The Oyo State Government has declared Monday, October 5, 2026, a work-free day for all teachers in the state to commemorate this year’s World Teachers’ Day.

The declaration was contained in a circular issued on Sunday by the Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Prof. Musibau Babatunde.

In a statement issued in Ibadan, the state capital, the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Media, Sulaimon Olarenwaju, said the decision was part of the government’s commitment to the welfare and professional development of teachers.

According to the statement, the declaration was aimed at recognising the contributions of teachers to the development of the state’s education sector and human capital.

“The declaration reflects the administration’s unwavering commitment to the welfare, dignity and professional development of teachers, who remain the backbone of the state’s educational system and key drivers of human capital development in Oyo,” the statement said.

The government explained that the work-free day would enable teachers across the state to participate fully in activities organised to mark World Teachers’ Day.

It added that the occasion would also provide teachers with an opportunity to reflect on developments and progress in the education sector, as well as strengthen unity among members of the teaching profession.

The Oyo State Government congratulated teachers on the occasion and commended them for their dedication to educating and shaping the future of children and young people across the state.

The government further reaffirmed its commitment to implementing policies and programmes aimed at improving teaching and learning, while enhancing the welfare and working conditions of teachers.

The declaration in Oyo comes as other states have also announced similar measures to honour teachers on World Teachers’ Day.

The Kwara and Ekiti State Governments have also declared Monday, October 5, 2026, a work-free day for teachers in their respective states to enable them to participate in activities marking the celebration.

World Teachers’ Day is observed annually to recognise the vital role teachers play in education and societal development.

State chairmen of the All Progressives Congress have expressed divergent positions on whether the party should work with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as President Bola Tinubu intensifies efforts to resolve political disagreements ahead of the 2027 general elections.

While APC chairmen and leaders in some states said they would be willing to work with Wike if he formally joined the ruling party or if the national leadership reached an agreement with him, others rejected the prospect of accommodating the minister’s Rainbow Coalition in their states.

The disagreement largely stems from Wike’s continued membership of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party despite serving in the APC-led Federal Government.

Wike has also continued to promote the Rainbow Coalition, a cross-party political platform he says is designed to mobilise support for President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

However, his position has created tension with some APC governors and party leaders, who argue that supporting Tinubu at the presidential level should not translate into arrangements that could weaken APC candidates contesting governorship and legislative elections.

Wike, on his part, has maintained that his support for Tinubu does not prevent the PDP from fielding candidates for other elective positions.

APC chairmen take different positions
In Plateau State, APC Chairman Rufus Bature said the party was prepared to work with anyone who belonged to the APC, including Wike, if efforts were made to resolve the disagreement.

However, Bature insisted that Wike could not simultaneously identify with two rival political parties.

“If he wants to join the APC, he is free to do that because we don’t stop people from joining our party. But he cannot be APC in the morning and PDP in the night. We won’t allow that,” he said.

The Jigawa State chapter, however, adopted a more accommodating position.

The state APC Publicity Secretary, Bashir Kundu, said the party appreciated Wike’s contribution to Tinubu’s 2027 campaign and was prepared to work with anyone supporting the President.

Similarly, Gombe State APC Chairman, Mohammed Dantata, said the party would welcome anyone willing to join its ranks.

Zamfara State APC Chairman, Kabiru Moyi, also said he would abide by any decision reached by the party’s national leadership.

“If the National Secretariat of our great party is ready to align with him for the success of the party, I have nothing to say but to accept the decision,” Moyi said.

In Bauchi State, however, APC Chairman Muhammad Tilde said he could not independently determine whether the state chapter would work with Wike, even if President Tinubu succeeded in brokering peace.

Tilde said the issue would require consultations with other party leaders and stakeholders before the state could adopt a position.

Kwara State presented another dimension to the disagreement.

The state APC Chairman, Sunday Fagbemi, declined to comment on the reported reconciliation initiative, while party chieftain Abdul-Rahoof Labelabe said the G15, now known as the OTOGE Progressives, had already begun working with Wike’s coalition in support of Tinubu.

Benue, Sokoto, Kebbi chapters cautious
In Benue State, APC Chairman Benjamin Omale said the state chapter had not received any invitation from the Presidency regarding the proposed reconciliation.

He said the party would adopt a collective position if it was formally approached.

Omale added that the Benue APC remained focused on a unity movement supporting both Governor Hyacinth Alia and President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.

In Sokoto State, APC Chairman Haruna Adiya said there was no issue to resolve between the party and the Rainbow Coalition because no APC member in the state belonged to the platform.

The Kebbi State APC chapter similarly distanced itself from the coalition, saying it recognised only its internal Tinubu/Kauran Gwandu support structure.

In Rivers State, where Wike’s political influence remains a major point of contention, the APC faction led by Emeka Beke warned against allowing the minister to undermine the party’s existing structure.

The faction’s Publicity Secretary, Darlington Nwauju, said the group had yet to determine whether it would work with Wike if President Tinubu brokered an agreement.

Nasarawa APC asks Wike to join party
In Nasarawa State, the APC urged Wike to formally join the ruling party and abandon the Rainbow Coalition.

The state chapter nevertheless commended the minister for supporting Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

Nasarawa APC Publicity Secretary, Augustine Ogaba, said the party did not support political coalitions operating outside its recognised structure.

“As APC members, we do not approve of any coalition that is not recognised or supported by our party’s leadership,” Ogaba said.

He added that the state chapter would welcome Wike if he decided to join the APC.

In Taraba State, the APC said its immediate priority was strengthening the party and supporting Tinubu.

The chapter said it would operate within any framework eventually agreed upon by the President and the party’s organs.

APC structures may shape reconciliation
In Imo State, APC Publicity Secretary Jones Onwuasoanya expressed doubt that President Tinubu would bypass governors and engage directly with state chairmen on the matter.

According to him, the APC operates through established leadership structures, with state chapters expected to comply with the party’s constitution and directives from its leadership.

“There are channels of communication within the party, and the party at the state level will always abide by the Constitution of the party and the guidance of our leaders, especially the Commander-in-Chief,” he said.

Onwuasoanya added that Tinubu would likely consult the governors before taking decisions affecting party structures at the state and local levels.

In Oyo State, APC Publicity Secretary Olawale Sadare declined to comment on the issue, describing it as sensitive.

The divergent positions from the states highlight the political challenge facing the APC as Tinubu seeks to reconcile Wike’s cross-party mobilisation efforts with the interests of the ruling party and its candidates.

While some APC leaders appear willing to accommodate Wike if he works within the party’s structure, others insist that his continued identification with the PDP and promotion of the Rainbow Coalition could create conflicts ahead of the 2027 elections.

The outcome of the reconciliation efforts could therefore have significant implications for the APC’s internal cohesion, its relationship with Wike and the broader political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The United States Department of War has established an Office of Religious Affairs to strengthen the moral, ethical and spiritual readiness of American military personnel.

The new office was created through a memorandum issued on Wednesday and addressed to senior Pentagon leadership, commanders of combatant commands, directors of defence agencies and Department of War field activities.

The memorandum took effect immediately and created the position of Director of the Office of Religious Affairs, who will serve as a Principal Staff Assistant with direct access to the Secretary of War.

According to the directive, the director will serve as the principal adviser to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of War on religious affairs across the department.

The office is expected to ensure that adequate resources are made available for religious affairs while helping to align departmental policies with the principles of free religious exercise and spiritual readiness within the military.

The memorandum, however, stressed that the initiative would not force military personnel or civilian employees to participate in religious activities.

“Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to compel religious participation or to diminish the free exercise rights of any Service member, civilian employee, or family member of any faith or no faith,” the document stated.

Office to oversee military religious programmes
The Office of Religious Affairs will oversee funding and support for religious ministry, facilities and infrastructure, logistics, chaplain procurement programmes, as well as training and education for chaplains and religious support teams.

It will also support chaplain-led programmes, chapel youth programmes and faith-based home-schooling support for military families.

The office is further tasked with sponsoring and overseeing research, technology and analytical tools designed to support and assess spiritual fitness, spiritual readiness and spiritual resilience across the military.

The memorandum also assigns the office responsibility for supporting faith-based initiatives aimed at reducing suicide and strengthening the resilience of military personnel.

It will also oversee contracted services provided by faith-based non-Federal organisations.

The director will have authority to align existing policies and, where necessary, issue policies concerning religious affairs on behalf of the Secretary of War.

The office will also represent the Secretary of War on religious-affairs matters in engagements with Congress, other government departments and agencies, and civilian religious endorsing organisations.

Chaplains board placed under new office
Under the new arrangement, the Armed Forces Chaplains Board and its executive director will operate under the authority, direction and control of the Director of Religious Affairs.

The memorandum also sets out deadlines for establishing the office’s structure and funding.

The Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, working with the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller) and Chief Financial Officer, has been directed to establish an initial baseline budget for the office.

A funding plan for the 2027 fiscal year is expected to be submitted within 60 days.

Similarly, the Director of Administration and Management has 90 days to formalise the office within the Department of War’s organisational structure and prepare a directive formally establishing it.

The official is also expected to identify the initial allocation of Senior Executive Service, civilian and military positions needed to establish the office.

Military departments given 90 days to submit reports
The memorandum further directs the various departments, working with their respective Chiefs of Chaplains, to submit comprehensive reports within 90 days on unfunded and underfunded religious-affairs requirements.

The reports are expected to cover religious ministry, facilities, logistics, chaplain-led programmes, youth programmes and faith-based home-schooling support.

They will also include suicide-reduction initiatives, contracted faith-based services, research and technology for spiritual fitness and resilience, chaplain procurement programmes, and training and education for chaplains and religious support teams.

The establishment of the Office of Religious Affairs therefore creates a central structure within the Department of War for coordinating religious-affairs policy, resources and programmes while maintaining the stated rights of service members and civilian personnel to practise a faith or have no religious affiliation.