

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RYNI News | Omotayo Stephen . O
23 August 2025

The passing of former Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai, fondly known as Dodo Mayana, has once again ignited a stormy debate on Nigeria’s treatment of its sporting icons. At the Service of Songs held in Lagos for the late shot-stopper, Taribo West—the flamboyant defender who once patrolled the backlines of Inter Milan and AC Milan—delivered a heartfelt yet scathing rebuke of the nation’s football authorities.

Visibly shaken and at times emotional, West did not mince words. He accused both the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the government of neglecting Rufai’s family, leaving them to shoulder the heavy responsibility of burial arrangements. Though reports suggest the NFF made financial contributions, West dismissed such gestures as inadequate and symptomatic of a deeper problem: Nigeria’s chronic disregard for those who gave their lives and careers to national glory.

“For me, it is disheartening,” West lamented, his voice thick with grief. “You have Lagos State, you have the football authorities, and yet they left the family to carry this burden. It makes you wonder—what is the value of sacrifice in this country?”

West’s sorrow ran deeper than the moment. He recalled how he seldom wept even at the deaths of his parents, yet Rufai’s passing reduced him to tears. “I had goose pimples. I shed tears. What kind of nation is this?” he asked, his words slicing through the hushed crowd.

The former international extended his criticism beyond Rufai’s case. He cited the neglect that trailed the deaths of other Nigerian football giants—Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, and Thompson Oliha—all men who carried the national flag with pride but were, in his view, denied the dignity befitting heroes.

In a declaration that stunned many, West said he would never encourage his own son to don the green-and-white jersey. “I will never advise my son to play for this country,” he declared. “Do we even have a football federation worthy of the name? That a hero like Rufai must be treated this way?”

Born in 1974, Taribo West carved a reputation as one of Nigeria’s most formidable defenders. Known as much for his uncompromising tackles as for his trademark braided hair, he represented Nigeria in 42 international matches between 1994 and 2005, featuring in two World Cups and two African Cup of Nations tournaments. His club career spanned Auxerre, Inter Milan, AC Milan, and several others, earning him global recognition. Yet today, West is a preacher, using both the pulpit and occasions such as this to speak against what he sees as the systemic failings of Nigerian football.

As mourners remembered Rufai—a goalkeeper who once stood tall against the world’s finest strikers—West’s words lingered as both a warning and a lament. His verdict was clear: until Nigeria learns to honour its legends in life and in death, its claim to football greatness remains a hollow boast.

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RYNI News | Blessing Isiuwa
19 August 2025

ABUJA – A political storm is brewing as the Federal Government considers raising the salaries of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, lawmakers, ministers, and other high-ranking office holders. The proposal, tabled by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), has ignited sharp criticism from organised labour and civil society groups.

Announcing the plan at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, described the current remuneration for Nigeria’s political leadership as “outdated, unrealistic, and incapable of reflecting their enormous responsibilities.” He noted that the last review was carried out in 2008, despite mounting inflation and economic pressures over the past decade and a half.

Currently, the President earns about ₦1.5 million monthly, while ministers pocket less than ₦1 million. Shehu lamented that these figures are dwarfed by the pay packages of certain parastatal heads and the Central Bank governor.

“You cannot pay the President of Nigeria ₦1.5m monthly and expect global credibility,” Shehu argued. “Some agency chiefs earn ten times more than the Commander-in-Chief. That distortion must be corrected.”

But labour unions were quick to counter. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) branded the proposal as “tone-deaf” and “insensitive” at a time when ordinary Nigerians are groaning under soaring food prices, fuel costs, and widespread poverty.

An NLC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, dismissed the government’s figures as misleading. “The published salaries are just a fraction of what politicians actually take home. With allowances and perks, a President’s package can balloon above ₦100m annually. Why not publish the allowances too?” he asked.

The income gulf between political elites and workers has become a rallying point. While lawmakers are reported to take home as much as ₦30m monthly, the new minimum wage stands at ₦70,000, with university professors earning under ₦400,000. Labour leaders warn that such disparity is not only unjust but dangerous.

“When leadership appears more preoccupied with its own welfare than the people’s hardship, it deepens inequality and fuels unrest,” the NLC source cautioned. “This country cannot withstand endless provocation of the masses.”

RMAFC, however, insists it is simply fulfilling its constitutional duty to review pay for political, judicial, and legislative office holders—not civil servants. Alongside the salary review, the commission is also revisiting Nigeria’s decades-old revenue allocation formula, last adjusted in 1992. The current structure grants the Federal Government 52.68%, states 26.72%, and local governments 20.60%, with 4.18% reserved for special funds.

Shehu promised that the new formula would be “inclusive, evidence-based, and equitable,” while acknowledging that previous attempts under former presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari faltered.

For now, the salary debate underscores the widening chasm between Nigeria’s rulers and the ruled—and whether the government will risk political capital to push it through remains to be seen.

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