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DHQ disowns cadets holding military parade for Tinubu’s son
The military on Sunday denied knowledge of a recent guards parade held by military personnel for Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu.
In an interview with The PUNCH, the Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, said the personnel captured in a viral video are unknown to the military.
In the video, Seyi Tinubu was seen being accorded a presidential honour and inspecting a guards parade, with personnel dressed in military uniforms.
Gusau, who was shown a screenshot from the video, said, “They are not our personnel. We don’t dress that way. We don’t have this type of badge of rank. We don’t know them.”
In a statement on Sunday, former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, called for an investigation into a reported military parade involving Seyi Tinubu.
In a statement issued by his media office on Sunday, Atiku expressed his dismay, describing the event as an “anomaly” and a “serious breach of military tradition.”
“It is with utter dismay and concern that Nigerians were subjected to a nauseating video circulating online, where a group of young men, armed and in full military procession, bestowed upon the President’s son unwarranted military honours,” the ex-Vice President said.
He questioned the legitimacy of the group involved, which reportedly identified itself as the “Nigeria Cadet Network.”
Atiku argued that the group is not a recognised entity within the Nigerian Armed Forces and accused it of exploiting military traditions for political theatrics.
“In an effort to uncover the truth behind this shameless procession, we instructed our legal team and military experts to investigate the so-called ‘Nigeria Cadet Network.’ To no one’s surprise, it was revealed that the group is not a legally registered entity,” Atiku stated.
“What is even more alarming is the brazen use of firearms by civilians in this so-called parade — at a time when illegal arms proliferation is at a dangerous high in our country,” he added.
Atiku urged the relevant security agencies to investigate the origin and legality of the firearms displayed by members of the “Nigeria Cadet Network.”
He questioned the legitimacy of the military honours granted to Seyi Tinubu by non-commissioned civilians under the protection of security personnel and criticised the misuse of the title “Cadet” by an unregistered and unauthorized group.
He further stressed, “Preserving the integrity of the Nigerian Armed Forces is paramount. If it is determined that any legal violations were committed by the President’s son or members of the so-called ‘Nigeria Cadet Network,’ it is the constitutional duty of Nigerian security agencies to ensure that the law takes its course and those responsible are held accountable.”
The video has sparked public outrage, with many questioning the appropriateness of granting military-like honours to a private citizen who holds no official public position.
Critics argue that such actions undermine the prestige and professionalism of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Residents of Kubwa in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the construction of roads, especially in the satellite towns by the Federal Capital Territory Administration, under the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
One of the residents, Prosper Onyenaucheya, who spoke during the minister’s inspection of the ongoing construction of Kubwa-Gbazango road, otherwise called Arab Road on Friday, praised the Federal Capital Territory Administration under the leadership of Wike, for prioritizing projects that directly impact communities.
During the inspection, Wike expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work on the road projects, which include Karu township roads, Apo-Karshi road and Kubwa – Gbazango road, otherwise called Arab Road, noting that many of them will be commissioned during the third anniversary of President Tinubu’s administration.
The Minister also reaffirmed the FCT Administration’s commitment to opening more roads across the FCT and making Abuja cleaner and more organized through sustained infrastructural development and urban renewal.
Addressing the FCT Minister in Kubwa during the inspection, Prosper Onyenaucheya said; “You are doing a very wonderful work and the work is going fast.
“We want to thank you for the speed of the light with which the work has been going on here. Thank you very much Mr Project. We have felt your presence.
“The truth is that you have helped to promote the scorecards of our President. You are doing well. I know that Nigerians will miss this administration because of your work.”
Fielding questions from journalists after the inspection, Wike assured that the Karu township roads will be among the projects to be inaugurated as part of the third anniversary of the President.
He also commended Abdul Val Nigeria Ltd, the contractor handling the Karu Road, stretching from Karu Interchange to Customs Clinic Junction, saying; “You can see that the job is going on well. What impressed me so much is that it is being handled by a local contractor, and you can see the quality of work being done there.
“The contractor has demonstrated that if they are given the opportunity, our local contractors can also complete with the foreign ones.”
On the Kubwa – Gbazango road, the minister said with the assurance being given by the contractor, the road will also be among those to be commissioned in June, this year.
The Federal Government has approved an increase in peculiar allowances and other welfare benefits for civil servants.
Nigeria’s Head of the Civil Service, Didi Walson-Jack, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, in a move expected to increase the take-home pay of civil servants and boost the morale of the government’s workforce.
Walson-Jack said the increment affects workers under the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) and the Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS).
This is targeted at ensuring a broad-based impact across all cadres of the civil service.
According to her, the allowances have been structured to reflect across all grade levels, leading to better earnings for senior and junior officers.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has approved a review of some key allowances for civil servants.
Some of them include duty tour allowance (DTA), estacode, and book allowance.
The head of service said almost all allowances in the Public Service Rules have been revised.
One key reform is the approval of 100 percent DTA, which is for civil servants attending approved training programmes irrespective of whether travel is involved or not.
She said, “Even if you are based in Abuja and attend training within Abuja, you are entitled to full DTA.”
Apart from salary-related adjustments, the Federal Government has also introduced an exit benefit scheme for retiring civil servants under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
The scheme, which provides 100 per cent of a retiree’s full emoluments as an exit package, in addition to their pension, takes effect from January 1, 2026.
For the head of service, the move is part of efforts to enhance dignity in retirement. She maintained that no public servant should leave service without adequate financial support.
The Federal Government equally confirmed the operationalisation of the Employee Compensation Scheme, aimed at financially protecting workers who suffer job-related injuries or death.
Nigeria’s latest reforms followed an increase in calls from labour unions for improved welfare for civil servants as the cost of living continues to soar, putting more pressure on workers.
It comes about two years after the Federal Government approved a salary rise of between 25% and 35% for civil servants on the remaining six consolidated salary structures.
The salary structure includes the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS), Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS), Consolidated Paramilitary Salary Structure (CONPASS), Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure (CONICCS), and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS).
Support for Oyo Workers
In the meantime, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has announced a ₦10,000 monthly transportation support fund for civil servants in the state to cushion the impacts of the rising costs of living.
Makinde said this will run for an initial period of three months. According to him, the move is part of the Oyo government’s response to prevailing economic pressures, particularly the rising cost of transportation.
The governor said it will help lessen the financial burden on civil servants in the state and ensure uninterrupted service delivery across ministries, departments, and agencies.
“This support is a direct response to the realities our workers are facing,” Makinde said. “We understand that transportation costs have gone up significantly, and as a government, we must act to ease that burden.”
The transport allowance took effect in March, 2026.
The Nigerian military on Friday inaugurated a General Court-Martial to try officers accused in an alleged coup plot, marking the formal commencement of proceedings.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the accused officers were brought to the venue of the sitting, the Guards Brigade Scorpion Mess, Asokoro, at about 8:53 a.m. under tight security.
Journalists were, however, denied access into the courtroom as proceedings commenced behind closed doors.
Several civil lawyers were observed arriving at the venue ahead of the inauguration, suggesting the presence of legal representatives for the accused.
The sitting signals the beginning of the military’s internal trial process following months of investigation into the alleged plot.
The case dates back to October 2025 when about 16 serving military personnel, comprising senior and junior officers, were arrested over alleged acts of indiscipline.
Subsequent investigations by military authorities, however, established that some of the officers had cases to answer bordering on an alleged attempt to overthrow the constitutional government, leading to the decision to subject them to court-martial.
NAN reports that more than 30 accused officer were brought in a “Marcopolo” luxurious bus.
In a related development, the Federal Government had earlier arraigned several civilian suspects and retired military personnel before a Federal High Court in Abuja over the same alleged coup plot.
The defendants, Including a retired Major General and a serving police officer, were charged with offences bordering on treason and terrorism.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court subsequently ordered their remand in custody pending the hearing of their bail applications.
The parallel proceedings underscore the dual-track approach, with serving military personnel facing court-martial, while civilians and retired officers are being tried in civilian courts.
Further details of the court-martial proceedings were not immediately available as at the time of filing this report. (NAN)
FCT Residents Hail President Tinubu Over Construction Of Satellite Towns Roads
FG increases allowances for Civil Servants
Military set to try suspected coup plotters, set up General Court-Martial
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