COVER
Buhari, Obasanjo, Lawan, Ayade Mourn as Wayas Dies at 80
… Wayas
By Jude Opara and Ubong Ukpong, Abuja and Kunle Idowu, Abeokuta
President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the family of former Senate President, Joseph Wayas, on the passing of the elder statesman, whose “influence and contributions to Nigeria’s democracy remain indelible.
”The president’s condolence message is contained in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, yesterday in Abuja.
President Buhari noted the sacrifices of Wayas, who started taking up leadership responsibilities at an early age, turning a Senate President at 38, and remaining vibrant and dynamic in mentoring leaders long after he retired from politics.
The president joined the National Assembly, Government and people of Cross River, his friends and associates in mourning Wayas, believing his legacies would be approximated for posterity.
He prayed that his soul would find rest with the Lord.
Similarly, former president Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed that the late Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas, lived for the welfare and security of the common man.
The late senate president died early hours of yesterday, in United Kingdom after illness at age 80.
Obasanjo, in a statement signed his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, yesterday in Abeokuta noted that Wayas would be sorely missed in view of his giant political strides.
The former president noted that Wayas contributed to the building of the Nigerian nation, starting from his birth place, Bassang, in Cross River to every nook and cranny of the country.
“Dr. Wayas was a special breed who contributed immensely to the development of the country and became a parliamentarian in the second republic.
“He was such a great patriot who had contributed his own quota to the legislative governance and overall development of Nigeria.
“He always pitched its tent with the truth. He maintained a cordial relationship with his colleagues in the Senate and well-groomed in legislative practices and procedures,” Obasanjo said.
His knowledge of practices and procedures of the senate, according to Obasanjo helped him greatly in running the affairs of the upper chamber of the parliament.
Obasanjo explained that Wayas demonstrated high level of maturity and level-headedness, saying his disposition towards effective nation building remained unparalleled.
“He lived for the welfare and security of the common man. His passion about a better and safer society was exceptional.
“His steadfastness, commitment to the cause of one Nigeria and optimistic spirit towards national development will continue to inspire us both now and in the future,” he said.
The former president described the death as painful and commiserated with his family, Gov. Benedict Ayade, the entire people of Cross River and all associates of the late statesman.
Obasanjo prayed the Almighty God to grant the late leader a place among the righteous ones in paradise.
“May God also grant members of his immediate family the people and government of Cross River, the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” he said.
Also yesterday, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, expressed sadness over the demise of a former President of the Senate, Dr Joseph Wayas.
Wayas, who served as the third President of the Senate from 1979 to 1983 died in a London hospital yesterday at the age of 80.
A statement in Abuja, yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, Gbajabiamila, while condoling the government and people of Cross River State over the loss of the elder statesman, noted that his contributions to the deepening of democracy in the country could not be overemphasized.
While praying for the repose of the soul of the elder statesman, the Speaker enjoined the family, friends and the people of Cross River State to take solace in the fact that the ex-President of the Senate, a founding member of the defunct All People’s Party (APP), contributed his part to the political development of Nigeria.
He Served Nigeria with Dedication, Integrity – Lawan
President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, has condoled with the family of former Senate President, Joseph Wayas, who died on Dec. 2.
Lawan in a condolence message issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Ola Awoniyi, in Abuja yesterday, described the death of Wayas as a great loss for Nigeria.
He commiserated with the family of Wayas, Government and People of Cross River, friends and political associates of the late elder statesman.
“Sen. Joseph Wayas was a great lawmaker and political leader who served his country and people with dedication and integrity.
“As the President of the Senate in the Second Republic, Sen. Wayas led the upper chamber with competence and passion, he was a great symbol of his political era.
“Sen. Wayas continued to contribute to nation-building, democracy and socio-economic development of Nigeria even after he left public office in 1983.
“He played a significant role as Deputy Chairman of the 1994-95 National Constitutional Conference and took part in many other national assignments.
“Nigeria will sorely miss his wealth of experience,” Lawan said
He prayed to God to grant the late Wayas’ gentle soul a sweet repose and to his loved ones, the fortitude to bear his loss.
Also yesterday, Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade of Cross River expressed regret at the death of Second Republic Senate President, Dr Joseph Wayas.
He described the death as “a monumental loss” to Cross River in particular and to Nigeria in general.
Wayas died in the early hours of Tuesday at a London hospital at the age of 80 years. He was born on May 21, 1941.
He was Nigeria’s senate president in the Second Republic between 1979 and 1983.
Gov. Ayade’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Christian Ita, said in a statement that the governor remarked that Wayas left indelible footprints on the sands of time.
“As a state, Cross River is in pains as we mourn the passing of our illustrious son. He was a rare gem. The demise of Dr Wayas is indeed a monumental loss to our dear state and Nigeria.
“As Senate President, Dr Wayas contributed to the deepening of Nigeria’s democratic ethos through his robust and vibrant leadership.
“Since his retirement from active politics, the former senate president had been playing a fatherly and stabilising role in the politics and affairs of our state,’’ the statement read.
Ayade condoled with the Wayas family, assuring that his demise was a collective loss and the pains a shared one.
“We are with you in this moment of grief. We have you in our hearts and prayers,’’ the government assured the deceased family.
Wayas Was Bridge Builder, Lover of Masses – Group
A civil liberty group, Peace Action Transformation (PACT), yesterday, described the late former Senate President, Dr Joseph Wayas, as a bridge builder and lover of masses.
Wayas, who was senate president between 1979 and 1983, died in the early hours of yesterday at a London hospital, at the age of 80.
National Coordination of PACT, Mr Adegboyega Adeniji, the told NAN that Wayas would be remembered for standing on the side of the people when he led the senate.
Adeniji said: “We thank God for his life. He lived a fulfilled life as a Nigerian, being able to occupy the number three position in the Second Republic.
“He was a gentle man and very accommodating during his time. He was a bridge builder and throughout his tenure as senate president, there was peace.
“He was always on the side of the people and never pampered the executive.”
The national coordinator added that the office of the leader of the legislature was properly handled and distinct from the position of the executive during Wayas’ leadership.
This, according to him, is lacking nowadays.
“The greatest disservice to this nation is the inability of our legislature to represent the interest of the people.
“The executive arm can decide to do as it likes but the lawmakers, who are carrying the mandates of a particular segment of the nation before coming to the National Assembly collectively to aggregate our views, should stand by the people.
“The legislators nowadays are doing lots of disservice to the Nigerian people by hobnobbing with the executives at the detriment of the people,” he added.
Adeniji called on the present crop of political leaders to always strive to serve the people and bequeath a sustainable development for the humanity.
He said called on those aspiring to be in the legislature in the next dispensation to learn from the late senate president.
The national coordinator said that the legislature should always stand on the side of the people and shun any tendency to neglect those they were supposed to represent.
“The lesson is for in-coming legislators to appreciate that the essence is life is service to humanity and they must be able to conquer selfishness in order to achieve this.
Wayas, who was also the Deputy Chairman of the 1994 National Constitutional Conference, was a multi-linguistic, as he could speak Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba languages fluently.
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Development Bank of Nigeria Plc (DBN) has launched DAWN: DBN Action for Women in Nigeria, unveiled its Impact Report and presented MSME Data Assets at the seventh edition of Annual Lecture held in Abuja.
DBN, in a statement on Thursday, said while delivering a welcome address, its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Tony Okpanachi, said the central challenge was no longer reforms themselves but ensuring benefits reach businesses at end of the chain.
He asked how to make sure benefits reach traders in Onitsha, fabricator in Aba, farmer in Kebbi and young founder in Yaba, noting that MSMEs accounted for about half of Nigeria’s GDP and more than eight in every ten jobs, adding that when reform works for MSMEs it works for most Nigerians.
He explained that reform becomes prosperity only when entrepreneurs can act on it whether through long tenor loans to buy equipment, banks willing to take risk or skills and records needed to grow.
He said working through Participating Financial Institutions DBN provides longer term funding, partial credit guarantees through subsidiary Impact Credit Guarantee Limited and capacity building including Entrepreneurship Training Programme.
He disclosed that as at December 2025 DBN had disbursed a cumulative N1.4 trillion to MSMEs through 84 Participating Financial Institutions creating about 1.6 million jobs nationwide.
Under the new five year strategy, the Bank aims to reach more than two million MSMEs with deliberate targets for women led businesses, youth led businesses and underserved states.
On DAWN, Okpanachi said finance alone had not enabled enough women-led businesses to scale.
He said initiative brings together financing, guarantees and credit support, technical assistance, outcome linked grants and market linkages delivered through banks, microfinance institutions, fintechs, aggregators, cooperatives and direct channels.
Its priority sectors are agriculture and exports, healthcare, arts and creatives, technology and green business.
He said DAWN is about moving gender focused lending beyond intention and turning access into opportunity.
On the sidelines of the lecture DBN and African Development Bank held a signing ceremony of AfDB DBN 61 million United States dollars Gender Line of Credit development that reinforces Bank commitment to women led enterprises.
Okpanachi urged Participating Financial Institutions to extend lending into sectors and states where access to finance has been limited, policymakers and regulators to measure reform by what changes for business at end of chain and MSMEs to formalise, keep good records and use support now available.
The Vice President as Special Guest of Honour was represented by Dr Fred Iklaga Senior Technical Adviser in the Office of Special Adviser to the President on Economy.
Keynote speakers were Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Dr Karl Toriola, and Chairman of Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Dr Segun Ogunsanya.
Fireside chat featured Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank Abubakar Suleiman, manufacturing and trade entrepreneur Mrs Omoyemi Chukwurah and by video Kola Masha of Babban Gona.
The Secretary to the Government of Federation, represented by Augusta Warren Bekaredebo, said 2026 tax reforms would bring relief to many small businesses expressing optimism that a lot of businesses will be smiling by next year because they will be exempted from tax.
By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened possible nationwide industrial action following the failure of talks with the Federal Government over workers’ welfare, petrol prices and other outstanding labour demands.
The warning came after a meeting between the government and organised labour at the Ministry of Labour in Abuja on Thursday, October 22, ended without an agreement.
The congress has given the Federal Government until Tuesday, October 27, to make meaningful progress on the issues, warning that its relevant organs would decide the next line of action if the next meeting fails to produce concrete commitments.
The NLC has also directed its affiliates, state councils and civil society allies to begin mobilising members for possible nationwide action.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the NLC Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah, expressed disappointment over what he described as the government delegation’s lack of preparedness for the negotiations.
According to the congress, organised labour presented its demands in good faith but left the meeting without any concrete commitments from the government.
The demands include a reduction in petrol prices to 2024 levels, renegotiation of the national minimum wage, implementation of agreed tax relief measures and resolution of the terms of settlement involving the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
The congress also called for the resolution of issues raised by the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC) over peculiar allowances, wage awards and hazard allowances.
The NLC said the government delegation lacked the necessary authority to engage meaningfully on the issues presented by labour representatives.
“The meeting between the Federal Government and organised labour, convened at the Ministry of Labour in Abuja on 22nd October 2026, has ended without resolution,” the statement said.
It added that the Minister of Labour requested that the meeting be adjourned until October 27 to allow the government to prepare adequately for further discussions.
The preparations, according to the statement, would include bringing relevant ministers and heads of departments and agencies to the negotiating table.
The congress said it remained open to dialogue but would not accept continued delays in addressing workers’ concerns.
“We will report back to our organs, and if no meaningful progress is made on Tuesday, the relevant organs of the NLC will decide the next line of action,” it said.
The labour body urged workers and members of the public to remain calm while the negotiations continue, even as it directed its affiliates and allies to prepare for possible industrial action.
“However, we urge all affiliates of NLC and TUC; all state councils and our civil society allies to be alert and start mobilising for a possible action across the nation while we hope that the tenets of our demands are met by the government,” the statement added.
The October 27 meeting is expected to provide another opportunity for both sides to address the outstanding issues and prevent a possible escalation of the dispute.
However, the NLC’s decision to begin mobilisation suggests that tensions could rise if the next round of talks fails to produce meaningful progress.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has barred its personnel from escorting politicians during campaigns for the 2027 general elections.
Zonal Commanding Officer, RS6, ACM Abimbola Owolabi, gave the directive during her maiden visit to the Cross River Command in Calabar on Wednesday.
Owolabi said patrol vehicles and sirens must not be used for political activities or private engagements, including weddings and funeral processions.
She directed officers deployed to campaign venues to focus exclusively on traffic management to prevent congestion and road crashes.
The zonal head warned personnel against leading political convoys or providing escorts for politicians, stressing that official vehicles must not be used for unauthorised purposes.
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