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The Landlords and Residents Association of Iyiowa Odekpe said the condition of the school had become unbearable, leaving pupils and teachers struggling to access the classrooms and exposing them to avoidable environmental hazards.

When our correspondent visited the school alongside the community chairman, Sunday Peter Obinze, and other executives, the extent of the deterioration was evident.

The school, which comprises several classroom blocks constructed in 2010 under the UBE/PN/2010 intervention project, has fallen into a state of severe disrepair.

Thick bushes have overtaken the premises, while swampy and waterlogged conditions have rendered the school environment unsuitable for teaching and learning.

The overgrown vegetation and stagnant water have also heightened concerns about the possible presence of dangerous snakes and other harmful reptiles, as well as mosquitoes that could expose pupils and teachers to diseases.

Obinze described the situation as unbearable, stressing that the community lacked the financial capacity to undertake the reconstruction of the school.

He disclosed that the Governor had promised during his campaign for a second term in office to reconstruct both the community’s access road and the primary school.

Obinze expressed appreciation to the governor for fulfilling his promise regarding the road, where work was ongoing, but appealed to him to extend the same intervention to the school.

‘We are grateful to the governor because he has fulfilled his promise on the road. Work is ongoing as we speak. But we are reminding him that the primary school is still pending. The condition is too terrible for our children in this modern age,’ he said.

The community chairman expressed particular concern about the safety of young pupils, noting that children aged eight and nine should not be compelled to learn in an environment where their health and safety could be endangered.

‘It is painful to allow children of eight and nine years old to endanger their lives studying in an environment prone to diseases and deadly reptiles. We need the governor’s intervention,’ Obinze said.

He recalled that the community had demonstrated its appreciation for the governor’s administration by voting massively for his re-election, adding that Iyiowa Odekpe remained committed to supporting the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the forthcoming general elections.

Obinze’s appeal was reinforced by the community’s secretary-general, Chukwunonso Okoli, who presented a letter previously written to Governor Soludo, formally drawing his attention to the deteriorating condition of the school.

The letter, dated Sept. 18, 2026, and officially acknowledged on Sept. 30, 2026, was signed by the community’s executives and stakeholders.

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Copies were sent to the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, the member representing Ogbaru II Constituency, the Commissioner for Education, the Chairman of the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), the Mayor of Ogbaru Local Government Area and the Igwe of Odekpe, among other relevant authorities.

Okoli said the continued deterioration of the school was unfair to the children, who deserved a safe and conducive environment in which to acquire an education.

‘It is unfair to subject pupils to this kind of danger. These children do not deserve this treatment in this present age,’ he lamented.

Also speaking, a community resident, Christopher Mgbike, appealed to the governor to fulfil his promise to reconstruct the school, just as he had commenced work on the access road.

‘We thank the governor for the road project, which he promised on the same day he promised the school. We are now begging him to also reconstruct the school. Even teachers find it difficult to enter the classrooms,’ Mgbike said.

Other residents, including Loveday Udechukwu Awa and Mrs Esther Igwe, expressed concern over the daily risks pupils and teachers could face in the bushy, waterlogged school environment.

They warned that the conditions could expose the children and their teachers to snake bites and diseases associated with the unsafe environment if urgent steps were not taken to rehabilitate the facility.

The residents appealed to Governor Soludo to intervene in what they described as a pressing educational and humanitarian concern, urging him to consider the plight of the children and ensure that Community Primary School, Iyiowa Odekpe, is reconstructed without further delay.

They stressed that restoring the school would not only improve access to basic education in the community but also protect pupils and teachers from the dangers posed by the neglected premises.

CSR Reporters, Africa’s independent corporate responsibility and sustainability news and intelligence platform, has unveiled the Methodology and Technical Framework for the Nigeria CSR Impact Ranking 2026, laying the foundation for an evidence-led assessment of corporate social impact and sustainability performance in Nigeria. Top News Updates

The new methodology puts evidence at the centre of corporate accountability, seeking to move corporate responsibility assessment beyond publicity, expenditure and self-reported claims to a more structured examination of what organisations actually do, the evidence supporting their claims, the outcomes they achieve and the extent to which those outcomes can be substantiated.

Its guiding principle is simply designed to move the needle from Claim to Evidence, Outcome, and Verification, a statement said.

Eche Munonye, Founder and CEO of CSR Reporters, said in the statement that the distinction has become increasingly important as sustainability reports and CSR announcements gain greater prominence, while independently verifiable evidence of lasting impact remains uneven. ‘The main objective of the Nigeria CSR Impact Ranking 2026 is to answer a fundamental question: What can a company actually demonstrate about its social impact and sustainability performance?’ Nigerian Banking Launch

The methodology, the statement said, establishes a weighted scoring framework for assessing organisations operating in Nigeria across five dimensions. Impact carries the highest weighting at 30 per cent, while Strategic Alignment and Measurement and Evaluation each account for 20 per cent. Sustainability and Scale and Transparency and Accountability account for 15 per cent each.

Together, the five dimensions examine the relevance of corporate responsibility initiatives, their measurable outcomes, their alignment with organisational priorities, their durability and potential for scale, as well as the level of transparency and accountability surrounding them.

The framework also provides for structured scoring, evidence classification, stakeholder validation and field verification where appropriate. It incorporates quality assurance measures and conflict-of-interest safeguards, as well as procedures for dealing with missing or non-applicable information. The aim, the statement explained, is to ensure that organisations are assessed against a consistent standard rather than allowing publicity, media visibility or the sophistication of corporate communications to determine outcomes.

A defining feature of the methodology is its emphasis on the quality of evidence behind corporate claims. Evidence may include reports, programme data and third-party assessments, with field verification where appropriate. It also introduces an Evidence Confidence Indicator to show evidentiary strength separately from an organisation’s numerical score.

‘Policy uncertainty is an invisible tax on enterprise that destroys value and discourages investment,’ Taiwo Oyedele, Minister of Finance, said, stressing the need for policy certainty as a critical driver of Nigeria’s economic growth.

Oyedele said predictable government policies are essential to boosting investor confidence and creating an environment for businesses to thrive while presenting the Nigerian Economic Policy Framework on Tuesday at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja.

‘If we do not decide and develop a framework to guide how we make policies, regulations, guidelines, rules, co-create them with the people, implement them with humility, and make corrections when they become necessary with full transparency, it will be self-sabotaging,’ he said.

‘Our collective efforts will yield less than the optimal results; this is exactly what we are starting from today. Whether it’s to do with tax and tariff, industrial policies, investment policy, and subsidies,’ he said.

The minister said when there is an economic policy framework as a national consensus, it may no longer be necessary for political parties to issue manifestos.

He said Nigerians can then channel their energies into asking politicians how they want to implement the country’s economic policy as developed by the people.

‘The defining advantage of any great nation is neither the oil under its soil nor the size of its population. It is the capacity to make sound, disciplined decisions and sustain them across generations,’ he said. ‘Nigeria has the talents, the enterprise; what we must now build together is policy certainty.’

Oyedele said over the past four decades, Nigeria has produced numerous economic blueprints, development plans and reform programmes.

‘If development plans alone created prosperity, Nigeria would already be among the wealthiest nations on earth,’ he said.

He said the challenge has never been a shortage of ambition or good ideas, but the absence of an enduring economic philosophy, consistent policy-making and disciplined implementation.

‘Too often, the progress achieved through one reform is undermined by another policy, while our economic direction is reinvented with changing administrations,’ he said.

Oyedele said the consequences of not having a consistent and predictable economic policy framework are that businesses cannot plan with confidence, investors hesitate, and capital becomes more expensive.

‘Opportunities are lost, and jobs that could have been created never materialise,’ he said.

‘Policy uncertainty is an invisible tax on enterprise, and unlike most taxes, it generates no revenue for governments. It only destroys value and discourages investment.’

He said the proposed Nigerian economic policy framework seeks to address that fundamental challenge.

‘Today, on behalf of the federal government, I present for public consultation the Nigerian policy framework,’ he said.

Oyedele said the framework Nigeria needs must be proven on the ground, citing a graduate securing productive employment, a farmer recording higher yields with low post-harvest losses and a small business scaling without being crushed by overlapping taxes, arbitrary regulation and punitive financing costs.

‘The GDP growth matters, but per capita income matters even more. Investment announcements look good on paper, but actual domestic capital formation transforms lives,’ he said.

To guide the transformation, he said the framework organises priorities around seven interconnected systems including stability, productivity, enterprise, capital, people, markets and institutions.

To ensure accountability, he proposed an annual national economic scorecard published every year on or before Independence Day showing whether real wages are rising, whether productive jobs are multiplying and whether poverty is retreating.

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‘What gets publicly measured cannot be quietly ignored,’ he said.

He said the document is a consultation draft, not yet approved government policy, and was first brought to the Nigerian Economic Summit Group because the platform embodies institutional dialogue required to build national consensus.

‘Beginning today, November 27, 2026, this framework is open for public scrutiny across 17 core questions via the Ministry of Finance portal, http://finance.gov.ng,’ he said. ‘Following validation, it will proceed to the Federal Executive Council for approval and to the National Economic Council for endorsement.’

Moniepoint is restructuring its engineering and product functions to improve operational efficiency, accelerate product development and support its next phase of growth as the financial services company expands its operations.

The company said the restructuring would introduce a new operating model built around platform groups comprising small, focused product-area teams, each responsible for developing and managing its products from end to end.

The new structure is designed to give teams greater autonomy and clearer accountability while enabling faster product development, improved operational reliability and more consistent services for its growing customer base.

Moniepoint said the changes followed a regular strategic review of its operations as it adapts its organisational structure to the scale and complexity of its expanding financial services businesses.

Over the past decade, the company has grown from a single product into a group of financial services businesses serving businesses and their customers, supported by proprietary technology developed in-house.

Through its suite of financial services, Moniepoint provides payments, banking, credit and business management solutions. Its platform enables merchants to accept payments, manage cash flow and access tools to grow their businesses, while providing individuals with everyday banking services.

The company has a strong presence in Nigeria’s informal economy, with an agent network spanning all 774 local government areas. It is also expanding its operations in Kenya as it seeks to extend its reach across markets.

Across its subsidiaries, Moniepoint processes more than $400 billion in annual digital payment transaction value, reflecting the scale of its operations and its role in Nigeria’s commercial ecosystem.

As part of the restructuring, the company is introducing platform architects who will design and oversee the systems supporting each platform group.

The new roles will form part of Moniepoint’s broader product operating model and architectural governance framework, which covers solutions, platform capabilities and the technical foundations underpinning the company’s products and operations.

However, the restructuring will also result in fewer roles in some areas, even as new positions are created to support the revised operating model.

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Moniepoint said some existing roles would become redundant under the new structure, adding that management would consider affected employees for available positions across the business where possible.

The company said a redundancy consultation process would be initiated only where no suitable alternative position could be identified for affected employees.

Despite the changes, Moniepoint said engineering and product remained central to its business, expressing confidence that the new structure would strengthen its operations for customers, employees and partners.

The restructuring marks a change in how the company organises its technology and product development functions as it seeks to improve efficiency, maintain reliable services and support further expansion across its financial services businesses.

Drivers making the switch are increasingly finding themselves caught in a financial squeeze as surging conversion expenses, equipment price hikes, and stubborn supply shortages compound at the pump.

What once looked like a straightforward economic escape hatch is now demanding a higher upfront and ongoing toll, leaving many drivers questioning if the long-term savings are slipping out of reach.

‘CNG is becoming an important alternative to conventional petrol. However, lower fuel cost alone does not automatically make CNG the better option, and the decision should be based on total costs of ownership and operational suitability,’ Sola Abolade, an after-sales automotive expert, said.

High upfront conversion costs…

CNG is sold at N380 per Standard Cubic Metre (SCM) for cars and buses and N450 for heavy trucks, while petrol sells for about N1,355 a litre at NNPC stations in Lagos.

However, converting a petrol-powered vehicle to CNG costs between N650,000 and N2.5 million, depending on the vehicle type, conversion kit and installation centre.

The upfront expense remains a barrier for motorists who must determine whether future fuel savings will justify the investment, particularly amid pressure on household incomes and transport operating costs.

Matthew Ogbonna, a commercial driver operating a mini-shuttle bus, popularly known as a ‘Korope’, said the owner of the bus he works with, recently converted a bus to CNG for N700,000 in Ibadan but that he could not afford to make a similar switch.

‘My boss recently converted his bus to run on CNG for N700,000 in Ibadan. He told me to contact him if I am ready to convert mine, but the cost of conversion is too high for me,’ Ogbonna said.

Fuel savings offset by repair bills…

For motorists who have made the switch, the potential savings can be substantial, but poor installation practices and mechanical problems may increase the overall cost of ownership.

Adesare Adegbagi, a former Uber driver who converted his six-plug Honda Odyssey to run on CNG, said the total cost of the conversion rose to N1.68 million under an instalment payment arrangement with a microfinance service, above the initial N1.2 million quoted.

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Adegbagi said the decision initially appeared financially worthwhile because of the prospect of spending less on fuel. However, problems associated with the installation forced him to spend additional money on spark plugs, ignition coils and engine repairs.

‘I spent about N20,000 on petrol for some journeys before switching to CNG, compared with between N3,000 and N5,000 on CNG for similar trips, representing significant savings on fuel,’ he said.

He estimated that he could have recovered his conversion costs within three to four months if the installation had been properly executed. Instead, recurring mechanical problems have prevented him from fully realising the expected savings.

Adegbagi attributed his experience to what he described as poor conversion practices at some centres, warning that substandard kits and improper installations could result in persistent mechanical faults and expensive engine damage.

‘If my vehicle had been properly converted, I believe I could have recovered the cost within three to four months,’ he said.

He urged the government to strengthen oversight of conversion centres, enforce technical standards and verify the quality of kits used in retrofitting vehicles.

Despite his experience, Adegbagi maintained that CNG could still deliver meaningful savings if conversions were carried out correctly by qualified technicians.

Refuelling shortages undermine adoption…

Beyond the cost of conversion, inadequate refuelling infrastructure is creating another obstacle for motorists seeking to benefit from cheaper fuel.

Anne Obode, team lead at Evrytn CNG, said the expansion of conversion programmes must be matched by investment in refuelling facilities to accommodate rising demand.

‘We need more investment, infrastructure, and more CNG stations across Nigeria to meet the demand that is already here, and the demand that is coming,’ Obode said. Nigerian Banking Launch

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The consequences of inadequate supply were evident in Minna, Niger State, where motorists who had converted their vehicles to CNG protested over the unavailability of the fuel after more than three months.

The motorists said the shortage had undermined the purpose of switching from petrol, forcing them to return to the more expensive fuel to keep their vehicles running.

They complained that visits to the NNPC Mega Station along the Western Bypass axis ended in frustration after a component of the CNG dispensing machine developed a fault and remained unattended.

With no alternative CNG supply point available to them in the state capital, the affected motorists were left to rely on petrol, adding to their operating expenses.

The experience highlights the financial risks motorists face when they invest in conversion without reliable access to refuelling facilities.

A ride-hailing driver who considered converting his petrol-powered vehicle to CNG said the high upfront cost and inadequate refuelling options along his regular routes discouraged him from proceeding.

Having observed colleagues who had made the switch, he said long queues at CNG stations could leave drivers waiting for hours, reducing the time available to pick up passengers and earn money.

He also said his current four-plug vehicle consumed relatively little fuel, making the potential savings less compelling when weighed against the conversion expense.

Supply constraints complicate expansion …

A CNG expert who pleaded on anonymity, said some stations operate compressors in cycles rather than continuously at full load to minimise equipment wear, manage electricity consumption and reduce operating costs, particularly at facilities that depend on generators.

‘For operators, this is a practical and often necessary approach, particularly in locations where demand is still developing,’ he said, noting that investing in infrastructure to accommodate peak demand from the outset may not always be commercially viable.

The Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters has screened and cleared 16 nominees for appointment to the governing board of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), including Eze Anaba, president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE). Nigerian Banking Launch

The committee, chaired by Adeniyi Adegbonmire, completed the screening as part of the process to reconstitute the commission’s governing board following President Bola Tinubu’s request for Senate confirmation.

The committee’s report has been forwarded to the Senate for consideration, with the final decision on the nominations expected at plenary.

Anaba, who is also the editor of Vanguard Newspapers, said his nomination would provide an opportunity to deepen his longstanding engagement with human rights protection, which he described as inseparable from his journalism career.

Speaking after the screening, he expressed optimism that the nominees’ varied professional experiences would enhance the commission’s ability to protect the rights of Nigerians. He, however, cautioned against treating the committee’s clearance as final confirmation.Buy Maps

‘We’ve just been screened. We’ve just been confirmed. So don’t let us jump the gun. That’s number one,’ he said.

Anaba said he was pleased with the committee’s decision but noted that the process remained incomplete pending the Senate’s consideration of the report.

‘I’m happy to be approved at least by this screening committee. So until confirmation,’ he said.

Reflecting on his career, the NGE president said human rights issues had remained a consistent part of his work as a journalist and would continue to inform his contribution if confirmed.

‘I’ve done this human rights thing all my life. It has gone together with my journalism job. So it’s going to be a continuation of what I’ve been doing,’ he said.

Anaba also disclosed that he had been involved in the activities of the NHRC before his nomination, although not at the level of its governing board.

He expressed confidence that the experience and expertise of the incoming members would strengthen the commission’s performance and improve its impact on human rights protection.

‘I’ve been part of Nigeria’s Human Rights Commission for a while. Not at this level. But I can assure you that with the members we have in this council, Nigeria will benefit from a very good National Human Rights Commission,’ he said. Nigerian Banking Launch

Adegbonmire said the committee had concluded the screening exercise and would submit its recommendations to the Senate for a decision at plenary.

He explained that the outcome of the Senate’s deliberations would subsequently be communicated to the President through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

‘The decision of this committee will be conveyed to the Senate. And the Senate will take a position at plenary,’ he said.

‘And the Senate’s position will then be conveyed to the President through the Office of the Secretary General,’ he added.

The committee chairman said the NHRC governing board was made up of 16 members, including representatives of the Federal Ministries of Justice, Interior and Foreign Affairs.

He explained that the representatives of the three ministries were not individually screened because the law identifies the offices to be represented rather than specifying particular individuals.

‘The law says there should be 16 members. Three of the members are nominees of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Interior, and Foreign Affairs. But because they are not specific as to persons, we don’t screen them,’ he said.

Anthony Ojukwu , the commission’s serving Executive Secretary, , a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was also screened during the exercise. Nigerian Banking Launch

During the proceedings, senators urged the nominees to uphold integrity, patriotism and a commitment to the national interest in carrying out their duties.

Peter Jiya, senator representing Niger South, said the nominees must prioritise the country’s interests over personal considerations as they prepare to take up responsibilities in a public institution.

He expressed confidence that the commission could make a meaningful difference in protecting human rights if its governing board approached its responsibilities with integrity and a strong sense of public service.

Jiya also commended the nominees’ professional and personal qualities, urging them to balance their individual convictions with the responsibilities attached to their proposed appointments.

He congratulated the nominees and expressed hope that they would make positive contributions to the commission’s work.

Tinubu had in April sought Senate confirmation for the reconstitution of the NHRC governing board in line with Section 2(3) of the National Human Rights Commission (Establishment) Act, 2010.

The provision requires Senate confirmation before the board can formally assume office.

The nominees represent different professional fields, including journalism, law, public administration, academia and the security services.

They include Anaba; Maupe Ogun-Yusuf of Channels Television; Ayo Adewuyi of the Nigerian Television Authority; Chinonye Obiaku, SAN; Roseline Tasha; Ambassador Adam Yubak Baku; retired Assistant Controller-General of Corrections Felix Lawrence; Edmund Chinonye; Oluwakemi Asiwaju Okere-Odo; Professor Adedeji Ogunji; Kingsley Chidozie; Mohammed Adelodu; Otunba Francis Meshioye; Patience Patrick; and Hawwa Ibrahim.Nigerian Banking Launch

Artificial intelligence has done something that nobody in the fraud prevention industry was fully prepared for. It has industrialised deception. What once required a skilled criminal with time, language ability, and patience can now be produced at scale by a machine in seconds, at almost no cost, with a level of precision and personalisation that makes the old-fashioned phishing email look amateurish by comparison. The poorly spelled message asking for your bank details was easy to laugh at. The email that knows your supplier’s name, references your last transaction, and arrives at exactly the moment you are expecting an invoice is something else entirely.

The numbers tell a story that most people have not yet absorbed. According to Check Point Software’s Global Cyber Attack Report for the first quarter of 2025, Nigerian organisations were enduring an average of 4,388 cyber attacks every single week, a 47% increase year on year. Digital payment fraud losses reached 25.85 billion naira in 2025, according to data published in the Adhere Compliance Reckoning report released in Lagos in July 2026. The same report found that AI-enhanced fraud is now 4.5 times more profitable than traditional fraud methods, which explains precisely why criminals have been so quick to adopt it. These are not abstract statistics. They describe the environment in which your business is operating right now, whether you are aware of it or not. Nigerian Banking Launch

The reason AI-powered fraud is so difficult to defend against is precisely what makes AI useful in legitimate work. It learns. It adapts. It personalises. A fraudster using AI tools can study the public communications of a company, understand its tone, identify its key personnel, map its supplier relationships, and craft an attack tailored to that specific business with a level of detail that previously required weeks of research by a human operative. The same technology that helps a business draft a customer email in seconds helps a criminal draft a fraudulent one that is indistinguishable from the real thing. And unlike a human criminal, the AI does not get tired, does not make careless mistakes, and can run hundreds of simultaneous attacks across different targets at once.

The tools being used are not exotic or expensive. Research published in the 2026 International AI Safety Report found that the AI tools powering the most damaging fraud schemes are free, require no technical expertise, and can be used anonymously. This is the detail that changes the nature of the threat entirely. Fraud used to require a certain level of skill and resource that acted as a natural barrier to entry. AI has removed that barrier completely. A criminal with a smartphone and a free account can now execute an attack that a sophisticated organised crime operation would have struggled to mount five years ago. The playing field has not been levelled. It has been tilted sharply in the wrong direction.

Voice cloning is where this becomes most unsettling. AI can now replicate a person’s voice from a short audio sample, enough to produce a convincing phone call from someone who sounds exactly like a company director, a bank official, or a trusted partner, instructing a staff member to make an urgent transfer or share sensitive credentials. The instruction sounds real because the voice is real, or close enough to real that the person receiving the call cannot tell the difference under pressure. Deepfake voice attempts jumped 94 per cent in a single year in the United Kingdom, according to industry tracking data, and there is no evidence that businesses elsewhere are any less exposed. Every business owner who has ever left a voice note on WhatsApp, appeared in a video online, or been recorded at a conference has already provided the raw material that makes this attack possible.

What makes all of this particularly dangerous is a vulnerability that goes beyond technology. Nigeria faces a cybersecurity workforce gap of approximately 90 per cent, according to the Adhere report, meaning the country has roughly one tenth of the cybersecurity professionals it needs relative to the scale of the threat it faces. Experienced security professionals are leaving for better-paid opportunities abroad in significant numbers, leaving businesses scrambling to protect systems that are growing more complex and more exposed at the same time. A large corporation can attempt to fill that gap with expensive external consultants. A small or medium business typically cannot, which means the defence against an increasingly sophisticated AI-powered threat is often a single staff member with limited training and no dedicated budget. Nigerian Banking Launch

None of this is an argument against technology or against operating in the digital economy. It is an argument for taking seriously a threat that most businesses are still treating as someone else’s problem, something that happens to banks and large corporations, not to a trading company, a logistics firm, or a professional services practice. The evidence suggests otherwise.

So here is the challenge worth sitting with honestly before the end of this week. Think about the last time someone in your business transferred money, shared a password, or acted on an instruction received by email or phone without verifying it through a second channel. Think about whether your staff would know what to do if they received an urgent request that appeared to come from you but did not. Think about whether your business has ever had a single conversation about what an AI-generated fraud attempt might look like, or whether that conversation has simply never happened because the assumption has always been that it will not happen to you. That assumption is the most expensive one you can currently afford to keep.

?The United States (US) government is planning to introduce its biggest change in over 20 years to its work visa rules, making it harder for foreign workers to get permanent work visas (green cards) through their employers.

A comprehensive regulatory proposal designed by the US Department of Labor (DOL) has cleared the review by the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The move paves the way for formal publication in the Federal Register, marking the first major structural revision to the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) program since 2005.

At its core, the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) program, which derives its name from the Program Electronic Review Management system used to process applications, is a mandatory Department of Labour process that allows American employers to sponsor foreign nationals for a permanent employment-based green card, granting them lawful permanent residency.

The impending policy shift strikes at the heart of this corporate labor pipeline, particularly affecting international professionals seeking residency through the EB-2 and EB-3 visa classifications.

By resetting how American businesses recruit domestic workers before sponsoring foreign talent, the regulation threatens to lengthen processing timelines, raise compliance burdens, and restrict employment pathways for foreign workers including large pools of high-skilled talent from countries like India and Nigeria.

The mechanics of the PERM shift

Under current immigration statutes, a US employer seeking to sponsor a foreign worker for a permanent role must first conduct a rigorous labor market test.

This requires demonstrating that no qualified, willing, and available American worker can be found to fill the position.

The proposed PERM reform focuses on three primary operational pillars designed to protect the domestic workforce. First, the Department of Labor intends to revise recruitment baselines by raising the mandatory minimum standards employers must meet when testing the domestic job market for qualified American candidates.

Second, the proposal establishes stricter layoff protections, creating tighter guidelines and sponsorship restrictions for companies that have recently executed workforce reductions among their US employees.

Finally, the regulation enhances non-discrimination mandates, placing greater obligations on employers to demonstrate strict compliance with federal hiring rules throughout the recruitment phase.

While the explicit regulatory text remains confidential pending its publication in the Federal Register, its release will trigger a mandatory 30- to 60-day public comment period. This window will allow corporate sponsors, immigration attorneys, and advocacy groups to submit formal feedback before a final, enforceable rule is codified.

As corporate legal teams and foreign professionals await the official publication of the PERM rules, the direction of travel is clear: obtaining permanent residency through US employer sponsorship will require navigating far higher legal hurdles and stricter domestic workforce protections than at any point in recent history.

State governments are imposing billboard fees running into hundreds of millions of naira, threatening to price opposition candidates out of public visibility and raising concerns over a level playing field ahead of the 2027 elections.

With campaigns already underway, the fees have exposed a growing tension between state governments’ authority to regulate outdoor advertising and political parties’ ability to communicate with voters without prohibitive financial barriers.

The controversy has dealt a major legal blow to opposition parties in Enugu. On October 19, the Federal High Court in Enugu, presided over by Justice Mabel Segun-Bello, dismissed a suit by opposition parties challenging the state signage agency’s N150 million political advertising fee, ruling that the state legislature could regulate outdoor advertising.

In Benue, where billboard rental rates range from N250,000 to N1.2 million monthly, opposition figures allege that prime locations in Makurdi have largely been booked by APC candidates.

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain alleged that billboard operators were denying opposition campaigners access to prime locations, claiming the spaces were already unavailable.

Abia State has set the highest reported presidential billboard fee at N200 million, while Enugu, Kogi and Cross River charge N150 million each. Rivers demands N75 million, while Anambra charges N50 million.

The figures raise questions about whether candidates without access to substantial financial resources can compete effectively, particularly as incumbents enjoy established political structures, resources and greater visibility.

In Kwara, allegations of political billboard destruction have heightened tensions, with the PDP accusing APC supporters of vandalising its governorship candidate’s billboards, while separate claims alleged damage to APC campaign advertisements.

However, Bola Olukoju, Commissioner for Communications, said all parties enjoyed equal access to the state advertising agency.

BusinessDay reports that the controversy cuts across party lines, with billboard regulation spanning states controlled by different political parties. Alex Otti governs Abia under the Labour Party (LP), Charles Soludo leads Anambra under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), while the All Progressives Congress (APC) controls Enugu, Benue, Kwara, Rivers and Cross River. Business Intelligence Subscription

This condemnation was contained in a statement signed by Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), to journalists on Tuesday.

BusinessDay had reported that the video, which has sparked outrage on social media, shows a young man leading a group of boys in marching drills while making statements threatening people attending church services on Sundays.

The footage shows the participants wearing uniforms associated with the First Aid Group, the humanitarian and volunteer service arm of JIBWIS, commonly known as ‘Yan Agaji’.

According to the CAN scribe, the threats are chilling and utterly unacceptable. No Nigerian should have to fear for their life because of their faith or face the prospect of violence simply for gathering to worship God. ‘Such threats must not be dismissed as mere chants or treated as harmless displays of youthful exuberance. They demand urgent attention and decisive action.

‘On behalf of CAN, I condemn this apparent incitement to religious violence. We are particularly alarmed by the apparent involvement of children and young persons in chants threatening the killing of innocent worshippers. The possibility that young people are being exposed to or encouraged to embrace such hatred raises serious concerns that must not be ignored.

‘We call on the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies to launch an urgent and thorough investigation to establish when and where the video was recorded, identify those involved and determine who organised or facilitated the activity. Anyone found culpable must be held accountable in accordance with the law. Nigerian Banking Launch

‘We also urge the authorities to assess any credible security risks arising from the threats and take appropriate measures to protect Christian communities and places of worship in Enugu, Jos and elsewhere. Nigerians must be able to attend religious services without fear of attack or intimidation.

‘We note the reported disavowal of the video by the leadership of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS). We recognise the importance of establishing the facts before concluding institutional involvement. However, the denial of responsibility by any organisation cannot replace an independent investigation into the identities of those involved, the origin of the video and the circumstances surrounding the chants,’ he said.

‘Nigeria has endured too much violence, bloodshed and distrust to treat threats of this nature lightly. Allowing such conduct to go unchallenged would send a dangerous message that threats against citizens on religious grounds can be made without consequence. The government must demonstrate, through concrete action, that such intimidation will not be tolerated.’

CAN reiterated its stance on justice, religious freedom and peaceful coexistence. We will continue to speak out against every threat to the lives and rights of Christians and other Nigerians, while insisting that every citizen, regardless of religious affiliation, is entitled to equal protection under the law.

The government must act swiftly, investigate thoroughly and hold those responsible accountable. The safety of Nigerians and the freedom to worship must never be negotiable.Buy Maps