***Urges former public servants to document experiences, shares tribute to ex-IGP Abubakar Former public officers should not allow the wealth of experience they acquired in service to fade into retirement but should document and share their knowledge to help Nigeria address its governance and security challenges, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said. Obi made the call at the public presentation of a book by former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, titled Beyond the Bullet: Policing Terrorism in a Democratic System, at the Police Resource Centre, Jabi, Abuja. He described the publication as a…
Author: National Update
***Highlights institutional reforms, says people-centred management is key to sustainable growth The Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar O. Sulaiman, has challenged public office holders to measure their leadership by tangible results, institutional growth and improved human capacity rather than the prestige of their positions. Sulaiman said effective leadership required the courage to make difficult decisions, manage competing interests and build institutions capable of delivering lasting benefits to society. He spoke at the International Leadership Summit at the University of Brighton, United Kingdom, on October 14, 2026, where he delivered a keynote address…
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticised the Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, for allegedly prioritising President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election prospects over the worsening economic hardship confronting millions of Nigerians. HURIWA challenged Oyedele to stop acting as a political promoter for the President and concentrate on addressing soaring living costs, expensive petrol, declining purchasing power and rising poverty. In a statement on Sunday, signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, the association said Nigerians needed practical economic solutions rather than projections about Tinubu’s chances of securing a second term. It insisted that international investors…
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja The All Progressives Congress (APC) has swept all 21 chairmanship and 239 councillorship seats in the Kogi State local government elections held on Saturday, October 17. The Chairman of the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC), Hon. Mamman Nda-Eri, announced the results at a press conference at the commission’s headquarters in Lokoja, confirming the ruling party’s victory across all 21 local government areas and 239 electoral wards. Nda-Eri said the election was conducted across 3,508 polling units in the state, adding that collation of results from all 21 local government areas had been concluded. He declared…
***Nigeria at 66: A Critical Examination of Institutional Transformation By Mohammed Manga, Public Policy Analyst Under the ancient baobab of Zazzau at dusk, where generations have weighed wisdom, the elders teach that “you do not judge a farm by the bustle of its clearing, but by the fullness of its barn at harvest.” They also say, “a well is not praised because it was dug deep, but because it never runs dry when the people thirst.” Such is the test of a nation. Not the elegance of its declarations or the flourish of its ceremonies, but whether its systems endure,…
***As Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan Warns of Relocation A project meant to bring relief to some of society’s most vulnerable people now stands at risk of leaving the district it was designed for, as political rivalry overshadows a much-needed healthcare initiative. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, has warned that the proposed mental health facility in Adavi could be moved to Kogi East or Kogi West if the people of Kogi Central do not want it. The senator voiced displeasure over what she described as attempts to frustrate the project through sponsored criticism and a petition sent to the…
Political tension is rising in Kogi West following allegations that the Chairman of Yagba West Local Government Council and Kogi State ALGON Chairman, Hon. Tosin Olokun, threatened to frustrate Senator Sunday Karimi’s campaign and order the arrest of some of his supporters. The alleged threats reportedly followed Karimi’s comments on increased local government allocations and the need to ensure that the funds improve the lives of residents. Olokun was alleged to have declared “total war” against the senator during a meeting with APC supporters at his residence in Egbe, Karimi’s hometown. According to accounts attributed to participants, the council chairman…
Nearly five decades after leaving the classroom, Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has returned to honour a teacher whose lessons remained part of his life long after his school days ended. The governor’s visit to Mr M. O. Moore, his former French teacher at St Francis Secondary School, Ikot Ataku, Eket, was more than a reunion. It was a public expression of gratitude to an educator whose influence had endured despite the passage of time and the demands of high office. On Friday, October 16, 2026, Eno visited the veteran teacher at Okon Clan in Eket Local Government Area,…
ActionAid Nigeria has challenged the government to account for public spending and give vulnerable citizens a stronger voice in policymaking, warning that millions of Nigerians remain trapped in extreme poverty despite interventions aimed at improving their living conditions. The organisation said tackling poverty required more than relief programmes, insisting that transparency, accountable institutions and inclusive decision-making must become central to the management of public resources. Its Country Director, Dr Andrew Mamedu, made the call on Saturday in Abuja while delivering a goodwill message at the 2026 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Mamedu cited World Bank figures estimating that…
***Shrinking Business Market Nigeria’s poverty crisis is not only deepening household hardship but also shutting millions of people out of the consumer market, limiting business growth and weakening the country’s economic potential, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, has warned. Doro said widespread poverty was denying businesses access to millions of potential customers while depriving the economy of productive workers whose talents could drive growth. He challenged the private sector to see poverty reduction not merely as charity but as an investment in expanding Nigeria’s market, improving productivity and creating sustainable economic opportunities. The minister spoke…