The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the issuance of a N758 billion bond to clear outstanding pension liabilities for all categories of pensioners, offering long-awaited relief to retirees.

The approval, granted during Tuesday’s FEC meeting at the State House, Abuja, allows the Debt Management Office (DMO) to raise the funds needed to settle pension arrears under the Defined Benefit Scheme—the system that preceded the current contributory pension scheme introduced in 2004 and amended in 2014.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, who disclosed this while briefing journalists after the meeting chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said the move would address the financial burden faced by retirees awaiting their entitlements.

He explained that under the old Defined Benefit Scheme, some pensioners who had not yet retired required top-ups to their benefits whenever wage increases occurred, typically every five years.

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In a separate development, FEC also approved a €30 million concessional loan from the French Development Agency (AFD) to support student accommodation projects.

The financing will be implemented in collaboration with Family Homes Limited, the government’s partner for the initiative.

The concessional loan is expected to improve student housing conditions across the country, aligning with the administration’s commitment to enhancing educational infrastructure.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has released the 2025 seasonal climate prediction (SCP), forecasting an early onset of rain across the country.

Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace, announced the forecast during the seasonal prediction presentation in Abuja on Tuesday.

Keyamo said the annual seasonal prediction is critical to ensure the safety, efficiency and sustainability of air navigation business and that of other sectors.

“I commend the Management and Staff of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) for their unwavering commitment to providing accurate and actionable weather and climate information, a cornerstone for our Nation’s socio-economic development,” Keyemo said.

“The theme of this year’s presentation, “The Role of Early Warnings Towards a Climate Resilient Aviation Industry for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development, could not be timelier.”

The minister said there would be delayed onset of rain over the northern states, while the southern states are likely to experience early onset of rain.

He noted that high-intensity rainfall is expected in May to June, which may likely result in flash floods in the coastal cities.

Keyamo added that there is a likelihood of severe dry spell of more than 15 days between April, May and June season, and may last up to 21 days expected in the northern states.

“Highlights of the 2025 SCP As with previous years, there are pre-onset rainfall activities that should not be confused with the actual onset of the rainy season,” the minister said.

“Earlier than long-term average end-of-rainy season is predicted over parts of Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, FCT, Ekiti, and Ondo states.

“A delayed end of season is expected overa parts of Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue, Lagos, Kwara, Taraba, Oyo, Ogun, Cross River, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Anambra, and Enugu states. The predicted length of rainy season in 2025 is expected to be mostly normal across the country.”

He urged all stakeholders to utilise the information to make informed decision in order to reduce the climate risks of the country.

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has explained why she visited Generals Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd) today, at their Minna, Niger State residences.

Accompanied by wife of Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, the First Lady and her entourage were received at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport by the state Governor, Muhammed Umar Bago, his wife and other top government officials from where they drove to General Babangida’s residence and later Abdulsalami’s house.

At General Babangida’s uphill residence, the visitors met with Babangida for more than one hour behind closed doors. They then proceeded to the residence of the former head of state, Abdulsalami Abubakar and were received by former first lady Justice Fati Lami Abubakar.

The delegation went into another closed door meeting with the former Nigerian leader and his wife for about 90 minutes before going to the government house for a visit with Governor Muhammed Bago.

Details of the private talks were not made public, but General Abubakar described Senator Oluremi Tinubu as Nigeria’s No1 ambassador.

“She has done very well during her 1st and 2nd years. She has done a lot of things in order to bring Nigeria to greatness.

“You have been carrying the governor’s wives along in all you have been doing, especially what you are doing for young children,” the former head of state remarked.

Senator Tinubu also described both General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar as ‘fathers of the nation’.

“It is right for me to come here to greet them because they are fathers of the nation.

“I, however, have to say that my visits to the former Nigerian leaders are private visits without any political undertone, because I had always tried to visit them but for exigencies of duties.

“The Nigerian leaders have been very supportive of the government of President Bola Tinubu and they have always encouraged Mr. President,” she declared.

At government house, the First Lady donated N100 million to victims of the recent disasters in communities in Niger state, which included the tanker explosion in Dikko, Gurara local government; Sabon Pegi in Mashegu local government, and Allawa in Munya local government.

She said each of the affected families should get N1 million from the total amount, while the governor’s wife, Hajia Fatima Bago, should disburse the balance of N30 million to the victims for food and other items.

Senator Tinubu pleaded with the people to always remain vigilant and refrain from scooping fuel in the event of fuel-laden tanker overturning.

On his part, Governor Mohammed Bago appreciated the gesture of the First Lady and assured her that the donation will be judiciously used.

According to him, “We thank you that you have come to share in our pains over the tanker explosion in Dikko, the dynamite explosion in Sabon-Pegi and the collapsed mine in Munya.”