The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the promotion of 1,731 staff members who performed exceptionally well in the 2024 promotion examinations.

This was announced by Adenike Tadese, the commission’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, in a bulletin on Tuesday.

Among those promoted are 59 Deputy Directors, who were elevated to the rank of Director, 168 Assistant Directors who were promoted to Deputy Directors, and 167 Chiefs who were advanced to the position of Assistant Director.

In addition, 1,337 officers from various grades received promotions based on their performance.

INEC described the promotions as part of its ongoing efforts to motivate its staff, improve productivity, and foster a professional work environment.

The commission emphasized that the promotions reflect its commitment to enhancing staff welfare and supporting career development within the organization.

The breakdown of the promotions includes: 59 Deputy Directors (Grade Level 16) promoted to Directors (Grade Level 17); 168 Assistant Directors (Grade Level 15) promoted to Deputy Directors (Grade Level 16); 167 Chiefs (Grade Level 14) advanced to Assistant Directors (Grade Level 15); and 1,337 officers between Grade Levels 7 and 13 promoted based on their performance in the exams.

Former Imo State Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has called on the Federal Government to release Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in a bid to honor the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.

Okorocha made this appeal during a tribute event held in Ubah’s memory on Monday at the Nigerian Air Force Conference & Suites in Abuja.

In his speech, Okorocha referenced a similar request made by the late President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, before his death. He noted that Ubah had also expressed a desire for Kanu’s release, which he believed would serve as a powerful gesture of reconciliation for the Igbo people. Okorocha urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio to relay this message to the federal government.

“The best way to honor these great young men is to release Nnamdi Kanu so that the Igbos can reunite,” Okorocha stated. He added that the division within the Igbo community must be healed, calling for peace and unity despite political differences.

Reflecting on the legacy of Igbo leaders, Okorocha lamented the fractured state of the community, emphasizing that figures like the late Ikemba Ojukwu, Vice President Alex Ekwueme, and others who had passed would now be urging reconciliation among the living. “What would these leaders be discussing now? They would be asking, ‘Why do the Igbos hate one another?’” he said, urging the people of the region to follow the example of leaders who had reconciled in the afterlife.

He went on to mention that even those who had once been at odds, such as Ojukwu and Ekwueme, had now come together in peace, suggesting that the living should do the same.

The tribute event, which celebrated Ubah’s life and contributions, was attended by prominent political figures, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, former Senate Presidents Anyim Pius Anyim and Bukola Saraki, as well as friends and family of the late senator.

Ubah, who was a senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District, passed away in London in July at the age of 52. He was set to turn 53 on September 3, 2024.

His funeral is scheduled for Friday, November 22, 2024.

Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, presented the state’s N607 billion budget proposal for 2025 to the House of Assembly on Tuesday, highlighting a 48% increase over the 2024 budget of N410 billion.

The budget, dubbed “Changing Gears 2.0,” is centered on accelerating growth and ensuring execution, with a clear focus on capital development and infrastructure.

Of the total budget, N467.5 billion (48.9%) is allocated to capital expenditure, while N139.5 billion (45%) is earmarked for recurrent costs.

Soludo noted that the capital expenditure continues to account for 77% of the total budget, similar to the previous year.

The state expects a budget deficit of N148.3 billion, roughly 24% of the total, down from 30% in 2024.

Despite this, the governor expressed confidence that, as with the previous two years, the deficit would be covered through revenue generation and borrowing, if necessary.

In his speech, Governor Soludo emphasized that 2025, a governorship election year, would remain focused on project execution, rather than political campaigning.

He underscored the administration’s ongoing commitment to driving economic transformation and improving human capital.

“The focus will remain 100% on delivering our multi-faceted agenda,” he said.

Soludo also highlighted that key sectors, including education, health, infrastructure, and social services, would see substantial increases in funding for 2025.

Notably, the education sector is receiving a 101% boost, and health funding will rise by 57.1%.

A significant portion of the budget will go towards ongoing and new infrastructure projects, such as the development of Awka 2.0, Onitsha 2.0, and a new industrial city, which are part of the administration’s broader vision for economic revitalization.

The state government has also made progress in its investment initiatives.

Soludo noted that the second edition of the Anambra Investment Summit had just concluded, with 10 prominent companies signing agreements to invest in the state.

Additionally, the state is moving ahead with plans to develop the largest shopping mall in Africa and leisure centers across Anambra, as well as enhancing the Chinua Achebe International Airport’s night landing capabilities.

On human capital development, the governor reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to education and health. He outlined plans to continue providing free, high-quality education to all children in Anambra, alongside major upgrades to both primary and secondary schools.

As part of the focus on youth empowerment, Soludo’s government plans to expand its “One-Youth, Two-Skills” program and establish a “One Million Digital Tribe” to enhance digital skills training for young people.

In his address, Governor Soludo also reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable populations, with plans to distribute seedlings to over 100,000 households and provide grants to micro-businesses in all 326 wards across the state.

The budget also emphasizes ongoing support for agricultural development, including the distribution of various crops such as coconut, palm, and pawpaw to rural communities.

Canada has announced the closure of a key pathway for international students to transition from study permits to permanent residency, marking a significant shift in the country’s immigration policy.

The government is also ending the popular Student Direct Stream (SDS) program, which expedited study permit processing for students from select countries.

The decision, confirmed by Immigration Minister Marc Miller, means that international students will no longer be able to rely on their time studying in Canada as a guaranteed route to permanent residency.

Under the new regulations, students must return to their home countries once their study permits expire, with no automatic extensions or transitions to permanent residency status.

The SDS program, which was launched in 2018, allowed eligible students from 14 countries, including India, China, and the Philippines, to have their study permit applications processed in as little as 20 days.

Initially introduced to ease political tensions and attract international talent, the program will now be phased out as part of broader changes to Canada’s immigration strategy.

The announcement comes in the wake of protests by international students across Canada, who had been advocating for easier pathways to stay in the country after completing their studies.

However, Minister Miller stated that while students have the right to voice their concerns, Canada’s immigration system must remain balanced and orderly, emphasizing that study permits do not guarantee a route to permanent residency.

As the countdown to the 2027 general elections accelerates, the Labour Party (LP), under the leadership of Julius Abure, has unveiled a bold plan to expand its membership to over 20 million across Nigeria.

The initiative aims to enhance the party’s national presence and increase its political influence in the coming years.

To kick off this ambitious goal, the LP has launched an online membership registration and revalidation process to attract new members nationwide.

This effort will run concurrently with the party’s congresses, beginning at the ward and state levels.

The plans were outlined in a communiqué released after the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, which was held virtually on Saturday.

Obiora Ifoh, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, confirmed the restructuring of the Directorate of Mobilization and Integration, and the creation of a new Directorate of International and Diaspora Affairs.

The communiqué, in part, read: “NEC approved the expansion of the party’s membership, and all current members are required to revalidate their membership. New members can register online via [link].”

The first phase of the membership exercise will begin immediately and end on January 31, 2025.

This phase aims to update the ward-level membership registers ahead of the congresses, which will take place between February and March 2025.

The party encouraged members who wish to contest for positions at the ward level to begin their preparations now.

The communiqué further outlined the positions available for election at each level of the party’s structure:

At the Ward Level: 17 positions, including Chairman, two Vice-Chairmen (one male and one female), Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Publicity Secretary, Legal Adviser, Auditor, Woman Leader, Youth Leader, and five ex-officio members.

At the Local Government Level: 21 positions, including Chairman, four Vice-Chairmen (including one female and one representing the platform), Secretary, three Assistant Secretaries, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Publicity Secretary, Legal Adviser, Auditor, Woman Leader, Youth Leader, and five ex-officio members.

At the State Level: 29 positions, including Chairman, six Deputy Chairmen, Secretary, two Assistant Secretaries, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Publicity Secretary, Organizing Secretary, Legal Adviser, Auditor, Woman Leader, three Assistant Women Leaders, Youth Leader, three Assistant Youth Leaders, and five ex-officio members.

The party also announced that states meeting the basic requirements for congresses, especially with regard to membership registration, would be issued official notifications to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the congresses within the stipulated time frame.

The restructuring of the Directorate of Mobilization and Integration, which has already made significant strides in less than six months, will now focus on broadening the party’s base.

Additionally, the newly established Directorate of International and Diaspora Affairs will be led by Prof. Eddie Oparaoji, with Ms. Aju Elumelu appointed as Secretary.

This directorate will oversee the engagement of LP members abroad and encourage participation in the congresses, including those at the ward level.

NEC also approved the formation of several new committees, including the Electoral Reform Committee, Political Education Committee, and the State Elders Council.

Addressing the creation of the Electoral Reform Committee, LP National Chairman Julius Abure reiterated the party’s commitment to electoral reform.

“Labour Party was a major victim in the 2023 elections, and we are determined to push for comprehensive reforms to ensure future elections are credible, free, and fair,” he stated.

The Electoral Reform Committee will be chaired by Hon. Benedict Etanabene, with Hon. Okey Joe as Co-Chair and Dudu Manuga serving as Secretary.

The committee is expected to submit its findings within eight weeks.

Abure also spoke about the Political Education Committee, stressing the need to reorient and empower the electorate.

“We must prepare our people for active political participation. The leadership in Nigeria is a reflection of the people, and we must ensure our members are ready for meaningful engagement in governance,” he said.

The Political Education Committee will be chaired by Rt. Hon. Ativie Elizabeth, former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, with Mr. Bulus Maisamari as Secretary.

Other committee members will be announced soon.

Abure reaffirmed the party’s goal of becoming Nigeria’s largest political force, with a focus on preparing for the 2027 elections.

“Nigeria has been in stagnation for too long, and the Labour Party is committed to rescuing the nation,” he declared.

Four members of the Anambra Vigilante Services (AVS) were killed on Monday morning by gunmen in Anambra State.

According to Daily Trust, three of the vigilante members were killed in Ukpo, Dunukofia Local Government Area of the state while one was killed in Abatete, Idemili North LGA.

It was learnt that the gunmen had stormed Abatete, firing indiscriminately, which led to the death of one person.

The attacks occurred following Governor Charles Soludo’s directive, urging traders to ignore the Monday sit-at-home order issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and go about their normal business.

An eyewitness reported that after killing the three AVS members in Ukpo, the gunmen set their operational vehicle ablaze and fled, taking about seven people with them and injuring many others in the process.

It was learnt that a trader and a vigilante member escaped with bullet wounds.

According to the eyewitness, the gunmen arrived at Ukpo roundabout, shooting sporadically.

Upon sighting a Sienna bus transporting the vigilante members, they opened fire, killing three of the personnel.

The eyewitness stated, “They came from nowhere, shooting sporadically and chanting ‘No Biafra, No Freedom.’ People started running for safety.”

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident but stated that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ukpo was on the ground to investigate the matter.

Recall that two weeks ago, Governor Soludo ordered all markets in the state to open and disregard the sit-at-home order enforced by the gunmen.

Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has called on the country’s anti-corruption agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to adopt the investigative methods used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Speaking at the Food and Energy Security in Africa Conference in Lagos, Fagbemi advocated for a more discreet and thorough approach to corruption investigations, similar to the FBI’s model.

He emphasized that these agencies should focus on completing comprehensive investigations before taking public actions like arrests.

“My approach has always been that when EFCC or ICPC is investigating anyone, I would prefer them to follow the FBI model,” Fagbemi said.

He praised the FBI’s method of conducting investigations in secret, only revealing their actions once they are ready to make a move.

“In the FBI, you don’t hear about investigations until they knock on your door. At that point, you have your rights, and you can call your lawyer, but by then, they are ready with a case,” he explained.

The Attorney General further criticized the practice of media trials, where suspects are publicly accused and tried before investigations are concluded.

He suggested that such practices, fueled by social media, can damage the reputations of those involved even before the truth is known.

“We need a more civilized approach to combating corruption, where actions are not made public until the investigation is complete,” Fagbemi stressed.

Fagbemi acknowledged the role of social media in amplifying public perceptions of corruption cases, but warned that this can lead to a premature judgment of suspects.

“Social media can bastardize and abuse suspects before the truth even comes out,” he said, advocating for a fairer process that upholds the legal rights of those under investigation.

The Minister also reassured the public that the Nigerian government remains committed to fighting corruption, citing laws such as the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022 and the Corruption Act of 2022 as steps in the right direction.

He highlighted that the anti-corruption agencies had made significant progress, securing nearly 4,000 convictions in 2022 alone.

Fagbemi emphasized that, in addition to prosecuting corruption, the EFCC and ICPC are focusing on preventative measures to curb future offenses.

He also addressed concerns about inconsistent judicial rulings, noting that new technologies are being introduced to improve the predictability and consistency of court decisions.

“Technology is being implemented to track judicial decisions and ensure that rulings in similar cases across different courts are aligned. This will help address issues of conflicting decisions and make the legal process more transparent and reliable.”

The Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS), led by Olumba Olumba, has dismissed rumors of a crisis within the organization, urging the public to ignore misleading videos circulating on social media.

Dr. Amah Williams, the spokesperson for BCS, made the clarification in an interview with journalists in Lagos on Sunday.

He stressed that the videos circulating online, which suggested unrest within the group, were false and did not originate from the organization’s headquarters in Calabar, as claimed.

“These videos are nothing but fabrications created by mischief-makers aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the Brotherhood,” Williams said.

“Our headquarters in Calabar is peaceful, secure, and preparations are underway for our annual divine manifestation event.”

Williams confirmed that the BCS headquarters in Calabar is in full preparation for the 2024 Universal Celebration of the Divine Manifestation of Olumba, which is scheduled to take place from November 18 to 24.

The theme of the event is “The Unshakable King.”

He called on the public to disregard the fake videos and assured that the Brotherhood remains calm and united.

“We want to reassure our members and the public that the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star is not in crisis. We are focused on the upcoming event, and our headquarters is safe and serene,” Williams added.