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Governor Abiodun Gives N10,000 Transport Allowance To Civil Servants

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has approved the payment of N10,000 Transport Allowance to all Civil Servants in the State as palliatives to cushion the effect of the Petrol Subsidy removal by the Federal Government.

The Civil Servants would enjoy this palliative for the next six months.

The Transport Allowance was part of various interventions adopted by the State Government in the wake of the deregulation policy in July ought to have ended in September.

Governor Abiodun revealed  when he met with Permanent Secretaries in the State. He disclosed that the extension would allow the State workforce to continue to cope with the effects of the subsidy removal.

He described the allowance as part of the temporary immediate-term interventions to allow the Government to come up with appropriate medium and long-term intervention plans for all categories of people in the state.

Apart from the N10,000, which also covers pensioners, the State Government also approved hazard allowance for Health and Medical Personnel, immediate release of letters of promotion in respect of 2021 and 2022, payment of March and April 2023 leave bonuses for public servants and immediate cash-backing for the quarterly payment of gratuities to pensioners.

The Governor recalled that Ogun was the first state to introduce the E-Mobility and Gas Mobility Programme with Compressed Natural Gas-enabled buses and electric-powered tricycles and motorcycles.

Governor Abiodun said the palliatives being distributed across the state have elicited applause across the country and beyond,  except in a few instances where fifth columnists mischievously criticised the Government’s efforts.

According to the Governor, palliatives are not meant for people who are not in need,  adding that it is impossible to distribute palliatives to the five million inhabitants of the state.

The State helmsman spoke of plans by his administration to leave legacy projects behind at the end of his tenure.

He hinted that a Special Committee on the rehabilitation of public schools would soon be set up, saying the committee would be funded through a trust fund.

Abiodun added that efforts are in top gear to improve mobility in the  identifying and rehabilitating critical roads across the State.

COEASU Wants FG To Speed Up Process Of Adeyemi College of Education’s Transition To University Status

By
Ayodele Oni
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Adeyemi College of Education

By Ayodele Oni

Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, (COEASU), has bemoaned the long period of transition  for Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, to a full fledged University.

The Union has, therefore, called on President Bola Tinubu, through the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, to order immediate tak-eoff of the Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo, in Ondo State for academic activities.

It also urged the Minister to ensure urgent appointment of a Vice Chancellor that has the requisite qualifications, acumen and attitude to drive the University of Education.

The Union made the call in a letter written to Prof Mamman and signed by the Chairman of COEASU, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo Chapter, Adetokunboh Adepoju and the Secretary, Joel Edafe.

It noted that delay in the takeoff of the university and non-listing of the institution among the Colleges of education, are causing palpable apprehension among staff, students and members of the host community.

In the letter, COEASU stated that “this has become a subject of palpable apprehension among staff, students and members of the host community especially now that the institution is not listed as a College of Education in the new enacted and gazatted Federal College of Education Act, 2023. Some measure of tension is also brewing as a result of the delay.

“Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo was established in 1964 and on 22nd April, 1981 the Senate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife approved that the College commenced the degree programmes in 1982/1983 Academic Session and has since then passed several NUC Accreditations because of the quality of personnel and facilities on ground.

“It was due to this that the College was upgraded to a University. It is also worth mentioning that the Ondo State University of Medical Sciences took off from Adeyemi College of Education Campus due to the quality of facilities in the institution.

“Adeyemi Federal University of Education Establishment Act was signed into law by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 23rd of December, 2021 and gazetted by the Judiciary on the 7th of January, 2022.

“The University though recognized by the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has since been delayed in terms of implementation.

“The initial delay after the inauguration of this new administration led by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was hinged on the appointment and swearing in of Ministers for the Federal Republic. Since the appointments, nothing has been heard on the take-off of the new University.

“In view of the above therefore, the Union hereby pleads with the Honourable Minister to consider and attend urgently to the following:

“Immediate constitution and mobilization of the Transition Implementation Committee; Facilitation of enabling conditions for the immediate take-off of the Adeyemi Federal University of Education;

“The immediate appointment of a Vice Chancellor that has the requisite qualifications, acumen and attitude to drive a University of Education.

“Use your good offices to assist in the speedy issuance of the license by the National University Commission (NUC) to operate as a University and the listing of the University courses on JAMB portál; and Assisting in any other way that will enhance and promote the laudable vision of this new University.”

Impeachment: Ondo Assembly Bows, Wants Deputy Governor To Withdraw Suits

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State House of Assembly seems to have accepted the peace moves being pushed by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the moves to  impeach the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

Aside from the fact that the Lawmakers attended  a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday at the instance of the National Chairman of APC, the Assembly has equally extended its own olive branch, which they expect the  Deputy Governor to honour before the issues could be resolved.

The Leadership of the Assembly stated that as much as Members are ready for a political solution to the issue, the Deputy Governor must withdraw the suits he instituted against the House over the impeachment.

The Assembly had earlier vowed not to welcome any intervention in the impeachment move.

A statement in Akure on Wednesday, signed by the Spokesman of the Assembly, Olatunji Emmanuel, stated thus:  “Following the intervention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Dr. Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, the APC members in Ondo State House of Assembly have agreed to consider the possibility of a political solution on the impeachment proceedings against the State Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.

“At a meeting held in the APC’s National Secretariat in Abuja on 17th October, 2023 at the instance of the National Chairman of the Party, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the National Reconciliation Committee set up by the Party under the Chairmanship of RT. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, members of the APC in Ondo State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, and the Ondo State leadership of APC led by Engr Ade Adetimehin, all agreed that a political solution to the impeachment was possible and proper.

“The Hon. Speaker restated that the House was only exercising its responsibility under S.188 of the 1999 Constitution, having received a petition accusing the Deputy Governor of some allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office.

“He however, expressed the desire of the House leadership to further consult with members of the House  across party lines, on the political solution as proposed by the APC.

“The House, therefore, hopes that in the same spirit of genuine wish for a political solution, the Deputy-Governor would take immediate steps to withdraw the multiple court cases he filed over the same impeachment.

“This would allow the stakeholders to freely discuss the settlement proposals and prevent actions or comments over a matter that is still subjudice.”

NAFDAC Approves Gardasil Vaccine Against Cervical Cancer

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has approved the use of Gardasil vaccine as single dose in the routine immunization against cervical cancer.

In a joint statement by NAFDAC and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said NPHCDA will commence the introduction of the off-label use of quadrivalent Gardasil vaccine as a single dose schedule into the routine immunisation in Nigeria in the last quarter of 2023.

She explained that data from immunogenicity trials, post-hoc analyses of efficacy trials, and post-licensure observational studies among females have demonstrated that a single dose of HPV vaccine was sufficient to elicit an immune response that provides similar protection as a multidose regimen against initial and persistent HPV infection.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 119,000 new cases and 81,000 deaths from cervical cancer occurred in Africa in 2020, accounting for 22.5% of the global burden.

Prof Adeyeye said: “Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, has one of the highest cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates in the continent, with an estimated 15,000 new cases and 10,000 deaths annually. Several factors contribute to the high disease burden of cervical cancer in Nigeria, such as low awareness, poor screening coverage, limited access to treatment, and high prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

“Human Papillomavirus infection (HPV infection) is caused by a DNA virus belonging to the family Papillomaviridae. The virions are non-enveloped and contain a double-stranded DNA genome. HPV is the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract and causes a range of conditions

in men and women, including pre-cancerous lesions that may progress to cancer.

“The decision to deploy the off-label Gardasil as a single dose schedule is based on the scientific evidence that a single dose of Gardasil vaccine can provide solid protection against cervical cancer caused by human papillomaviruses (HPVs).

“The benefits of the single dose Schedule include; Reducing the cost and logistical challenges of delivering multiple doses, especially in resource-limited settings, Increasing the coverage and equity of HPV vaccination, as more girls and women can access the vaccine, accelerating the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem,

“Gardasil is a vaccine that protects against human papillomavirus – HPV -, a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause cervical, vaginal, vulvar, and other cancers.

The vaccine is given two or three doses, depending on the age of the person receiving it.

“At 18 months post-vaccination, the efficacy of a single dose of HPV vaccine against incident persistent high-risk (HPV16/18) infection was 97.5% (95% CI 82–100) for the nonvalent vaccine and 97.5% (95% CI 82–100) for the bivalent vaccine.

“Gardasil has been granted registration approval by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in exercising its mandate as stipulated by its enabling law, NAFDAC Act CapN1, LFN 2004 and after rigorous regulatory evaluation process for vaccines. The single dose has comparable efficacy and duration of protection as a 2-dose schedule and may offer programme advantages, is more efficientand affordable, and contribute to improved coverage.

Ekiti Varsity Workers Demand Probe As VC, Bursar Accused Of Financial Mismanagement

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Workers of the Ekiti state government owned Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, (BOUESTI), Ikere Ekiti are at loggerhead with some management staff of the University over financial mismanagement.

Management staff at the centre on attack by the workers are the vice chancellor, Prof Olufemi Adeoluwa, and the bursar, Babatunde Apata.

They have appealed to the visitor, Governor Biodun Oyebanji and the anti-graft agencies to beam searchlight on the activities of the two staff.

The workers, in a petition, made available to Journalists in Ado Ekiti, alleged that the VC and Bursar allegedly mismanaged the fund of the institution, hence they demanded a forensic audit to ascertain the gravity of financial mess.

Both principal officers were also alleged of high-handedness, incompetence, autocratic policies, blackmail, noting that their action had drastically dragged the already fast growing University backwards and subjects staff to untoward hardship.

In the petition, they alleged that immediately the institution was upgraded and converted from a college to university, things became better and more funds were made but the positive progress could not be felt in the welfare of workers as the VC and the Bursar allegedly connived to divert such funds for personal use.

”It is shocking, that the University is still battling with unpaid salaries despite the fact that it has recorded a significant financial improvement in the last two and half years. A university that made over One billion naira (N1,000,000,000+) in just one session should not find it difficult to run.

“The University is not being run as expected because of the recklessness of Prof. Olufemi Victor Adeoluwa and Mr. Babatunde Apata.

“Prof. Olufemi Victor Adeoluwa led Management owes staff all the arrears of 2018 and 2019 promotion. He cajoled everyone to continue to sacrifice, while the University stabilizes.

“Now that the University has attained some reasonable levels of financial stability, he changed tone and continued to give impression that all is not well with the University.

“The 2018 and 2019 promotion arrears have become bad debts to the University.The staff are now useless and irresponsible at their various homes. No thanks to Prof. Olufemi Victor Adeoluwa who intentionally and wickedly owed them thirty (30) months of amputated salaries. Unfortunately, the VC is living in affluence to the detriment of the sacrificing staff.

“Prof. Adeoluwa took a loan of three hundred and fifty million naira (N350,000,000) from Unity bank in 2021 for capital projects and he mortgaged the salary account of the University as he continues to service the repayment from the account on monthly basis.

“Surprisingly, despite the monthly repayment of over two and half years, which is expected to have reduced the loan, the indebtedness of the University to Unity bank still stood at Seven hundred and sixty six million naira(N766,000,000) as at the time of filling this petition.

“The facts are not far fetched from Unity bank, Ado branch. The big questions therefore are; What is the cause of such huge debts? Why did he secure additional loan? What was the purpose of the loan?

“While the workers are languishing in abject poverty and trying to cope with the bitting economy, Prof. Olufemi Victor Adeoluwa had successfully allocated  twenty two million naira (N22,000,000) for himself to attend a conference of Vice Chancellors holding in Qatar, UAE in December, 2023. This is considered as part of his recklessness, an act of insensitivity to staff well being and a flagrant disregard to staff welfare.

“The University Bursar is equally a partner in the financial crime against the University as he has become  the University Tetfund Desk Officer. He uses this office to syphon the meagre resources of the University in the guise of payment of PR to some unknown individuals at the  Tetfund Office, Abuja.

“Lots of millions of the University funds had gone into such black market payments. Under this present administration, contracts are awarded without following due process. The University is run like a personal property of the Vice Chancellor.

“The maladministration and financial improprieties of the Vice Chancellor; Prof. Olufemi Victor Adeoluwa and the Bursar; Mr. Babatunde Apata is no longer tolerable. This is why BOUESTI staff are calling for immediate probe of the management of the IGR and government monthly grants to the University between 2nd June, 2022 to date, which is the period the VC perpetrated all the acts of financial misconducts.

“A forensic audit of the financial misappropriation of the Vice Chancellor and his cohorts will expose the gravity of damage the VC had caused the University.”

Senate Confirms EFCC Chair; Appoints New Deputy Leader

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0

The Nigerian Senate, on Wednesday, appointed Oyetola Ashiru, from Kwara South as its Deputy Leader. Before his appointment to the position, the senator was the Deputy Chief Whip of the nation’s upper legislative chamber.

The appointment comes as the chamber also confirmed Ola Olukoyede as the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Ashiru’s appointment became necessary after the former occupier of the position, Dave Umahi was appointed the Minister of Works by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

While announcing the promotion of Ashiru to his new position, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio also announced Nwebonyi Onyeka to replace him as the Deputy Chief Whip during Wednesday’s plenary.

Olukoyede was appointed last Wednesday by the president who stated that the Senate must confirm him before taking over from Abdulrasheed Bawa, who the presidency said has voluntarily retired from his position.

Recall that Bawa was sacked by President Tinubu in June this year without giving any explanation. The former anti-graft boss is now has since been detained by the Department of State Services, DSS, even though calls have been made by prominent Nigerians for his release.

Katsina State Reiterates Its Stand On Non-Negotiation With Criminals

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The Governor Dikko Umar Radda-led Katsina State Government has reiterated its stand on not negotiating with criminals, bandits,  terrorists or any group related to causing unrest in the State.

Governor Radda stated that his Government is committed to protecting the lives and properties of its people, and is ready to do anything humanly possible to bring this to fulfillment.

Nasiru Muazu-Danmusa, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, who spoke on behalf of the Governor in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Wednesday reiterated the determination of the State Government to bring an end to banditry and other security challenges in the State.

Muazu-Danmusa also said that the State Government was taking the necessary measures to enable the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state to return to their respective communities.

He said that the inauguration of the Community Security Watch Corps (KCSWC) by Gov. Dikko Radda on October 10 was an indicator of the commitment and determination to restore lasting peace in the state.

The Commissioner said, ”I think Katsina State has the highest number of IDPs in the North-West as a result of insecurity.

“However, we are making efforts to reverse the negative narrative by putting in place excellent strategies that will address the problem.”

Muazu-Danmusa said that the Government has benchmarked the salaries of the agency’s operatives on the basis of the National Minimum Wage.

“We are constructing their offices, providing them with patrol vehicles, motorcycles, weapons, and gadgets, among others, for their effective operations.

“So, we are going in tandem with the provisions of the constitution in providing them with all these things,” he said.

He added that the corps was committed to the call to sacrifice their best for their people and communities.

“The members of the corps are indigenes of their respective communities; they have been at the forefront of the fight against the terrorists; they are familiar with the terrain and have agreed to protect their people.”

He expressed optimism that, with the fervent prayers of the people, the operation would be successful.

Muazu-Danmusa also urged the public to intensify efforts to provide credible intelligence information to security agents to enable them to effectively nip crimes in the bud.

Sacked Senator Abbo Apologises To Akpabio Over Claims He Plotted His Sack By Court

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

Senator Elisha Abbo who was sacked by the Court of Appeal on Monday has apologized to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, for  alleging Akpabio plotted his removal from the Senate.

In a shocking reaction to his  sack, Abbo alleged that Akpabio was behind his sack by the  Court of Appeal  Panel. He said Akpabio targeted him because he was against him when he, Akpabio was running for the office of the Senate President. He, also, alleged that four other Senators, whose names he  didn’t mention, except that of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, are, also, in line to be sacked, no thanks to Akpabio.

Akpabio, in a statement signed by his Media Aide strongly denied Abbo’s allegation.

But Abbo while speaking in an interview on Arise Television during a Live Programme on Wednesday, apologized to the Senate President over his allegation.

He said, “ I have to say this with all sense of humility and responsibility that the press release we issued yesterday (Tuesday), was premature and based on the available information at our disposal yesterday.

“As of today, we have discovered a lot of things, and yesterday night I had a discussion with the Senate President, and I am convinced that he is not involved. He quoted Akpabio   to have told him: “I swear by my mother’s grave that I’m not involved; I don’t even know that you’re in court,” he said.

Abbo supported Senator Abdulaziz Yari, former Governor of Zamfara State for the office of the President.

He  described the judgment which sacked him as a coup against democracy. He insisted that even though the Court declared Peoples Democratic Party’s Amos Yohanna as the winner of the February 25, 2023 election, he won the exercise by polling 11,000 votes more than Yohanna, and would certainly be back to the Senate in 2027.

The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of Justices, led by the Honourable Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, vacated the Election Tribunal’s judgement which earlier affirmed Abbo of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the valid winner of the Senatorial seat.

It held that there is merit in the appeal that was lodged by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the election, Amos Yohanna.

Ministers To Face Quarterly Test, As Criticisms Trail Their Competence

By
Ayodele Oni
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Bola Ahmed Tinubu

By Ayodele Oni

Apparently mindful of criticisms which trail the competence of some of its appointees, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has announced that it will commence  quarterly assessments of the performance of the 48 Ministers in January.

This will commence when Ministries will have received the budget for the 2024 fiscal year.

Nigerians have been lamenting that some of the appointees were guests of anti graft agencies before their appointment, while some have little or no knowledge of their places of their assignment.

The Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Usman, explained that the annual scorecard would be reviewed during periodic retreats, where performances would be assessed against key performance indicators.

Speaking in an interview on TVC television, Usman stated, “We’re looking to commence an assessment of the respective ministries in January 2024. We’re going to have a quarterly assessment of performance which would culminate into an annual scorecard.”

The presidential aide said the Federal Executive Council members would participate in a retreat in early November where the key performance index would be defined and the ministers would sign a performance bond.

“We’re going to have a cabinet retreat in the first week of November where the final details will be hashed with the full cabinet in place with Mr President.

“At the end of it, we’re going to culminate with the performance bond. They’ll be signed by each ministry, every minister, and the Permanent Secretary will sign a performance board with Mr. President.

“The bond will detail the deliverables each ministry plans to achieve within the one-year 2024 budget cycle. That performance bond is what we’re going to use to track the performance of that minister.”

She noted that the Federal Government would prioritize citizens’ engagement to ensure that Nigerians were part of the assessment.

Babachir Lawal Says  Cardoso And Matawalle Unfit As CBN Governor And Minister Of State Defence Respectively

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Federal Government under the President Muhammadu Buhari, has criticized some of the appointees of President Bola Tinubu into high profile offices.

In a statement he issued on Tuesday,  Lawal said “the band of appointees that Bola is assembling into his Government don’t care about Nigeria at all.”

He pointed out that Mr President had talked highly about competence while he was campaigning for the office but insisted that his appointments do not reflect competence.

He specifically pointed out the President’s appointment of Yemi Cardoso as the CBN Governor and that of former Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle as the Minister of State, Defence and described both as unfit. He said that Cardoso was just a one-time Chairman of “a little-known bank employing 300 people in less than 12 branches clustered in the South-South and South-East regions.” As for Matawalle, Lawal asked what an accountant was doing as Minister of Defence. “Was he not that one who was Governor while Bello Turji et al freely terrorized Zamfara State?”

He said nobody trusts the President and his appointees as such appointments were made as a reward for their relationship with the President.

His words: “Confusion and despondency is now all over the nation as no one trusts the government to do what it says it will do. No one trusts the leader; and no one trusts appointees who are appointed as rewards for their roles in the election or who had in the past helped him in his life.

“Bola, the President, and his group are now in government and are in full control of Nigeria’s vast resources and opportunities. They are enjoying their offices while Nigerians languish in insecurity, poverty and hopelessness.

“During the campaign, Bola mouthed some platitudes about competence; but we are so far yet to see it reflected in his political appointments. It seems more like he is rewarding people who supported him to get the Presidency at all cost.

“This band of appointees that Bola is assembling into his government don’t care about Nigeria at all.

“Fuel prices will continue to gallop upwards until only they can afford it; the Naira will continue to race downhill in a free-fall until only they can afford anything in the market; insecurity will continue its escalation until every community in the nation is consumed by it.

“Just to mention a few of these appointees: take insecurity for example; what do you expect an accountant to do as Minister of Defence?

“Was he not that one who was governor while Bello Turji et al freely terrorized Zamfara State?

“What about his CBN Governor with a CV; a one-time Chairman of a little-known bank employing 300 people in less than 12 branches clustered in the South-South and South-East regions?

“Is there any doubt left as to his lack of qualification and experience for the job than that his first policy statement was to remove foreign exchange restrictions for the importation of 43 agricultural and related products?

“Certainly, Nigerians are in for a short thrift. The people running the government do not care a hoot about the Nigerian people; their cronies are the petroleum industry players while some are the banking system players, so a free fall of the Naira and an unregulated upward movement of oil prices both work for more profits for them.”

Tinubu and Lawal were close friends and political allies before they parted ways over Tinubu’s choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate. Lawal was vocally against the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

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