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  • INEC releases final list of Gov, Assembly candidates Thursday

    The final list of candidates for Governorship, State Assembly and FCT Area Council elections will be published on Thursday, the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has said.

    Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the list will be published in all the State offices nationwide and the Commission’s website.

    Yakubu spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at the Swearing -in of a new Resident Electoral Commission (REC) Elder Monday Udo Tom from Akwa Ibom State.

    This brings the total number of RECs nationwide to 36 out of 37 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The Commission is awaiting the confirmation and appointment of the nominee for Osun State.

    He also revealed the commission has implemented ten out of the fourteen activities outlined in the commission’s scheduled programs of actives.

    “Your appointment is coming just 16 days to the 2019 General Elections. We have already implemented 10 out of the 14 activities in our timetable and schedule of activities.

    Read Also: INEC worries over conflicting judgments, orders

    “The final list of candidates for Governorship, State Assembly and FCT Area Council elections will be published in all our State offices nationwide and the Commission’s website, tomorrow Thursday 31st January 2019.”

    Congratulating the new REC, Yakubu informed him that though he will be posted to a state within his geo-political zone, he can however be posted anywhere in the country.

    He said: “Furthermore, as a REC, you can be posted to any part of the country at any time as the exigencies of service require. For now, you will be posted to a State within your geo-political zone but you will never serve in you State of origin throughout your tenure. In line with this principle, you are hereby deployed to Bayelsa State.”

    The new REC holds a BSc. degree in Biological Science and a Master’s degree in Microbiology.

    He served as lecturer and civil servant in Akwa Ibom State.

  • Traditionalists to govt: use African culture to fight social ills

    The founder, The Ancestral Pride Temple worldwide, Oluwo Faniyi Fasola, has urged the Federal Government to recognise, uphold, respect and observe the African traditional religion to promote and value the nation’s history and heritage.

    He said upholding the African traditions and culture would complement the fight against corruption and other social vices, noting that it will further promote peace,  harmony and grow the economy through tourism and other infrastructure.

    Oluwo Fasola made the call at the 2018 Children Day anniversary of Indigenous Faith Parish of African Traditional Religion (Ijo Orunmila ti Adulawo) in Ota, a suburb of Ogun State. He said progress and peaceful co-existence would be the order of the day when African tradition is given preference, observed and regarded.

    He said: “Orunmila (God) didn’t make a mistake by creating the country with many ethnic groups, different languages and traditional cultures. the effect of neglecting other traditional cultures and embracing other cultures “Christian and Muslim” is what is happening today.

    “There were no issues of theft, incessant killings, criminality and other society norms in the olden days when our forefathers observed traditional cultures. Orunmila (God) and His messengers are very clean and have zero tolerance for indiscipline.

    “Till today, a true traditionalist doesn’t involve in criminality or else the wrath of the deities would befall such a person. Our research had shown that majority of people involved in killings or caught with human parts for money rituals and others are Christians and Muslims, especially the church owners.

    “That is why we the traditionalists are appealing to the government to consider, observe and give total recognition to African traditional religion to enable the traditionalists operate as one entity to complement the fight against indiscipline, criminality and other social ills affecting the progress of the country.

    “Christians have five days as public holiday, Muslims have about 6 days but we are only requesting for just one day to project and celebrate our heritage. It is time to forget playing and joking with our tradition, we should not be fraudulent with the benefit of traditional worship.

    “We must not forget our tradition as it was handed over to us from our forefathers, we must wake our neighbours up each time they want to go astray,” he said.

    Chief Priests of African Traditional Religion,  Chief (Aro) Adekunbi S. Kayode called on all association members to be dutiful and respectful in their choice of religion.

    He urged all members to abstain from any form of indiscipline that would not promote the image of the traditional heritage. He noted that they should quickly expose anyone contradicting or portraying a bad image of traditionalists while hiding under its umbrella.

    He urged the Federal Government to ensure that August 20  was declared every year as public holiday to mark African Traditional Day. Kayode said a deep exploration of African tradition would give a boost to the nation’s tourism sector because every machinery to drive tourism “is embedded in African tradition”.

    The event featured singing,  dancing,  quiz competition and drama.

  • Kano spends N9b monthly on salary payment, says Gov

    Kano spends N9b monthly on salary payment, says Gov

    The Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, has said his administration spends N9 billion monthly on payment of workers’ salaries.

    He said the feat was achived at a time most state governments have not been able to pay salaries of their workers as a result of the economic situation in the country.

    He spoke at the end of a  workshop for financial journalists held in Kano with theme: ‘The Role of Nigeria Banking Sector: Opportunities, Challenges and the Way forward’.

    The workshop was organised by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) in Kano recently.

    He disclosed that despite being the largest state in terms of population growth, the administration has not owed workers, and all public servants “in the state and local government usually receive their salaries between 26th and 28th of every month.”

    Ganduje who was represented at the event by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Usman Alhaji Usman, also expressed the willingness of the state to embrace public-private partnership (PPP) to revive the ailing cotton industry in the state.

    “We need public private investment in order to revive the cotton industry,” he said.

    He disclosed that the state has invested N10.18 billion in the construction of the Murtala Mohammed road bridge as well as N3.59 billion in the construction of the Bukavu underpass, among others.

    He explained that in the area of environment, the administration was doing enough to address certain challenges. He also listed some of his achievements. Ganduje said: “We have so many empowerment programmes ongoing in the state and they involve market women, and farmers. The Masu Shayi (tea sellers) empowerment is an effort from the government to improve first, the environment. During the inauguration of the empowerment programmes, there was a lecture on the cleaning of their environment and making the tea in good environment.

  • Gov revokes residence permits of expatriates in Intels, others

    The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) said it has revoked the residence permits of expatriate staff in about six Nigerian companies, including Intels Nigeria Limited.

    No reason was given for the latest development.

    NIS in a statement yesterday by its Public Relations Officer, Sunday James, said the  Comptroller-General NIS, Muhammad Babandede, gave the directive.

    It reads: “The Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, hereby revokes the Residence Permits of the Expatriate staff of the under listed companies, in the exercise of the powers vested on him in section 39, subsection 1 of Immigration Act 2015 and section 5, subsection 5 of the Immigration Regulation 2017 after withdrawal of the operational licenses of the under mentioned companies by the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority.”

    The statement listed the other companies to include PRODECO International Limited, West Africa Machinery Services Limited., Net Global System International Limited., MGM Logistics Solutions Limited., ORIEAN Investment Limited.

    The directive required that the expatriate staff of the affected companies should leave Nigeria not later than 30th November, 2017.

  • Alleged invasion of Benue court false, say dep gov, judiciary

    The Deputy Governor of Benue State, Engr. Benson Abounu, has expressed shock over media report that his wife was held hostage during a court session.

    Speaking with our correspondent in a telephone interview, said his wife, Justice Abounu, a high court judge in the state, was never held hostage by suspected armed robbers, as being speculated.

    The deputy governor described the rumour as deliberate falsehood being peddled by the opposition to paint the government in bad light.

    Abounu, who described the report as irresponsible journalism, said what happened was a burglary incident during which the hoodlums stole a refrigerator, computer and other valuables from the court premises.

    He advised journalists not to allow themselves to be used, but to always cross-check their facts before going to press, saying government is taken aback by the deliberate distortion of facts.

    Meanwhile, the Benue State Judiciary has denied that a court in the state was invaded by gunmen.

    A statement signed by the Protocol/Information Officer, Benue State Judiciary, Tsegba Stephen, stated that no judge in the state was held hstage.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Benue State Judiciary under the leadership of the State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Iorhemen Hwande, OFR, has been drawn to reports of gun men’s invasion of courts in the state that appeared in some national dailies on 3rd November, 2016.

    “We want to state emphatically and categorically clear that no judge in the Benue State Judiciary was held hostage during a court session by gunmen.

    “Rather, what occurred on Sunday night of 30th October, 2016, was a burglary case of theft of court property such as cash, a refrigerator and electronics perpetrated by those suspected to be hoodlums and thieves.

    “The matter has since been reported to the police for investigation.”

  • Kwankwaso is a progressive gov — Nigerians in UK

    Kano State governor, Dr RabiuKwankwanso, has been described as a progressive governor that can deliver the nation from the predicament it is currently facing.

    Speaking during a reception organised for the governor, by a group of Nigerian professionals in the United Kingdom, Kwankwansiyah Ambassadors of Nigeria (KAN), Diaspora, the Coordinator General of KAN Diaspora, Dr Ibrahim Emokparie, highlighted the challenges facing the Nigerian nation and concluded that Nigeria would fare better under Kwankwanso.

    The event which was massively attended by representatives of the Movement for Visionary Elites, Progressives Solidarity Forum, All Progressives Congress, (UK Chapter), Media, Civil Society Organizations, local authorities and various groups representing the Nigerian community in the UK described Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso as the man who ticks all the boxes of a credible and visionary leader with the acumen and the capability to move Nigeria forward from its present position.

    In his welcome address, the Coordinator highlighted the challenges facing the Nigerian nation ranging from insecurity, corruption, executive lawlessness, impunity and a total lack of direction for the growth and development of the country. He lamented the unprecedented weaknesses with which the current PDP administration reacts to these major challenges. He spoke on the impact of Engineer Kwankwanso’s policy on education, poverty alleviation, infrastructural development and transparency and identified him as the most progressive Governor that can deliver the Nigerian nation. He therefore strongly called for a total support to ensure Kwankwanso’s emergence as the presidential flag bearer of APC.

    The event was graced by prominent Nigerians like Alh. AminuAdamu, Deputy Chairman APC UK, Elder DuroLawal, Chief Charles Ebun-Amu, Charles Lawson, Chief Akinsanmi and the moderator of the event Mr KazeemOlasupo and many others.

    In his address, Adamu attested to the transparency of Governor Kwankwanso’s administration in Kano state and emphasized that his laudable achievements are unparalleled. While stressing the governor’s transparent style of administration by upholding probity and accountability throughout the state civil service, he encouraged everyone to support Kwankwanso as the APC presidential candidate.

    In his remarks, the Event Moderator, Mr KazeemOlasupo said that Nigerians have made errors in the past in choosing wrong leaders and that we must not allow the opportunity to elect a credible president to elude us in the 2015 election.

    Mr Charles Lawson said he came from the same region with President Jonathan but noted that Nigeria needed a leader who will salvage it from its present state of hopelessness. “So, I am ready to mobilise the Niger Delta Youths for this man,” he added.

    Also speaking, Elder DuroLawal maintained that the occurrence at the event and the video shown has gone far to convince him that Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso was the right man for the job. We must do everything possible to ensure his emergence not only as the Presidential flag bearer of the APC but as the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2015,” he stated. He ended his speech by re-echoing the much touted lingo at the event that “Nigeria does not need a boy but a man to do the job of salvaging the country.”

     

  • Retirees lament govt’s failure to review pension

    THE Nigerian Union of Pensioners, University of Lagos (UNILAG) chapter, has expressed concern over the Federal Government’s failure to increase the monthly pension of its members by 50 per cent, as promised.

    They spoke during the celebration of World Pension Day at the UNILAG Staff School Hall.

    The union’s Vice Chairman, Mr Babatunde Sanni, lamented that the the government made the promise since July 2009.

    “When they did not pay it and we threatened to protest, the President called a meeting and said it would be reduced to 33 per cent, but up till now, we have not gotten anything,” he said.

    The Treasurer, Mr Thomas Adeoye, also faulted the Federal Government for increasing the salary of military pensioners by 33 per cent when the civilians fought for it.

    “We fought for an increase in our pension and instead of attending to it, government went ahead to increase that of the military. Are they scared of them? We fought for it, we should get it too,” he said.

    The Chairman, Mr Andrew Adeosun said the pensions are no longer adequate to meet their needs and urged the Federal Government to introduce minimum pension, like minimum wage.

    “Our monthly pension in most cases cannot take care of our fundamental needs. There is, therefore, urgent need to introduce minimum pension for pensioners if our lives is to be better than what it is now.

    “Senior citizens, who spent their hay days serving their fatherland for more than 30 years meritoriously, should not be made to regret their honest services. Properties confiscated from pension thieves should be auctioned and the proceeds realised should be appropriated and spent on settling pensioners,” he said.

    Adeosun, represented by Mrs Sola Olanrewaju, the Assistant Secretary, added that the high unemployment rate has further worsened their lot as their wards cannot take care of them because they do not have jobs.

    He told members to eat balanced diet, drink responsibly if they have to, avoid stressful situations, sleep very well and do moderate exercises.

    Mrs Rukayat Akpamkpa, Director Medical Services, UNILAG Medical Centre, talked to the pensioners on how to take care of their health.

    She said: “Check your health regularly. Don’t wait until you fall ill before you go to the hospital.”

    She focused on high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and heart failure She said: “If you see any sign, go and treat it before it results to severe complication. Eat balanced diet, do not eat too much carbohydrate, protein, or fat, instead eat fruits.”

     

  • Gov. Amosun: Sango-Ojodu road is waiting

    Gov. Amosun: Sango-Ojodu road is waiting

    SIR: The plan of Ogun state government to reconstruct the road from Sango under Bridge through Ijoko to Ojodu is no longer news. On this plan, the people along this long stretch of road who are daily suffering the pitiable conditions of the road are more than anxious to see the project start in earnest.

    May I use this opportunity to call on Governor Ibikunle Amosun (Eyi o wu a wi, toluwa ti se) to ensure that nothing stops the full commencement of the road as soon as possible, because what we heard initially was that the project will start in November, now the month of November is already fading away without any sight or sound of action on the road.

    The people along the route have wasted and still wasting productive man-hours, financial resources on vehicles maintenance, high cost of transportation being charged by drivers that ply the road as they have to break even in their business among others. The daily suffering and inconveniences of the road cannot be quantified.

    Former Governor Segun Osoba will forever be remembered for opening up the road during his time, and thus brought development and people to the area, former Governor Gbenga Daniel will also be remembered for neglecting the road for the eight years he spent, and thus diminished the steady development of the area, so Governor Amosun should endeavour to have his name on record as the one that uplifted the road to a high standard for the benefit of all and mankind. Definitely, history has different chapters for all actors of life on which posterity will judge every individual and government.

    Sango-Ojodu road is waiting, so, Gov. Amosun, roll out the Tractors now.

    • Awelewa Babafemi

    Ogo-Oluwa Street,

    Oposuru/Railway axis, Ijoko.