New civil service association wants Ogun governor to halt hurried implementation of contributory pension scheme until……

By: Bodunrin Kayode

The entire members of the Association of New Ogun Civil and Public Service Retirees have called on Governor Dapo Abiodun to halt any further accelerated action on the proposed contributory pension scheme (CPS) for civil servants.

The association which comprises more than 600 members and still counting as people are retiring wants Prince Dapo Abiodun, to consider their plights by shifting the proposed hurried implementation of the CPS forward to a later year when all vexatious aspects of the law that established the CPS would have been properly fixed.

In a release signed by about five of the worried retirees, led by Shadrach Omopariola, the members maintain we that “inline with this, we plead with His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun CON to order the payment of our monthly pension as from January 1st 2026 to bring back the hope of living in us and put smile on our faces.

“Your Excellency Sir, we heard that your Government is planning to introduce a new idea that is known as ‘Additional Pension Benefits’ This in itself is nothing to be compared with the gains and benefits of the Old Pension Scheme.

” Sir, the payment of our monthly pension would in no small measure improve not only the economic growth of our immediate families but would be a moral booster for the good people of Ogun State inline with Your Excellency’s Mantra of ‘Igbega ipinle Ogun Ajose Gbogbo wa Ni’.

“We will patiently wait for the payment of our gratuity with faith in the government of Ogun State to pay us as soon as possible.

“We remain law-abiding senior citizens of Ogun State even in this difficult situation where we have no money to take care of ourselves, our children, our aged parents, and other dependent relatives.

“We believe in your kind heartedness and goodwill that you will not close your eyes to our pleading but you will come to our rescue within the shortest time possible to bring happiness and joy to all of us.”

The release was jointly signed by Omopariola Shadrach, Adeyanju Joseph, Falola Kayode, Obasan Olufolake and Kayode Mulikat.

The contributory pension scheme is a new scheme first introduced by the fed government in June 2004 following the enactment of the pension reform act by President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The act was later repealed and replaced by the pension reform Act of 2014 which updated the terms of the scheme by exempting employees who had three years or less to retire, those who retired before the enactment, judicial officers, members of the armed forces and the secret service.

Teachers who should have led the list of these exemptions because of their thankless services to humanity like that of the military were completely ignored.

Sub nationals now trying to domesticate the scheme have equally refused to give teachers that special exemption they are entitled to for their thankless services.

New civil service association wants Ogun governor to halt hurried implementation of contributory pension scheme until……

Nigeria Validates 7th Biodiversity Report, Signals Renewed Push Toward 2030 Global Targets

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria has taken a decisive step to reinforce its environmental commitments with the validation of its Seventh National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity at a high-level workshop in Abuja on Monday.

The validation workshop, brought together government officials, environmental experts, civil society actors, researchers, development partners and community representatives to review and endorse the country’s latest biodiversity performance assessment.

Describing the exercise as a defining moment for Nigeria’s environmental governance, the Director of Forestry, Hajiya Halima Bawa-Bwari, said the national report goes far beyond a routine international obligation.

According to her, the document serves as a critical reflection of Nigeria’s achievements, gaps and future priorities in conserving its vast biological wealth.

“The National Report is not just a statutory submission. It is a mirror of our collective journey — our progress, our challenges and our aspirations in protecting the natural heritage entrusted to us,” she stated.

Bawa-Bwari emphasized that biodiversity underpins food security, climate resilience, economic livelihoods and cultural identity across the country. She warned that accelerating ecosystem degradation, habitat loss and climate pressures demand coordinated and urgent action.

Bawa- Bwari represented by Ahmed Labaran, Assistant Director, Forestry commended the contributions of ministries, research institutions, civil society organisations, local communities and development partners in shaping the draft report, noting that biodiversity conservation requires sustained collaboration, innovation and inclusivity.

Participants were urged to ensure that the final document aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which sets ambitious targets for halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030.

“Our deliberations must strengthen national resolve, integrate biodiversity into development planning, and mobilize the financial and technical resources required for implementation,” she said, calling for integrity and professionalism in validating the report.

The Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal, in his remarks, described the Seventh National Report as coming at a pivotal time for global and domestic biodiversity action. He stressed that Nigeria’s revised National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) remains the country’s principal roadmap for translating global environmental commitments into measurable national outcomes.

The Minister, who was represented by Tijani Ahmed, Deputy Director Forestry, said the validation process must guarantee that the report is evidence-based, comprehensive and reflective of realities on the ground.

“The report must not end as an international filing exercise,” the Minister stated. “Its findings should inform policy coordination ent decisions, guide resource mobilization and strengthen accountability in implementing the NBSAP.”

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, calling for stronger inter-agency coordination, sustainable financing mechanisms, improved environmental data systems and the meaningful participation of sub-national governments, indigenous communities, women, youth and the private sector.

Stakeholders at the workshop expressed optimism that the finalized report will not only highlight Nigeria’s progress but also chart a renewed and ambitious path toward achieving the 2030 biodiversity targets.

With the validation concluded, Nigeria signals its intent to remain actively engaged in global biodiversity governance while strengthening domestic efforts to safeguard ecosystems critical to national development and future generations.

Nigeria Validates 7th Biodiversity Report, Signals Renewed Push Toward 2030 Global Targets

Tension in Plateau as youths block road, kill four after attack by suspected Fulani gunmen

By: Zagazola Makama

Four persons have been reportedly killed after youths suspected to be local indigenes blocked a road and attacked travellers along Nding axis of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, shortly after an earlier reprisal assault in which gunmen suspected to be Fulani militias killed seven residents in Dorowa Babuje village.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred when a passenger Opel Vectra vehicle conveying civilians was intercepted by a group of youths who mounted a road blockade along Nding road.

The assailants reportedly selected and attacked occupants of the vehicle, killing four persons on the spot.

Security forces later confirmed that five corpses were transported to Jos North, indicating that one additional victim may have died from injuries sustained during the attack.

Two of the victims were identified as indigenes of Jos North, a development that has heightened tension in parts of the metropolis, particularly around the Terminus and Gangare areas where residents expressed concern over possible reprisals.

The sources believe the Nding road incident may have been a retaliatory action triggered by news of the earlier killings, which spread rapidly across nearby communities before security agencies could fully stabilise the situation.

One security official said the road attack occurred hours after gunmen suspected to be Fulani bandits on revenge mission opened fire on residents at a local gathering spot in Dorowa Babuje, killing seven persons and injuring two others.

The attacks followed closely on the heels of other deadly attacks recorded within days on fulani communities by attackers suspected to be Berom militia across Barikin Ladi and Riyom General areas in Plateau state.

Sources said additional personnel had been deployed to flashpoints across Barkin Ladi and adjoining districts to forestall further violence.

“Joint patrols and stop-and-search operations have also been intensified along major roads and entry routes to prevent escalation and track suspects involved in both incidents,”said the sources.

Security agencies also warned residents against reprisals or mob actions, stressing that such acts could worsen the fragile security situation.

Community leaders in affected areas have appealed for calm, urging youths to allow security forces to handle investigations.

Tension in Plateau as youths block road, kill four after attack by suspected Fulani gunmen