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“We’ll Right the Wrong!” – Bamidele on How Amendments Will End Structural Inequality
Affirms that no group will be left out of the zonal hearings....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has reassured Nigerians that the upcoming zonal public hearings on proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution will be broad-based, inclusive, and open to meaningful participation by all.
Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, gave the assurance in a midterm statement released on Tuesday.
“The Constitution Review Committee is set to begin zonal public hearings soon. We guarantee Nigerians that the process will be inclusive and participatory,” he stated.
The Senate Leader underscored the need for comprehensive constitutional reforms to address Nigeria’s long-standing structural imbalances and strengthen democratic governance.
Reflecting on the progress of the 10th Assembly, Bamidele noted that while significant legislative strides had been made, the vision of the National Assembly extends beyond bill passage.
“Our legislative agenda is not just about numbers; it demonstrates our expanded oversight role and commitment to addressing the concerns of Nigerians,” he said.
Between June 2023 and June 2025, the Senate introduced 983 bills—477 in the first session and 506 in the second—marking a 6% rise. More notably, bill passage rose by 232%, from 25 in the first session to 83 in the second. The number of executive bills passed also doubled from 13 to 26.
Bamidele highlighted the Student Loan (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2024 and the Tax Reform Bills, 2025 as key milestones. He revealed that the student loan programme, administered by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), had received over one million applications, with over 500,000 students already benefitting.
“This is real and measurable progress in human capital development,” he noted.
On the economic front, he said the tax reform bills, now awaiting presidential assent, are expected to boost investor confidence and help expand Nigeria’s GDP from $363.8 billion to $1 trillion by 2030.
Responding to critics who describe the National Assembly as a rubber stamp of the executive, Bamidele defended the legislature’s approach as one of constructive engagement rather than confrontation.
“Unlike previous Assemblies whose adversarial stance sometimes hindered governance, the 10th Assembly has opted for engagement without compromising constitutional autonomy,” he explained.
He also noted the Assembly’s increased oversight role, with petitions reviewed rising from 50 to 80, and 215 executive appointments confirmed in the first session alone.
Looking ahead, he outlined the Senate’s legislative priorities to include achieving fiscal and monetary stability, strengthening infrastructure and security, and tackling inflation. He also reaffirmed that electoral reform remains a critical focus.
“We must collectively build a political system that mirrors our aspirations and safeguards our democracy,” Bamidele said.
Reiterating the Senate’s commitment to deepening democracy and national development, he urged citizens to actively engage with the ongoing legislative process.
“We are prepared for the journey ahead and invite all Nigerians to walk it with us,” he concluded.
The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) began nationwide on Thursday, with over 2.2 million candidates expected to participate across accredited centres.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The exam, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), will run from April 16 to April 22 in multiple daily sessions.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, urged examination officials to remain highly committed and professional, noting that the success of the exercise depends largely on their dedication.
He gave the charge during a virtual final briefing for technical officers ahead of the examination, where he also praised staff, ad hoc personnel, service providers, and technical advisers for their roles in the successful conduct of the mock exam.
Oloyede said many of the issues recorded during the mock exercise were due to poor assessment of centres by some technical officials.
He further stated that incentive packages would be awarded to teams that perform exceptionally, particularly in handling exam materials and submitting timely reports.
Reiterating JAMB’s zero-tolerance stance on malpractice, he warned candidates against bringing prohibited items into examination halls.
He also disclosed that biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems have been deployed to protect the integrity of the exercise.
Candidates whose biometrics cannot be verified, he added, will be rescheduled to write the exam at approved centres.
Meanwhile, a NAN correspondent monitoring proceedings at Aduvie International School, Jahi, reported that the first session scheduled for 8:30 a.m. began slightly behind schedule at about 8:40 a.m.
The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, on Thursday inspected security deployments at Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to the FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the inspection is part of proactive measures to ensure a smooth, peaceful, and hitch-free conduct of the ongoing examinations.
The UTME is scheduled to run nationwide from April 16 to 18, 2026.
During the exercise, CP Sanusi assessed security arrangements put in place to safeguard candidates, examination officials, and CBT facilities.
He also engaged with centre supervisors, assuring them of adequate security presence throughout the examination period.
Adeh added that the CP reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order, warning that any attempt to disrupt the examinations would be met with decisive action in line with the law.
Over 700 former terrorists who have undergone deradicalisation and rehabilitation are set to be reintegrated into their communities.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Nigerian military has also dismissed reports alleging that beneficiaries of Operation Safe Corridor are being recruited into military institutions.
According to African Independent Television, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier-General Yusuf Ali, made this known during a media tour of the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre in Gombe, North-East Nigeria.
He said many Nigerians still misunderstand the Federal Government’s structured counter-terrorism initiative, which is designed to restore peace in communities affected by insurgency.
Brigadier-General Ali explained that the programme focuses on rehabilitation and peaceful reintegration of repentant individuals into society.
During the tour, some of the participants also shared accounts of their involvement in offences that led to their admission into the programme.
The facility inspection was part of preparations for the graduation of over 700 clients who have completed the deradicalisation and rehabilitation process and are set for reintegration.
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