By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC-Edo), representing Edo North Senatorial District, has called for the review of the name of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Mr Oshiomhole made the call on Friday in Abuja, at the unveiling of the NSCDC FCT Commandant Olusola Odumosu’s book, titled “Nigeria’s Security Dilemma: Rivalries and Implications”.

He said that the call for the change of name of the paramilitary agency was imperative in view of the word “Civil” in it, adding that it implied that personnel of the corps were not meant to bear arms.

He said that the NSCDC, saddled with the responsibility to be civil while protecting the nation’s critical national assets and infrastructure, interfaced with hardened criminals in line of duty.

The lawmaker, therefore, questioned how the operatives were expected to be civil when combating vandals, illegal miners and criminals who bear weapons.

“To be civil means you should not bear firearms, so if you do not bear arms to deal with people involved in illegal oil bunkering or destruction of public properties which you have been asked to protect, will you then preach while they carry guns?

“If you want to be civil, how do you deal with hardened criminals? If these criminals carry sophisticated weapons, you fighting them should not carry a less sophisticated weapon.

“When I see service chiefs holding meetings and I don’t see the commandant general (CG) of civil defence, I am like, There is something missing,” he said.

He noted that no single security agency could deal with insecurity both at the sub-national and national levels alone.

Mr Oshiomhole said that in tackling insecurity, it was imperative for Nigerians, including politicians and security agencies, to put aside their differences and understand Nigeria is only one.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu will continue to apply all measures necessary to ensure Nigeria is safe and insecurity reduced to the barest minimum.

The senator commended the author for speaking out through his book on how to tackle insecurity through effective synergy and communication sharing among security agencies.

“It is commendable that you put out your thoughts while in the system and not outside the system, as it is much more dangerous to speak truth to power,” he said.

Also speaking was a security expert, Tyor Terhemba, the reviewer of the book, who said that Nigeria’s security challenges called for collective efforts towards combating banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping, among other criminalities.

“This is a time to have all hands on deck to collectively fight the enemies of the state; hence, it is not a time of rivalry but to be united,” he said.

Mr Terhemba said that the book re-echoed the need for unity, synergy between security agencies, regional and international partnerships, areas of potential conflict, and the role of intelligence sharing.

According to him, it also talks about political interference, ambiguous laws, accountability, security sector reforms, communication systems, and other topics.

Meanwhile, the author, Mr Odumosu, said that the book looked at security from a holistic perspective, as there was a need for a united front.

“No one has a monopoly of wisdom or strategy, so there is a need to tackle insecurity from a common front.

“Obviously there have been issues of unhealthy inter-security agency rivalries, which have been a pain to coordinate national responses to our security challenges.

“I looked at it from the perspective where all security agencies can understand that we must have the same goal whether our mandates are interwoven or not.

“We have a collective responsibility to ensure peace and order in Nigeria,” Mr Odumosu said.

The commandant reiterated that when security agencies continue to fight each other or see one another as competitors rather than a united front, a lot of work will still need to be done.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The federal government has disbursed about N13 billion worth of interest-free loans to 7,450 academic and non-academic workers across 153 public tertiary institutions nationwide.

In a statement issued on Friday, Boriowo Folashade, director of press and publications at the federal ministry of education, said the disbursement forms part of the 2025/2026 cycle of the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF).

According to the ministry, the intervention reflects President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving the welfare, financial wellbeing and productivity of education workers under the renewed hope agenda.

Established by the ministry of education and administered by the Bank of Industry (BOI), the TISSF provides interest-free loans of up to N10 million to eligible staff of public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

The loan is designed to help beneficiaries address personal and professional needs while enhancing their overall wellbeing.

The statement said Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to investing in personnel driving teaching, learning, research and innovation across tertiary institutions.

The ministry added that the programme is helping to ease financial pressures on education workers, improve livelihoods and strengthen the workforce responsible for shaping Nigeria’s future.

Tunji Alausa, minister of education, described the scheme as a critical component of the ministry’s broader education reform agenda and urged eligible staff to take advantage of the next application window.

According to the minister, “no education system can outperform the people who sustain it”.

He said investments in infrastructure, technology, skills development, research and institutional reforms must be complemented by practical measures that improve staff welfare and quality of life.

Alausa added that the successful completion of the 2025/2026 phase demonstrates both the strong demand for and positive impact of the intervention.

He said the programme complements ongoing efforts to strengthen teaching and learning, support research and innovation, improve institutional governance, and build a more resilient and globally competitive education system.

“Since disbursements commenced on 28 October 2025, the programme has processed over 42,000 applications through its digital platform, providing support to beneficiaries across all six geopolitical zones of the country,” the statement reads.

“Universities accounted for 52 per cent of disbursements, while colleges of education and polytechnics represented 25 per cent and 23 per cent, respectively.”

The ministry said the programme has promoted equitable access nationwide while identifying opportunities to increase participation among female staff and improve uptake in some regions.

Female beneficiaries accounted for 19 percent of recipients during the 2025/2026 cycle, according to the statement.

The statement added that targeted sensitisation and outreach efforts would form a key component of the next phase of implementation.

The ministry said it is enhancing the application process and deepening engagement with participating institutions to ensure a faster, more efficient and user-friendly experience for applicants.

The statement said applications for the 2026/2027 phase of the TISSF will officially open at the end of June 2026, with eligible staff advised to engage their institutions’ bursary departments and monitor official ministry communication channels for further details.

The governorship candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kano State and former Deputy Governor of the state, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has challenged the Kano State Government to present concrete evidence supporting allegations that he received funds from local government councils through his son, Mujahid Aminu Abdussalam.

Gwarzo made the demand in a statement issued on Thursday by his spokesperson, Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu, following claims reportedly made by the spokesperson to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, who alleged that local government funds were channelled to the former deputy governor through his son.

According to Shuaibu, the allegations were “baseless, outrageous and totally ridiculous,” describing them as an attempt to damage Gwarzo’s reputation and undermine the integrity he has built throughout his years in public service.

“The allegations are mere figments of the Governor’s imagination lacking any basis,” Gwarzo said through his spokesperson. “We therefore categorically challenge the accuser to provide credible and verifiable evidence to substantiate these callous claims. Mere accusations, no matter how often repeated in the media, do not amount to proof.”

Shuaibu stated that Gwarzo rejected the allegations in their entirety and insisted that no evidence had been presented to support the claims being circulated against him and his family.

According to the statement, the former deputy governor maintained that his record in public office had always been guided by the principles of transparency, accountability and adherence to the rule of law.

Gwarzo further expressed confidence that the truth would eventually prevail, urging members of the public not to be swayed by what he described as unsubstantiated allegations.

The NDC governorship candidate also called on those making the allegations to pursue lawful and transparent channels if they possess any evidence, rather than relying on public accusations and media statements, according to Shuaibu.

The controversy stems from recent remarks allegedly made by Dawakin Tofa, spokesperson to Governor Yusuf, who reportedly claimed that funds belonging to local government councils in Kano State were diverted to Gwarzo through his son. However, no documentary evidence was cited in the statement issued by Gwarzo’s camp.

As of the time of filing this report, the Kano State Government had not issued any additional response to Gwarzo’s challenge demanding proof of the allegations.

The statement was signed by Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu, spokesperson to Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo and the NDC governorship candidate in Kano State, and was dated June 18, 2026.