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THE STATES

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Bauchi
The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has deployed a new state Coordinator to its office in Bauchi State.
Alhaji Ali Lawan Yaya who was posted from the National Office of the Directorate assumed duty as the new state Coordinator.
He replaces Alhaji Abubakar Jamo, who was deployed to Jigawa State and has also assumed duty at his new station.
The new NDE state coordinator solicited the support and cooperation of management and the entire staff of the office towards achieving the desired goals.
He however warned against attitudes that are detrimental to the success of the directorate in the state, stressing that all hands must be on deck to overcome challenges.
The out-going coordinator, Alhaji Abubakar Jamo also urged the management and staff of the Bauchi directorate to give his successor all the support it deserves in the discharge of his duties.

Borno
The Borno Government says it plans to empower 150 women in Chibok Local Government Area with livelihood support as part of its post-insurgency Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement programme.
The State Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, Prof. Babagana Umara, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri.
Umara said that the women would be trained in poultry and fish farming to enable them to acquire means of livelihood.
He said the beneficiaries would be supported with tools to set up their own businesses after the training.

FCT
The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Mr Musa Kimo has warned the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) against its planned protest in Abuja.
Kimo gave the warning in a statement issued by the command’s Spokesman, ASP Usen Omorodion in Abuja last Sunday.
He said as a professional organisation, the command would not fold its arms and watch criminal elements hide under the guise of such protest to cause breakdown of law and order.
Kimo advised residents to go about their lawful duties without fear and molestation.
In a related development, the FCT spokesman the command arrested a member of an armed robbery syndicate at Robochi, Abuja on April 26.

Kaduna
The House of Representatives Sub-Committee on Nigeria Air Force Recruitment, last Monday cleared the organisation of allegations of sentiments in its recruitment.
The committee which was on oversight visit to the Nigeria Air Force [NAF] base in Kaduna, said its investigations revealed that the recruitment exercise followed strict procedures.
The chairman of the committee, Mr Golu Simon, said claims of sentiments in the recruitment exercise were misplaced.
“We are satisfied with what we have seen at the recruitment exercise, because we have seen the rigours the officers of the NAF go through to bring out the best brains that will serve the country.
“Sometimes when applicants are disqualified, they feel it is for one reason or the other, people begin to ascribe sentiments to it.”

Kano
The Kano State Hisbah Board has arrested 139 beggars for allegedly violating the law banning street begging along major streets of the state capital, an official said yesterday.
Malam Musa Sangaya of the board’s Anti-begging Unit, told newsmen in Kano that 32 out of the 139 beggars were children, while 107 were adult.
“Our men arrested 139 street beggars around Bata, Bompai, Nasarawa hospital and Yankaba areas for violating the law banning street begging in Kano metropolis.
“Out of the 139 beggars, 107 were adult male and female, while 32 were children who engaged in begging,” Sangaya said.
He explained that 84 of those arrested hailed from Kano city, while 52 were from Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Katsina, Kaduna and Gombe States, and three from Niger Republic.

Katsina
The Special Adviser to Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State on Banking and Finance, Alhaji Faruk Jobe, yesterday challenged politicians to set up viable empowerment schemes for the youths instead of luring them into crime.
Jobe, who threw the challenge while recieving some defectors to the All Progressives Congress [APC] in Kankara, said the youths must also shun politicians who lure them into violence.
He added that the youth must also take their destiny in their hands by identifying and focussing on their goals in life early enough, so as not to be exploited by desparate politicians.
The Special Adviser said only good and responsible politicians strive to bring development to the people.

Ondo
Nigerian soldiers  in Ondo State have killed Ossy Ibori, a wanted leader of a militant group involved in kidnapping in Ikorodu and Epe areas of Lagos State.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, told newsmen last Monday in Lagos that the suspect was killed by soldiers at Ajakpa area of Ondo State.
Owoseni said that he was killed at about 3.00a.m.last Monday in the course of arresting  all members of his gang and other criminals who had made life miserable for innocent citizens.
He said that the gang members retreated to their base in Ajakpa because they could no longer lay claim to the creeks in Isawo area of Ikorodu.

Osun
The Osun Police Command has said that a suspected explosive device in a car stereo, chopped-off four fingers of an Osogbo resident, who attempted to dismantle the stereo from a damaged car.
A statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs Folashade Odoro, said the incident happened last Sunday, at about 3.30 p.m, at Ajegunle Area in Osogbo.
The statement was made available to newsmen yesterday in Osogbo.
“Information was received at the Police division, Dugbe, Osogbo that one Nasiru Ibrahim got four fingers on his right arm chopped-off while dismantling a damaged car stereo in front of his house.

Taraba
The Proprietor of Winners Group of Schools in Taraba State, Mr Danlami Shamaki, yesterday, advised parents against registering their Senior Secondary School (SSS) 1 and 2 children in higher institutions.
Shamaki gave this advice in an interview with newsmen in Jalingo.
According to him, such students may not be mature enough to withstand the rigours of learning in higher institutions.
He noted that the trend could work against the interest of such students because they were expected to acquire certain knowledge and skills in every class of learning.
“Parents must understand that they are not helping their children by allowing them to enter the university from SS 1 and 2.

Yobe
Yobe State Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council, Alhaji Umar Kukuri, yesterday said that the state government’s commitment  to regular payment of salaries saved the state from worse economic situation.
Kukuri, who is also the state Chairman of the National Conscience Party, made the remarks in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu.
He said: “The protracted security challenge left the state with salary as the only vibrant source of income because farmers abandoned their farms for several years.
“Imagine a situation where government failed to pay salaries; it would have worsened the ailing economy and the condition of the people.
“Therefore, Yobe Government needs to be commended and encouraged to sustain the commitment to regular payment of salaries and retirement benefits.’’

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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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