A group of unpaid civil servants in Taraba State has expressed disappointment over the alleged non-payment of salaries for nearly 12 months, accusing the state government of neglect and silence amid growing hardship.

In a letter on Thursday addressed to the Commissioner of Finance, Dr. Sarah Enoch, the affected workers lamented what they described as lack of action and communication from the ministry regarding their unpaid wages.

Signed by the Chairman of Unpaid Civil Servants, Abdurrauf Sani, the aggrieved persons stated that many workers and their families have been pushed into severe economic hardship due to the prolonged delay in salary payments.

According to the group, several affected civil servants have struggled to feed their families, pay house rents, and sponsor their children’s education as a result of the unpaid salaries.

The workers argued that the Ministry of Finance, being responsible for the release of government funds, should have taken decisive measures to address the situation or at least communicate with those affected.

They further expressed disappointment that the Commissioner had allegedly remained silent throughout the period despite the growing suffering among workers.

“We remind you that we are your children, brothers, and sisters,” the letter read in part, adding that the level of hardship being experienced by workers was unacceptable.

The group called on the Commissioner to urgently intervene, break her silence, and ensure immediate resolution of the lingering salary crisis.

The civil servants also urged the Taraba state government to prioritise workers’ welfare, insisting that the people of the state deserve better treatment and prompt payment of earned salaries.

Nigeria’s telecommunications  stakeholders, regulators, and policymakers have called for a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s telecommunications policy framework to align it with emerging technologies, digital economy ambitions and broader national development objectives.

This call came on Tuesday at the National Telecommunications Policy Review Workshop organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, in Lagos to review the implementation of the National Telecommunications Policy 2000 and develop a forward-looking policy framework for the sector.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said Nigeria’s telecommunications sector had evolved far beyond the assumptions that shaped the National Telecommunications Policy 2000.

According to him, the sector has moved from a liberalisation phase dominated by limited telephone access and market reforms to an advanced digital ecosystem driven by broadband, artificial intelligence, 5G, satellite broadband, cloud infrastructure and digital services.

“When the National Telecommunications Policy 2000 was introduced, Nigeria’s telecommunications sector was at a very different stage of development,” Maida said.

He noted that prior to reforms, the sector was managed by the defunct NITEL, with fewer than 500,000 active telephone lines serving over 120 million Nigerians.

According to Maida, the policy played a critical role in opening the market to private investment, promoting competition and strengthening regulation through the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, leading to rapid expansion in connectivity across the country.

He, however, said the sector now faces more complex challenges, including fibre cuts, infrastructure vandalism, high energy costs, multiple taxation, permitting delays and persistent rural connectivity gaps.

“These are not just operational issues for operators; they are national development issues because they affect the quality, resilience and reach of digital services across the economy,” he said.

The NCC boss stressed that telecommunications is linked to all aspects of society, describing it as “productivity infrastructure for the entire economy,” supporting commerce, agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, education, financial services and public administration.

He said the review of the telecommunications policy must preserve core principles such as competition, universal access, independent regulation and consumer protection while developing a modern framework capable of supporting innovation, investment, resilience and broadband expansion.

Delivering the keynote address, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy and Coordination and Head of the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit, Hadiza Bala Usman, said the policy review was not merely a technical exercise but a governance and national development imperative.

According to her, policies must move beyond written documents to become practical instruments that deliver measurable outcomes.

“A policy is not merely a document. It is the expression of a country’s priorities, the framework through which public institutions organise action, and the basis on which government choices are translated into measurable outcomes,” she said.

Usman stressed that clear policy direction gives regulators, investors and institutions certainty, while weak or fragmented policy frameworks often lead to duplication of effort, blurred mandates and poor implementation.

She described telecommunications as an enabling platform that underpins virtually every sector of national life, including digital trade, fintech, education, healthcare, agriculture, security and public service delivery.

According to her, a revised telecommunications policy must address broader issues beyond networks and operators, including national productivity, inclusion, digital governance, infrastructure resilience, investment, cybersecurity and consumer protection.

She also urged stronger collaboration among federal and sub-national governments, regulators, operators, investors and other stakeholders to address bottlenecks such as rights of way, taxation, digital inclusion, infrastructure deployment and cybersecurity.

“The NCC may regulate the industry, but the success of telecommunications policy also depends on the actions of many other public and private actors,” she said.

Usman said the revised policy should be accompanied by a clear implementation roadmap outlining timelines, responsibilities, funding requirements, performance indicators and reporting mechanisms.

She added that policies should be treated as “living instruments of governance” subject to periodic review, monitoring and adjustment rather than static documents.

Both speakers aligned the policy review with the Federal Government’s digital economy agenda and broader economic reform objectives.

Maida cited estimates by the GSMA showing that deeper digitalisation across sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, transport and government could significantly boost economic growth, create jobs and expand government revenue.

Usman, on her part, said the policy review should support the administration’s Eight Presidential Priorities by demonstrating how improved telecommunications infrastructure and digital connectivity can drive productivity, innovation, jobs, competitiveness and better public service delivery.

The workshop, which brought together regulators, operators, development partners, policymakers, academics and industry experts, is expected to produce recommendations toward the development of a new National Telecommunications Policy 2026.

Participants are expected to examine the implementation record of the National Telecommunications Policy 2000, identify policy gaps and propose reforms aimed at strengthening broadband access, digital inclusion, regulatory coordination, infrastructure protection and Nigeria’s broader digital transformation agenda.

Former Education Secretary, Mayowa Alakija, popularly known as “Bibire,” has emerged the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate for Oshodi/Isolo State Constituency I after defeating incumbent lawmaker, Stephen Ogundipe in the party’s primary election ahead of the 2027 Lagos State House of Assembly poll.

The primary election results were collated at the Legislative Hall of the Oshodi Local Government Secretariat, where party members and stakeholders gathered in large numbers for the exercise.

Ward-by-ward results showed Alakija maintaining a commanding lead across most of the constituency.

In Bolade D1 Ward, he polled 3,121 votes against Ogundipe’s 1,110 votes. He also recorded a landslide victory in Orile Oshodi D2 Ward with 4,352 votes, while Ogundipe secured only 12 votes.

At Mafoluku D3 Ward, Alakija garnered 2,102 votes compared to Ogundipe’s 166 votes.

The contest was relatively closer in Shogunle E1 Ward, where Alakija scored 484 votes against 371 votes recorded by the incumbent lawmaker.

In Alasia Shogunle E2 Ward, Alakija secured 455 votes, while Ogundipe polled 78 votes.

At the conclusion of the collation process, Alakija emerged winner with a total of 12,251 votes, while Ogundipe finished with 1,737 votes.

Another aspirant, Abiodun Orija, had withdrawn from the race before voting commenced and subsequently directed his supporters to back Alakija.

The APC Returning Officer, Prince Adesanya Omoloja, later declared Alakija as the duly elected candidate of the party for the constituency.

The announcement triggered celebrations among supporters and party members, many of whom described the outcome as a reflection of Alakija’s grassroots support and political acceptance within Oshodi/Isolo.

Party leaders also commended the peaceful conduct of the exercise and urged members to remain united ahead of the general election.

In his acceptance remarks, Alakija expressed appreciation to party leaders, delegates, women, youths, and supporters across the constituency for the confidence reposed in him.

He also acknowledged supporters of other aspirants, noting that their participation reflected democratic values and commitment to the progress of the party.

“Now that the primary election is over, this is the time for unity, reconciliation, and consolidation as we prepare for the general election ahead,” he said.

Alakija stressed that the collective interest of the party and the constituency should take precedence over personal ambition, urging APC members to work together for victory in the next election.

He also appreciated Abiodun Orija for stepping down from the race in the interest of unity, while commending Ogundipe for what he described as a healthy and democratic contest.

According to him, the primary election demonstrated political maturity and loyalty to the APC.

Alakija reaffirmed his commitment to inclusive leadership and pledged to serve the constituency with dedication, humility, and fairness if elected.

A leading governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Adamawa State, Mustapha Salihu, has withdrawn from the race.

The withdrawal, made known Wednesday night, came as a shock to observers of development in the state who noted that Mustapha, with the backing of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, was ahead of others in the race.

Much of the puzzle is, however, answered by the public notice from Mustapha’s camp that announced the withdrawal.

The Comrade Mustapha Salihu Campaign Organization, in the notice signed by its Head of Strategic Communication, Ahmad Sajoh, stated that “following directives from the leadership of the party at the National level,” Mustapha has stepped down from the gubernatorial primary election.

The notice said Mustapha will now “take up the senatorial candidature” of the central senatorial zone.

This means that the senatorial primary election of the party which did not take place in Adamawa Central when it was conducted in other zones was designed as such by some forces in the party.

Mustapha Salihu was being backed by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, while Ahmed Galadima whom he stepped down for, is the candidate of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured travellers and aviation stakeholders that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola virus disease in the country, despite heightened concerns following reported outbreaks in parts of Central Africa.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, FAAN said it had intensified preventive measures at international airports nationwide to guard against any possible importation of the virus into Nigeria.

The Authority disclosed that “robust health surveillance and monitoring systems” have already been activated across all international airports to ensure early detection and prompt response to any suspected case.

FAAN explained that it is working closely with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Port Health Services and other relevant agencies to strengthen passenger screening procedures, especially for travellers arriving from high-risk regions.

According to the Authority, passengers are currently being screened for symptoms associated with Ebola, while any suspected case is “immediately isolated and subjected to secondary medical evaluation in line with national and international health protocols.”

The agency further stated that it has intensified staff sensitisation programmes, reinforced emergency response procedures and improved coordination with airport stakeholders to ensure swift action if required.

While reiterating that Nigeria remains free of any confirmed Ebola infection, FAAN urged passengers to remain calm and cooperate fully with health officials during screening exercises at airports.

Travellers were also advised to promptly report any symptoms or health concerns to relevant authorities as part of efforts to protect public health and maintain safe airport operations across the country.

The Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has announced power outages in parts of Kano, Katsina and Kaduna states following the collapse of electricity poles caused by a strong windstorm.

According to a statement issued by the company on Wednesday, the windstorm brought down 13 electricity poles along feeder lines supplying power to several affected communities.

KEDCO said the development disrupted electricity supply to Dandume in Katsina State; Rogo, Sundu, Falgore, Tudun Wada, Saya Saya, Kadawa and Hago communities in Kano State; as well as Ikara in Kaduna State.

“The windstorm damaged 13 electricity poles along affected feeder lines, resulting in power interruption in the affected areas,” the statement said.

The company apologised to residents over the disruption and assured customers that repair works were ongoing to restore electricity supply as quickly as possible.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has criticised the recent attacks on schools, teachers and students in different parts of the country, describing the incidents as barbaric and inhuman.

In a statement signed by the NUT National President, Audu Amba, and Secretary-General, Clinton Ikpitibo, the union said schools, which should be safe places for learning, are now being targeted by bandits and terrorists.

The union said the attacks have caused fear and emotional trauma among teachers, students, parents and local communities.

The statement followed attacks on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15, 2026.

The affected schools were Local Authority Primary School, Ahoro-Esinele, Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, and Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota.

According to the union, the attacks resulted in the abduction of a school principal, seven teachers and more than 30 pupils and students. One teacher was also shot dead during the attack.

The NUT said it was especially painful that the teacher who was killed was wearing his union attire at the time of the incident, describing him as dedicated to education and the teaching profession.

The union also raised concern over reports that one of the abducted teachers was later beheaded by the attackers.

It added that more than 40 pupils and students were reportedly kidnapped on the same day from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary Schools in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

The NUT expressed support for the affected schools and the families of the victims. It also called on security agencies to step up rescue efforts and ensure the safe release of those abducted.

The union urged both the Federal Government and affected state governments to improve security around schools and take stronger measures to prevent future attacks.

“Teachers cannot effectively discharge their duties in an atmosphere of fear and insecurity, where they are subjected to inhuman acts of kidnapping, maiming and killing,” the statement said.

The NUT warned that teachers could withdraw their services if attacks on schools continue.