The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Author: Editor

  • NDC Denies Rumors of Dickson Plotting to Sabotage Obi, Kwankwaso Ticket

    An image of Peter Obi, Kwankwaso and Seriake Dickson

    The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has denied allegations that its National Leader, Seriake Dickson, was plotting to sabotage the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, during the 2027 general election.

    The NDC national spokesperson, Osa Director, in a statement on Monday, described the allegations as “malicious lies.”

    Mr Director said contrary to the claims, Mr Dickson has no plans to work for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 election.

    “Our National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, is not a front for the ruling APC or anyone else.

    “He has no secret or open deal whatsoever with the ruinous and diabolical APC regime,” he said.

    He stressed that the party would have chosen to ignore what he termed “the beer-parlour talk and murmurs” circulating on social media, but decided to debunk it to “prevent people from believing lies”.

    “Anyone who knows Senator Dickson’s public service record, and is in his right senses, will not associate him with any under-the-table arrangement to sabotage his own party and its presidential candidate and running mate, Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso,” he stated.

    The NDC spokesperson argued that Mr Dickson, a serving senator, could have taken “the easy way out” by joining the APC.

    “Instead, he chose the hard, honourable path of building a party with like-minds; a party that will liberate Nigeria from the vice grip of the buccaneers currently in power,” he said.

    Mr Director stressed that Mr Dickson’s “consistent, courageous and principled position” in the Senate for over seven years was a clear testament to his strength of character and unwavering solidarity with suffering Nigerians.

    “Consequently, it is wicked, vexatious and mendacious to associate his name with any compromise with the ruling APC and its key drivers.

    “We are fully aware that these unfounded and baseless allegations are emanating from the ranks of our political opponents, who are envious of the growing popularity, acceptability and organic spread of the NDC across the length and breadth of Nigeria,” he claimed.

    From AD, PDP, and NDC

    Mr Dickson began his political career in the now defunct Alliance for Democracy. The politician later served as the AD chairman in Bayelsa State from 1998 to 2000.

    He subsequently served as the party’s national legal adviser in 2000.

    In 2005, Mr Dickson joined the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before emerging as the commissioner for justice and attorney-general of Bayelsa State under the administration of the then-Governor Goodluck Jonathan from 2006 to 2007.

    He was subsequently elected as a House of Representatives member for Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency from 2007 to 2012 under the PDP platform and later served as Bayelsa governor from 2012 to 2020.

    The politician won a senatorial election in 2020 to represent Bayelsa West District under the PDP platform. He won re-election in 2023.

    In March this year, he left the PDP and joined the NDC, which he founded ahead of the 2027 general election. Premium Times

  • Lagos and Kano Top INEC Voter Register Ahead of 2027 Polls

    2023 pre-election survey by Afrobarometer, a pan-African research network, found that 70 per cent of respondents in Nigeria said they want a democracy. But little more than 1 in 4 registered voters in the country exercised their right to vote
    Lagos and Kano states have emerged as the states with the highest number of registered voters ahead of the 2027 general elections, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Lagos tops the national register with 7,488,633 registered voters, followed by Kano with 6,570,276 and Kaduna with 4,662,640.

    The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed the figures on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ meeting and press conference in Abuja while giving an update on the national voters’ register.

    According to him, the register now contains 103,428,715 registered voters following the completion of the commission’s three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise and biometric clean-up.

    Katsina occupies the fourth position with 3,876,051 registered voters, while Rivers State is fifth with 3,736,434.

    Oyo follows with 3,588,111, while Delta has 3,525,988 registered voters.

    Benue ranks eighth with 3,057,225, followed by Ogun with 3,037,981 and Bauchi with 3,012,547.

    The three-phase CVR exercise recorded 10,772,421 new registrations before the final biometric verification and clean-up of the voters’ register.

    At the other end of the table, Ekiti has the lowest number of registered voters, with 1,055,708, followed by Bayelsa with 1,200,691.

    The Federal Capital Territory has 1,732,043 registered voters, while Ondo and Gombe have 1,733,641 and 1,768,560, respectively.

    Male voters lead

    The INEC chairman also gave a demographic breakdown of the voters’ register, showing that male voters slightly outnumber females.

    “Male voters account for 53,528,218 representing 51.75 percent of the register, while female voters number is 49,900,497. The age profile shows that the register is dominated by voters aged 35 to 49 years, who account for 43,265,946 voters, or 41.83 percent of the total,” Amupitan said.

    “Followed by voters aged 18 to 34 years numbering 29,777,576 representing 28.79 percent. Voters age 50 to 69 years account for 22,982,900 or 22.22 percent.

    “Those aged 70 years and above are the smallest age group, with 7,402,291 voters representing 7.16 percent.

    “The register records 232,658 persons with disabilities (PWD) spread across 10 disability categories. This represents roughly 0.2 percent.”

    Meanwhile, INEC said nationwide collection of newly issued Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) would commence on October 9, 2026.

    The commission also said the voters’ register would be displayed for public scrutiny from October 9 to 15, in compliance with Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026.

    Amupitan said the exercise would enable Nigerians to scrutinise the register and raise claims or objections ahead of the 2027 general elections. Daily Trust

  • Nkanu East Council Pursues Partnerships on Electricity, Education Development

    Nkanu East Council Pursues Partnerships on Electricity, Education Development

    Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State is exploring strategic partnerships with the Enugu State Electrification Agency (ESEA) and the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Programme to improve electricity supply and expand educational opportunities across the area.

    The engagements are part of efforts by the local government to address critical development challenges and promote initiatives that will have a tangible impact on residents, particularly in the areas of power supply, education and human capital development.

    On electricity, officials of Nkanu East Local Government held discussions with the ESEA, led by the agency’s Managing Director, Engr. Christopher Ezeora, on measures to improve electricity supply across communities in the area.

    The discussions focused on the electricity challenges confronting communities in Nkanu East and the need for stronger collaboration among relevant stakeholders to develop practical and sustainable solutions to improve access to power.

    Speaking on the engagement, the Council Chairman, Hon. Engr. Mike Ogbuekwe, said improving electricity supply remains a priority, particularly because of its importance to local businesses, economic activities and the living conditions of residents.

    The meeting also explored areas where the local government and the state electrification agency could strengthen cooperation and coordinate efforts towards addressing power-related challenges in the area.

    Ogbuekwe said sustainable development requires continuous dialogue, collaboration and deliberate action, adding that his administration would continue to engage relevant government agencies and stakeholders in pursuit of solutions that would have a meaningful impact on the people.

    The council is also exploring a partnership with the AGILE Programme to improve access to quality education and create greater opportunities for young people, particularly girls.

    Through the proposed partnership, the council is looking at initiatives aimed at returning out-of-school children to the classroom, providing essential learning materials, supporting indigent students to access education, promoting positive social norms and expanding digital literacy opportunities for young people.

    “Our children deserve every opportunity to learn, grow and realise their full potential. As a Local Government, we will continue to pursue meaningful partnerships that strengthen education, promote inclusion and advance human capital development across Nkanu East.”

    Ogbuekwe also expressed appreciation to Dr. Ebele Georgina Chukwu Onuora, State Project Coordinator, AGILE Enugu State, and the entire AGILE team for the partnership and their commitment to improving educational opportunities for residents of the area.

    The council said the engagements with ESEA and AGILE are expected to provide platforms for further discussions and practical interventions aimed at improving electricity access, strengthening education and advancing human capital development across Nkanu East.

    “Thank you for this partnership. Together, we are investing in a brighter future for our children.”

  • Anambra CP Orders Probe Into Disappearance Of Armed Robbery Suspect

    Anambra CP Orders Probe Into Disappearance Of Armed Robbery Suspect

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Nnanna Ama, has ordered an investigation into the disappearance of an armed robbery suspect who was reportedly arrested and taken to the 3-3 Police Station in the state.

    Ama also ordered the issuance of queries to the Divisional Police Officer of the station and a Deputy Superintendent of Police, while directing disciplinary proceedings against an Inspector of Police over the incident.

    The police commissioner gave the directives after personally interviewing the complainant and officers involved in the case following the circulation of a viral video alleging that the suspect could no longer be accounted for after being brought to the station.

    The command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

    According to Ikenga, Ama described the allegation as serious and warned that any misconduct capable of undermining public confidence in the police would not be tolerated.

    The commissioner said the command would not condone unprofessional conduct, dereliction of duty, abuse of office or violations of established police procedures.

    He subsequently directed the Command’s X-Squad to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the suspect’s arrest, detention and documentation, as well as the circumstances surrounding his subsequent disappearance.

    The investigation will also examine the roles and responsibilities of the police officers involved in the case.

    Ama further disclosed that operational measures had been put in place to facilitate the arrest of the missing suspect.

    The commissioner assured members of the public that the outcome of the investigation would be made known once the facts had been established.

    The command also urged members of the public to refrain from sharing unverified information that could interfere with or prejudice the ongoing investigation.

    Ama reiterated that accountability was central to his leadership of the command, stressing that no police officer was above scrutiny or the established disciplinary process.

  • Eight-Year-Old Killed, Others Injured in Anambra Road Crash

    The Anambra State Fire Service has confirmed that an eight-year-old child lost her life while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries in an accident that occurred near the Anabel Event Centre, along the Onitsha–Enugu Expressway in the state.

    According to a press statement released on Tuesday by the Media and Publicity Unit of the Service, headed by Chukwudi Chiketa, the accident occurred when the commercial bus conveying them from Nnewi to Enugu crashed and overturned.

    Chiketa said the affected commercial bus was carrying 14 passengers, adding that the accident occurred on Sunday.

    According to him, the emergency call was received by the fire service office at about 3:30 pm, with Service personnel promptly mobilising to the scene, where they assessed the situation, secured the area and assisted in the rescue and evacuation of victims.

    The statement read, “The Anambra State Fire Service responded to a road traffic accident involving a fully loaded commercial bus at Anabel Event Centre, Awka, on Sunday, October 4, 2026.

    “The emergency call was received at about 1530 hours, reporting that a commercial bus travelling from Nnewi to Enugu with passengers on board had crashed and overturned. Fire Service personnel promptly mobilised to the scene, where they assessed the situation, secured the area and assisted in the rescue and evacuation of victims.

    “The affected vehicle, a commercial bus popularly known as “tracas,” was carrying 14 passengers. The vehicle sustained damage to some parts in the crash. There was, however, no fire outbreak at the scene.

    “Several passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries and were evacuated and taken to the hospital for medical attention. Sadly, an eight-year-old child lost her life in the accident.”

    According to him, the fire service personnel took necessary safety measures to prevent any secondary disaster and remained at the scene until the situation was brought under control and the area was considered safe.

    “The responding team withdrew from the scene at about 1745 hours of the same day.

    “The Anambra State Fire Service urges motorists and other road users to exercise maximum caution, avoid excessive speed and remain vigilant while driving, particularly when carrying passengers.

    “Fire kills, but we can prevent it,” the statement added. Punch

  • JUST-IN: NAF Releases Names of Crew, Passengers Killed, Confirms No Survivors in Aircraft Crash

    JUST-IN: NAF Releases Names of Crew, Passengers Killed, Confirms No Survivors in Aircraft Crash

    The Nigerian Air Force has released the names of the crew members and the passengers in the aircraft that crashed on Monday, killing everyone on board.

    The NAF, in a statement on Tuesday, said there were 25 people on board, “comprising five crew members and 20 passengers.”

    Government officials had said on Monday that 32 people were on board the aircraft, which crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State, an indication that the manifest has now been correctly reviewed.

    “No survivors have been found,” the air force said.

    The air force said the Chief of Air Staff, Sunday Aneke, “has directed a comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident.”

    Read the full statement by the air force below:

    NAF MOURNS 25 LIVES LOST IN NAF 931 AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT

    The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has expressed profound condolences to the families of the personnel and passengers who lost their lives following the accident involving Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR 42 aircraft, NAF 931, in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State. The CAS described the incident as a deeply painful moment for the Nigerian Air Force and the nation, expressing heartfelt sympathies to the families, loved ones and colleagues of those who lost their lives. He assured the bereaved families of the Service’s full support during this difficult period.

    NAF 931 had 25 persons on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers. The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred. Search-and-rescue procedures were immediately activated, with response efforts conducted in coordination with relevant authorities to locate and account for all persons on board. No survivors have been found. The crew members were:

    CREW
    1. Squadron Leader MI Aburime (Flight Captain)
    2. Squadron Leader AP Man-Ugwueje (Co-pilot)
    3. Flight Lieutenant IS Bako (Co-pilot)
    4. Warrant Officer Abubakar A (Aircraft Technician)
    5. Corporal Uguru HC (Aircraft Technician)

    PASSENGERS
    6. Flight Lieutenant TL Lazarus
    7. Flight Lieutenant M Akinloye
    8. Flying Officer IM Adeshina
    9. Master Warrant Officer Onwuka F
    10. Master Warrant Officer Matini BA
    11. Warrant Officer Nuhu FS
    12. Flight Sergeant James RB
    13. Flight Sergeant Mohammed AI
    14. Sergeant Ani AE
    15. Sergeant Izibenikien SI
    16. Sergeant Alafuka C
    17. Sergeant Mbadugha AN
    18. Lance Corporal Ugwuba FC
    19. Lance Corporal Eledan GE
    20. Mrs Ezeh Nneka
    21. Godstmine Tarabina
    22. Joy Micheal
    23. Sunday Micheal
    24. Ukeme David
    25. Gideon Omotola

    The CAS has directed a comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident. The Nigerian Air Force will continue to provide timely and verified updates as the investigation progresses and urges the public to refrain from speculation and the circulation of unverified information, while respecting the privacy and dignity of the affected families. A condolence register has also been opened at Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Abuja, for senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, heads of security agencies, and other well-wishers who may wish to pay their respects and convey messages of sympathy to the families of the deceased and the Nigerian Air Force.

    Ehimen Ejodame
    Air Commodore
    Director of Public Relations and Information
    Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force

  • Akpabio and Obono-Obla’s bala-bala

    Akpabio and Obono-Obla’s bala-bala

    By Festus Adedayo

    WHEN your speech appears to contain gibberish or is empty, a famous Yoruba slang gives such talk the moniker, bala-bala or in another context, pala-pala. None of the two has a formal linguistic translation or meaning but have existed long enough to gain individual notoriety.

    Last week, two Nigerians, both of the APC, spat such nonsensical talks that they could jolly well qualify for the slangs above.

    Last week, Senate President Godswill Akpabio mounted the gibberish podium. Give it to him:

    Akpabio is a professor of gibberish. Sometimes, many wonder if Nigeria’s senate president first talks before engaging his thinking cap. At a senate plenary last week, like an illusionist or magician who Yoruba call the pidan-pidan, Akpabio stunned an unshockable Nigerian people by heaving out a bag of magical statement: He has never truly been a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “My spirit might be there, but my heart was never there,” the senator, who deserves to be garlanded “the most loquacious parliamentarian in Nigerian history,” said.

    That pala-pala came when a motion to beatify late former Kogi State governor, Ibrahim Idris, came at plenary. And Senator Jibrin Isah went nostalgic of a time when all of them belonged to the PDP. Akpabio then jumped into the fray and denounced the label, saying he had always rejected the label, describing himself as a “progressive” who was never a true member of the party.

    Now, what can pass as bala-bala more than this? Sometimes when a talk verges on the idiotic, Yoruba call it pala-pala ilu apala (as inchoate as Apala music drumming). If you ask me whether Apala music’s symphony is discordant, I will say ’no. I however think the authors of that phrase were just having a nice time with the onomatopoeia and assonance in it.

    The man who said his “heart was never there” served for eight years as governor of PDP’s Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2015. He was nominated by PDP governors to be their chair at the PDP Governors’ Forum. In 2015, he became senator on the PDP platform and rose to become PDP’s Senate Minority Leader, from 2015 until 2018. If a man occupied such pinnacle of a political party in over a decade, yet felt no qualms in ditching his benefactor by saying his “heart was never there, then President Bola Tinubu must be wary of Akpabio. I do not think Judas Iscariot did worse thing to our Lord Jesus Christ.

    The spit of Akpabio’s bala-bala had hardly dried when Okoi Obono-Obla, APC founding member, mounted the saddle. He was on a national television last week. Ordinarily in Yorubaland, when you wake up early in the morning to be confronted by a messy and unpleasant scene, of the texture I found strung to Obono-Obla’s mouth that morning, the day is totally fouled up. Nothing good could come out of it.

    You are advised by our forefathers to go back to bed for a remedial of a metaphysically damaged day. Upon listening to Obono-Obla, I did the needful and re-hugged my pillow.

    Listen to the bala-bala: There is nothing wrong with the Rainbow Coalition being championed by FCT minister, Nyesom Wike. “Such is not new in Nigeria”,

    He further went on and cited a Kenyan coalition and what he said was an alliance of the ruling NPN of Shehu Shagari government of the Second Republic with the PRP. Yet another, he said: “Reverend Jesse Jackson formed a coalition (that) was a mixed bag of Republicans, Democrats, African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, conservatives, and socialists.”

    Then he veered into what seemed to vex him most. APC governors had marginalized and alienated original party members like him. He then justified Wike’s interloping role by saying “APC governors are responsible for the circumstances under which Minister Wike is trying to draw people into his coalition.” Not done, when asked about the present state of the PDP, he said, “I don’t think the PDP is scattered.” He justified that cant by saying Wike’s PDP had “candidates nominated to INEC, the PDP has candidates in almost all parts of the country, unlike the NNPP or ADC. The PDP is still there, largely thanks to the efforts of Wike. That is good for the country’s democracy.”

    First, in that interview, Obono-Obla committed what is called the fallacy of false analogy. What the ruling NPN did in 1979 was to form a working legislative and political coalition with the NPP shortly after the 1979 elections. Their aim was to secure a working majority in the National Assembly. The alliance however collapsed in 1981, three years after, due to mutual political discordant tunes. The other analogies Obono-Obla gave were what they were: “bala-bala” and “pala-pala ilu apala”!

    While all the examples he gave were institutional, involving political parties in alliance, what we have with Wike’s solo romp in the APC has a flavour similar only to what Chief Bola Ige did under Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999. The man of honour that the Immortal Ige was, he retraced his steps out of the bind when he found out that it was like tying one’s legs to a spot with the Yoruba rope called “okun agba”.

    I think, between Obono-Obla and Godswill Akpabio, last week was laced with enough gibberish to last a lifetime.

  • Defence Minister Orders Full Investigation Into Ondo Military Aircraft Crash

    Defence Minister Orders Full Investigation Into Ondo Military Aircraft Crash

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Minister of Defence, Gen Christopher Musa (retd.), has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the military aircraft crash in Ondo State that claimed the lives of several military personnel and civilians.

    Musa said the probe would determine the circumstances surrounding the crash and identify measures required to strengthen aviation safety across the Nigerian Armed Forces.

    In a statement issued on Monday, the minister described the incident as a painful loss to the military and the country, commending the deceased personnel for their service and commitment to Nigeria.

    He said, “A comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate crash has been ordered to ascertain the cause and ensure all necessary operational safety protocols are reinforced across our military aviation units.”

    Musa expressed condolences to President Bola Tinubu, the leadership of the Armed Forces, and the families, colleagues and loved ones of the deceased.

    He also extended his sympathy to the families of civilians who were reportedly aboard the aircraft.

    The minister prayed for strength for the bereaved families and members of the military community as they cope with the loss.

    The development followed President Tinubu’s declaration of three days of national mourning over the crash.

    Tinubu directed that national flags be flown at half-mast across the country in honour of the victims.

    The aircraft, which was described by authorities as being on a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos, crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State shortly after 9am on Monday.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described the crash as a painful moment for the Armed Forces and the nation.

    Tinubu said members of the Nigerian Air Force routinely put their lives at risk in the service of the country, adding that the sacrifices of those who died would not be forgotten.

    The crash has prompted ongoing efforts by relevant authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and provide further information on the victims.

  • 2027: Turaki Urges Nigerians To Reject Vote-Buying, Choose Leaders On Merit

    2027: Turaki Urges Nigerians To Reject Vote-Buying, Choose Leaders On Merit

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    A factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Kabiru Turaki, has urged Nigerians to reject vote-buying and assess candidates based on their ability to provide quality representation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    Turaki made the call on Monday at the second Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed Colloquium held in Bauchi to mark the 68th birthday of Governor Bala Mohammed.

    He particularly appealed to young Nigerians to become more involved in politics and governance instead of waiting to be described as “leaders of tomorrow.”

    Turaki warned voters against exchanging their votes for money, rice, spaghetti or other material inducements, arguing that such practices could weaken citizens’ ability to demand accountability from elected officials.

    “We must not vote in exchange for spaghetti, rice, money or any other inducements. We must vote according to the capacity of the candidates to offer quality representation and contribute to national development,” he said.

    He said the quality of leadership produced by the electoral process was partly determined by the choices made by voters, adding that citizens who refused to participate in elections could also contribute to the emergence of poor leadership.

    Turaki urged youths to take an active role in political processes and decision-making, rather than being treated merely as campaign supporters or election-day voters.

    “We must stop saying that youths are the leaders of tomorrow; when will that tomorrow come?” he asked, stressing that young people should be involved in decisions concerning the country’s future.

    The PDP factional leader also expressed concern about the quality of legislative representation in the country.

    He argued that attention should not only be placed on the number of laws passed by the National Assembly but on whether such legislation addresses challenges confronting Nigerians, including hunger, unemployment, poverty and insecurity.

    According to him, effective legislation should improve citizens’ living conditions and address the country’s fundamental problems.

    Turaki also disagreed with comments by former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, who had earlier criticised what he described as growing executive influence over the Senate.

    Baba-Ahmed, in his keynote address at the event, argued that repeated interference by the executive had weakened the independence and vibrancy of the Senate. He also questioned whether lawmakers were primarily representing the executive or the citizens who elected them.

    He called for a legislature that would be more willing to defend citizens’ rights and assert its constitutional independence.

    Responding, Turaki said the focus should be on electing legislators capable of producing quality laws that respond to the needs of Nigerians.

    He argued that Nigeria had experienced differences in the quality of legislative representation over time and said understanding past and present developments was important to improving the country’s democratic future.

    Turaki said a strong legislature was necessary for effective checks and balances and called on Nigerians to take greater responsibility for the political process.

    The event brought together political figures and other stakeholders to discuss Nigeria’s democratic development and the role of institutions ahead of the 2027 elections.

  • Teachers Demand Better Welfare As FG, States Pledge More Support

    Teachers Demand Better Welfare As FG, States Pledge More Support

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Nigerian teachers have called for improved welfare, better working conditions, career advancement, increased recruitment, safer schools and greater investment in education as the country marked the 2026 World Teachers’ Day.

    The demands came as the Federal Government and several state governments announced measures aimed at improving the teaching profession, including recruitment, training, salary adjustments, infrastructure development and welfare packages.

    The 2026 celebration was held under the theme, “Protecting and Advancing the Status of the Teaching Profession in a Rapidly Changing World.”

    Speaking at the national celebration and President’s Teachers’ and Schools’ Excellence Awards in Abuja on Monday, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening the profession.

    Alausa said teachers deserved professional respect, opportunities for career development, adequate teaching resources, fair recognition and working conditions that would enable them to perform effectively.

    He also urged teachers to embrace emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, while maintaining professional standards and the human connection necessary for effective teaching.

    The minister said the government would continue working with state governments, professional bodies, labour unions, school administrators, development partners, communities and parents to improve teacher preparation, professional development and recognition.

    He added that ongoing education reforms were focused on improving learning environments, strengthening institutions, developing skills for a changing economy and generating reliable data for policy decisions.

    Teachers Highlight Challenges

    In several states, teachers’ unions used the occasion to draw attention to challenges affecting educators and the education system.

    In Oyo State, the Nigeria Union of Teachers demanded full implementation of the Safe School Programme, the integration of 135 teachers into the Teaching Service Commission, approval of inter-local government transfers and improved opportunities for conversion and career progression.

    The union also called for the release of grants to school heads and payment of outstanding 2025 leave allowances.

    The Oyo NUT Chairman, Hassan Fatai, said the celebration was dedicated to teachers and pupils abducted during an attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, 2026.

    The Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Nureni Adeniran, said improving education was impossible without adequately supporting teachers through professional development, good working conditions, career progression and continuous training.

    In Delta State, the NUT raised concerns over teacher shortages, insecurity, inadequate instructional materials and other challenges affecting educators.

    The state chairman, Dickson Poubeni, welcomed the approval of Grade Level 17 career progression for eligible graduate teachers in public primary schools but said more needed to be done.

    He called for improved security in schools, additional recruitment, better funding for school heads and the inclusion of the NUT in governing councils of state-owned educational institutions.

    Responding, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori said his administration was committed to improving teachers’ welfare, training and working conditions.

    He said the state had approved Grade Level 17 progression for qualified graduate teachers in public primary schools and introduced a 13th-month salary for public servants, including teachers.

    Abia Orders Payment Of Outstanding Benefits

    In Abia State, Governor Alex Otti directed officials to address several outstanding welfare and employment issues raised by the NUT.

    Otti ordered the re-engagement of teachers who had been retired or disengaged at age 60 but were below the new retirement age of 65.

    He also directed the payment of outstanding check-off dues within seven days and ordered that salaries delayed because of verification issues be paid by the end of October.

    The governor further directed the payment of salary arrears owed to 4,075 newly recruited teachers and ordered officials to complete the harmonisation of outstanding 2021 and 2022 promotions.

    Otti said his administration was also developing smart schools as part of efforts to modernise education.

    The state NUT chairman commended the governor for recruiting more than 9,000 teachers, settling inherited salary arrears and allocating 20 per cent of the annual budget to education.

    Ekiti Announces N70.5m Rewards

    In Ekiti State, Governor Biodun Oyebanji announced N70.5m in cash rewards for outstanding teachers across the state’s 16 local government areas.

    The governor also assured teachers that outstanding emoluments, including leave bonuses, would be addressed.

    Oyebanji announced plans to construct a new state library in 2027 and said the government had recruited 5,530 teachers over four years to address personnel shortages.

    He also cited regular salaries, car and housing loan schemes and other welfare measures as part of the government’s support for teachers.

     Ogun Absorbs 1,500 Interns

    In Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun announced the absorption of more than 1,500 OgunTEACh interns into the mainstream civil service.

    The state government also announced more than N51m in rewards for outstanding teachers, administrators and schools.

    Abiodun said more than 7,000 teachers had been employed since his administration came into office, while N24bn had been earmarked through the State Universal Basic Education Board for critical education infrastructure.

    The Ogun NUT commended the government for teacher recruitment and the implementation of promotions dating from 2016 to 2024.

    The union also welcomed the removal of the ceiling that previously prevented primary school teachers from progressing beyond Grade Level 16.

    Ondo Focuses On Digital Education

    In Ondo State, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa called for increased investment in teachers, saying educators needed adequate tools, dignity and a conducive environment to perform effectively.

    Aiyedatiwa said more than 2,100 teachers were recruited into public primary and secondary schools in 2025, while the government had invested in professional training and school infrastructure.

    He said 43 new classroom blocks were constructed and 75 schools completely renovated in 2025, alongside the provision of furniture and learning materials.

    The governor also highlighted the state’s move towards digital education, including the introduction of artificial intelligence-powered learning tools, smartphones and digital literacy programmes.

    He said teachers were being equipped with laptops as the state prepared students for emerging fields such as robotics and artificial intelligence.

    Edo Recruits 6,000 Teachers

    In Edo State, Governor Monday Okpebholo said his administration would continue to prioritise teachers’ welfare and education development.

    The governor said 5,000 contract teachers had been absorbed into the state civil service, while 6,000 teachers had been recruited to address staffing shortages in public schools.

    Okpebholo said the government would continue working to ensure that schools, including those in rural communities, had access to qualified teachers.

    Sokoto Raises Salary Concerns

    In Sokoto State, African Democratic Congress governorship candidate Manir Dan’iya called for urgent action over reported concerns about teachers’ salaries, employment security and welfare.

    He urged the state government to clarify reports concerning delays in the payment of September salaries and the removal of some teachers from the payroll.

    Dan’iya also called for regular professional training, adequate teaching materials, improved working environments and clear career progression for educators.

    Kebbi NUT Defends Government

    Meanwhile, the Kebbi State NUT rejected allegations circulating on social media that teachers were being poorly treated by the state government.

    The union chairman, Zaki Sarki SK, described the video containing the allegations as old, edited and misleading.

    He cited the reported increase in teachers’ salaries to N75,000, recruitment of more than 2,000 teachers, construction of classrooms and provision of teaching materials as evidence of government intervention in the sector.

    Atiku Calls For Better Teacher Welfare

    Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, also used the occasion to call for improved welfare for teachers.

    Atiku criticised governments that celebrate teachers annually without providing adequate conditions for them to live and work with dignity.

    He said teachers deserved policies that addressed the cost of living, decent employment and improved working conditions.

    Atiku recalled the role his early teachers played in his life and said the profession should receive sustained government support rather than symbolic recognition on World Teachers’ Day.

    Across the country, the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebrations therefore focused on the need to move beyond appreciation of teachers to concrete measures that improve their welfare, professional status, working environment and capacity to prepare students for a rapidly changing world.

  • Tinubu Declares Three-Day Mourning For Air Force Personnel Who Died In Aircraft Crash

    Tinubu Declares Three-Day Mourning For Air Force Personnel Who Died In Aircraft Crash

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a three-day national mourning for Air Force personnel who died in the crash of a military plane today.

    According to a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu also directed that flags should be flown at half-mast throughout the country as a mark of respect to the officers.

    President Tinubu had earlier expressed profound sadness over the crash of the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 jet.

    The accident occurred near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State. The aircraft, carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members, was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when it crashed.

    “This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation. Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten,” President Tinubu declared in a condolence message to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and all officers, airmen, and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force.

    “The Chief of Air Staff has briefed me, and I have directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent future occurrences.

    “I commend the Nigerian Air Force for activating an immediate search and rescue operation following the accident.”

    The Air Force will release the officers’ names after contacting their families.

  • President Tinubu Returns To Abuja

    President Tinubu Returns To Abuja

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Lagos for Abuja this evening after his six-day visit to the former seat of government.

    President Tinubu arrived in Lagos on Tuesday, September 29, after spending his annual vacation in London and Paris.

    While in Lagos, the President addressed the nation on 1st  October to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day anniversary.

    Later that day, the President attended the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts for the National Premiere of MKO, a documentary that chronicles the life, political struggle, and enduring legacy of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola and the historic June 12 pro-democracy struggle.

    President Tinubu also, on Sunday, paid a visit to the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Akiolu, at his Iga Iduganran Palace on Lagos Island.