As the 31st Washington Parliamentary Intelligence Security Forum (PI-SF) concluded, participants exchanged ideas on pressing global security challenges and explored actionable solutions aimed at making the world a safer place. The forum brought together lawmakers, security experts, and policymakers from across the globe to deliberate on strategies for peace, intelligence cooperation, and stability.

Speaking after the meeting, Hon. Shaaban Ibrahim Sharada, former Chairman of Nigeria’s House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence, emphasized the importance of leveraging such platforms to address Africa’s unique security concerns.

Sharada, who also serves as the Forum’s Director for African Parliamentarians Engagements and a member of its steering committee, noted that discussions at the event were particularly relevant to Nigeria and the wider African continent during this challenging period.

“I engaged in meaningful discussions on peace and stability in Africa, particularly in my country, during this trying moment,” Sharada stated. He expressed optimism that the knowledge gained at the forum would be communicated back to stakeholders within his jurisdiction, fostering collaboration with PI-SF to strengthen Africa’s security architecture and promote global understanding.

Sharada said there is the need for African leaders to take advantage of international platforms like PI-SF to build partnerships that can help tackle terrorism, insurgency, and other transnational threats. He stressed that Africa’s security challenges require not only local solutions but also global cooperation, given their impact on international peace and stability.

The Washington Parliamentary Intelligence Security Forum has become a key gathering for legislators and security professionals worldwide, providing a space to share experiences and develop strategies to counter evolving threats. With Sharada’s active role in bridging African parliamentarians and the forum, Nigeria’s voice continues to resonate in global security dialogues.

NLC Vows to Proceed with National Protest Over Devastating Insecurity

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has reiterated that its planned nationwide protest against insecurity, slated for December 17, will go ahead as announced.

The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said this in Gombe after a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya.

He mentioned that there had been no contrary directive to suspend the protest, stressing that it remained “sacrosanct”.

The motive of the planned exercise, according to Ajaero, is to draw urgent attention to the worsening insecurity in the country and its devastating impact on the economy, workers and investors.

He noted that insecurity is discouraging both local and foreign investment and compounding the economic hardships faced by Nigerians.

The NLC president said the demonstration is meant to awaken the government to its responsibility of addressing banditry, kidnappings and other security challenges.

He cited cases of workers being kidnapped and killed, including a teacher who was reportedly murdered during a recent attack in Kebbi State, adding that many of the abducted children are the offspring of workers.

He demanded decisive action from the government to end the spate of kidnappings, noting that victims often resort to borrowing money to pay ransoms.

Meanwhile, the Gombe State governor said the state civil service needs a strong and productive workforce to achieve positive development.

Speaking at the official flag off of the NLC state secretariat, he described workers as indispensable partners in governance, stressing that their welfare had remained a central focus of his administration since assuming office in 2019.

He stated that the project was designed to provide the organised labour with a befitting secretariat after decades of operating in a temporary office.

He explained that the government had sustained a culture of dialogue, mutual understanding and shared responsibility with the organised labour, a strategy he said had helped strengthen industrial harmony and productivity across the state.

Governor Inuwa recollected that Gombe was among the first states in the country to implement the National Minimum Wage despite limited resources, describing the move as a deliberate investment in human capital development

The former Governor of Jigawa State and one of the founding fathers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Sule Lamido, has cautioned that unless the party resolves its internal crisis, it risks forming alliances and coalitions that could reshape Nigeria’s political landscape.

Lamido made the statement while receiving Jigawa PDP stakeholders and party leaders at his Kano office, stressing the urgent need for unity and reconciliation.

Lamido recalled that he had earlier given party members an ultimatum to wait until December 9 to determine the fate of the current acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum.

He disclosed that after consultations with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki, several strategies were devised to engage PDP governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory in reconciliation talks, which were hosted at Saraki’s residence.

“We have consulted all of them and asked for cooperation. We are going to sit again. Don’t worry, you are going to vote. There is no party still like the PDP. We should not allow our personal ego to destroy it,” Lamido emphasized. He warned that if reconciliation fails, alliances and coalitions would become inevitable, adding that “if you want to make a name in Nigeria, you should join the PDP.”

Lamido lamented the party’s dwindling influence in Kano State, where it managed only 15,000 votes in the last general elections.

He also criticized the defection of the PDP’s former vice-presidential candidate to the All Progressives Congress. “The rivalry within PDP is only benefitting the APC,” Lamido said, accusing the southwest of rallying behind the APC due to tribal sentiments.

On his part, Alhaji Babandi Gumel, PDP Chairman in Jigawa State, explained that the gathering was part of ongoing reconciliation efforts. He noted that similar meetings had been held in Dutse, following a paper presented by former local government chairmen during Lamido’s tenure as governor. Gumel added that the November 27 meeting in Kano was a continuation of those efforts, aimed at resolving leadership disputes.

“Our leader, Sule Lamido, asked us to wait a little to ensure the national leadership is sorted out. Up till now, there is no substantive chairman. The faction of Turaki is still claiming leadership, while other factions are also laying claims. Even on INEC’s website, it is still Damagum’s name that appears,” Gumel stated.