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Military veterans meet CDS, demand N250,000 minimum pay for soldiers

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Military veterans have demanded the immediate implementation of the approved N250,000 minimum wage for serving personnel.

They accused the Federal Government of delaying the execution of a law they said was passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Bola Tinubu.

The demand was made on Monday during a retreat attended by over 70 military veterans at the Armed Forces Headquarters Command Mess 1, Abuja.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Olufemi Oluyede, who was expected at the meeting, was represented by five senior military officers.

According to the veterans, the CDS was attending a meeting at the Presidential Villa.

Speaking on what transpired at the meeting, one of the organisers, Col Innocent Azubike (retd.), said the veterans had presented documentary evidence to the military representatives, who acknowledged their submissions and promised to brief the CDS immediately.

He said, “The five Generals that represented the CDS collected the papers presented by veterans and accepted that what the veterans said were facts. They said they would submit their report to the CDS immediately he comes back from the State House.

“We felt pleased that they acknowledged the facts we raised and felt we could give about a week to know the response from the CDS after he receives the report.”

Azubike said the veterans were disappointed that despite assurances from government officials over several months, the approved salary structure had yet to be implemented.

According to him, the National Assembly in October 2025 passed a bill reviewing the salaries of serving and retired military personnel after a comparative assessment showed that Nigeria had the lowest military pay among several African countries.

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“The Senate passed a Bill for upward review of the pay of serving and retired military personnel. The House of Representatives gave its concurrence.

“Before passing the Bill, there was a comparative study of military pay scales in some other African nations, and Nigeria’s was found to be ridiculously the lowest.

“The Senate fixed N250,000 as the minimum pay for the least-paid soldier and directed that the required funds be included in the 2026 budget. That was done,” he said.

He added that President Tinubu assented to the bill in November 2025 and directed that the implementation should take effect with three months’ arrears.

“The President assented to the Bill in November 2025 and stated that it would carry three months’ arrears from the date of signing. This was publicly announced by the Presidency and widely reported.

“Thereafter, the Ministry of Defence and the Service Chiefs repeatedly thanked the President and assured both serving and retired personnel that payment would commence soon,” Azubike said.

The retired officers, however, alleged that military authorities had recently denied knowledge of the approved salary increase.

“Then suddenly, in July 2026, the CDS and the Ministry of Defence made a U-turn and started posturing as if there was no such pay increment and asking us to produce documents to that effect.

“To worsen matters, the Minister of Defence, who was the CDS when the bill was passed and who championed it, recently claimed that the President increased the military minimum wage from N49,000 to N100,000.

“That statement sent shockwaves through both serving and retired personnel because it is not correct,” he said.

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Azubike explained that the N100,000 salary came into effect following the 2024 national minimum wage adjustment and was unrelated to the military salary review approved in November 2025.

He said the veterans remained committed to their planned peaceful protest to demand implementation of the new salary structure.

“We have clearly stated that we are determined to embark on a peaceful protest at the Federal Ministry of Finance to find out what has become of the approved increment and the funds appropriated for it.

“We are convinced that once we protest, the President will hear directly about the matter and the money will be released by fiat.

“The protest plan remains on course, and donations are still being received so that we can mobilise at short notice if there is any further delay by the authorities,” he added.

The veterans urged the Federal Government to immediately implement the approved salary structure for serving personnel and fulfil the commitments made to members of the Armed Forces.

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One killed, three injured in Lagos road crash

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One person has died while three others sustained serious injuries in a road crash involving a Lexus Jeep 350 along the Coastal Road inward Eko Hotel, Lagos.

The crash occurred earlier on Friday, according to a statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq.

The statement said the grey Lexus Jeep, with registration number LSD 554 KV, reportedly lost control, collided violently with a roadside pole and overturned.

“Preliminary security information indicated that the vehicle reportedly lost control, violently collided with a roadside pole and subsequently overturned, resulting in three seriously injured victims and one fatality,” the statement said.

LASTMA operatives monitoring traffic around the Coastal Road axis swiftly mobilised to the scene, secured the affected section and facilitated emergency response.

“The three critically injured victims were extricated from the crash scene with the assistance of Good Samaritans and promptly conveyed to Duck-Yard Hospital within the Military Zone for urgent medical attention,” the statement said.

Security personnel from Victoria Island also provided reinforcement, while LASTMA officers removed the mangled vehicle from the carriageway to prevent a secondary collision and restore vehicular movement along the axis.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, condoled with the family of the deceased and urged motorists to exercise caution while driving.

He warned that “excessive speed, reckless driving and loss of vehicular control could have devastating and irreversible consequences for motorists and other road users.”

Bakare-Oki also urged motorists and members of the public to report road crashes, vehicle breakdowns, obstructions and other emergencies through the LASTMA toll-free short code, 3367, for prompt intervention.

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Source: punchng.com

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UK gets new attorney, solicitor general

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The United Kingdom has sworn in Ellie Reeves KC MP as Attorney General and Andy Slaughter MP as Solicitor General at a ceremony held at the Royal Courts of Justice.

The two senior Law Officers were sworn into their roles on Thursday, October 1, 2026, following their appointments in July, according to a statement published by the UK Attorney General’s Office on Thursday.

The Rt Hon Alex Norris MP was also sworn in as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice.

The report was also published on the UK Home Office website.

Reeves, who was appointed Attorney General on July 20, said tackling violence against women and girls remained her “top priority”.

“It is an honour to be sworn in as Attorney General for England and Wales and Advocate General for Northern Ireland. My career both as a lawyer and now in government has shown me just how important it is that the legal profession is open to everyone, whatever their background, and this is a cause I will champion throughout my time in this role.

“Building on the work I was proud to lead as Solicitor General, tackling violence against women and girls remains my top priority.

“I look forward to working alongside Andy Slaughter MP on our shared mission to uphold the rule of law and strengthen confidence in our criminal justice system.”

Attorney General Ellie Reeves KC MP (right) with Lady Chief Justice, The Right Honourable the Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill (left) | Home Office

Slaughter, who was appointed Solicitor General on July 21, said he looked forward to working with Reeves to address challenges facing the justice system.

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“It is a privilege to be sworn in as Solicitor General, an important role in our constitution, bridging law and government to ensure good governance.

“As Chair of the Justice Select Committee, I saw first-hand the pressures facing our justice system. I now look forward to working with the Attorney General to tackle these challenges directly, and to ensure our justice system commands the public’s confidence.”

The ceremony was attended by the Lady Chief Justice, the Right Honourable the Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill.

The Attorney General is the UK Government’s chief legal adviser and attends Cabinet. The Law Officers—the Attorney General and Solicitor General—also superintend the Law Officers’ Departments, including the Crown Prosecution Service, Serious Fraud Office, Government Legal Department and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.

They also carry out public interest functions, including referring sentences to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, taking legal action against people in contempt of court and providing consent to prosecute offences.

Source: punchng.com

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Nigeria @66: CAN demands lower food, transport costs

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The Christian Association of Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to prioritise reductions in the cost of food, transportation and energy as the country marks its 66th Independence Anniversary.

It also asked the government to strengthen social protection and improve security, saying the benefits of economic reforms must translate into better living conditions for citizens.

CAN said Nigerians who had endured years of economic pressure deserved to begin experiencing meaningful relief in their daily lives.

The association made the call in a statement signed by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, on Thursday.

CAN said that while it welcomed the transition from economic reforms to an era of prosperity, the success of the reforms should be measured by their impact on ordinary Nigerians.

President Bola Tinubu had, during his broadcast to Nigerians to mark the Independence Day anniversary, on Thursday, declared that Nigeria is now in the era of prosperity, having endured the tortuous reforms.

Speaking on the development, CAN said, “We welcome the shift from an era of economic reforms to an era of prosperity. But the true test of progress is not in statistics alone. It is whether families can afford food, young people can find decent work, communities can live in safety, and every child has a fair opportunity to build a future.”

The Christian body urged the government to “make lower food, transport and energy costs a measurable priority.”

“Nigerians who have endured years of economic pressure deserve to begin seeing meaningful relief in their daily lives,” CAN added.

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Archbishop Okoh also called for stronger social protection for vulnerable Nigerians, including support for education, healthcare and affordable credit.

According to the association, such interventions must be transparently administered and protected from diversion.

“Prosperity that does not reach the ordinary Nigerian home remains incomplete,” CAN said.

On insecurity, the CAN President said economic prosperity would remain difficult to achieve where citizens “cannot farm, trade, travel or sleep peacefully because of fear.”

He, therefore, urged the government to sustain efforts to protect lives, secure communities and restore confidence across the country.

With the 2027 political season approaching, the association also cautioned politicians against exploiting religion for partisan purposes.

“CAN again reminds all political actors that no politician is the Messiah,” it said, adding that Christians were free to support or criticise any candidate.

The association warned against dragging the name of Jesus Christ into partisan rivalry or using it as a political weapon.

CAN reaffirmed its commitment to its role as a non-partisan moral voice, saying it would continue to commend what is right, speak when citizens are hurting and hold leaders to the values of justice, accountability and compassion.

The association congratulated Nigerians on the 66th Independence anniversary and called for a new phase in which the promise of prosperity would translate into tangible improvements in the lives of citizens.

Meanwhile, the Borno State CAN chairman, Most Revd John Bakeni, has said religious leaders are part of Nigeria’s problem since independence, warning that the failure of pastors and Imams to speak truth to power may continue to hinder the nation’s development.

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Bakeni stated this in Maiduguri at an Independence Day celebration event organised as part of activities to commemorate “CAN at 50.”

Addressing newsmen shortly after the event, he said many religious leaders had exchanged their religious garments for political garments, warning that such a trend could affect the general well-being of society.

He said, “Sorry to say this; in some cases, we are part of the problem of Nigeria. Many of us religious leaders today, both Christian and Muslim leaders, have removed our garments of ordination and put on political garments.”

The cleric said religious leaders must see themselves as vanguards of truth who bear the responsibility of speaking out when things are going wrong in society.

“Whether as imams or as bishops, we are vanguards of truth and justice. When we see things going the wrong way, it is a moral obligation on our shoulders to speak to those in authority, especially those who make our policies and laws, to call their attention to these realities, so that the common good will be sustained and the resources of the land will be distributed equitably to all citizens,” he said.

Bakeni noted that this year’s Independence Day anniversary presented a sober celebration, following the severe hardship and insecurity in the country.

He called on the government to make policies that would alleviate the suffering and the hardship of the Nigerian people.

“There is no need being in place as a government if your subjects are going to face hardship and poverty. We have the resources and wealth to cater for our people, but the problem is the management,” he stressed.

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On the 2027 elections, the CAN Chairman urged Nigerians to vote for candidates based on their personal assessment without waiting for anyone to direct them on who to vote for.

“We have tested them (politicians), so you don’t need anybody to tell you who to elect.

“You have the strongest weapon, which is your voters card in your hands as citizens, and that is what you should use to bring in leaders who will deliver the dividends of democracy and ensure that citizens live worthy lives,” he stated.

Source: punchng.com

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