• Minister of Finance affirms that V.A.T. remains 7.5%, not 10%
• School Resumption: students seen trekking as transport fares become unaffordable
• 800 Telecom workers embark on strike as they make fresh demands
• D.S.S. arrests and releases N.L.C. President Joe Ajaero on bail
• F.G. suspends concession of four airports under Buhari’s leadership

Across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, these are the five top Nigerian news stories you shouldn’t miss.

Minister of Finance affirms that V.A.T. remains 7.5%, not 10%

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has debunked the rumors that the federal government is increasing the Value Added Tax (V.A.T.) from 7.5% to 10%.

The Minister said that the federal government was rather focused on sustainable economic policies that have no further negative consequences on the people.

He promised Nigerians that under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, they would not pay tax on common goods and services like transportation, rent, food, education, healthcare, and more.

School Resumption: students seen trekking as transport fares become unaffordable

As schools resumed on September 9, students were seen stranded in many states across Nigeria due to the unaffordable transport fares that had been hiked following the increase in petrol prices.

Many students were spotted trekking to school. Some schools increased their transport fees and suspended bus services, while some state governments have postponed the resumption dates of some schools because of the economy and its impact on students and their families.

Parents are now being forced to change their children’s schools to avoid the payment of the rising transport fees.

800 Telecom workers embark on strike as they make fresh demands

The Nigerian telecommunication sector is at risk of disruption. Eight hundred workers from the Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association have begun their strike and threaten to disrupt services across the country.

The strike would be catastrophic for Nigerians who depend on their telecom providers to use their data and make calls on their smartphones and other gadgets.

The union has listed its demands, including payment of membership dues, reinstatement of some sacked workers, recognition of the union, and better working conditions.

D.S.S. arrests and releases N.L.C. President Joe Ajaero on bail

The Department of State Services (D.S.S.) arrested the president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (N.L.C.), Joe Ajaero, yesterday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while on his way to the U.K. for a conference on workers’ rights and social justice.

The D.S.S. seized the N.L.C. President without any explanation, angering the union. The union called the arrest “brazen and illegal” and warned the federal government to release their president or deal with the repercussions.

Later that night, it was announced that Joe Ajaero had been released on administrative bail after his international passport was seized.

F.G. suspends concession of four airports under Buhari’s leadership

Through the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the federal government has put Nigeria’s international airports’ concessions on hold.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, revealed that the lawsuits and objectives had suspended the previous Minister, Hadi Sirika’s procedure.

The airports in question are Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) in Kano, and Port Harcourt International Airport in Omagwa.