The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lawmaker

  • Lawmaker donates furniture to Lagos schools

    A member of the House of Representatives representing Ifako-Ijaiye federal constituency Mr Nurudeen Olaitan Akinwunmi has donated tables and chairs to head teachers and pupils of four public schools in Ifako-Ijaiye.

    Akinwunmi said learning aids form a part of his intervention programme towards providing a conducive learning environment to pupils of public schools in his constituency.

    Akinwunmi said time has called for well-meaning Nigerians to join hands with the government in making life more abundant for the masses.

    He said: “Lagos State has the highest number of public schools, highest number of students as well as teachers and spreading infrastructure to all the schools in order to improve access to quality education would no doubt pose a big challenge; that is why everyone must join hands with the government to fill the gaps.

    “If we have a governor, who is performing like we have in Akinwunmi Ambode, we should complement his effort, and that informed my decision to present this as part of my intervention progammes.”

    Akinwunmi, a member of the House Committee on Basic Education and Services, said the pitiable condition of most schools he visited across the country in furtherance of the committee’s oversight functions informed the donation as part of his constituency project under the Universal Basic Education programme.

    He listed the beneficiary schools as African Church Primary School, Idi-Agbon; Ogundimu Primary School, Iju; New Oko Oba Primary School; and Agbado-Ijaiye Primary School II, both in Ojokoro, adding that they form the first phase of the programme.

    Another set of school furniture, he said, would be distributed to All Saints Primary School; Fagba; Bishop Oluwole, Community Primary School, Ajuwon; Ebenezer Primary School; as well as  Gbeleyi Primary School in Ojokoro.

    Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Chairman, Dr Ganiu Shopeyin, said Akinwunmi has set a standard that ought to be copied as the best from a political office holder.

    He urged leaders and well-meaning individuals to join in providing a conducive learning environment for education, especially at the basic level, which he said is the foundation of the entire learning process.

  • Lawmaker lauds reintroduction of History

    A member of the Osun State House of Assembly,  Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has praised the Federal Government for reintroducing  history into the primary and secondary school curricular.

    Oyintiloye told reporters in Osogbo, the Osun State capital that history had been neglected at both primary and secondary school levels.

    The lawmaker said teaching of History was essential to a nation and its citizens.

    “I want to commend the Minister of Education for inaugurating new curricular for history in primary and secondary schools.

    “No nation can develop without teaching his young ones history; history reflects the past and situates the present’

    “Without historians, we would not know much about our past, our heroes, our ancestors, their heroic deeds or their epic mistakes.

    “When pupils and students learn about the values that built the country they live in, the wars that were fought to protect certain ideals, the triumphs and failures of different leaders and societies, they become better for it.

    “They can better understand how their own society was shaped, and what role they should play.

    “With a knowledge of history young people have the opportunity to learn from the tragic mistakes of past individuals and societies, and to prevent the same mistakes being made over again.”

    The History curriculum, unveiled by Education Minister,  Adamu Adamu recently is divided into three levels: Primary 1 -3 ( lower basic) , Primary 4- 6 ( middle basic) and Junior Secondary School 1- 3 (Upper basic).

    Oyintiloye, the House Committee Chairman on Information and Strategy,  said the new curriculum  would awaken the consciousness of Nigeria’s unity in the minds of upcoming generations.

  • Lawmaker loses mum

    The death has been announced of Madam Ediruo Ehohoghene Egoh nee Yavbieri of Uwheru in Ugelli North Lacal Government of Delta State.

    She was 95.

    The late Madam Egoh was a generous and God-fearing woman, according to a statement by Logistics Coordinator Chief Godpower Nakpodia Efiawhare.

    Service of songs will hold on April 12 at the Palace, Uwheru at 4pm.

    The late Madam Egoh will be buried on April, 13 at Uwheru Town.

    She is survived by many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, among who are Hon. Emma Oghene Egoh, representing Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency at the  House of Representatives and Rev. Gabriel Egoh.

     

  • Lawmaker washes hands of street carnival fracas

    A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rotimi Olowo, yesterday washed his hands of Easter Sunday’s  attack on Somolu Local Government Chairman Abdulhamed Salawu aka Dullar at a street carnival.

    Olowo, who represents Somolu Constituency I, said he  learnt of the incident from a councillor on Easter Monday.

    In an interview with our correspondent, Olowo said his opponents were behind the allegation that he had a hand in the fracas.

    He said he was at the party at the invitation of a Special Adviser to the Governor, Mr Adeleke Adekoya.

    Olowo said: “On that fateful day, I left the house with my brother to the birthday of Iyaloja-General of Somolu Local Government. From her house, we moved to Adeleke’s party. There were two parties on the same street – Iyaloja’s birthday and the Anifowoshe Carnival – sponsored by Mr Adeleke. The party was about 100 to 200 metres apart on the same street.  I had another party at Stallion Base in Abiodun, and there I met Williams Lawson, the former Sole Administrator of the council and some of his friends. We all returned to Anifowoshe for Adeleke’s party. Not quite long, Salawu popularly called Dullar came in and greeted me from a distance ‘Olumoko’ and I responded “Bawo ni” then he settled down.

    “After a while I left Adeleke’s party for another party where I was to be given an award. I later learnt that when Dullar was leaving, his boys were pushing people to create space for him and those people fought back. Then one of his (Salawu’s) boys broke a bottle and the bottle hit him in his hand and part of the bottle touched his lips, that was what transpired and even at that, there was no serious issue at the party. It was from there I gathered that he went to Alade Police Station to report that I beckoned on some boys to attack him’’.

    He called for investigation of the matter.

    “I urge the police to investigate the matter and prosecute the culprits. As I am speaking with you, the Area ‘H’ Commander has taken over the case but what actually baffles me was that, Mr Taofeek Sanjay was with me throughout that Sunday only for the council chairman to point at him that he should be arrested, that he is one of those that attacked him. If Salawu said some people attacked him despite having some boys going about with him… why can’t they arrest the person that actually broke the bottle? They know where he lives; why can’t they arrest him and get information from him.

    Olowo gave Area ‘H’ Commander  one week to act on the matter or “I will take it to the next level.”

  • Lawmaker urges parents to give sound

    THE lawmaker representing Alimosho Constituency 1 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Bisi Yusuf, has urged parents to invest in their children’s education.

    Yusuf gave the advice while addressing over 300 youths in Alimosho for whom he bought the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) forms for and assisted them in preparing for the exam.

    Although his constituency covers only four of the six wards in Alimosho, the lawmaker extended the gesture to all the wards comprising Ipaja Ayobo, Mosan Okunola, Egbe/Idimu, Igando/Ikotun and Agbado Oke Odo LCDAs), which make up the entire Alimosho Federal Constituency.

    The lawmaker told parents that giving their children sound education was for their own good.

    “Education of the children is insurance for the parents and for old age,” he said.

    “Education is highly important, because it is an instrument for development. Without education you are nothing and if you have education you have the world in your pocket, whatever you want to achieve in life, education is first, it is a pathfinder without which you cannot find the path to your target,” said Yusuf, Chairman of House Committee on Public Account (local).

    He said but for the education his parents gave him, he would have been a nuisance to the society.

    “So, I should also extend the same gesture to others, this time not only my biological children but all those in my constituency and Nigeria because where I am is a privilege.

    “I know my people, I live with them. I know their problems and their needs. I am also experiencing the difficulties that are being experienced everyday. I know that some of the parents cannot even afford to buy JAMB pins. I organised tutorial and CBT for them and whenever they gain admission. I also give them little pocket money,” Yusuf said.

    One of the beneficiaries, Kabilat Olabisi, who said she finished secondary school in 2015, thanked Yusuf for the gesture which has renewed her hopes to study Nursing.

    “We are very grateful to him (Bisi Yusuf) for helping us and our parents with the free JAMB pins and the tutorials. It is a great thing he has done; most of us did not expect it. Some of us were even looking to next year to be able to get the money to buy the registration forms. We pray that God will continue to bless him,” she said.

     

  • Monarchs endorse lawmaker for second term

    Traditional rulers in Odigbo and Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo local government area of Ondo State have endorsed the lawmaker representing Ile-Oluji-Oke-Igbo/Odigbo Constituency in the National Assembly, Mayowa Akinfolarin, for a second term.

    They urged their subjects to vote for him in next year’s poll.

    The royal fathers said he deserved a second term because of his performance.

    The monarchs spoke through Oba Julius Olufaderin Adetimehin, the Jimoko of Ile-Oluji, at a three-day training and skill acquisition programme facilitated by the lawmaker.

    They said their decision was hinged on the outstanding record of the legislator in the last three years.

    According to them,the lawmaker who recently dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) had sponsored over 12 bills in the National Assembly, adding that he also facilitated laudable projects to the constituency.

    Oba Olufaderin said:” We are proud of him. He is a good ambassador of our constituency. He is a shining example and somebody that should be emulated.

    “Our advice to the people coming behind him is to follow his steps, because he is leaving a landmark that will not be easily surpassed. We love him. He is doing great. He will go for second term.”

    The beneficiariesthanked the lawmaker for organising the programme.

    Akinfolarin said the best way to reciprocate the gesture of the people, who have reposed their confidence in him through their votes, is to reach out to them.

    He said the programme was designed to lift the communities and  ,stressing that he was doing what was expected of him.

    Other leaders at the event included Prince George Adenikinju Odigbo, the Local Government Caretaker Chairman, and Oba Rufus Akinrinmade, the Orunja of Odigbo Kingdom. Religious and opinion leaders also witnessed the occasion.

  • Lawmaker to reconstruct 22km road in Nasarawa

    A member of Nasarawa State House of Assembly representing Akwanga South Constituency, Alhaji Kassim Mohammed-Kassim, said he is reconstructing the 22-kilometre Gudi-Moroa road in the state.

    Mohammed-Kassim said this was to boost socio-economic activities of his constituents.

    He said the reconstruction of the road in Akwanga would also boost agricultural activities of his constituents and the state at large.

    He said the road if reconstructed would not only reduce the plight residents faced in transporting their goods, but would also fight unemployment and poverty as well.

  • Lawmaker hires evaluators to assess disaster in Bayelsa

    A member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Douye Diri, has engaged a team of property evaluators to assess the havoc wrecked by rainstorm in Biseni community, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

    Residential houses, church buildings, farmlands, electric poles and cables were pulled down last week in the oil-rich Biseni clan of Yenagoa by the rainstorm.

    Though the natural disaster rendered many of the residents and threw the town into darkness, no emergency relief materials had been sent to the victims.

    Some of the victims cried out yesterday when Diri visited them.

    An aged woman, Mrs. Beatrice Warifateye, whose thatched house and farm were destroyed, said she no longer had shelter and appealed to government and relevant agencies to come to their aid.

    Also, a community leader, Chief Henry Okosika, whose roof was blown away, said the early morning rainstorm took them by surprise.

    He said: “Around 4 am, unexpectedly, this wind came and destroyed our houses. Electric poles went down. See our church, the roof was removed. Nowhere to worship. I don’t even know the cost of things destroyed. They should come and help us.”

    Diri, who represents Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma, led the team to inspect the destruction and said evaluation was urgent to guide sympathisers coming with financial support and relief materials.

    “To those who are affected, we have started with a process, and it is process to assess the level of damage and analyse the destruction to know how many people were affected.

    “We will also follow up with international oil companies, follow up with government ministries, agencies and departments at federal and state levels to take urgent relief action”, he said.

    Diri appealed to the people of Biseni community to keep the peace and called on relevant government agencies, including oil multinationals, to always respond on time to natural disasters to alleviate the suffering of victims.

    He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene to restore people’s hope.

    “When I get back to Abuja, I will raise my voice on this natural disaster by a motion on the floor. The world need to know what has befallen our people.

    “I also call on the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, to respond immediately to this disaster and to all others that happened across the country. That is what government should do”, he said.

    The lawmaker representing Yenagoa III in the House of Assembly, Mr. Gentle Emelah, said though no life was lost, there was need to restore electricity in the community.

    He said: “The only consolation is that no life was lost. You have seen the colossal damage, the level of impact on the life of the people. My appeal is for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to immediately come to the aid of the people.

    “Also, the State Emergency Agency should step in. And equally the Ministry of Energy to liaise with oil multinationals operating here to ensure that power is restored to the community. I am going to sponsor a motion on this by Tuesday to let the whole world know about the calamity in the community”.

     

  • Lawmaker supports APC faithful with 10 buses

    Ten members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Ikorodu division of Lagos State who contested but lost out during the last local government election in the state, got some support last Friday from the legislator representing them in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Bolanle Agunbiade, who is also the Majority Leader of the assembly.

    At an event held at the lawmaker’s constituency office along Obafemi Awolowo way, Ikorodu, where he gave each of the ten party faithful a brand new bus, the lawmaker, popularly known as Opomulero, said he was glad that in fulfilment of his heart desire, he was privileged to be giving the APC members opportunities through which they can thrive beyond politics.

    He explained that his gesture is aimed at cushioning the effects of the loss the youths might have suffered as a result of their botched political ambitions. “They contested for councillorship positions on the platform of our party. They didn’t get it. Others did. This is to cushion the effect of that loss and also give them opportunities to become entrepreneurs in the transport sector with these buses,” he said.

    Speaking after receiving the keys to their new buses, some of the beneficiaries thanked Agunbiade while describing him as a politician with a good heart. They expressed surprises at the unexpected gesture and promised to remain faithful to the ruling APC. “I cannot describe this gesture. This has never happened before. Agunbiade is the first person I know who will bother himself about the fate of defeated councillorship aspirants. He is a rare breed,” a beneficiary said.

     

  • Pay attention to your studies, lawmaker urges students

    Students of Police Secondary School, Itaogbolu, Akure, Ondo State have been advised to shun social vices.

    Deputy Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr Ogundeji Iroju, gave the charge at the inauguration of a new boys’ hostel and the Language Laboratory by Parent- Teacher Association (PTA) in the school.

    Iroju, who hailed the school management for its high academic standard, sought assistance from corporate and individuals for the institution established by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

    He urged the students to face their studies to attain greater heights.

    “With the quality of education being imparted on you here, it is certain that your future is bright if you are serious with your studies.

    The lawmaker donated N100,000 for the development of the school.

    The PTA Chairman Mr Oluwafemi Adeyemi, noted that the project that  was inaugurated was the first of its kind in the history of Police Secondary/Children School in the country.

    He said 11 projects had been inaugurated by the PTA leadership, including the extension of water to the barracks, building of 1,500-capacity dining hall and four-block classrooms, and sinking of wells, among others.

    Adeyemi noted that the N1,000 contributed by each parent assisted in completing many projects in the school.

    The Principal/Commandant, Austin Peter, a Superintendent of Police(SP), praised the police authority, FEO Ladodo and parents for their support to the school management, which he said facilitated the numerous achievements in the school.