The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Reports

  • Katsina aims to transform basic education

    Katsina aims to transform basic education

    Katsina Governor Dikko Radda has made educational development a top priority, resulting in increased access to quality education for the children of Katsina. 

    This commitment is evident in the construction and renovation of schools, alongside the recruitment and training of skilled educators. These efforts have led to improved learning outcomes for the youth in the state.

    Also, to ensure the safety and security of schools, the Government established the Katsina State Community Watch Corps. This initiative aims to protect educational institutions across the state, providing a safe learning environment for students and staff.

    Addressing the issue of out-of-school children, Governor Radda’s administration has developed plans to reintegrate these children into formal education. 

    By partnering with local and religious institutions, the government aims to provide essential academic tools and foster inclusivity within the educational system.

    Furthermore, Governor Radda is focused on enhancing the quality of education, emphasizing the importance of actual learning outcomes. The goal is to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary for future opportunities, enabling them to contribute positively to the economy of Katsina and Nigeria as a whole.

    In a bid to improve basic education, a fact-finding mission led by Hadiza Abubakar Yaradua, the Commissioner of the Ministry of Basic & Secondary Education, visited the EKOEXCEL (Excellence in Child Education and Learning) project in Lagos State. The objective was to understand the EKOEXCEL model to develop a similar transformative education project in Katsina State.

    During the visit, Commissioner Yaradua and her team, including Dr. Kabir Magaji, Chairman of the Katsina State Universal Basic Education Board, were received by Dr. Hakeem Shittu, Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, and Hon. Bayo Adefuye, Chairman of the EKOEXCEL Steering Committee.

    Launched by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in 2019, EKOEXCEL is Lagos State’s flagship education transformation program. It aims to enhance teacher support and learning outcomes across 1,016 public primary schools, benefiting approximately 15,000 teachers and 500,000 pupils. EKOEXCEL utilizes intensive teacher training, continuous support, technology, and big data to deliver high-quality, culturally sensitive, grade-appropriate lessons consistently.

    EKOEXCEL has achieved significant success, particularly in reducing learning deprivation. Before the program, less than 10% of pupils could read a simple age-appropriate passage with comprehension by the end of primary school. Within 80 instructional weeks, this figure has been increased fourfoldaligning the performance of EKOEXCEL pupils with those in upper-middle-income countries of the world.

    Commissioner Yaradua expressed her satisfaction with the program, noting its potential for a similar initiative in Katsina. She highlighted the benefits of the technology used, particularly the tablets, which she found to enhance teacher efficiency and classroom engagement. “I like what I’ve seen so far, especially the tablet. It would create so much efficiency with our teachers and it is very rich in terms of the content,” she remarked. She also praised the engaging classroom environment fostered by the technology.

    Following this visit, the Katsina State Government is exploring the implementation of a technology-enabled system for its basic education sector. This includes a digital learning platform, intensive teacher training and coaching, adaptive instructional content, live data-driven monitoring, and comprehensive people and technology support.

    Governor Radda’s administration remains dedicated to transforming Katsina’s educational landscape, aiming to provide a brighter future for its children through improved educational opportunities and outcomes.

  • Leave Bello’s children out of anti-graft fight, child rights advocates tell EFCC 

    Leave Bello’s children out of anti-graft fight, child rights advocates tell EFCC 

    The Child’s Rights Advocacy Network (CHILDRANE) has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to leave out the children of former Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello from the probe of N80 billion money laundering charges levelled against him by the commission. 

    The child rights group criticized the EFCC for “exposing Bello’s children minors to public scrutiny in the ongoing investigation.”

    The spokesperson, CHILDRANE, Emmanuel Abah, during a press briefing on Friday in Abuja, denounced the breach of privacy and other safeguards of Bello’s children via repeated references to them in EFCC’s press conferences and statements.

    Abah emphasised the need to protect children’s rights during legal processes. 

    He warned that “Nigerian child, our hope of any meaningful tomorrow as a nation, were now increasingly an endangered species.”The EFCC had confirmed the receipt of the refund of $760,000 paid as advanced school fees by Bello for his children at the American International School, Abuja.

    The school had asked the EFCC to provide “authentic banking details” for the refund of fees paid for the children of the former governor.

    But Abah condemned the action of the school for publicly disclosing her refund of the school fees paid for the children by their family to the EFCC, especially as the action potentially violated the judgment in a case by the Bello family in which the school was a party, while summarily jeopardising the well-being of children to whom she owed a direct duty of care.

    Read Also: Yahaya Bello: Court adjourns to June 13 for arraignment

    While acknowledging the EFCC’s mandate, Abah argued that targeting children to gain leverage over their caregivers, in this case their father was unethical and illegal. 

    He said: “The claimed EFCC’s actions can be seen as a violation of due process, the presumption of innocence, and a cause of lasting psychological trauma to the children.”

    He called on the EFCC to cease actions targeting Bello’s children, adhere to due process always, and try to provide child protection training for its operatives in law enforcement situations. 

    Abah also urged the Bello family to seek counseling and legal support for their children to ameliorate lasting damage to their personalities and file complaints with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to ensure redress.

    He also called on President Bola Tinubu to order an investigation into the EFCC’s actions, condemn any tactics that endanger children, and take disciplinary measures against any EFCC personnel found to have violated children’s rights.

    He appealed for urgent and comprehensive approach to safeguard children’s rights and ensure their protection from all forms of abuse and exploitation.  

    Abah emphasised that the fight against corruption must not come at the expense of children’s well-being and called for legal reforms, policy interventions, and social initiatives to protect all Nigerian children.

  • Atiku ignorant about pension fund investment options, says group

    Atiku ignorant about pension fund investment options, says group

    The Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI) has criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar‘s recent statement on the federal government’s plan to utilize pension funds’ assets to address Nigeria’s significant infrastructure deficit.

    IMPI described Atiku’s remarks as yet another example of his tendency to raise baseless alarms filled with manipulative logic and falsehoods.

    In a statement signed by its chairman, Niyi Akinsiju, the group asserted that by endorsing a document with such capricious content, Atiku has demonstrated his intent to position himself merely as a government critic and opposition leader.

    IMPI said: “The extent to which former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will go to confuse and create unnecessary alarm in the public place is disconcerting. This particular statement, like the others he had issued, was another concoction of innuendoes, manipulation of facts and the rendition of law with mischief in mind.

    “It is so perplexing because, with the years the former Vice President had spent in public service and his claim to being business-minded, he simply exhibited a crass ignorance of the Pension Reform Act, 2014 and its associated Regulation on Investment of Pension Fund Assets.

    “For us, it is either the Vice President is innocently ignorant of the ethos of the Act or he preferred to resort to falsehood in canvassing a halt to the proposition by the Federal Government to unleash new possibilities in infrastructural development in the country with long term funding from pension funds’ assets.

    “In the first instance, federal government securities are the most reliable instruments in the capital market because they are issued on the authority and credibility of the Federal Government. The Pension Reform Act acknowledged this in section 86 which itemized possible assets that pension can be invested in starting at 86 (a) to include: ‘Bonds, bills and other securities issued or guaranteed by the federal government and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    “This provision is reinforced in Section 5.1 of the Regulation of Investment of Pension Funds which directed that: ‘Pension Fund Assets can be invested in bonds and other securities issued by the Federal Government of Nigeria without any limitation.

    Read Also: Atiku, El-Rufai, Kwankwaso won’t agree to contest with Peter Obi in 2027 – Omokri

    “This compares to the provision contained in Section 5.2 of the Regulation of Investment of Pension Funds which admonished that: ‘No more than 2.0% of Pension Fund Assets can be invested in bond and debt instruments issued by any one State Government.’

    “Section 5.15 which highlighted the Investments Limits and Performance Benchmarks of the pension fund, defined the maximum investment as percentage of pension fund assets apportioned 100 percent of a pension fund’s assets in federal government’s issued securities.

    “This translates to indicate that a pension fund administrator can invest its total assets in FG’s issued security. This is because FGN-issued securities are considered the safest of all investments in the domestic debt market because it is backed by the ‘full faith and credit’ of the Federal Government, and as such are classified as risk-free debt instruments.

    “They have no default risk, meaning that it is absolutely certain interest and principal will be paid as and when due. The interest income earned from the securities is also tax-exempt.

    So in light of the above, we wonder at the manner of narrative Atiku intended to sell to the public when, it is apparent that the Tinubu administration is intent on utilizing available long-term funds to provide needed critical infrastructure in the country, which will in turn drive economic growth and social well-being across the country.

    “Atiku and his handlers clearly need to be educated on the fact that when eventually the Federal Government decided to tap into the pension funds’ assets for infrastructure development, it would be in the form of FGN-issued securities.

    “And for those who may not understand the fraudulent intent in the Atiku position, we invite you to note that the former Vice President actually indicated in his 2023 campaign manifesto that he would leverage on the N8tn pension fund assets to build Nigeria infrastructure fund if elected President.

    “We do not want to believe that the former VP never knew that using pension fund assets to boost infrastructure development was reflected in his manifesto.”

    IMPI also urged Nigerians to continue to ignore Atiku Abubakar’s politically motivated penchant for downplaying President Tinubu’s plan to set Nigeria on the path of real infrastructural development.

  • Group lashes Niger Speaker over plan to marry off 100 orphan girls

    Group lashes Niger Speaker over plan to marry off 100 orphan girls

    The Policy House International and Tifa Center for Development Initiatives (Tifa CDI) has condemned plans by Niger Speaker Abdulamlik Sarkindaji to marry off 100 orphan girls. 

    The group described it as a blatant violation of child rights and a shocking abuse of position. 

    In a statement in Abuja, the Executive Director of Policy House International and Tifa Center for Development Initiatives (Tifa CDI), Taiwo Akerele said: “It is utterly unacceptable that a man in such a high position would prioritise early marriage over education. 

    “We expect the Niger State government, particularly the Speaker Niger State House of Assembly, to utilise the Universal Basic Education Commission to empower these girls, not force them into marriages they have no say in.

    “The world is moving forward. Even many Muslim-majority nations are investing in science, technology, and women’s development. Harmful practices like early marriage are being abolished globally. Why is Niger state going backwards?

    “We urge President Bola Tinubu to immediately intervene and ensure this abhorrent proposal never sees the light of day. We fully support the Minister for Women’s Affairs’ condemnation and call for legal action against the Speaker.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Niger speaker halts wedding plans for 100 female orphans

    “The Nigerian government, and all sub-national governments, have a fundamental responsibility to invest in education, at least through secondary school and beyond. Girls deserve the chance to choose their own paths, not be married off before they can even dream of their futures.

    “Nigeria is a nation of laws. This proposal flies in the face of the Constitution. We demand the Governor of Niger State stop this travesty and redirect these resources towards education and skills development for these vulnerable girls.

    “They deserve a chance to thrive, not be forced into a life they never chose.

  • SPO Group CEO Adekunle pays condolence visit to NSA, announces launch of drone plant

    SPO Group CEO Adekunle pays condolence visit to NSA, announces launch of drone plant

    After paying a condolence visit to the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu over the demise of his brother, the Group Chief Operating Officer of SP Offshore Group, Obafemi Adekunle has announced the company’s plan for a military grade drone manufacturing plant launch with cutting edge technologies, a first of its kind in Nigeria.

    The launch, which is scheduled for the third quarter, was announced in a statement by the Group Company Secretary, Ms Mina Park-Okoloko over the secretary. 

    According to the statement, SPO Group is incorporated with subsidiaries on three continents powered by hedge/private equity funds, focused on investing in or acquiring privately owned companies in the field of defense, IT, financial services, technology, real estate, oil and gas, FMCG, port operations and other sectors, with significant business presence or operations in sub-saharan Africa. the company also specializes in structured lending.

    “Our deep local knowledge and broad relationship network, affords us an easy access to capital, proprietary deal flow and key sector insight. SPO primary objective is to achieve attractive returns while maintaining a strong risk management strategy.

    “The defense industry in Africa is a strategic and economic asset, and from a socio-economic point of view, the industry contributes significantly to sustaining the military capabilities of African states. It is growing rapidly, with Algeria, Nigeria, and South Africa, already making intra-regional military equipment sales.

    “Africa needs a capable defense industry for strategic reasons because of the instability in the continent and the need to be able to protect against the effect of the instability from the Middle East. It is to that that effect that SPO Dynamics Systems was created.

    “With a projected  production capacity of 1,000 drones monthly, making it the largest drone plant in Africa , the company aims to transform industries like defense, energy, logistics, agriculture , law enforcement agencies like Customs , Immigration, Police etc.

    “We are a private defense, military and intelligence contractors. With our various partners across the globe particularly with one of the largest tactical training centers in the world with R & D labs, we provide the following services:

    1- Military and Tactical Training

    2- Ship boarding Simulators and Security Vessels

    3- Air Combats Simulators and Helicopters

    4- Threat Assessment and Data Tracking

    5- Weapons, Drones and Combat Equipments

    6- Port and Airport Security

    7- Pipeline Surveillance and Protection.”

    The Group CEO said : “The West  doesn’t make  drones based on Africa’s needs . China , Israel, the United States and others  develop and test their drones first for their security issues and decide on the features to commercialise because they do not like to commercialize all their researches and innovations . We now purchase or order these drones to adapt them to our terrain. 

    Read Also: Ondo 2024: Sports group, ex-commissioner organise rally to support Aiyedatiwa

    “Sometimes they wait 10-20 years to make some technologies available on the market , which put us at disadvantage mostly because imagine being 10-20 years behind when we could have developed our own technology during that time. 

    “Also they are not bound to sell those technologies to us . It’s at their discretion and subjected to many factors, sometimes out of our control, which puts us in a vulnerable state when we are fighting a war and our people are dying. We have seen it happen  during President Goodluck administration. 

    “One thing about cutting edge technology is that they need to be extremely precise. Their accuracy determines their efficiency . I am a defense contractor and I can confidently tell you that we need the technologies that we are using to fight crimes or defend our territorial integrity to be made in africa .We need to design our own drones based on our environmental complexities . 

    “You would agree with me that drones that are made to perform in winter and other seasons might be a good option but they might not be the greatest compared to the ones from R & D to production done in africa exclusively . That’s what we are trying to change with SPO Dynamics Systems. Look at turkey , they have Bayraktar , Anka  and many more, I believe Nigeria is more than ready and SPO is focused on the entire African defense market.”

  • Start grassroots mobilisation for Tinubu ahead of 2027, Deputy Speaker tasks Abia APC

    Start grassroots mobilisation for Tinubu ahead of 2027, Deputy Speaker tasks Abia APC

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu has challenged stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia state to begin immediate grassroots mobilisation for the victory of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

    Kalu, who spoke when he received members of the Ukwa local government chapter of APC and new members of the party, recalled the role played by the president in his emergence as deputy speaker

    Kalu’s special assistant on press matters, Udora Orizu, quoted him as challenging party members to increase grassroots mobilisation and recruit more people in preparation for the 2027 general elections.

    He stressed the need to consolidate power to ensure that President Bola Tinubu emerges victorious come the 2027 general elections and as well ensure that APC wins the next gubernatorial election in the state.

    While commending them for the good work done so far in ensuring that more people join the party in Ukwa local government, Kalu urged the people to keep it up and continue the expansion of the party’s membership.

    Kalu applauded Tinubu’s style of leadership and friendly disposition towards the southeast region, recalling that the President helped in his emergence as the deputy speaker in the spirit of equity and fairness.

    Read Also: Tinubu, Buhari celebrate Awujale at 90

    He said: “You have done well. Ukwa is collapsing. The testimony is clear. Continue the good work. I met with the Governor the other day and I urged him to return to APC. We need to deliver here for Mr. President, we have to keep mobilizing until the sitting Governor will see that it’s APC everywhere you go.

    “Keep up the good work, bring more people, let’s expand the party. We will hold an event where all the big people that have a structure in the party will receive you, from Bende, Ohafia, Item, Umuahia, Ukwa and so on.

    “I will bring the national chairman of the party to receive you. We will make sure that as you’re coming in, you will be stakeholders. You will have a stake and you’re accountable. We will try our best to support Mr President as he supports you, by building the party. Thank you all.”

    Leader of the group and the representative of Abia state in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Dimgba Eruba commended the President for choosing one of their own to represent Abia at the NDDC, and as well hailed the Deputy Speaker for the good works he has been doing since assuming of office.

    They assured the Deputy Speaker that the Ukwa people are fully behind him, adding that they will mobilise more people to join APC.

    “More are still willing to come. They have seen the good work that you’ve started, they now say that wherever you’re, that’s where they will be. I wish to implore Your Excellency to continue to do that which you’ve started. Ukwa people are solidly behind you. We are waiting for further directives on what next should we do. We’ll deliver APC 100%. Ukwa belongs to APC”, he said.

  • Kwara cabinet okays new road construction

    Kwara cabinet okays new road construction

    The Kwara Executive Council has approved several road construction projects in different parts of the State to shore up Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s extensive urban renewal campaign. 

    At its meeting on Wednesday evening, the council approved a contract for the construction of the Phase I of the road to the Owu Fall, the highest waterfall in West Africa measuring 120m above water level and cascading 330 feet down an escarpment, a major boost for tourism in not just the state but in Nigeria and West Africa subregion.

    The contract, covering 11 kilometres in this phase, was awarded to Messrs FIK Contracting and Engineering Ltd at N3,998,838,427.50 for a completion period of 18 months.

    Placed alongside the government’s investment in tourism and conferencing facilities, the project offers a glimpse into how Kwara plans to become a major hub for recreation, tourism, and entertainment.

    The cabinet also approved rehabilitation works on the 20km-long Arandun Township Roundabout-Esie-Oro Township Road to Obtuse Tec Engineering and Construction Ltd at N3,821,594,765.63 for a completion period of 10 months, further opening up the Kwara hinterlands for socioeconomic growth.

    The council also approved the award of extensive works on the Ajase Ipo-Oke Iya road in Irepodun, spanning 12 kilometres, to Messrs Construction Products Nigeria Ltd at N2,256,879,187.50 for a period of eight months.

    The council had also approved construction of Osin-Laduba Road, which connects Ilorin West to Asa local government area in the central senatorial district.

    The cabinet also approved the construction of Oke Ogun community-Awolowo road in Ilorin South local government area, further easing travel time within the capital city.

    The council also approved the construction of Aboto Oja-Alata Road in Asa, rehabilitation of Omu-Aran Oko Road in Irepodun, and completion of the Idera-Alabe section of the long-spanning Ile District road that had begun from Owode Ofaro, opening up the areas for improved commercial activities and boosting security in the Ifelodun axis of the state.

    Chaired by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the council approved the projects following presentations by the Commissioner for Works and Transport Engr. AbdulQuawiy Olododo who also laid bare the procurement process that the Ministry had adhered to.

    Rehabilitation works are meanwhile underway on the Ahmadu Bello Way, which connects the entire city centre to different government ministries, major economic facilities, state police command, state headquarters of the department of state security, Government House, and many other important institutions in the state.

    Olododo told the council that timely rehabilitation of the road is important to catch up with its approaching good-by date as alligator cracks and minor potholes are beginning to emerge in parts of the artery road.

    The council also authorised some rehabilitation and upgrade works on the Ilorin International Conference Centre (IICC) Roundabout-Sulu Gambari-Post Office Road, revving up the urban renewal efforts of the administration.

    The council had earlier awarded consultancy work for feasibility studies and development of technical blueprint for the implementation of the 18,000 hectare-Ilorin Smart City to Messrs Arctual Concepts Limited at the cost of N1.4bn.

    The smart city, a district modelled after some modern cities in the world, is an offshoot of the Ilorin City Master Plan which the administration designed as an upgrade to the first Ilorin Master Plan drawn up in the 1970s.

    Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development Dr. Segun Ogunsola told the council that the consultancy work entails development of the Ilorin Smart City Project Information Memorandum; environmental impact assessment; conceptual architectural and urban planning drawings; detailed land use master plan; among many others.

    Read Also: Kwara Gov Abdulrazaq visits school with 35 UTME star performers

    “In view of the size of the proposed new district, the quantum of resources that would be required and the high-level technicalities that the idea entails, it is necessary to appoint a consultant to midwife the idea and provide professional advisory services and consultancy for smooth, cost effective and seamless implementation of the project,” he said.

    Dr. Ogunsola said the Ilorin Smart City will be situated north of the University of Ilorin and south of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, providing a new frontier for sustainable expansion of the capital city and taking away excessive pressure from the capital town.

    “It shall have all the facilities and social amenities required to make a modern city function, including educational facilities, healthcare services centres, commercial services facilities, potable water, power supply infrastructure and good road network,” he said.

    “Ample provisions would be made for the construction of different scales of housing development, golf course, polo club, and other recreational as well as sporting facilities.”

  • Adamawa windstorm victims get roofing sheets, wood, cash from philanthropist

    Adamawa windstorm victims get roofing sheets, wood, cash from philanthropist

    Victims of a windstorm in Pella, a town in Hong local government area of Adamawa State, have received relief materials to help them repair their damaged houses.

    The materials, donated by a famous philanthropist, Dr Emmanuel Musa, include roofing sheets, plywood, mactresses, as well as cash.

    The philanthropist,who donated the materials under EMNAMU Foundation, a charity organisation of which he is founder and president, said the gesture was his usual way of rising to the emerging needs of the people.

    The over 50 victims got equal volume of the relief items as well as a cash of N100,000 each.

    The beneficiaries fell into agony, forced out of their homes, after a recent storm took off the roofs of their houses.

    Read Also: FG commits to completing Abuja-Kaduna-Kastina-Kano highway in 2025

    According to a statement from the EMNAMU Foundation media office, “Less than 24 hours after the windstorm incident, the humanitarian (Emmanuel Musa), despite being outside the country, directed a committee to go and assess the damage, which gave birth to the immediate presentation of the relief.”

    The statement added that the EMNAMU Foundation president who was represented during the flagoff of the presentation of the relief materials by the National Coordinator of the foundation, Comrade Kukuya Godwin, symphatized with the victims of the disaster.

    Some of the beneficiaries thanked Dr Emmanuel Musa for the timely intervention, saying he was the first to identify with them since the incident.

  • Bello vs EFCC: Northern youths hail Onokpasa’s stance against injustice 

    Bello vs EFCC: Northern youths hail Onokpasa’s stance against injustice 

    Northern youth groups have refused to relent in their tour to  speak out against what they perceive as the unjust treatment of former Kogi Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). 

    The groups, notably the Northern Youth Movement for Good Governance and Democratic Values and the North Central Progressive Voice, joined forces against what they termed the “Northern Nigeria Solidarity Walk and World news Conference,” as they converged on Sokoto today (Wednesday) .

    They met stakeholders and praised those speaking out on the issue. 

     Their primary objective, according to them, is “to seek urgent intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the ongoing saga between Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the EFCC,” while also expressing gratitude and admiration for a lawyer,  Jesutega Onokpasa’s vocal stance against perceived injustices within the political sphere. 

     The coalition began their activities with a World Press Conference  at the NUJ Press Center in Sokoto, where they issued an open letter addressed to President Tinubu, outlining their grievances and urging swift action to resolve the impasse between Bello and the EFCC. 

    Following the conference, representatives of the groups paid a visit to His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, seeking his intervention as a revered figure capable of fostering peaceful resolutions.  Copies  of the open letter were delivered to the  Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, with a plea for his support in conveying their message to President Tinubu. 

    The groups emphasized the importance of collective responsibility in addressing what they perceive as political persecution and urged stakeholders to uphold democratic principles. 

     During the news conference, Mall. Shamsudeen Abubakar Sokoto, the spokesperson for the coalition, hailed Onokpasa  for his recent statements criticising certain elements within the political landscape who allegedly undermined the contributions of stalwarts like Alhaji Yahaya Bello and former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai. 

    Onokpasa’s vocal condemnation of what he sees as undue political persecution resonated with the coalition, reflecting a broader sentiment within the Northern youth groups. 

    Read Also: Bello vs EFCC saga: Northern youths stage peaceful protest in Bauchi, Gombe

    The coalition’s actions underscored the power of grassroots movements in advocating for justice and democratic values. 

    Their call for President Tinubu’s intervention and the commendation of individuals like Onokpasa reflect a concerted effort to uphold fairness and transparency within Nigeria’s political sphere. 

     As the coalition plans to continue their solidarity walks in other Northern states, their message reverberates across the nation, drawing attention to the need for ethical governance and the protection of individuals’ rights within the Nigerian political landscape.

  • FG’s reform will restore civil service to days of glory, says Perm Sec

    FG’s reform will restore civil service to days of glory, says Perm Sec

    Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Amb. Nicholas Agbo Ella has reiterated the resolve of the federal government to reposition and restore the civil service to its glory days.

    Ella made this statement during a ceremony held yesterday in Abuja to honor retired staff of the Ministry in 2023 and recognise the exceptional performances of some serving officers within the same calendar year.

    In his address at the occasion, the Permanent Secretary noted: “You may have observed that the government is putting in place some reforms aimed at returning the Civil Service to its glory days when Civil Servants were proud of their jobs and were also the envy of all”

    Deputy Director (Press and Public Relations), Mrs. Oluwakemi Ogunmakinwa, made this known in a press statement issued yesterday.

    According to the statement, Ella posited that one of such reforms is the rewards and recognition initiative, which mandates Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government (MDAs) to appreciate the hard work and dedication to duties exhibited by retired officers while in service.

    The Permanent Secretary added that it also serves as a platform to identify and give special recognition to those officers who are still in active service with outstanding performances, adding that, such gestures would be embedded in the minds of the retirees for ages and also serve as a motivation for serving Officers.

    He described the Civil Service as the engine of national development, stressing that, no amount of resources committed to the welfare of staff and human capital development would be commensurate with their efforts and sacrifices.

    While stressing the Ministry’s commitment to providing the enabling environment for excellence to thrive, Amb. Ella implored civil servants to uphold the core values of integrity, honesty, and patriotism, adding, “We will be fondly remembered more by the legacies we leave behind than any personal gains acquired”

    Read Also: Judicial reform is a critical success factor (2)

    In her address at the occasion, the Director, Human Resources Management (HRM), Mrs. Asma’u Shehu Adaji stated that the Ministry of Petroleum Resources had an established and indeed sustained culture of recognizing the contributions and sacrifices made by officers towards achieving its mandate, goals and objectives.

    This, she said, is also in line with the government’s policy of reward and recognition for individual efforts as being championed by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of Federation.

    “A day like this is usually an opportunity for stock-taking, both for retiring and serving officers. Out of over 200 million Nigerians, we are privileged to have been allowed to serve this country in the Civil Service where we play vital roles in advising the government on critical national decisions” Adaji stated.

    She further noted that it was in keeping with government policy on reward and recognition that the Ministry also wanted to use the opportunity to honour some officers who distinguished themselves with outstanding performance during the 2023 calendar year.

    These officers, she noted, were selected after a competitive selection process using a set of criteria provided by the OHCSF, adding that, it is expected that the awardees would see this gesture as a motivation for excellence and would remain a shining example for others to emulate.

    Speaking on behalf of the retirees, retired Director in the Midstream Department, Engr. Felix Okeke thanked the management of the Ministry for recognizing their efforts in the course of their service years and their contributions towards the growth of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

    On his part, Dr. Kingsley Uranta who spoke on behalf of other awardees, said the gesture would spur them to be more diligent and committed to their duties.

    The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of plaques and gift items to the retirees and awardees.