Category: PM News

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has entered a fresh partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to launch the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) 2.0.

Vice President Kashim Shettima is scheduled to officially unveil the revamped programme on October 22, 2025, at the State House, Abuja.

According to NECA’s Director-General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, the collaboration stems from a recent strategy meeting between NECA and the UNDP-NJFP team, which produced a roadmap to make the second phase more impactful and sustainable. The programme will be fully transitioned to the Federal Government by 2027 for continued implementation.

A flagship initiative supported by the European Union, the NJFP provides 12-month fully paid work placements for young Nigerian graduates across private, public, and non-profit sectors. Fellows receive ?150,000 monthly stipends, alongside mentorship and market-relevant training to enhance employability.

While the first phase of the programme recorded notable achievements, it also faced challenges in scale and sustainability. The redesigned NJFP 2.0 aims to address those gaps by deepening private sector engagement and creating stronger pathways for permanent employment.

Oyerinde revealed that NECA will play a central role in connecting employers with trained fellows through a national Job Fair scheduled as a side event during the official launch.

‘The fair will bring together key industry players to engage with NJFP Fellows and identify placement opportunities,’ he said.

NECA also plans to facilitate the recruitment and placement of 20,000 fellows through its employer network, advising the NJFP team on aligning training with sector-specific skills requirements.

In addition, the association will provide data on emerging skills demands, drive policy advocacy, and strengthen Nigeria’s industry-driven training framework.

To further sustain momentum, NECA will host an NJFP Industry Summit in 2026 to evaluate progress, exchange insights, and strengthen collaboration among employers, government, and development partners.

Through this partnership, NECA and UNDP seek to empower a new generation of highly skilled, employable Nigerian youths equipped to drive national growth and economic transformation.

The Nigerian equities market extended its bullish run on Tuesday, as investors gained ?963 billion amid sustained buying interest in major stocks.

The market capitalisation, which opened at ?95.171 trillion, added ?963 billion or 0.01 per cent to close at ?96.134 trillion.

Similarly, the All-Share Index rose by 0.01 per cent or 1,516.10 points, closing at 151,456.91 compared with 149,940.81 recorded on Monday.

Gains in SCOA Nigeria, Omatek, Consolidated Hallmark Holdings, BUA Foods, Vitafoam and 23 other equities strengthened the market’s performance.

In spite of the rally, market breadth closed negative, recording 30 losers against 28 gainers.

Livingtrust Mortgage Bank led the losers by 9.91 per cent to close at ?4. Conoil trailed by 5.83 per cent at ?190.70, while Africa Prudential fell 5.69 per cent to ?14.10.

Sovereign Trust Insurance declined by 3.95 per cent to ?3.65, and NPF Microfinance Bank dropped 3.75 per cent to ?3.08 per share.

On the gainers’ table, SCOA Nigeria led by 7.74 per cent to close at ?7.10. Omatek Ventures followed with 7.48 per cent at ?1.58, and Consolidated Hallmark Holdings rose 6.70 per cent to ?4.78.

BUA Foods appreciated by 6.54 per cent to ?692.50, while Vitafoam increased 5.92 per cent to ?94 per share.

A total of 551.92 million shares worth ?20.54 billion were traded in 27,518 deals.

Fidelity Bank led in trading volume with 59.1 million shares valued at ?1.18 billion.

VFD Group followed with 39.31 million shares worth ?424.7 million, while Japaul Gold traded 37.7 million shares valued at ?94.9 million.

Access Corporation exchanged 37.4 million shares worth ?950.1 million, and Guaranty Trust Holding Company sold 31.4 million shares valued at ?2.92 billion.

The Lagos State Government has launched an investigation into a staff member of the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) over allegations of diverting official payments into a personal bank account.

The probe was initiated after a social media user raised the alarm on X (formerly Twitter), alleging that the agency was receiving payments through an individual’s Opay account, issuing customers receipts that did not reflect the actual amounts paid.

The whistleblower, identified as @Bhadmoz (TrueBlue), accused the agency of charging ?45,000 while issuing receipts of just ?7,100, tagging Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in the post.

Reacting swiftly to the allegations, Commissioner Wahab confirmed that the individual linked to the account was an existing LASAA employee. He ordered the staff member to appear at the agency’s headquarters for disciplinary action.

‘My attention has been drawn to a post alleging improper transaction practices involving a staff member of an agency under our ministry,’ Wahab said. ‘I have directed that the officer report to the head office tomorrow for immediate disciplinary proceedings.’

Wahab reiterated the state government’s commitment to transparency and warned public servants against unethical practices.

‘Let this be a clear warning: Lagos State has zero tolerance for misconduct. We appreciate concerned citizens who expose wrongdoing, as accountability is a shared responsibility,’ he added.

The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency is responsible for regulating outdoor advertisements and signage across the state.

The United Kingdom has announced a major change to its post-study work visa policy, reducing the period international graduates have to remain in the country after completing their studies from two years to 18 months, effective January 1, 2027.

The decision was confirmed by UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, as part of the government’s new immigration plan aimed at tightening migration rules while prioritising highly skilled talent.

According to a statement published on the UK Government’s website, the new measure is part of the country’s ‘Plan for Change’ immigration white paper, which introduces stricter controls on who can live and work in the UK.

‘The time for international students to find a graduate-level job after completing their studies will also be cut to 18 months from the current two years,’ the statement read.

Additionally, the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC), a fee paid by employers who sponsor foreign workers, will be increased by 32 percent starting 2027. The UK government stated that this increase is aimed at boosting investment in training British citizens and reducing dependence on foreign labour.

The government also announced that international students, including Nigerians, will be required to meet an A-level standard of English proficiency before qualifying for study, work, or settlement visas.

This policy shift comes amid ongoing concerns over the rising cost of studying in the UK. Tuition fees for undergraduate programmes are expected to rise by 3.1% in the 2025/26 academic year-from £9,250 to £9,535. Additional charges for overseas applicants are also set to be introduced, making higher education in the UK increasingly expensive.

Recent data shows a decline in the number of international students choosing the UK as their study destination in 2024, a trend experts link to previous immigration restrictions.

In January 2024, the UK government had already barred foreign students from bringing dependants, except those on postgraduate research programmes or government-funded scholarships.

The UK Home Office said the change in post-study work duration is based on evidence showing many international graduates were not securing graduate-level jobs within the two-year period, as the pathway was intended.

‘To ensure graduates contribute effectively to the economy, the maximum post-study stay will be reduced to 18 months,’ the statement added.

Nigeria is one of the largest sources of international students in the UK. The reduction in post-study work rights is expected to significantly influence study abroad decisions among Nigerians, who often rely on the Graduate Route Visa as a pathway to gain work experience and potentially settle in the UK.

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, fixed Oct. 31 for judgment in a suit seeking to stop the planned Nov. 15 and Nov. 16 National Convention of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ibadan, Oyo State

New national officers of PDP are expected to be elected at the convention

Justice James Omotosho fixed the date after counsel for the plaintiffs and the defence lawyers adopted their processes and presented their arguments for and against the case.

The plaintiffs; Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Amah Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman) and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South), had filed the suit.

They had sued Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), PDP, Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of the party; Umar Bature, National Organising Secretary of the party; National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party as 1st to 6th defendants.

Others joined in the suit are Umar Damagum, the PDP National Chairman; Ali Odefa and Emmanuel Ogidi as 7th, 8th and 9th defendants respectively.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, Justice Omotosho reaffirmed that his order on maintaining status quo in respect of the convention must not be flouted by any of the parties involved in the suit.

Joseph Daudu, SAN, who represented the the plaintiffs, urged the court not to treat the complaints of the plaintiffs as internal affairs of the party but a step to enforce adherence to the 1999 Constitution, Electoral Act, 2022 and the PDP Constitution.

The senior lawyer argued that Nigeria’s constitution makes mandatory for INEC to monitor congresses of political parties before they could be valid.

He said that the complaints of the three aggrieved members was that no valid congress was conducted in the 14 states before the PDP NWC and NEC issued notice for the Nov. 16 and 17 convention.

However, the National Chairman of the party, Mr Damagum, represented by Paul Erokoro, SAN, asked the judge to decline jurisdiction on the ground that issues of convention and congresses are internal affairs of the party.

Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, who stood for the NWC and the NEC of the party, aligned with Erokoro’s submission to the effects that courts cannot inquire into the internal affairs of the party.

The Federal Government has announced a $220 million investment initiative aimed at creating sustainable employment opportunities for young Nigerians through the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) 2.0.

Vice President Kashim Shettima made the disclosure on Wednesday while flagging off the programme at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, noting that the initiative will be implemented in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

According to him, the programme is designed to connect high-potential graduates with practical work experience, training, and mentorship, equipping them with the skills needed to thrive in the job market.

Shettima described the initiative as a strategic step towards addressing the unemployment crisis among Nigerian youths, stressing that the government is committed to empowering a generation capable of driving innovation, productivity, and inclusive growth.

‘Our goal is to bridge the transition gap between learning and earning for thousands of young Nigerians, graduates who have the education, but not always the opportunity,’ the Vice President stated.

He added that the NJFP 2.0 builds on the success of the first phase, which provided paid work placements and mentorship opportunities for several young professionals across public and private sectors.

‘The Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme represents hope, hope that no young person will be left behind because of lack of opportunity,’ Shettima said.

‘It is our pledge to build a nation where talent meets purpose, and where learning translates into livelihood,’ he added.

The Vice President commended the EU and UNDP for their continued partnership in advancing youth empowerment and national development, adding that the collaboration reflects a shared vision of creating inclusive economic opportunities for Africa’s largest youth population.

For the first time in history, mosquitoes have been found in Iceland, a country long believed to be completely free of the insects.

The discovery comes after the North Atlantic nation experienced record-breaking heat this spring, raising fresh concerns about the effects of global warming on its fragile ecosystem.

Local insect enthusiast Bjorn Hjaltason spotted the mosquitoes last week while observing moths using wine-soaked ropes. He later identified two females and one male, which experts at the Icelandic Institute of Natural History confirmed as Culiseta annulata, one of the few species capable of surviving winter.

The insects were found in Kjós, a glacial valley southwest of the capital, Reykjavik. Until now, Iceland and Antarctica were the only two places on Earth without mosquitoes, largely due to the cold climate and lack of stagnant water.

‘I could tell right away that this was something I had never seen before,’ Hjaltason wrote on Facebook, adding that ‘the last fortress seems to have fallen.’

Experts say the development follows an unusually hot May in Iceland, when temperatures hit 26.6°C (79.8°F) – the highest ever recorded in the country. Normally, heatwaves last just two or three days, but this year, temperatures above 20°C persisted for over a week.

Entomologist Matthías Alfreðsson, who confirmed the discovery, said the species is common across Europe and North Africa but it remains unclear how they reached Iceland. He added that scientists will monitor the area next spring to determine whether the mosquitoes have established a permanent population.

Hjaltason believes the insects may have arrived through shipping routes. ‘Things often come in with containers,’ he said. ‘But if three of them came straight into my garden, there were probably more.’

The finding has sparked discussions among climate scientists, who say Iceland’s warming trend could reshape its once mosquito-free environment.

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has urged staff of the Local Government Service Commission to embrace teamwork, empathy, and purpose-driven leadership as vital ingredients for effective service delivery at the grassroots level.

Speaking during the inaugural OLGE and T Leadership Series webinar organised by the Office of Local Government Establishments and Training, Hamzat stressed that the strength of any organisation lies not in its financial resources or technology, but in the collective effort of its people.

‘For an organisation to succeed, teamwork is key, not finance, not strategy, not technology. Teamwork remains the most powerful competitive advantage because it fuels daily productivity and drives development at state and national levels,’ he said.

The Deputy Governor explained that every staff position carries value and contributes to institutional success, adding that collaboration and mutual respect among workers are the foundations of progress.

He further observed that while leadership challenges remain a recurring issue in Nigeria, true leadership begins with empathy, active listening, and patience.

‘A good leader must win the people’s hearts, not just their minds,’ Hamzat noted.

‘Leadership must be purposeful and emotionally intelligent. Leaders are made, not born-it depends on self-awareness and the choices we make,’ he said.

Hamzat also encouraged participants to regularly question their motives and timing when making decisions, emphasising that reflection and information gathering are essential tools for responsive and humane leadership.

Touching on national cohesion, the Deputy Governor said unity in language could enhance trust and foster national development, citing India as an example where linguistic alignment has strengthened social integration.

He added that effective land use planning remains critical to achieving food security and economic growth, urging Nigerians to adopt a more deliberate approach to agricultural and urban planning.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Local Government Establishments and Training Commission, Kamal Ayinde Bayewu, said the leadership series was designed to strengthen capacity building among local government staff.

He commended the innovation and encouraged participants to apply the lessons from Hamzat’s lecture to improve service delivery.

Bayewu praised the Permanent Secretary, Office of Local Government Establishments and Training, for initiating the programme, describing it as a step towards building a more efficient and responsive local government workforce.

A Magistrates’ Court in Jos on Wednesday sentenced an 18 -year-old mechanic , Abdulmalik Hamza to six months imprisonment for stealing a pack of ‘Fresh Yo’ yogurt from a shop.

The Magistrate, Irene Pati summarily tried and sentenced Hamza who pleaded guilty.

Pati, in her judgment however gave the convict an option of fine of N20,000.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp Ijuptil Thiawur told the court that the case was reported by the surveillance team of the Nasarawa Gwom Police Station on Sept. 30 .

Thiawur said that the team of Police Officers were alerted that Hamza had broken into a shop on getting there he was arrested with a pack of the yoghurt.

He added that the offence contravened the provisions iof Section 282 of the Plateau Penal Code Law.

The Ondo Government has reacted to a leaked memo by the Department of State Services, DSS indicating plan by ISWAP attack on some communities in the state by the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorist group.

The DSS had allegedly sent the leaked security memo to the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Akure.

But Ondo government, in a statement issued by its Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Idowu Ajanaku, on Wednesday in Akure urged residents of the state not to panic over the leaked memo

The Commissioner noted that the memo was part of regular intelligence reports that were routinely shared among security agencies and the government.

The Commissioner urged residents to remain calm, vigilant and reports any suspicious activity to the nearest security Agency, adding that measures were being taken to prevent any attack in the state.

‘The Government of Ondo State is aware of the recent security alert memo of the State Security Services addressed to the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Akure regarding a possible terrorist attack in some parts of the state, which got leaked to the media.

‘Such reports are a normal part of security operations, aimed at identifying and preventing potential threats.

‘These intelligence reports often contain varying levels of threat assessment and are used in joint operations by security agencies to enhance vigilance and take proactive measures.

‘The Ondo State government, led by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, is in constant contact with security agencies and is taking several steps to protect residents, especially those in border communities, so that Ondo State can remain as one of the safest States in the country.

‘The public can be assured that these reports are being acted upon by the government and relevant security agencies, and necessary precautions are being taken to ensure safety and security.

‘The emphasis remains on maintaining vigilance and cooperation between security agencies and the government to prevent and respond to any potential threats,’ Ajanaku stated.

He urged residents to go about their normal daily activities, refrain from taking laws into their hands, cooperate with security agencies and provide useful information that could help prevent any threat in any part of the state.