By Adedapo Adesanya

The Ogun State Government says it has commenced full implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in a bid to resolve the ongoing industrial action that has disrupted public services across.

Speaking with labour leaders, the governor of the state, Mr Dapo Abiodun, said the scheme commenced on July 2, 2025, describing the move as a decisive step toward restoring trust between the state and its workforce.

“This is not just a policy adjustment, it is a commitment to ensuring that our workers are not deprived of what is rightfully theirs,” the governor said.

He also said the state government has also rolled out a 10-year framework to clear outstanding pension liabilities in two five-year tranches, scheduled for completion by 2035.

Mr Abiodun promised that the arrangement would be codified into law to ensure continuity beyond his administration, revealing that in addition to the pension reform, his administration will implement long-delayed promotions from 2023 and 2024.

Workers promoted in 2023 will begin receiving salary increases reflective of their new ranks in September 2025 while those promoted in 2024 will see theirs by December, three months earlier than the initial March 2026 timeline, he promised.

The Organised labour under the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Ogun State commenced an indefinite strike over the government’s failure to remit pension deductions, implement the national minimum wage, and address other unresolved issues.

Speaking on Monday, the Ogun State Chairman of NLC, Mr Demola Hameed-Benco, said this followed a resolution reached at a statewide congress of civil service workers in Abeokuta, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The statement directed all civil and public servants to withdraw their services immediately, citing the government’s alleged non-compliance with the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) established under the Ogun State Pension Reform Law of 2008, amended in 2013.

At the time, Mr Abiodun said the strike was unnecessary and avoidable.

“There was no need for industrial action when we could have sat down to iron out the issues,” he said, urging union leaders to prioritize dialogue moving forward.

The governor further emphasized that structural measures had been put in place to ensure a seamless rollout of the CPS, aimed at guaranteeing retirement security for civil servants.

On their part, the labour leaders said the strike was not intended to paralyze the state’s economy or undermine its peace, but rather to safeguard the rights of workers.

They thanked the Ogun governor and pledged to continue cooperating with the government, reaffirming their commitment to maintaining the state’s reputation.

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigerian subnational governments have demanded an immediate halt to the ongoing amendment of the recently passed Electricity Act (EA).

Coming under the Forum of Commissioners of Power and Energy (FOCPEN), the states decried what they described as the lack of consultation by the federal government and the industry regulator, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), concerning the extant matter.

They argued that if the move succeeds, it will see the transfer of over N5 trillion in subsidies from the federal government to power consumers.

In a lengthy statement released by the Chairman of the Forum, Mr Eka Williams, who doubles as the Commissioner of Power and Renewable Energy, Cross River State and its Secretary, Mr Omale Omale, who is the Commissioner of Power, Renewable Energy and Transport, Benue State, the group expressed profound surprise and concern regarding the proposed Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

Recall that this comes almost two years since the Electricity Act 2023 was signed into law, and since then, some states established and operationalise their electricity markets under the new decentralised framework.

Business Post reports that around 16 states having passed their electricity laws since the enactment of the Electricity Act by President Bola Tinubu..

They argued that the amendment, if successful, would strip them of the powers conferred by the existing law.

“The amendment bill proposes the creation of numerous federal institutions, agencies and funds, whose operational and administrative costs are to be directly passed on to electricity consumers, thus resulting in higher electricity tariffs for consumers. The imposition of additional financial burden on electricity customers already struggling with high electricity tariffs for Band ‘A’ service is unacceptable, especially when states are actively pursuing cost-reflective tariffs tied to improved quality of service.

“In addition, the bill specifies mandatory contributions from consumers and market participants to fund the Power Consumer Assistance Fund (PCAF). Consumers, including those in states with cost-reflective tariffs, would bear the cost of subsidies through tariff surcharges, even in the face of widespread non-payment and market losses. By this provision, the amendment bill would also transfer over N5 trillion in unpaid subsidies to electricity consumers, worsening affordability and equity in electricity access,” the commissioners argued.

FOCPEN noted that the absence of any prior consultations with state governments, or their relevant commissioners and state electricity regulatory bodies during the drafting and presentation of the crucial amendment bill on the floor of the senate.

According to the commissioners, the unilateral approach undermines the spirit of cooperative federalism and threatens to reverse the gains made in decentralising Nigeria’s electricity sector.

The group described the move as an unconstitutional overreach and backdoor constitutional amendment, adding that the federal government was seeking to reintroduce constraints and ambiguities that were expressly removed by the fifth alteration of the Constitution.

“The amendment bill, if passed, will create a constitutional conflict between the federal government and states, as well as legal and regulatory conflicts between federal and state regulators, undermining the principle of cooperative federalism and potentially inviting judicial challenges,” they emphasised.

The state governments maintained that the electricity amendment bill 2025 surprisingly seeks to entrench a subsidy regime in the power sector, arguing that it will further exacerbate the financial burden on the federal government and states, undermining efforts to achieve a sustainable and self-financing power sector.

They stressed that the amendment bill, if passed, will create policy, legal and regulatory conflicts between federal and state agencies/regulators, significantly increasing regulatory uncertainty and risks for both federal and state-level investors in the electricity market.

The 52nd Annual General Meeting and Congress of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) begins in Ibadan, bringing together key stakeholders from across Nigeria’s advertising and marketing ecosystem for three days of industry-defining dialogue, networking, and celebration.

The event taking place at JAGZ Hotel in the Iyaganku area of Ibadan, has as theme, “Charting Bold Paths Forward”. The theme reflects the industry’s collective commitment to innovation, resilience, and transformative leadership in a fast-changing environment.

The AGM/Congress will begin with a fireside chat at 7PM with Dr Lekan Fadolapo, Director-General, Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON).

The main conference will be held on Friday, with Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State scheduled to declare it open. He will be joined by dignitaries including the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi. They are expected to drive high-level conversations around policy, regulation, and the future of the creative economy.

A major highlight of the day will be keynote addresses from Idowu Akinde, CEO of Impact Hub Lagos, and Bolanle Osotule, GM, Brand Marketing and Advertising at Airtel Nigeria. This will be followed by a high-level panel discussion moderated by Oluwatobi Williams, Creative Director at 7even Interactive.

Panelists expected at the session include Damola Richard Salvador, MD/CEO, Digisplash Limited; Dr. Seun Fakorede, Executive Adviser, Youth & Sports to the Oyo State Governor; Josiah Akinola, Senior Category & Channel Manager, Nigerian Breweries; George Onukwu, Executive Director, TBWA\Concept.

According to AAAN President, Lanre Adisa, the theme of this year’s congress is a direct response to the shifting terrain of marketing communications.

“The business landscape is changing fast. And while some see disruption, we see opportunity. The future belongs to agencies bold enough to rethink, retool, and reimagine the value they bring,” Adisa said.

The final day of the AGM/Congress will be dedicated to governance and reflection. After team bonding and a breakfast session, the Business Session will begin, featuring updates on AAAN’s leadership, financial reports, and the induction of new members. Three agency presentations by Noor Takaful Insurance, Conduit Plus, and Retinaad Limited will also take place.

The event will close with a Gala and Awards Night, where advertising professionals will be celebrated for excellence in the industry. Attendees will don traditional aso oke attire, and special awards such as So Your Kolo’s Best Dressed will also be presented.