News
Enugu gov’t queries 164 civil servants for absenteeism
By ALEX ENEBELI
The Enugu State Monitoring Team on Work Attendance and Productivity, has directed the issuance of queries to over 164 civil servants in Ezeagu Council Area of Enugu State for absenteeism.
The government also read the riot act to civil servants in the state on being punctual at work.
The monitoring team directed the issuance of the queries when it paid an unscheduled visit to the Ezeagu Local Government headquarters on Monday.
Uche Anichukwu, the Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Peter Mbah on External Relations, gave this indication in a statement on Friday.
Anichukwu said the team which was received by the Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Administration, Mrs Lorita Akwuchie, paid the unscheduled visit following a video, which went viral on social media, showing the local government headquarters deserted on Friday.
This, he said, is contrary to the directive by the Mbah administration to civil servants in the state to revive productivity by working five days in a week.
According to him, the voice-over in the viral video narrated that no single staff was found on duty, a development that has drawn the wrath of the government and the general public.
He recalled that the Mbah Administration was currently undertaking a staff audit of local government areas (LGAs) as it emerged that many of the people on the payroll, who also transit to the state pension payroll, do not come to work at all.
He noted that many others live outside the state and the country even as they draw salaries and other benefits from the local government system.
Anichukwu disclosed that while taking a tour of all the offices and departments in the council headquarters, the team, led by the Head of Service, Mr Kenneth Ugwu, met only 36 out of the over 200 council workers.
He listed other members of the team to include the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ken Chukwuegbo; Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Enugu State Chapter, Comrade Ben Asogwa, and the Chairman, Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Comrade Ezekiel Omeh.
“The team vowed that the acts of negligence and absence from duty without permission by the council workers will not go unpunished and reminded civil servants across the state that productivity remained the watchword in Gov. Mbah’s Administration.
“The Head of Service, Mr Ugwu, directed that queries be issued to all the council workers not found on duty.
“As you are aware, the administration is carrying out a diligent audit of local government workforce in the state. The standard is that you must not only come to work, you must also have assigned responsibilities and show proof of fulfilling them.
“We are also introducing electronic clock-in and the watchword is productivity because that is the only way to build our economy from $4.4bn to $30bn.
“Every segment of the society and every arm and every organ of government must contribute their quota for that growth to be possible,” he said. (NAN)
Gunmen on Thursday night ambushed and beheaded a 30-year-old man, Elisha Abbas Saku, at Riwhie-Chwo in Nzharuvo, Miango District of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The incident occurred around 10 pm when the gunmen stormed the community, throwing residents into panic and confusion.
A statement issued on Friday by the Irigwe Youth Movement described the killing as a brutal ambush.
The group’s National Publicity Secretary, Joseph Yonkpa, who signed the statement, prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul while calling for divine comfort for the entire Irigwe Nation.
“Yesterday night, 16th April 2026, gunmen ambushed and beheaded Mr. Elisha Abbas Saku, 30 years old, at Riwhie-Chwo, Nzharuvo, Miango District of Bassa LGA, Plateau State,” the report stated. “May his soul rest in peace, and may God comfort the entire Irigwe Nation.”
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the release of results for 632,788 candidates who participated in the first day of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), held on Thursday.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Board’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, on Friday.
According to the Board, candidates can now access their results by sending “UTMERESULT” via SMS to either 55019 or 66019, using the same phone number registered during the examination process.
At this stage, only result viewing is available, as printing of result slips has not yet been enabled.
JAMB emphasised that the UTME exercise is still ongoing, adding that additional batches of results will be released progressively as marking and processing continue.
The Board also issued a stern warning against any attempts to manipulate or falsify results.
It cautioned candidates against altering SMS messages received from its official platforms to misrepresent their scores to others, including parents and guardians.
JAMB Releases Results of 632,788 Candidates from Day One of the 2026 UTME
The results of candidates who sat the 2026 UTME on Thursday, 16 April 2026, have been released and are now available for viewing.
To check their results, candidates should send UTMERESULT via SMS to 55019…
— Fabian Benjamin (@FabianB58246501) April 17, 2026
Describing such actions as a serious criminal offence, JAMB disclosed that it has already taken action against offenders. “Two candidates and one parent are currently in custody for engaging in result falsification using AI and other electronic means,” the statement revealed.
The Board reiterated that anyone found guilty of such misconduct would face the full weight of the law.
JAMB urged candidates to adhere strictly to official channels and maintain integrity throughout the examination process, as it continues efforts to ensure a credible and transparent admissions system in Nigeria.
The Arewa APC Forum, Kano State chapter, has announced the withdrawal of its support for the second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, citing concerns over governance and leadership direction.
In a statement dated April 17, 2026, the forum said its decision followed “extensive consultations and careful reflection” on the state of affairs at the federal level.
The group stated that it could no longer, “in good conscience,” continue to support the current administration, which it criticised over alleged issues including nepotism, incompetence, and corruption.
“We believe that leadership must inspire confidence, uphold fairness, and demonstrate a sincere commitment to national unity, institutional integrity, and responsible governance,” the statement read.
It added that where such values are persistently undermined, “silence becomes complicity.”
The forum further declared that its confidence in the current political direction has been withdrawn, urging its members to align with this position in future political engagements.
The statement was signed by Sallah Hakilu Kibiya, chairman of the forum in Kano State.
The development signals potential cracks within support structures linked to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly in the northern region, as political alignments begin to shift ahead of the next electoral cycle.
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