The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), the elite professional body of Managing Directors, Directors of News and Editors of print, online, news agency and broadcast organisations, has announced a shift of its All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) 2025 to November 12-13, 2025.

The Guild said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had given his commitment to declare the conference open on November 12, 2025 as Special Guest of Honour in Abuja.

In a press statement by Eze Anaba and Onuoha Ukeh, President and General Secretary respectively, on Friday, the NGE said the change of date was due to circumstances beyond its control.

The media body apologised to its members, all invited guests and the general public for the inconvenience the change of date may cause them.

The Guild said that the conference venue remains Abuja, while giving assurance that the event will be a veritable platform to dissect issues that would sustain national cohesion and development in the country.

According to the statement, “The Standing Committee of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) regrets to inform members, invited guests and the general public that due to circumstances beyond its control, the All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) 2025 has been shifted to November 12-13, 2025. The venue remains the same (Abuja).

“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this change of date may cause you.

“We promise that despite the change of date, the ANEC 2025 would be a credible platform to discuss and proffer solutions to issues pertaining to national development and cohesion.

“President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, will declare the conference open, while dignitaries from government, academia, media, organised private sector and diplomatic corps are expected to attend.”

The Guild said that the theme of the conference remains: “Democratic Governance and National Cohesion: The Role of Editors,” with sub-theme as: “Electoral Integrity and Trust Deficit: What Nigerians Expect in 2027.”

The NGE said that there will be a keynote address on the theme and sub-theme, with other engaging papers to be delivered at the two-day conference.

According to the Guild, other papers to be delivered at the conference include: “Election Disputes and Judicial Integrity: Navigating the Thin Line Between Law and Politics” by Prof Awa Kalu, SAN,
Managing Partner, Awa Kalu & Partners, and “State of the Nation: Imperative of Economic and Political Reforms in Challenged Nation” by Prof Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, HOD, Political Science and International Relations, University of Abuja.

Other papers are “The Evolving Face of Journalism: Battling Misinformation, AI Disruption, and Credibility Gap” by Prof Abiodun Adeniyi, Dean, School of Post-Graduate Studies, Baze University, Prof Abiodun Adeniyi, and “Media, Terrorism, and National Security: Addressing the Complexities” by General Lucky Irabor (retd), former Chief of Defence Staff.

The NGE said that there will be an Executive Session on the second day of the conference where editors will interrogate government officials, political and business leaders.

The ANEC holds every year for editors to address and discuss national issues that have social, economic and political consequences in Nigeria.

The Guild said that this year’s ANEC will see no fewer than 500 members converging on Abuja and is designed to provide a platform for editors/media executives to explore ways to promote national development and cohesion through responsible and responsive journalism.

Amnesty International has urged the federal and state governments to abolish the death penalty.

Mrs Barbara Magaji,the Programmes Manager of Amnesty Internationa, made the call during a stakeholders dialogue to commemorate the World Day Against Death Penalty.

The programme was organised by Amnesty International in collaboration with the French Embassy in Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja.

Magaji stressed the need to remove all provisions in national and state laws that violate international human rights law, especially provisions that allow the death penalty.

She also urged the government to ensure that the criminal justice system was sufficiently resourced and capable of investigating crimes effectively.

She added that the law should be able to support victims and guarantee fair trials without recourse to the death penalty.

According to her, the federal government should, through the National Assembly, consider the abolition of the death penalty for all crimes in the ongoing Nigerian Constitutional Amendment process.

“This is because there is no convincing evidence that the death penalty has a unique deterrent effect on crimes.

“In Nigeria presently, 26 states and the FCT have introduced or amended existing laws prescribing the death penalty for kidnapping, banditry, cattle rustling, and cultism.

“In spite of the introduction of the death penalty, the country continues to record an increase in banditry, abduction, and general criminality. ”

Magaji noted that the Amnesty International research on the violence and killings in Nigeria showed an increase in general insecurity, unlawful killings, and kidnap for ransom.

“This is in spite of the introduction of the death penalty to crimes of banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and cultism.

“Our documentation of insecurity in 2024 indicates that there have been over 181 incidents resulting in extra-judicial killings arising from banditry/terrorism, urban crime and herdsmen farmers conflict and SGBV.

“This has led to over 3169 deaths. In 2024, 881 people were kidnapped. In 2025, there were 2313 deaths arising from 204 insecurity incidents with some situations resulting in the kidnapping of 1025 people,” she said.

Magaji explained that the rising insecurity in Nigeria was a combination of several factors that affected society at different levels, from the national to the community level.

She added that the underlying causes of insecurity needed to be addressed broadly and a comprehensive crime prevention mechanism deployed rather than the quick fix approach that was ineffective.

She said that Amnesty International was opposed to the death penalty in all cases.

“Amnesty International considers that death penalty violates the right to life as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

“The death penalty is often imposed after a grossly unfair trial. But even when trials respect international standards of fairness, the risk of executing the innocent can never be fully eliminated.

“The death penalty will inevitably claim innocent victims, as has been persistently demonstrated. The trend towards abolition of the death penalty is clear.

“In opposing the death penalty, Amnesty International is in no way seeking to condone the crimes for which those sentenced to death were convicted,” she added.

She noted that Amnesty International acknowledged fully the suffering of victims of violent crime and their families and recognised the duty of governments to protect their rights.

“Amnesty International also believed that people found guilty following a trial that met international fair trial standards should be held accountable but without recourse to the death penalty,” she said.

According to her, presently, 143 countries have now abolished the death penalty in law or practice.

Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), says the ongoing Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis (PASGA) initiative is not aimed at downsizing workers, but aimed at ensuring up-to-date data to reposition the Federal Civil Service.

Walson-Jack stated this in Abuja on Thursday at a sensitisation programme on the PASGA project, organised by the office of HCSF for Permanent Secretaries, Directors and consultants of the initiative.
Represented by Dr Deborah Odoh, Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office, Walson-Jack said the project was designed to strengthen personnel data integrity, align competencies with organisational needs, and promote evidence-based human resource management.

“The unique thing about this exercise is that it is not just a personnel audit but also a skills gap analysis,” she said.

She explained that the project would enable government to have reliable data for effective planning, deployment and decision-making in the civil service.

“Over the years, the Service has grappled with fragmented and outdated personnel information, leading to inefficiencies and misalignments.
“Through PASGA, we are setting a new standard, one that is transparent, data-based, and performance-oriented.

“This reform will deliver accurate personnel records, identify existing skills gaps, and support targeted training and redeployment aligned with the evolving needs of government,” she said.

According to her, the exercise will help assess the competencies of each staff member, identify gaps and plan relevant training to ensure that personnel are properly deployed.
“With this initiative, we will reposition and build capacity across the Service. We have already commenced digital literacy training with National Information Technology Development (NITDA) to enhance staff capacity and efficiency.

“Eventually, there will be no need for downsizing. Instead, we will reposition staff and ensure effective performance,” she said.
Also speaking, Dr Danjuma Kalba, Permanent Secretary, Common Services Office, described PASGA as a major step towards building an efficient, accountable and digitally driven civil service.

According to him, the project aligns with the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2025 (FCSSIP25), especially in areas of digitisation, talent management and organisational efficiency.

“As the coordinating ministry and seat of the number one civil servant in Nigeria, the office of the HCSF remains steadfast in leading transformative reforms that uphold professionalism and service excellence,” Kalba said.

Also speaking, Mr Ayo Muritala, Senior Managing Partner, Knewrow Performance Engineering, one of the project’s consultants, said PASGA, also known as Project Phoenix, represents renewal and rebirth in the Federal Civil Service.
“This is more than an audit or data exercise. It is a strategic reform instrument designed to help government understand the people who power the public service.

“It is about data, but beyond data, it is about identity, capability, and national performance,” he said.

President Bola Tinubu had earlier directed a comprehensive PASGA across the federal service to enhance professionalism and effective service delivery.

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that governance has been reactivated, with major stalled projects revived across the local government areas, reaffirming his commitment to development and peace in the State.

Governor Fubara disclosed this during a meeting held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Port Harcourt on Thursday, with traditional rulers to acquaint them of the return of governance after the emergency rule in the State.

The Governor informed the traditional rulers of the government’s efforts to reactivate stalled projects across the state, assuring them that major works, including the Port Harcourt Ring Road, hospitals, and roads, have resumed.

He emphasized that the interests of Rivers people remain paramount in all government undertakings, adding that the administration is committed to addressing any challenges facing the communities.

“My meeting with you this afternoon is to tell you that we are back. It’s not me, all of us. Government has started again. Our projects, if you are aware, most of the project sites have all reopened. The Ring Road has restarted. The hospitals are mobilized back to sites. The roads, as at today, we’ve had meetings with all the contractors. They’ve all moved back to sites.

“Also, the issues of other developments. I believe that most of them that were truncated, we will revisit them. Because at the end of the day, it has to do with the people. We must make sure that the interests of our people are supreme in whatever we’re doing. If you observe, every sector of the system has been activated.”

He acknowledged the unique position of the traditional rulers as the closest leaders to the people and vital role they play as custodians of culture and grassroots leaders in fostering peace and driving development, and appealed to them to continue to maintain peace within their domains as a way of supporting government initiatives.

Governor Fubara pledged to respect the traditional institutions, describing them as the ancestors and pillars of the state, and assured them of continued engagement and support.

“You cannot control from Port Harcourt, living in Government House, to decide what happens in the most interior place in Kula. You might have a local government chairman; you might have a councillor, but who is the closest, who controls the sub-leaders of the families, communities that make up the big Kingdoms? It is you all here that control them. So, if we have to pray for peace, if we have to yield for development, who should be the people I should always listen to? It is you.

“You know the problem, you understand the needs of the people. So, we are appealing that we need more peace. You want us to succeed, ensure that you maintain peace in your communities. Ensure that you support the government programmes. On my own part, I will give you the respect that you deserve.”

The Governor further announced plans to fulfill pending commitments to the traditional rulers, including the provision of vehicles and other benefits according to their hierarchy, promising that these would be delivered by the end of November.

He also addressed the importance of the quarterly council meetings, urging the Council Chairman to remain apolitical and focused on promoting the collective interests of the State.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, Eze Oha Apara (IV), Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom, reminisced the experience of the state and traditional rulers during the emergency rule, and expressed gratitude to God for the return of the Governor. He thanked him for the maturity and courage exhibited during the trying moment.

In their separate speeches, the Oba, Eze Ogba of Ogbaland, Eze Nwachukwu Nnam Obi, the III; the Amanyanabo of Bonny, King Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, Perekule XI; the Amanyanabo of Abonnema, King Disreal Gbobo Bob-Manuel; and the Eze of Omuma Kingdom, King Onyekachi Amaonwo; noted the organic support Rivers people have for the Governor, ascribing his return to God’s answer of the people’s prayers.

They noted that Rivers State is back on its feet, and urged the Governor to continue with the developmental projects that he had always put in place, and focus on youth empowerment, job creation and community development.

Saying that these are the surest foundations for enduring peace, they assured the Governor of the traditional institution’s commitment and readiness to continue to support the government’s developmental efforts.