News
Akwa Ibom govt set to embrace employees compensation as group honours NSITF CEO
The Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong has assured the Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Maureen Allagoa of the cooperation of the Assembly in the implementation of the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS) in the state.
The Speaker, a veteran unionist, who gave the assurance while receiving the Management of NSITF in Uyo, told the delegation that the Legislature will cooperate with the State Executive to ensure the implementation of the ECS. He promised to further discuss with the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, whom he described as worker-friendly, on the application of the Scheme for the benefit of all Akwa Ibom people. He also applauded NSITF for upholding the ECS.
In his address, the Regional Manager of the Port Harcourt Region of the NSITF, Dr. Goeffrey Otokito who led the delegation on behalf of the Managing Director, thanked the Speaker for the audience, asserting that the ECS was created to lift the lots of the Nigerian workers.
Otokito had earlier led the NSITF team, which included the Uyo Branch Manager, Azuka Umejei to the Akwa Ibom State Head of Service, Elder Effiong Essien to consolidate discussions on the ECS. Essien informed the delegation that a committee headed by his office was set up by the State Government on the ECS, saying that the report had been forwarded to the Governor. He additionally pledged to press on with the matter as the benefit was huge to elude workers in Akwa Ibom State.
Meanwhile, a non-governmental organization, the Coalition for Civil Society and Human Rights has bestowed a meritorious service award on the Managing Director of the NSITF, Maureen Allagoa.
According to a statement by Nwachukwu Godson, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, NSITF, the Director General of the organization, Takalis Dan Daura while making a presentation in Abuja, said the award was in recognition of the immense contributions of Allagoa to social inclusion through the operations of the Employees Compensation Scheme.
Stating that social security was key in poverty reduction and crime prevention, Dan Daura commended Allagoa for broadening the frontiers of the NSITF in few months in saddle as the chief executive of the Fund.
He said, “ we took time to check the records of the chief executive officers of many agencies in order to measure their achievements against set goals as well as their impacts on the Nigerian public. The NSITF under you came out the winner .
“We are encouraged by the number of persons who are currently under various social security benefits which the NSITF provides. We noted the increase in the number of persons in the period under review and the very active branches in all states taking social inclusion even to the informal sector, where over 80% of the Nigerian workers eke out their living. This is unlike most government agencies whose offices are dormant beyond Abuja and some state capitals.”
Allagoa dedicated the award to the “hardworking management and staff of the NSITF”, describing them as “winners.” She remarked how overly humbled, she was, receiving the honour, and added that the task ahead was enormous for any member of staff or management to rest on his or her oars.
News
Nigeria’s Pride Awards winner Abubakar Yakubu beats Regina Daniels’ mother to emerge AGN President
By Bonaventure Phillips Melah
Veteran actor and administrator, Alhaji Abubakar Sanusi Yakubu, has been elected as National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN. He defeated his rival, Rita Daniel to emerge as winner.
On September 30th 2025, Yakubu was honoured with Nigeria’s Pride Award for Examplery Leadership in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the growth of Nigeria”s entertainment sector and overall performance as a mentor to young people.
In the election that was held in Benin, Edo State, Yakubu, secured majority of the lawful votes cast, and was declared winner ahead of his major opponent, Mrs. Rita Daniels, who is the mother of Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels.
Results of the election were announced Saturday night.
With the victory, Yakubu, fondly called AbuKing, became the first actor from the northern past of country, to head the AGN since its inception.
He will be taking over from Mr. Emeka Ejezie (Emeka Rollas), MON, whose relection for a second term in 2022 meant he could no longer, in line with the AGN Constitution, vie for the position again.
AGN, which is the umbrella body for screen actors in the Nigerian film industry, popularly known as Nollywood, was initially called the Nigeria Actors Guild, NAG.
Though the industry started taking form prior to 1994, however, it was not until 1998 that it was officially registered.
Past Presidents of the Guild are: Larry Williams (1st National President), Emma Oguguah; Zack Orji; Ejike Asiegbu; Segun Arinze; Ibinabo Fiberesima (Only Female President); and Emeka Rollas- all of whom are from the Southern part of the country.
The Guild has over one million registered members that are spread across Nigeria’s 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Prior to his emergence as the first northerner to be elected for the Guild’s top job, Yakubu served as the National Vice President between 1994 and 1995, when the association was known as NAG.
He also served as National Treasurer of AGN (2000 – 2001), Public Relations Officer, AGN (2009-2011), and the National Secretary, a position he held from 2019 till date.
A graduate of Dramatic Arts from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, with about 25 years in film/television and stage acting, all eyes are now on AbuKing to see how he would navigate the wheel of leadership in the AGN for the next three year.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Saturday, charged the newly commissioned officers to place national interest above all else and uphold absolute loyalty to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria..
He gave the charge while presiding over the Passing Out Parade (POP) of Executive Commission Course 2/2025 at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry (NASI), Jaji,
General Shaibu said the commissioning of this new set of officers form a critical component of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed drive to reinforce Nigeria’s security architecture as contained in the declaration of a State of Emergency on Security.
He also said that the commissioning is part of the fulfilment of the President’s directive to expand manpower, strengthen frontline deployments and accelerate security stabilisation efforts nationwide.
The Army Chief expressed confidence in the quality of training received by the officers, noting that their exceptional display of parade and weapon handling reflects the Army’s rising standards at a time when the nation demands heightened operational vigilance.
He urged them to remain uncompromisingly apolitical, disciplined and subordinate to civil authority, stressing that professionalism and constitutional loyalty remain the bedrock of military service.
A Nigerian Air Force jet has ccrashed near Karabonde, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
This was disclosed by a Niger State-based online digital television network, Lapai TV, in a post on its official Facebook page on Saturday evening.
“Two Nigerian Air Force Pilots Reportedly Survive Alpha Jet Crash Close to Karabonde, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State,” the post stated
The incident was said to have occurred Saturday evening.
At the time of filing this report, the military has yet to make any official communication about the incident.
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