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The House of Representatives has passed a Bill seeking to remove personnel of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), setting the stage for a distinct pension system dedicated exclusively to police officers. The proposed legislation, titled A Bill for an Act to Establish the Nigeria Police Force Pension Board, is designed to create a more effective and transparent framework for managing the pensions and gratuities of serving and retired police personnel. Under the new arrangement, police officers will be exempted from the Pension Reform Act’s contributory scheme and will instead be entitled to 85 per cent of their total emoluments as pension. The move aims to ensure timely and equitable payment of benefits to all retired members of the Force. Read Also: BUK Alumni Celebrate Kankarofi’s Elevation, Describe Him as Pride of 1992 Set The Bill, which now awaits the Senate’s concurrence before transmission to the President for assent, also seeks to amend Section 5(1a) of the Pension Reform Act, 2014, to include the Nigeria Police Force among the groups already excluded from the scheme—alongside members of the Armed Forces and intelligence services. Once signed into law, the legislation will establish the Nigeria Police Pension Board, to be headed by a Director-General—a serving officer not below the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG)—and a Secretary, who must be a senior police officer and a lawyer with at least ten years of post-call experience. The new board will assume full responsibility for administering and paying pensions and gratuities to retired officers, taking over these functions from the National Pension Commission (PenCom). It will also oversee the disbursement of compassionate gratuities, death benefits, and other entitlements to the next of kin of deceased officers. According to Section 14, “There shall be charged on and paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation, all such sums of money as may be granted by the Federal Government by way of pension and gratuity in accordance with this Bill.” Section 15 outlines eligibility criteria, stating that no officer shall receive pension or gratuity unless they have served 35 years or reached the age of 60, whichever comes first. It also provides benefits in cases of voluntary retirement after ten years, compulsory retirement, or medical incapacity. The law further provides under Section 17 that a pension granted under this Bill shall not be less than 85 per cent of total emoluments, while additional pensions granted due to injuries shall not exceed 100 per cent of the highest pensionable emoluments during service. Section 19 stipulates that if a retired officer dies within five years of retirement, the next of kin shall continue receiving the same pension for the remainder of that period. Section 21 also protects pensions and gratuities from seizure or transfer, except for debts owed to the Federal Government or court-ordered payments. The passage of the Bill marks a major milestone in addressing the long-standing concerns of police officers over inadequate pension management under the current contributory system.  

President Bola Tinubu has officially sworn in Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The swearing-in ceremony took place on Thursday inside the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), took the oath of office at exactly 1:50 p.m. Dressed in a white agbada with a gold cap, Amupitan arrived at the State House earlier in the day, exchanging pleasantries with dignitaries and guests before the ceremony commenced. While addressing the new INEC boss, President Tinubu urged him to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system and enhance the institutional capacity of the commission. The president said Amupitan must ensure the credibility of future polls by upholding fairness, professionalism, and transparency. Read Also: Tinubu Seeks Senate Confirmation of Bernard Doro as Minister Amupitan’s swearing-in came a week after the Senate confirmed his appointment following a screening exercise on October 16. During his appearance before lawmakers, the 58-year-old law professor outlined plans to reform Nigeria’s electoral process, strengthen institutional independence, and rebuild public confidence in INEC. “We must conduct elections where even the loser will congratulate the winner and say, ‘You won fairly and well.’ When that happens, voters’ confidence will naturally be restored,” Amupitan told senators during his confirmation hearing. He also pledged to prioritise amendments to the Electoral Act, eliminate grey areas in election timelines, and improve transparency in the conduct of polls. Amupitan refuted claims of his alleged involvement in President Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 presidential election petition, saying, “I never appeared before the Presidential Election Tribunal or the Supreme Court for any of the parties,” stressing his neutrality and independence. Following his swearing-in, the new INEC chairman is expected to assume office immediately and begin the transition process at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. He succeeds Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure as INEC chairman ended on October 7, 2025, making him the sixth substantive head of the commission since its establishment.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its two-week warning strike, granting the Federal Government a one-month grace period to finalise the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and resolve other lingering issues affecting the nation’s public universities. ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, made this known on Wednesday at a press briefing in Abuja, stating that the suspension followed constructive engagements with the Federal Government and crucial interventions by the National Assembly. Piwuna explained that the union had declared the warning strike on October 13, 2025, after the government failed to respond to repeated appeals to address long-standing issues relating to the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and the welfare of university lecturers. Read Also: Kukah Warns Against Labeling Nigeria a Country of Concern, Cites Tinubu’s Inclusive Leadership “When we gathered here about 10 days ago to painfully declare a warning strike, it was a decision that left us with no other choice. The government had ignored our repeated overtures to address issues critical to the survival of Nigeria’s public universities,” he said. According to him, following the commencement of the strike, the Federal Government re-engaged ASUU through a committee led by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, which met with the union’s representatives on October 16 and 18 to review the government’s response to the draft renegotiated agreement. The ASUU president noted that although not all issues were resolved, the meetings recorded significant progress compared to earlier stages. Piwuna also commended the interventions of the Senate Committees on Tertiary Education and TETFund, and Labour, as well as the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, whose mediation efforts, he said, rekindled hope for lasting peace in the university system. He disclosed that after an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held between October 21 and 22, 2025, ASUU reviewed the developments and resolved that the warning strike had achieved part of its goal, particularly by compelling the government to return to the negotiation table. “While noting that more work remains to be done, NEC resolved to suspend the warning strike to allow for a conducive atmosphere for further engagement,” Piwuna stated.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has launched an Integrated ISO Policy designed to deepen quality assurance, operational safety, and environmental sustainability across all Nigerian airports. The policy was unveiled on Monday by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, who was represented by the Director of Human Resources and Administration, Dr. Luqman Emiola. Speaking during the unveiling, the Director of Special Duties, Mrs. Obiageli Orah, highlighted that the new ISO Policy was part of FAAN’s broader commitment to institutionalizing a culture of service excellence. She explained that the audit-driven policy aims to measure FAAN’s performance in maintaining quality operations, customer satisfaction, and environmental responsibility. Read Also: Barau Jibrin Reaffirms Tinubu’s Commitment to Quality Healthcare, Inspects Seven Projects at AKTH According to her, the policy integrates two global standards—ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) and ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System (EMS)—into a single operational framework. Through this initiative, FAAN seeks to ensure consistent quality service delivery, enhance operational safety, and adopt sustainable practices across all airports under its management. Management disclosed that the Authority has achieved about 70 percent completion of the certification process, with external auditors expected to arrive in November to assess compliance and address identified gaps. FAAN targets full ISO certification by December 2025. In his goodwill message, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Henry Agbebire, commended Mrs. Kuku and the FAAN management team for their commitment to improving service delivery and operational standards. He reaffirmed the Authority’s dedication to embedding quality and sustainability principles in its operations, pledging continued support until full certification is achieved. Mrs. Kuku, represented at the event, emphasized that the ISO Policy reinforces FAAN’s operational principle that “if it is not documented, it is considered not done.” She explained that the new policy provides a standardized framework for internal audits and guides all directorates to ensure compliance with FAAN’s commitment to excellence, environmental stewardship, and safety. FAAN reiterated its dedication to aligning Nigeria’s airports with international best practices by ensuring safe, secure, efficient, and environmentally responsible operations. The Authority also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the environment, supporting host communities, and providing a conducive workplace for staff. In his closing remarks, the General Manager, Special Duties, appreciated FAAN management for their consistent support, describing the ISO initiative as a long-term investment in Nigeria’s aviation industry that will enhance safety and operational efficiency. The ISO, which stands for the International Organization for Standardization, is a global body that develops and publishes international standards to ensure quality, safety, and efficiency across industries worldwide. FAAN’s adoption of ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 demonstrates its commitment to achieving world-class airport operations and sustainability practices.