Category: Nigerian Tribune

The Convener of the Ibadan Creator Summit, Dr Shola Adeyemi, has said the summit is designed to empower young creatives and contribute to the economic development of Ibadan.

Adeyemi stated this on Friday during a press briefing ahead of the summit scheduled to hold on September 5 at Harvest House, Ibadan.

He disclosed that more than 3,000 participants are expected at the event, which is free to attend.

Some of the speakers include Olivia Umeh, Seyi Adisa, Shete, Babatunmise, Ayo Adams, Ajoke Lasisi among others.

According to him, Ibadan has continued to produce talented young people in various creative fields, including photography, content creation, journalism and videography, but many of them leave the city in search of better opportunities.

He attributed the migration of talents to the lack of structures and platforms that connect creators with brands and provide them with opportunities to monetise their skills.

‘This city has been raising talent, young people who are talented, photographers, content creators, journalists and videographers. But the moment they get very good at their craft, they start looking for other places where they feel the grass is greener, and they go to places like Abuja or Lagos,’ he said.

Adeyemi described the situation as an ‘export race,’ where Ibadan develops creative talents while other cities benefit from their skills.

He said the summit was established to create a platform where creators and brands could connect, negotiate and do business within Ibadan.

‘We need to build that table where a brand and the creator can sit across each other and do business properly. This is exactly what the summit exists for,’ he said.

The convener noted that some creators in Ibadan with thousands of followers could earn as little as N50,000 for a sponsored post, whereas they could command significantly higher fees in Lagos and other major cities.

He said the disparity was not due to a lack of talent but largely because of limited information and access to opportunities.

‘It is not talent. I think it is information and access,’ Adeyemi said.

He explained that this year’s summit would focus on three key areas: building, monetising and skilling creators.

According to him, the programme would go beyond teaching participants how to create viral content to equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to turn their creativity into sustainable sources of income.

‘We have too many creators who are chasing virality when they have not built anything viable. We also want to teach them how to monetise. Your passion is not going to pay your rent. If you are doing this full-time, it has to feed you, and it can definitely feed you,’ he said.

Adeyemi also stressed the importance of showcasing successful creatives from Ibadan and creating opportunities for young talents to learn from established practitioners.

He expressed optimism that participants would leave the summit with a new perspective on their creative careers and the opportunities available to them within the city.

Adeyemi said the ultimate goal was to strengthen Ibadan’s creative economy and enable talented young people to build successful careers without necessarily relocating to Lagos, Abuja or other cities.

Also speaking, Kenny Ogunmiloro of Blast FM said the initiative was not about competing with other states but about creating opportunities for people in Ibadan to realise their potential.

‘What we are trying to achieve is that you get your value. Whoever remains here, we need to respect them,’ Ogunmiloro said.

Frontline broadcast journalist, Kayode Okikiolu, has urged young Nigerians to develop themselves into political intellectuals if they hope to drive meaningful change in the country.

Okikiolu made the call in Ibadan at the second edition of ALT Café, a solution-focused conversation series convened by Ogbeni Labzy Alternative, a social enterprise initiated by Adeola Adelabu to contribute to societal development.

Speaking during a fireside chat with the convener on the theme, ‘Young People: Policies and Politics,’ Okikiolu urged participants, comprising young people drawn from across the state, to raise their ‘government quotient.’

He said young people must develop a deeper understanding of government and politics, stressing that they could not effectively influence policies without understanding how the system works.

Okikiolu advised participants to identify government officials at various levels and build relationships with them to enable constructive and diplomatic engagement on contentious policy issues.

He said, ‘If young people want to drive meaningful change, they must develop themselves into political intellectuals and raise their government quotient’ to understand the inner workings of public sector governance.

The journalist added that building relationships with relevant government officials would give young people better opportunities to engage policymakers and contribute to decisions affecting society.

Explaining the rationale behind the initiative, Adelabu said the event was created to provide a safe environment where young people could discuss issues affecting society and explore practical solutions.

According to him, ‘ALT Café is designed to create a safe space for young people in Ibadan to discuss social and developmental issues with the potential to shape policy and drive local impact.’

Adelabu added that the initiative was deliberately designed to encourage conversations beyond partisan politics, allowing participants to freely exchange ideas on issues affecting their communities.

He said the platform would continue to promote meaningful conversations that could translate into practical solutions and contribute to societal development.

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, has criticised what he described as ‘totalitarian’ and overreaching education policies being implemented by the Imo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Benard Thomson Ikegwuoha.

Ugorji, in a statement, expressed concern over what he described as increasingly despotic directives issued by the commissioner, particularly through social media.

The Catholic prelate said a healthy education system depended on collaboration, open dialogue, academic freedom and mutual respect among administrators, teachers, parents and students.

He alleged that the current leadership of the Imo State Ministry of Education had adopted what he described as a dictatorial and high-handed approach characterised by intimidation, suppression of dissenting voices and the dismantling of democratic procedures.

He said: ‘This top-down approach threatens the foundational principles of our educational system. strips educators of much-desired initiatives and decision-making power, and replaces them with rigid and flawed directives’.

Ugorji said he was particularly concerned about what he described as policies that centralised control and micro-management of mission and private schools.

He said: ‘Of particular concern are recent policies that centralize absolute control and micro-management of mission and private schools, compelling Christian schools in Imo State to observe Islamic holidays, dictating dates for the resumption and closing of schools, issuing threats of punitive measures against educators who voice professional concerns, and trying to exclusively choose textbooks from the list of government approved textbooks and unilaterally fixing their prices’.

According to him, such actions did not serve the best interests of Imo children but could create an environment of fear, coercion, intellectual subjugation and stagnation.

The Archbishop maintained that education should promote critical thinking and diversity of thought rather than enforce what he described as rigid ideological conformity.

He said: ‘The administration of our schools cannot be run like an autocracy where absolute compliance is demanded with threats, and without openness to the informed opinions of stakeholders’.

Ugorji called on the Commissioner for Education to immediately halt what he described as unilateral directives and engage in transparent and meaningful dialogue with stakeholders in the education sector.

He also appealed to the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, to call the commissioner to order, saying this would prevent the actions of the ministry from being interpreted as the position of the state government.

The archbishop said such actions could also create a misleading impression that the state government and the Church were in conflict.

He further urged elected representatives to investigate what he described as abuses of power and restore accountability to the Ministry of Education.

He said: ‘We stand firmly with the educators in our schools, and families in resisting these undemocratic overreaches’.

Residents of Badikko community in Kaduna South Local Government Area of Kaduna State have appealed to Governor Uba Sani to intervene in the deteriorating condition of roads and drainage infrastructure in the area.

The appeal was contained in an open letter on August 29 by the Badikko Reformers Group (BRG) and the Progressive Youth Forum (PYF), Badikko.

Sharifudeen Muhammad, who signed the letter on behalf of the groups, lamented the poor state of the roads and drainage, particularly during the rainy season.

He also noted the flood risks highlighted in forecasts by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

He warned that failure to take urgent action could lead to further deterioration of the roads, flooding of residential areas and disruption of access to major institutions located in the community.

Muhammad said the community was strategic to the state, as it hosts the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital (44 NARH) and part of Kaduna Polytechnic.

He added that it serves as a major route for residents of Hayin Dan-Mani, Mahuta and Kurmin Mashi, travelling to the Central and Old Panteka markets.

Muhammad said the roads in Badikko and its adjoining routes were riddled with potholes, prone to erosion and with inadequate road surfaces, while the drainage system was insufficient to effectively channel stormwater.

He noted that the problem was affecting several aspects of community life, including vehicular movement to the Government House, access to healthcare services at 44 NARH, activities at Kaduna Polytechnic and commercial activities.

Muhammad expressed concern that the poor condition of the roads could hamper emergency and security responses in the community.

He called on the governor to direct the immediate assessment of roads and drainage channels in Badikko by the state Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.

Muhammad requested the construction and rehabilitation of major roads in the community, as well as the provision of standard drainage systems as an emergency measure against flooding.

He also urged the government to prioritise roads leading to the Government House, 44 NARH and Kaduna Polytechnic, as well as routes connecting Hayin Dan-Mani, Mahuta and Kurmin Mashi to the Central and Old Panteka markets.

He appealed to Governor Sani to convene a stakeholder meeting with the leadership of BRG and PYF within seven days to discuss possible emergency interventions.

Muhammad said residents of Badikko had continued to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) since 2015 and expressed confidence that the governor will respond positively to their demands under his administration’s development agenda.

A Commissioner with the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NISIEC), Barrister Mohammed Ahmed Wawa, has regained his freedom after spending 338 days in captivity in the hands of bandits.

Wawa, popularly known as Ahmed Lawyer, was abducted alongside the former Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhassan Bawa Niworo, who had earlier regained his freedom.

The NISIEC Commissioner was kidnapped in Ibbi Forest a few weeks before the commencement of the local government elections, while travelling to Minna, the Niger State capital, for an official engagement.

He was released at about 7 a.m. on Wednesday along the Funtua axis in Katsina State after an undisclosed amount was reportedly paid as ransom.

He said he was fed only once daily with Tuwon Masara da Miyan Kuka, a popular northern staple, while the cattle became his companions in the forest, as he slept in their midst.

‘Throughout my stay in my abductors’ den for over 300 days, I did not take a bath. When I was handed over to my family, the first thing I did was to take an hour-long bath. The experience was traumatic,’ he said.

Ahmed expressed appreciation to everyone who supported his family and contributed to securing his release, while thanking God for returning him alive to his family.

The Prelate of the Calvary Grace International College of Bishops and the President of Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Bishop Francis Olubowale Oke, has been elevated to the Office of Archbishop in recognition of his more than 27 years of episcopal service, spiritual leadership, and mentorship of bishops across the world.

The honour was conferred on him by the Calvary Grace International College of Bishops during the ongoing annual Holy Ghost Convention of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries in Ibadan, Oyo State.

This was contained in a press statement issued by the Media Bureau of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries in Ibadan.

Bishop Oke, who accepted the elevation at the programme attended by members of the College of Bishops and Christian leaders, described the honour as a call to greater responsibility in advancing the cause of Christ globally.

Accepting the elevation, the new Archbishop, who is the National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), said he had repeatedly declined the opportunity to become an archbishop since his consecration as a Bishop in 1999, preferring to concentrate on evangelism and preaching the gospel.

He, however, said he had now accepted the elevation because it was the will of God and the collective decision of the College of Bishops.

‘I accept the elevation with all my heart. Since it seems good to you and to the Holy Spirit, it seems good to me also. I concur with you,’ Oke said.

The elevation was proclaimed by the Presbyter of the Calvary Grace International College of Bishops, South-West, Bishop Felix Adejumo, after Bishop Julius Abiola presented the statement of purpose for the elevation.

Bishop Abiola described the honoree as a father of fathers, pastor of pastors and bishop of bishops, saying his episcopal ministry had produced and strengthened other episcopal leaders.

According to him, Bishop Oke’s elevation was not merely a conferment of a title but formal recognition of a ministry already tested by time, proven through service, demonstrated through spiritual fruits and manifested through the raising and strengthening of other leaders.

The College said Bishop Oke had, since his canonical consecration in 1999, demonstrated longevity, stability, maturity and faithfulness in episcopal ministry, with his influence extending beyond local congregations, denominations and national boundaries.

It noted that he had participated in the consecration and establishment of bishops in different parts of the world and had provided spiritual oversight and fatherly leadership to many of the more than 50 bishops associated with the Calvary Grace International College of Bishops.

The College said his ministry had become an episcopacy that has produced episcopacies, as he had identified, nurtured, mentored, affirmed, consecrated and commissioned other spiritual leaders.

It added that his new office would carry greater responsibility for spiritual fatherhood, episcopal oversight, unity, counsel, mentorship and preservation of the integrity and witness of the Church.

The Colllege consequently charged him to strengthen the brethren, encourage bishops, defend the Christian faith, promote unity within the body of Christ, preserve godly episcopal order and raise succeeding generations of faithful servants of God.

Bishop Oke, in his response, expressed gratitude to God and members of the College for the honour, stressing that the institution maintained strict standards in the selection and consecration of bishops.

He said prospective bishops were subjected to thorough examination by presbyters before they could be admitted, stressing that the College was committed to admitting only people with proven integrity and impactful ministries.

‘The door is still open to anyone who is interested, but the standard remains the same,’ he said.

Recalling his journey into the episcopacy, Bishop Oke said the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa had wanted to consecrate him as a bishop as far back as 1988, but he avoided the elevation because of his passion for evangelism.

He also recalled that when Bishop David Oyedepo was consecrated a bishop in Kaduna, he participated in the consecration and was told by Archbishop Idahosa that he ought to have become a bishop.. According to Bishop Oke, Idahosa told him, ‘You are next,’ but he subsequently avoided opportunities for his own consecration for about a decade.

He said he eventually yielded to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and was consecrated a bishop in the United Kingdom in 1999, with the consecration repeated three months later at the Garden of Victory, Ibadan.

Oke traced the origin of the Calvary Grace International College of Bishops to his desire to mentor younger ministers, noting that his ministry began after he responded to God’s call in 1976.

He said the mentorship fellowship, initially known as the Calvary Grace Covenant Fellowship International, grew as ministers sought spiritual guidance and leadership.

According to him, the fellowship later evolved into the College of Bishops following a meeting at Premier Hotel, Ibadan, where members agreed to constitute the body and adopt the name Calvary Grace International College of Bishops.

He said the College now has members across Nigeria, Africa, North America, Canada, the United States of America, and Europe, with its first European member recently consecrated as bishop.

Residents and youths of Enugu State on Friday marched through popular streets in the state capital in support of the government’s campaign against insecurity, declaring their zero tolerance for terror, criminality and violent extremism.

The youths, including undergraduates and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who ultimately converged at Government House, Enugu, where they were received by the Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, pledged to mobilise young people across the state against criminal activities and violent extremism.

Addressing the group, Mbah said security was one of the recurring risk factors identified by his administration while mapping out the developmental building blocks for the state, hence his decision to tackle the menace head-on from the outset.

While commending the youths for taking the initiative to support the anti-crime efforts of the President Bola Tinubu Administration and the Enugu State Government, the governor said his administration’s ‘Tomorrow Is Here’ mantra was not a mere political slogan, but a commitment to investing in young people who would take charge of the state’s future.

‘For you to march through the streets and end here preaching the message against crime and terrorism is profound. Ordinarily, we should be the ones preaching to you against such vices.

‘But by this act, you are telling us that you are not going to be on the fringes or stand by and watch. Rather, you are going to be at the forefront of the campaign against cultism, crime and terrorism,’ the governor said.

Mbah said greater involvement of youths in the fight against criminality would lead to a significant reduction in crime, freeing up resources for job creation and poverty eradication.

He noted that some countries had shut down many of their correctional facilities after recording significant reductions in crime, stressing that a similar transformation could be achieved in Nigeria when young people took ownership of the campaign against criminality.

The governor said the state had adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards criminality, adding that a safer Enugu would attract more investors and generate other multiplier effects for the economy.

He urged the youths to take their campaign against crime and terrorism to every part of the state, saying their initiative would send a strong message that criminality was no longer fashionable among young people.

According to him, the government would complement the youths’ campaign through non-kinetic interventions, including job creation, increased investment in education and digital skills development.

‘Your campaign is heartwarming. When citizens apply scholarly and constructive approaches, government will be glad to engage them constructively and productively too,’ Mbah said.

Earlier, a leader of the march and Deputy Rector of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, Dr Emeka Ejim, described the coalition as a broad-based youth movement comprising corps members and students united by a common agenda to campaign against crime, cultism and terrorism.

Ejim pledged the group’s support for the state government’s security efforts, saying Enugu had distinguished itself in the fight against crime and cultism through a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic measures, including skills acquisition and job creation.

‘We pledge never to join bad groups within and outside Nigeria. We are joining you against terrorism,’ he said.

Also speaking, the Enugu State leader of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Okeke Kelvin, said the association would mobilise no fewer than two million youths to support the campaign against violence and terror.

‘This is the only way we can show you that we are against terror. We say no to terrorism,’ Kelvin said.

The student leader commended the state government for investing heavily in modern security infrastructure in the state, noting the settingup of the Command and Control Centre, Centre for DNA Forensics and Criminal Investigation, Distress Response Squad DRS), and others, which he said were yielding results.

‘For instance, they tried you at Affa in Udi, and in no time the kidnappers realized they cannot ply their trade in Enugu State,’ he stated.

NYSC corps members Olaranju Oreose and Emmanuela Momoh expressed gratitude to Governor Mbah for the peace and security they enjoy in Enugu, saying the state had totally changed their views and allayed the fears they initially nursed when posted to the South East region.

‘I am Olaranju, representing the General CDS President. Sir, as a corps member from the South West, and I have been in Enugu from January till now, I want to say that my journey and experience so far here has been wonderful in terms of security.

‘Initially, I had the fear of coming this far distance to Enugu. But having been here, I have changed that thinking. I want to let you know that no one amongst us here, no matter the tribe, no matter the religion, is supporting terrorism.’

The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Oyo State, Olooye Adegboyega Adegoke, has promised the implementation of social security programmes that will include payment of monthly stipends for elderly people aged 75 years and above within his first 100 days in office.

Besides, he also reiterated his commitment to the full implementation of the local governments’ autonomy to enhance development at the grassroots level.

He also promised free education from primary to secondary schools in the state.

Adegoke who made this known during a thank-you visit to Irepo, Orelope and Olorunsogo federal constituency, also promised to construct a rail line for easy evacuation of farm produce from Oke-Ogun geo-political zone to Ibadan and other markets.

Adegoke thanked the people of Irepo, Orelope and Olorunsogo local government areas for their support, promising that he will still come back to campaign for votes when the window opens from September 9, 2026.

He said though he is going to visit the 14 federal constituencies of the state to show appreciation to them for their support and backing which made him to emerge as the ADC governorship candidate in Oyo state, he decided to start the thank – you – visit from the Irepo, Orelope and Olorunsogo federal constituency as a respect for the ADC state chairman, Afees Jimoh popularly known as Ona Ara who is from the area.

The Oyo ADC governorship candidate said that even before he got the ticket for the governorship he has shown his love for the development of Kishi, Igboho and other areas of the federal constituency, promising more infrastructural development in the zone and other parts of the state.

According to him, ‘people refer to Oke Ogun as the food basket of the state. As a graduate of Agricultural Economics from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, I know how and what is required to assist the farmers in moving their produce to the urban areas.

‘I will construct a rail line from Moniya in Ibadan to link the Oke Ogun Area so that farmers can transport their produce to markets in the urban areas.

‘With this, the farmers will be able to give their children a good education and send them abroad to further their education and other future endeavours’.

Adegoke further promised to improve access to education with the implementation of free education at the primary and secondary school levels, saying parents will not pay anything for their wards in the schools.

Speaking during the visit, the Oyo State Chairman of the ADC thanked the people of Kishi for their support and encouragement which he said helped Olooye Adegoke to successfully emerge as the Oyo ADC governorship candidate.

He implored the people to mobilise support for Adegoke and ADC during the forthcoming general elections.

Jimoh appealed to the people to mobilise from house to house during the presidential, governorship and other elective positions for the ADC, so that Olooye Adegoke can bring equal development to all parts of the state.

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has sought a stronger partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to accelerate the state’s post-conflict recovery and drive sustainable economic growth.

Zulum made the request when he led a high-level delegation to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where he held discussions with the President of the AfDB, Dr Sidi Ould Tah.

The meeting focused on strengthening investment partnerships to accelerate Borno’s recovery and development, while deepening the longstanding relationship between the state and the development bank.

Since assuming office on September 1, 2025, Ould Tah has twice paid courtesy visits to Maiduguri, a development described as a demonstration of solidarity with the Borno State Government and its people, as well as confidence in the state’s recovery efforts.

Accompanied by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Zulum said the state was moving beyond recovery towards sustainable economic growth and resilience.

He stressed the importance of working with development partners such as the AfDB to achieve the objective.

‘Our partnership with the African Development Bank is not just about funding projects, it is about building a future where Borno can stand on its own, where our people can farm, trade and live without fear,’ Zulum said.

The discussions covered opportunities for high-impact and sustainable investments in climate-smart agriculture, agro-industrial development, livestock and modern ranching, irrigation and water infrastructure, renewable energy, healthcare, transportation, youth employment and enterprise development.

The meeting also explored private-sector investment through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), with particular attention to the economic potential of the Lake Chad Basin.

The governor said the region offered significant opportunities in agriculture, fisheries, livestock, renewable energy, agro-processing and cross-border trade.

Such investments, he noted, could strengthen livelihoods, create employment and contribute to stability and development in communities across the region.

‘Lake Chad Basin holds enormous promise for our people, and for our neighbours across the region,’ Zulum said.

He added, ‘If we invest properly in agriculture, fisheries and clean energy there, we will not only rebuild livelihoods, we will restore hope and stability to communities that have suffered for far too long.’

The delegation also explored areas where the AfDB could assist Borno in preparing and structuring priority projects, improving their bankability, mobilising financing and strengthening institutional capacity for effective implementation.

The engagement is part of efforts by the Borno State Government to attract investment, unlock the state’s economic potential, create sustainable employment and improve the wellbeing of residents.

The state government appreciated the AfDB for its continued commitment to Borno and commended Bagudu for his support in strengthening collaboration between the state, the Federal Government and international development partners.

In appreciation of the visit, Ould Tah extended an invitation to Zulum and his team to visit him in Mauritania in December 2026 to explore mutually beneficial areas of cooperation and support between Borno State, Nigeria and the African Development Bank.

Other members of the delegation included the Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Maina Yaumi; the Commissioner for Finance, Hon. Umar Lawan Dalorima; and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, H.E. Ambassador Ezenwa Chukwuemeka Nwaobiala.

Former Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Kogi State chapter, Comrade Onu Edoka, has disclosed that Kogi State Government, on a monthly basis, releases N150 million to the Pension Commission, amounting to about N1.8 billion yearly to cater for pensioners.

Speaking in OgoriMangogo local government council in Kogi Central, Edoka, who is currently Special Adviser on Labour Matters to Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo, led a Workplace Security and Workers’ Welfare Campaign in support of the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Ododo for a second term, and hailed the administrations of Mr. President and Ododo for redefining labour relations in the state.

Addressing a large gathering of union leaders, civil servants and community stakeholders in Ogori Magongo, Comrade Edoka described the Ododo administration as a government that has placed workers and pensioners at the center of governance.

He noted that the era of salary and pension delays is over, with workers now receiving their pay promptly and pensioners getting their monthly entitlements without excuses.

The Special Adviser revealed that the government now releases N150 million every month to the Pension Commission, amounting to about N1.8 billion yearly to cater for retirees.

He further disclosed that talks are at an advanced stage for the state to access a loan or bond facility aimed at clearing all outstanding gratuities, a move he said will bring total relief to pensioners who served the state meritoriously.

Comr. Edoka said Kogi is among the first states in the country to implement the new national minimum wage, and went further to grant a two-year tax waiver on the increment.

He added that local government workers are also enjoying full salary payments, while other welfare packages such as promotion and promotion arrears, leave bonuses, hazard allowances for health workers, and health insurance coverage for both workers and pensioners have been fully activated.

The Ododo government’s commitment to labour, he continued, is also evident in the donation of three brand new buses to the NLC, TUC and JNC to ease union operations in the state.

Speaking to leaders of NULGE, NUT, Medical and Health Workers Union, ASUSS and NUP present at the Ogori Magongo LGA engagement, Comrade Edoka urged workers to stay vigilant and security-conscious in their respective workplaces.

He emphasised that Governor Ododo values the grassroots workforce and prefers to work with them rather than impose additional burdens, noting that the administration understands the sacrifices of workers at the local level.

He explained that the Workplace Security Campaign is not just about safety, but also about protecting the progress recorded under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.

With retirements increasing and the pension bill rising, he said the state government is already planning massive recruitment to reinvigorate the civil service and sustain service delivery.

Comrade Edoka charged workers to make wise political decisions ahead of 2027, stressing that continuity is key to safeguarding the gains in wages, pensions, health insurance and industrial peace that the state is currently enjoying.

The Ogori Magongo LGA meeting marks another significant step in the statewide mobilisation, as the campaign continues to take the message of security, welfare and continuity to workers across all local government areas of Kogi.