Author: The Nation

Government paying lip service to gender responsive budgeting has been described as major impediments to having a successful Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) and Advocacy.

Speaking at a two-day refresher training for CSOs and media organisations, which was supported by Joint EU-UN Spotlight Initiative and implemented by Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), in Lagos, the Programme Director, Women Arise Development Initiative (WADHI), Mofoyeke Omole, said lack of data and CSOs’ lack of adequate information can also impede GRB.

Omole pointed out that the tool which can be used to promote gender equality; tackle poverty and ensure that there is gender balance.

“For Gender Responsive Budgeting to be successful, there has to be an enabling environment such as having a proper understanding of gender; budget knowledge from a political/ administrative perspective; political will (affirmative action); having sufficient knowledge of the sector you are in, among others,” Omole said.

WARDC Founding Director Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, said the training will eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

“Poor and equitable distribution of resources, corruption and lack of opportunities have contributed to slow national budget process.

Preliminary findings indicate that despite the involvement of Nigeria in four national conventions, Nigeria is yet to adequately mainstream issues of gender into national budget framework,” said Akiyode-Afolabi.

“The aim is to strengthen CSOs and media organisations in tackling all forms of discrimination, build capacity to demand accountability on VAWG/SGBV/HP/ SRHR) and push for reforms that will promote gender equality so that we can have a society where women can live a life free of violence.”

By Rasaq Ibrahim, Ado-Ekiti

The National Directorate of Unemployment (NDE) has flag off training of 100 unemployed youths in Ekiti in modern agricultural and marketing practice under its Sustainable Agriculture Development.

Its Director General, Malam Abubakar Fikpo, said the training will help the farmers improve their skills and acquire new ones through practice of modern agriculture.

Fikpo represented by Mrs Blessing Awan, said the programme was part of the NDE efforts to actualising its mandate of reducing unemployment, banish poverty and boosting local food production.

He assured that the skills that would translate into self-employment and wealth creation.

“This programme is in line with Federal Government’s policy on agriculture for employment, wealth creation and food sufficiency, and we will work together with the state government for best results,” he said.

The Ekiti State NDE coordinator, Mr Alao Babatunde Alao, said the scheme would afford the unemployed graduates the opportunity to embrace farming as a means of livelihood.

By Bisi Olaniyi, Southsouth Bureau Chief

A technologically advanced method of betting has been launched by Achastele Communications Company Nigeria Limited.

This, the company said, was to create job opportunities in Edo State through lottery.

Its Managing Director, Paul Okojie, a promoter of mobilelotto, said electronic betting would make gaming convenient for its players.

He stated that the game was different from other lotto businesses, in view of its unique characteristic of using mobile phones to win prizes.

Okojie said: “Edo is the first state that we are starting from. This is about texting. There is an app currently being developed. You can also play with your mobile phone and you will be charged by your network provider.”

Okojie said they had met the requirements of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission and other agencies to operate.

According to him, the minimum age of betting must be 18, while declaring that anyone below the age and engaged in the game would be reported to the authorities for disciplinary action.

An elder statesman, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, has hailed the Senate for calling for Memoranda to the proposed amended constitution.

He described the action as an “opportunity to correct a major stumbling block to Nigeria’s greatness.”

He called for an urgent meeting of patriotic Nigerians to find solution to security breaches and menacing blows to the unity of the country.

“I believe accredited representatives of the people from all over the country need to assemble once again and agreed to stabilise and save our dear country from tumbling over the brink into the abyss,” he said.

Senator Durojaiye said he agreed in principle to local government autonomy but the traditional institution should not be subservient to the council chairmen.

On public revenue, fiscal federalism and revenue allocation, he said: “The higher percentage (about 80 per cent) presented in the 1960 Constitution on basis of derivation should be re-instituted in place of the unequitable 13 per cent.”

The Fourth Republic senator backed supplementary security services by local “genderms” like Amotekun, Hisbah, Egbesu Boys

This, he said, should be spread all over the councils in the country because “they have advantage of local dialects to gather intelligence and know their terrain better than police.”

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

Lagos State government will begin weekend lectures for the intending pilgrims.

Commissioner for Home Affairs Prince Anofiu Elegushi said the lecture was to train and enlighten pilgrims on the basic requirements of the Hajj exercise.

Executive Secretary of the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Rahman Ishola, said the lectures will commence tomorrow and hold simultaneously in 18 designated Local Government Areas till the end of June.

While assuring the pilgrims that competent scholars have been assembled to deliver the lectures at various centres, he said the government was committed to a hitch-free pilgrimage.

Ishola added that the lectures have been packaged and recorded into Digital Video Disk (DVD) with a view to encouraging easy understanding.

He cautioned the scholars to avoid any form of extortion, warning that anyone caught would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

By Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

A dispute over the Iyalode Efunroye Tinubu Family Estate has worsened as the family members have appointed two different companies as attorneys.

The two branches of the family, Lumosa and Shobowale, had earlier agreed to settle out of court.

A court case was withdrawn and Adamakin Investment and Works Limited and its director Chief Akinfolabi Akindele were affirmed as having the power of attorney over the estate.

But at a briefing in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, other family members who said they were the legal trustees of the estate insisted that the appointment of Adamakin Investment and Works had been revoked and was irreversible.

The trustees, who spoke through their secretary Temilola Adesanya, said the family had vested Lagoon Park Global Resources Ltd with the power of attorney.

According to them, they decided to revoke the power of attorney given to Adamakin Investment and Works and Akindele because they were no longer working in the family’s best interests.

They said the courts had been appointing members of trustees since 1955 and that they were appointed in 2002 by an Ikeja high court in Lagos.

The trustees said Adamakin Investment and Works and its director Akindele was appointed in August 2012 but their appointment was revoked in April 2017 over alleged refusal to render an account of their stewardship.

But, other family members who said they were the authentic trustees, with Rev. Musiliu Bakare as Secretary, warned that anyone who deals with Lagoon Park Global Resources does so at their own risk.

According to them, Lagoon Park Global Resources is a “meddlesome interloper”.

The family reaffirmed that their power of attorney remains with Adamakin Investment and Works.

“Consequently, the public notice by the Lagoon Park Global Resources Limited only succeeded in confusing the general public regarding the state of the management of the estate of our revered matriarch, the late Iyalode Efunroye Tinubu,” the family said.

By Oyebola Owolabi

Wife of the Lagos State Governor Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has advised traders to be more security conscious, especially in the markets, in view of the current security challenges facing the country.

She also admonished them to improve on their hygiene.

Mrs. Sanwo-Olu spoke at a one-day seminar on market sanitation and security for market leaders, organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs.

The governor’s wife also implored them to comply with the ban on motorcycles, and ensure a clean their environment to prevent a possible outbreak of epidemics.

She urged them to see it as a duty and responsibility in safeguarding their markets.

She said: “The safety of the next person to us is as important as our own safety. We must look out for each other. Also, sanitation is of utmost importance, as it will help prevent any outbreak of diseases and possible pandemics. Safety must be uppermost in our hearts; we must ensure that all electrical outlets, plugs and sockets are properly attended to before we leave for home each day. Let us also remember that security is everybody’s business.”

Commissioner for Environment Tunji Bello, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Belinda Oyeneye, urged the traders to improve on personal hygiene and ensure the market environment is clean at all times.