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The Bauchi State Civil Service Commission (CSC) has dismissed a Higher Executive Officer, Adamu A Mohammed, for gross misconduct.

The dismissal was considered during the Commission’s 40th plenary session held on Wednesday in Bauchi, saying that Mohammed was found guilty of absenting himself from his duty post without leave permit for more than a year and the refusal to accept posting which contravene both misconduct and serious misconduct of the Bauchi State Public Service Rules and Regulations 0327 (a) and (v) as well as 0312 (xiii).

According to a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Commission, Saleh Umar, the Commission also demoted Isa Sani, a Principal Confidential Secretary, on grade level 12 to grade level 10, for absenting himself under the pretence of being indisposed for more than six months.

He was also asked to refund the salary collected for the period of his absence. His actions, according to the Commission, contradict section 0327 (a) and (v), 0312 (v) of the Public Service Rules.

Meanwhile, the Commission, during the sitting, formalised the promotion of 23 substantive Directors on grade level 16.

Also formalised were the transfer of service of Sa’idu Muhammad, Education Officer 1, to Aliko Dangote College of Nursing Science as Lecturer on grade levels 15 and Rashida Adamu Bulkachuwa, Principal Executive Officer 1, grade levels 12 to Special School Management Board as Principal Assistant Education Officer 1 on identical grade, as approved by the state governor, Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed CON.

The Gombe State Civil Service Commission has commenced a verification and digital data capture exercise for about 7,000 civil servants in the state to ensure accurate and reliable records.

The Chairman of the Commission, who also chairs the verification committee, Hajiya Rabi Shu’aibu Jimeta, said the exercise aims to authenticate workers’ records, including their dates of birth and genuine academic certificates.

According to her, the verification will be completed within eight weeks, during which all civil servants under the commission will have their data digitised for easy access and record management.

She said the move would help prevent the loss of files and other administrative inefficiencies that have long affected the system.

Jimeta noted that the exercise does not include staff of the Judiciary, Teachers Service Commission, and health sector personnel since those categories are under separate regulatory bodies that had already conducted their own verifications.

She explained that the exercise is part of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s reforms to sanitise the civil service by identifying ghost workers and those who have overstayed in service.

‘When the verification is completed, we will advise the government to fill existing vacancies by employing qualified and deserving candidates,’ she added.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Gombe State, Comrade Yusuf Ash Bello, commended the initiative, describing it as a necessary step to ensure transparency and accountability in the state workforce.

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, empowered 1,000 residents with N460 million through the Eko Cares Programme.

The fund was disbursed at the official presentation of cheques to beneficiaries of the Financial Assistance Programme (Eko Cares), organised by the Office of Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement at Agidingbi, Lagos.

During the event, different categories of beneficiaries received cheques ranging from N300,000 to N1.5 million, based on individual needs, for businesses, health, school fees, rent and people with disabilities.

Sanwo-Olu expressed satisfaction with the process, enjoined the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the financial aid to empower themselves for self-reliance.

The Governor, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, said the Eko Cares initiative reaffirms the true essence of governance, which is to provide comfort, hope, and opportunities for those who need them the most.

He noted that the reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration through the Renewed Hope Initiative are essential to uplifting the future of the country; hence, the need for everyone to lend their support for a greater Nigeria, with a call on beneficiaries to see the aid as a seed of hope.

‘This presentation of cheques to over 1,000 vulnerable Lagosians is not just a ceremony; it is a celebration of compassion and our shared humanity. It serves as a reminder that progress is not solely about infrastructure or numbers but about how deeply we care for one another.

Through initiatives like this, we strengthen the social contract between the government and its citizens, a relationship built on trust, empathy, and inclusion,’ he said.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said the initiative is making a real difference in the lives of thousands across the state, noting that its aim is to help residents tackle economic hurdles, foster inclusion and stability and bring back hope and dignity.

‘In 2024 alone, we distributed N1.1 billion to 2,477 residents throughout the state. For this year, we have set aside N1.6 billion to assist an additional 2,850 beneficiaries, and these programmes are still running, with even more residents ready to receive support. This is our commitment to making social intervention inclusive and impactful,’ he said.

Speaking earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement, Dr Afolabi Tajudeen, noted that the initiative embodies a deeper commitment of the Lagos State Government to compassion, equity, and empowerment, ensuring that every resident has a fair chance to thrive.

According to Afolabi, since the inception of the Eko Listens Financial Assistance Programme in 2020, the initiative has served as a beacon of hope for thousands of vulnerable Lagosians, reaffirming that the state government is committed to the enduring social contract that no resident will be left behind in the journey of Lagos State’s development.

Former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has strongly denied allegations of financial mismanagement related to the FIFA Goal Project in Kebbi State.

Speaking in an interview with ARISE News, Pinnick dismissed the accusations as ‘completely misconstrued,’ stressing that FIFA exercises stringent oversight on all Goal Projects.

‘If FIFA gives you their money, they audit that money. They know everything from A to Z, and they have standards. So, if the contract was about $1.1 million in 2020, how much was that in naira? Less than ?400 million. That’s what people don’t realize,’ he explained.

Pinnick further clarified that the project followed due process from start to finish, noting that no additional funds were requested or approved despite delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

‘There was no variation despite the challenges. Everything went according to plan. You can hate Amaju Pinnick, but love Nigerian football,’ he added.

The former NFF boss urged Nigerians to seek verified information before making public accusations, emphasizing that his tenure was marked by transparency, accountability, and adherence to FIFA’s financial regulations.

The FIFA Goal Project, an initiative aimed at improving football infrastructure globally, has drawn public scrutiny in Nigeria over the state of certain facilities built under the programme. Pinnick maintained, however, that the Kebbi project was properly executed and fully audited in line with FIFA’s standards.

The Bank of Industry (BOI) has launched its ‘Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Adoption by Nigerian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)’ Report, identifying limited funding and lack of technical capacity as the biggest barriers hindering the adoption by businesses in the country.

The ESG is a framework used in evaluating a company’s sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. It assesses how a company performs on environmental issues.

Other challenges identified in the report launched in Lagos at the BOI’s inaugural ESG Conference tagged: ‘Advancing ESG adoption,’ included inadequate policy-linked incentives, limited knowledge and low customer demand.

The survey was conducted across the country’s six geopolitical zones with over 300 valid responses from a diverse pool of MSMEs spanning agro-processing, ICT, manufacturing, creative, hospitality, healthcare, engineering and construction and financial services.

According to the survey, 78 per cent of enterprises lamented financial limitations, 65 per cent complained about lack of technical expertise, underscoring the need for targeted financing and capacity-building support for MSMEs.

The report also showed that 65 per cent cited inadequate ESG-oriented incentives to enable growth, while 20 per cent MSMEs stated lack of customer demand, with further findings showing that 45 per cent lack knowledge, concluding that market forces alone are insufficient to drive ESG adoption.

Key insights and improvement areas in the report included, ESG-compliant products with targeted loan features, targeted capacity building, inclusive leverage for broader reach for older entrepreneurs and introducing women-focused ESG-compliant credit windows to narrow the gender adoption gap.

Speaking at the event themed: ‘Building Resilient and Responsible Enterprises: ESG as a Strategic Imperative for Nigerian SMES,’ the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of BOI, Dr Olasupo Olusi, said MSMEs account for over 80 per cent of Nigerian businesses, contribute nearly half of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employ millions of Nigerians.

He said yet many still face barriers in understanding what ESG means in practice and how to embed the principles in their daily operations.

Olusi stated that these barriers make many enterprises more vulnerable, less competitive and future-ready, noting that the BOI aims to bridge this net gap by equipping MSMEs to grow, compete and prosper sustainably and profitably in the evolving landscape of the global economy.

Olusi said the report aligns with Nigeria’s commitments under the Paris Agreement, the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and the Energy Transition Plan (ETP), particularly in achieving the country’s 47 per cent conditional emission reduction target by 2030.

Speaking on the benefits of the ESG adoption, Olusi explained that it will improve access to finance, especially as global investors and development finance institutions (DFIs) prioritise sustainability projects.

The Director-General, National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Tenioye Majekodunmi, said climate realities, shifting investors’ expectations and rapid technological changes are reshaping global economies.

According to her, the transition to a low-carbon future will profoundly affect how businesses compete, attract finance and build resilience.

Also speaking, the Deputy Country Director, Agence Française De Développement (AFD) Nigeria, Mahamadou Diarra, commended BOI’s proactive steps in advancing responsible financing and environmental sustainability within Nigeria’s financial system.

Diarra emphasised that BOI’s efforts will position it as a trusted partner for international financiers, citing ongoing global efforts to harmonize ESG frameworks and due diligence standards among development partners such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

The 2025 Kaduna international polo tournament that celebrated the 30th year anniversary of Georgian Cup kings, EL-Amin and the rich heritage of Nigerian polo came to a flourishing climax on Sunday, with EL-Amin, Kangimi Resort, Kano Pop-cola and the Nigerian Army teams emerging major champions.

Georgian Cup kings, EL-Amin took their Nigerian high-goal polo dominance to a news height, handing their city rivals, Kaduna Makarfi a thumping defeat to clinch their 16th Georgian Cup title, while Kangimi Resort team edged two opponents to win their first Emir of Katsina Cup.

Visiting Kano Pop- Cola team ran an impressive campaign defeating a crowded field of eight ambitious oppositions to cart home the Imani Cup, their first major Kaduna polo laurel, just as the Nigerian Army polo team rampage through a battery of 20 turbo charged rivals, to retain the EL- Amin Cup.

Revered as the biggest polo fiesta in the north, the prestigious polo extravaganza noted for its rivalry, Competition and exceptional atmosphere, was also highlighted by the debuting Clear Water Youth Challenge Cup series that threw up promising youngsters whose display of skills throughout the event was highly applauded.

Polo Royals also noted that at the end of the international decided over eight days top class matches at the jammed -packed Murtala Square, four youngsters, Nabil Ibrahim Abba, Malik Ibrahim, Nasif Abba and Abba Abdukadri emerge champions of the Clear Water to prize.

Other top winners include the duo of Khalil Babangida and Marwan Bago who led their team to clinch the inaugural BUA Cup, while Kashim Buka and Abubakar Atiku Saleh also enjoyed Podium celebration after powering their team to victory in the General Hassan Katsina Cup.

Elated Kaduna Polo Club President and patron of the all-conquering EL-Amin team who thanked all the participating teams, sponsors and dignitaries for making the 2025 Kaduna polo festival such an exciting and memorable event, lauded all the winners of the event.

‘We want to thank the Almighty for his grace and our teeming supporters who always urge us on to victories particularly this year to win back the Georgian Cup for the 16th time which is the longest winning run by any team in the history of the Georgian Cup series’ Babangida added in a chat with the media during the closing ceremony in Kaduna on Sunday.

The FCT Police Command has arrested two suspected members of a ‘one chance’ robbery syndicate allegedly responsible for the death of one Miss Grace Godwin, a 23-year-old fuel pump attendant.

CP Dantawaye Miller, who disclosed the details to newsmen at the command headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, said the arrests followed a distress call.

He said the command received a report that the body of a young lady was discovered lying unconscious by the roadside along Iya Abubakar Street in Abuja.

He stated that Life Camp police operatives swiftly responded to the scene. The victim was later identified and immediately evacuated to the hospital, where doctors confirmed her dead.

According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased, a fuel-pump attendant, had just closed from work and unknowingly boarded a vehicle operated by the ‘one chance’ robbery syndicate.

‘Following the command’s directive, the Command’s Scorpion Squad immediately launched a discreet investigation into the incident. With the aid of digital reconstructive intelligence, operatives traced and arrested two members of the gang, identified as Kabiru Abdullahi and Solomon Tanko,’ he said.

He said further investigations revealed that the victim recognized some of the gang members during the robbery attack, as they were residents of the same Dape community where she lived.

‘It was the struggle that ensued when one of the suspects, Kabiru Abdullahi, strangled her with a plastic nylon bag after she bit his finger in self-defense,’ he added.

CP Dantawaye said exhibits recovered from the suspects included a golden-colored Toyota Camry (popularly known as ‘Pencil Light’) and the plastic nylon bag used in committing the crime.

The police commissioner who said efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang, commended the Scorpion Squad for their swift and professional response.

He also commiserated with the family of the late Miss Grace Godwin and reaffirmed the command’s unwavering commitment to the safety and security of all residents of the FCT.

The Bank of Industry (BOI) has launched its ‘Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Adoption by Nigerian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)’ Report, identifying limited funding and lack of technical capacity as the biggest barriers hindering the adoption by businesses in the country.

The ESG is a framework used in evaluating a company’s sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. It assesses how a company performs on environmental issues.

Other challenges identified in the report launched in Lagos at the BOI’s inaugural ESG Conference tagged: ‘Advancing ESG adoption,’ included inadequate policy-linked incentives, limited knowledge and low customer demand.

The survey was conducted across the country’s six geopolitical zones with over 300 valid responses from a diverse pool of MSMEs spanning agro-processing, ICT, manufacturing, creative, hospitality, healthcare, engineering and construction and financial services.

According to the survey, 78 per cent of enterprises lamented financial limitations, 65 per cent complained about lack of technical expertise, underscoring the need for targeted financing and capacity-building support for MSMEs.

The report also showed that 65 per cent cited inadequate ESG-oriented incentives to enable growth, while 20 per cent MSMEs stated lack of customer demand, with further findings showing that 45 per cent lack knowledge, concluding that market forces alone are insufficient to drive ESG adoption.

Key insights and improvement areas in the report included, ESG-compliant products with targeted loan features, targeted capacity building, inclusive leverage for broader reach for older entrepreneurs and introducing women-focused ESG-compliant credit windows to narrow the gender adoption gap.

Speaking at the event themed: ‘Building Resilient and Responsible Enterprises: ESG as a Strategic Imperative for Nigerian SMES,’ the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of BOI, Dr Olasupo Olusi, said MSMEs account for over 80 per cent of Nigerian businesses, contribute nearly half of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employ millions of Nigerians.

He said yet many still face barriers in understanding what ESG means in practice and how to embed the principles in their daily operations.

Olusi stated that these barriers make many enterprises more vulnerable, less competitive and future-ready, noting that the BOI aims to bridge this net gap by equipping MSMEs to grow, compete and prosper sustainably and profitably in the evolving landscape of the global economy.

Olusi said the report aligns with Nigeria’s commitments under the Paris Agreement, the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and the Energy Transition Plan (ETP), particularly in achieving the country’s 47 per cent conditional emission reduction target by 2030.

Speaking on the benefits of the ESG adoption, Olusi explained that it will improve access to finance, especially as global investors and development finance institutions (DFIs) prioritise sustainability projects.

The Director-General, National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Tenioye Majekodunmi, said climate realities, shifting investors’ expectations and rapid technological changes are reshaping global economies.

According to her, the transition to a low-carbon future will profoundly affect how businesses compete, attract finance and build resilience.

Also speaking, the Deputy Country Director, Agence Française De Développement (AFD) Nigeria, Mahamadou Diarra, commended BOI’s proactive steps in advancing responsible financing and environmental sustainability within Nigeria’s financial system.

Diarra emphasised that BOI’s efforts will position it as a trusted partner for international financiers, citing ongoing global efforts to harmonize ESG frameworks and due diligence standards among development partners such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, ordered the permanent forfeiture of 49,700 dollars allegedly recovered from Dr Nura Ali, former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for Sokoto State in the 2023 general elections.

Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order after Osuobeni Akponimisingha, counsel to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), moved a motion to the effect.

Akponimisingha, while moving the application, told the court that the ICPC had complied with the earlier interim order made by the court for the temporary forfeiture of the money.

The lawyer said a publication was made for interested person(s) to show cause why the recovered funds should not be forfeited permanently to the Federal Government as directed by the court.

He, however, said that no interested person had shown up since the day of the publication, and neither was any interested person represented in court today.

‘We, therefore, seek an order forfeiting the sum of $49,700 US dollars to the Federal Government in view of the processes filed in respect of this matter from interim forfeiture to this stage,’ he said. (NAN)

Delivering the ruling, Justice Nwite held that the application by the lawyer was meritorious.

‘Consequently, the application is granted,’ the judge ruled.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Nwite had, on December 30, 2024, ordered the temporary forfeiture of the seized funds, after the lawyer moved the ex-parte motion.

The federal government had told the court that the money could not be the legitimate earning of Dr Ali, adding that it is suspected to be the proceeds of crime.

It argued that INEC does not pay its staff members with United States dollars as salaries or allowances

Nigerians, particularly residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have criticised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for attending a summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), with his two sons.

Wike’s spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, shared photos of the minister alongside his sons and other officials at the 2025 Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum in Dubai. The images, posted on social media, were accompanied by a caption that read: ‘When e reach your turn, carry your enemies travel.’

The photos showed Wike’s sons wearing summit tags, suggesting they were part of the FCT Administration’s official delegation.

The official delegation, led by the minister, included the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Legal and Multilateral Cooperation, Barrister Benedict Daudu; the Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda; the Director of the Department of Development and Control, Mukhtar Galadima; the Director of Engineering Services, Engr. Chuks Udeh; and the Director of Protocol, Sani Musa Daura, among others.

Daily Trust reports that social media platforms have been buzzing with reactions since the photos surfaced online.

Many X users described Wike’s action as ‘unfortunate’ and ‘a display of nepotism,’ accusing him of turning an official government trip into a family affair.

Others argued that the inclusion of his sons was inappropriate and undermined public confidence in governance.

Here are some of the comments posted by Nigerians on Lere Olayinka’s X handle:

Olawole wrote: ‘Mocking us to our faces using taxpayers’ money to sponsor your children abroad.’

Legit commented: ‘Keep defending political rascality. You will live to serve his children. Using state funds to sponsor his children is a slap on our collective face. Who appointed his children into office? Taking Nigerians for fools is the height of insensitivity. APC is terrible.’

Citizen added: ‘There’s no justification for taking his sons along, and worse still, allowing them to appear in an official capacity. People defend corruption when it benefits them. That’s Lere for you.’

Mansa Hidji II wrote: ‘When a minister like Wike takes his children instead of ministry staff to official engagements abroad, it undermines institutional growth. Career civil servants lose valuable learning exposure needed to strengthen the ministry’s capacity and continuity. We should do better as a people.’

Megaflexing said: ‘This is exactly the mindset that has kept Africa backward. Governance should not be about friends or enemies-it should be about competence and the people’s interest.’

Ejo Onyishi commented: ‘Taking friends and family to an event they’re not needed for, all at taxpayers’ expense, is shameful. The same people telling Nigerians to tighten their belts due to subsidy removal are squandering public funds on luxury abroad. Taxpayers, sorry. Nigerians, wake up.’

However, a few social media users urged restraint, suggesting that the minister’s sons might have attended in a personal capacity or for educational exposure.

However, the absence of an official clarification from the FCT Administration has kept the controversy alive, sparking broader conversations about transparency, accountability, and the misuse of privilege in public office.