Jigawa State former governor and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Sule Lamido, has expressed dismay over his inability to obtain the nomination form to contest for the position of National Chairman ahead of the party’s 2025 National Convention scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Lamido, who visited the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja on Friday, told journalists that he was unable to access the form as the office of the National Organising Secretary (NOS) was locked, while officials at the secretariat claimed ignorance of the form’s whereabouts.

“PDP is one big family, and coming here is like coming home. But I was surprised to find the NOS office under lock and key. Nobody seems to know where the forms are, how they were printed or what colour they are. Strangely, a party like ours can have such disorganisation,” Lamido said.

The former governor said he met with the National Secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who also confirmed that he had not seen the forms.

Anyanwu stated, “As the National Secretary, my job includes keeping records and accounts of all sales of forms, but I am not in custody of any. I have not even seen what the forms look like. Nobody has come to me to buy one.”

Lamido lamented what he described as internal confusion within the party’s administrative system, saying he might seek legal redress if denied the opportunity to participate in the process.

He said; “If I don’t get the form, I’ll go to court. But this is a family affair. The PDP must be organised and disciplined to win elections. We cannot afford internal chaos.”

Lamido dismissed reports that some PDP Governors refused to endorse him due to alleged links with another political party, the ADC, describing such claims as “divisive and baseless.”

“Those governors met me in the PDP. I’ve been here since 1998, when we fought to build this party. The PDP will overcome its current challenges and come back stronger,” he said.

Lamido called for unity and adherence to the party’s constitution as the only path to reclaiming power in 2027, urging members to remain focused on the “bigger picture of saving Nigeria from the APC.”

Screening of Aspirants Postponed

Meanwhile, the PDP has announced that the screening of aspirants for the National Convention has been postponed.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of the National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) and Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, the committee said; “the decision was due to unforeseen circumstances.”

Governor Fintiri noted that a new date for the screening exercise would be communicated in due course, while expressing regret for any inconvenience the postponement may cause.

He reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to ensuring a credible and hitch-free 2025 Elective National Convention, scheduled for Saturday, 15th to Sunday, 16th November 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

A major legislative effort to modernise workers’ protection in Nigeria has advanced, as the Occupational Health and Safety Bill, 2025, scaled second reading in the House of Representatives.

The proposed law seeks to provide a stronger and more comprehensive legal framework for the safety, health, and welfare of workers across all workplaces in the country.

Sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, and six other lawmakers, the bill aims “to repeal the existing Factories Act, Cap F1, LFN, 2004, which has been widely criticised for being narrow in scope, weak in enforcement, and outdated.”

The current Factories Act, which dates back to 1958, mainly covers traditional industrial workplaces and does not address the realities of modern work environments.

Labour unions, safety advocates, and international bodies such as the International Labour Organisation (ILO) have long called for its replacement, noting that “it excludes large segments of the workforce and contributes to underreporting of workplace accidents.”

If enacted, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 2025, will expand coverage beyond factories to include construction sites, farms, mines, and corporate offices.

Co-sponsor David Zachariah said the proposal was a crucial intervention for Nigerian workers, stressing that “the existing framework no longer reflects current work patterns.”

Supporters also argue that adopting globally recognised safety frameworks would enhance Nigeria’s compliance with international labour standards and improve the country’s attractiveness to foreign investors.

Deputy Speaker Kalu, who presided over the session, referred the bill to the Committees on Labour, Employment and Productivity, and Safety Standards and Regulations for further legislative action.

Meanwhile, the Society of Occupational and Environmental Health Physicians of Nigeria (SOEHPON) has pledged its support for the bill.

SOEHPON noted that “it has been working with lawmakers to improve occupational health and safety practices across all sectors, including the informal economy.”

The group, alongside the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other stakeholders, has been a leading advocate for the legislation aimed at ensuring legal protection and safer working conditions for Nigerian workers.