Category: News

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has voiced strong opposition to the Federal Government’s proposal to exempt candidates applying for the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) from taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The union warns that this move could further erode the quality of teacher education in the country.

Audu Amba, the National President of the NUT, expressed these concerns during a teacher sensitization workshop held in Abuja. The event was organized by 21st Century in collaboration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). Amba lamented what he described as a worsening trend where colleges of education attract weaker candidates, as most high-performing students opt for universities, leaving teacher training institutions as a last resort.

He emphasized that the teaching profession should attract top academic talent, not those who couldn’t secure university admission. “Why can’t we ensure that those entering colleges of education to become teachers are among the highest scorers in UTME?” he questioned, highlighting the paradox of lowering entry standards for a field that forms the bedrock of national education.

Dr. Ronke Soyombo, Registrar of the TRCN, delivered a keynote address stressing the urgent need to reposition teachers for the digital economy. She noted that Nigeria’s educational future hinges on educators who are technologically adept, innovative, and professionally skilled to impart modern competencies.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, represented by Dr. Iyabo Ali, echoed this call for continuous capacity building, urging teachers to upgrade their digital and innovative skills to meet global standards. Other stakeholders, including House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas (represented by Dr. Mary Aba) and Senate Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro, called for stronger collaboration and professional commitment in the education sector.

Senator Moro raised alarms about the dilapidated state of Nigeria’s education system, noting that over 70% of schools lack adequate learning and teaching facilities. He warned that the widening gap between teachers and their working environment poses a serious threat to the country’s educational foundation and future development.

Olisa Agbakoba, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, has sounded the alarm over what he views as a serious financial crisis facing Nigeria’s Federation Account. He asserts that substantial revenue deductions and under-remittances are undermining the nation’s economic health.

In a statement on X, Agbakoba highlighted that many citizens do not fully grasp the role of the Federation Account, which was established under Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution to pool and redistribute revenues across federal, state, and local governments. He described the account as the country’s financial core, now threatened by revenue leaks and escalating debt.

According to Agbakoba, key indicators reveal the depth of the problem. In 2025, a massive N14.94 trillion—nearly 40% of total federation revenues—was diverted before reaching the account. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) withheld N500 billion out of the N1.1 trillion due in 2024. A current FAAC investigation is probing allegations of $42.37 billion in under-remittances from 2011 to 2017. Last year, debt service consumed 69% of federal revenue, far exceeding the IMF’s recommended 30-40% threshold. Nigeria’s total public debt now stands at N159.27 trillion.

Agbakoba characterized this as borrowing against funds already generated but not reaching the Federation Account. To address the crisis, he has proposed a policy reform aimed at strengthening Executive Order 9, which he intends to submit to President Bola Tinubu. He called for a national conversation on restoring the financial heartbeat of the federation.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed satisfaction with the conclusion of the 10th session of the France-Nigeria Business Council, which took place at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. He noted that both nations are now shifting their focus toward executing signed business deals and investment initiatives.

According to a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, the Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, on May 12, 2026, bilateral trade between Nigeria and France reached $4.7 billion in 2025. Nigeria continues to be the top destination for French investments in sub-Saharan Africa.

The meeting featured Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, alongside France’s Minister Delegate Nicolas Forissier, as well as prominent business leaders from both countries.

Tinubu praised Aigboje Aig Imoukhuede, Chairman of the France-Nigeria Business Council, for organizing the event, which attracted major private sector representatives from both nations. The statement further acknowledged the presence of business magnates like Aliko Dangote, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Tony Elumelu, and Wale Tinubu, along with executives from TotalEnergies, CMA CGM, Danone, and Accor.

The President specifically welcomed the partnership between Accor and Shoreline Group to establish Nigeria’s first national hotel platform. He emphasized that this is the type of collaboration Nigeria seeks, highlighting that the country is open to investments that foster development, generate capital, and create job opportunities.

Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to enhancing the business climate, supporting investors, and continuing economic reforms to attract more foreign capital.

The Kautal Pulaaku Fulbe Association, a Fulani group, has voiced strong opposition to Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s recent directive for security forces to use lethal force against individuals caught damaging farmlands. In a statement released Wednesday, the organization urged the governor to withdraw what it describes as an excessive order that could worsen the state’s security situation.

Governor Mutfwang issued the command during a security meeting on Tuesday, instructing law enforcement agents to take harsh action against criminals, particularly those targeting farming communities and destroying agricultural resources. However, the Fulani association argued that this approach is one-sided and discriminatory.

National President Dr. Muh’d Hussaini Buzaye criticized the governor for focusing solely on farmland destruction while failing to address attacks on herders and their livestock. He claimed that the state government has shown indifference toward the safety of Fulani residents, pointing to incidents of cattle rustling, livestock poisoning, and killings of herders that remain unchecked.

The group called for equal application of justice, insisting that any security measure must be enforced impartially across all communities. They emphasized that comparable actions should be taken against those involved in stealing cattle, poisoning animals, blocking roads unlawfully, assaulting innocent people, destroying military posts, and other violent acts threatening peace.

Buzaye highlighted the persistent loss of life and property suffered by Fulani members, noting that many herders are attacked while going about their daily routines. He described the recurring theft and destruction of livestock as a grave humanitarian and security crisis that demands immediate government intervention.

The association also expressed alarm over increasing hate speech, ethnic incitement, and divisive rhetoric within communities, which it says fuels tension and distrust. They demanded that anyone engaging in such behavior be held accountable, regardless of their background.

In conclusion, the Kautal Pulaaku Fulbe Association reaffirmed its dedication to peaceful coexistence and called on all stakeholders in Plateau State to collaborate with the government and security agencies to tackle insecurity, rebuild trust, and foster unity among all communities in the state and across Nigeria.

Rufai Oseni, a prominent anchor on Arise News, has sharply criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, labeling his behavior as deeply hypocritical. During a segment on Arise Television, Oseni argued that Atiku embraces the principle of zoning only when it works in his favor but quickly dismisses it when the circumstances shift against him.

Oseni pointed to Atiku’s past actions, recalling how the former VP took legal action against then-President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 to enforce the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) zoning formula. He questioned why Atiku now calls zoning self-defeating when it doesn’t align with his ambitions. Oseni noted that courts, while declining to rule on the matter, acknowledged the existence of zoning agreements within the PDP during those litigations.

The anchor further referenced Atiku’s departure from former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2007, suggesting that Atiku’s stance on zoning has been inconsistent over the years. Oseni’s commentary comes as Nigeria gears up for the 2027 general elections, with zoning emerging as a contentious issue among political contenders.

A prominent member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dan Ulasi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to provide a detailed public account of the promises he made during the 2023 presidential campaign. Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Wednesday, Ulasi urged the President to directly address Nigerians, outlining which commitments have been fulfilled, which are still in progress, and the rationale behind any delays.

Ulasi emphasized that citizens are entitled to transparency regarding the administration’s performance since taking office. He noted that while the reality of governing may differ from public perception, elected officials must still answer to the electorate when promises remain unfulfilled.

The PDP chieftain expressed concern over what he described as a troubling trend of public resignation to poor governance. He argued that many Nigerians have lowered their expectations of the government’s ability to deliver essential services, leading them to prioritize personal survival strategies outside state systems. “Citizens have become genetically accustomed to non-performance,” Ulasi stated, adding that most people now focus on alternative means of income rather than relying on government provision of water, food, or even teacher salaries.

He called for a national broadcast where Tinubu would be held accountable for his campaign pledges, insisting that Nigerians cannot afford to abandon their fate to fate alone. “Our problems are many, but we must not leave them to chance,” he concluded.

Paul Ibe, a spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar, who is seeking the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has suggested that National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has been quietly marginalized by President Bola Tinubu’s administration. This allegation surfaces amid the recent appointment of retired Major General Adeyinka Fadewa as Special Adviser on Homeland Security.

The creation of the Homeland Security role has stirred debate, with many Nigerians interpreting it as a potential replacement for the NSA’s office, hinting at a possible rift between Ribadu and the presidency. Ibe, in a post on X on Wednesday, asserted that Ribadu’s office has been effectively sidelined, linking the development to the NSA’s trip to the United States.

According to Ibe, the final trigger for Tinubu’s decision may have been Ribadu’s meetings with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio during that visit. He accused Ribadu of publicizing these meetings through newspaper publications, despite knowing that the president himself cannot travel to the US. Ibe’s comments underscore growing speculation about tensions within the administration.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Akwa Ibom State has initiated an indefinite work stoppage following the reported attack, arrest, and detention of healthcare workers by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH).

This decision emerged from an emergency congress held on Tuesday in Uyo. According to the NMA, the incident unfolded when EFCC agents allegedly invaded the hospital premises during an operation, resulting in the assault and detention of several doctors, including Professor Eyo Ekpe, the Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee at UUTH.

In a communiqué signed by Professor Aniekan Peter, the state NMA Chairman, and Dr. Ighorodje Edesiri, the Secretary, the association strongly denounced the occurrence, calling it a breach of the hospital’s sanctity. “We unequivocally condemn the invasion of the hospital and the assault on medical personnel by EFCC operatives,” the statement declared.

The association has announced an immediate and total suspension of medical services across the state until all detained members are released and their conditions are met.

In response, the EFCC has denied any assault on medical staff, asserting that its operatives merely went to the hospital to authenticate a medical report related to an ongoing investigation.

In a landmark ruling, a Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted former Power Minister Saleh Mamman, sentencing him to 75 years in prison for embezzling approximately N33.8 billion in public funds. The case, prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), involved money laundering and conspiracy charges linked to the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects.

The court’s decision represents a significant turn of events, moving beyond an earlier phase where the judge had only dismissed Mamman’s no-case submission and mandated him to present his defense. This conviction underscores the judiciary’s commitment to tackling high-level corruption in Nigeria’s power sector.

Further details on the sentencing and its implications are expected to emerge as the legal process continues.

Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, a presidential hopeful under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has issued a stern warning that anyone convicted of terrorism will face life imprisonment if he wins the 2027 elections. The aspirant outlined his security blueprint in a statement released on Tuesday, emphasizing the need for a dedicated terrorism court and enhanced intelligence sharing among security operatives.

Hayatu-Deen highlighted the deep link between insecurity and economic hardship, noting that when farmers cannot cultivate their land, food prices soar; when transport routes are blocked, living costs escalate; and when youths lack employment, criminal gangs find easy recruits. He described this as a vicious cycle where poverty and insecurity feed each other.

To break this cycle, Hayatu-Deen stressed that the state must reassert its authority. He declared that under his leadership, terrorism charges would invariably result in life imprisonment, signaling an end to lenient sentences, backdoor releases, and cases languishing in court for years. His statement pointed to recent deadly attacks in states like Plateau and Benue, which have claimed many lives despite the current administration’s assurances to tackle insecurity.

The ADC aspirant’s tough stance comes as President Bola Tinubu’s government continues to grapple with persistent security challenges across Nigeria.