NRTC WEEKLY: Top 5 trending stories across the country this week

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

It’s another edition of NRTC WEEKLY Roundup —in this week’s edition, we are focusing on five trending stories across the country.

As usual, the stories will cut across the top five beats in our media organization, NRTC [your one-stop hub for rich and reliable content covering entertainment, sports, politics, metro, and leading stories].

As we all know, a day can’t pass without trending stories and we have tracked many of them for you this week. Why not scroll down and treat yourself? 

Topics for discussion on this edition of NRTC Weekly include: Super Eagles vs South Africa, new minimum wage, Portable vs. Davido; Tinubu vs minimum wage in politics, and LASU’s best graduating student.

Sport: Super Eagles vs South Africa 

NRTC WEEKLY gathered that matches against Ghana, South Africa, and Ivory Coast are always highly emotional for the Super Eagles fans. The tension was palpable during the Nigeria vs South Africa 2026 World Cup qualifier, as Nigerians hoped to see the Eagles replicate their African Cup of Nations (AFCON) victory over South Africa. Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana were eager for revenge.

NRTC WEEKLY observed that a win against a rival like South Africa would have been celebrated joyously and would have significantly boosted Nigeria’s qualification hopes. However, the match ended in a 1-1 draw, with goals from Dele Bashiru and T. Zwane.

Nigerian fans could have celebrated in the streets, online, and everywhere possible, flooding social media with praise for the Super Eagles and their performance. However, as it stands, the Super Eagles currently sit at number five on the table.

Some Nigerians believe that a draw was preferable to a loss, which would have undoubtedly led to disappointment, especially in such a significant game. Fans are likely to analyze the match, criticize player performances, and ponder what could have been done differently.

Can Nigerians trust former international player Finidi George for the qualifiers, or is there no hope?

Leading stories: New minimum wage

NRTC WEEKLY gathered that the passage of the new minimum wage law has elicited mixed reactions, reflecting the complex situation in the country.

Organised labour unions, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), initially demanded a much higher increase than what was agreed upon. They argued that the current inflation rate necessitates a significant jump in the minimum wage to ensure a decent living standard.

The unions are demanding a higher amount than the proposed N62,000 from the federal government and also calling for a reversal of the hike in electricity tariffs.

NRTC WEEKLY learned that some Nigerians have criticised the negotiations and the suspension of the nationwide strike following the proposal of the new N62,000 minimum wage. They believe that the unions should have continued their industrial action.

The governor’s remarks that a high minimum wage would be financially challenging to sustain have sparked reactions among Nigerians, who are frustrated with governors receiving millions of Naira each month without providing a tangible account of expenditures.

With many Nigerians likely hoping that the new minimum wage will improve their quality of life and allow them to better afford basic necessities, it remains unclear whether the unions will accept the N62,000 or resume their strike.

What should the unions’ next action be if their demands are not met?

Entertainment: Portable vs Davido

NRTC WEEKLY gathered that Portable and Davido linked up in America, showcasing the relationship between the A-list singer and the ‘Zazzuh Zeh’ crooner.

Many fans were genuinely excited to see the two very different artists connect. Davido, a major Afrobeats star, hanging out with Portable, the rising star of the street pop scene, was unexpected and intriguing.

In a viral video, Portable was visibly excited about spending time with Davido in America, where he was gifted Dior shoes.

NRTC WEEKLY gathered that while the controversial singer may be disliked in the morning, he often wins people over by the end of the day.

While some praised Davido for his hospitality, others, like Daniel Regha, criticized him for showing off.

Politics: Tinubu vs minimum wage

All eyes are on President Bola Tinubu to address the labor unions’ proposed new minimum wage following a statement by the Minister of Information, Idris Mohammed, indicating that the Finance Minister, Wale Edun, has presented a new minimum wage template to Tinubu.

Reports indicate that the President is currently reviewing the minimum wage template, but Nigerians expect him to sign it into law.

Many citizens desire the same energy used to reverse the old national anthem to be applied to the implementation of the new minimum wage.

The question lies with the state governors, who argue that N60,000 is not sustainable. What will happen if President Tinubu signs the new minimum wage into law?

Education: LASU’s best graduating student

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s award of N10 million to Lagos State University’s best-graduating student has prompted Nigerians to recognize the value of education and view Mr. Sanwo-Olu as a great motivator for students to strive for academic excellence.

At the grand finale of the 27th convocation of LASU, Olaniyi Mubaraq Olawale from the Department of Accounting Education received a N10 million cash prize after graduating with a cumulative grade point average of 4.98 for the 2022–2023 academic session.

NRTC WEEKLY learned that Nigerians believe if other governors adopted similar rewards for top graduates, it would inspire students to excel in their studies.

They said the reward might signify that the government is committed to supporting the youth and their potential to contribute to the nation’s development.

Stay tuned for the next episode of NRTC WEEKLY as we delve into the latest happenings in Nigeria.