Rights group names UNN, UNIZIK in call for investigation; says allegations remain unverified The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for an urgent investigation into allegations that prospective medical students were asked to pay between **₦1.5 million and ₦4 million** to secure admission into universities in the South-East. The allegations reportedly involve the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK). HURIWA urged the National Universities Commission (NUC), Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Federal Ministry of Education and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to establish what happened. The claims have…
Author: National Update
In a major move aimed at improving the welfare of retired workers, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has introduced a N52,500 minimum monthly pension for eligible retirees, alongside a new healthcare programme offering free essential medical services to low-income pensioners. The initiatives, unveiled on Tuesday in Abuja under the Presidential Pension Security Initiative, are designed to strengthen retirement protection and address longstanding concerns over inadequate pension payments. Represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the launch, Tinubu described the Minimum Pension Guarantee (MPG) as a long-overdue entitlement that should no longer remain a provision on paper. He said the guarantee had…
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Solomon Dalung, has called on the party’s leadership to suspend the planned inauguration of caretaker committee members whose appeals are reportedly pending before the Supreme Court. Dalung, who serves as the Director of the Mandate Protection Directorate of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, made the demand in a recent video, expressing concern over the party’s decision to appoint individuals involved in ongoing legal disputes as chairmen of caretaker committees. He warned that proceeding with the inauguration while the legal matters remain before the apex court could create further complications for the party,…
President Bola Tinubu’s economic and governance reforms are set for fresh scrutiny with the unveiling of a new book examining his leadership philosophy, policy decisions and vision for Nigeria’s future. Titled The Courage to Reform: Architecture of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Beyond 2027 — Statecraft, Vision for National Renewal, the book will be presented on December 1 at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja. Tinubu is expected to attend as Special Guest of Honour. The ceremony, initially scheduled for November 5, was postponed following adjustments to the President’s official engagements. The publication examines some of the administration’s…
From the airport that received the President to the stadium that hosted his campaign, the roads, hotels and public facilities that made the APC presidential visit possible tell a remarkable story of a former PDP governor’s vision. By Silas Yusuf Sometimes, history makes its loudest statement without saying a word. That was perhaps the message written across Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrived for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally. The city was alive with political activities. APC flags and campaign banners adorned public spaces. Party leaders, ministers, government officials, security personnel and…
They once stood guard over the country. Now they are the ones asking to be seen. Since November 1, retired police officers have occupied the headquarters of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) in Abuja, and they say they are not leaving until alerts start landing in their bank accounts. Many are elderly. Many are sick. All of them, they say, are tired of waiting. “We have received unfulfilled promises for too long,” said retired Chief Superintendent of Police Mannir M. Lawal Zaria, National Coordinator of the Union of Retired Police Officers under the Contributory Pension Scheme. “We can no longer…
Sets Two-Week Deadline The Senate has ordered a two-week investigation into prolonged airspace closures for Very Important Personalities (VIPs), warning that the practice could expose commercial aircraft to serious safety risks. The lawmakers expressed concern that commercial flights are sometimes forced to circle for hours or remain grounded while aviation authorities reserve airspace for VIP movements. They directed the Senate Committee on Aviation to investigate the restrictions and recommend measures to prevent avoidable delays and potential aviation emergencies. The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Isah Jibrin during Tuesday’s plenary. The committee, chaired by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, will summon…
The Senate has pledged N100 million to Nigeria’s Under-17 women’s football team, the Flamingos, and urged the Federal Government to add its own rewards for the victorious squad. Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the pledge during plenary, following a motion by Senator Abdu Ningi seeking adequate recognition and compensation for the players. “From the National Assembly, even if we do not have anything else to give these children, we will make a token of N100 million to them immediately,” Akpabio said. Ningi described the team’s performance as remarkable, noting that the players were assembled barely six months before the competition.…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has uncovered serious irregularities in Nigeria’s voters’ register, expunging 1,608,660 invalid records and identifying 54 officials allegedly involved in registration fraud across 10 states. The revelations have raised fresh concerns about the integrity of the electoral register ahead of the 2027 general elections, even as 375 judges prepare to handle disputes that could emerge from the polls. INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed the findings on Monday in Abuja while presenting the outcome of the commission’s review of the Preliminary Register of Voters. He said the screening uncovered multiple registrations, manipulated photographs, suspicious registration…
Former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has told the Senate that the N210 trillion controversy engulfing the state oil firm is the product of auditors misinterpreting accounting entries and wrongly presenting them as missing funds. Appearing before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts on Tuesday, Kyari insisted that not a single naira of the disputed amount was lost under his leadership. “I confirm this moment that nothing is lost,” he declared. “It’s simply not possible under my care and under my leadership for that to happen. But it did not happen,…