THE Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development invites applications from journalists for a three-day capacity-building workshop under its Tech Justice and Digital Governance Project, supported by Luminate.
Applicants must be practising journalists and must demonstrate a clear interest in investigative reporting on online harm and in advancing accountability for digital platforms.
Also, applicants must be available to virtually participate fully in the 3-day training and be willing to produce at least three major investigative reports based on lessons from the training.
Female journalists and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
To apply, applicants must submit one compelling story proposal that clearly demonstrates the potential impact of reporting on online harm, and a minimum of two published articles that showcase strong reporting experience and journalistic skill on the subject matter or related issues
The deadline for applications is February 13, 2026. Interested applicants should apply here.
THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have called off their planned protest in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and directed workers under the Federal Capital Territory Administration to resume work with immediate effect.
The directive followed a meeting between labour leaders, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and members of the Senate Committee on the FCT. The meeting, which began late on Monday continued into the early hours of Tuesday, leading to an agreement that prompted the unions to suspend the protest and allow normal operations to resume across FCTA offices.
The move could end a dispute that began as a strike action by FCTA workers over unresolved labour and welfare issues.
The ICIR reported that workers under the FCTA, led by the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), launched an indefinite strike on January 19, 2026, over unpaid allowances, welfare concerns, and other unresolved labour crises. The action effectively shut down operations across FCTA, the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), and their agencies.
Responding to the strike, the FCT Minister and the FCTA approached the National Industrial Court in Abuja, and on January 27, 2026, the court ordered workers to suspend the strike and resume duty pending the determination of the litigation before the court.
However, the NLC and TUC rejected the court’s verdict and instructed striking workers to defy the order, leading to continued tension and plans for a solidarity rally for today, Tuesdday, February 3.
Meanwhile the FCT Police Command advised against, citing potential security threats and concerns about non-state actors hijacking it.
Similarly, a National Industrial Court in Abuja granted an interim order restraining the NLC, TUC, and JUAC on February 2, from embarking on the planned protest. The judge also directed security agencies to maintain law and order in the FCT pending further hearings.
The court order was issued following an ex parte application from the FCT Minister and the FCTA, which argued the planned protest would disrupt government operations, obstruct traffic and violate residents’ rights.
THERE are six disturbing numbers in the full-year 2025 financial statement of First Holdco, the holding company of First Bank of Nigeria. The numbers have kept investors worried, even though they are not outright signs of a bank in distress.
According to the unaudited financial statement, the company reported a loss of N337.540 billion in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2025 after a gain of N185.466 billion in the corresponding period of 2024. Shareholders bore the brunt of the poor performance in Q4, suffering a loss of N407.835 billion over the period.
Impairment loss
Secondly, First Holdco’s income statement revealed that the company suffered N748.125 billion impairment loss for the whole of 2025 and N459.206 billion for the last quarter of 2025. This, in simple terms, means that loans had been granted to entities to the tune of N748.125 billion, but they did not repay them. As a result, Nigeria’s oldest bank decided to write them off within a year.
“You do not impair N748.125 billion in one year,” said one Lagos-based investor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “That is an indictment on the board and the management of FirstHoldco. And these may have been write-offs of decades of bad loans borrowed by individuals who never wanted to pay back.”
FirstHoldco reacts
On Saturday, however, First Holdco Chairman Femi Otedola justified the company’s decision to write off N748 billion in legacy non-performing loans, stating that the move was a deliberate strategy aimed at securing long-term financial stability.
“At First HoldCo, we decided to clean house properly. We took a huge one-time hit of N748bn to admit old bad loans instead of pretending they do not exist. That is why profit appears to have crashed by 92 per cent. Painful headline, but it is a serious long-term move,” he wrote.
“Why do this now? Because the @cenbank is pushing banks to stop kicking problems down the road. So First HoldCo basically closed the chapter on messy loans from past years, which sends a clear message that borrowing has consequences and it helps rebuild trust.”
Otedola said the key point was that the business itself was still strong, having made N2.96 trillion in interest income and N1.91 trillion in net interest income, which gave it the strength to take the clean-up and still stay standing.
In a response on X to Otedola, however, one netizen, Olujide Olusola, asked, “Who took those loans and refused to pay back? Why are AMCON, EFCC, and other bodies not hunting them down to repay the loans?”
Another netizen added, “Who are the customers who own this bad N748bn? The shareholders of First HoldCo deserve to know those who ate into their assets this deeply.”
But neither Otedola nor First Holdco’s spokespersons provided explanations on other investors’ worries, including bulging operating and maintenance expenses or huge income tax.
Other operating expenses
The third number that worries investors from the First Holdco’s financial statement is the ‘other operating expenses.’ Ordinarily, this should not worry anybody, but the size of the expenses is a source of concern. The financial statement shows that other operating expenses jumped 44 per cent to N809.362 billion in full-year 2025, from N563.706 billion reported in the corresponding period of 2024.
“What is the component of this mammoth number? To put this huge amount as ‘other operating cost’ does not sit well with me,” said a Lagos-based investment analyst, who pleaded anonymity. “It needed to be disaggregated to show investors what constitutes the costs. That is what transparency implies.”
Income tax conundrum
Similarly, the group paid an income tax of N176.344 billion in the full-year 2025, as against N132.977 billion in the corresponding period of 2024. While the tax might have emanated from disallowable expenses, prior period adjustments, or deferred tax write-offs, analysts are wondering why a company whose shareholders suffered humongous losses in Q4 (N407.835 billion) would agree to pay that amount of tax over a year. Some say the company should have paid less than half of the tax, considering the circumstances in which it found itself.
Maintenance cost
More so, First Holdco is spending a lot of money on keeping assets that may have reached their zenith alive. In 2025, it spent N151.164 billion on the maintenance of those assets after burning N134.76 billion on those assets in 2024. Financial analysts say this amounts to wasting money on assets that are not yielding sufficient revenue to cover the cost of their maintenance, wondering why the company did not outrightly write them off to save costs.
“This should have been written off,” said a former banker and financial analyst, Abimbola Ojudu. “You do not keep maintaining assets that aren’t yielding anything.”
This is republished from Economy Post, read it here.
THE mayor of South African city of Tshwane on Monday, February 2, exposed how Nigerian High Commission failed to pay its electricity bills and consequently got disconnected by the authorities.
Nasiphi Moya, the city’s mayor revealed the development on his X account.
“We’ve disconnected electricity at the High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They owe the city for utility services,” Moya taunted.
He then posted another some hours later, “We thank the High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for honouring its debt to the city. The city will reconnect electricity.”
The ICIR could not immediately verify the volume of debt owed by the commission.
Earlier, same day, the City of Tshwane had cut off electricity to the Nigerian High Commission over unpaid utility bills.
The disconnection was carried out under the city’s #TshwaneYaTima campaign, which targets customers who fail to pay for municipal services. The city said no institution would be spared, including diplomatic missions.
Screenshot of the Mayor’s posts on X
The incident has since attracted condemnations from Nigerians, with citizens claiming the incident further smeared the nation’s image.
While the Nigerian commission enjoys electricity supply in South Africa, back home, power supply is epileptic, with nearly 230 million population struggling to share less than 5,000 megawatts of electricity.
The Nigerian government has also suffered a similar fate of power disconnection to key government agencies back at home by power distribution companies.
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) had threatened to disconnect power to Aso Rock and other important institutions in the nation’s capital.
It has also severed power supply to federal ministries, agencies and departments.
SNAKEBITE envenoming is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition that affects millions of people worldwide each year.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 5.4 million people are bitten by snakes annually worldwide, with up to 138,000 deaths and many more cases of permanent disability.
Venomous snake bites can trigger paralysis that interferes with breathing, bleeding disorders that may result in fatal haemorrhage, irreversible kidney failure, and severe tissue damage that can lead to permanent disability or limb amputation.
In Nigeria, snake bites are common, especially among farmers, children, herders, and rural residents due to proximity to snake habitats and limited access to quick medical care, including lifesaving antivenom.
For instance, on January 31, a 26-year-old Nigerian singer Ifunanya Nwangene, known as Nanya, died after a snake bit her in her home in Abuja.
Efforts to get her timely treatment were reportedly hampered by unavailability of antivenom at nearby facilities.
The deceased could not get antivenom at the first facility she visited in her estate. She then proceeded to the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja.
Many Nigerians on social media blamed her death on alleged unavailability of the antivenom at the FMC. However, the hospital promptly debunked the claim.
The FMC said it acted promptly and provided immediate and appropriate treatment, including resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen, and the administration of polyvalent snake antivenom.
What you look for after a snake bite
Two puncture wounds close together: usually from fangs (but sometimes only one puncture).
Local signs: Pain, redness, swelling, heat, or bleeding around the wound.
Other medical symptoms: Nausea, headache, dizziness, difficulty breathing, sweating, numbness, or blurred vision.
Immediate steps to take after a snake bite:
According to the World Health Organization, prompt treatment at a properly equipped health facility with trained personnel is critical, including access to antivenom and emergency supportive care.
In the case of any snake bite, the global health body and other medical professionals highlighted several steps to take, including being transported to a health facility without delay and access to first aid. Below are what professionals highlighted:
Stay calm and still: Movement increases blood circulation, which can spread venom faster. Encourage the victim to lie down and stay quiet.
Move away from the snake: Distance reduces the risk of additional bites. Do not attempt to catch, kill, or provoke the snake, this often leads to more bites.
Remove tight objects: Unlike common belief of tying clothes or tight ropes, remove rings, bracelets, watches, or tight clothing near the bite site because swelling may occur.
Reassuring the victims: The WHO says many snake bites come from non-venomous snakes, and even in cases involving venomous species, death is often not immediate, especially when timely medical care is received. So, reassuring the victims and keeping them calm to avoid panic helps preventing critical situations.
Immobilising the victim: The person should be kept as still as possible. When seeking help, use a makeshift stretcher to move them. Avoid unnecessary movement that could spread the venom.
Seek medical help immediately: Transport the victim quickly to the nearest hospital with antivenom availability.
What not to do
Avoid the following harmful practices known to increase risk and worsen outcomes:
Do not try to suck the venom out.
Do not apply a tight tourniquet. A tourniquet is a tight band, often made from cloth, rope, or rubber, tied around an arm or leg to stop or restrict blood flow.
Do not cut or burn the woundDo not apply ice, chemicals, herbs, or engine oil.
Do not use electric shocks or any folk remedy.
These actions can cause further tissue damage, increase infection risk, and delay critical medical care, according to the global health body.
Antivenom is the only effective treatment for venomous bites, and its timely administration can be lifesaving. It can potentially prevent or reverse most of the effects of snakebite envenoming when administered early in an adequate therapeutic dose.
According to WHO, beyond antivenom, effective treatment of snakebite patients often requires a range of supportive medical interventions. These may include other medications, assisted breathing, kidney dialysis, proper wound care, reconstructive surgery, prosthetic support, and long-term rehabilitation.
Certain drugs, particularly anticholinesterases, can help restore muscle and nerve function after bites from some neurotoxic snakes.
Challenges in Nigeria include:
Limited antivenom supplies in many hospitals.
No or less functioning ambulance.
Government and hospital failure.
High costs of antivenoms.
Delayed presentation to medical facilities.
Over-reliance on traditional healers in some communities.
Lack of widespread public awareness about appropriate first aid.
The Presidency has urged Nigerians to take extra measures to prevent snakes from invading their environments.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Economic Affairs, Tope Fasua, stated this on Monday, February 2, while reacting to the death of popular Abuja singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, fondly called Nanya.
Fasua also spoke on anti-venom shortages which many attributed to the singer’s death.
While sympathising with the deceased’s family for the loss, he wrote, “We are in snake season. When there is heat, they come out. They sunbathe. Then they like hiding inside houses. They live in ecosystems. They also never work together. So, seeing two inside one room is really odd. They snack on each other,” Fasua said.
Ifunanya, also fondly called the “Soprano Queen”, died on Saturday after she was reportedly bitten by a cobra at her residence in Lugbe, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of the day, has since sparked intense public debate, with many Nigerians questioning how a preventable death could happen in the nation’s capital if life-saving anti-venom medications are available.
The singer reportedly booked her rider to Divine Health Hospital, located at the Trade Fair Mall in Lugbe but she was allegedly told that the facility did not have anti-venom and could not treat her. She proceeded to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, afterwards at about 10 a.m.
Speaking further on the incident, Fasua said, “Not everything is politics. Your whining candidate will not provide anti venom for all hospitals, private and public. Presidents are not for petty work but big policies. A president is not a medicine hawker. If he’s going around weeping with every mourner and checking every hospital for anti-venom, he won’t have time to think. And what about other lifesaving drug? How many will we pursue?” he said.
He urged Nigerians to keep their environment safe from snake.
“If you have rats or toads around or thick carpet bushes, you are creating an ecosystem. Block under your door. And invest in fumigation at times like this especially. Jack your landlord to do the needful or cooperate with other tenants. Dogs can also help. They kill snakes. Cats don’t. Keep learning. Open your eyes always to notice creepy crawlers. Stay clean. Keep places lighted too,” he added.
The remarks come amid growing public anger over alleged shortages of anti-snake venom in hospitals the deceased visited.
A relative of the singer, Kingsley Nwangene in an emotional video shared on Instagram, narrated how he received a distress call from Nanyah at about 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, explaining how she had been beaten by a snake.
Nwangene explained that Nanyah told him that she had been asleep when she felt a sharp pain. On opening her eyes, she saw a snake in the room, adding that he stayed on the phone with her throughout the ordeal.
The deceased’s brother narrated how the singer arrived at Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, and staff at the Emergency Unit began asking routine questions while the singer’s condition deteriorated.
He said doctors removed what was tied around Nanyah’s arm to slow the spread of the venom and asked her to remain calm.
“She told me, ‘Emy, they have removed the thing I used to tie my hand,” noting that he felt relieved because she was finally at the hospital and believed the doctors knew better, but she later succumbed to the effects of the venom.
The leader of the Abuja Metropolitan Music Society (AMEMUSO) Choir, Sam Ezugwu, told the BBC that the deceased’s father ordered the repatriation of his daughter’s body after receiving confirmation of her death.
The singer’s body has consequently been moved to Enugu State.
FMC Abuja reacts
FCM released a statement on Sunday February 1, to explain its side of the story.
“We wish to address the circulating discussion on social media concerning the unfortunate case of Ms. Ifunanya Lucy Nwagene, who tragically passed away due to neurotoxic complications following a snake bite on January 31, 2026..
“We want to clarify that the management team at Federal Medical Centre, Abuja acted promptly and with the utmost care upon Ms. Nwagene’s arrival. Our medical staff provided immediate and appropriate treatment, including resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen, and the administration of polyvalent snake antivenom.
“After a thorough but quick evaluation, it was clear that Ms. Nwagene suffered severe neurotoxic complications from the snake bite. Despite all efforts to stabilise her condition and transfer her to the Intensive Care Unit for further treatment, she experienced a sudden deterioration just before the transfer. Our team of professionals worked diligently to provide CPR and other life-saving measures; however, despite these efforts, we were unable to revive her.”
Public primary and secondary schools in Abuja remained shut on Monday, February 2, two weeks after the workers with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) embarked on strike to compel the FCTA to meet their demands.
In addition to the schools, primary health centres (PHCs) and Area Council secretariats in the nation’s capital are not providing services because of the strike.
Checks by The ICIR showed that schools in several area councils were locked, with pupils turned back at the gates and no teachers or administrators on duty.
In two public schools within Lugbe, Abuja Municipal Area Council, The ICIR confirmed that students who arrived early for classes were stranded outside the school premises, uncertain whether academic activities would resume.
Some pupils waited for several minutes before eventually leaving, expressing frustration over the continued disruption.
The strike continued despite an interlocutory injunction issued last week by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) directing workers under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) in the FCT to suspend their strike.
The court, presided over by E.D. Subilim, restrained JUAC and its leadership from continuing the industrial action pending the determination of the substantive suit filed by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike and the FCTA.
The judge ruled that although the matter constituted a trade dispute and satisfied the necessary legal requirements, workers’ right to strike was not absolute. He held that once a trade dispute is referred to the National Industrial Court, workers are barred from embarking on any strike action, and where a strike is already underway, it must be suspended pending the court’s determination.
However, workers have openly dismissed the ruling, insisting they are no longer “on strike” but are instead observing a “stay-at-home” action until their demands are met.
“We are no more on strike, but we are in our house. Let them open the gate wide; we are in our house. Tell them Wike has won. Let them open all the gates,” one of the protesters, said.
The worker, who was addressing journalists alongside her colleagues, added that employees would only resume duties after their demands were met.
The ICIRreported that primary and secondary schools were shut after the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT chapter, directed its members to comply with the JUAC strike following a call by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for all affiliates in the territory to withdraw services.
A communiqué announcing the shutdown was signed by the FCT NUT Chairman, Abdullahi Shafas; Secretary, Margaret Jethro; and Publicity Secretary, Ibukun Adekeye.
JUAC had embarked on the strike following what it described as the government’s failure to address long-standing grievances, including the non-payment of promotion arrears, delays in promotion exercises, unpaid wage awards, and the alleged non-remittance of statutory deductions such as pensions and housing funds.
The ongoing shutdown adds to the prolonged disruption of public education in the FCT. The ICIR reported that public primary schools in the FCT lost at least 165 school days to strikes since 2023, following repeated industrial actions by teachers over unpaid salaries and allowances.
The current strike has expanded the crisis, affecting both primary and secondary schools, and raising concerns among many Nigerians.
Meanwhile, Wike has warned that any worker who failed to comply with the court’s order would be punished.
Shortly after the ruling, the Acting Head of the Civil Service of the FCT, Nancy Nathan, directed all permanent secretaries and heads of departments to immediately implement and maintain staff attendance registers.
Gbaiko PHC in Bosso LGA before the WDC’s intervention. Once closed midday, it now operates daily thanks to community oversight. (Credit: Anibe Idajili)
STANDING under a tree in Gbaiko, a community in Bosso Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State, Christy recalls walking to her local Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) last year, only to find its doors shut by noon. But she did not stay silent. She knocked on the door of Amos Matthew Nakura, her community head and chairman of the Bosso Central 1 Ward Development Committee (WDC). Within an hour, the clinic reopened. By the next week, nurses were assigned to daily, evening, and night shifts.
“That small action changed everything,” she says. “Now, someone is always there when we need healthcare services.”
The WDCs, part of Nigeria’s Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), are the closest thing rural communities have to a healthcare watchdog. Comprising women, youth, elders, and traditional leaders, these volunteer committees hold monthly meetings to track staff attendance, monitor the use of funds, and respond to community needs.
In many LGAs across Niger State, WDCs have revitalised under-resourced primary healthcare centres (PHCs), though the scale of impact varies. For instance, in Bosso LGA, the Gbaiko PHC transitioned from a half-day operation to 24/7 services after the local WDC pushed for staff rotations, a change corroborated by PHC’s nurse, Charity Amos.
“The committee’s monthly inspections led to the PHC prioritising all shifts. Patients now get care even at night,” she stated.
Nurse Charity Amos crediting the WDC for restoring her team’s morale. (Credit: Anibe Idajili)
Designed for Empowerment: A Structural Analysis
In assessing the performance of WDCs across Niger State, data gathered from 14 interviews and four on-site field visits in four LGAs, Bosso, Chanchaga, Kontagora, and Mokwa, were analysed. Findings reveal both similarities and disparities in how effectively these committees operate and influence primary healthcare delivery.
In Bosso LGA, community pressure led to the implementation of 24-hour shifts at Gbaiko PHC, resulting in an increase in staff presence within six months. This improvement highlights the potential impact of responsive, community-driven governance.
“Mothers couldn’t reach the PHC at night. So, we organized a meeting with the Bosso LGA and called Hauwa Kolo of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA),” says Nakura, the Bosso Central 1 WDC Chairman.
“We presented our findings from regular facility checks, and Dr. Kolo liaised with the LGA to rotate staff shifts.”
Similarly, the Senator Idris Ibrahim Kuta Memorial PHC in Chanchaga LGA consistently maintained drug supplies through WDC monitoring, demonstrating how active oversight can prevent service gaps.
“Before the WDC’s involvement, we used to spend months waiting for supplies,” says Assistant Nurse-in-Charge, Dauda Mande. “Now, the committee tracks drug shortages and pushes for LGA and community members’ intervention. Patients’ trust in the clinic has grown.”
However, the situation in Mokwa presents a gap where the lack of funding has stalled capacity-building plans by the LGA for WDC members. According to Usman Usman, a Data Officer at Mokwa LGA Office, planned WDC capacity-building sessions were put on hold because of paucity of funds.
“We know there is a capacity gap within the committees, but the office cannot fund any training at the moment.”
In Magajiya Ward (Kontagora) and Gbaiko Ward (Bosso), WDCs led repairs of boreholes, improved sanitation, and secured local government support for clinic upgrades. Health workers in both PHCs reported faster resolution of facility issues.
“Our WDC in Magajiya is active, and so problems are solved faster,” notes a health worker in Ubandoma PHC.
“I believe these differences in performance are a reflection of a system where success depends more on individual initiative and local goodwill than institutional support. There is an urgent need for tailored training, funding, and accountability to ensure WDCs fulfill their promise as pillars of community health,” says Kenneth Nnaji, a Program Officer at Physicians for Social Justice.
Dauda Mande, Assistant Nurse-in-Charge Senator Idris Ibrahim Kuta Memorial PHC. (Credit: Anibe Idajili)
The human face of transformation
WDCs are designed to be the link between residents and their PHCs, and where they succeed, their work is often visible.
Mairo Abdullahi, the Nurse-in-Charge and Focal Person at Central PHC, Kontagora, shared her experience.
“The WDC members visited our facility last month to monitor our work and ensure that community members receive the best healthcare. When there is a problem, we usually sit together to decide the best solution. It is about partnership.”
This collaborative spirit is seen in Gbaiko, Bosso Central 1 Ward. Amos Matthew Nakura, the WDC Chairman, recalls how his team overcame the initial friction between the committee and the health facility.
“We had a meeting to decide the standard we wanted our PHCs to attain,” he stated. The committee now works with the PHC to enforce shift schedules and resolve drug shortages.
Charity Amos, a nurse at the Gbaiko PHC, credits the WDC with improving staff morale.
“Before, we were exhausted. But the WDC fought for us. Now, nurses work different shifts, and we feel valued.”
This chain reaction of active community engagement is seen in Chanchaga’s Senator Idris Ibrahim Kuta Memorial PHC. Assistant-in-Charge Dauda Mande recounts how a routine WDC visit uncovered a broken borehole, and a potential water shortage crisis was averted within days.
“The committee filed a complaint with the Niger State Community Social Development Agency (NG-CSDA),” he says, “and they responded swiftly to fix it.” The NG-CSDA is a state body focused on empowering communities through education, health, and water projects, using the World Bank-supported Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach.
In Ubandoma PHC in Magajiya Ward, Hajiya Laratu Yusuf, Nurse-in-Charge, said that WDC monthly visits are consistent, “the last time was December 2025.” She also acknowledges that “When parents refuse polio immunization for their children, the committee intervenes. They are very helpful.”
The committees sometimes step up to fill the gaps left by bureaucracy. Alh. Nuhu Gwari, the Magajiya WDC chairman, speaks proudly of community-driven PHC renovations. “Local elites have also been helpful,” noting contributions from wealthy community members.
This model of grassroots efficacy even extends to staff welfare. Mallam Ayuba Santale, Ward Chairman of Liimawa A, shared a recent success. “We had healthcare workers complaining about working overtime without proper compensation or recognition,” he explained. “We took it up with NSPHCDA, and it was quickly rectified.”
However, this model of grassroots efficacy is not replicated everywhere. The momentum in one ward can be completely slow in the next.
In Mokwa LGA, Usman Usman, a data officer representing the Director of the PHC, admitted that “there is a capacity gap within the committees.”
The promise of training also remains an unrealised hope in Kontagora LGA. Comrade Umar Madaki, the newly appointed Director of PHC at the LGA, acknowledges this fundamental weakness.
“We have not really had any training for the WDC members. It is something we are very interested in, but it all depends on whether there are no financial limitations.”
In many communities, the WDCs that are meant to voice local health concerns remain invisible to the very people they serve. In Minna, resident Monsurah Olayemi is baffled when asked about her local WDC.
“This is my first time hearing about this committee,” she admits. Her unfamiliarity is shared by others who bypass their local PHC, completely unaware of the body designed to advocate for them. In Kontagora, a semi-urban town, Usman Idris prefers the general hospital. “I have not really heard of the WDC. What do they do?”
This lack of awareness strikes at the very heart of the WDC model.
“The committee’s power is in representing the community’s voice. If community members do not know the WDC exists, who do they turn to when a PHC is not meeting their healthcare needs?” Comrade Umar Madaki asks.
Ward Development Committee Booklet. (Credit: Anibe Idajili)
Rising above constraints
Ward Development Committees bring together PHC focal persons, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and elected community representatives. Guided by Nigeria’s Minimum Standards for Primary Health Care and the BHCPF Implementation Guideline, these committees are tasked with supervising drug distribution, spotting community health priorities, mobilising resources, and safeguarding transparency.
Their role also includes “collaboration with the PHC facility leadership in identification of and planning for health and social needs of the ward” in line with the BHCPF Implementation guideline.
In practice, however, tensions sometimes arise, highlighting gaps between policy and practice. Omolabi Adekunle, a program officer with the Community Advocacy Team of ACOMIN, recalls a dispute in Ndayako Ward of Mokwa LGA.
“A PHC needed electricity, but the committee refused to intervene because the Nurse‑in‑Charge was perceived as hostile,” he says. After a mediated resolution by the team, the power issue was finally resolved.
Similar friction in Bosso Central 1 Ward disrupted healthcare delivery, with WDC Chairman Amos Matthew Nakura noting that poor relations with former Gbaiko PHC leadership weakened service quality.
“When we tried to help, we were pushed aside,” he recalls. “It made people lose trust in the system.”
The NPHCDA’s guidelines grant real authority to Ward Development Committees to monitor PHC activities. The problem, therefore, lies not in the committees themselves but in how the rules are applied on the ground.
Inuwa Junaidu, Executive Director of the Niger State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (Credit: Anibe Idajili)
Inuwa Junaidu, Executive Director of the Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency, explains that his office ensures accountability in fund flows.
“WDCs have the chairman and nurses-in-charge of the PHC as signatories before funds are disbursed. We provide funding to PHCs through the quarterly BHCPF, but civil society organizations like Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) complement our efforts. The FOMWAN helps us build the capacity of WDCs through financial training and a monitoring framework. We also make routine visits to ensure focal facilities function properly,” he says.
When WDCs falter, the agency intervenes, he sas.
“For WDCs that are not doing well, we check if members have exited due to death or relocation. For instance, Manta PHC in Shiroro LGA no longer exists because the community was displaced due to insecurity,” Junaidu notes.
“If a chairman or member passes away, we collaborate with PHCs to find someone respected, literate, and with integrity to replace them. We also have a monitoring mechanism where WDCs share monthly work reports.”
“Initially, WDC members could be anyone, even traditional rulers who sometimes imposed their will,” Dr. Junaidu admits.
“We now work with them to suggest someone who can sign and understand basic concepts. Business plans are simplified for low-literacy members. But due to paucity of funds, we train only the chairman and secretary, who then cascade the training to others.”
Conflict resolution is equally important. “If a PHC refuses to cooperate with a WDC, we activate a grievances redress committee at the LGA and state levels. I chair the state-level committee. We’ve successfully mediated disputes in Wushishi, Chanchaga, and Agaie LGAs,” Dr. Junaidu says. “A PHC cannot unilaterally decide not to work with a WDC. They must convince us why they are resisting.”
FOMWAN’s National Media Officer, Hauwa Kulu Abdullahi, also highlighted the organisation’s role in supporting WDCs.
“We provide training on budgeting, business plans, and fund disbursement. We invite WDCs to Minna for training and travel to communities for monitoring. Currently, we are developing a questionnaire for community members to evaluate PHC services,” she says.
“In February, we will invite LGA auditors to review BHCPF disbursements, as complaints exist about their limited access to audit records. We have also advocated for more women in WDCs. Now, we are seeing more meaningful female participation.”
Despite the odds, leaders like Alhaji Nuhu Gwari, WDC Chairman of Magajiya Ward, are also taking initiative to rally local support for primary healthcare (PHC) facility renovations.
“We don’t wait for government,” he says. But even then, appeals for help from wealthy community members are sometimes met with, “Go to the government.”
BHCPF Booklet. (Credit: Anibe Idajili)
The road ahead for WDCs
The stories from Kontagora, Gbaiko, Mokwa, and Chanchaga LGAs reveal how WDCs can transform healthcare through collaboration, accountability, and community solidarity. By resolving staffing challenges and addressing infrastructural gaps, WDCs have proven their potential as important links between communities and PHCs.
To sustain progress, efforts must focus on enhancing grassroots effectiveness and eliminating bureaucratic barriers.
“When WDCs operate with trust, transparency, and inclusion, they support and transform health systems,” says Kenneth Nnaji, Program Officer at Physicians for Social Justice.
As WDCs grow in capacity, access to care improves. “When a person goes to a PHC, they should not have to knock on one door for medical care and another across the street to buy medications,” Nnaji emphasizes. “They should find both waiting and ready, because the community and government already made sure of it.”
This report was made possible with support from the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) under the Strengthening Public Accountability for Results and Knowledge (SPARK 2.2) project.
SOUTH African singer Tyla has won the Best African Music Performance award at the 68th Grammy Awards, defeating Nigeria’s Davido and other top African artistes.
The award was announced on Sunday night in Los Angeles during the 2026 Grammy ceremony.
Tyla won with her song “Push 2 Start,” marking her second Grammy win in the category. She first won the award in 2024 with her global hit ‘Water’, becoming the first artiste to win the category twice since it was introduced.
Davido was nominated for the award with “With You,” a collaboration with Omah Lay. Other nominees in the category included Burna Boy, Ayra Starr and Wizkid, as well as Eddy Kenzo.
The Best African Music Performance category was created by the Recording Academy in 2024 to recognise outstanding African songs and promote African music on the global stage.
Despite multiple nominations over the years, Davido is yet to win a Grammy. However, his nomination this year adds to his growing international recognition and influence.
Tyla’s latest win has further strengthened her position as one of Africa’s fastest-rising global stars, highlighting the increasing presence of African music at major international award ceremonies.
THE Lead Director of the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Eze Onyekpere, has raised concerns over what he described as significant procedural breaches in the Federal Government’s handling of the 2024 budget.
Speaking during an exclusive interview with The ICIR, Onyekpere said although President Bola Tinubu followed due process by presenting the 2024 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly and securing legislative approval, the administration failed to comply with legal requirements during implementation.
According to him, once an appropriation bill is signed into law, the executive is required to implement it strictly within the fiscal year, from January 1 to December 31, unless a formal amendment or supplementary budget is presented to and approved by the National Assembly.
Onyekpere noted that despite implementation challenges in 2024, the executive did not return to lawmakers to seek adjustments to the budget.
“When 2024 passed, he begged that they should extend the implementation for up to 2025. They did that for him, although I hold that what they did was illegal.
“But let’s say what they did was legal. He took another 24 months and finished implementation in December 2025; something you should finish in December 2024. And all through that time, he did not come back to the National Assembly to say, I want to increase or to reduce,” he said.
He further alleged that after completing implementation beyond the original fiscal year, the executive returned to the National Assembly with a bill seeking to amend the 2024 Appropriation Act to reflect actual spending.
“When he finished implementing, he brought a bill to amend the 2024 Act to reflect the actual thing he had done, which is not in consonance with the approval of the National Assembly. He has spent more than the National Assembly approved for 2024. He was saying at the end of 2024, I did not finish implementing,” he added.
Onyekpere described this as retroactive budgeting, arguing that it undermined legislative oversight and violated principles of fiscal transparency.
Reacting to clarifications issued by the Budget Office of the Federation, the CSJ director said the explanations failed to address the core issue of legality, stressing that amendments to an appropriation law must precede spending, not follow it.
On budget execution, Onyekpere recalled that the Federal Government admitted implementing only about 30 per cent of the 2025 capital budget, prompting instructions for ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to roll over unspent allocations into subsequent years.
He added that several MDAs have disputed the reported level of releases.
He also expressed concern over persistent delays in Nigeria’s budget cycle, noting that discussions on subsequent budgets dragged deep into the fiscal year, raising questions about effective implementation and oversight.
“So, you ask yourself, what was he doing all along? As we speak today being almost the last day in January, tomorrow will be the last day. The National Assembly is just about having the budget, talking about it for the first time. And knowing what they do, that budget will not be ready until March or April. Then when do you start implementation? And you know this is the year they are going for primaries,” he added.
Onyekpere added that weak adherence to budget laws by both the executive and legislature would erode accountability and limit public scrutiny of how national resources are managed.
