Kaduna State

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Governor Uba Sani has formally signed the 2026 appropriation bill of ₦985.9 billion into law, marking a significant commitment to infrastructure and grassroots development in Kaduna State.

The budget, titled “Consolidation of Transformation for Inclusive Development,” strongly prioritizes capital projects. A substantial ₦698.9 billion representing 70.9% of the total is allocated for capital expenditure aimed at infrastructure, economic expansion, and improved public services.

Recurrent expenditure, set at ₦287 billion (29.1% of the budget), will cover essential government operations and services.

A standout feature is the direct allocation of ₦100 million to each of the state’s wards for community driven projects, a move designed to ensure development reaches the grassroots level.

Governor Sani emphasized that the budget reflects his administration’s focus on inclusive growth and tangible improvements in the lives of Kaduna’s residents.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has approved sweeping improvements to teachers’ service conditions, including raising the retirement age to 65 years.

Effective August 1, 2025, the mandatory retirement age for teachers increases from 60 to 65, while the service years cap extends from 35 to 40.

The government also approved a new special allowance for teachers deployed to rural and hard-to-reach areas.

The move implements the federal Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022, which acknowledges the pivotal role of educators in national development.

State Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, stated the policy underscores Governor Sani’s dedication to worker welfare and educational revitalisation. He emphasised that retaining experienced teachers is crucial for quality education and improved learning outcomes.

A formal circular detailing the approval has been issued by the Governor’s Office and signed by the Permanent Secretary (Establishment), Mrs. Felicia I. Makama. The State Civil Service Commission will release further implementation guidelines.

Governor Sani expressed optimism that the reforms will enhance teacher motivation, improve retention rates, and significantly raise educational standards statewide.

By Maryam Shehu

Electricity remains one of the most essential public utilities in Nigeria–central to daily life, small-scale enterprises, and family survival. Yet for residents of Tudun Jukun, Madaci and other communities in Zaria, power has become a source of deepening hardship rather than progress.

For nearly three weeks, Tudun Jukun and several neighbouring communities have been plunged into a persistent blackout, with no meaningful announcement from the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) or any government authority. The outage comes on the heels of a controversial and devastating spike in electricity bills that many residents say they were never consulted about and cannot afford.

In October, KEDCO reportedly reclassified the community into Band A, one of the highest electricity tariff categories, despite Tudun Jukun’s socio-economic reality. The community, home to more than 2,000 households, has less than 40 per cent of residents considered middle class, while the majority struggle daily with food insecurity, unstable income, and rising costs of living. Many parents rely on public schools, yet still struggle to provide basic learning materials for their children.

Residents say KEDCO claimed to have engaged community elites before implementing the Band A classification. Shortly after, households were issued bills of ₦10,000—already burdensome for a community where many live below the poverty line.

The situation worsened dramatically in early November, and households received bills as high as ₦115,000, and in some houses, even higher. With residents unable to pay, the community was soon thrown into darkness. Since November 20, 2025, Tudun Jukun has remained without electricity, despite petitions and repeated attempts by concerned people to seek redress.

The power cut has devastated small and micro-businesses that rely on electricity to function. Welders, tailors, food vendors, shop owners, and artisans have seen their livelihoods crumble.

“My father is old and serves as a Ladan at a nearby mosque, so my family depends on me for everything,” said Ibrahim, a local welder. “I tried carrying my machines to Hayin Usama, where they had light, but now they also haven’t had power for two days. My clients are collecting their materials without waiting, and things are completely ruined for me.”

Women-led household businesses are also affected. “I used to make ₦3,000 to ₦5,000 daily from soyamilk and zobo,” said Hadiza, a mother and small-scale producer. “That money supported my household, but since the first week of this outage, I’ve had to learn how to survive without income.”

Across the community, youths, artisans, and family breadwinners now face worsening poverty, prolonged idleness, and rising frustration as no tangible explanation or action has been offered by authorities.

Residents are calling on KEDCO, the local government, and all responsible bodies to urgently address the issue. They argue that the prolonged outage and unexplained tariff hikes undermine their rights to dignity and economic participation as protected under Sections 14(2)(b) and 17(3)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which obligate the government to ensure the welfare of citizens and provide adequate facilities for their livelihood. They also reference the regulatory duties of electricity distribution companies under the Nigerian Electricity Act and NERC guidelines, which require fair billing, transparency, and continuous service except in cases of officially communicated faults or approved maintenance.

Residents are demanding a transparent review of the billing process, a resolution to the petitions already submitted, and direct engagement with the community’s leaders. They insist that electricity must be restored immediately, alongside compensation or remedial measures for what they describe as an unjust disruption of their rights and livelihoods.

Until then, Tudun Jukun remains in darkness, both literally and economically.

Maryam Shehu writes from Zaria and can be reached at maryamshehu6354@gmail.com.

By Salim Yunusa

Art Xplosion 4.0, the youth-focused art and mental health festival organised by Friends Advocacy for Mental Health Initiative (FAM Initiative), concluded in Zaria after a week-long celebration of creativity, resilience, and cultural identity. The event, the first of its kind in the city, marked a major step toward exposing young people to art as a tool for emotional expression, cultural grounding, and mental well-being.

Over 100 children and adolescents participated in the program, which featured bead-making, painting, mosaic art, upcycled crafts, gypsum art, traditional performances, cultural showcases, storytelling, and an art exhibition. Participants were drawn from different communities across Sabon Gari Local Government and beyond, including young people with invisible disabilities and those from underserved socio-economic backgrounds.

For the organisers, Art Xplosion 4.0 was more than an event. It was a statement about the role of creativity in strengthening mental resilience among young people navigating social pressure, identity struggles, and emotional challenges.

Program Manager and Lead Artist Aisha Ahmad Ibrahim said the week-long festival reaffirmed her conviction that art remains one of the most accessible and transformative tools for youth mental health. She said, “Art Xplosion 4.0 was truly a wholesome event for me that reaffirmed that what I do is worthy,” she said. “Despite the hassles and rigorous work I handled as Programs Manager and Lead Artist, I genuinely enjoyed every part of the experience, from preparation and procurement to organising and leading my team. The diversity of participants initially made me sceptical about coordination, but art once again proved to be a natural medium of expression. Healthy children, children and youth with neurological and non-visible disabilities, and those from low academic and socio-economic communities all expressed their artistic abilities beautifully. My team and I moved easily between groups to guide and support them. With about 100 participants from almost all parts of Sabon Gari and beyond, Art Xplosion 4.0 was a deeply fulfilling success.”

Curator Jecinta Egbim described the edition as a powerful testing ground for the resilience strategies she teaches adolescents during mental health outreaches. “This year’s Art Xplosion 4.0 was an entire experience, not just for our participants but for me,” she said. “Going through some of the tests of my own resilience strategies, I have seen that resilience is truly the key. Tools like art, effective communication, emotional regulation, support systems and outlets helped us push through.”

She added that the implementation process itself came with emotional and logistical challenges. “We faced hard times, tough ‘no’s, shut doors, and some interesting stakeholder management issues, but we emerged stronger. One of our biggest successes was simply seeing the week through from start to finish. We received multiple reports from adolescents, parents, school owners, community leaders, and caregivers. Even two days after the event, a mother visited our office with her daughter to thank us. It was humbling to see the impact extend into homes. That was the essence of this year’s edition: Art Xplosion should not just be immersive on-site, but a holistic experience that follows participants into their houses, schools, and workplaces.”

She noted that even with less than 20 sponsors supporting 100 participants, the team stayed committed to impact. “Fundraising was tight and discouraging, but our successes outweighed every challenge. It reminded us of what we are really made of.”

One of the program’s partners, NEST AI, highlighted the deeper emotional significance of art for young people. Its founder, Yazid S. Mika’il, said the initiative reflected how creativity can help youths build confidence and shape their futures. “Art speaks to one’s emotions and the core of being… it helps young people realise that they matter, and can determine what a beautiful and healthy future looks like,” he said.

Poetic Wednesdays Initiative, also a partner, expressed satisfaction with the program’s impact. Founder Salim Yunusa said the organisation was proud to support an initiative that brings creativity and healing into the lives of young people in Northern Nigeria. “We are pleased with what this initiative achieved, especially in Zaria,” he said. “We hope to see more of this replicated across Zaria and northern Nigeria at large.”

The Art Xplosion model uses creative expression to help children and adolescents communicate feelings, build confidence, improve emotional regulation, and reconnect with cultural identity. Many of the participants came from families dealing with psychosocial stressors, developmental challenges, or limited access to creative opportunities.

FAM Initiative reported that participants showed improvements in communication, empathy, and artistic expression. Parents and community leaders also noted that the activities helped their children feel calmer, more expressive, and more connected to their heritage.

This year’s edition introduced an expanded cultural showcase, featuring participants who displayed traditional attire, shared cultural stories, and performed dances. The art exhibition and auction also allowed the public to appreciate the creative output of the young participants.

With Art Xplosion 4.0, Zaria has now hosted its first large-scale festival that blends art, cultural pride, inclusion, and mental health advocacy. Organisers say the program’s success has opened a new chapter for community-driven youth development initiatives in Kaduna State.

FAM Initiative announced that future editions will expand mentorship opportunities, deepen community outreach, and strengthen support structures for children and adolescents dealing with emotional and developmental challenges.

As the dust settles on this year’s event, the organisers say their biggest hope is that the young participants, many of whom are experiencing structured art therapy for the first time, will carry their newfound confidence, skills, and cultural pride into the next chapters of their lives. Art Xplosion, they say, is not just an event. It is becoming a movement for healing, expression, and resilience across Northern Nigeria.

By Ishaka Mohammed

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has withdrawn Oyaje Daniel from his Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State and redeployed him to the NYSC state headquarters for closer monitoring. This came after his threat on social media to sleep with his female secondary school students.

As part of the sanctions, Daniel has been denied access to the free accommodation at the headquarters despite being required to report there daily for the remainder of his service year.

The Daily Reality earlier reported that the affected Corps member serving at Judeen International School in Kaduna had threatened to sleep with his female secondary school students, whom he considered more voluptuous than undergraduates. 

According to John Adesogan, who appears to have been Daniel’s schoolmate, the Corps member was summoned by the NYSC Disciplinary Committee at the state headquarters after his comment attracted public outcry.

John Adesogan said, “The Alumni President of our college, Comr. Philip Ayuba Bobai and I went with Daniel to the NYSC Headquarters to further engage with the officials handling the matter.” 

He further revealed that the NYSC had constituted an investigation team to visit Daniel’s former PPA to determine whether any other form of misconduct had occurred. This is in addition to NYSC’s efforts to track other Corps members who made comments similar to Daniel’s on the same post.

Daniel has taken to social media to express remorse. Reacting to a comment from one Sabastine Ezekiel, who urged him to “be strong”, Daniel wrote, “Thank you, my leader. I’m sorry for disappointing your expectations. I was careless with my comment, thinking I was catching ‘cruise’. But I have learned my lesson. All I want is another chance to live up to my name and trust.”

Adesogan urged fellow Nigerians to use social media responsibly, maintain discipline, and create a safer, more decent online environment.

By Ishaka Mohammed

A man serving under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has come under fire for publicly threatening to sleep with his female secondary school students, whom he considered voluptuous.

According to a Nigerian Army officer and Facebook user, Kolawole Oludare Stephen, the Corps member, Oyaje Daniel (KD/25A/0494), currently serves at Judeen International School, Mando, Igabi Local Government Area, Kaduna State. The officer tagged the NYSC in a Facebook post for urgent action.

Another Facebook user, Ọluchi Eze, who tagged the NYSC in a post, mentioned Oyaje Daniel as a Corps member in a secondary school in Kaduna State.

Reacting to Ọluchi Ezeʼs post, the Corps member, with the Facebook name Comr Oyaje Daniel, confirmed his local government of national service and tendered an apology, but expressed shock at people’s judgment of his character.  “I am shocked by the news surrounding my character, and I want to assure everyone that I am not a rapist or a perpetrator of any form of abuse,” part of the post reads.

While some Facebook users considered him remorseful and deserving of forgiveness, others called for penalties. 

The Daily Reality gathered that Comr Oyaje Daniel had earlier commented on a Facebook post in which he had threatened to sleep with any SSS 3 female students who failed to “coordinate” themselves, stressing how their bodies were more voluptuous than those of 400 level undergraduates.

At the time of filing this report, the National Youth Service Corps has yet to comment on the matter.

By Anwar Usman

The Kaduna State Police Command has announced the rescue of 17 trafficked children and arrested three suspected child traffickers.

This was revealed by DSP Mansir Hassan, the spokesperson of the command, in a statement on November 12, 2025, following credible intelligence on suspicious movements of children under the Danmagaji Flyover in Zaria, detectives from Danmagaji Division swiftly swung into action, leading to the rescue of the children.

The rescued children were allegedly being prepared for trafficking to Abuja and other parts of the country and beyond.

Three suspects apprehended in connection with the incident include Musa Shuaibu, 21, a native of Funtua, Katsina; Sani Mamman, 23, from Ingawa, Katsina State; and Mubarak Ismail, 20, from Unguwa Uku, Kano State.

During interrogation, the suspects confessed to having brought the children from different locations and were in the process of transporting them to Abuja before their arrest.

All the rescued children are underage and were found in good health, who are currently under the care and protection of the police command, as efforts continue to locate and reunite them with their parents or guardians.

By Suleiman Usman Yusuf

In view of the recent surge in car thefts across Kaduna State, particularly along Isa Kaita Road from the evening hours onward, it has become necessary to raise public awareness and caution all vehicle owners.

A few days ago, a brother of mine, who is a senior military officer, visited Kaduna and stopped at Corporate Plaza on Isa Kaita Road to run a few errands. Unfortunately, his car, a Pontiac Vibe, was stolen within minutes of parking it around 8:00 p.m.

Shockingly, his younger brother had experienced a similar incident some months earlier at almost the exact location (near Video Max) around 8:30 p.m., when his Toyota Corolla was stolen barely three minutes after stopping to buy shawarma.

About two months ago, I was on the same street around 9:00 p.m. and met a man whose Honda EOD had just been stolen moments before I arrived. While we were still discussing the issue, another person joined and narrated how two cars had been stolen along the same street not long before.

Sadly, this problem is not limited to Isa Kaita Road alone. Other incidents have occurred across Kaduna Metropolis. For instance, about a year ago, one of my elders had his Honda Civic stolen at Sultan Bello Mosque during Friday prayers. Around the same time, my uncle’s Toyota was also stolen at the Dan Fodio Mosque during Juma’at prayers.

A few months ago, a friend who owns a shop at Kaduna Central Market had his Honda Civic stolen from the KASUPDA Car Park. Another friend’s Toyota was taken from Barau Dikko Hospital’s parking area, despite the exit-card security system meant to prevent such occurrences.

I have personally witnessed the trauma many of these victims went through, including how their daily routines and family lives were disrupted. I have accompanied some of them to various police stations to report these incidents, yet none of the cases have yielded any feedback or results.

Please note: no matter the value or condition of your car, it can be a target. These criminals are always on the lookout, and it is important to take every possible precaution to secure your vehicle.

I am not certain how much the Kaduna State Government and relevant security agencies, including the NPF Kaduna and the Nigeria Police Force, are aware of these disturbing trends. Still, I am using this medium to draw their attention to the growing threat. I also urge His Excellency, the Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, to take swift and decisive action to address this alarming situation.

It is worth noting that, in the first two incidents mentioned above, the victims received calls within 12 hours stating that some of their personal identification items (such as ID cards and national ID cards) had been found at Kwanar Dangora. This suggests that many of these stolen vehicles are quickly transported out of Kaduna shortly after the theft.

ADVICE TO CAR OWNERS 

To reduce your risk of becoming a victim, kindly consider the following preventive measures (though not exhaustive):

 1. Install a reliable car tracker if you can afford one.

 2. If not, use mechanical or pedal locks or other simple devices to reinforce your vehicle’s security.

 3. Avoid parking in dark or isolated areas, especially at night.

 4. Do not leave your car engine running while stepping out, even briefly.

 5. Even when your car is properly locked, take extra steps such as locking your steering wheel, using pedal or gear locks, and installing security alarms or tracking devices. Locking alone is often not enough.

 6. When visiting crowded public places such as mosques, markets, or hospitals, try to park in well-secured and well-lit spaces.

DISCLAIMER (PLEASE READ)

This message is not intended to cause fear or panic, but to create awareness and promote vigilance. The rate of car theft in Kaduna is alarming, and the more we discuss it openly, the better our chances are of prompting action from the authorities and encouraging citizens to be more careful.

Let us all remain alert, report suspicious movements, and look out for one another. Together, we can make our communities safer.

Stay vigilant, stay safe.

Suleiman writes from Kaduna and can be reached via suleimanusmanbac@gmail.com.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Joint Union of Tertiary Institutions of Kaduna State (JUTIKS) has suspended its indefinite strike, bringing relief to students and staff across the state’s polytechnics and colleges of education.

The industrial action, which began on September 30, 2025, was called off on Monday, October 20, 2025, following a meeting between union leaders and the State Governor.

The strike was initiated to demand the implementation of a new CONPCASS/CONTEDISS salary structure, which had been stagnant for over 16 years, and the extension of the 65-year retirement age to include non-teaching staff.

According to a statement released by JUTIKS Chairman, Comrade Usman Shehu Suleiman, the Governor approved key demands during a meeting on October 17, 2025.

The government agreed to implement 70% of the 2024 CONPCASS/CONTEDISS salary structure, effective from the October 2025 payroll, and to include non-teaching staff in the 65-year retirement age policy.

“In view of the above, the leadership of JUTIKS hereby suspends the indefinite strike action with effect from today,” the statement read, directing all member unions to comply with the directive.

The union also expressed gratitude to its members for their “support and resilience” during the three-week strike.

Academic and non-academic activities are expected to resume immediately across the affected institutions.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Senator Uba Sani, the Governor of Kaduna State, has approved a new salary structure for three major tertiary institutions in the state.

The approval covers academic and non-academic staff of Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, the Shehu Idris College of Health Sciences and Technology, and the College of Education, Gidan Waya.

This decision brings to an end a 15-year-long struggle by the staff of these institutions, who have been demanding a review of their remuneration package.

The new salary structure is expected to align their pay with contemporary economic realities and improve morale.

While the specific details of the new salary scale were not immediately released, the approval is seen as a major victory for the educational sector in the state and a fulfillment of the government’s commitment to the welfare of its workforce.