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Pension Thieves: Stakeholders Want Enforcement Of 10-Year Jail Term

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Stakeholders in the labour sec
tor have called for the enforcement of the 10 years imprisonment for pension fund thieves as recommended in the new Pension Bill passed by the Senate.
In an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, some of the stakeholders said sending pension fund thieves to prison was long overdue.
The National President of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Malam Bobboi Kaigama, said that pensioners in the country were always passing through a lot of hardships.
He expressed regrets that pensioners, who had served the nation for many years, had little or no resources to take care of their daily needs.
Kaigama said that the punishment could even be more biting, considering the sufferings the pensioners passed through.
“ It is only in this country that you see old men and women waiting in line for verification, yet they go home empty handed or probably fall and die on queue.
“It is only in Nigeria that you will hear cases of non-payment of entitlements, omission of pensioners’ names from payroll and under-payment of pensioners.
“You need to see the pitiful sight of some of these pensioners who daily suffer from either delay in pension payment, non-payment of arrears or gratuities.
“ So, tell me how this punishment can be equated to their pains but we still thank the Senate for the bold move,’’ Kaigama said.
Similarly, Mr Ibrahim Khaleel, the President, National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), expressed the hope that the new bill would turn around the administration of pension system in the country.
“It is a welcome development and l have a strong conviction that the issue of corruption in pension system will be resolved.
“I know that until a serious sanction is issued on corrupt officers in Nigeria, this country will not be where it should be.
“To us in NULGE, if the law will say more than this punishment, we are comfortable with it.
“This development is a great one and NULGE is happy because it is a right step in the right direction,’’ Khaleel said.
He appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to sign the bill into law so that it could be enforced.
In his comments, Mr Sunday Alhassan, the President, National Union of Postal and Telecommunications Employees (NUPTE), said the union was happy with the decision of the Senate.
He expressed fear that the bill might not see the light of the day if the president did not sign it.
“In other parts of the world, workers usually look forward to their retirement benefits but the opposite is the case in Nigeria as workers usually dread retirement.
“‘Most cases, some civil servants usually falsify their ages to stay longer in service as life after retirement is not something to look forward to.
“Pension fund administration has been rocked with fraud and embezzlement of funds in recent times in this country, and the only thing that can save it is drastic action from to the authorities,’’ Alhassan said.
The Tide reports that the Senate on April 9 endorsed a 10-year jail for anybody convicted of stealing or misappropriating pension funds, apart from refunding three times higher the amount embezzled.
The Act also imposed a N10 million fine on any pension fund administrator who failed to meet the obligations of the contributors, while each of the directors of the firm would pay N5 million each as fines.
The Senate, after an exhaustive debate on the bill at its Committee of the Whole House, voted for its passage and urged President Jonathan to sign it as soon as possible.
However, if President Jonathan signs the bill, the Pension Reform Act 2004 is automatically repealed.

Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice, Mr Eze Onyekpere (left), with Legal Officer, Mr Kingsley Nnajiaka, at a briefing on the proposed scrapping of Fiscal Responsibility Commission in Abuja, last Wednesday.

Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice, Mr Eze Onyekpere (left), with Legal Officer, Mr Kingsley Nnajiaka, at a briefing on the proposed scrapping of Fiscal Responsibility Commission in Abuja, last Wednesday.

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Nigeria’s Inflation Drops to 15.06%

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5 days ago

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March 23, 2026

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Three States Record Lowest rates Published 16 Mar 2026 By  Dave Ibemere 3 min read The NBS has revealed that inflation rates dropped again in February 2026 The bureau noted that both headline and food inflation eased on a year-on-year basis Inflation was lowest in Katsina, Imo, and Ebonyi, while the highest was recorded in Kogi.
 Nigerian economy, the stock market, and broader market trends. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigeria’s inflation rate slowed further in February 2026. According to the bureau in its latest CPI report, the headline inflation dropped slightly to 15.06% from 15.10% in January 2026. Nigeria’s inflation eases to 15%, offering relief to households. It was 11.21 percentage points lower than the 26.27% recorded in February 2025. From breaking news to viral moments.  On a month-on-month basis, inflation stood at 2.01% in February, up from -2.88% in January, showing that prices rose at a faster pace than the previous month. Nigerian stock market records weekly gain as turnover hits N164.8billion Urban vs Rural Inflation NBS noted that urban inflation stood at 15.53% year-on-year, down from 28.49% in February 2025, while rural inflation was 13.93%, compared with 22.73% in the same period last year. Every month, urban inflation rose to 2.55% in February from 2.72% in January, while rural inflation eased to 0.71% from -3.29%. Food Inflation Food inflation dropped to 12.12% year-on-year in February, down sharply from 26.98% in February 2025. Monthly, food prices rose by 4.69%, higher than the -6.02% recorded in January. The NBS attributed the moderation to slower price increases in staples such as beans, cassava tuber, yam flour, crayfish, millet flour, cowpeas, and okazi leaf. The twelve-month average for food inflation was 19.08%, compared with 37.40% in February 2025. States breakdown for All Items The states with the highest all-items inflation rates were: Kogi (23.57%) Benue (22.85%) Anambra (22.09%) The lowest rates were recorded in: READ ALSO Naira appreciates by N27 against US dollar as external reserves cross $50bn Katsina (7.78%) Imo (11.66%) Ebonyi (11.71%) On a month-on-month basis, the highest increases were in Enugu (5.92%), Ogun (4.39%), and Anambra (4.11%), while declines were seen in Zamfara (-2.14%), Bauchi (-1.23%), and Katsina (-1.06%). Food staples contribute less to inflation as prices moderate in February. Photo: Bloomberg Source: Getty Images State Breakdown for Food Inflation Food inflation was highest in: Kogi (26.91%) Adamawa (23.12%) Benue (21.89%) The lowest food inflation rates were seen in: Katsina (5.09%) Bauchi (7.09%) Imo (7.65%) Month-on-Month Food Inflation The states with the highest month-on-month increases in food inflation were: Bayelsa (8.81%) Ebonyi (8.51%) Edo (7.72%) The states that recorded declines were: Katsina (-0.70%) Nasarawa (0.17%) Kano (1.39%) Food price changes across markets in Nigeria Earlier, The  Tide source reported that due to Ramadan, staple food prices across the country are recording sharp increases as Muslims begin the Ramadan fasting season Ramadan is not only a period of abstinence from food and drink, but also a time for ‘reflection, discipline and heightened devotion’ Several traders in Abuja, Taraba, and Kaduna states are taking advantage and have hiked price. The NBS has revealed that inflation rates dropped again in February 2026 The bureau noted that both headline and food inflation eased on a year-on-year basis Inflation was lowest in Katsina, Imo, and Ebonyi, while the highest was recorded in Kogi.
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NDCCTMA, NDDC MDS Challenge Niger Delta Indigenes On Investment In The Region 

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March 23, 2026

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The Nigeria Delta Chamber of Commerce, Trade, Mines and Agriculture  (NDCCTMA), and the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC ) have challenged Niger Delta entrepreneurs to close the gap in Gross Domestic Products (GDP) differences between the region and that of the South Western part of the country by coming home to invest.
The bodies made the call at a Business Round Table organized by NDDCTMA, in Port Harcourt.
Chairman of NDDCTMA, Ambassador Idaere Gogo Ogan, said to close the gap between the south west region which he said has a GDP seize of about #59 trillion and that of the Niger Delta which is about #34 trillion was to massively invest in the region.
He said no other persons can  do this except sons and daughters from the region.
“For me I believe in statistics,I believe in data and everyday I looked at the data concerning development in Nigeria and from the GDP point of view, the South West has #59 trillion, that is the seize of the south west region economy, the second region following them is the Niger Delta region with GDP seize of #34 trillion,so there is a yearning gap of #25 trillion that separates the south west and the Niger Delta region, that is why we are here.”
Ogan said the region has the capacity to close the gap and even surpassed it but regretted that indigenes of the region have chosen to ignore it in terms of investment.
“We need to close that gap .If we close that gap and even surpassed it,all the negative problems of militancy and unemployment will automatically erase”, he stated.
Ogan noted that the event was organized to remind the people that past efforts of militancy and agitations have not led the region to any where saying “that is why we are gathered here in this room”.
Also speaking, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku urged indigenes of the region not to use the problem of insecurity as an excuse to continue to deny the region of investment  as every part of the country have in one time or the other experienced crisis.
Ogbuku said most indigenes have displayed high level of unpatriotism towards the region by taking investments that would have benefited the people to either Lagos or Abuja.
“With little threat we have left the city, we have gone to Lagos,we have moved  our families to Abuja and Lagos. If you go round GRA all the property, you will see,”to let to let”most of them are now empty “he said.
The NDDC MD said despite the fact that people from the region are doing well in the oil and gas, banking and other sectors, its impact are not being felt at home because they are stationed outside the region.
By; John Bibor
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Cash Handouts Unproductive For Sustainable Agricultural Development – Engineer Kii

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5 days ago

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March 23, 2026

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Rivers State by its natural disposition is gifted with strategic economic advantage, particularly in  agricultural potentials and fortunes. This informs successive governments’ interest in  developing the agricultural sector, such as the School to Land Program, the Shongai Project, among several others.
The objective is to engender and leverage the sector  beyond mere subsistence practices into a full thriving economy, with the engagement and involvement of the youthful and productive population.
The Farm to Future Agro Based Training for Rivers youths by the present administration is notably one of the most pragmatic efforts of the Rivers State Government to engage the prospective creative capital of both the natural and human resources in the agricultural sector for sustainable development.
The concept, premised on the imperative of maximizing the huge agrarian prowess of the state, targets creation of sustainable livelihood for the teeming youth of the state. The project is also intended to achieve the chore needs of food sufficiency and job creation in the state.
This implies a significant deviation from the acculturised norm of expectations of financial benefits as the outcome of government programs and policies.
The tenets of the program are expressly difined in concept and practice as shown in the phases of its execution.
However, some beneficiaries of the project recently staged a protest, allegdging unpaid largesse, diversion of funds and perceived slighting by the Rivers State Ministry of agriculture. The said protest has stirred up concerns among stakeholders about how people view  government policies.
Many see the protest  as an attempt to create tension around the program and sabotage its original objectives.
Stakeholders and commentators are of the view that the Rivers State is in dire need of development in every critical sector, as such the  Ministry of Agriculture and its partners should be given the benefit of the doubt to implement the project to its logical conclusion without being hauled with accusations.
The former Commissioner for Agriculture, Engineer Victor Kii who was at the fore of driving the program has in a press statement debunked the allegations and sued for calm, restraint and understanding. Engineer Kii assured the participants that the empowerment phase will be implemented as soon as administrative normalcy is restored.
He commended the participants for their commitment and discipline during the training and urged them to uphold the norms of the program rather than misrepresenting its intentions.
Some pundits who commented on the recent development decried the fact that many people  still hold on to the notion that  incentives billed to create sustainable impact through skills based programs, should be given out as  largess, without adroit supervision of its utility function. This practice  has however created a culture of economic doldrum, dependency and servitude in the past.
Thus the idea of seen the Rivers Farm to Future project  as a mere quixotic experiment for cash benefits  without achieving set goals is counter productive. Such opportunistic thinking have stunted government efforts  over the years in achieving long term objectives of development.
As disclosed by the former commissioner for Agriculture in his detailed explanation, the Farm to Future project was strategically designed to address this culpable deficit in institutional planning and consolidation of results.
The former commissioner gave an  explicit description of the nexus of operation of the program.
As revealed by him;  ” The program is a strategic intervention to equip young people in Rivers with practical skills and to nurture a new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs. 500 beneficiaries received intensive agri business training in the first phase.”
 He pointed out that the program was conceived and designed in line with global best practices which de emphasizes indiscriminate cash handouts for beneficiaries. Rather it promotes practical engagements in agricultural activities and business initiatives.
At the end of the training in February, beneficiaries were encouraged either individually or in cooperative clusters to identify value chain for establishment of viable businesses.
They were also asked to produce structured business proposals for perusal and review by the ministry of agriculture and appointed consultants, after which successful proposals would be forwarded to the Bank of Agriculture with Rivers State Government providing guarantees.
The strategies for implementation include field inspections and evaluation for beneficiaries who had already commenced practical activities in identified locations.
The approach was to discourage the commonplace ideology of diverting funds meant for specific projects for unrelated purposes, thereby undermining the conscious exploration of creative potentials into long term benefits.
The process was however temporary interrupted by the dissolution of the Rivers State Executive Council and the ongoing renovation of the Rivers State Secretariat complex but the profound optimism and positive expectations that are the hallmark of the project remains sacrosanct.
Engineer Kii assures.
By: Beemene Taneh
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