Okpebholo approves new minimum wage of N75,000 for Edo workers (Nation)
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo has raised the minimum wage for Edo workers from N70,000 to N75,000 to further improve their standard of living.
The governor announced this during his May Day speech at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin.
The governor, while appreciating Edo workersโ contributions to the stateโs development, said his administration would always look for ways to improve the welfare of Edo workers. Read more
Gov Nwifuru announces N10k May-Day gift to Ebonyi workers (Vanguard)
Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi has announced N10, 000 May-Day celebration gift to the workers in the state.
Nwifuru made the disclosure at the occasion of the May-Day in Abakaliki on Thursday.
The 2025 Workersโ Day is tagged: โReclaiming the Civic Space in the Midst of Economics Hardshipโ. Read more
2025 May Day: Tinubu pledges job security, fair treatment for workers (Tribune)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administrationโs commitment to strengthening job security and ensuring the fair treatment of Nigerian workers, as he addressed thousands of workers and labour leaders during the 2025 International Workersโ Day celebration held at Eagle Square, Abuja.
The event, marked by solidarity chants, colourful parades, with a theme: โReclaiming the Civic Space amid Economic Hardshipโ, served as a rallying point for renewed dialogue between the government and organized labour, in the face of growing socioeconomic challenges.
Delivering a passionate speech, President Tinubu who was represented by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Muhammed Maigari Dingyadi, lauded Nigerian workers as the โbackbone of our society,โ and emphasized that his administration would โcontinue to strengthen labour protections, improve job security, and ensure fair treatment for all workers in line with international best practices.โ Read more
Portable escapes jail for assault, pays N30,000 fine (Punch)
Controversial hip-hop artiste Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, escaped a three-month jail, after paying the N30,000 fine prescribed by the court.
The Chief Magistrate Babajide Ilo-led court sitting in Ifo, in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, on Tuesday sentenced Portable to three monthsโ imprisonment for assault, with an option of a N30,000 fine.
The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Olumide Awoleke, had informed the court that Okikiola committed the offence on November 18, 2022 at about 11:00 hrs in Okeosa, Ilogbo, within the Ifo Magisterial District. Read more
May 1: NLC, TUC demand democratic restoration in Rivers (Channels)
The 2025 Workersโ Day celebration in Rivers State took a different turn as the two major labour centres โ the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) โ held separate rallies at their respective secretariats, calling for the restoration of democratic governance and improved welfare for workers.
In obedience to their national secretariat, members of the NLC gathered in large numbers at their secretariat, clad in union uniforms and carrying placards demanding an end to what they described as โan unconstitutional assault on democracy.โ
The Rivers State NLC Chairman, Alex Agwanwor, in his speech, restated the national bodyโs condemnation of the removal of elected state officials, calling the action a โreckless overreach of executive power.โ Read more
CBEX operations resume amid N1.2tn EFCC probe, SEC ban (Sun)
The Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) trading platform has resumed operations despite the probe launched by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged N1.2 trillion digital fraud.
The development was disclosed by two traders on Wednesday, who added that the platform announced fresh withdrawal options to restore investor confidence following the infamous crash of the platform.
Per the report, CBEX quietly resumed operations, with new users now allowed to register, trade, and withdraw profits amid ongoing investigations by regulatory agencies. Read more
Tech University targets 1m enrollments, opens Lagos Study Center to bridge access gap (Leadership)
Miva Open University has inaugurated its Lagos Study Center with an ambitious target of reaching 1 million students in the coming years, a bold stride toward reshaping Nigeriaโs higher education landscape.
The launch marks a critical milestone in the universityโs mission to expand access to quality tertiary education, as it addresses the glaring gap left by Nigeriaโs limited university capacity.
The vice-chancellor, Miva Open University, Professor Tayo Arulogun, at the commissioning ceremony, underscored the significance of blending online and physical learning experiences. Read more
Guy Ritchie to direct โRoad House 2โ with Jake Gyllenhaal (Variety)
Guy Ritchie will direct the sequel to โRoad Houseโ with Jake Gyllenhaal set to reprise his lead role as ex-UFC fighter Dalton.
โRoad House 2โ marks the third collaboration between Ritchie and Gyllenhaal and their second for Amazon MGM Studios following โGuy Ritchieโs The Covenant.โ The filmmaker and the Oscar and Tony-nominated actor also collaborated on the forthcoming action thriller โIn the Grey.โ
Will Beall (โBad Boys: Ride or Die,โ โBeverly Hills Cop: Axel Fโ) is writing the script for the sequel, plot details for which are being kept under wraps. Producers include Atlas Entertainmentโs Charles Roven and Alex Gartner, as well as Gyllenhaal for his Nine Stories Productions with Josh McLaughlin. Ivan Atkinson will executive produce. Read more
Lorde announces new album Virgin and confirms release date (Standard)
Lorde fans, our prayers have been answered. Virgin, Lordeโs fourth studio album, will be born on June 27 2025.
The New Zealand singer, real name Ella Yelich-O’Connor, announced the news on her website, alongside an all-caps statement saying the record is โ100 per cent written in bloodโ.
Virgin will be co-produced with Jim-E Stack, an American producer who has worked with Charli XCX and Bon Iver. Mixing is by Spike Stent โ an English producer who has worked with huge names, including Madonna, Beyoncรฉ, Bjรถrk and Lady Gaga โ and Tom Elmhirst, another English producer who has worked with Adele and David Bowie. Read more
Amy Irving pays tribute to Dallas star mum Priscilla Pointer, dead at 100 (FilmNews)
Amy Irving has paid tribute to her mother, Priscilla Pointer, who has died at the age of 100.
The actor, best known for playing Rebecca Barnes Wentworth, the mother of Victoria Principal’s character Pamela Ewing, in the 1980s soap opera Dallas, died on Monday at an assisted living facility.
Her son, writer-director David Irving, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter, while her daughter, Oscar-nominated actor Amy Irving, paid tribute on Instagram. Read more
Tony Awards Nominations: โBuena Vista Social Clubโ, โMaybe Happy Endingโ And โDeath Becomes Herโ Lead Way (Deadline)
Buena Vista Social Club, Maybe Happy Ending and Death Becomes Her top the roster of nominees for the 78th annual Tony Awards announced Thursday with 10 nominations each.
Hollywood names were all over todayโs noms list, which was unveiled by Sarah Paulson and Wendell Pierce from the Sofitel in New York. George Clooney, Sarah Snook, Daniel Dae Kim, Sadie Sink, Bob Odenkirk, Jessica Hecht were among those nominated for Broadway plays and musicals taking place during the 2024-2025 Tony season.
Other top nominees included a group with seven mentions each today: Dead Outlaw, the Sink-starring John Proctor is the Villain, Nicole Scherzingerโs Sunset Blvd. and The Hills of California directed by Sam Mendes. Read more
Ukraine says Russia hits civilians again as Kyiv derides Putin’s 3-day truce offer (ABC)
Russia struck civilian areas of Ukraine with drones in another deadly nighttime attack, officials said Tuesday, as Kyiv officials dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putinโs declaration of a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire next week as an attempt โto deceive the United States.โ
The Russian attack damaged homes in Ukraineโs southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region, authorities said, killing a 12-year-old girl and wounding three others, including a six-year-old.
Russia also launched 20 drones and 31 powerful guided bombs at Kharkiv, the second-largest Ukrainian city. Debris from an intercepted Russian drone started a fire in a neighborhood of the capital, Kyiv, according to officials. Read more
Vietnamese celebrate 50 years since end of Vietnam War (StraitsTimes)
Thousands of Vietnamese celebrated the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War on April 30, in what the countryโs communist leader said was a โvictory of justice over tyrannyโ.
Celebrations culminated in a grand parade in Ho Chi Minh City, with thousands of marching troops and an air show with Russian-made fighter jets and helicopters, as Vietnamese waved red flags and sung patriotic songs.
โIt was a victory of justice over tyranny,โ Vietnamโs communist party chief and the countryโs top leader To Lam said on April 30, citing one of Ho Chi Minhโs mottos: โVietnam is one, the Vietnamese people are one. Rivers may dry up, mountains may erode, but that truth will never change.โ Read more
AFN: We donโt have โunresolved issuesโ with Ofili (Guardian)
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) is insisting that it has no โunresolved issuesโ with United States-based sprinter, Favour Ofili.
A source close to Ofili had revealed to The Guardian, on Tuesday, that the athlete, who is among those listed for the 2025 World Athletics Relays in China is threatening to boycott the competition citing unresolved issues from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where she was erroneously omitted from Nigeriaโs 100m womenโs list.
However, AFN President, Tonobok Okowa, told The Guardian in a telephone chat, yesterday, that the federation does not have unresolved issues with Ofili. Read more
Hall of Fame beckons for Nigerian great Nwokolo (Punch)
Nigerian boxing legend Charles Nwokolo will be inducted as one of the World Boxing Council Legends at a grand ceremony on June 22, in Los Angeles, USA, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The former African and Commonwealth champion, known to his boxing fans as โDick Tigerโ, made a significant impact in the boxing world during his illustrious career that saw him compete at the highest levels of the sport.
Nwokoloโs journey to prominence began at age 13 when he switched from football to boxing, a decision that would change the trajectory of his life as he Nwokolo became a formidable boxer who would go on to represent Nigeria on the international stage. Read more
Lewis Hamilton gets all new look for Miami as Ferrari ditches traditional red (PlanetF1)
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc may look a little different when they arrive in Miami this week.
The Ferrari drivers are hoping for a better performance this time out after recording just one top three qualifying finish between them in the F1 2025 season so far and there will be a fresh new look on and off the track this weekend.
Ferrari has unveiled a new livery for Miami based on a collaboration with sponsor HP and the red and blue design will be displayed on both cards throughout qualifying and the race. However, that will not be the only change for the team this weekend. Read more
Justis Huni, Michael Hunter and Filip Hrgovic in running to face Fabio Wardley after Jarrell Miller withdraws (BoxingScene)
Jarrell Miller has officially withdrawn from his contest with fellow heavyweight contender Fabio Wardley on June 7, citing a shoulder injury. BoxingScene has learned that Justis Huni, Filip Hrgovic and Michael Hunter are in the running to replace him โ with Huni leading the way.
The bout was to be for the WBAโs vacant interim heavyweight title at Ipswich Town Football Clubโs Portman Road Stadium in England. Queensberry Promotions are keen to ensure Wardley, a devout Ipswich fan and the WBAโs number-one heavyweight contender, still fights at the outdoor venue against a ranked opponent.
News of Millerโs withdrawal was first reported on Tuesday by NoSmokeBoxing but on Wednesday a source close to negotiations told BoxingScene: โWe were told three days ago that heโd suffered a minor injury to his shoulder and he was taking a break from sparring but that was it. It wouldnโt be a surprise if heโd pulled out without telling everyone though.โ The news came that event organizers feared was coming a few hours later. Read more
2024 WAFCON: Super Falcons Can Reclaim Title In Morocco โ Nkor (CompleteSports)
Deportivo La Coruna striker Blessing Nkor says sheโs confident the Super Falcons can reclaim the 2026 Womenโs Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Recall that Nigeria finished a disappointing fourth in their last campaign, marking the countryโs worst performance in the competitionโs history.In a chat with Flashscore, Nkor stated that the team have learnt their lessons from the last WACON and are willing to write their names in gold. Read more