The Anambra State Government, led by Chukwuma Soludo, has agreed to refund civil servants whose February salaries were wrongly deducted over Monday sit-at-home absences.

This was disclosed by the state chairman of the Trade Union Congress, Chris Ogbonna, who said the decision followed urgent intervention by the union after widespread complaints from affected workers.

The controversy arose after the government introduced a pro-rata salary policy in February 2026, linking workers’ pay to attendance as part of efforts to curb the Monday sit-at-home observed in the state, often associated with the Indigenous People of Biafra.

However, many civil servants reported severe and inconsistent deductions.

At the Jerome Udoji Secretariat in Awka, workers lamented that the cuts did not correspond with the number of Mondays missed, with some receiving drastically reduced pay.

Ogbonna acknowledged the discrepancies, assuring that the government has commenced steps to refund all excess deductions.

He noted that the move reflects the administration’s responsiveness to workers’ concerns.

“The government has agreed to refund those who were over-deducted. This came after our intervention, and we believe the process is already underway,” he said.

Beyond the salary issue, the TUC also appealed to the government to consider refunding contributions made by workers under the state’s pension scheme.

While Ogbonna rated the administration’s overall performance positively, the development has sparked fresh conversations about the implementation of the attendance-based salary policy.

When contacted, the state Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, said he was yet to confirm the refund but promised to liaise with the Accountant-General for clarification.

The Nigeria Police Force has clarified that the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, did not order the scrapping of all tactical units as widely reported, but rather directed a strategic reduction of such teams nationwide.

In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placid, the police described reports of a total disbandment as misleading and a misinterpretation of the IGP’s directive.

According to the Force, while the IGP acknowledges public concerns over the excesses of tactical teams, he also recognises their vital role in crime prevention and enforcement operations across the country.

Drawing from his experience in various command positions, Disu expressed concern over the unchecked proliferation of these units, noting that it has weakened manpower at police divisions and contributed to misconduct due to poor supervision.

To address these challenges, the IGP has ordered that tactical teams be streamlined — with a maximum of five units at the Zonal and State Command levels, and no more than three at Area Command and Divisional levels.

The police explained that this restructuring may involve merging or disbanding some units, depending on operational needs and the discretion of command heads.

The directive, however, does not affect state-established security outfits such as the Rapid Response Squad in Lagos, the Special Response Squad in Oyo, and Operation DOO-AKPOR in Bayelsa.

The Force added that the move is aimed at redeploying officers to police stations to strengthen grassroots policing and improve public trust, while curbing the excesses associated with loosely supervised tactical teams.

The Nigeria Labour Congress has rejected the proposed N6 trillion bailout for electricity generation companies, describing it as an ineffective response to the persistent crisis in the power sector.

In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said repeated financial interventions have failed to deliver meaningful improvement in electricity supply across the country.

He argued that the bailout reflects deeper structural problems in the sector and insisted that public funds should not continue to be used to sustain what he described as a fundamentally flawed system.

According to him, Nigerians continue to suffer from high electricity tariffs and persistent blackouts despite years of government spending in the sector.

Ajaero called for urgent reforms, including the merging of the Ministries of Petroleum and Power into a single Ministry of Energy, to improve coordination and efficiency.

He explained that the current separation of responsibilities contributes to inefficiencies, particularly in gas supply for thermal power generation.

The labour leader also stressed that electricity should be treated as a social service rather than a profit-driven commodity, arguing that such an approach would ensure affordability and improved access for citizens.

He urged the Federal Government to suspend the proposed bailout and instead convene a national stakeholders’ summit to develop a sustainable, people-centred roadmap for the power sector.

The Nigerian Army has announced the commencement of applications for its 91 Regular Recruits Intake for tradesmen/women and non-tradesmen/women, as part of efforts to strengthen its manpower base.

According to a statement released via the Army’s official X handle on Sunday, online registration will begin on March 30, 2026, and close on May 17, 2026.

The Army advised interested Nigerians to apply through its official recruitment portal: https://recruitment.army.mil.ng⁠�.

It explained that the exercise follows the successful conduct of the 90RRI in 2025 and is aimed at recruiting qualified individuals into various units of the force.

Successful applicants will undergo intensive military training and may enjoy career benefits including structured advancement, pension schemes, and opportunities for national service.

On eligibility criteria, the Army stated that applicants must be Nigerian citizens by birth, with age limits set at 18 to 22 years for non-tradesmen/women and 17 to 25 years for tradesmen/women.

It also specified minimum height requirements of 1.68 metres for males and 1.58 metres for females.

Applicants are required to possess valid identification, including the National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN), as part of measures to ensure transparency and curb fraud.

The Army further stressed that the recruitment exercise is free of charge and warned applicants against falling victim to fraudsters demanding payment for forms or assistance.

The institution reiterated its commitment to building a disciplined and professional force to enhance national security.