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Nigeria’s First Lady Gives N950 Million To Elderly, To Cushion Hardship, N250 Million Goes To Each State

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

It is going to be a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for the elderly persons in Ondo State as the First Lady,  Oluremi Tinubu through the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS) gave out a total sum of N25 million to support them.

The beneficiaries, which came from across all the 18 local government areas of Ondo state received N100,000 each.

Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries in Akure on behalf of the First Lady, the APC chairman in Ondo state, Ade Adetimehin said the economic empowerment would go a long way towards cushioning the effect of the present situation alleviate the burdens of the elders during this festive period.

She said, “This economic empowerment programme is borne out of a steadfast commitment to the well-being of our elderly citizens and it marks a significant stride in our collective pursuit of a more inclusive and compassionate society.

“This scheme is to support Two Hundred and Fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA).

“These selected beneficiaries will receive a sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000) each. This is to cushion the effect of the economic situation and to alleviate the burdens of our esteemed elders during this festive period.

“The total sum to be disbursed is Nine Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N950,000,000) as approved by the Governing Board of the Renewed Hope Initiative.

“Each state of the federation will receive the sum of Twenty-Five Million Naira (N25,000,000). We are committed to ensuring that each state receives this gesture, without discrimination.

“As we approach the festive season, it becomes very important to emphasize the significance of prioritizing our elderly citizens in our initiatives. By reaching out to the elderly this festive period, we not only honour their contributions but also acknowledge the unique encounters they face.

“To our senior citizens, I urge you to embrace life to the fullest, prioritize your health, nurture your minds, and strengthen your bonds with loved ones and with God. These are the keys to a rich and fulfilling life in your golden years.

“I equally extend my heartfelt appreciation to all your Excellencies, state coordinators of RHI, and partners who have supported with free medical screening and the distribution of other sundry items to the beneficiaries as the case may be, in ensuring the success of this programme.

“This period should be a time of joy and comfort for all, even as we hope for a greater Nigeria, in security, education, health, employment and business opportunities for all. We seek your continued support and prayers for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, as we look forward to better days ahead.”

Nigerian Correctional Centres House 53,836 Inmates Awaiting Trial

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Even with efforts by the federal government to decongest prisons, the Nigerian Correctional Service, (NCS), has disclosed that no fewer than 53,836 inmates in the 253 correctional centres across the country are awaiting trial as at December 18.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the spokesperson of the service, Assistant Controller, Abubakar Umar, who made the revelation, said the summary of the inmates across the country by conviction and those on awaiting trial list was 77,849 within the period under review.

He explained that the total number of convicted inmates was 24,013, stressing that the convicted male inmates are 23,569 and 444 convicted are females.

“Statistics shows that 69 per cent of the inmates in Custodial Centres are actually awaiting trial, while 31 per cent are convicted inmates.”

The prison boss pointed out that one of the challenges of the service was the issues of dilapidated custodial structures which resulted to overcrowded and congested spaces within the centres.

The spokesman said the government has recently constructed 3,000 ultra-modern additional custodial facilities across the six geopolitical zones to decongest existing centres.

He further stated that the initiative would help in decongesting the centers as well as enhance the welfare and the health of the inmates.

“That of Kano has been inaugurated and we are expecting speedy completion on the remaining facilities under construction.”

The minister of interior, Tunji Ojo on assumption of duty has launched an appeal fund in which Nigerians have been making contributions, to pay fines of some of those in the custody charged with minor offences.

The first batch of beneficiaries, were recently released after necessary fines paid.

Oshiomhole Fingers Fayemi, Governors As Architect Of His Removal As APC National Chairman

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North Senatorial District has fingered former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi and other Governors as the orchestrators of his removal as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Oshiomhole, former Governor of Edo State stressed that there was a tough battle among the Governors which eventually led to his removal.

He made this submission at the launch of a book, titled; “APC and Transition Politics”, authored by Salihu Lukman, a former National Vice Chairman (North-west) of the party, at the Shehu Yar’Adua Center in Abuja.

The former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, categorically indicted the author of the Book, Lukman, alongside some Governors of spearheading the campaign that led to his “illegal” removal from office.

He added that Fayemi and Former Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, instigated his removal. He alleged that the governors deployed all manner of illegal means to remove him following his moves to enshrine party supremacy.

“ Lukman wrote several letters, dismissing my leadership without calling me. When you ride on the back of a tiger, there is only one destination. Lukman was appointed undemocratically by the Governors’ forum. I was not consulted—I was a Governor. We were told this is the new DG of the APC Governors forum.

“Lukman was there when I wrote a letter, inviting the governors for a meeting to discuss the guidelines for conducting primaries, let me know the thinking of the various interest groups. I have discussed it with the president, and I needed to discuss it with the governors—so that once the guidelines are out, the party can claim ownership of it because it has been debated.

“I wrote to the Governors for a meeting. The Governors said no, I should come to Imo House, not the APC office. He (Lukman) was in there (where they were holding the meeting). He did not see anything wrong with that,” Mr Oshiomhole said.

He said following the diatribes from the Governors, he responded “None of you can lecture me about the power of a Governor. Because I have been Governor twice. Eight years uninterrupted. At a point, I told Fayemi, ‘You did a resit. You were elected and by the second term, you lost. That means you failed’. I did not do a resit, and you are lecturing me about power. I can mention some of them.

“The man in Ogun State, he told me if not for the president, he would have left the party. Some of them told me “You are working for your paymaster in Lagos. Your paymaster in Bourdillon.

“I told the Ogun State Governor, not the current one, the former one. I said “You are not loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari. Because if you are, when Buhari lost the election, you ported to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in search of a political greener pasture.

The former Chairman also disclosed that Buhari did not intervene to stop the onslaught from the Governors. He, therefore, warned Mr Ganduje to be prepared because, according to him, the Governors are going to play the same card against him.

“Chairman Sir, if you have not faced it already, you will face it. The only difference is if the President decides to intervene and moderate. In my own case, we have a President who was not ready to intervene,” he said.

According to him, the party gifted Kwara State N800 million to support the “O to ge” movement that led to the victory of the party in the state.

Dangote’s Crude Shipment From NNPCL To Hit 5m Barrel

By
James Orji
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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL has supplied one million barrel of crude oil to the Dangote Refinery.
It’s the second time in less than a month that the multi-billion naira petrochemical refinery owned by Africa’s Richest Man, Aliko Dangote has received crude from NNPCL, which had earlier supplied one million barrel to the company.
The dearth of crude supply to the refinery had stalled it’s plan to produce petrol, diesel and other allied products since July this year.
Recall that former President Muhammadu Buhari while officially commissioning the refinery in May this year, declared that it would commence operation in July.
Dangote confirmed that the company has received the crude shipment on Wednesday.
An additional three million barrels of crude are expected to be delivered to the company by December ending, the refinery management said.

Obiora Okonkwo Pledges Support For New NIMET DG, Anosike

By
James Orji
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The Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof Obiora Okonkwo has assured the new Director General and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Prof. Charles Anosike, that airline operators will support him to achieve the mandate of the agency.

Professor Okonkwo was speaking during a courtesy visit to the DG/CEO at NIMET’s Head Office in Abuja, on Wednesday, 20th December, 2023.

Speaking, Professor Okonkwo said; “I am delighted that Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed someone of Professor Anosike’s caliber, a cerebral and highly focused person as DG/CEO of NIMET. It reinforces the importance the government attaches to this very important agency that is critical not only to the aviation, oil and gas, and agricultural sectors, but also to other critical sectors of the economy”.

“Professor Anosike is a seasoned leader and administrator, with proven track record of management of men and materials. I have no doubt that he will bring the necessary leadership to the organisation”.

Continuing, Professor Okonkwo said; “As operators in the aviation industry, we have always yearned for closer partnership and collaboration with NIMET. The service NIMET provides is strategic. We don’t have to wait for when there is impending flood to access NIMET’s services. For the aviation sector, the airlines require weather information one week or even one month ahead so that we can plan our flight schedules accordingly”.

“This week alone, there has been several disruption of flight operations. It is becoming increasingly difficult for operators to explain the disruptions to passengers. Operators don’t like delays as well. We know that NIMET cannot change the weather but the agency should inform the public ahead about weather conditions”.

“We suggest that NIMET starts daily weather updates to passengers so as to prepare their minds ahead of weather disruptions especially during this harmattan season. Government tends to be on the side of the passengers when they complain of disruptions. Airline operators also suffer from such disruptions. We request that NIMET liaises with all the sister agencies in the aviation sector to demand that all airport operators should provide the right equipment to aid aircraft landing such as instrument landing system (ILS). These machines are lying unused in some of the airports. Any airport that does not fix its equipment should be sanctioned by the federal government”.

Responding, the DG and CEO of NIMET, Professor Charles Anosike thanked Professor Okonkwo for the visit. He said; “Thank you Professor Okonkwo for the visit and your words of encouragement. I have heard all that you said. I want to assure you that NIMET is ready to collaborate, partner and support the airline operators. We will improve the way NIMET works. We will also take your advice on board”.

The Director of Administration, United Nigeria Airlines, Mr Linus Akwute was also present during the visit.

NGE To Launch Trust Fund

By
The Source
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In line with the resolution of the All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC), recently held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) plans to launch Nigerian Editors Trust Fund, which is designed to address the professional/welfare needs of media houses and editors in Nigeria.

At the ANEC in Akwa Ibom State, publishers, media executives and editors harped on the urgent need by the Guild to initiate strategic move that will focus on the professional/welfare needs of media houses and editors in Nigeria – as part of several efforts to help them to continue to discharge their constitutional and social responsibility to the society without necessarily compromising their ethical standards.

In a statement issued on Monday by the President of the NGE, Mr Eze Anaba and the General Secretary, Dr Iyobosa Uwugiaren, the professional body of editors and media executives, stated that the initiative is a response to the increasing professional/welfare challenges faced by the highest echelon of Nigerian journalists in performing their duties.

‘’The trust fund, which is expected to be launched in the first quarters of 2024, will also address the daunting economic challenges that the media executives and editors are faced with during and after office. The fund will benefit the Guild’s members in the print, electronic and online media.

‘’The trust fund will be a collaborative effort among all the stakeholders in the media sector, including the public sector – aimed at addressing key challenges that affect the professionals, who are the ultimate gatekeepers in their media organisations’’, the Guild added.

The Guild, at its annual conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State recently, set up a committee headed by its Vice-President (East), Mr. Sheddy Ozoene, to liaise with media stakeholders and coordinate the launching of the outfit in the first quarter of next year.

According to the statement, ‘’The trust fund will create the much-desired impact in the journalism profession in the country as the editors and media executives will be exposed to empowerment programms and innovations in the media industry, retraining and networking opportunities with colleagues from around the world.’’

The Guild added that the trust fund, which will be managed by trustees made up of eminent personalities from within and outside the media, will be a fallback cushion for media executives and editors in critical situations, and a source of addressing their welfare needs as well as funding for key media projects that will impact Nigeria’s democracy, good governance and national development.

Supreme Court Nominee, Justice Nwosu-Iheme, 10 Others, Face Senate

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme

By Adesina Soyooye

Supreme Court nominee, the Honourable Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, PhD, will face the Senate for the confirmation of her nomination.

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, sent her name, along with the names of 10 other nominees, to the Senate for confirmation.

Having been nominated by the Federal Judicial Service Commission, FJSC, and their names sent to the President,  the next step was for the President to transmit the nsmes of the nominees to the Senate.

The Senate would send their names to its Committee on Judiciary which members would screen them and present their report to the whole Senate for confirmation or not.

It is expected that the Justices, all from the Court of Appeal will be confirmed. If confirmed they will fill the 11 vacancies in the Apex Court. It would, also mark the first time the Court would have its full complement of 21 Justices. For now there are only 10 Justices at the Apex Court with no representation from the South-east.

The names of the nominated Justices are as follows:

  1. Justices Jummai Sankey,
  2. Stephen Adah,
  3. Mohammed Idris
  4. Haruna Tsammani
  5. Jamilu Tukur
  6. Abubakar Umar
  7. Chidiebere Uwa
  8. Chioma Nwosu-Iheme
  9. Obande Ogbuinya
  10. Moore Adumein
  11. Habeeb Abiru

The Honourable Justice Nwosu-Iheme is from Imo State.

Ondo Poly Workers Protest Over Ten Months Unpaid Wages

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Members of the  Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics( SSANIP) of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, (RUGIPO), chapters in Ondo state on Wednesday staged a protest, over non payment of their salaries.

They blocked the gate of the institution, preventing movement in and out of the polytechnic, to press home their demands.

The workers carried different placards to express their displeasure over the unpaid salaries.

They are calling on the Ondo State government to pay all  outstanding salaries of their members running to over 10 months, implementation of N35,000 wage award for the polytechnic’s staff.

Addressing newsmen, the SSANIP Chapter Chairman, Nafiu Okoro, said that irregularities of salary payment to the unions’ members had led to untimely deaths of some workers in the polytechnic.

Okoro explained that over 10 months salaries were being owed workers by the institution’s management.

“All non teaching staff comprising of NASU and SSANIP agreed that government should pay all our outstanding salaries running to over 10 months .

“And that N35,000 being paid to workers as palliatives in Ondo State should be extended to institutions.”

Rivers: Peace Of The Graveyard As Lawmakers Withdraw Impeachment Notice Against Gov Fubara

By
Ayodele Oni
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Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State

By Ayodele Oni

In compliance with Abuja resolution, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have withdrawn the impeachment notice earlier sent to the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

The lawmakers announced the withdrawal in a notice read at plenary in Port Harcourt,  on Wednesday.

The lawmakers cited a respect for President Bola Tinubu as the reason behind their move.

It would be recalled that President Tinubu, on Monday night, intervened in the political crisis in Rivers State.

Tinubu, in an eight-point resolution/directive signed at the end of a meeting with political heavyweights, including the former governor of the state and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike,  directed that all lawsuits instituted in courts by Fubara and his team regarding the political crisis in Rivers State be withdrawn immediately.

The president ordered that all impeachment proceedings initiated by the Rivers Assembly against Fubara should be dropped immediately.

Governor Fubara was also directed to re-present the 2024 budget he had earlier presented to five members of the Rivers Assembly to the full House.

The governor and his predecessor, Wike, have been at loggerheads over the control of the state’s political structure.

The feud split the members of the Rivers Assembly with 27 of them defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mixed reactions have continued to trail the resolution, which some described as an attempt to turn Governor Fubara to a lane duck with Wike dictating how the state will be run.

LASG Reads Riot Act, Orders Trucks To Vacate Cele, Mile 2, Tin Can Road As Apapa Gridlock Worsens

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The Lagos State Government has directed, with immediate effect, drivers of Articulated Vehicles who have turned the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway into Parking Lots to vacate the area.

The Lagos State Government through the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, who gave the directive, said it underscores the commitment of the State Government to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and minimize disruptions caused by the persistent presence of these heavy-duty vehicles in the specified location, saying the order aims to enhance the overall mobility experience for residents and commuters in the affected area.

Prioritizing the safety and well-being of the public, Giwa stressed the importance of a clear and unobstructed road network, urging tanker and trailer drivers to comply with the directive or be sanctioned in line with the State Transport Reform Law.

Recall that several efforts to remove the tankers and truckers from the axis have failed as recalcitrant drivers ignored Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu,’s directive to vacate.

Over the years, the trucks had wreaked havocs by causing series of accidents that led to the list of lives.

The directive by the Lagos State Government is said to be the last straw.

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