The Nation Newspaper

Tag: decry

  • Conference delegates decry marginalisation of Yoruba in Kogi

    The six delegates to the National Conference from the Okun Yoruba area of Kogi State have expressed concern over the neglect of their communities by successive administrations.

    The delegates spoke in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at a dinner organised for them by the Okun Development Association.

    Former Minister of Industries and President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Chief Kola Jamodu, who spoke on their behalf, said the neglect of infrastructure in the Okun and Oworo areas were unacceptable.

    The delegate resolved to work with their colleagues from other parts of the country to seek solutions to the problems

    Okun delegates are retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police Raphael Osanaiye, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Chief Bayo Ojo, (SAN), Ambassador John Kayode Sinkaiye, former Deputy Chief of Staff to the President Prince Olusola Akanmode and Dr. Femi Obayori of the Lagos State University.

    Jamodu said the delegates were conservant with the demands of the Okun people, which are contained in their position paper on the conference.

    In his goodwill message, the deputy governor of Kogi State, Chief Yomi Awoniyi, expressed satisfaction that Okunland was being represented at the conference by credible delegates. He said the delegates will pursue the interests of the Yoruba in Kogi State.

    The President of Okun Development Association, Ambassador Babatunde Fadumiyo, urged the delegates to agitate for the creation of Okun State and the relocation of the Okun’s political boundary from the Northcentral to the Southwest geo-political zone.

    Former Minister of Health and the Convener of Okun Think-Tank Prof. Eyitayo Lambo said it was by divine favour that Okun, with five local government areas, has six delegates at the conference.

    He implored the delegates to work as a team to advance the cause of Okun people, regardless of which platform brought them to the conference.

     

  • Confab delegates decry marginalisation of Yoruba in Kogi

    Confab delegates decry marginalisation of Yoruba in Kogi

    The six delegates to the National Conference from the Okun Yoruba area of Kogi State have expressed concern over the neglect of their communities by successive administrations.

    The delegates spoke in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at a dinner organised for them by the Okun Development Association.

    Former Minister of Industries and President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Chief Kola Jamodu, who spoke on their behalf, said the neglect of infrastructure in the Okun and Oworo areas were unacceptable.

    The delegate resolved to work with their colleagues from other parts of the country to seek solutions to the problems

    Okun delegates are retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police Raphael Osanaiye, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Chief Bayo Ojo, (SAN), Ambassador John Kayode Sinkaiye, former Deputy Chief of Staff to the President Prince Olusola Akanmode and Dr. Femi Obayori of the Lagos State University.

    Jamodu said the delegates were conservant with the demands of the Okun people, which are contained in their position paper on the conference.

    In his goodwill message, the deputy governor of Kogi State, Chief Yomi Awoniyi, expressed satisfaction that Okunland was being represented at the conference by credible delegates. He said the delegates will pursue the interests of the Yoruba in Kogi State.

    The President of Okun Development Association, Ambassador Babatunde Fadumiyo, urged the delegates to agitate for the creation of Okun State and the relocation of the Okun’s political boundary from the Northcentral to the Southwest geo-political zone.

    Former Minister of Health and the Convener of Okun Think-Tank Prof. Eyitayo Lambo said it was by divine favour that Okun, with five local government areas, has six delegates at the conference.

    He implored the delegates to work as a team to advance the cause of Okun people, regardless of which platform brought them to the conference.

  • Auto dealers decry hike in price of second-hand vehicles

    Some auto dealers have decried the new price hike on imported second-hand vehicles popularly called “tokunbo”.

    The dealers blamed the new price hike on the implementation of the new automotive policy being introduced by the Federal Government.

    The policy is aimed at encouraging the use of new vehicles and discouraging importation of second-hand vehicles.

    Mr Yemi Savage, Managing Director, Royal Motors, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the proposed hike in import tariff from10 per cent to 35 per cent would have adverse effects on auto business.

    ‘’We have beginning to experience the ripple effects. The prices of cars have risen to ridiculous amounts from dealers in Cotonou.

    ‘’It is becoming difficult to add our own commission to the price of the vehicles to make them affordable to our customers.

    ‘’I wonder what the experience will be by the time the policy is fully implemented,’’ he said.

    Mr Chucks Egbunike, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Express Motors, expressed concern that the implementation of the policy might lead to increased smuggling of used vehicles.

    Egbunike appealed to the Federal Government to create enabling environment for assembling and manufacturing vehicles in the country.

    ‘’Formulating a policy is not enough; government should give us affordable alternatives to “tokunbo vehicles”,’’ he said.

    President Goodluck Jonathan has assured that the implementation of the policy would not inflict pains on the people.

    Jonathan gave the assurance when he received a delegation of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, last weekend.

    He said that the policy would help to revive the local automobile sector.

     

  • Fishermen decry decline in production

    Fishermen in Taraba State has decried the rapid decline in fish production and expressed worry that this might cause economic problems if not checked.

    Some fishermen, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Donga Local Government Area, called for urgent actions to address the situation.

    One of the fishermen, Mr Awual Sani, said that fish production was always on higher side during September and October every year, adding that “this year is a different and sad experience’’.

    Sani decried the impact of the situation on the economy of the fishermen, adding that many fish farmers were already finding it difficult to pay the school fees of their children.

    “The least I make in a day is N3,000, but now, it is hard to make N500,’’ Sani said.

    Another fisherman, Mr Rapheal Anter, said: “I have been in the fish business for long, but the current situation of lack of fish in the water is strange”.

    Anter noted that the situation posed a dangerous threat to his economic situation as fishing was his only source of livelihood.

    A fish seller, Mrs Hanatu Danladi, equally decried the gross shortage of fish in the market.

    Danladi said that she use to buy directly from fish farmers all year round and that this year had witnessed gross decline in production.

    “I used to buy fish worth more than N50,000 directly from fishermen and sell to retail traders. Now it is difficult to get N10,000 worth of fish at a go.

    “In fact, it is worrisome because some of us depend on the business as our only means of survival,” Danladi said.

    An agricultural climatologist, Mr. Timothy Samuel, attributed the problem to climate change, noting that the seasons had been altered by the advent of global warming.

    Samuel, who is also an agricultural consultant, told NAN that the 2012 flood disasters in parts of the country were due to the effect of climate change.

    He advised farmers to be conscious of the change in climate, which he said, had affected global food production.

  • Women decry Boko Haram

    Women decry Boko Haram

    Women yesterday condemned the havoc the Boko Haram sect has wreaked on the country.

    They said its activities have dented Nigeria’s reputation, adding that thousands of people have been killed and property worth millions of naira destroyed.

    Over 10,000 women from across the country protested against the Boko Haram insurgency at the Eagle Square in Abuja.

    They sued for peace and urged women empowerment, saying: “The country needs peace to ensure rapid development.”

    Vice-President Namadi Sambo told the women that the Federal Government was committed to women empowerment.

    He said 5,000 women have benefited from the Federal Government’s Subsidy Reinvestment & Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).

    Sambo hailed women for initiating a programme, tagged: “Nigerian Women for Peace and Empowerment”, aimed at celebrating Nigerian women across diverse socio-economic background.

    The V-P also lauded President Goodluck Jonathan for his contributions to women empowerment.

    First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan said women desired the opportunity to speak for peace.

    She enjoined the National Assembly to make laws to back the appointment and election of more women into leadership positions.

  • 10 communities decry four-year power outage

    Residents of 10 river-bank communities in Oriade Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State have sent an SOS to the government over a prolonged power outage in their areas.

    The Ibasa; Ibese; Ilase; Imore; Iyagbe;, Ikare; Irede; Igbologun; Igbosu and Igbo-ese-jore communities said the problem began in 2009, adding that government’s intervention through a transmission project in 2011 has not helped matters.

    Some of the residents alleged, at the weekend that an hotelier and a business mogul stalled the government’s power project to the areas.

    They called on the government to intervene and plead with the hotelier to allow the project be.

    A former councillor, Hon. Tajudeen Akinyanmi, who took reporters round the project site, said artisans and fish mongers have abandoned their businesses of lack of electricity.

    “They cannot afford the high cost of fuel to operate their petty fish business. To explain in plain terms, it is hard to come by a welder or an air dresser who opens his/her shop in the communities. This is to tell you how the appalling situation has ruined economic activities in the communities since four years. All we are asking for is to let the project to be completed for the sake of God,” Akinyanmi said.

    The Sasore of Igbese Kingdom, Oba Muraina Akinola, confirmed the prolonged power outage, calling on the government to help redress the problem.

  • Kogi Central leaders decry alleged neglect

    It its inaugural meeting at the weekend in Abuja, leaders of the Kogi Central Senatorial Zone condemned what they called “wicked and ungodly” economic and political neglect of the zone since the creation of the state 21 years ago.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja, its spokesman, Alhaji Salawu O. Mohammed, said 25 leaders from the five local governments in the zone met under the auspices of Kogi Central Peace, Unity and Progress Forum.

    He said the leaders resolved that they could no longer tolerate the internal colonialism in the state and vowed to use peaceful means to enthrone equity, fairness and justice in Kogi State.

    In a report commissioned by the forum, entitled: The Marginalisation of Kogi Central Senatorial Zone in Kogi State and unveiled at the meeting, Mohammed said the leaders agreed to work together to challenge “the unjust situation”.

    The report, according to him, reveals the following:

    “Although Kogi East represents only 45 per cent of the 3.3 million Kogi State population in the 2006 national census, with Kogi West and Kogi Central accounting for 55 per cent of the population, successive governments from Abubakar Audu through Ibrahim Idris to Idris Wada, have always used a sharing formula that varies between 70:30 to 80:20 ratio of state resources and political offices between the East and the remaining two senatorial districts.

    “Yet, Kogi East contributes the least internally generated revenue (IGR) of seven per cent, compared to 72 per cent from Kogi Central and 21 per cent from Kogi West. As much as 80 per cent of all capital projects go to Kogi East while Kogi West gets 15 per cent and Kogi Central gets a paltry five per cent.

    “Of the 28,000-strong state civil service, Kogi East alone has 24,621 as at November 2012 while Kogi West has 6,519 and Kogi Central has 4,069”.

    “The Idris Wada administration has been totally unapologetic about sustaining the internal colonialism in the state with political appointments thus far skewed against Kogi West and Central. Of his 19 commissioners, Kogi East has 10, Kogi West has five and Kogi Central has four.”

  • Enugu primary school teachers decry non-payment of December salary

    Primary school teachers in Enugu State yesterday urged the government to pay their December 2012 salary to enable them to settle their children’s school fees.

    Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu, the teachers accused the government of not prioritising their welfare to enable them to contribute their quota to the educational advancement of the state.

    A teacher, who spoke in confidence, expressed dismay with the government’s action.

    He said their families had dry Christmas and New Year celebrations.

    He added: “We celebrated this season almost without food on our table. I could not provide my family with the needed things because I so much relied on my December salary but to my surprise, we were not paid.

    “I could not even borrow because it was already late and I so much expected this salary to come. It was horrible for my family during the celebrations.”

    Another teacher, who also spoke in confidence, advised the government to pay the salaries and entitlements to enable the teachers settle their children’s school fees.

    According to him, schools will resume soon and their children need to resume along with their mates.

    He added: “It is very unfair that one will work and not get paid, especially in this season. We celebrated Christmas and New Year from hand to mouth and now that the celebration is over, the government should endeavour to pay us our money so that we can pay our children’s school fees.”

    A volunteer teacher in a rural community said the government had not paid him and his colleagues since their recruitment in 2011.

    Mr Chumaife Nze, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in the state, confirmed the non-payment of the December 2012 salaries and entitlements to the members.

    He said: “I contacted the Permanent Secretary of the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) before Christmas but he said the salaries and leave allowances had been released. But up until now, no teacher has received a bank alert on the payment.

    “I do not understand what is happening. Even volunteer teachers have not received any salary since they were recruited in 2011.”

    The Commissioner for Education, Dr Simon Ortuanya, expressed shock at the non-payment of the salaries.

    He said: “I need to confirm this. I cannot comment unless I confirm this but I will be surprised if that is the position.”

    The government, in 2011, introduced the volunteer teachers’ scheme to bridge the education gaps in rural areas.

    Governor Sullivan Chime said the idea was to engage teachers who retired from the service to bridge the gap in primary and post primary schools in rural areas n the state. He said that young people deployed to rural schools abandoned their duties in search of greener pastures.

    He said the retired teachers who resided permanently in those areas were engaged on a stipend of N18,000 per month.

    The state recently sacked the Chairman of the SUBEB, Mrs Ethel Nebo-Ezeabasili.

  • Sports City shops decry low patronage

    Sports City shops decry low patronage

    With five days to the commencement of the 18th National Sports Festival (NSF) some sports shops at the National Stadium in Lagos on Wednesday decried the low patronage of customers.

    Some of the sales persons who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interview said that they were yet to feel the impact of the festival in their sales.

    Tina Nwaizu, a sales girl at the Independent Sports Stores, said that the build-up to the festival has impacted on their sales. ‘’Our shop is well stocked with sports equipment, but we are yet to experience any increase in our daily sales so far,’’ she said.

    Also, the owner of Filmo Sports Limited at the Stadium who refused to disclose her name, said that the festival has not impacted positively on her business.

    ‘’In the past, if a big event like this is coming up, shops around the stadium usually enjoy high patronage. People always come in to buy items before the competition. Everywhere is so dry, people are not demanding for goods. It just as if the festival is not holding in Lagos,’’ she said.

  • Aregbesola, Fashola decry discrimination against women

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his Lagos State counterpart, Babatunde Fashola, yesterday condemned the discrimination against women interested in taking up leadership positions.

    They spoke at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, at the closing of the 12th National Women’s Conference organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO).

    Aregbeshola, who was the special guest, said a World Bank research in 2000 showed that societies with large and persistent gender inequalities pay the price of poverty, malnutrition, illness and other deprivations.

    He called for greater participation by women in the policy formation and implementation process.

    Aregbesola said the “spectacular activities” of COWLSO are unmistakable examples of what women can do, if given the chance.

    He said some of the success stories of many improving economies in the world today have been attributed to rich complementary and partnership efforts between men and women.

    Aregbesola said: “Allowing men and women to contribute on an even keel can impact families and societies in no small measure. I want our mothers to wake up to their responsibilities. I know modernity has defined the role of women differently in a way that tends to separate them from their natural estate.

    “I extol COWLSO leadership for using the National Women’s Conference as a platform that enables women across the country to participate robustly in discussing fundamental national issues.”

    The governor said the theme of the conference, “Women as Leaders”, calls women at all levels to take charge of their responsibilities as leaders, not only in the homes, but also at the community, local, state and national levels.

    He urged governments at all levels to allow women participate strongly in decision-making and implementation of policies.

    Aregbesola said: “Scholars in the field of gender matters have observed that the bane of sustainable development in many African countries cannot be divorced from deep-rooted gender discrimination and inequalities. COWLSO, through this conference, has again emphasised the role of women as critical agents in the development process.”

    Fashola condemned the sexual harassment and abuse of women in work places. He said it has taken the form of modern slavery and must be curbed.

    Fashola said: “Why, for example, should a woman be expected to succumb to unwanted male advances in order to progress her career in spite of her competence?

    “Why are ladies employed because of their looks, especially in our financial institutions, for the purpose of marketing for deposits, rather than providing real financial solution, which they undoubtedly have the capacity to provide?

    “I believe women have sacrificed too much to give us a chance to exist. The least we owe them is an obligation to honour their sacrifice by treating them with decency.

    “I hope COWLSO will rise up to the challenge, so that we can find a solution that protects women and, in some cases, men, while ensuring that there are no fabricated and unjust allegations.”