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JUST IN: Rivers head of service resigns as sole administrator appoints new SSG
The Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, has resigned his appointment.
The resignation of the HoS, who served under the suspended Governor, Siminalayi Fubara was contained in a statement issued by the Chief of Staff to the Sole Administrator and obtained by newsmen on Tuesday morning.
The Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), thanked Nwaeke for his service to him within the short period since he assumed office and wished him well in his future endeavours.
The statement reads, “The office of His Excellency, the Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (retd.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas CFR, is saddened to announce the resignation of the Head of Service, Rivers State, Dr George Nwaeke, FCA, Mni.
“His Excellency, the Administrator appreciates the immense contributions he has shown this administration in the short period he served and wishes him well in his future endeavours.
”Meanwhile, Ibas has appointed Prof. Ibibi Worika as the new Secretary to the Rivers State Government.
Worika’s appointment was also contained in a statement from the office of the Sole Administrator also obtained on Tuesday morning.
The statement reads, “His Excellency, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.) CFR, the Administrator of Rivers State, is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Ibibia Lucky Worika as the new Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG).
“His appointment follows careful consideration of his credentials, extensive experience, and performance during rigorous selection process.
“Professor Worika’s distinguished career spans academia, international legal practice, and high-level policy advisory roles, making him uniquely qualified to support the administrator in the onerous task of achieving Mr President’s mandate.
His appointment takes immediate effect.
“Professor Worika’s appointment reflects the administrator’s commitment to harnessing the great human capital of the Rivers’ people to work with him to achieve the much-needed peace, stability and security.”
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Lagos to launch own driver’s license
The driver’s license project, which would be implemented in collaboration with the federal government, is optional for motorists to obtain the Federal license or the new state driver’s license aimed at enhancing safety, sanity, among others, on the roads.
Photo: Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu
The Lagos State Government is coming out with its owned driver’s license in as part of efforts to ensure sanity and safety on roads across the metropolis.
Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, disclosed this on Monday, at the 2025 annual ministerial briefing, commemorating the seventh year in the second term in office of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Dr. Obafemi, held at Alausa, Ikeja.
According to Osiyemi, the driver’s license project, which would be implemented in collaboration with the federal government, is optional for motorists to obtain the Federal license or the new state driver’s license aimed at enhancing safety, sanity, among others, on the roads.
Osiyemi added that it would ensure prompt issuance, as opposed to the usual delays being experienced with the existing process.
News
INEC needs1.4m corps members for 2027 election manpower
The INEC chairman broke down the 2027 deployment figures, saying 707,384 corps members would be required for the Presidential and National Assembly election scheduled for January 16, 2027, and the same number for the Governorship and Houses of Assembly election on February 6, 2027 — bringing the combined total to 1,414,768.
Photo:INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan and NYSC Director-General Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu. Photo: INEC|X
INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan said on Monday that the Commission needs more than 1.4 million national youth corps members for the 2027 general election.
Amupitan made the disclosure when he paid a courtesy visit to the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu at the corps’ headquarters, Yakubu Gowon House, in Abuja.
” You provide the heartbeat of our field operations. When we speak of election manpower, we are essentially speaking of your corps members.
They are the most dedicated, educated, and patriotic election duty staff we have, and their presence at the polling units brings a level of neutrality and public confidence that is irreplaceable,” Amupitan told the NYSC management team.
The INEC chairman broke down the 2027 deployment figures, saying 707,384 corps members would be required for the Presidential and National Assembly election scheduled for January 16, 2027, and the same number for the Governorship and Houses of Assembly election on February 6, 2027 — bringing the combined total to 1,414,768.
An additional 52,446 corps members would be needed for the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections and bye-elections in Nasarawa, Enugu, Rivers, Ondo, Kebbi, and Kano states.
The figures represent a substantial jump from the 2023 general election, where INEC deployed approximately 1.2 million ad hoc staff in total, with over 70 percent — nearly 850,000 individuals — drawn from NYSC ranks and student volunteers.
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FG introduces compulsory drug tests for secondary school students
The guideline outlines a comprehensive framework aimed at reducing the growing prevalence of substance abuse among students and creating safer learning environments across schools nationwide.
The federal government is introducing mandatory drug tests for students in secondary schools nationwide.
According to the new policy, all newly enrolled secondary school students will be subject to mandatory drug integrity testing at the moment of entry.
The directive is contained in the National Implementation Guidelines Against Drug and Substance Use in Schools in Nigeria for secondary schools.
The guideline outlines a comprehensive framework aimed at reducing the growing prevalence of substance abuse among students and creating safer learning environments across schools nationwide.
According to the document, the policy is designed to “create a conducive environment for teaching and learning in the institutions by reducing the negative effect substance abuse has on the mental health and academic performance of students/learners.”
The guideline states that “all new students/learners shall be subjected to drug tests and other measures approved by the schools/learning centres at the point of entry,” adding that the process must be carried out “in collaboration with approved federal/state health facilities and procedures.”
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