Category: Nigerian Tribune

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.

Yoruba nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, on Friday said the support of Nigerians for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government security measures is critical to the nation’s economic growth.

He maintained that various reforms being implemented by the government to reposition the economy, which are already yielding results, could only have more impact on the citizenry with effective security of the country.

A statement by Igboho’s media office quoted the Yoruba nation agitator to have made this disclosure during the launch of Iru Ekun Security Network in Ado Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti.

He underscored the need for all regardless of political, religious and ethnic colouration to support security agencies through credible information to dislodge criminal elements in any part of Nigeria, most especially in the South West.

Speaking at the palace of Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, Igboho said ‘the current infrastructural facelift in South West and other regions, most especially roads network and economic reforms which are ingredients for overall development can only be explored for the betterment of Nigerians by restoration of effective security and safety of all communities.

The statement reads further, ‘Therefore, our conventional security agencies currently being supported by local security initiatives like Iru Ekun should be encouraged and motivated to further tackle criminality in the society.

‘We are committed to eradicating banditry, kidnappers, and other hoodlums constituting a threat to peace, safety, and tranquility of Yorubaland. The era of bandits killing Yoruba Obas is over. We would not tolerate the abduction or killing of our people in the South West.

‘Before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ends his second term, Nigeria’s security would have been watertight to speed up the socioeconomic growth of our nation.

‘We don’t want to see any bandits or hoodlums in whatever guise in our farms and forest reserve. That was our plea to Yoruba traditional rulers, and they have made our position known to Mr President. This informed the approval granted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the establishment of Iru Ekun Security Network.

‘If there are reports of attack or security breach in our farms and villages, our revered traditional rulers should contact Iru Ekun for necessary action. We will not tolerate any ambush of our people again.

‘We want to go back to peace and security of the olden days when our father could decide to travel to anywhere in Yorubaland without any fear of attack or threat. It is possible and we are going to restore such hope and confidence in a safer environment for all.’

Recalling past incidents of abduction in some parts of Oyo State, Igboho explained that ‘there was a case of one elderly man we recently rescued in Okeho, Oyo State. The man, who is a farmer, had only N8,000 on him when he was kidnapped, and he was eating wara, a local snack, when they seized him. The hoodlums demanded N10 million ransom.

‘There was another case of a woman and child abducted in Iwere Ile, where her kidnappers demanded N200 million ransom. Her husband had been a victim of kidnapping before the incident, and he paid N60 million before he was released. While rescuing the woman, one of our Iru Ekun personnel was killed.

‘This time around we squaring up with bandits and kidnappers. We won’t take it easy with criminals until we conquer them. We believe that with the prayers of our traditional rulers, we will win these battles, ‘he was quoted to have stated.

In her remark, the Regent of Iworoko Ekiti, Princess Bolanle Adenike Ogundola, appealed to all Yoruba indigenes to support Iru Ekun Security Network for our own protection and peace, stressing that ‘as a race, Yoruba should exhibit love and develop more interest in the progress of our tribe.

Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has said Nigerians should not pay more for petroleum products because the Federal Government has failed to secure the country’s borders against smuggling.

Makinde stated this in his newsletter on Thursday while weighing in on the debate over fuel subsidy ahead of the 2027 elections.

He questioned the way Nigeria’s petroleum pricing debate has been presented, saying the government should focus on securing its borders instead of making Nigerians pay more for petrol.

‘We should also reject the argument that Nigerians must pay more for petroleum products simply to eliminate the price difference that makes smuggling into neighbouring countries profitable,’ Makinde said.

‘Nigerians should not be made to bear the cost of government’s inability to secure its borders,’ he added.

According to him, the debate should not be limited to whether fuel subsidy should return or remain removed.

‘For years, the debate in Nigeria has largely been presented as a choice between subsidising petroleum products or allowing Nigerians to pay the full market price. I believe we are asking the wrong question. The more important question is: what is the right pricing framework for an oil-producing country like Nigeria?’

Makinde said Nigerians should have access to information on how the price of petrol is determined.

Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has said Nigerians should not pay more for petroleum products because the Federal Government has failed to secure the country’s borders against smuggling.

Makinde stated this in his newsletter on Thursday while weighing in on the debate over fuel subsidy ahead of the 2027 elections.

He questioned the way Nigeria’s petroleum pricing debate has been presented, saying the government should focus on securing its borders instead of making Nigerians pay more for petrol.

‘We should also reject the argument that Nigerians must pay more for petroleum products simply to eliminate the price difference that makes smuggling into neighbouring countries profitable,’ Makinde said.

‘Nigerians should not be made to bear the cost of government’s inability to secure its borders,’ he added.

According to him, the debate should not be limited to whether fuel subsidy should return or remain removed.

‘For years, the debate in Nigeria has largely been presented as a choice between subsidising petroleum products or allowing Nigerians to pay the full market price. I believe we are asking the wrong question. The more important question is: what is the right pricing framework for an oil-producing country like Nigeria?’

Makinde said Nigerians should have access to information on how the price of petrol is determined.

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, has called for stronger linkages between education, skills acquisition and employment opportunities to address the growing challenge of youth unemployment in Nigeria.

The call was made on Thursday, September 3, 2026, during a pre-summit dialogue ahead of the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit (NES#32).

The virtual dialogue, themed ‘The Missing Link: From Learning to Earning,’ brought together stakeholders from the education, technology, philanthropy, entrepreneurship and youth development sectors to examine the barriers preventing young Nigerians from converting education and skills into sustainable livelihoods.

Speaking at the engagement, Chief Executive Officer of Sterling One Foundation, Olapeju Ibekwe, said the dialogue was aimed at laying the groundwork for a focused and implementable agenda capable of moving Nigeria from identifying challenges to delivering practical solutions.

Ibekwe urged stakeholders to sustain the conversation around building an economy capable of creating jobs, improving productivity and delivering shared prosperity.

In her special remarks, Director of Education Planning, Research and Development at the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Obianuju Anigbogu, stressed the importance of strengthening education planning, research and development as foundations for building a productive and future-ready workforce.

She called for stronger collaboration between government, the private sector and other stakeholders to ensure that education policies and interventions translate into meaningful outcomes for learners and the wider economy.

Delivering the keynote address, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank, Mr Abubakar Sulaiman, said the capabilities needed to drive productivity and economic growth must be developed from the school system.

Sulaiman advocated a shift from an education pipeline focused primarily on certificates to an ecosystem that develops capability, productivity and opportunity.

He said graduates should acquire transferable skills that enable them to function effectively across industries, regardless of their fields of study.

According to him, graduates of disciplines such as History, English or Physics should leave school with a meaningful component of workplace-relevant skills that can enable them to contribute productively to the economy.

He added that developing an adaptable workforce capable of responding to changing industry demands was essential to strengthening the relationship between education, employment and economic productivity.

During the panel discussion, Director of Research, Innovation and Information Technology at the National Universities Commission (NUC), Lawal Mohammed Faruk, represented by Assistant Director, Research, Planning and Administration, Dr Ezinne Orisakwe, called for effective systems to track graduates and out-of-school young people.

Orisakwe said reliable data on the transition from education to employment would enable policymakers to better understand the challenges confronting young people and design responsive interventions.

She also called for stronger policy coordination and urgent capital investment to address the growing number of graduates and skilled Nigerians seeking employment.

Similarly, Director of Programmes and Coordination at the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Oyindamola Egbeyemi, said skills development programmes must respond directly to labour-market demands.

She stressed that such programmes should go beyond training and certification to create measurable pathways to employment, entrepreneurship, productivity and improved livelihoods.

Other panellists, including Managing Partner of FATE Africa, Femi Taiwo, and Ibekwe, highlighted structural and practical barriers limiting young Nigerians’ ability to turn education and acquired skills into sustainable livelihoods.

The dialogue emphasised that bridging the gap between learning and earning requires more than expanding access to education. It requires an education and skills ecosystem that equips young Nigerians with relevant, adaptable and marketable capabilities while creating clear pathways to employment, entrepreneurship and productive economic participation.

The engagement forms part of consultations ahead of NES#32, which will focus on practical measures to build an economy that creates opportunities, raises productivity and delivers shared prosperity.

THE decision by the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, to approach the Federal High Court over the possibility of suspending the prosecution of African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, until after the 2027 presidential election is one that deserves careful consideration-and, indeed, applause. At a time when actions involving opposition figures are easily viewed through partisan lenses, Ajayi has demonstrated something often missing in public administration: institutional restraint. More importantly, he has placed a politically sensitive question before the court rather than attempting to resolve it through administrative discretion alone. The request to pause the proceedings should not be mistaken for weakness, political favouritism or an attempt to place anyone above the law. On the contrary, it reflects an understanding that the rule of law also requires fairness, proportionality and respect for the democratic process.

The DSS is not asking the court to terminate the case. Nor is it asking the court to determine Sowore’s innocence or guilt. It is asking the court to consider whether continuing the prosecution during an election period could unnecessarily complicate the democratic process. That distinction is fundamental. Sowore, like every other Nigerian, remains subject to the law. A presidential candidacy does not confer immunity from criminal prosecution, just as an allegation does not amount to a conviction. If the court approves a postponement, the allegations do not disappear. The prosecution can resume after the election, allowing the legal process to proceed without creating avoidable controversy around a presidential candidate at a particularly sensitive political moment. This distinction matters because the credibility of the proposal rests on the fact that it neither extinguishes the case nor predetermines its outcome. It merely asks the judiciary to consider whether timing, in the peculiar circumstances of an electoral contest, warrants a temporary adjustment to the proceedings.

This is precisely where Ajayi’s approach deserves commendation.

Security agencies wield enormous powers, and the manner in which those powers are exercised matters greatly. An institution that knows when to act firmly and when to exercise restraint demonstrates confidence in its own professionalism. The exercise of power is ultimately judged not only by what an institution can do, but by whether it knows the limits of what it should do. The Foundation for Democracy in Africa (FDA), in commending the DSS leadership, described the decision as consistent with democratic principles, due process, the rule of law and the integrity of elections. That assessment deserves attention. Nigeria’s democracy does not only depend on elections taking place; it also depends on citizens believing that institutions are not being used to influence electoral outcomes. That confidence can be fragile, particularly when a candidate challenging the political establishment is simultaneously facing prosecution by a security agency. Even where the prosecution is entirely lawful, its timing can become a subject of political contestation.

By placing the matter before the Federal High Court, Ajayi has allowed the judiciary to determine the appropriate course of action. That is a significant point. Rather than unilaterally making a politically sensitive decision, the DSS is seeking judicial guidance. The court remains free to accept, reject or modify the request on the basis of the law and the facts before it. That is how institutional restraint should work in a constitutional democracy. Ajayi’s record, as highlighted by the FDA, also provides useful context. Since assuming office in August 2024, he has been credited with efforts to strengthen due process within the service, including the release of persons allegedly detained in error and compensation for affected individuals. At the same time, the DSS under his leadership has continued to perform its core national-security responsibilities, including operations against terrorism and insurgency and the arrest and prosecution of high-profile suspects.

These two dimensions should not be presented as mutually exclusive. A security service does not become less effective because it respects due process. If anything, a professional security institution should be capable of combining operational effectiveness with a disciplined regard for the law. This combination of firmness on security and restraint where democratic sensitivities are involved is precisely what Nigerians should expect from a modern security institution. There is sometimes a mistaken assumption that a strong security agency must always be seen taking the toughest possible position. But strength is not measured solely by arrests, prosecutions or enforcement actions. Sometimes, the greater demonstration of institutional strength is knowing when restraint serves the national interest better. That appears to be the thinking behind the Ajayi initiative. There is, however, an important caveat. Institutional restraint should not become selective restraint. The credibility of this approach will ultimately depend on whether the same principle can be applied impartially, regardless of the identity, popularity or political affiliation of the person involved.

The 2027 elections will be an important test of Nigeria’s democratic institutions. Political parties will compete vigorously, candidates will make competing claims and public institutions will inevitably come under scrutiny.

In such an environment, every effort to reduce unnecessary institutional tension should be welcomed, provided it remains firmly anchored in law. The judiciary, rather than the DSS or any political actor, must have the final say on whether the proposed postponement is legally and procedurally justified.

The proposed pause in Sowore’s prosecution can therefore be viewed as an attempt to protect the credibility of the electoral process without compromising the justice system.

It is also important to stress that the decision does not create a special legal status for Sowore. It establishes no permanent immunity and does not erase the case. It simply creates the possibility of allowing the election to take place without an ongoing prosecution becoming an additional source of political controversy. That is a reasonable question for the DSS to place before the court. Whether it is the right remedy is properly a matter for the court to decide.

Indeed, the principle should be bigger than any individual or political party. If Nigeria is serious about building institutions that command public confidence, security agencies must be prepared to demonstrate impartiality, professionalism and respect for judicial authority regardless of the political identity of the person involved. Ajayi’s approach offers an example of how this can be done.

It is worth stressing this because the real value of the episode should not be reduced to whether one candidate benefits from a postponement. The more consequential question is whether Nigeria’s institutions are learning to manage politically sensitive cases in ways that protect both the integrity of the law and public confidence in the democratic process.

The DSS must remain tough against terrorism, violent extremism, threats to national security and other criminal activities. But that firmness must coexist with respect for constitutional rights and democratic institutions. That balance is not a contradiction. It is the hallmark of responsible security leadership.

For that reason, the FDA’s commendation of Ajayi is understandable. His decision to seek judicial consideration rather than simply allowing a politically sensitive prosecution to become another flashpoint demonstrates an appreciation of the bigger picture.

It also sends an important institutional message: that the DSS recognises that its authority is exercised within a constitutional order, not above it.

In the end, democracy is strengthened not only by the enforcement of laws but also by the responsible exercise of institutional power.

The DSS under Ajayi appears to be demonstrating that restraint can be a sign of strength, not weakness. And if that restraint is consistently applied, transparently justified and firmly anchored in law, the DSS leadership deserves applause.