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Niger Assembly Extends Teachers’ Retirement Age To 70

By
Ayodele Oni
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Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State

By Ayodele Oni

Teachers in public educational institutions in Niger State have had their retirement age extended to 70 years.

Before the extension, teachers in the State retired at age 65.

The State House of Assembly has already passed a bill increasing the retirement age of academic staff in the state’s institutions from 65 to 70 years, while professorial cadre staff will now retire at 75 years.

The bill will still have to be signed into law by the state Governor.

The bill’s passage followed adoption of the Standing Committee on Education report, presented by its Chairman, Mohammed Sani Idris, representing Tafa constituency.

The committee noted the extension aligns with national standards and will help retain experienced academic staff while improving the quality of education.

In the same session, the House approved the Niger State Diaspora Agency Bill, after the report presented by the House Committee on Women Affairs, Humanitarian and Disaster Management, chaired by Deputy Speaker Afiniki Eunice Dauda.

The bill is designed to engage the diaspora community and encourage strategic investments, cultural exchange, trade, and development projects.

The Assembly also resolved to summon the Commissioner and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works to explain their failure to implement earlier directives on road safety measures, based on the Standing Committee on Works and Infrastructure report, chaired by Abubakar Suleiman Gomna (Bosso).

The Speaker commended the House committees for their diligence and directed the Clerk to transmit clean copies of the bills to the executive for assent.

Gov Sule Probes Allegation Of “Percentage Salary” Payment To LG Workers

By
Ayodele Oni
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Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa

By Ayodele Oni

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has directed the Commissioner for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Aminu Maifata, to carry out a thorough investigation to verify the actual amount received by Local Government workers as monthly salaries.

The Governor’s order followed allegations that some Local Government workers are paid salaries only in percentages rather than in full.

‎He directed the Commissioner, to carry out a thorough investigation to verify the truth of these claims.

‎

Governor Sule gave the directive shortly after being presented with the report of the 2024 Local Government Elections conducted by the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC) at the Government House.

‎According to the Governor, the investigation became necessary following the release of a video trending on the social media where allegations of “percentages payment” of monthly salary to some Local Government workers were made.

He stated that the investigation must find out if it’s indeed true some Council workers are still receiving salary in percentages, as well as to fish out those who are responsible for short-changing the Council workers.

Governor Sule emphasized that since May 29th, 2019, his administration has been paying one hundred percent salary to Local Government workers in the State.

“As fas as I know, from 29th May, 2019 to date, we have been paying Local Government workers one hundred percent of their salary.

“We have also paid one hundred percent of promotions for Local Government workers. We have also done the minimum wage, paying one hundred percent for Local Government workers. All these have been paid fully.”

He directed the Commissioner for Local Government to investigate the claim in order to confirm the veracity or otherwise of the allegation.

“If there is any particular local government or any particular development area that is not remitting the entire one hundred per cent and reducing something, I want you to fully investigate that to ensure that we correct that.

“And you bring those who are responsible for our own notice so that we can solve that particular problem,” he said.

The Governor threatened to sanction any official found to be responsible for the payment of council workers in percentages.

He equally threatened to take up legal action against the originator of the video if the allegation turns out to be false.

“However, since it is a video and not just a write-up from an unknown face, it’s a video from a known face.

“If the allegation is false, I want you also to take some steps against the originator of the video. Otherwise, people would just wake up any moment and accuse people of wrongdoing.

“If it is true, I want you to correct it and bring to book who are responsible for that so that they can be penalised accordingly.

“But if it’s just somebody waking up from the wrong side of the bed to accuse us of something that is going viral, we also need to take some action on our part towards making sure that we just don’t entertain people just waking any day and accusing the local government that they have not been doing what they are supposed to do,” he said.

Receiving the report for the November 2, 2024 local government election from Barrister Ayuba Wandai Usman, Chairman, Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC), Governor Sule assured that his administration would continue to encourage the commission towards discharging its responsibility efficiently.

“I promise you we will go through this and encourage you to continue to make more corrections, innovations and reforms and to take steps to correct those steps that even you probably you would have done better,” he said.

He showed appreciation to the NASIEC Chairman and his management for the smooth and successful conduct of the 2024 council polls.

“I want to congratulate you for successfully conducting that election of November 2, 2024. It was one of the elections we didn’t have any significant issue when it came to election crisis.

“We commend you for all the efforts you put in during the election. We congratulate once more, all the successful candidates that emerged during the election,” he said.

Governor Sule expressed satisfaction that political actors who participated in the exercise resorted to the courts to resolve issues that emerged after the election, with candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who lost the election also taking their matter before the election petition tribunal.

“The good thing about our own election is that those who had complaints went to the tribunal. I know most of the cases have been decided by now.

“It is good for you to know that those candidates who also lost in APC also went to the tribunal. People have now understood that taking the legal dimension is a way to resolve some of those issues,” he said.

Earlier, while presenting the report, Barrister Wandai said NASIEC under his charge, remains committed to strengthening democracy at the grassroots through the conduct of free, fair, credible and transparent elections.

The NASIEC Chairman said the report provides a detailed account of the 2024 council elections meant to produce 147 councillors and 13 chairmen, from pre-election assessments, highlighting the innovations introduced, challenges encountered, as well as key lessons learned.

He added that the report also offer recommendations for the continuous improvement of electoral administration in the state.

“The report serves as a valuable reference document for policymakers, electoral stakeholders, researchers and the general public who are interested in the advancement of democratic governance in Nasarawa State,” he said.

Barrister Wandai traced the successful conduct of the 2024 polls to the collective efforts of key stakeholders namely security agencies, traditional institutions, political parties, civil society organisations, as well as the media, who demonstrated commendable cooperation and support.

NIMASA Charges Ship Operators On Air Pollution

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Dayo Mobereola - NIMASA DG

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has charged all ships operating within Nigerian waters to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex VI.

MARPOL Annex VI, which Nigeria has domesticated under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2007 (MSA, 2007), specifically addresses the prevention of air pollution from ships.

The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s marine environment. He stressed that full compliance with MARPOL Annex VI is non-negotiable for all vessels, as Nigeria continues to align its maritime operations with global best practices in safety, security, and environmental protection.

“In line with our statutory mandate under the NIMASA Act 2007 and the Merchant Shipping Act 2007, we have issued a Marine Notice to guide shipowners, charterers, and shipping companies on their obligations. While we encourage shipping businesses in Nigeria, we remain committed to ensuring that international standards are not compromised,” Dr. Mobereola stated.

AMCON: Court Seizes Otedola’s Property Over N7.2bn Debt

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Femi Otedola

The Court of Appeal in Lagos has ordered the seizure of Zenon Petroleum & Gas Limited’s Victoria Island headquarters over an unpaid judgment debt of N7.2 billion.

In a ruling delivered on June 26, 2025, the appellate court directed the attachment of the company’s asset, Victoria Island Towers, following a prolonged legal battle between the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, and Zenon Petroleum.

AMCON had previously secured a judgment from the Federal High Court in Lagos against the company for its indebtedness, which led to the enforcement order by the Court of Appeal.

Under the ruling, Zenon’s management, led by Mr. Femi Otedola, is barred from selling, transferring, or dealing in the property until the debt is fully settled.

The court further appointed a Deputy Chief Registrar to oversee the enforcement process and ensure compliance with the order.

Zenon Petroleum & Gas Limited is one of the businesses owned by the business mogul.

His chain of businesses also traversed power and recently banking, after he became the Chairman of First Bank.

Obi: My Son Is Not Gay

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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The 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, has dismissed a viral online photo depicting his son, Oseloka Obi as a gay.
The 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, has dismissed a viral online photo depicting his son, Oseloka Obi as a gay.
According to the former governor of Anambra state, his political opponents are trying to use the photo to get to him, after they have searched unsuccessfully to find anything to implicate him as the 2027 presidential election heats up.
A social media enthusiast on X, with the handle@Waspapping_ had shared the photo online, depicting Obi’s son and his male partner celebrating the latter’s birthday .
“Peter Obi’s son and his partner are out there enjoying life, but Obidients will turn a blind eye. Well, congratulations to the soon-to-be couple, the X user said in the post.”
The post has received mixed reactions from not a few Nigerians, who have continued to express divergent views on the issue.
Reacting through his media aide, Valentine Obienyen the former presidential candidate said in a statement, that the person in the photo is not his son, wondering why some persons will go that far to get at him because of his Presidential ambition.
Obi stressed that his opponents have unsuccessfully tried to find an incriminating thing against him, they are now trying to dent his image using his son.
The statement, titled “Fake Picture, False Claim: Obi’s Integrity Remains Untouched,” read:
“The picture currently being circulated is not that of Mr. Peter Obi’s son. Having searched every corner of his life and found nothing incriminating, mischief-makers resorted to posting this false image, claiming it to be his son. Let it be clear: this is not his son. They should look elsewhere for the scandal they have fruitlessly hunted for years.”
Obi has maintained that he has a track record and good image that cannot be faulted by anyone, urging his opponents to give up because there’s nothing thry can use to implicate him, from his past as private and public servant.

“Dear Baba, Tinubu Has Betrayed You, Scrapped Your Legacy” – Lauretta Onochie, Fmr. Buhari’s Aide, Writes To Him

By
The Source
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Lauretta Onochie

By Gideon Njoku

“Rather than concentrate on building on the progress you made, they are obsessed with scrapping your legacy. We won’t let them” – Onochie

A former Aide to late former President Muhammadu Buhari, Lauretta Onochie,  has written a letter to him alerting him that President Bola Tinubu has wiped away his (Buhari’s) legacy. He told the late President in a post on X that Tinubu, the man  “we worked hard for to succeed you, believing that he would continue serving Nigerians where you stopped, has let Nigerians down big time.” She accused President Tinubu of betraying Buhari, and sweeping away his legacy.

Onochie pointed at what she termed a reversal of President Buhari’s food security gains by Tinubu. The result, she said, is the flooding of Nigeria with imported rotten food items, including rice which local production Buhari championed.

In the post dated August 20, Onochie who was also, for some months, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, wrote:

“Dear Baba, the man we worked hard for to succeed you, believing he would  continue serving Nigerians where you stopped, has let Nigerians down big time. Our shops are filled with imported rotten food items. The worst is that one cannot find Nigerian ginger to buy in Nigeria.

“As President, we had millions of Nigerians working to produce rice. Many became millionaires and some were able to pay their way to Mecca for Hajj. Most of those rice farmers are now out of jobs because our borders are now open to substandard and adulterated food importation, essentially killing the agricultural sector.

“Your mantra was that we must grow what we eat and eat what we grow. Rather than concentrate on building on the progress you made, they are obsessed with scrapping your legacy. We won’t let them.”

She labeled President Tinubu’s  agricultural policy “Tinubugeria”,  and a mockery of Nigeria’s food security agenda. She concluded by saying that Nigeria never asked for the reforms presently being implemented by the Tinubu Administration.

Onochie is still a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Uzodimma’s Successor: Gov Tells Owerri Zone To Slow Down On Early Campaign

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodimma- Governor of Imo State

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has said that the Charter of Equity should not be reduced to a slogan for confusion, emphasising the importance of unity and collective interest in achieving progress, development and in addressing common challenges.

Speaking to leaders from Owerri zone who paid him a courtesy call at Government House Owerri Wednesday, August 20, 2025, Governor Uzodimma also maintained that the person who must emerge as the governorship candidate in 2027 must follow democratic  process and not handpicked by him.

The Governor further explained that the Charter of Equity, and the conversation around it, is his product, and borne out of clear intention to restore moral order, eliminate confusion and check imbalance in the governance of the State.

His words: “Charter of Equity is not a slogan for confusion. It is a document to let us know and remember the imbalance in the system and see how best to correct it, but not for people to enter social media and circulate fake news.  We cannot continue like this every time.”

While inviting the leaders from Owerri zone to join him “cure this confusion,” Governor Uzodimma commended them and other stakeholders from the zone for their sense of unity and cooperation to achieve common goals.

However, Governor Uzodimma stressed that “the process of selecting a (governorship) candidate must follow a purely democratic process,” and urged Owerri zone to carry other zones in the State along in their quest and desire for the governorship and “allow the will of God in all things.”

“You must join me now for us to cure this confusion, because if we don’t cure this confusion under my watch, the man coming after me may not be as religious, disciplined and God-fearing as I am. Charter of Equity is real, but it is not only about election,” Governor Uzodimma cautioned.

He maintained that Imo State is desirous of selfless leaders and creative thinkers who are “committed to serving the people and making strong and informed leadership decisions that encourage development.”

Governor Uzodimma who said he was happy to hear that the Owerri zone is united therefore advised the leaders to be “united,” “get serious,” be “tolerant” and resist the temptation to be “confrontational.”

The Governor further encouraged the leaders from Owerri zone, and particularly those who may be aspiring for governorship position in the State, to slow down on early campaigns since the election they are craving for is still far, reminding them that only God can make the aspirations of human beings possible.

He emphasised the need for them to rather divert their energies and resources to helping improve security, healthcare and economic well-being of people in their various communities, insisting that the ongoing national campaign on “Health Insurance Scheme is real and effective.”

Earlier, the Leader of the delegation, Chief Charles Amadi said the visit was to express solidarity to the leadership of Governor Uzodimma, and commended him for his ingenuity in establishing the Imo Charter of Equity which he said, “will check imbalance, injustice and foster peace in the State.”

Amadi disclosed the resolve of the leaders and the people of Owerri zone to lend their absolute support to the Charter of Equity, and assured the Governor that the zone is really united and now work in harmony as a group.

Other speakers at the event include; the Former Deputy Governor, Prof. Placid Njoku, Chief Louis Alozie, SAN, Ambassador Kema Chikwe, Chief Henry Njoku among others.

All of them noted that Owerri zone now has a common front, with a resolve to support any candidate from the zone who is adopted.

They commended the Governor for the numerous infrastructural projects in the zone and other zones alike under his watch, and appealed that the promise for power shift as enshrined in the Charter of Equity proposal be kept.

The delegation of the leaders of Owerri zone cuts across party lines, elected office holders, political appointees, business people, traditional rulers, women and youth leaders from the zone.

Secretary to the Government of Imo State, Chief Cosmos Iwu, the Chief of Staff, Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie and other principal officers of the Governor joined in receiving the leaders from Owerri zone.

How INEC Declared Prisoner Winner Of Enugu Re-run Election

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Bright Ngene of the Labour Party

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

An Inmate of the Nigerian Custodial Centre, Bright Ngene,  of the Labour Party, LP has been curiously declared the winner of the much controversial and seemingly problematic re-run polls for the  Enugu South state Constituency .

The re-run election held by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC in the troubled Constituency last Saturday August 16, was the fourth attempt since 2023 .

However, the August 16 exercise which also ran into a storm saw the INEC declaring Ngene, who is presently serving a 7-year jail sentence, the winner after initially designating the election as inconclusive.

Sam Olumekun, the INEC Commissioner for Voter Education in a statement on Tuesday declared Ngene the winner, having polled the highest number of votes to defeat his closet rival from the Peoples Democratic party PDP.

“Two re-run elections by order of the Election Appeal Tribunal were held in Enugu and Kano states .

“After previous disruptions of the elections in the two states by violence and thuggery, the exercise have now been concluded

“For the Enugu South 1 State Constituency of Enugu State, Ngene Bright Emeka of the Labour Party, LP, was declared the winner” Olumekun stated.

“Certificate of Return would be  presented to the successful candidates August 21 and 22 ,2025 in Abuja and state offices respectively” Olumekun stated

The Source reports that Ngene was, in July ,2024, convicted and sentenced while still battling to reclaim his mandate

He was said to have been  convicted and sentenced to seven years jail term by an Enugu South Magistrate Court in connection with the communal crisis that engulfed Akwuke Community over the missing of N15 million public funds.

The case which was said  to have been, during its initial stage in 2017, referred for Alternative Dispute Resolution, was however revived in what many have seen as a politically motivated move, after the 2023 general elections in which Ngene emerged victorious.

Ngene whose victory in 2023 was nullified by the Tribunal in September 2023, has been facing many judicial and political battles to reclaim his mandate.

Last Saturday’s exercise was the third in the series of court-ordered re-run with Ngene consistently emerging victorious, even now in jail .

Withheld LG Allocation: Adeleke Family Pays Osun LG Workers Salaries

By
Ayodele Oni
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Ademola Adeleke - Osun State Governor
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State.

By Ayodele Oni

For almost six months, salaries of local government staff in Osun state, withheld by the federal government have become the responsibility of the immediate family of Governor Ademola Adeleke.

A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, who revealed this, said music star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, his father, Dr. Deji Adeleke; and Governor Ademola Adeleke have been paying the workers.

George made the revelation in an interview with Nigeria Info FM where he also shed more light on the news surrounding Adeleke’s initial defection from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party at the centre and in most states of the federation.

According to him, the Federal Government has withheld the state’s allowances for about six months, forcing the Adeleke family to shoulder the responsibility.

The host of the programme, Jimi Disu, had asked George, a former Military Administrator of Ondo State: “What is happening with Governor Adeleke? Is he going to the APC or not?”

In his response, George, a retired Naval Commodore,  drew parallels between the situation of the state and the reason behind the “now cancelled” defection plan of Adeleke from the PDP to the APC.

He said: “I had had an in-depth discussion with him and the first time we spoke, he informed me that he would be leaving the party. I was shell-shocked and I said to him: ‘Your Excellency, think very carefully and deeply.’

“His state has not been paid their local government allowances from the Federation Account.

“The Federal Government is owing Osun about N6 billion that he had to carry the burden between him, his older brother, and his nephew, Davido.”

George further stated that Governor Adeleke had decided to take up the burden of paying salaries so as not to disappoint those who believed in him enough to vote him into power.

“For the last five to six months, they have been funding the salaries from their personal pocket because the governor could not watch the workers going home at the end of the month without their salaries.

“The court has already ruled that the Federal Government should pay them the allocation but nobody has done that.

“So, I asked him to be careful and take lessons from how his older brother, the late Isiaka Adeleke, also a former governor of Osun State, was treated by the APC.

“If you get there with your people and they organise any primaries and end up announcing someone else as the winner, your political career is gone.”

George said after their discussion, he was shocked to see Adeleke at the last National Executive Committee meeting of the PDP in Abuja.

He said as soon as Adeleke saw him, he came to express gratitude to him for the advice he gave him, pledging his loyalty to the PDP.

Ransom Collection: Three Killed, Two Arrested, Victim Set Free

By
Ayodele Oni
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Police Officer

By Ayodele Oni

Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command and local hunters on Wednesday engaged some suspected kidnappers in gun fuel at a point they were to collect ransom.

The operation led to the rescue of a kidnapped victim, the neutralization of suspected kidnappers, the arrest of others, and the recovery of firearms.

Command’s spokesman, Olusola Ayanlade in a statement, explained that “On 20th August, 2025, at about 0800hrs, operatives of the Command attached to Ikare Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), in collaboration with local forest hunters, embarked on a discreet operation following the abduction of one Tijani Aremu ‘m’, aged 60 years.

“Investigation revealed that the kidnappers had demanded ransom in millions of naira from the victim’s family, with an agreed location fixed for the exchange.

“Acting in cooperation with Police operatives and forest hunters, the family paved the way for an ambush to be strategically laid at the designated point of exchange.

“When the suspected kidnappers arrived to collect the proceeds of their crime, they were engaged in a fierce gun duel with the operatives.

“In the process, one of the kidnappers was neutralized and a single-barrel rifle recovered, while several others escaped with bullet injuries.

“The combined team immediately intensified a combing operation in the adjoining forests, which led to the recovery of two additional lifeless bodies of suspected kidnappers, bringing the total number neutralized to three.

“Furthermore, two suspects, namely Yahaya Isa ‘m’ (20 years) and Ismail Ismail ‘m’, were arrested in connection with the kidnapping.

“Sustained pressure during the operation eventually culminated in the safe rescue of the victim, Mr. Tijani Aremu, who was found unharmed. He was promptly taken to Hospital, for medical examination and is set to be reunited with his family.

“The Command highly commends the forest hunters for their courage, vigilance, and selfless collaboration, which greatly complemented the effort of the Police and contributed to the eventual rescue of the victim.

“This operation is a clear testament to what can be achieved when security agencies and community stakeholders work hand in hand.”

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