… Beneficiaries to begin enjoying financial benefits immediately
The Kwara State Government has issued promotion letters to over 2,000 civil servants who participated in the 2024 promotion exercise, reaffirming its commitment to workers’ welfare and career progression in the state public service.
Chairman of the State Civil Service Commission, Hajia Habibat Yusuf, disclosed this in Ilorin, noting that the exercise followed the approval of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
According to her, more than 2,000 officers sat for the 2024 promotion examinations and interviews, with an impressive pass rate of 98.87 percent.
She explained that civil servants who have received their promotion letters will immediately begin to enjoy the financial benefits attached to their new ranks.
Hajia Yusuf commended the governor for prioritising the welfare of workers, adding that adequate funds and logistics were provided to Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure the smooth conduct of the promotion exercise.
She said the support from government has strengthened efficiency and boosted productivity across the state civil service.
The commission chairman urged the newly promoted officers and other public servants to remain dedicated, proactive, loyal, and committed to delivering quality service to the people of Kwara State.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Chief Idris Olorunnimbe, has charged the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) to urgently prioritise the zero-rating of educational websites, describing it as a high-impact intervention that can immediately widen access to learning resources for millions of Nigerians.
“If we are serious about inclusive growth, then access to learning materials cannot remain a privilege,” the NCC Chairman said. “ALTON must lead on practical steps like zero-rating credible educational platforms so that students and teachers, regardless of location or income, can learn without the barrier of data costs.”
Chief Olorunnimbe gave the charge when ALTON, led by its Chairman, Engineer Gbenga Adebayo, paid a courtesy visit to him at the Ikoyi Office of the Commission.
The meeting, which focused on strengthening collaboration for the growth of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, also highlighted the industry’s role in national development priorities, particularly expanding digital inclusion and human capital development.
“This is about ensuring that no child is left behind in the digital age,” he added. “It aligns squarely with Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda on inclusive, quality education, and it is a clear area where telecom operators can make an immediate, measurable difference.”
Underscoring the significance of the sector, Chief Olorunnimbe described telecommunications as the central nervous system of the economy, noting that when networks fail, it leads to significant disruption key economic drivers areas such as commerce, education, healthcare and governance.
Without compromising on the objectives of fairness, accountability and integrity, he renewed the pledge of the NCC to the visiting delegation to provide and drive growth describing the regulator – operator relationship as that of ‘partners in progress.’
Chief Olorunnimbe also reaffirmed the independence of the Commission, stating that regulatory decisions would continue to be guided by national interest and institutional integrity.
According to him, enforcement of the Critical National Infrastructure designation must be strengthened, insisting that accountability for infrastructure damage should be non-negotiable.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Engineer Adebayo, Chairman, ALTON congratulated the chairman on his appointment assuring him of working on his charge on zero-rating digital educational platforms among other salient contributions. He noted the significance of such a move in nation-building promising to rally members of the association behind the idea after due deliberation and engagements.
The ALTON leadership commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his policy reforms noting that Nigerians are seeing the result of some of the reforms. According to him, the forex reforms for instance, has helped restored stability and investor confidence within the ecosystems.
Adebayo also lauded the NCC for their pivotal role in resolving the N300 billion USSD debt owned by banks. He said, “The USSD debt crisis accumulated over four years to nearly ₦300 billion and posed systemic risks to the telecoms and digital financial ecosystem.
“However, through regulatory intervention, the system was migrated to end-user billing and the outstanding debt was eliminated, converting what was a looming crisis into a sustainable framework,” Adebayo said.
… Commiserates with Toyin Saraki, Ojora Family on Passing of Patriarch
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has expressed his sympathy to former First Lady Mrs. Toyin Saraki and the Ojora family of Lagos following the death of their patriarch, Otunba Adekunle Ojora.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Governor described the late industrialist as an accomplished journalist, respected business leader, and community figure whose legacy would endure. He urged the family to take comfort in Ojora’s lifetime of contributions to media, industry, and public life.
Governor AbdulRazaq prayed for strength and fortitude for the bereaved, encouraging them to uphold the values and vision left behind by their late patriarch.
… ER-KANG flags off $20m lithium factory, announces $15m pharmaceutical project in boost to state’s industrial drive
#KwaraRising
Kwara State has attracted at least two foreign direct investments valued at about $35m, reinforcing Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s push for industrialisation, value addition, and economic growth in the state.
The investments were disclosed when Sun Qing Rong, team lead of ER-KANG Company Limited, briefed the Governor on the progress of the firm’s operations in Kwara. Rong said the company has completed and commenced operations at its $20m lithium processing factory, in line with the state government’s policy of promoting local manufacturing rather than exporting raw materials.
According to him, the lithium plant currently employs over 300 workers, the majority of whom are indigenes of Kwara State. He explained that the facility processes lithium into finished and semi-finished materials, adding value before supply to the market.
Rong also announced plans for a pharmaceutical manufacturing company in the state, valued at more than $15m, noting that preparatory work for the project has been largely completed. He said the pharmaceutical plant would be developed in two phases, covering large infusion and small-volume injection production, to address shortages of such products in the Nigerian market.
“This is one of the fruits of the meeting we held with His Excellency in Beijing about two years ago. Today, the lithium plant has been completed and is fully operational. This year, we are also starting the pharmaceutical company with the support of the state government,” Rong said.
He added that the firm is exploring partnerships with the Kwara State Government around the proposed industrial park and commended the administration for creating what he described as an enabling and investor-friendly environment. He also noted that ER-KANG Company maintains a strong sense of social responsibility within its host communities.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq welcomed the investments, describing them as significant milestones that would generate employment, facilitate technology transfer, and stimulate economic activities in the state.
“We are willing to support you and other investors to do more in our state,” the Governor said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to sustaining a favourable climate for both local and foreign investments.
Other members of the ER-KANG delegation included the company’s lawyer, Barrister Ibrahim Atanda; Project Architect, Arch. Sayi Yekeen; Quality Control Supervisor, Shuai Hai Tao; Factory Manager, Cao Zheng Hai; Pharmaceutical Manager, Xie Chuan Li; and Administrative Manager, Mi Guang Hua.
The Special Adviser on Special Duties to the Governor, Alhaji AbdulRazaq Jiddah, also attended the meeting.
…Governor describes late cleric as one of Ilorin’s finest Muslim scholars
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Imam Solih (OON), who passed away on Monday morning in Abuja at the age of 75.
In a condolence message issued on Monday, the Governor said the death of the Chief Imam was a painful loss to Ilorin Emirate, Kwara State, and the wider Muslim community.
AbdulRazaq described the late Sheikh Muhammad Bashir as a leading light in Islamic scholarship, noting that he represented one of the finest traditions of Muslim learning in the history of Ilorin.
“The passing of the Chief Imam, shocking and saddening as it is, reminds us that even great men answer the call of their Creator,” the Governor said.
He noted that the late cleric would be remembered for his depth of knowledge, patience, humility, and his conduct as the spiritual leader of Muslims in the state.
The Governor extended his condolences to the Emir of Ilorin, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari (OFR), the Ilorin Emirate, the Kwara State Council of Ulamah, and the family of the deceased.
He prayed Allah to forgive the shortcomings of the late Chief Imam, accept his service, grant him Al-jannah Firdaus, and give his family and the Muslim community the strength to bear the loss.
Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Imam Solih served as Chief Imam of Ilorin until his death and was widely respected for his scholarship and leadership across the state.
… Late Spiritual Leader Served as Emirate’s 12th Chief Imam for Over Four Decades
The Chief Imam of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Ulama, His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad Bashir Solih, OON, has passed away. He served as the 12th Chief Imam of the Ilorin Emirate, a position he held for over four decades following his appointment in 1983.
His death marks the end of an era for the Ilorin Muslim community, where he provided spiritual leadership and guidance for generations. Official confirmation of his passing was announced early Monday.
Funeral arrangements and succession plans are expected to be communicated by the Ilorin Emirate Council and the Ulama Council in the coming days.
The Kwara State Police Command wishes to confirm that on Wednesday, 31st December, 2025, it received six (6) vigilante members who were earlier arrested by personnel of the Nigerian Army along the Auchi–Ikpeshi Road in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.
The Vigilante, travelling in a vehicle belonging to Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, was formally handed over to the Kwara State Police Command by the Brigade Commander, 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi Barracks, Ilorin, Brigadier General N. N. Rume, for the purpose of investigation and profiling.
Following a thorough investigation, it was established that the individuals are legitimate members of vigilante groups operating in collaboration with recognised security agencies in the ongoing efforts to combat banditry and other forms of criminality. Consequently, having been exonerated of any criminal wrongdoing, the vigilante members were released to their respective leaders.
The Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, CP Ojo Adekimi, psc, mnips, reiterates the Command’s commitment to synergy among security agencies and community-based security outfits, while urging all groups to continually operate within the confines of the law. Members of the public are assured that the Command remains steadfast in its resolve to ensure the safety and security of all residents of Kwara State.
SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi anipr Police Public Relations Officer. For:- The Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, Ilorin.
…Head of Service says TSA remained in force until December 2025, clarifies 30% Peculiar Allowance applies to core civil servants only
The Kwara State Government has dismissed claims circulating in parts of the media over the implementation of teachers’ allowances, describing them as misleading and unfounded.
In a press release issued on Sunday by the Office of the Head of Service, the government clarified issues surrounding the 30 per cent Peculiar Allowance and the Teachers Specific Allowance (TSA) of 27.5 per cent and 21 per cent.
The statement responded to allegations by some teachers that the TSA had ceased several years ago, that teachers were excluded from the 30 per cent Peculiar Allowance enjoyed by other civil servants, and that the allowance structure now allows a Grade Level 04 officer in the core civil service to earn more than a Grade Level 07 teacher.
According to the Office of the Head of Service, the TSA was approved following an agreement signed between the Nigerian Governors Forum and the Nigeria Union of Teachers on August 6, 2008. The allowance was implemented in 2010 and remained in effect until December 2025, when the Kwara State Government approved a comprehensive review of the allowance in line with teachers’ certifications as recognised by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria. The revised structure, the statement said, is scheduled to take effect from January 2026. On the issue of the Peculiar Allowance, the government explained that the 40 per cent Peculiar Allowance approved by the Federal Government applies specifically to workers in the core civil service as part of a salary harmonisation effort. The allowance was introduced to address remuneration gaps, as other categories of workers already enjoy profession-based allowances or enhanced salary structures.
The statement noted that health workers, judicial workers, tertiary institution staff, and other categories of workers with specific allowances are excluded from the Peculiar Allowance. Teachers, it added, fall within this category due to the TSA and other sector-specific benefits.
The Office of the Head of Service further emphasised that the introduction of the Peculiar Allowance in Kwara State is a new initiative, reflecting the current administration’s focus on workers’ welfare. It highlighted several interventions in the education sector, including the payment of 345 per cent outstanding salary arrears dating back to 2016, the clearance of promotion arrears from 2015, regular approval of annual promotions up to 2025, and the bridging of salary disparities between teachers under the Teaching Service Commission and the State Universal Basic Education Board.
Other measures listed include regular capacity-building programmes for teachers since 2019 and the restoration of annual incremental steps over the past three years.
The government maintained that despite the implementation of the 30 per cent Peculiar Allowance for core civil servants, teachers’ salaries remain higher than those of their counterparts on the same grade levels in the ministries. It stressed that allowances are meant to promote salary balance rather than create competition among workers.
The statement also reminded workers that the state government retains the authority to review remuneration based on available resources and sustainability considerations. It advised that all grievances should be channelled through recognised trade unions and urged public servants to comply with Public Service Rules regarding media engagements.
The statement was signed by the Press Secretary to the Office of the Head of Service, Okanlawon Solomon.
The Offa Local Government has taken note of reports circulating regarding a suspected ordnance-related incident that occurred within the precinct of the Offa Yidi Praying Ground on December 25, 2025. The affected area has been cordoned off by security agencies to allow for further investigations.
The Executive Chairman, Hon. Suleiman Olatunji Omituntun, alongside the Special Adviser on Political Matters to the Governor, Hon. Femi Agbaje Whyte, and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Offa Division, visited the location immediately after the incident to assess the situation firsthand.
The Executive Chairman urges all residents of Offa to remain calm, vigilant, and law-abiding. Citizens are advised to verify information through credible and official sources to avoid the spread of fear and misinformation.
The Local Government remains fully committed to the safety, security, and well-being of the people and will continue to work closely with relevant authorities until investigations are concluded. Further official updates will be issued as soon as verified information becomes available.
Abiola Azeez Babatunde Chief Press Secretary To the Executive Chairman, Offa Local Government 26th December, 2025
Your strides are visible, Senator Mustapha, AGF, Speaker, others
Cabinet members roll out cross sector achievements
Security remains a top priority: Gov
Kwara APC stakeholders and thought leaders were awestruck on Monday evening as cabinet members took turns to give data, figures, and footages of how far the Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has gone in delivering its campaign promises across the state.
Commissioner for Works Abdulquawy Olododo said official records show that the Abdulrazaq administration now has more completed, ongoing, or facilitated (tax credit) road projects than the three previous administrations since 1999 combined.
He said the administration has completed 302.4kms of roads between 2019 and now, has 275.25km ongoing, including the 209.7km under RAAMP, along with the 294km tax credit road — totaling 871.65km of roads.
“Between 1999 and 2019, available records show that a total of 651.2km roads were done by the three administrations of His Excellencies Mohammed Lawal, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, and Abdulfatah Ahmed, including the 120km FG-funded Chickanda Road under Senator Saraki. When you juxtapose these records, it is clear that His Excellency AbdulRazaq has surpassed that record today,” Olododo said, backing his presentation with footages of achievements of the administration.
Commissioner for Finance Dr. Hauwa Nuhu said the government has also implemented two minimum wages and paid more counterpart funds than any previous administrations, restating the commitment of the Governor to the wellbeing of Kwarans, including civil servants.
She said the administration has grown the state’s internal revenue from N30.6bn in 2019 to N87.1bn as at Dec 19, 2025 — more than 100 per cent growth in six years.
She mentioned that the administration has cleared all salary and pension arrears the administration inherited — while 100% CONMESS and CONHESS have also been paid and a new 27.5% Teachers Specific Allowance (TSA) has just been approved.
Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, who detailed the trajectory of school infrastructure and other efforts of the government, said the AbdulRazaq administration has hired 8,912 teachers, constructed more than 2,000 classrooms, and bridged gaps in staff welfare, including fixing promotion arrears since 2016 to date.
A presentation on the urban renewal initiative and the Kwara Smart City added vistas to the event as Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development Dr. Segun Ogunsola explained the vision and the steps so far taken, including the construction work on the Kwara State University of Education.
Dignitaries at the event said the achievements of the Governor are unprecedented, phenomenal, visible to all, and laudable within the context of Kwara’s sociopolitical history.
Senator Salihu Mustapha (Kwara Central) said: “With these achievements that we have seen here today, I think it’s a thing of joy that it is in our lifetime that we have a Governor who, in his quiet moment, has been able to achieve this. If anybody has told us that the state has progressed to this level, we will not believe it but we have seen it first hand.
“From today, I am one of those who will carry the flag out there and say come to Kwara and see what the Governor has done. This is a gathering of APC family and it indicates that we were not wrong in the choice of our leader.
“We have seen the human capital development, we have seen the infrastructural development, we have seen the social welfare, what else do you need in a society again? All we need to do is to continue to pray and beg Allah for a peaceful co-existence.
“For me at the end of this programme, Kwarans should go on a celebration galore because in the last 16 years before His Excellency, I don’t think anybody can boast of infrastructural development like this. I want to thank His Excellency, who has led us this far and also to the committed team God has given him.”
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Prince Lateef Fagbemi said the Governor has done very well, calling on critics to be fair in pointing out areas they want improvements on as no system is ever perfect.
“I want to say that the meeting of today is not just to eat. We have been treated to the achievements of the Governor. Believe me, if you bring a blind man to Kwara State, he would know and appreciate that developments are taking place,” he said.
“Don’t let us be sentimental. We are all living witnesses to the good performance of this administration. If we allow this chance to slip away we will all suffer for it. We are bound to disagree but the solution is not in destroying ourselves.
“When the thing is not going in the way you think, or perceive, and the way you would have loved it to be, the solution is not in destroying the programme. We have seen how the Governor has managed labour issues. We have also seen his achievements in education and healthcare, and others.”
Speaker of the House of House of Assembly Engr. Salihu Yakubu-Danladi said the lawmakers in the state have always been convinced that the Governor is a superlative achiever whose footprints exist everywhere in the state.
His words: “On behalf of my colleagues in the 10th Assembly, I want to state that we have been part and parcel of this government in the last six years. Most of these achievements are what we see in every budget circle, just as we are aware that the Governor has just presented the 2026 budget today.
“The Governor of Kwara State has done wonderfully well in the 24 state constituencies. In all 193 wards, there are projects everywhere. Aside from the physical infrastructure, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has done very well in the areas of stomach infrastructure through social investment programmes.”
Director General, Nigeria Orientation Agency (NOA), Alhaji Issa Lanre Onilu, said with the catalogue of sectoral achievements projected at the event, Governor AbdulRazaq has performed beyond his initial estimation.
He enjoined AbdulRazaq to focus more on how to sustain some of his legacy projects, including the iconic Garment Factory, Innovation Hub, and the Kwara Smart City.
“I have always thanked our Governor and our leader for the wonderful job he is doing. But let me admit that even when I was commending him, I didn’t know this much. So, the commendations I gave to him were based on what I saw. But what I have seen today is far more than what I have ever imagined.
“I want to say clearly that we all have every reason to be proud of what has happened in the last six years. If you are not proud of it, it means you really do not know what is on the ground.
“The people I want to talk to are those in charge of our communication: please do not fall into the trap of exchanging words with the people who set us back for several years. They want you to discuss politics, they want you to discuss the mundane and irrelevant things, but let me tell you clearly that you have a lot to showcase. Focus on what we have done in the last six years, focus on the development in all the local government areas that people can see and feel. As far as governance is concerned, we have done well and Otoge has proven to be a remarkable success for this state.”
Director General, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Dr. Abdullateef Shittu, commended the Governor’s style of leadership both as NGF Chairman and as Governor of the state.
He described AbdulRazaq as a leader who is calm but firm, consultative but decisive, and one who is grounded in institutional respect.
“This gathering speaks to a deeper leadership instinct: the understanding that political success is sustained when dialogue remains open, when differences are managed with wisdom, and when collective responsibility is placed above individual ambition. These are values that Kwara State has come to be known for under the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq,” he said.
State ALGON Chairman, Hon. Abdullahi Abubakar Danladi, said no single political ward in the state has not benefitted one form of capital project or the other, adding that the impacts are already being felt.
Amb. Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki, Dr. Amina Ahmed and Engr Nurudeen Adeyemi, who spoke for the three Senatorial Districts, commended the Governor’s style of leadership, his political tolerance, and a dedication to rewrite the story of Kwara.
In a short address to party leaders and thought leaders who attended the event, Governor AbdulRazaq said “I am just interested in building a legacy of leaving this state far more than I met it, a legacy of a state that is viable. I am not interested in building a dynasty, and I urge that we work together for a greater state”.
He also spoke extensively on security matters, giving insights into the successes and the challenges and reassuring the people of the government’s commitment to rid the state of kidnappers and terrorists.
He acknowledged the support of President Bola Tinubu whose economic policies the Governor said has freed up resources with which the government is able to expand infrastructure at various layers.
Governor Abdulrazaq commended everyone for turning up for the event, which he said was a continuation of the parley that held in Abuja a few weeks ago.
Rafiu Ajakaye Chief Press Secretary to the Governor December 23, 2025
