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A House of Representatives candidate under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) platform for the Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency in Ebonyi State, Ambassador Ephraim Iyke Nwonu, has withdrawn from the race and left his party to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Addressing newsmen at a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, Nwonu announced his decision to step down despite his name appearing on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal.

He said his decision to sacrifice his legislative ambition stemmed from his commitment to national integration and his deep appreciation for President Tinubu’s performance in the Southeast, particularly in Ebonyi State.

‘I am the official ADC candidate for the Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency on the INEC portal, but I have decided to jettison and sacrifice that ambition because of my unalloyed support for Mr. President and my state governor,’ Nwonu declared. ‘I am stepping down to join other APC stakeholders in Ebonyi State and my constituency to deliver President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the governor.’

Tracing his political loyalty back to the Third Republic, Nwonu credited his alignment with the President to his late political mentor, Senator Polycarp Nwite.

‘I first had a link to the President through my political leader, the late Senator Polycarp Nwite, who was his best friend in the Senate in 1992. Senator Nwite appointed me as the secretary of the defunct DPN in Ebonyi State, so I have every reason to be where Tinubu is,’ he stated.

Reiterating his faith in the administration’s development strides, Nwonu highlighted various federal infrastructure projects and strategic appointments as clear evidence of the President’s commitment to the Southeast region.

He cited key ongoing capital projects, including the Ndibe Beach Bridge linking Afikpo North in Ebonyi State to Itigidi in Cross River State, the 125.5 km road network spanning Cross River, Ebonyi, Benue, Nasarawa, and Abuja, and the dualisation of the Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja Expressway.

‘Look at the infrastructure footprints-the dualisation of the Onuebonyi-Vanco Junction to Abakaliki-Afikpo road, the new flyover at Peat Junction in Onueke, and the Obubra-Noyo-Oferekpe interstate road,’ Nwonu listed. ‘Beyond infrastructure, Ebonyi State alone has received about 23 high-profile federal appointments from Mr. President. This is the highest allocation the state has ever enjoyed, bringing our people squarely into the national political mainstream.’

Dismissing concerns regarding political competition in the zone, Nwonu maintained that opposition candidates pose no threat to the President’s popularity in the region.

‘There is no threat whatsoever. Anyone on the ballot is free to try their luck, but Peter Obi’s ambition poses no threat to Mr. President in the Southeast, especially considering what this administration has delivered to Ebonyi State. President Tinubu will win comfortably,’ Nwonu asserted.

He further shared insights from an independent survey recently conducted by his Non-Governmental Organisation in collaboration with the Ebonyi State Ministry of Information, noting that public opinion in the state strongly favours the current administration.

‘Our findings, presented during a two-day workshop in Ebonyi, show that the majority of our people now recognise the achievements of Mr President and are ready to reciprocate his goodwill with massive votes,’ he said.

Calling on the citizenry to support the current administration’s economic reforms, Nwonu expressed optimism about the nation’s trajectory.

‘I appeal to the conscience of all Nigerians to exercise patience. Patience is the highest virtue, and I am confident that in his second term, Nigerians will look back and thank God for giving us President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,’ he concluded.

No fewer than 800 primary health care workers have been recruited by the Bayelsa state government into its Unified Local Government Service.

The new employees, including 19 medical doctors and 204 nurses and midwives, were formally received at an orientation programme organised by the Local Government Service Commission and the State Primary Health Care Management Board yesterday at the Yenagoa Local Government Council Secretariat.

Deputy Governor, Dr Peter Akpe, represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Deputy Governor’s Office, Mr. Gowon Toruyouyei, described the exercise as the single largest bloc employment ever in the local government system.

He said the beneficiaries were considered first because of their sacrifices as volunteers under the GAVI Health Systems Strengthening programme, noting that Governor Douye Diri is known for rewarding hard work and dedication.

Akpe described primary health care as an essential service and the foundation upon which tertiary health care stands.

He charged the new workers to justify the confidence reposed in them and frowned at absenteeism among PHC staff, particularly in hinterland communities.

Chairman, Bayelsa State Local Government Service Commission, Chief Lambert Ototo, said the workers had served as volunteers for two to three years before Governor Diri approved their employment.

He said the orientation marked their transition from volunteer status to bonafide employees of the unified local government service, and warned that the Commission would embark on routine inspection of health centres to monitor attendance.

‘The governor, in his love for youths of Bayelsa State, graciously approved the employment of not less than 800 persons into a very critical sector,’ Ototo said.

Commissioner for Health, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, said the recruitment represents a paradigm shift in the health sector, creating a foundation that will improve health outcomes.

Brisibe disclosed that Bayelsa now has a minimum of two PHC centres per ward, each linked to at least one cottage hospital per State Assembly constituency, while each local government area has either a referral or comprehensive general hospital. All facilities are now interconnected through dedicated phone lines.

He said for the first time in a long while, 19 doctors and 204 nurses and midwives have been employed directly into the primary health care system, with doctors scheduled to hold periodic clinical days at PHC facilities.

He charged the workers to work as a team to ensure that no child under five and no pregnant mother dies from preventable complications, and recalled how the renovation and solarization of the Ogbotubo community health centre led to 13 safe deliveries within three weeks.

Executive Secretary, Bayelsa State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Williams Appah, described the recruitment as historic, saying it demonstrates Governor Diri’s commitment to the health needs of rural dwellers, pregnant women and children.

Appah, however, warned against truancy, presenteeism, indecent dressing and illegal collection of money from patients already covered by the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.

He said the Board has introduced ODK monitoring and electronic medical records via Android phones, adding that reporting, attendance and prescriptions will now be done electronically.

‘If you do not use the ODK and do not go to work, there will be no salary. The era when PHC staff work without Android phones has passed,’ he said.

Permanent Secretary, Local Government Service Commission, Dr. Amokiese Godwin, in her welcome remarks, said the Commission had been pushing for the employment since 2021 without success until now, and described the appointment as a call to service at the grassroots.

Authorities at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) have urged trade unions and other stakeholders to seek official clarification on staff emoluments to avoid what they described as ‘needless industrial disputes’ on campus.

The university also insisted that it paid full August salaries to all categories of staff, including academic staff.

In a statement, the university spokesperson, Dr Beneditta Ehanire, said the Federal Government’s portion of academic staff allowances, delayed by the non-release of the warrant, was fully paid in line with the payment warrant issued by the government to tertiary institutions across the country.

She added that the University Governing Council paid the portion of allowances payable to certain categories of academic staff after verifying eligible beneficiaries. eligible beneficiaries.

According to the statement, the clarification followed a meeting between the university management and the local branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

‘At a meeting between Management and the local branch of ASUU, the distinction between salary and allowances payable to different categories of staff was affirmed, with the union leadership made to appreciate the tax implications of lumping these two different emoluments,’ the statement said.

The university said the union was also reminded of the potential consequences for staff members of failing to understand the statutory distinction between the two forms of payment as provided under the new Nigeria Tax Reform Act (NTRA).

‘University Management believes that these clarifications should put to rest the avoidable controversies surrounding payment of emoluments, and assures all stakeholders that staff and students will continue to enjoy the prevailing peace and harmony in the University,’ it added.

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has urged President Bola Tinubu to use his remaining time in office to reduce petrol prices and ease the economic burden on Nigerians, warning that palliatives cannot substitute for sound economic policies.

Atiku made the call at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, September 17, in which he criticised the removal of petrol subsidy and proposed a transparent production subsidy for petroleum products refined in Nigeria.

He said the effects of rising energy costs had spread across transportation, agriculture, manufacturing and household consumption, leaving families struggling to afford necessities.

‘When government makes energy expensive, it makes life expensive,’ Atiku said, arguing that economic reforms should be judged by their impact on the purchasing power of citizens.

He recalled that President Tinubu had dismissed his earlier proposal for government intervention to reduce fuel prices as demonstrating ‘serious ignorance’ of governance and the economy.

Atiku said the subsequent hardship had raised questions about the government’s approach, urging the President to reconsider policies that had increased pressure on workers, farmers, businesses and households.

‘Bola Tinubu should not be ashamed to do what is necessary to lower the price of petrol simply because Atiku Abubakar proposed a government intervention,’ he said.

He added that the President could adopt the proposal, rename it or take credit for it, provided Nigerians benefited from lower fuel prices.

Atiku also criticised the government’s reliance on palliatives, saying emergency assistance could not replace policies that address the underlying causes of hardship.

‘Palliatives manage pain. Good policy addresses the source of the pain,’ he said.

He warned against repeating the experience of petrol subsidy removal with electricity, amid concerns about the planned phase-out of electricity subsidies from 2027.

According to him, higher electricity costs would further affect small businesses, manufacturers and households already struggling with energy expenses.

‘The lesson of petrol must not be repeated with electricity. Do not remove first and think later,’ he said.

Atiku proposed a production subsidy for petroleum products refined in Nigeria and sold to Nigerians, saying the intervention would reduce domestic production costs and improve affordability.

He explained that only products confirmed to have been refined in Nigeria would qualify, while imported products would be excluded.

The proposal, he said, would have a fixed spending limit, National Assembly approval and independent audits.

Using a rice miller as an example, Atiku said government support for domestic production could lower prices for consumers, expand demand for locally produced goods and create jobs across the value chain.

He said the same principle should apply to petroleum products, with government intervention designed to benefit consumers while strengthening domestic production.

Atiku said he was prepared to provide the framework for the proposal to the Tinubu administration if it would help reduce the burden on Nigerians.

‘Nigerians do not have to wait for another administration before they benefit from an idea that can help them today,’ he said.

He also promised that, if elected president in 2027, his administration would introduce the production subsidy and pursue an economy where growth translates into greater purchasing power and improved living standards.

‘I am prepared to compete with you politically. But I will never compete with the welfare of the Nigerian people,’ Atiku said.

‘The presidency may be contested. The wellbeing of Nigerians should never be.’

The Oyo State Police Command, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other security agencies have strengthened security measures across the state following a recent alert over an alleged plan by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) to attack public institutions.

The police said the command, in line with the directive of the Nigeria Police Force, had intensified intelligence-led surveillance, targeted visibility patrols and operational readiness around identified vulnerable locations.

The locations include schools, places of worship, NYSC facilities and other public spaces across the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ayanlade Olayinka, said the measures were being complemented by enhanced intelligence sharing and coordination among sister security agencies to ensure emerging threats were identified early and appropriate action taken.

He said the command had also recently launched the Safe School Initiative in collaboration with the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC).

According to him, the initiative is aimed at strengthening the early-warning and community-based intelligence system while enhancing the safety and security of schools and other vulnerable institutions.

‘Similarly, the Command is deepening engagement with school authorities, religious leaders, NYSC officials, traditional institutions, community leaders and private security personnel to improve early-warning mechanisms and facilitate the prompt provision of actionable intelligence. Members of the public are urged to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, movements or activities to the Police, while refraining from spreading unverified information capable of creating unnecessary panic.’

He, however, said the Command remained committed to proactive, intelligence-led policing and will continue to take necessary measures, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, to safeguard lives and property across Oyo State.

Also, NSCDC Public Relations Officer (PRO) in Oyo State Command, Samuel Opebiyi said the Corps is taking the situation seriously and has continued to strengthen its preventive and intelligence-led security measures.

He stated that the Command, under the leadership of Commandant Augustine Padonu, has directed heads of formations, particularly Area Commanders and Divisional Officers across the State, to beef up security around public places and other vulnerable locations within their areas of responsibility.

He said, ‘The Command has also continued to deploy personnel to places of worship to provide security, particularly on Fridays for Muslim faithful and on Sundays for Christian worshippers across the State. These deployments are aimed at providing reassurance, enhancing security presence and responding promptly to any emerging threat.

‘With regard to schools, the Safe Schools Programme of the State Command has intensified its engagement with the Oyo State Ministry of Education, managements of public and private schools and other stakeholders in the education sector. Our officers have continued to visit schools across the State to engage with school authorities, sensitise students and staff on security consciousness, encourage prompt reporting of suspicious activities and strengthen preventive security measures.

‘This is in line with the broader national Safe Schools framework, under which NSCDC has a leading role in protecting schools and students. In Oyo State, the Command recently held a Safe Schools Seminar and undertook statewide sensitisation involving public and private schools and relevant stakeholders.

‘The Agro Rangers have also been strategically deployed across the State, particularly in areas where their presence can support the protection of communities, agricultural assets and critical infrastructure, while strengthening the overall security architecture.

‘The State Command, under the leadership of Commandant Augustine Padonu, is also working closely with the Oyo State Government and relevant stakeholders to ensure that appropriate preventive measures are taken in response to emerging security concerns.

‘Most importantly, security is a collective responsibility. We are working with all relevant security agencies to ensure that we collaborate, coordinate and share relevant intelligence in securing all spaces across Oyo State.’

He, however, urged residents of the state not to panic, but to remain vigilant and security-conscious, adding that people should pay attention to unusual movements or activities around their environment and promptly report credible information to the appropriate security agencies.