₦300,000 MINIMUM WAGE: MẸKUNNU KỌYA BACKS FEDERAL WORKERS FORUM, CHALLENGES OPS ON ECONOMIC LOGIC

₦300,000 MINIMUM WAGE: MẸKUNNU KỌYA BACKS FEDERAL WORKERS FORUM, CHALLENGES OPS ON ECONOMIC LOGIC

Growth Without Purchasing Power Is Not Shared Prosperity.

Mẹkunnu Kọya unequivocally supports the demand by the Federal Workers Forum for an immediate review of the salaries of federal civil servants and an upward review of the national minimum wage from the present ₦70,000 to ₦300,000.

We consider the argument by sections of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) that a ₦300,000 minimum wage would necessarily trigger hyperinflation, stagflation, massive job losses and economic dislocation to be incomplete and insufficiently supported by the totality of available economic evidence.

We do not dispute that a substantial wage increase can generate inflationary pressures if it is not accompanied by increased productivity and domestic production. But economic policy cannot reasonably focus exclusively on the possible inflationary consequences of higher wages while ignoring the demonstrable economic consequences of maintaining millions of workers on wages whose purchasing power has been severely eroded.

The fundamental question is:

What can ₦70,000 actually buy for a Nigerian worker in 2026, and can that amount reasonably sustain a worker and a family in today's economy?

The answer is increasingly obvious: ₦70,000 is grossly inadequate.

GDP IS GROWING — BUT HOUSEHOLD PURCHASING POWER REMAINS UNDER PRESSURE

The Federal Government has repeatedly pointed to improving macroeconomic indicators as evidence that its reforms are working.

The National Bureau of Statistics reports that Nigeria's real GDP grew by 3.89% year-on-year in Q1 2026.

The IMF projects Nigeria's real GDP growth at 4.1% in 2026, while nominal GDP is projected to rise from approximately ₦442 trillion in 2025 to ₦529 trillion in 2026.

The World Bank similarly says Nigeria has made meaningful progress in restoring macroeconomic stability, with economic growth remaining robust. But it simultaneously warns that household incomes have yet to recover fully and poverty remains high.

This is the contradiction that must be confronted.

If the Nigerian economy is growing, why should the Nigerian worker remain trapped at a wage whose purchasing power has been substantially destroyed by the cost-of-living crisis?

“GDP growth cannot become a statistic celebrated by government while the workers who produce the goods and services underlying that GDP are told that their wages must remain depressed indefinitely.”

Economic growth is meaningful only when it progressively improves the material conditions of the population.

DISINFLATION DOES NOT RESTORE LOST PURCHASING POWER

The OPS argument also needs to distinguish between falling inflation and falling prices.

The World Bank's April 2026 Nigeria Development Update notes that inflation declined to around 15%, but explicitly cautions that inflation remains high.

The IMF projects average consumer-price inflation of 16.0% in 2026, following an estimated 23.0% in 2025 and 33.2% in 2024.

This is critical.

A decline in inflation does not mean that prices have returned to their earlier levels.

Disinflation is not deflation.

When prices rise dramatically for several years and subsequently begin rising more slowly, the prices do not automatically return to where they were.

Consequently, workers cannot be told that because the inflation rate has declined, the existing ₦70,000 wage has somehow recovered its purchasing power.

It has not.

THE POVERTY DATA STRENGTHENS THE CASE FOR A LIVING WAGE

The IMF's 2026 Article IV consultation presents an even more compelling picture.

According to the IMF, poverty is estimated to have reached 63% at the national poverty line, while approximately 27 million Nigerians were estimated to have faced food insecurity in the autumn of 2025.

These are not abstract statistics.

They describe an economy in which a substantial proportion of the population is struggling to meet basic needs.

Therefore, the question before policymakers cannot simply be:

“Can employers afford to pay ₦300,000?”

There must be another equally important question:

“Can Nigerian workers afford to live on ₦70,000?”

If the answer is no, maintaining the existing wage also carries enormous economic costs.

Poverty, indebtedness, malnutrition, inability to pay school fees, inadequate healthcare, poor housing and declining worker productivity are not cost-free.

They impose costs on households, businesses and government.

₦300,000 IS NOT A DEMAND TO PRINT MONEY

Mẹkunnu Kọya does not advocate reckless monetary expansion or indiscriminate borrowing to finance wage increases.

Neither do we argue that wages can rise indefinitely without regard to productivity.

Our position is more rational:

Nigeria needs a wage-and-productivity strategy.

Higher wages must be accompanied by:

• increased domestic food production;
• improved electricity supply;
• lower energy costs;
• improved transportation infrastructure;
• reduced logistics costs;
• reduced multiple taxation;
• stronger industrial production;
• improved productivity;
• better public expenditure management;
• stronger revenue mobilisation; and
• targeted social protection.

The answer to low productivity cannot permanently be low wages.

The answer to low productivity is higher productivity.

REVENUE MUST ALSO SERVE THE PEOPLE

The government has undertaken significant revenue and fiscal reforms.

The World Bank's April 2026 Nigeria Development Update notes, among other measures, that a February 2026 Executive Order concerning taxes, royalties and profit oil under Production Sharing Contracts is expected to generate additional revenue equivalent to approximately 0.4% of GDP annually and improve transparency in oil-revenue flows.

This demonstrates an important principle:

Fiscal space is not entirely fixed.

Government can improve revenue collection.

Government can reduce leakages.

Government can improve tax administration.

Government can reform public expenditure.

Government can eliminate waste.

Government can reprioritise expenditure.

Therefore, the argument should not simply be that Nigeria cannot afford better wages.

The government should show Nigerians what it can afford, what it chooses to spend and what it is prepared to reprioritise.

DEBT MUST NOT BECOME AN EXCUSE FOR PERMANENT WAGE SUPPRESSION

Mẹkunnu Kọya recognises Nigeria's debt challenge.

The Debt Management Office continues to publish Nigeria's debt position and debt-service obligations, including the Federal Government's actual domestic and external debt-service payments for 2026.

We therefore do not advocate irresponsible borrowing.

But debt sustainability and workers' welfare are not mutually exclusive policy objectives.

The IMF has itself emphasised the importance of strengthening public financial management, improving budget processes and ensuring that reform gains benefit Nigerians.

The debate must therefore be about priorities, productivity and value for money, not simply whether Nigerian workers should remain on an inadequate wage.

THE PRIVATE SECTOR'S FEAR OF INFLATION DESERVES A BALANCED RESPONSE

Mẹkunnu Kọya acknowledges the concern expressed by the Organised Private Sector that a large wage increase could increase operating costs and inflation.

That concern deserves to be taken seriously.

But it is equally important to recognise that Nigerian inflation is not caused by wages alone.

The IMF's analysis identifies a combination of factors affecting inflation, including food and energy prices, exchange-rate developments and supply-side pressures.

It is therefore misleading to portray workers' demand for better wages as though it were the principal threat to macroeconomic stability.

Indeed, the opposite can also occur.

A worker who cannot afford adequate food, transportation, healthcare and housing is unlikely to achieve maximum productivity.

A hungry workforce is not a productive workforce.

An indebted workforce is not a productive workforce.

A workforce whose real income is continuously eroded is not the foundation of sustainable economic growth.

WORKERS ARE ALSO CONSUMERS

The OPS must also recognise that workers are consumers.

Every naira earned by a worker is recycled into the domestic economy through expenditure on:

• food;
• transportation;
• rent;
• education;
• healthcare;
• clothing;
• telecommunications;
• household goods; and
• other services.

A better-paid workforce therefore creates purchasing power and domestic demand.

The objective should be to ensure that increased purchasing power is accompanied by increased domestic production.

The correct economic strategy is therefore:

Higher wages + higher productivity + higher domestic production = stronger and more inclusive economic growth.

The alternative — suppressing wages while prices continue to rise — risks creating an economy in which businesses may produce goods but millions of Nigerians increasingly lack the purchasing power to buy them.

WHY ₦300,000?

Mẹkunnu Kọya does not pretend that ₦300,000 is a magical economic figure.

Rather, we understand the Federal Workers Forum's demand as a necessary negotiating benchmark for restoring the purchasing power and dignity of Nigerian workers after years of severe economic deterioration.

The figure should therefore be subjected to transparent negotiations among government, labour and employers.

But negotiations must begin from economic reality, not from the assumption that ₦70,000 is adequate.

If government considers ₦300,000 fiscally impossible, let it publish the numbers.

Let government publish:

1. the number of federal workers affected;
2. the present federal personnel bill;
3. the additional annual cost of ₦300,000;
4. projected revenue;
5. projected productivity gains;
6. savings from expenditure reforms;
7. projected inflationary consequences; and
8. the proposed financing mechanism.

Let Nigerians see the figures.

“Workers should not be asked to accept poverty on the basis of undocumented claims of unaffordability.”

OUR POSITION

Mẹkunnu Kọya therefore:

1. Supports the Federal Workers Forum's demand for an immediate review of federal workers' salaries.

2. Supports the proposed review of the national minimum wage from ₦70,000 toward ₦300,000, subject to transparent tripartite negotiations and a credible implementation framework.

3. Calls on the Federal Government to publish a complete fiscal impact assessment of the proposed ₦300,000 wage.

4. Calls for an automatic wage-review mechanism linked to inflation, productivity and the cost of living.

5. Calls for simultaneous measures to increase domestic production and reduce the cost of food, energy, transportation and housing.

6. Calls on government to reduce wasteful expenditure and redirect resources toward productive investment and human capital.

7. Calls on the Organised Private Sector to engage labour constructively rather than presenting workers' demand for a living wage as an economic threat.

8. Calls for a national wage-and-productivity pact under which wage improvements are accompanied by measures to increase productivity, reduce business costs and expand domestic production.

CONCLUSION: IF THE ECONOMY IS GROWING, WORKERS MUST GROW WITH IT

The central issue is not whether Nigeria's economy is growing.

The NBS says it is.

The IMF says real GDP is projected to grow by 4.1% in 2026, with nominal GDP projected at about ₦529 trillion.

The World Bank says macroeconomic stability has improved, inflation has eased and growth remains robust — but it also says household incomes have yet to recover fully and poverty remains high.

That is precisely why wage review is necessary.

Economic reform cannot be judged only by GDP, exchange rates, reserves or government revenue.

It must also be judged by what happens to the worker's purchasing power.

“If Nigeria's economy is growing, Nigerian workers must grow with it. If government revenue is increasing, workers must share in the national prosperity. If reforms are working, their benefits must be felt in the homes of ordinary Nigerians.”

Mẹkunnu Kọya therefore calls on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly, organised labour and the Organised Private Sector to approach the ₦300,000 demand with empirical evidence, transparency and social responsibility.

We reject the false choice between economic growth and workers' welfare.

Nigeria needs both.

The objective should be an economy in which businesses remain viable, government remains fiscally responsible, productivity rises and workers receive wages that enable them to live with dignity.

₦70,000 cannot be treated as sacred while the cost of living continues to change.

The worker must not be permanently sacrificed in the name of economic reform.

If Nigeria's economy is recovering, the Nigerian worker must be allowed to recover with it.

Signed:

COMRADE WALE BALOGUN
Convener, Mẹkunnu Kọya

Writes from Lagos

September 8, 2026

GAFAMORG Demands ACJL Domestication, Living Wage, Democratic Safeguards for State Police

GAFAMORG Chairman Demands ACJL Domestication, N300,000 Living Wage, Democratic Safeguards for State Police

At 17th Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Lecture, Tunde Agunbiade Says Security Without Safeguards Could Become Tool of Political Repression, Calls for Criminal Justice Reform and Accountability

By Our Correspondent

The Chairman of the Governing Council of the Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organisation (GAFAMORG), Comrade Tunde Agunbiade, has called for the urgent domestication and effective implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) across Nigeria, a N300,000 living-wage benchmark, and the introduction of mandatory democratic safeguards as a condition for the establishment of State Police.

Agunbiade made the demands in his welcome address at the 17th Chief Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Lecture and Civil Justice Legacy Project, held on Saturday, September 5, 2026.

The memorial lecture was organised under the theme: “Democracy, Human Dignity and the Nigerian State: Living Wage, Security and Accountability in the Public Interest.”

The State Police question was examined under the sub-theme: “State Police, Democratic Safeguards and Constitutional Accountability: Security for Whom and in Whose Interest?”

Agunbiade said the memorial was not intended to be another annual ceremony for celebrating the memory of the late human-rights lawyer, activist, publisher and philanthropist, Chief Ganiyu Oyesola Fawehinmi, SAN, SAM, but a platform for continuing the struggle for justice, human dignity and democratic accountability.

“We remember Gani. But more importantly: WE ARE HERE TO CONTINUE HIS STRUGGLE.”

GANI'S LEGACY MUST REMAIN ALIVE

According to Agunbiade, Fawehinmi was more than a lawyer because he believed that law must serve humanity; more than an activist because he believed citizens must never surrender their rights to arbitrary power; and more than a publisher because he used information to educate, challenge and mobilise the people.

He said Fawehinmi also stood with citizens who had no one to defend them and paid a heavy personal price through arrests, detention and persecution.

Agunbiade therefore warned against reducing his legacy to an annual commemorative ceremony.

Seventeen years after Fawehinmi's death, he said, Nigeria continues to confront many of the fundamental questions that defined the activist's struggle.

He asked:

“What is democracy without human dignity? What is growth when workers cannot afford necessities? What is security when citizens remain vulnerable to violence and impunity? Who holds public power accountable? And when rights are violated, who speaks for the victims?”

ACJL DOMESTICATION: JUSTICE MUST NOT REMAIN ON PAPER

A major component of Agunbiade's address was the need to strengthen Nigeria's criminal justice system through the domestication, implementation and enforcement of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL).

He stressed that meaningful criminal justice reform must extend beyond legislation and translate into practical protection for citizens.

GAFAMORG, he said, was demanding the effective domestication of the ACJL in states where it remains outstanding, while states that have already enacted the law must ensure that its provisions are fully implemented.

The organisation's position is that the police, prosecutors, courts, correctional institutions and other actors in the criminal justice system must operate within enforceable standards of due process and accountability.

Agunbiade said arbitrary arrest, prolonged detention, abuse of prosecutorial powers and violations of citizens' fundamental rights cannot be allowed to remain normal features of the Nigerian justice system.

The ACJL, he maintained, should therefore become a practical instrument for ensuring speedy justice, protecting suspects and victims, improving criminal justice administration and strengthening public confidence in the justice system.

“Criminal justice reform must move from legislation on paper to justice in practice,” he said in outlining the organisation's position.

N70,000 CANNOT BUY DIGNITY IN 2026

Turning to the question of workers' welfare, Agunbiade declared that the current minimum wage was grossly inadequate to guarantee a dignified existence for Nigerian workers.

“N70,000 cannot buy dignity in 2026.”

He said GAFAMORG's policy brief, contained in the programme pack for the memorial, indicates that N300,000 should be the benchmark required to restore the purchasing power associated with the 2019 minimum wage.

However, he stressed that establishing a new wage figure alone would not resolve the problem because inflation could rapidly erode its value.

GAFAMORG is therefore demanding an Annual Wage Review and Automatic Wage Indexation tied to food inflation and fuel prices.

According to Agunbiade, such a mechanism would ensure that workers' wages do not continuously fall behind the rising cost of living.

“A living wage is not charity. It is justice. It is the minimum requirement for human dignity.”

STATE POLICE: SECURITY FOR WHOM AND IN WHOSE INTEREST?

Agunbiade said GAFAMORG recognises the importance of effective policing and security but warned that the decentralisation of police authority must not create new opportunities for political abuse.

He said the proposed establishment of State Police must therefore be accompanied by mandatory democratic safeguards.

“Security without safeguards becomes another tool of oppression.”

According to him, the critical questions are not merely whether Nigeria should have State Police, but:

What kind of policing does democracy require?
What safeguards will prevent political interference and abuse?
Who investigates violations?
Who receives complaints?
Who holds the police accountable?

GAFAMORG, he disclosed, has prepared a draft framework on Democratic Safeguards and Constitutional Accountability for State Policing, which it hopes will be strengthened through the deliberations of the gathering.

The organisation's position, he said, is unequivocal: if State Police is established, democratic safeguards must be mandatory and constitutionally enforceable.

Police must protect citizens rather than political power, he argued, insisting that security institutions must be accountable to the law and not to individual politicians.

“Police that protect the people, not power. Police that are accountable to law, not to politicians.”

THE MEMORIAL MUST BE A CONVERSATION, NOT A CEREMONY

Agunbiade said the memorial had deliberately been designed as a national conversation rather than a ceremonial gathering.

He urged participants to ask difficult questions, demand evidence and formulate concrete resolutions.

“There should be no ‘we versus them’. There should be no fear of asking difficult questions.”

He called for the venue to become a space where Nigerians could engage one another honestly about the future of the country.

FROM REMEMBRANCE TO CIVIL JUSTICE

Agunbiade said the Civil Justice Legacy Project represents GAFAMORG's attempt to build a bridge between remembrance and concrete action.

One of its major initiatives is the campaign for September 5 to be recognised as the National Civil Day of Remembrance for Victims of Mass Atrocities and Human Rights Violations.

He said victims of violence and human-rights violations must not disappear from national consciousness once media attention fades.

“Every victim had a name. Every victim had a family. Every victim had a future. We cannot allow human beings to become statistics.”

ROLL OF THE INNOCENT UNVEILED

As part of the day's activities, GAFAMORG unveiled the 2026 Roll of the Innocent, documenting civilian victims from Kaduna and Lagos.

Agunbiade described the Roll as both evidence and a demand for justice.

Participants were invited to observe a minute of silence in honour of those named on the Roll and victims whose identities remain unknown.

CITIZEN JUSTICE TRACKER

The organisation also introduced the Citizen Justice Tracker (CJT), a lawful platform designed to enable citizens to document and follow up cases of alleged violations.

The model follows five stages:

ALLEGATION → EVIDENCE → DOCUMENTATION → ACCOUNTABILITY → REFORM

Agunbiade urged Nigerians to document, report and follow up cases rather than allow alleged violations to disappear without accountability.

THE GANI PAPER: PRESERVING THE PUBLIC RECORD

The organisation also announced The Gani Paper – Volume One, which will capture the papers, interventions, disagreements, evidence and resolutions arising from the memorial lecture.

Agunbiade said the publication would constitute a continuing body of public-interest knowledge for policymakers, courts, journalists, civil society organisations and citizens.

“When this Memorial ends, the record must remain.”

He said the arguments and resolutions generated by the gathering should become part of an ongoing national conversation on justice, democracy, security and human dignity.

INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA

The GAFAMORG Chairman also reaffirmed the organisation's declaration on Cuba: Humanitarian Access & Global Humanity Solidarity.

He condemned the economic blockade against Cuba and called for the lifting of restrictions that, according to the organisation, continue to affect access to medicines, food, fuel and essential services.

Agunbiade recalled Cuba's historical solidarity with African liberation struggles and declared that GAFAMORG's solidarity with Cuba was consistent with Fawehinmi's wider commitment to justice for oppressed peoples.

“For us, solidarity is not a slogan. It is a responsibility.”

A CALL TO THE MEDIA, YOUTH AND CITIZENS

Agunbiade charged the media not merely to report the memorial but to sustain the issues raised at the event by interrogating government policies and following up on questions of accountability.

To Nigerian youths, he said democracy and justice cannot be taken for granted.

“NEVER ACCEPT INJUSTICE AS NORMAL.”

He called on all participants to witness the Roll of the Innocent, speak about the issues in their communities and support the campaign for September 5 to become the National Civil Day of Remembrance.

“WHAT WOULD GANI DO IF HE WERE HERE TODAY?”

Concluding his address, Agunbiade said the true measure of the memorial would not be the speeches delivered or the ceremony conducted, but what happens after participants leave the venue.

“A lecture without action is not enough. Remembrance without responsibility is not enough. Democracy without dignity is not enough. Security without accountability is not enough. Justice without access is not enough.”

He challenged Nigerians to ask what Chief Gani Fawehinmi would do if he were alive today.

But, he added, Nigerians must do more than ask the question.

“LET US CONTINUE THE STRUGGLE.”

He closed with the five-stage pathway adopted by GAFAMORG:

FROM REMEMBRANCE TO DIALOGUE.
FROM DIALOGUE TO RESOLUTIONS.
FROM RESOLUTIONS TO ACTION.
FROM ACTION TO ACCOUNTABILITY.
FROM ACCOUNTABILITY TO JUSTICE.

And with a final charge:

“LISTEN. QUESTION. CONTRIBUTE. ACT.”

COMRADE TUNDE AGUNBIADE
Chairman, Governing Council
Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organisation (GAFAMORG)
5 September 2026

‘NO VICTIM SHOULD BE FORGOTTEN TWICE’: GAFAMORG, NCAMKI DECLARE SEPTEMBER 5 NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

GAFAMORG, NCAMKI Declare September 5 National Civil Day of Remembrance, Demand End to Impunity

By Our Correspondent

The Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organisation (GAFAMORG) and the National Coalition Against Mass Abductions, Atrocities, Killings, Extra-Judicial Killings, Mob Action and Impunity (NCAMKI) have declared September 5 a National Civil Day of Remembrance, calling on Nigerians to remember victims of killings, abductions, disappearances, extra-judicial killings and other forms of violence.

The organisations made the call in a statement issued on Saturday, September 5, 2026, as they commemorated the death anniversary of the late human rights lawyer and activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, who died on September 5, 2009.

According to the groups, the remembrance is intended not merely as an occasion for mourning, but as a national call for truth, justice, accountability and institutional reform.

They said the best way to honour Fawehinmi, who spent his life fighting for justice and the rights of ordinary Nigerians, was to continue the struggle against injustice and impunity.

‘The Dead Are Not Numbers’

GAFAMORG and NCAMKI lamented the growing number of Nigerians who have been killed, abducted or disappeared, stressing that behind every statistic was a human being and a grieving family.

“Behind every statistic is a name. Behind every name is a family. Behind every family is pain.”

The organisations declared that no victim should be forgotten twice, urging Nigerians and government institutions to keep unresolved cases alive until justice is secured.

They argued that remembrance must go beyond ceremonies and speeches.

“Remembrance must lead to truth. Truth must lead to justice. Justice must lead to accountability. Accountability must lead to reform.”

The groups consequently called on federal and state governments to investigate unresolved cases of violence, compensate victims' families and undertake comprehensive reforms of the country's security and justice institutions.

Seven Ways Nigerians Can Observe the Day

As part of activities marking the National Civil Day of Remembrance, GAFAMORG and NCAMKI urged Nigerians to participate in a number of symbolic activities.

They called for a one-minute nationwide silence at 12 noon, asking citizens to stop work or movement briefly in remembrance of victims.

They also called on Nigerians to light candles, torches or phone lights at 7pm as a symbolic demonstration of solidarity with victims and their families.

Other activities proposed include reading out the names of five victims, wearing black or white ribbons, sharing the story of a victim on social media without using graphic images, and organising 30-minute vigils or discussions in churches, mosques, schools, unions and markets.

The organisations further urged Nigerians to sign their Citizens' Demand, seeking official recognition of September 5 and stronger action against impunity.

Call to Journalists

The groups also appealed to journalists to help sustain public attention on unresolved cases of killings, abductions and other atrocities.

They urged the media to cover the noon silence and evening candlelight activities, interview victims' families and follow unresolved cases beyond the initial news cycle.

“Do not let the headlines end and the justice end,” the organisations said.

‘Victims and Their Families Must Be Heard’

GAFAMORG and NCAMKI expressed solidarity with families who have lost loved ones to violence, assuring them that their experiences and demands for justice remained legitimate.

They maintained that victims and their families must be central to discussions and decisions concerning the cases affecting them.

“Nothing about victims without victims and their families,” the statement declared.

Government Must Fix Security and Justice System

The organisations identified intelligence gathering, policing, prosecution, witness protection, the courts and victim support as areas requiring urgent government attention.

They argued that poverty, corruption and weaknesses within the justice system contribute to the persistence of violence and impunity.

“A system where criminals go free is a system that creates more victims,” they warned, calling on government to fix the system rather than abandon the rule of law.

The organisations also stressed that the fight against kidnapping, banditry, extra-judicial killings and mob action must itself remain within the law.

“We will not fight impunity with impunity,” they declared.

They emphasised that criminals, police officers, vigilantes and government officials must all remain subject to the law and the Constitution.

‘We Will Continue the Struggle’

The statement concluded with a renewed commitment to the struggle for justice and the defence of vulnerable and voiceless Nigerians.

“We remember. We will not forget. We will not keep quiet. We will continue the struggle.”

The organisations described the remembrance as part of the continuing effort to preserve the legacy of Gani Fawehinmi, whose lifelong activism was centred on human rights, justice, democracy and the defence of ordinary Nigerians.

The statement was signed by Comrade Tunde Agunbiade, for GAFAMORG and NCAMKI, and Comrade Ade Adewunmi Adeoye, PRO, GAFAMORG.

The organisations said the central message of the day was simple: remember the dead, defend the living and end impunity.

OKUN PEOPLE DEMAND RETURN TO YORUBA HOMELAND, SAY “WE HAVE LIVED WITH STRANGERS FOR TOO LONG”

“We Have Remained on the Ground for 35 Years” — Dr Tọ́ba Òjó Leads Fresh Okun Call for Reintegration into Yoruba Region

By Our Correspondent

A renewed call for the political, cultural and constitutional reintegration of the Okun people of Kogi State into the wider Yoruba region has gained fresh momentum following a passionate presentation by Dr. Mrs. Tọ́ba Òjó, Yeye Akorede of Okorogbẹdẹ in Ijùmú Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Dr. Òjó was among the Yoruba representatives who participated in the recent restructuring summit in Abuja, where she presented the concerns and aspirations of the Okun people and appealed to the wider Yoruba region to embrace Okunland as part of its ancestral and cultural homeland.

Her presentation, circulated in a video by The Yoruba Times, centred on what she identified as three fundamental issues confronting the Okun people: identity, development and political representation.

According to her, the Okun people are Yoruba-speaking communities whose ancestral roots are firmly located in Yorubaland, particularly Ile-Ife, but whose incorporation into Kogi State has, in her view, left them politically disadvantaged and culturally disconnected from the larger Yoruba political space.

“We are here to present our desire that has been longing to be integrated to where we actually belong.”

Okunland: Six LGAs in Kogi

Dr. Òjó explained that Okunland stretches across six local government areas of Kogi State, namely Kabba/Bunu, Yagba East, Yagba West, Ijumu, Mopa-Muro and parts of Lokoja.

She argued that although the Okun people have been administratively located in Kogi State and the North-Central geopolitical zone, their linguistic, cultural and historical identity remains Yoruba.

“Our root is in Yorubaland. Our root is in Ile-Ife. We emanated from Yorubaland,” she said.

For her, the question of Okun identity is not merely academic or cultural. It has practical consequences for political representation, development and the ability of the people to participate fully in a political environment that reflects their historical and cultural affinities.

“Yoruba Is Rising Again; We Want to Rise With Yoruba”

One of the strongest elements of Dr. Òjó’s presentation was her argument that the political future of Okunland should be linked to the resurgence of the Yoruba region.

“Yoruba is rising again, so we want to rise with Yoruba. We don’t want to remain on the ground.”

She described the Okun people as hardworking and said that their geographical location within Kogi had created a situation in which they were neither fully integrated into the political structure around them nor adequately connected to the wider Yoruba political homeland.

According to her, the linguistic gulf between Okun and the other major ethnic groups in Kogi State has also created practical difficulties.

“Our language and that of Igbira are far apart, our language and that of Igala are far apart. Even if we meet in the marketplace, how do we communicate? It has affected so many things,” she said.

35 Years Without an Okun Governor

Dr. Òjó also raised the issue of political representation, pointing to what she described as the failure of the political system in Kogi State to produce an Okun governor since the creation of the state.

She argued that Kogi's major ethnic constituencies—Igala, Ebira and Okun—could have benefited from an equitable rotation of political power.

“No one son or daughter of Okun land has gotten to the position of governor.”

She further argued that if political power had genuinely rotated among the three major groups, Okunland ought to have produced governors by now.

“Despite the fact that there are three major tribes — Igala, Igbira and Okun — if done by rotation, two Okun people ought to have attained that, but it has never been.”

For Dr. Òjó, the problem goes beyond the occupation of political offices. She linked the lack of political influence to what she described as the underdevelopment of Okunland.

“We Have Remained on the Ground”

The Okun representative expressed particular frustration over what she described as the disparity between the enormous human capital of Okunland and the level of government presence and infrastructure in the area.

“We have remained on the ground for 35 years with nothing to show as indigene of Okun land.”

She claimed that Okunland could boast of close to 300 professors, yet argued that the area remained hampered by inadequate political influence and government presence.

“Okun land can boast of close to 300 professors, but we are hampered.”

She further stated that the area lacked major government institutions and infrastructure commensurate with its human resources.

“No government institution can be boasted of from government end in Okun land.”

Her argument, therefore, was that the Okun question should not be viewed simply as an agitation for political office but as a question of how identity, political inclusion and development are interconnected.

A Question of Identity

Dr. Òjó's presentation also placed considerable emphasis on the question of identity.

She maintained that administrative boundaries created by political arrangements should not erase the cultural and historical identity of a people.

For the Okun people, she argued, their language, ancestry and cultural practices remain strongly connected to the Yoruba world.

The argument is particularly significant because Okunland occupies a geographically strategic position at the interface between the Yoruba-speaking areas of the South-West and Kogi State's North-Central political structure.

The Okun people, she maintained, should therefore not be compelled to choose between their administrative location and their ancestral identity.

“We Cry to the Yoruba Region to Embrace Us”

Dr. Òjó said representatives of Okunland had already taken their concerns to various parts of the Yoruba region and had received a positive response.

“We thank the Yoruba region for embracing us. We cried and made them understand our plight and they accepted us.”

She described the movement towards integration as part of a broader conversation about constitutional restructuring and the future political organisation of Nigeria.

Her presentation also acknowledged the interest of neighbouring Yoruba and culturally affiliated communities in the restructuring conversation.

A statement circulated alongside the video said that Okunland, Igbomina, Itsekiri and Akoko-Edo communities were among those looking towards a broader Yoruba political arrangement, describing such an arrangement as one that should be based on willing and voluntary association.

Beyond Borders: The Restructuring Question

The renewed Okun demand comes amid growing conversations around constitutional restructuring, regional autonomy and the possibility of reorganising Nigeria's political structure around stronger regional identities.

For Dr. Òjó and those supporting the Okun position, the objective is not simply the redrawing of political boundaries. It is about creating a political arrangement in which communities believe their identity, cultural heritage, political representation and developmental interests are better protected.

Her intervention at the summit consequently presented the Okun question as part of the larger debate over whether Nigeria's present political architecture adequately reflects the historical, cultural and economic realities of its constituent peoples.

“We Want to Rise With Yoruba”

At the heart of Dr. Òjó's presentation was the conviction that the Okun people should not remain politically marginalised while possessing a strong historical and cultural connection with the Yoruba nation.

“Our root is in Yorubaland. Our root is in Ile-Ife. We emanated from Yorubaland.”

And in perhaps her clearest summary of the Okun position, she declared:

“Yoruba is rising again, so we want to rise with Yoruba. We don’t want to remain on the ground.”

Her presentation has consequently injected fresh urgency into the debate over the political future of Okunland and its relationship with the wider Yoruba homeland.

For the Okun advocates, the central question is no longer simply where the people are located administratively, but whether Nigeria's political structure should continue to separate a people from the cultural and historical community to which they believe they belong.

And, as Dr. Òjó's presentation made clear, the demand is being framed around identity, development, political representation and constitutional restructuring.

“We want to rise with Yoruba.”

17 YEARS AFTER GANI: GAFAMORG REOPENS DEBATE ON DEMOCRACY, STATE POLICE, LIVING WAGE

GAFAMORG SET FOR 17TH GANI FAWEHINMI MEMORIAL LECTURE, SEEKS NATIONAL DEBATE ON DEMOCRACY, LIVING WAGE, SECURITY

LAGOS — The Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organization (GAFAMORG) is set to hold the 17th Chief Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Lecture and Civil Justice Legacy Project in Lagos, with a call for a fresh national conversation on democracy, human dignity, living wages, security and accountability.

The event, scheduled for Saturday, September 5, 2026, is themed “Democracy, Human Dignity and the Nigerian State: Living Wage, Security and Accountability in the Public Interest.”

The organisation said the annual memorial would go beyond remembering the late human rights lawyer and activist, Chief Ganiyu Oyesola Fawehinmi, SAN, SAM, to examine some of the most pressing challenges confronting Nigerians and the Nigerian state.

According to GAFAMORG, the event is designed as a public-interest platform inspired by Fawehinmi's lifelong struggle for democracy, justice, workers' rights, human dignity, the rule of law and the defence of the voiceless and defenceless.

STATE POLICE, DEMOCRATIC SAFEGUARDS IN FOCUS

A major issue expected to dominate discussions at the event is the proposed establishment and operation of State Police in Nigeria.

The sub-theme for the conversation is: “State Police, Democratic Safeguards and Constitutional Accountability: Security for Whom and in Whose Interest?”

GAFAMORG said the discussion would interrogate the implications of State Police for democracy, human rights and constitutional accountability, particularly the safeguards required to prevent the abuse of security institutions.

Among the questions the organisation wants Nigerians and policymakers to confront are whether democracy can deliver human dignity to citizens, whether Nigerian workers can live with dignity from their labour, who security institutions ultimately serve and who should exercise control over them.

The organisation also wants the public to examine who holds public power accountable and, ultimately, in whose interest the Nigerian state exercises its power.

FROM MEMORIAL TO ACTION

GAFAMORG said the 2026 event would also mark an important step in transforming remembrance of Fawehinmi into practical civic action through its Civil Justice Legacy Project.

A central component of the project is the campaign for the establishment of a National Civil Day of Remembrance on September 5, the anniversary of Fawehinmi's passing.

According to the organisation, the proposed day would provide an opportunity to remember victims of mass killings, abductions, extra-judicial killings, mob violence, unlawful detention and other violations of human dignity.

The project will also introduce the Citizen Justice Tracker (CJT), described as a platform for lawful citizen documentation, monitoring and follow-up of justice and accountability cases.

Another component is The Gani Paper – Volume One, a compendium of papers, resolutions and interventions arising from the Memorial Lecture and Civil Justice Legacy activities.

GAFAMORG said the initiative would be guided by a simple accountability chain:

ALLEGATION → EVIDENCE → DOCUMENTATION → ACCOUNTABILITY → REFORM.

GAFAMORG INVITES MEDIA

The organisation has invited editors, journalists, broadcasters, publishers and online media platforms to attend and provide coverage of the event.

It said the Nigerian media has a critical role to play in sustaining the tradition of public-interest journalism and accountability which Fawehinmi represented throughout his lifetime.

GAFAMORG urged journalists not only to report the event but also to ask questions, analyse the issues raised and follow up on resolutions reached at the gathering.

“Attend. Report. Question. Analyse. Broadcast. Follow up,” the organisation urged the media.

'THE STRUGGLE MUST CONTINUE'

GAFAMORG stressed that the significance of the memorial should not be limited to recalling the personality of the late legal icon.

Seventeen years after his death, the organisation said, the more important question is whether Nigerians are prepared to continue the struggle for justice, democracy, human dignity and accountability.

Chief Gani Fawehinmi, one of Nigeria's most prominent human rights lawyers and activists, was renowned for his uncompromising advocacy for ordinary Nigerians and his persistent challenges to abuse of power.

The organisation said his legacy must therefore be measured not merely by the number of memorials held in his honour, but by the extent to which Nigerians continue to defend the values for which he stood.

The 17th Chief Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Lecture and Civil Justice Legacy Project will hold from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch Conference Hall, Off Obajobi Way, GRA, Ikeja, Old Secretariat, Lagos State.

The event is expected to bring together civil society actors, lawyers, labour activists, journalists, political stakeholders and members of the public for a critical examination of Nigeria's democratic journey and the responsibilities of the state to its citizens.

Theme: Democracy, Human Dignity and the Nigerian State: Living Wage, Security and Accountability in the Public Interest.

Sub-theme: State Police, Democratic Safeguards and Constitutional Accountability: Security for Whom and in Whose Interest?

REMEMBERING GANI BY CONTINUING HIS STRUGGLE.

GANI FAWEHINMI MEMORIAL ORGANIZATION (GAFAMORG)
“For the Voiceless and Defenceless!”

Pensioners’ Tear-Gassing: CHSR Demands Arrest, Prosecution of Lagos Police Officers

Human rights group challenges CP Tijani Fatai over alleged ‘AI-generated’ protest footage, demands full investigation

By Our Correspondent

The Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) has demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of police officers allegedly involved in the tear-gassing and violent disruption of a peaceful protest by pensioners at the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The elderly pensioners had reportedly gathered at the Assembly gate on Monday, August 31, 2026, to demand the payment of their outstanding pensions, gratuities and other entitlements.

But the protest, according to CHSR, was allegedly disrupted with the use of tear gas and other forms of force by security personnel.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, September 2, CHSR described the reported action as “inhumane, unacceptable and a serious affront to human dignity.”

The statement was signed by the organisation’s President, Comrade Alex Omotehinse.

‘Pension is not charity’ — CHSR

CHSR said the protesters were elderly men and women who had devoted several productive years of their lives to the service of Lagos State and should not be treated as criminals for demanding benefits legitimately owed to them.

“Pension is not a favour, charity or privilege. It is an entitlement earned through years of dedicated public service,” the organisation declared.

According to the rights group, the grievances displayed on the protesters’ placards reflected the severity of the hardship confronting many retirees, including difficulties associated with unpaid pensions and health challenges.

CHSR maintained that the appropriate response to such grievances should be dialogue and prompt resolution rather than intimidation, harassment or the use of force.

‘Lagos pensioners deserve dignity, not tear gas’

The organisation questioned why elderly citizens who spent their working lives serving Lagos State should be subjected to what it described as humiliating treatment while demanding their legitimate entitlements.

CHSR argued that government has a duty to protect the welfare and dignity of senior citizens.

It further reminded members of the security agencies that they too would eventually retire.

“The elderly pensioners protesting today are the parents, relatives and predecessors of many serving public officials and security personnel. They deserve respect, restraint and dignity,” the organisation said.

CHSR challenges CP over ‘AI-generated’ footage claim

The human rights group also challenged Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, over the reported claim that some of the photographs and video footage emerging from the pensioners’ protest were AI-generated.

CHSR described the position as an apparent “damage control” effort and demanded a thorough investigation into the incident.

The group challenged the Commissioner of Police to establish the truth.

“We hereby challenge the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, to investigate the incident and, if truly the news were fake, then the perpetrators should be brought to book,” CHSR stated.

According to the organisation, the issue should not be reduced to a public relations battle, particularly because the alleged victims were elderly citizens who had devoted a substantial part of their lives to public service.

11-point demands

CHSR presented a series of demands to the Lagos State and Federal Governments as well as the police authorities.

Among other things, the organisation demanded:

• Immediate payment of all verified outstanding pensions, gratuities and allowances owed to retirees.
• Publication of a clear and time-bound schedule for settling outstanding pensioners’ entitlements.
• Direct and constructive engagement between the Lagos State Government and pensioners’ representatives.
• A full investigation into the reported tear-gassing of the elderly protesters.
• Public disclosure of the outcome of the investigation.
• Accountability for any security personnel found to have acted unlawfully.
• Respect by the police and other security agencies for citizens’ constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and expression.
• Urgent training and retraining of security personnel on the professional management of peaceful protests.
• Greater emphasis on restraint, dialogue and respect for human dignity during demonstrations.
• Immediate action by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Tunji Disu, to arrest and prosecute officers found responsible for the alleged assault and disruption of the protest.
• Solidarity from organised labour, the Nigeria Labour Congress, professional bodies, human rights organisations and other Nigerians with the affected pensioners.

‘Lagos must not become hostile to peaceful protesters’

CHSR warned that Lagos State must not become a place where elderly citizens are tear-gassed, intimidated or humiliated for demanding what they believe to be their lawful entitlements.

The organisation called on the Lagos State Government to approach the matter with urgency and sensitivity.

“The most appropriate response to the grievances of pensioners is not force but dialogue, accountability and immediate action,” CHSR said.

The rights group further urged the government to demonstrate that public servants who spent their productive years serving Lagos State would not be abandoned in retirement.

CHSR said it would continue to monitor the situation and advocate for the affected pensioners until their grievances were adequately addressed.

— Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR)

Sowore: GAFAMORG Warns Tinubu Govt Against Criminalising Dissent

‘Government must not fear criticism, citizens must not fear government’ — Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organisation

The Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organization (GAFAMORG) has warned the Federal Government against using criminal law and security agencies to intimidate or silence journalists, activists and citizens who criticise government policies.

The organisation, in a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, also threw its weight behind the fundamental right of journalist and activist, Omoyele Sowore, to criticise government and participate in public affairs.

GAFAMORG’s statement followed the recent call by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) on the Tinubu administration and the Department of State Services (DSS) to withdraw criminal charges against Sowore.

The organisation said the development raises a fundamental question for Nigeria’s democracy: “What happens to democracy when criticism of government becomes a security offence?”

‘We Defend the Right to Criticise’

GAFAMORG said it supports the right of Sowore and every other Nigerian to question public officials, criticise government and participate in public affairs without intimidation.

It, however, stressed that defending freedom of expression does not mean placing anyone above the law.

“If a crime is alleged, it must be tested transparently before an independent court, with full constitutional safeguards,” the organisation stated.

It warned against what it described as the use of criminal law, security agencies and the courts to silence political opposition, journalism and legitimate dissent.

‘This Is the Gani Fawehinmi Standard’

Invoking the legacy of the late human rights lawyer and activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, the organisation said its position was rooted in the principles for which the legal icon fought throughout his life.

According to GAFAMORG, Fawehinmi did not merely defend individuals; he defended principles, particularly against arbitrary power, unlawful detention and suppression of the powerless.

“The power of the state must always be subject to law,” the organisation declared, describing the principle as central to Fawehinmi’s legacy.

GAFAMORG maintained that remembering Gani means defending citizens’ rights whenever they are threatened, irrespective of who is in power.

GAFAMORG’s Six Demands to Tinubu Government

The organisation called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the DSS and other law enforcement agencies to:

1. Stop persecuting Nigerians for peaceful expression, journalism or political criticism.
2. Ensure that allegations against Sowore are determined strictly on the basis of law and evidence.
3. Prevent security agencies from defining political expression according to political convenience.
4. Ensure that the electoral calendar does not determine respect for fundamental rights.
5. Prevent prosecution from being used as a substitute for political debate.
6. Review laws used to criminalise expression and ensure their conformity with the Constitution.

‘Freedom Comes With Responsibility’

GAFAMORG also cautioned activists and citizens that the right to freedom of expression comes with responsibility.

The organisation said it would defend a citizen’s right to speak without necessarily endorsing every statement made by that individual.

“The answer to controversial speech is more speech, evidence and debate — not intimidation,” it said.

According to GAFAMORG, the issue goes beyond the Sowore case, warning that journalists, students, labour leaders, human rights defenders and ordinary citizens could face similar challenges if democratic safeguards are weakened.

“Do we want a democracy where citizens can question power, or a system where power decides who may question it?” the organisation asked.

“GAFAMORG chooses democracy.”

GAFAMORG Unveils Five-Point ‘Revolutionary Standard’

The organisation also unveiled what it called its “Revolutionary Standard”, built around five principles:

SPEAK — without fear.
QUESTION — without intimidation.
PROTEST — peacefully and lawfully.
PROSECUTE — only on evidence and due process.
ACCOUNT — especially when you hold public power.

GAFAMORG further proposed the establishment of a National Civil Liberties and Justice Accountability Framework to independently monitor cases involving journalists, activists, protesters and citizens facing state action.

It also called for stronger oversight of security agencies and a comprehensive national review of laws affecting freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

‘Gani’s Legacy Is Not a Statue’

GAFAMORG said the legacy of Gani Fawehinmi should not be confined to monuments, anniversaries or memorial events.

“Gani’s legacy is not a statue. It is a standard,” the organisation declared.

It pledged to condemn oppression by government, abuse by security agencies, injustice by political opponents and irresponsibility by activists and citizens.

“Our loyalty is not to persons. Our loyalty is to justice,” GAFAMORG stated.

The organisation ended its statement with a powerful message directed at both government and citizens:

“Government must not fear criticism. Citizens must not fear government. The law must fear no one and protect everyone.”

GAFAMORG described itself as an organisation committed to defending “the voiceless and defenceless” and to remembering Gani Fawehinmi by continuing his struggle for justice, accountability, constitutional rights and democratic freedoms.