All Posts in "General News"

Makinde beats predecessors’ IGR record, targets N100bn – Oyo

Oyo State Governor, Seyi MakindeThe Oyo State Government has said that the state’s Internally Generated Revenue  has grown more than fourfold under Governor Seyi Makinde, positioning it as a leading financial hub in Nigeria.

The Commissioner for Information,  Dotun Oyelade, stated this on Monday while reacting to a report by the State Performance Index, which ranked Oyo as the best place to live in Nigeria based on quality of life, functional infrastructure, service delivery and security.

He said the Makinde administration had raised the state’s IGR from the N15bn mark under previous governments to N65bn in 2024. As of July 2025, collections had already hit N58bn — just N7bn short of the 2024 total.

“The implication of these figures is that the state will surpass its own record by the end of this year, with a target close to N100bn, making Oyo sit comfortably as a leading financial hub in the country,” Oyelade said.

According to him, the surge in revenue has not increased the burden on investors. Instead, the state has expanded its economy through agribusiness, infrastructure and tourism, while the consistent payment of salaries has further boosted economic activity.

“This expansion of the economy, coupled with the ripple effect of consistent payment of N11.9bn to over 130,000 workers monthly, has had a salutary effect on the increasing IGR of the state,” Oyelade noted.

He added that N15.4bn was paid as salaries in September alone, higher than the usual N11.9bn.

On healthcare, the commissioner said the administration had upgraded 264 primary healthcare centres and recruited more than 3,900 professionals, significantly restoring the state’s healthcare system.

He recalled that during a recent courtesy visit to the Governor’s Office, UNICEF Country Representative, Celine Lafocriere, commended Oyo’s achievements, noting that UNICEF had engaged more with Oyo than with any other state in Nigeria in the past two years.

On education, Oyelade highlighted sweeping reforms, including a doubling of staff strength in primary schools from 13,730 in 2019 to 26,436 in 2025. He said over 10,500 teaching and non-teaching staff had been employed to boost academic performance and improve the standard of living for young people.

He added that the government had built 60 model schools, constructed 289 new classroom blocks, renovated 229 others, and reintegrated more than 60,000 out-of-school children.

Additionally, four new educational zones had been created with administrative structures, while 2,000 teachers were absorbed into the Teaching Service Commission  to further strengthen efficiency.

Dan Poster by — September 30, 2025 in General News 0
NELFUND closes loan application for 2024/25 academic session

Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund  has announced the closure of its application portal for the 2024/2025 academic session, effective from today (Tuesday).

According to the Fund, the move signals the completion of its second full cycle and will allow it to finalise the processing of pending applications and upkeep payments.

In a statement signed on Monday by its Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFUND also released timelines for the next round of applications.

The portal will reopen in the second week of October 2025 for the 2025/2026 academic session and remain accessible until January 2026.

The Fund urged institutions to promptly update their students’ records on the Student Verification System to enable eligible applicants to participate in the new cycle. Institutions yet to commence a new academic session within the stated window were asked to notify NELFUND for possible concessions.

“All applications for the 2024/2025 academic session that remain unverified by institutions after October 8, 2025, will be automatically cancelled.

Students in this category are strongly encouraged to prompt their school management to complete the verification process before the deadline. Affected students will have to submit fresh applications for the 2025/2026 academic year,” the statement read.

NELFUND further disclosed that some students’ applications remained unapproved or unpaid due to institutions’ failure to complete the mandatory verification process.

“NELFUND is actively engaging with such institutions to resolve the delays. However, institutions that fail to comply by the stipulated deadline should note that the Fund will publish the names of all non-compliant institutions for transparency,” it added.

On upkeep allowances, NELFUND clarified that disbursements for the 2024/2025 session would continue until November 2025, but students must reapply for the 2025/2026 session to maintain eligibility.

So far, more than 510,000 students have benefited from the Federal Government’s Student Loan Initiative, with a total of N99.5bn disbursed since the scheme’s launch on May 24, 2024.

According to the Student Loan Disbursement Daily Status Report released on September 27, 2025, NELFUND has received 835,360 applications since inception, out of which 510,378 students have successfully accessed the interest-free facility.

Dan Poster by — September 30, 2025 in General News 0
UNIBEN bars 5,000 students from exams over unpaid fees

UNIBEN-main-gateThe management of the University of Benin, on Monday, said about 5,000 students of the institution will miss the second semester examination over failure to pay school fees.

A memo released by the Registrar of the institution, Ademola Bobola, said the affected students failed to pay their school fees despite repeated reminders.

He lamented that the students failed to subscribe to the opportunities provided by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.

NELFUND, a pivotal financial institution established under the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) (Repeal and Re-enactment) Act, 2024, was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on April 3, 2024.

The primary objective of NELFUND is to provide financial support to qualified Nigerians for tuition and other fees, charges, and upkeep during their studies in approved tertiary academic institutions and vocational and skills acquisition institutions within Nigeria.

According to the memo released by UNIBEN, defaulting students were barred from writing the second semester examination, which commenced on Monday, September 29, 2025, adding that the school management had put in place an enforcement team.

The memo read, “With the second semester examination set to begin on Monday, 29th September, 2025, these (defaulting) students shall be barred from writing the examination if they fail to pay their school charges or subscribe to the student loan by NELFUND.

“About 5,000 students have been identified in this category of defaulters.

“In compliance with the directive of the Senate of the University of Benin, these students shall not be allowed to write the forthcoming examination.

“Provost of the College of Medical Sciences, Deans, Directors, and Heads of Departments are specially required to enforce the directive of the Senate without compromise.”

The memo asked that the list of all defaulting students in their respective colleges, schools, faculties, institutes, and departments be published not later than 8.00 am on Monday.

“This is to enable the affected students to know their status as defaulters and afford them the opportunity to remedy their situation before the examination begins.

“Management has, accordingly, appointed an enforcement task force headed by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) to monitor and enforce full compliance with the directive of the Senate.

“Management expects full cooperation and compliance by all stakeholders to maintain the university’s high standards.”

Dan Poster by — September 30, 2025 in Cover 0
Otti hosts scholarship banquet, awards ₦250,000 each to 50 undergraduates

 

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has hosted a scholarship banquet in honour of 50 beneficiaries of the 2025/2026 Alex Otti Undergraduate Scholarship Programme, presenting each with a cheque of ₦250,000 to support their academic pursuits.

A statement signed by Ctz. Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor said the annual scheme, which has run for nearly a decade under the Alex Otti Foundation, is designed to support brilliant but financially challenged undergraduates across Nigeria, regardless of state of origin or political affiliation.

Speaking at the event in Umuahia, Governor Otti reaffirmed that the programme is anchored on excellence and transparency, stressing that selection is strictly merit-based through online applications, tests, and oral interviews.

“This is not a political programme. It doesn’t matter whether you know anyone or not; once you merit it, you get it. I urge you to continue to excel, make your families proud, and uphold the values of the Foundation,” he said.

The Governor presented a dummy cheque to the Foundation’s management for onward disbursement of ₦250,000 to each beneficiary, adding that the support would continue annually until their graduation.

In his keynote address, the Rector of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba, Dr. Christopher Okoro, urged the scholars to view education not only as a tool for knowledge but also as the foundation of responsive and effective leadership. He commended Governor Otti for investing in human capital development through sustained scholarships.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Foundation, Mr. Chidiebere Nnanna, described the programme as a springboard for students to build meaningful careers and impact society positively.

Beneficiaries, including Mr. Godwin Ndubuisi and Miss Chinyere Chijioke, expressed gratitude, noting that the gesture eased the heavy financial burden on their parents.

The banquet was attended by senior government officials, parents, and guardians of the scholars.

 

DFC Management by — September 29, 2025 in General News 0

Rotimi-OyekanmiThe Independent National Electoral Commission has dismissed recent claims suggesting that Nigerians have lost confidence in the country’s electoral system, describing such assertions as baseless and unsupported by facts.

In recent weeks, INEC has faced criticism from various Civil Society Organisations and religious organisations, which raised concerns over what they perceive as growing public disillusionment with the electoral process.

Responding to these criticisms on Sunday, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, told The PUNCH that the evidence points in a different direction—highlighting robust public engagement in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise.

“The notion that Nigerians have lost confidence in the electoral process is more of a myth than a reality, as those who proclaim it lack convincing evidence to support it,” Oyekanmi said.

He pointed to the high level of participation—particularly among young Nigerians—in the current voter registration drive as a strong indicator of public trust.

“On the contrary, the high level of participation by Nigerians, especially the youths, in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration, which began on August 18 this year with online pre-registration, shows that citizens still have confidence in the process,” he added.

INEC launched the new phase of CVR on August 18, encouraging eligible voters to pre-register online before completing the process at designated centres.

The online CVR portal went live at 8:30 a.m. on August 18, 2025, and within just seven hours—by 3:30 p.m. the same day—no fewer than 69,376 Nigerians had already pre-registered. This figure comprised 33,803 males (48.7 percent) and 35,573 females (51.3 percent).

Within one week, by August 24, a total of 1,379,342 had completed their online pre-registration. By September 1, just two weeks into the exercise, that number had surged to 2,532,062.

By September 21—just five weeks since the start of online pre-registration, INEC reported that 5,385,060 Nigerians had uploaded their details to the CVR portal.

In-person registration began on August 25. Within the first week, 72,274 individuals had either completed their online registration or registered in person.

By September 19, week four of the in-person phase, 399,162 online pre-registrants had completed the process, while 365,533 registered entirely through physical means. That brought the total number of completed registrations to 764,695 in one month.

“There is no African country with these types of voter registration figures within one month,” Oyekanmi stated.

He also stressed that the completion of registration must be done in person in accordance with the Electoral Act 2022.

“All those who pre-registered online must complete their registration by physically appearing at their preferred designated centre to have their biometrics and other details captured, in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, specifically Sections 9(7) and 10(2),” he explained.

Reflecting on the 2023 general election, Oyekanmi said it marked a major improvement in the country’s electoral system, particularly in terms of diversity.

“The 2023 general election, more than any other election, demonstrates this fact. The election produced the most diverse National Assembly since the restoration of democracy in 1999,” he said.

He detailed that in the Senate, seven political parties secured seats: All Progressives Congress-59, Peoples Democratic Party-36, Labour Party-eight, New Nigeria People’s Party -two, Social Democratic Party-two, All Progressives Grand Alliance-one, and Young Progressives Party-one. In the House of Representatives, eight parties won seats: APC-177, PDP-117, LP-35, NNPP-19, APGA-five, African Democratic Congress-two, SDP-two, and YPP-two.

The CPS further noted that the pattern continued at the state level, with nine parties winning seats in State Assemblies. These include APC-533, PDP-355, LP-38, NNPP-29, APGA-20, YPP-eight, SDP-seven, A-one, and ADC-one. In the gubernatorial elections, APC won 16 states, PDP-10, LP-1, and NNPP-1.

According to Oyekanmi, even the recent bye-elections were proof that “Nigerians have kept faith with the electoral process.”

He also criticised what he described as a contradiction in the behaviour of some INEC critics.

Dan Poster by — September 29, 2025 in General News 0
Customs target 48-hour cargo clearance with new reform

Nigeria Customs ServiceThe Nigeria Customs Service has officially launched its One-Stop-Shop initiative, a flagship reform aimed at slashing cargo clearance time from the long-standing average of 21 days to just 48 hours.

The initiative was introduced in Abuja during a strategic meeting between the NCS management and Customs Area Controllers, according to a statement from the NCS on Sunday. The meeting, chaired by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, focused on driving the service’s modernisation agenda and strengthening leadership roles in implementing reforms across commands.

Adeniyi described the OSS as a transformative step that aligns Nigeria’s customs operations with global best practices and advances the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business policy.

For decades, clearing goods through Nigerian ports has been riddled with delays, inefficiencies, and bureaucracy. On average, importers and exporters faced clearance times stretching up to 21 days, a situation that increased costs, discouraged investors, and hampered Nigeria’s global competitiveness.

Recognising these challenges, the Federal Government has been pushing for reforms that will modernise trade processes and align with the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, to which Nigeria is a signatory. The OSS initiative marks a significant step in this direction.

Under the new framework, all customs units will collaborate on flagged declarations, eliminating multiple checks that previously caused bottlenecks. Importantly, consignments cleared under the OSS will not be subject to re-interception, ensuring predictability and reducing costs for traders.

Adeniyi explained that the reform is designed to “sanitise operations, cut duplication of efforts, and restore confidence in customs procedures.”

“The OSS initiative will not only shorten clearance time from 21 days to 48 hours, but it will also strengthen trader confidence, restore transparency, and make our operations more business-friendly,” he said.

While highlighting the role of technology in customs processes, Adeniyi noted that digital systems alone cannot drive reform. He stressed the value of physical engagement and coordination among officers.

“As much as technology has helped us, it has its limits. There are moments when physical presence, coming together under one roof, adds weight and value to our deliberations. Meetings like this strengthen our unity of purpose and ensure we speak with one voice,” he said.

The CGC disclosed that the OSS would first be piloted at Nigeria’s busiest ports—Apapa, Tincan Island, and Onne—before being scaled up nationwide. The reform, he added, is backed by the NCS Act 2023 and fully aligned with the WTO TFA, giving it both legal and institutional support.

“This is not just a policy. It is a statement of intent that reflects our determination to build a modern, transparent, and trader-friendly customs service,” Adeniyi declared. Customs Area Controllers at the meeting pledged their full commitment to the initiative. They described the OSS as timely and necessary, saying it would reposition the service for greater efficiency and credibility in global trade facilitation.

They further assured the CGC of their readiness to implement the reform at their respective commands and to work in synergy toward achieving the 48-hour clearance target.

The Abuja meeting also provided a platform to review the Service’s accountability framework. A key feature is a new central dashboard that tracks clearance times, interventions, and stakeholder satisfaction. This tool will serve as a performance-monitoring mechanism to ensure transparency and sustained improvement.

Trade experts stated that if fully implemented, the OSS could transform Nigeria’s ports into more competitive hubs, cut business costs, and boost investor confidence. By reducing clearance times to 48 hours, Nigeria will be closer to matching international benchmarks, enhancing its ability to attract cargo traffic that often diverts to neighbouring countries.

For importers and exporters, the reform promises reduced demurrage costs, faster turnaround times, and more predictable supply chains—all critical to boosting Nigeria’s participation in regional and global trade.

Dan Poster by — September 29, 2025 in General News 0
Doctors give FG fresh ultimatum to meet demands

Nigerian Association of Resident DoctorsThe Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has given the Federal Government a fresh 30-day ultimatum to address outstanding welfare and policy issues affecting its members, including unpaid salary arrears, promotion entitlements, and the reinstatement of sacked doctors.

The ultimatum was contained in a communiqué signed on Sunday by NARD President, Dr Mohammad Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim; and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr Abdulmajid Ibrahim, at the close of the association’s 45th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference, held in Katsina State between September 21 and 26.

The meeting, themed “Mitigating Health Worker Migration through Extra-Remuneration Incentives: A Strategy for Sustainable Development”, also marked a leadership transition, with Dr Suleiman elected as president to succeed Dr Tope Osundara.

Earlier this month, NARD embarked on a five-day warning strike, which it suspended after two days following the release of funds for the Medical Residency Training Fund and to allow the government two weeks to address other demands.

At the AGM, members expressed concern over unresolved issues undermining doctors’ welfare and the health system.

They cited excessive and unsafe call-duty hours, the stalled review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure for more than 16 years, persistent non-payment of corrected professional allowances, and months of unpaid promotion arrears.

The association also condemned the casualisation of doctors, the dismissal of five doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, and repeated delays in implementing the Medical Residency Training Act.

NARD decried worsening brain drain, the exclusion of house officers from the Civil Service Scheme, decaying hospital infrastructure, and failure to implement agreed pension benefits. It also rejected the creation of consultant cadres for non-medical doctors and the downgrading of postgraduate membership recognition.

Effective October 1, 2025, NARD directed its members to stop engaging in more than 24 consecutive hours of call duty, in line with international best practices.

The communiqué stated, “The AGM calls on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to develop and implement clear, healthy call-duty working hours for doctors. In the interim, members should desist from engaging in more than 24 hours of continuous call duty.

“The AGM calls on the Federal Government to expedite action on the Collective Bargaining Agreement and complete the long-overdue review of CONMESS. The AGM demands the immediate release of corrected professional allowance tables, payment of accumulated promotion arrears within 30 days, and a one-for-one replacement policy to ease excessive workload.

“The AGM also gives the Federal Ministry of Health and the management of FTH Lokoja 30 days to reinstate the five sacked doctors. The AGM demands prompt settlement of arrears from the 25/35 per cent CONMESS review, 2024 accoutrement allowance, and other outstanding salary arrears within 30 days.”

It further urged the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to restore full recognition of West African postgraduate membership certificates, and called on the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria to immediately issue membership certificates to eligible candidates.

The association demanded a decentralised process for promotions and training, the immediate commencement of specialist allowance payments, and inclusion of house officers in the Civil Service Scheme with prompt salary payments and payslips.

It also urged Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to urgently address the welfare of resident doctors at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomosho.

NARD called for the full implementation of CONMESS circulars across all federal, state, and private health institutions, including medical schools and regulatory bodies.

On policy, the AGM resolved to intensify engagement with the National Assembly to secure adequate healthcare funding in the 2026 Appropriation Act, while also demanding immediate implementation of agreed special pension benefits for doctors.

Dan Poster by — September 29, 2025 in General News 0
JAMB awaits post-UTME results of underage candidates cleared for admission

PIC.1.-JAMB-UMTE-COMPUTER-BASED-TEST-IN-ABUJA

Sixteen out of the 71 universities that received applications for admissions of underage candidates failed to meet the September 15, 2025, deadline set by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board for the submission of post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination screening results.

JAMB had directed 71 universities that received applications from underage candidates to submit their post-UTME results early to enable speedy processing of admissions.

The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, recently disclosed that out of the 41,027 underage candidates who sat for the 2025 UTME, only about 500 scaled through initial screening.

He noted that four institutions — the Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; University of Jos; and Osun State University — formally notified JAMB that they would not admit underage candidates under any circumstances.

However, data obtained by The PUNCH showed that 40 underage candidates were affected by the delay from the 16 universities yet to submit results. These include Abia State University (one applicant), Bayelsa Medical University (one), Bingham University, Karu (three), Federal University of Technology, Ikot-Abasi (one), Federal University, Lokoja (two), Kwara State University (four), Lead City University (two), Madonna University (one), McPherson University (two), Michael Okpara University of Agriculture (one), Modibbo Adama University (one), Rhema University (one), TopFaith University (one), University of Abuja (12), and University of Calabar (six).

JAMB explained that consideration was being given only to candidates who scored at least 320 in the UTME, secured a minimum of 80 per cent in post-UTME, and obtained 80 per cent (24/30 points) in a single sitting of WAEC or NECO.

The policy shift followed complaints by parents and stakeholders that high-performing candidates were being denied admission strictly on the basis of age.

Dan Poster by — September 29, 2025 in Cover 0
Ekiti community youths protest alleged plot to impose monarch

Youths in Araromi-Obo, a community in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State, on Friday staged a protest against what they described as a plot to impose a new traditional ruler on the town.

The protesters accused certain people of attempting to manipulate the community’s traditional system through the controversial appointment of warrant chiefs, allegedly to pave the way for their preferred candidate.

Addressing journalists after the demonstration, the President of Araromi-Obo Youths, Mr Sunday Faseluka, stressed that the town already had established kingmakers who had faithfully served for more than two decades.

He listed them as Oisangan, Chief Oluwole Egunjobi; Ejigbo, Chief Joseph Alabi; and Ejisun, Chief Ajayi Sunday.

According to Faseluka, the attempt to replace these chiefs while they are still alive was unconstitutional, illegal, and provocative, warning that such actions could destabilize the peace of the community.

He alleged that those behind the move were acting out of selfish interest and seeking to undermine the integrity of the traditional process.

The group’s secretary, Mr Deji Alabi, also accused the masterminds of plotting to sideline the kingmakers in order to favour Prince Ebenezer Ojo, whom he claimed was being positioned to ascend the throne.

Alabi described the plan as unacceptable, insisting that the people of Araromi-Obo would resist any attempt to subvert their customs and traditions.

“We want to inform the government that Mr Ebenezer Ojo, whom some people are trying to impose on the community, can neither read nor write. In this current dispensation, we do not want an illiterate as a king,” he said.

“What we want is an educated person who can bring development to our town. The appointment of warrant chiefs is only a ploy to favour Mr Ojo, and we, the youths, reject the attempt outright.”

Dan Poster by — September 27, 2025 in General News 0
Troops arrest five suspected criminals with concealed AK-47 rifles

 

Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested five suspected bandits in Kwara State.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the state governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, he said the suspects were nabbed on Thursday at a checkpoint along Share town in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state after six AK-47 rifles were found with them.

He said the arrest of the suspected bandits came a day after six persons suspected to be couriers for the kidnappers were arrested around Babanla town, also in the Ifelodun LGA, with a large consignment of bread and petrol.

“Five suspected kidnappers were arrested today along the Share axis.

“They concealed six AK-47s under the charcoal in a Golf saloon car this afternoon.

“They were intercepted by the Nigerian Army team on patrol. The five suspects are undergoing interrogation,” Ajakaye said.

“They have been transferred to the police headquarters in Ilorin for further investigation,” the CPS added.

He also said that many criminals were eliminated in a coordinated assault by government vigilante forces in Omu Aran-Eruku earlier on Tuesday.

“Six motorcycles, assault rifles, and many loaded magazines were recovered from their hideouts.

“Four women and two young men, all suspected to be abduction victims, were rescued and handed to the police divisional post in Omu Aran,” the statement added.

Dan Poster by — September 27, 2025 in General News 0