By Suleiman Yakubu

The Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has invited President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to visit the state to inaugurate the 1,000 tractors and several other agricultural equipment acquired for the take-off of mechanised farming in the state.
The governor was at the Aso Villa in Abuja to extend the invitation to him. However, it was not clear if the president accepted the invitation.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mal. Bologi Ibrahim, said the governor used the opportunity to discuss his agricultural revolution with the president, stressing that Niger State was poised to transform the agricultural sector through mechanised farming.
He said his government has signed several agreements with agricultural business partners, both domestic and international, aimed at actualizing agricultural revolution in the state.
Responding, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu acknowledged the efforts of the farmer governor and commended him for ensuring that Niger State contributes significantly to the food security agenda of the federal government.
He called on other state governments to borrow a leaf from Niger State so that the yearnings and aspirations of the federal government as regards food security and sufficiency could be achieved.

By Suleiman Yakubu

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Niger State Council, joined its counterparts to stage a peaceful protest to express their displeasure over the hardships people were going through, such as hunger, insecurity, and poverty.
The protest, which was a directive from the NLC National Secretariat, took off from Labour House, IBB Road, and terminated at the Niger State House Assembly, Minna.
Addressing the Speaker and other members of the house shortly after arriving at the Assembly complex, the state NLC Chairman, Comrade Idris Abdulkareem Lafene, disclosed that the protest was aimed at drawing the attention of the government at all levels to address the challenges confronting Nigerians, such as hunger, insecurity, poverty, and infrastructure decay, and called for immediate intervention to address the crisis.
Comrade Lafene reiterated that the labour movement is the voice of the people, hence the need for the reversal of some unpopular government policies to save the people.
Comrade Idris frowned at the high cost of living in all spheres of human endeavour across the country, saying that prices of goods and services have continued to ise every day as a result of fuel subsidy removal, especially foodstuffs, fertiliser, and farm implements, and urged stakeholders and the government to take drastic action to address the lingering crisis.
Earlier, the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Barr Abdulmalik Sarkin Daji, had lauded the NLC leadership for embarking on the peaceful protest and assured that their message would be delivered to the appropriate authorities.
Sarkin Daji also promised that the House of Assembly would table the NLC demands at the plenary.
The protest witnessed a large turnout of all the affiliate unions in the state.