General News
NASS Hails Tunji-Ojo, Urges Faster Recruitment Process
The National Assembly on Tuesday commended the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for what lawmakers described as sweeping reforms across agencies under his supervision, while urging authorities to fast-track ongoing recruitment exercises.
The commendation came during a joint session of the Interior Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives, where the minister and his team defended the ministry’s 2026 budget proposal.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, Adams Oshiomhole, speaking on behalf of the joint panel, said reform measures introduced by the ministry were already yielding measurable results both locally and internationally.
He highlighted improvements within the Nigeria Immigration Service, noting increased professionalism and better public perception at airports, which he said reflects positively on Nigeria’s global image.
Oshiomhole also cited a recent federal directive assigning VIP protection duties to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, describing it as evidence of growing confidence in the corps’ capacity to protect lives and property.
The committee further acknowledged restructuring efforts within the Federal Fire Service and the Nigerian Correctional Service, commending their leadership for aligning with the minister’s reform agenda.
According to the lawmaker, the Senate had earlier passed a resolution directing the ministry to deploy officials to Kano to assess recent fire outbreaks that destroyed shops and private property, stressing the need to strengthen emergency response systems nationwide.
Despite praising the progress recorded, the panel urged the Civil Defence, Correctional, Immigration and Fire Service Board to accelerate its recruitment process. Lawmakers noted that candidates who recently sat for examinations were awaiting results and should be notified promptly, describing timely completion of the exercise as a matter of national importance.
The committee maintained that sustained reforms, combined with prompt administrative action, would further enhance public confidence in agencies under the ministry.
Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has broken his silence over recent allegations made by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing the claims as too grave to ignore.
Last week, El-Rufai reportedly accused the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, of secretly bugging his phone and gaining access to his most sensitive conversations. He further alleged that the Office of the National Security Adviser imported dangerous chemical substances into Nigeria for undisclosed purposes. In addition, he claimed there was a conspiracy involving Ribadu and Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, aimed at politically destroying him and ensuring his imprisonment for life.
Fani-Kayode, who acknowledged longstanding personal relationships with all three men, said he initially refrained from commenting out of respect for their shared history. However, he stated that the seriousness of the allegations and recent developments compelled him to speak.
Reflecting on their political journey, Fani-Kayode recalled that he, El-Rufai, Ribadu and Uba Sani worked closely during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo over two decades ago. At the time, Ribadu headed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), El-Rufai served in the Federal Executive Council, Uba Sani functioned as Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, while Fani-Kayode was a cabinet minister.
According to him, the group maintained a close working relationship and often aligned on national policy matters, engaging robustly during Federal Executive Council meetings. He described the period as one marked by loyalty, youthful zeal, and firm commitment to the administration.
Fani-Kayode further recounted that after leaving office, members of the group faced what he termed “severe persecution” during the administration of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, largely due to their association with Obasanjo. He claimed that Ribadu and El-Rufai were forced into exile at the time, while he and Uba Sani remained in Nigeria and endured political pressure.
Although Fani-Kayode did not directly validate or dismiss El-Rufai’s recent allegations, he emphasized that the claims are weighty and require careful attention given the national security implications.
The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, resolving a major dispute over Clause 60, which governs electronic transmission of election results.
The controversy arose when Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe demanded a division, opposing the proviso allowing manual transmission where network failures occur. He called for mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results.
During the division, 55 senators, mostly from the ruling All Progressives Congress and two opposition members, voted to retain the manual fallback option, while 15 opposition senators voted against it.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session, described the process as “democracy in action,” praising senators for expressing their positions openly.
The Senate subsequently rescinded the earlier passage and referred the bill to the Committee of the Whole for detailed reconsideration and re-enactment.
The decision confirms that while electronic transmission is allowed, the signed Form EC8A by the Presiding Officer, counter-signed by party agents where available, serves as the primary source in case of network failure.
The development ensures technical and logistical considerations are addressed ahead of the 2027 general elections.
General News
Eight-Year Rule: Federal Ministry of Health Orders Retirement of Directors, Stops Salaries
The Federal Ministry of Health has directed the immediate retirement of all directors who have spent eight years in the directorate cadre, in line with the Federal Government’s eight-year tenure policy.
The directive affects directors within the ministry, federal hospitals, agencies, and parastatals under its supervision.
According to an internal memo issued by the ministry and sighted in Abuja on Tuesday, the enforcement follows the provisions of the Revised Public Service Rules 2021 (PSR 020909), which mandate compulsory retirement after eight years at the director level.
The circular, signed by Tetshoma Dafeta, Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Health, instructed all relevant departments to ensure strict compliance.
The memo stated that officers who had completed eight years as directors as of December 31, 2025, must be disengaged from service with immediate effect.
It further directed that affected officers must hand over all official documents and property immediately. The ministry also ordered the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) Unit to stop their salaries and ensure that any emoluments paid beyond their effective disengagement date are refunded to the Federal Government treasury.
The ministry referenced an earlier circular issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, dated February 10, 2026, which reinforced the enforcement of the eight-year tenure limit across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.
Additionally, heads of agencies and parastatals were instructed to submit the nominal roll of all directorate officers, including those on CONMESS 07, CONHESS 15, and CONRAISS 15 salary structures to designated ministry emails for review.
The memo warned that officials from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Ministry of Health would conduct monitoring exercises to ensure full compliance.
The development follows the Federal Government’s renewed push to enforce tenure regulations within the civil service, aimed at strengthening institutional efficiency and ensuring adherence to established public service rules.