Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi Nike The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has issued a new directive prohibiting Pension Fund Operators from conducting business with vendors or service providers that fail to comply with pension remittance obligations. The commission said the move is part of broader efforts to enforce compliance with the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and to expand its coverage across both public and private sectors. Under the new policy, all Licensed Pension Fund Operators (LPFOs)—which include Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and Pension Fund Custodians (PFCs)—must now ensure that any vendor or service provider they engage presents a valid Pension Clearance Certificate (PCC)…

By Atoyebi Nike President Bola Tinubu has submitted a revised Appropriation Bill for Rivers State to the Senate, proposing an expenditure of ₦1.48 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year. The budget was transmitted through an official letter read during plenary on Thursday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The development comes in the wake of a Supreme Court decision that voided the earlier budget passed under the administration of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Following that verdict and the existing political situation in the state, President Tinubu invoked constitutional provisions to re-present the budget for Senate consideration. Rivers State has been under…

By Atoyebi Nike More than 110,000 Nigerians have received free eye treatment through the “Eye Can See” programme, an initiative of the Seplat Energy/NNPC Exploration and Production Limited Joint Venture, according to figures released at the conclusion of the programme’s 13th edition in Benin City, Edo State. Speaking on behalf of the company, Chioma Afe, Director of External Affairs and Social Performance at Seplat Energy, disclosed the milestone on Thursday. She was represented by Esther, Senior Manager of Corporate Social Investment and Social Performance. Afe said a total of 110,634 eye treatments have been carried out since the programme’s inception,…

By Atoyebi Nike The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an urgent warning that Gaza’s health system is on the brink of total collapse, as intensified Israeli military operations continue to devastate medical infrastructure and restrict humanitarian access. In a statement released Thursday, WHO revealed that only 19 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals remain operational, and most of these are functioning at minimal capacity amid acute shortages of medical supplies, fuel, food, clean water, and staff. At least 94% of hospitals across the territory have sustained damage or been destroyed. “Every hospital forced out of service is a lifeline cut off…

By Atoyebi Nike Students of Government Day Junior Secondary School, Lugeere, were recently given a timely lesson on personal hygiene, courtesy of members of the Education and ICT Community Development Service (CDS) group of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The sensitisation programme, held with a focus on Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3) students, aimed to raise awareness on hygiene practices essential during puberty and adolescence. The event featured separate sessions for male and female students to encourage openness and ensure discussions were tailored to their respective experiences. Leading the female session, Corps Member Khadijat spoke on body odor and…

By Atoyebi Nike The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has introduced a nationwide reduction in petrol prices, providing some relief to consumers amid sustained concerns over the rising cost of fuel. In an official announcement made via its X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, the refinery disclosed that petrol will now retail between N875 and N905 per litre, depending on location. The adjustment is effective immediately and applies to all partner fuel marketing companies across the country. Under the revised pricing framework, motorists in Lagos will now pay N875 per litre, a drop from the previous N890. Prices in the South-West have…

By Atoyebi Nike Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have jointly affirmed their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to stand unopposed as the party’s presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections. The announcement was made during the APC National Summit held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja. The event, which carried the theme “Renewed Hope Agenda: The Journey So Far,” brought together party stalwarts from across the country, including top federal and state government officials. Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Hope Uzodimma, moved the motion for…

By Atoyebi Nike A small plane crashed into a residential neighborhood in southern California in the early hours of Thursday morning, igniting multiple vehicles and damaging several homes, according to authorities. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that a Cessna 550 aircraft went down at approximately 3:45 a.m. local time, in a street near the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in San Diego. Footage from the scene showed charred remnants of vehicles, with rows of cars reduced to blackened shells and at least one house suffering significant structural damage. Debris from the crash was strewn across the street, and emergency crews responded…

By  Atoyebi Nike The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence in healthcare is beginning to unsettle the vast medical call center workforce, particularly in countries like the Philippines, where thousands of workers support American patients remotely. Employees at these centers, who help patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes and neurological disorders, are increasingly being replaced or supplemented by AI tools. These tools can schedule appointments, manage prescriptions, and even handle basic triage. While the technology promises improved efficiency, workers and health advocates are raising red flags over the potential erosion of patient trust and the human touch essential to care…

By Atoyebi Nike Education professionals have raised concerns over how students use Artificial Intelligence and social media, saying it’s weakening their focus and fueling exam malpractice. They spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday, warning that these digital tools—meant to help—are often abused. Dr. Sadiq Mohammed, from the Federal University of Technology, Minna, said many students now rely on AI and apps to do their academic work. “Instead of studying, they use tech shortcuts. Some travel to ‘magic centres’ in rural areas where answers are shared during exams,” he said. He added that students enter…