BREAKING NEWS: Olubadan Joins His Ancestors.

The Olubadan of Ibadan, His Majesty Oba Owolabi Olakuleyin has passed on.

Reports emanating from the royal palace in Ibadan say that the monarch died early Monday 7th if July, 2025.

The late Oba spent a year on the throne having received the staff of office from Governor Seyin Makinde on the 12th July, 2024.

The 43rd Olubadan had been rumoured sick prior ascending the throne. Though the rumours were dispelled, his coronation was for some days. His asencion was also dogged by internal wranglings among the kingmakers.

Ona Olakulehin was born on the 5th of July, 1935. His demise came two days after celebrating his 90th birthday.

Attention has now shifted to who takes over from the late monarch.

NigeriaPointBlank will bring you details.

Continuous and prompt payment of claims is a commitment to improved workers welfare - NSITF ......Pays 31 Million Naira Medical Bills of Nestle Staff.

The Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF),  Barrister Oluwaseun Faleye, has insisted that the continuous and prompt payment of claims to beneficiaries of the Employees Compensation Scheme is a demonstration of the Fund's commitment to improved  workers welfare in the country.

He made this declaration just as a staff of fast moving consumer goods giant, Nestle Plc received a refund of N31 million Naira medical bills from the NSITF. 

Barrister Faleye commended the company's commitment to workers' welfare and recounted that the benefiting staff was involved in an auto accident along with other colleagues who had all been compensated by the Fund.

He stated that because of the seriousness of the injury sustained by this particular staff, a review became imperative hence  the latest payment. 

The NSITF MD revealed that the family of one of the workers, who died in the road mishap, had been paid the initial compensation and have started to receive monthly compensation.

He  seized the occasion to draw parallels between other insurance policies and the Employees Compensation Scheme of thhe NSITF, saying the scheme is mandatory by the Employees Compensation Act 2010. 

He said beside compensation for work related deaths, diseases, disabilities and injuries, the fund provides support and rehabilitation

Faleye presented the cheque, at Nestle headquarters in Lagos where he was accompanied by President and General Secretary of NUBIFE, Comrades Anthony Akpaba and Mohammed Sheik, representative of NECA, Mrs. Ajala, and the Executive Director Operation of NSITF, Mrs. Mojisoluwa Ali-Macauley.

In the same vein, the widow of a deceased staff of MEDPLUS was, last week, presented with a cheque of one million , one hundred and ninety two thousand, one hundred and forty five Naira and twenty five kobo (1,192,145:25) by the Managing Director at the company's head office in Lagos. The amount represents the first monthly support after an initial lump sum of 15 million Naira. 

The MD NSITF explained that the monthly installments would continue until the last child of the deceased turned 21 years.

Senate Applauds ICPC for Adhering to Federal Character Principle

The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has lauded the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for consistently adhering to the principles of Federal Character in the composition of it's workforce.

According to a press release signed by the Director of Public Enlightenment and Education of the ICPC, Mr. Demola Bakare, fsi, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator Allwell Onyesoh, gave the commendation Wednesday, during the appearance of the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, and his management team before the Committee to present the Commission’s staff profile and deployment statistics.

The statement said Senator Onyesoh expressed satisfaction with ICPC's compliance and praised the Commission for demonstrating a clear commitment to fairness, equity, and national representation in its appointments and promotions as he urged other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to emulate the Commission’s exemplary model.

The statement quoted Senator Onyesoh saying, “ICPC has shown that due process is not only possible but also achievable. What you have presented today gives us hope that we still have institutions and individuals committed to building a better Nigeria. You have honoured this institution by being open and transparent about how you conduct appointments and elevate officers to high positions.”

The statement went further that Senator Onyesoh decried the failure of many agencies to appear before the committee, noting that those who appeared have come short of the Federal character principle. He promised to refer defaulting MDAs to ICPC to learn.

According to the release, the presentation of the Commission’s personnel statistics by the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, revealed that the Commission currently has 1,163 staff members, fairly distributed across the six geopolitical zones as follows: North Central – 19%, North West – 19%, North East – 16%, South South – 16%, South West – 16%, and South East – 14%.

The ICPC Chairman further revealed that the Commission had ten directors overseeing its various departments, with nine substantive directors and one in acting capacity, also equitably distributed across the six zones.

Dr. Aliyu said, “The Commission, as Nigeria’s leading anti-graft agency, is proud to be practicing what it preaches. We are fully committed to upholding all extant rules and regulations, including the Federal Character Balancing Index, and we have been repeatedly commended by the Federal Character Commission for our consistent compliance.” 

The statement concluded that Dr. Aliyu reaffirmed the Commission’s dedication to promoting equity and inclusiveness, noting that these values are central to its mandate of fostering integrity and good governance in Nigeria.

NSITF Pays 31 Million Naira Medical Bills of Nestle Staff.

A staff of fast moving consumer goods giant, Nestle Plc has received a refund of 31 million Naira medical bills form the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, under the Employee Compensation Scheme of the Fund.

Managing Director of NSITF, Barrister Oluwaseun Faleye presented the cheque Tuesday, at Nestle headquarters in Lagos. Barrister Faleye was in company of the President and General Secretary of NUBIFE, Comrades Anthony Akpaba and Mohammed Sheik, representative of NECA, Mrs. Ajala and the Executive Director Operation of NSITF, Mrs. Mojisoluwa Ali-Macauley.

In the same vein, the widow of a deceased staff of MEDPLUS was presented with a cheque of one million , one hundred and ninety two thousand, one hundred and forty five Naira and twenty five kobo (1,192,145:25) by the Managing Director of NSITF Tuesday at the company's head office in Lagos. The fund represents the first monthly support after an initial lump sum of 13 million Naira. The MD NSITF explained that the monthly installments would continue until the last child of the decreased turned 21 years.

Meanwhile, the NSITF team had earlier visited the head office of Mobil Producing (Seplat Energy) where they presented a cheque of one million, one hundred and seven thousand, six hundred and sixty Naira, and thirty kobo, (1,107,660:30) monthly compensation to the family of a staff of the company who died in the course of duty.

At Nestle, Barrister Faleye commended the company's commitment to workers' welfare. He recounted that the benefiting staff was involved in an auto accident along with other colleagues and they had all been compensated by the Fund. He stated further that because of the seriousness of the injury sustained by the particular staff, a review became imperative hence latest payment. The MD revealed that the family of one of the workers who died in the road mishap had been paid the initial compensation and started to receive monthly compensation.

Barrister Faleye seized the occasion to draw parallels between other insurance policies and the Employee Compensation Scheme of the NSITF saying the scheme is made mandatory by the Employee Compensation Act 2010. He said asides compensation for work related deaths, diseases, disabilities and injuries, the fund provides support and rehabilitation.

BREAKING! Ganduje Resigns as APC Chairman: Gives Reason

Reports from the National Headquarters of the All Progressive Congress, APC in Abuja indicate that Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje has stepped aside from office as the National Chairman of the ruling party.

Multiple online reports have it that the former Kano State Governor tendered his official resignation letter to the National Working Committee of the party Friday citing health reasons. He reportedly said he needed to attend to his health.

There had been oppositions to Ganduje's leadership. Earlier in the week, there was a protest against his continued stay in office at the party headquarters. The bulk of dissent emanated from the North Central caucus of the party which viewed Ganduje as an usuper using up the tenure of the geopolitical zone. His leadership style which many considered autocratic was another issue.

Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, a two time deputy governor and two time governor of Kano State succeeded Dr. Abdullahi Adamu as chairman. He is likely to be replaced in acting capacity by a National Vice Chairman in acting capacity pending the National Congress of the party later in the year.

Dr. Ganduje has a running battle back home with his erstwhile boss and friend, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso. Many perceived him as using his position as chairman to influence things in his favour. It is yet to be seen whether he would abandone his supporters to their fate or continue to champion their political cause.

New Partnership in Service Delivery in Nigeria as Tinubu Partners Civil Societies

A cross section of CSO leaders at the dialogue session

The  Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed ministries, departments and agencies of government to engage quarterly with civil societies.

The Civil Society Advisor to the Open Governance Partnership Nigeria, Uchenna Arisukwu disclosed in Abuja, Friday at a stakeholders dialogue session with the organized civil societies that the president gave this directive last year pursuant to his desire for improved service delivery under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Mr. Uchenna Arisukwu, Civil Society Advisor to OGPN

The dialogue, which was at the instance of the Secretariat of the Open Government Partnership Nigeria, aimed at strategizing on leveraging the presidential initiative for improved service delivery to Nigerians and followed on the heel of a 3-day retreat in co-creating Nigeria's fourth national action plan.

ED CLSD, Mr. Monday Osasa (l), Vahyala Kwaga and  Precious Adigwe

The MDAs' engagement with civil societies is in addition to the the ministerial briefings already in place and hosted by the Federal Ministry of Information.

The development underscores President Tinubu's commitment to service delivery, transparency and accountability and citizenship participation in governance. 

the event had leaders of civil societies across the nation and spanning wide interest range in attendance. 

 

Prioritize Workers Welfare, NSITF Boss Tells Employers

Barrister Oluwaseun Faleye, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund has called on employers of labour in Nigeria to prioritize workers welfare by complying with the Employee Compensation Act.

Speaking Wednesday, at 4th edition of the Nigeria Employers Summit under the umbrella of National Employers Consultative Assembly, NECA, in Abuja, Barrister Faleye said welfare of workers as key stakeholders in enterprise ecosystem must be prioritized above every other consideration. 

Barrister Faleye, who was sympathetic towards labour employers in the private sector for numerous challenges they faced, nevertheless,  stated that stakeholders must "understand that in order to create sustainability that we envisaged, we must pay attention to the welfare and safety of the critical stakeholders within that value chain: the workers." He opined that, "It is by adhering to laws such as the Employees Compensation Act through which the Employees Compensation Scheme came about that this can be achieved."

Earlier in his speech, Barrister Faleye acknowledged the mutual commitment of NSITF and NECA to advancement of workers welfare especially, in the private sector. He further lauded the leadership role of the NECA in partnering NSITF to better the lot of the Nigerian workers.He promised to keep engaging stakeholders such as NECA with a view to ensuring compliance and thereby assuring the welfare of every Nigerian worker is assured.