Jobs/Appointments
Kaduna Government Affirms Decision to Sack Workers
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Governor of Kaduna State, Mr Nasir El-Rufai, has said there is no going back on the sack of civil servants.
This followed his comprehensive briefing to President Muhammadu Buhari on the rightsizing policy of the state government and the steps taken so far to implement it.
The governor said that Kaduna State will seek accountability for the actions of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state by setting up a judicial commission of inquiry into the NLC strike and protest of May 2021.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr Muyiwa Adekeye, Mr El-Rufai explained that the Kaduna State government is hiring over 10,000 staff because rightsizing obliges the government to further recruit teachers, doctors, nurses and other qualified staff to provide vital services.
The Governor said he assured President Buhari that the Kaduna State government was determined not to allow a repeat of the pains, economic losses and the restraints of freedom that the NLC inflicted on the people of the state.
Mr El-Rufai explained that the state executive council has already communicated to the Minister of Labour of its decision not to approve the agreements reached at the meeting between the state government and the NLC pertaining to its rightsizing policy.
Alluding to the NLC’s renewed threat of strike action, the statement said that the labour union has demonstrated that it does not even believe in equality among its own members by describing the transfer of one Kaduna State employee to a place where other civil servants are serving as victimisation.
“It is trite that an MoU is not a legally binding document. The content of the MoU shows that there is no congruence between the progressive aspirations of the Kaduna State Government and the misguided sense of entitlement of the NLC which does not even believe in equality amongst its own members.
“KDSG employees are serving with dedication in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area, amidst all the challenges. Yet, the NLC describes the transfer of one KDSG employee to Birnin-Gwari LGA as victimisation, as if other staff who have been loyally serving in the same area are lesser humans or permanent victims. KDSG rejects this unfair denigration of the very people that the transferred employee claims to lead,” the state government said.
KDSG stated that “it is improper to describe the routine application of public service rules and labour regulations by a government as victimisation” and asked the Federal Ministry of Labour to reconsider permitting such slurs in documents prepared under its auspices.
“Union membership or accession to a leadership position in a union does not grant immunity to an employee for his/her actions and conduct or exempt them from compliance with the laws that govern everyone else.
“There are procedures that need to be followed to make a strike action legal, and the kind of conduct permissible during legitimate strike action is also bound by law. Lawful strike action still subjects strikers to the no-work, no-pay rule. How then can unlawful strike action be expected to be without consequences, as spelt out in the relevant laws and regulations?”
The statement said that the dominant theme in the KDSG statement at the conciliation meeting was the state government’s rejection of the criminal actions that defined the NLC’s actions.
“It was notable that the NLC delegation was eager for the discourse not to dwell on their violations of laws prohibiting the disruption of essential services and their recourse to coercion and restraints to the freedom of citizens. But these are matters that cannot be ignored or swept under the carpet since unlawful actions that have come to be accepted as part and parcel of strike action remain unlawful.’’
The statement reiterated that “Kaduna State Government has not yet disengaged any state civil servant but has dispensed with the services of 99 political appointees so far.” Only the 23 local government councils and the agencies associated with the local government system such as SUBEB and the Primary Health Care Board have released staff.
It noted that “rightsizing is about getting the optimal number of persons with the requisite skills to staff the public service,” adding that as it is releasing lesser skilled staff, the KDSG is engaged in continuous recruitment of teachers, doctors, nurses and other health workers to provide vital services for citizens.
“More than 10,000 such workers, including 7,600 secondary school teachers are being injected into the public service.”
The statement explained that its commitment to a fair assessment of the credentials of all officers shows in the painstaking approach to the rightsizing exercise for state civil servants.
It said that it is only after the completion of the verification process that KDSG will “release any civil servant that is confirmed not to possess the minimum qualifications prescribed in 2017 as one of the outcomes of the state’s Public Service Revitalization and Renewal Programme.”
The statement then appealed for the continued patience and understanding of all citizens as steps are being taken for the fair conclusion of this exercise.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Global blockchain ecosystem behind the world’s largest digital asset exchange by trading volume and users, Binance, has appointed its co-founder, Ms Yi He, as its co-CEO.
“Yi has been an integral part of the executive leadership team since the launch of Binance. Her innovative and user-focused approach has been instrumental in shaping the company’s vision, culture, and bottom-up business strategy,” said Binance CEO, Mr Richard Teng. “This appointment is a natural progression and she will continue to guide the organization from strength to strength.”
“We remain dedicated to being the most trusted and regulated exchange in the world, always putting our users first. Yi plays a critical role in growing our community and driving product innovation as we work to reach one billion users. Together, we are focused on building the Web3 infrastructure and promoting financial freedom, empowering people to participate in a more open and fair financial system,” added Mr Teng.
“I am honored to build alongside Richard, who brings decades of experience in regulated financial markets and was among the first to regulate crypto in its early days,” said Ms He. “Together, we bring diverse perspectives and are confident in leading the future of the industry during this pivotal time, as we responsibly expand our global presence and drive sustainable innovation with our users always at the center.”
Binance remains one of the world’s largest players in crypto trading, and leadership changes within the company continue to draw attention due to its scale and influence.
The appointment of a co-CEO adds structure during a period when global exchanges emphasize compliance, operational clarity and more formal management frameworks.
The company did not announce changes to its product lineup or platform priorities alongside the leadership update, and no financial terms were disclosed. The addition of a co-CEO role reflects an internal effort to distribute responsibilities as the firm works with regulators and seeks stability in a competitive and closely watched industry.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The African Petroleum Regulators Forum (AFRIPERF) has chosen Nigeria as its official headquarters and also elected the chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr Gbenga Komolafe, as its chairman.
Recall that in September, 16 countries, led by Nigeria, gathered in Accra, Ghana, to witness the signing of the charter establishing the forum, which seek to harmonise oil regulation in Africa.
Others include Ghana, Somalia, Gambia, Madagascar, Sudan, Guinea, and Togo among others.
The decisions were announced at the inaugural executive committee meeting of the forum which took place virtually on December 2, 2025. The meeting which was attended by the 16 African countries, was convened to pick its leadership, headquarters and logo.
Prior to his endorsement as the substantive pioneering chairman, Mr Komolafe acted in interim capacity.
Also, Mrs Eyoanwan Ndiyo-Aiyetan also emerged as the secretary of AFRIPERF.
According to a statement on Wednesday, NUPRC notes that the development affirms Nigeria’s central role in the African petroleum regulatory space and as Africa’s largest producer of crude oil.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Komolafe thanked his African counterparts for the trust and honour, promising to ensure that no member country is left behind.
AFRIPERF aims to strengthen regional petroleum governance by fostering collaboration, cooperation and coordination among member regulators.
Its mission includes creating standards, enhancing transparency and addressing cross-border challenges such as gas trade, emissions, and digitalisation while making the African continent energy sector attractive for crucial investments.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has been nominated by President Bola Tinubu as the new Minister of Defence, replacing Mr Mohammed Badaru Abubakar.
The erstwhile minister resigned from his position with immediate effect for health reasons, the president’s spokesman, Mr Bayo Onanuga, had said on Monday night.
The 63-year-old’s departure coincides with a period of heightened security challenges across Nigeria, with the government under pressure to deal with a spate of mass kidnappings.
In a letter to Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu conveyed Mr Musa’s nomination as the successor to Mr Abubakar, according to statement on Tuesday by Mr Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
The 58-year-old retired military chief is described as a distinguished soldier who served as the CDS from 2023 until October 2025. He won the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, Mr Musa received his primary and secondary education there before attending the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria. He graduated in 1986 and enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy the same year, earning a Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation in 1991.
He was commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1991 and has since had a distinguished career. His appointments included General Staff Officer 1, Training/Operations at HQ 81 Division; Commanding Officer, 73 Battalion; Assistant Director, Operational Requirements, Department of Army Policy and Plans; and Infantry Representative/Member, Training Team, HQ Nigerian Army Armour Corps.
In 2019, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Training/Operations, Headquarters Infantry Centre and Corps; Commander, Sector 3, Operation Lafiya Dole; and Commander, Sector 3 Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Region.
In 2021, Mr Musa was appointed Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai. He later became Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before being appointed CDS by President Tinubu in 2023.
In the letter to the Senate, Mr Tinubu expressed confidence in Mr Musa’s ability to lead the Ministry of Defence and further strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
If confirmed by the upper legislative chamber, he will take up the ministry at a crucial time when security challenges including terror and kidnappings are plaguing the country.
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