Economy
President Trump Initiates Mass Layoffs At Voice Of America

President Trump Initiates Mass Layoffs At Voice Of America
President Trump initiates mass layoffs at Voice of America. The Trump administration has begun mass layoffs at Voice of America (VOA) and other US-funded media outlets, signaling plans to significantly downsize platforms long considered key to US global influence.
On Sunday, contractors at VOA received emails notifying them of their termination by the end of March, instructing them to immediately cease work and refrain from accessing agency buildings or systems. These contractors, many of whom are non-US citizens, face job losses that could affect their visa status.
Meanwhile, full-time VOA employees—who have greater legal protections—were placed on administrative leave and instructed not to work.
VOA, established during World War II, broadcasts in 49 languages to audiences in countries with restricted media freedoms.
However, Trump’s executive order signed on Friday targeted its parent organization, the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), as part of broader federal spending cuts.
The layoffs have left VOA in limbo, forcing some services to resort to playing music due to a lack of new programming.
The cuts also affected other US-backed broadcasters, including:
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, established during the Cold War.
Radio Free Asia, which provides news to China, North Korea, and other restricted regions.
Radio Farda, a Persian-language station blocked in Iran.
Alhurra, an Arabic-language network launched after the Iraq invasion.

Voice Of America
The White House defended the move, stating that “taxpayers are no longer funding radical propaganda”—a claim rarely associated with VOA before Trump.
The former president has often criticized the media and questioned VOA’s editorial independence, despite its traditional role in countering authoritarian narratives.
The layoffs come at a time when China and Russia are heavily investing in their state-run media to compete with Western outlets.
China’s Global Times, commenting on VOA’s decline, claimed that Western media’s monopoly on information is crumbling and suggested that VOA’s “demonizing narratives” against China would soon become irrelevant.
Economy
Strike: NASU Gives WAEC 7-Day Ultimatum

Strike: NASU Gives WAEC 7-Day Ultimatum
Strike: NASU gives WAEC 7-day ultimatum. The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) management to address a four-point demand related to workers’ welfare and alleged victimization of labor leaders.

NASU Gives WAEC 7-Day
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Monday, NASU General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, warned that all WAEC offices across the country would be shut down from Monday, March 24, if the demands are not met.
Economy
Akwa Ibom LG Chairman Sets To Report Construction Company For Poor Performance

Akwa Ibom LG Chairman Sets To Report Construction Company For Poor Performance
Akwa Ibom LG Chairman sets to report construction company for poor performance. Ikot Ekpene Chairman, Hon. Aniefiok Nkom, has threatened to send digital copies of the Ikot Ekpene – Aba road one-lane construction to Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, despite allegedly underperforming as a council chairman in recent months.
Nkom, whose achievements have been limited to painting the old Ikot Ekpene council secretariat, grading truck parks, and providing limited educational support JAMB forms, made this announcement during a peaceful demonstration by students of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua.
The students were protesting persistent brutality and harassment by officers from the Nigerian Police Force, Ikot Ekpene Division, and QIU, Ikot Ekpene Division.
The council chairman accused the construction company, Messrs CGGC Global Projects Nigeria Limited, of building a one-lane carriage instead of the approved dualized road, referencing Contract No.6569 and Project Code ERGP12141436 under the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, awarded in 2019.
Nkom stated, “For those of us from Ikot Ekpene, you have seen this road. For those coming from Aba, you can see where they stopped the dual carriage.
Now, they are constructing a single lane to Ikot Ekpene. This is what we are talking about when we mention injustice.”

Akwa Ibom
He further mentioned his intention to document the road’s condition with NTA and send the footage to the Senate President, calling the situation a serious embarrassment to Akwa Ibom State.
Addressing the issue of police brutality against Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic students, Nkom asserted that any policeman or army officer who harasses a student without any offense will face consequences, urging students to always carry their identity cards.
Economy
PenOp Vows To Comply With PenCom’s 3-Day Pension Payment Directive

PenOp Vows To Comply With PenCom’s 3-Day Pension Payment Directive
PenOp vows to comply with PenCom’s 3-day pension payment directive. The Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp) has assured the National Pension Commission (PenCom) that its members will comply with the recent directive to settle all pension benefits within three working days.
The National Pension Commission has mandated Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and fund custodians to approve and pay pension benefits to eligible applicants within three working days of receiving complete applications.
Oguche Agudah, chief executive officer of PenOp, speaking in Lagos, said that the directive was positive and could foster accountability.
Mr Agudah said PenOp members were fully aligned with PenCom’s efforts to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the pension system in Nigeria.
He said, “This is a good development for pensioners, Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), and the entire system.

PenOp Vows To Comply
“PFAs are going to comply with this new directive, which is set to begin in June. We will ensure service levels are maintained, and we will also ensure people get their money as and when due.
“We recognise the importance of timely payment of pension benefits to retirees, and we are committed to working with PenCom to achieve this goal.”
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