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Reps Demand Immediate Suspension Of 50% Hike In Telecoms Tariff

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Reps Demand Immediate Suspension Of 50% Hike In Telecoms Tariff

Reps demand immediate suspension of 50% hike in telecoms tariff. Following a motion of urgent national importance by a member, Oboku Oforji, the House of Representatives on Tuesday called for the immediate suspension of the 50% hike in telecoms tariff.

The House also decried the poor service delivery from telecom operators and insisted that an increase in tariff should not happen until service improves.

The lawmakers ordered the NCC and the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, to suspend the tariff increase because of the economic hardship in the country.

This was as telecommunications operators in the country began the implementation of the new tariff regime earlier approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Many subscribers on social media who used the services of telecoms operators on Tuesday observed about 50% increase in the cost of calls, data and text messages. As of December 2023, Nigeria has over 224 million subscribers, according to official data by the regulator.

MTN boasts of over 87 million subscribers, representing 38.79% of the total market share, the highest in the country by any licensed Mobile Network Operator (MNO). Globacom and Airtel have 61 million subscribers each while 9mobile has 13.9 million users.

Earlier in January, the NCC said telephone subscribers in Nigeria would pay more for data and airtime as it approved a 50% tariff increase for telecoms operators in the country.

A spokesman for the regulator Reuben Muoka had said the price adjustment though lower than the “over 100% requested by some network operators, was arrived at taking into account ongoing industry reforms that will positively influence sustainability”.

Telecoms

Telecoms

The regulator had said the increase was pursuant to its power under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 (NCA) to regulate and approve tariff rates and charges by telecommunications operators.

Also, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had threatened an industrial action, demanding a reversal of the hike but the labour unions aborted their rallies after last-minute talks with government representatives.

Economy

FULL LIST: Patience Jonathan, Ganduje Affected As FCTA Begins Enforcement On Revoked Property Titles

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Patience Jonathan

FULL LIST: Patience Jonathan, Ganduje Affected As FCTA Begins Enforcement On Revoked Property Titles

FULL LIST: Patience Jonathan, Ganduje affected as FCTA begins enforcement on revoked property titles. The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has published the names of entities and individuals linked to 1,095 property titles recently revoked over the non-payment of statutory land charges.

The affected properties are located in high-brow districts including Asokoro, Maitama, Garki and Wuse.

In a public notice signed by the FCTA management, the agency said enforcement actions against the properties will commence following the expiration of the final grace period of 14 days on November 25, 2025.

The FCTA said 835 properties defaulted in payment of ground rents, while 260 properties defaulted in payment of violation fee and land use conversion fee.

Patience Jonathan

Patience Jonathan

Among the individuals whose properties were listed in the notice are Abdullahi Ganduje, former governor of Kano; Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River; Patience Jonathan, wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan; David Mark, former senate president; and Iyiola Omisore, former deputy governor of Osun.

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UCH Resident Doctors Resume Work After Month-Long Nationwide Strike

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Resident Doctors (NARD)

UCH Resident Doctors Resume Work After Month-Long Nationwide Strike

UCH resident doctors resume work after month-long nationwide strike. Resident doctors at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, have resumed work after a month-long nationwide strike.

Resident doctors at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, have resumed work after a month-long nationwide strike.

The doctors had been on strike since November 1, following the directives of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors.
The NARD directed its members nationwide to embark on an indefinite strike, following the government’s failure to address their demands.
The association demands a 200 per cent increase in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure and the full implementation of new allowances proposed since July 2022.

The doctors also demand immediate recruitment of clinical staff and the removal of bureaucratic bottlenecks that are delaying the replacement of exited doctors, among other demands.

The president of the UCH’s NARD, Gboyega Ajibola, said that the NARD National Executive Council met on November 29 to reappraise the situation. He noted that the government had met most of their immediate and short-term demands.

According to Mr Ajibola, a memorandum of understanding had been signed with the government, enumerating each of the association’s demands and the points of execution.
“Based on the satisfactory terms of the MoU, the NARD NEC decided to suspend the industrial action and give the government a period of four weeks to reappraise the efforts of the government as contained in the signed MoU.

Resident Doctors (NARD)

Resident Doctors (NARD)

“Having suspended the strike on November 29, as in the tradition of NARD, each centre was mandated to hold a congress on December 1, for all centre presidents to brief their members on development.

“After the brief, the centre presidents will direct all members to resume at their duty posts. In compliance with this, a congress was held at 8:00 a.m. today (Monday), where members were updated and directed to resume work,” he said.
Mr Ajibola explained that all members resumed work on Monday.

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Plateau Recorded 2,786 New HIV Infections In 2024

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Plateau

Plateau Recorded 2,786 New HIV Infections In 2024

Plateau recorded 2,786 new HIV infections in 2024. Mr Ba’amlong noted that there had been progress in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission.

Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Nicholas Ba’amlong,  has said the state recorded 2,786 new cases of HIV infections and 460 related deaths in 2024.

Mr Ba’amlong disclosed this on Monday in Jos at an event to commemorate the 2025 World AIDS Day, marked globally on December 1, with the theme “Overcoming Disruption: Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV Response.”

He said that 51,370 persons were living with HIV in the state as of September 2025, comprising 14,001 males and 33,055 females.
He added that 47,056 adults and 1,835 children were currently receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).
The commissioner explained that 98,403 persons were screened between January and September 2025, out of which 1,910 tested positive.
Mr Ba’amlong noted that there had been progress in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, adding that 30,743 pregnant women were tested within the period, and 39 who tested positive had been linked to care.
He said the state had expanded HIV testing services to more than 900 health facilities and intensified awareness on prevention and treatment.
The commissioner called for stronger community engagement, improved access to healthcare, and increased investment in research and innovation to sustain progress against the disease.

He commended Governor Caleb Mutfwang for approving funds used to procure HIV dual test kits, which he said had been distributed to health facilities across the state.

Mr Ba’amlong also lauded development partners for supporting the delivery of quality healthcare services.
Similarly, the executive director of the Plateau AIDS Control Agency (PLACA), Esther Turaki, said the state had achieved a viral load suppression rate of 92 per cent as of June 2025.

Ms Turaki described the HIV Domestic Resource Mobilisation and Sustainability (DRMS) Strategy as a critical initiative aimed at standardising and scaling existing efforts while introducing innovative financing mechanisms.

Plateau

Plateau

According to her, the strategy sets out a clear plan for mobilising new domestic resources by identifying funding sources, annual targets and key actions required for implementation.
She applauded Mr Mutfwang for his sustained support to the agency.

The keynote address was delivered by Chris Isichei, who urged governments to reduce reliance on donor funding and establish a dedicated HIV funding bank as external support continues to decline.

He also encouraged the Plateau State government to integrate HIV and AIDS treatment into the state’s health insurance scheme.

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