General
Maritime Workers Reject Planned 50% Deduction in NPA Revenue
By Adedapo Adesanya
Maritime workers, under the aegis of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), in the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), have rejected an order from the Ministry of Finance directing 50 per cent deduction from the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the NPA.
In a circular, the ministry had directed the port regulator to pay 50 per cent of its revenue into the federation account as part of efforts to raise more revenue.
In response, the labour group warned that such a move posed grave danger for port operations and development amongst others, and instead advocated for a 30 per cent IGR deduction.
The bodies called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene to avoid a looming industrial unrest over the issue.
The unions stated that if the 50 per cent is allowed to be, it will impact the constant dredging of the port channels, regular maintenance of the quay apron, maintenance of port jetties and terminals, manpower development discharge of its Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) and staff welfare.
The unions, however, recommended that 30 per cent of the agency’s IGR should be deducted while 70 per cent is left for it to take care of its overhead cost and statutory responsibilities.
The unions said: “We have carefully studied this circular especially as it relates to/affects the Nigerian Ports Authority and hasten to express our displeasure over same on the following grounds. Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is a self-funded Government Agency which receives zero allocation from the Government budget and taking a chunk of 50 per cent of its internally generated revenue will as a matter of fact stall or impede the effective discharge of its corporate responsibilities and the consequential effect of this will not be palatable.
“Our channels are probably the shallowest in the West Africa Sub-region, especially the Eastern Ports channels, they require constant dredging without which vessels cannot be easily plotted to berth, Dredging of the Ports channels require huge financial outlay.
“This will be pretty ditty to achieve when 50% of its internally generated revenue Is removed, The resultant effect will lead to ship owners diverting their vessels to our neighbouring countries where ease of doing business is provided.
“Almost all the ports quay aprons are in bad shape due to old age and they therefore constitute grave danger not only to men but also to equipment. We had at one time or the other expressed fear over the dilapidated condition of our port quay aprons.
“Maintaining and sustaining healthy quay aprons is capital intensive and if our quay aprons are this bad now, one can only imagine what the situation would look like when NPA Is denied 50 per cent of Its revenue. We need to be proactive as our neighbouring countries are very ready to capitalize on our inability to provide the required infrastructure to attract ship owners.
“Maintenance of ports, jetties and terminals is also capital intensive. Presently all the infrastructures in our Ports, Jetties and Terminals are in decrepit position, yawning for urgent repairs. How would they then look like when the Authority is denied 50 per cent of its internally generated revenue? The situation is better imagined than described.
“A healthy and well-trained workforce is a pre-requisite condition for improved productivity and efficient service delivery. Needless to say, port operations are specialised ones that require a well-trained workforce to compete favourably and take the lead to become the hub of maritime business in the West African sub-region. A 50 per cent deduction of NPA internally generated revenue will impede the attainment of this lofty dream.
“Nigerian Ports Authority operates in a hostile environment, especially in the Eastern axis (Niger Delta). Discharge of corporate social responsibilities over time has immensely doused their restiveness, and this has fostered a clement environment for the Authority and other stakeholders to operate.
“Automatic deduction of 50 per cent of its internally generated revenue shall leave the Authority, financially incapacitated to discharge these responsibilities to the host community which may lead them to resort to unhealthy activities.
“Staff welfare issues are issues that require urgent attention; failure of which usually leads to inclement industrial atmosphere. Automatic deduction of 50 per cent of revenue internally generated will incapacitate the Authority from prompt attendance to staff welfare matters which will lead to avoidable crises.
“Flowing from the above, we hereby reiterate our objection to the circular as it relates to the Nigerian Ports Authority.
“We recommend that 30 per cent of the revenue internally generated by the Authority could be automatically deducted whilst 70 per cent is left for the Authority to accomplish its overhead costs and statutory responsibilities, failure of which the Union would have no other option than to withdraw the services of its members from all port’s formations nationwide.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The presidency has reacted to speculations that Mr Femi Gbajabiamila has been removed as the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.
It was alleged that Mr Gbajabiamila has been replaced with the President’s Principal Private Secretary, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
Mr Muri-Okunola went to Abuja to take up this role after leaving as the Head of Service of the Lagos State Civil Service.
Reacting to the reports on social media on the purported removal of Mr Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, the presidency said no such change has been made.
In a statement signed on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, members of the public were advised to disregard the report as “there is absolutely no truth to this story.”
“The Chief of Staff remains in his position. The Principal Private Secretary likewise remains in his role. Hakeem Muri-Okunola has not replaced Femi Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff.
“The viral claim is a fabrication by mischievous purveyors of fake news whose sole aim is to create disharmony within the government.
“We reiterate that news media should always verify their information before publishing or sharing on social media,” the statement said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The new chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, has assumed office with a clear message to advance the country’s upstream oil and gas sector in line with the mandate of the commission as enshrined in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
According to a statement signed by Mr Eniola Akinkuotu, the Head of Media & Strategic Communications at the upstream regulator, the NUPRC boss made this assertation during her first town hall meeting with management and staff on Tuesday December 23, 2025.
She further disclosed plans to make the commission a business enabler and re-ignite investments in the upstream sector.
Recall that President Tinubu nominated Mrs Eyesan to take over the NUPRC after the abrupt resignation of her predecessor, Mr Gbenga Komolafe as well as his counterpart in the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Farouk Ahmed.
In her new capacity, Mrs Eyesan also set a firm production ambition of growing Nigeria’s output and increasing gas production.
“The goal is that we must enable the industry, we are regulators. We must enable the industry from our interactions with the stakeholders, from our interactions with everybody.
“My main objective is to ensure that we make a difference. I believe the NUPRC is at the Center of the industry,” she said.
The commission boss who has served for over three decades in the oil and gas sector, promised to entrench digitisation, transparency and efficiency in operations.
The NUPRC head said with the support of staff and management, the NUPRC will become the gold-standard regulator in Africa. She also promised capacity development, stronger technical depth and sustained engagement with stakeholders, unions and professional teams.
On leadership style, Mrs Eyesan promised an open-door policy and frequent staff engagement, while also soliciting for support and cooperation as the industry embarks on the next phase of transformation.
“If we work together we can unleash opportunities, I don’t see impediments only opportunities,” she added.
By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians to embrace religious tolerance, peace, and unity, urging citizens of all faiths to reject violence and intolerance amid ongoing security challenges across the country.
In his 2025 Christmas goodwill message issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President emphasised that no Nigerian should suffer discrimination or violence because of their religious beliefs, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to safeguarding freedom of worship and national cohesion.
“As your President, I remain committed to doing everything within my power to enshrine religious freedom in Nigeria and to protect all people of different faiths from violence,” Mr Tinubu said, noting that all Nigerians have the constitutional right to live, worship, and pursue their aspirations in safety and dignity.
The President acknowledged growing concerns around religious intolerance and insecurity, revealing that he had engaged extensively throughout the year with leaders of Nigeria’s two major faiths.
In the last few months, the country faced a spate of attacks including kidnapping of school children and armed terror, involving the death of a high ranking army personnel.
He also said the government would continue to build on these engagements to strengthen collaboration with religious institutions, prevent conflict, and promote peaceful coexistence.
President Tinubu described Christmas as a period for reflection on the message of Jesus Christ as the Prince of Peace, urging Nigerians to draw inspiration from values of love, compassion, and goodwill that cut across all major religions.
He commended Christians in Nigeria for their contributions to national development, particularly their role in caring for the vulnerable and promoting harmony within communities.
“The love for God and love for humanity is at the heart of all the great faiths. These shared values must continue to bind us together as one indivisible and resilient people,” he said.
Reiterating his administration’s stance on security, the President said the government’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s unity and stability has remained unwavering since he assumed office in 2023. He stressed that the state would not tolerate violence targeted at any group on the basis of ethnicity or belief.
President Tinubu also appealed to Nigerians travelling during the festive season to exercise patience and discipline on the roads, wishing them safe journeys and returns.
Expressing optimism about the country’s future, the President said that with faith in God and collective resolve, Nigeria would overcome its challenges and build a nation that future generations would be proud of.
He concluded by wishing Christians in Nigeria and around the world a Merry Christmas and Nigerians a happy New Year in advance.
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