News

DSP Barau Opens New Year With 129 FG Appointments For His People

Published

3 weeks ago

January 2, 2026

By Abba Anwar

It is in rare cases that you spot individual politician like the Deputy Senate President and First Deputy Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Dr Barau I Jibrin, CFR, who enters the new year of 2026 with a profound human development engagement.

On Thursday, First January, 2026, he distributed 129 federal government employment offers for his people. An event that took place at Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, Kano.

Senator Barau was represented at the occasion by Honourable Minister of State, Housing, Yusuf Abdullahi Atah, who urged all the beneficiaries to remain committed and steadfast in the discharge of their responsibilities.

This at the very beginning of the new year, gives an insight into his relentless effort in developing his people with vigor and unwavering commitment. My readers could be witnesses in one way or another, of how difficult it is in today’s Nigeria to get access to federal government appointments.

This effort speaks volumes about how deeply rooted is the DSP in the welfare of his people. Being a highly responsive leader with special interest in building the capacity of his constituents, his love for skills development is concrete and unassuming.

What interests all about this New Year resolution process of the Deputy Senate President, is the selection process of the newly recruited beneficiaries. The procedure was characterized by due process as all applicants were given equal opportunities to compete.

Believe it or not, his unique interventions in the past instances, before now, helped in acknowledging him as one of the few identified productive politicians who always put the electorate first before any other consideration. Public interest first before personal identification.

The year 2026, could be a pregnant of many interpretations and divergent outcomes to many people. But from the look of things, as DSP opens the new year with the distribution of 129 federal government employment opportunities, his, will be a scenario of happy, happier and happiest. Making 129 families happy, the first day of a year, isn’t an easy task. He didn’t give these families fish, but he facilitated their knowledge and accessibility to learn how to catch a fish. A whole lot life saving engagement.

I read, listened and watched new year messages from individual politicians and non-politicians alike, not only across Kano state, or North West, but across the entire 19 Northern states, if not across Nigeria, as a whole, from yesterday to this morning, I couldn’t spot any, who opened a new chapter of 2026 with such style as DSP does.

I know if you can ask him one-on-one, he will tell you that, this is not his making but a Divine process and implementation. But I stand to be corrected. While individual preferences are always allowed in daily engagements, but the fate and outcomes are the fundamental power of The Creature. To the normal mind, DSP’s first public engagement in 2026, catalogues victory, safety and protection. That only discerning minds see the flipside.

During the event of the distribution of appointment letters, a great number of the beneficiaries attended the event with their families, friends and well wishers. All praying for happy and prosperous life for the DSP. For putting smile in their faces. Emphasizing that, this is what democracy and its dividends should be.

As one of the strongest pillars of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the country, Senator Barau, as reserve and calm, as he appears, maintains that, human development first before any other consideration. Hence his many years of meaningful interventions. While his approach strengthens his political base, his exposure places him above many of his contemporaries. Not to say a word on late comers.

Distinguished Senator’s name alone, is synonymous with hard work, selfless service, informed exposure, unwavering commitment, enduring political relationships, communal togetherness, focus, ingenuity, enhanced expertise in governance, collective responsibility and political independence.

Anwar writes from Kano
Friday, 2nd January, 2026

News

National Grid Collapses for First Time in 2026

Published

19 minutes ago

January 23, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Nigeria’s national power grid experienced a total collapse on Friday, January 23, 2026 the first such failure this year. Data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) confirmed that power generation plunged to zero megawatts (MW) by 1:00 PM.

As a result, load allocation to all 11 electricity distribution companies (DisCos) dropped to zero MW. Affected DisCos include: Abuja, Benin, Eko, Enugu, Ibadan, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Yola.

This incident follows a pattern of recurring grid instability throughout 2025, during which multiple system collapses were recorded—the last occurring on December 29. These repeated failures persist despite ongoing upgrades intended to enhance national grid capacity and reliability.

The collapse comes shortly after the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) announced the restoration of an additional 450 MW to the grid. This followed scheduled maintenance on the Geregu National Integration Power Project (NIPP) plant, which was expected to boost overall supply.

In related developments, NISO had partnered with the West African Power Pool Information and Coordination Centre (WAPP-ICC) in November 2025 to conduct synchronization tests between Nigeria’s grid and the wider West African power network a initiative aimed at improving regional energy security and resilience.

The latest collapse raises renewed concerns over the fragility of Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure and its impact on economic and daily activities.

News

APC Rolls Out E-Registration to Digitize Membership Nationwide

Published

5 hours ago

January 23, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The All Progressives Congress has invited all stakeholders, supporters, and members, both old and new, to participate in its ongoing Membership Electronic-Registration Exercise across the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, in a post obtained from APC’s X handle on Friday, said the exercise is being conducted in all wards nationwide.

“Existing members are expected to validate their membership, while new and intending members are encouraged to register and join the party.

“Participants must be 18 years or older and possess a valid National Identification Number (NIN) to complete the registration process,” he said.

According to Morka, the e-Registration exercise is designed to digitise the Party’s membership register, ensure the integrity of records, provide efficient access to membership data for planning and management decisions, promote internal democracy, and strengthen APC’s commitment to democratic innovation in Nigeria.

He urged all eligible Nigerians to take part in the exercise and join the progressive family of Nigeria’s ruling party.

The APC noted that the initiative is part of its ongoing effort to modernise party operations, increase transparency, and ensure that party membership is up-to-date and verifiable nationwide.

News

Tinubu Swears In New Federal Character Commission Chairman, 37 Commissioners

Published

7 hours ago

January 23, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday swore in the new Chairman and 37 National Commissioners of the Federal Character Commission, FCC, at the State House, Abuja.

The ceremony, which began at about 4:48 pm, saw Hulayat Ayo Omidiran take the oath of office as FCC Chairman alongside commissioners representing all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

Mrs Omidiran, 59, is a former two-term member of the House of Representatives who previously represented Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan Federal Constituency of Osun State. She succeeds Dr. Muheeba Dankaka, whose tenure was widely criticised.

Full List of Sworn-In Commissioners

Alongside Chairman Omidiran and FCC Secretary Mohammed Musa, the following were sworn in as National Commissioners:

1. Peter Ogbonna Eze – Enugu

2. AbdulWasiu Bawalla – Lagos

3. Obinna Oriaku – Abia

4. Lawal Ya’u Roni –
5. Abubakar Atiku Bunu – Kebbi

6. Eludayo Eluyemi – Osun

7. Bema Olvadi Madayi – Adamawa

8. Dora Ebong – Akwa Ibom

9. Nnoli Nkechi Gloria – Anambra

10. Babangida Adamu Gwana – Bauchi

11. Sir Tonye Okio – Bayelsa