Nigerian singer and songwriter Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has once again brought global recognition to Nigeria with her stunning appearance at the O2 Arena in London.

The Grammy-winning artist performed at Aston Martin’s unveiling event for its 2025 Formula 1 car, which was part of the F1 75 Live celebration.

Tems captivated the audience with a live rendition of Higher, a hit track from her 2020 debut EP, For Broken Ears.

Her powerful vocals and commanding stage presence left the crowd in awe, adding an unforgettable musical moment to the prestigious event.

Several prominent figures attended the unveiling, making it a star-studded affair. Her manager, Muyiwa Awoniyi, shared a clip from the night and expressed his excitement.

He wrote;

 “This one is special @temsbaby unveiling the new @AstonMartinF1 2025 car at the @F1 75 live show at the O2 Arena in London.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria has commenced profiling the chairmen and signatories to the bank accounts of the 774 local government areas in the country, as part of processes to commence local government autonomy.

The Director of Legal Services at the CBN, Kofo Salam-Alada, explained that this was necessary to ensure financial accountability.

However, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria said it had received no communication from the apex bank concerning the opening of bank accounts.

Salam-Alada spoke at a state-of-the-nation discourse on strengthening local government autonomy in Nigeria, organised by the Nigerian Bar Association, in Abuja, on Wednesday.

On July 11, 2024, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment affirming the financial autonomy of the 774 local government areas in the country and prohibiting governors from further control of funds meant for the councils.

The apex court also directed the Accountant-General of the Federation to pay local government allocations directly to their accounts, declaring the non-remittance of funds by the 36 states unconstitutional.

But eight months after the judgment, the financial autonomy has yet to take effect.

Providing an insight into the delayed fund disbursement, the CBN legal director disclosed that the apex bank had no direct banking relationship with the LGAs.

Salam-Alada stated, “This is all about standard procedure in the form of KYC (Know Your Customer). Anyone who will be a signatory to the account must be profiled. The process is ongoing, and we are collaborating with the AGF’s office. We have also written to the LGAs.”

He urged the Association of Local Government of Nigeria to encourage its members to engage with the CBN at the local level, assuring that once proper documentation is completed, the accounts will be operational within 48 hours.

“We are using this opportunity to call on the 774 local government chairmen to come forward for their documentation. No account can be operationalised without the prerequisite Customer Due Diligence,” he added.

But ALGON’s representative at the event, Sam Akala, disputed the CBN’s claim, stating that he was unaware of any official communication from the apex bank regarding the account-opening process.

“I cannot confirm that such communication has been received officially,” he said, affirming ALGON’s readiness to embrace its new role in grassroots development.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), represented by the Director of Civil Litigation at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Tijjani Gazali, said the LG autonomy would be implemented once the CBN process was concluded.

He explained that the LG autonomy implementation committee, which includes representatives from the Federal Government, ALGON and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, had been working on a framework for the full implementation of the ruling, particularly regarding the direct payment of allocations from the Federation Account to LGAs.

“The committee is expected to complete its mandate any time from now and present its recommendations to Nigerians,” the AGF stated, adding that President Bola Tinubu’s administration remained committed to granting LGAs full autonomy.

He said, “Local government structures had almost become extinct in Nigeria, necessitating the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. As a staunch advocate of democracy and the rule of law, the president took decisive action by filing a suit at the Supreme Court in May 2024. On behalf of the Federation, I brought the Attorneys-General of the 36 states before the Supreme Court to secure declarations ensuring the full emancipation of local governments in Nigeria.”

He condemned the continued illegal removal of democratically elected local government councils by some state governors, despite the Supreme Court’s ruling against such actions.

He described this as “worrisome,” criticising the “unconstitutional connivance by state governors and their State Houses of Assembly to dismantle democratically elected local government structures without recourse to the rule of law and replace them with their stooges.’’

“Let me state unequivocally that this act is tantamount to treason and must be treated as such. While it is true that section 308 of the Constitution grants governors immunity from prosecution, I wish to be clear that this flagrant disobedience to the Supreme Court judgment will have unpleasant consequences for the state as a whole, should it persist,” he warned.

Fagbemi highlighted the historical significance of local governments in Nigeria, stating, “Since pre-colonial times, the government has always been close to the people through well-documented traditional institutions that governed various ethnic groups. Today, local governments hold immense potential to drive sustainable development, foster inclusivity, and improve grassroots governance.”

In his welcome remarks, NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, emphasised the need for full local government autonomy, warning that failing to strengthen governance at the grassroots level could lead to greater national challenges.

Osigwe warned, “There must be democracy at the local government level. All other tiers of government must allow the LGs to breathe. If we fail to get it right at the LG level, we may be setting the stage for a greater calamity.”

Reacting to the CBN’s statement, the President of the National Union of Local Government Employees, Hakeem Ambali, said, “The failure to enforce this judgment is a huge disregard for the rule of law. It is highly disappointing that saboteurs have continued to fight against the implementation of a landmark Supreme Court judgement which allows for financial autonomy for local governments. On whether the CBN has now reached out to LGs for the opening of accounts, I can’t confirm that as of now but it is highly disappointing.”

EFCC urges accountability

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ola Olukoyede, has admonished local government chairmen to be prudent and accountable, saying that they do not have immunity from investigation and prosecution for fraud.

Olukoyede stated that his commission would not wait till the end of the tenure of any local government chairmen before probing them.

A statement on Wednesday by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale said Olukoyede disclosed this while speaking at the Gombe State Local Government Summit.

The statement said Olukoyede told the local council chairs to be prudent in the management of the huge resources at their disposal stressing that “Local government chairmen do not have immunity and we are not going to wait until you finish your tenure to come after you.”

It said the EFCC’s boss decried the stagnation, poverty and deprivation rampant in rural areas in the country despite the enormous resources that had been deployed to those places over the years.

“The impact of these resources is not felt by the people living in these areas. Councils, instead of becoming catalysts of growth, have become caricatures existing only in name”, he was quoted as saying.

To ensure prudent management of resources and accountable stewardship, he recommended to the chairmen the need to establish a compliance unit to assist them in monitoring the use of resources and the delivery of projects.

He informed them that the commission has established a Fraud Risk Assessment and Control Department, adding that officers of the department will be visiting local government councils in Gombe State to monitor the use of the expected enhanced receipts from the federation account.

Olukoyede further disclosed that the commission would be visiting local governments periodically to monitor their funds.

“EFCC will be paying you visits occasionally to monitor how you are using the funds. We will come in the evening. Sometimes you may even be seeing us in your dreams, “ he said.

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission, Musa Aliyu expressed dismay that only seven out of the 774 LGAS have websites, which makes it difficult to monitor their expenditures.

In his opening remarks, Governor Yahaya Inuwa said the summit was designed to improve the capacity of the council administration in the state to meet the expectations of the people.

“For the autonomy to be beneficial and useful, the councils must have capacity and discipline to utilize their resources for the good of the people,’’ he stated, noting that the state was not caught unaware by the Supreme Court ruling as it had already granted financial autonomy to its 11 councils.

Despite having a combined refining capacity of 985,000 barrels per day, the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, has disclosed that the country’s three operational refineries contribute less than 50 per cent of the nation’s daily petrol consumption.

It said the significant shortfall was being filled through the importation of refined petroleum products. This was as it disclosed that Nigerians currently consume 50 million litres of petrol daily.

The NMDPRA Chief Executive, Farouk Ahmed, said this at a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

He noted that the authority, operating under the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, has been granting import licences, emphasising that without these imports, there would have been a fuel shortage.

The PUNCH recalls that in 2024, two state-owned refineries, the 210,000 barrels per day capacity Port Harcourt refinery, and the 125,000bpd Warri refinery, began operations after decades of being moribund.

Earlier in the year, the 650,000bpd Dangote refinery also commenced operations to the delight of Nigerians.

Although officials of these refineries have claimed that the facilities were working at advanced levels of production supplying products to Nigerians, Ahmed, represented by the Executive Director, Distribution System, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure, Ogbugo Ukoha, indicated the country was still heavily dependent on petrol imports with over 50 per cent coming in from foreign countries.

He said this is despite the national consumption of the product reducing from an average of 66 million litres per day to 50m/d following the removal of the petrol subsidy.

The executive director, however, specifically noted that none of the owners of these refineries have imported petroleum products this year.

Ukoha said, “Let me speak a little bit about supply.”

All of us experienced a Yuletide free of petrol scarcity. And let me just reconfirm that from year to year, we saw an increase in the demand for PMS from 2021, 2022, up to 2023, just before the current administration came in. The daily PMS supply sufficiency was always in excess of 60 million per day.

“Averaging about 66 million a day for PMS. And following Mr President’s withdrawal of subsidy, the announcement of May 29, 2023, we immediately saw a steep decline in consumption. And between then and as we speak, we have continued to do plus or minus 50 million litres a day. Of these 50 million litres averaging for each day, less than 50 per cent of that is contributed by domestic refineries. And so the shortfall by the PIA is sourced by way of imports.”

Ukoha specifically noted that none of the domestic refineries have imported petroleum products this year.

The confirmation came from the news reports that the state-owned oil firm imported PMS burns faster than that of Dangote Refinery.

“Let me also say that none of the oil marketing companies, the companies that own refineries in the country for this year have imported any PMS. The other OMCs are the ones that are importing the shortfall. And if we do nothing to bridge that shortfall, we will have scarcity in our hands.

“And that’s something that the regulator is mindful of, to ensure that there is sufficient supply of petroleum products across the country. So just for clarity, what I am saying is that the contribution of local refineries towards sufficiency is less than 50 per cent. That is between January and February 2025, is less than 50 per cent of what we require daily. And that shortfall is sourced by way of imports.

“Even though none of the OMCs that own the local refineries have imported PMS this year, we are also minded that if we find ourselves in the situation that the PIA described where you have to resort to the supplier of last resort, we will go to them and require them to bridge the gap. Never mind the fact that every OMC has a right to apply to the authority.”

The NMDPRA said all the petroleum products imported to the country this year are of standard quality.

He said the NMDPRA always insists that all petroleum products meet the specifications of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria and the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.

According to him, the authority does not permit the distribution of products that fall short of quality standards.

Ukoha said some people have been releasing bogus claims concerning product quality on social media.

“People who dabble within the social media space must be reminded that it is disrespectful if you imagine that Nigerians are gullible,” he stated.

The Ogun State Police Command has said an investigation is ongoing as the controversial singer, Habeeb Okikiola, aka Portable, on Wednesday, turned himself in to the authorities.

The Lagos State Police Command through its spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed in a statement that the singer surrendered himself at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, in the Yaba area of the state earlier in the morning.

Hundeyin added that the Ogun State Command was contacted for onward transfer of the singer to the state.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, in a statement minutes later confirmed Portable’s arrival at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Abeokuta.

Odutola stated that the singer arrived at 1:23 pm in connection with an ongoing investigation.

“His presence at the SCID is in connection with an ongoing investigation. The command assures the public that due process will be followed in handling this matter, and updates will be provided as necessary. We urge members of the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information. The Ogun State Police Command remains committed to upholding justice and maintaining public order,” the statement added.

While responding to an inquiry by PUNCH Metro on the command’s next action after his appearance, Odutola said an investigation would continue.

She added that the singer’s case would be treated like every other Nigerian that he is.

“Police will investigate. Portable is a Nigerian and should not be made like he is too important,” she said.

Odutola upon further inquiries said she could not tell when the singer would be arraigned in court.

Portable in a video on Tuesday declared that he was “a madman and undergoing treatment at the Federal Neuropsychiatric, Aro, Abeokuta.”

He said this while appealing to Nigerians and the Ogun State Government after being declared wanted by the state police command.

The singer was reportedly involved in a violent altercation with three officials from the Ogun State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Ota Zonal Office—TPL Onabanjo Abidemi, TPL Raymond Lateef, and TPL Ridwan Oyero Akinlesi—during an enforcement at Oke-Osa, Tigbo Ilu Ota, Ogun State.

According to the officials, they initially encountered Portable’s father at the Odogwu Bar, where he informed them that his son was unavailable. Moments later, Portable allegedly arrived armed with a firearm and, along with nine thugs, launched an attack on the unarmed officials.

The police reported that the enforcement officers sustained injuries but managed to escape and report the incident to the Ota Area Command, which escalated the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department. While nine of Portable’s alleged accomplices were arrested, the singer reportedly fled the scene and went into hiding.

Odutola had while declaring him wanted stated that multiple formal invitations were sent to Portable, requesting his presence at the command headquarters but he deliberately ignored them without offering any legal representation.

“Following his repeated evasion, the Ogun State Police Command has obtained a valid court order declaring him wanted,” she added.

Reacting to the allegations, Portable took to Instagram on Tuesday in a series of rants, claiming that he was being set up because he wore a vest featuring the image of the lawmaker representing Ogun West, Senator Adeola Solomon, popularly known as Yayi. He also reiterated that he is mentally unstable and has a medical history at the psychiatric hospital.

“I fear government. I am a federal government liability. I am a madman; I have medications that I usually take. You can confirm from Aro Hospital. I have a card that certifies me as one of their patients,” he said.

“I am from Abeokuta, and they are taking care of me there. I am not a thief; I help people around me without even looking at their background,” he added.

The police had arraigned nine of Portable’s associates before a Magistrate Court in Isabo, Abeokuta, for allegedly assaulting officers of the Ota Zonal Planning Office of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

The defendants – Nurudeen Warris (21), Adetola Alashe (25), Samuel Adeleke (28), Oluwaseun Ayenuwa (19), Oluwapelumi Adeosun (20), Gospel Kanu (20), Precious Ohiegebo (19), Ifeoluwa Babatunde (27), and Fatimo Muhammed (26) – were charged with felony, assault, unlawful restriction, possession of weapons, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, has said there is no evidence that the United States Agency for International Development is funding Boko Haram or any terrorist group.

Mills stated after meeting with the Nigeria Governors Forum in Abuja late Wednesday night that no nation condemns Boko Haram’s violence more strongly than the US.

He assured all that if any evidence is found, the US government will work with the Nigerian government to investigate it.

Recall that on February 13, Congressman Scott Perry accused USAID of funding terrorist groups, including Boko Haram.

Boko Haram is a terrorist group founded in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf. The group’s objectives included promoting Sunni Islam and eliminating Shia Islam in Nigeria.

Over the years, thousands of Nigerians have lost their lives, billions of Naira worth of property has been destroyed, and many families have been displaced.

Perry, a Republican from Pennsylvania, made this statement during the first hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency.

The session, titled “The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud,” focused on alleged misappropriations of taxpayer funds.

“Who gets some of that money? Does that name ring a bell to anybody in the room? Because your money, your money, $697 million annually, plus the shipments of cash funds in Madrasas, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, ISIS Khorasan, terrorist training camps. That’s what it’s funding,” he said.

As a result, the Senate has called on the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, along with the heads of the National Intelligence Agency and the Defence Intelligence Agency, to address allegations of terrorist funding involving USAID.

In response to a question, the US Ambassador stated that the US has strict policies to prevent USAID or any other US assistance from being diverted to terrorist groups like Boko Haram.

He stated, “Let me be clear—there is no friend of Nigeria stronger in condemning Boko Haram’s violence and disregard for human life than the United States. We have designated Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organisation since 2013, blocking the group from transferring assets to the US and allowing us to arrest and seize its members.

“We cooperate in investigations with the Nigerian government. I can assure you that we have strict policies and procedures to ensure that USAID funding or any other US assistance, whether from USAID, the Department of Defence, or the State Department, is not diverted to terrorist groups like Boko Haram.

“There is absolutely no evidence of such diversion, and if we ever had evidence that any programme funding was being misused by Boko Haram, we would immediately investigate it with our Nigerian partners.

“So, when it comes to Boko Haram, the United States stands with Nigeria in wanting to rid this country of the scourge that this organisation represents.”

He clarified that President Donald Trump’s administration did not cut assistance but implemented a 90-day pause to develop ways to make it more effective.

Mills explained, “No assistance has been cut yet, and no decisions have been made about the future of our assistance. In fact, US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has said that this is not about ending foreign assistance to our partners like Nigeria. It’s about making our assistance more effective and aligning it with US government policies and interests.

“That’s what this 90-day pause is for. However, there are waivers for life-saving assistance, such as support for HIV patients, maternal and child nutrition, and internally displaced people. So that continues. In 90 days, we will know where we stand.”

Regarding other issues discussed with the 36 state governors, the US Ambassador mentioned that he outlined the embassy’s vision for the future of the US-Nigerian relationship.

He stated, “I explained to them that we are going to focus on four key priorities in the coming years. The first is improving the business environment to increase trade and investment between the United States and Nigeria.

“Second, a renewed focus on improving transparency and accountability in Nigeria, fighting corruption, and empowering Nigerian voices advocating for more transparency.

“Third, we want to be more engaged at the subnational level, at the state level, and with local governing authorities. I believe the embassy needs to engage more in this area as we develop our programs and assistance.

“Lastly, we discussed our health care programmes, which are a large part of US assistance to Nigeria. As these programmes succeed—such as reducing HIV cases and eradicating polio—we want to ensure their sustainability and transition them to the Nigerian government at the federal and state levels.”

Mills stated that the aim is to ensure the sustainability of these health programmes and transfer them to the Nigerian government for effective management, helping to create a stronger healthcare future.

The Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 142 parcels of illicit drugs popularly known as Canadian Loud, imported into the country from Canada

The contraband with an estimated street value of N290million, was handed over to the seized drugs to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Speaking to Journalists, the Customs Area Controller, Compt. Effiong Harrison said the arrest was made on Tuesday, and the suspect’s travel documents revealed that he had arrived from Canada via Ethiopia.

The Customs boss emphasised the severe threat these hard drugs posed to Nigeria’s youth, economy and national security.

Compt. Harrison said, “We want to hand over 142 parcels of Canadian Loud, which is one of the illicit drugs that we do not want to enter our country.”

“We do not want these kinds of things to enter our society because they will affect our younger ones. They will impact negatively on our economy and also become a security risk,” he warned.
He further stressed the agency’s unwavering commitment to combating drug trafficking and issued a stern warning to those involved in such activities.

“We are very resolute. We are very determined that these things shall not pass here. Anything that is not in line with our laws is not acceptable here,” he declared.

Compt. Harrison, who further cautioned individuals against collaborating with drug traffickers, said the seized drugs, suspect, and travel documents were handed over to the NDLEA for further investigations and necessary legal action.

“We are watching thoroughly. We are watching to see. We are waiting to know where you are operating from. And we will not relent to ensure that we will come after you.”

Also speaking, the Commander of Narcotics and Head of Operations, NDLEA, MMIA, Muhammad-Muktar Ahmad, expressed gratitude to the Customs Comptroller and his team for the “marvellous seizure.”

“This is a typical display of synergy existing between agencies here at Murtala Muhammad International Airport.”

Tukur assured the Customs Service that the NDLEA would investigate and unravel each and every individual that is responsible for the import.

He acknowledged the ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking at the airport, stating, “We know it has been happening, and we have been unravelling syndicates responsible for drug trafficking at this airport. By the special grace of God, whatever the outcome is, you will be informed.”

Expressing his satisfaction with the seizure, Muhammad-Muktar said, “We are extremely happy. His whole aim has been defeated now. He aimed to bring it in and cause havoc in this country. Unfortunately, it has been intercepted right here.”

He issued a strong warning to travellers attempting to smuggle drugs through the airport. “It’s a clear message that this place is a no-go area. Whatever you plan to do negatively here will be intercepted. We have intercepted them before, and we will continue to do so. So, this place is a no-go area,” he stated

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, has warned that Nigeria will not tolerate any disrespect from any country against its citizens.

The CDS also dismissed insinuations from some quarters that members of the armed forces were not invited to Vancouver, Canada, to participate in the Invictus Games initiated by the Duke of Sussex.
General Musa stressed that Nigeria deserves respect from the international community.
He maintained that some countries treat Nigerians unfairly.

He stated this at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja yesterday, shortly after he received wounded military personnel who had participated in the games.

Recall that the national security adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, tackled the Canada High Commission in Abuja last week for denying the military chief and other top officers visas to attend the programme.

Providing an insight into what transpired during the preparation for the programme, Musa said they followed all the due process and that all concerned government officials, including ministers and the NSA, were aware.

“The issue of visa denial must be tackled abroad. Nigeria is good enough for all of us. We had an agreement, we were invited, the programme was sent to us, we followed our requirements, and we followed the process.

“Everybody knows members of the Armed Forces; we will never take shortcuts. The minister of foreign affairs, the minister of state for foreign affairs, the NSA—everybody is aware of this journey, and we followed the process.

“But most team members were denied visas for reasons best known to them. You remember the team captain did not go. The medical doctor was not there. The physiotherapist did not go. All those that were important to the team were not given visas. The question is, why?

“Well, I’m happy the federal government is also looking at those aspects. I think it’s important for people to understand that we deserve respect as Nigerians all over the world. We must never accept disrespect from anybody because we are a good country.

“For our Indigenous guests participating, you have made Nigeria proud. Your courage and determination have left an indelible mark on the hearts of all who have witnessed your journey. You are a true embodiment of the indigenous spirit, unconquered, unbroken, and unstoppable.”

Speaking further, Musa explained that some of the military officers who have their legs and hands amputated or have other deformations won’t be abandoned as some people want them to be.

“As we celebrate the achievements of our team, let us also remember the sacrifices made by all of our ex-service members in line with their duties.

“Let us continue to honour the sacrifices provided to support the country by committing resources to ensure their well-being for their successful re-integration into civilian life.

“For me, as the chief of the defence staff, this is a clarion call that whatever it takes to raise the morale of our troops, we will do it, whatever the cost is, because we know, once the troops see what we are doing with those that are injured, they will want to do their best because they know if anything happens to them, they will want to do their best.

“I’ve had comments from individuals across, mostly from the views of ignorance in the aspect that, why are we taking troops out? And I wonder, if you see those ones that have sacrificed so much if you see those ones that have died if you see those ones that have amputated legs, hands, and somebody thinks it is not important or it is not good for us, to look after them.

“Those other countries that sent their own were not doing it just because they wanted to do it but because they knew the importance. So, sometimes when we go to school, we should read deeply and allow schools to pass through us.”

Director, Regional Advocacy, National Education Loan Funds (NELFUND), Nneamaka Okafor has said the South East ranks last in application for the facility for students of tertiary institutions.

Okafor stated this when she led a delegation from the NELFUND on an advocacy visit to the Abia State governor, Alex Otti at his Umuehim Nvosi country home.

She said the facility, which was approved last April, is interest-free and that the beneficiaries are to pay it back from two to 10 years after completing the national youth service.

Responding, the governor expressed dissatisfaction at the situation and underlined the need to sensitise the students and the people on the facility and its benefits.

“We need to do this because this is a very good initiative by the federal government particularly for students from indigent homes to pursue their dreams without financial constraints.”

“I am sure if the students understand clearly that nobody will be chasing them around for the repayment until they secure a means of livelihood they will apply for it,” he said.

He assured the director and the delegation of the readiness of the government to provide the NELFUND the needed support and logistics to achieve the objective.

Otti, therefore, directed the commissioner for Tertiary Education, Uche Emeh-Uche to partner the TETFUND to ensure the advocacy is conducted across tertiary institutions in the state.

The federal government has begun nationwide on-the-spot monitoring of public and private schools to eliminate substandard schools.

This was disclosed when a team from the Federal Ministry of Education, led by the deputy director from the Quality Assurance Department, Ibrahim Rukayat, visited the Redeemers Teap International School, Garki, Abuja.

Speaking after evaluating the school, Rukayat said the exercise is happening nationwide from primary to secondary school levels, in both public and private schools.

“We are doing what we call on-the-spot assessment, which is a day assessment, two, three hours, and we are finished. We need to cover as many schools as possible. The report will be so short to read, not the other type of lengthy booklets or reforms that we’ve been doing.

“So, we’re doing it in a way that the management over there can quickly read and know what is happening.”

According to her, areas of focus include classes, labs, ICT facilities, clinics, and others, while commending the school as outstanding in the assessment.

Earlier, Yinka Amodu from the Quality Assurance Department said the exercise was a directive from the Honourable Minister of Education for all states to focus on on-the-spot monitoring.

“Now, we are doing that to help the schools, to help the learners, and also to help the parents. At the same time, we are helping the country.

“If there’s no check and balances, the educational system in this country will not grow, and we cannot continue doing the same thing and expect a different result.”

On his part, the principal of the school, Olajumede Yusuf, said the exercise was the first of its kind and that they are just flagging it off today.

He pledged to improve on the areas identified by the team as weak links.

A ray of hope has emerged for Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates as the Federal Government takes steps to address the ongoing issue of their alleged exemption from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

The controversy, which primarily affects HND holders who completed their National Diploma (ND) through part-time programmes, has sparked widespread protests and concerns about fairness in the NYSC mobilization process.

The NYSC scheme is a mandatory national service for Nigerian graduates, designed to promote national unity and foster development.

In principle, every Nigerian graduate is expected to participate in the service, although some are exempted based on certain criteria, such as age or health conditions.

However, recent developments have drawn attention to the situation of some HND graduates who have been left out of the mobilization process due to the nature of their studies.

The controversy surrounding the exclusion of HND graduates from the NYSC scheme primarily affects those who completed their ND via part-time studies.

These graduates, who obtained their National Diplomas through non-full-time education modes, have found themselves ineligible for NYSC mobilisation, a decision that has raised a number of questions concerning fairness.

Many of these graduates feel they are being unfairly treated, particularly because their academic credentials are equivalent to those of full-time students.

In some cases, individuals who have already completed their ND through part-time studies and subsequently pursued their HND through full-time courses find themselves caught in the middle of this exclusionary policy.

Despite their status as full-time students in their HND programmes, their earlier part-time ND studies are preventing them from being included in the NYSC mobilisation process.

This exclusion has sparked widespread protests across various parts of Nigeria.

Graduates, students, and advocacy groups have voiced their frustration over the perceived injustice, seeking clarification and immediate intervention from the government to address the issue.

Placards with messages like “No to discrimination,” “Give us our rights,” and “Reverse the injustice” were recently displayed during protests in different states. These protests were an indication of the deep dissatisfaction felt by those affected by the policy.

In January 2025, a series of protests took place across Nigeria, notably in Kwara State, where polytechnic students marched to express their anger at the policy.

They demanded the reversal of the exclusion and sought a fairer process that would include all graduates, regardless of the mode through which they completed their ND.

In Lagos, a similar scene unfolded as full-time HND graduates, who had completed their ND part-time, gathered outside the NYSC secretariat to protest their exclusion.

Their placards carried messages such as “Say No to Discrimination in NYSC” and “Equal Rights for All,” urging the government to ensure that their rights to serve were recognised and upheld.

The protests have not been limited to students and graduates; various advocacy groups and individuals have expressed their support for the cause, highlighting the negative consequences this exclusion could have on the career prospects of affected graduates.

Many argue that it is unfair to penalise students who completed part-time ND programmes when their HND is obtained through the same rigorous academic standards as full-time students.
The Nigerian government, particularly the Ministry of Education, has now taken steps to address the concerns raised by affected HND graduates.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, expressed his commitment to resolving the issue after receiving numerous messages and letters from concerned students and graduates.

He assured the public that the government was aware of the injustice and was working on a solution.
Alausa took to his official Twitter account to share his plans for addressing the matter.

He stated, “I have received numerous messages and letters from part-time ND and HND students, and those who transitioned to full-time courses about their exemption from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).”

He further emphasised that both the Federal Ministry of Education and the Presidency were aligned in their support for the affected graduates.

He confirmed that a meeting with the Director-General of the NYSC would take place in March 2025 to discuss the matter in detail and come up with a solution that would address the grievances of the graduates.

In his statement, Alausa expressed his unwavering support for the affected students, saying, “As I told the students at Yaba Tech today, the Federal Ministry of Education and our agencies stand with you.

“The Presidency stands with you as well. You should not be exempted from participating in NYSC.”

His words were seen as a sign of hope for many who had been waiting for the government to take action.

The forthcoming discussions between the Ministry of Education and the NYSC are expected to yield positive results for the affected graduates.

A resolution of this issue would restore the rights of HND graduates who feel they have been unjustly excluded from the NYSC scheme.

The hope is that this process will lead to the formulation of a fairer and more inclusive mobilisation policy that takes into account the academic standing of all graduates, regardless of whether they completed their ND through part-time or full-time studies.

A favorable resolution is expected to address concerns of discrimination and ensure that all graduates are treated equally under the NYSC scheme.