From Philip Dazaang (Jos)

Plateau state governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang had directed the immediate mobilisation of drugs and other medical commodities to health facilities to combat the dreaded diphtheria disease in the state

The disease, which was first reported in Kano state had spread rapidly to Plateau and Katsina states with several deaths reported.

The Director-General of the Plateau State Drug and Medical Commodity Management Agency, PSDMA, Pharmacist Kim Jerry Bot, said that government intervention was already ongoing at JUTH and PSSH.

Bot added that the state government acted swiftly following reports of the outbreak, even as he noted that efforts were underway to extend the support to other affected health facilities.

The Plateau State Government on Wednesday said the death toll from diphtheria has risen to 27, while suspected cases have reached 303.

The state’s epidemiologist, Dr Maren Damulak, disclosed the figures while speaking with newsmen in Jos, the state capital.

Determined to contend the spread of the disease, the Plateau State Government had last Sunday ordered the temporary closure of all primary and secondary schools following the detection of suspected cases in Jos North, Jos South, Bassa and Wase Local Government Areas.

The measure, according to the government, was aimed at reducing transmission among students and school staff while health authorities strengthen surveillance and response activities.

Dr Damulak said most of the suspected cases were recorded in Jos North LGA with Rikkos community identified as one of the worst-affected areas.

“As of today, the cases have increased from 149 to 303. The death toll has also increased from 23 to 27. The highest cases of the disease are in Jos North. 99% of the cases are in Jos North.

“Most of the people that were affected were those that did not take diphtheria vaccine. Apart from Jos North, we also have few cases from other LGAs. Children account for a significant proportion of those affected,” Damulak said.

He, however, assured that the state government is making efforts to contain the outbreak of the disease.

He further disclosed that some suspected patients are currently receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH, and Plateau State Specialist Hospital, PSSH, where isolation facilities have been provided.

In Jos North, the local government council has deployed additional logistics, including motorcycles, to enhance contact tracing, field surveillance and community outreach.

From Kenechukwu Ugwoke (Enunu)

The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has declared that the era of having a godfather before securing a job is gone with the present commission

The Commissioner representing Enugu State, Peter Eze, who gave the assurance on Thursday ,urged youths in the state to stop believing that federal government jobs are reserved for those with political connections, saying qualified applicants can secure opportunities by following due process.

The Commissioner, who launched his Peter Eze Youth Connect workshop at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, with the theme, “Beyond Quotas: Unlocking Opportunities for Enugu Youths Through the Federal Character Commission,” said widespread misinformation that federal jobs had already been shared before they were advertised had discouraged many qualified youths from applying.

“One of the major reasons for this unfortunate situation is the existence of generational fallacies, erroneous impressions and misleading assumptions that advertised or publicised Federal Public Service and other public service jobs have already been shared or given out even before they are publicly advertised.

“No player has ever won a football match outside the pitch. Let me, therefore, use this opportunity to emphasise that you can barely get an opportunity you do not apply for,” he said.

Eze said the FCC had a constitutional responsibility to promote equitable representation in federal institutions, noting that more than 700 federal ministries, departments, agencies, commissions and other establishments offer employment and related opportunities.

“You do not need to buy a job; you need to prepare yourself,” he said, warning youths against middlemen and anyone demanding payment for legitimate government employment.

The commissioner said the workshop was also designed to expose participants to grants, scholarships, fellowships, training programmes and other opportunities, adding that five participants would be selected for full scholarships to study abroad.

He said the initiative would be sustained beyond the workshop to create a network through which youths could access and share information on legitimate opportunities.

“Let nobody make you believe that you need a godfather before you can succeed. Get the information. Follow the process. Prepare yourself. Apply. Compete. And pursue your opportunity,” Eze said.

By Eze Nnadi 

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has obeyed a federal high court ruling that ordered it to accept the latest logo of the opposition Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)

A federal high court, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, had in a judgment delivered on Tuesday in Abuja in a case involving the NDC and INEC, directed the election umpire to accept and upload NDC’ new logo

The commission on Thursday, uploaded the party’s new logo on its official website.

The commission also updated the party’s  leadership on its website, placing Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe as the National Chairman of the NDC, while Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu is listed as National Secretary.

In the new update, Mr John Odey is also listed as National Treasurer, while Mainasara Abubakar Sani is the National Financial Secretary. Similarly, Reuben Egwuaba is listed as the party’s National Legal Adviser.

The commission however  emphasised that the five leadership positions were uploaded  based on a court order’, indicating that the NDC’s party logo on its platform is recognised in compliance with a court order.

The case, filed under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1814/2026, centred on the party’s demand for recognition of its modified logo and colour design.

The NDC had challenged INEC’s refusal to recognise and upload the logo adopted by the party after its first National Executive Committee meeting.

According to the court, the refusal of INEC to recognise the modified logo was unconstitutional, illegal and amounted to an infringement of the rights of the political party.