The National Pension Commission hassaid only 17 Nigerian states are currently implementing the Contributory Pension Scheme as its assets rose to over N26 trillion in September 2025.

Ms Omolola Oloworaran disclosed this during an event in Benin, Edo State.

Oloworaran, who was represented by the Commission’s Inspectorate Commissioner, Chief Samuel Chigozie Uwandu, stressed that CPS plays a vital role in national economic development.

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According to her, CPS has evolved beyond a retirement policy and has become a symbol of a national shift towards financial discipline and long-term planning.

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Oloworaran noted that the scheme illustrates “a decisive break from past dependencies on state-provided old-age financial security to a new culture of retirement savings and forward planning.

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“A contract between the worker and the employer, with the assurance that a lifetime of labour would be rewarded with financial security in old age.”

“Seventeen states out of the 36 states in the country are currently implementing the Contributory Pension Scheme. Twelve states have not started at all, while seven states are at various stages of establishing their pension bureaux.”

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said that politics should not be reduced to a playground for unruly conduct.

Jonathan said this on Thursday at the 10th anniversary dinner of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, an event that also doubled as a celebration of his 68th birthday.

He warned that Nigeria’s democracy is being suffocated by reckless political behaviour, arguing that leadership must be anchored on responsibility, nation-building and restraint.

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According to him, sustaining democratic stability requires civility and a genuine sense of accountability from all political actors.

DAILY POST reports that the gathering brought together an impressive mix of African statesmen, diplomats, political leaders and business figures.

“Politics is not for rascals. It is for people who want to build, not destroy,” Jonathan said, warning that the rising tide of aggressive rhetoric and hostile political behaviour is weakening democratic resilience across the continent.

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He reflected on the experience that inspired the creation of his foundation, noting that its work over the past decade has focused on diplomacy, governance reforms, peacebuilding, mediation and the strengthening of democratic institutions.

Jonathan also lamented the recent spate of violent attacks and abductions across the country, urging leaders at every level to take their responsibility to citizens more seriously and ensure the protection of lives while safeguarding the nation’s democratic order.

The Edo State correspondent of Vanguard newspaper, Comrade Ozioruva Aliu, has bagged the Edo Icon Award of the Year 2025.

Aliu, a one time secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council, was awarded alongside others in the 5th edition of the programme for his exceptional performances and commitment to the journalism profession.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony in Benin City, the organizer of the Edo Icon Award, Lion Moses Ebahor, said the award was designed to celebrate Edo people who have performed excellently and to further motivate them.

“The Edo Icon Award is a means to celebrate Edo people all over the world.

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“Most of the people we give the award to are those creating value in their callings, both in public and private sectors.

“The current Edo State governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, was given ‘Edo Personality of the Year 2022’. He became a senator, and we gave him ‘Edo Man of the Year 2024’ before he became the governor of Edo State.

The chairman of the occasion, Chief Leemon Ikpea—also a philanthropist—is ‘Edo Man of the Year 2025’, while the Deputy Governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, is the ‘Edo Personality of the Year 2025’.

“Ours is to celebrate Edo people who are doing well.

“We don’t give the award to criminals; we don’t give it to people with shady characters. Those we give awards to are people we do not know personally, but we carry out research to see what they are doing. For example, the Vanguard reporter we awarded—we didn’t know him or had ever met him, but we saw what he was doing at Vanguard.

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“We give awards to those in security, academia, business, media, and all human endeavours. We dig into people’s profiles before anything,” he said.

Responding, the Vanguard Correspondent in Edo State, who bagged the ‘Edo Icon Print Media Personality of the Year’, said he was overwhelmed when he was informed of his nomination, adding that the recognition serves as an encouragement to do more.

“I am really overwhelmed by this award because our job is a thankless one. If you write a report and someone does not like it, they believe someone has given you money to do it. The day you write something that favours them, they will pretend that they didn’t see it. That is the kind of job we do.

“I was shocked when I was called and informed that the group had nominated me for an award. Whatever we do, we should know that someone is watching. I appreciate the organizers of this event, and I want to say that this is an encouragement to do more,” he said.