NEWS
Osun Workers Celebrate Adeleke, As ‘Most Humane Governor’
. . . Governor Issues N2.9 Billion Naira Pension Bond
It was a carnival show at the Governor’s office as the entire Osun public workers gathered to confer award of the ‘Most Humane Governor of the Year’ on Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Spokesperson to the State Governor, Olawale Rasheed, communicated this in a statement on Thursday in Osogbo.
He stated that workers in their hundreds led by Comrade Lasun Oladele, the Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council, presented the award of the “Most Humane Governor of the Year” to the Governor with top ratings and ranking for the Governor across the sectors of the state economy and governance.
Rasheed noted that all public service union leaders took turns to reel out justification for the award.
Head of Service, Elder Ayanleye Aina, highlighted that the event was not just an award but the governor giving out of another Two Billion, Nine Hundred Million naira, pension bond made the gathering a unique one.
“Your Excellency, the entire workforce of Osun State and retirees have a lot to celebrate today as we rejoice with you on the conferment of this well-deserved award by the Labour Leaders in the State on you.
“Experience has shown very clearly that there is a wide gap between campaign promises and the actual delivery of dividends of democracy. The case of our amiable Governor is a radical departure from this position as workers and retirees have continued to benefit from the kindness of the Governor. You indeed displayed great character and integrity by fulfilling your campaign promises to the workers and pensioners in the State in many areas:
“Prior to the advent of your Administration in the State, senior workers were owed several months of unpaid half salaries, a situation that came to the national limelight. Believing that governance is a continuum, your administration has been consistently offsetting these backlog of salary and pension arrears.
“As we speak, four months’ arrears have been paid to date
“Your administration cash-backed arrears of promotions from the previous Administrations which were in millions of naira
“You broke the age long jinx of aberration of Coordinating Directors as career heads of MDAs by appointing qualified civil servants as Permanent Secretaries, an action that brought life back to the entire Civil Service. You have said this is a continuous exercise.
“You have consistently approved release of fund for officers to embark on professional training to enhance their performances at work.
“You have ensured regular and consistent payment of full salaries and pension without hindrance.
“You recently granted approval for conduct of year 2023 promotion for all categories of qualified workers across the entire gamut of the public service. As we speak, the enabling circular has been issued by the Civil Service Commission.
“You increased the monthly release of fund for the payment of gratuities for retirees at the State level by 100%, that is, from N50m to N100m.
“You increased the monthly release of fund for the new pension scheme from N175m to N350m, that is, by 100%. At the local government level, it was increased to N400m.
“Recently, you graciously approved the payment of #15,000 palliative to each worker and #10,000 to each retiree beginning from this month to cushion the effect of petroleum subsidy removal”, the Head of Service noted
Speaking further, Elder Aina, said, “There is no further testimony to your benevolence, sir, as today your Excellency is set to release bonds worth billions of naira to retirees under the new pension scheme to make life more bearable for them.
“All of these have been achieved through prudent fiscal policy that have not in any way affected the capital expenditure of government.
“Given all these, I wish to remind all public servants of the popular adage that ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’. I encourage us to re-dedicate ourselves to the ideals of the Service so as to enhance our productivity, efficiency and capacity in the discharge of our official duties. This is the only way we can really appreciate the kind gestures of our Governor towards us”, he concluded.
Osun will soon Become Singapore of Nigeria– Governor Adeleke
Delivering his speech, Governor Adeleke assured Osun people of sustained pursuit of the progress of the state, saying he will continue to give priority to the welfare of workers in the state.
“Today, I am again deeply overwhelmed by the show of love and support from great Osun workers and retirees. The outpouring of affection for me and my team has further rekindled my faith in our five-point agenda for which workers’ welfare is number one.
“Some months ago, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners conferred on me the award of the most workers’ friendly governor. I was told that was the first time the union would grant such honor to a serving Governor. Here we are today again with the entire workforce of the public service acknowledging our modest contributions to the development of our dear state.
“The positive testimonies from the various unions and labour leaders attested to the correctness of our original thinking when running for the state governorship. We had analyzed the political space and concluded then that the smartest way to grow Osun is workers’ welfare. We accept and adopt the reality that human capital is a strong foundation for integrated development of the state.
“We had also spotted the nexus between formal and informal workers in the state. Easing the challenges of the public service has the tendency to uplift the economic well-being of the informal sector. These analyses were responsible for placing workers’ welfare as number one priority in our governance agenda.
“We are vindicated today as the workforce has validated our approach to governance. This vindication has challenged our team to remain focused and engaged in our relentless drive for new life for our people. I long to expand our capacity to meet the needs of the people, to deploy human development as a tool for societal transformation. We will further innovate as a government to meet workers at the point of their needs.
“I, therefore, humbly accept this award as ‘The Most Humane Governor of the Year’. Dear workers and stakeholders, I cherish this honour done to me and my team. You have further fired our existing strong interest in welfare issues for both serving and retired members of the workforce.
“It is in this direction that I have further approved the release of another tranche of bonds totaling Two Billion, Nine Hundred and Twenty-Five Million, Three Hundred and Thirty-Two Thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirty-Five kobo (N2,925,332,835.75).
“The breakdown is as follows:
“State Retirees – One Billion, Three Hundred Million Naira (N1,300,000,000.00);
“LG/Primary School Retirees- One Billion, Six Hundred and Twenty-Five Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty-Five Thousand Naira (1,625,332,835,75);
“Permit me to list the government commitment on Pension and Gratuities from inception to November, 2023 as follows:
“(A) STATE LEVEL (Civil Servants, Parastatals, Tertiary Institutions, UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital) Retirees;
“Contributory Pension Scheme (Seven Billion, Four Hundred and Forty-Four Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty-One Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighteen Kobo (7,444,851,618.16);
“Gratuities- One Billion, Two Hundred Million Naira Only (1,200.000.000.00);
“Monthly Pension – Five Billion, Nine Hundred and Ninety-Six Million, Thirty-Five Thousand Naira, Seven Hundred and Eleven Kobo (5,996,035,711.00);
“This bring state’s total to Fourteen Billion, Six Hundred and Forty Million, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Seven Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty Kobo (14,640,887,330.15).
“(B) LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (Local Governments and Primary Schools’ Retirees)
“Contributory Pension Scheme is Seven Billion, Three Hundred and Eighty-Four Million, One Hundred and Seventy-Eight Thousand, Sixteen kobo (7,384,178,016.83);
“Gratuities – One Billion, Nine Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (1,950,000,000.00);
“Pension – Four Billion, One Hundred and Sixty-Six Million, Six Hundred and Nine Thousand, One Hundred and Eighty-Two kobo (4,166,609,182.61);
“Total for Local Government is Thirteen Billion, Five Hundred Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty-Seven Thousand, One Hundred and Ninety Kobo (13,500,787,199.44).
“Permit me to use this opportunity to commend the Head of Service, Elder Ayanleye Aina. You have been a wonderful leader of the civil service with laudable delivery in public service management. I thank you for your great service
“I extend the same commendation to top management of the service as well as middle and lower level officers. I appreciate your commitment to duty and loyalty to our common agenda for societal prosperity.
“We remain strongly pro-people, pro-workers and pro-development. We will continue to combine welfare of the people and workers with state of the art infra upgrades of our dear state. Osun is targeted to be a Singapore of Nigeria, the Governor noted.”
Oil marketers have warned that Nigerians may soon pay as much as ₦1,500 per litre for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, as global oil prices surge following the escalating conflict involving Iran in the Middle East.
The National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, issued the warning on Tuesday while speaking on a television programme on the impact of the global crisis on fuel prices.
According to him, the current volatility in the international oil market has already pushed petrol prices above ₦1,000 per litre at the depot level, with the ex-depot price from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery now standing at about ₦1,175 per litre.
He explained that once logistics, transportation, and other operational costs are added, the final pump price could rise significantly, possibly reaching ₦1,500 per litre in the near future.
Despite concerns about the rising cost of fuel, Gillis-Harry noted that steady availability of petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery remains a major relief for Nigeria, stressing that consistent supply is better than a nationwide fuel scarcity.
He added that the refinery’s production capacity is helping to stabilize supply across the country at a time when global markets remain highly unstable.
The latest price adjustment by the Dangote Refinery marks the fourth review within two weeks. Petrol prices increased from ₦995 per litre to ₦1,175 per litre, while diesel rose from ₦1,430 to about ₦1,620 per litre.
The development comes amid a sharp spike in international crude oil prices triggered by fears of supply disruptions due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Brent crude recently climbed above $102 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose to around $101 per barrel.
Industry analysts say the rising oil prices are already having a ripple effect on Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, forcing depot operators and fuel marketers to adjust their prices in response to the global market trend.
Meanwhile, the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has stated that although Nigeria introduced a crude-for-naira arrangement to support local refineries, the facility still purchases crude oil at international market prices, leaving it exposed to global price fluctuations.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
SEE MORE: Spain, Portugal Plunge Into Darkness Amid Widespread Power Outage
“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
Fuel Price Shock: Nigerians May Soon Pay ₦1,500 Per Litre – Marketers Warn
Political Earthquake in Zamfara as Gov Lawal Dumps PDP for APC
Court Pushes Malami, Son’s Terrorism Financing Trial to April 15
African Club Football Gets Major Financial Boost as CAF Hikes Prize Money
Abramovich Clashes with UK Gov’t Over £2.35bn Chelsea Sale Funds
Global Crisis: Attacks on Schools Skyrocket 166% – UN Sounds Alarm on Children’s Safety
Trump’s Family Unveils New Cryptocurrency Platform
Reps Recommend 3-year Jail Term For Aviation minister
Senate Denies Receiving Petitions Against Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees
Dangote Cement Lights Up Benue Host Communities With CSR Initiatives
Things To Know About Threads, Zuckerberg’s Twitter-like App
