Breaking News
Breaking: ACF Refutes Endorsement Of Amnesty, Payment To Bandits
The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has refuted allegations of endorsing amnesty and payments to bandits, akin to late President Yarádua’s amnesty program for Niger Delta militants, dismissing a video clip, now trending on social media.
The National Publicity Secretary of the ACF Prof T. A. Muhammad-Baba said, the insinuation must have emanated from a recent interview granted to Arise News by Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, Wazirin Dutse, Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of the ACF, insisting that the piece in circulation was taken out of context, truncated and mischievously abstracted to reach some predetermined conclusions.
In a statement, Prof Muhammad-Baba said, “Mercifully, the full interview is available on digital platforms, easily accessible to anyone interested in the full details.”
He explained that it is not the tradition of the ACF to engage such “clandestine, shadowy or anonymous figures in public debate,” saying that given the gravity of the allegation, it has become necessary to clarify ACF’s stance on the subject.
The statement further explained, “First, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu spoke mostly in his personal capacity, only sporadically alluding to official perspectives. Second, right at the start of the interview, he had assertively and emphatically condemned the spate of terrorist activities in Nigeria and elsewhere in West Africa.
“He went on to call for the total annihilation of the terrorists and bandits and, thereby, the pervasive state of insecurity in Nigeria within the shortest period possible. Farther in the interview, he was unequivocal in emphasising that absolutely no one in the North, or Nigeria, is happy about the insecurity imbroglio, nor trying to shield bandits and other non-state actors perpetrating mayhem against people, as often wildly suggested.”
It said that Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu’s allusion to the Niger Delta Amnesty Program was in suggesting that all kinetic and non-kinetic pathways (as may be found expedient) to dealing with the insecurity problem should be employed by the government, including variants of late President Yarádua’s approach to solving the Niger Delta crisis.
The statement noted that “he did not categorically propose the unadulterated application of the same pathway, stating that anyone suggesting such solutions was only stating an opinion”.
He said nowhere in the interview did Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu refer to the terrorists and bandits with their primordial characteristics such as ethnicity, religion, stressing that “conclusions or impressions that suggest otherwise remain the vile reactions of some mischievous, clandestine and shadowy group(s) and/or individual(s)”.
“ACF hereby makes it categorically and unambiguously clear that at no time has the organisation called for any amnesty in favour of any terrorists or bandits and therefore rejects, in its entirety in its entirety, any insinuation to the contrary.
“As always, ACF pledges full and unalloyed support to the Government and the security agencies in their various endeavours to stamp out the scourge of terrorism and banditry in Nigeria.”
Breaking News
Ogun State Government Announces Pension, Gratuity Backlog Clearance Between 2012 and 2020
The Ogun State Government has announced the clearance of pension and gratuity arrears owed to workers who retired between 2012 and 2020, reaffirming its commitment to the welfare of retirees.
The Economic Adviser and Commissioner for Finance, Dapo Okubadejo, disclosed this on Tuesday during a media parley organised by the Ogun State Ministry of Budget and Planning.
Okubadejo explained that the backlog was linked to the Defined Benefits Scheme, under which retirees receive monthly pension payments, stressing that the present administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun has not defaulted on pension obligations since assuming office.
“Since the inception of this administration, we have not missed a single month of pension payment. What we inherited were arrears tied to the Defined Benefits Scheme,” he said.
According to him, annual pension payments rose from ₦6.7 billion in 2019 to ₦20 billion in 2025, with projections showing a possible increase to ₦40 billion by 2029.
He disclosed that the state had so far paid ₦23.3 billion in gratuities covering retirees from 2012 to 2020, alongside ₦32.8 billion in outstanding gratuities for local government retirees inherited by the administration.
Okubadejo added that between 2019 and July 2, 2025, the state disbursed ₦93.26 billion in pensions under the Defined Benefits Scheme and ₦94.78 billion to local government pensioners.
He assured that the remaining backlog would be cleared as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) continues to improve, noting that over 300 workers who retired in July 2025 are currently receiving six-month palliatives pending the completion of their pension documentation.
The commissioner also described the newly approved Additional Pension Benefits (APB) as the first of its kind in Nigeria, adding that amendments to the state’s pension law would be pursued to formally integrate the scheme.
On the state’s fiscal outlook, Okubadejo revealed that the 2026 budget increased from ₦1.054 trillion in 2025 to ₦1.668 trillion, while Ogun’s economy expanded from ₦3.5 trillion in 2019 to ₦18.96 trillion in 2026.
He added that IGR grew from ₦50 billion in 2019 to ₦240 billion in 2025, with projections of ₦512 billion this year.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Olaolu Olabimtan, said the 2026 budget reflects strong fiscal reforms, noting an 85 per cent budget execution rate in 2024 and sustained financial stability.
Other commissioners highlighted sectoral achievements, including massive road construction, increased healthcare funding, rail extension plans, education support programmes, and expanded housing projects across the state.
African Democratic Congress, ADC, chieftain, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to focus on the country’s future and vote for a change in leadership.
Obi spoke at a meeting with Hausa/Fulani chiefs in Abuja on Wednesday.
“We have to talk about the future of our country. All of you know what is happening to our country today. That’s why we are campaigning that you vote out this government,” he said.
He described the situation in Nigeria as dire, citing insecurity, hunger and hardship.
“today we have insecurity across Nigeria. We have hunger across Nigeria. We are suffering across Nigeria. The only thing that is working in Nigeria today is bad news. Every morning you wake up is bad news,” Obi stated.
The former Labour Party presidential candidate said a new administration would prioritize social services.
“We’re urging you to vote for a change and bring a new Nigeria, where our children will be in school. Our hospitals will work,” he added.
Obi also questioned government spending priorities, particularly in the health sector.
“today, if you’re sick in Nigeria you’re praying to Almighty God because we’re now in a country where our president spends 360 billion to buy and refit his plane and spends 36 million in capital vote for the Ministry of Health. There’s nothing working,” he said.
He appealed to Nigerians to use their votes to usher in what he described as a “new Nigeria” focused on improving citizens’ welfare and restoring key public services.
-
Breaking News2 months agoBreaking News: Nigerian Air Force Reportedly Kills 750 Terrorists in Borno State
-
Breaking News3 months agoTerrorists Want ₦2m ‘levy’ in Katsina Community Despite Peaceful Agreement
-
Breaking News4 months agoEx-EFCC Exhibit Keeper Kaduna Zonal Directorate, Allegedly Steals ₦22m
-
Breaking News5 months agoNiger Delta Group hails Tinubu, NUPRC for ₦373bn host community fund and 536 life-changing projects
-
News In Diaspora1 month agoNigerian JTF Arrests Woman Supplying Drugs to Boko Haram
-
Breaking News3 weeks agoNew Young Players are Coming in Super Eagles – Ibrahim Gusau to Fans
-
Business3 weeks agoBREAKING: No Fewer Than 28 Ships to deliver Petrol, other Commodities at Lagos Ports
-
Breaking News3 weeks agoEmergency: Arik Air Flight Landed at Benin Airport