Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has issued a directive requiring all civil servants to immediately present their educational certificates and other documents before payments of their October salary.

The governor gave the order in a statement signed by Mr Humwashi Wonosikou, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor in Yola on Thursday.

He warned that failure to comply would result in the forfeiture of October salaries until the certificates were submitted.

According to him, this move aims to restore order and prevent unqualified individuals from occupying positions, thereby denying opportunities to the younger generation.

“Gov. Fintiri has issued a directive requiring all workers in government institutions, ministries, boards, and agencies to immediately present their certificates.

“This exercise is not intended to witch-hunt anyone but rather to ensure sanity in the system.

“No one will be denied their salary if they present their certificates before the end of October,” he stated.

According to the statement, the governor’s directive is driven by concerns that some individuals are taking advantage of system failures to engage in wrongdoing.

He stressed, “These issues must be addressed, and the service should be a haven for scholarship and honesty, rather than a haven for misfits.”

MTN Nigeria has unveiled plans to market Nigeria’s tourism assets to the world through a newly established platform, known as “See Naija”.

Ugonwa Nwoye, Chief Customer Relations Officer and Ag. Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.

Nwoye said that the platform was a digital tourism initiative aimed at showcasing Nigeria’s vibrant culture, iconic landscapes and creative talents.

She said the initiative would seek to reshape the misconceptions and negative stereotypes often associated with Nigeria.

“The See Naija platform is a curated online destination that allows individuals to discover beautiful spots and unique insights about Nigeria’s diverse culture, from its stunning natural landscapes to its colourful festivals and traditional lifestyle.

“In collaboration with some content creators, the platform will explore captivating visuals.

“It will capture stories about the Great Oyo Empire, Gashaka Gumti Park in Taraba state, Gurara Waterfalls in Niger state, Mount Patti in Lokoja, Agbokim Waterfall, Osun Sacred Grove and a host of others.”

Nwoye said that the ‘See Naija’ competition had also been established, which invited participants to rediscover the beautiful sights and sounds that highlight Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage.

She said using the hashtag, #SeeNaijawithMTN, the creative challenge encouraged individuals including content creators, photographers and videographers to share their unique perspectives on Nigeria.

Nwoye said it would be done through photos or videos that best represent the heart and soul of Nigeria, either through its people, landscapes, culture, or traditions.

“To enter the competition, interested participants can visit the See Naija website – mtn.ng/see-naija/.

“Submit a one to two-minute video entry of fascinating locations in your city, and upload your video on social media – Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook or YouTube.

“Use the hashtag #SeeNaijawithMTN,  Tag @mtnng and tag your location.”

She said the campaign started on Sept.17, which was World Tourism Day, and would run for three months.

Nwoye said with the unveiling of the initiative, MTN Nigeria has demonstrated its commitment to empowering Nigerians, promoting local talent, and driving socio-economic growth.

“At MTN, we believe in the beauty of diversity and inclusion. These two sit at the heart of our identity and organisational culture.

“Nigeria is a bigger picture of our culture. The nation is one of the most culturally varied countries, home to over 500 languages and over 300 ethnic groups.

“Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, encompassing art, crafts, and traditions from the Nok civilisation to the Benin Empire, has formed the country’s identity.

“To change the narrative about our country and showcase its beauty to the world, we, as indigenes, must play our part. This is why we have unveiled the competition inviting Nigerians to participate in rewriting history.

“Let us tell and share our stories about the lively markets in Lagos, the beautiful scenery in Calabar, or the customary celebrations in Kano.

“From our cuisine to our craft, to the diverse languages we speak, there is so much about our culture that we are yet to uncover. Let’s see Naija for the beauty that it truly is.”

The House of Representatives has expressed strong dissatisfaction over what it described as discriminatory treatment following the conferment of national honours by President Bola Tinubu.

In a motion backed by all 360 lawmakers, the House voiced its discontent with the decision to award Senate President Godswill Akpabio the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), while Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, received a lesser honour—the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).

The lawmakers also noted that the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, received the GCON honour despite being lower in rank than the Speaker.

Arguing that both chambers of the National Assembly are equal, the lawmakers rejected the perception of the Green Chamber as a lower chamber and urged President Tinubu to rectify what they termed an oversight.

The honours were announced by Tinubu during a broadcast marking Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day Anniversary in Abuja.

In addition to Akpabio’s GCON award, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin was conferred the CFR honour, while Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu received the Commander of the Order of Niger (CON).

The House has called on President Tinubu to address the imbalance and accord the Green Chamber the recognition it deserves.