The President of the Senate, Godswill Obot Akpabio, on Tuesday challenged lawmakers to place Nigeria’s interest above partisan politics, intensify legislative efforts to address insecurity and deliver laws that directly improve the lives of citizens as the National Assembly resumed plenary after its recess. In a strongly worded address to senators, Akpabio said the country faces mounting security and economic challenges that require lawmakers to demonstrate courage, patriotism and unwavering commitment to national service. He reminded senators that although Parliament had been on recess, the demands of governance never ceased, noting that lawmakers remained actively engaged with their constituents while…
Author: National Update
The Niger State House of Assembly has passed a vote of confidence on Governor Umar Mohammed Bago and the Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Board following what lawmakers described as a hitch-free and well-coordinated 2026 Hajj exercise. The resolution came after the House considered and adopted the report of its Standing Committee on Religious Affairs, which commended the state government and the board for ensuring the welfare of the state’s 2,281 pilgrims throughout the pilgrimage. The committee’s report, presented during Tuesday’s plenary by its Chairman and member representing Agaie Constituency, Hon. Muhammad Etsugaie, attributed the success of the exercise to Governor…
President Bola Tinubu has launched a sweeping crackdown on the alleged impersonation of the Presidency after the discovery of a fake presidential council that reportedly operated using forged government documents and false claims of presidential authority. The President has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and submit its findings within 30 days. The directive, contained in a statement issued Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the PFIPC as a fictitious organisation with no…
The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has launched a new digital TaxPortal aimed at simplifying tax payment, improving compliance and expanding the Territory’s revenue base through technology-driven tax administration. The Acting Executive Chairman of the FCT-IRS, Mr. Michael Ango, unveiled the platform on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ engagement with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in Abuja, describing the initiative as a major step towards modernising tax administration in the nation’s capital. According to him, the TaxPortal provides taxpayers with a one-stop digital platform where they can register, file tax returns, make payments and access other tax-related services without…
The Deputy Director of the National Gallery of Art, Dame Nneka Ijeoma, has charged professionals across various fields to build enduring integrity, safeguard their credibility and continually acquire multiple skills to remain relevant in an increasingly competitive world. Speaking at the monthly meeting of the League of Anambra Journalists Abuja (LAJA), Dame Nneka said professional success is no longer defined by a single career path, stressing that individuals should embrace entrepreneurship and continuous self-development while remaining committed to the ethics of their primary professions. Drawing from her own experience, she described herself as a public servant who has successfully combined…
Some achievements are measured not by the day they are attained, but by the years of resilience, sacrifice and unwavering belief that made them possible. On July 7, 2026, Sir Godfrey Ohuabunwa joined the ranks of Nigeria’s legal practitioners after being formally called to the Nigerian Bar—a defining moment that brought to life a dream he had pursued for more than four decades. For Sir Godfrey, the occasion was far more than a professional milestone. It was the fulfilment of a childhood vision that refused to fade despite repeated disappointments and countless obstacles. As the youngest of twelve children in…
By Tunde Olusunle At the height of the ascendancy of juju music in the 1970s and 1980s, one very popular track which received a lot of airplay was *oro mi ti dayo* which was performed by Ebenezer Obey, a living music legend who goes by the stage alias of “Chief Commander.” The song was a celebration of the head of the successful Jinadu family of Isale-Eko, in downtown, primordial Lagos. The refrain which caught on like wildfire from the song was o ti goke odo, k’afara to ja,* which means “he successfully crossed the river before the bridge collapsed.” That…
United Bank for Africa (UBA) has announced that its Group Chairman, Tony O. Elumelu, will retire from the Board of Directors on August 21, 2026, after completing the maximum 12-year tenure for non-executive directors stipulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The bank also confirmed the appointment of Emmanuel N. Nnorom as the new Group Chairman. His appointment will take effect on the same date, following his election by the Board at its meeting on July 6, 2026. In a statement signed by Group Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Alero Ladipo, the Board praised Elumelu’s leadership, describing his…
The Kano State Judicial Service Commission has taken sweeping disciplinary action against judicial officers and court personnel, compulsorily retiring two officials, demoting a Sharia Court judge, suspending a court clerk without pay, and ordering fresh investigations into other officers over alleged misconduct. The decisions were reached at the commission’s 90th meeting chaired by the Chief Judge of Kano State, Dije Abdu Aboki, following the consideration of reports submitted by the Establishment Committee and the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee. Among those sanctioned is Hon. Alkali Aliyu Yahaya Muhammad, Presiding Judge of the Sharia Court in Babeji, who was compulsorily retired after…
No fewer than 34 tertiary institutions across Nigeria are under investigation over allegations that they failed to refund students whose tuition fees were paid twice under the Federal Government’s student loan scheme. The Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Akintunde Sawyerr, disclosed this during an interview on Arise Television, revealing that the agency has deployed a five-member investigative team, including operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and internal auditors, to examine the allegations. According to Sawyerr, the probe was triggered by a wave of complaints from students who paid their tuition fees before their…