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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted presidential pardon to 175 persons, including Nigeria’s foremost nationalist, Herbert Macaulay and former Federal Capital Territory Minister, Maj.-Gen. Mamman Vatsa (rtd), following the approval of the National Council of State at its meeting on Thursday in Abuja.

The decision, taken at the instance of the President’s recommendation based on the report of the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, was presented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.

The Council also ratified key national appointments and approved the conferment of national honours on 959 Nigerians and friends of Nigeria.

A source at the meeting confirmed that the late nationalist, Herbert Macaulay, and the executed poet-soldier, Mamman Vatsa, were among the major beneficiaries of the clemency.

Members of the Ogoni Nine were also said to be listed among those pardoned.

Macaulay, often hailed as the ‘father of Nigerian nationalism,’ was twice convicted by colonial authorities – first in 1913 for alleged misappropriation of estate funds, and in 1928 in connection with the ‘Gunpowder Plot’ following his Lagos Daily News publication during the Eleko agitation. Both convictions have long been subjects of historical controversy.

Vatsa, who served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and was a member of the Supreme Military Council under General Ibrahim Babangida, was executed on March 5, 1986, after a secret tribunal convicted him of treason in connection with an alleged coup attempt.

His trial and execution have remained deeply controversial, with repeated public calls for a posthumous pardon.

Briefing journalists at the State House, Abuja, after the Council of State and Police Council meetings, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State said the approvals underscored President Tinubu’s commitment to justice reform and humane governance.

‘Eighty-two of the inmates were granted full presidential pardon, sixty-five had their sentences reduced, while seven death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment,’ he disclosed.

According to him, the gesture is aimed at decongesting correctional facilities and promoting restorative justice, in line with Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers the President to grant pardons, reprieves, or commute sentences.

He said the exercise followed careful recommendations of the Advisory Committee, which considers factors such as age, health, good behaviour, or miscarriage of justice.

Governor Sani also revealed that the Council ratified several key appointments presented by President Tinubu, including Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Dr. Aminu Yusuf as Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC).

The Council also approved Alhaji Tonge Betara Bularafa as Federal Commissioner representing Yobe State at the NPC.

Imo Governor Hope Uzodinma, who chairs the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), described Amupitan’s appointment as ‘a constitutional responsibility diligently discharged by the President,’ adding that the nominee was ‘a serious-minded scholar, a man of integrity, tested and trusted, who has never participated in partisan politics.’

In another major decision, the Council approved President Tinubu’s request to confer national honours on 959 eminent individuals for the 2024-2025 cycle.

Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs Office, Dr. Emanso Umobong, who briefed journalists on the development, said the awards included 824 successful applications and 135 special recognitions.

She explained that the reconstituted National Honours Award Committee, chaired by the Emirates of Lafia, Justice Mohammed Sidi Bage, had screened over 5,000 applications before submitting its final recommendations.

Among those honoured or set to be honoured are Bill Gates for contributions to public health and humanitarian causes, Uncle Sam Amuka-Pemu, veteran journalist and publisher, and Professor Mahmood Yakubu, immediate past INEC Chairman, for service to Nigeria’s democratic process.

Posthumous honours also went to the Ogoni Nine and the Ogoni Four for their environmental activism and sacrifice, while the Super Falcons and D’Tigresses received national recognition for their excellence in sports.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam, also disclosed that he presented proposals to the Police Council for strengthening the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF).

He sought approval to repeal and reenact the NPTF Establishment Act 2025 to remove its six-year lifespan limitation and make it a permanent agency.

He further proposed an increase in the statutory deduction from the Federation Account from 0.5 percent to 2 percent, aimed at expanding funding for police training, welfare, logistics, technology, and emergency response systems.

The Minister said Council approved an increment to 1 percent of the deduction from the Federation Account.

According to him, all the proposals, including the repeal and reenactment of the NPTF Act, received the Council’s full approval.

‘The purpose of establishing the Nigerian Police Trust Fund was to support training and retraining of police personnel. The second one is to provide financial resources to enhance police equipment, logistics, and infrastructure.

‘It was established also to support modernization of the police through investments in technology, vehicles, communications, and crime fighting tools, improve welfare and morale of police personnel, promote accountability, transparency, and governance, also to enhance crime prevention and public safety, strengthen capacity for emergency response and disaster management, fund ongoing training, specialized courses, and skill development, foster public-sector and private sector engagement, channel contributions through individuals, corporations, and civil society into police enhancement programs.

‘The concerns we had in the Police Trust Fund, the sunset close of six years in the current act limits the lifespan of the Nigerian Police Trust Fund, and impedes long-term planning thereby constraining sustainable police reform.

‘The deduction of 0.5 percent from the federation account needs to be reviewed upward to two percent of the federation account.

‘So we also prayed that the council should approve the repeal and the reenactment of the Nigerian Police Trust Fund Establishment Act 2025 in order to remove the sunset close and transition it into an agency.

‘Second, the council to approve 2 percent deduction from the Federation Account. And the last one, direct the Honorable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to input all the approvals of the council in the proposed executive bill.

All these prayers have been approved without any omission’, he said.

Both meetings, which were chaired by President Tinubu, had high-level attendance.

The Council of State meeting was attended virtually by former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), and former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd).

Also in attendance were the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; state governors, and other statutory members of the Council.

Also in attendance were four former Chief Justices of Nigeria (CJN), including Alfa Belgore, Mahmud Mohammed, Walter Onnogen, and Oluwakayode Ariwoola.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended warm felicitations to business magnate and philanthropist, Hajia Bola Shagaya, on her 66th birthday, describing her as a distinguished Nigerian whose vision and enterprise have significantly advanced the nation’s private sector.

In a statement on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President lauded Hajia Shagaya for her leadership and enduring contributions to national development through entrepreneurship and investment across diverse sectors of the economy.

Tinubu praised her commitment to philanthropy and women’s empowerment, noting that her values and humanitarian efforts continue to inspire a new generation of Nigerians.

He further wished the celebrant many more years of good health, happiness, and continued service to the nation.

‘The President celebrates Hajia Shagaya as a distinguished Nigerian whose vision, enterprise, and leadership have advanced the private sector and contributed to national development.

‘He commends her dedication to philanthropy and women’s empowerment, values that continue to inspire a new generation of Nigerians.

‘President Tinubu wishes her many years of good health and continued service to the nation’, the statement said.

Hajia Shagaya, a prominent industrialist, fashion entrepreneur and one of Africa’s most influential businesswomen, is the founder of Bolmus Group International and a major player in the energy, real estate and banking sectors.

She is widely known for her charitable work and advocacy for women’s economic empowerment.

Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Yusuf Atah, has declared that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock Villa until 2031, affirming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will remain in office beyond 2027.

Atah made the statement on Thursday while responding to what he described as a ‘pernicious campaign of distortion, falsehood, and malice’ allegedly sponsored by disgruntled politicians who lost out in the last general elections.

In a statement signed by his publicity aide, Seyi Olorunsola, the minister dismissed claims by some individuals from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party that the North is disenchanted with President Tinubu’s administration and would not support his re-election in 2027.

He maintained that the President continues to enjoy widespread support across the North and the rest of the country, stressing that those peddling divisive narratives are only attempting to sow discord for personal political gains.

‘This claim is not only baseless-it is disrespectful to the genuine sentiments and aspirations of millions of Northerners who have benefited from the Renewed Hope Agenda.

‘As the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, I wish to set the record straight: there is no vacancy in Aso Rock Villa in 2027.

‘The insinuation that Northerners have ‘closed ranks’ against President Tinubu is a deliberate misrepresentation designed to foment discord, stir regional prejudice, and undermine national cohesion.

‘It is instructive to recall that since May 2023, President Tinubu has pursued an agenda that is demonstrably inclusive, strategic, and geared toward regional balance,’ Atah, who hails from Kano, said.

The minister noted that, despite inheriting severe security deficits, President Tinubu has engaged vigorously with the hydra-headed challenges of insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and communal violence, deploying new strategies, reinforcing security frameworks, and working hard to restore confidence.

‘Indeed, Northern stakeholders themselves have publicly acknowledged improvements in security and infrastructure under his watch.

‘On the economic front, the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of exchange rates (among other reforms) have unlocked critical fiscal space for state governments and local governments.

‘More resources are now available for development at the grassroots, while autonomy for Local Government Areas ensures that local priorities are addressed promptly.

‘President Tinubu’s tenure has also seen a steady acceleration of infrastructure projects across the North,’ Atah said.

He confirmed that Islamic clerics, religious leaders, traditional rulers, cultural stakeholders, and influential civil society personalities have lent their moral authority and backing to President Tinubu’s candidacy for 2027.

‘To the Northern people, I say: do not be swayed by the false rhetoric of failed and retired politicians whose only agenda is to reclaim access to the public purse.

‘Their smear campaign is a smoke screen for their own irrelevance and opportunism. Instead, weigh the record: the inclusion you see, the projects you see, and the benefit you feel,’ he said.

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Alhaji Olayide Abas, has expressed confidence that the long-standing internal crisis within the party, which has hindered its return to power since 2019, will soon be resolved.

Abas assured that stakeholders across the party are now committed to working together to rebuild a stronger and more united progressive front in the state.

Speaking at the party’s Secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, the APC chairman noted that conflicts are natural in any human organisation and are often the result of interactions, competition, and differing interests.

He added that the true measure of leadership lies in the ability to effectively manage such inevitable crises, stressing that this capacity determines a party’s growth, cohesion, and eventual electoral success.

He said, ‘In Oyo APC today, we have gone through a lot in the last seven or eight years and the beautiful thing now is that we have got to a point where virtually everyone is saying ‘enough is enough’.

‘We had a Leadership Summit on Tuesday and its outcome reflected a bright future of hope, unity and progress for our great Party in the state. The Summit was well attended by invited dignitaries from across the state and it signalled a new beginning with a promise of huge success.

‘I must appreciate Party leaders such as; His Excellency Chief Iyiola Oladokun, Chief Akin Oke, Senator Ayo Adeseun, Sen. Brimo Yusuf, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle among other stakeholders as well as all the members of the Peace Advocates (a group of eminent APC leaders in the state) for their contributions to the success of the Summit which rekindled the spirit of togetherness, love and service in our people as evident in the feedback generated during and after the programme.

‘We have carried out series of reconciliation efforts since I assumed office as the state chairman late last year and the results are manifesting.

‘Even the Summit which we organized successfully on Tuesday was sponsored by eminent party members who wanted the best for the APC in the state and the next thing is for us to set up an Implementation Committee for the resolutions reached at the summit to see the light of the day while efforts are being put in place to organize an expanded Stakeholder Meeting as soon as possible with a view to bringing everyone on board.’

The President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Justice Benedict Kanyip, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, and other stakeholders have called for a concerted effort to strengthen the promotion of labour justice as a means of fostering industrial harmony and social justice in Nigeria.

The call was made on Thursday in Abuja during the 2025 Annual Public Lecture of the NICN, themed ‘Labour Law and Labour Law Education.’

The event featured contributions from Justice Kanyip, Ajaero, and Professor Ademola Popoola of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.

Justice Kanyip noted that this year’s lecture marked the fourth in the court’s public lecture series since he assumed office in 2019. He emphasized the need to improve public understanding of labour laws, which he described as limited among the general populace.

He advocated for the inclusion of labour law studies in school curricula to ensure that citizens are better informed about their rights and responsibilities in the workplace.

‘We are interrogating the principles of labour justice and labour law education,’ Justice Kanyip said. ‘Labour justice and labour law education are intertwined concepts. While labour justice refers to fairness and equity in the workplace, labour law education ensures that workers, employers, and legal professionals understand and apply these principles effectively.’

‘This education is crucial for promoting social justice and adherence to legal regulations like minimum wage, working conditions, anti-discrimination laws, and the general impact on the economy.

‘Labour justice is, therefore, a framework rooted in social justice, human rights and the rule of law, which aims to ensure fairness, dignified working conditions for all,’ Kanyip said.

Ajaero noted that a healthy, harmonious, robust, and productive industrial relations space is the bedrock of national development, adding that a fair, impartial, and efficient adjudicatory process was necessary to realise this.

He added, ‘For this to be achieved, it is imperative that key stakeholders within this process, particularly the judiciary, possess a deep and nuanced understanding of the actors and their psychology in the industrial relations sphere: their aspirations, their strategies, their legitimate tactics, and their peculiar challenges.

‘This understanding is what enables the making of balanced and equitable decisions that uphold justice.

‘It is therefore our firm belief that the judicial process, especially under the sacred mandate of the National Industrial Court, must not be used to further the emasculation of workers and their organisations.

‘On the contrary, it must be deployed as a shield to protect the weak and vulnerable worker from the paws of unconscionable employers. This is the core of your lordships’ sacred mandate,’ he said.

Ajaero expressed concern that governments, their agencies, and other employers were often quick to approach the court for an injunction to prevent workers from exercising their rights.

He said since the Constitution guarantees to right to religion and association, it was wrong for employers to seek to prevent their workers from belonging to labour unions of their choice.

The NLC President called on the Executive arm of government to, without further delay, transmit the Reviewed Labour Administration Laws to / the National Assembly for passage into Law.

He noted that ‘these reviewed laws are crucial to aligning our workplace realities with international best practices and the evolving needs of the 21st-century workforce.

‘The continued delay is a disservice to the Labour adjudicatory process and undermines our nation,’ Ajaero said.

Popoola advised that ‘as we pursue the concept of labour justice, we should do so in the context of human security. The concept of human security is now actually in the forefront of the Constitution.’

He suggested that the provisions as contained in chapter two of the country’s Constitution should be reviewed to make them justiciable as a way of enhancing social justice.

Prof Popoola, who urged aggrieved workers to explore other dispute resolution mechanisms, warned that if the capacity of the NICN is not promptly enhanced, it will soon be overwhelmed.

The Federal Government has directed all tertiary institutions to submit reconciled reports of unutilised funds received from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) within 30 days.

According to the government, the reconciled reports will undergo joint verification after submission to ensure transparency and accountability in the utilisation of the intervention funds.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, gave the directive during a meeting with heads of federal tertiary institutions, bursars, and procurement directors on unutilised TETFund allocations, held in Abuja on Thursday.

Alausa stated that following the meeting, the Federal Ministry of Education will issue new directives to ensure more effective use of TETFund resources across the nation’s tertiary institutions.

He emphasized the central role of education in national development, saying, ‘Education remains the bedrock of national development. As a nation, we commit substantial resources to strengthening infrastructure, human capital, research, and the learning environment across our tertiary institutions. TETFund plays a pivotal role as the vehicle through which the Federal Government channels support to our universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.’

‘However, one recurring challenge that has continued to undermine this investment is the existence of unutilised balances – funds released for specific projects or interventions that are either not deployed on time or not fully expended before new allocations are made. Over time, these idle funds represent lost opportunities – resources that could have improved laboratories, classrooms, ICT facilities, research centres, faculty development, and more, but did not, due to process delays, weak absorptive capacity, or compliance and accountability gaps.

‘Institutions must submit reconciled reports of all unutilised funds within 30 days, which will be jointly verified. Unused funds may be redirected to priority projects, and carrying them over without strong justification will no longer be allowed.

‘Procurement plans must align with approved interventions, and approvals should be fast-tracked to prevent delays.’

The minister noted that capacity-building programmes will be introduced to strengthen project management, compliance, and reporting, alongside mentorship initiatives.

He also hinted of quarterly reviews that will track progress and compliance, with sanctions for institutions that fail to utilise funds effectively.

According to the minister, heads of institutions, bursars, and procurement directors will be held responsible for slippages.

Alausa said, ‘Finally, transparency will be enhanced through a public dashboard showing disbursement and utilisation data, and institutions will be required to publish project progress reports.

‘The success of this initiative depends on strong collaboration. TETFund must lead with professionalism, enforce compliance, and ensure transparency.

‘Institutional heads should drive urgency and accountability, while bursars, procurement officers, and project coordinators must plan and report diligently. Auditors and oversight bodies are expected to monitor activities and flag irregularities. All stakeholders must uphold a sense of stewardship, recognising that every TETFund naira represents public trust.

‘Let us seize this moment to turn the narrative around. Let unutilised balances no longer be a recurring embarrassment, but rather the catalyst for improved governance, greater productivity, and transformative impact in our tertiary education system.

‘Our students, faculty, and the future of our nation depend on it. With your cooperation, sincerity, and commitment, I am confident that every fund allocated will translate into tangible outcomes – classrooms built, laboratories equipped, research enhanced, faculty developed, and students empowered.’

The Presidency has lashed out at Omoyele Sowore over his plan to stage a protest march to the Presidential Villa, Abuja for the release of detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Sowore is the publisher of the online news outlet, Sahara Reporters and was the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 elections.

In a post on his verified X handle, @aonanuga1956, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, described Sowore as ‘an anarchist masquerading as a rights activist,’ accusing him of attempting to incite disorder under the guise of a protest.

Sowore announced that the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow demonstration would hold on October 20 at 7 a.m., calling it a ‘historic’ protest to press for Kanu’s release.

Reacting, Onanuga said the move was a deliberate attempt to undermine the rule of law, warning that the IPOB leader’s ongoing trial on charges of treason must be allowed to run its lawful course.

‘You are nothing more than an anarchist masquerading as a rights activist. You very well know that Nnamdi Kanu is facing trial for treason, and yet you want to cause a breakdown of law and order by mobilising for a protest. Is this the kind of revolution you envisage for Nigeria, where the rule of law will be violated and your idea of justice would be the law of the jungle?’ the presidential aide wrote.

Onanuga also criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for expressing support for the planned protest, describing his stance as opportunistic and irresponsible for a statesman of his standing.

‘I am surprised that ex-VP Atiku Abubakar, who is always opportunistic, has supported the planned mob action. As a statesman, he should know better that matters of justice are not resolved on the streets but in the law court,’ he said.

The presidential spokesman reaffirmed that while the judicial process in Kanu’s case may appear slow, the administration remains committed to due process and the rule of law.

‘While the wheel of justice can sometimes be grindingly slow, partly caused by Kanu’s lawyers, Nnamdi Kanu will eventually get the justice he deserves for his alleged transgressions,’ Onanuga added.