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  • I won’t interfere in Ibadan traditional chieftaincy system – Gov. Makinde

    Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Tuesday promised not to interfere in the Ibadan traditional chieftaincy system, but work to achieve its  desired goals.

    The governor gave the assurance during the 86th birthday anniversary and chieftaincy celebration of High Chief (Mrs) Theresa Oyekanmi.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.

    Oyekanmi was recently installed as the 14th Iyalode of Ibadan land after the demise of Alhaja Aminat Abiodun.

    Makinde was represented by Mrs Funmi Orisadeyi, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.

    Read Also: ‘It’s unfair to assess Makinde now’

    “As your son, I am reassuring you of my support for the progress of Ibadan.

    “Let me re-state that I will not interfere in the Ibadan traditional chieftaincy system,” he said.

    He solicited the support of traditional institutions across the state for his administration in transforming the state.

    The governor congratulated the new Iyalode of Ibadanland, praying that she would live long.

    The Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, also prayed that his reign and that of the Iyalode would last long and bring the desired growth to Ibadan land.

    NAN reports that the event was attended by prominent sons and daughters of Ibadan land as well as associations.

    Among the dignitaries are Oba Lekan Balogun, Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land; High Chief Lekan Alabi, Agbaakin of Ibadan land; and Chief Sarafadeen Alli, a former Secretary to Oyo State Government

    NAN

     

  • Poll: EFCC grills INEC accountant, three others over diversion of N84.6m allowances

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested and quizzed four officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for alleged diversion of N84, 696,000 meant for the payment of ad hoc staff engaged for Presidential and Governorship elections.

    The suspects, who were grilled by the Sokoto Zonal Office of the anti –graft agency, are from Zamfara State office of INEC.

    The suspects are the Administrative Secretary, Hassan Sidi Aliyu, the Head of Operations, Hussain Jafar, the State Accountant Abdullahi Yusuf Abubakar and Abdulmumin Usman.

    A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren said the suspects were grilled for “alleged case of conspiracy, breach of trust and criminal diversion of Ad Hoc staff allowance to the tune of N84, 696,000”

    The statement said: “The petitioner, one Abdullahi Nasiru, who wrote on behalf of all presiding officers that worked for INEC during the 2019 Presidential and Gubernatorial elections in Zamfara State, alleged that the Ad hoc staff were denied payment of their N6,000 movement allowance each for the two elections.

    Read Also; I have sold over 30 children, says suspect

    “He further alleged that what the INEC officials in Zamfara paid to them was different from what other states paid their Ad hoc staff. The INEC office in Zamfara allegedly paid its staff N9000 while in other states like Sokoto State, the electoral commission paid N12000 each.

    “Investigation by the EFCC revealed that none of the 10,500 presiding officers who participated in the elections were paid their entitlements cumulatively put at N84, 696,000

    “Efforts are being made by the Commission to recover the money criminally diverted by INEC heads of department and Electoral Officers of the 14 local governments in Zamfara State namely; Abdullahi Sambawa (Zurmi LGA); Aliyu Jafaru Goronyo( Maradun LGA); Balarabe Ahmed S Gobir (Gummi LGA); Amadu Ibrahim (Gusau LGA); Mohammed Bashir Musa (Kaura Namoda LGA); Dalhatu Usman Musa (Birnin Magaji LGA); Abdulmumin Usman (Maru LGA); Muhammad Nasir Saidu (Talatu Mafara LGA); Abdullahi A. Ukashatu (Tsafe LGA); Tukur Garba Kaita (Bungudu LGA); Salihu Musa Abdullahi (Bukuyun LGA); Sadiq Abdullahi, Fari (Anka LGA); Lawali Muhammed, Argungu (Bakura LGA); Jafaru Gide, (Shinkafi LGA); Tanimu Muhammad (Shinkafi LGA); Hassan Abdullahi (Shinkafi LGA).

    “The suspects would be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is completed.

     

  • Nigeria at 59: Youths urge FG to tackle unemployment

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Ogun Youths Advocates, has urged the Federal Government to tackle unemployment, as Nigeria celebrates its 59th independence.

    The group, led by its Chairman, Mr Alao Oluseyi, spoke with newsmen after a courtesy visit to the Stella Obasanjo Children’s Home on Tuesday in Abeokuta, where food items were distributed to the inmates.

    Oluseyi, who noted that government was doing its best in the area of employment, emphasised that crimes would be reduced in the country, if the youth were gainfully employed.

    The chairman advised politicians to stop seeing the youth as veritable instruments during elections, adding that they (youths) too should have a say in government.

    He expressed the group’s commitment to fighting for the interest of youths, especially in the area of employment.

    Oluseyi urged Nigerian leaders to serve as sources of inspiration and role models for youths in the country rather than seeing them as touts who should be used for selfish political interest.

    “We are advocating for employment for youths, but we are here today to visit the motherless babies so that they can know their importance in the society.

    Read Also: ‘Don’t turn disabled youths to beggars’

    “We are also celebrating the Independence Day with them.

    “In Ogun Youths Advocate, we are trying our best to make sure that all the youth in Ogun enjoy the dividends of democracy,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the group donated money and food items to the Home.

    In another development, the Federation of Informal Workers’ Organisation of Nigeria (FIWON), an NGO, has also called on government at all levels to focus on developing the industrial sector to check the current unemployment statistics and create more jobs and wealth.

    The state Coordinator, Mr Olayinka Ibrahim, made the call in an interview with NAN on Tuesday in Osogbo.

    Ibrahim said “The collapse of the industrial sector has led to the continuous influx of unemployed youths from the formal sector to the informal one, which demands urgent attention.

    “People, who could not secure white collar job, are now trying to acquire learning skills.

    “Government must pay attention to the sector by investing directly on industries, and this is key to development and growth.

    He congratulated Nigerians on the 59th Independence anniversary and urged them to continue praying for the country.

    Ibrahim, however, appealed to the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to pay more attention to human growth through wealth and job creation.

    NAN

     

  • Independence Day: Bello pardons 35

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has granted pardon to 35 inmates and commuted the sentences of 13 others in correctional centres across the state.

    This was contained in his Independent Day address to the people of state.

    The governor noted that the Kogi State Advisory Council, in consonance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), on the prerogative of mercy Law, 1995, visited several correctional centres in different parts, to this purpose.

    According to him, after careful scrutiny of various applications, supporting documents and testimonies by officials, the council compiled the list of those recommended and deserving of a second chance.

    Those pardoned include Shaibu Zakari, James Sheidu, Muhammed Yahaya at Okene prisons, and Sunday Adeyemi at Idah prisons.

    Read Also: Why APC will retain Kogi, by Bello

    Others are Ugbede John, Ojonugwa Mathew, Abdulmumuni Yakubu, and Muhammed Haruna (Ankpa), while Daniel Ochonu and Abdulrahman were freed from the Koton-Karfe prisons.

    The governor called on the communities of those that were pardoned to tolerate and absolve them and be given another chance in life.

    ”It is human to err but the act of forgiveness is divine; the beneficiaries of this exercise should be given every form of assistance that would be required by them for a restart.

    ”I, therefore, also expect the beneficiaries to reciprocate this gesture by eschewing evil and living at peace in their respective communities,” he said.

     

     

  • Kwara workers yet to receive N18,000 minimum wage – NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kwara Council has said that workers in the state have never enjoyed full implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage since 2011.

    Mr Saheed Muritala, the state acting Chairman of NLC, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Ilorin while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    Muritala said that workers on Grade Level 07 and above were being paid what he described as ‘amputated wage’ which, he said, was different from what was contained in the approved table.

    He urged Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to fulfil his pledge of ensuring full implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage ahead of the circular on the modalities for the implementation of the new N30,000 minimum wage.

    “What we know as it affects us in Kwara state here is the need to act fast on the implementation of N18,000 minimum wage across board.

    “We don’t enjoy the regular minimum wage here. The payment on ground now is an amputated wage which does not follow the national table, especially from Grade Levels 07 and above.

    Read Also : ‘Minimum wage non-payment is forced labour’

    “The present governor gave a promise that if voted in, he would pay full N18,000 minimum wage for all categories of civil servants in the state.

    “I so much believe that if this is done, whenever the circular for the new wage is out, we will not be cheated”, he said.

    The labour leader also urged the governor to approve the request for a meeting with labour leaders so that he could be briefed on the challenges facing the union in the state.

    Muritala stated that the union was ready to work with the present administration to serve the interest and welfare of the workers.

  • 161 Nigerians arrive from Libya on Independence Day

    As the nation celebrates her 59th independence anniversary, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) received another batch of 161 stranded Nigerian returnees from Libya.

    Alhaji Idris Muhammed, the Coordinator, NEMA Lagos Territorial Office, confirmed the development to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

    Muhammed said the Nigerians arrived at the Cargo Wing of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 5.35 a.m. on Tuesday.

    He said the returnees were brought back aboard an Al Buraq Air aircraft with registration number 5A-DMG from Misrata City, a 200-kilometer distance from Tripoli, Libya.

    Read Also: LG Chairman pays WAEC/NECO fees for 500 students in Nasarawa

    He added that the returnees were assisted home by the International Organisation for Migration and the European Union under the Assisted Voluntary Returnees Programme which started in April 2017.

    Muhammed said the stranded Nigerians were received on behalf of the Federal Government by NEMA and other agencies, including the Edo State Task Force Against Human Trafficking and the Nigeria Immigration Service.

    He said “at the end of profiling of the returnees, there were 48 female adults, one female child and seven female infants, 93 male adults, five male children and seven male infants, totalling 161.”

    The coordinator said three male adults who had medical issues were immediately evacuated to the hospital for medical treatment.

  • LG Chairman pays WAEC/NECO fees for 500 students in Nasarawa

    Alh. Abdulrahman Maigoro, Chairman, Keffi Local Government area of Nasarawa State, has paid the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) fees for 500 secondary schools students from the council area.

    Maigoro disclosed this on Tuesday during the independence anniversary and inter-primary schools march past and quiz competition, organised by the council in Keffi.

    He said that the gesture was aimed at reducing the burden of school fees on the parents of the affected students and improving the standard of education in the area and the state at large.

    The chairman said that he decided to organise the independence anniversary celebration, considering the importance of the day in the life of the country.

    “The political independence by our country on Oct. 1, 1960 was a result of many years of struggle by the people of Nigeria against the colonial rule.

    “Those heroes who made sacrifices and got imprisoned in order that this country might be independent should not be forgotten,” he said.

    Read Also: Sokoto releases N300m for WAEC, NECO exams fees

    Maigoro also disclosed that he had enrolled 8,000 pupils into various primary schools towards achieving basic education and for the overall development of the council area.

    “We also purchased and distributed school uniforms and other materials to pupils to reduce the sufferings of parents, most of whom are less-privileged.

    “It may also interest you to know that considering the cries of most of our students and parents, my administration also registered and paid WAEC/NECO, NABTEB and JAMB fees for over 500 students.

    “I, therefore, want to appeal to the beneficiaries and other students to take their studies seriously in order for them to excel in their academic pursuit,” he said.

    The chairman advised parents and guardians to see education as the only investment that they should give to their children.

    Earlier, the Education Secretary of the council, Mr Emmanuel Barau, lauded the chairman for his efforts at improving the standard of education in the area.

    He called on the political class and other stakeholders to join hands with the chairman towards providing an enabling environment for teaching and learning.

    (NAN)

  • Withdraw Discos’ licence in December, protesting groups tell FG

    Members of the Edo State Civil Society of Organizations (EDOSCO) have urged the Nigeria government not to renew licence of Discos especially that of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) when it expires in December this year.

    The groups who protested against poor electricity supply said the Discos have failed to meet targets and needs of millions of electricity consumers.

    Spokesperson and President of EDOSCO, Comrade Omobude Agho, picked holes in claim by the BEDC that it planned to distribute 190, 000 meters to customers in Edo state.

    Omobude said “They said today is Democracy Day but for us today is Electricity Democracy Day. Our leaders and governors have abandoned us.

    “In any country where there is no electricity, corruption and crime will not end.

    Some of the placards carried by the protesting groups read; “No going back on December deadline, Ekiti, Ondo, Edo and Delta people reject BEDC; BPE has compromised, BEDC has failed woefully”.

    But Management of the BEDC said its licence would not expire in December.

    Read Also: Be patient over bad roads, Sanwo-Olu appeals 

    Executive Director (Commercial), of the BEDC, Dr. Abu Ejoor described the protest as a disturbance to public peace.

    Dr. Ejoor urged customers to disregard the protest and such deliberate misrepresentation as there is no expiration of the license BEDC in December as alleged by the protesters.

    He “The licenses issued to BEDC and other discos is 15 years, with a renewal of extension of another ten years, after the expiration of same.

    “We are presently in court with them on two cases. BEDC took some suspects including EDOSCO members to court in March 2017 at a Benin Federal High Court for alleged tampering with electrical fittings – a crime punishable under section 3 (6) of the miscellaneous offenses Act cap M.17 Laws of Nigeria 2004.”

  • Benin Enterprise Park Mgt rolls out plan for infrastructure, power, others

    The Benin Enterprise Park Limited has rolled out plans to build the needed infrastructure, including roads, industrial plots, gas-fired power plant, water system and modularised accommodation, among others, on 93 out of the 997 hectares of its premises in the first phase development of the park.

    The park is among the big-ticket projects of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration in Edo State and is expected to drive industrialisation in the state.

    The company said “it is in the process of developing the 997 hectares Benin Enterprise Park (BEP) which is located in Edo State, Nigeria. The first phase of the BEP occupies a footprint of 93 hectares and is the subject of this request for expression of interest by prospective Engineering, Procurement Construction (EPC) contractors.

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    “BEPL intends to hire the service of one or more engineering, procurement and construction companies (the “EPC Contractors”) with experience in delivering large scale complex projects.”

    The management of the company said the appointed EPC Contractors will be responsible for the primary infrastructure at the park, to include: “Roadworks; storm water drainage; borehole water supply; domestic sewage collection and treatment; power distribution at 11 and 0.4 kV; street lighting; cable conduit system for ELV (Extra Low Voltage); and boundary wall and fences.

    It added that the EPC contractors will also carry out works on “power generation to include: 40MW gas-fired open cycle power plant; 6km gas spur line; hot tap into gas trunkline; and PRMS (Pressure Reducing and Metering Station).

    There will also be the development of industrial plots to include the construction of industrial buildings with a combined footprint of circa 30 hectares as well as temporary accommodation units, including modularised accommodation units for up to 500 personnel.

  • JUST IN: Kidnapped NSCDC operatives released

    The Edo State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has confirmed the release of two of its senior operatives abducted on Sept. 27.

    The Commandant, Mr Makinde Ayinla, confirmed the release in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Tuesday.

    Ayinla said the operatives were released early on Tuesday by their abductors at Ebelle community in the Igueben Local Government Area of Edo.

    He said, however, that no ransom was paid to secure the release of the operatives.

    Read Also; Kidnappers of Adamawa professor demand N10m ransom

    The commandant thanked the Nigeria Police, the vigilante in Ebelle town and the families of the abducted workers.

    Ayinla also commended other security agencies for their support and collaboration in ensuring the release of the two men.

    The two officials were abducted at about 2:30 p.m. at the railway bridge between Ebelle and Ewosa communities on the Ebelle-Agbor highway on their way to Benin.