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Citizens’ engagement remains cornerstone of effective legislature – Speaker Abbas

Published

2 years ago

July 6, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

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By Gloria Ikibah

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, has said that citizens’ engagement is fundamental to any effective legislature, which is why the 10th House would ensure its entrenchment.

Speaker Abbas who stated this on Friday night at the dinner/gala to mark the end of the 2024 House of Representatives Open Week, which commenced on Wednesday, said the entire event “has vividly demonstrated the vibrancy and strength of our evolving democracy and reaffirmed our commitment in the People’s House to uphold transparency and accountability.”

“In the face of declining interest and trust in democracy, transparency and regular citizens’ engagement are more crucial than ever. We strongly believe that transparency ensures that government actions are open to public scrutiny and fostering accountability.

“Regular engagements with citizens, such as we have witnessed this week, empowers them to voice their concerns, participate in decision-making processes, and feel a sense of ownership over their governance. This mutual interaction strengthens the social contract, rebuilds trust, and revitalizes democratic values.

“I wish to emphasize that citizens’ engagement is the cornerstone of any effective legislature. The 10th Assembly has embraced the ‘OPEN NASS’ Project, which enhances not only oversight and law-making, but also the transparency of the National Assembly itself. As we hold other branches of government accountable, we must equally welcome scrutiny from the public. Through the House Open Week, we are reclaiming the legislature for its rightful owners, namely, the citizens and our constituents”, he said.

The Speaker stated that the House decided to open its doors to the public in line with its commitments to ensure transparency and accountability, noting that “We have engaged in meaningful discussions, welcomed feedback, and showcased our dedication to serving the Nigerian people.

“We addressed critical issues such as gender mainstreaming in governance, economic growth and diversification, inclusive political participation, and the constitutional role for traditional rulers. The diverse attendance demonstrated the people’s keen interest and high expectations from the People’s House.

“Our presentation of the House’s performance scorecard in its First Session reassures Nigerians that our commitment to transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement is not merely a duty but a guiding principle of our actions as elected representatives. The various activities and discussions during the House Open Week have provided valuable insights into the concerns and aspirations of our people and nation.

“As highlighted in our scorecard, the essence of representative democracy is that it empowers citizens to choose their leaders and demands those leaders to give a satisfactory account of their stewardship.”

The Speaker reminded his colleagues, especially the standing and ad-hoc Committees of the House of the task ahead as the Green Chamber commenced the Second Session on July 2.

“All committees are encouraged to enhance their performance and document their activities. Our standing Committees on Monitoring and Evaluation of House Committees and Implementation and Evaluation of the Legislative Agenda are called to action in this regard.

“Though the Open Week ends today, our responsibility to engage the people remains ongoing. In response to calls for grassroots engagement, the House, in collaboration with the Ford Foundation, plans to roll out citizens’ engagement town halls across the six geopolitical zones very soon.

“Our constitutional amendment process will also adopt a citizen-inclusive approach. The onus is now on citizens to actively engage with their representatives. I urge everyone to seize this opportunity to ask questions about governance, participate in public hearings, constituency engagements, town halls, and other forums for engagement. As the saying goes, eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.”

The Speaker expressed gratitude to all those that made the event successful, especially donors such as the Konrad Adenuer STIFTUNG (KAS), the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), the YIAGA Africa, among others.

In a vote of thanks, the Chairman of the Committee on the Monitoring and Evaluation of Standing and Ad Hoc Committees, Hon. Obi Aguocha, said “on behalf of the Rt. Honourable Speaker and the leadership of the Nigerian House of Representatives, I extend a heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the resounding success of this Legislative Open Week, 2024. This event has been a testament to the power of collaboration and shared commitment to democratic ideals.

“This ‘Open Week’ not only aligns with the Lofty Legislative Agenda of the 10th House to serve the Nigerian people with utmost good fate but its contents, contexts, and well-articulated programs aptly meet the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) credentials of a democratic parliament that is responsible and responsive.”

Also in a remark, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited, Mele Kyari, noted the kind of support the Speaker has given in the sustenance of his organization, saying Speaker Abbas “is passionate about the industry, and we are grateful for that.”

He described the Speaker as “exceptional and different in his ways of doing things,” adding, “The industry has been robust all courtesy of the National Assembly.”

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JAMB: See How To Check, Print 2026 UTME Result Slip

Published

2 hours ago

April 18, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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The 2026 UTME, which began on April 16, is expected to continue until April 22 across examination centres nationwide.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board on Friday announced that it had released the results of 632,788 candidates who sat for the first day of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

A statement by the JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin noted that the results of candidates who sat the 2026 UTME on Thursday, 16 April 2026, have been released and are now available for viewing.
To check their results, he advised candidates to send UTMERESULT via SMS to 55019 or 66019, using the same phone number (SIM) used during registration.
He, however, said that at this stage, candidates may view their results only; printing is not yet available.
The 2026 UTME, which began on April 16, is expected to continue until April 22 across examination centres nationwide.

How To Print Your Official Result Slip
The result slip carries the candidate’s passport photograph, full scores, and details required for admission processing.
It will be made available for printing on JAMB’s e-Facility portal at efacility.jamb.gov.ng and attracts a fee of N1,500.
Once activated, candidates should follow the steps below.

– Visit efacility.jamb.gov.ng.
– Log in with your registered email address and password.
– On your dashboard, click Print Result Slip.
– Click Continue with Payment and pay the N1,500 fee.

– Select 2026 as the examination year and enter your JAMB registration number.
– Download and print the result slip.

Check Your Score Via SMS
– Make sure you have at least N50 airtime on the phone number linked to your JAMB registration.
– Send UTMERESULT to 55019.
– Your score will be delivered to you via SMS.

Other Tips
– If you have forgotten your password or email address, use the Forgot Password option on the portal or visit a JAMB office with your registration details.
– Keep multiple printed copies of your result slip, as institutions typically request it during screening and admission.
– Use only JAMB’s official websites — efacility.jamb.gov.ng or portal.jamb.gov.ng to avoid scams.

JAMB Cautioned Against Manipulation
Candidates were strongly cautioned against manipulating the SMS received from the official platform (55019/66019) to fabricate or alter scores with the intent to mislead others, including parents.
“Such actions constitute a serious criminal offence. The Board treats such misconduct with the utmost gravity.”
“Currently, two candidates and one parent are in custody for engaging in result falsification using AI and other electronic means. Any candidate found culpable will face the full consequences of the law”, JAMB warned.
The examination is ongoing, and results will continue to be released as they become available.

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Troops nab nine suspected terrorists in Plateau, recover arms, ammunition

Published

2 hours ago

April 18, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have arrested nine suspected Berom militia members responsible for targeted killings, and recovered arms and ammunition following an operation in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

This followed the ongoing security concerns linked to recurring attacks and cycles of violence in the area.

A counter-insurgency and security expert in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this in a post on X.

He stated that the suspects were arrested at about 0135 hours on April 18, 2026, when troops deployed at Ganawuri responded to reports of suspected criminal movement towards the Danwal general area.

He said that troops intercepted and arrested the suspects, who were found with blood stains on their bodies, raising suspicion of recent involvement in silent killings.

According to him, those arrested were identified as Gyang Dantoro, Samson Davou, Choji Yakubu, Vincent Adamu, Pam Dalyop, Femi Badung, Jacob Musa and Choji Chaga, all residents of Danwal and reportedly of Berom extraction.

Items recovered from them include three motorcycles, one pistol, one submachine gun, one locally made revolver rifle, 20 rounds of pistol ammunition, and one locally fabricated rifle, among other items,” he said.

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Just in: Iran seals Strait of Hormuz again, blames US

Published

4 hours ago

April 18, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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Fear in the Middle East as Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the United States of violating prior understandings amid an ongoing naval blockade.

In a statement on Saturday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared that control of the strategic waterway had “returned to its previous state,” citing continued US restrictions on Iranian ports as justification for the move.

The Strait of Hormuz, a vital global transit route, is a chokepoint through which a significant share of the world’s crude oil passes daily. Any disruption is expected to send immediate shockwaves through global energy markets.

Reacting to the development, US President Donald Trump insisted that Washington would not back down, stating that the naval blockade “will remain in full force” until “our transaction with Iran is 100% complete.”

He did not elaborate on the specifics of the “transaction.”

Earlier, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had offered a contrasting position, saying the strait remained “completely open” to commercial vessels.

He emphasized that maritime activities were proceeding “in line with the ceasefire in Lebanon” and along “the coordinated route as already announced.”

The conflicting statements have added to confusion over the actual status of the waterway, with shipping companies and global observers scrambling to assess risks in real time.

Meanwhile, President Trump also disclosed that Israel had been “prohibited” from launching further strikes on Lebanon, as a fragile 10-day ceasefire entered its first full day.

The pause in hostilities has allowed tens of thousands of displaced civilians to begin returning to their homes after weeks of intense Israeli bombardment.

The situation remains fluid, with fears mounting that any miscalculation in the Gulf could trigger a wider regional confrontation.

Observers say the coming hours will be critical in determining whether diplomatic channels can ease tensions or if the standoff will deepen further.