General News
Dr. Kyaagba’ at 70th: Celebrating a Man of Distinction
By Amos Aar
Dr. Hyacinth Aondoaver Kyaagba, one of Benue’s retired permanent secretaries and an illustrious civil servant on Saturday marked his 70th birthday with the public presentation of his new book, Tiv Oral Poetry, a scholarly work distilled from the PhD he completed at the age of 69.
The celebration, held at the College of Health Sciences, Fr Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi (MOAUM), attracted academics, traditional rulers, public servants and admirers who converged to honour a man many described as an exemlar of humility, scholarship, selfless service and distinction.
In an interview shortly after the launch, Dr. Kyaagba said the book was borne out of a long academic journey sustained even while he served as a top civil servant.
“There is actually no secret. I got my PhD at 69 and the book is a product of the PhD. Even as a civil servant, I kept going back to school to read. My lecturers thought my work was good enough to be shared with the wider academic community. They encouraged me to publish it, so in a way, I am fulfilling what my lecturers asked me to do”, he disclosed.
Reflecting on retirement, he acknowledged that many elderly people struggle due to inadequate pensions, poor health and family responsibilities.
“I must be honest with my colleagues, retirement can be quite a problem. My senior colleagues retired and some are taking less than 20,000 as pension. You cannot blame such people for being idle,” he said, noting a case of an octogenarian whose medication alone costs over ₦100,000 monthly.
Kyaagba encouraged retirees who still enjoy good health to stay socially active. “If you stay in your house, you will vegetate. So, it’s good to remain engaged. Whether in church or civil society, it’s important to get involved. Life doesn’t end with retirement.”
He revealed that retired permanent secretaries in the state have formed an association to keep themselves intellectually and socially active. “We help ourselves to remain vibrant, share ideas even when we have experiences that are not too good, we share and learn. I encourage my colleagues who are retired and remain in their houses to come out.”
Born on November 23, 1955, into a respected royal lineage in Mbaduku, Vandeikya, Dr. Kyaagba rose by dint of academic brilliance and professional integrity to become one of Benue’s celebrated administrators.
After excelling in his early education and completing his BA and MA in English from the University of Ibadan, he began a 35-year public service career that saw him serve as Director of Information, General Manager of Benue Printing and Publishing Corporation, publishers of The Voice Newspaper. He was also Chief Press Secretary to Mr Ason Bur, one-time Deputy Governor in Benue state. Dr Kyaagba was also Director, Research and Documentation, Government House before his elevation as Permanent Secretary in the same office from where he was posted to Ministry of Education. He served as permanent secretary in other ministries until his retirement in 2014.
Speakers at the event extolled his contributions in public service, scholarship and community development.
The Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty, Prof. James Ayatse, described Dr. Kyaagba as a “super permanent secretary while in active service and an encyclopedia of knowledge” adding that he is “intelligent yet humble’. He concluded that his quiet nature contrasted with his impressive achievements. His Royal Majesty expressed concern over the poor turnout at the event, remarking that the celebrant, despite his accomplishments, was not a “noisy politician,” but someone whose excellence deserved celebration.
In his book review which he titled “The Ritual and Performance,” Prof. James Tsaaior said the 11-chapter work elevates Tiv oral poetry, once limited to local communal settings, into global scholarly discourse.
He noted that performance is central to human existence, arguing that “everything is performance and performance is everything.” He comm
General News
Tinubu Announces 26 New Appointments, Gisaor Replaces Byuan at Federal Housing Authority
By Felix Umande, Makurdi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved 26 new appointments into 10 Federal Government agencies and commissions, in a major shake-up aimed at strengthening governance and service delivery.
The appointments were announced on Sunday, 20 July, 2026 and take immediate effect.
Among the key appointments, Gisaor Vincent Iorja, an economist, legal scholar and academic, has been named Executive Director, Finance of the Federal Housing Authority. He replaces Mathias Terwase Byuan, who resigned to contest the governorship election in Benue State. Gisaor currently serves as Secretary of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, BSIEC.
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has been appointed Chairman of the Board of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA.
He will head the board alongside Alhaji Ahmadu Abubakar and Engineer Ilyasu Ibrahim Makinta as members and non-executive directors. The incumbent Director-General of REA, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, and three previously appointed executive directors complete the board.
Major General Junaid Bindawa has been named Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission. President Tinubu also made eight other appointments to the Commission.
Former House of Representatives member from Lagos, Olajumoke Okoya-Thomas, was appointed Secretary of the Commission. Commissioners appointed to represent states include Dr. Ogbole Ene Lilian, Benue; Oladele Olatubosun, Oyo; and Yakubu Umar Barde, Kaduna.
Other members of the Commission are Dr. Mai Adamu Yau, Borno; Ginika Florence Tor, Enugu; Engineer Lawrence Okoh, Edo; and Bello Morenike Iyabode, Kogi.
President Tinubu also appointed Dr. Abuh Mohammed as Director-General of the National Population Commission.
Dr. Akinola Odeyemi as Managing Director of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading, NBET.
Dr. Anthony Inalegwu Godwin as Chairman/CEO of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission.
Engineer Julius Oloro, a former council chairman, as CEO of the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation, NCAM, Kwara, replacing
Dr. A.R. Kamal who died in January.
Tosin Johnson Adeyanju, previously Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund, NLTF, has been redeployed as Secretary of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission.
The President also constituted the board of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission with Dr. Abdullahi Maikano Saidu as Chairman. Members include Mohammed Asmau, Mohammed Aliyu Makama, Dr. Suleiman Gidado, Louis O. Ndukwe, Amaechi Ugwele and Olaniyi Idowu Onikola.
Shuni Muhammad Dahiru was named Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education. He replaces Professor Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu, who was reassigned to the Petroleum Trust Development Fund, PTDF, in April.
According to the Presidency, the appointments are part of ongoing efforts to reposition institutions to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda.
By Nick Ibe, Abuja
DSS is prepared to appeal to achieve death penalty for the two Ansaru terrorist group commanders given life sentences in Abuja were given by Emeka Nwite. The were sentenced on Monday after they pleaded guilty to a 32-count terrorism charge.
The convicts: Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar, described as the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, and Mahmud al-Nigeri (a.k.a Malam Mamuda), his deputy and chief of staff.
The judge handed down the sentence after the convicts changed their plea from not guilty to guilty and, through their lawyer, appealed for leniency.
A senior DSS official, speaking after the judgement, said the agency considers the punishment inadequate given the gravity of the offences.
According to the official, the two men had initially indicated they would plead guilty but later changed their position around the period pupils and teachers were abducted in Oriire LGA of Oyo state by suspected members of the same group.
“For the nearly 60 days the kidnappers held on to the pupils and teachers of Oriire, the Ansaru commanders in our custody changed,” the official said.
“One of the top conditions the abductors gave was the unconditional release of these same Ansaru commanders in exchange for the Oriire kidnap victims.”
The DSS official said the defendants, who had earlier pleaded not guilty, later told the court they were undecided on the plea they intended to enter.
“Justice Nwite even had to hand them an ultimatum to make up their minds on or before Monday’s sitting.
“After the Oriire rescue, they came to court to plead guilty to all the charges.
“Allowing the two terror commanders walk away with life sentences will not serve the cause of justice for the two Oriire teachers beheaded by their abductors.
“The reason the terrorists beheaded the two Oriire teacher’s was to put pressure on government to release these two Ansaru commanders.
“It, therefore, wouldn’t be fair to see two men beheaded and their families are made to live with the losses without adequately bringing the culprits to book.”
By Nick Ibe, Abuja
The Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, (Retd) has denied as malicious and an entirely fabricated rumour circulating across various online and social media platforms alleging that he has expressed an intention to step down from his position.
Debunking this as fake news, a statement signed by Leah Katung-Babatunde
SA (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Defence stated unequivocally, and in the strongest possible terms that:
“These rumours are absolute falsehood borne out of complete mischief.
General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd) remains fully focused on his national security mandate, deeply committed to his duties, and completely dedicated to piloting the nation’s defence strategy with results already being seen.
The release further called the public to disregard the fake news. It also strongly called on the media to desist from spreading unverified information falsehood from the internet and social media platforms but to verify from it before going public.
“The general public is hereby urged to completely disregard this fake news. We strongly advise media outlets and internet users to desist from spreading unverified information and seek clarifications from the office.”
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