Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State has announced new measures aimed at boosting job creation, wealth generation, and empowerment. Speaking after the latest State Executive Council meeting, he said the focus was on infrastructure and human capital development to improve key sectors of life.

“We prioritized healthcare services and delivery by approving the absorption of 422 healthcare workers, including 110 midwives, 54 CHEWs, and 258 Community-Based Health Workers,” Buni stated.

He added that these professionals will make a tangible difference in communities across the state.

According to the governor, these initiatives will strengthen healthcare infrastructure, enhance service delivery, and provide more employment opportunities.

“I am confident that these decisions will positively impact the lives of our citizens and contribute to the state’s overall development,” he said.

August 8, 2025 – The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved major reforms and welfare measures for Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) pensioners under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The approval follows a formal request by PTAD’s Executive Secretary, Tolulope Odunaiya, seeking emergency budgetary allocation to implement new pension rates, harmonisation policies, health insurance coverage, and settlement of unpaid pension liabilities.

Key reforms approved include a pension increment of N32,000, along with percentage increases of 10.66% and 12.95% for pensioners of defunct and privatised agencies.

There will also be harmonisation of pensions for all DBS pensioners, enrolment into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and payment of accrued unfunded pension liabilities owed to pensioners of defunct agencies and treasury-funded parastatals.

According to PTAD, President Tinubu has authorised an additional budgetary allocation for the full implementation of the new pension rates, adoption of the harmonisation policy in the 2026 Pension Budget, and provision of health insurance coverage for all DBS pensioners under the same budget.

The 2026 Budget Proposal will also include the balance of inherited unfunded pension liabilities owed to pensioners of NITEL/MTEL, as well as accrued arrears for other parastatal pensioners.

Executive Secretary Tolulope Odunaiya expressed appreciation for what she described as a historic development.

“These approvals are a testament to the Renewed Hope Agenda’s focus on equity, social justice, and the dignity of our pensioners. Additionally, it cements the position of Mr. President as the leader who ushered a new era of far-reaching and impactful welfare benefits for pensioners under the Defined Benefit Pension Scheme,” she said.

Odunaiya noted that these measures mark a turning point in DBS pension administration and reflect the President’s steadfast commitment to the welfare of Nigeria’s senior citizens. PTAD stated that the reforms will be implemented in phases in collaboration with relevant government agencies to ensure smooth execution.

The Directorate also reassured pensioners of its continued dedication to improving their welfare, noting that the reforms will directly address long-standing issues affecting retired workers.

The announcement, dated August 8, 2025, signals what PTAD calls a renewed era of fairness and improved living standards for DBS pensioners across the country.

August 8, 2025 – The Nigeria Immigration Service has announced that the NIS Mobile app is now available on the Apple Store. In a statement on X, the service said, “For Nigerians in diaspora wishing to renew their international passports comfortably from their Apple devices, we are one step closer to you.”

According to the announcement, the app allows users to begin their contactless passport application journey directly from their iPhones. “Nów Live! The NIS Mobile App is now live on Apple Store!!!” the service stated.

To use the app, open the Apple Store on your iOS device, search for the NIS Mobile app, and download it. Follow the in-app instructions to renew your international passport seamlessly.

Eligibility:
1. Not more than 6months to the expiration of the current passport
2. Service is only available for reissue of existing passport (no correction of data, lost case or other exceptional cases)
3. Available for persons aged 18-60years

The Nigeria Immigration Service encourages eligible applicants to follow the steps and download today.

Abuja, Nigeria – The African Union Development Agency–New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) Nigeria has reaffirmed its readiness to support the full implementation of the Kampala Convention Domestication Bill, 2025, once it is signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The assurance was given by the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria, Hon. Jabiru Salisu Abdullahi, during a strategic meeting with a delegation led by Mr. Hamza Baba, Programme Manager of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP).

Also present were officials from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the National Commission for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons.

The meeting highlighted Nigeria’s leading role in domesticating the African Union’s Kampala Convention, a key legal framework aimed at protecting the rights and dignity of internally displaced persons. Currently, Nigeria is one of only two African countries driving the implementation of this Convention.

Mr. Baba urged AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria to “spearhead the next phase of implementation” once the Bill receives presidential assent.

In his response, Hon. Abdullahi pledged full institutional backing. He stated that the domestication process will be included in Nigeria’s Country Report to the African Union, which will form part of President Tinubu’s address at the AU Summit in Addis Ababa in February 2026.

According to him, the domestication aligns closely with the Renewed Hope Agenda, reflecting the administration’s commitment to international agreements that support national development, humanitarian protection, and social inclusion.

The meeting ended with a strong call for closer collaboration between AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and other stakeholders to ensure smooth, inclusive, and effective implementation nationwide.

This strategic engagement aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda’s priorities, which include inclusive governance, safeguarding vulnerable communities, and fulfilling international obligations that enhance Nigeria’s socio-economic growth and stability.

The Chairman of the Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission, Mrs Rhoda Ojo, has reiterated the commission’s commitment to employing only capable and suitably qualified teachers and staff in the ongoing recruitment exercise for public secondary schools in the state.

Speaking while hosting members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly Committee on Education in her office in Ado-Ekiti, Mrs Ojo stated that measures had been put in place to ensure that only credible and professional teachers are given the teaching jobs. She stressed that the era of half-baked personnel handling and mentoring pupils in public schools is over. According to her, “the future of secondary school students must not be mortgaged for whatever reason.”

Mrs Ojo also addressed the delay in the payment of car and housing loans, explaining that the issue was due to an increase in the amount payable to beneficiaries and low revolving funds.

She assured that payment would be made in no distant time. She further revealed that the commission had resolved the backlog of inherited crises on revalidation and the 2022/2023 promotion exercise, adding that conversion and inter-cadre transfers for deserving staff would be concluded within the next week.

She commended the state House of Assembly for the speedy passage of the bill establishing the Ekiti State Secondary Schools Board, which is expected to commence operations soon.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the commission, Mr Michael Boluwade, dismissed rumours that letters of appointment had been issued to some applicants. He described the allegation as the work of faceless individuals seeking to tarnish the commission’s image and undermine the administration’s good intentions.

Boluwade disclosed that the final results of the written examination are currently being collated and will be released early next week, assuring that successful applicants will be contacted for the final stage of the recruitment process.

The Chairman of the House of Assembly Committee on Education, Hon. Adeyemi Awoniyi, commended the commission’s leadership for putting in place a transparent process for staff recruitment.

He also praised the mature handling of challenges encountered during the exercise, noting that the House committee would continue to support the commission’s activities and recommend assistance when necessary to guarantee quality education in the state.