Connect with us

News

FG clears 200,000 passport backlogs, pays ₦28bn debts — Tunji-Ojo

Published

on

76 Views

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, says the Federal Government has cleared over 200,000 unprocessed passport applications since he assumed office.

Tunji-Ojo also revealed that ₦28 billion in old debts have been paid off, all without extra funding from the government.

He made these announcements during the Access Bank Guest Lecture Series held in Lagos on Monday. He spoke on the topic, “Dare to Dream, Dare to Innovate,” and called for bold leadership, system reform, and the smart use of technology.

“Leadership is not about reacting to problems, it is about foreseeing and solving them before they occur. And for that, you must always ask: What is your purpose? How will you execute it? And when is the right time to act?” he said.

He explained how his ministry used innovation, technology, and planning to clear passport backlogs and debts. New systems like e-visa platforms, contactless passport renewals for Nigerians abroad, and advanced passenger tracking have been launched.

Speaking about Nigeria’s prisons, Tunji-Ojo said the correctional system is in bad shape.

He pointed out that more than 4,000 inmates are behind bars simply because they can’t pay fines as low as ₦50,000.

“This is not a legal crisis, it is a moral one. A society that punishes poverty more harshly than crime has lost its moral compass,” he said.

He added that the ministry is working with private donors to help release many of these non-violent prisoners, noting that it’s also pushing for reforms that focus on rehabilitation, not just punishment.

These include digital case tracking, vocational training in prisons, and partnerships to improve prison conditions.

“A correctional facility must correct, not condemn. Justice without dignity is injustice in disguise,” he said.

Access Holdings Chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, praised Tunji-Ojo’s leadership.

“Innovation is not about big budgets, it is about big thinking,” he said, adding that the Minister’s work shows what real public service should look like.The event brought together business leaders, government officials, and experts from across the country.

It was part of Access Bank’s effort to spark national change through conversations about leadership and service.

In his final words, Tunji-Ojo urged everyone to live with purpose and pursue excellence.

“Let Access Bank not just be a financial institution, let it be a philosophy. Let Nigeria not just be a country of potential, let it be a nation of performance.

It is time to refine our genius, not just export it,” he said.

News

Kogi State: Kabba Residents Recount Flood Devastation (Photos)

Published

on

8 Views

The people of Kabba Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State are still counting their looses over the flash flood that ravaged their communities recently.

Many houses were submerged by the flood and properties worth millions of naira were destroyed in Aiyeteju, Iyah, Ben Thomas, Kajola, Fehinti all in Kabba Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Residents of the communities are appealing to the government to immediately come to their aide as many occupants have deserted their homes.

They also attributed the flash flood to the incomplete canal linking the various community in the Local Government.

See photos below:

Continue Reading

News

FG Approves 16 as Minimum Admission Age into University

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said this on Tuesday when he declared open the ongoing Policy Meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, in Abuja.

Published

on

By

13 Views

The Federal Government has mandated 16 as the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said this on Tuesday when he declared open the ongoing Policy Meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, in Abuja.

Alausa declared that the official age of 16 set by the government is not negotiable.

He warned that the heads of institutions found to be engaged in admission fraud would face prosecution.Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa warned that any admissions outside JAMB’s CAPS platform are illegal. Institutions involved in admission fraud will face prosecution, as the government moves to enforce transparency and integrity in the process.

Continue Reading

News

BREAKING: ASUU announces nationwide strike

Published

on

24 Views

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has directed its members nationwide to begin an indefinite strike over the federal government’s delay in paying June 2025 salaries.

According to reports, this decision, which enforces the union’s “No Pay, No Work” policy, has already taken effect in several universities.

Branches of ASUU at the University of Jos and University of Abuja have withdrawn their services, with members suspending academic duties and meetings.

The strike is in line with a National Executive Council (NEC) resolution that mandates withdrawal of service if salaries are not paid within three days of a new month.

ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, confirmed that the directive was necessary due to persistent salary delays and hardship faced by members.

He noted that the switch from the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS) to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) has worsened the situation, leaving lecturers unpaid for days after the month ends.

He explained that despite meetings with key government officials including the Minister of Education and the Accountant General, no solution has been provided.

According to Piwuna, the delay is not due to any technical problem with the payment platform but appears to be a deliberate move by some officials.

The union is also calling on the federal government to immediately release the outstanding N10 billion balance from the N50 billion meant for Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), warning that further delay may spark another phase of industrial action.

At the University of Jos, the branch chairman, Jurbe Molwus, confirmed that the congress backed the NEC resolution, leading to a halt in lectures and other statutory duties.

A strike monitoring team has been activated to ensure compliance.At the University of Abuja, members have also stopped work in protest.

ASUU declared the only way to end the ongoing disruption is for the government to stop delaying salaries and fulfil its obligations to university staff.

Continue Reading

Trending