The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has hailed the Federal Government for suspending the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates obtained from institutions in Benin Republic and Togo.
It urged the government to extend its sanction to Nigerian tertiary institutions offering courses without accreditation from relevant authorities.
The students’ body said this in a statement in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, by its National Senate President Elvis Ekundina.
The Federal Ministry of Education had, on Tuesday, raised concern over the use of deceptive methods by some Nigerians to acquire degrees from Benin Republic and Togo in order to secure jobs for which they lacked qualifications.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the government had ordered the immediate suspension of accreditation of degree certificates obtained from tertiary institutions in those countries.
NANS urged the Federal Government investigate the activities of the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and other agencies fingered in the fraudulent activities.
“While we commend the Federal Government for its quick decision to suspend the accreditation of degree certificates obtained from institutions in Benin Republic and Togo, it is important to investigate the activities of relevant agencies fingered in the fraudulent activities.
“We also want to use this opportunity to call on the government to beam its searchlight on the activities of tertiary institutions, especially privately-owned ones running unaccredited course.
“These institutions, in their act, are destroying our education sector and swindling innocent young Nigerians of their money by offering them unaccredited courses.
“I like to describe these universities and polytechnics offering unaccredited courses as illegal institutions which should be dealt with appropriately,” Ekundina said.
He urged the Federal Government to collaborate with NANS and other students’ bodies to rid the country of “illegal” tertiary institutions in order to reposition the education sector.
The speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Tajudeen Abbas on Wednesday, January 3, inaugurated a 80-bedroom General Hospital in Imota, lkorodu area in Lagos.
Abbas, while commissioning the hospital said that the hospital is not just a physical structure but a symbol of hope to the most vulnerable citizens.
The Imota General Hospital built by the office of the Special Assitant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was facilitated by the House of Representative Member representative, Ikorodu Constituency, Honourable Jimi Benson.
The event had traditional rulers, House of Representative members, party faithful, clerics, and industry players.
Abbas said that, “today marks a significant milestone in the delivery of healthcare services in Nigeria as we gather to commission this general hospital in Imota. We are not just commissioning the building but affirming the government’s unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of all Nigerians.”
He applauded the effort and advocacy of Honorable Jimi Benson for bringing the project to the good people of Ikorodu.
He stated: “This project you championed epitomizes your commitment to the needs and well-being of the people in this constituency. This is the spirit of service and dedication to the people that every legislature and public servants should aspire to do.”
“It is evident that there are several challenges confronting Nigerians and these challenges were further exposed with the devastating consequence during the COVID-19 pandemic during which Lagos was the worst hit. Prominent among the issues confronting the sector is inadequate health care infrastructures, hospitals, and clinics are often overwhelmed in urban centers due to high demands. This situation is also worsened by the high rate of infectious diseases in Nigeria such as malaria, Tuberculosis, HIV, and AIDS, and a preponderance of other diseases like hypertension and diabetes.
“Critical too is access to quality health care is uneven with significant disparity between urban and rural areas among different socioeconomic groups”, he said.
The speaker added: “Here in Lagos however, while there are advanced healthcare facilities, they are often inaccessible to the poorer segment of the population. Another significant prey to the healthcare sector is the shortage of qualified healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses, and specialties. Nigeria has the doctor to population of one doctor to 8,000 people instead of one doctor to 60 people are recommended by the World Health Organisation.
He noted that experts have argued that it will take Nigeria 20 years to produce the needed 400, 000 healthcare practitioners needed to fill in the gap and cater to the healthcare needs of Nigerians with over 200 population.
He opined that this shortage of health care personnel has been made worse by Japa and brain drain, adding that Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) practitioners state that Nigeria only retain 30% of its 4000 doctors produced annually.
The speaker hinted that 5% of the entire budget in 2024 will be devoted to health care which is a landmark achievement in the history of Nigeria since 1999.
The speaker posited further that the edifice is to help address some of the community’s most pressing health challenges. This 80-bed hospital was purposely designed to response to women’s and children’s health care challenges and also challenges most vulnerable of the population go thorugh in accessing health care.
He posited further that the hospital also represents our collective aspiration for a Nigeria where quality health care is not just a privilege but a right for every citizen. The right to quality health care is a right guaranteed under the African Charter of Human and People’s Rights and the Nigeria 1999 constititon as amended.
He stated that improving the right to quality health care must be pursued by the government at all levels in the interest of the Nigerian people.
In her words, the Senior Special Assistant to The President on Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs Adejoke Orelope Adefulire said that the facility is well-funished and equipped for operations. We have an operating theatre, consultation rooms, private and general wards, laboratory, ultra scan machine, bath extractor, and emergency scanning machines with full complement.
She added that Intensive Care Units for women and children are available to ensure that maternal death among women is reduced as facilities are in place to cater to pregnant women and children during emergencies.
Orelope-Adefulire stated further that the edifice speaks of the sustainable development goal 7 which centered around good health and well-being for all. “We are working assiduously to do more in different locations across the country so that we can ensure that every pregnant mother takes her child home safely and healthily after delivery”.
“This is what we call a renewed hope agenda. It is not ordinary hope, it is thoughtful hope that is key to making Nigerians well and alive”, she said.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has presented 10 demands before the administration of President Bola Tinubu for implementation.
The TUC made the demands in a new year statement signed by its president, Festus Osifo and Secretary General, Nuhu Toro on Wednesday, January 3.
The congress asked the Tinubu administration to implement: “All agreements between labour and government, including the payment of the monthly N35,000 wage award to Public Servants in the Local Government, State and Federal services, must be implemented until a new National Minimum Wage is implemented.”
Other demands included the negotiation and implementation of a new National Minimum Wage and payment of arrears;
“Inflation, which is running at 28.20 percent, must be drastically reduced to the Sub-Saharan African regional average of 9.4 percent.
“Governments at state and federal levels should stop the unnecessary, economically-unwise and unpatriotic tradition of taking loans, especially when these loans only end up being used to purchase thousands of expensive jeeps for legislators, pampered members of the Executive and their spouses, or in building unnecessary offices and purchasing mundane and sundry things, including stationaries;
“Government should stop its ill-advised devaluation of the national currency, that is precipitating the collapse of local industries which need foreign exchange to import raw materials, and which has led to mega inflation in our import-dependent economy.;
“The sale of the Naira in the streets due to the Central Bank-induced scarcity must be stopped. This is possible, provided Government ensures adequate supply of Naira notes in the banking system;
“The very high price of PMS, which is now at a poverty-inducing price of N617 at the NNPC fuel stations (much higher elsewhere) should be drastically reduced to repair the damage done to the economy. This will be achieved by ensuring local production of refine products;
“The security of Nigerians should be the yardstick with which to determine whether military and other security chiefs and their supervising Ministers should remain in office or be replaced. Specifically, rather than lament, President Tinubu has a duty to sanction officials for serious security breaches such as the December, 2023 massacres in Plateau State;
“In order to ensure maximum security, Community Policing should be prioritized alongside the mobilisation of the citizenry to defend themselves against bandits and terrorists and
“Government should engage in dialogue with aggrieved groups representing nationalities who feel marginalised, short-changed or shut out.”
It added: “The Year 2024 holds a lot of promise for us all provided Nigerians as a people would unite and assert our authority over all powers, including the Nigerian ruling class manning all branches, levels, institutions and organs of government.”
Due to the imminent hazy weather, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency has issued a three-day climate forecast warning to airline operators, as well as individuals with respiratory conditions and asthmatics.
The country’s northern states would experience sunny and hazy weather which started yesterday, according to a report released by the meteorological agency on Tuesday.
The report said: “Airline operators are advised to get updated weather reports from NiMet for effective planning in their operations.
“Individuals with asthma and other respiratory issues are advised to be cautious of the weather conditions.”
“Slight dust haze is expected over the Inland areas of the South during the forecast period while, few clouds in the hazy atmosphere is expected over the coastal cities with slim prospects of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa states during the afternoon/evening period.”
For the first day, Wednesday, January 3, the report read: “NiMet anticipates a sunny and hazy atmosphere over the North and North Central regions throughout the forecast period. There’s a slight dust haze expected over the inland areas of the South, with a few clouds in a hazy atmosphere predicted over the coastal cities. Slim prospects of isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa states during the afternoon and evening period.
It added: “A hazy atmosphere is expected over the North and North Central regions throughout the forecast period” starting on Thursday. Adding there will likely be a few cloud patches in an unclear sky over coastal cities and inland South regions, as well as a chance of sporadic thunderstorms over portions of the oil-producing states in the afternoon and evening.
The forecast for Friday said: “Sunny and Hazy atmosphere is anticipated over the North and North Central region during the forecast period. Few patches of clouds in a hazy atmosphere are expected over the Inland areas, the South, and the Coastal belt with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Edo, Bayelsa, and Delta states in the afternoon/evening period.”
Nimet further encouraged people to take the appropriate safety measures because of the suspension of dust particles in the atmosphere.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun has initiated measures to review and potentially improve the pension regime for retired police personnel.
The development, IGP said is to enhance the welfare of police officers, both serving and retired.
A statement issued on Wednesday, January 3, by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi read: “Since assuming office, the IGP has demonstrated unflinching determination to addressing the welfare concerns of Police Officers. Recall that the IGP had invited retired and serving Police Officers as well as pension experts sometime in 2023 to a meeting at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, where pending issues pertaining to Police Pensions were addressed with a view to exploring all available means of improving Police pensions.
“Upon careful scrutiny of the pending bill alongside legal and pension experts, the IGP advised a cautious approach, identifying potential challenges in the proposed pension scheme.
“In light of these lingering concerns, the IGP remains steadfast in tirelessly advocating for the best interests of the Force. The newly formed team has therefore been entrusted with formulating a pension system that ensures every retiring police officer receives the very best for a robust post-service life. This strategic move aims to alleviate the hardships often faced by officers, post-retirement.
“The Inspector-General of Police reassures all officers, both serving and retired, that the current administration prioritizes the enhancement of police officers’ welfare, particularly concerning retirement benefits. The IGP remains resolute in ensuring a pension scheme that secures the financial well-being of officers, reinforcing the core values of commitment and service to the nation.
“The IGP therefore calls for calm among serving officers and retirees, urging all to align with the leadership of the Force as efforts are underway to craft a pension regime that better serves the interests of police retirees.
“Solidarity and cooperation with the Force’s leadership during this period will ensure the development of a workable Police Pension Scheme that comprehensively addresses the needs of our esteemed retired Police Officers, and the betterment of the entire Police family in Nigeria.”
Social commentator Reno Omokri has urged the administration of President Bola Tinubu to ban and regulate sports betting apps and gambling of all kinds.
He made this statement on his official X page, saying that banning sports betting will drastically improve the economy.
He wrote: “President Tinubu can immediately improve the economic conditions of most Nigerians and make the Naira grow by issuing an Executive Order authorising the Nigerian Communications Commission to ban sports betting apps from the App Store of any GSM Internet Service Provider in Nigeria and revoking the licenses of any physical sports betting operators in Nigeria.
“There is such an epidemic of gambling in Nigeria and it is destroying Nigerian youths. $1 billion is spent on gambling daily in Nigeria, according to the National Lottery Trust Fund. Please fact-check me. The average Nigerian spends $15 daily on sports betting and other types of gambling, with the vast majority of that amount leaving our economy and going to places like Russia, South Africa, and Europe.”
In another tweet he highlighted that Nigerians spend triple Zambia’s GDP on gambling, he wrote partly “Every year, Nigerians spend three times the entire Zambian GDP gambling. Fact-check me.
“Our main challenge is not poverty but the misapplication of wealth. Gambling and pornography are the top two activities online in Nigeria. We are destroying our youth by letting them have unregulated access to gambling and pornography.
“You can just imagine how much better our country would be if we channel the money, energy, and time we spend on these vices on something productive.
Lastly, he wrote, “If steps are not taken, and this cancer continues to spread, Nigeria will certainly not meet her developmental goals. Worse, we will lose out to smaller African nations, like Kenya, who have taken steps to limit the effects of these scourges on their population.”
The governor of Ekiti state, Biodun Oyebanji, has applauded the outgoing local government chairmen for their outstanding performance in their respective council areas.
Oyebanji disclosed that he was impressed by the chairmen’s performances and services to Ekiti, describing their efforts in the last two years they have been in the saddle as satisfactory.
The governor stated these in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, at a valedictory luncheon organised in honour of the outgoing Chairmen of Local Government/Local Council Development Areas, by the Ministry of Local Government Affairs.
The event which was also gravely by the deputy governor, Monisade Afuye, came a day ahead of the inauguration of newly elected council chairmen billed for Thursday, January 4.
During his interaction with the local government henchmen, Oyebanji appreciated them for giving their best to the state, saying that their performance had shored up the level of progress and development at the third tier of government.
“On behalf of the good people of Ekiti State and your councils, I stand here to thank you for your services to the state and for helping in delivering democracy dividends to our people.
“You have all done well, history will continue to be kind to you. You deserve to be honoured and celebrated because you have done so well.”
The governor assured the local government chairmen that their successors will complete all ongoing projects they have started, saying his government has a strong aversion to abandoned projects at the council level in the interest of Ekiti citizens.
Oyebanji said: “For those that have been returned, I congratulate you. Those that are not returned, there is no point to fear about tomorrow, it is common to public office holders. There are times for entry and exit. If you are exiting, see it as part of life.”
Oyebanji appealed to the council bosses to put behind them the acrimonies of the recent party’s primary, saying the future is still bright for those who had done exceedingly well in serving the people.
“Wherever we find ourselves as politicians, we must be humble with power. You must connect with the people, and treat them with respect and honour. You must also serve God. If God has singled you out among the people to lead, try and get closer to him.”
Speaking further about political contest, Oyebanji said: “It is not a game one should be angry over. I have lost elections two times. I lost with former Governor Niyi Adebayo in 2003. I lost with Governor Kayode Fayemi in 2014. So, those that will not be coming, don’t see it as the end of life. Don’t limit God, he can still take you to a higher position”.
Applauding the governor for giving direction on how best to make the councils more productive, the chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, Ekiti chapter, Olabode Adetunji, hinged their performances to a high level of financial independence allowed by the Oyebanji in councils.
Adetunji, who doubles as the chairman of Efon local government, promised that the incoming council henchmen will back the governor in the realisation of his dream at the local government level.
He said: “You are a special breed of Governor. You allowed the local governments to be free and flourish. That is why we are having projects all over the state. Be rest assured that the incoming ones will build on our legacies. We appreciate the governor for giving us this opportunity to serve.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state has insisted that its state chairman, Fatai Adams, remained suspended.
It said the comments by the national publicity secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, were embarrassing.
The Ondo PDP said the comments about developments in the party in Ondo state were contrary to the party’s constitution as amended.
A spokesman for the Ondo PDP, Kennedy Peretei, in a statement, argued that all levels of the party have powers to discipline erring members of their Executive, whether at the ward, local government, state or zonal levels.
He said: “The State Chairman, Fatai Adams is a member of the State Working Committee and can therefore be sanctioned in the face of his activities with flagrant disregard for SWC decisions. To this end, the suspension of Fatai Adams stays.
“Unfortunately, Hon Ologunagba who is from Ondo State appears not to have up-to-date information about the party in Ondo State. If he did, he would have been the last person to issue such a misleading statement.
“Nine out of the Eleven State Working Committee (SWC) members signed the suspension letter. That alone is a confirmation that Fatai Adams has overstayed his usefulness as State Chairman.
“Finally, we wish to reiterate that, by the provisions of our Constitution, every level of the party can discipline any officer of the party at that level. Therefore, Ologunagba’s personal opinion should not be misconstrued as the provisions of our Constitution.”
Kenneth Okonkwo, a former spokesman for the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, has slammed Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, for accepting a position in the administration of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to him, Wike’s actions indicate that the minister’s party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is no longer significant in Nigerian politics.
He made this statement in an interview with Arise TV following a comment by the LP presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi.
Obi had recently said that his party would continue to cement its “new role as the country’s main opposition party.”
To safeguard Nigerian interests, Obi said, the Labour Party will stay solidly in opposition and keep the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) on its toes.
Emphasising Obi’s comments, Okonkwo said that given that the LP was the only opposition with a strong agenda ahead of the 2023 general elections and its winning of 25% in all the six geopolitical zones, it had cemented its opposition as the main opposition party.
Following Obi’s remarks, Okonkwo emphasized that the LP had solidified its place as the primary opposition party since it was the only opposition with a coherent platform ahead of the general elections in 2023 and had achieved a 25% victory in each of the six geographical zones.
He said: “To take you back to the time of the campaigns, you may remember that Peter Obi was the only person who crafted the seven-point agenda that all the other parties were copying from, albeit doing a terrible job at it.
“You may remember he was the one who came out as a candidate and defended his agenda which included security and uniting the country.
“If you checked all these people (the presidential candidates), you would realize that they were simply copying from him without learning the routes he wanted to achieve those things.
“Apart from knowing exactly what he wanted, he had the commensurate competence, capacity, and character to thrive, which are lacking in the other candidates.
“So that’s why he’s now saying we are the main opposition party. So he has earned the accolade of being the main opposition leader. And I will tell you that he will do it effectively well pending when Nigeria would realize the dream of a new nation through him.
“And in all honesty, PDP is not in existence in the political realm of Nigeria. Because let’s take an example of what is happening in the PDP.
“A presidential aspirant of the PDP (Wike) who was the first runner-up during the presidential primary election of the party, and who vowed that he would never leave the party no matter what is now a minister in the APC, telling you that PDP has been absorbed by the APC.”
Kano State Hisbah Board – a Sharia police has arrested a truck loaded with over 24,000 bottles of assorted alcoholic drinks.
The Director-General of Kano State Hisbah Board, Abba Sufi, on Wednesday, January 3, said the seizure was made along Zaria Road, Kano.
He disclosed this at the board’s headquarters while inspecting the confiscated vehicle.
Sufi, in a statement by the board’s Public Relations Officer of the board, Lawan Ibrahim-Fagge, said the truck driver was apprehended alongside two other suspects.
He said: “A truck containing over 24,000 bottles of assorted alcoholic beverages was confiscated from smugglers along Zaria Road at midnight.
“Hisbah personnel in the state have been proactive in enforcing zero-tolerance policy against smuggling of beer and other intoxicating substances into the state.”
The Hisbah DG commended the board’s personnel for collaborating with stakeholders in the crusade against beer smuggling into the state, in line with the state’s adoption of the Sharia.
Acting Assistant Commander General, Intelligent Crimes Dispatch Unit of the board, Fu’ad Dorayi, urged the people to report any vehicle carrying suspected products along specific routes, including Kano/Zaria Road, Kano-Gwarzo-Dayi Road, Kano-Katsina Road, Kano-Maiduguri Road, and Kano-Hadejia Road.
Dorayi expressed gratitude for the support from Dawakin Kudu Hisbah Command and other citizens.
