News
2027: Kanam Youths Back Tinubu, Mutfwang, Demand Senate Slot
Youths under the umbrella of the Coalition of Kanam Ethnic Youths Nationalities have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Plateau State Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang for a second term in 2027, while also calling for the Plateau Central senatorial seat to be zoned to Kanam Local Government Area.
The endorsement was announced during a gathering held at the Multi-purpose Conference Centre in Dengi, headquarters of Kanam LGA, where youth leaders and stakeholders converged to deliberate on the political future of the area.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Mr. Sadiq Kwaltommai and Mr. Mustapha Bayuma said the decision followed extensive consultations across the 20 wards of Kanam, culminating in a unanimous agreement to support both leaders for re-election.
The group said its endorsement of President Tinubu was based on what it described as visible progress under his Renewed Hope Agenda, including efforts to stabilize the economy, address insecurity, and execute major infrastructure projects across the country.
“We commend the President’s bold decisions and commitment to long-term development, particularly projects that will have lasting impact on Northern Nigeria,” the coalition stated.
On Governor Mutfwang, the youths described their endorsement as “earned, not given,” citing several developmental projects executed in Kanam LGA. These include ongoing road rehabilitation projects such as the Amper–Dengi and Gishare–Gwamlar–Gidgid roads, upgrades to healthcare facilities including General Hospital Dengi, improvements in school infrastructure, and agricultural support programs for farmers.
They added that regular payment of salaries and support for traditional institutions have also contributed to improving livelihoods in the area.
The coalition, however, used the occasion to press for what it termed “equity and fairness” in political representation, insisting that Kanam LGA should produce the next senator for Plateau Central in 2027.
According to the group, Kanam remains the only local government in the senatorial district yet to occupy the position since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, despite having one of the highest voter populations in the zone.
“We therefore endorse Ephraim Usman for the Plateau Central senatorial seat. Justice demands that Kanam be given the opportunity to represent the zone at the Senate,” the statement read.
They noted that the LGA has consistently supported candidates from other parts of the district in previous elections and now expects reciprocal support in the spirit of rotational equity.
Also speaking, the Leader of the Kanam Legislative Arm, Duba-Allahyafi Samson, reinforced the call for fairness, pointing out that some areas have repeatedly occupied key political offices while others remain excluded.
He urged political stakeholders to consider balancing representation across the district to sustain unity and inclusiveness.
The event concluded with the coalition congratulating Nentawe Yiltwada on his emergence as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, describing it as a significant milestone for Plateau State and a positive development for Nigeria’s democratic process.
Business
ICJ Affirms Right to Strike as Global Landmark Victory, Sparks Debate Between Labor and NECA
BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—The organized labor movement on Monday hailed a recent ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) confirming that the right to strike is implicit in Convention 87 as a landmark victory for workers worldwide.
However, the ruling has sparked a fresh domestic debate, with labor representatives strongly criticizing the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) for attempting to downplay the judgment’s impact.
The controversy escalated following a television appearance by the Director-General of NECA, Mr. Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde.
Speaking on TVC, Oyerinde argued that the right to strike is not automatic and asserted that workers must still adhere strictly to existing local labor laws, specifically citing Section 43 of the Trade Dispute Act (TDA).
He also suggested that a meeting of social partners to establish complimentary conditions remains a necessary precondition before any strike action can be declared.
Labor representatives quickly fired back, labeling Oyerinde’s remarks as an “unnecessary academic exercise in futility” and a selective interpretation of international law. Critics accused the NECA boss of being economical with the historical background of the dispute, pointing out that the issue had already undergone exhaustive debate across various levels of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
The legal battle began when the global Employers’ Group challenged whether the right to strike was protected under Convention 87.
After the ILO Governing Board affirmed the right through a majority decision, the Employers’ Group appealed the matter to the ICJ. As the highest judicial body in the world, the ICJ’s subsequent ruling in favor of workers is considered definitive and legally binding.
Labor advocates emphasize that Nigeria ratified Convention 87 in 1960, signaling a long-standing commitment to its principles. They argue that following the ICJ’s conclusive verdict, both the Nigerian government and employer bodies like NECA are obligated to obey the law unconditionally rather than selectively hiding behind local statutes to weaken workers’ rights.
Reassuring the public and the business community, labor stakeholders maintained that a strike has never been the first option for workers, but rather a last resort. They cautioned that an adversarial interpretation of the ICJ ruling by employers would only harm industrial harmony, urging instead for mutual respect and total adherence to international legal frameworks to guide future industrial relations in Nigeria.
The post ICJ Affirms Right to Strike as Global Landmark Victory, Sparks Debate Between Labor and NECA appeared first on Business Today NG.
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