By Magnus Chukwudi, Port Harcourt

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has honoured 203 staff at its ‘2025 Long Service’ awards for their contributions to the Commission’s progress and performance.

The awards recognised employees, who have dedicated 10, 15, 20, and 30 years of service to the Commission.

Speaking during the award ceremony at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said the awards were meant to motivate and build staff confidence.

Ogbuku, represented by the Executive Director, Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, celebrated the awardees and prayed that the years ahead bring them fulfilment, growth, and continued success.

He urged staff to draw inspiration from their colleagues’ achievements and remain committed to delivering quality service.

According to him, “The reward for good work is more work.” He urged employees to continue giving their best to the Commission and the Niger Delta region, stating that the practice to honour long-serving staff was a demonstration of the Commission’s appreciation for their years of dedication.

He noted that the awardees have contributed immensely to the management’s drive to move the Commission “from transaction to transformation.”

He congratulated the awardees on reaching remarkable milestones and declared: “Your dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence are genuinely inspiring. We sincerely appreciate your years of service dedicated to the NDDC.”

In his remarks, the Director of Administration and Human Resources, Mr. Patrick Ekade, one of the recipients for 20-year long service award, expressed gratitude to the management for the recognition.

He noted that while some organisations fail to acknowledge their employees’ contributions, the NDDC has consistently rewarded excellence and commitment. He thanked the Executive Management for recognising the individual and collective efforts of staff, urging his colleagues to remain steadfast in their service and support for the Commission’s mandate.

The NDDC Director, Education, Health and Social Services, EHSS, Dr George Uzonwanne, who received the 20-year Long Service Award, described the recognition as a double celebration.

He reflected on joining the Commission years ago as a young doctor with many aspirations, noting that the NDDC played a significant role in his professional development through local and international training opportunities. ###.

By George Mgbeleke

President Bola Tinubu has directed the withdrawal of police officers attached to ministers and other top government officials, saying the security personnel were needed for core policing duties across the country.

The President gave the directive on Wednesday during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Tinubu said he would rather have police officers deployed for essential security work than assigned as personal escorts to government officials.

“I would rather offer police officers from the VIP Protection or Very Very Important Persons Unit to perform real policing duties,” the President stated. “I honestly believe in what I have said and I call on the Inspector-General of Police, and I hope the Minister for Police Affairs is here, to take note.”

He explained that the decision was driven by the need to strengthen national security and ensure that available law enforcement personnel were properly utilized.

“If you have any problem related to the nature of your assignment, please contact the IGP and get my clearance,” Tinubu said. “The Minister for Interior, along with the IGP and the Civil Defence structure, should replace those police officers who are on special security duties so that we don’t leave people exposed.”

The President also directed the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Department of State Services (DSS) to provide additional intelligence and form a committee to review the current security structure.

“The first challenge is here and there, kidnapping and terrorism. We need all the forces that we can deploy,” he said. “I know some of our people are exposed, and we must make exceptional provisions for them. The Civil Defence officers are equally armed, and I want the NSA to take it very seriously, even to the point of arming our forest guards.”

Tinubu also charged the National Economic Committee (NEC) and the Vice President to accelerate the implementation of the livestock reform initiative as part of efforts to address recurring conflicts between farmers and herders.

“Especially on livestock reform, I think the Vice President should get NEC to identify which villages or grazing reserves can be salvaged or rehabilitated into ranches,” he said. “We must eliminate the possibility of conflict and turn livestock reform into an economically viable development.”

He emphasised that the initiative should be handled within the constitutional framework that recognizes land ownership by states.

“Whichever land they can salvage, convert it to livestock villages or other viable ventures,” Tinubu added. “Let us stop these conflict areas and turn them into economic opportunities and prosperity.

Meanwhile, Senate on Wednesday witnessed rowdy session as Senators kicked against implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s directive for withdrawal of Police Orderlies from Very Important Personalities ( VIPs) , angered Senators making them to seek for exemption and warning not to be used as scapegoats .

Recall that as part of trouble shooting measures against the problem of insecurity in the country , President Tinubu penultimate week ,ordered the Inspector – General of Police , Kayode Egbetokun , to withdraw about 11,000 Police personnel attached to various categories of VIPs across the country .

But complaints and concerns were expressed about the implementation in Senate during plenary on Wednesday on the strength of motion raised by Senator Abdul Ningi ( Bauchi Central) .

Senator Ningi who moved the motion through point of order , informed the Senate that the only Police Orderly he has , was withdrawn in the early hours of Wednesday while some other VIPs in the country are still enjoying the privilege .

He demanded that it should be done across board in the spirit of fairness and equity.

He said: ” It should be done across the board. Let’s see what happens from the office of the President, to the Vice President, to the Senate President, to the Speaker of the House, to the Ministers. Mr. President, I’m coming after they have withdrawn my only orderly.

“I saw two convoys of ministers and they were carrying lots of security personnel. Mr. President, I have also seen business concerns, Chinese and other business concerns, yesterday, with their compliments of orderlies.

“Mr. President, I have also seen daughters and sons of political office holders having orderlies and having security covers.

“Mr. President, I have seen singers having orderlies and complimentary protection. I cannot ever imagine that a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who has been here for a very long time, will have his only one orderly, withdrawn .

” I can take care of myself but let it be done across the board. Let me not see governors, ministers, and business tycoons , being escorted by security personnel.

” This matter should be addressed with all seriousness it deserved. I therefore , called on the President of the Senate , to ask the Chairman of Committee on Police Affairs to investigate why the directive is seemingly being implemented selectively . The National Assembly should not be used as a scape goat” , he said .

In his brief remarks , the Deputy President of the Senate , Barau JibrIn who presided over the session , said issue raised by Ningi was extensively deliberated upon by the leadership of the Senate on Tuesday.

He specifically informed the Senator and other affected Senators that efforts are being made to convince the presidency to exempt members of the National Assembly from orderly withdrawal implementation.

“I want to assure you that the issue raised to protect you is taken seriously, and that at the leadership side yesterday, we agreed that the course of action should be undertaken in order to restore your police order to you, because it’s in line with international practice.

” I’m sure we have a listening President. He will listen to us, and by the grace of God, he will save us from that order, which was given in good faith” , he said .

By Our Correspondent

The Senate on Tuesday at plenary mandated its Committee on Basic and Secondary Education to summon the Minister of Education and heads of other relevant agencies over what it described as a sudden implementation of a new curriculum and registration guideline issued by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

This followed strong reservations expressed by Senators during debate on motion over the sudden implementation of the new curriculum and registration guideline issued by WAEC.

They warned that the move could cause widespread failure among students scheduled to sit for the 2026 Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE).

The motion, sponsored by Karimi Sunday-Steve, highlighted an abrupt and “ill-prepared” policy change by the Federal Ministry of Education and WAEC. He said while leading the debate, that the new guideline requires all SS3 students nationwide to adopt a new curriculum originally planned to take effect in two years’ time, for candidates currently in SS1 and billed to write WAEC in 2027–2028.

Karimi noted that the shift had led to the removal of subjects such as Computer Studies, Civic Education and other pre-existing courses from the WAEC syllabus for the May/June 2026 examination, despite students’ years of preparation, warning that most students would now be left with only six examinable subjects instead of the required minimum of eight and maximum of nine.

The Senate, he said, must act in line with Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, which places the welfare of citizens at the centre of governance, and Section 18 which mandates government to ensure equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels.

Contributing to the debate, Adams Oshiomhole, who seconded the motion, condemned what he called a “culture of anarchism” in policy implementation. He faulted the introduction of a new curriculum without adequate teachers, laboratories, equipment or proper notification to parents and schools.

“You cannot wake up overnight and say that in June students will be examined in a subject they have not been taught,” Oshiomhole said. “Intentions are not enough. Proper homework must be done.”

He urged the Senate to invite the Minister of Education and relevant agencies to provide evidence of preparedness before such a major policy shift is allowed.

Similarly, Idiat Oluranti Adebule supported the motion but noted that major educational decisions must pass through the National Council on Education involving all state commissioners. She called for a wider investigation into the entire proposed curriculum review.

Senator Solomon Adeola also backed the motion, observing that many of the newly introduced subjects including cosmetology, fashion design, garment making, livestock farming, GSM repairs and solar installation, were highly practical and required facilities most schools do not have.

After extensive deliberations, Senate President Godswill Akpabio ruled that the Minister of Education, heads of relevant education agencies, and the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education should meet to address the concerns raised.

Akpabio noted that the Senate had already adopted one of the prayers regarding exclusion of current SS3 students but agreed that full engagement with the ministry was necessary before any final directive.

“These are very weighty issues,” he said. “We cannot risk mass failure in the 2026 WAEC examinations. The relevant committees should invite the Minister immediately and report back within two weeks.”

The Senate insisted that the matter must be resolved before the end of the year to safeguard academic future of students nationwide.