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Speak Truth To Power, Prof Omotola Tells Journalists

Journalists have been tasked to speak truth to power and hold political office holders accountable to the citizenry to entrench genuine development in Nigeria.Journalists have been
tasked to speak truth to power and hold political office holders accountable to the citizenry to entrench genuine development in Nigeria.
Former Deputy Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Prof Shola Omotola gave this charge to Press men during his paper presentation at a retreat held by the Senate Press Corps at Al – Vari. Hotel, Keffi , Nasarawa State, last Saturday.
In line with this, most of the public office holders who graced the event pledged to make available any information needed by journalists covering the National Assembly at any time as entrenched in the provisions of Freedom of Information Act .In line with this, most of the public office holders who graced the event pledged to make available any information needed by journalists covering the National Assembly at any time as entrenched in the provisions of Freedom of Information Act .
President of the Senate , Senator Godswill Akpabio , represented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu and the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Sani Magaji Tambawal were among dignitaries at the occasion.President of the Senate , Senator Godswill Akpabio , represented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu and the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Sani Magaji Tambawal were among dignitaries at the occasion.
Prof Omotola in his paper presentation on “Developmental Impact of the Executive on Nigeria’s Democracy, 1999-2024 “ , said successive elected governments at the federal level since May 1999, have by policy formulation and execution, tried to effect development across the sectors but failed in the area of poverty alleviation, let alone , eradication .Prof Omotola in his paper presentation on DevelopmentalImpactoftheExecutiveonNigeria’sDemocracy,1999-2024 , said successive elected governments at the federal level since May 1999, have by policy formulation and execution, tried to effect development across the sectors but failed in the area of poverty alleviation, let alone , eradication .
The failure to effectively tackle poverty among Nigerians by successive governments, according to him, has made development, as a vital component of democracy, to be substantially missing in Nigeria over the years .The failure to effectively tackle poverty among Nigerians by successive governments, according to him, has made development, as a vital component of democracy, to be substantially missing in Nigeria over the years .
The theme of the retreat, Democracy and Development: How far, So far, for Nigeria?”, is, therefore, very apt, timely and cogent. The theme of the retreat, Democracy and Development: How far, So far, for Nigeria?,is,therefore,veryapt,timelyandcogent.
“Democracy and development are inextricably interconnected and must flow together, the very reason why journalists in Nigeria , need to speak truth to power in making it so , in Nigeria .Democracyanddevelopmentareinextricablyinterconnectedandmustflowtogether,theveryreasonwhyjournalistsinNigeria,needtospeaktruthtopowerinmakingitso,inNigeria.
“ Development is basically about the people reaching an acceptable standard of living, having the basic things on which they need to live decently – housing, shelter, clothing, food -nutritionally balanced diet, potable water, clean environment.Developmentisbasicallyaboutthepeoplereachinganacceptablestandardofliving,havingthebasicthingsonwhichtheyneedtolivedecently-housing,shelter,clothing,food-nutritionallybalanceddiet,potablewater,cleanenvironment.
“ All hindrances to these in Nigeria from corruption to bad policies, need to be exposed from time to time by journalists who are the watchdogs of the society”, he said .AllhindrancestotheseinNigeriafromcorruptiontobadpolicies,needtobeexposedfromtimetotimebyjournalistswhoarethewatchdogsofthesociety, he said .
He also urged journalists to ensure credible reportage and shun being roped into biased reports or analysis coming through brown envelopes and gifts He also urged journalists to ensure credible reportage and shun being roped into biased reports or analysis coming through brown envelopes and gifts
He however added that for Nigeria to have sustained the practice of Democracy for more than 24 years and remaining as an entity , show that development would surely follow .He however added that for Nigeria to have sustained the practice of Democracy for more than 24 years and remaining as an entity , show that development would surely follow .
In his remarks at the retreat , the President of the Senate , Godswill Akpabio , representedby , Senator Yemi Adaramodu , said the Senate under his leadership , would not deny any journalist , access to information for ventilation to the larger society as provided for, by the FOI Act .In his remarks at the retreat , the President of the Senate , Godswill Akpabio , representedby , Senator Yemi Adaramodu , said the Senate under his leadership , would not deny any journalist , access to information for ventilation to the larger society as provided for, by the FOI Act .
Also the Clerk to the National Assembly , Sani Magaji Tambawal , represented by Secretary , Research and Information , Mr Ali Umar , said since Democracy provides a more favourable environment for development, management of the National Assembly , will continue to provide conducive working environment for journalists for very balanced and objective reportage .Also the Clerk to the National Assembly , Sani Magaji Tambawal , represented by Secretary , Research and Information , Mr Ali Umar , said since Democracy provides a more favourable environment for development, management of the National Assembly , will continue to provide conducive working environment for journalists for very balanced and objective reportage .
However the Chairman , Senate Committee on Public Accounts , Senator Ahmed Aliyu who represents the host state said for development to flow with Democracy in Nigeria , Nigerians need to move away from sentimental reasoning and conducts, by in actual fact , being brother’s keeper . However the Chairman , Senate Committee on Public Accounts , Senator Ahmed Aliyu who represents the host state said for development to flow with Democracy in Nigeria , Nigerians need to move away from sentimental reasoning and conducts, by in actual fact , being brother’s keeper .
By: Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi
News
FG Ends Passport Production At Multiple Centres After 62 Years

The Nigeria Immigration Service has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this yesterday while inspecting Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja.
He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.
He said the centralised production system aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for better service delivery.
News
FAAC Disburses N2.225trn For August, Highest In Nigeria

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has disbursed N2.225 trillion as federation revenue for the month of August 2025, the highest ever allocation to the three tiers of government and other statutory recipients.
This marks the second consecutive month that FAAC disbursements have crossed the N2 trillion mark.
The revenue, shared at the August 2025 FAAC meeting in Abuja, was buoyed by increases in oil and gas royalty, value-added tax (VAT), and common external tariff (CET) levies, according to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting.
Out of the N2.225 trillion total distributable revenue, FAAC said N1,478.593 trillion came from statutory revenue, N672.903 billion from VAT, N32.338 billion from the Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), and N41.284 billion from Exchange Difference.
The communiqué revealed that gross federation revenue for the month stood at N3.635 trillion. From this amount, N124.839 billion was deducted as cost of collection, while N1,285.845 trillion was set aside for transfers, interventions, refunds, and savings.
From the statutory revenue of N1.478 trillion, the Federal Government received N684.462 billion, State Governments received N347.168 billion, and Local Government Councils received N267.652 billion. A further N179.311 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) went to oil-producing states as derivation revenue.
From the distributable VAT revenue of N672.903 billion, the Federal Government received N100.935 billion, the states received N336.452 billion, while the local governments got N235.516 billion.
Of the N32.338 billion shared from EMTL, the Federal Government received N4.851 billion, the States received N16.169 billion, and the Local Governments received N11.318 billion.
From the N41.284 billion exchange difference, the Federal Government received N19.799 billion, the states received N10.042 billion, and the local governments received N7.742 billion, while N3.701 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) was shared to the oil-producing states as derivation.
News
KenPoly Governing Council Decries Inadequate Power Supply, Poor Infrastructure On Campus
The Governing Council of Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, has decried the inadequate power supply and poor state of infrastructural facilities and equipment at the institution.
The Council also appealed to the government, including Non-Governmental Organisations, agencies, as well as well-meaning Rivers people to intervene to restore and sustain the laudable gesture, dreams and aspirations of the founding fathers of the polytechnic.
The Chairman of the newly inaugurated Council, Professor Friday B. Sigalo, made this appeal during a tour of facilities at the Polytechnic, recently.
Accompanied by members of the team, Prof Sigalo emphasised the position of technology, technical and vocational education in sustainable development.
He noted that with the prospects on ground, and the programmes and activities undertaken in the polytechnic, there is no doubt that the institution would add values to the educational system in our society and foster the desired development, if the existing challenges are jointly tackled.
This was contained in a statement signed by Deputy Registrar, Public Relations, Kenpoly, Innocent Ogbonda-Nwanwu, and made available to The Tide in Port Harcourt.
The chairman who restated the intention of his team of technocrats to ensure that KenPoly enjoys desirable face-lift, said the Council would deliver on its core mandates, accordingly.
Earlier, the Rector, KenPoly Engr. Dr. Ledum S. Gwarah, commended the appointment of Professor Friday B. Sigalo as Chairman of the KenPoly Governing Council.
He described him and his team as seasoned technocrats and expressed confidence in their ability to succeed.
The Rector pledged the management’s support to the Council to ensure that KenPoly resumes its rightful place in the comity of polytechnics in the country.
Facilities visited by the Governing Council include KenPoly workshops, laboratories, skills acquisition centre, library, hostels and medical centre.
Chinedu Wosu
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