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Tinubu vs Sowore: Court Announces Fresh Development
The federal high court in Abuja has rescheduled the hearing of the DSS suit against Omoyele Sowore, a journalist and former presidential candidate According to the court, the case was adjourned because the judge was not available for the hearing Sowore is currently facing trial over his claim against President Bola Tinubu on his social media page, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter)
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has announced that the hearing of the suit involving 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, over his defamation of President Bola Tinubu, will now be heard on Wednesday, November 5.
The hearing of the suit against Sowore and other defendants to enter their pleas was earlier scheduled. However, the court could not proceed with the matter over the absence of Justice Mohammed Umar of the trial court.
Justice Umar, who was the trial judge in the suit, was reportedly having a sitting in another division of the court. The court then announced Sowore for the arraignment of the former presidential candidate, Meta (Facebook) Inc. and X Incorp. (Formerly Twitter), who were listed first and third respondents in the suit.
Vanguard reported that on Tuesday, September 30, the court fixed Monday, October 27, so that Sowore can adequately prepare for his defence. The former presidential candidate is facing a five-count charge. The charge is marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, was dated September 16.
The Department of State Services (DSS), in the name of the federal government, sued Sowore, Meta (Facebook) Inc. and X Incorp. (Formerly Twitter), listed as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.
The publisher of the Sahara Reporters was accused of making a false claim against President Tinubu and referred to him as “a criminal” on his Facebook and X accounts.
This came days after the secret police made an earlier request over an alleged defamatory post Sowore shared on his Facebook and X pages to be taken down. In the charge, the federal government accused Sowore of acting against the provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.
Sowore has consistently been in the news against the government with different protests and agitations. The recent such activity was his agitation for the release of the embattled leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, who is facing terrorism charges in court.
He was arrested and detained over the protest for disobeying a court order. However, he was soon granted bail by the court, while his trial continues.
The Federal Government and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have reached far-reaching resolutions at the conciliation meetings convened by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
The meetings, held on 22nd and 27th October, 2026 at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Abuja, were sequel to the communique issued at the end of the Joint meeting of the Central Working Committee (CWC) and National Executive Council (NEC) of the NLC.
The meeting was chaired by the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, CON, with representatives of the Federal Government in attendance, while the NLC delegation was led by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
After extensive deliberations on the issues raised, the meeting resolved as follows:
1. National Minimum Wage: It was agreed that the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee would be constituted and commence meeting immediately. However, there is a disagreement on the effective date of implementation.
2. Reduction in Petroleum Pump Price and Palliatives:
i. Federal Government will pay a transport intervention of Seventy Thousand Naira (N70,000) across all levels for a period of six (6) months, commencing from November 2026.
ii. Peculiar Allowance has been approved by the Federal Government with effect from 1st May, 2026. Payment of arrears will commence in November 2026 in three equal monthly instalments.
iii. Nineteen (19) months arrears of allowances for health workers will be redeemed within three (3) months with effect from December 2026.
3. Tax Relief for Workers: As tax is a statutory matter, the issue of tax relief for workers will be taken to the National Executive Council (NEC).
4. Hazard Allowance for Agricultural Workers: The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has submitted the list of beneficiaries and cost implications to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) for verification. Verification is expected to be completed within two weeks, after which the template for implementation will be issued by NSIWC.
5. CONHESS Adjustment: The NSIWC promised to complete the update of the cost implication within three (3) weeks to enable the Presidential Committee on Salaries to take a decision on the CONHESS adjustment.
The meeting also urged State and Local Governments to key into the intervention process, while unions were enjoined to push for its implementation at their respective levels.
Both parties agreed to reconvene after one month to appraise the level of implementation of the resolutions.
The meeting had in attendance the DG Budget, Mr. Tanimu Yakubu; Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, OHCSF, Dr. Garba Abdul S.U.; Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, CON; NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero; and National Secretary, JNPSNC, Comrade Olowoyo Gbenga.
The National Assembly received a comprehensive list of proposed new local government areas (LGAs) across several states in Nigeria as of January, 2026.
The submission was reported to have included requests from multiple states, reflecting demands for administrative expansion and closer governance.
Nigerian federal workers are awaiting their salary payments following a social media post claiming that state government workers have received their salaries, with federal workers expected to be paid from Monday.
The update was shared by Naija Updates in the IPPIS Salary Discussion Group on Facebook, where the post announced that state workers had been paid and urged federal workers to anticipate their own payments.
The post generated engagement among Facebook users, attracting reactions and comments from members of the group interested in salary updates and workers’ welfare.
However, the claim that state workers have been paid and that federal salary payments will begin on Monday has not been independently confirmed. The post did not identify the specific states whose workers had received their salaries or provide an official statement from the Federal Government.
Federal workers are therefore advised to rely on official communications from their respective ministries, departments and agencies, as well as relevant government payroll authorities, for accurate information regarding salary disbursements.
The development comes amid continued public interest in salary payment schedules and the welfare of Nigerian workers.
MinimumWage: FG, NLC Reach Agreement At Conciliation Meeting, Details Emerge
Full List Of Proposed New Local Government Areas Submitted To National Assembly In 2026
