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NIPSS suspends participant over articles backing Tinubu’s reforms

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10 months ago

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A Nigerian public relations professional, Yushau A. Shuaib, has petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over what he described as “unjust, humiliating, and deeply distressing” treatment at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, where he was suspended from the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 47 allegedly over harmless articles supporting the President’s Digital and Blue Economy agenda after paying a fee of N18 million.

The participant stated this in a detailed petition, titled: “Unjust Treatment at NIPSS Over Articles Supporting Digital and Blue Economy Reforms.”

In it Shuaib, founder of PRNigeria and a Golden World Award recipient of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), accused the institute of harassment, cyberbullying, and professional ostracisation despite his full compliance with institutional guidelines and ethical publishing practices.

He revealed that following his suspension on May 2, 2025, he was asked to vacate the NIPSS premises immediately.

The abrupt action shocked his family and colleagues, who were left to speculate on the rationale, especially since all other participants remained in the programme.

This petition sets the record straight and seeks to prevent false insinuations that could damage my reputation,” he stated.

Shuaib recounted that on October 28, 2024, shortly after receiving an international award in Belgrade, he was nominated by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) to participate in the prestigious SEC 47 course.

He disengaged from his company, Image Merchants Promotion Limited, and joined the course in good faith.

However, on March 21, 2025, PRNigeria published a story, titled: “NIPSS Goes Digital,” which Shuaib neither authored nor edited.

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The article commended the institute’s transition to a paperless system and highlighted its alignment with the Tinubu digital transformation agenda.

Despite this positive coverage, Shuaib was issued a query by Nima Salman Mann, the Acting Director of Studies, and was subsequently pressured by Rear Admiral A. A. Mustapha a Directing Staff, to discard his initial written defence and submit a revised version dictated by them.

On April 7, 2025, Shuaib was summoned before a disciplinary panel, but was denied the opportunity to speak or present his case.

The panel relied exclusively on the rewritten response imposed by Rear Admiral Mustapha, rather than the original defence he had prepared.

He was then issued a perplexing final warning letter, his first and only formal warning since the commencement of the programme.

Other participants also reportedly faced disproportionate sanctions.

One was queried for commending the initiatives of Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State during a vote of thanks at the Government House, Jos; another for arriving late after a family emergency; and a third for representing NIPSS positively in an external engagement.

On April 28, Shuaib received another query, less than two months after the first.

This time, the NIPSS cited a restricted internal PRNigeria editorial email dated April 25, 2025, titled: “Understanding the ‘Blue’ in the Blue Economy: A PR Perspective.”

The unauthorised interception of this internal correspondence constituted a serious breach of digital privacy and can rightly be described as cyberbullying and cybercrime.

Shuaib said: “The article, which I authored and later published in the media, provided insights into the government’s Marine and Blue Economy agenda from a Public Relations standpoint and did not refer to NIPSS whatsoever.

Shockingly, the institute had accessed the email before it reached its intended editorial recipient—a clear act of unwarranted surveillance and professional misconduct.

“This act was not just a violation of privacy—it amounted to cyberbullying and professional misconduct.”

The mental strain from the ordeal reportedly led to a hypertension diagnosis at the NIPSS clinic.

According to Shuaib, an official directive later barred other participants from interacting with him, leaving him completely isolated.

In addition to his suspension and exclusion from all official communication platforms, Shuaib was denied participation in the SEC 47 international study tours, despite having paid the full N18.2 million fee.

All other participants were granted travel privileges and Estacodes for official tours across Africa and other continents.

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Kano Ex-Deputy Governor Gawuna Joins ADC After Resignation from APC

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14 minutes ago

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March 31, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Nasiru Gawuna, the 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, has formally joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Gawuna, a former deputy governor of the state, received his membership card on Tuesday at his ward in Gawuna, Nasarawa Local Government Area. The event drew a large gathering of supporters and notable political figures, including former Governor Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, immediate-past Deputy Governor Aminu Gwarzo, and the state ADC chairman, Musa Ungogo.

Speaking after the registration, Gawuna thanked his supporters and party leaders, pledging his commitment to strengthening the ADC in Kano State.

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His defection follows a formal resignation from the APC, which he described as a personal and voluntary decision. In a letter dated March 29, 2026, addressed to his ward chairman, Gawuna expressed appreciation to the APC for the opportunity to serve.

The move also comes after his resignation as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, effective March 31, 2026. His departure from the role complied with a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu requiring political appointees to resign in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

Gawuna thanked the president for the trust reposed in him, noting it was an honor to serve in various capacities, including as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Bayero University, Kano.

Political observers view Gawuna’s entry into the ADC as a significant boost for the party, given his political influence and strong showing in the 2023 governorship election, where he secured 890,705 votes.

The development is the latest in a series of political realignments in Kano State ahead of the 2027 general elections, signaling continued shifts in the state’s political landscape.

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JUST IN: Senate Approves Tinubu’s $6 Billion Loan Request

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23 minutes ago

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March 31, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Senate on Tuesday approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to secure $6 billion in external loans, granting legislative backing for the facilities hours after the Executive formally sought approval to finance critical infrastructure and address fiscal gaps.

The approval followed the consideration of a report submitted by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Senator Aliyu Wamakko (APC, Sokoto North).

In a letter read during plenary, President Tinubu sought approval for two separate facilities: a $5 billion loan from Abu Dhabi Bank to support budget deficit financing and meet existing debt obligations, and a $1 billion loan from UK Export Finance through Citibank London to fund the rehabilitation of the Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port.

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According to the President, the port rehabilitation projects aim to address longstanding operational challenges, improve efficiency, enhance safety standards, support non-oil trade diversification, and position Nigeria as a regional trade hub.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the requests to the committee for expedited consideration, a directive that culminated in Tuesday’s approval.

The latest borrowing comes amid the Federal Government’s sustained reliance on domestic and external loans to finance budget deficits. Four months ago, the National Assembly approved a separate request to raise N1.15 trillion from the domestic debt market to fund the 2025 budget deficit.

In its report, the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts noted that the 2025 Appropriation Act provides for total expenditure of N59.99 trillion—an increase of N5.25 trillion from the Executive’s initial proposal—highlighting the widening fiscal gap driving the government’s borrowing strategy.

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El-Rufai’s Bail Hearing Adjourned to Wednesday as Security Tightens Around Kaduna Court

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43 minutes ago

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March 31, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Federal High Court in Kaduna has adjourned the bail hearing for former Governor Nasir El-Rufai until Wednesday, March 31. Justice Rilwanu scheduled the new date after hearing arguments from both the defense and prosecution.

El-Rufai was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a 10-count charge involving the alleged conversion of public property and money laundering. The former governor pleaded not guilty to all charges.

In a separate case, El-Rufai also appeared before a Kaduna State High Court on charges of abuse of office, fraud, and intent to commit fraud. The ICPC filed charge number KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26 against him and one other defendant, Amadu Sule, from the Kaduna State Development Agency (LEDA).

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According to the News Agency of Nigeria, El-Rufai arrived at the Federal High Court premises at approximately 9:40 a.m. in the company of ICPC officers.

Security was heightened across the Kaduna metropolis ahead of the proceedings. Armed personnel from the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Kaduna State Vigilance Service were deployed to strategic locations. Access to the court was restricted to accredited journalists and court officials, though media representatives were barred from entering the courtroom to cover the proceedings.

Counsel for El-Rufai, Abdul Adamu, declined to comment after the session, stating only that the case “has been adjourned till tomorrow.”

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