General
Only 5% of Nigeria’s Private Sector Employers Invest in Childcare—Report
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A report published by the IFC and the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited has revealed that despite 67 per cent of working parents reporting that they were more productive at work when they had easier access to childcare, only 5 per cent of Nigeria’s private sector employers invest in childcare.
In the survey titled Investing in Childcare: A Game Changer for Businesses and the Nigerian Economy, it was submitted that improving family-friendly workplace policies in Nigeria, including access to quality childcare for parents, could boost private sector productivity and benefits employees, children, and businesses in the country.
According to the study, investing in childcare by offering on-site or near-site childcare services or the financial support to access childcare presents an opportunity for employers to improve employees’ productivity, reap efficiency improvements, and boost business outcomes.
The report estimates that by 2025, the demand for childcare services in Nigeria’s private sector will likely increase by 10 per cent. However, childcare providers face barriers to scale and meet the growing demand, especially because they lack access to formal capital and investments.
The study found that 76 per cent of childcare providers faced challenges in accessing formal financing, highlighting an opportunity for partnerships and investments in addressing market gaps.
The chief executive of the NGX, Mr Temi Popoola, said access to effective and affordable childcare is vital to ensuring a productive, engaged, and inclusive workforce.
“This report presents a compelling business case for stakeholders, both in the capital market and the broader private sector, to step up actions and collaborate on crucial measures to improve workplace solutions for childcare, as it will benefit companies, employees and the overall economy,” he said.
“Childcare and family-friendly work policies are often overlooked aspects of social and economic development—but they shouldn’t be,” said Dahlia Khalifa, IFC Director for Central Africa, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. “This report reinforces the value of expanding family-friendly workplace policies in Nigeria to support social and economic development.”
Launched on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, the report assessed the needs and challenges of 7,000 stakeholders, including employees, employers, and childcare providers. Demand for childcare in Nigeria is forecast to increase rapidly along with the country’s population.
The report’s research covers six commercial hubs in Nigeria: Enugu, FCT-Abuja, Kano, Lagos, Ogun, and Rivers.
It was funded by the IFC-led Nigeria2Equal Initiative, launched in 2020 in partnership with the exchange to increase women’s participation in the private sector.
Through the initiative, IFC and NGX are working with private sector companies listed on the exchange to implement gender-smart solutions that reduce gender gaps across leadership, employment, and entrepreneurship.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has declared Friday, April 3, and Monday, April 6, 2026, as public holidays to mark this year’s Easter celebration.
April 3 is Good Friday, while April 6 is Easter Monday.
The Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in a statement on Wednesday, congratulated Christians in Nigeria and the diaspora on the occasion.
Mr Tunji-Ojo urged Nigerians to reflect on the virtues associated with the season, saying, “I congratulate all Christians in Nigeria and in the diaspora on the joyous occasion of Easter. I urge Nigerians to imbibe the virtues of selflessness, forgiveness, forbearance and love as exemplified by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.”
He further called for unity among citizens, stressing the importance of peaceful coexistence.
“Easter is a period that reminds us of the values of tolerance and community that keep us together as a nation. Nigerians should remain committed to these ideals for the progress of our country,” the minister said.
Mr Tunji-Ojo also reiterated the federal government’s commitment to policies aimed at national development.
“The goal of the government remains taking decisions that would bring about national rebirth, economic growth, and shared prosperity for all Nigerians,” he added.
The minister wished Christians a peaceful and joyous Easter celebration.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, has denied rumours of his resignation circulating on social media following the expiration of a March 31 deadline.
According to reports by Channels Television, Mr Adelabu noted that the letter in circulation was fake as he had written such a letter.
However, he affirmed his interest in running for the Oyo State governorship race in 2027, adding that he would act at the appropriate time.
Mr Adelabu, reacting to the need for clarity about the said letter and his ambition on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said, “Of course, yes, I am very much in the race.
“But I will act at the appropriate time, and you will be duly informed, but will be with the consent of Mr President.
“For now, I’m committed to my present assignment. It’s still about service, whether national or sub-national,” he told the broadcaster.
President Bola Tinubu had directed all political appointees in his administration who intend to contest elective positions in the 2027 elections to resign from their posts on or before March 31.
He hinged his decision on Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for party primaries ahead of the 2027 polls.
Only three of President Tinubu’s cabinet members stepped away from office to pursue their ambition. First among these was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Yusuf Tuggar, he prepares to seek the APC ticket to be the next governor of Bauchi State.
Mr Tuggar, who confirmed his resignation later on Monday, said his resignation letter was formally submitted to the president earlier that day through the Office of the Secretary of Government in Abuja.
Also, the Minister of Transportation, Said Ahmed Alkali, resigned to pursue his ambition of contesting the 2027 governorship election in Gombe State.
“The President has accepted the resignation and thanked the minister for his dedicated service to the nation,” his media aide said in the statement on Tuesday.
Similarly, the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Mr Yusuf Sununu, also resigned to contest a senatorial seat in Kebbi State.
Mr Sununu, who assumed office in the humanitarian ministry in November 2024 after serving as Minister of State for Education, said his deployment was aimed at restoring the ministry’s image before deciding to pursue legislative office.
Also, the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Mr Nasiru Gawuna, resigned from his position and defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has called for enhanced stakeholder coordination to rapidly expand electricity meter installations and narrow Nigeria’s persistent metering gap.
This push emerged from the NESI Metering Stakeholders’ Meeting held in Lagos on March 27, 2026, where regulators, industry players, and international partners converged to tackle rollout bottlenecks.
According to a post on NERC’s X handle, key attendees included representatives from the World Bank, Meristem, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), NEMSA, Distribution Companies (DisCos), and Meter Asset Providers (MAPs).
NERC highlighted a strategic pivot from merely financing metering initiatives to fostering seamless collaboration.
With four separate metering programmes currently underway, the commission stressed the urgency of aligning efforts to avoid duplication and accelerate deployment.
“Greater synergy among DisCos, meter providers, and other stakeholders is essential to ramp up installations,” a NERC spokesperson noted. This coordinated approach aims to deliver accurate billing, eradicate estimated charges that frustrate consumers, and boost overall market efficiency.
The meeting also underscored the need for a unified communication strategy to heighten public awareness and encourage consumer uptake, as part of NERC’s broader drive for transparency in Nigeria’s electricity sector.
Nigeria currently operates four parallel metering programmes aimed at closing the country’s metering gap and improving efficiency across the power sector. These include the World Bank–funded Nigeria Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP), which targets about 3.2 million end-user meters, and the Federation-funded initiative designed to deliver roughly 3.8 million meters alongside about 130,000 distribution transformer (DT) meters.
Also in operation are the DisCo-funded Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF), which provides around 125,000 meters to fill coverage gaps, and the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), a technology-driven framework focused on smart metering, improved billing accuracy, and enhanced grid management. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is now working to harmonise these initiatives to prevent duplication and accelerate metering deployment nationwide.
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