News

Plateau Govt Urges Youths to Embrace Farming, AI, Targets 7,000 Hectares Cultivation and 20,000 Jobs by 2027

Published

1 year ago

August 13, 2025

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Musa Ibrahim Ashoms,farming ,AI, International Youth Day 2025

The Plateau State Government has called on young people to embrace agriculture and artificial intelligence (AI) as pathways to economic empowerment and sustainable development, unveiling plans to cultivate 7,000 hectares of farmland and create up to 20,000 jobs by 2027.

Speaking on Tuesday during the 2025 International Youth Day celebration in Jos, themed “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond”, Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Musa Ibrahim Ashoms, said the Mutfwang-led administration is deliberate about positioning Plateau youths to compete globally through innovation, agribusiness, and leadership opportunities.

“In all the 17 LGAs of Plateau State, youth-led agricultural cooperatives are boosting food production and jobs. Young peace advocates prevent conflict through dialogue, while youths are advancing business, mental health, environmental care, and gender equity. These efforts embody the Plateau spirit of resilience and ingenuity,” Ashoms stated.

Highlighting the potential of AI to drive innovation, he noted that the government is investing in youth-friendly technologies, skill-building, and entrepreneurship. “The Plateau Youth Agricultural Empowerment Program (P-YAEP) equips hundreds of youths with skills for sustainable agribusiness, aligning with SDGs like ending hunger and promoting decent work. The potential of agriculture and AI in securing the future of youths is not in doubt, and that’s why we must embrace them now,” he said.

Ashoms, who represented Governor Caleb Mutfwang, stressed the administration’s pro-youth stance, revealing that 60% of leadership roles in Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and local councils are currently held by young people.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Mobilization and Engagement, Hitler Pwajok, outlined the phased expansion of the Back-to-Farm initiative. “By next year, we aim to cultivate 2,500 hectares. In 2027, it will increase to 3,500 hectares. In total, between now and 2027, we will have cultivated nearly 7,000 hectares,” he said.

Pwajok added that the project will extend to the Central and Southern zones of the State, with a combined job creation potential of between 15,000 and 20,000 positions in the agribusiness value chain. He encouraged unity among beneficiaries, noting, “If five or ten youths pool their resources, they can acquire equipment like milling machines, run them profitably, and sustain themselves. That is the power of unity.”

Both officials underscored the need for collaboration, character-building, credible qualifications, and peaceful coexistence. Ashoms also urged youths to approach security challenges with wisdom, advising, “Remain alive so you can contribute to the growth of our State. Others come here to take advantage of our climate, resources, and beauty, turning them into thriving businesses. We too must seize these opportunities.”

The Commissioner further announced ongoing upgrades to the Rwang Pam Township Stadium and reaffirmed the government’s readiness to monitor and support youth-led businesses receiving seed capital.

This year’s celebration featured sessions on leveraging AI for smarter businesses, skill enhancement, and improved interpersonal relationships. “Youths are critical stakeholders in every developmental stride. They are there at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end. This government will continue to empower them so they can compete globally,” Ashoms assured.

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News

Gunmen kill two vigilantes, injure one in Plateau

Published

1 hour ago

September 16, 2026

Preport

Gunmen on Tuesday attacked vigilantes on duty in Tudun-Mazat village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing two and injuring another.

Kefas Mallai, a youth leader and the chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos told Peoples Gazette on Wednesday that the gunmen attacked the security men at about 10:00 p.m.

“At about 10:00 p.m. yesterday, some terrorists attacked the local vigilante on duty at Tudun-Mazat village also known as NTV of Barkin Ladi LGA, Plateau State leading to the death of two local vigilantes and one injured”, he told The Gazette.

According to him, the attacked village is along Bokkos road in the state.

Alfred Alabo, the state police spokesperson, was not available for comment. Text and WhatsApp messages sent to him remained unanswered as of press time.

On August 18, The Gazette reported that gunmen invaded Bin-Per community in Kombum district of Mangu council and killed 23 persons including women and children.

Similarly on June 16, diver miners were killed at a mining site in Gero village, Gyel district of Jos South local council of the state.

Business

PenCom Extends Pension Verification Deadline for Civil Servants to December 2026

Published

1 hour ago

September 16, 2026

Preport

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has extended the deadline for the ongoing mandatory One-Time Online Verification and Enrolment Exercise for employees of treasury-funded Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) who are entitled to accrued pension rights.

The exercise, which started in February 2026 and was initially scheduled to end on 31 July 2026, has now been extended to 31 December 2026. The extension follows several requests from MDAs seeking additional time for employees to participate in the online enrolment process.

The extension provides all eligible employees with another opportunity to complete the exercise and ensure that their accrued pension rights are accurately determined ahead of retirement.

Deadline Extension Due to Low Participation

Low participation in the exercise has necessitated the timeline extension. As at July 2026, MDAs had uploaded 62,320 records of active employees and retirees, while only 31,099 employees had successfully completed the enrolment process.These figures fall short of an estimated 150,000 active Federal Government employees entitled to accrued pension rights.

PenCom is therefore urging all eligible employees who are yet to enrol, as well as those who have started but not completed the process, to use the additional time provided by the extension to complete their enrolment.

Exercise Addresses Legacy Pension Liabilities

The initiative is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to settle pension liabilities carried over from the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), which existed before the introduction of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in 2004.

Under Section 15(1) of the Pension Reform Act 2014 (PRA 2014), employees who transited to the CPS are entitled to accrued pension rights, beingbenefits earned under the DBS.

These accrued rights comprise pension and gratuity benefits earned by eligible employees from their date of first appointment up to 30 June 2004. Their determination is based on an actuarial valuation process.

In a circular issued on 27 April 2026, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation had directed all treasury-funded MDAs to support the exercise and ensure that eligible employees complete the One-time Enrolment as required by PenCom. This is essential for determining the Federal Government’s outstanding pension liabilities and making adequate budgetary provisions for their settlement.

Digital Transformation Drives New Approach

The One-Time enrolment exercise is fully digital and is conducted through PenCom’s Contributions and Bond Redemption Application (COBRA).

COBRA is a secure platform designed to facilitate data capture, validation and processing.

Benefits of Early Enrolment

Early completion facilitates the determination of accrued pension rights and enables the necessary funding to be secured from the Federal Government. Subsequently, the amounts would be credited to the employees’ Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) well ahead of retirement, thereby earning investment returns and boosting retirement benefits.

MDAs, Pension Desk Officers and PFAs Have Key Roles

MDAs are required to upload details of eligible employees on the COBRA platform, after which affected employees are expected to visit their respective Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) with the required documents to complete the enrolment process.

Pension Desk Officers (PDOs), who have been trained by PenCom, coordinate the exercise within their organisations and guide employees through the process.

PenCom continues to collaborate with MDAs, PFAs and other stakeholders to improve awareness, facilitate participation and ensure that eligible employees are properly captured.

PenCom Urges Eligible Employees to Act

While the extension to 31 December 2026 provides additional time, PenCom has urged eligible employees and their respective MDAs not to delay completion of the process. All active employees of Federal Government Treasury-funded MDAs who were in service as at 30 June 2004 are covered by the accrued pension rights provisions.

PenCom therefore calls on all eligible employees and Treasury-funded MDAs to take full advantage of the extension and complete the enrolment exercise before the new deadline.

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