The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Oyo State Wing, has welcomed the release of teachers and pupils abducted in Oriire Local Government Area, describing their freedom as a significant relief for the education community.

In a statement jointly signed by the union’s Chairman, Comrade Hassan Ajibola Fatai, and Secretary, Comrade Olukayode Salami, the NUT said the victims’ safe return had brought joy to teachers, pupils, parents and education stakeholders across the state. The union noted that the incident tested the resilience of the education sector but commended teachers for remaining united while hoping and praying for the safe return of their colleagues and learners.

The NUT expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde and security agencies for their roles in the rescue efforts. It also acknowledged the support of the union’s national leadership, traditional rulers, religious leaders, labour organisations, civil society groups, media organisations and members of the public who stood by the affected families during the period of captivity.

The union urged governments at all levels to strengthen security around schools and communities, stressing that teachers and learners should be able to carry out educational activities in a safe environment. It reaffirmed its commitment to working with government and other stakeholders to promote safe schools and quality education across Oyo State.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and other stakeholders to promote a resilient, sustainable and competitive telecommunications industry.

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, made the commitment while receiving an NIPR delegation led by its President, Dr. Ike Neliaku, at the Commission’s headquarters in Maitama, Abuja. Maida said the NCC would continue working with professional bodies to promote public awareness, responsible communication and stakeholder engagement on issues affecting the telecommunications sector.

He congratulated the NIPR on securing the hosting rights for the 2026 World Public Relations Forum, describing the achievement as a reflection of strategic communication and effective national representation. He also urged the institute to leverage the forthcoming African Telecoms Union Conference of Plenipotentiaries, scheduled to hold in Nigeria in July 2026, to further project the country’s image internationally.

The NCC chief said the Commission is implementing public awareness campaigns on the protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), efficient data usage, simplified telecom tariffs, and other regulatory initiatives aimed at improving accountability and encouraging competition.

According to Maida, recent reforms have helped restore investor confidence and attract fresh investment into the telecommunications sector. Responding, NIPR President Dr. Ike Neliaku commended the NCC’s commitment to stakeholder engagement and expressed the institute’s readiness to collaborate on initiatives that promote responsible communication, reputation management and public awareness of the Commission’s regulatory programmes.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been ranked among the top three best-performing Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government in the 2026 Public Service Reforms Performance Assessment conducted by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR). In the latest Public Service Reforms Performance Assessment, the Commission was ranked third overall, following a comprehensive evaluation across key reform indicators, including the Self-Assessment Tool (SAT), Freedom of Information (FOI) Compliance Score, Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Index, and official website performance metrics.

In the ranking, the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) came first and second, respectively.The institutional ranking, conducted across all MDAs of the Federal Government, recognises MDAs that have distinguished themselves in advancing public service reforms and delivering excellence in service.

Aside from the institutional awards, 20 individuals across federal, state and local levels received various distinguished public service excellence and leadership awards, for their sterling performance in public service, including the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs. Adejoke Adefulire, among others.

Representing the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, at the award ceremony on Tuesday in Abuja, the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Engr. Abraham Oshadami, spoke on behalf of the NCC and other awardees present, expressing appreciation to the Bureau for sustaining the annual assessment framework. “First; on behalf of all awardees, and second, on behalf of the Board, Management, and staff of the Nigerian Communications Commission, we thank the Bureau for these recognitions. For us at NCC, this recognition acknowledges our ongoing reform efforts and underscores the need to sustain them,” he stated.

He stated that the BPSR recognition served as a motivation for MDAs to strengthen their commitment to service delivery, noting that, for the NCC, the award also served as an affirmation that its reforms aimed at improving transparency and accountability in the sector were yielding greater public acceptance and positive recognition. “For our telecommunications consumers, this recognition reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen service quality, transparency, and responsiveness across the sector.

The assessment outcome also reinforces the importance of maintaining standards that support improved customer experience and greater confidence in telecom services nationwide,” he said. Oshadami restated the Commission’s commitment to applying regulatory tools and innovative approaches towards supporting measurable improvements in service quality and consumer protection across Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.

The Commission has, over the past two years, introduced far-reaching reforms to promote transparency and accountability in the telecommunications sector. These include the introduction of the National Coverage Map, which provides near real-time information on the performance and availability of operators’ networks across the country, as well as the publication of Quarterly Network Performance Reports, which provide detailed assessments of network performance nationwide. Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have also been directed to simplify the communication of their tariffs in a manner that is clear and easy for consumers to understand.

In addition, operators are required to comply with the updated Corporate Governance Guidelines, which emphasise stronger corporate accountability and improved operational performance. The Commission has also placed significant emphasis on the proactive publication of clear, comprehensive, and timely data on industry activities to keep the public well informed and enhance accountability across the telecommunications sector.

In his remarks, the Director-General of BPSR, Mr. Dasuki Arabi, commended all participating MDAs – particularly the top performers for 2026 broader assessment- for their efforts toward transparency, accountability, and open governance. He noted that these values reflect consistency with established public service standards. “This annual event, which begins with a public lecture and concludes with an award ceremony, marks the commemoration of the United Nations Public Service Day. It also highlights the role of the Nigeria Public Service Lecture Series and Awards as a platform for recognising MDAs that have demonstrated strong performance in reform implementation and service delivery,” he said.

The NCC was ranked the second-best-performing Federal Government agency in the 2025 website performance assessment by the BPSR. This year’s evaluation was an expanded one, touching not only on official website performance metrics, but also on other parameters such as SAT, FOI Compliance Score, Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Index. Signed: Mrs. Nnenna UkohaDirector, Public Affairs June 28, 2026