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THE STATES

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Bauchi

Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State has said he is to offer permanent appointments to all casual workers in the state.

He made the announcement last Wednesday in Bauchi when staff members in the Bauchi State Government House, paid him a congratulatory visit in his office.

Yuguda assured them that he would no longer work with any casual worker, saying that he would make every casual staff member of staff a permanent worker.

“Apart from the bona fide indigenes who are staffers, anybody who has lived up to seven years in every state is an indigene state according to the 1999 Constitution,“ he said

He urged junior workers in the state to improve themselves by acquiring more skills through higher education to enable them  get promotions in their work places.

Ekiti

An Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court has remanded six suspects in prisons custody for alleged murder of one Miss Salewa Ojo.

The suspects are Oladipo Ebenezer, 45; Aluko Folorunsho, 39; Owolabi Ebenezer, 30; Dada Nathaniel, 29; Owolabi Alaba, 26; and Dada Felix, 34.

They were alleged to have murdered the deceased by shooting her with a gun at Iludun-Ekiti in Ilejemeje Council Area on April 25.

FCT

A 42-year-old man was last week arraigned for an alleged attempt to steal N1,555,000 from the account of one Saidu Bayero.

Olusegun Apalara of Itire Road, Lagos, appeared before Chief Magistrate Hafsat Soso of the Abuja Magistrates’ Court on a three-count charge of joint act, theft and forgery.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Abdul Alhassan, told the court that on April 28, Bayero reported at the station that Apalara and one Olufemi, now at large, connived and stole his UBA cheque slip.

She adjourned the case to May 31 for further hearing.

Jigawa

The Jigawa Government has approved N1 billion to boost large scale commercial agriculture in the state.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Aminu Abdullahi, announced this last Wednesday in Dutse while addressing newsmen after the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting.

Abdullahi explained that the money would be disbursed in form of Agricultural Credit Scheme for farmers to go into commercial farming.

He added that the move represents government’s commitment to boosting agriculture as one of the major ways to tackle poverty in the state.

Kaduna

The Kaduna State Zonal Command of the FRSC has cautioned motorists on hazards associated with driving in the rainy season in order to save lives and property.

Its Commanding Officer, Mr Samuel Obayemi, last Thursday in Kaduna said that the caution was aimed at reducing casualties of road crashes during the wet season.

Obayemi said motorists should desist from using second-hand tyres during the season as the tyres could lose their grip due to the wetness of the road, thereby resulting in brake failure.

Kano

Kano State Governor-elect, Dr Rabi’u Musa-Kwankwaso, has said that he will not encourage the production and circulation of films capable of polluting the culture and religion of the people.

“We will, through the state Censors Board, ensure that films produced or circulated here do not negate our people’s religion and culture.”

Kwankwaso made the statement when he received the members of the executive of Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPAN), who came to congratulate him on his electoral victory, in Kano on Thursday.

Lagos

A visual artist, Alimi Adewale, on Thursday said it was absurd for some religious bodies to regard arts as occultism.

Adewale told newsmen in Lagos that some churches misunderstood artworks to be symbols of occults.

He regretted that the situation had led to poor appreciation of artworks in Nigeria.

Adewale said that churches should appreciate visual arts “because their windows are designed with artworks.

“Even Muslims should appreciate abstract designs.

Nasarawa

Fifty inmates of Lafia Prisons have benefitted from an Information Communication Technology programme, organised by Business Information and Training Centre (BITC), Lafia, .Mr Lawarence Adenitan, the Centre Manager, said.

Adenitan made the fact known in Lafia when a delegation of the German Embassy visited the centre last week to review some programmes supported by the German Government in the state.

He said that 25 inmates were currently undergoing the same training and that since 2007, no fewer than 3,382 inmates had benefitted from different training programmes, organised by the centre.

Ogun

Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger last week, told political office holders to ensure judicious use of public resources for the good of the people.

Aliyu gave the advice while receiving visitors in his residence and identified indiscipline among political office holders in managing public fund as the bane of some politicians.

He advised them to be sincere in managing public funds as the people were always monitoring how their leaders utilised public funds.

He said that only prudent management of public resources among political office holders would showcase their integrity and enable them to retain the support and loyalty of the electorate.

Plateau

Vehicle owners in the Jos metropolis are experiencing biting fuel scarcity, forcing many of them to patronise black-marketeers.

Our correspondent who went round the Plateau capital reports that long queues were seen at the filling stations which had fuel in stock.

Tamen Fredrick, a driver waiting to buy fuel at the Mobil Filling Station opposite the Plateau Polytechnic, Jos Campus, told NAN that he had being in the queue since 6 a.m. but had not been served.

Sokoto

The Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Soro, said that officers and men of the command were on red alert to ensure peaceful co-existence in the state.

Soro told newsmen in Sokoto that already operational order on how to effectively manage the entire state had been mapped out.

“We have deployed well trained officers for intelligent gathering in and out of the metropolis on foot patrol to enhance security situation in our state,” he said.

He called for active participation from the stakeholders in ensuring peace, progress and political stability of the state.

Yobe

Civil servants in Yobe are celebrating the 65 per cent subsidy on housing granted them by the state government.

Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe announced the package on the 500 housing units that the government sold to the workers on owner/occupier basis.

The governor, who announced the subsidy at the May Day celebration on Sunday, said the gesture was aimed at empowering the workers on home ownership.

Our correspondent reports that Gaidam directed that the beneficiaries pay 35 per cent of the prices of the houses.

Those allocated government quarters between 2006 and 2010 and were initially offered 50 per cent subsidy would also pay 35 per cent instead.

Zamfara

The Secretary of the Election Petitions Tribunal in Zamfara, Hajiya Hannatu Bello, says   no petition has been filed at the tribunal in respect of the April 9 National Assembly elections.

Bello  made the disclosure to newsmen in Gusau.

She said  as at April 30, the expiration of  the 21 days of grace for filing grievances arising from the National Assembly elections in Zamfara, not a single petition was received by the tribunal.

Bello also said the tribunal had yet to receive any petition regarding the governorship and State House of  Assembly elections.

She, however, said the tribunal was expecting petitions on the governorship and  House of Assembly elections held on April 29  before the expiration of the 21-day  time limit for collection of  petitions.

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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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