News

FG Opens Portal To Documents Unemployed Nigerians

Published

3 years ago

June 22, 2022

Amidst criticism of the employment deficit in Nigeria, the Federal Government has instructed that a portal be opened to document unemployed citizens.

The resolution was reached on Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, shortly before he proceeded to Rwanda to attend the 2022 CHOGM.

The job portal would also take Nigerians living in the Diaspora into cognizance.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige also noted that Council approved the digitization of the operations of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF.

According to him, “The ministry presented two memos to Council today. The first memo was presented on behalf of our parastatal, the Nigeria social insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

“As you’re aware, a lot has happened in the NSITF in terms of revenue losses and pillage of funds that have been given to that organization.

“The NSITF implements the Employee Compensation Act ECA 2010 and by that Act, Employers in both public and private sectors are supposed to pay one percent of the emoluments of their staff into a social fund in NSITF.

“And this one is to be used as a premium or insurance fund to cater for workers or staff members who have accidents, injuries, disabilities and even deaths that occur in the cause of their work. So it’s like an accident or injury insurance.

“The Pension Act makes reference to it that it must be done for workers in addition to the group life. So, the monies that have gone in there have not been properly utilized, and the payments have not been tracked.

“So today we brought to council a memo for an e-NSITF by which their operations will now be digitalized. Both the payments that are put in from any of their stations, they have 56 branches and 11 regional offices. So in the comfort of your office, you can pay and register on that platform and that money is now tracked into the Central pool.

“From the central pool if claims are made and payments are also made to the insurance on those who are beneficiaries, you also track them.

“So this is one of the things the government has done in the spirit of digitalization of the economy and ease of doing business for everybody.

“So this will make for efficiency and help the organization to grow in leaps and bounds. already the organization is revitalized following the present restructuring agreement for them.

“Today. NSITF can pay all their salaries, they can boast of even doing capital projects. And this digitization of funds operation is part of the capital project that they are doing and like I said earlier, the accountability that is there will make for non-leakages of funds.

“We also know that previously, they have been complaints of claims not being paid but with e-NSITF will track claims and allow people to know who and who benefits from those claims. So this is one of the memos presented today.

“A consultant is going to handle it and the council approved that the digitalization should be completed in eight weeks.”

The Minister said the e-NSITF will cost N1.2 billion.”

He disclosed that Council approved a portal called Nigerian Labour Exchange, NILEX which will be domiciled in his ministry for employment and job creation.

According to him, “The second approval has to do with employment and job creation. It is a portal called Nigerian Labour Exchange (NILEX), housed in my ministry.”

He explained that the platform had not been developed over time and could not take the stress of the number of people wanting to go into it, stressing that the digital platform was supposed to be used by employers on the one hand and job seekers on the other.

His words, “The employers will come in and load the vacancy they have, the type of skill they want, the qualifications of people that can fit in there.

“Then the job seekers those who are looking for a job, graduates, non-graduates will register, put in the qualification, put in their skill and what you can do and then the two groups are matched. The employer can speak with a job seeker, via that platform.

“So over the years, we have not been able to expand it. But on a bilateral, multilateral agreement now the funds are provided. So we are redesigning it, remodelling it, and then upgrading the infrastructure.

“Council approved that consultant also does that with a completion period of 12 weeks and with that, we have passed the first stage of digitalizing that particular platform.

“One of the good things about our platform now when it becomes operational, all those phone platforms that ask people to register for work, pay in N10,000 or N20,000, will become a thing of the past because this will be a government platform. And when you go there, you know is a genuine platform.

“Apart from that, people in diaspora can also upload their expertise and tell Nigerians, what they have that qualifies them for special jobs and if they are employers in Nigeria that need them, again there will be a handshake through that same portal.”

DAILY POST.

News

FG Approves Promotion Of Over 24,000 Paramilitary Officers

Published

1 minute ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board has approved the promotion of 24,202 senior officers across the four paramilitary agencies under its supervision.

The Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Board, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced this on Monday in Abuja.

He was represented by the Board’s Secretary, Abdulmalik Jubril.

According to the minister, the newly promoted officers constitute the second batch of senior personnel elevated in 2025.

The affected agencies are the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

A breakdown of the figures shows that 11,426 officers were promoted in the Correctional Service, 4,336 in the Immigration Service, 2,581 in the Fire Service, and 5,859 in the Civil Defence Corps.

“From the 24,202 promoted officers: NCoS recorded 11,426; NIS, 4,336; FFS, 2,581; while 5,859 were elevated in NSCDC.

“The promotion was based on various parameters, including national spread, good records, ratification, performance and vacancy availability.

“The promotion is aimed at boosting the morale of personnel to ensure proper service delivery in their respective agencies,” he said.

He noted that promotions had stagnated in previous years but said the current administration was committed to improving personnel welfare to strengthen the fight against insecurity.

“In the recent past, promotion had been stagnant, but this administration is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of personnel to tackle the insecurity bedevilling the country.

“Among the several incentives introduced in the ministry, this is particularly worthy of note,” the minister said.

In 2024, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board promoted 20,867 senior officers across the paramilitary agencies under the Ministry of Interior.

The exercise, which cut across various ranks, formed part of ongoing efforts to address delays in career progression and improve staff welfare.

News

Ondo Establishes Special Court For Electricity Theft, Meter Bypass Cases

Published

5 minutes ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

The Ondo State Government on Monday said it had created a special offences court to prosecute electricity thieves or anybody who commits power-related offences across the state.

The state Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Johnson Alabi, disclosed this in his office in Akure, the state capital on Monday..

‎Alabi explained that the court was created by the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Olusegun Odusola, to fast-track cases relating to illegal connections, meter bypassing, vandalism, and other violations of the state’s electricity laws.

‎According to him, the new court signalled a zero-tolerance approach to electricity theft, warning to desist from electricity crime as the culprit would face immediate prosecution.

He said, “The special offences court is meant to prosecute electricity offenders across the state. It began operations about a week ago and was established by the Chief Judge of Ondo State.

‎”We want to appeal to residents and inform them that electricity theft is a criminal offence. Anyone who violates the Ondo State power sector law will be prosecuted.”

‎Alabi further revealed that, to avoid electricity crimes, the state government had procured 50,000 smart meters, which were ready for distribution to residents, noting that smart metering and strict enforcement must go hand-in-hand to build a reliable electricity distribution system.

‎”For this purpose, we have acquired 50,000 meters for immediate deployment and distribution,” he stated.

‎The commissioner further explained that the newly acquired meters would be monitored remotely from the ministry headquarters, enabling authorities to detect tampering or illegal connections in real time.

‎He also addressed concerns about local communities funding their own transformers and electric poles, describing the practice as an “aberration”.

‎”‎Residents were advised to report infrastructural needs through formal channels rather than spending their own money and later signing away ownership to electricity distribution companies.

‎”Ordinarily, it is not ideal for consumers to buy electric poles or transformers. It is not normal; it is an aberration. However, the situation we have found ourselves in has pushed us to that point.

‎‎”The Ondo State Government, in time past and even now, is still assisting local communities to procure transformers and install electric poles. We are still involved in electricity expansion projects in some communities. The government has reiterated its plan to acquire transformers for community service, not because it is strictly our responsibility, but as part of our obligation to the people.

‎‎”The electricity business has been privatized, so the power distribution company is supposed to handle these things. We continue to tell people: if you are in need, write to the Ondo State Electricity Regulatory Bureau. They will intervene,” Alabi stressed.

News

Nigerian Correctional Service Gets New Spokesperson

Published

32 minutes ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Correctional Service on Monday appointed Chief Superintendent of Corrections Jane Osuji as its new Public Relations Officer.

The announcement was made in a statement released by the Controller-General of the Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, who confirmed that the appointment takes immediate effect.

According to the statement signed by the Deputy Controller-General of Corrections, Ado Sale, on behalf of the CG,

“The Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, has appointed Chief Superintendent of Corrections Jane Osuji as the new Service Public Relations Officer with immediate effect.”

Osuji takes over from Deputy Controller of Corrections Umar Abubakar, who retired on November 19, 2025.

A native of Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State, Osuji holds a BSc in Public Relations and Advertising from Lagos State University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso.

The Service highlighted her groundbreaking achievement, stating, “The new Spokesperson, who makes history as the first female Service Public Relations Officer of the NCoS, was enlisted into the Nigerian Prisons Service in 2009 as an Assistant Superintendent of Prisons II (as it was then called) and has attended all the requisite courses required for her rank.”

Her professional development includes specialised training such as the Internal Security/Low Intensity Conflict Operations Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.

Osuji has served in multiple key public relations roles within the Service. The NCoS recalled that “CSC Osuji has had a remarkable tour of duty, having served in the following capacities: Assistant Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, and FCT Command Public Relations Officer before her posting to the National Headquarters as the Assistant National Public Relations Officer at the time, and served under four Controllers-General.”

She also spent eight years working closely with the Ministry of Interior.

“The Spokesperson also worked extensively as Press Secretary to three Honourable Ministers of Interior from 2015 to 2023,” the statement added.

Until her appointment, Osuji was serving at the Public Relations Unit of the Service Headquarters in Abuja. The NCoS noted that “She is happily married with children.”