Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, has authorized the 2023 and 2024 promotion exercises for 26,764 eligible civil and public servants across the state.

The announcement was made on Friday by the Head of Service, Kehinde Onasanya, who detailed that the promotions would include upgrades and transfers for staff in various sectors.

Beneficiaries include workers in core civil service, teaching and non-teaching staff of secondary and primary schools, as well as personnel from state-owned boards, corporations, and parastatals, including the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH).

Onasanya said, “The approved promotion exercises, including upgrades and transfers, cover eligible civil/public servants within the core civil service, teaching and non-teaching staff of government secondary schools, government primary school teachers, and personnel of state-owned boards, corporations, and parastatals, including the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH).

“A total of 26,764 civil/public servants across junior, senior, and management cadres in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the state government are expected to benefit from these exercises, which will involve only oral interviews as the assessment method.”

Governor Abiodun also approved the December 2024 Combined Confirmation/Promotion Tests and Compulsory Public Service Examinations, which are designed to facilitate career progression for officers in both senior and junior cadres.

These examinations will be organized by the Bureau of Establishments and Training under the Office of the Head of Service.

Onasanya emphasized that the Governor’s approval reflects his commitment to enhancing the welfare, morale, and professional development of the state’s workforce.

Expressing gratitude on behalf of the state workers, the Head of Service lauded Governor Abiodun’s consistent implementation of worker-friendly policies that have significantly boosted employee well-being and career advancement.

He urged the workforce to demonstrate their appreciation by recommitting themselves to diligent service delivery.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has shared his concern over the high cost of conducting elections in Nigeria.

Speaking via a statement on Friday while defending the 2024 budget implementation before the National Assembly, Yakubu lamented that the cost was exorbitant and burdensome.

The electoral body boss pointed out that despite INEC being one of the largest employers in the country, it operated on a reduced budget of ₦40 billion, significantly lower than the ₦80 billion initially requested

He emphasized the financial strain this has placed on the commission’s ability to carry out its responsibilities effectively.

In a bid to address these challenges, he appealed to the lawmakers to organize a retreat where both the legislature and INEC can collaborate, exchange ideas, and find solutions to the pressing issues affecting the electoral process in Nigeria.

“We need a major conversation, the commission cannot continue conducting election all year round,” he said.

Yakubu further lamented the deteriorating state of INEC’s facilities, particularly the 860 buildings across the country, which are in urgent need of repair.

He urged the National Assembly to ensure that the electoral body, which has now submitted a 126 billion naira budget proposal, receives adequate funding.

Prince Akeem Owoade, a Nigerian-Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist, has been approved as the new Alaafin of Oyo.

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, announced the appointment on Friday through the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade.

Owoade is a Nigerian and Canadian entrepreneur, philanthropist, and president of 100279 Manitoba Limited, a real estate investment and financial services business in Manitoba, Canada.

Born 49 years ago to a prominent and royal family of Owoade-Agunloye in Oyo town, Owoade is one of the surviving children of Pa Rasaki Ibiyosi Owoade, the descendant of Aremo Aderounmu Iyanda Owoade, Agure Compound, Oyo town.

Owoade completed his secondary school education at Baptist High School, Saki, Oyo State, Nigeria, in 1992.

His father worked for the Oyo North Agricultural Development Programme, helping the Oke-Ogun community in boosting agricultural productivity.

Taking an early interest in engineering, Owoade began his engineering studies by completing his National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State (1994 to 1997) and The Polytechnic, Ibadan (1999 to 2001), Oyo State.

He did his national youth service with Nigeria Gas Company as a Mechanical Intern/Planner in 2002.

After the completion of his NYSC, he worked with Oceanic Bank International Plc. in Warri, Delta State as a teller from 2003 to 2004.

Owoade decided to further his education in the United Kingdom, where he attended the University of Sunderland (2008) and Northumbria University (2012) from where he earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering, respectively.

He became certified in Project Management in June 2015 (PMP holder).

He was chosen by the Owoade-Agunloye family as the preferred candidate to represent the Owoade family in the Alaafin of Oyo race.

He held a Planning Engineer position at Oil Reach Company, Glasgow, United Kingdom for some years before moving to Canada for greater opportunities.

He is the Project Coordinator at one of the largest electric power and natural gas utility providers in Canada, Manitoba Hydro.

Senator John Azuta-Mbata has been elected as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

Azuta-Mbata, a former Senator representing Rivers East at the National Assembly, was elected at the stakeholders meeting of the Igbo Socio-Cultural organization at the old government lodge Enugu, the Enugu State capital on Friday.

The event was attended by several delegates from the South-East and the Diaspora with more than 200 social and cultural groups.

Mbata will be succeeding Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu Chukwu, the last occupant of the President General seat, who hailed from Imo State. He succeeded the late Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and the late Prof. George Obiozor, all of whom were from Imo State but died in office.

John Azuta-Mbata served as the senator representing Rivers East senatorial district under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between 1999 to 2003.

Azuta-Mbata was born in January 1960. He earned a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Ibadan.

He was a member of the Governing council of Rivers state university of science & Technology, Port Harcourt.

After taking his seat in the Senate in June 1999, he was appointed to committees on Defense, Works & Housing, Women Affairs, Finance & Appropriation (vice chairman), Information, Special Projects and Local & Foreign Debts.

Suspected armed bandits on Tuesday ambushed a joint team of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps and vigilante members in Baure Village, killing 21 of the local security men.

The team was returning from a condolence visit when the attack occurred at around 4:30pm on Tuesday January 7, 2025.

Katsina State Police Command confirmed this assault on Friday, stating that the operatives from the Safana Divisional Headquarters responded promptly to the incident, restoring normalcy to the area.

A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu said efforts were underway to apprehend perpetrators of the heinous act.

“The Command is committed to ensuring that those responsible for this dastardly act are brought to justice,” the statement read.

“Further developments will be communicated as the investigation progresses.”

The incident has left the local community in shock, as attacks by bandits continue to pose significant challenges to security in the region.

Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies in their efforts to maintain peace and stability.

As the clampdown on internet fraudsters continue across the country, the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested four Chinese and 104 Nigerians in a business apartment in the Gudu axis of Abuja.

The suspects were arrested on Thursday, January 9, 2025, EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale confirmed.

The suspects, comprising 67 male (including four Chinese) and 38 female were allegedly involved in hotel review job scam targeting victims and hotels in Europe and other parts of the world.

The EFCC spokesperson further noted that the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

The Adamawa State Police Command has arrested a 32-year-old sex worker, Riyanatu Musa for allegedly stabbing a barman to death during a quarrel.

The sex worker who is based in Mubi South local government area, killed the barman identified as Yohanna Musa, during quarrel over N200 balance of liquor.

Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje said the sex worker has since confessed to the heinous crime while being interrogated.

According to the PPRO, the sex worker narrated that she had collected dry gin known as “Big Ben” and one other from the victim and promised to pay the following day, saying that she paid the sum of N1,500 remaining the balance of N200.

She explained that the fight ensued between her and the victim when he demanded for his money and in the course of the feud, she stabbed the victim with a knife in the chest, resulting to his death.

The mother of two who said that she drinks alcohol however denied drinking beer on the day of the incident, saying that she regretted her action.

SP Nguroje said the Commissioner of Police, Morris Dankombo has ordered discreet investigation into the matter, and warned the public from taking laws into their own hands.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested the man behind the recent cloning of its website in which a notice was placed to falsely inform Nigerians that the agency was carrying out a recruitment exercise.

The suspect, Sylvester Victor Augustus, 32, a native of Abak local government area of Akwa-Ibom State, was tracked and arrested by DSS operatives on Thursday at his residence on Akpan Eno Lane in Abak, Abak LGA of Akwa Ibom State.

A security source, who confirmed the arrest, said the suspect claimed to be a graduate of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), a blogger and content creator.

The source said Augustus will soon be arraigned in court.

It would be recalled that Augustus had cloned the DSS website on which he created a fake online recruitment notice, apparently with the intent of defrauding unsuspecting members of the public.

Immediately, it was noticed, the DSS promptly tagged the post “fake” and cautioned members of the public not to fall victim to the antics of fraudsters

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has reacted to the viral video showing two sons of Lagos-based billionaire industrialist and businessman, Chief Razak Okoya-Thomas, displaying wads of N1,000 banknotes and spraying themselves with same, saying it was an abuse of the nation’s currency.

The Police authorities also said the Police escort seen in the video holding the bundles of the Naira notes for the two rich kids has been identified and detained for disciplinary action.

These were disclosed by the NPF on its verified Facebook page on Friday morning. The Police, however, was silent on the consequences of the action of the Okoya boys.

The Force wrote: “The policeman captured in the recent viral video shared by the sons of the lagos businessman, Chief Okoya, where they were abusing the naira, has been identified and detained for disciplinary action.

“The involvement of the policeman has been condemned, as it’s unethical. We will always strive hard to uphold the sanctity, credibility, and core values of the police. Thanks.”

Mixed reactions have trailed the viral video on social media as some netizens criticised the rich kids for displaying wealth in the midst of widespread poverty in the land, while others said the Okoya boys were free to live their lives according to their dictates.