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Bauchi Governor Appoints Chinese Economic Adviser, Signs Landmark Cooperation Deal

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago02 mins

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has appointed a Chinese national, Mr. Li Zhensheng, as Economic Adviser to the state government. The announcement came during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the China Global Promotion Cooperation Research Centre in Bauchi on Thursday. Governor Mohammed said the move would position Bauchi as an emerging hub for international cooperation, with the partnership expected to boost investments and drive infrastructure, agriculture, education, healthcare, manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, and trade facilitation. He revealed that a Bauchi State Representative Office will be established in China to coordinate project implementation and ensure timely delivery. He noted that the agreement aligns with the diplomatic framework between Presidents Xi Jinping of China and Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, aimed at deepening relations at both national and subnational levels. The MoU provides a broad cooperation framework, with individual project agreements to be developed in due course. Mr. Zhensheng, who chairs the China Global Promotion Cooperation Research Centre, pledged the Centre’s commitment to mobilising global resources to support Bauchi’s economic transformation. He said the collaboration would deliver modern infrastructure, create jobs, enhance skills, and improve livelihoods in the state.

PSC Acquires Portal to Decentralise Police Recruitment

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago02 mins

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has introduced a new recruitment portal to decentralise police hiring and improve transparency in the process. The initiative was announced after a consultative meeting in Abuja with recruitment desk officers from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The Commission resolved to give state representatives a greater role in the 2025 recruitment exercise. The portal—also to be used for PSC staff recruitment—will be accessible to the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Federal Character Commission. According to the PSC, this inclusiveness will help curb corruption and nepotism. For the first time, recruitment officers from all states will be formally engaged in planning and executing the exercise. The platform will go live once the 2025 recruitment process begins. PSC Chairman, retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Hashimu Argungu, said the collaboration with state desk officers would protect the interests of all stakeholders. He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to building a police force the nation can be proud of, while ensuring recruitment remains efficient, transparent, accountable, and equitable.

FDI to Nigeria Plummets Amid Poor Governance and Uncoordinated Reforms

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago03 mins

Despite frequent international trips by the President, ministers, and other government officials in search of foreign direct investment (FDI), Nigeria’s weak governance continues to undermine investor confidence. Persistent shortcomings in the rule of law, regulatory quality, government effectiveness, and accountability are proving that sustainable investment cannot be built on poor leadership. Latest figures from the National Bureau of Statistics show that FDI collapsed by nearly 70% in Q1 2025, falling to just $126.29 million from $421.8 million in the preceding quarter. Of the total $5.64 billion in capital inflows during the period, FDI accounted for only 2.24%, down sharply from 8.2% in Q4 2024. Alarmingly, around 90% of these inflows were channelled into short-term, speculative money market instruments, offering negligible benefits for industrial growth or job creation. The manufacturing sector was hit hard, with capital inflows dropping 32.1% year-on-year to $129.92 million in Q1 2025, down from $191.92 million in the same period of 2023. This decline reflects a deepening lack of trust in a government whose reforms appear reactive and disjointed. While global FDI flows dipped in 2024, Africa bucked the trend, recording a 75% surge to $97 billion. Egypt led the continent with $46.58 billion, followed by Ethiopia ($3.98 billion), Côte d’Ivoire ($3.80 billion), and Mozambique ($3.55 billion). Nigeria, despite its size and resources, managed just $1.08 billion—about 1% of Africa’s total—representing a 42% drop from 2023. The situation has worsened in 2025, with FDI plunging a further 75% between Q4 2024 and Q1 2025. These figures send a clear message: without effective leadership, strong governance, and coherent economic reforms, Nigeria will continue to fall behind its peers in attracting meaningful, long-term investment.

NLC Gives FG Seven-Day Ultimatum Over NSITF PENCOM Edo Crisis

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago02 mins

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to return allegedly diverted workers’ funds and constitute the Governing Board of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM), warning it will not guarantee industrial peace if ignored. In a communiqué after its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting, the NLC ratified the dissolution of its Edo State Council leadership over alleged unethical conduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional breaches. A caretaker committee will oversee the council until fresh elections are held. The CWC accused the government of diverting 40% of workers’ contributions to the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) into national revenue, in violation of the law, and of making false ownership claims to the NLC headquarters. It also condemned cyber and media bullying of unions and moves to amend the NSITF Act to give the government full control. On PENCOM, the NLC decried the prolonged absence of its Governing Board, saying it undermines oversight of pension funds. It demanded that diverted NSITF funds be returned, PENCOM’s Board constituted, and a full pension fund report issued within seven working days, or face nationwide action.

Obidient Movement Launches MERD Campaign to Combat Election Rigging

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago02 mins

The Obidient Movement has unveiled a nationwide campaign themed “Get Organised – Make Election Rigging Difficult (MERD)” aimed at empowering citizens and safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic process. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the National Coordinator, Dr. Tanko Yunusa, said the initiative’s primary goal is to ensure that every eligible Nigerian obtains a Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) to strengthen electoral integrity. “Our mission is clear: boost civic participation nationwide,” Yunusa stated. “In every polling unit, Obidients will lead or join voting blocs of at least 100 people, targeting 100% PVC ownership. We will go door-to-door, assist with voter registration, and recruit 1,500 principled leaders to contest elections under our platform.” He further revealed that the movement will mobilize massive voter turnout, deploy one million trained vote protectors, and leverage technology for real-time election monitoring. The MERD campaign, Yunusa stressed, is designed to close the gaps that enable electoral malpractice, ensuring that the 2027 elections are transparent, credible, and truly reflect the will of the people.

Ondo Assembly, PROMAD to Sign MoU on Public Projects Tracking—Oladiji

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago03 mins

Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly (ODHA), has expressed the readiness of the legislative arm of the Ondo State Government to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PROMAD Infotech Foundation. Rt. Hon. Oladiji, who was represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Ololade Gbegudu announced the plan while speaking at the closeout ceremony for the 18 fellows of the Social Accountability Fellowship organised in the State by PROMAD in Akure on Tuesday. The speaker disclosed to the gathering that discussions were ongoing with the Management of PROMAD to increase the number of fellows from 18 to 26, so that each state constituency will be duly represented. He said, “This is a first-of-its-kind initiative, and the House has adopted it. I urge the fellows to remain steadfast and committed to securing a better future for our State.” He said the MoU would strengthen collaboration for citizen oversight to track, monitor and report government projects in their communities to the House. In June, PROMAD commenced the implementation of Strengthening Participation, Accountability and Transparency in States (SPATS) with the support of ALDA—European Association for Local Democracy, under the WYDE Civic Engagement Project, and implemented in collaboration with European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), Elbarlament, People in Need, and the European Partnership for Democracy and funded by the European Union (EU). As part of its advocacy under SPATS, PROMAD has engaged the Ondo State House of Assembly and other relevant government agencies to promote participatory and accountable governance in the State. When the MoU is signed, a new paradigm for citizens, especially young people in the State, to co-oversight public projects and directly make findings known to their lawmakers for speedy interventions. This will further strengthen the successes recorded by PROMAD under its flagship social accountability, FollowTheProjects, which is developing a new dashboard for real-time project monitoring and providing more accessibility to Nigerians.

News

Ukraine War Update: Zelenskyy Meets Starmer; Kremlin Confirms Trump-Putin Summit Plans

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago02 mins

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street on August 14, highlighting Britain’s continued support for Ukraine ahead of the upcoming U.S.–Russia summit in Alaska. Starmer reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to Ukraine’s territorial integrity and warned that further pressure could be applied to Russia if necessary. The meeting comes at a critical moment, as the Kremlin confirmed that Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will hold a one-on-one meeting this Friday at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. Following the private discussion, their delegations will join for broader talks, concluding with a joint press conference. This will be the first in-person meeting between Trump and Putin since 2019. It has raised concerns among European leaders, who fear Ukraine’s interests could be sidelined during negotiations. Many have stressed that any resolution to the conflict must not undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty. Trump has described the summit as a “listening exercise,” with the aim of exploring possible ceasefire arrangements. He has also indicated that economic measures could be considered if diplomatic progress stalls, while Putin has framed the talks as an opportunity to address security concerns and “reset” strained relations.

FG Suspends Establishment Of New Tertiary Institutions For 7 Years

FG Places 7-Year Freeze on New Federal Tertiary Institutions

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago03 mins

By Kamal Yalwa – August 13, 2025 The Federal Government has imposed a seven-year suspension on the creation of new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, citing under-utilisation, overstretched resources, and declining academic standards. The decision, approved at Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, followed a presentation by Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa. Alausa told State House correspondents that Nigeria’s tertiary education sector was facing a quality crisis rather than an access problem, with many institutions suffering from low enrolment, inadequate infrastructure, and excessive staffing relative to student numbers. “Several federal universities operate far below capacity, with some having fewer than 2,000 students. In one northern university, 1,200 staff serve fewer than 800 students. This is a waste of government resources,” he said. Statistics from the ministry show that last year, 199 universities received fewer than 100 applications through JAMB, with 34 getting none at all. Of the 295 polytechnics in the country, many attracted fewer than 99 applicants, while 64 of 219 colleges of education recorded zero applications. Alausa warned that the proliferation of poorly subscribed institutions risked producing underqualified graduates, tarnishing the reputation of Nigerian degrees internationally, and worsening unemployment. The minister said the moratorium would give government time to focus on upgrading facilities, recruiting qualified staff, and expanding the capacity of existing institutions. “If we want to improve quality and not be a laughing stock globally, the pragmatic step is to pause the establishment of new federal institutions,” he stated. Nigeria currently has 72 federal universities, 42 federal polytechnics, and 28 federal colleges of education, in addition to hundreds of state-owned and private tertiary institutions. Alausa clarified that the freeze applies only to new federal institutions. The FEC also approved nine new private universities at the meeting, noting that these had already met all licensing and regulatory requirements.