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Peter Obi Donates N100m To School; He has Ideas to Change Nigeria, Lives for Humanity – Bishop Onah

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The Source
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Peter Obi Donates N100m To School

The Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Most Rev Godfrey Onah, has described PDP’s 2019 Vice Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi, as a man who not only has the ideas that can turn Nigeria around, but also possesses the much needed integrity evidently lacking in Nigeria’s political space.

Onah made the comments during the week, when Obi visited Shanahan School of Nursing and Midwifery, Nsukka, and made a donation of N100 million, which he described as investment, for the upgrade of the School to a College.

In his speech, Onah stated that Obi has remained consistent in his desire for a better society, right from his days as the Governor of Anambra State.

Recalling how Shanahan Hospital Received their first bus from Mr Peter Obi, Bishop Onah said “When Obi was the Governor of Anambra State, I was discussing with him one evening when I paid a courtesy visit to him, and he discovered Shanahan Hospital had no bus. He instructed that a bus be immediately given to us and driven to the hospital in Nsukka same night.

“To show that Obi lives for humanity, he not only invested in institutions within Anambra State, but extended his tentacles to many other states,  equipping the hospitals and schools with amenities that will help them function better.

“He clearly understands and preaches that health and education are critical ingredients for economic growth and development and he invests tangibly in them for the good of society”.

Lauding Obi for his life of integrity, Onah said Obi has remained a shining example to many. He said that Obi’s integrity and prudence distinctly stands him out as the ideal political leader that can turn the Nation around in all facets.

“There are many politicians who are as intelligent, smart and influential as Peter Obi. However, Peter Obi’s integrity stands him out from them all. Throughout his years in the shark infested waters of Nigerian politics, Obi has refused to be stained by the corruption that pervades the entire political system. His commitment to human development remains exemplary”, Onah said.

Appreciating Bishop Onah for his encouraging words, Obi said he would not relent in investing his resources for a better society. He maintained that health and education must be prioritised by any government that desires national development

Bakers Hint On Increase In Prices Of Bread

By
Ayodele Oni
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Lagos Bread Festival

By Ayodele Oni

As a prelude to increase in prices of bread, Members of the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria have threatened to withdraw their services nationwide.

According to the association, the planned increase in prices of the commodity was necessitated by incessant hike in the prices of flour and other baking materials.

The Bakers has issued a two-week ultimatum, starting from September 23, for the Federal Government to address the situation, which they said was killing the industry.

The association, in its report stated that two months ago, the price of bread soared by 50 to 70 percent, but said the latest development was no longer bearable.

It gave details of why price of bread will continue to increase among which include “Ninety percent of inputs involved in production of bread are imported.

“The discretionary foreign exchange rate for flour that was present in the past is no longer available as foreign exchange available in the country has dropped drastically.

“Stakeholders in the industry said if the production of High-Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) that was supposed to be achieved through the Federal Government’s Cassava Bread Fund initiative scaled through, it would have reduced bakers’ reliance on flour and wheat for bread production.”

The Bakers pointed out that the initiative like other previous Government interventions, failed due to lack of will-power and policy summersault.

“This year, a loaf that sold for N300 rose to N400 and may be sold for N600.”

ASUU Fumes Over Proliferation Of Universities By States

By
Ayodele Oni
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ASUU

By Ayodele Oni

Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) has called on the National Assembly to pass the Bill to amend the National Universities Commission, (NUC) Act to address the proliferation of State universities.

The coordinator of the Kano Zone of the Union, Prof. Abdulkadir Muhammad, said thus while addressing Journalists at Bayero University Kano.

Muhammad, who called for the passage of the bill, also challenged Visitors to the Universities to live up to their responsibilities.

“We are calling on the National Assembly to, as a matter of urgency, consider and pass the Bill. Due to bad governance and underfunding , our

State-owned Universities may soon collapse beyond redemption.

“Visitors of state Universities have turned establishment of Universities into projects for appeasing electorates in their Senatorial and State constituencies, while neglecting the existing ones.

“Besides non funding of capital projects, most State Governors have also failed in the primary responsibility of regular payment of staff salaries in their Universities.”

The coordinator pointed out that ASUU also rejected the charging of exorbitant tuition fees in the State universities because it places University education beyond the reach of common Nigerians.

On the issue of University Transparency and Accountability Solution, (UTAS) he explained that end user acceptability test had been completed and that the Union was waiting for the subsequent deployment of UTAS in the management of payroll and personnel systems of the Federal Universities.

The Union urged the Federal Government to sign and implement the draft ASUU/FGN renegotiated agreement of May, 2021, in addition to the release of the first tranche of the N30 billion fund for the revitalization of public Universities.

“The Government should also release N25 billion Earned Academic Allowance .

“We also urge the Federal Government to immediately remit withheld check-off dues to the branches of the withheld and amputated salaries/ allowances and third party deductions.”

The coordinator stated further that the Union would always deploy appropriate measures to salvage the Nigerian university system from rot and decay.

He said that the Union firmly believed in the use of qualitative education to liberate and transform Nigeria from its current state of underdevelopment.

Exam Malpractice: NECO Fingers Four Northern States As Culpable

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

States in the Southern part of the country got a clean slate from the National Examinations Council,(NECO) just as it identified four states in the North as leading in examination malpractices.

The States, Bauchi, Borno, Kano and Kebbi states, according to NECO, have featured prominently in the list of schools involved in examination malpractices in Nigeria.

Registrar of NECO, Dantani Wushishi, disclosed that examination malpractices are rampant in Northern states and high in Bauchi, Borno, Kano and Kebbi States in the past five years.

He disclosed this during his presentation at the 2021 Biennial National Conference and AGM of the Association of Model Islamic Schools.

The conference was titled, ‘Consequences of Examination Malpractice: Closing the gaps and incentives for National Growth.’

Wushishi, pointed out that “In 2016, Bauchi had (8.17%), Kaduna (6.20%), Kano (5.51%), Plateau (5.31%), and Sokoto state (8.87%) experienced high level of examination malpractice.

“In 2017, Bauchi (10.79%), Kebbi (16.06%), Borno (7.87%) and Kano (7.29%) states featured prominently in high level of examination malpractice.

“In 2018, Kano (12.45%), Kebbi (10.71%), Gombe (5.40%) and Zamfara (5.14%) states were more involved in examination malpractices.

“In 2019, Bornu (13.08%), Kano (11.70%), Kebbi (8.67%), Taraba (5.04%) and Yobe (6.56%) states had high level of examination malpractice.

“Similarly, in 2020, Adamawa (18.51%), Bauchi (7.88%), Kaduna (6.87%), Kano (7.88%) and Katsina (18.01%) states had high level of examination malpractice.”

Wushishi noted that in the last five years under study, Bauchi, Borno, Kano and Kebbi states featured prominently in the high level of examination malpractice states.

The Registrar lamented over the leakage of examination questions in the last five years adding that aiding and abetting, copying foreign materials, collusion and double scripts were more in occurance during years under review.

This, he said, has lowered educational standards in Nigeria adding that it has the potential of making the nation’s educational institutions to produce quacks and inferior manpower as graduates.

He, therefore, urged the government to relax on the emphasis on certification and paper qualification in the country and advocated for appropriate sanctions on culprits of examination malpractices.

Okowa: Delta Has No Land For Open Grazing

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has stated his final position on  Open Grazing of cows.

Okowa explained that Delta was not acquiring lands for herdsmen as wrongly reported in some quarters.

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, said in a statement in Asaba, that the Bill before the State Assembly was for the regulation of livestock breeding, raring and marketing in the state.

He said contrary to the misinformation in the public, the state was not acquiring any land for the purpose of establishing ranches.

He stated that ranching like any other business, was a private concern and, therefore, anyone interested in establishing ranches in any part of the State was free to acquire land for the said purpose in accordance with relevant laws that regulates private ownership of any legitimate business.

He urged Deltans and the general public to disregard the earlier information that Government was providing land for herdsmen as alternative to ban on open grazing.

There Is A Plot By Bandits To Invade South-West – Gani Adams; Dismisses Sheikh Gumi’s Visit

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The Yoruba Generalissimo, Aare Onakakanfo, Iba Gani Adams has alleged plots by Bandits to invade the South West.

Adams, alongside the Convener of the South-West Security Stakeholders Group, SSSG,  warned bandits and those described as bad elements to stay away from the South-West region or face the wrath of the group.

They stated this shortly after an emergency meeting in Lagos.

In a statement jointly signed by the Convener, the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland and the secretary, Alhaji Owolabi Amusat, the group said there were feelings that bandits had perfected plans to strike in the South- West.

“On this note, the SSSG has considered it necessary to beef up security operations in our region. And we charge the police and other security outfits, across the region to remain vigilant in ensuring that the region is safe. Any attempt to invade the South-West will bring about both economic and political doom,” the statement noted.

The group also dismissed Shehu Gumi’s visit to Igboho town, saying it was an attempt to mock and undermine the efforts of Yoruba activists and freedom fighters.

VAT: Governor Bello Accuses Wike, Sanwo Olu Of Insensitivity

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Yahaya Bello
Yahaya Bello

By Akinwale Kasali

Faced with a bleak future, financial-wise, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State came down hard on his colleague-Governors, Nyesom Wike and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Rivers and Lagos States, respectively. He accused them of  insensitivity.

And what was their crime?

Both men say they are fighting for true federalism. And fighting against what they perceive as brazen injustice.

Problem started when the two Governors signed into law, the bill passed by their States Houses of Assembly, that the States collect Value Added Tax, VAT, from businesses located in their States,  instead of the taxes going to the Federal Government through the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS.

Rivers began the move by approaching the Court for a legal interpretation of the situation. The State won. Then, in an explanation that shocked many, Wike made public facts and figures.

For instance, he explained that in June, for example, Rivers collected the sum of N15.1b, and was given about N4.6b by the FG. Lagos collected about N15b, and was given about N9b, while Kano collected N2.6b, and was given N2.6b.

The Court upheld Rivers. A stay of execution filed by FIRS was rejected. Lagos, on Friday, signed theirs into law. But same Friday, the Court of Appeal stopped both States from collecting VAT until the substantive case is disposed of.

Lagos has applied to join Rivers in the case.

But Bello slammed the duo of  Wike and  Sanwo-Olu.

Speaking on Arise TV, Kogi State Commissioner of Information, Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed that the North-central state would not join Lagos and Rivers in its move against the FIRS.

According to Fanwo, the move by the two states will only further divide the Nation.

The Commissioner noted that “we are not created equally, and God did not give us equal potential.

“This call shows that some of our leaders are insensitive, self-centred and trying to make policies that will further divide the country.

“Kogi is bordered by about 10 states of the Federation and a gateway to the North, South, to everywhere. And you know that thousands of vehicles transverse the State on a daily basis. It’s the mineral capital of Nigeria. When you look at our advantages, we should even be at the forefront of fighting for VAT to be completely retained in the state.

The Gombe State Governor, however, toed a different line. He asked Rivers and Lagos to be their “brothers’ keeper.”

FG Makes U-Turn After N33 trn Debt

By
Bayo Bernard
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Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed,minister of finance

By Fola James

The Minister of Finance and Budget, Zainab Ahmed says the federal government is planning to reduce borrowing after the nation’s total debt stocks hit all time high of N33 trillion.

’The government is now working to reduce its debt-service burden by increasing revenue, restructuring its debt portfolio through the conversion of expensive short-term notes into longer tenors, and also reducing its overall borrowing,’ Ahmed said in Abuja, on Friday, after disclosing government’s plan to raise $3 billion Eurobond to fund the 2023 Budget.

The bond will be raised next week as part of the overall $6 billion the Buhari administration planned to borrow to augment next year’s budget.

The nation’s external and internal debt stock has hit over N33 trillion since the Buhari’s administration swept to power in 2015, as worry continues to grow that the debt will soon become unsustainable.

Last week, the Chairman, Senate committee on Finance, Solomon Adeola, and his counterpart in the local and foreign loans panel, Clifford Ordia, said the red chamber was determined to reduce the borrowing drastically.

As a way out of the federal government’s cash squeeze, Adeola said effort will be challenged to generating more revenue into the government coffers.

According to him “It is the collective position of both the executive and the legislature that borrowing foreign loans to fund our budget deficit is not healthy for our economy.

“That is why we are engaging the major revenue generating agencies with a view to seeing how we can make them to improve on the revenue they are bringing to the federation account so as to reduce borrowing,”

The Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, also advised the federal government to look inward to raise fund, rather than resorting to borrowing. What the government needs to do, the retired customs officer said last week, is to give revenue agencies such as the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS and others the marching order to generate more funds into the federation account.

As part of efforts to block incessant borrowing, the retired customs officer said revenue holes must be plugged.

Fadhunsi said, “The Senate would not encourage more borrowing, the Federal Government should look inward.

“All heads of revenue-generating agencies of government must be given a marching order to meet realisable targets or risk being removed from office.

“As soon as we resume, I will propose that the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise should audit the transfer of containers to bonded warehouses to know how many containers are involved.

We will look for serious retired customs officers and seasoned auditors to look at the duties that are supposed to be paid and what was actually paid.

“Nigerians will now know that we shouldn’t have borrowed money in the first instance to fund the budget if the customs is actually performing,” he said.

Nigeria’s debt rose significantly by N20 trillion, from N12 trillion when President Buhari took power to over N33 trillion as at January this year, according to figures obtained from the Debt Management Office, DMO.

Obasanjo’s Abducted Staff Released

By
Uche Mbah
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By Uche Mbah

The Financial Controller, Group Auditor, and Group Store manager of Obasanjo Holdings, who were abducted Wednesday at Seseri village, near Kobape in Obafemi-Owode local government area of Ogun state, have been released.

Obasanjo Holdings is a Holdings Company belonging to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. In recent times, Obasanjo has been coming on hard on kidnapping, banditry, and government’s handling of the security situation in the country.

Reports say there was no ransom paid, but skeptics are suspicious of such claims due to  past experiences as red herring.

The victims were  riding in a Hilux van along the Kobape-Abeokuta expressway when they were accosted by gunmen.

The gunmen shot at the van. The van skidded to a stop and they dragged the victims into the bush.

They were subsequently taken to an unknown destination.

When contacted on Friday night, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Oyeyemi was said to have confirmed the release of the abductees.

Oyeyemi said security agencies mounted pressures on the abductors which resulted in their release. Since then, according to him, operatives of the anti-kidnapping units of the police force have been combing the forests looking for the kidnappers.

“Yes, we mounted a lot of pressure on the kidnappers. Since yesterday, (Thursday) our Anti-kidnapping and SWAT operatives have been in the bush searching for them”, he reportedly said.

“They were able to trace them to the bush behind Day Waterman college. They have been there since yesterday.

“This evening (Friday), they released them unhurt without any ransom.”

He denied making any arrests but said: “We are very sure that we will make an arrest.”

In a related development, victims of kidnappings in Zamfara state are being released by their abductors because the kidnappers can no longer contact the relatives of the kidnapped to demand ransom due to telecom companies shutting down activities in the state.

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