Category: PM News

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Osun State Council has condemned the spate of violence threatening to mar the forthcoming election in the state. The body also hailed the successful rescue of abducted school children in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

These positions of the council, amongst others, were contained in the communique issued and signed by the Communique Drafting Committee of the council at the end of the union’s July 2026 Congress held at its secretariat, Osogbo on Wednesday.

The congress was presided over by the council’s Chairman, Comrade Adeyemi Aboderin.

The Congress thanked Governor Ademola Adeleke for approving permanent employment for 66 freelance staff of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, OSBC.

The Council acknowledged what it called ‘the crucial role played by the Senator representing Osun West and the Accord party campaign DG, Akogun Lere Oyewumi, on the absorption of the OSBC casual staff as full employees of Osun State Government.’

It enjoined the beneficiaries to reciprocate by re-dedicating themselves to their duties.

The congress condemned the spate of political violence ahead of the governorship election in the state and urged security agencies, most especially the police to be neutral, adding that ‘there is a need for the police to project their image positively to gain public trust.’

It charged politicians to play by the rules and rein in their supporters, adding that election should not be a do or die affair.

On the August 15 election, the NUJ urged registered voters to collect their PVCs at the INEC designated centers and also charged everyone to reject fear and ensure they vote on Election Day.

It called on the security operatives to guarantee the safety of Journalists in the state, before, during, and after the governorship election.

The Congress commended the Federal Government on the rescue of abducted children and teachers in Orire local government area of Oyo State and urged the Osun State Government to improve on security in schools and boundary areas in the state.

The family of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has disowned a viral letter questioning Isah Ashiru’s nomination as the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Kaduna State.

The letter, titled Urgent Message and dated July 14, 2026, was purportedly signed by El-Rufai and addressed to the National Chairman and National Secretary of the ADC.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the family described the document as a ‘shabby fake’ written in ‘horrible English’ and ‘horrendous handwriting.’

‘The spurious letter, purportedly dated July 14, 2026, and addressed to the National Chairman and National Secretary of the ADC, should be disregarded as the shabby fake that it is,’ the statement said.

‘Neither the poor content nor the handwriting has anything to do with Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.’

The disputed letter reportedly questioned Ashiru’s eligibility for the ADC governorship ticket, alleging that he failed to complete the party’s online membership registration before the April 30, 2026 deadline.

It claimed that Ashiru’s nomination had created tension within the party and urged the ADC’s national and Kaduna State leadership to intervene and review the matter.

El-Rufai’s family accused those behind the document of attempting to create confusion and division within the party.

‘The fake letter shows another resort to desperation by Mallam’s traducers who seek to sow confusion and division,’ the family said.

‘Their attempt at politics by fakery should be dismissed and condemned. It is an instance of the most primitive politics, and its sponsors should be ashamed of themselves.’

The statement was signed on behalf of the family by El-Rufai’s son, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai.

The Presidency has launched a scathing attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over reports that his lobbyists in the United States petitioned President Donald Trump and members of the US Congress over President Bola Tinubu’s past civil forfeiture case.

It accused Atiku of undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty and pursuing personal political ambitions.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described Atiku’s alleged move as unbecoming of an elder statesman and said it reflected a desperate quest for the presidency at the expense of Nigeria’s national image.

According to Onanuga, Atiku’s ‘relentless desire’ to become president had ‘closed his eyes to the virtues of statesmanship, decorum and propriety expected of an elder statesman.’

‘It is baffling and disappointing that someone who has sought the presidency for over three decades now resorts to reporting the President of Nigeria to US President Donald Trump and members of the US Congress,’ Onanuga said.

He said Atiku’s lobbying group in the United States submitted petitions relating to Tinubu’s 1993 civil forfeiture case, describing the matter as one that had been settled decades ago.

‘This issue was resolved over 30 years ago in the United States and has been thoroughly litigated, explained and rendered moot by the electoral mandates conferred on President Bola Tinubu by the people of Lagos and Nigeria at large,’ he said.

Onanuga argued that reviving the case amounted to ‘an affront to the intelligence of Nigerians’ and an attempt to ‘rewrite history for personal gain.’

The presidential spokesman maintained that Nigeria is a sovereign nation whose domestic political issues should not be taken before foreign governments.

‘It is important to remind Atiku and his associates that Nigeria is a sovereign nation, not a satellite of any foreign power. Reporting the President of Nigeria to another country’s leader is not only inappropriate but also undermines the nation’s dignity and independence,’ he stated.

He added that while lobbying is a legitimate feature of American politics, ’employing paid foreign agents to peddle discredited documents against a sitting Nigerian President is not advocacy-it is an attempt to externalise domestic politics and undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.’

Onanuga said the issues surrounding Tinubu’s eligibility had already been decided by Nigerian voters during the 2023 presidential election and subsequently affirmed by the Supreme Court.

‘Nigerians resolved this matter at the ballot in February 2023 and in the Supreme Court. That verdict stands, and Atiku’s latest fishing expedition would amount to nought,’ he said.

The presidential aide also challenged Atiku to address allegations relating to his own past dealings in the United States.

‘Furthermore, if Atiku Abubakar can spend $1.2 million on American lobbyists to report President Tinubu, perhaps he should also clarify his own legal standing in the United States,’ Onanuga said.

He said that Atiku featured prominently in the William Jefferson bribery scandal and was among the subjects of a 2010 US Senate investigation titled Keeping Foreign Corruption Out of the United States: Four Case Histories.

According to Onanuga, the report documented allegations that Atiku used offshore companies to move suspect funds, including alleged bribes from multinational companies, into the United States.

The presidential spokesman further accused the former vice president of seeking the presidency to shield himself from potential legal challenges abroad.

‘Atiku’s obsession with the presidency is driven not just by his ambition, but by a desire for diplomatic immunity and to evade potential legal issues abroad,’ he claimed.

Onanuga also criticised Atiku’s record during the privatisation programme under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, alleging that national assets were sold to cronies at undervalued prices, resulting in job losses and unpaid entitlements.

He argued that rather than offering policy alternatives to address Nigeria’s challenges, the former vice president had chosen ‘the path of media theatrics and lobbying in Washington.’

‘The challenges Nigeria faces require serious engagement, thoughtful solutions and leadership at home-not grandstanding abroad,’ he said.

Onanuga said President Tinubu remains focused on implementing the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stabilising the economy, attracting investments, improving national security and restoring Nigeria’s international standing.

‘President Tinubu is unfazed by Atiku’s theatrics as he remains focused on his Renewed Hope Agenda… He is not distracted by political actors, perennial losers like Atiku, who now seek validation abroad,’ Onanuga stated.

A potentially devastating fire involving a gas tanker was brought under control on Thursday after the vehicle burst into flames at Ola Farm Bus Stop along Abaranje Road in Ikotun, Lagos.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed that no one was killed or injured in the incident.

In a statement issued by the agency’s Head of Public Affairs, Olawale Afolabi, the tanker reportedly ran into trouble after hitting a road bump at excessive speed. The impact caused the driver to lose control, while one of the tyres burst and triggered the fire.

Emergency responders arrived to find the tanker completely engulfed in flames. Working alongside the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, they succeeded in putting out the fire before it could spread to nearby buildings or other road users.

Traffic and security around the scene were jointly managed by officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, the Federal Road Safety Corps and officers from the Ikotun Police Division, ensuring order while emergency operations continued.

Although the blaze has been extinguished, the damaged tanker was still being removed from the roadway, with heavy-duty recovery equipment deployed to clear the obstruction and restore normal traffic flow.

The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, used the incident to remind motorists of the dangers of reckless driving.

He urged drivers to obey speed limits, particularly near road bumps and within residential communities.

Oke-Osanyintolu said compliance with traffic regulations would help protect lives and property.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to disaster preparedness, rapid emergency response and public safety across the state.

He also urged residents to report emergencies through the state’s toll-free lines, 112 and 767, for prompt response.

The Anambra Government has threatened to arrest and prosecute anyone parading himself as the traditional ruler of any community without recognition and certification.

Chief Vincent Ezeaka, Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs issued the warning in a letter addressed to Presidents General of Town Unions on Thursday.

The statement was entitled ‘Unlawful Assumption of Office and Parading as Traditional Ruler by Persons not Recognized by the Anambra State Government’.

Ezeaka said the government had received reports about persons who without recognition parade themselves, permit themselves to be addressed as and perform functions reserved for traditional rulers in some communities.

He said such acts were criminal offenses punishable with imprisonment under the Traditional Rulers Law of Anambra.

He said only a person duly selected, appointed and formally recognised by government in accordance with the law was entitled to function or hold himself out as the traditional ruler of a town or community.

‘In view of the reports received so far, the Anambra State Government has taken a decision to prosecute every person who unlawfully parades himself as a traditional ruler, assumes a reserved title, or performs the functions of a traditional ruler. Accordingly, you are requested to submit complaints to this Ministry and the Ministry of Justice against any person in your community who is parading himself as a traditional ruler contrary to the provisions of the law,’ he said.

The Organized Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN) has cautioned the Federal Government and the National Pension Commission (PenCom) against plans to increase mandatory pension contributions, warning that the proposal could undermine job creation, suppress wage growth and threaten business sustainability.

The OPSN, comprising the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), and 25 other sectoral employer associations, described the proposal as a potential ‘Greek gift’ to Nigerian workers.

The warning follows comments by PenCom Director-General, Omolola Oloworaran, on plans to increase mandatory pension contributions and introduce an additional annual contribution equivalent to three per cent of employers’ total wage bills.

While acknowledging the need to strengthen Nigeria’s pension system, the OPSN argued that introducing additional statutory payroll costs amid prevailing economic challenges would place further strain on employers and workers alike.

According to the group, Nigeria’s current mandatory pension contribution of 18 per cent-comprising 10 per cent from employers and eight per cent from employees-is broadly comparable to the 18.8 per cent average mandatory contribution rate among OECD countries.

It insisted that any proposal to increase the contribution rate must be backed by comprehensive actuarial evidence demonstrating that the current rate is inadequate and that higher contributions would not negatively affect employment, wages, compliance or business survival.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Director-General of NECA, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, faulted the timing of the announcement, saying it was premature to signal an increase while stakeholder consultations were still underway.

‘The OPSN supports efforts aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s pension system and improving retirement outcomes for workers. However, announcing that contribution rates will increase while consultations are still ongoing risks prejudging the outcome of the process and reducing subsequent stakeholder engagements to a mere formality,’ he said.

Oyerinde stressed that previous pension reforms followed extensive consultations involving government, employers and organised labour, adding that any future review should emerge from credible economic assessments and transparent social dialogue.

The Director-General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, warned that manufacturers are already grappling with soaring energy costs, high interest rates, exchange-rate volatility, multiple taxes and weak consumer demand.

According to him, imposing additional employment costs could force businesses to freeze recruitment, delay salary reviews, reduce workforce numbers, suspend expansion plans or pass the increased costs to consumers through higher prices.

‘The proposed increase may directly raise employee contributions, but its broader consequences could include weaker wage growth, fewer employment opportunities, job losses and higher prices,’ he said.

Also expressing concern, NACCIMA Director-General Sola Obadimu said the proposal contradicts ongoing government efforts to improve the business environment through economic reforms.

He argued that introducing new statutory financial obligations at a time businesses are struggling to recover could erode the gains of recent fiscal and tax reforms.

Similarly, Director-General of NASSI, Ifeanyi Oputa, warned that micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) would bear the heaviest burden.

He noted that many small businesses are already operating on thin margins amid rising operating costs, adding that higher pension obligations could force more businesses into informality and weaken compliance with the pension scheme.

The OPSN urged the Federal Government to focus on tackling inflation, preserving workers’ purchasing power and creating a more enabling environment for businesses before considering any increase in pension contributions.

It also called for a comprehensive economic and employment impact assessment, genuine stakeholder consultations and greater consideration of the proposal’s implications for investment, job creation, inflation and enterprise sustainability.

The group maintained that while it supports reforms aimed at improving retirement security, sustainable pension reforms must strike a balance between protecting workers’ future benefits and preserving the businesses and jobs that fund the pension system.

‘A strong pension system cannot be built on weakened enterprises, declining formal employment and rising business closures,’ the OPSN said, warning that any reform that increases employment costs without addressing current economic realities would ultimately amount to a ‘Greek gift’ to Nigerian workers.

The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has approved the conferment of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) rank on 68 legal practitioners during its 174th Plenary Session.

The LPPC, under the Chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, approved the elevation.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Kabir Akanbi, Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of LPPC on Thursday in Abuja.

The rank of SAN is conferred as a mark of professional excellence upon legal practitioners who have demonstrated exceptional distinction either as advocates in the courts or as academics contributing significantly to the development of legal scholarship.

The committee refrained the conferees from publishing or encouraging advertisements, congratulatory messages, or goodwill notices related to their nomination or conferment as breaches may attract sanctions.

The newly appointed 2026 advocate appointees in order of seniority at the bar are Ibrahim Adamu, Jude Okafor, Achibong Umoh, Sunday Obende, Adebayo Adaralegbe and Jimson Okodaso.

Others are Olalekan Bade-John, Olaotan Olusegun, Philemeon Daffi, Adenrele David Adegborioye, James Agbonhese, Alexander Muoka, Okodiya Emmanuel Akomaye, Ikhide Ehighelua, Mas’ud Alabelewe and Ogunmuyiwa Balogun.

Others are Anthony Iroagalachi, Mohammed Mohammed, Odion Peter Odia, Gbemiga Adaramola, Moses Onyilokwu,Charles Obodozie, Hakeem Agaba, Bimbo Atilola, Okechukwu Emelieze. Joshua Olaniyan and Igonikon Adekunle

Others are Christian Nwokorie, Momoh Ilegieuno, Kolawole Idowu, Olujoke Aliu, Oliver Onyenucheya Amuzie, Adebisi Adeniyi, Faruk Abdullah, Sagir Suleiman, Ifeanyi Ezeuko, Adebayo Ologe and Sabiu Adamu

Also on the list are Eric Omare, Soibi Ovia, Peter Johnbull, Chinedum Umeche, Emmanuel Ekhasemomhe, Mohammed Sheriff, Junaidu Marshall, Olawale Fapohunda, Adebiyi Adetosoye, Sulyman Ibrahim and Agba Eimunjeze.

Others are Ayobamidele AkandeLe, Adetunj Adeniyi, Mojigbotoluwa Adekunle, Umaru Yunusa, Akorede Lawal, Darlington Ozurumba, Francis Egonn, Kayode Omosehin and Mitchel Aribisala

The rest are Agbaje Akadri, Oluwaseun Alao, Olugbenga Ajala, Mustapha Ajenifuja, Hassan Adebayo, Mohammed Adelodun, Jonathan Makinde and Olajide Salami.

While Prof. Nnamdi Onyeka Obiaraeri was the only academic appointee.

The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Character has ordered the immediate suspension of all recruitment by the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS).

The committee also warned that it could take constitutional action against the agency’s Executive Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, for repeatedly failing to honour invitations from the National Assembly.

The committee, led by Ahmed Idris Wase, accused Adedeji of ignoring several invitations and requests for official documents sent by lawmakers.

At a meeting in Abuja, the committee said it would rely on Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution to compel the NRS chairman to appear if he continues to ignore its summons.

These sections give the National Assembly the power to investigate government agencies, summon officials and request documents.

According to the committee, it wrote to the NRS on July 15, 2026, asking Adedeji to submit the agency’s updated staff list and appear before lawmakers on July 22. However, he did not attend the meeting.

Lawmakers said this was not the first time the NRS had ignored them.

They claimed the agency had failed to respond to at least seven previous invitations sent between October 2023 and April 2026.

The committee said the dispute is linked to recruitment exercises and waivers reportedly approved for the NRS by the Federal Character Commission (FCC), despite an earlier directive from the House stopping such approvals.

The Chairman of the FCC, Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, also failed to attend the meeting. She informed the committee that she was away on official duty and was ill.

However, lawmakers described her repeated absence as unacceptable, noting that she had ignored several previous invitations.

The committee also criticised the FCC for granting recruitment waivers to the NRS, saying the decision undermined the constitutional oversight powers of the House of Representatives.

As a result, lawmakers directed the FCC to immediately stop all ongoing recruitment by the NRS until the leadership of both agencies appears before the committee to explain their actions.

Speaking during the meeting, Wase said no government agency or public official is above the Constitution.

He stressed that the National Assembly’s oversight powers are meant to ensure accountability and must be respected by all public institutions.

The committee added that continued refusal by government officials to honour invitations weakens democracy, reduces public trust and damages the country’s system of checks and balances.

It also vowed to use every legal and constitutional means available to enforce compliance.

Meanwhile, sources at the National Assembly said Adedeji’s refusal to appear may be linked to allegations of irregularities in previous recruitment and appointments within the NRS.

The allegations followed a Daily Trust report published on January 30, 2026, which claimed that the appointment of five out of the six Executive Directors of the NRS violated Section 17(1) of the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act.

The law states that each Executive Director must represent a different geopolitical zone and that the Executive Chairman and any Executive Director must not come from the same state.

The appointments are now being challenged in an Abuja High Court by the Incorporated Trustees of Patriotic Youth Organisations of Nigeria, which is asking the court to stop the affected Executive Directors from performing their duties until the case is decided.

The President, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Nigeria Revenue Service are listed as defendants in the suit.

Yiaga Africa has raised concerns about the credibility of the upcoming Osun State governorship election, warning that the poll could be affected by voter inducement.

In its pre-election report, the organisation said its observers recorded an increase in the sharing of cash and gift items by politicians and their supporters during campaign activities and community visits.

The report, based on observations carried out between June 14 and June 29, 2026, said many of the items were presented as charity or social support, but their timing close to the election could influence how people vote.

Yiaga Africa said incidents were reported in Irepodun, Ola-Oluwa, Olorunda and Osogbo Local Government Areas.

According to the report, a group known as the ITK Sisters shared cash, garri, beans and other food items with residents in Ilobu and Erin in Irepodun LGA. Similar distributions were also reported in Ekerele-Iwara in Ola-Oluwa LGA, as well as parts of Olorunda and Osogbo.

The organisation also reported a more advanced form of voter inducement in Ife South LGA. On July 7, 2026, some residents of Ara Joshua Village in Osi Ward reportedly received electronic transfers of N10,000 with the description, ‘Renewed Hope Ambassadors/APC EPYT.’

Yiaga Africa said the payments were linked to an earlier exercise in March 2026 when individuals collected voters’ Voter Identification Numbers (VINs) and National Identification Numbers (NINs). The same people later returned in June to collect beneficiaries’ bank account details before sending the money.

The organisation warned that this method of influencing voters is more difficult to detect because it happens long before election day and leaves little evidence compared to traditional vote buying at polling units.

Yiaga Africa also expressed concern over the low level of voter education for women, young people and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

It said voter education programmes for women were only reported in Irewole and Ola-Oluwa LGAs. Youth-focused campaigns were conducted by INEC in Irewole and Ola-Oluwa, while a civil society organisation carried out a similar programme in Ede South LGA.

For Persons with Disabilities, Yiaga Africa said only INEC organised targeted voter education, and this was limited to Ola-Oluwa LGA.

The organisation called for greater efforts to protect the integrity of the election and ensure all eligible voters receive proper civic education before the governorship poll.

The Bauchi State Government has confirmed that they plan to prosecute proprietors of unregistered private schools operating in the state.

Abdulkadir Ibrahim, the state’s Commissioner for Education, announced this during an inspection tour of selected private schools in Bauchi metropolis.

Ibrahim explained that the move was part of efforts to sanitise the education sector and enforce compliance with minimum standards across private schools in the state.

He explained that only 17 of the 47 private schools inspected by the ministry were duly registered, adding that the remaining 30 were operating illegally.

He also stated that the government would continue to work with compliant school proprietors to improve learning outcomes and ensure quality education.