Featured

No Child Should Be Denied Access to Education – Fubara

Published

41 seconds ago

October 16, 2026

The Rivers State Government has called on stakeholders, community leaders, parents and relevant education authorities to intensify efforts to identify and enrol out-of-school children across Nigeria, stressing that every child deserves access to quality and inclusive education.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara made the call, yesterday, during the regional campaign on engaging community structures to promote the enrolment of out-of-school children and the regional flag-off of the 2026/2027 enrolment drive for southern states, held in Port Harcourt.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Dagogo Wokoma, Governor Fubara reaffirmed that education remains a fundamental pillar of sustainable development and emphasised the need to ensure that no child is left behind because of economic hardship, social background or other barriers to schooling.

He noted that expanding access to education was essential to promoting sustainable development, social inclusion and equal opportunities, enabling children to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society.

The governor urged participating states and communities to translate their commitments into concrete and measurable actions by reaching vulnerable children, strengthening community engagement and encouraging parents and guardians to make their children’s education a priority.

He reiterated the state government’s commitment to initiatives aimed at expanding access to education, particularly for children excluded from formal schooling.

“Rivers State remains committed to supporting initiatives that expand access to inclusive and quality education, particularly for vulnerable children who may have missed the opportunity to attend formal schools,” Fubara stressed.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba, described the growing number of out-of-school children as one of the major challenges confronting the education sector.

She called for a collective and collaborative approach among governments, communities, parents and other stakeholders to address the problem, stressing the need to ensure that no Nigerian child is denied the fundamental right to education.

The programme was organised by the Universal Basic Education Commission in collaboration with the Rivers State Government, as part of efforts to strengthen community participation and promote school enrolment across the southern states for the 2026/2027 academic session.

Featured

FAAC: FG, States, LGs Share N2.428trn For September

Published

2 hours ago

October 16, 2026

The Tide

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared the sum of N2.428 trillion among the Federal Government, 36 states government and the 774 Local Government Councils (LGCs) as revenue for the month of September.

The Director, Press and Public Relations, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), Mr Bawa Mokwa, said this in a statement in Abuja, yesterday.

Mokwa said the allocation was approved by FAAC at its October meeting held in Abuja.

He said the N2.428 trillion distributable revenue comprised of statutory revenue of N1.672 trillion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N756.587 billion.

Mokwa quoted the FAAC communiqué as saying that total gross revenue of N3.913 trillion was available in the month of September 2026.

He said a total deduction for cost of collection was N131.758 billion while total transfers, refunds and savings of N1.352 trillion.

According to him, a gross statutory revenue of N3.096 trillion was received for the month of September 2026.

“This was higher than the sum of N2.850 trillion received in the preceeding month by N246.384 billion.

“Gross revenue of N816.872 billion was available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) in September 2026.

“This was lower than the N834.843 billion available in the month of August 2026 by N17.972 billion,” he said.

Mokwa explained that the Federal Government received N832.242 billion and the state governments received the sum of N799.872 billion.

He said the LGCs received N560.660 billion, while the sum of N236.049 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting state as derivation revenue.

Mokwa said in the N1.672 billion distributable statutory revenue, the Federal Government received N756.583 billion and the State Governments received N383.749 billion.

He said the LGCs received N295.855 billion and the sum of N236.049 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.

The director said from the N756.587 billion distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, the Federal Government received N75.659 billion, the State Governments received N416.123 billion and the LGCs received N264.805 billion.

“In September 2026, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Hydrocarbon Tax (HT), Petroleum Royalties, Import Duty, CET Levies and Excise Duty increased significantly.

“Also, Companies Income Tax (CIT), CGT & SDT, Value Added Tax (VTA), Mineral Royalties, and Gas Flared Penalty, Rental Gas Flared Fee and Misc. Oil Revenue decreased considerably,” he said.

Featured

NLC Gives FG Two-Week Ultimatum To Reduce Petrol Price …Begins Minimum Wage Talks

Published

7 days ago

October 9, 2026

The Tide

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has given the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to reduce the price of petrol, commence renegotiation of the national minimum wage and implement outstanding agreements with workers.

The ultimatum followed a joint meeting of the National Executive Council and Central Working Committee of the NLC held at the Olaitan Oyerinde Hall, Labour House, Abuja.

In a communiqué signed by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and made available to newsmen, yesterday, the union said the two-week ultimatum would commence on Friday, October 9, 2026.

It warned that failure by the government to meet its demands would compel the Congress to take further action.

The NLC specifically demanded that the government reduce the price of Premium Motor Spirit to the level it was when the current national minimum wage was signed into law in 2024.

It also demanded the immediate commencement of negotiations for a new minimum wage, implementation of the February 5, 2026, Terms of Settlement reached with the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals, and action on the demands of the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council.

The Congress further demanded tax relief and immediate wage awards for workers, arguing that the measures were necessary to cushion the impact of rising living costs.

The NLC said, “The current national minimum wage has been rendered worthless by the relentless depreciation of the naira and the astronomical rise in the cost of living.”

It added that workers could no longer meet basic needs, including food, shelter, healthcare, transportation and education, on their current earnings.

The labour body, therefore, demanded that the Federal Government commence renegotiation of the national minimum wage before the end of October.

“NEC-in-session demands that the Federal Government commence the renegotiation of the national minimum wage before the end of this month,” the communiqué stated.

The Congress also linked the erosion of workers’ purchasing power to the high cost of petrol, saying the price of the commodity had continued to drive up transportation costs and the prices of other essential goods.

“The exorbitant pump price of petrol has had a cascading effect on the cost of transportation, food, and other essential goods, further deepening the hardship of workers and the masses,” it said.

The NLC further demanded that the government grant tax relief to workers and immediately introduce wage awards, describing the measures as “the bare minimum required to alleviate the suffering of Nigerian workers and restore a measure of dignity to their lives.”

The latest ultimatum escalates the labour movement’s pressure on the Federal Government after public-sector workers under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council embarked on a three-day warning strike earlier in October over rising living costs, petrol prices, wage awards and minimum wage negotiations.

The workers had demanded, among other measures, a reduction in petrol prices and the commencement of negotiations for a new minimum wage.

The NLC had also raised concerns in September over the declining purchasing power of workers, with Ajaero arguing that the N70,000 minimum wage had been overtaken by increases in the cost of food, transportation, housing, education and other essential expenses.

The current minimum wage was approved by President Bola Tinubu in July 2024 after negotiations involving the government, organised labour and the private sector.

Tinubu increased the Federal Government’s offer from N62,000 to N70,000 and agreed that the wage should be reviewed after three years rather than five years.

The NLC’s latest demand comes as the Federal Government announced fresh measures aimed at containing petrol-price pressures.

Yesterday, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the government was negotiating a ceiling of N1,350 per litre on the ex-gantry or landing cost of petrol, with monthly reviews, as part of measures to reduce price volatility.

The proposed ceiling does not mean petrol would necessarily sell at N1,350 per litre at filling stations.

The government also announced a 30-day discount on petrol dispensed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), with priority given to public transporters.

Oyedele said the arrangement was not a return to subsidy but an effort to sell the product at cost.

However, the NLC is seeking a more substantial reduction, insisting that petrol should return to the price level that prevailed when the N70,000 minimum wage was enacted in 2024.

The Congress also called for the implementation of the agreement reached with JOHESU in February, as well as the demands presented by the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council.

It warned that failure to respond within the two-week period would have consequences.

“Failure of which the NLC will be compelled to take remedial steps as would be directed by the relevant organs,” the communiqué said.

The union consequently directed its affiliates and allies to remain prepared for further action.

“NEC-in-session reaffirms the historical responsibility of the NLC to resist all forms of exploitation and oppression,” it stated, urging its affiliates to remain “on high alert and fully prepared to engage in decisive efforts against all anti-people policies.”

The development also comes amid fresh labour tensions in Abuja, where the FCT Council of the NLC commenced an indefinite strike on Wednesday over disputes with the FCT Administration concerning teachers’ promotion policies.

The council directed workers across public and private establishments to withdraw their services after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum.

The latest NLC ultimatum puts renewed pressure on the Federal Government to address wage and fuel-price concerns as both sides grapple with disagreements over the implementation of previous labour agreements and measures to cushion the impact of economic reforms.

The NLC said its demands were aimed at protecting workers and the wider population from further deterioration in their standard of living, insisting that Nigerian workers must remain “resolute, organised, and uncompromising” in the struggle for improved living conditions.

Featured

Rivers’ Blue Economy: Moving From Potential To Coordinated Action

Published

2 weeks ago

October 5, 2026

The Tide

The conversation around Rivers State’s Blue Economy is growing, and rightly so. Few states in Nigeria possess the combination of rivers, creeks, wetlands, coastline, fisheries, coastal communities and maritime activities that we have. These are important natural and economic assets. But identifying the potential is only the beginning.

The more important question is: how do we organise and coordinate our efforts so that these resources translate into jobs, investment, stronger livelihoods and sustainable economic growth? For me, that is where the next phase of the conversation should begin. Rivers State has opportunities across fisheries and aquaculture, marine transportation, logistics, tourism, boat building and repairs, seafood processing, environmental restoration and several other water-based enterprises.Yet these activities do not exist in isolation. Fisheries depend on water quality. Water quality is influenced by activities both on land and on water. Wetlands support livelihoods, provide habitats for important species and contribute to natural flood management.

Roads, jetties and waterfront infrastructure can improve access and commerce, but development must also take account of drainage, ecosystems and surrounding communities. Pollution generated on land does not necessarily remain on land. Much of it eventually finds its way into our drains, creeks, rivers and estuaries. This is why developing the Blue Economy requires us to look beyond the water itself. Land and water are connected, and our development planning must recognise that connection.

The Blue-Green Connection

This thinking is at the heart of the Blue-Green Continuum Framework, which I developed as an integrated approach to sustainable development. The idea is straightforward: our rivers, wetlands, mangroves, forests, settlements, infrastructure, industries and communities are parts of an interconnected system. Decisions made in one part of that system can have consequences elsewhere. Our development planning should increasingly reflect this reality. This does not mean replacing existing institutions or mandates. Rather, it means creating stronger connections among them so that policies, projects and investments can reinforce one another.

Coordination Matters

One of the practical issues in developing a Blue Economy is that many institutions naturally have responsibilities within the same development space. Environment, transportation, land administration, fisheries, infrastructure, energy, investment promotion and community development may fall under different ministries, departments, agencies and regulatory institutions. Each institution has its legitimate responsibilities. The opportunity before us is to strengthen the connections between those responsibilities. When information moves more easily between institutions, when responsibilities are clearly understood and when environmental and social considerations are integrated early into project planning, government is better positioned to make timely and informed decisions.

The answer, therefore, may not always be to create another institution. Sometimes, the greater value lies in helping the institutions we already have to work together more effectively.

From Sector Planning to Integrated Planning

Rivers State would benefit from a clearly coordinated Blue Economy development framework connecting economic opportunities with environmental management, infrastructure, investment, community livelihoods and spatial planning. Such a framework should help us answer some practical questions. Who provides overall coordination for Blue Economy development? How do the responsibilities of relevant ministries and agencies connect? Where do mandates intersect? What pathway should an investor follow when establishing a Blue Economy enterprise? What environmental and social safeguards should be considered from the beginning? How should host and riverine communities participate? What information should institutions share? And how do we measure whether our interventions are genuinely creating economic value and improving livelihoods?

These may sound like administrative questions, but they have real economic consequences. Good coordination can help good ideas become viable projects.

Building a Shared Information Base

Another area worth strengthening is the way development information is connected and used. Environmental data, infrastructure plans, land-use information, investment opportunities, community information and natural-resource data become more useful when institutions can see how they relate to one another. Digital tools, particularly Geographic Information Systems, can support this process by helping decision-makers understand the relationship between communities, infrastructure, ecosystems, economic activities and environmental pressures. The objective is not simply to collect more data. It is to enable relevant institutions to make decisions from a stronger and increasingly shared understanding of the same development space. This can improve planning, reduce avoidable conflicts and help identify environmental or social concerns before projects reach advanced stages.

Making Investment Easier to Navigate

Government has an important enabling role, but the Blue Economy will also require responsible private investment.

Opportunities exist in fisheries, aquaculture, marine transportation, logistics, tourism, seafood processing, renewable energy and supporting services. Investors, however, need clarity. They need to understand where opportunities exist, which institutions are relevant, what approvals are required and what environmental and social obligations must be satisfied. A more coordinated investment pathway could therefore add considerable value.The Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency, working alongside relevant ministries and regulatory institutions, can continue to provide an important bridge between credible investors and government processes. This is not about weakening regulation. It is about making regulation clear, coordinated and predictable.Good regulation should protect the public interest while giving responsible investors a clear understanding of what is expected of them.

Communities Must Be Part of the Economy

There is another part of this conversation that deserves equal attention: our riverine and coastal communities.

For generations, many of these communities have depended on fishing grounds, mangroves, creeks, waterfronts and other natural resources for their livelihoods and cultural identity. As Blue Economy opportunities expand, communities should be active participants in that development. Participation is most meaningful when it begins during planning, not only after projects have been designed. There is also an opportunity to deliberately connect young people and women to emerging value chains in aquaculture, processing, tourism, marine services, environmental restoration, transportation and related enterprises. Ultimately, the success of a Blue Economy should not be measured only by the number of projects attracted or the value of investments recorded. People should be able to feel its impact in their livelihoods.

Environmental Protection Is Economic Protection

Environmental management should therefore be seen as part of economic planning rather than something separate from it. When waterways are polluted, fisheries and livelihoods suffer. When mangroves and wetlands are degraded, we lose important ecological assets and natural protection. When drainage systems and natural flood pathways are obstructed, communities, infrastructure and economic activities become more vulnerable. Protecting these ecosystems is therefore also about protecting the natural capital upon which much of the Blue Economy depends. This is particularly important in Rivers State, where urban development, industrial activity, pollution, flooding, wetland pressures and coastal processes often interact within the same environment.

The Blue-Green Continuum

This brings me back to the Blue-Green Continuum.

The future of Rivers State cannot be planned as though our land economy and water economy exist in separate worlds. They meet every day. They meet in our wetlands and coastal communities. They meet in our drainage systems, agriculture and fisheries. They meet in transportation, infrastructure and pollution control. Above all, they meet wherever development changes the relationship between people, land and water. Our planning processes should increasingly meet there too. This is where I believe the Blue-Green Continuum Framework can contribute to the wider development conversation — not as another layer of bureaucracy, but as a practical way of understanding development as an interconnected system.

From Conversation to Coordinated Action, Rivers State has considerable Blue Economy potential. The task before us is to continue translating that potential into coordinated and measurable action. This means strengthening institutional coordination, clarifying responsibilities where necessary, improving information sharing, integrating environmental and social safeguards, creating clearer investment pathways, involving communities and establishing indicators that allow us to measure progress. The pathway can be expressed simply: Diagnose. Harmonise. Clarify. Connect. Plan. Act. Measure. Adapt. Done consistently, these steps can help turn the Blue Economy from a promising development concept into something people can see and experience.

It can create businesses and jobs. It can strengthen livelihoods. It can attract responsible investment. It can support healthier ecosystems. And it can open new economic opportunities for communities across Rivers State. Our natural environment has given us enormous possibilities. Our institutions already possess knowledge, mandates and experience across many of the sectors required to unlock them.The opportunity now is to connect these strengths more deliberately. The water is there.The opportunities are there. The institutions are there. The next step is coordinated action.

Engr. Owhonda, Juliet Nkeiruka, PhD, is a petroleum engineer, environmental safeguard specialist and gas policy strategist. She is the author of The Blue-Green Continuum: An Integrated Framework for Sustainable Development. She writes from Port Harcourt.