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THE STATES

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Adamawa

Governor  Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State said that the recent attack on Ganye had created distrust among the people of the area.

Nyako, who was speaking when he visited the affected town to sympathise with the Gangwari of Ganye, Alhaji Umaru Sanda, at his palace, urged the residents to be security-conscious and live in peace with one another.

The governor recalled his inability to resolve a water problem in one of the technical skills acquisition centres in the state because of insecurity.

He explained that after liaising with the Bauchi State Government to bring in some Chinese experts to address the water problem, the foreigners could not come to Adamawa.

 

Bauchi

Governor  Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State has called on Christians in the state to emulate the preaching of Jesus Christ, which teaches peace, honesty and love for one another.

In his Easter message to the people in Bauchi, Yuguda urged them to bury their ethnic, religious or political differences and live in peace and harmony with one another.

He appealed to the people to continue to pray for an end to the current security challenges that had bedevilled some parts of the country.

The governor said that the period was being observed to remember Jesus Christ, who paid the supreme price in order to save souls.

Yuguda also called on Christians to use the Easter celebrations as sober reflection and self-evaluation towards relating with the Creator and their fellow men.

 

Benue

A  chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dominic Ajones, has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for granting state pardon to Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and other Nigerians.

Ajones  who made the commendation in an interview  in Makurdi, Wednesday said that not all the president’s actions were politically motivated, adding that the presidential pardon to the former governor was in the overall interest of Nigerians.

“Not all the decisions of the president are politically motivated; the idea of granting state pardon to people is a way of emulating Christ Jesus who despite our numerous sins died for our sins.

He said that section 175 of the 1999 Constitution empowered the president through adequate consultations with the National Council of State (NCS) to grant pardon to individuals who had suffered convictions.

 

FCT

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and other stakeholders have adopted a template of etiquettes and regulations for this year’s hajj.

A meeting on the matter, attended by officials of NAHCON, state pilgrims welfare boards and travel agencies at the National Mosque in Abuja, Wednesday  agreed on sets of guidelines for the smooth operations of this year’s hajj.

The Chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Muhammad Bello, said that some of the key areas agreed upon in the guidelines include conduct of pilgrims and activities of flight operators during the exercise.

Also speaking,  the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Sen. Mohammed Sani,commended NAHCON for convening the meeting, describing it as a proactive strategy.

 

Kaduna

The Nigerian Army said it was retraining its soldiers on weapons handling to enhance their efficiency in tackling security challenges in the country.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC)1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major Gen. Garba Wahab, said this while speaking to journalists during the Range Classification Training for soldiers in Kaduna Thursday.

Wahab said the retraining would also enable the military personnel to prevent any mishap or accidental discharge while carrying out their duties.

According to the commandant, all soldiers are expected to undergo physical, medical and weapon handling training annually to ascertain their capability.

The GOC also expressed satisfaction with the performance of the soldiers at the retraining camp, assuring the public of the army’s resolve to tackle any security breach during Easter.

 

Kogi

An Okene High Court in Kogi State, last Thursday, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the Head of Service (HOS) and the Accountant-General.

Justice Sunday Otu, who issued the bench warrant in Okene, said the three government functionaries had persistently ignored the court summons to appear before it.

He said the HOS, Mr Moses Atakpa; the Attorney General, Mr Joe Abrahams and the Accountant-General, Mr Paul Audu, refused to implement the court’s judgment of May 14, 2012 ordering the re-absorption of 346 state civil servants sacked illegally in 2009.

It held that the affected workers had genuine documents of employment and were legally employed by the state government.

 

Kwara

The Kwara State Government said it would soon introduce contributory pension scheme as part of the government’s drive to enable workers to enjoy stress-free post retirement life.

Governor Abdulftah Ahmed gave the indication in Ilorin when he received the management of Leadway Assurance Plc, led by its Managing Director, Mr Hassan Odukale.

Ahmed noted in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Abdulwahab Oba, that the scheme had been problematic for the country and its civil servants for a long time.

He said that the contributory scheme would not only ensure that workers contributed towards their retirement but also removed post retirement uncertainties and described the scheme as the future of effective pension administration in the country.

 

Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has banned all traditional rulers in the state from residing outside their domains in the interest of peace and progress of their people.

The ban followed the motion by the Majority Leader of the House, Mr Godiya Akwashiki (PDP-Nasarawa Eggon West).

The bill to regulate the movement of the state traditional rulers passed the third reading after the adoption of the motion.  Akwashiki said that the law would ensure that all traditional rulers resided and presided over issues within their chiefdoms.

 

Niger

Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State last Thursday swore-in Justice Fati Lami Abubakar as the acting Chief Judge of Niger.

Abubakar’s appointment followed the exit of the Chief Judge, Justice Jibrin Ndajiwo, who proceeded on retirement, having attained the mandatory retirement age of 65 years.

Aliyu said the appointment and consequent swearing-in of Abubakar as the Acting Chief Judge of the state was in conformity with the powers vested in his office under Section 271(4) of the 1999 Constitution.

 

Ogun

The acting Vice-Chancellor, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Prof. Saburi Adesanya, said the institution would recall 120 lecturers retrenched in 2009.

The institution had in 2009 retrenched 962 teaching and non-teaching staff.

The Vice Chancellor said this in Ago-Iwoye  Thursday at a news conference to mark the beginning of the 22nd convocation ceremony of the university.

Adesanya said the process of recalling some of the lecturers became imperative due to the shortage of academic staff at the institution.

He said that new lecturers would also be employed to address the problem of under staffing.

 

Oyo

The Oyo State Ministry of Environment and Habitat has vowed to continue demolishing illegal structures as well as buildings under high tension lines in the state.

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Modupe Omonigbeyin,  said in Ibadan on Thursday that government would not relent until there was total compliance.

The permanent secretary, who expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance so far by residents, said they still needed to be encouraged.

“ Before now, Ibadan for example, had the reputation of being the dirtiest city in the country. This is why Governor Abiola Ajimobi embarked on the Urban Renewal Project,’’ she said.

 

Plateau

The League for Human Rights, based in Jos has demanded N100 million compensation from the Nigerian Army over the alleged “extra-judicial killing” of a 26-year-old NYSC member.

Making the demand in a statement issued in Jos, Wednesday, the group alleged that the corps member, Wagley Dauda, was shot dead by a soldier at NASCO Area of Jos on February 16.

The Director of the organisation, Mr Nankin Bagudu, who signed the statement, said the brutal murder of Dauda at about 11a.m. on the fateful day was done by soldiers of the STF who mounted a checkpoint in the area.

Bagudu noted that efforts to see the STF Commander over the incident had been futile as he had directed the bereaved family to the driver of the cab in which Dauda was killed, claiming that the STF had nothing to do with the death.

 

Yobe

The Chairman, Coalition of Political Parties in Yobe, Malam Umar Kukuri, said that eight political parties had indicated interest to contest the local government council election in the state in June.

Kukuri, who is also the state chairman of the National Conscience Party (NCP), said in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu, that the parties indicated interest to field candidates in the election during an interactive forum organised by the state electoral commission which was attended by the parties.

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Rivers Commissioner Commends WAEC Conduct, Vows Sanctions for Malpractice

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The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.

Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation on Tuesday during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.

The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.

“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.

Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state

He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.

“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.

While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.

He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process.

Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.

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THE LAPSES OF THE MEDIA IN ELECTIONS

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The media is supposed to be a platform through which people express their thoughts, beliefs, and opinions on issues of public interest. Unfortunately, it has often failed to live up to its role as the fourth estate of the realm.During the 2023 elections, the media recorded several lapses that deserve critical examination in academic and professional spaces. Before discussing these failures in detail, it is important to briefly explain the meaning, role, and duties of the media. In simple terms, the media refers to the main channels of mass communication, including broadcasting, print publishing, and the internet.
It is a collective term for all means through which information reaches the public. The media is often called the fourth tier of government because of the popular saying, “No media, no society.” This is not an exaggeration. Scholars have shown that the media plays an integral role in society, since political, economic, religious, and academic activities all depend on information flow through the media.
The word MEDIA can be broken down to reflect its core functions:  M – Meeting the People  E – Educating the People  D – Discussing with the People  I – Involving the People  A – Accessing the PeopleSpecifically during elections, the media is expected to provide accurate and timely information to the public by reporting and updating citizens on government and electoral activities. This responsibility is central to keeping the electorate informed.The media also strengthens democracy by engaging citizens on critical issues affecting the electoral process. When the media effectively disseminates relevant information, the public can see through the failures of government, hold leaders accountable, and propose solutions that serve the common good.
Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram play a vital role in democratic societies because they allow mass participation. Unlike radio and television, social media is accessible to anyone with a smartphone and data bundle, making it the most inclusive platform for political discourse. Despite these roles, the media must not abandon its ethics or promote partisan agendas that mislead the public. In many schools of thought, the media is described as closely related to the judiciary.
People often see the media as a place to voice grievances and seek justice.However, it is fair to say that the media has lost ground by failing to fulfill its duties during elections. Below are ten key lapses observed in the February 2023 elections.Lack of coordination among journalists. Many press personnel who covered different polling units were poorly equipped and unprepared. Some lacked functional cameras and modern technology needed to carry out professional reporting.
Partisanship and breach of ethics. Media personnel, who are supposed to remain non-partisan, openly violated professional ethics by taking political sides and favoring certain candidates in their reporting.Commercialization of coverage. Some journalists prioritized money over news. It was disappointing to see professionals from reputable stations engaging in what I call “Oga, find me something syndrome” begging politicians for money in exchange for favorable coverage or interviews.Loss of independence and self-censorship. On election day, some journalists took instructions from politicians on what to report and what to suppress. This compromised the independence of the media and reduced public trust.
Poor post-election reporting. Few media outlets reported what actually happened at the polling units. Incidents of violence, voter intimidation, and irregularities were either underreported or ignored entirely, while praise was lavished on politicians instead of amplifying the voices of the people.Spread of misinformation and unverified claims. In the rush to be first, some media houses published unverified results and rumors from social media without fact-checking. This fueled confusion and tension among the electorate.Inadequate coverage of rural and marginalized areas. Media attention was concentrated in urban centers, leaving rural polling units underreported. The experiences and challenges of rural voters were largely absent from mainstream coverage.
Sensationalism over substance. Some outlets prioritized sensational headlines and conflict-driven stories over factual analysis of policies and candidate manifestos, leaving voters uninformed about real issues. Failure to hold INEC accountable in real time. While INEC faced logistical failures and delays, many media houses were slow to question officials or demand explanations on air, missing opportunities for live accountability.
Neglect of voter education. Beyond reporting results, the media did little to educate voters on procedures, rights, and what to do in case of irregularities. This left many citizens uninformed and vulnerable on election day.These lapses weaken public trust and undermine the credibility of the electoral process. For the media to regain its role as a watchdog of democracy, it must return to the principles of accuracy, impartiality, and public service.
The media must be informed to follow its ethics as the 2027 elections approaches. This is encourage electorates rely on the authenticity and objectivity of media practice.Failure to uphold media standards will further make the country plunge into political apathy, electoral violence and disgust for those in the media practice.
By KRUKRUBO, NYE TAMUNODIKI.
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RSU, Otonti Nduka Foundation Holds Centenary Conference, Unveil Book on Values in Nigeria

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Rivers State University and the Otonti Nduka Foundation for Values Education jointly hosted a two-day National Conference on 8 and 9 May 2026 to examine the state of values in Nigeria.

The two days conference held at Rivers State University convocation arena brought together academics, policymakers, legal experts and education leaders under the theme _“Trends and Challenges in Upholding Values in Nigeria.”_

The gathering focused on policy gaps, curriculum reform, and the role of ethics in public service and education.

The event opened on Friday with remarks from Vice Chancellor Prof. Chief Isaac Zeb-Obipi, who stressed the need to address declining moral and civic values across Nigeria’s education and public sectors. A book of abstracts for the plenary sessions was also presented to participants.

Key speakers included former Attorney General Chief Dr Kanu Agabi, SAN; NERDC Executive Secretary Prof. Shehu Salisu; Prof. Hauwa Imam, FNAE, of the University of Abuja; former Rivers SUBEB Chairman Ven Dr Fyneface Akah, ; former NIMASA DG Dr Hon. Dakuku Adol-Peterside; and RSU Director of ICT Prof. Sunny Orike.

Discussions centered on integrating values education into schools, tertiary institutions and public institutions, alongside the impact of technology on moral development among young Nigerians. Panel and plenary sessions produced practical recommendations for curriculum and policy reform.

On Saturday, the foundation marked its centenary with the unveiling of the book _Otonti Nduka in History_, launched by Chief Engr. Grant Offor, FNSE. The Nigerian Academy of Education held a ceremonial procession led by its President Prof. Olu Jegede and the Ikwerre Professors Forum.

In a communiqué, participants called for stronger collaboration between government, civil society and academia to mainstream values education nationwide. They recommended reviewing teacher training curricula and expanding digital platforms to promote ethical civic engagement, with the foundation pledging to share the outcomes with education authorities for implementation.

Dignitaries present included Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide as Chief Host, Prof. Emeritus Chief T. Uzodimma Nwala, the Ikenga 1 of Mbaise and first philosophy student of Prof. Otonti Nduka, alongside scholars and community leaders.

 

Amadi Akujobi

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