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Oronsaye Report Outdated, Won’t Reduce Governance Cost — Falana

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Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has described as outdated, the 12-year old Steve Oronsaye Report recommending the merger of government agencies and commissions.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said contrary to the belief in official circles, the report won’t “substantially reduce the enormous costs of governance in the country as it does not reflect the current situation in the public service”.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) chaired by President Bola Tinubu had on Monday approved the full implementation of the Oronsaye report.

According to the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, the move was in line with the need to reduce cost of governance and streamline efficiency across the governance value chain.

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However, Falana said, “No doubt, the implementation of some of the recommendations of the Panel will take appreciable time as the merger of certain bodies require constitutional amendments or repeal of a number of statutes.

“The 800-page report of the Steve Oronsaye Panel recommended the reduction of statutory agencies from 263 to 161, scrapping 38 agencies, merging 52, and reverting 14 to departments in different ministries,

“Since the Goodluck Jonathan administration produced a White Paper on the Steve Oronsaye Report in 2014, the Federal Government has created more ministries, departments and agencies.

“Whereas the Report recommended the reduction of 263 agencies to 151, the number of ministries, departments and agencies has increased to 1316. Even the current administration has increased the number of ministries and created new agencies. To that extent, the Steve Oronsaye Report is completely outdated.

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“However, in implementing the Oronsaye Report the Federal Government should ensure that the crisis of insecurity is not compounded through the retrenchment of hundreds of thousands of workers.

“Instead of downsizing the public service the Federal Government should ensure that the two houses of the National Assembly are merged while the number of Ministers, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants is significantly reduced.”

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FG jerks WAEC exam fees by 82%, parents to pay N50k

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The Federal Government has endorsed a new examination fee of N50,000 for candidates sitting the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE), effective from 2027.

The approval was conveyed in a statement dated June 18 and signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Adeniji Ibrahim. According to the statement, the decision followed a request by WAEC for an upward review of the SSCE registration fee for candidates from 2027.

The new fee represents an 82 per cent increase from the current registration fee of N27,500. Ibrahim explained that the decision stemmed from a meeting held on March 31, 2026, between the Minister of Education and examination bodies, where the need to review examination fees was discussed.
He stated that the Minister directed both WAEC and NECO to adopt a uniform examination fee for the conduct of their SSCE examinations.

You may recall that at a meeting of examination bodies held with the Honourable Minister of Education on March 31, 2026, where the need for an upward review of examination fees was discussed, the Honourable Minister directed that WAEC and NECO should adopt a uniform fee for the conduct of WAEC and NECO SSCE,” the statement read.

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“Consequently, I am directed to convey the Honourable Minister of Education’s approval of the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000) only as the new examination fee per candidate, with effect from NECO SSCE (Internal), 2027.”

The ministry also directed that the approval be communicated to all relevant stakeholders.

Confirming the development, the Ministry of Education’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, told TheCable that the Federal Government had approved the upward review of the examination fees.
“I can confirm the approval of an upward review of the examination fees. I spoke with the director in charge a few minutes ago and he said the approval was done,” she said.

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Iranian Newspaper lists Trump, European leaders as alleged revenge targets

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An Iranian newspaper has published a controversial list naming former U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and several European leaders as alleged targets for revenge following the killing of Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

The publication is linked to hardline elements in Iran but it is not clear whether the list reflects official Iranian government policy.

The report comes amid heightened tensions after Khamenei’s death and follows renewed vows of retaliation by Iran’s current Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has publicly promised revenge for his father’s assassination.

The newspaper’s publication has raised international concern, with analysts warning that such inflammatory rhetoric could further escalate the already volatile security situation in the Middle East. While the list has attracted widespread attention, there has been no official confirmation that it represents an operational threat or an approved policy of the Iranian government.

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The development comes as tensions between Iran, the United States, Israel, and their allies remain at one of their highest levels in recent years, with governments closely monitoring the situation for any signs of further escalation.

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Military identifies Army lieutenant who paid supreme sacrifice in rescue of abducted Oyo pupils, teachers

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Military sources have confirmed the death of an Army officer, Lieutenant F.A. Isaac, during the operation that rescued 44 abducted pupils and teachers from the Old Oyo National Park.

The victims were rescued on July 10, 2026, in a coordinated operation involving security agencies after spending several days in captivity.

According to the sources, Lieutenant Isaac was killed in the line of duty during the rescue mission and was buried the same day.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had earlier confirmed that the military recorded a casualty during the operation.

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Sources said Lieutenant Isaac was among the officers leading efforts to rescue the abducted pupils and teachers when he was fatally wounded.

The pupils and teachers were abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on or about June 6, 2026, before their eventual rescue by security operatives.

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