The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri and the Alubarika Movement have congratulated the National Secretary of the party, Ajibola Basiru, on his admission as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM).

Basiru was admitted into the fellowship cadre of the professional body at a ceremony held in Abuja on Thursday, marking another professional distinction in his career spanning public service, politics and human resource development.

In a statement made available to The PUNCH on Friday, Governor Diri described the honour as a recognition of Basiru’s longstanding commitment to excellence, exemplary leadership and service to the country.

Diri said Basiru’s professional elevation reflected his contributions to public service and national development, adding that the recognition demonstrated the confidence placed in him across political and professional circles.

“As you add yet another feather to your cap, I salute this notable milestone and wish you continued success, greater accomplishments and enduring distinction in all your future endeavours,” the governor said.

The Lagos State APC Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, also congratulated Basiru, describing his admission as a Fellow of CIPM as recognition of his dedication, professionalism and contributions to human resource development.

Ojelabi said Basiru’s achievement was evidence that hard work, competence and commitment to excellence could earn recognition across professional circles.

“It is, indeed, gratifying to see your hard work, competence and passion for excellence being rewarded with such a distinguished honour,” Ojelabi stated.

The Lagos APC chairman said Basiru’s elevation went beyond recognition of his professional accomplishments, describing it as a celebration of his impact on people and society.

He also highlighted Basiru’s role as National Secretary of the APC, saying his leadership and interpersonal qualities had enabled many people to benefit from his compassion and empathy.

“As the National Secretary of APC, the biggest and most organised party in the country, many have and continue to benefit from your compassion and empathy.

This achievement thus reflects your perseverance, intellectual capacity, kindness and unwavering commitment to excellence,” Ojelabi added.

The Alubarika Movement, a political group, also joined the growing list of well-wishers congratulating the APC national secretary.

The group described the fellowship as a fitting recognition of Basiru’s intellectual excellence, leadership qualities and contributions to public service.

“We are proud to identify with this remarkable milestone, which further reflects your dedication to excellence, purposeful leadership and service to humanity,” the group said.

Basiru’s admission as a Fellow of CIPM adds another professional achievement to his career in public service and politics, with his latest recognition attracting commendations from political leaders and groups.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management is Nigeria’s professional body for human resource management and related personnel practices.

Thousands of people took to the streets of Madrid on Saturday to protest the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her lifelong home, demanding stronger protection for tenants and urgent government action to address Spain’s worsening housing crisis.

The protest followed the eviction earlier this week of Maricarmen Abascal, whose removal from her Madrid apartment after living there for about 70 years has sparked widespread public outrage and renewed debate over housing costs and tenant rights.

Images of Abascal being carried out of her apartment on a stretcher on Wednesday, after police broke down the door, have brought renewed attention to Spain’s housing crisis ahead of the country’s 2027 general election.

Demonstrators marched through central Madrid carrying placards and chanting slogans demanding measures to control rising rents and make it more difficult for tenants to be evicted from their homes.

One of the banners carried during the demonstration read: “You could be the next Maricarmen.”

Abascal, who has become a symbol of Spain’s housing crisis, appealed to members of the public to continue the campaign for stronger tenant protections.

In a video message released online just hours before Saturday’s demonstration, she urged Spaniards to ensure that what happened to her would not be repeated.

“I want what has happened to me to serve so that it does not happen to other people,” she said from hospital, where she has been receiving treatment for exhaustion following her eviction.

“I want it to encourage people to fight and to help change the laws that have allowed me to be evicted,” she added.

The video was posted by Spain’s main tenants’ union, which has been campaigning for stronger legal protections for renters.

According to the union, Abascal was forced to leave the apartment after a real estate company acquired the property and increased the rent by 275 per cent to €2,650 ($3,000).

Her case has since become a rallying point for housing campaigners, with regular demonstrations taking place across Spain following her eviction.

The controversy has also increased pressure on Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government to introduce additional measures to protect tenants.

Sánchez had pledged last year to make housing a priority for his administration, but the government is now facing growing demands to take concrete steps to address rising rents and evictions.

The government is expected to consider a package of housing measures at its next cabinet meeting, reportedly referred to as the “Maricarmen decree” in reference to Abascal’s case.

Among the proposed measures are automatic renewal of rental contracts and further restrictions on evictions.

However, it remains uncertain whether the proposals will secure parliamentary approval because Sánchez’s government does not have a majority in parliament.

A similar housing bill was defeated earlier this year, but Abascal’s eviction has renewed pressure on political parties to find common ground on measures aimed at protecting vulnerable tenants.

Housing has increasingly become a major political and social issue in Spain, with rising rents and limited affordable housing affecting residents in major cities.

For protesters in Madrid, Abascal’s case has come to represent concerns that elderly and vulnerable tenants could be pushed out of long-term homes as property values and rental costs increase.

The latest demonstration is therefore expected to add further pressure on the Spanish government and political parties to reach an agreement on housing reforms before the 2027 general election.

The Jigawa State House of Assembly has received the Constitution Amendment Bill transmitted by the National Assembly and pledged to complete its consideration within the stipulated timeframe.

Speaker of the Assembly, Haruna Dangyatim, disclosed this on Friday during an interactive session with journalists at his office in the Assembly Complex, Dutse.

Dangyatim said the bill was transmitted to state Houses of Assembly last Wednesday for consideration and concurrence as required by law.

He assured that the Jigawa legislature would not delay the process and would complete the necessary legislative procedures before the deadline at the end of September.

“We have received the Constitution Amendment Bill from the National Assembly, and I want to assure you that we will do the needful before the deadline given to all state assemblies, which is the end of this month,” the Speaker said.

According to him, the state assemblies have 30 days from the date they receive the transmission letter to complete the legislative process on the proposed constitutional amendments.

The Speaker disclosed that the Jigawa Assembly had already constituted a committee to examine the proposed amendments and make recommendations that would reflect the interests and aspirations of residents of the state.

He described the constitutional amendment exercise as an important process for strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions and addressing areas of concern in the 1999 Constitution.

Dangyatim said the Assembly would give the bill accelerated consideration while ensuring that its provisions were thoroughly examined before the House takes a position.

“We are studying the document thoroughly to ensure that our position aligns with the aspirations of our people,” he said.

The Speaker also disclosed that the Assembly would consult relevant stakeholders as part of the consideration process.

Those expected to contribute to the deliberations include traditional rulers, civil society organisations and professional bodies.

He said the consultations would enable the lawmakers to obtain wider perspectives before reaching a final decision on the proposed amendments.

Dangyatim further assured that transparency, patriotism and the interests of Jigawa State and Nigeria would guide the Assembly throughout the process.

“We will not compromise the interest of Jigawa State and Nigeria at large,” he stated.

The Constitution Amendment Bill is expected to undergo consideration across the various state Houses of Assembly, with the concurrence of the required number of state legislatures forming part of the constitutional amendment process.