Category: Daily Trust

With barely nine days to the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, Governor Ademola Adeleke has launched a sharp critique of the All Progressives Congress (APC), warning voters against returning the state to what he described as an ‘era of darkness and institutional neglect.’

Governor Adeleke, who is seeking re-election under the Accord Party platform, made the appeal in a series of statements posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday.

He centered his campaign message on the welfare of civil servants, accusing the former APC administration of ‘weaponizing poverty’ through the implementation of half-salary payments.

‘We will not allow the APC to take Osun back to the days when civil servants had to beg their neighbors for food,’ the Governor stated. ‘Those who once forced workers to struggle to feed their families and denied our people access to basic necessities are now desperate to return and inflict more pain.’

Governor Adeleke asserted that his administration has prioritized the dignity of the workforce since assuming office.

He characterized his governance model as one built on ‘progress and compassion,’ urging the electorate to reject the opposition’s bid for a comeback.

‘Since I became governor, I have made the welfare of our workers and the people of Osun State a top priority,’ Adeleke noted. ‘The choice is clear: progress over regression, good governance over neglect. Accord over APC.’

The Governor also addressed recent political friction in the state, specifically referencing the reported freezing of state government accounts.

He dismissed the development as an attempt to undermine his administration, suggesting it would instead serve as a catalyst for voter mobilization.

‘I am confident that the unjust freezing of state accounts will only strengthen the resolve of our people to do everything necessary to ensure Osun never returns to the era of darkness,’ he added.

The current National Policy on Education in Nigeria adopts the 9-3-4 (6-3-3-4) system of education, comprising nine years of basic education, three years of senior secondary education, and four years of tertiary education. Proponents of this structure argue that the transition between junior and senior secondary education creates opportunities for learners to make informed educational and career choices. At the completion of the nine-year basic education programme, students who may not wish to pursue the conventional senior secondary pathway are provided with opportunities to enrol in technical colleges, vocational and entrepreneurial institutions or other specialised training programmes. This flexibility is intended to promote human capital development by aligning learners’ interests, abilities, and labour market demands while reducing excessive pressure on university education.

Another argument advanced by supporters of the 9-3-4(6-3-3-4) system is that the transition point enables learners from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to reassess their educational aspirations in line with available financial resources. Families unable to bear the cost of prolonged academic education may encourage their children to acquire vocational or technical skills that provide immediate employment opportunities and financial independence. Consequently, the policy is viewed as a mechanism for reducing poverty by equipping young people with employable skills while allowing them to pursue higher education later through alternative educational pathways. This approach reflects the principle of lifelong learning and recognises that tertiary education is not the only route to personal and national development.

Furthermore, advocates maintain that the policy contributes significantly to economic development by promoting skill acquisition and entrepreneurship. The separation between junior and senior secondary education creates room for students to develop competencies in agriculture, information technology, construction, manufacturing, creative industries, and other vocational trades that are essential for national productivity. As more young people acquire practical and entrepreneurial skills, the economy benefits from increased self-employment, reduced youth unemployment, enhanced industrial productivity, and a broader skilled workforce capable of driving sustainable national development.

Despite these perceived benefits, several scholars argue that the transition between junior and senior secondary education inadvertently encourages school dropout. They contend that every additional transition point in the educational system presents another opportunity for learners to discontinue schooling, particularly among children from low-income households. Empirical evidence suggests that many students who successfully complete junior secondary school do not proceed to senior secondary school because of financial hardship, early marriage, child labour, insecurity, and inadequate access to schools. According to the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report (2022), educational transitions remain critical stages at which dropout rates increase substantially in many developing countries, including Nigeria.

Similarly, evidence from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF, 2023) indicates that Nigeria continues to record one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children globally, with transition from basic education to senior secondary education remaining a significant challenge. Many adolescents leave school after completing junior secondary education because households cannot afford the direct and indirect costs of continuing education. Studies have also shown that learners in rural communities are particularly vulnerable due to the limited availability of senior secondary schools and longer travelling distances, thereby increasing the likelihood of permanent withdrawal from school.

Research conducted within Nigeria further supports this position. For example, Aja-Okorie and Adali (2020) found that financial constraints, inadequate educational facilities, and weak transition support mechanisms contribute significantly to dropout after junior secondary education. Likewise, Okeke and colleagues (2021) observed that although the Universal Basic Education programme has improved access to basic education, progression to senior secondary education remains relatively low in many states because numerous learners disengage from schooling immediately after completing the compulsory basic education cycle.

Nevertheless, attributing school dropout solely to the structural transition embedded in the 9-3-4(6-3-3-4) system would be an oversimplification. Numerous studies have demonstrated that poverty remains the strongest predictor of school dropout in Nigeria. Children from poor households are more likely to withdraw from school to engage in income-generating activities or domestic responsibilities irrespective of the educational structure. Household income, parental educational attainment, unemployment, and family size have consistently been identified as significant determinants of educational participation and completion.

In addition, insecurity and socio-cultural factors continue to influence school retention across different parts of Nigeria. Armed conflict, banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes, early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and cultural beliefs limiting girls’ education have forced many learners to abandon schooling. These factors operate independently of the educational structure and would continue to affect enrolment, retention, and completion even under alternative educational systems. Consequently, school dropout should be understood as a multidimensional problem requiring coordinated social, economic, and educational interventions rather than merely a consequence of the transition between junior and senior secondary education.

Overall, while the transition between junior and senior secondary education may create an additional point at which some learners discontinue schooling, available evidence suggests that dropout is influenced by a complex interaction of economic, institutional, and socio-cultural factors. The 9-3-4 (6-3-3-4) system remains highly preferred because it broadens educational opportunities, promotes technical and vocational education, supports entrepreneurship, and provides flexible pathways for learners with diverse abilities and aspirations. Rather than abandoning the policy, greater attention should be devoted to strengthening transition support, expanding financial assistance, improving the security in the country, imposing severe sanctions on child trafficking offenders and improving access to senior secondary education. The services of professional counsellors will be of great value in enlightening the society on the importance of education. With all these, all things being equal, the objectives of the National Policy on Education can be realised.

A former Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) Dr. Adamu Mohammed Fika, is dead.

He was 84.

Fika, who held the traditional title of Zarma Kura of Fika, died at a hospital in Abuja, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media to the Emir of Fika, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar (Chokalin Fika).

The statement said funeral prayers for the deceased would be held on Friday, August 7, at the National Mosque, Abuja.

The late Fika was the pioneer Director-General and Clerk Designate to the National Assembly, where he played a key role in laying the administrative foundation of Nigeria’s legislature at the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1999.

He later served as Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), where he contributed to strengthening the administration and management of the National Assembly.

Until his death, he was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Council of Retired Clerks and Secretaries of the National Assembly.

Born in Fika, present-day Yobe State, in 1942, Dr Fika attended Primary School in Fika before proceeding to Provincial Senior Primary School.

He later studied at Barewa College, Zaria, and Government College, Keffi, where he obtained his Higher School Certificate.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in History from Makerere University Uganda in 1966 before pursuing postgraduate studies in History at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, where he obtained his doctorate.

He began his career as a lecturer in History at the Abdullahi Bayero College, then a campus of the Ahmadu Bello University, before joining the Civil Service in the former North-Eastern State in 1974.

During his public service career, he served in several strategic positions, including Permanent Secretary in different ministries in the former Borno State, where he was involved in public administration and policy implementation.

Dr Fika also served at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State, where he contributed to leadership development and public policy research.

Widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s foremost legislative administrators, he was respected for his contributions to institution-building, public sector reforms and legislative administration.

Beyond public service, he was a prominent traditional title holder in the Fika Emirate, serving as the Zarma Kura of Fika, and remained an influential voice on governance and national development.

His death has been described by associates as a huge loss to the Fika Emirate, Yobe State and the country.

Mourning his death, the Emir of Fika and Chairman of the Yobe State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Dr Muhammad Ibn Abali Muhammadu Idrisa, described Fika’s passing as a great loss to Yobe State and Nigeria.

In a statement signed by his media aide, Mohammed Abubakar (Chokalin Fika), the emir described the late Fika as a complete gentleman, humble and approachable, who related freely with people from all walks of life.

He said the deceased’s passing had created a huge vacuum in the Fika Emirate and Yobe State, noting that his contributions to public service and national development would be greatly missed.

The emir prayed for Allah to forgive the late elder statesman, grant him Aljannatul Firdaus and reward him abundantly for his good deeds.

A political bloc within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, mainly of aggrieved aspirants in the last primary election, has initiated moves to explore alternative political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The decision follows a mandate from stakeholders for the leadership to examine available options and submit recommendations within one week.

The resolution was reached during a stakeholders’ meeting at Notkel in Ilorin on Thursday, where participants approved a proposal empowering the movement’s leadership to consider legitimate political alternatives. The vote was coordinated by former State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Salman Jawondo (SAN).

The development coincided with a separate Stakeholders’ Engagement and Town Hall Meeting at the Arca Santa Arena in Ilorin, where the bloc formally changed its name from G-15 to The Otoge Progressives (TOP).

The movement stated that the rebranding reflects its rapid expansion since June and aims to provide a broader platform for members committed to internal democracy, inclusive leadership, and the preservation of the 2019 ‘Otoge’ movement’s ideals.

Addressing the gathering, the movement’s spokesperson and former Senator representing Kwara Central, Yahaya Oloriegbe, noted that the transition signifies growth rather than division. He dismissed suggestions that the bloc’s activities are driven by individual ambition, emphasizing that it remains united in its core objectives.

Oloriegbe alleged that supporters of the movement continue to face intimidation and inducement due to their political convictions.

‘We are conscious of the difficulties confronting many of our supporters. We are aware of efforts to secure their allegiance through financial inducements, promises of political appointments, and other personal advantages,’ Oloriegbe said. ‘We have also received disturbing accounts of threats, blackmail, and undue pressure directed at those who refuse to abandon their convictions. We appreciate the price you are paying for standing on principle, and we assure you that the leadership stands firmly beside you.’

During the event, stakeholders passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and endorsed him for a second term in 2027. The motion, moved by the Senator representing Kwara Central, Saliu Mustapha, received overwhelming support.

Conversely, the bloc unanimously rejected candidates supported by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for state elective offices, alleging that they were imposed and are inconsistent with the Otoge movement’s ideals. The group further alleged that these candidates are intended to sustain the governor’s political influence beyond his tenure-a claim that has yet to receive a formal response from the Governor’s office.

Jawondo reaffirmed that members remain committed to pursuing these objectives through lawful, democratic, and constitutional means, describing the defense of internal party democracy as a ‘collective responsibility.’

These developments add a new dimension to the protracted crisis within the Kwara APC regarding party congresses and the emergence of candidates for the 2027 cycle. The AbdulRazaq camp maintains that all party processes have been conducted in strict accordance with the APC constitution and guidelines.

Other notable attendees included Senators Saliu Mustapha, Yahaya Oloriegbe, Sodiq Umar, Lola Ashiru, and Dele Belgore (SAN). Ambassador Yahaya Seriki Gambari and Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa were represented at the event, which also saw participation from party elders, former public office holders, and grassroots stakeholders from all 16 local government areas of the state.

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has reaffirmed his administration’s resolve not to negotiate with or yield to criminals as part of efforts to tackle banditry in the state.

Lawal stated this on Thursday when he visited Bungudu Local Government Area to commiserate with families and residents affected by a recent bandit attack.

The governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, disclosed details of the visit in a statement on Thursday.

The governor, who began the condolence visit at the palace of the Emir of Bungudu, Alhaji Hassan Attahiru, said the state government remained committed to deploying resources and efforts towards restoring security and peace.

‘I am here to express my sympathy and offer condolences to the families, the Emir, and the people of Bungudu following last week’s bandit attacks,’ Lawal said.

‘This is a test from Almighty Allah, and we will overcome it. The state government is dedicating resources and efforts to end the threat of banditry.’

The governor urged residents to remain patient, describing the security situation as a sensitive issue that requires perseverance and prayers.

‘I encourage everyone to remain patient, as this sensitive issue requires both perseverance and steadfast prayers,’ he said.

Lawal also assured families of those injured and abducted during the attack that the government would continue to provide necessary support.

‘We will continue to provide all necessary assistance to those injured and will do everything possible to secure the safe return of all kidnapped victims,’ the governor said.

He prayed for the families of those killed in the attack, saying, ‘I pray that God grants the victims’ families the strength to endure this loss. May Allah forgive those who lost their lives.’

Responding, the Emir of Bungudu, Alhaji Hassan Attahiru, commended the governor’s efforts towards addressing insecurity in the state.

Attahiru, who said he was a member of the state’s security council, expressed confidence that the challenge of banditry would be overcome.

‘As a member of the state’s security council, I am aware of the governor’s efforts. I am confident that we will overcome the challenge of banditry,’ the monarch said.

‘We appreciate your condolence visit. It means a lot to the people of Bungudu LGA.’

During the visit, Lawal also visited the family of the late Alhaji Bello Umar Bungudu and other families affected by the attack to offer his condolences.

The current National Policy on Education in Nigeria adopts the 9-3-4 (6-3-3-4) system of education, comprising nine years of basic education, three years of senior secondary education, and four years of tertiary education. Proponents of this structure argue that the transition between junior and senior secondary education creates opportunities for learners to make informed educational and career choices. At the completion of the nine-year basic education programme, students who may not wish to pursue the conventional senior secondary pathway are provided with opportunities to enrol in technical colleges, vocational and entrepreneurial institutions or other specialised training programmes. This flexibility is intended to promote human capital development by aligning learners’ interests, abilities, and labour market demands while reducing excessive pressure on university education.

Another argument advanced by supporters of the 9-3-4(6-3-3-4) system is that the transition point enables learners from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to reassess their educational aspirations in line with available financial resources. Families unable to bear the cost of prolonged academic education may encourage their children to acquire vocational or technical skills that provide immediate employment opportunities and financial independence. Consequently, the policy is viewed as a mechanism for reducing poverty by equipping young people with employable skills while allowing them to pursue higher education later through alternative educational pathways. This approach reflects the principle of lifelong learning and recognises that tertiary education is not the only route to personal and national development.

Furthermore, advocates maintain that the policy contributes significantly to economic development by promoting skill acquisition and entrepreneurship. The separation between junior and senior secondary education creates room for students to develop competencies in agriculture, information technology, construction, manufacturing, creative industries, and other vocational trades that are essential for national productivity. As more young people acquire practical and entrepreneurial skills, the economy benefits from increased self-employment, reduced youth unemployment, enhanced industrial productivity, and a broader skilled workforce capable of driving sustainable national development.

Despite these perceived benefits, several scholars argue that the transition between junior and senior secondary education inadvertently encourages school dropout. They contend that every additional transition point in the educational system presents another opportunity for learners to discontinue schooling, particularly among children from low-income households. Empirical evidence suggests that many students who successfully complete junior secondary school do not proceed to senior secondary school because of financial hardship, early marriage, child labour, insecurity, and inadequate access to schools. According to the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report (2022), educational transitions remain critical stages at which dropout rates increase substantially in many developing countries, including Nigeria.

Similarly, evidence from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF, 2023) indicates that Nigeria continues to record one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children globally, with transition from basic education to senior secondary education remaining a significant challenge. Many adolescents leave school after completing junior secondary education because households cannot afford the direct and indirect costs of continuing education. Studies have also shown that learners in rural communities are particularly vulnerable due to the limited availability of senior secondary schools and longer travelling distances, thereby increasing the likelihood of permanent withdrawal from school.

Research conducted within Nigeria further supports this position. For example, Aja-Okorie and Adali (2020) found that financial constraints, inadequate educational facilities, and weak transition support mechanisms contribute significantly to dropout after junior secondary education. Likewise, Okeke and colleagues (2021) observed that although the Universal Basic Education programme has improved access to basic education, progression to senior secondary education remains relatively low in many states because numerous learners disengage from schooling immediately after completing the compulsory basic education cycle.

Nevertheless, attributing school dropout solely to the structural transition embedded in the 9-3-4(6-3-3-4) system would be an oversimplification. Numerous studies have demonstrated that poverty remains the strongest predictor of school dropout in Nigeria. Children from poor households are more likely to withdraw from school to engage in income-generating activities or domestic responsibilities irrespective of the educational structure. Household income, parental educational attainment, unemployment, and family size have consistently been identified as significant determinants of educational participation and completion.

In addition, insecurity and socio-cultural factors continue to influence school retention across different parts of Nigeria. Armed conflict, banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes, early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and cultural beliefs limiting girls’ education have forced many learners to abandon schooling. These factors operate independently of the educational structure and would continue to affect enrolment, retention, and completion even under alternative educational systems. Consequently, school dropout should be understood as a multidimensional problem requiring coordinated social, economic, and educational interventions rather than merely a consequence of the transition between junior and senior secondary education.

Overall, while the transition between junior and senior secondary education may create an additional point at which some learners discontinue schooling, available evidence suggests that dropout is influenced by a complex interaction of economic, institutional, and socio-cultural factors. The 9-3-4 (6-3-3-4) system remains highly preferred because it broadens educational opportunities, promotes technical and vocational education, supports entrepreneurship, and provides flexible pathways for learners with diverse abilities and aspirations. Rather than abandoning the policy, greater attention should be devoted to strengthening transition support, expanding financial assistance, improving the security in the country, imposing severe sanctions on child trafficking offenders and improving access to senior secondary education. The services of professional counsellors will be of great value in enlightening the society on the importance of education. With all these, all things being equal, the objectives of the National Policy on Education can be realised.

Chairman of the Governing Board of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Emmanuel Deeyah, has called for urgent action to end the recent wave of killings and insecurity in Ogoni, Rivers State.

Deeyah made the call during a visit to the Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Dr Thomas Bariere, following the killing of a former Chief Security Officer of the council, Letam Kiine, who was reportedly shot dead by gunmen near Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic.

He commiserated with the council and residents over the incident and expressed confidence in the council chairman’s ability to restore peace.

Deeyah commended Bariere for previous efforts to improve security, noting that communities once inaccessible due to violence had become safer.

He urged security agencies to identify and prosecute those behind the attacks.

‘Those causing insecurity are only distracting the community. We will support every effort to drive them out because peace must return to Khana,’ he said.

Responding, Bariere thanked Deeyah for the visit and described it as a show of solidarity.

He vowed to intensify efforts to tackle insecurity, alleging that some individuals seeking positions in the local security structure were linked to the violence.

‘The killings are too many. We will deploy every available resource to identify those responsible and ensure they face justice,’ he said.

He assured residents that security agencies had intensified operations and that those behind the attacks would soon be arrested and prosecuted.

Participants at the Second International Conference to Combat Discrimination Against Islam and Muslims have called for stronger regional and international cooperation to tackle the growing threat of Islamophobia and translate recommendations into practical programmes that promote dialogue, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

The two-day conference, held at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, was organised by the Arab League and the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO).

It brought together government officials, international organisations, religious leaders, civil society groups and youth representatives under the theme, ‘Muslim Communities in the West and Their Role in Confronting Islamophobia.’

Arab League Assistant Secretary-General for Oversight Affairs, Ambassador Hussein Hindawi, described freedom of religion and belief as a fundamental right protected by international conventions.

He warned that Islamophobia had evolved from isolated incidents into a wider social and political challenge.

Citing data from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, Hindawi said 47 per cent of Muslims in 13 EU member states reported racial discrimination in 2024, up from 39 per cent in 2016.

He said 39 per cent experienced discrimination while seeking employment, 27 per cent faced racist harassment and four per cent suffered physical attacks, while only six per cent reported such incidents to authorities.

He blamed stereotypes linking Muslims with terrorism, crime and irregular migration for fuelling hostility and urged governments, religious institutions, educational bodies, the media and civil society to work together against hate speech.

The conference also launched the Permanent Multilateral Institutional Platform to Combat Discrimination Against Islam and Muslims to strengthen international coordination and turn previous recommendations into concrete action.

Participants also discussed the role of education, religious institutions, civil society and youth in promoting tolerance and mutual respect. (The Arab Weekly)

The Police Service Commission (PSC) on Thursday handed over 50,000 newly recruited police constables to the Nigeria Police Force for training.

In a statement, the commission’s spokesperson, Torty Kalu, said the handover was presided over by Commissioner I, retired Justice Paul Galumje, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive and relevant statutory provisions.

Galumje thanked the President for supporting the recruitment exercise and formally presented the successful candidates to the police for training at designated police colleges and other approved institutions.

He also handed over the list of successful candidates to the police authorities in a flash drive.

Receiving the recruits on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, DIG Isyaku Mohammed, who heads the Force Training and Development Department, commended the PSC for conducting what he described as a transparent recruitment process.

He assured that training would begin simultaneously across the country once funds for the exercise were released.

Also speaking, Director of the Police Service Department at the Ministry of Police Affairs, Ibrahim A. Muhammad, described the recruitment exercise as credible and transparent.

PSC Secretary, Onyemuche Nnamani, attributed the successful completion of the exercise to the collaboration of all stakeholders, saying it reflected effective teamwork.

President Tinubu had, on November 26, 2025, declared a national security emergency and approved the recruitment of 50,000 police officers to strengthen internal security.

The recruitment portal opened on December 15, 2025, and closed on February 8, 2026, after a two-week extension. The exercise was concluded about seven months later.

Security operatives in Sokoto State have foiled two separate bandit attacks in Shagari and Rabah local government areas, forcing the attackers to abandon a total of 452 rustled domestic animals after gun battles with a joint security team.

The attacks, which occurred on Tuesday evening, targeted Horo Birni and Marake villages in Shagari LGA as well as Maikujera village, a remote settlement in Rabah LGA.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.

According to him, at about 7:20 pm on Tuesday, armed bandits in large numbers attacked Horo Birni and Marake villages in Shagari LGA, firing sporadically before rustling an unspecified number of domestic animals.

He said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Shagari mobilised all tactical teams, including operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the Village Community Response Unit (VCRU) and personnel of the Military Forward Operating Base (FOB), who engaged the attackers in a gun battle.

‘The hoodlums were overpowered and escaped through a nearby forest, abandoning all the rustled animals,’ the statement said.

Police said security operatives recovered 195 cows, 84 sheep and two camels during the operation.

The command added that two villagers sustained gunshot wounds during the attack and were rushed to hospital for treatment.

Rufa’i said that in a similar incident at about 8:10 pm on Tuesday, armed bandits attacked Maikujera village, a remote hamlet in Rabah LGA, shooting sporadically before rustling 171 domestic animals, including camels, cows, sheep and goats.

He said the DPO, who was already on alert, immediately mobilised all tactical teams, including the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the VCRU, blocked the exit routes from the village and engaged the bandits in another gun battle.

According to the statement, the bandits were overpowered and fled through a nearby forest, abandoning all 171 rustled animals, which were subsequently recovered.

The Commissioner of Police, Sokoto State Command, Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, commended the DPOs, tactical teams, VCRU operatives and the military for their swift response and professionalism, saying their actions foiled the attacks and ensured the recovery of all the rustled animals without any loss of life among security personnel or villagers.