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Tag: FG

  • FG says there’s still hope to locate Leah Sharibu, other Chibok girls

    FG says there’s still hope to locate Leah Sharibu, other Chibok girls

    The federal government of Nigeria has declared that it is still actively working towards securing the release of the remaining abducted Chibok schoolgirls and Leah Sharibu.

    The assurance was given on Tuesday in Abuja by the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Major General Adamu Laka, while speaking at the multi-agency meeting on anti-kidnapping, organised in collaboration with the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency.

    Leah Sharibu was among the 110 schoolgirls kidnapped by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters from the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, on February 19, 2018.

    Also, 276 girls were abducted by Boko Haram from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, on April 14, 2014.

    While some of the victims have regained their freedom, Sharibu, the only Christian among the Dapchi girls, remains in captivity because she refused to denounce her faith.

    Also, 87 of the Chibok girls are still believed to be in captivity.

    Speaking on Tuesday, Major General Laka said the government has not given up on ensuring the safe return of the girls, stating that negotiations and operations are ongoing to this effect.

    He acknowledged that some of the kidnapped girls have been married off to the insurgents, but the government is still working on getting them home.

    He said, “Since when they were kidnapped, those who were rescued were not just rescued one time; It was a gradual process. Negotiations were done, trying to get them out. Operations were conducted.

    “Luckily, at the beginning of that, towards the year after they were kidnapped, I was in the theatre, and I know what the military and intelligence agencies put into rescue the initial set of the Chibok girls.

    “We haven’t given up hope on them; some of them were married to some of the insurgents. Some have come out. But let our focus not only be on the Chibok girls. There are others that have been kidnapped aid workers, Nigerian aid workers who were kidnapped. We’ve rescued some that are working for UNICEF.”

    Laka pointed out that the silence in the media does not equate to inaction or indifference on the part of the government.

    He said, “We’ve rescued some that are working for UNHCR and IOM and so on. Do you understand? So, we haven’t relented on our efforts.

    “There is the issue of this lady, Leah Shaibu. So, not because it’s not always in the press.

    “We are not always talking about it. It doesn’t mean we don’t care. It doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten about them. We are still on it. Our prayer is that the whole 87 or 80 plus that are left will be rescued by God’s grace. ”

  • We are suffering, pay our arrears – Pensioners beg FG

    We are suffering, pay our arrears – Pensioners beg FG

    Many pensioners in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed frustration over the delay in the payment of pension arrears.

    President Bola Tinubu had given approval for the N758 billion Treasury Bond by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in February for payment of the arrears.

    However, the National Assembly has approved the implementation of the N758 billion Treasury bond on July 22.

    The bond was to clear all government liabilities under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) retirees for more than decades.

    The pensioners, who lamented over their sufferings, also urged the immediate implementation of the N758 billion Treasury bond to increase their monthly pension in line with the present economic reality.

    In an interview with NAN, Hajiya Amina Lawal, said that even some workers could not afford three meals, adding that it is harder for pensioners.

    “We were happy after the announcement by the president that we are going to be paid, but we did not know we will have to wait this long for processing.

    “Our hopes were raised and some have died while waiting for the money to be paid.

    “We are begging for the immediate implementation, we are too old to be on the streets,” she said.

    Mr George Ose said they were going through a lot, some pensioners have lost their lives in the struggle.

    “My family and I are hungry. I can’t pay my children’s school fees. My landlord is on my neck and to top it all, I can’t access the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) anymore.

    “If you look into my eyes, you will know that I need urgent medical attention. We the pensioners in this country are suffering,” he said.

    ” After working hard, if I knew I would suffer like this, I would not have given them the services I gave them,” he said.

    Mrs Joy Adewale, who retired with her husband in 2016, said she had been struggling with life.

    “We have been struggling to feed with this stipend. l am suffering, my husband is suffering too. What is our offence? We served our nation for 35 years.

    “After retirement, I opened a shop to sell soft drinks, but government demolished the shop. Now this amount cannot even feed my family and I, to say the least as well as our medical bills and other things.

    “Some of us couldn’t cope with this hardship. Even my neighbour that retired two years ago died two months ago. People look down on us because we are retirees,” she said.

    Adewale said that when her shop was demolished, she ran to the company that she was selling their products for help, in terms of getting the product on credit to sell and repay, but her appeal was turn down.

    “Even my bank refused to grant me loan to continue the business because l am a retiree.

    “No friend again, only God is sustaining me and my family now.

    “I am now appealing to this present government to help us pay all our rights now that we are alive.

    “I pray that all our colleagues that have fallen, that God will accept their souls. For those of us still alive, I also pray God will help us to reap the fruit of our labour,” she said.

    Mrs Nkiru Offor, who retired in 2019, said her entitlements were paid in 2021 and the payment had been regular, but there was a need to increase it.

    “My NHIS that was stopped immediately after my retirement has been a huge challenge, I spend a lot on lab tests and drugs instead of just ten per cent.

    “In fact, it is difficult to register for the private NHIS programme with N50,000.

    “They are even telling me I have issues with my payment that it has not dropped for the past three months that I registered. So no access to cheap medicals,” she said

    Mr Evans Ubah, urged the Federal Government to come to their aid, saying: “today I can’t feed myself, see how my face is, its hunger.

    “Look at how harsh the economy is because of our leaders.

    “We don’t have anything to live on now, every year they will tell us in the media that pension fund asset has increased, why are pensioners not paid?

    “We have a constitution in the country that every five years salaries will be increased and pension will increase too,” he said.

    Ubah said they need their arrears to start up a small business.

  • FG resumes monthly welfare package for civil servants

    FG resumes monthly welfare package for civil servants

    The Federal Government has resumed the monthly welfare package for civil servants that was initially on hold.

    The announcement came as the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, addressed ministry staff and unveiled a new fleet of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses delivered under the Presidential Initiative on CNG.

    The welfare support, which had been on hold for a while, was brought back as part of efforts to motivate staff and improve working conditions.

    Edun noted that staff are central to implementing the country’s economic reforms and deserve adequate support to remain productive.

    He also explained that the CNG buses were introduced to make commuting easier for workers while promoting cleaner and cheaper energy.

    The initiative is part of the administration’s push for greener transport and better service delivery within government institutions.

    Also present at the event was the Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on CNG, Ismaeel Ahmed, who said the deployment of the buses is aimed at encouraging sustainable practices in public offices and supporting local production chains.

    Earlier, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Lydia Shehu Jafiya, urged staff to remain committed and disciplined as the ministry continues to navigate economic challenges and carry out reforms.

  • VIRAL VIDEO: FG to repatriate Nigerians stranded in CAR

    VIRAL VIDEO: FG to repatriate Nigerians stranded in CAR

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has made contact with the stranded Nigerians in the Central African Republic (CAR).

    This is contained in a statement by Kimiebi Ebienfa, the spokesperson of the Ministry on Friday in Abuja.

    “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that the affected Nigerians have been contacted by the hardworking officials of our Mission in the Central African Republic.

    “The Embassy of Nigeria in Bangui is actively engaging with relevant authorities to ensure the safety, protection and swift repatriation of the affected Nigerian nationals.

    “Their passports have been retrieved successfully and a vehicle has been sent to Bambari to evacuate the stranded Nigerians to Bangui.

    “They are likely to arrive in the capital city with a military escort on Saturday, July 26, 2025,” Ebienfa said.

    This is coming against backdrop of a trending video about stranded Nigerian nationals in Bambari region of the country.

    The workers were reported in the video to have been abandoned by their employers and facilitators within the region that is about 850 kilometres from the capital, Bangui.

    Ebienfa said that discussions are also ongoing with the company for their accommodation and welfare while in Bangui and their subsequent repatriation to Nigeria.

    He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of its citizens everywhere in the world.

    Ebienfa urged Nigerians travelling abroad for work to always verify the credibility of their employers and ensure proper documentation before departure.

    “Nigerians are also advised to register their presence and that of their employees with the Embassy of Nigeria whenever they are in any foreign country, to avert unpleasant experiences in event of consular issues”.

    Earlier, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) confirmed the veracity of the viral video, where the Nigerians were allegedly maltreated in CAR.

    NIDCOM in a statement by its Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, disclosed that the Nigerians were deceived and abandoned in the foreign land and forced to work for 11 months without pay.

    “Their passports were confiscated, leaving them stranded. They urged the Nigerian government to intervene and rescue them. Sequel to this, the Commission immediately contacted officials of the Embassy in the CAR to look into the matter.

    “It is gratifying to inform members of the public that contact has been established with them, their seized passports retrieved, while plans are on to send a bus to convey them to the embassy in Bangui, which is at least an eight-hour drive. The agent in question has also been identified.

    “This is to express the appreciation of the Commission to the officials of the Nigerian Embassy for their swift action,” the statement reads.

  • FMC, OVWIAN: Delta Transfers Otor-Udu General Hospital To FG

    FMC, OVWIAN: Delta Transfers Otor-Udu General Hospital To FG

    Delta State Executive Council (EXCO) has approved the transfer of the General Hospital in Otor-Udu to the Federal Ministry of Health for the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ovwian in Udu Local Government Area of the state.

    The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, disclosed this while briefing journalists on some of the far-reaching decisions reached in the health sector, during the State EXCO meeting presided over by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

    Dr. Onojaeme, while recalling that the Federal Government had approved the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre at Ovwian, disclosed that the Exco ratified Governor Oborevwori’s earlier approval for the transfer of the General Hospital, Otor-Udu to the Federal Government to facilitate establishment of the medical centre.

    He noted that the decision of the Federal Government to establish a Federal Medical Centre at Owvian in Udu Local Government Area, was a healthy and commendable development for the people and residents of Udu and environs.

    He said: “Sometime back, the Federal Government approved the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre at Ovwian; so, we are giving them the Otor-Udu General Hospital which is to be handed over to the Federal Ministry of Health.

    “The establishment of a Federal Medical Centre at Ovwian is a good development because Udu and environs actually need a specialist health centre to complement what we have already given at the Central Hospital, Warri”.

    According to him, Exco also approved the procurement and installation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines at Asaba Specialist Hospital, Central Hospital Warri, and the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, in a strategic move to expand the frontiers of healthcare delivery in the state.

    “Also Exco graciously approved the procurement of three Magnetic Resonance lmaging scan machines. These machines are non-evasive machines that answer a lot of clinical questions ranging from excellent prostrate imaging, degenerating spine injuries, brain and other soft tissue imaging.

    “Before now, we don’t have a functioning MRI scan machine in the state. And the feature of this one that we are purchasing is a 1.5 Tesla MRI scan machine that is Helium- free.

    “The reason the one we have before now did not stand the test of time is because it is Helium -dependent and the money to refill helium is almost the amount to purchase a new one.

    “So, this one is good for the state and we went for product specific siemen German machine. It is good, it is going to last the state and it came with a two years maintenance warranty. So, it is a good one for the state,” the Commissioner said.

    Prior to the procurement of the MRI scan machines, he said, a lot of patients in the state were being referred to UBTH and LUTH, stressing that with the purchase of MRI machines, some of all the high-end imaging would be done in the state.

  • 22years after: FG Endorses pensions for retired defunct Nigeria Airways workers

    22years after: FG Endorses pensions for retired defunct Nigeria Airways workers

    The Federal Government has endorsed the pensions for retired aviation workers after almost 22 years of waiting.

    In a statement shared by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) via its official X account on Tuesday, the Agency said that the Ministry of Aviation has confirmed that disbursements will begin soon, with a pledge to ensure transparency and fairness throughout the process.

    “The Federal Government has approved the long-awaited pensions for retired aviation workers, bringing long-overdue relief to thousands who served in the sector. This decision follows years of advocacy by unions pushing for justice for retirees, especially from defunct national carriers.

    “The Ministry of Aviation confirmed that the payments will be processed soon, with a commitment to transparency,” the statement read in part.

    The payment approval also factored in former staff of the airline.

    Nigeria Airways operated from 1958 until it ceased operations in 2003 due to mismanagement, corruption, and mounting debts. It was fully owned by the Federal Government.

    Upon its closure, over 6,000 former workers were left without their full pensions and gratuities, prompting nearly two decades of demands for justice.

    The decision follows years of sustained advocacy by unions demanding justice for retired workers, particularly those from defunct national carriers.

    The statement added that stakeholders have welcomed the development. Many see it as a long-overdue step toward restoring dignity and trust in the aviation industry.

    In 2018, aviation unions, including the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) threatened to shut down Nigerian airspace over the government’s failure to release N45 billion in entitlements owed to the retirees.

    The unions condemned the delayed payments and warned the then Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, that they would not stand by while retirees continued to die without receiving their benefits.

    That same year, former President Muhammadu Buhari approved ₦22 billion for partial payment. However, union records indicate that N36 billion remained unpaid, leaving many retirees in financial distress. Some passed away while waiting for their pensions.

  • FG hails rebased GDP figures, Q1 growth

    FG hails rebased GDP figures, Q1 growth

    The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, has welcomed the release of Nigeria’s 2024 rebased Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures and the Q1 2025 GDP growth estimate of 3.13 per cent.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Director, Information and Public Relations in the ministry, Mr Mohammed Manga, in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Edun said that the growth was an important signals of the country’s economic resilience and renewed momentum.

    He said that the rebasing Nigeria’s first GDP recalibration since 2014 was carried out by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in accordance with global best practices.

    Edun said that it aimed to provide a more accurate picture of the economy by updating the base year used in compiling national accounts.

    “This rebasing gives us a clearer and more contemporary view of our economy’s size and structure.

    “It helps policymakers, investors, and citizens understand where we are, and where the opportunities lie,” the minister said.

    He said that the updated data highlighted the country’s transformation from an oil-dependent economy to one increasingly driven by services, technology, and diversified production.

    Edun said that sectors such as Information and Communication Technology (ICT), entertainment, finance, and professional services had gained prominence, while oil and gas now occupied a smaller share of the economic pie.

    He said that these were not abstract shifts, they reflected the energy of the young, tech-savvy population and the growing success of reforms aimed at deepening economic participation.

    Edun said that agriculture and manufacturing remained cornerstones of the economy, even as digital and creative industries took centre stage in the updated GDP structure.

    The minister said that the Q1 2025 growth surpassed 2024, signalling upward momentum.

    Edun said that the 3.13 per cent year-on-year GDP growth recorded in Q1 2025, an improvement over the 2.4 per cent recorded in Q1 2024, as further evidence that the economy is gaining strength under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    He said that the acceleration was driven by strong performance in agriculture, telecoms, construction, and financial services.

    “We are encouraged by the broad-based nature of this growth, which is occurring across key sectors and supported by stable macroeconomic reforms.

    “This trajectory reinforces our belief that the country is on the path to rapid, sustained, and inclusive growth with continued implementation of structural reforms, fiscal discipline, and targeted investments in critical sectors,” the minister said.

    Edun reaffirmed the government’s medium-term ambition of achieving a seven per cent annual GDP growth rate, in line with national development priorities.

    “Our goal is not just growth, but growth with impact, especially the creation of quality jobs.

    “The new data will help us better track progress, refine our strategies, and ensure that economic expansion translates into more jobs, higher incomes, and better living standards for all Nigerians,” he said.

    The minister commended the NBS for its professionalism and technical rigour in delivering the rebasing exercise and quarterly GDP reports.

    Edun said that data tools are critical to designing policies that were grounded in reality and aimed at unlocking the full potential of country’s economy.

  • FG releases 2025 NCEE results for Federal Unity Colleges

    FG releases 2025 NCEE results for Federal Unity Colleges

    The Federal Government has released the 2025 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) results for admission into Junior Secondary School (JSS 1) in the country’s 80 Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs).

    It also released the results of the separate entrance examination into the Federal Government Academy (FGA), Suleja.

    Speaking at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, said it was ‘a moment of fulfilment and progress for basic education in Nigeria’.

    The exam, conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO) on June 14, recorded 64,578 registered candidates, with 61,290 sitting and 3,288 absent.

    “Out of the maximum obtainable score of 210, 13 candidates obtained the highest score of 202, while 27 candidates obtained the lowest score of 1,” Ahmad said.

    She added: “This year, an unprecedented number of 52 candidates (two candidates from Lagos and 50 candidates from Rivers) were involved in examination malpractice”.

    On the FGA Suleja exam, she noted that 3,421 candidates registered, 3,141 sat, and 280 were absent, with the highest score being 194 and the lowest, one.

    Ahmad reaffirmed that the admission criteria remain 60 per cent merit, 30 per cent equality of states, and 10 per cent exigency.

    She directed the Senior Secondary Education Department to ensure that all admissions are concluded promptly and in line with the guidelines.

    “It is a common knowledge that our Federal Unity Colleges have become the first port of call for most parents in the country.

    “I want to assure all Nigerian parents that government will continue to do her best to improve on infrastructural development, feeding and teacher quality for effective teaching and learning in our Colleges, “she said.

    The event also featured the formal presentation of the results to the minister by the Registrar of NECO, Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi.

  • Sunday Igboho sends special appeal to FG

    Sunday Igboho sends special appeal to FG

    A Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has appealed to the Federal Government (FG) to rescind its decision regarding his wanted status.

    Adeyemo made the appeal during his visit to the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Olusola Alao, at his palace at Orile-Igbon, Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State on Tuesday.

    He told the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon that he was not a criminal and was worried about why he should be treated as one by the FG.

    He stated that his being declared wanted by the previous administration for an unknown offence had made it difficult for him to use his Nigerian passport.

    Adeyemo said he had also been denied access to his bank accounts.

    He said he was able to make his trip from Germany to Nigeria as a result of the royal father’s intervention.

    “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to make this trip. I couldn’t come to Nigeria, let alone sleep in my house in Ibadan.

    “I can’t access any of my bank accounts just because I am defending the interest of Yorubaland,” he said.

    He, therefore, sought the intervention of Oba Alao and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, in appealing to the FG on the matter, saying he was tired of staying in exile.

    Responding, the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon assured him that a letter would be written to that effect to the FG and the South-West governors.

    According to him, Igboho is not a criminal and cannot be treated as such.

    “I will not only write a letter for him to be allowed free entry into the country but also recommend him as the leader of the proposed local vigilante in the South-West region,” he said.

  • Civil servants tackles FG over N35,000 wage award arrears

    Civil servants tackles FG over N35,000 wage award arrears

    Many civil servants in Abuja have urged the Federal Government to clear the outstanding four months arrears of N35,000 wage award owed them.

    The civil servants spoke NAN on Monday in Abuja. They spoke against the backdrop of the unexplained delay in the payment of the wage award.

    On April 28, the Federal Government announced that it would pay the outstanding five months N35,000 wage award arrears to workers.

    The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) made the announcement in a statement issued by Mr Bawa Mokwa, its Director of Press and Public Relations.

    Mokwa said that the Federal Government had earlier paid five months wage award in installments.

    He said that the outstanding arrears would be paid in installments of N35,000 per month for five months.

    According to him, the first installment of the outstanding wage award arrears will be paid after the April 2025 salary.

    “The wage award arrears will not be paid with the April 2025 salary; it will come immediately after the salary is paid, and it will be paid for the next five months, ” he said.

    He said that the Federal Government was determined to fully implement all policies and agreements regarding staff remuneration and welfare to enhance productivity and efficiency.

    After paying the N35,000 in May, the OAGF has not made any other wage award payment to civil servants.

    Dr Uche Anune, a Civil Servant, said that the government should not wait until workers feel agitated or start complaining before they do something.

    “I am seeing a pattern that whenever there is anything at stake, the government tends to be relaxed about it until some people start agitating or engaging in some form of protest before they act.

    “That should not be the case,” he said.

    According to Anune, the Federal Government was not under duress when it made that pledge to clear the arrears.

    “The honourable thing is to respect that promise and just do what is right,” he said.

    Mr Joseph Edeh, urged the government to clear the outstanding four months arrears of the wage award rather than paying monthly.

    Edeh said the delay had casted doubts on the sincerity of the Federal Government.

    “On the issue of this N35,000 wage, award, honestly, as a civil servant and as a Nigerian, I have lost faith.

    “They told us that we had an outstanding of five months, after paying one month they stopped. Why are they treating us like this? Nobody is happy about this,.

    “What they should do is to clear the areas; pay the remaining four months at once and forget about it,” he said.

    Miss Franca Ofili urged the Federal Government to fulfill its promise and save civil servants the burden of expectation.

    “The government should try and the arrears because that 35,000 can go a long way to solve a lot of their financial problems. We need the money, they should clear the outstanding four months arrears at once, ” she said.