The Nation Newspaper

Tag: CARTOON

  • Council appoints market leader

    Mushin Local Government Area in Lagos State has appointed a market leader for Ladipo Market.He is Alhaji Adedotun Abibu Oki.He will be known and addressed as Babaloja of Ladipo Market

    Speaking at the formal presentation of staff of office to Alhaji Oki, the chairman of the council, Hon. Olatunde Babatunde Adepitan described him as a matured and respectful individual who owns one of the largest warehouses in the market.

    He said by virtue of his appointment, he now represents government at the market with the onerous duty of coordinating all sections of the market to engender good business. The council boss said: “Babaloja is the representative of the government at the market, he has the approval of the Mama Loja General, Late Alhaja Habibatu Mogaji who passed to the great beyond recently. I plead with you to bring everybody on board, you are the father of the traders, both young and old.

    He charged the Babaloja to use his wealth of experience to bear on market administration so that the required revenue can accrue to the local government.

    His words: “Ladipo market is our Niger Delta, we want the Babaloja to use his wealth of experience to promote peace and harmony so that governments can make the required internally generated revenue from the market”.

    Alhaji Oki promised to return the to the path of peace,assuring that all ethnic groups in the market would henceforth co-exist harmoniously.

    Present at the event were council officials, politicians, stakeholders in the market sector and other dignitaries from the state and beyond.

  • Group gives free hajj forms

    Asiwaju Total Loyalty Team has given out some hajj forms to some Muslim brothers in its quest to bring succour to party members. The action, according to the group, is one of the pillars of Islam as preached by the Holy Prophet.

    One of the beneficiaries of the kind gesture who will be going on holy pilgrimage this year , Chief Lateef Aremu Edun expressed his gratitude in tears. The 63-year-old man said that he never imagined himself performing the Hajj in his life time. He prayed for the progress of the team and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is the pillar of the group.

    Many also benefited from its empowerment programmes such as distribution of generators and cash donations to artisans, relief materials to widows and those in need.

    The president of the team,siwaju Total Loyalty Team  has given out some hajj forms to some Muslim brothers in its quest to bring succour to party members. The action, according to  the group, is one of the pillars of Islam as preached by the Holy Prophet.
    One of the beneficiaries of the kind gesture who will be going on holy pilgrimage this year , Chief Lateef Aremu Edun expressed his gratitude in tears. The 63-year-old man said that he never imagined himself performing the Hajj in his life time. He prayed for the progress of the team and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is the pillar of the group.
    Many also benefited from its  empowerment programmes such as distribution of generators and cash donations  to artisans, relief materials to widows and those in need.
    The president of the team, Alhaji Oluwatoyin Balogun, used the medium to appeal to well meaning Nigerians to always give a sympathetic ear to the cry of the less privileged “If only we could all embrace the enviable virtue of our National Leader (Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu), the poor people in our society will not suffer much ” he said.
    , used the medium to appeal to well meaning Nigerians to always give a sympathetic ear to the cry of the less privileged “If only we could all embrace the enviable virtue of our National Leader (Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu), the poor people in our society will not suffer much ” he said.

     

  • Lawmaker facilitates transport in Sokoto

    TRANSPORTATION challenges have eased for residents of Kware/Wamakko Federal Constituency in Sokoto State, thanks to a House of Representatives member, Hon. Abdullahi Wamakko, who represents the area.

    Wamakko distributed 10 cars and 200 motorcycles to his constituents to help them overcome their transportation challenges.

    At the distribution venue, the lawmaker said that the vehicles were purchased and given to the people who have had enduring difficulties in moving around.

    “The gesture,” he said, “is  part of efforts to ensure the well-being of the people of this constituency in the area of transportation.”

    The lawmaker who was represented by the Secretary of Gudu Local Government, Alhaji Abubakar Lamido.

    Among the beneficiaries were the PDP caretaker chairman of Wamakko Local Government Area, Umaru Habibu Gidan-Salanke who received a Peugeot 406 saloon, and vice chairman, PDP Kware Local Government, Bello Dan Sani.

    Other brands of the cars distributed at the occasion included Honda and Toyota Corolla.

    The distribution was performed at the lawmaker’s constituency in a colourful atmosphere.

    TheSuzuki, mainly the Suzuki Battle brand, were personally handed to individual beneficiaries through his representative.

    He said: “Due to difficulties that our people are facing in terms of transportation in their daily activities, I deemed it necessary to purchase these motorcycles and distribute them in order to improve the welfare and well-being of my people.”

    While expressing his readiness to continue with the meaningful gesture for the development of his people, Hon. Wamakko also called on other legislators to wake up to their responsibilities and execute more constituency  projects that are of clear value to the communities.

    Commenting on behalf of the beneficiaries, PDP chairman, Wamakko Local Government Area, said the gesture was remarkable.

    He said: “We are very grateful for this kind gesture extended to the people of this constituency by Hon. Wamakko. No doubt, this is very commendable and it is something that other members shall emulate.”

     

  • Borno bans fertiliser sale in markets

    The Borno State government has announced a ban on the sale of fertiliser in markets across the state, to check the diversion of the commodity by officials.

    The Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Mustapha Zanna, announced the ban at a ceremony to launch sale of fertilisers for this year’s cropping season in Biu, headquarters of the Biu Local Government Area.

    Zanna explained that the goal of the ban was to ensure that government’s fertilisers were not diverted to the black market.

    He said that government had directed law enforcement agents to ensure strict compliance with the order.

    “Government will no longer tolerate diversion of fertiliser to the black market as the practice had prevented genuine farmers from getting the commodity.

    “Security agents should arrest anybody found selling fertiliser in the black market as it is a crime.”

    He said that government had devised a new system of fertiliser distribution to ensure that the commodity was received by farmers at the grassroots.

    “Under the new distribution system, each ward in every local government area will be allocated a certain number of fertilisers.

    “We are going to adhere strictly to this system to ensure that fertilisers are not diverted at the distribution points.”

    He said that government had procured about one billion naira worth of fertilisers for distribution to farmers at 50 per cent subsidy.

    “We have procured 10,000 metric tones of fertilisers for distribution to farmers for the farming season. This is in addition to the remaining stock for last year’s season.”

    He said that a 50 kg bag of NPK fertiliser would be sold at N2,500 while a 50 kg bag of Urea fertiliser would go for N2,400

    Zanna directed officials of the state’s ministries of agriculture and local government affairs to monitor the distribution of the commodity to farmers.

    Also speaking, the Commissioner of Agriculture, Alhaji Usman Zanna, said that government had procured improved seed varieties and chemicals worth N37 million for distribution to farmers for free.

    “Highly improved seed varieties and agro-chemicals worth N37 million have been procured for distribution to farmers for free,” Zanna said.

     

  • N1b succour excites pensioners

    N1b succour excites pensioners

    Workers in the public and private sectors are always gripped with fear anytime they are approaching retirement because of the plight of pensioners in Nigeria.

    Payment of benefits to retirees has become a critical sore point in pension administration in Nigeria and has constituted a big headache to governments at all levels and the private sector.

    Many senior citizens who had invested their youthful years in the service of their fatherland are being made to undergo harrowing experiences in their bid to get their gratuities and pensions.

    Apart from the fact that they are owed a backlog of arrears in benefits, many of them have died in the struggle to get what is due to them from the agencies and organisations they had served meritoriously.

    Other pensioners who are lucky to be alive have retired into abject poverty because of the non-payment of their monthly pension.

    It has been discovered that the suffering pensioners are made to undergo in Nigeria is one of the reasons serving officials engage in various acts of corruption so as to ‘enjoy’ in retirement.

    But the situation is changing in Ekiti State where the Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who is popularly known as “the benefactor of the aged”, is already bringing succour to the pensioners in the state.

    Pensioners in Ekiti State are now having cause to smile because of the attention they now receive from an administration that believes that they must get what is due to them when they are alive, not when they are dead.

    Governor Fayemi approved over N1 billion for the payment of pensions to the retirees who worked in the state civil service, retired teachers in secondary schools, local government retirees and retired teachers in primary schools for the months of April and May, 2014.

    A visit to the State Pension Commission office, Ado-Ekiti and other pay points in the state revealed a flurry of activities leading to the collection of cheques by pensioners.

    The appreciative pensioners who never expected that they would be remembered so soon are showering praises and prayers on Dr. Fayemi for bringing comfort to them.

    According to the Chairman of the State Pension Commission (PENCOM), Chief Oluwole Ojo, Governor Fayemi had in 2012 set up a committee to look into the problem of backlog of arrears owed pensioners in the state.

    Findings of the committee revealed that the Federal Government owes Ekiti State N2.8 billion in arrears of gratuities to Ekiti pensioners.

    Having the knowledge that it is the people of the state that are being owed retirement benefits, Dr. Fayemi, out of compassion for the longsuffering retirees worked out a programme of payment on monthly basis.

    A total number of 132 retired local government workers and retired primary school teachers were paid N251.3 million for the month of April.

    In the same month, 131 retired workers in the state civil service and retired secondary school teachers received N252.6 million for the payment of their pension.

    For the month of May, 139 retired local government workers and retired primary school teachers benefited from pension funds to the tune of N250.8 million.

    Retired civil service workers and retired secondary school teachers who are 127 in number also received N250.6 million in the same month of May.

    The current batch of pensioners captured in the ongoing process in Ekiti on sector-by-sector basis are 1,755 made up of 1,045 local government service workers and 710 in the state civil service.

    The payment of arrears of pension for the 1,755 pensioners is spread between April 2013 and January 2014.

    As a foretaste of what was to come for the pensioners, Governor Fayemi had on September 14, 2012 effected payment of gratuities totaling N501 million to 269 retirees.

    The Ekiti PENCOM boss, Chief Ojo, said Governor Fayemi’s gesture has brought relief to pensioners in the state and given hope to those in service that their labour would not be in vain.

    The PENCOM chief said he was not surprised by the Governor’s attitude towards the pensioners because the state operates the first Social Security Scheme for the Aged in West Africa in which the beneficiaries are receiving N5,000 monthly stipends.

    He said, “I have to thank Mr. Governor for taking the plight of the old people into consideration, for taking it upon himself not allow these people to die in penury.

    “This is a feat the beneficiaries never thought could happen so soon.

    We have to thank appreciate him and thank him.

    “With what he is doing, he should be allowed to see into fruition all these beautiful programmes and magnificent projects being executed in the state.

    “I know that regular payment of benefits to pensioners will have a great impact on the economy in the grassroots because they will have one thing or the other to buy with the money they are being paid.

    “In fact, Mr. Governor took us by surprise by releasing the money we are paying to our pensioners. Those who had thought they will never be paid are now jumping for joy and they are thanking him for performing this feat.”

    One of the beneficiaries, Mr. James Olowosejeje, said the pensioners were surprised by Governor Fayemi’s unexpected windfall at a time government is carrying out capital intensive projects in all nooks and crannies of the state.

    He said, “We pray that God will continue to bless Fayemi for us and spare his life for more selfless service to the people of the state.

    “We never expected that our pension will be paid this time because many projects that the governor is doing in every parts of the state because all these projects cost lots of money.

    “Projects like new buildings, roads, bridges, streetlights, school renovation, provision of laptops for our children, Ikogosi tourism project, youth and women empowerment and monthly allowances to the old people cost the state so much but we never expected that we pensioners

    will be remembered.

    “We are all praying for him to succeed in his vision to make the state great and we are rewarding him with our votes at next year’s governorship election because Fayemi is a friend of pensioners.”

    Another pensioner, Mrs. Iyabo Adelusi, said she did not believe the story that they would be paid until her she came along with her son to the state PENCOM office for verification and collection of her cheque.

    Mrs. Adelusi noted that the money she collected would go a long way in injecting life into her small scale business and giving her the needed economic empowerment.

    She described Governor Fayemi as a “compassionate man who cares for the less privileged”.

    As Ekiti pensioners continue to savour the largesse, the multiplier effects of Governor Fayemi’s gesture would continue to be felt in various homes and communities.

    This is a fulfilment of the governor’s desire to deeply entrench human capital development and ensure the delivery of dividends of democracy to the populace.

     

    •Ogunmola, Special Assistant (Media) to the Governor, writes from Ado-Ekiti

     

  • Rotary donates drugs to community

    The Rotary Club of the Victoria Garden City, Ajah, Lagos State, has donated drugs and other medical supplies to the Ajiran Health Centre and Ikota Primary Health Post.

    The President of the club, former Central Bank Governor, Chief Joseph Sanusi said the gesture was to assist those who could not afford medical bills in the society.

    He stated that what the club did is Rotary’s way of contributing her little quota to societal wellbeing, through the provision of drugs and other medical essentials that would enhance human’s good health.

    He said: “What we have done is to see how we can assist the less privileged in the society and one of the things we can do is to see to how the people can get free prescription and supply of drugs. Some people cannot afford the drugs prescribed to them and in the long run it has some negative impact on their health. As part of our objectives, we have to do something to put smile on their faces.”

    He said it has become a tradition for the Rotary Club of VGC to enhance the health standard of people living within its area of jurisdiction. “We were here a few years ago to give the people drugs and medication in this clinic. It is our joy that we are able to make some contributions to the welfare of the people through this effort.”

    Sanusi maintained that government alone could not meet the needs of the people and urged similar humanitarian bodies to rise to the occasion by assisting in any little way they could.

    “Those who have the wherewithal should come out to see what they can do to support government efforts in providing essential basic needs. It is not easy for government to do everything no matter how generous they try to reach every segment of the society.”

    He expressed the belief that when non governmental organisations support what government is doing through similar assistance, the grassroots and those that ordinarily could not be reached by government would be reached and the impact of government responsibilities to them would be felt.

    Responding on behalf of the Eti Osa Local Government, Mr. Olatunde Agbaje said the Rotary Club has been making much impression in the area and therefore thanked them for their efforts so far.

    “It is my hope that the reason behind the donation will be fulfilled. Since the under privileged were the purpose for the gesture, the drugs and other medical facilities given to them will be utilised for the purpose. I hope that the staff at the Primary Healthcare who have the materials in their custody will do what the club provided the drugs for.”

    Agbaje stressed that adequate publicity would be made to enable members of the public patronise the health centres for the free drugs. “They must ensure that the drugs are given out free because they were supplied free to assist those who cannot pay for drugs or take care of their medical bills.”

     

    Other members of the council who were at the presentation of the medical supplies agreed that Rotary club of VGC has been of tremendous assistance to the community.

     

  • Sokoto lifts farmers

    Tokoto State Government is to sell 15,500 tonnes of fertiliser in conjunction with the Federal Government to farmers in the state.

    Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko disclosed this at Rabah Local Government Council while launching this year’s sale of the commodity.He said his government has subsidisedthe commodity by 70 percent.

    “By this subsidy, MPK fertiliser would cost N1,700 while Urea type would be sold at N1,800 ”, he added.

    Governor Wamakko warned those entrusted with the sale of the commodity to be just and honest as only genuine farmers would benefit from the exercise.

    He said government had continued to subsidise the agricultural sector so that farmers would produce more food for the country and also improve their own income.

    The governor said the state government has purchased some farming implements to replace hoes .

    He urged farmers to take advantage of the new implements and modernise their farming methods, improve seed varieties and boost food production.

    Governor Wamakko said his administration has introduced many incentives to farmers as well as established a college of agriculture all in an attempt to boost agriculture.

    He said as part of his honest resolve to improve agricultural activities in the state, three billion Naira had been disbursed to farmers so far by his administration.

    The Governor added that arrangement had been concluded to disburse another two billion Naira loan to commercial farmers while modalities are being worked out to give two billion Naira again to farmers who engage in rice production.

     

  • Rotary donates drugs to community

    The Rotary Club of the Victoria Garden City, Ajah, Lagos State, has donated drugs and other medical supplies to the Ajiran Health Centre and Ikota Primary Health Post.

    The President of the club, former Central Bank Governor, Chief Joseph Sanusi said the gesture was to assist those who could not afford medical bills in the society.

    He stated that what the club did is Rotary’s way of contributing her little quota to societal wellbeing, through the provision of drugs and other medical essentials that would enhance human’s good health.

    He said: “What we have done is to see how we can assist the less privileged in the society and one of the things we can do is to see to how the people can get free prescription and supply of drugs. Some people cannot afford the drugs prescribed to them and in the long run it has some negative impact on their health. As part of our objectives, we have to do something to put smile on their faces.”

    He said it has become a tradition for the Rotary Club of VGC to enhance the health standard of people living within its area of jurisdiction. “We were here a few years ago to give the people drugs and medication in this clinic. It is our joy that we are able to make some contributions to the welfare of the people through this effort.”

    Sanusi maintained that government alone could not meet the needs of the people and urged similar humanitarian bodies to rise to the occasion by assisting in any little way they could.

    “Those who have the wherewithal should come out to see what they can do to support government efforts in providing essential basic needs. It is not easy for government to do everything no matter how generous they try to reach every segment of the society.”

    He expressed the belief that when non governmental organisations support what government is doing through similar assistance, the grassroots and those that ordinarily could not be reached by government would be reached and the impact of government responsibilities to them would be felt.

    Responding on behalf of the Eti Osa Local Government, Mr. Olatunde Agbaje said the Rotary Club has been making much impression in the area and therefore thanked them for their efforts so far.

    “It is my hope that the reason behind the donation will be fulfilled. Since the under privileged were the purpose for the gesture, the drugs and other medical facilities given to them will be utilised for the purpose. I hope that the staff at the Primary Healthcare who have the materials in their custody will do what the club provided the drugs for.”

    Agbaje stressed that adequate publicity would be made to enable members of the public patronise the health centres for the free drugs. “They must ensure that the drugs are given out free because they were supplied free to assist those who cannot pay for drugs or take care of their medical bills.”

     

     

    Other members of the council who were at the presentation of the medical supplies agreed that Rotary club of VGC has been of tremendous assistance to the community.

     

  • Council chief saves millions in fiscal regime

    The table payment option adopted in the disbursement of salaries to workers in Yagba West Local Government of Kogi State by the newly sworn-in Chairman of the council, Mr Ayorinde Makanjuola, is yielding fruit.

    The option, one of the strategies explored by Makanjuola in order to get to the root of the backlog of salary arrears owed council workers and the rot in governance inherited by his administration, according to the Vice-Chairman, Hon Omoniyi Adeyemi, has helped not only in ascertaining the actual wage bill of the council but also fishing out ghost workers, among other dividends.

    Hon Adeyemi who spoke to journalists at the Yagba West Council secretariat, Odo Ere shortly after the exercise ended under his supervision, admitted though that the exercise was constrained, including difficulties in securing cash from the banks and as a result, the exercise billed to hold for two days lasted seven days.

    However, he said already millions of naira has been saved through the detection of various sizes of ghost workers, arising from absenteeism, double appointments, proxies, people who are long due for retirement and impersonation. He enthused that more funds will be saved as the exercise continues and more strategies explored.

    “The exercise helped us to identify those who are holding multiple government employments. We were able to identify those who were due for retirement but who were still on the local government pay-roll; some of them brought on wheel chairs, which would not have been achievable had their salaries been dropped in their bank accounts. There are about 120 workers who fall in this category. We advised them to write their retirement letters; they will get their salaries for the next three months while we process their retirement for them, so as to fast track their pensions,” he said, adding “We were able to detect some people who are based in far away America but who are illegally on the local government pay-roll; those who have left the local government job to take state or federal government jobs and drawing salaries from two places. Some of these ghost workers were detected with the help of local government workers, because we made them to realize the efforts we are making are in their own interest. For those who have been identified as ghost workers, their names will no longer appear in the payment vouchers as from next month. I cannot give you an accurate figure of what has been saved now because the exercise is gradual. We will not relent until we get to the roots of the unnecessary problems of finances confronting the council.”

    Our reporter scooped that the exercise may have exposed Makanjuola’s predecessors who could not meet up with salaries despite collecting the same amount Makanjuola got. A major breakthrough, it was gathered, is the reduction in the monthly wage bill of the LGA from N69 million to N42 million.

    “After the table payment, the figure came drastically down from N69 million to N42 million. Even out of this N42 million, we still have unclaimed salaries”, revealed a source “it was evident that some wolves in the top echelon of the local government have been eaten monies due to the LGA worker over the years. We hope they will be prosecuted”.

    Meanwhile there has been outpouring of goodwill for the new council helmsmen in Yagba West over what the workers termed “a new lease of life” for them under Makanjuola’s leadership. Even if thy agreed it is their entitlement, the workers nevertheless expressed joy that their May salary was the first time a full salary was being paid them since over a year ago.

    One of the workers, Akinlolu Ogunjobi said: “This chairman is God-sent. Together with his vice, the new leadership has demonstrated competence, humility and simplicity in their approach to governance, especially in handling matters affecting workers’ welfare. We have thought that payment of full salary had become impossible in Yagba West after we got used to 30 per cent and 50 per cent for more than a year ago. But Engr Makanjuola has not only paid us a full salary for his first month in the saddle, on assumption of office, he ordered the payment of our leave bonuses for upward one year. He has started well, our prayer is for him to continue the good work and not to be distracted by the politicians or derail from the good work he is doing”.

  • NGO supports kids

    NGO supports kids

    Olawole Lanre Akinsanmi (OLA) Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) is doing quite a lot for children in Lagos State.

    The foundation is sponsoring their education, counselling and also helping to develop their talents, including singing, acting, dancing and creative works, among others.

    Speaking at a programme organised by the NGO, the co-ordinator, Mrs Folayemi Akinsanmi said the foundation aims to help the needy and the less privileged in the society for them become positively relevant.

    “We pick the children from the streets, meet their parents or guardians and we put them in good schools. We help them to build on various talents and we teach the out-of-school youths and women some skills like catering, cake making, soap making, and decoration, so that they can face life independently.

    She added that the NGO counsels the children in effort to motivate them and to change their orientation about life positively. We offer them de-worming programme, community health talk and free screening to detect diabetes and high blood pressure among others.

    She said: “The main purpose of setting up the foundation was to encourage the interest of Nigerian students in the field of engineering to be creative and learn more about the new areas of engineering as these are areas that will fast-track national development.”

    Mrs Akinsanmi however called on government to come to the aid of children and make the future brighter for them.

    Chairman, Board of Trustees, Mr Oladotun Akinsanmi said children are to be loved and cherished. It is the responsibility of parents and guardians to make a positive impact in the life of the children. The child we fail to train today will become a threat to the society. We need to alleviate their suffering and put smiles on their faces, he said.

    Mrs Stella Oke advised children to exhibit godly character. She also urged parents, guardians and teachers to give moral instruction to the children.