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Corruption remains Nigeria’s greatest challenge , ICPC chairman declares at IMP Lecture

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Our Reporter 

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, said on Thursday that corruption remains the greatest problem confronting Nigeria at the moment and pleaded that it must be tackled with all seriousness, if Nigeria is to make a deserved progress.

Aliyu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said that although corruption has become a universal problem, Nigeria has its own share.

He stated this on Thursday in Abuja in a lecture he delivered on “Anti-corruption Reforms, Economic Stability and Effective Communication” organized by Economic Confidential. 

The legal luminary canvased that corruption must be seriously tackled with legal instrument as millions of dollars are been lost as bribes in the country.

He noted with regret that public officers who are supposed to be shining example to youths are neck-deep in the economic crime, using consultants as conduit pipe to carry out the corruption agenda.

The ICPC boss recalled one of the major corruption incidents stumbled upon by ICPC in 2012, involving $65 million which was supposed to be used to build houses for public officers to ease their accomodation crisis.

Aliyu noted that rather than using the huge fund for the purpose, the people involved opted to pocket the money by abandoning the purpose of the release of the fund.

Highlighting the dangers of prevalent corruption, the ICPC boss said that unless it is effectively tackled, the economy will not attract investment because according to him, no investor will invest in any country where corruption flourishes.

On the part of ICPC in combatting the economic crime, Aliyu assured that the agency will henceforth focus on strengthening the weak system that has refused to make the country’s economy grow at the deserved pace.

He noted with regret the recently uncovered fake agency, adding that if the country has had a strong system, such agency would have been detected with due diligence.

He also noted that as a result of weak system in the country, projects are being inserted into government agencies without execution thereby robbing the country of value for money released for such projects, adding that such contractors would henceforth be forced to execute the job once identified.

The ICPC boss also spoke against “ghost workers” syndrome, adding that unpatriotic civil servants have been found by his commission to be using their children and family members as ghost workers in the government employment.

He recalled the discovery of N24 billion meant for ghost workers pension in 2024, adding that one particular person enrolled 14 members of his family and was receiving 13 salaries.

Aliyu said that up till now no single person has come out to claim the N24 billion or gone to court to claim ownership of the money.

To make the fight against corruption more meaningful, the ICPC boss appealed to all Nigerians to go back to their primary schools and campaign for pupils on dangers of corruption, adding that such campaigns will inspire the pupils to rise against corruption in the future.

“Nigeria can capture corruption and solid foundation will come up for the country on integrity. Damaging effect of corruption is too much and must not be allowed to thrive. ICPC will now focus on the weak system that is promoting corruption through constituency projects, ghost workers and sanitize the entire system.

Earlier, the organizers of the Economic Confidential Lecture, Mallam Yushau Shuaib, explained that the lecture was organized as part of the organization’s contribution to the fight against economic crimes, adding that Nigerians who excelled in their various fields would be honoured to serve as morale booster, for others in the country.

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NNPC announces nationwide N66 fuel discount for fuel bought through app

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By Our Reporter

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has commenced a nationwide promotional campaign offering customers a ₦66 discount on fuel purchases made through its NNPC Fuel App.

The promotion, which began on October 1, will run until October 7 at NNPC filling stations across the country.

NNPC announced the initiative in a post on its X handle on Friday, saying customers had already started taking advantage of the offer at various stations.

“The ₦66 Discount Promo is ongoing & the excitement is already happening across our stations nationwide!

“All over Nigeria, our customers are getting in on the action & there’s still time for you to benefit!

The promo runs from 1–7 October on the NNPC Fuel App,” the post read.

The company said activities had commenced at several of its stations nationwide, with highlights from the first day of the promotion shared with the public.

NNPC urged motorists and other customers to continue using the Fuel App for their transactions throughout the seven-day campaign in order to benefit from the discount.

“Keep fueling, keep transacting and keep your eyes on our pages,” the post read.

The national oil company also said it would continue to release pictures and updates from participating stations as the promotion progresses.

Customers have been advised to take advantage of the offer before the promotional period ends on October 7.

The ₦66 discount applies to eligible transactions made through the NNPC Fuel App during the promotion.

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Hardship: Public servants begin three-day warning strike

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Public servants across Nigeria have commenced a three-day warning strike following a directive by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council over what the workers described as worsening economic and mental hardship.

The industrial action, which began at midnight on Friday, October 2, 2026, is expected to run through Sunday, October 4.

The council directed its national and state leadership to mobilise workers for the action, with the directive contained in a circular dated October 1 and signed by the National Secretary of the JNPSNC, Olowoyo Gbenga.

The circular urged the council’s leadership to ensure that the strike notice reached workers across the country.

The decision, according to the council, followed the Federal Government’s alleged failure to respond to demands earlier presented to President Bola Tinubu in a letter dated September 21, 2026.

READ ALSO:Unions reject TUC suspension of strike, demand reversal of King’s College concession

Explaining the commencement of the industrial action, the council stated, “Consequent upon the above, the strike shall start with effect from midnight on Friday, 2nd October, 2026 to Sunday October 4th, 2026.”

The council called on public servants at the federal, state and local government levels to participate in the warning strike, saying the action was aimed at drawing attention to the economic difficulties confronting workers and their dependants.

It stated, “In the same vein, all public servants in the services of federal, state and local governments are to join the warning strike because an injury to one is an injury to all, most especially, all workers, their dependants, vulnerable and hapless Nigerians are groaning terribly under the present economic hardship.”

The JNPSNC further expressed concern over the impact of the economic situation on workers, saying, “The economic and mental hardships are becoming unbearable and frustrating.”

It also directed its leaders to commence immediate mobilisation for the industrial action, declaring, “The time to act and mobilise workers for the three-day warning strike is now!!!”

The warning strike comes against the backdrop of demands earlier submitted by the council to the Federal Government for measures to ease the pressure of rising living costs on workers.

Among the demands were a reduction in the price of petrol, an immediate wage award for workers and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027.

The council had reportedly asked the Federal Government to bring down the pump price of petrol to N500 per litre, approve an immediate wage award and constitute a tripartite committee to negotiate a new national minimum wage.

The demands followed continued concerns over the declining purchasing power of workers amid increases in the prices of essential commodities, transportation and other household needs.

In its latest circular, the council urged its members to circulate the strike notice and expressed optimism about the outcome of the industrial action.

“Please, disseminate the information!!! Surely, there is victory for us!!!” the circular added.

The council maintained that the warning strike would proceed as scheduled, with public servants across the federal, state and local government services expected to take part.

Efforts to obtain a response from the Ministry of Labour were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

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Olokoro Community Eulogises NDPHC MD/CEO Adighije for School Renovation, Development Projects

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Johnchuks Onuanyim, Abuja

The people of Olokoro Clan in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State have showered encomiums on the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Engr. Jennifer Adighije, for executing key development projects in the community, including the comprehensive renovation of a block of classrooms at Boys Secondary School, Umuoparazara.

The community described the projects as landmark interventions that have not only improved learning conditions for students but also reinforced Adighije’s commitment to grassroots development and community service.

Speaking during the commissioning of the projects on Nigeria’s Independence Day celebration, community leaders, traditional rulers, women groups and youth organisations hailed Adighije as a worthy ambassador of Olokoro whose contributions have brought honour and development to the clan.

The projects commissioned include the renovation of a classroom block at Boys Secondary School, Umuoparazara Olokoro, and the landscaping and installation of modern 3D flooring at the Olokoro Clan Headquarters Complex in Ahiaukwu.

The event attracted a large gathering of traditional rulers, government representatives, community stakeholders and indigenes who turned out to celebrate what many described as a historic day for the clan.

In his remarks, the Federated President-General of the Olokoro Clan Development Union (OCDU), Dr. Odinakachi Umekwe, commended Adighije for her dedication to the welfare of her people and for consistently identifying with the aspirations of the community.

He noted that the renovation of the school facility would significantly improve the learning environment for students and contribute to educational development in the area.

Umekwe urged community members to safeguard and maintain the facilities, while offering prayers for greater accomplishments in Adighije’s public service career.

Speaking shortly before commissioning the renovated classroom block, Adighije attributed the successful execution of the projects to God’s grace and the productive partnership between the community and government institutions.

She assured the people that her intervention in the school would not end with the renovation, announcing plans to undertake solar electrification of the classroom block as the next phase of support.

According to her, quality education remains critical to community development and nation-building, stressing that investments in educational infrastructure are investments in the future of young people.

She also pledged to continue collaborating with the leadership of the OCDU to identify and execute additional projects that would improve the living conditions of residents.

The community further applauded the NDPHC boss for her contributions to youth empowerment, employment opportunities and other initiatives aimed at improving the socio-economic wellbeing of Olokoro people.

Traditional rulers, women leaders, youth representatives and elders who spoke at the event described Adighije as a role model and a source of inspiration to younger generations, noting that her achievements in engineering, public service and community development have made the clan proud.

In an emotional response during a grand reception held in her honour at the Olokoro Clan Headquarters, Adighije thanked the people for their overwhelming support and goodwill.

She reaffirmed her commitment to serving humanity and promoting the development of Olokoro, assuring residents that she would continue to contribute her quota to the progress of the community whenever the opportunity arises.

Her father, Senator Chris Adighije, also expressed gratitude to the people of Olokoro for the honour accorded his family and pledged continued support for initiatives that would advance the development of the clan.

The event featured cultural performances by students of Boys Secondary School, Umuoparazara, and was attended by prominent traditional rulers, community leaders, women groups, youth organisations and other stakeholders from across Olokoro Clan.

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