General News
FCTA OFFERS 200 FREE HEALTH INSURANCE SLOTS TO JOURNALISTS IN ABUJA
In a city where many journalists cover public health crises without health coverage of their own, a rare lifeline has arrived for members of the pen profession in the Federal Capital Territory.
The Mandate Secretary of the FCTA Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, has offered 150 free health insurance enrolments to members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT Council. In a show of support, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Babagana Adam, added 50 more slots in honour of his late brother, Mohammed Alkali, who died in the line of duty. The combined pledge brings the total to 200 free slots for journalists in the territory.
Announcing the gesture during a courtesy visit by the NUJ FCT leadership in Abuja, Dr Fasawe said the move supports universal health coverage and recognises the media as a vital partner in public health promotion. She stressed that prevention is key, noting that journalists who benefit from the scheme can help amplify awareness about health insurance and healthy health-seeking behaviour.
Under the FCT Health Insurance Scheme, enrollees gain access to one year of care at accredited facilities, covering services such as deliveries, surgeries and emergency treatment. Dr Fasawe said rebuilding trust in public healthcare remains a priority, especially for residents held back by cost and scepticism.
Dr Adam pledged to sustain the 50 annual slots and urged wider public-private partnerships to expand coverage, calling on the NUJ to prioritise the most vulnerable journalists.
NUJ FCT Chair, Comrade Grace Ike, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a boost to journalists’ welfare and a step towards making healthcare a right, not a privilege.
General News
FOSIECON Pushes for Strategic Alliance with Independent National Electoral Commission to Improve LG Polls
The Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON) has intensified efforts to strengthen the credibility of local government elections with a formal request for deeper institutional collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The call was made on Tuesday during a high-level visit by FOSIECON officials to INEC headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking during the meeting, FOSIECON National Chairman, Mamman Nda Eri, described the engagement as a proactive step toward enhancing professionalism, transparency, and public confidence in grassroots elections conducted by State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs).
He noted that while INEC and SIECs operate under separate constitutional mandates, greater cooperation would promote uniform standards and improve electoral outcomes at the local level.
Learning from INEC’s Reforms
Eri commended INEC for its technological innovations and reform-driven initiatives, particularly the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
According to him, these digital tools have significantly enhanced transparency, reduced incidents of manipulation, and strengthened voter trust in the electoral process.
FOSIECON, he said, is seeking structured collaboration that would enable SIECs to benefit from INEC’s technical expertise, especially in areas of election planning, logistics management, ICT systems, and security coordination.
Reform Priorities
The forum outlined key areas for partnership, including capacity building, technology-sharing within constitutional limits, policy and legal reforms, joint voter education initiatives, and research-driven data exchange.
Eri emphasized that harmonizing best practices across federal and state electoral bodies would contribute to improved accountability and more credible local government elections.
International Backing
FOSIECON also highlighted recent support received during the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections from the European Union, the Supporting Democratic Governance in Nigeria (SDGN) programme, and DAI Global.
The chairman said the partnerships helped improve professional standards, election observation practices, and institutional reform efforts among state electoral commissions.
Strengthening Democracy at the Grassroots
Analysts say enhanced synergy between INEC and SIECs could help address longstanding concerns surrounding the transparency and credibility of local government elections across Nigeria.
With renewed engagement between the two bodies, stakeholders believe Nigeria may witness stronger electoral governance at the grassroots level, where democratic processes have the most direct impact on citizens.
President Bola Tinubu has urged the National Assembly to consider the establishment of state police as part of the ongoing amendment to the 1999 Constitution.
The President made the call while breaking fast with senators at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where he encouraged lawmakers to be courageous and forward-looking in their constitutional review process.
According to him, the country requires bold reforms to address its security and governance challenges. He, however, cautioned the legislators to be mindful of what he described as “banana peels” that could derail the amendment process.
Tinubu commended the National Assembly for its cooperation with the executive arm on key national reforms, describing the relationship between both arms of government as harmonious and driven by a shared commitment to national unity, stability and prosperity.
Responding to criticisms that his administration is suppressing opposition voices and allegedly steering the country towards a one-party state, the President dismissed the claims.
“I don’t have a licensed gun to kill opposition,” Tinubu said, stressing that he cannot be blamed for political realignments and internal crises within opposition parties.
He maintained that political developments within parties are products of democratic choices and not executive interference.
In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, reaffirmed the commitment of the Senate to constructive engagement with the executive, particularly on constitutional reforms and national security matters.
Akpabio assured the President that the upper legislative chamber would carefully consider proposals aimed at strengthening governance and improving security architecture across the country, including the issue of state policing.
The meeting formed part of ongoing consultations between the executive and the legislature on critical national issues.
“You have my full support,” declared President Bola Tinubu on Thursday as he decorated Tunji Disu as the Acting Inspector-General of Police.
The ceremony, held at the State House in Abuja, comes at a time Nigeria continues to confront banditry, kidnapping and other security challenges.
President Tinubu charged the new acting police chief to restore public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force and enforce discipline across all ranks. He emphasized the need for professionalism, accountability and respect for the rule of law in policing operations nationwide.
The President urged Disu to strengthen internal control mechanisms, improve intelligence gathering and foster closer collaboration between the police and local communities.
In his remarks, Acting IGP Disu pledged sweeping reforms within the Force, declaring that impunity would no longer be tolerated.
“The era of impunity in the Nigeria Police is over,” he said, assuring Nigerians that officers found wanting would face appropriate sanctions.
Disu also promised to prioritize officers’ welfare, enhance operational capacity and ensure that the Force operates in line with democratic principles and constitutional mandates.
Meanwhile, the Police Council is scheduled to meet next week to ratify his appointment in accordance with constitutional requirements.
The leadership change is seen as part of ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to reposition the Nigeria Police Force to effectively tackle rising security threats across the country.