Newly recruited healthcare workers in Abia State have been advised to uphold the five principles of public trust in the state civil service. The advice was given to the 811 newly recruited healthcare workers on Thursday in Umuahia by the Chairman of the Abia State Civil Service Commission, Pastor Jerry, during a one-day orientation programme organised for them. Jerry listed the five principles as integrity, professionalism, respect, compassion and patriotism. She said, “As nurses, doctors, medical laboratory scientists, pharmacists, dentists, dental therapists and technologists, you are not just employees; you are frontline defenders of life. “As you step into public service under the Abia State Public Service Rules, you are now stewards of public trust. I want you to hold on to these five principles.” She further charged them to observe four key civil service disciplines. “Number one, be present. Absenteeism destroys trust. Clock in, serve and make an impact....

As Andy Burnham prepares to become the UK’s next prime minister, he faces calls to tackle Labour’s alleged “boys’ club” by ensuring women get half of the top jobs in his first cabinet. The Labour Party — despite having more equality mechanisms in place than the main opposition Conservatives — has yet to elect its first female leader. By contrast, Tory party leader Kemi Badenoch is the fourth woman to lead her party after former prime ministers Margaret Thatcher, Theresa May and Liz Truss. Women in the Labour Party reportedly feel a “boys’ club” is blocking their progress. Labour stalwart Harriet Harman earlier this year urged outgoing premier Keir Starmer to appoint a woman as his de facto deputy to “transform the political culture in government” around women. “We need less lads, lads, lads, and more diversity,” Labour lawmaker Polly Billington told LBC radio earlier this month. Billington hinted at...

The Federal Government has been urged to enact and enforce laws protecting snakes and other wildlife species as part of efforts to reduce the spread of Lassa fever and other zoonotic diseases in Nigeria. A wildlife conservation expert, Dr Mark Ofua, made the call during a media chat to commemorate World Zoonoses Day on Saturday. He warned that the indiscriminate killing of snakes and other natural predators had contributed to the proliferation of disease-carrying rodents. According to Ofua, who is also a veterinarian, snakes play a critical role in controlling rat populations, particularly the multimammate rats that transmit the Lassa fever virus to humans. He said, “The government should put deliberate laws and regulations in place to protect our snakes. “If you go to bushmeat markets, snakes are a major feature there. As we continue to decimate snake populations, rats multiply, increasing the risk of diseases. “Instead of trying to...

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday said Nigeria’s economy was making serious foundational progress despite the difficulty of the reforms his administration had pursued over three years. Tinubu also received commendations from the leadership of Deloitte Africa for the financial and fiscal reforms his administration has pursued over three years. Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed this in a statement he signed Wednesday titled ‘Our Economy Is On Steady Growth, Says President Tinubu To Deloitte Africa.’ Tinubu gave the assurance when he received a delegation from Deloitte Africa, led by its Chief Executive Officer for Africa, Ruwayda Redfearn, at the State House, Abuja. The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji. The President defended the pace and direction of the reforms while acknowledging their difficulty....

Popular Nigerian singer, Abiola Akinbiyi, professionally known as Bella Shmurda, has claimed that he was defrauded after allegedly paying $4 million for a property in Lagos. The singer disclosed that he had recently discovered he had been scammed and that the house did not belong to the person who sold it to him. He made the allegation during an emotional Instagram Live session on Tuesday, where he broke down in tears while appealing for help. Speaking during the livestream, Bella Shmurda said he was devastated by the development and feared losing the money he had worked hard to earn. “Nigeria, I need your help. I’m not doing okay right now. I spent $4 million of my own hard-earned money, only to find out I bought stolen property,” he said. The singer alleged that the individual who sold him the property had disappeared after receiving the payment. “And now the seller has...

Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón has climbed into joint third place on FIFA’s all-time list of goalkeepers with the most clean sheets at the FIFA World Cup following Spain’s run to the 2026 final. According to FIFA’s updated rankings after the semi-finals on Wednesday, Simón has kept eight clean sheets in 11 World Cup appearances, matching the records of Jan Jongbloed, Emerson Leão, Sepp Maier, Taffarel, Thibaut Courtois and Hugo Lloris. FIFA’s all-time rankings continue to be led jointly by France’s Fabien Barthez and England’s Peter Shilton, who each recorded 10 clean sheets in 17 World Cup appearances. Barthez | FIFA Barthez achieved five shutouts during France’s triumphant 1998 campaign, one in 2002 and four in 2006, while Shilton registered four clean sheets in 1982, three in 1986 and three more in 1990. England’s Peter Shilton | FIFA Simón’s tally has been boosted by Spain’s 2026 campaign, during which he has...