The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Fayemi to secure bond for outstanding gratuities

    EKITI State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has reiterated his government’s readiness to secure bond offerings to offset the outstanding gratuities of state pensioners.

    Fayemi stressed that the move will be necessary in order to put smiles on faces of retired civil servants who have rendered selfless service in different capacities to the state by paying their statutory entitlements.

    The governor disclosed this in his office while receiving in audience the United Nations led by the resident coordinator, Mr Edward Kallon.

    In a statement signed yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, Fayemi said Ekiti has to develop innovative bond to address myriads of practical challenges facing the state.

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    “We have a lot of people who have retired from service and their gratuities have piled up over the years running into billions of naira that we are not immediately able to pay and I don’t think it is fair for all these people who have devoted years of their lives to serving the state.

    “That is why we started the social security scheme for the elderly as a safety net to address this sort of issue, but for us, we think it should be possible for us to develop a bond that can enable us pay off all these and then find a way to offset that bond over a long term,” said the governor.

    “We are recruiting teachers and, it will shock you, Ekiti is one of the smallest states. On the first day of our recruitment, we had 6500 applications online; by 12:00 noon this afternoon, we had 9,000 for teaching positions that will start mid-September in our basic schools.

    “That depicts a picture of the enormity of the challenge. This is what increasingly led to the radicalisation of people who feel there is no hope; so, we have to find a way to eke out a living and government had to be more innovative and creative about tackling these challenges,” he added.

    The UN official commended Fayemi’s social security programmes, saying the UN would work with the state to actualise its Sustainable Development Goals vision.

  • Ondo disburses N166m loans to traders, artisans, others

    TO boost Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Ondo State, 21 traders, market women, associations, groups and cooperatives societies have obtained N166 million soft loan from the Ondo State government through the state micro-credit agency.

    At the disbursement centre in Idi-Agba Titun, Akure, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu said the scheme was to assist the unemployed but productive poor in the state to become self-reliant.

    Akeredolu said aside assisting the small and medium scale enterprise, the scheme was put in place to make fund easily accessible to people without stringent conditions normally posed by conventional banks.

    According to him, the sum of N57m was disbursed by the state micro credit agency to market women, trade groups and individual entrepreneurs in the state to further demonstrate the current administration’s commitment towards wealth creation and economic empowerment of its people.

    This measure, he said, was part of his administration’s efforts to tackle poverty, banish hunger and create wealth in the state.

    He noted that the challenges facing governments of most developing countries, including Nigeria, was poverty reduction.

    The governor said his administration was conscious of this fact and has, therefore, not relented in putting in place various poverty reduction programmes, including micro credit loans for the benefit of our people.

    This, according to him, was to improve their socio-economic well-being to achieve sustainable livelihood.

    Akeredolu advised beneficiaries to make judicious use of the credit facilities by investing it in productive venture and to see the loan as a facility to be paid back.

    He reiterated the commitment of his administration towards delivering benefits of good governance to the greatest number of people of the state, and appealed to people to show understanding by reciprocating government’s kind gestures.

  • I want to keep people guessing on what I’m up to -Aliyu

    Former Niger State governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has said that the reason he has decided to stay quiet for a long time is to keep people guessing on what he is up to.

    According to him, people are continually bombarding him to make statements about what is going on in the state and Nigeria but he has decided to keep quiet and bid his time.

    Aliyu who stated this to newsmen in Minna said, “At the moment, people keep wondering why this guy has been so silent, people are wondering what I am up to, they ask themselves, what I’m cooking. Wherever I go, people want to know what I will say or what my next plan would be.”

    The former governor, however, said that he does not have any plan for now, as he is busy trying to get himself out of the court case he is enmeshed in.

    “For now, I do not have any plan. I am working to get myself out of what someone wants to get me into,” he said.

    Although he did not speak about political issues with journalists, he however spoke on former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, and congratulated him on his 78th birthday.

    He described Babangida as a man who has sacrificed his all for the development and peace of Nigeria and prayed that God keeps him as the nation continually needs his counsel and warnings.

    “I am happy he has reached 78 and we are counting. We hope he stays much longer, as he is the most experienced leader we have had so far in this part of the world, and we need him to be around as an elder, a leader and an adviser,” he said.

  • Fadama 111 Agric Programme shares N94.4m to youths in Jigawa

    Fadama 111 Agric Progrmme shares N94.4m to youths in Jigawa Youths. According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria, Alhaji Aminu Isah, the Jigawa Coordinator of Fadama 111 agricultural programme said the programme has shared N94.4million to 253 unemployed youths in the state for agricultural enterprises.

    At a workshop in Dutse on Saturday, Isah spoke on the need for beneficiaries to utilise the fund effectively to achieve its objectives.

    He said that the youths were both males and females selected from the 27 local government areas of the state.

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    The coordinator said that the beneficiaries received training in rice processing, poultry, fisheries and different agricultural enterprises.

    Isah said that the gesture was in line with the Federal Government effort to provide employment for the teeming youths.

    “Apart from our gesture, the Jigawa Government is also supporting about 300 youths on agricultural entrepreneurship.”

    The Coordinator urged the beneficiaries to plan their businesses and study them well before implementation.

  • NIRSAL pledges to support farmers in Jigawa

    The Nigeria Incentives Based Risk Sharing System (NIRSAL) in Jigawa, has pledged its continued support to farmers in the state. Alhaja Yusuf Ibrahim, a representative of NIRSAL made the pledge in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jigawa on Saturday.

    He said that the objectives of NIRSAL were to assist farmers in sharing risks and support them during misfortunes or eventualities.

    The representative said that the agency had assisted farmers during flooding, fire disasters and other natural challenges in other states.

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    Ibrahim said that the agency would do the same if farmers in the state collaborated with the agency.

    “Our aim is also to see that we work toward boosting agriculture to ensure food security in the state,” he said.

    He congratulated Mai-unguwa Jaga for his re-election as the Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN). He said that the organisation would give him the necessary support and cooperation to take the association to greater heights.

  • Ortom closes case at governorship election tribunal

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State today closed his case in the suit instituted by Emmanuel Jime and the All Progressives Congress, APC, challenging his re-election.

    When the case resumed today, counsel to the governor, Sebastine Hon, SAN, told the court that Ortom had decided to close his case after taking a look at the evidence of the petitioners.

    “After taking a critical look at the evidence provided by the petitioners, we have come to the inevitable conclusion that we will not be calling any further witnesses.”

    Counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Oba Maduabuchi, SAN, who was next in line to open his case, asked the court to grant him Monday, August 19, 2019 to open his defence, adding that he will call only five witnesses.

    Read Also: INEC to announce time table for PVC collection, others in Bayelsa, Kogi

    There was no objection from any counsel to the parties in the suit. The tribunal chairman, Justice Henry Olusiyi, thereafter adjourned the matter to Monday, August 19, 2019.

    Speaking to journalists after the sitting, Ortom, who was at the tribunal in person, expressed confidence in the court to uphold justice as the 2019 governorship election in Benue State was free, fair and credible.

    Also speaking to journalists on why he decided to call only one witness, counsel to Ortom, Sebastine, said the statement on oath of the petitioner himself and his star witness for the whole state, Joe Abaagu, were not signed, and substantial justice was done during cross examination of the petitioners’ witnesses.

    He added that under Nigerian laws, the burden of proof rests on the petitioners.

  • Ganduje spends N350m on 3.2m children, pregnant women in Kano

    Kano State government has expended over N350 million for the second round of 2019 Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week kicking off on Monday, targeting over 3.2 million children under the age of five and pregnant women.

    Speaking during a press conference to kick off the programme, Usman Bala Muhammad who is the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Health noted that “the number of targeted newborn and under-five children in Kano State is 3.2 million.

    “The programme also targets pregnant women that are the first to visit for ante-natal. However, the services for other affordable programmes are also readily available for all pregnant women across the state.

    “So, over 60,000 pregnant women are coming for the first ante-natal visit. Also, I want to emphasise that presently, pregnant women constitute about 20 percent of the entire population of Kano. So, from this statistics, you can deduce the number of pregnant women to benefit from this week-long programme.

    “In relation to the amount of money to be expended on this programme, I tell you that over N250 million has been earmarked for the purchase of treated nets that are going to be distributed during the programme. For other services, over N100 million would be expended to ensure the success of the programme.”

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    He said there is collaboration with Kano State government and the National Population Commission (NPC), in achieving birth registration as vital events for target setting in healthcare provision in the state.

    The permanent secretary hoped that “during this week long campaign, household heads will allow their wives to visit the more than 1,200 healthcare facilities across the 44 local government areas of the state, to access the designated healthcare services that are available, free of charge, for the benefit of our women and children who are the future of our state.

    “It is also pertinent to highlight at this juncture that the campaign is planned to hold across all primary and secondary healthcare facilities from 19th August to 23rd August 2019, at designated service points within the various communities.”

    He, however, appreciated the contribution of development partners such as UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO), Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), MNCH2, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, HSDF, Society for Family Health (SHF), in areas of immunisation, nutrition, malaria control, HIV and AIDS, Integrated Maternal Newborn and Child Healthcare system.

    He emphasised that “Kano State government under the leadership of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has always been consistent in the implementation of all programmes aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of the good people of Kano state.”

  • Kuwaiti fates less privileged Nigerians in 14 states

    The Kuwaiti Embassy in Nigeria has said that less privileged Nigerians in 14 states across Nigeria benefited from its gesture of putting smile on the faces of Nigeria during celebrations.

    The Kuwaiti Ambassador to Nigeria, Abdulaziz Albishe, told newsmen in Abuja that the embassy shared food items and other gift items in 14 states of the federation.

    He said the embassy also shared food stuff during the last Ramadan fast, a gesture they have been carrying out over the years.

    Albisher said the gesture was part of the implementation of “Eid Al-Adha Project,” being financed by Zakat House of Kuwait in collaboration between Mabarra Association of Imams and Preachers.

    He listed some of the benefitting states to include Kano, Jigawa, Abuja, Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara, Oyo, and Katisna.

    He said that Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in camps in Katsina State were among the beneficiaries, adding that a total of 1, 960 persons benefited.

  • Group pledges support for survival of Nigeria

    A political group, the Nigeria Next Level Forum, has pledged support for the survival of Nigeria in the face of its myriads of challenges.

    Advocating for a candidate of Yoruba origin to succeed President Mohammadu Buhari in 2023, the group said it is already reviewing challenges facing the country ahead of 2023.

    The National Coordinator of the NNLF, Barr. Oladosu Ladipo, who spoke with reporters after the group’s meeting in Osogbo, Osun State, disclosed that the group is developing a blueprint to support the government’s effort at making the nation united and peaceful.

    He said the document would contain initiatives to consolidate on the achievements of the present leadership.

    He also said templates for the next phase of development of the country would be finalised and presented to the presidency and the National Assembly.

    Read Also: Nigeria’ll come out great, march forward, overcomes its challenges- Adeboye

    According to him, the group had arrived at 16 pillars, which he said represent various areas the next administration after Buhari must focus on.

    He maintained that government must prioritize knowledge based education for innovation science and technology and artificial intelligence as engine for growth, agriculture and agro-business, energy, power, oil and gas, iron and steel, infrastructure, empowerment, among others.

    He said: “Yoruba people deserve the next presidency and they should be accorded. We want somebody that is talented and knowledgeable that will implement the template that we are working on.

    “While we appreciate the ongoing development, under the present administration, we must device ways on how to further move forward.

    “However, the person that will implement this template must be from Yorubaland and must have the talent, intelligence and capacity to carry out the development plan starting from 2023.”

    Also, the Osun State Coordinator of the group, Hon. Gafar Amere, told reporters that the group was targeting 2023 presidency but with a focus on the successful implementation of documents for the Next Level Agenda towards the country’s development.

    He said: “For you to move forward in the development of this country there must be plans to achieve that goal and that is the essence of this forum. We are going to gather the views of various stakeholders in order to guarantee Nigeria’s development starting from 2023,” he said.

  • Women societies join FG in fight against nudity

    The National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) and the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) are to jointly embark steps to sensitise the youth against nudity.

    Both Councils met at the headquarters of NCAC in Abuja with a common resolve aimed at redirecting the drift to moral decadence especially among young women which they both agreed was getting out of hand.

    Speaking during the meeting, the National President of the NCWS, Dr. Laraba Shoda, who led members of her executive, condemned the upsurge in public display of nudity citing the recent video spectacle of near-naked girls dancing in full public glare inside a transparent van in Lagos.

    She described another scenario where a young lady walked into a mall completely naked lamenting that such indecent behaviour by females particularly, negates the very essence of our culture which promotes the dignity of the African woman.

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    Shoda said there was the need to create television programmes with good cultural content unlike what obtains now just as she extolled NCAC for taking the lead in the campaign against the debasement of the African culture which according to her promotes high moral values amongst young women.

    On his part, the NCAC Director-General, Otunba Segun Runsewe said the partnership between women societies and the NCAC will signal a new dawn in the crusade against cultural degeneration and foreign erosion of our culture.

    He was upbeat that with the NCWS speaking up and with the new found collaboration with the NCAC, the time has come to nip the menace in the bud in order to avert another future crisis in the country.

    He informed that the council is working on legislation with the National Assembly to curb the negative trend of public nudity while also packaging a culture friendly television programme to excite the youths with the hope of re-establishing our esteemed cultural values of time past.TTT