Lagos State Government has commenced its 2026 promotion exercise for civil servants and personnel in its parastatal and agencies.

The development was announced via the state government’s official X handle, indicating that the exercise covers officers on Grade Levels 01–05 within the core civil service and those on Grade Levels 01–16 in parastatal organisations.

As part of the process, officers on Grade Levels 01–05 in the mainstream service and Grade Levels 01–10 in parastatals are participating in the Revised Structured Training Programme, RSTP, while those on Grade Levels 12–16 in parastatal agencies are undergoing the Structured Evaluation Assessment Programme, SEAP.

SEAP is being introduced for the first time as a formal requirement for senior-level promotions, incorporating written examinations and computer-based tests, in line with the state’s push for a merit-driven system.

According to officials, the initiative is designed to ensure that career advancement is determined by competence, performance, and professional development, in line with the government’s broader reform agenda.

The exercise is currently taking place at the Public Service Staff Development Centre in Magodo and the Women Development Centre in Agege.

A total of 388 officers are participating in the SEAP, while 4,870 officers are undergoing the structured training programme.

The Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Afolabi Ayantayo, who monitored the exercise, described the conduct of participants and the coordination at the centres as orderly. He encouraged officers to remain committed throughout the process, urging them to “approach the process with dedication and a strong sense of responsibility.”

Ayantayo noted that the introduction of SEAP would ensure that promotions are based on proven knowledge, skills, and competence, while also strengthening the capacity of the public workforce.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Olubusola Abidakun, expressed satisfaction with the level of organisation and preparedness, reiterating the ministry’s resolve to sustain reforms aimed at boosting efficiency and productivity within the civil service.

The promotion exercise is expected to continue through the week and into the following week, with various sessions designed to prepare officers for higher responsibilities.

In line with civil service regulations, promotion committees will assess eligible candidates, while officers who are unsuccessful retain the right to appeal within a stipulated period.

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has apologised to Nigerians over the ongoing power challenges across the country, assuring that the situation is temporary and efforts are underway to restore stable electricity supply.

Adelabu expressed remorse that the disruption has caused hardship for citizens, particularly during the current dry season marked by intense heat, affecting businesses, schools and industries nationwide.

He tendered his apologies during a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

Adelabu explained that the challenges were caused by factors beyond the government’s control but stressed that authorities are working round the clock to resolve them.

“I want to apologise to Nigerians for this temporary issue that is causing hardship, especially during this dry season where there is so much heat everywhere and where businesses, schools and industries are being affected,” Adelabu said.

According to him, the government was not expecting the situation but has intensified efforts to address it.

“It is not our wish to find ourselves in this situation, but some factors are actually beyond our control. However, we are not relenting. We are working on it 24/7 to make sure we return to the trajectory we achieved in 2025,” he said.

“In 2025, you commended us, praised us for a job well done. If we were able to provide such a service then, this is 2026 and we are willing to do even more and do better,” the minister added.

He further assured Nigerians that the current power challenges would soon be resolved.

“I can assure Nigerians that in the next few weeks all these issues will be over,” Adelabu said.

Abia State chapter of the All Progressive Congress, APC, has told Governor Alex Otti that his support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu should not be announced through his proxies.

The APC also said that the Abia Governor’s chances of getting re-elected is less than 30 per cent.

The party, which spoke through its Publicity Secretary, Uche Aguoru, on Monday, was reacting to the report where a member of the House of Representatives, Ginger Oneusibe of the Labour Party declared that Governor Alex Otti would deliver the votes for President Bola Tinubu’s victory in 2027.

APC claimed that the situation stemmed from desperate political survival tactics in the Governor’s camp.

“Rather than openly and boldly identifying with President Tinubu, he has chosen to deploy proxies to communicate supposed support.

“This sudden declaration of support is nothing more than a desperate and deceptive tactic aimed at political survival.

“It is clear that Governor Otti understands the reality on ground- that his chances of re-election are less than 30% even with all the social media sponsored deception,” Abia APC said.

The broom party, which boasted about having the capacity to give up to 90 percent votes for the President, urged President Bola Tinubu to disregard any misleading overtures but to rely on the party’s strength in Abia.

As the countdown to 2027 begins, the political atmosphere in Ogun, the Gateway State is already thick with ambition.

There is presently an intense jostling for the seat of Governor Dapo Abiodun.

By 2027, Governor Abiodun will be completing his eight years term in office, giving way for the fresh blood at the Oke Mosan seat of power.

Findings by DAILY POST revealed that more than 15 aspirants across party lines are eyeing the Ogun number one political office.

However, of all the aspirants, there are four female politicians attempting to make history in the state and Nigeria by extension.

A Jinx Waiting to be Broken

Ogun State has always been a pioneer in female leadership, producing the likes of late Titilayo Ajanaku, the first woman to be elected as a local government chairman in Nigeria (Old Abeokuta LG), female speaker, and at least three deputy governors.

Salimot Badiru served eight years under Otunba Gbenga Daniel (2003-2011), while Yetunde Onanuga served four years under Ibikunle Amosun (2015-2019) and Noimot Salako-Oyedele is the present deputy governor of the Abiodun-led administration.

However, the ultimate prize, the Governor’s office, has remained all-male enclave since the state’s creation in 1976. Will they break the jinx in 2027? This remains a poser on the lips of political pundits in the state.

Noimot Salako-Oyedele:

As the current Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele is arguably the most strategically positioned. The 60-year-old real estate expert and civil engineer hails from the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government (Ogun West).

She hasn’t declared but her poster has been playing around with the inscription, “Ogun 2027, Let The Good Works Continue.”

Our correspondent observed that her supporters have also begun singing her praises saying, “Noimot lo le se oo” meaning in English, “Noimot can do it.”

And the fact that her region, Ogun West, hasn’t produced a governor since the creation of Ogun State in 1976, boosts her chances. Although, she has formidable aspirants from the region to contend with.

However, history has shown that deputy governors in Nigeria struggle to succeed their principals, hence she must overcome the “Deputy’s Curse”.

Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello: The Return of the “Lioness”

Iyabo, daughter of former Nigeria President Olusegun Obasanjo, is a name that still sends ripples through the Nigerian political landscape. She was a former Commissioner for Health in Ogun State from 2003 to 2007 under Otunba Gbenga Daniel’s administration before being elected as a Senator representing the Ogun CentralSenatorial District in April 2007 until 2011.

In January, she returned to active politics after about 15 years break and defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to declare her governorship ambition. This sent shockwaves through the state.

Recall that she had lost her re-election bid in 2011 to Senator Gbenga Obadara of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and subsequently returned to the United States to pursue her academic career, rising to the rank of professor.

Her supporters see her as a no-nonsense leader who can bring federal-level experience back to her home state. The 59 years old professor of epidemiology who hails from Ifo Local Government (Ogun Central – Ibogun Ward) recent visibility has sparked rumors that she is ready for a major comeback.

Although critics have labeled her a “diaspora politician” out of touch with modern grassroots realities, she is proving her “street” credibility while embarking on several consultations with political leaders and stakeholders across the state.

The aspirant explained that her focus on people-centred development is influenced by her past experiences in public service as commissioner and senator, where she said she consistently prioritised interventions that improved the lives of ordinary citizens.

She also assured the women folk that if elected, they will become decision makers and not just mere mobilizers during elections.

She said, “Development demands continuity, institutional memory and a leadership that understands that governance is a relay, not a sprint. If entrusted with the mandate in 2027, my administration will be anchored on credibility, competence and compassion.

“We will not run a government of exclusion. Women will not merely be mobilisers during elections; they will be decision-makers at the highest levels of governance.”

The former senator also pledged to lead an open administration with quantifiable results and accountability.

Modele Sarafa-Yusuf: The Media Guru

The 59-year-old veteran broadcast journalist, Modele Sarafa-Yusuf has already tested the waters. She served as a Special Adviser on information and strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, and resigned to contest for the ticket in 2023, signaling her long-term intent.

Sarafa-Yusuf announced her intention to run for the 2027 gubernatorial election in an open letter posted on her official X account in February.

The retired sport journalist who hails from Sagamu Local Government (Ogun East – Iperu Remo) framed the position as a stabilising force amid the risks of party fracture, drawing on her experience in 2022, when she accepted defeat without upsetting relations.

While admitting that the state is blessed, she asserted that blessings alone do not guarantee progress but rather deliberate leadership and trust.

The letter addressed to leaders, members, and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogun State, reads, “Ogun State is blessed with industry, blessed with intellect, blessed with culture, and blessed with strategic relevance to the nation.

“Yet we all know that blessings alone do not guarantee progress. Progress requires deliberate leadership, balance, and trust among our people. It requires continuity.

“After deep reflection and wide consultation, I have decided to make myself available to serve as our party’s candidate for Governor, Ogun State, in the 2027 elections.

“I chose this system of declaration deliberately to be public, honest, and focused on responsibility rather than spectacle.“

Meanwhile, she clarified that this is, however, not a return driven by unfinished business but a response to a different political environment, asserting that the state needs inclusion without escalation, as loud politics can mobilise quickly and collapse quickly, leaving damage behind.

She insisted that her aspiration would pave the way for future generations of women leaders in Ogun state and Nigeria at large.

“Nigeria has never elected a female governor, and I’m aware of the weight of breaking that ceiling.

“To that extent, my aspiration isn’t just about me; it’s about paving the way for future generations of women leaders in Ogun State and Nigeria at large.

“However, this is not about symbolism. It is about capacity and competence,” Sarafa-Yusuf said.

Dr. Bolaji Marie Odusina- From Medical Missions To Political Mission

The United States-based physician and humanitarian formally announced her intention to run for governor of Ogun State in 2027 on Tuesday.

For years, Odusina popularly known as DeeDoc, has quietly built a following through massive free medical outreaches in rural Ogun communities.

Her formal declaration for 2027 signals a shift from medical missions to a political mission.

Although she did not disclose her party affiliation, she said her political platform would be made public in the coming days.

While others talk about politics, the 62-year-old paediatrician, who founded Doctors Without Prejudice with over thirty years of experience in both Nigeria and the US, focused on healthcare, maternal mortality, and grassroots economic empowerment.

Citing findings from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, she decried gaps in maternal healthcare and child mortality, describing them as urgent concerns requiring immediate government attention.

She said, “I have seen families travel across borders for basic medical care. These are not statistics to me; they are real people whose pain I have witnessed.”

The paediatrician hails from Ijebu land.

However, analysts note that her ambition may face hurdles, including the need to build a formidable political structure, secure a viable party platform and translate public goodwill into electoral success.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, March 18, 2026 handed over a total sum of N3,936,145, 822 ( Three Billion, Nine Hundred and Thirty Six Million, One Hundred and Forty Five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Twenty Two Naira) to the Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC Ltd.

The presentation was made on behalf of the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Ola Olukoyede by the Secretary to the Commission, Mohammed Hammajoda in a brief ceremony at the EFCC headquarters, Abuja.

In his remark at the occasion,   Hammajoda reiterated  the commitment of the Commission to the task of curbing economic and financial crimes, stressing that the funds were recovered through diligent investigation and professional uncovering  of fraudulent engagements by some actors in the NNPCL.

“On behalf of the Executive Chairman, we will continue to put ourselves on the line to serve over 220 million Nigerians.  Along the line, many of our colleagues have paid the price and others will still pay the price as we continue to do our work with courage and integrity. We will serve and continue to serve this country.  So,  on behalf of the EFCC, I present the sum of Three Billion, Nine Hundred and Thirty Six million, One Hundred and Forty Five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Twenty Two Naira to you”, he said.

Receiving the funds on behalf of NNPC, the Executive Vice President,   Downstream, Mumuni Dagazau excitedly thanked the Commission for  its assistance in the recovery “which goes to show the core unity that exists in our system”

“NNPC over the years has had its struggles and challenges and one thing we have always tried to do is correct the system. When the opportunity came for this recovery from your people that handled this,  it was something I was really proud of. I was also happy that we brought it to EFCC to help and support us.  We are very excited, for me this is a great day for us, we will continue to rely on you for assistance.