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Labour Decries FIRS Takeover of Stamp Duty from NIPOST

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Organised Labour in the nation’s communications industry, has raised the alarm that Nigeria Postal Service, NIPOST, is at risk of losing no fewer than 15,000 workers into the unemployment market over the alleged recent takeover of its primary duty to produce and issue stamp by the Federal Inland Revenue Services, FIRS.

Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies, SSASCGOC, who raised the alarm in Abuja, issued a 21-day strike notice to the Federal Government to put things right or members would down tools and begin a nationwide strike.

At a briefing, Ayo Olorunfemi, General Secretary of SSASCGOC, said: “The FIRS on June 30, against any known law, produced and launched its owned brand of an adhesive stamp, thereby hijacking and taking over the function of NIPOST.

“It is illegal for FIRS to produce and issue stamps to denote duties when it can be procured from NIPOST. If this is allowed to go on, due to the usurpation of the main duty of NIPOST, it will lead to about 15,000 job loss.

“As a union, we will not accept this as there is no known law that gave empowers FIRS to produce stamps. Everybody knows the situation in the country today.

“I insist, NIPOST will lose nothing less than 15,000 workers and when you look at that, the multiplier effect on the economy and the saturation of the unemployment market, you will know that it will be a catastrophe waiting to happen and we have said we will not allow that to happen.

“To this end, we are calling on the Federal Government to facilitate an urgent meeting between NIPOST, FIRS, SSASCGOC and other stakeholders in order to arrive at an amicable resolution.

“Failure to do this within 21 days from Thursday, July 9, the Union shall have no other option than to direct all its members in NIPOST to withdraw their services.

“It is very painful that while other nations are protecting and developing their postal services and making maximum use of the services for advancement, Nigeria is busy doing things that will kill its own.

“It should be noted that both NIPOST and Federal Inland Revenue Services are Statutory Corporations for which this Union has Jurisdiction to organise their staff.

“Therefore, our position must always be balanced according to the laws of the land. That is why we are insisting that both organisations must develop a synergy that will enhance higher productivity in the area of stamp matter.

“We recognise the power conferred on FIRS to collect stamp duties just as that of the NIPOST power to produce and issue stamps. These must be acknowledged and recognised in implementing the Finance Act.

“It should be noted that stamp is a product of NIPOST as given to it by law. The Finance Act did not give any power to FIRS to produce stamps. In other words, to utilize stamp for duties FIRS must get it from NIPOST.

“As we speak many Nigerians have stopped purchasing adhesive stamps from NIPOST. This, if not challenged and nip in the bud, will ultimately lead to the collapse of NIPOST and the staff will have to lose their jobs. We will not allow this to happen.”


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NBS May Release Rebased Figures for Nigerian Economy July 11

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National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) may launch its rebased Gross Domestic Product figure on July 11, according to reports by the Nation.

NBS May Release Rebased Figures for Nigerian Economy July 11

In economics, rebasing refers to the process of updating the base year used for calculating economic indicators like Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

This is done to reflect changes in the structure and price levels of an economy, making the indicators more accurate and relevant to the current economic situation.

Folorunso Alesanmi, head of Public Relations, NBS, deferred his response to today (Monday) when asked to confirm the information.

In a terse text message reply to our inquiry, he said “I will reply you on Monday when I get the final information about it.”

Recall that the country changed the year of its GDP  from 1990 to 2010 in 2014, when the figure was raised by 89 per cent.

The much awaited July 11 figure is expected to increase economic indicators such as  per capita income, debt-to-GDP ratio and tax revenue outlooks.

 

 


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Lagos-Calabar Highway Gets $100M Push from ECOWAS to Drive Regional Growth

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ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has committed $100 million to support the development of a key section of Nigeria’s Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

This funding covers a 47.7-kilometre stretch, marking Section I, Phase I of the project, which originates from Ahmadu Bello Way in Lagos.

Work on the highway began in March 2024, with Hitech Construction Company Limited appointed as the main contractor.

The announcement was made during EBID’s 92nd Ordinary Session held in Lagos, where the bank outlined a series of development financing commitments amounting to €174 million and $125 million, targeted at infrastructure and social development across the ECOWAS region.

The investment in the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is designed to boost intra-regional connectivity by linking nine Nigerian states. It will also enhance access to strategic seaports, support agro-industrial development, and improve logistical networks along Nigeria’s southern corridor. The highway is further expected to contribute to the formation of a regional supply chain, economically empowering coastal communities.

“The bank also approved $100 million in funding for the Lagos-Calabar coastal motorway project in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It said that this project, which spans 47.7 km, would link nine Nigerian states and improve access to seaports and isolated agro-industrial areas. EBID noted that the funding would also contribute to the emergence of a regional value chain to support coastal communities.”

Other EBID-backed initiatives include €50 million earmarked for the establishment and outfitting of six technical and vocational education centres in Togo. These centres aim to provide skills training for up to 3,480 youths annually, focusing on high-demand trades.

In Guinea, the bank allocated €28.9 million to revamp four agricultural high schools, and an additional €95.16 million to build three hydroelectric micro-power plants with a combined generation capacity of 30 megawatts, aiming to expand rural access to renewable energy.

Côte d’Ivoire will benefit from a $25 million facility directed at financing clinker imports by Société de Ciment de Côte d’Ivoire—a move expected to support local cement manufacturing and alleviate raw material shortages in the construction sector.

EBID noted that its latest funding initiatives align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 9, which advocates for advancements in industry, innovation, and infrastructure. With these latest disbursements, the bank’s cumulative investment across the West African region has surpassed the $5 billion milestone.

Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, recently disclosed that the Federal Government has signed off on contracts exceeding N3 trillion for multiple sections of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, extending through Lagos, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states.

The Lagos segment—Section I—was awarded at N1.068 trillion, with 30 percent of the contract sum already paid.

Section II, which includes multiple bridges and traverses difficult terrain en route to the Dangote Refinery, has been contracted at N1.6 trillion.

Sections III A and III B, covering parts of Akwa Ibom and Cross River, were jointly valued at N1.33 trillion.

President Bola Tinubu officially inaugurated the first completed segment of the coastal highway in May 2025, signalling the project’s steady progress.


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LG Launches “Radio Optimism” Campaign to Spread “Life’s Good” Through Music

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LG Electronics has launched a new brand campaign, “Radio Optimism,” designed to help strengthen meaningful human connections and spread optimism through shared musical experiences.

This initiative aligns with LG’s brand promise, “Life’s Good,” and addresses the growing challenge of forming genuine relationships in a technology-driven world.

The Radio Optimism campaign seeks to counteract the disconnection often felt in an era dominated by superficial interactions, such as likes and comments on social media. By harnessing the power of music, LG aims to foster deeper bonds among individuals, promoting a more fulfilling life.

“As technology advances, meaningful human connections become increasingly vital to enrich our lives. LG continues its commitment to bringing optimism into customers’ daily lives, staying true to our enduring brand promise of ‘Life’s Good,’” said Kim Hyo-eun, head of LG’s Brand Management Division.

This campaign reinforces LG’s commitment to creating enriching experiences in digital spaces where today’s consumers spend significant time. Building on this mission, LG has continuously engaged with younger audiences through participatory campaigns that bring the Life’s Good philosophy to life.

Last year’s “Optimism your feed” campaign leveraged social algorithms to foster positivity on social media. This new initiative specifically seeks to address the paradoxical disconnection in an era of hyper-connectivity.

“One of the most reliable predictors of happiness is having deep and meaningful relationships,” said Jean M. Twenge, Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University. “Yet today, many people are spending more time online and less time connecting in person. Social media in particular tends to create shallow relationships rather than the deep connections people need.

“It’s common for people to have hundreds of followers but no one to talk to in real life if they need support. We need to build more meaningful connections with those around us. That might turn around the pronounced decline in happiness that’s occurred over the last decade.”

A new global study* from LG on social connection reveals that 68 percent of people find it harder to make real friends, and a third reported having one or fewer meaningful connections in the past month, with 8 percent experiencing none at all.

Inspired by traditional radio’s unique way of connecting people through music and storytelling, the Radio Optimism campaign transforms this concept into an interactive platform where participants can create and send personalized songs to their loved ones.

Users can easily create new songs using AI-powered tools, which are thoroughly trained on a curated music dataset. These tools interpret user prompts to produce unique musical pieces and generate matching album art, providing an engaging and personalized experience. Once generated, these songs can be sent to recipients to deepen their connection and made available for others to discover worldwide.

According to the survey, nearly 9 in 10 respondents believe that meaningful connections lead to a more optimistic outlook on life. By providing a platform for individuals to express their feelings, this campaign aims to foster deeper connections and help individuals enrich their lives while spreading optimism in their own ways.

The campaign website is available in English and Spanish, with plans to support additional languages in the coming months to enable broader participation. The official website can be found at RadioOptimism.lg.com.


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