Category: Nigerian Tribune

In this report, YEKINI JIMOH examines the ongoing workplace security campaign and its implications for workers’ welfare, job security and the 2027 political landscape in Kogi State.

As the nation gears up for the 2027 general elections, Kogi State is already witnessing heightened political activities, with organised labour taking a leading role in mobilising workers for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.

The sensitisation campaign, spearheaded by the Special Adviser to Governor Ododo on Labour Matters, Comrade Onuh Edoka, has traversed several local government areas across the three senatorial districts, taking its message of workplace protection, security consciousness, workers’ welfare and political awareness directly to the grassroots.

Held under the theme, ‘Workplace Security: Protection, Sensitisation and Preparedness Against Banditry and Kidnapping,’ the campaign sought to draw workers’ attention not only to the security of their workplaces but also to the need to protect their jobs and welfare by supporting policies they believe promote workers’ interests.

From Okene to Ogori-Magongo, Ankpa, Adavi, Okehi, Dekina, Omala, Bassa, Ofu, Ajaokuta, Yagba East, Yagba West and Mopamuro, workers and labour leaders expressed varying degrees of support for the continuity of the Tinubu and Ododo administrations.

Security and job protection

Speaking during the campaign, Edoka said workplace security had become increasingly important in view of the security challenges confronting society, particularly banditry and kidnapping.

He maintained that security was a collective responsibility requiring the cooperation of government, workers and other stakeholders.

According to him, workers must remain vigilant and security-conscious while also understanding that job security is an essential component of workers’ wellbeing.

‘Security is a collective responsibility, either in the workplace or beyond. Government is committed to providing the leadership and resources, but cannot do it alone.

‘The political will is the foundation of all security progress. Governor Ododo is ready for all-round protection of the people and property. The workers’ job is not an exception,’ he said.

Edoka also urged workers to make informed political choices, arguing that continuity in government was necessary where existing policies and programmes were yielding positive results.

Workers’ welfare takes centre stage

A major component of the campaign has been the presentation of the welfare initiatives of the Ododo administration as evidence of its commitment to workers.

Edoka listed the implementation of the new minimum wage, payment of full salaries to local government workers, full hazard allowances for doctors and other health workers, health insurance coverage for workers and pensioners, promotions and payment of promotion arrears, leave bonuses and the provision of buses for the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and Joint Negotiating Council.

He said the measures had helped create a more conducive working environment and strengthened the relationship between government and organised labour.

The campaign has consequently become not only a security sensitisation exercise but also a platform through which workers are being encouraged to examine the policies and programmes of the present administrations before making their electoral choices in 2027.

Labour backs continuity

The Kogi State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Gabriel Amari, said organised labour’s participation in the campaign was informed by what he described as the verifiable achievements of the Ododo administration.

Amari noted that the governor had taken steps to improve workers’ welfare without necessarily waiting for pressure from labour unions.

He urged workers to sustain the cordial relationship between government and organised labour, saying the existing partnership should be protected.

Similarly, the State Chairman of the Public Service Joint Negotiating Council, Comrade Olusegun Alemeru, said workplace security was directly connected to the wellbeing of workers.

He urged workers to see the 2027 election as an opportunity to make decisions that would protect their jobs and welfare.

The Senior Technical Adviser to the Governor on Urban Development, Chief Godwin Edime, also canvassed continuity, saying the policies of the Tinubu and Ododo administrations should be sustained for the benefit of workers and the wider societyorsements across the councils

The campaign has received strong endorsements from workers and labour leaders in several local government areas. From the western senatorial district to the east and the central, labour leaders including chairmen of Nigeria Union of Teachers, Medical and Health Workers Union, the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) among others passed a votes of confidence in Governor Ododo and described the governor’s interventions as a departure from what workers experienced in the past and assured the campaign team of massive support for the governor’s re-election.

The Kogi State President of NULGE, Comrade Muhammad Sanusi Inyanya, described the situation as a moment of celebration for workers, commending Governor Ododo for placing workers’ welfare on the front burner.

A campaign beyond politics

Although the campaign has a clear political undertone, its organisers have continued to present workplace security as its central theme.

Edoka has repeatedly urged workers to remain vigilant against threats such as kidnapping and banditry while encouraging labour unions to speak with one voice.

In Ofu and Ajaokuta, workers pledged their support for Tinubu and Ododo, while the Director of Local Government in Ofu, Mrs Joy Audu, described the engagement as timely.

Across the councils, cultural displays and large gatherings of workers added colour to the engagements, underscoring the campaign’s growing visibility at the grassroots.

The road to 2027

With the campaign now moving across the three senatorial districts, its organisers appear determined to turn workplace engagement into a broader grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.

For the labour unions and workers who have publicly endorsed the administrations, the argument is straightforward: policies affecting salaries, minimum wage, promotions, healthcare, hazard allowances, pensions and general working conditions should be considered alongside broader political issues when deciding who should govern.

For Edoka and his team, therefore, workplace security goes beyond protecting government offices from physical threats. It also encompasses the protection of workers’ livelihoods and the continuity of policies they believe have improved their conditions.

As the 2027 political season gradually gathers momentum, the campaign has provided the Ododo administration with another platform for direct engagement with one of its most important constituencies-the organised workforce.

Whether the endorsements recorded across the local government areas will ultimately translate into electoral strength remains a question for the 2027 polls. But one message has emerged consistently from the campaign trail: Kogi workers want their welfare, job security and relationship with government to remain central to the political conversation.

Mallam Shehu Bankole Hameed is the chairman and coordinator of Team Prosper, an organisation comprising core professionals mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s reelection. In this interaction with KUNLE ODEREMI, speaks on issues surrounding Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary, ongoing campaign for the general election, fuel subsidy removal, face-off between Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, and APC governors, among others. Excerpts:

At the threshold of its 66th Independence Day, Nigeria is still battling challenges in many fronts? What do you consider as the encumbrances in the quest by the country to attain nationhood?

It has not been rosy at all. On the economic space, what has been the bane of our past economic managers – military or civilian – has largely been poor understanding of what makes for growth, the utilisation of resources, gross inefficiency in the workforce and the proclivity to mismanagement, including the absence of accountability. Poor judicial process even when we seek to hold the very few ‘unlucky’ ones accountable. On the political side, our experience is intriguing, especially when you study the emergence of three major regions in the First Republic, and how they failed to address the political unity and stability of the country. The incursion of the military into the political space, in the guise of ‘correcting the malaise of corruption’ of the civilian politicians, and the attendant fallouts have continued to affect the quality of political space and [participation in Nigeria.

The quest by the Biafrans for autonomy might have been easily dealt with, but for the covetousness of the seceding polity. When any group of people demand from others what isn’t legally, culturally theirs, there’s bound to be mutual distrust for a long time. As it stands, things haven’t changed, only getting worse for unity. At the recent Abuja discourse, the Igbos made claims to a land that clearly its owners rejected. Which way forward after that, if not distrust and suspicion? This sort of insistence, distrust and unreliability of the geopolitical zones go a long way to affect every policy designed for success. Much energy is dedicated to countering sectional demands, prejudices and stereotypes.

Despite the picture you have painted about Nigeria, the era of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo raised a bright and promising hope and future of a prosperous Nigeria. He was able to lay the foundation for greater heights soon. How come the lofty dreams of the new vista and dawn of the Awo era soon fizzled out?

Chief Awolowo is revered particularly in the South-West (which, in the beginning, was ‘Western’ Nigeria before Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe ensured the breakaway of the now Edo/Delta as Midwest region. The Western region included most of what we now know largely as Lagos State. The federal Capital was mostly Lagos Island, Ikoyi and Victoria Island. The economic and social sustainability of Awolowo’s policies and programmes were anchored on the unfettered access to Education – free Education. I see a pattern with PBAT here with his focus on education anchored by the Minister of Education, Chief (Dr) Tunji Moruf Alausa, CON.

Succeeding generations of our rulers neglected the education sector and the acquisition of skills, which greatly diminished our country’s economic space and limited our capacity for growth. I see a ray of light in the approach of this Education minister and his team; TVET, NELFUND, and the recognition of ASUU as partners in progress. Maybe if this administration’s response is sustained, then Awolowo and his dreams of a decent and developed, well-educated populace may be met soon.

A lot of Nigerians believe the country should have made a more positive effect on the average Nigerian following the return to civil rule in 1999 after a long interregnum of military dictatorship. Indices of mass poverty, severe economic hardship, rural neglect, and other core issues subsist? Why do you think this trend has continued, despite Nigeria’s enormous human and natural endowments?

Let me disagree with your general accusation that the country hasn’t really progressed in almost three decades. I think we have had some noticeable progress in infrastructural development – roads, education sector (number of schools, scholarship and rankings) , financial services industry, and indeed stability in civilian governance, which we like to call democracy. I acknowledge that there are lots of gaps in what ought to be as against what is obtained. This progress must also be measured region by region. The Northern Region, which I belong to, has been battered largely by poor leadership, religious strife, cattle rustling, terrorism and a huge number of out-of-school children. The destruction of the manufacturing base by the Abuja contract-seeking elite, extremely poor access to working capital, insane foreign exchange policy and more. Despite all these shortcomings and stark realities, , there’s real opportunity for growth, if the various divisive rhetoric and politics are curtailed. The constant struggle to find balance among the different interests is a great challenge. Until most of our people decide to forge ahead ignoring the annoying divisive tendencies of a minority group, we may find our path to success strung with pullbacks.

Your party had promised to restore smiles to the faces of the citizens after what many of its leaders termed the era of locusts and misrule of PDP for 16 years? Why has APC reneged on the promise since 2015 when it formed the government at the centre?

This is a good one. First, the major failure of the initial outing with ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, was the stubborn romance with the twin issues of petroleum subsidy and FX subsidy. By skirting around these problematic giveaways, the administration had very little left for development. Another impediment was the way his aides and cronies disregarded his authority; they set up a parallel Aso rock office of the President – if I may call it that. Consequently, the nation suffered from lack of feedback from appointees and the mismanagement of authority and access to the President. However, many of these issues are now being addressed by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. Although gaps still exist in feedback and abuse of access to power, there’s renewed hope.

How do you see ongoing campaigns by the presidential candidates and their political parties as some observers claim are devoid of most of the core issues that have direct impact on the majority of the citizens and the future of Nigeria?

I don’t see any of the parties, including the party in power, truly reflecting what the campaign issues ought to be. The real issues affecting the citizens are poor purchasing power, loss of trust in those governing the country, insecurity, and general distrust of politicians. Notice how the main opposition isn’t different from what was obtained in the last general election. A former ally of (Asiwaju) President Bola Tinubu Asiwaju and a man who has made the pulpit and his tribe is a case study. The former obviously shares many similarities in delivery with his former ally. They both want the subsidy gone, until he now finds convenience in rebuttal with no clear roadmap to success of returning subsidy. Seeking power but not sure if you can truly offer a lasting solution to the gaps that have now clearly exist by the removal of fuel subsidy and that of FX. We need to know how they will tackle the nonchalance of the other subnational levels. The local governments have more financial independence and larger allocations than before, yet little to show for it. The governors now only satisfy themselves by paying wages and salaries on time. Why aren’t we concluded with elections at the gubernatorial and local governments levels?

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu needs to speak to these glaring gaps. He is most likely to win the 2027 election. And to imagine that former Vice President Atiku may win might not be far-fetched, but if he wins, what are his ideas about the performance of the subnationals in his administration? He is not talking about that issue. No one is talking about the levels of poverty occasioned by the fall of naira and the consequent increase in every price of items imaginable. The most important issue is the price of food items.

What is your disposition to the raging brickbat between APC governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over the latter’s formation of a rainbow coalition to rally support for Mr President.

The scenario that the President faces in the coming presidential election is bringing back some memories that preceded the 2023 election. Recall that in that election, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari was seen as anti-Asiwaju due to the several moves to create real and artificial hardships: the scarcity of fuel, the ill-advised currency change, the deep-seated hatred by many in the past government of the man, and problem of religion, where majority of the Christians sided with a ‘chosen’ anointed candidate, the issue of Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who showed no qualms in disrespecting the silent but observable understanding of power shift from the North to the South; health challenges whether real or imagined. So, many negatives were lined up against the person of Candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a ray of hope was offered by the group of PDP-(G5) governors, led by His Excellency Nyesom Wike, and the rest is history.

Now, Minister Nyesom Wike has been honest with his intention from the moment he loudly declared that he is a PDP member, who supports the presidency of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Period! Whatever he is doing at this time isn’t different from whatever he did in the past. I will even argue that he single handedly may be responsible for a huge number of positive votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT)more than the entire APC governors. Many of the APC governors aren’t bothered about the reelection of PBAT. This is because they aren’t sure of their own chances. There are a few northern governors, who have openly campaigned for ADC presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; how do you explain that? I support the Honourable Minister Wike and his moves. I hope Allah will guide the PBAT in wisdom to make the best decision.

Why is it difficult for the APC to move against those governors that you claim are working for the opposition candidate?

These governors are known to have performed very poorly, despite all the overly generous revenue from FAAC, so their diabolical move away from the candidacy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is in response to the cry of their people about hardships occasioned by the subsidy removal in petroleum products and in FX, throwing the President under the bus, to save their own chances. APC governors are responding by blaming Minister Wike, rather than facing their poor performance. The party appears held hostage by the governors.

Content creator Hilary Tochukwu has apologized to business mogul Sir Linus Williams, popularly known as B’Lord, over alleged impersonation.

In a statement issued to newsmen in Owerri on Wednesday, Tochukwu said he sincerely apologized to Sir Linus Williams and the entire B’Lord Group team.

He said, ‘I sincerely apologize to him. Sir, Linus Williams popularly known as B’Lord and the entire B’Lord group team.’

Tochukwu also expressed regret over his actions, saying they may have caused confusion, inconvenience, and damage.

He said impersonating another person was wrong and disrespectful, particularly when it involved an individual and a brand.

According to him, he took full responsibility for his actions and regretted misusing Sir Linus Williams’ name and identity.

He said, ‘I know that words cannot undo what happened. But I hope you will accept this apology as a genuine expression of my remorse’.

Tochukwu said he had learned an important lesson from the experience and reiterated that he was sorry for his actions.

He said, ‘Once again, I sincerely apologize to you. Mr. B’ Lord and everyone at the Belord group.’

Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Benin Branch, has called for a faster and more efficient criminal justice system, urging the judiciary to replicate the speedy trial model adopted by the Edo State Special Criminal Court in other serious criminal cases.

The branch chairman, Mr Omorodion Omoigui, made the call in Benin while reacting to the judgment delivered by the Special Court in the kidnapping case arising from the abduction of a woman at the Benin Vegetable Market on June 14, 2026.

Omoigui said the relatively swift determination of the case had demonstrated that criminal trials could be concluded within a reasonable time without compromising due process, fair hearing or the fundamental rights of accused persons.

The Edo State Government established the Special Criminal Court to prosecute kidnapping and cult-related offences, with the court commencing operations on July 1, 2026.

Speaking alongside other executives and members of the Benin NBA, Omoigui stressed that the association was not advocating rushed justice, but a system in which criminal cases were handled efficiently and without avoidable delays.

According to him, the case provided an important lesson that when the judiciary, security agencies, executive authorities and legal practitioners effectively discharge their constitutional and professional responsibilities, the justice system can respond decisively to serious security challenges.

He commended the coordinated efforts of the stakeholders, particularly the security agencies, for their prompt response and investigative work, and urged them to sustain the collaboration to ensure that justice was delivered promptly, fairly and lawfully.

Omoigui reaffirmed the Benin NBA’s commitment to the rule of law, judicial independence and protection of fundamental rights, saying an efficient justice system remained critical to strengthening public confidence and addressing the country’s growing security challenges.

The Federal Government has vaccinated more than 18 million adolescent girls against Human Papillomavirus (HPV), while expanding cervical cancer screening, early diagnosis and treatment as part of efforts to eliminate the disease in Nigeria.

The Director, Disease Control and Immunisation, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Rufai Ahmed Garba, disclosed this on Tuesday at a strategic policy roundtable organised by MSD in conjunction with Africa Health Business (AHB), with the theme, ‘Accelerating Cervical Cancer Elimination in Nigeria: Uniting Public and Private Sectors for Equitable Access.’

Garba said the 18 million girls vaccinated represented about 76 per cent of the target population, describing the development as a significant milestone since Nigeria introduced the HPV vaccine into its national programme in October 2023.

‘Today, we are around 76 per cent coverage of our target, but in terms of numbers, we have crossed 18 million adolescent girls, which is equivalent to three countries in Africa,’ he said.

He said the vaccine had become part of the routine immunisation schedule and was available free of charge to nine-year-old girls at public health facilities, while private facilities could provide it to people outside the routine target age.

Garba, however, said the country’s response to cervical cancer must go beyond vaccination to include screening, early diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.

‘We see around 12,000 new cases every year in Nigeria, and we lose close to 8,000 women on a yearly basis. So, that’s how serious it is,’ he said.

‘If it is not diagnosed early, if it is not treated early, it leads to death. So, that’s what all of this is about-not just the vaccination, which NPHCDA does, but also how we are able to get women to screen them, to catch them early, treat them and follow them up till they actually get better.’

He identified getting healthy nine-year-old girls into health facilities for preventive vaccination as one of the major gaps in the programme.

According to him, the agency has therefore adopted school-based vaccination and outreach campaigns to improve access and coverage.

‘You know that it’s very difficult to get a child into a facility when they’re well. This is like putting a needle into somebody that is very okay, running up and down and dancing, and you say, ‘Come, we want to protect you for 10 years, for your lifetime,” he said.

Garba said the government also needed to strengthen adolescent-friendly health services to encourage young people to seek preventive healthcare.

‘We need to start looking at adolescent healthcare a lot more seriously, having a safe space where adolescents can actually come to the public health facilities and have somebody to talk to and they will not be judged,’ he said.

He said school vaccination exercises, the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week and other campaigns were being used to bridge the access gap.

‘We use that to bridge the gap. But we’re getting there, we just need to do more work in terms of sensitisation and awareness creation,’ he said.

On the decision to make nine years the routine age for HPV vaccination, Garba said the policy was designed to ensure girls were protected before sexual activity.

‘The best time to actually give the vaccine is before the person becomes active sexually. The reason being that 98 per cent of the time the infection is from sexual intercourse,’ he said.

On reports of vaccine shortages in some states, he said the NPHCDA had a logistics system for monitoring stock levels, forecasting demand and redistributing vaccines according to consumption.

‘Sometimes we run short of different antigens. But there’s a system in place that already tracks it. The logistics team has a dashboard where they see when it is getting reduced and when you need to restock,’ Garba said.

He added that vaccines could be redistributed from states with lower consumption to states where demand was higher.

‘We balance from time to time. And just like you said, when we look at consumption rate and we see how high some are, and some are not as high as that, we call it redistribution to move the vaccine from one state to another where they have been highly used,’ he said.

Garba also described Nigeria’s cold-chain system as strong, saying solar-powered equipment had been deployed to some primary healthcare centres.

‘Our cold chain is almost the best in Africa,’ he said, adding that the agency was still working to extend solar-powered cold-chain facilities to more parts of the country.

He also urged the media to investigate cases where private health facilities charge patients for HPV vaccines supplied by the government free of charge.

‘All of the health facilities that conduct routine immunisation have HPV vaccines. We give them,’ he said.

Garba said the NPHCDA could withdraw vaccine supplies from facilities found to be charging for the government-provided vaccines, although the agency lacked enforcement powers.

‘We will need you guys to bust that story. Unfortunately, NPHCDA does not have enforcement powers, but what we can do is we can stop giving them vaccines when we find out that they’re selling vaccines that are supposed to be free. But we’re not everywhere, and we need your help to do that,’ he said.

Also speaking, the Director of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Dr Usman Muhammad Waziri, who represented the Director-General of the institute, Professor Usman Malami Aliyu, said NICRAT was working to address barriers to cancer prevention, early detection and treatment.

Waziri said the institute’s mandate covered the entire cancer-care continuum, including prevention, research, awareness, screening, treatment, palliative care and survivorship.

‘Part of the mandate is to engage every partner and stakeholder within the country, looking at international partners, other government agencies, ministries and departments that have an interest and are working in the cancer ecosystem, to work together and ensure we streamline our activities, efforts, as well as all our programmes to make it more robust, effective and impactful,’ he said.

He identified inadequate awareness, affordability and access to quality care as major barriers to improved cancer outcomes in Nigeria.

‘There are a lot of multifactors that have contributed to that. Generally, when it comes to access to care in a country-not only limited to Nigeria-it starts with decision-making by affected individuals. And those decisions have to be informed decisions,’ he said.

Waziri said financial constraints could also delay access to treatment, particularly when patients present at advanced stages of the disease.

‘Affordability, because when people decide late, even if they go to the best of facilities, the disease will be late-stage,’ he said.

He disclosed that NICRAT was partnering with the American Association for Cancer Research and other organisations to develop a community cancer communication strategy aimed at improving public understanding of cancer.

‘We need to come together, streamline our efforts and standardise the information that goes out. Because most often, it’s not just the information that goes out, but appropriate information that is population- or community-centred,’ Waziri said.

He said the strategy would address misconceptions and beliefs that could prevent people from seeking appropriate care.

‘Perhaps you’ll see a community, even the elite segment, that will tell you, ‘No, cancer is usually a spiritual issue, don’t go for standard care,” he said.

On cancer treatment infrastructure, Waziri said the government was expanding multidisciplinary cancer treatment centres across the country.

He said additional centres were being developed, with Katsina already included in the expansion programme.

‘By before the end of this administration, six additional centres will be the focus,’ he said.

Waziri also disclosed that NICRAT had introduced the National Initiative for Cancer Early Detection, Screening and Coordinated Access to Network of Care (NISCAN) to improve access to screening and early diagnosis.

‘Presently, the philosophy behind that is to now make sure we routinise cancer screening for people at risk through standardised national guidelines, so that those who are at risk can now go into the hospital before they even become cancerous and get themselves checked,’ he said.

He said the initiative was being piloted in the FCT, with additional centres planned across the country.

Waziri explained that NISCAN would operate through a hub-and-spoke model, with primary healthcare facilities serving as entry points for screening and specialised centres providing further diagnosis and treatment.

He said suspected cases identified through the FCT programme were referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi.

‘Every woman with a suspected cervical lesion will get there and get evaluated to the point of histological diagnosis under one roof. If it is cancerous, she gets connected to treatment. If it is not cancerous, she gets counselled and continued on follow-up based on national guidelines,’ he said.

Waziri said Nigeria was working towards the World Health Organisation’s 90-70-90 targets for cervical cancer elimination by 2030.

‘By 2030, the target is we should be able to screen and vaccinate 90 per cent of girls that are age-appropriate and eligible against Human Papillomavirus, then get 70 per cent of the women eligible for screening screened, and 90 per cent of those that are screened positive, either for precancerous lesions or cancerous lesions, get access to treatment,’ he said.

He disclosed that the National Task Force on Cervical Cancer Elimination had established the Partnership for Elimination of Cervical Cancer in Nigeria, with support from First Lady Oluremi Tinubu.

Waziri said government-led cervical cancer screening had commenced in Imo State and would be expanded to other states, with Niger State next in line.

‘Cervical screening championed by the Nigerian government is currently ongoing in Imo State, as well as other centres where the Institute is campaigning. We’ve itemised that we will be moving to six further states; the next state is Niger State, and then some other states will follow,’ he said.

He said the objective was to take screening services to communities across the country.

‘We want to have this cervical cancer rollout reach all the nooks and crannies of the country,’ he said.

Waziri also disclosed that the Cancer Health Fund, which assists indigent Nigerians to access cancer treatment, was currently being implemented in six facilities and covered breast, cervical and prostate cancers.

He said inadequate funding remained a constraint to expanding the programme.

‘The funding allocated to the programme is not yet optimal enough to go round and assist the bulk of the populace that is affected, especially the indigent,’ he said.

The Director, External Affairs, Sub-Saharan Africa, MSD, Vuyo Mjekula, said stronger private-sector participation was needed to accelerate cervical cancer elimination in Nigeria.

Mjekula said the policy dialogue brought together government agencies, scientific leaders, civil society organisations, private-sector representatives and other partners to examine ways of building on the country’s HPV vaccination programme.

‘What we were trying to explore together is, how do we build on the firm foundation that has already been built within Nigeria and work towards accelerating cervical cancer elimination in Nigeria?’ she said.

She said Nigeria’s HPV vaccination programme had achieved substantial coverage since its introduction.

‘We know that the National Primary Health Care Development Agency initiated the national HPV programme in 2023. Within that first year, the NPHCDA managed to vaccinate 12 million girls. Three years later, they have vaccinated, I believe it’s now around 18 million girls,’ Mjekula said.

She said expanding screening, diagnosis and treatment was critical to complement the gains made through vaccination.

‘The main thing was, how do we build upon that foundation and even the work of these various task groups? And one of the areas which we believe was a gap or is a gap is we see that there’s a great opportunity for the increased involvement of the private sector,’ she said.

Mjekula said the changing global funding environment had increased the importance of domestic resource mobilisation and partnerships.

‘COVID-19 showed us that it is possible for countries and for Ministries of Health to bring in the private sector and many other social partners to address a health threat,’ she said.

She called for greater integration of women’s healthcare services so that preventive interventions could be incorporated into routine healthcare encounters.

‘We don’t look at women in a siloed way,’ she said, urging healthcare providers to integrate HPV screening and other preventive interventions into maternal and broader reproductive healthcare services where appropriate.

Mjekula also advocated the inclusion of private-sector representatives in the national cervical cancer task force, partnership and technical working groups.

‘The private sector would have a seat at the table in the respective task forces, in the partnership for the elimination of cervical cancer in Nigeria, in various technical working groups,’ she said.

She added that greater collaboration could help reduce fragmentation and improve the use of available resources.

‘There’s a huge opportunity to break down fragmentation, galvanise and integrate resources so that the resources can be deployed to the most impactful areas and build efficiencies in general,’ Mjekula said.

She disclosed that MSD had supported catch-up HPV vaccination for girls up to age 20 who were not covered when Nigeria introduced the programme.

Mjekula also said MSD was working with Gavi and UNICEF to promote access to higher-valency HPV vaccines in Africa.

She disclosed that MSD had invested more than $44 million in Nigeria over the past decade through its MSD for Mothers initiative to support civil society organisations working in maternal healthcare.

On cancer care more broadly, she said MSD was working with City Cancer Challenge in Abuja to identify gaps and develop solutions for improving oncology services.

She said the company would continue to support partnerships aimed at strengthening cervical cancer prevention, screening and treatment.

‘We believe that conversations like the one we’ve started today can really grow and gain momentum, so that we can ensure that our policies are not limited by what we have, but are aspirational to achieve the world that we want,’ Mjekula said.

The National Chairman of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Prince Chinedu Obi, has unveiled the party’s ‘Esther Rescue Nigeria Agenda’ as the party formally inaugurated its Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 general elections.

Obi, who spoke at the inauguration of the Dr. Esther Nkem Okereke/Arc. Nasir Suleiman Muhammed 2027 Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja on Tuesday, said the NRM was founded on the conviction that ‘Nigeria can work again’ through stronger institutions, accountability and effective leadership.

He said the occasion marked more than the inauguration of another campaign structure, describing it as the formal commencement of an organised national political and policy engagement around the party’s vision for the country.

According to him, Nigeria possesses enormous human and natural resources, agricultural potential, a youthful population and opportunities for industrial, technological and service-sector development, but requires institutions and leadership systems capable of translating those advantages into measurable improvements in citizens’ lives.

Obi said the NRM’s governing philosophy was anchored on ‘Rule of Law for Peace, Productivity and Shared Prosperity,’ arguing that predictable laws, credible institutions, enforceable contracts and accountable public officials were essential to building a functional and productive state.

He also announced the party’s commitment to what he described as zero tolerance for corruption, saying the NRM would emphasise transparent processes, effective controls, independent oversight and consequences for violations of established laws and procedures.

The NRM chairman said the party wanted to move Nigeria from a personality-driven system of governance to an institution-driven one, with ministries, departments and agencies operating on clearly defined mandates, procedures, financial controls, performance indicators, reporting requirements and evaluation mechanisms.

He identified productivity, employment, living standards, security, education, healthcare, infrastructure, energy, industrialisation, agriculture, justice and institutional capacity as interconnected areas requiring comprehensive attention.

Obi said the party’s policy engagement was structured around six principal pillars under the Esther Rescue Nigeria Agenda, drawn from the NRM’s 24-pillar blueprint.

The pillars focus on effective state institutions, a productive economy, education and healthcare, security and justice, infrastructure and energy, as well as science, technology, research, innovation and entrepreneurship.

He said the NRM had deliberately presented a presidential ticket comprising a woman and a younger professional, with Dr. Esther Nkem Okereke as presidential candidate and Arc. Nasir Suleiman Muhammed as running mate, describing the decision as reflecting the party’s emphasis on inclusion, professional capacity and generational renewal.

Obi urged members of the newly inaugurated campaign council to ensure that the party’s campaign was based on ideas, policies and competence.

He said the NRM would promote ‘ideas rather than insults; policies rather than propaganda; competence rather than entitlement; service rather than self-enrichment; institutions rather than personalities; accountability rather than impunity.’

Speaking after the National Chairman, presidential candidate Dr. Esther Nkem Okereke described the campaign council as the ‘rescue team’ of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

She said the NRM campaign would focus on structure, evidence and peace, rather than political noise, and announced a chain of command stretching from the presidential candidate and Director-General through national directorates, geopolitical zones, states, local government areas, wards and polling units.

Okereke charged the campaign council to operate with discipline and accountability, directing coordinators to submit daily incident reports, weekly performance reports and monthly consolidated reports.

She also said women, youths and students would occupy a central position in the campaign, describing them as the heart of the campaign. On security, the presidential candidate stressed that the campaign’s Security and Safety Liaison Directorate would work only with legally constituted security agencies.

‘We will not intimidate, we will not harass. We will not bully. We will Rescue, Rebuild and Restore,’ she said.

She outlined a five-phase campaign strategy covering organisation, capacity building, nationwide operations, election readiness and election-day operations, with the final phase to operate strictly under INEC rules.

The campaign council is chaired by Prince Chinedu Obi, with Okereke as Co-Chairman. Dr. Mustapha Umar Kumshe is Deputy Chairman, while Arc. Nasir Suleiman Muhammed is Co-Deputy Chairman.

Hassan Aminu Ibrahim is Secretary, Obidike Okolo, Esq., Deputy Secretary, Alhaji Sani Garba, Director-General, and Shedrach Oka, Deputy Director-General.

The council also comprises zonal and state chairmen and other officials and members appointed by the party.

Obi charged members to translate the NRM’s development philosophy into a coherent programme of public engagement, saying the party’s internal conduct must reflect the standards it proposes for governance.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2026 Ekiti State election, Dr Wole Oluyede, has pledged to mobilise massive support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in the 2027 presidential election, promising to deliver at least 90 per cent of the votes cast in the state for the President.

Oluyede made the pledge on Tuesday at a mobilisation drive and rally organised by his newly formed group, the Oluyede Progressives Alliance for Renewed Hope Agenda, which he convened to galvanise support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.

He assured Governor Biodun Oyebanji that members of the group and his supporters would embark on a grassroots mobilisation campaign across the 16 local government areas of the state, going from door to door to canvass votes for the President.

Oluyede, who contested the June 20 governorship election on the platform of the PDP, said he was committed to working with his supporters and other stakeholders to ensure that Tinubu secured an overwhelming victory in Ekiti.

He said, ‘I want to thank the PDP for agreeing with me that we are going to support the President. My duty is to ensure that we support him in all the local governments.

‘We are going to win this election with 90 per cent. We are going to work hard to make sure that we deliver 90 per cent for him.

‘These people are already committed. They are going to go door to door in all the 16 local governments to canvass for the President and, on election day, they will stand by him.’

Oluyede also appealed to President Tinubu to reciprocate the support by continuing to prioritise the development of Ekiti State.

He said the mobilisation was aimed at demonstrating that the President enjoyed substantial support across political divides in the state.

Speaking at the event, Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, described Oluyede’s decision to mobilise support for Tinubu as a demonstration of commitment to peace and the development of the state.

Oyebanji said the political alliance was significant because it showed that political differences should not be allowed to undermine the collective interest of Ekiti people.

He commended Oluyede and his supporters for putting aside partisan differences and joining the campaign for Tinubu’s re-election.

The Governor said, ‘I am grateful for your generosity of spirit. I am grateful for your love for Ekiti. I am grateful for your commitment to peace, and I am grateful because I know your capacity.

‘We had an election in Ekiti State, and there was no violence. Nobody was killed. I give God all the glory.

‘Ekiti will be 30 years old in two days. What is happening today speaks to the aspirations of the founding fathers of the state when they were fighting for state creation.’

Oyebanji recalled that during the struggle for the creation of Ekiti State, the founding fathers emphasised unity among the people, irrespective of political, religious or other differences.

He said the development was particularly important because it demonstrated that Ekiti people could work together despite belonging to different political parties.

According to him, the 2027 presidential election should be approached as a collective effort by members of the APC and PDP who support Tinubu, urging them to work together at the ward and local government levels.

The Governor said Tinubu’s re-election was critical to the continued development of Ekiti State, citing federal projects and support which, according to him, had impacted positively on the state.

Oyebanji said, ‘There has never been a President, living or dead, that has been so good to the people of Ekiti State as this one.

‘You voted for me, and he is supporting me. He also said that you should vote for him and that he will ensure that Ekiti develops.’

He urged APC members across the state to cooperate with members of the Oluyede-led alliance and avoid unnecessary rivalry at the grassroots.

Oyebanji said there should be no hostility between APC and PDP members supporting Tinubu, advising them to organise joint meetings and rallies where necessary.

He said the collaboration between him and Oluyede should serve as an example to politicians in the state on the importance of cooperation, peace and putting the interests of the people above partisan considerations.

The Governor also urged supporters of the alliance to mobilise voters at the grassroots, saying the success of the campaign would depend largely on their ability to bring supporters to the polling units on election day.

Oyebanji added that the alliance was an indication that political leaders could put aside personal ambitions and differences when the broader interests of the people were at stake.

Hospitals are very important because they help save lives and take care of sick people. However, many hospitals in Nigeria are facing serious challenges that make it difficult for them to provide good healthcare to patients.

One of the major problems is the lack of enough medical workers. Some hospitals do not have enough doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health workers. This can make patients wait for a long time before receiving treatment. In some cases, one health worker may have to attend to many patients at the same time.

Another major challenge is poor electricity supply.

Hospitals need electricity to run machines, store medicines properly and carry out important operations. When there is no power, some hospitals have to depend on generators, which can be expensive to maintain because of the high cost of fuel.

Many hospitals also lack modern medical equipment. Some important machines are either not available or are no longer working properly.

This can make it difficult for doctors to find out what is wrong with a patient. Some patients are then sent to other hospitals, which can delay treatment.

The situation needs urgent attention. The relevant authorities should take steps to address these challenges and ensure that hospitals have enough medical workers, reliable electricity supply and functioning medical equipment. This will help hospitals provide better healthcare and ensure that patients receive the treatment they need without unnecessary delays.

Liadi Mutmoin, a student of Aries College of Health Management and Technology, Ibadan.

Economic and financial experts have stated that part of the 2026 budget may be rolled over into 2027, noting that the Federal Government is still struggling with the implementation of previous budget cycles.

A total of ?68.32 trillion 2026 budget was signed into law in April 2026. Analysts said the budget is currently in its active execution phase, stating that, although comprehensive, audited federal implementation performance figures for the mid-year remain largely unpublished by the Budget Office of the Federation.

According to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity, ‘We are still implementing the 2024 budget in 2026, implementing 2025 and 2026 all together.’

He said the government was trying to conclude implementation of the previous budgets to enable focused implementation of a single budget cycle.

Also speaking to Tribune Online, an economic expert, Mr Eric Igulla, noted that if the Federal Government did not increase the release of funds to the system to adequately settle previous budget cycles, the 2026 budget might be rolled over into 2027.

He explained that the non-release of funds for the implementation of previous budgets, particularly for capital projects, had caused financial problems for the government.

‘Financial discipline is required to keep to the budget and do as you had proposed. Now, a lot of important projects that would have benefited ordinary Nigerians are hanging in the air,’ he stated.

Also speaking to Tribune, another economic expert, Eze Onyekpere, explained that under the current expenditure, ‘you have salaries and emoluments of public officers. So the only people you can touch are those people who are working with the government, which is quite very few.

‘Another part of recurrent expenditure is debt, which is taking 53% of all our revenue. So those ones are not impacting on anybody. Now, the part of the budget that touches the lives of the people is the capital budget, particularly developmental capital,’ he stated.

It was reported that only 30% of the 2025 capital budget was funded and executed during its initial cycle due to revenue shortfalls. Seventy per cent of the unexecuted 2025 capital projects were deferred and rolled over into the 2026 capital budget framework.

Also lamenting the non-implementation of the country’s budget, another economic expert and the co-founder of BudgIT, Oluseun Onigbinde, said the current administration had declared more revenue with low capital releases.

It was also reported that weeks ago, during the Senate’s engagement with the Ministry of Finance, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno raised the alarm. He questioned why capital projects and critical government programmes appeared to be lagging if revenue collections were exceeding projections.

The senator also expressed concern over the reported absence of capital releases to security agencies and sought clarification on the retention of about ?1.7 trillion from recent Federation Account allocations.

‘We have exceeded the target of our revenue collection. It is inherently contradictory for government to woefully fail to implement the budget. Where are these revenues going to? If the budget, for example, the 2025 budget, has not been implemented, and we have to roll over 70% of 2025 to 2026, and that with the promise that 30% will be implemented before March.

‘Up to March, even 30% was not implemented. The National Assembly had to extend the lifespan of the budget up to September to allow government to implement just the 30% component of the 2025 budget,’ he lamented.

Tribune Online contacted the Budget Office of the Federation to ascertain the level of 2026 budget implementation. However, there was no response at the time of filing this report.

Analysts are of the opinion that, except for intensified releases of funds with prudent spending in the coming days, part of the 2026 budget may be rolled over into 2027.

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University, Jalingo Branch, has accepted a two weeks extension request by governor Agbu Kefas to enable government meet the Union demands.

ASUU- TSU is demanding full implementation of the FGN/ASUU 2025 Agreement, and other outstanding provisions.

Nigerian Tribune reports that ASUU- TSU branch, had earlier on the 13th August 2026, issued a 14 day ultimatum, calling on governor Agbu Kefas, and the Taraba state government to fully implement the agreement or face industrial action at the University.

However, the ultimatum elapsed on 26th August, 2026, without government concrete and verifiable action, while industrial disharmony was not considered by the Union due to the institution’s combined convocation that was scheduled within the period.

Meanwhile, the union after the expiration of the first ultimatum, also issued what it described as final 14-day ultimatum from 14th September, 2026, to 28th September, 2026.

However, Dr. Dr. Joshua Garba Mbave, the ASUU chairman informed on Tuesday that the Union has received an official communication from the Taraba state government, requesting additional two weeks to enable government meet the union demands.

‘Yes, we have received an official communication from the state government requesting additional two weeks to enable government meet our demands. We have communicated same to ASUU national and they have asked us to accept the request.

‘After receiving the latter, we reconvene an emergency meeting and members unanimously agreed to accept the state government request.

‘Members also warned that industrial action would be taken if their demands are not met after the expiration of the newly extended 14 day,’ Dr. Mbave stated.

The ASUU chairman while appreciating efforts of the Taraba State Government towards addressing issues affecting the University, he called on the state government to be committed and sincere to the agreement in order to maintain an uninterrupted academic calendar at the University.