The Federal Government has approved three transformative policies aimed at boosting productivity and enhancing service delivery across the civil service. These are the Rewards and Recognition Policy, the Incentive and Consequence Management Policy, and the Civil Service Mentoring Policy.

The approval was granted during the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu.

The move marks a new era of performance-driven governance, strategic talent development, and enhanced accountability, with the policies designed to work in synergy to motivate staff, foster a culture of excellence, and significantly improve service delivery to Nigerians.

According to a statement signed by MrsEnoOlotu, Director of Information and Public Relations, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, MrsDidi Esther Walson-Jack, affirmed that the policies are central to staff welfare and the enhanced value proposition of civil servants and also align with the 2021 Public Service Rules (060101–060111).

She commended the President for his commitment to transforming the civil service and fostering a workplace culture that is efficient, productive, incorruptible, and citizen-friendly. The Head of Service noted that the approval demonstrates the government’s firm resolve to value public servants, reward excellence, and systematically groom the next generation of leaders.

The Rewards and Recognition Policy establishes a comprehensive framework designed to attract, nurture, develop, and retain top talent within the service. It seeks to promote excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement, thereby strengthening overall institutional performance.

The Incentive and Consequence Management Policy introduces a clear, transparent, and equitable system where exceptional performance is rewarded and under-performance is addressed through structured corrective measures. It aims to entrench fairness and accountability at all levels while providing developmental support to staff requiring improvement.

The Civil Service Mentoring Policy, described as a strategic investment in the future of the service, is intended to bridge experience gaps and ensure the systematic transfer of institutional knowledge.

“It will equip the next generation with the requisite skills, values, and ethical grounding for strategic leadership, while preserving invaluable institutional memory against the tide of retirements, thereby ensuring continuity and sustained excellence,” the statement added.

MrsWalson-Jack reiterated that the President’s approval for the implementation of these policies is not merely an administrative milestone, but the foundation upon which a modern, agile, and empowered civil service will be built. She assured civil servants that their dedication will be recognised, excellence rewarded, and personal growth supported.

The Rivers State Government has charged journalists to serve as a bridge between the government and the people by reporting effectively on government’s policies, projects, programmes and achievements, thereby keeping the public informed on its activities.

The Secretary to the State Government, Dr. BeniboAnabraba, gave the charge during a courtesy visit by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, led by the Chairman, Mr. Paul Bazia-Nsaneh, in Port Harcourt.

Dr. Anabraba emphasized that as the fourth estate of the realm, journalists owe the public a duty to provide a platform for constructive criticism of government and serve as watchdog of society.

He indicated that public opinion via the mass media is significant to help the government appreciate public perception, and also to create awareness on government initiatives, programmes and policies as they affect the citizenry.

“As a Government, we also appreciate the fact that you are our partner in conveying government policies and activities to the people, for their consumption, appreciation and review. We implore you to continue to publicise matters of importance in governance and encourage civic participation particularly on issues such as civil rights, voters’ registration, actions against gender-based violence, etc.

“You also have an obligation to promote morality and balanced criticism of government,” he stated

The chairman of the Rivers Council of NUJ, Mr. Paul Bazia-Nsaneh thanked the State Government for receiving them and intimated him of their desire to work with the government.

He explained that the union is poised to positively portray the State through an agenda of development communications, adding that the union has also outlined strategic projects to this effect.

“As a union, we need to change the narrative and to talk about development communications. If we don’t put out the opportunities that are available in River State, then we can not have people who will be interested in investing in the opportunities that are available to us. So we decided to put out some key areas that we need to focus on development communication trajectory,” he added.

Operatives of a special operations unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, have arrested a wanted drug lord, 40-year-old YussufAbayomiAzeez, while on his way to Saudi Arabia for a lesser hajj pilgrimage (Umrah).

Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, said the arrest followed months of intelligence and surveillance on him and his criminal drug activities.

Babafemi said, “The drug kingpin had been arrested and charged for drug offences in the United Kingdom, but jumped bail and escaped to Nigeria.

“Soon after settling down in Lagos, he set up a massive clandestine laboratory in the Lekki area of the state for the production of Colorado, a deadly synthetic cannabis, and other illicit substances.

“At about 6.30am on Thursday, 6th November 2025, Yussuf walked into the waiting hands of NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport while attempting to board his flight to Saudi Arabia for Umrah.

“He was swiftly driven to his 17 Vincent Eku Street, Ogombo, Lekki, clandestine laboratory, which has been under surveillance for a while.

“At the time of his arrest, Yussuf was found in the company of another suspect, 43-year-old AbideenKekere-Ekun.

“Inside the massive building, operatives from the Agency’s Directorate of Forensic and Chemical Monitoring were able to dismantle all installed laboratory equipment, precursor chemicals, and already produced illicit substances, including Colorado, all weighing 148.3 kilograms”.

At the Sifax bonded terminal in Okota, Lagos, NDLEA operatives in conjunction with men of Customs Service and other security agencies on Friday, 7th November, discovered 105.5kg Molly, a designer drug, and 500grams of methamphetamine during a joint examination of a shipment.

In Niger state, NDLEA operatives on Thursday, 6th November, intercepted Ibrahim Mohammed, 35, in a Volvo truck marked GRZ 872 XA along Kainji-Wawa road while conveying 87,000 pills of tramadol and 72kg of skunk, a strain of cannabis.

Also, in Taraba State, not less than 34,520 capsules of tramadol were found concealed in different compartments of a Toyota Corolla car marked GAN 102 AR, which was intercepted along Zaki-Biam – Wukari road on Monday, 3rd November, while the driver, AliyuSamaila, 25, was arrested.

The opioids were loaded from Onitsha, Anambra State, and were heading to Cameroon. In another operation in Taraba, NDLEA officers on Thursday, 6th November arrested a suspect, Felix TankoChinedu, 28, with 15,020 capsules of tramadol at Kasuwabera ATC in Ardo Kola LGA.

In Kogi state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Okene/Lokoja highway on Wednesday, 5th November, intercepted a consignment of 7.600kg Loud, a strong strain of cannabis.

A follow-up operation in Abuja led to the arrest of the owner, ChukwunonsoAnieze, 40, while no fewer than 175,000 pills of opioids were recovered from another consignment at the same location on the same day.

Three suspects, OlayideOyidiran, 39; AbdulsalamAbdulsalam, 28; and OpeyemiTijjani, 39, were nabbed on Wednesday, 5th November, at the Abuja/Kaduna tollgate with 769kg of skunk being conveyed in a truck marked TRE 897 BE, coming from Lagos en route to Owo, Ondo State, and heading to Kano.

In Edo State, a 73-year-old grandpa, James Ugbedo, was on Friday, 7th November, in a cannabis plantation at Igbeshi forest, Imiakebo, Etsako East LGA, where 1,459.75kg of skunk was destroyed and 5.6kg of the same substance evacuated.

In Bayelsa State, a 70-year-old grandma, Mrs. Comfort Odudu, was nabbed at Onopa, Yenagoa, with 5kg of skunk on Tuesday, 4th November.

Continuing, NDLEA said, “With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities, among others, in the past week.

These include: WADA sensitization lecture to students and staff of Transfiguration Seminary Secondary School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi; Day Secondary School, SabonkasuwaKontagora, Niger state; Immanuel College High School (Snr), Ibadan, Oyo State; Government Girls Secondary School, Ilelah, Sokoto; Government Day Secondary School, Namtari, Adamawa, and NURTW leaders and members in BirninKebbi, Kebbi state, among others.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed BubaMarwa (rtd) commended the officers and men of SOP, DFCM, Tincan, Edo, Taraba, Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, and Bayelsa Commands for the various successful operations.

He urged them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the Agency’s drug control efforts.

Marwa said, “The dismantling of yet another clandestine laboratory for the production of Colorado and other dangerous synthetic substances and the arrest of the kingpin behind it in Lekki, coming barely a week after similar actions were taken against another cartel in Ajao estate Lagos shows that these are no doubt the first in the series of what will be many strikes against merchants of death who prey on the weak in our communities.

“Let it be known to those still hiding in the dark that the NDLEA, supported by our local and international law enforcement partners, will continue to hunt them and bring them to justice”, Marwa added.