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VP SHETTIMA TO NEW NCP MEMBERS: Be At The Forefront Of Executing Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda

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VP SHETTIMA TO NEW NCP MEMBERS:
Be At The Forefront Of Executing Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda

By: Our Reporter

Vice President Kashim Shettima has implored new members of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) to station themselves on the frontline of actualising the renewed hope agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.

The Council members, according to him, must do this by championing great reforms through disruptive minds and ideas, even as he noted that every great reform commences with a disruptive thinker, which he said the President symbolises.

The Vice President who stated this on Friday while inaugurating the newly constituted NCP in his conference room at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said President Tinubu’s choice of the Council’s membership is a reminder of what it can achieve with fresh ideas.

Noting that membership of the Council is as crucial as its mission, VP Shettima who is also Chairman of the Council observed that the diverse talents and great depth of experience of persons approved as members of the Council by President Tinubu speak volume of their ability to deliver.

He stated: “Membership in this distinguished council symbolizes more than mere participation; it signifies a steadfast commitment and a resolute belief in our shared vision for a Nigeria brimming with opportunities, growth, and empowerment. It represents our collective pledge to propel the economy forward, build robust infrastructure, forge pathways to employment, and nurture an environment where productivity flourishes.

“By his approval, Mr. President has entrusted us with the strategic national assignment of piloting the nation’s economic sector reform, privatization, commercialization, and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program for the next four years.

“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, today’s inauguration invites us to take a front seat in the effort to actualize the Renewed Hope agenda of this government. Every great reform starts with a disruptive thinker, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stands as a testament to this fact, reminding us of what we can achieve by infusing fresh ideas into this Council.

“This gathering underscores our drive towards economic rejuvenation and liberalization by unlocking the immense potential of Nigeria’s economy, with reforms, PPPs, and privatization at the forefront.”

Senator Shettima reminded members of the Council that their appointment is a privilege to serve the nation by contributing to the socio-economic development the Tinubu administration has promised to deliver.

He urged them not to rest on their oars in “ensuring accelerated growth of the economy, providing infrastructure, creating jobs, and providing an enabling environment for productive activities to flourish”, as they leverage on the nation’s enormous resources for the benefit of Nigerians.

The Vice President pointed out that their duty is to execute the statutory responsibilities of the Council in line with the Public Enterprises (Privatization and Commercialization) Act 1999.

He listed the Council’s objectives to include “approving policies on privatization and commercialization, approving guidelines and criteria for the valuation of public enterprises and choice of strategic investors, approving the prices for shares or assets of the public enterprises to be offered for privatization, approving the legal and regulatory framework for the reform of public enterprises.”

Others are “reviewing, from time to time, the socio-economic effect of the privatization and commercialization program and deciding on appropriate remedies, appointing committees comprising persons from the private and public sectors with requisite technical competence to advise on the privatization and commercialization of specific public enterprises.”

With him as Chairman, and Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, as Vice Chairman, the VP named members of the newly inaugurated NCP to include Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Minister Industries, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Doris Anite; Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, and Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Olayemi Cardoso.

Others are Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, Dr. Tope Fasua; Mr. Oluwole Oshin (Private Member); Mal. Mohammed Mustapha (Private Member); Mr. Olayiwola Yahaya (Private Member); Mr. Akwa Effion Okon (Private Member), and Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Alex Okoh, as Secretary.

In his response, Minister of Finance and Vice Chairman of the Council, Edun, thanked the Chairman of the Council, Vice President Shettima, for inaugurating the Council.

The Minister noted that a cursory look at the 2024 appropriation bill and budget estimate indicate that privatization is among areas the government is relying on to fund the budget and grow the economy.

“But we do have the scope to go back to the National Assembly in the event that we find that we can actually do more.

“I would just like to thank the Chairman, National Council on privatization, His Excellency Kashim Shettima, GCON and to thank all of you as members in advance for the critical tasks that we have to carry out.

“And I will just end this brief vote of thanks, if I may, by reemphasising the strategy, the policy and, indeed, the objective of Mr. President, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,”. Edun stated.

VP SHETTIMA TO NEW NCP MEMBERS:
Be At The Forefront Of Executing Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda

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FG Plans Nationwide Audit Of Skills Centres To Transform Workforce

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FG Plans Nationwide Audit Of Skills Centres To Transform Workforce

** As VP Shettima demands urgent action to bridge nation’s skills gap

By: Our Reporter

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for immediate and united action to close Nigeria’s widening skills gap, describing it as a national priority critical to economic transformation.

This is just as the federal government has hinted at a proposal for the review of existing skills training centres across several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government to align their work and functions with national development goals.

The Vice President, who spoke on Thursday during the 6th meeting of the National Council on Skills (NCS) at the Presidential Villa, noted that the council’s mandate is to develop a strategic workforce capable of meeting Nigeria’s evolving economic demands.

“What binds us together supersedes whatever divides us. We have to make this country work. We need to fill in the skills gap,” he said.

VP Shettima pointed out that the council has a mission to strategically position Nigeria’s workforce to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving economy.

“This council was established with a clear mandate to drive the strategic development of the skilled workforce that can contribute meaningfully to national growth and prosperity,” he added.

The Vice President described the session as an open forum where positions were aired and important decisions were taken, emphasising that stakeholder engagement, consensus-building, and decisive leadership are essential to fixing Nigeria’s skills and employment crisis.

A major highlight of the meeting was the proposal for a National Skills Infrastructure Audit to create a centralised database of all training facilities, verify their functionality, and identify gaps or overlaps in infrastructure.

“The government’s policy trajectory is to strengthen human capital development for national growth and industry through skills development. However, unless the skills infrastructure across MDAs is optimised, this vision will remain unattainable,” the council noted.

The audit will also involve physical verification of centres and a detailed cataloguing of operational training facilities, ensuring alignment with national occupational standards and labour market needs.

Earlier, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa made a presentation on the National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP), an initiative aimed at training 10,000 artisans annually in high-demand construction trades.

The programme is designed to formalise Nigeria’s informal artisan sector by providing certification and onboarding qualified artisans onto a Digital Artisan Marketplace.

“The overall goal of NASAP is to establish a reliable and competent artisan workforce to drive the Ministry’s housing and infrastructure agenda while empowering Nigeria’s youth with employable skills,” the Minister said.

He noted that NASAP seeks to tackle youth unemployment while simultaneously addressing the skilled labour shortage in the construction sector, just as he said it is projected to have a significant impact on both job creation and long-term infrastructure development.

FG Plans Nationwide Audit Of Skills Centres To Transform Workforce

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Army intercepts railway vandals in Yobe, arrests 8 suspects including 5 NSCDC personnel

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Army intercepts railway vandals in Yobe, arrests 8 suspects including 5 NSCDC personnel

By: Zagazola Makama

The Nigerian Army troops of Sector 2, Operation Hadin Kai in Yobe have intercepted a truck loaded with suspected vandalised iron railway sleepers and arrested eight suspects, including five personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), during a targeted operation in Katarko area of Gujba Local Government Area.

Zagazola Makama gathered that the operation, which took place on July 8 at about 4:00 p.m., followed credible intelligence about the movement of vandalised railway materials.

The truck, was intercepted while en route to Damaturu. A Hilux vehicle marked NSCDC CD 234 A, believed to be providing escort for the illegal consignment, was also impounded.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the railway materials were vandalised from a section of the tracks around Kukuwa, also in Gujba LGA.

Further findings revealed that the arrested NSCDC officers were allegedly invited by the vandals to provide safe passage in exchange for monetary compensation.

A cash sum of ₦128,500, believed to be proceeds of the illegal escort, was recovered from one of the NSCDC officers. The money was reportedly concealed in his inner clothing.

The suspects and exhibits have been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Damaturu for further investigation. An anti-bomb squad has also been directed to sweep the recovered materials to ensure public safety.

Authorities say investigations are ongoing and all those found culpable will be prosecuted accordingly.

Army intercepts railway vandals in Yobe, arrests 8 suspects including 5 NSCDC personnel

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NHRC: Over 320,000 Human Rights Violations Complaints Received in June

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NHRC: Over 320,000 Human Rights Violations Complaints Received in June

By: Michael Mike

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has decried the rising incident of human rights violation in the country, stating that last alone over 320,000 cases were reported across the country.

Speaking during the presentation of June 2025 Human Rights Situation Dashboard in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu said: “In the month of June, we received 327,154 complaints reflecting another sharp increase in human rights violations, each one a desperate plea for justice and a stark reminder of how much work remains to be done.”

He lamented that: “Every month, when we gather to present this human rights dashboard, we are confronted with a sobering reality of the lived realities of those affected by violence, injustice, discrimination, and systemic neglect. These numbers compel us to reflect deeply on our collective responsibility and ask ourselves the difficult question: Are we doing enough? The events of June 2025 demand not just reflection, but an honest and urgent response.”

He said: “Last month, Nigeria witnessed a harrowing surge in violent attacks, with devastating consequences for affected communities and our national conscience. Among the most tragic incidents were the brutal assaults on the Yelewata and Dauda communities in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, where over 200 innocent lives were lost. These were not mere figures on a report; they were fathers, mothers, children, and breadwinners; families torn apart, livelihoods destroyed, and futures extinguished in moments of senseless brutality.

“Equally alarming is the rising trend of attacks against law enforcement and local security forces. In Kaduna and Niger States, more than 17 soldiers were killed in coordinated attacks, further destabilizing already fragile regions. Equally distressing was the massacre of over 40 members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Ruggar Chida, brave individuals who stood on the frontlines to protect their communities, only to pay the ultimate price.

“Their deaths leave a void in local security structures, rendering civilians even more exposed to further violence.”

Ojukwu noted that: “The wave of insecurity plaguing our highways has also intensified. In June alone, more than 50 travellers were abducted along major transit routes in Kogi and Benue States. These are not isolated criminal acts; they represent a direct assault on the fundamental rights to freedom of movement, economic participation, and personal dignity. These abductions inflicts lasting trauma on victims and their families while further eroding public trust in the safety of our roads. This pattern of violence marked by impunity, fear, and systemic failure highlights a grave deficit in protection and accountability.”

He added that: “In the month of June, we received 327,154 complaints reflecting another sharp increase in human rights violations, each one a desperate plea for justice and a stark reminder of how much work remains to be done.

“To the government, we reiterate the need for decisive and coordinated security interventions. To civil society and the media, we urge sustained advocacy and amplification of these issues. To our development partners, we call for strengthened collaboration in addressing the root causes of these issues. This dashboard must not merely serve as a record of tragedies; it must be a catalyst for meaningful and sustainable change.

“Let us never forget; every complaint documented, every statistic recorded in these dashboards represents a Nigerian citizen, a fellow human being seeking justice, safety, and the fulfilment of their basic rights.

“The National Human Rights Commission remains unwavering in its mandate to promote, protect, and enforce human rights across Nigeria. We will forge ahead with purposeful and sustained action.”

NHRC: Over 320,000 Human Rights Violations Complaints Received in June

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