UK Doctors Begin Five-Day Strike Over Pay and Training Posts.

Thousands of doctors in England began a five-day strike on Friday, marking the 13th walkout by medics since March 2023. 

The action started at 0700 GMT and involves resident doctors—those below consultant level—who make up half of the hospital medical workforce.

The Labour government’s health minister, Wes Streeting, criticised the strike, accusing the British Medical Association (BMA) of “choosing confrontation over care.” 

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said, “This strike isn’t about fairness any more. It’s about political posturing.” He insisted the government would not shift on pay, noting “a 28.9 per cent pay rise over the last three years and the highest pay award across the entire public sector in the last two.”

But the BMA maintains that doctors still need a 26 percent pay increase to restore earnings to their real value from two decades ago. 

The union is also calling for more training posts, warning that demand wildly exceeds supply. In some cases, more than 30,000 doctors are competing for only 10,000 training places required to progress toward consultant roles.

The shortage is leaving many doctors without permanent positions despite years of training. 

The strike comes as the UK continues to face a prolonged cost-of-living crisis that has triggered widespread industrial action. Over the past three and a half years, teachers, nurses, ambulance workers, lawyers, train workers, and border staff have all staged walkouts.

"Ponmo consumption costs Nigeria’s leather industry $5bn" — FG cries out, warns citizens against consumption.

The Federal Government has raised fresh concerns over the widespread consumption of hides and skins, popularly known as ponmo, warning that the practice is harming Nigeria’s multi-billion-dollar leather industry.

Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ikemounso, issued the warning on Thursday during the National Campaign Against the Consumption of Ponmo in Abuja.

He explained that diverting hides and skins for food deprives local manufacturers of essential raw materials needed to sustain and grow the leather sector. 

According to him, the Nigerian leather goods market was valued at $2.79 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $4.96 billion by 2033, but this growth could be derailed if ponmo consumption continues unchecked.

“From an economic and industrial standpoint, cowhides are one of Nigeria’s most valuable raw materials.

Our nation possesses a vibrant leather industry with enormous potential for job creation, foreign exchange earnings, and contributions to GDP,” he said.

Prof. Ikemounso added: “Sadly, the continuous diversion of hides for ponmo consumption denies our industries access to quality raw materials, weakens our tanning and leather manufacturing sector, and diminishes Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global leather market.”

He noted that the global leather value chain is valued between $420 billion and $1 trillion, stressing that with the right policies, infrastructure, and access to raw materials, Nigeria can significantly expand its share.

Ikemounso clarified that the campaign is not targeted at cultural or dietary practices but aims to ensure hides and skins are channelled into more productive industrial use for national economic benefit.

I want to go back to school to manage my career better – Portable.

Controversial Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, says he is preparing to return to school: this time, to gain deeper control over his music career and business operations.

The Zazu crooner noted that while he already holds an OND from Kwara State Polytechnic, he now feels the need to further his education to properly understand the business side of the industry.

He explained that his goal is to ensure his record label and music platforms are well managed, rather than depending solely on others for guidance.

'How can I raise N474m? But everyday is torture', cries Amirah, acid attack victim

“Even though I already have an OND from Kwara State Polytechnic, I still want to further my education so I can understand my music royalties and business deals better, especially for my record label, Zeh Nation.”

According to Portable, going back to school will help him manage his career and earnings correctly.

He stressed that the move is not just about acquiring another certificate, but about gaining the skills needed to run his music empire like a seasoned entrepreneur.

Cristiano Ronaldo leapfrogs Boniface, Osimhen, Messi, and others to become football’s first billionaire after mega Al-Nassr deal

Cristiano Ronaldo has officially become football’s first-ever billionaire, with his net worth now estimated at a staggering £1.04 billion, according to financial analysts at Bloomberg.

The 40-year-old Al-Nassr forward reached the milestone after his career earnings, endorsement deals, and investments were evaluated and adjusted for tax rates and market performance. Bloomberg reported that Ronaldo’s lucrative stint in Saudi Arabia has “catapulted him to the top of the global sports rich list,” making him the first footballer to appear on their Billionaires Index.

Ronaldo’s wealth now far surpasses that of his long-time rival Lionel Messi, who currently plays for Inter Miami in the United States.

A major contributor to Ronaldo’s fortune is his lifetime partnership with Nike, valued at around £745 million, alongside other endorsements with global brands like Tag Heuer, Armani, PokerStars, Samsung, Unilever, and Louis Vuitton.

The Portuguese superstar is also investing heavily in luxury real estate, including a £28 million mansion complex in his home country. He is often seen flaunting high-end jewellery and watches, among them a Franck Muller Invisible Baguette Diamonds Imperial Tourbillon worth £1.13 million.

At Al-Nassr, Ronaldo earns a jaw-dropping £167.9 million per year — roughly £300 per minute,though he recently confessed he’d prefer to play solely for Portugal. In addition to his record-breaking contract, Ronaldo reportedly holds a stake in Al-Nassr, further boosting his immense fortune.

Nigerian Govt To Begin Enforcing Tax Payment For All Income Earners Including 'Runs Girls' And Remote Workers.

From January 2026, the Nigerian government will begin enforcing a new tax policy that includes all income earners—regardless of profession or legality of the activity. This means that individuals engaged in sXx work will be required to pay taxes on their earnings.......

Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policies and Reforms, emphasized that the law does not distinguish between legal and illegal sources of income. The key criterion is whether money was earned or not. If so, it's taxable.

This move is part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader effort to expand Nigeria’s tax base and stabilize the economy.
The policy also applies to social media influencers and Nigerians working remotely for foreign companies, especially those earning in foreign currencies.

Court strikes out Saraki’s suit for protection against EFCC, ICPC, others.

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, struck out two separate suits filed by former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to seek court protection against the plan by EFCC to probe him.

Justice Mohammed Umar struck out the two cases following a notice of discontinuance of the suits sighted in the court record and after no lawyer appeared for parties at the resumed hearing.

The former Senate president had filed the suits following the EFCC’s decision in 2019 to probe Saraki’s earnings between 2003 and 2011 when he was governor of Kwara.

The anti-graft commission was reported to have seized some of his houses in the Ikoyi area of Lagos then.

However, Saraki, on May 10, 2019, filed the two separate suits, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/507/2019 and FHC/ABJ/CS/508/2019, before retired Justice Taiwo Taiwo to challenge the action of the EFCC.

The ex-Senate president named the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Inspector-General (I-G) of Police and State Security Service (SSS) are 1st to 3rd defendants.

Others are EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) as 4th to 6th respondents respectively.

Justice Taiwo, who was the presiding judge then, had ruled on an ex-parte application filed along with the substantive suits.

Nigerian football legend, Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha, has shared insights into how he managed his finances during his playing career, stressing the importance of discipline and structure.

Speaking on a podcast, Okocha explained that his contract earnings were strictly reserved for investments. According to him, his salary from clubs was never for luxury spending.

“My contract money is for investment. So, the contract? It’s investment fully,” he said.

The former Super Eagles captain revealed that he relied on match bonuses for daily living expenses and endorsements for leisure. “Match bonuses are enough for you to live. You have endorsements, it’s enough for you to buy toys—those nice cars, nice watches, travel with your wife,” Okocha noted.

He added that the key was maintaining balance and knowing when to cut back. “It’s all about putting a structure in place. And if you’re not winning enough matches, then you backpedal a bit. It’s not every month that you go shopping,” he advised.

‘Wrong Timing,’ Joe Abah Faults Proposed Pay Rise For Politicians

Former Bureau of Public Enterprises DG, Joe Abah, has criticised the planned review of salaries for political office holders, describing the move as ill-timed and insensitive.

Speaking on Sunrise Daily, Abah said the government had not shown fiscal discipline, citing Nigeria’s largest-ever cabinet and the proliferation of agencies. He argued that announcing pay increases for politicians amid economic hardship and a new ₦70,000 minimum wage sends the wrong signal.

He also highlighted distortions in the public sector pay system, stressing that they must be addressed before any salary adjustments.

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) recently said politicians’ earnings, unchanged since 2008, were “inadequate and outdated.” But the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) rejected the proposal, calling it insensitive and warning it could worsen poverty and inequality.

#Nigeria #Politics #JoeAbah #NLC

Any of My Personal Assistants claiming to earn less than N1 Million is lying — Gov Eno.

Governor Umo Eno has faulted political aides who downplay their earnings, insisting that his Personal Assistants (PAs), who occupy the lowest rung among his appointees, receive a minimum of ₦1 million monthly.

Speaking at a Town Square Meeting with residents of Ikono and Ini Federal Constituency in Ibiaku Ntok Okpo, the governor elevated his PA on Protocol, Blessed Essien, to Special Assistant (SA) on Public Works after he donated a borehole project to his community.

“As I arrived here, they gave me a brochure about a PA who, from his pay, built and reticulated a borehole for his village. That is impact. Yet some appointees still mislead their people, claiming the government has done nothing.

Some even dismiss the position of PA as ‘ordinary,’ but a PA to the governor of a state cannot be ordinary,” Eno said. He added, “Hear me well, no PA earns less than ₦1 million. Yet when they talk, they call it a stipend.

₦1 million is not a stipend; it is serious money. I have directed the Secretary to the State Government to compile the names of all political appointees by local government area, and we will publish them in the newspaper.”

Governor Eno also challenged constituents to demand accountability from their representatives, urging them to “call your PAs, SAs, SSAs, Commissioners and ask, what have you done?”

Hungry masses: Nigerians reject pay rise for Tinubu, Shettima, Akpabio, others.

The Nigerian Government is considering an upward review of salaries for political office holders, following concerns that their current earnings are inadequate and outdated.

The Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mohammed Shehu, disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday.

Shehu noted that President Bola Tinubu presently earns N1.5 million monthly, while ministers receive less than N1 million figures that have remained unchanged since 2008.

“You are paying the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria N1.5 million a month, with a population of over 200 million people. Everybody believes that it is a joke,” he said.

He further argued that the disparity between political office holders and heads of federal agencies was unjustifiable, pointing out that some agency chiefs earn up to twenty times more than ministers or even the Attorney-General of the Federation.

However, the move has stirred fresh controversy in a country where workers are still demanding a living wage, with millions of Nigerians struggling under inflation and rising poverty.

Observers believe the development has reopened debate about leadership, public trust, and the true cost of governance in Africa’s largest democracy.

DAILY POST reports that although the minimum wage in Nigeria is currently pegged at N70,000 per month, as approved by the federal government and some state governments, not all states have implemented it, especially for local government workers and primary school teachers.

FG Appeals Court Ruling That Acquitted Ex-NHIS Boss Olufemi Thomas

The Federal Government has filed a notice of appeal against the July 24 judgment of the Federal High Court, Lagos, which acquitted former NHIS Executive Secretary Olufemi Thomas of five out of six money laundering charges. The appeal, submitted to the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, lists 11 grounds challenging Justice Olayinka Faji’s decision.

In his ruling, Justice Faji discharged Thomas on most charges, citing the EFCC’s failure to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, though he was fined ₦10 million for a single violation involving cash payments exceeding ₦5 million. The court also ordered the return of seized funds to Thomas.

The EFCC, dissatisfied with the ruling, argued that Thomas failed to reasonably explain the sources of his $2.198 million income, and that the commission had fully investigated his earnings. The agency is seeking an appellate court order to forfeit the funds to the Federal Government.

Aliko Dangote retires from Dangote Cement Plc.

Foremost entrepreneur and founder of Dangote Cement Plc, Aliko Dangote has announced his retirement as a Director and the Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective July 25, 2025. He is relinquishing his position as chairman and retiring from the board so as to focus more attention on the Refinery, Petrochemicals, Fertiliser and Government Relations, in order to drive the company’s five-year businesstrajectory to a superlative height.

The board of Dangote Cement Plc has therefore announced the appointment of Mr. Emmanuel Ikazoboh, an independent non-executive director, as the new Chairman, Board of Directors. In the same vein, Hajiya Mariya Aliko Dangote was also appointed to the Board of Directors of the Company while Prof. Dorothy Ufot retired from the Board.

Reputed as Africa’s leading investor, Aliko Dangote leaves giant footprints as he retires from the board. His vision and tenacity redefined not just a company, but the entire cement industry landscape by becoming Africa’s largest cement producer and largest exporter of cement and clinker in Sub Saharan Africa.

Aliko Dangote’s journey with cement began with a bold dream: to make Nigeria and Africa self-sufficient in cement production. Through strategic investments in state-of-the-art plants, and a commitment to local content, he not only met that goal but exceeded it.

Dangote Cement Plc has 52.0Mta capacity across African continent with Nigeria accounting for 35.25Mta. Currently, additional greenfield plants are coming up in Cote Ivoire (3.0Mta) and Itori, Nigeria (6.0 Mta) and on completion this year will push total capacity to 61.0Mta.

Under his visionary leadership, Dangote Cement Plc recorded the highest revenue and Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) in the history of the company. According to the unaudited results for the six months ending 30th June 2025, the group revenue went up by 17.7 percent, from N1,760 billion at the same period in 2024 to N2,071.6 billion, representing the highest revenue in the history of the company.

Group Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) grew by 41.8 percent to N944.900 billion from N666.22 billion. EBITDA (Nigeria Operations) grew by 82.4 percent to N845.4 billion. Profit before tax went up from N292.96 billion to N730 billion indicating 149 percent increase while profit after tax surged by 174.1 percent to ₦520.5 billion, in contrast to N189.90 billion in the same period at the preceding period. In the six months, export volumes from Nigeria increased by 18.2 percent, with 18 successful clinker shipments made to Ghana and Cameroon.

Aliko Dangote’s legacy will be counted in the millions of jobs created, the infrastructure built, and the confidence restored in African industrial potential. He has proven that Africa can produce, compete, and lead on the global stage. It is on record that subsidiaries under Dangote Group paid over N402 billion in taxes in 2024, making it the highest taxpayer in the country.

Former Real Madrid Coach Carlo Ancelotti Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Tax Fraud.

Brazil head coach & former Real Madrid & Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has been handed a one-year prison sentence after being found guilty of tax fr@ud related to his time at Real Madrid in 2014.

Spanish authorities accused the 66-year-old of failing to declare income from image rights, resulting in an alleged tax evasion of over £833,000. While Ancelotti denied any deliberate wrongdoing, he acknowledged underpaying taxes that year, attributing the issue to accounting mistakes.

He was cleared of similar charges tied to his 2015 earnings. Despite the guilty verdict, Ancelotti is not expected to serve jail time, as Spanish law typically allows first-time, non-violent offenders with sentences under 2 years to avoid imprisonment.

Ancelotti managed Real Madrid from 2013 to 2015 before moving on to Bayern Munich. He has insisted he did not reside in Spain long enough—183 days—to be legally obligated to pay taxes there.

Sowore: Policemen Deserve ₦500,000 Monthly Salary, Not ₦57,000 While Senators Pocket ₦30 Million

Human rights activist and 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has demanded a substantial increase in the salaries of Nigerian police officers, proposing a minimum monthly pay of ₦500,000.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Sowore criticized the vast disparity between the earnings of Nigerian senators and the policemen who protect them.

“There is absolutely no justification for a senator earning ₦30 million monthly, while the police officer guarding them struggles with a salary of less than ₦140,000. Why should the people doing the real work live in poverty?” he queried.

Sowore, who is also the convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, highlighted the challenges faced by police officers during and after service. He lamented that while pension managers in Police Pension Limited reportedly earn up to ₦1 million monthly, many retired officers they serve are left to wallow in poverty.

"Imagine serving this country for 35 years and retiring on a paltry ₦57,000 monthly. How does one survive on that, especially in a country where inflation is at 24 percent, and basic needs like healthcare and education are so expensive?" he said.

He also revealed that the planned nationwide protest scheduled for July 21 against the poor wages of police officers was initiated by the officers themselves, who are ready to down tools if their demands are ignored.

Sowore called on Nigerians, especially celebrities and entertainers who benefit from police protection, to support the protest.

“Yes, those who work with celebrities may get extra incentives, but that doesn’t erase the bigger picture. This is the time for everyone to step up and support the police,” he said.

He concluded by emphasizing that fair pay and decent living conditions for security officers are essential if Nigeria wants a functional and corruption-free police force.

Why I don’t want my son to do music Tiwa Savage.

Popular Afrobeats star, Tiwatope Savage, known professionally as Tiwa Savage, has said she wouldn’t advise her son, Jamal, to follow her path into music.

She made this known during an interview with Joey Akan on Afrobeats Intelligence which surfaced online on Saturday, where she spoke about the pressures of motherhood and the difficult realities of the music business.

According to the award-winning singer, the industry is tough and unpredictable, and she wouldn’t advise her child to go through the same struggles.

“The rate of success is very slim, not only that, if you’re blessed to [have hits], your life span, it might not be, 10 years. It might not even be five years, so it’s even harder to sustain a career and to be lucrative. Mentally, as well, imagine being an artiste and you’re not really making as much as people think you are but you have to live like you are,” she said.

Savage also explained that many artistes live under pressure to keep up appearances, even when their earnings do not match public perception.

Ruger’s Heart of Gold: Afrobeats Star Donates First Music Earnings to Church!


Michael Adebayo Olayinka, widely known as **Ruger**, is making waves not just with his Afrobeats hits but with his incredible generosity. The Nigerian superstar recently opened up about a heartfelt moment from his early career, revealing that he donated his first-ever music earnings to a church. This act of faith and gratitude highlights Ruger’s grounded spirit, proving he’s more than just a chart-topping artist—he’s a man with a purpose.

#Ruger #Afrobeats #NigerianMusic #Faith #Inspiration #MusicWithPurpose #NaijaVibes #AfricanMusic #RugerArmy #HeartOfGold