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  • Stop visiting MDAs for favour, Na’abba tells lawmakers

    Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Umar Na’abba on Wednesday warned against the conduct of lawmakers who go cap in hand to Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government in search of favours, saying such action demean their status.

    Na’abba spoke just as Speaker of the House of Representatives; Femi Gbajabiamila said the House will henceforth exercise the full authority of the legislature in exercising its oversight functions in furtherance of its objective of ensuring national development, peace, progress and prosperity of the country.

    The former Speaker of the House, Ghali Umar Na’abba who insisted that the legislature is an important arm of government said lawmakers who go in search of favour from the executive were demeaning their status as an important arm of government.

    The former Speaker described committees work as the engine room of the legislature as they provide members avenue for robust debate on issues before they are brought to the whole house for final deliberation.

    Speaker Gbajabiamila who spoke while inaugurating the 105 House standing Committees also told his colleagues to use the opportunity provided by their membership of the committees to prove to Nigerians that they deserve the mandate given to them by the electorates.

    The Speaker challenged the committees not to be guided by personal interest, but ensure that their services are motivated only by considerations that are in the best interest of the country.

    He said “the legislative committee system is as old as the legislature itself, and it is through these committees that most of the work of the legislature is done, and accomplishments are achieved.

    “Whatever the judgment of history will be for this 9th House of Representatives, whether for good or not, will depend largely on the conduct and the activities of the committees we are inaugurating today.

    “In constituting these committees, the leadership of the House of Representatives, have taken our time to ensure that members are assigned to committees that fit perfectly with their legislative interests and priorities, their prior experience and skills as well as the identified needs of the constituencies they represent.

    “It is now left to you; Chairmen and members, to go forward and show yourself capable of meeting the responsibilities to which you have been assigned and deserving of the mandate which you hold in trust for the Nigerian people.

    “I charge you to be dutiful in the discharge of your constitutional responsibilities of oversight and law-making, taking every care to ensure that at all times your conduct is without reproach, and your service is motivated only by considerations of the best interests of our country.

    Read Also; HMO denies diverting NHIS fund as alleged by ex-employee

    “You know as well as I do, that our country is at this time contending with serious challenges on multiple fronts. From the economy to national security, social justice to healthcare, infrastructure to the environment and climate change, this is a time that calls for determined efforts to achieve substantive reform and ensure that our country can overcome its challenges and take advantage of the opportunities that abound for economic advancement and social development. I trust that as you recognise these realities, your efforts will reflect this recognition, and be motivated therefrom.

    “Let me use this opportunity to appeal to the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government for their cooperation and collaboration. It is only through our joint efforts that we can meet the objectives of the administration and keep the promises we have made to the Nigerian people.

    “We in the House of Representatives intend without reservation to exercise the full authority of the legislature as it relates to the oversight of the MDAs. However, our purposes are not punitive, neither are our intentions adversarial, but in furtherance of our shared objectives of national development, peace, progress and prosperity for all.”

    Speaker Gbajabimila directed the ad – hoc committees on the Niger Delta Development Commission and that on the Ports and Harbours are to conclude their investigations and submit their reports by Friday the 4th of October 2019.

    He also asked all other ad – hoc committees are to conclude their activities and submit their reports before the 14th of October 2019, adding that already, the House has begun to act on some of the issues they have unearthed and the recommendations they have made, assuring that “these efforts will continue through the respective standing committees.”

    He maintained that “the job of nation-building is a joint task and the ambitions we have for our country can only be achieved through the dedicated efforts of every citizen, especially those of us elected officials in whom our fellow citizens have invested their hopes, their dreams and their expectations of a better life for themselves and a better future for their children.

    “We must never lose sight of this reality as to do so will be a betrayal of our commitments to God and country.”

    Former leaders of the House including Ghali Na’abba, Patricia Ette, former House Leader Mullikat Akande, Abdul Ningi, former Clerks of the house among others attended the inauguration.

  • Recruitment: Kaduna shortlists 13,700 applicants

    Kaduna state government has shortlisted 13,700 persons out of 41,971 applicants that applied for recruitment, for the next stage of the exercise.

    In a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Communication to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, Wednesday, the shortlist emerged after an initial assessment.

    According to him, the 41,971 applicants had earlier submitted essays online and they were assessed for plagiarism and Use of English.

    The Special Adviser disclosed that ‘’applications with a high plagiarism score and essay quality falling below the threshold set by the government will not receive further consideration. Email notices are being sent out to inform all applicants of the status of their applications.’’

    He further said that “candidates on the shortlist will receive email notifications of the dates for their computer-based test which is the next stage in the recruitment process.”

    It will be recalled that on 1st August 2019, Kaduna state government had issued a recruitment notice, inviting online applications for jobs in the core civil service and 26 parastatals.

    Read Also; El-Rufai: Beyond the show

    At the close of submissions on 26th August 2019, 41,971 applications were received all over the country, ‘’for entry level, middle level and management jobs,’’ the statement maintained.

    Giving a breakdown of the distribution of the applicants, Adekeye disclosed that “applications were received from all the 36 states and the FCT. Kaduna State provided 32,143 of the 41,971 applicants, followed by Kogi with 1,265, Benue 733 and FCT 730. There were 516 applications from Lagos State, 147 from Anambra and 18 from Bayelsa.’’

    “At the end of the first stage assessments, persons aged 35 or below constitute 78.48% of the shortlisted applicants, while entry level applicants are in the majority, with, 7,724 candidates. Kaduna State has 10,696 of the 13,700 persons on the shortlist.’’ He added.

  • Tribunal affirms Gov. Simon Lalong’s election

    The Plateau Governorship Elections Petitions tribunal in Jos on Wednesday affirmed the election of Gov. Simon Lalong.
    Sen. Jeremiah Useni of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is challenging the election of Lalong in the March 9, governorship poll.
    Useni prayed the tribunal to declare him winer of the elections alleging the disparity in the names supplied by Gov. Lalong in form CF001.
    Delivering judgment, a panel three justices led by Justice Halima Salami, held that the petitioners could did not adequately prove their case.
    The tribunal held that the information made in form CF001 by Lalong bothering on the disparity of name, was not fundamental in nature.

    The tribunal also held that the petitioners, failed to prove their allegation of electoral irregularities bothering on falsifications of results and over voting against Lalong and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
    Speaking after judgment, Mr Pius Akuboh, SAN, Counsel to the APC and Gov Lalong, commended the tribunal for the verdict.
    Akuboh said that the tribunal commendably dealt with all the issues raised raised and canvassed by the parties from all angles.
    “This include the qualification of the second respondent to contest the election, allegation of over voting, corrupt practices and non compliance to electoral law.

    Read Also: Elections Petition Tribunal receives 34 petitions in A’Ibom – Scribe

    “Painstakingly the tribunal considered interlocutory matters raised by the respective counsels to the parties.
    “We are satisfied that the judgment is in our favour specifically with respect to the qualification of the governor.
    “The tribunal unequivocally found as a fact that the governor did not give false information fundamental nature in aid of of his qualification,” he stated.
    Also speaking, Mr Edward Pwajok, SAN, Counsel to Useni and the PDP, said that they were not satisfied with the verdict of the tribunal.
    ”There are many bus stops in judiciary and that we will challenge the verdict in a higher court.
    “The tribunal has done its work but it is long journey, today’s verdict is just a first step.
    “However, we appreciate the people of Plateau and to state that the first petitioner, Sen. J.T. Useni remains confident in the Nigerian judiciary.
    “Thank God there are higher levels as the judgement itself has already formulate many grounds for appeal.
    “Because some of the findings were not in sink with the conclusion reached.
    “For instance, on the issue of the qualification of the governor, the tribunal found out that the lied on oath on the information he supplied in form CF00,” he stated. (NAN)

  • Skills training: 300 women appeal for support in Kaduna

    Over 300 women in Unguwan Kudu, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on Wednesday decried continued neglect of the community, and called on Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai to provide a skills training centre for them to learn skills and be self reliant.

    The women, who are members of the community’s Womanhood Forum, said the intervention was necessary, to equip them and other members of the community to break away from the cycle of poverty they found themselves.

    Their leader, Mrs Sadiya Nasir, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the village on Wednesday that a skills acquisition centre will add tremendous value to the lives of members of the community, not just women.

    She stressed that by empowering the women a lot of issues such as access to education for children and health care will be easier to manage.

    Read Also: El-Rufai’s re-election: Kaduna women demands 40% representation in cabinet

    The woman leader also urged government to offer soft loan to members of the forum.

    “We have never benefited from any gesture or asistance from the state government or any organization.

    “We are also calling on NGOs to come to our aid and teach our women how to empower themselves so as to be self reliant and assist our children and husbands.

    “Assisting us will also create employment and reduce poverty in the community,“ Mrs Nasir said.

    According to her, in spite of the challenges facing them, women under the forum support each other and also assist widows, orphans and the less privileged, whenever the need arises.

    “We also buy books and other writing materials for children in school to support our kids to get education,“ she said.

    Mrs Nasir appealed to the state assembly to prevail on the state government to site any meaningful project in the community as they prepare the 2020 budget.

    “Our Councillor has been assisting us from time to time but there are enoumous challenges affecting the community he cannot handle,“she said.

    (NAN)

  • We have created employment opportunities for 150,000 in Edo – Obaseki

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has stated that his government has provided employment opportunities to not less than 150,000 persons in the state through various skills development and job creation programmes aimed at stimulating Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state.

    He added that single-digit interest loan facilities were also extended to some of these persons, which became necessary to drive the state’s economy by leveraging the power of small businesses.

    Speaking at the Edo State Special Day at the on-going 2019 Abuja International Trade Fair (2019AITF) organised by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), the governor said his administration has attained 75 per cent (150,000) of his promise to create the 200,000 jobs in his first term in office.

    Represented at the trade fair by the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, Obaseki said his administration is creating a business environment that is driven by the private sector to build the capacity of youths to become self-reliant.

    The governor said, “One of our cardinal pillars is to develop our youths and we have policies and programmes to equip young people with skills, not just for the artisans but also graduates. They say some of our youths are not employable even when they have the certificates.

    Read Also; Obaseki sacks SAs, SSAs

    “So, we created a skills acquisition programme both for artisans and these graduates. We have created an artisan hub, what we call the industrial hub, where you can come and establish your small businesses. The facility has 24-hour power supply to enhance productivity.”

    He added, “In Edo State, you must earn a living and the best way to do that is to ensure you are skilled. Skilled labour is what we emphasise in Edo State and we are not only emphasising it, we are creating it.”

    Edo State Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Mr. Felix Akhabue said the state government was already making progress in agricultural development while also teaching the youth new techniques to make them successful in the sector.

    According to him, “We have the Edo State Skills Development Agency also called EdoJob, which is responsible for training our young ones on skills development. We are also taking our people back to the farms because, in the past, agriculture engaged the majority of the people.

    “As you know, the Edo State government is doing a lot in the area of job creation because if we don’t actively and consciously do things that will create jobs, we would be overwhelmed by youth unemployment.

    “Like in other developed countries, it is the private sector that should engage over 70 per cent of the population. Therefore, Nigeria must go that way and Edo State has started. We are looking at the private sector. We are already collaborating with the private sector; Edo state government is creating the enabling environment for businesses to thrive.”

  • AfriBritish NGO holds Lagos retreat

    The African-British Diaspora Returnees Organisation had a retreat in Lagos on Tuesday to chart a course for the organisation to fit into objectives of the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs).

    The retreat which was coordinated by the deputy country manager, comrade Hassan Bode, was also a period to reflect on Nigeria at 59 and align with the agenda of the NGO, with headquarters in UK, towards making Nigeria a better place as well as for Nigerians in diaspora.

    According to the country manager, Demola Sanyaolu, the retreat was necessary to revamp the organisation for better performance after 10 years of operations.

    In attendance were team leads of Ogun (Adeola Adegbenro), Lagos (Olajide-Ojora Oloruntoyin) and Edo (Godwin Aghedo) amongst others.

    African British Diaspora Returnees Organisation has a three-pronged objective for migration, rehabilitation and women/children empowerment.

    The northern version of the retreat is billed to hold later in the month.

  • Alleged Sexual assault: Israeli court orders arrest of Australian school principal

    An Israeli court on Wednesday ordered a former Australian school principal, suspected of sexual assault, and who Australia is seeking to extradite, released from prison to house arrest.

    Implementation of the Jerusalem District Court’s decision was delayed until Friday to give the prosecution time to appeal.

    Australia has been pressing Israel to extradite Malka Leifer, who fled from Australia in 2008, with what Australian authorities believe was the assistance of the insular Adass Jewish community, after accusations against her surfaced.

    “The (court’s) decision strengthens our argument that the evidence is not there,’’ one of Leifer’s attorneys, Tal Gabai, said.

    Leifer is the former principal of Adass Israel School, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish girls’ school in Melbourne.

    She is wanted by Australian Police on 74 sexual assault charges, including rape, involving girls at the institution.

    The Israeli court ruled in 2016 that Leifer, who has denied the charges, was mentally unfit to face extradition and trial.

    She was re-arrested in 2018 after a police investigation raised questions about the state of her health and has been in prison in Israel awaiting an extradition ruling.

    Read Also: Ondo varsity decries sexual assault on student

    Yehuda Fried, another lawyer for Leifer, said he hoped that house arrest would lead to his client “returning to her home (in Israel) and receiving the medical care she deserves’’.

    In September, the district court, in considering extradition said more psychiatric evidence was needed before it could decide the issue and ordered a new panel of experts to assess Leifer’s mental condition and deliver a report in December.

    In August, Israeli Police recommended indicting Israel’s Deputy Health Minister on suspicion he tried to pressure court-appointed psychiatrists to support Leifer’s mental illness claims.

    It will be up to state prosecutors to decide whether to accept the police findings and charge the politician, Yaakov Litzman, who has denied any wrongdoing.

    (NAN)

  • Int’l day of older persons: charting a course for the elderly

    October 1st, every year is a time to raise awareness on the impact of an ageing population and the need to ensure people grow old with dignity and continue to live in the society as citizens with full right and style.

    In Africa like other parts of the world, the role played by older persons both to their families and the community where they live, cannot be over-emphasized.

    No wonder the United Nation set out a day (October 1) to celebrate the older persons while at the same time chart a course for their betterment in the society.

    In ensuring fairness and justice in all ages, the United Nations has developed a slogan of “Leaving No-One Behind” which necessitates the deep understanding that age matters for suitable and sustainable developments and that the population should be shaped into the key changes in the world.

    According to the UN, if our ambition is to “Build the Future We Want”, we must address the population of over 60 which is expected to reach 1.4 billion by 2030.

    The theme for this year International Day of Older Persons is The Journey to Age Equality.

    The 2019 theme is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10 and focuses on pathways of coping with existing and preventing future old-age inequality.

    Read More: Don urges govt to make provisions as older persons’ population rise

    SDG 10 sets to reduce inequality within and among countries and aims to “ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of the outcome,” including through measures to eliminate discrimination, and to “empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.”

    Often, disparities in old age reflect an accumulated disadvantage characterized by factors such as location, gender, socio‐economic status, health, income etc. Between 2015 and 2030, the number of people aged 60 and over is expected to increase from 901 million to 1.4 billion- In this regard, trends of ageing and economic inequality interact across generations and rapid population ageing, demographic and societal or structural changes alone can exacerbate older age inequalities, thereby limiting economic growth and social cohesion.

    The objectives of this year International Day of Older Persons are:

    To help draw attention to the existence of old age inequality, and how this often results from a accumulation of disadvantages throughout life -and highlight intergenerational risk of increased old-age inequality.

    To bring awareness of the urgency of coping with existing and preventing future old age inequality.

    To explore societal and structural changes in view of life course policies: life-long learning, proactive and adaptive labour policies, social protection and universal health coverage.

    To reflect on best practice, lessons and progress on the journey to ending older age inequality and changing negative narratives and stereotypes involving “older age”.

    In addition, this year celebration is expected to focus on the care sector as a contributor of decent work, lifelong learning, proactive and adaptive labour policies, universal health coverage and social protective measures for older people.

  • Court remands conductor for defiling, impregnating 14-year-old girl

    An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday ordered that a 22-year-old conductor, Dapo Amakwe, who allegedly defiled and impregnated a 14-year-old girl, be remanded in prison, pending the receipt of legal advice.

    The magistrate, Mrs B.O. Osunsanmi, did not take the plea of the defendant.

    Osunsanmi ordered the investigating police officer to send the case file to the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPPs) for legal advice and adjourned the case until Oct. 11 for mention.

    The defendant, who resides in Bariga area of Lagos state, is being tried for defilement.

    Earlier, Prosecutor Ezekiel Ayorinde had told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Nov. 23, 2018 in Bariga.

    He alleged that the defendant and one Kazeem Bello, now at large, conspired and had carnal knowledge of the teenager.

    “The girl went to buy something when the defendants accosted her, dragged her into an uncompleted building and they defiled her in turns.

    Read Also: ‘Bus driver defiled my two-year-old’

    “They threatened to kill her if she should expose them.

    “The teenager got pregnant as a result of the defilement and was delivered of a baby in August.

    “The defendant was arrested while his accomplice ran away,” the prosecutor said.

    According to the prosecutor, the offence violates Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 which prescribes life imprisonment for convicted offender.

    (NAN)

  • Lawmaker shot dead by suspected assassins in Delta

    A  councillor and Majority Leader of Sapele Local Government Legislative Arm, Delta state Chief Venture Kagbude, has been reportedly shot dead by suspected assassins.

    It was gathered that the tragic incident occurred at about 6 pm on Tuesday along the Sapele/Effurun/Warri Road.

    Chief Kagbude, was the Chairman of Okirighre community in Sapele council area, as well as the chairman of the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM), in the local government area, until his death.

    According to reports, the deceased was returning from Okuoke community located along the said road, where he had gone to inspect a house under construction for his mother.

    Unfortunately, the unknown gunmen waylaid and shot him dead.

    Director of the Asaba and Osubi International Airport, Austin Ayemidejor, while reacting to Kagbude’s death said, “it is sad news, a young man dreams to build a better society and is cut short by gunmen. He will surely be missed”.

    However, an undisclosed source related to the victim claimed that the late lawmaker was one of the frontiers against cultism and ritual activities in the area, adding that his demise must have resulted from his efforts, alongside the LGA chairman, “against cultism few months ago. I am sure his death must have come from there.”

    A senior police officer at the Sapele Police Area Command, name withheld, confirmed the development, stating that a search for the killers has commenced.

    But efforts to get official comments from the Delta State Police Command proved abortive, as repeated calls to the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Adeyinka Adeleke, mobile phone were not answered as at the time of filing this report.