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Breaking: Presidency Defends Secrecy Over Oyo School Rescue Plans
The Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, has defended the Federal Government’s approach to communicating kidnapping incidents, saying public updates on rescue operations could compromise security efforts as armed groups also monitor social media.
His comments came on Monday amid renewed criticism online over the handling of recent school abductions, with some users accusing the government of failing to provide sufficient assurances on rescue operations.
Responding via his X handle, Olusegun argued that operational secrecy was necessary to protect victims and security personnel, insisting that law enforcement agencies must be allowed to work without public disclosure of sensitive details.
“The Kidnappers are on social media with us and follow the trends to get updates. You cannot possibly expect the government to update rescue plans on social media if you really have the interest of those kids at heart, and it is not just for performative purposes. Concerned, we must. Reckless, we mustn’t,” he said.
He added that the priority remained securing the safe return of abducted victims, warning against actions that could endanger ongoing operations.
“I understand your anger, but a large bulk of it should be reserved for the cowardly terrorists who use kids as human shields. These kids have to be rescued alive. It serves no purpose for our armed forces to charge in headfirst and hope for the best. They are kids, fgs!” he added.
Responding to a critic on sanctions for those who share false information under the guise of reporting security incidents, Olusegun said his role was limited to countering misinformation, stressing that enforcement actions rest with security agencies.
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“It is not my job to arrest or publicly state with authority that anyone will be arrested for sharing false information. Everyone does their part. Mine is to debunk, yours is to amplify, while the law enforcement will do theirs,” he said.
The clarification comes as public concern mounts over recurring school kidnappings in parts of the country, with growing criticism of government communication around rescue efforts.
In response to recent attacks, President Bola Tinubu has approved the immediate recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State as part of efforts to strengthen security in forest corridors used by armed groups.
The decision followed the abduction of pupils and teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area, where armed attackers also killed a teacher during a raid.
National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, said the recruitment process would begin in July 2026, adding that personnel would be drawn locally and deployed to improve surveillance and counter-bandit operations.
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Breaking: Nigerian Workers Demand N300,000 Minimum Wage, FG Faces Fresh Salary Pressure
The Federal Workers Forum, FWF, has demanded an immediate increase in the federal minimum wage from N70,000 to N300,000, noting that the current salary structure can no longer sustain civil servants amid Nigeria’s rising cost of living.
The Forum made the demand in a letter dated September 2, 2026, addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly, with the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Justice of Nigeria and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation listed among the recipients.
The workers also proposed a new salary structure that would place the highest-paid Level 17 officer on a monthly salary of N1.5 million, while Level 1 Step 1 workers would earn N300,000.
“We call for justice and immediate wage review now, adjust the federal minimum wage to N300,000 and a maximum wage of N1.5m for the Level 17 officers,” the Forum said.
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The FWF argued that the Federal Government had not fully implemented the 2024 minimum wage agreement, claiming that federal workers had yet to receive the full consequential adjustment and associated allowances.
“It will surprise you to hear that the Federal Government has not fully implemented the new national minimum wage since July 2024. We have been in the battle for full consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage,” it said.
Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in August 2026, demanded an upward review of the minimum wage to N500,000.
In July 2024, President Bola Tinubu’s government increased the minimum wage to N70,000 per month from N30,000.
However, the cost of living for many Nigerians has tripled between 2024 and 2026.
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The Federal Government has said Nigeria will never support a military coup or any unconstitutional change of government, following claims that the country backed a failed coup attempt in the Niger Republic.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, made this known in a statement issued on Thursday.
According to the statement, the claims circulating on social media are baseless and misleading.
Enikanolaiye said Nigeria remained committed to democracy, constitutional rule and political stability in West Africa and would not support any attempt to remove a government through unconstitutional means.
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“Nigeria will never support illegality or unconstitutional change of government anywhere, no matter who is involved or which country is concerned,” he said.
The minister also rejected claims that Nigeria, through its membership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), supported or endorsed the military takeover in Niger.
He said the Federal Government had already stated its position on the situation in Niger in an earlier statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 30, 2026.
According to him, Nigeria remains deeply concerned about developments in Niger and wants the country to return peacefully to stability and constitutional order.
Enikanolaiye said Nigeria’s close historical, cultural and fraternal ties with Niger made peace and stability in the neighbouring country particularly important.
“Nigerians at home and abroad should disregard the videos and narratives circulating online, they are intended to create confusion and tarnish Nigeria’s image,” the statement said.
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