By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The National Pension Commission has said that only seven states and the Federal Capital Territory are fully implementing pension reform laws despite widespread adoption of contributory pension frameworks across the country.

The Director-General of the National Pension Commission, Mrs Omolola Oloworaran, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during the maiden edition of the bi-annual consultative session for heads of service of states yet to adopt or fully implement the Contributory Pension Scheme or the Contributory Defined Benefits Scheme.

She said, “Out of the 36 states with pension reform laws on their books, only seven states, together with the Federal Capital Territory, are fully implementing these laws.”

The session was organised to encourage dialogue with affected state heads of service and to explore practical ways in which PenCom could provide technical support for the successful adoption and implementation of pension reforms at the sub-national level.

According to Oloworaran, 30 states and the FCT had enacted laws on the contributory pension scheme or the contributory defined benefits scheme, while six states still had pension reform bills awaiting passage in their state assemblies.

She noted that 23 states had pension laws that were either inactive or only partially implemented, leaving many civil servants uncertain about their retirement future.

“That leaves 23 states whose laws are written, inactive, or only partially being implemented. Twenty-three sets of public servants or civil servants whose retirement future hangs in the balance, not because there is no law, but because the law has not been activated,” she said.

The PenCom boss described pension reform as a constitutional and fiscal obligation rather than a policy option, citing Section 210 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees pension rights for civil servants.

She said the old pension structure had failed because it created uncertainty and unsustainable liabilities, adding that the contributory pension scheme was introduced to promote accountability, sustainability, and transparency in pension administration.

Oloworaran stressed that the main challenge facing many states was no longer the passage of pension laws but the discipline required for implementation, including regular remittance of pension contributions and adequate funding of accrued pension rights.

“Across our states, the challenge is no longer the enactment of laws. The challenge is the discipline of execution. It is the regular and timely remittance of contributions. It is the adequate and consistent funding of accrued pension rights,” she stated.

She urged heads of service to see pension reform as part of their governance legacy, noting that the success or failure of implementation in states would largely depend on their commitment.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Federal Government on Thursday unveiled a major reform in Nigeria’s examination system with the introduction of computer-based examinations, CBE, by the National Examinations Council, NECO, as the nation celebrated the examination body’s 25 years of existence amid glowing tributes to its rise from a troubled national initiative to an internationally recognised.

The minister of education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who announced the reform at NECO’s Silver Jubilee celebration in Abuja, declared that the transition to technology-driven examinations would significantly curb examination malpractice and reposition Nigeria’s assessment system for global competitiveness.

Speaking at the event held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Conference Centre, Garki, Abuja, Alausa described NECO as a “standard-bearer for credible external examinations”, saying the council had become a critical pillar in safeguarding integrity, fairness and accountability in Nigeria’s education sector.

“We are at the threshold of a very important reform, which NECO is spearheading, and that is the Computer-Based Examination, which is to commence this year,” the minister said.

According to him, the new system would provide real-time monitoring of candidates, track suspicious activities and drastically reduce examination fraud that has continued to undermine confidence in public examinations.

The minister said NECO’s 25-year journey reflected Nigeria’s determination to build a credible national examination system capable of guaranteeing equal opportunities for learners across the country.

He noted that the council had over the years strengthened examination security, improved reliability in scoring, widened access to examinations in underserved areas and embraced technological innovations that restored public confidence in national certification.

Alausa said the Ministry of Education would continue to provide policy direction and oversight to ensure NECO examinations aligned with national curricula, learning outcomes and broader development goals.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced that Nigerian pilgrims in Madinah have begun their movement to Makkah as of Thursday.

According to an update from the commission, the transfer commenced after the pilgrims had completed a four-day stay in Madinah.

NAHCON further disclosed that the four official airlines handling this year’s Hajj operations—Max Air, Umza Airline, Air Peace, and Flynas—have so far transported 9,756 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

The commission also advised pilgrims intending to visit the Rawdah (the sacred area containing the Prophet Muhammad’s burial chamber in Madinah) before departing for Makkah to coordinate with their respective State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards for proper guidance and scheduling.

“NAHCON wishes to assure the Nigerian contingent that officials of state pilgrims’ welfare boards have already been trained and adequately guided on the procedures for booking Rawdah visits,” the statement read.

“However, pilgrims are kindly reminded that due to congestion and crowd management measures, access to the Rawdah is strictly subject to space availability and approved bookings. Pilgrims are therefore advised to remain patient, orderly, and to heed the guidance of their Ulama regarding the validity and acceptance of their Hajj rites.”

The commission emphasized that while visiting the Rawdah is a blessed opportunity, it is not a condition for the validity of Hajj.

“Allah grants such opportunities according to His will,” NAHCON added.