Economy
Senate: Bill To Regulate Informal Sector Recruitment Passes Second Reading
Senate: Bill To Regulate Informal Sector Recruitment Passes Second Reading
Senate: Bill to regulate informal sector recruitment passes second reading. The senate has passed for second reading a bill seeking to regulate and formalise employment in the informal sector by licensing private job agencies.
Titled: ‘Informal Sector Private Employment Agencies (Regulation) Bill, 2025’, the legislation is sponsored by Sani Musa, senator representing Niger east.
The bill proposes that the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) be empowered to license and monitor private employment agencies, which would register workers, ensure fair recruitment, and protect employees’ rights and benefits.
Leading the debate on the bill, Musa said informal workers — including domestic workers, apprentices, and interns — remain largely unprotected and vulnerable despite constituting over 65 percent of the Nigerian workforce.
“The informal sector is usually regarded as the residual labour market where labour is highly heterogeneous and sources of income are not largely wage dependent, working time is discretionary and some jobs are not paid for at all,” he said.
“Operations in the sector are usually in small scale; production technique is labour intensive and ownership is usually private. In most cases, the workers in this sector are family members, apprentices and few paid employees.”
He said the sector is plagued by labour rights violations, poor wages, and non-compliance with International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, despite being a vital economic lifeline for millions.
“The informal sector of the Nigerian economy show evidence of violation of employees’ rights and non-implementation of labour regulations,” he said.
“This bill is designed to correct the decent work deficit by promoting fair treatment, decent remuneration, and protection of workers’ rights in line with ILO conventions to which Nigeria is a signatory.”
Musa said the bill would establish a framework for the NDE to issue licences only to agencies that meet financial accountability, legal compliance, and proper documentation criteria.
“This bill empowers the National Directorate of Employment to issue licences and monitor the activities of Employment Agencies throughout the country.”
He added that licensing officers would be deployed nationwide to enforce compliance and ensure transparency in the operations of these agencies.
Contributing to the debate, Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo north, raised concerns about potential abuse of the licensing system and the outsourcing of government responsibilities.
Senate
“We cannot create multiple centres of fraud under the guise of private sector participation,” he said.
“It’s already happening — security staff earn as little as N40,000 while appearing to work for the government. This bill could make that kind of abuse even worse.”
Diket Plang, chairman of the senate committee on labour and productivity, reminded the chamber that a similar bill aimed at domestic workers had already undergone a public hearing.
“This job is already the statutory responsibility of the federal ministry of labour. We can consolidate the two bills,” Plang said.
Osita Izunaso, senator representing Imo west, also urged harmonisation of the bill with existing legislation to avoid duplication and conflict.
The senate subsequently referred the bill to the committee on employment, labour and productivity, which is expected to submit its report in six weeks.
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.
The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.
Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.
He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.
“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.
Lagos Assembly
“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”
Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.
Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.
He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.
Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.
Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.
EFCC
Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.
The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.
Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.
Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.
Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.
She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.
“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”
Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.
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