Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: social protection

  • Katsina, UNICEF move to count Almajiri and Islamiya pupils—planning bigger education reforms

    Katsina, UNICEF move to count Almajiri and Islamiya pupils—planning bigger education reforms

    Photo Credit: Independent
    2025-12-28 09:00:00

    Figures cited by PUNCH show Katsina State is partnering with UNICEF to conduct a census of Almajiri and Islamiya schools, aiming to establish accurate data for education planning and child-welfare support.

    Officials say the exercise will map enrolment patterns, school distribution, and gaps that have long complicated targeted interventions.

    The initiative is expected to feed into reforms on basic education delivery and social support for vulnerable pupils.

    The Guardian quoted the bureau describing the exercise as “the first step to building a better future.”

    Echotitbits take: Data is the doorway to smarter budgeting—especially for welfare-linked education. Watch whether census outputs become a live registry tied to school feeding, health checks, and conditional support for families.

    Source: Independent — June 27, 2025 (https://independent.ng/unicef-katsina-govt-set-to-count-almajiri-islamiya-schools/)

    Independent June 27, 2025

    UNICEF, Katsina  Govt Set  To Count Almajiri, Islamiya Schools

  • PenCom: ₦577bn Now Credited to Retirees and Contributors After FG Clears Pension Liabilities

    PenCom: ₦577bn Now Credited to Retirees and Contributors After FG Clears Pension Liabilities

    Photo Credit : THE NATION

    2025-12-17

    Speaking at a pension reform scorecard event, PenCom’s DG Omolola Oloworaran says about ₦577 billion has been credited to retirees and contributors after the Federal Government released funds to address legacy pension liabilities, *The Nation* reports.

    The breakdown includes payouts tied to pension increases, accrued rights, and contribution shortfalls—an intervention designed to reduce long-standing backlogs and improve confidence in the contributory pension framework.

    For retirees, the practical impact is immediate: arrears paid, monthly payments boosted, and fewer delays—though questions remain about sustainability and future funding discipline.

    Other reporting on the same development includes:
    – TheCable: “In total, ₦577.5bn has already hit the RSAs of retirees and contributors, impacting over 1.05 million accounts.”
    – BusinessDay: “Stakeholders say clearing liabilities is key to restoring trust in the pension system.”

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: This is a rare “delivery” moment in public finance, but it also sets a standard. Watch whether contribution remittances stay current (especially MDAs), and whether PenCom’s enforcement tools meaningfully reduce future pension arrears.