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The Big Story
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FG Approves NGN70,000 Transport Allowance for Public Workers, TUC Rejects It
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The federal government has approved a NGN70,000 monthly transport allowance for public service workers at all levels for six months from November, after a conciliation meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja on Tuesday. It also approved peculiar allowance arrears from 1 May 2026, paid in three equal instalments from November, and agreed to settle 19 months of outstanding health worker allowances within three months from December. The two sides did not agree when a new national minimum wage should take effect, but agreed that a negotiating committee would start work immediately, and state and local governments were urged to adopt the measures. [Premium Times] The Trade Union Congress (TUC) rejected the allowance on Wednesday and wants salaries raised instead, including from NGN70,000 to NGN300,000 for the lowest-paid federal workers. It says some workers were still owed part of a similar NGN40,000 award agreed in October 2023, and others never received it. [Nairametrics]
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What Else Is Happening
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Panel Blames Overcrowding and Heat for Custody Deaths in Niger State
The federal government says overcrowding, poor ventilation, extreme heat and dehydration, not disease, caused the deaths of suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State. Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said 33 died, including 14 minors (earlier reports said 37), and sent the panel’s report to the Attorney-General. Panel member Deji Adeyanju said it recommended prosecuting officers for murder. No charges have been announced. [Premium Times]
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ADC Alleges Plot to Move the 16 January Election
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential campaign council says it has information that the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, will be told at the Presidential Villa to shift the 16 January presidential election, citing Ebola. It noted that the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said there is no reason to postpone. The reports reviewed carry no response from INEC or the presidency. [ThisDay]
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Lagos Gives Residents Until 31 December to Get Health Insurance
Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has told every resident, employer and worker to get health insurance by 31 December 2026, with enforcement from 1 January 2027. He announced it on Tuesday while launching Lagos Private Health Plans for salary earners and companies, alongside the Ilera Eko scheme for vulnerable and informal-sector residents. The state raised its Health Equity Fund from NGN1 billion to NGN3 billion to cover more than 500,000 residents who cannot afford premiums. [Nairametrics]
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FMBN Launches Non-Interest Lease-to-Own Homes
The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) has launched a non-interest lease-to-own mortgage product, Ijarah Muntahia Bittamleek, for eligible contributors to the National Housing Fund (NHF). Beneficiaries occupy a home under a lease before ownership passes to them. The Kano launch on Tuesday included keys to the first two- and three-bedroom bungalows at an estate in Bichi. FMBN’s statement did not give prices, repayment periods, eligibility thresholds or how many homes the pilot covers. [Nairametrics]
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Market Watch
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The naira strengthened, with the official rate at NGN1,347.53 per dollar on 28 October, down 0.39% from NGN1,352.87 on 27 October, so a dollar costs a little less. Since 31 December 2025 (NGN1,475.00) the rate is down 8.64%, so the naira remains stronger year to date. [CBN]
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The NGX All-Share Index fell 0.44% (1,107.28 points) to 252,882.78 on 28 October from 253,990.06 on 27 October. Since 31 December 2025 (155,613.03) the index is up 62.51%. [NGX Group] Nairametrics reported that midweek selling wiped about NGN718.95 billion off market value. [Nairametrics]
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Money raised by Nigerian startups, young companies that investors back to grow fast, fell 96.9% in September to $11.3 million, from $364.1 million in August, Nairametrics reports. Nine companies raised funds, against 20 in August, in deals that included debt as well as seed and venture rounds. The two largest were $3 million debt facilities for Nomba and Drive45 Mobility. [Nairametrics]
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Quick Hits
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| → Five people died on Monday on the Minna-Bida road, including four Federal University of Technology, Minna students, when a vehicle from the Niger governor’s team hit their car head-on. The state says it was not escorting him and cites reckless driving. Police are investigating. [Premium Times] |
| → Benue police say they rescued 29 kidnap victims and arrested 34 foreign nationals in October: 16 Cameroonians in Otukpo and 18 Nigeriens at Orokam. Police said the Cameroonians had no travel documents, and the Nigeria Immigration Service will verify their status. [Premium Times] |
| → From 30 November, UK student visa applicants must show £14,130 for nine months of living costs in London, up from £13,761, or £10,827 elsewhere. The money must sit in the account for 28 days. Applications made before 30 November follow current rules. [Nairametrics] |
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On a Lighter Note
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Ebonyi police have arrested Ugwumba Enyinnaya, who allegedly posed as a lawyer for 11 years, after a client said he paid NGN650,000 to approve a street name. Police say they found a Nigerian Bar Association seal, a wig, a robe and law certificates at his home, and that he admitted he is not a lawyer. [Pulse Nigeria]
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Why It Matters
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A federal worker will get NGN70,000 a month for transport from November, for six months. The TUC says that is a stopgap, and that a similar NGN40,000 award in 2023 reached some workers late and others not at all. It wants the lowest-paid federal worker moved from NGN70,000 to NGN300,000. Other costs and deadlines are lining up. A Lagos resident has until 31 December to take out health insurance before enforcement starts on 1 January. A Nigerian applying for a UK student visa from 30 November must show £14,130 for living costs in London, held in the bank for 28 days. A Nigerian contributing to the National Housing Fund can now apply for a lease-to-own home, but FMBN has not said what it costs or how long repayment lasts. And in Ebonyi, a man allegedly collected NGN650,000 from a client while posing as a lawyer, and the Nigerian Bar Association’s website lets anyone look up a lawyer’s name before paying.
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Around the Community
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Wishing a very happy birthday to Sam Fosuhene! May this new year bring you good health, great wins and everything you are working toward. And a happy wedding anniversary to Daniel and Sydney Osagie! Wishing you both many more years of love, laughter and good health together. From all of us at Frontier Brief Media.
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Produced with AI assistance using open-source web content. Edited by Tomiwa Afolabi. Sources have not been independently verified by Frontier Brief Media. Readers are encouraged to consult original sources before acting on any information herein.
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