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World number one Jannik Sinner continued his dominant form at the Madrid Open, defeating Britain’s Cameron Norrie in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals.

Sinner, chasing a fourth consecutive ATP Masters 1000 title, secured a 6-2 7-5 victory in under 90 minutes, extending his winning streak to 20 matches. The Italian has been in exceptional form, having already claimed titles at Indian Wells, Miami Open, and Monte Carlo Masters this season.

The win also sees the 24-year-old equal his best-ever performance in Madrid, having previously reached the quarter-finals in 2024.

Norrie, 30, made a promising start by holding serve comfortably in the opening game, but his momentum quickly faded as Sinner broke twice to take the first set 6-2 with ease.

The second set proved more competitive, with both players holding serve until the fifth game. Norrie briefly threatened a comeback, even winning seven consecutive points to break back after falling behind. However, at 5-5, Sinner capitalised on his opportunity, breaking the Brit before serving out the match.

With the victory, Sinner became only the second player in history to win his first 20 ATP Masters 1000 matches in a season, matching a feat achieved by Novak Djokovic in 2011 and 2015.
Reflecting on the match, Sinner said, “We know each other quite well. We practised a lot in the last tournament. We both kind of knew what to expect.”

He also highlighted the challenges of playing on clay saying, “This surface is very, very different to all the other surfaces, so it’s very tough to get the right feedback and sometimes you feel like you are not playing your best.”

Despite those challenges, he expressed satisfaction with his progress:
“I’m very happy to be in the quarters again. It’s a tournament I haven’t played a lot, so it means a lot to me and I’m happy to be through in two sets.”

Sinner will next face either Czech player Vit Kopriva or Madrid-born teenager Rafael Jodar in the quarter-finals.
The Italian also raised concerns about tournament scheduling, after playing at an unusual morning time slot. He pointed to the challenges faced by players competing late into the night.

“For matches at 8pm, it’s very, very late,” he said. “You finish at 1.30am and you need to eat, you need to have treatment, so it’s very late. We try to adapt ourselves, our bodies and minds.”

Sinner Beats Norrie, Equals Historic 20-Match Winning Run is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

In a recent podcast appearance, human rights activist and lawyer Barr. Deji Adeyanju claimed that Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has achieved more in office than his Abia State counterpart, Alex Otti. Adeyanju attributed the high public perception of Otti to “social media influencers” and “propaganda”, while asserting that Adeleke is delivering more substantive results despite his “dancing” persona.

THE CLAIM:

“The dancing governor (Adeleke) has done more than Alex Otti. The difference is that Otti has more social media influencers; the other guy only attends parties and dances; he’s not taking propaganda seriously. Otti commissioned a water fountain; people were jubilating.” — Barr. Deji Adeyanju.

VERIFYING THE CLAIMS

To verify this claim, The Whistler examined the 2025 governance scorecards and fiscal data provided by Statisense, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Debt Management Office (DMO), and the 2025 SBM Health Preparedness Index. The analysis focused on debt management, revenue growth, infrastructure investment, and human development.

1. Fiscal Discipline and Debt Management: Data from the DMO (June 2023 – Dec 2025) shows that both governors have made efforts to reduce debt, but the scales differ:

• Domestic Debt: Abia State under Otti saw a 66% reduction (N142.5bn to N48.4bn), while Osun under Adeleke recorded a 45% reduction (N146.5bn to N80.3bn).
• External Debt: Adeleke managed Osun’s external debt better, with a 10% increase, compared to Abia’s 16.1% increase.
• Overall Fiscal Performance: In the 2025 Fiscal Performance Ranking, Abia ranked 4th in the federation, while Osun ranked 12th.

2. Revenue Generation (IGR): Adeleke’s administration has shown superior performance in aggressive revenue drives:

• Osun IGR Growth: Grew by 97.6% (N27.72bn to N54.77bn).
• Abia IGR Growth: Grew by 68.6% (N23.73bn to N40.0bn).

3. Infrastructure and Capital Expenditure (Capex): A primary metric for doing more in governance is the allocation of funds to capital projects versus recurrent spending (salaries and overheads):

• Abia (Otti): Allocated N611.7bn (82% of total budget) to Capital Expenditure in 2025.
• Osun (Adeleke): Allocated N191.55bn (45% of total budget) to Capital Expenditure.
• The Whistler fact-check shows Otti is committing nearly double the percentage of his state’s resources to long-term infrastructure than Adeleke.

4. Ease of Doing Business and Health

• Business Environment: According to PEBEC (2025), Abia is in the Middle Tier for Ease of Doing Business, while Osun remains in the Lower Tier.
• Health: The 2025 SBM Health Preparedness Index ranked Abia as the 1st most health-prepared state in Nigeria. Osun followed in a commendable 4th place.

5. Human Development Index (HDI) and FDI

• HDI: Abia maintains a higher Human Development Index (0.674) compared to Osun (0.607), reflecting better outcomes in education and life expectancy.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): According to NBS Capital Importation reports, both states recorded zero ($0) FDI in 2024, indicating that neither governor has yet successfully attracted foreign capital despite their respective “propaganda” or “dancing” styles.

6. Education: Performance & Funding

While Osun has made the most “dramatic” leap in rankings, Abia remains the consistent academic powerhouse of the two.

• National Examination Rankings (NECO 2024/2025):
  • Abia: Ranked 1st in Nigeria for the best overall performance in the 2024 NECO exams (83.40% pass rate). Governor Otti has maintained Abia’s long-standing reputation as an academic leader.
  • Osun: Governor Adeleke’s administration achieved a significant milestone, moving Osun from 33rd in 2022 to 7th in 2024. While impressive, Osun still trails Abia in the top-tier rankings.
• Budgetary Commitment (2026 Projections based on 2025 performance):
  • Abia: Allocated ₦203.25bn (19.93%) of its budget to education. A major project includes the ₦17.8bn fencing and security of 262 secondary schools to ensure student safety.
  • Osun: Allocated ₦87.17bn (12.0%) of its budget to education. The primary focus remains on tertiary infrastructure, such as the Early Childhood Education building at the College of Education, Ila-Orangun.

VERDICT: MISLEADING

Barr. Deji Adeyanju’s claim that Governor Adeleke has done more than Governor Alex Otti is MISLEADING.

While Governor Adeleke leads in IGR growth percentage and external debt control, Governor Otti significantly outperforms him in domestic debt reduction, fiscal performance ranking, Ease of Doing Business, Health Preparedness, Education performance ranking and investment

Most crucially, the data on Capital Expenditure, the most direct measure of “doing” projects, shows that Otti has committed 82% of his budget to infrastructure, more than doubling Adeleke’s 45% commitment. Therefore, the assertion that Otti’s reputation is merely a product of “social media influencers” is contradicted by major fiscal and developmental indices.

FACT-CHECK: Is Governor Adeleke Outperforming Otti? is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

FC Basira have announced the disengagement of nine players after the completion of the 2025-26 Nigeria National League, NNL, season.

The released players are, Abdullahi Abdulrahman, Zamani Panshak, Mko Andrew, Zakaria Sunday, Enoch Kudu.

Others are veteran midfielder Ichull Lordson, Peter Eneji, Musa Aminu and Ishaku Faisal.

The management of the Lafia-based side made the announcement in a statement signed by the media officer Ramalan Abubakar.

FC Basira missed out on a promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL.

They finished the campaign in third position on the NNL Conference C table.

NNL: FC Basira releases nine players after missing NPFL promotion

Former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, has officially entered the Nasarawa State governorship race after obtaining the nomination and expression of interest forms of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Adamu picked up the forms on Monday, signaling his intention to contest the party’s governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 elections, where he is expected to face Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, the preferred candidate of Governor Abdullahi Sule.

Confirming the development, the Director-General of his campaign, Barrister Hussein Musa, popularly known as Shettiman Giza, described the move as a significant step towards reclaiming the mandate for inclusive leadership in the state.

Musa expressed confidence in Adamu’s chances, assuring him of the team’s commitment to securing victory at both the primaries and the general election.

The entry of the former police chief has added a new dimension to the evolving contest within the APC, which has already been marked by internal divisions following the governor’s endorsement of Wadada.

Meanwhile, in a contrasting development, five governorship aspirants from Nasarawa West Senatorial District have stepped down from the race and declared support for Wadada, further consolidating his position within the bloc.

Wadada, who currently represents Nasarawa West in the Senate, previously served as a member of the House of Representatives for Karu/Keffi/Kokona Federal Constituency between 2003 and 2011 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ex-IGP Adamu joins Nasarawa guber race, picks APC forms to challenge Wadada

The Council of Legal Education has queried the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, over a petition seeking the withdrawal and cancellation of his law school certificate.

A coalition of civil society organisations, led by the Civil Society Groups of Good Governance (CSGGG), had demanded investigation into Kalu’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) certificates over alleged inconsistencies in the dates on the certificates.

The council, in a letter dated April 21, 2026 and signed by the Secretary to the Council and Director of Administration, Ms. Aderonke O. Osho, gave Kalu seven days to “submit a written response to the petition” to enable its committee probing the matter carry out its assignment.

The council also informed Kalu that it “may also require your personal appearance at any stage of its work, if deemed necessary.”

Osho did not respond to repeated calls by THE WHISTLER seeking confirmation on whether Kalu has complied with the seven-day deadline to submit a written response to the petition.

In March, CSGGG held a press briefing in Abuja where it asked Kalu to step aside pending investigations into alleged perjury, false representation, and contradictions between his NYSC discharge certificate and Nigerian Bar certificate.

The coalition questioned how Kalu, who was admitted to the Nigerian Law School under the name Benjamin Okezie Osisiogu, could have obtained his NYSC and Call to Bar certificates within one year.

Under Law School rules, students are required to declare they are not engaged in employment or participating in the NYSC during their course of study.

Kalu was said to have declared this on April 23, 2010.

The group said this meant “either he (Kalu) did not participate fully in the NYSC Service Year, or he never attended the Nigerian Law School to qualify him to be enrolled into the Bar.”

Legal Council Queries Deputy Speaker Kalu Over Certificate Petition is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, James Faleke, has picked up the All Progressives Congress (APC) Expression of Interest and Nomination forms on behalf of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The APC National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Argungu, on Tuesday in Abuja, declared the process open and presented the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to Faleke, who also serves as the founder of the Tinubu Support Groups.

Faleke’s collection and payment for the forms, valued at N100m on behalf of the President, formally signal the commencement of Tinubu’s bid for re-election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, February 6, 2027.

The commission also announced that party primaries, including the resolution of related disputes, will run from April 23, 2026, to May 30, 2026.

INEC further stated that campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on August 19, 2026, while those for governorship and state assembly elections will commence on September 9, 2026.

2027: Faleke Obtains N100m APC Forms For Tinubu’s Re-election is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Former Real Madrid midfielder, Guti, has urged the Los Blancos not to appoint Jose Mourinho as their next manager to replace Alvaro Arbeloa at the end of the season.

Arbeloa is expected to leave his role at the end of the season as Real Madrid is set to finish the campaign without any silverware.

However, there are speculations that Mourinho could be brought in to take over from Arbeloa.

Speaking on the development, Guti insisted that Mourinho has passed his prime as a manager, adding that there are better coaches currently that Madrid can appoint instead of the Portuguese.

He said as per GOAL, “Mourinho is a great coach, but I think his prime phase is not now.

“In the sense that he comes from Fenerbahce, he took Benfica at a very bad time, and I think there are coaches in a better state than Mourinho that I would sign.”

Mourinho had coached Madrid in the past between 2010 and 2013.

He won the La Liga title with Madrid, but failed to win the UEFA Champions League.

LaLiga: Guti advises Real Madrid on appointing Mourinho as next manager

Super Eagles head coach, Éric Chelle will be in the stands when Ikorodu City takes on Wikki Tourists in a Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, matchday 36 encounter next week.

Ikorodu City will host Wikki Tourists at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos on Tuesday, 5 May.

The match was originally scheduled for Sunday, 3 May but was shifted due to the final of the Lagos State President Federation Cup.

Chelle will be on ground to scout players for the upcoming Unity Cup competition.

NPFL top scorer, Joseph Arumala is on the books of Ikorodu City.

The Malian has promised to give some NPFL players a chance in his team.

The Super Eagles will face the Warriors of Zimbabwe in the semi-final of the Unity Cup on Tuesday, 26 May.

Unity Cup: Chelle to scout players at Ikorodu City vs Wikki Tourists clash

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has finalized the payment of the outstanding one-month arrears of the N32,000 pension increment to eligible pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), completing the full settlement of the approved wage adjustment.

In a statement, PTAD disclosed that a total of N1.73 billion was disbursed to 54,206 eligible DBS pensioners, covering the final phase of arrears linked to the N32,000 increment approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), which took effect from July 29, 2024.

According to the breakdown, 25,804 pensioners under the Parastatals Pension Department (PaPD) received N825.7 million, while 28,402 pensioners under the Tertiary Education and Health Pension Department (TEHPD) received N908.8 million.

PTAD noted that the payments covered a 13-month arrears period from August 2024 to August 2025. The Directorate had previously paid 12 months of the arrears in phases between December 2024 and December 2025, with the latest disbursement settling the remaining balance.

The agency emphasized that the completion of the payments fulfills all obligations related to the N32,000 pension increment for qualified DBS pensioners under PaPD and TEHPD.

However, PTAD clarified that pensioners from organizations such as Peoples Bank, Assurance Bank, Nigeria Reinsurance, NICON Insurance, NITEL/MTEL, Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), and PHCN are excluded from the increment, as they had already benefited from separate pension increases of 10.66 percent and 12.95 percent in line with the NSIWC directive.

Reaffirming its commitment to pensioners’ welfare, PTAD said it would continue to prioritize transparency, efficiency, and timely pension administration in alignment with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

54,206 Pensioners Receive Final Arrears As PTAD Ends Backlog is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says a monthly salary of ₦1m is worthless to workers without a stable naira and improved economic conditions.
Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said organised labour was more concerned about the value of the naira than nominal wage increases, stressing that rising inflation had continued to erode workers’ purchasing power.

According to him, the steady increase in the cost of living has made it difficult for workers to afford necessities, including food, transportation, and housing.
“Even if Nigerian workers earn ₦1m, it will not be meaningful if the naira has no value.
“What we are looking for is a currency that can sustain workers and their families at least to the end of the month.
Ajaero said that the ongoing conversation around a new national minimum wage must follow laid-down procedures, adding that it is governed by law and tied to a specific review cycle.
“The minimum wage has not been negotiated yet. It is a process that must follow the law.
“When it is time, we will commence negotiation ahead of its expiration. It cannot be rushed because of election timelines,” he said.
He said the Congress would initiate the process within the stipulated window before the expiration of the current wage structure.

The NLC president also called for urgent government intervention to cushion the impact of inflation, noting that the current economic situation had not improved for workers

He said the surge in fuel prices had worsened the hardship, with attendant effects on transportation, food prices, and the general cost of living.
“We raised concerns when global developments began to impact fuel prices locally, and we called for intervention.
“The situation has not improved, and the burden on workers continues to increase,” he said.
Ajaero stressed the need for Nigeria to develop a resilient energy policy that would reduce vulnerability to external shocks.

It is not ideal that events in other parts of the world automatically translate into hardship in Nigeria.
“We must build a system that protects our economy and citizens,” he said.
On pension, Ajaero said there were emerging concerns over the multiplicity of pension unions, which had created confusion within the system.
He said the NLC had written to relevant stakeholders and was working to convene a meeting to clarify the issues and ensure proper coordination.
“There are several pension groups now, and this is creating ambiguity. We are engaging them to understand what is at stake and find a common ground,” he said.

He said the Congress would seek clarity on deductions and remittances of check-off dues among pensioners.
On the upcoming Workers’ Day, Ajaero said any planned protest would not be nationwide but limited to states that had yet to fully implement the approved minimum wage.
“Street protests, if any, will be in states that have not complied with the minimum wage implementation.
“It is not a general protest across the country,” he said.
He added that most states had complied, but noted that some were yet to fully implement the policy, particularly at the local government and education sector levels.

According to him, there are also issues relating to consequential adjustments, with some states paying only the minimum wage without properly adjusting other salary structures.
“These are technical issues that must be addressed. We will evaluate the level of compliance before May Day,” he said.
Ajaero reiterated the commitment of the NLC to continue advocating policies that would improve workers’ welfare and ensure economic stability.
He commended the federal government for the review of peculiar allowances and the 100 per cent duty tour allowance for civil servants and hoped it would be implemented effectively.

N1m Monthly Salary Worthless Without Stable Naira – NLC is first published on The Whistler Newspaper