By Ejike Abana, ABS Government House Correspondent

Governor Chukwuma Soludo has initiated moves toward a far-reaching reform of the Anambra State civil service following an unannounced inspection of the State Secretariat, aimed at assessing workers’ punctuality, discipline, and commitment to duty.

The early visit, which took place across several ministries, departments, and agencies, formed part of the administration’s broader effort to reposition the public service for greater efficiency and service delivery. During the exercise, the Governor interacted with staff and conducted on-the-spot evaluations of attendance levels and workflow processes.

Addressing journalists shortly after the inspection, Governor Soludo described his observations as “a mix of the good, the bad, and the ugly,” commending diligent civil servants who have continued to uphold professionalism and integrity in the discharge of their responsibilities.

He, however, expressed dissatisfaction with what he identified as lapses in punctuality, commitment, and overall productivity among some workers, warning that such attitudes would no longer be tolerated under his administration.

The Governor stated that the ongoing transformation agenda of the state requires a disciplined, responsive, and performance-driven workforce, stressing that employees who fail to align with this vision risk facing sanctions, including possible disengagement from service.

Governor Soludo further noted that his government has made significant investments in upgrading the State Secretariat, including improvements in infrastructure, digitisation of processes, and the strengthening of monitoring and evaluation frameworks to enhance accountability.

He reiterated that the ultimate goal of the reforms is to build an agile and efficient civil service capable of delivering quality and timely services to the people of Anambra State, in line with global best practices.

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has approved an increase in the admission quota for medicine and dentistry at the College of Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) to 350, the highest allocation granted to any medical school in the country.

The approval followed a rigorous accreditation exercise conducted by a high-powered MDCN team, which assessed facilities, manpower, and training standards at the ESUT College of Medicine and its affiliated teaching hospitals.

Announcing the development in Enugu on Wednesday, the Deputy Registrar of the Council, Dr. Nnaemeka Nwakanma, said the decision was based strictly on verifiable improvements in infrastructure, personnel, and clinical training capacity, stressing that the Council does not accredit projections but tangible performance.

“We do not accredit intentions or dreams. We accredit what we see on ground as at the time of assessment,” he said, underscoring the Council’s zero tolerance for breaches of approved quotas.

Dr. Nwakanma, who led the inspection team, expressed satisfaction with the scale of ongoing transformation at the university’s teaching hospital, describing it as a massive construction hub driven by purposeful leadership.

“What may appear chaotic to the uninitiated is in fact a coordinated project site, with multiple developments progressing simultaneously across different sections of the hospital. It speaks volumes about leadership that prioritises results over rhetoric,” he said.

He particularly commended the construction of a new Accident and Emergency Unit, noting that the Council had only recommended an expansion during its previous visit.

“The last time we came here, we complained about the Accident and Emergency Unit. All we said was for you to expand. We didn’t know that you were going to build a brand new Accident and Emergency Unit,” he added.

The MDCN team also inspected the upgraded Colliery Hospital and the 300-bed International Hospital, a major new medical facility in Enugu, which Nwakanma said could significantly contribute to reversing outbound medical tourism.

“We were not only stunned but we were in awe of the magnificence of the structure you are putting up here in the city of Enugu. Nigeria needs to know. Apart from the African Centre of Medical Excellence in Abuja, this hospital gives us hope for the possibility of actually reversing medical tourism in Nigeria,” he stated.

Dr Nwakanma reiterated that the quota system reflects the capacity of each institution’s facilities and teaching staff, warning that any attempt to exceed approved limits would attract sanctions.

“The number we approve is what your facilities and manpower can sustain. You can admit fewer, but never exceed it. The integrity of Nigeria’s medical training depends on strict adherence to these standards,” he stressed.

Reacting, the Vice Chancellor of ESUT, Prof Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, welcomed the approval and assured the Council that the university would address identified gaps without delay.

“We will not produce half-baked medical personnel. The issues you raised will be addressed urgently. These are things that can be fixed within months,” he said, adding that the institution remained committed to upholding global best practices in medical education.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Yomi Jaye, reaffirmed the state government’s readiness to sustain investments in the sector.

“Point out any deficiencies, and we will fix them in no distant time. The commitment of Governor Peter Mbah is total, and the team on ground is equally determined to deliver,” he said.

Dr Jaye also acknowledged the collaboration between the College leadership, including the Provost, Prof. Uchenna Ekwochi, the Chief Medical Director of the ESUT Teaching Hospital, Prof. Bethrand Ugwu, and other key officials, noting that the conducive working environment contributed significantly to the successful outcome.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Enugu State chapter, Comrade Fabian Nwigbo, has been honoured with the 2025/2026 Distinguished Leadership Merit Award by the South East Media Forum, in recognition of his proactive stance on workers’ welfare and strategic engagement with labour issues.

The award was presented on 26 March in Enugu by the Forum’s Chairman, Okolo Norbert, who said the honour followed a rigorous assessment by a selection committee of senior editors across the South-east.

Norbert described the South East Media Forum as a regional media network with a presence in Abakaliki, Awka, Enugu, Owerri, and Umuahia.

He noted that the award is reserved for leaders whose contributions demonstrate measurable impact and accountability.

According to the citation, Comrade Nwigbo emerged as the South-east winner due to his “verifiable leadership impact,” particularly in advancing workers’ rights, improving welfare conditions, and sustaining constructive engagement with government authorities.

The Forum further acknowledged his leadership during periods of heightened insecurity, highlighting his efforts to mobilise workers and draw attention to workforce risks. His approach, the citation noted, combined principled activism with institutional engagement, resulting in notable progress in welfare negotiations and labour relations.

The committee also praised his collaboration with other labour bodies, including the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and his inclusive leadership style, which emphasises delegation, teamwork, and internal cohesion within the union.

Responding to the award, Comrade Nwigbo described the recognition as a significant honour from a credible regional media body.

He dedicated the award to God, the Enugu State Government for providing an enabling platform for labour operations, and to workers in the state for their resilience amid economic challenges.

“I will continue to speak and fight for the welfare and uplift of every worker in Enugu State,” he said, adding that the recognition would motivate him and his team to achieve even more.

Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro will appear Thursday in a New York court for the second time since his capture by US forces in an extraordinary nighttime raid.

Maduro, 63, and wife Cilia Flores have been held in a Brooklyn jail for almost three months after American commandos snatched the pair from their compound in Caracas in early January.

The stunning operation deposed the strongman who had led Venezuela since 2013 and has since forced the oil-rich country to largely bend to the will of US President Donald Trump.

Maduro has declared himself a “prisoner of war” and pleaded not guilty to the four counts of “narco-terrorism” conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.

Thursday’s hearing at 11:00 am (1500 GMT) will likely see Maduro push for the dismissal of his case as lawyers tussle over who will pay the former leader’s legal fees.

Venezuela’s government is seeking to cover the costs, but because of Washington’s sanctions, his lawyer Barry Pollack must obtain a US license that has not been issued.

Pollack argued in a court submission that the license requirement violated Maduro’s constitutional right to legal representation and demanded the case be thrown out on procedural grounds.

– Deadly raid –

Detained in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal prison known for unsanitary conditions, Maduro is reportedly alone in a cell with no access to the internet or newspapers.

A source close to the Venezuelan government said the incarcerated Maduro reads the Bible and is referred to as “president” by some of his fellow detainees.

He is only allowed to communicate by phone with his family and lawyers for a maximum of 15 minutes per call, the source added.

“The lawyers told us he is strong. He said we must not be sad,” said his son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, adding his father told him: “We are fine, we are fighters.”

Maduro and his wife were forcibly taken by US commandos in the early hours of January 3 in airstrikes on the Venezuelan capital backed by warplanes and a heavy naval deployment.

At least 83 people died and more than 112 people were injured in the assault, according to Venezuelan officials. No US service members were killed.

– US pressure –

At his first US court appearance in January, Maduro struck a defiant tone as he identified himself the president of Venezuela despite being captured.

The South American country is now led by Delcy Rodriguez, who had been Maduro’s vice president since 2018.

Under US pressure, she is grappling with leading a country saddled with the world’s largest proven oil reserves but an economy in shambles.

Rodriguez has since enacted a historic amnesty law to free political prisoners jailed under Maduro and reformed oil and mining regulations in line with US demands for access to her country’s vast natural wealth.

This month, the State Department said it was restoring diplomatic ties with Venezuela in a sign of thawing relations.

Security is expected to be heightened around the New York courthouse for Thursday’s hearing.

Presiding over the case is Alvin Hellerstein, a 92-year-old judge credited with overseeing several high-profile trials during his decades on the bench.

AFP

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says it has scrapped the
cash pooling requirement for international oil companies (IOCs), granting them
full access to their export proceeds.

Cash pooling is a financial arrangement where a company (or
regulator) centralises cash from multiple accounts into one place to manage it
more efficiently.

In a circular issued on Wednesday, the financial regulator
said the new policy supersedes earlier guidelines introduced in 2024, which
required banks to pool 50 percent of repatriated export proceeds on behalf of
IOCs, while the balance was retained for 90 days before repatriation.

However, under the revised framework, oil firms are now
permitted to access and repatriate 100 percent of their export proceeds.

The directive, signed by Musa Nakorji, director of the trade
and exchange department, takes immediate effect.

“IOCs are hereby granted unfettered access to their
repatriated export proceeds. The IOCs may repatriate 100 percent of their
export proceeds through the ADBs,” the circular reads.

The apex bank said the decision is aimed at further
liberalising the foreign exchange (FX) market in line with current realities.

The CBN asked authorised dealer banks (ADBs) to ensure
proper documentation of such transactions and submit monthly reports to its
trade and exchange department.

The bank said the directive overrides all previous circulars
relating to cash pooling.

The policy is part of broader efforts by the CBN to deepen
the Nigerian FX market and enhance efficiency in FX transactions.

On February 14, 2024, CBN placed limits on the transfer of
proceeds from crude exports by IOCs to offshore parent company accounts.

The apex bank said the transfer of export proceeds by the
IOCs has an impact on liquidity in the domestic FX market.

Two months later, the regulator said IOCs can sell their 50
percent balance of repatriated export proceeds in the Nigeria Foreign Exchange
Market.

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The Nigeria Army has described as an abuse of court process, a suit filed by a professor, John Ntui Ntuiabane, over a disputed property in the Apo District of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

In a suit marked FHC/ABJ/C’S/2635/2025, the professor is seeking an interpretation of the right of citizens to own properties in Nigeria, among other prayers.

The suit also seeks to preserve the right of a retired deceased Major who was originally allocated the disputed property in Apo, which is now occupied by a retired Naval chief.

The disputed property is where Lt. Ahmed Yerima, a young Naval officer guarding the plot, had an altercation with the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nysesom Wike. The minister had led a team of Federal Capital Territory Administration officials to storm the disputed plot when the highly publicised altercation occurred.

In its preliminary objection, dated March 24, 2026, filed by human rights lawyer, Victor Giwa, the Army prayed the court to dismiss the suit on the ground that the suit is incompetent.

The Army also challenged the jurisdiction if the court to hear the suit.

“The suit is grossly incompetent, having been filed via Originating Process, highly speculative and hypothetical and academic in nature,” Giwa stated in the preliminary objection.

Giwa also argued that the claimant is struggling to seek a judicial decision on an academic question, and urged the Federal High Court to strike out the suit and assign it as a classroom handbook.

Listed as defendants in the suit by the plaintiff are Minister of Defence, Minister of State for for Defence, Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff.

Others are Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo, Lt Ahmed Yerima and the Attoney-General of the Federation.

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An Executive Assistant to Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, Olorogun Samson, has resigned his appointment ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a resignation letter dated March 2, 2026 and uploaded on his handle on Wednesday, the aide said his decision followed consultations and the need to fully pursue his ambition to represent Ughelli South Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly.

“With utmost respect and a heavy but hopeful heart, I write to formally tender my resignation as Executive Assistant to the Governor of Delta State.

“This decision comes after deep reflection, prayers, and consultation with my family and political leaders.

“Following the revised timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, the political process has accelerated, and the demands of my aspiration to represent the good people of Ughelli South Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly now require my full presence and dedication,” he stated.

Samson described his time in the administration as a privilege, appreciating the governor for the opportunity to serve and for the leadership lessons gained.

“Serving in your administration has been one of the greatest honours of my public life. The trust you reposed in me, the access, guidance, and leadership lessons I have received under you are privileges I will forever cherish. I do not take them lightly,” he added.

He noted that stepping aside was necessary to avoid any conflict between his official duties and political ambition, while pledging continued loyalty to the governor.

“It is in the spirit of loyalty, transparency, and respect for your office that I choose to step aside at this time, so that my political pursuit will in no way conflict with my duties or bring any discomfort to your administration.

“I remain your son and loyal supporter, deeply grateful for your confidence and kindness. I humbly seek your understanding and fatherly blessings as I take this next step in service to our people,” the letter read.

The development comes days after Oborevwori directed all political appointees intending to contest elective positions in the 2027 general elections to resign on or before March 31, 2026.

The directive, disclosed in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Kingsley Eze Emu, said the move was in line with Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, and the timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission for party primaries.

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Supporters of Peter Mbah, governor of Enugu, on Wednesday
blocked a parallel All Progressives Congress (APC) south-east zonal congress
holding in the state, allegedly backed by Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo.

The supporters, majorly youths, stormed the venue of the
congress and declared support for Mbah while calling for the halt of any
parallel gathering of the party in the south-east.

A video circulating on social media showed the youths
singing the popular “On your mandate” song associated with President Bola
Tinubu while expressing support for Mbah.

They also cordoned off the venue after forcing their way
into the premises by destroying a sliding door.

Uzodimma had earlier pulled out of the main congress
arrangement and reportedly organised a separate gathering elsewhere in Enugu
while other south-east governors held their own congress at a different
location.

A source told TheCable that Uzodimma had previously
controlled the APC structure in the zone when Enugu did not have a governor
from the party.

“Uzodimma brought the APC deputy national chairman, south,
and zonal woman leader because at the time, Enugu didn’t have an APC governor,”
the source said.

“Anything zoned to Enugu then, he controls from Imo. Now
Enugu has an APC governor, but he still wants to control everything.”

Another source said Uzodimma should focus on his own state
rather than attempting to influence party positions across the south-east.

“I support Peter Mbah. Hope should concentrate on Imo state.
We now have an APC governor in Enugu,” the source said.

“There is an NWC position zoned to Imo; nobody is dragging
that with him. But he wants to dictate who gets the positions in Abia, Enugu,
and Anambra.

“I know he is preparing for his future aspirations to have
his loyalists in place, but things don’t work like that.”

Later, another video circulated on social media showing the
governors, including Uzodimma, entering the congress venue after what appeared
to be a resolution of the dispute.

The zonal congress is being held simultaneously across the
geopolitical zones ahead of the APC national convention scheduled for March 27
and March 28.

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The National Executive Committee, NEC, of the African
Democratic Congress, ADC, has approved a comprehensive timetable for the
party’s congresses nationwide, beginning with polling unit and ward congresses
scheduled for April 7.

ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi,
disclosed this while briefing journalists after the party’s NEC meeting held on
Wednesday in Abuja.

Abdullahi described the meeting as successful, noting that
it was short, simple, and productive, with full attendance by all required NEC
members.

According to him, the NEC also endorsed key reports
presented to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), including those of
the Policy and Manifesto Committee and the Constitutional Review Committee.

He explained that the reports would be presented at the
party’s National Convention slated for April 14 in Abuja.

Abdullahi said the documents would define the party’s policy
direction and constitutional framework for its future political and governance
agenda.

He further announced that local government congresses would
take place on April 9, followed by state congresses on April 11, ahead of the
National Convention.

The party spokesman noted that guidelines for the congresses
had already been released, while nomination forms had been distributed across
the country to ensure inclusiveness and wider participation.

He assured members seeking various party positions that the
process would be open, transparent, and accessible to all qualified members.

“The NEC meeting was attended by representatives of the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which provided oversight and
credibility to the proceedings,” Abdullahi said.

Clarifying the nature of the upcoming convention, Abdullahi
stressed that it would not be an elective convention.

According to him, the gathering is primarily aimed at
ratifying decisions earlier taken by the NEC and the NWC since the last
convention cycle.

He added that elections of party officers would instead take
place during the congresses at the polling unit, ward, local government, and
state levels.

Abdullahi also confirmed that a convention committee had
been constituted, adding that details would be provided later by the party’s
National Organising Secretary.

Earlier in his opening remarks, ADC National Chairman, Sen.
David Mark, welcomed members to the party’s second NEC meeting and emphasised
the importance of unity and collective leadership.

Mark described the meeting as a moment of honour and
responsibility, commending party members for their loyalty and sacrifices
toward strengthening the ADC.

He urged members to rise above personal interests, stressing
discipline, internal cohesion, and adherence to democratic principles as key
pillars for the party’s progress.

The former Senate President also called for deeper
grassroots engagement, saying the party must connect with Nigerians across
regions, religions, and generations to broaden its national appeal.

“Our task is clear: to reposition the ADC as a formidable
platform for national renewal and inclusive governance,” he said.

Mark further commended state chairmen for choosing dialogue
despite challenges, noting that collective effort remained essential to
addressing Nigeria’s current difficulties.

NAN

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