The government disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday while responding to concerns raised by some retirees over pension payments in the state.

According to the government, the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) has paid N92 billion in accrued rights to more than 25,000 retirees between May 2019 and August 2026.

It explained that accrued rights comprise the gratuity and pension components owed to retiring public servants.

The government said the state increased its pension contribution rate in 2020 to 10 per cent for employers and eight per cent for employees, describing the move as part of efforts to strengthen the pension scheme.

It also highlighted a N5 billion payment made to 1,963 retirees in July 2024, which it said cleared the outstanding backlog of pension obligations under the Contributory Pension Scheme.

The government added that it had introduced expedited gratuity payments for sick pensioners, while their pension components continued to be paid into their Retirement Savings Accounts.

It said welfare programmes were also being organised twice yearly to provide additional support to retirees amid rising living costs.

For retirees under the Defined Benefits Scheme, the government said it extended the N25,000 wage award given to serving state workers to more than 10,000 retirees between December 2023 and February 2024.

According to the government, this was followed by pension increases of 20 per cent and 28 per cent in March 2025.

It added that in May 2026, the state matched the Federal Government’s N32,000 pension wage award for its Defined Benefits Scheme retirees.

The government said the various interventions had increased the pension wage bill by more than 100 per cent.

It further disclosed that LASPEC had paid more than N4 billion to 1,862 retirees in 2026, with an additional N1 billion expected to be disbursed to another 700 retirees within a week.

The state government maintained that the measures reflected the administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of retired public servants and ensuring timely payment of pension benefits.

Enitan will succeed Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who is set to retire from the Federal Civil Service after attaining the statutory retirement age of 60.

The appointment was announced on Wednesday in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

According to the statement, Enitan, an indigene of Osun State, is currently the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education and the most senior Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service.

He has served as a Permanent Secretary for seven years and seven months, with previous postings to the Ministry of Police Affairs, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Office of the Vice President.

Tinubu described Enitan as an experienced civil servant with extensive institutional knowledge and a deep understanding of the workings of the Federal Civil Service.

The President directed the incoming Head of Service to consolidate ongoing reforms and innovations, deepen professionalism and efficiency, and build a more effective and responsive civil service capable of delivering on his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Tinubu also charged Enitan to lead a civil service that is professional, merit-driven, accountable, innovative and responsive to the needs of Nigerians.

The President commended Walson-Jack for her years of service and contributions to reforms and innovations in the Federal Civil Service, wishing her a fulfilling life after retirement.

Enitan, who was born on December 12, 1966, attended Ajibode Grammar School, Ibadan, and the College of Arts and Science, Ile-Ife, for his secondary education.

He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Banking from the University of Lagos in 1988 and later earned a Master of Science degree in Public Policy Analysis from Nasarawa State University, Lafia, in 2015.

He is expected to formally assume office on August 27, 2026, following Walson-Jack’s retirement.

Wike gave the directive after expressing concern over the conversion of areas designated for recreation and environmental purposes into car lots.

According to a statement issued by the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the directive is part of measures by the FCT Administration to address flooding in parts of the territory.

The minister directed relevant authorities to closely monitor the affected areas and ensure that unauthorised use of parks and green spaces is stopped.

He also approved the establishment of a task force to enforce the directive and prevent further encroachment on designated green areas.

Wike further ordered an investigation into allegations that some civil servants had been granting illegal approvals for the use of green areas.

The statement said affected officials, particularly directors in the Departments of Parks and Recreation, Environmental Protection, Traffic Management and Urban Affairs, had been summoned by the FCT Head of Service, Nancy Nathan.

The minister’s directive is part of broader efforts by the FCT Administration to protect Abuja’s green spaces and improve environmental management, particularly amid concerns over flooding in the capital.

Agbebaku tendered his resignation on Monday, ending his tenure as Speaker of the state legislature.

His media aide, Ivy Adodo-Ebojele, confirmed the development in a post on Facebook, announcing that the Speaker had stepped down from office.

“EDO ASSEMBLY SPEAKER RT HON CHIEF BLESSING AGBEBAKU RESIGNS,” she wrote.

The resignation comes amid mounting political tension within the Edo State House of Assembly, with reports that some lawmakers had been making moves to initiate impeachment proceedings against Agbebaku.

The circumstances surrounding his resignation were not immediately clear as of the time of filing this report.

Adodo-Ebojele said further details on the development would be made available later.

Agbebaku’s resignation is expected to trigger a leadership transition within the Edo State House of Assembly, with lawmakers expected to determine his successor.

More details later.

Trump announced Rideout’s release in a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, saying the former hostage had been reunited with his wife, Krista, and was preparing to return to the United States.

“I am happy to reveal that former hostage Kevin Rideout is getting ready to fly home to the United States after having been reunited with his beautiful wife, Krista,” Trump wrote.

The President described Rideout’s release as the “110th captive American liberated” since he began his second term.

“I look forward to seeing Kevin and Krista at the White House soon!” he added.

Rideout, a Christian missionary and pilot with SIM International, was abducted outside his home in Niamey, Niger, in October 2025.

According to SIM International, Rideout was in good health and receiving care from US officials following his release.

Three armed men reportedly abducted him and transported him to the Tillaberi region in western Niger, an area affected by militant activity.

However, details surrounding his release, including the identity of his captors and how his freedom was secured, have not been disclosed.

Rideout had lived and worked in Niger for 19 years and served as a pilot with SIM International, a Christian organisation operating in more than 70 countries.

The station, a former pirate radio that now mainly broadcasts rock music, had apologised after messages falsely announcing the monarch’s death were aired.

One of the messages stated that normal programming had been suspended “as a mark of respect following the passing of His Majesty King Charles III”.

The station then played the national anthem, followed by about 16 minutes of silence before regular programming resumed.

According to Ofcom, the presenter apologised about 30 minutes after the false announcement was initially broadcast.

The regulator, which received two complaints about the incident, said the broadcast breached two of its rules due to the “very significant inaccuracy” and the delay in correcting the mistake.

One of the rules requires news reports to be accurate and impartial, while another requires broadcasters to promptly acknowledge and correct significant mistakes.

Radio Caroline explained that the incident occurred when a staff member accessed pre-recorded audio files prepared for use in the event of the King’s death while carrying out maintenance on a studio computer.

The staff member reportedly played the files “out of curiosity”, which interrupted the remote presenter’s stream and caused the recordings to be broadcast.

According to Ofcom, the staff member panicked after realising what had happened and left the premises.

The station said the remote presenter did not realise that the broadcast had been interrupted because they were not monitoring the output through an internet monitor.

The presenter also did not immediately respond to calls from colleagues who had noticed the error because they were not actively monitoring their phone.

Radio Caroline said the staff member responsible had been reprimanded and apologised, while the pre-recorded files had since been removed from the studio computer.

The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the NYSC Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, through the scheme’s official X account.

The scheme urged corps members, employers and other stakeholders to take note of the scheduled date.

“All Corps Members, Employers and other stakeholders of the Scheme are enjoined to take note of the date,” the statement read.

The NYSC also said Certificates of National Service would be distributed to eligible corps members at the local government level on the passing-out date.

The announcement marks the completion of the national service programme for members of the 2025 Batch B Stream II.

The agency’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Vincent Adekoye, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Monday.

Adekoye said three of the convictions resulted in life imprisonment, adding that most of the cases involved rape.

“From January 2026 to now, we have rescued over 3,000 people from critical situations. We have also arrested a whole lot and are prosecuting a whole lot of them,” he said.

He said NAPTIP had strengthened its response to SGBV through increased collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and relevant ministries, departments and agencies.

According to him, the agency is also engaging communities and training frontline responders to improve the prevention, reporting and response to SGBV cases.

Adekoye warned perpetrators to desist from such acts, noting that offenders could be prosecuted under laws including the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act.

He also cited the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Maputo Protocol as relevant instruments for protecting victims’ rights.

Adekoye said the recent inauguration of an SGBV Media Corps by NAPTIP was aimed at strengthening media support in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence.

He urged journalists to go beyond reporting individual cases and investigate the underlying factors contributing to SGBV.

“We want the media to ask why cases are rising and examine the roles of critical institutions, customs, norms, behaviours and habits in addressing the problem,” he said.

The NAPTIP spokesperson also called for victim-centred reporting that protects the dignity, privacy and safety of survivors.

“We must protect the victims, ensure their dignity and privacy are protected, and help them regain trust in society,” he said.

The remarks were made at the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Media Corps Workshop organised by NAPTIP.

The workshop was supported by the European Union Support to End Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Programme and implemented by International IDEA.

The governor gave the assurance on Friday during the swearing-in ceremony for the 2026 Batch B, Stream II corps members held in Damare, Girei Local Government Area.

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr. Edgar Amos, Fintiri said construction of the permanent orientation camp had reached an advanced stage and expressed confidence that future batches would begin their orientation at the new facility.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the welfare of corps members, assuring them that the state would continue paying the ₦30,000 monthly allowance to those serving in Adamawa.

According to the governor, the state government remains committed to supporting the NYSC scheme in recognition of corps members’ contributions to sectors such as education, healthcare and agriculture.

Fintiri urged the corps members to obey the laws of the land, respect the customs and traditions of their host communities, and promote peaceful coexistence throughout their service year.

He also encouraged them to undertake meaningful community development projects that would positively impact their host communities.

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development and Chairman of the Adamawa NYSC Governing Board, Wali Yakubu, congratulated the corps members on their successful mobilisation.

He urged them to participate actively in all camp activities, embrace Nigeria’s cultural diversity and foster unity by building relationships across ethnic and religious lines.

Yakubu also assured them of the state government’s commitment to providing a safe and conducive environment during their service year.

Earlier, the Adamawa State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs. Caroline Chinedu, disclosed that 1,520 corps members registered for the 2026 Batch B, Stream II orientation exercise.

According to her, the figure comprises 779 males and 741 females, who have demonstrated discipline and enthusiasm since the commencement of the orientation programme.

She, however, appealed to the state government to urgently address the electricity challenge at the temporary orientation camp, noting that reliance on generators had affected water supply, sanitation and other essential services.

The oath of allegiance was administered by Justice Abbas Adamu, who represented the Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Justice Hafsat Abdulrahman.

The ceremony formally marked the commencement of the 2026 Batch B, Stream II orientation course in Adamawa State.

(NAN)

This was disclosed in statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the transfer was made by an unknown individual with the narration, “Contribution Electioneering Campaign.”

According to the statement, neither the former vice president nor his campaign team solicited, authorised or had prior knowledge of the payment.

The statement noted that the transaction was particularly troubling because the account involved is a private one whose details are not publicly available.

It questioned how unknown individuals obtained the confidential banking information, describing the development as a matter of serious concern.

Atiku warned that if the banking details of a former vice president and presidential candidate could be accessed without authorisation, the financial privacy of ordinary Nigerians could also be at risk.

He further alleged that the information may have been obtained through individuals with privileged access, warning that such a breach, if confirmed, would amount to a serious abuse of power.

According to him, exposing confidential banking information could place account holders at risk from kidnappers, terrorists, bandits, fraudsters and other criminal elements.

The former vice president said security agencies had been notified of the incident, describing it as one of several suspicious developments occurring ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He also urged Nigerians not to be distracted by what he characterised as attempts to tarnish his reputation as political activities gather momentum.

Despite the incident, Atiku reaffirmed his commitment to offering what he described as credible leadership and practical solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.