GANUX, Author at SocietyGazette.com

Nigeria needs accountable leadership for real transformation – Natasha

The lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has expressed concern that Nigeria cannot experience real transformation without accountable leadership as the country marks its 65th Independence anniversary.

She disclosed this In her congratulatory message issued in Abuja on Wednesday.

The Federal Government had declared Wednesday, October 1, a public holiday to commemorate the country’s independence from Britain in 1960.

However, in a late announcement on Monday, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation disclosed that the traditional Independence Day parade would no longer be held.

In her statement, Akpoti-Uduaghan described Nigeria as a nation at a crossroads, grappling with insecurity, economic hardship, and inequality, but still showing resilience through innovation and creativity.

“The Nigeria our heroes envisioned is not one divided by ethnicity, religion, or politics, but one united by shared values of justice, equity, and prosperity.

“Building such a Nigeria requires a collective will—a government accountable to its people, a citizenry committed to nation-building, and a leadership rooted in service and integrity,” she said.

Continuing, the lawmaker stressed that Independence Day should serve as a sober reminder of the vision of those who fought for freedom.

She also urged Nigerians to transform the country’s vast potential into tangible progress for future generations.

“Independence Day is more than a date etched in history. It is a reminder of the sacrifices of our founding fathers and mothers… Today, we must honour their memory not with words alone, but by carrying forward their vision of a nation that truly works for all.

“Sixty-five years on, the task before us is clear: to ensure no Nigerian is left behind and to pass on a country worthy of pride. By honouring our past, embracing the present, and marching with hope, we shall bring to life the Nigeria our heroes envisioned,” she stated.

The National Assembly had earlier unsealed the office of Akpoti-Uduaghan.

PUNCH Online understands that her office, located in Suite 2.05 of the Senate was unsealed by the Sergeant-at-Arms of the National Assembly, assisted by security personnel.

The office had been under lock and key since March 6, 2025, when the senator was suspended from the Red Chamber.

Nigeria @ 65: FCT one of Nigeria’s safest places – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared Abuja one of the safest cities in Nigeria, crediting both security measures by the administration and the commitment of residents to peace and harmony.

Speaking in his Independence Day anniversary message on Wednesday, Wike commended residents for intentionally living in peace and harmony, “in spite of a few distractions.”

He stressed that Abuja’s relative calm was not accidental, but the result of deliberate efforts by government and the cooperation of citizens.

“Residents have also remained intentional about living together in peace and harmony in spite of a few distractions.

Consequently, the FCT has become one of the most peaceful places to reside in the entire country.

“This is not only due to the security measures we have put in place, but also because of zero tolerance of residents for insecurity, and their readiness to promote peace in every part of the Territory.”

While commending the capital’s record, Wike urged residents not to be complacent. He assured that his administration, working with law enforcement agencies, was committed to ensuring security and law and order at all times.

“I, therefore, appeal to all residents to go about their lawful businesses, to be watchful over their neighbourhoods and to report all suspicious movements to the law enforcement agents.”

The Minister also reminded residents that the FCT would once again set the pace for Nigeria’s election season, when it holds its Area Council elections in February 2026.

He appealed for calm, orderly campaigns and urged residents to choose leaders who had the interest of their people at heart.

“Come February 2026, the FCT will kick off the electioneering process in the country as residents head to the polls to elect new chairmen and councillors for the six area councils.

“I implore residents to go about campaigning for candidates of their choice in a peaceful and orderly manner. I also encourage everyone to come out en masse when the time comes, to vote for leaders who evidently have their interest at heart; leaders who have vision and capacity to attract development and prosperity to the people,” he said.

Wike’s comments on security in the FCT follows recent news of the death of 29-year-old Somtochukwu Maduagwu, a reporter and News anchor with Arise Television News, who died in Monday, after jumping from the third floor of her apartment building to escape armed robbers.

The Minister has pledged support for Police investigation, describing her death as tragic and unacceptable.

US govt shutdown begins after Congress fails to reach deal

The US government began shutting down on Wednesday after lawmakers and President Donald Trump failed to break a budget impasse during acrimonious talks that hinged on Democratic demands for health care funding.

Republicans and Democrats immediately blamed each other for the deadlock that will impact hundreds of thousands of government workers and the millions of Americans who use the services they provide.

The shutdown, which will stop work at multiple federal departments and agencies, comes as deep partisan divisions in Washington have raised fears over what will be the length and consequences of the halt.

Trump threatened to punish Democrats and their voters by targeting progressive priorities and forcing mass public sector job cuts during the first stoppage since the one during his previous term.

“So we’d be laying off a lot of people that are going to be very affected. And they’re Democrats, they’re going to be Democrats,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

He said a “lot of good can come down from shutdowns,” and suggested he would use the pause to “get rid of a lot of things we didn’t want, and they’d be Democrat things.”

Government operations began grinding to a halt at 12:01 am (0401 GMT) on Wednesday, after a frenetic but ultimately failed bid in the Senate to rubber-stamp a short-term funding resolution already approved by the House of Representatives.

Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer posted a video on social media that showed a clock ticking down to midnight over an image of the US Capitol building.

“The Republican shutdown has just begun because Republicans wouldn’t protect America’s health care,” he said. “We are going to keep fighting for the American people.”

The shutdown will not affect vital functions like the Postal Service, the military and welfare programs like Social Security and food stamps.

But up to 750,000 workers could be sent home each day and would not be paid until the shutdown was over, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

This is the first shutdown since the longest one in US history — lasting 35 days — almost seven years ago during Trump’s previous term.

Hopes of a compromise had been hanging by a thread since Monday, when a last-gasp meeting at the White House yielded no progress.

The gridlocked Congress regularly runs into deadlines to agree on spending plans, and the negotiations are invariably fraught. But Congress usually avoids them ending in shutdowns.

Democrats, in the minority in both chambers of Congress, have been seeking to flex their rare leverage over the federal government eight months into Trump’s second presidency, that has seen entire government agencies dismantled.

– How long? –

Trump’s threat of new job cuts added to anxieties in the federal workforce, sparked by large-scale firings orchestrated by tycoon Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency earlier this year.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson wrote on X after the shutdown began to ask, “How long will Chuck Schumer let this pain go on — for his own selfish reasons?”

“Results: Moms and kids now lose WIC nutrition. Veterans lose health care and suicide prevention programs. FEMA has shortfalls during hurricane season. Soldiers and TSA agents go UNPAID,” Johnson wrote.

Former Democratic presidential hopeful Kamala Harris wrote on X that the Republicans were in charge of the White House and both houses of Congress.

“This is their shutdown,” ex-vice president Harris wrote.

The 100-member Senate requires government funding bills to receive 60 votes — seven more than the Republicans control.

Republicans had proposed to extend current funding until late November, pending negotiations on a longer-term spending plan.

But Democrats wanted to see hundreds of billions of dollars in health care spending restored, particularly in the Obamacare health insurance program for low-income households, which the Trump administration is likely to eliminate.

Almost all Senate Democrats voted against a House-passed, seven-week stopgap funding measure hours ahead of the midnight deadline.

It remains unclear how long the shutdown will last.

The federal government has shuttered 21 times since 1976, when Congress enacted the modern-day budget process.

The longest began on December 22, 2018, when Democrats and Trump found themselves at an impasse over $5.7 billion that the president was demanding for a border wall during his first term.

Dangote to redeploy disengaged workers, says FG

The Federal Government has said the Dangote Group will redeploy staff earlier disengaged from its refinery operations, following the resolution of its dispute with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria.

The FG also announced that the redeployed staff will not suffer any loss of pay due to the redeployment.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, confirmed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said, “After examining the procedure used in the disengagement of workers, the meeting agreed that the management of Dangote Group shall immediately begin the process of redeploying the disengaged staff to other companies within the Dangote Group, with no loss of pay.

“No worker will be victimised arising from their role in the impasse between Dangote and PENGASSAN.”

He further explained that both sides had reached a compromise, noting that “PENGASSAN agreed to start the process of calling off the strike. Both parties agreed to this understanding in good faith.”

The minister also stressed that “unionisation is a right of workers in accordance with the laws of Nigeria, and this right should be respected.”

The conciliation meetings followed a breakdown in earlier talks between the refinery management and PENGASSAN, which had ended in a deadlock on Monday.

The dispute began after PENGASSAN raised concerns over what it described as mass transfers and dismissals of union members by Dangote’s refinery management.

The union also accused the company of replacing some Nigerian staff with foreign workers, arguing that these actions violated labour laws and undermined local employment rights.

The refinery’s management, however, denied these allegations, stating that the workforce reorganization was due to operational requirements and not related to union activities.

The standoff escalated when the union took industrial action by halting gas and crude oil supplies to the refinery, raising alarm over potential disruptions to the nation’s energy supply and economic stability.

The Federal Government intervened, citing the risk of “adverse effects on the economy and energy security,” and convened high-level talks to resolve the impasse.

Nigeria’s foreign reserves highest since 2019 — Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday said Nigeria’s economy had recorded significant improvements in foreign reserves, tax revenues, and trade balance, describing the gains as proof of resilience and diversification.

In his Independence Day broadcast to mark the country’s 65th anniversary, the President said, “We have a stronger foreign Reserve position than three years ago. Our external reserves increased to $42.03 billion this September — the highest since 2019.”

He explained that fiscal reforms were yielding results, with the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio improving in recent months.

“Our tax-to-GDP ratio has risen to 13.5 per cent from less than 10 per cent. The ratio is expected to increase further when the new tax law takes effect in January. The tax law is not about increasing the burden on existing taxpayers but about expanding the base to build the Nigeria we deserve and providing tax relief to low-income earners,” he said.

Tinubu also pointed to trade as an area of positive turnaround. “We are now a Net Exporter: Nigeria has recorded a trade surplus for five consecutive quarters. We are now selling more to the world than we are buying, a fundamental shift that strengthens our currency and creates jobs at home,” he said.

According to him, the progress marks the country’s gradual shift from overdependence on oil.

“Nigeria’s trade surplus increased by 44.3% in Q2 2025 to ₦7.46 trillion ($4.74 billion), the largest in about three years. Goods manufactured in Nigeria and exported jumped by 173%. Non-oil exports, as a component of our export trade, now represent 48 per cent, compared to oil exports, which account for 52 per cent. This signals that we are diversifying our economy and foreign exchange sources outside oil and gas,” Tinubu stated.

PUNCH Online reports that in 2022, reserves fell by $3.43 billion.

That decline reflected constraints from low oil production, capital flight, falling export earnings, and persistent external obligations.

Tinubu hails Nigeria’s growth in health, tech, defence since independence

President Bola Tinubu has hailed Nigeria’s progress in key sectors such as healthcare, technology, infrastructure, and defence since gaining independence 65 years ago, saying the country has recorded “a significant surge in growth across every sector of our national life.”

The President stated this in his national broadcast on Wednesday to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.

While acknowledging that the nation has faced major trials, Tinubu said the journey since 1960 has also been marked by resilience and remarkable achievements.

“Although it is much easier for those whose vocation is to focus solely on what ought to be, we must recognise and celebrate our significant progress. Nigerians today have access to better education and healthcare than in 1960,” he said.

He noted that at independence, Nigeria had only two tertiary institutions, the University of Ibadan and Yaba College of Technology, compared to the 274 universities, 183 polytechnics, and 236 colleges of education spread across the country today.

“We have experienced a significant surge in growth across every sector of our national life since Independence, in healthcare, infrastructure, financial services, manufacturing, telecommunications, information technology, aviation and defence, among others,” Tinubu added.

The President described the nation’s endurance through crises, including the civil war, military rule, and recurring political upheavals, as proof of its determination to survive and thrive.

“For decades, the promise of our Independence has been tested by profound social, economic, and political challenges, and we have survived. While we may not have achieved all the lofty dreams of our forebearers, we have not strayed too far from them,” he declared.

Nigeria celebrated its 65th Independence Anniversary on 1 October 2025, with Tinubu delivering his third anniversary address since assuming office in May 2023.

Unlike previous years, the Federal Government cancelled the traditional military parade in Abuja, citing cost-saving and logistical reasons.

Tinubu’s remarks come at a time of renewed debate over his administration’s economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy and foreign exchange unification, which have triggered inflation and hardship for many citizens.

While defending the reforms as necessary for long-term stability, the President used the anniversary broadcast to highlight the country’s broader achievements in nation-building since 1960, framing Nigeria as a nation that has endured challenges but continues to make progress.

FG announces end of PENGASSAN, Dangote rift

The Federal Government has brokered peace in the face-off between the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, after two days of conciliation meetings.

A statement issued in the early hours of Wednesday by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, disclosed that the matter was resolved following lengthy discussions.

According to the statement, the resolutions reached included: “The Honourable Minister of Labour informed the meeting that unionisation is a right of workers in accordance with the laws of Nigeria, and this right should be respected.

“After examining the procedure used in the disengagement of workers, the meeting agreed that the management of Dangote Group shall immediately begin the process of redeploying the disengaged staff to other companies within the Dangote Group, with no loss of pay.

“No worker will be victimised arising from their role in the impasse between Dangote and PENGASSAN.

“PENGASSAN agreed to start the process of calling off the strike. Both parties agreed to this understanding in good faith.”

The government delegation at the meeting included the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Dingyadi; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu; Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barr. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; Director-General of the DSS, Adeola Ajayi; and the Director-General of the NIA, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.

Monday’s earlier meeting between PENGASSAN and the Dangote Refinery management over the industrial dispute had ended in a deadlock.

The session, which began around 4 pm, stretched into the early hours of Tuesday without resolution.

Following the stalemate, Dingyadi announced that the talks would reconvene by 2 pm on Tuesday.

The follow-up meeting, which eventually commenced around 3:50 p.m. at the Office of the National Security Adviser, lasted into the early hours of Wednesday, when the breakthrough was finally achieved.

The rift had stemmed from allegations by PENGASSAN that the Dangote Refinery engaged in mass transfers and sackings of union members, while also replacing some Nigerians with foreign nationals, claims the company consistently denied.

The Federal Government intervened over concerns about the impact of the dispute on the nation’s economy and energy security.

With God’s help, a new, stronger Nigeria possible – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians to unite in building a stronger nation, assuring that his administration’s reforms are laying a solid foundation for a prosperous future.

PUNCH Online reports that Nigeria marked its 65th Independence Anniversary on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, commemorating the country’s freedom from British colonial rule in 1960.

Traditionally, the occasion is celebrated with nationwide parades, cultural events, and presidential addresses.

However, this year’s commemoration was toned down following the Federal Government’s cancellation of the usual ceremonial parade in Abuja, citing cost-saving and security considerations.

Addressing the nation during Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary on Wednesday, the President urged citizens to support his government’s efforts to reset the economy and promote productivity, noting that with God’s help, a new, stronger Nigeria will emerge.

“Fellow Nigerians, I have always candidly acknowledged that these reforms have come with some temporary pains. The biting effects of inflation and the rising cost of living remain a significant concern to our government.

“However, the alternative of allowing our country to descend into economic chaos or bankruptcy was not an option,” he said.

He further stressed that progress would not be measured by figures alone but by improvements in daily life.

“The accurate measure of our success will not be limited to economic statistics alone, but rather in the food on our families’ tables, the quality of education our children receive, the electricity in our homes, and the security in our communities,” he declared.

Calling for renewed patriotism, Tinubu urged Nigerians to prioritise homegrown solutions.

“Let us be a nation of producers, not just consumers. Let us farm our land and build factories to process our produce. Let us patronise ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ goods. I say Nigeria first. Let us pay our taxes.

“Finally, let all hands be on deck. Let us believe, once more, in the boundless potential of our great nation. With Almighty God on our side, I can assure you that the dawn of a new, prosperous, self-reliant Nigeria is here”, the president remarked.

PUNCH Online reports that Tinubu, who assumed office on May 29, 2023, has made economic reforms the cornerstone of his administration’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”

Since taking office, his administration has implemented far-reaching but controversial policies, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of foreign exchange rates.

While the policies were aimed at stabilising the economy and freeing up resources for development, they triggered a sharp rise in the cost of living, with inflation hitting households hard.

However, the President has repeatedly defended the reforms as “painful but necessary,” assuring that the economy is gradually stabilising.

Diddy risks over 11 years in jail, prosecutors push for sentence

Sean “Diddy” Combs may face more than 11 years in prison, as U.S. federal prosecutors have urged a New York court to hand down a lengthy sentence following his conviction on prostitution-related charges.

As reported by Reuters and ABC News on Tuesday, in a court memo filed on Tuesday, prosecutors asked for “at least 135 months’ imprisonment” and a $500,000 fine. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian is scheduled to deliver the sentence on Friday in Manhattan.

Combs, 55, was found guilty on July 2 after a two-month trial on two counts of transporting male prostitutes across state lines to engage in what prosecutors described as “drug-fueled sexual performances” with his girlfriends, while he watched, recorded video, and masturbated.

He was acquitted on the more serious racketeering and sex trafficking charges, which carried a potential life sentence.

In their memo, prosecutors said Combs was “violent, abusive and left victims in fear”, and argued that despite his acquittal on the more serious counts, he remains “unrepentant.”

“The defendant will not be punished for any crimes of which he was acquitted, of course, but punishment for his crimes of conviction must take into account the manner in which he committed them,” prosecutors wrote.

They said Combs held power over the women involved, particularly Cassie Ventura, who was allegedly left “bloodied and bruised” as seen in hotel security footage.

“The defendant also horrifically physically abused Ventura throughout their relationship, a point he conceded at trial,” prosecutors said, adding that the sentence should reflect Combs’ “decades of unchecked violence” and “decades of psychological, emotional and physical damage he has inflicted.”

Combs’ lawyers have asked for a much lighter punishment, around 14 months, an outcome that could see him released by the end of the year due to time already served at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Centre since his September 16, 2024, arrest.

Defence attorneys called the government’s recommendation “draconian,” arguing in their earlier filing that it amounted to “Verdict be damned—lock him up and throw away the key.”

Combs’ legal troubles stem from his September 2024 arrest, which led to multiple federal charges, including racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution. His trial opened on May 5, 2025, with jury selection completed a week later.

After weeks of proceedings, the jury on July 2 acquitted Combs of racketeering and sex trafficking but convicted him on two transportation counts involving Ventura and another woman.

WAEC hails Ekiti for upgrading ICT facilities in schools

The West African Examinations Council has hailed the Ekiti State Government for the upgrade of ICT facilities in its public schools ahead of transitioning the West African Senior School Certificate Examination to a Computer-Based Test format in the state.

WAEC Branch Controller in Ekiti State, Amos Dogari, said the effort “will help in ensuring that both students and teachers are prepared for the new system” and assist in improving examination integrity and provision of a conducive environment for digital literacy.

A statement made available on Tuesday stated that Dogari, who spoke in Ado Ekiti during an advocacy visit to the state Commissioner for Education, Olabimpe Aderiye, on the WAEC WASSCE CBT format, lauded the state government’s proactive efforts in preparing for the new system.

The WAEC branch controller, who said that the meeting was highly productive, noted that the deliberation was necessary to discuss the modalities for the planned migration to computer-based WASSCE towards achieving the desired goals.

He said, “Sensitisation programmes will be conducted across the three senatorial districts of the state to enlighten stakeholders – students, teachers and parents – on the new process to encourage informed actions, reduce possible conflict, and achieve an environment where individuals and groups feel personally invested in and accountable for achieving desired results.

“The WAEC WASSCE CBT format is a hybrid model where multiple-choice (objective) questions are answered on-screen, while essay and practical questions are displayed on-screen and answered in provided paper booklets.

“It is primarily aimed at modernising and streamlining the examination process, offering faster result processing, improved efficiency, enhanced security against malpractice, and better adaptability to technological advancements,” Dogari said.

The branch controller clarified that the state government was not indebted to WAEC in any form.

The commissioner, Aderiye, who assured that all public secondary schools in the state had been equipped with laptops, reiterated the state government’s commitment to technological advancement in its schools.

She said that the existing facilities could be utilised in transitioning to computer-based WASSCE in the state.

PUNCH Online recently reported WAEC’s reaffirmation of its plan to migrate the WASSCE to a fully computer-based format by 2026.

The Head of WAEC’s National Office, Dr Amos Dangut, who spoke during a sensitisation meeting with members of the National Assembly Committee on Education in Abuja, said the transition, which began with private candidates in 2024, has already made “significant progress” and would be scaled up nationwide ahead of next year’s deadline.

“We have conducted five exams already, one for private candidates and one for school candidates, and by 2026, deployment will be massive,” he said.