Monday, June 5, 2023 Edition

The Campaign for Democracy (CD), a pro-democracy, civil society and human rights organisation, has backed President Bola Tinubu on the removal of fuel subsidy.

The group made this known in a communique issued by its North Central Executive Committee at the end of its meeting on Friday in Minna, a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday.

The communique was jointly signed by the Chairman, North Central Zone, Dr Abdullahi Mohammed, and Secretary General, Mr Abdulwahid Adeniran.

They urged the president to restructure the nation’s security architecture to effectively tackle the challenge of insecurity as well as Nigeria as a country.

They said the expectation of Nigerians were high in tandem with the renewed hope principle and focused policy of the administration.

According to the communique, the removal of the fuel subsidy was long overdue and welcome the development for the good of

Group backs Tinubu on subsidy removal, calls for restructuring

Nigerians.

The group also urged the government to do the needful by putting necessary palliative policy measures and logistics to soften the hardship that might accompany the new paradigm shift among the citizens.

“That there is a need for national task force comprising of the Army, Police, Customs, Navy, Air Force, Civil Defence and non-state actors, civil society, among other stakeholders, to check the arbitrary price increase of the product, stop exploitation of the people by fuel marketers and their collaborators/dealers to tarnish the image of the new administration in the eyes of the public,” they said.

The group also called on stakeholders in the educational sector to come up with solutions to the challenges of 12.3 million outof-school in Nigeria as a result of insecurity.

They also advocated that the president should give directions to child education through resettlement of IDPs, tackle banditry, poverty, food insecurity and socio- economic challenges confronting the nation.

The group recommended that federal government policy programme implementation be adopted at sub-national state and local governments for the benefit of Nigerians.

According to them, this synergy is key towards collaborative building of the country.

Besides, CD called on Tinubu to restructure the nation’s security architecture for better performance to further curb crimes and criminalities.

They however commended the Armed Forces of Nigeria for taking the battle against insurgency, kidnapping and banditry to the door steps of the criminals.

According to the group,

the battle against insecurity is winnable by our gallant military men and officers in the theatre of the war.

They therefore called on all stakeholders to support Tinubu toward physical and economically restructuring of Nigeria for the common interest of all.

The group congratulated the new governor and deputy governor of Niger, advising them to partner with all relevant stakeholders for the peace and development of the state.

“We appeal to the incoming government to take the welfare of civil servants seriously by providing motivational incentives to improve the working conditions of workers and ensure commensurate take home wages and salaries are paid as of when due,” the group urged. (NAN)

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has advised the be Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani to shun needless divisive policies and build bridges of friendship, and inclusion, which leads to unity among the people of the state.

CAN in a congratulatory statement signed by the Kaduna State Chairman of the religious body, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, said “it is a sign of weakness and inferiority complex for any leader

to combat and destroy anyone who does not agree with their view.”

The statement said that, “As Governor Uba Sani took over the mantle of the leadership of Kaduna State on 29th May 2023, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kaduna State Chapter salutes the new Governor and appeals to him to deliver an inclusive leadership, embracing the diversity of the populace of the state, and not to administrate with needless divisive policies.”

“Accordingly, CAN call on the Governor to work with all

stakeholders to build the state, and not to toe the lines of making adversaries but build bridges of love, friendship, and inclusion, which lead to unity and ultimately the core value of an organized society.

“CAN will consistently pray, advise, and support any administration in the state for the development of everyday lives and will speak truth to power.

“To CAN, the new Governor’s pledge to address insecurity is a welcome development given that Kaduna people have suffered so much at the hands of bandits and

terrorists.

“Thus, CAN appeals to all peace-loving persons and organizations in the state to join hands with the Governor to make the noble desire of bringing a lasting solution to insecurity a reality.

“The task to build a unified Kaduna is vital and we look forward with great expectations for a new lease of life in Kaduna in areas of security, education, unifying the people of the state, and providing equal opportunities for all irrespective of religious or ethnic differences,” CAN said.

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya ( M) in a chat with Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni during the APC Governors’ visit to Lawan at his residence in Abuja yesterday

Subsidy Removal: TUC demands increase in minimum wage, tax holiday, others

By Abubakar Yunusa

The Trade Union Congress at the reconvened meeting with the Federal Government, on Sunday night, presented a list of demands in the wake of the petrol subsidy removal and hike in petrol price.

The demands include an increase in minimum wage to cushion effects of the increase in petroleum prices, tax holiday for categories of people as well as revert to status quo as negotiations continue.

While the government side acknowledged the feasibility of the demands, they stated that the demands would be presented to President Bola Tinubu with immediate effect, assuring them that it was actively engaging with the umbrella union body, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

The NLC was absent at the meeting. The Congress had recently announced a nationwide strike starting from Wednesday this week.

The NLC insists that the government must revert to the previous petrol pump price.

The spokesperson for the government’s delegation to the meeting, Dele Alake, told State House Correspondents after the meeting that most of the demands “are not impracticable” and they would be tabled before the President whose decisions will be reverted to labour leaders at the next round of negotiations fixed for Tuesday.

Asked if the other demand by Labour that the new pump price of petrol be reversed pending conclusion of negotiations, Alake said that decision would likely be taken on Tuesday when both sides meet again.

Kano PRP candidates forum congratulates new gov Abba Kabir

From Mika’il Tsoho

The 2023 Kano PRP candidates forum congratulated the new executive governor of Kano state engineer Abba Kabir Yusif for his victory as new elected governor in the state.

This was contained in a statement signed by gubernatorial flag bearer of the party Alhaji Salihu Tanko Yakasai.

The statement said, 2023 election is over, winners were declared and sworn in to lead the state and nation for the next four years.

“We are reaffirming our faith to democracy and good governance as enshrined in the manifesto of our great party (People’s Redemption Party).”

Alake on NLC’s absence, said maybe they were unable to finalise with the NEC of the union before the meeting.

Nonetheless, negotiations would continue with all labour unions and stakeholders, he said.

Alake told reporters: “Well, as you all know, we had this reconvened meeting today as we promised you a few days ago when we had the initial meeting with the Labour movement.

“We said we were going to reconvene today to keep the engagement on in order to diffuse the tension in the land as a result of the withdrawal of subsidy, which is a reality.

“Now, we are very happy to announce to Nigerians that this engagement has been very productive.

“The TUC that attended today’s meeting presented a list of demands and those demands we have studied and we are going to present to Mr President, for his consideration.

“But those demands we can announce to Nigerians that a lot of the items on the list, are not impracticable. What we need to do is to study the numbers very well. Then, we have asked the TUC to also give us a leeway to consult very exhaustively and reconvene on Tuesday to actually look at the numbers, viability, practicability of all the items that have been presented to us.

“Now, most important and top priority on the list which the government is also looking at very seriously and the president has announced before, is the issue of the minimum wage which the Labour movement has demanded is the consequential impact of this removal of subsidy.

“So, government is look at that and Mr President is most likely going to constitute a tripartite committee, that is a committee of federal government, including the state and then the organised Labour and the private sector.

“Now, this is a tripartite arrangement, it will be a committee that will study all the dynamics of a wage increase in percentages, the numbers and the categories that will be affected.

“So, by Tuesday when we come back to reconvene, to meet with the TUC again, we should have very concrete items to present to the world.

“But the most important thing for today is that we are making appreciable progress with the Labour.”

When asked to disclose the demands, the spokesoetson said: “It is a list, but we are not going to be listing all of them now. The most important is the minimum wage, that is increase of minimum wage. Because, when this thing is removed, the argument of Labour is that there is an immediate impact on the workers, on the purchasing power because price of fuel has gone up.

“So, that will necessarily reduce the purchasing power of the average worker. So, the next thing of immediate consequence is to increase the purchasing power of the worker. So, that to me and to all of us on this side is the top most priority on the list.

“There are other things like the tax holidays which some categories of workers will be beneficiaries. But the most important is the minimum wage.”On whether the team is also negotiating with the Nigeria Labour

Congress (NLC), Alake said no, but that they are making efforts to reach the congress..Alake explained: “No. We are not. but we are making efforts to reach NLC. We all agreed that we are going to meet here but again, in this game there are dynamics. Sometimes, they could be meeting with their own executives and not able to meet with us, or they could want to postpone or they have not actually articulated their list of demands as the TUC.

“But we cannot second guess why they are not here. But efforts are being made to reach them, we are not isolating them at all.”

On whether the meeting discussed the claim by one of Tinubu’s spokesmen, Bayo Onanuga’s claim that NLC was working for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the just concluded elections, Peter Obi, Alake declared: “No not at all. It has no relevance to the discussion on the concrete terms of the welfare of the workers.

“Our discussion was majorly on the welfare of workers, how to cushion the impact of this subsidy removal on workers that’s all. Not on any political partisanship.”

TUC president, Festus Osifo, in his remarks to journalists after the parley said while some progress has been made with the negotiations, the union would still brief its members ahead of Tuesday’s meeting.

He declined to give a full list of the demands presented to government on the grounds that the union wants to continue negotiating in good faith, as government delegation also did not reveal details of its own side of the meeting.

Asked how the meeting went, Osifo said: “As will recall that

we were all here on Wednesday last week and after the meeting, after the meeting of Wednesday, government gave us their position and told us the reason why they did what they did, but on our part we did not agree with them. So they presented some of the things they considered as palliatives to us, that we should consider them in the meeting, but we told them no that we cannot consider them in that meeting, that we’re going back to call our respective organs.

“So we went back, called the NEC of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria on Friday and during the NEC meeting, the NEC of TUC decided that because we already told government as at Wednesday that we’re taking their demands back, we want to go and look at them because they asked us for our demands, we said we didn’t have the mandate to discuss the mandates as at then. So we went back, we called our meetings on Friday, we had extensive deliberations and our NEC now mandated us with some lists of demands, to come and meet with the government side today. So the meeting we just concluded, we have detailed and marshalled out the list of our demands to them.

“They also in turn told us that when they presented the items to us on Wednesday we told them that we were going back to our principals, so they also need to touch base with Mr President so that we’ll reconvene this meeting again on Tuesday. Topmost in our demands was clearly stated, that for utmost good faith and in the interest of social dialogue, that they should revert to back the pump price while discussions continues.”

Alia lauds President Tinubu over appointment of Akume as SGF

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making history as the first Nigerian president to appoint a Benue man in such a high-ranking position as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation

(SGF), saying Nigeria will gain more with this appointment.

Givernor Alia who stated this in a congratulatory message signed by his Chief Press Secretary Kula Tersoo also, congratulated Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila on his appointment as Chief of Staff to the President.

He noted that as a former Permanent Secretary, a two

term Governor and a former Senator of the federal republic of Nigeria, Akume has all the required experience that will positively impart President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to succeed in his task to take Nigeria to enviable heights of development.

The governor added that, the new SGF has done a lot for the country in different capacities, through selfless service, both

in his home state of Benue and Nigeria at large, maintaining that the appointment is well deserved and has not come to him as a surprise.

He praised the choice of Gbajabiamila as CoS, saying as a trained lawyer with enormous experience in parliament, the former speaker will surely fit into the renewed hope agenda to add value to the system.

JAMB warns public against recruitment fraudsters

By Maryam Abeeb

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has warned the genes public against unwholesome activities of an employment syndicate operating in Akure, Ondo State, which claims to have been contracted to recruit staff for the Board using a dedicated social media account. This was made known by the Acting Director Public Affairs, Fabian Benjamin in a statement in Abuja.

The board enjoined t members of the public to disregard such information as it is currently not recruiting in any of its offices nor has it contracted anyone or organisation to do so on its behalf.

It reads,” The attention of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has been drawn to the unwholesome activities of an employment syndicate operating in Akure, Ondo State, which claims to have been contracted to recruit staff for the Board using a dedicated social media account.

“The syndicate, operating under “Akure Job and Business Advert Forum”, located at Quarters 92 Alagbaka Estate, Near CBN Office, IBB Avenue, Akure, Ondo State, is using the name of JAMB, Ondo State Office, to advertise job vacancies into secretarial and clerical positions in the Board.

“The Board, is by this disclaimer, advising all members of the public to disregard such information as it is currently not recruiting in any of its offices nor has it contracted anyone or

organisation to do so on its behalf. Anybody doing business with the above-mentioned platform or similar ones, does so at his/ her own risk. Furthermore, stiff legal actions will be taken against anyone found culpable of such nefarious acts.

“Members of the public are, therefore, advised to be wary of the shenanigans of mischief makers out to defraud halpess job seekers as all notifications by the Board are made only through its approved.

• Continues talks on Tuesday

• NLC absent as talks continue on Tuesday

• FG to raise a tripartite committee

Climate change: Group faults Total Energy, others over investments that fuels crisis

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The peoples AGM platform has criticized Total Energies, Eni, and Equinor for their role in prioritizing oil and gas investments that is fueling the climate crisis despite the urgent need to transit to clean, renewable energy.

The convener of the peoples AGM, David Ugolor stated this in a press statement made available to the Media in Kaduna yesterday.

Rev. Ugolor who is also the Executive Director of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), called on investors and shareholders at Total Energies scheduled AGM, to reverse the trend.

The group also urged the investors to vote in support of the request from a group of shareholders to allow the Company to set targets “aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement” for Scope 3 indirect emissions related to the use of energy products sold to its customers.

The group canvassed support for the French civil society organisation’s action planned for tomorrow at Total Energies head office in France.

Similarly , the Co-Chair of the peoples AGM and Executive Director, Indigenous Centre for Energy and Sustainable Development, ICE-SD, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, explained that “new briefing revealed that Total Energies approved more number of new oil and gas expansion in 2022 among international oil & gas majors.

By its own reporting, Total Energies as a company generated more worldwide carbon pollution than its home country of France”.

Taiwo Otitolaye, the CoChair of the peoples AGM and National Coordinator, Publish What You Pay Campaign, Nigeria, lamented that “neither Total Energies, Eni, nor Equinor comes anywhere close to the bare minimum for alignment with the Paris Agreement, as revealed Oil Change International benchmark, which requires rapid, deep cuts in oil and gas production and sales that need to happen within this decade.

No oil and gas company can credibly claim to be aligned with the 1.5°C limits without taking immediate action to phase out fossil fuels”.

Jigawa women lauds Malala fund for assisting 500 flood victims

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

The group of women popularly known as Small Women Farmers Association of Nigeria (SWOFAN) Jigawa state chapter, commended Malala Fund for supporting 500 house-led women who are victims of flood disaster in the state.

The commendation was made by the representative of SWOFAN Hajiya Halima Abdullahi during the distribution of the items held at Ringim local government area.

She explained that, the relief support that comprised both cash

of N20,000 and non food items will make serious impact on the victims.

Hajiya Halima also called on the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the support for the improvement of their lives and their families at large.

The support which was distributed through myIT consult was aimed at reducing the pain caused by the flood disaster across the state.

Speaking to journalists shortly after flagging-off the distribution at Ringim local government Secretariat, the Chief Director myIT consult

comrade Mubarak Yusuf said, the beneficiaries where selected from three local governments of Auyo, Taura and Ringim local government areas.

“As part of MALALA Fund’s effort to support out of schools girls and flood victims, the cash of twenty thousands naira and non food items was distributed to 200 women in Auyo, 150 women from Taura and 150 respectively from Ringim local government”, he said.

He said, the non food items comprised matrass, bucket, pads, shoes, cleaning items, bed sheet, touch light among other

emergency items.

Comrade Yusuf, then urged the beneficiaries to make proper use of the items and report anybody who request any kobo before choosing them among the beneficiary.

The Director also called on both government and Jigawa people to imbibe habits of flood prevention measures to avoid such occurrence in the future.

While making his remarks on behalf of Ringim people, the youth leader Malam Mustapha Patoma, commended Malala Fund and urged other philanthropists to emulate from Malala.

Group trains teachers, students on disaster risk reduction in Kaduna

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The World Bank-supported Adolescent Girls Initiative of Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project has begun the training of secondary school teachers and students on disaster risk reduction in Kaduna State.

The Project Coordinator, Hajiya Maryam Dangaji stated this at the inauguration of the training exercise in Kaduna yesterday.

She said the training was being implemented under the AGILE project’s Environmental and Social Safeguard.

Dangaji said the training was necessary due to unforeseen disasters and hazards that could affect schools.

According to her, educating teachers and students on early

warning signals and ways to mitigate them is critical to maintaining a safe learning environment.

“Disaster risk reduction is not a government job alone.

“We all have a role to play and as such, we want the teachers and their students to know the potential disasters and risk, and the simple steps to take within the school environment to reduce or avert them.

“Knowing what they need to do during an emergency or disaster, will ensure a conducive teaching and learning environment and this a key priority for the AGILE project.”

In his remarks, Mr Imam Garki, Zonal Coordinator, NEMA, commended AGILE for organising the training, describing it as “apt” in view of the spate of disasters in communities.

Garki equally said that disaster management was everybody’s responsibility, noting that the government cannot do it alone.

The training, he said, would enable students and young children to understand that they have a very important role to play as Nigerians in managing disasters in the country.

He said disaster is everywhere, adding that every community experience one form of disaster or the other.

“For example, there is disease outbreak in communities due to lack of cleanliness and as such, educating the children to keep their environment clean will help reduce some disease outbreaks.

“There is also the issue of flooding that is an annual ritual that happens every year affecting schools, students, teachers and other people in communities and

enlightening people on what to do is very important.

“We equally have recurrent building collapses in some parts of the country and fire outbreaks among others. Giving ideas on how to make themselves safe is very important.

“In all, catching them at this young age is very important and I believe that the knowledge that will be impacted on them will make a significant impact in their lives,” the zonal coordinator said.

On her part, AGILE’s Environmental Safeguard Officer, Maureen Oyedoja said that principals and students across 20 senior and junior secondary schools participated in the training.

The AGILE project is the initiative of the Federal Government with funding support from the World Bank.

Speaker, House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (7th left) with his Chief of Staff, Olanrewaju Smart (6th left); Special Adviser on Media, Lanre Lasisi (4th left); and others after a valedictory session for the aides of the Speaker, recently, at the National Assembly. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Fuel subsidy removal: PDP expresses concern, calls for dialogue btw FG, NLC, others

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has expressed concerns over the quick removal of the Petroleum subsidy by the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu-led federal government coupled with the lack of adequate consultation with relevant stakeholders before such removal.

The PDP has therefore urged the federal government to engage in genuine dialogue with Organized Labour and other stakeholders to reach a fair and reasonable solution.

This leading opposition party in the country said this in a communique issued at the end of the retreat for all its elected

officials in Bauchi, the Bauchi State capital at the weekend.

In the communique signed by its acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Ilya Damagum, the PDP similarly expressed it’s determination to support it’s members and candidates in various tribunals to seek redress for electoral injustices and defend victorious candidates.

The party called on the judiciary to respect and apply the Electoral Act impartially.

The retreat, according to the communique, “expressed concerns over the quick removal of the Petroleum subsidy and the lack of adequate consultation.

“It urged the federal government to engage in genuine

dialogue with Organised Labour and other stakeholders to reach a fair and reasonable solution”, it said.

Continuing, the PDP resolved to “support party members and candidates in various tribunals to seek redress for electoral injustices and defend victorious candidates.

“The judiciary was urged to respect and apply the Electoral Act impartially.

“The PDP legislators and governors are to collaborate as partners in development, avoiding conflict that undermines party effectiveness”, it said.

The retreat, which identified key issues for legislative focus to include insecurity, unemployment, inflation, fuel

subsidy removal, and strategies for national development, resolved to encourage coalition-building with other opposition parties to form a minority caucus and strong alliance for effective national development.

The retreat harped on the need for its Governors and legislators to respect and contribute to the success of the party.

According to the communique, “The retreat stressed the need for improved communication and synergy between the elected NASS members and the PDP, with a view to ensuring that lawmakers fulfil their responsibilities in line with party values and national interest”.

On the issue of leadership

selection for the forthcoming 10th National Assembly, the PDP resolved that it’s support will be given to “candidates that promote unity, independence, and viability of the legislature, necessary for good governance and democratic accountability”.

It harped on the need for members of minority political parties in opposition in the National Assembly to unite on issues of national concern.

The retreat which concluded with a commitment towards prioritizing gender equality and inclusion, said, “the party will strive to ensure equitable representation and active participation of all genders in every aspect of its operations and governance”.

The Bulgarian Amnassador to Nigeria his Excellency, Ambassador Yanko Yordanov paid an official visit to Governor Dikko Umaru Radda today at the Muhammadu Buhari House in Katsina photo shows the Governor in a warm. handshake with the envoy.

NDLEA recovers 390kg illicit drugs in Kano, Kaduna, Borno, Oyo raids

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have recovered drugs in Kano, Kaduna, Borno and Oyo raids.

NDLEA in a statement issued yesterday by Femi Babafemi Director, Media & Advocacy, said in Kano state, two suspects: Ma’aruf Rabiu and Abubakar Mustapha were arrested on Tuesday 30th May along Zaria-

Kano road with 260 blocks of cannabis weighing 139.4kg, while Auwal Ibrahim was nabbed with 38kg of the same substance the following day Wednesday 31st May along Kaduna-Abuja road, same day 35-year-old female suspect, Bilkisu Isiya, was arrested at Birnin Yero, Kaduna in possession of 5.6kg cannabis.

“In Borno state, two suspects: Abubakar Usman (aka Alhaji Mai Kero) and Adamu Yusuf were arrested at Bargu village, Shani

LGA, on Saturday 3rd June with 165 blocks of skunk weighing 140.7kg. Their arrest was effected deep inside a fluid insurgents’ environment with military support. A female suspect, Hauwa Ibrahim, 25, was also nabbed in the same village with 6.4kg of the psychoactive substance, while another suspect Alhaji Abubakar, 27, was arrested at Njimtilo checkpoint with 4,200 ampoules of pentazocine injection and different quantities of D5 and exol-5 tablets.

“A 30-year-old suspect, Iroko Wasiu was arrested at a drug joint at Sabo Aba-Owolowo along OyoOgbomoso expressway on Tuesday 30th May and 31.2kg of cannabis recovered from him, while two suspects: Deji Adelabu, 35, and Mutiu Salau, 37, were nabbed the following day Wednesday 31st May in Sabo area along Oyo- Ogbomoso road and Awuro Dada area in Orire local government area of Oyo state with a total of 8kg cannabis recovered from them.

“While commending the officers and men of the Edo, Onne Ports, Kano, Kaduna, Borno and Oyo state Commands for their commitment and synergy with other law enforcement agencies in their areas of responsibility, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) urged them and their compatriots across the country to intensify the offensive action against drug cartels while ensuring a balance with drug demand reduction efforts.”

Photo;Government House Katsina

Kano governor appoints AccountantGeneral, 4 heads of agencies

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

Kano state governor, Abba Yusuf has appointed Abdulkadir Abdussalam as the new Accountant General of the state.

This is contained in a statement by Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa yesterday.

He said the governor had also appointed Garba Ahmed-Bichi as the new Managing Director of Kano State Water Board.

Yusuf, according to the statement, had appointed Dr. Rahila Mukhtar as Executive Secretary, Kano State Healthcare Contributory Management Agency, KCHMA.

Hassan Baba Danbaffa had been appointed as Managing Director, Kano State Road Maintenance Agency, KARMA.

The governor also appointed Arc. Ibrahim Yakubu, Managing Director, Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority, KNUPDA.

Dawakin-Tofa stated that the swearing-in ceremony of the appointees would be announced soon to enable them assume office immediately.

Gombe NSCDC lauds operation safe corridor on partnership

From David Hassan, Gombe

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)

Gombe state command has commended the military for their foresight to partner with the corps to tackle insecurity. Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Gombe state,

Mr. Achir D. Abraham stated this while receiving the commandant of Deradicalisation and Rehabilitation camp operation safe corridor Malam Sidi Johnson on a familiarisation visit to the Command.

He said the visit will create synergy between the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence

Corps and the military in the fight against crime in the country. While appreciating the visit, Mr Abraham said the relationship between operation safe corridor and NSCDC will continue to wax stronger even as he assured of steadfastness in carrying its legitimate functions effectively.

Speaking ealier, the commandant of Deradicalisation and Rehabilitation camp operation safe corridor said their visit to the Command was aimed at creating relationship between operation safe corridor and the NSCDC in Gombe state was to compare notes on fight against crime.

Foundation trains students on menstrual health mgt.

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), has partnered Keffi Local Government in Nasarawa State, to create awareness on menstrual health management.

The event took place recently with sensitisation on secondary school students in Keffi .

The students were urged to end to shame and stigma on menstruation.

To ensure effectiveness in the campaign, AHF, instituted a sanitary pad bank in collaboration with Keffi LG, Keffi Primary Healthcare Agency and Keffi Ministry of Women Affairs, to ensure availability of sanitary pads for girls.

Speaking, Dr Emma Nwabueze, Medical Director AHF Nigeria said that the Foundation was creating awareness, to end stigma around menstruation while ensuring young women and girls have access to menstrual

pads.

Nwabueze said that the process of menstruation had caused many girls to stay out of school due to financial inability to purchase pads, misconception and myths around menstruation, hence the need to create awareness.

``We used this opportunity to come to keffi to educate the women, girl child, male child and everybody on issues surrounding menstrual stigma.

``Some of our girls miss school because they are on their menstrual period, some do not go to school because their parents do not have money to buy the products.

``Some of our girls cannot open up and tell their parents about what is happening to their body, that is why we are here to advocate and tell people that menstruation is clean not dirty, he said.

He said that the sanitary pad bank by AHF in collaboration with its partners was to ensure

continuous availability of pads in facilities for girls in school and out of school during emergency situations.

Also speaking, Executive Chairman Keffi LG, Mr Muhammed Baba-Shehu represented by the Secretary Keffi LG Mr Muhammed Adamu, applauded the Foundation for choosing Keffi LG as one of its beneficiaries for the program.

``It is a thing of joy to see that we are direct beneficiaries of this program. AHF have done marvellously well in such a silent area that affects our women and girls.

``However, on the side of the local government, we intend to collaborate with the Foundation and we are giving the assurance that we will do our best to contribute to the pad bank.

``We will also see how we can train our people to produce the sanitary pads to benefit our women and girls,’ he said.

Baba-Shehu further urged parents, teachers and guidance to support their children to end shame and discrimination when menstruating and ensure they maintain good hygiene.

On her part, Mrs Aisha Basha, Supervisory Counsellor Women Affairs Keffi LG, said the Ministry was saddled with the responsibility of educating young women and girls on menstrual health and management.

Basha said the sensitisation was aimed at breaking the silence on stigma and shame as it affects menstruation.

``This is important because we realise that most of our children are shy especially when they are growing into the reproductive stage.

``They do not want to discuss any issue concerning menstruation or any changes in their body to their parents, as they prefer to hide and deal with the situation themselves,’ she said.

L-R: Mr. Achir D Abraham Commandant NSCDC Gombe state command, right Col. AA Johnson Commandant Operation Safe Corridor Malam Sidi Gombe state during a familiarisation visit to NSCDC command, yesterday in Gombe

Human rights activist appeals to President Tinubu to be sensitive to Nigerians needs

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

AUnited Kingdom based human rights activist, Akeem Dan Farauta has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to be sensitive to the sensibilities of Nigerians and put people first before profit on the matter of fuel subsidy removal.

He stated this in a statement made available to the media in Kaduna Yesterday.

According to him, what Nigerians need at this time is succour from the crafty dictatorial hard grip on them by Buhari administration.

He warned that President Tinubu hit the ground running approach is heating up the polity and deliberately shielding the Buhari government from all the political and socioeconomic atrocities committed during their eight years in power.

He added that this brought the country as of today to a state of comatose and abysmal as can be seen evidence on the level of perfidious excruciating poverty infestations on ordinary citizens of Nigeria cutting across north south east and west of the country.

“Mr President Bola Ahmed Tinubu the good you can do for Nigerians now is to respond to their felt need which is to alleviate their suffering by providing food and security then the Muslim Muslim ticket of yourself and your Vice will make sense.

“With the level of decadence resulting from hunger and poverty in the land, even if it’s Devil Devil ticket that will make life more meaningful for Nigerians at this time Nigerians are ready to follow them.”

Fuel subsidy removal: Labour Unions’ planned strike lacks justification, by SDP presidential candidate

• Says elections have consequences

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

With no fewer than 20 million Nigerians voting for the All Progressives Congress, APC, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Labour Party, LP, in the last general election, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the masses have no genuine reason to protest against the removal of the fuel subsidy by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government.

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in the said general election, Prince Adewole Adebayo stated this while reacting to the planned nationwide strike by the nation’s labour unions while answering questions on a television program at the weekend.

Prince Adebayo, a lawyer and media owner, wondered why the Nigerian voters and the Labour

unions are now turning around to kick against the removal of the fuel subsidy, when the three leading parties had, expressly, made it clear, during the electioneering campaigns, that they will remove the subsidy if elected into office.

He specifically chastised the Labour unions for its hypocritical statements and actions.

He recalled that his party, the SDP, which promised to keep the subsidy was not elected.

According to Adebayo, “Hours after President Bola Tinubu’s inaugural speech about removal of subsidy, fuel stations across the country increased the fuel pump price by more than 300 percent making the transport operators increased fares with its attendance effects on the passengers.

“Members of the organised Labour under the aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC,

and Trade Union Congress, TUC, described the pronouncement by President Bola Tinubu as outrageous and insensitive to the economic plight Nigerian masses were being subjected to.

“Joe Ajearo, President of the Nigerian Labour Union, advised the government to adopt an alternative strategy that would not adversely hurt the Nigerian while seeking to resolve the issue of subsidy.

“Tinubu’s speech reflected his party’s (APC’s) campaign plans for the country”, he said.

Continuing, the SDP presidential candidate said, “they (the three leading political parties) said they were going to remove fuel subsidy. We thought it was a very bad idea and we debated it all over the country. But the three major parties, which supported subsidy removal-APC PDP and Labour

Party-were handsomely rewarded by the voters.

“People like us, the SDP, said NO, cut the corruption because you need social safety net for the people, and the subsidy is a way to control other cost drivers to avoid cost push inflation. So try to cut the heavy burden of wastage of corruption, not the subsidy.

“The labour unions protesting now were there when these parties publicly said they would remove subsidy, none of them objected, why protesting now?

“You didn’t protest against the administration that engineered the process. Why now? It is now left to the Nigerian people to understand that elections have consequences and next time if you are not happy, the SDP is still here because you have 4 years to think about whether you made a good decision or not”, he said.

Climate change: Group faults Total Energy, others over investments that fuels crisis

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The peoples AGM platform has criticized Total Energies, Eni, and Equinor for their role in prioritizing oil and gas investments that is fueling the climate crisis despite the urgent need to transit to clean, renewable energy.

The convener of the peoples AGM, David Ugolor stated this in a press statement made available to the Media in Kaduna yesterday.

Rev. Ugolor who is also the Executive Director of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), called on investors and shareholders at Total Energies scheduled AGM, to reverse the trend.

The group also urged the investors to vote in support of the request from a group of shareholders to allow the Company to set targets “aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement” for Scope 3 indirect emissions

related to the use of energy products sold to its customers.

The group canvassed support for the French civil society organisation’s action planned for tomorrow at Total Energies head office in France.

Similarly , the Co-Chair of the peoples AGM and Executive Director, Indigenous Centre for Energy and Sustainable Development, ICE-SD, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, explained that “new briefing revealed that Total

Energies approved more number of new oil and gas expansion in 2022 among international oil & gas majors. By its own reporting, Total Energies as a company generated more worldwide carbon pollution than its home country of France”.

Taiwo Otitolaye, the CoChair of the peoples AGM and National Coordinator, Publish What You Pay Campaign, Nigeria, lamented that “neither Total Energies, Eni, nor Equinor

comes anywhere close to the bare minimum for alignment with the Paris Agreement, as revealed Oil Change International benchmark, which requires rapid, deep cuts in oil and gas production and sales that need to happen within this decade.

No oil and gas company can credibly claim to be aligned with the 1.5°C limits without taking immediate action to phase out fossil fuels”.

L-R: President, African Emancipation Movement for Good Governance, Hon. Lucky Obiyan, Convener, Free Nigeria Movement (FNM), Dr Moses Paul, Co- Convener. FNM Comrade Oby Elekwa , Member of the FNM, Cecilia Bisong and other members of the group, during the FNM world press conference calling on Government to revert to old pump Price of petro else they will embark on protest, held in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Nigeria needs food, not tobacco —NTCA

By Tobias Lengs Dapam

As Nigeria joined the rest of the world in marking World No Tobacco Day, the Chairman of Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA), Akinbode Oluwafemi, said Nigeria needs food and not tobacco.

Akinbode, who stated this on Thursday in Abuja, said the day is set aside by the World Health Organization to raise awareness on the deadly effects of tobacco use.

Represented by the Pogramme Officer NTCA, Chibuike Nwokorie, the chairman said, “With over 8 million people dying from tobacco consumption worldwide. The commemoration is a solemn event targeted at bringing to the fore millions of lives lost to tobacco use and the many people around the world managing debilitating ailments brought on by tobacco use.

“We Need Food, Not Tobacco

The theme for this year’s commemoration; we need food,

Nigerian Institute of Surveyors harps on professionalism

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Nigerian Institute of Surveyors (NIS), Kaduna State Council has charged members to keep upgrading and expanding their professional prowess, through training, if they must remain useful and relevant in the ever-changing world.

The Chairman of the State Council, Surv Daudu Andrew asserted this during the oath taking of new exco and induction of new members into the institute.

According to him professionals in the sector should consistently seek to improve themselves for adequate competition, saying surveyors must eschew all tendencies capable of undermining the professional ethics in the overall interest of the people and country at large.

Surv. Andrew called on the Kaduna State Government to ensure the inclusion of the members in government projects.

not tobacco, draws the attention of the world to the dangers of tobacco farming. The World Health Organization estimates that 3.5 million hectares of land is used for tobacco farming globally. In characteristic fashion, the tobacco industry paints a picture of economic prosperity among tobacco farmers, however, in reality, tobacco farmers are poor. In Nigeria, farmers who have invested many years growing tobacco continue to live in poverty.”

He said while tobacco cultivation has declined in the developed world in recent years, it has picked up in low-income countries in Africa, majorly in Malawi, Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia.

He said in Nigeria, tobacco cultivation occurs primarily in Kwara, Osun, Oyo and Sokoto states.

“During tobacco cultivation and curing, wet tobacco leaves produce nicotine and other toxins that are absorbed into the body. This causes green tobacco

sickness among farmers. Tobacco growers are also known to suffer from respiratory and neurological disorders due to exposure to tobacco leaves.

“According to the United Nations, over 25 million people in Nigeria are facing hunger, and globally, that figure stands at over 300 million people.

“ In the face of this looming food insecurity, large portions of arable lands are turning into barren wastelands from tobacco cultivation.

“Article 17 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control encourages parties to promote economically viable and sustainable alternatives to tobacco farmers. In Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible for championing this objective.

“However, it is unclear how much land is used for tobacco farming in Nigeria. This critical data gap makes it difficult to identify and plan interventions for tobacco farmers.

We therefore call on the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to make known the extent of tobacco farming in Nigeria. It is also important that the Ministry rolls out plans to help tobacco farmers transition to nutritious and healthy crops such as maize, cassava, guinea corn and even livestock.

“We note that very little can be achieved if every government agency works in a silo, and poor coordination among agencies is a recipe for poor public health. Therefore, the Federal Ministry of Health, Standards Organization of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, and all agencies saddled with the implementation of the National Tobacco Control Act must synergize, share information and resources and work cohesively for the implementation of these laws.

“Finally, to Your Excellency

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we congratulate you on your recent inauguration as President of Nigeria. It is important that as you begin your administration, you are made aware of several burning tobacco control issues. You have promised Nigerians that you will hit the ground running, and we want to charge you to apply the same energy to tobacco control.

“Albeit with challenges, we achieved the National Tobacco Control Act, 2015, during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. We also achieved the National Tobacco Control Regulations, 2019, during Former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

What is left is yours to do, and you can champion the strengthening and implementation of our tobacco control laws to protect the health of all Nigerians in keeping faith with the oath you solemnly swore on May 29th, 2023. “

L-R: National Director General, Coalition of Nigerian Youths on Security and Safety Affairs (CONYSSA), Amb. Ade Marlo Emmanuel, the Proprietor American National University of Nigeria / Chairman of the Conference, Dr. Oludare Akande, Deputy Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Susan Ada Ajenge, Director of Programmes CONYSSA, Comrade Okpanachi Jacob and the Global President, Yoruba Council Worldwide, AARE Oba Oladotun Hassan, during the 1st Nigerian Youths Multi-Stakeholders conference on drugs Abuse and demand reduction Organise by CONYSSA, held recently in Abuja. Photo;. Justin Imo-owo

Peace Corp boss, Prof Akoh endorses Tinubu’s choices of SGF, CoS

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

The National Commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Prof. Dickson Ameh Akoh, has endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s choice of former Benue State Governor, Senator George Akume as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila as the Chief of Staff (CoS).

Akoh in a statement in Abuja, extended his congratulations to the leader of APC in Benue State,

Senator Akume, and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Gbajabiamila on their appointments as Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chief of Staff to President Tinubu respectively.

Prof. Akoh believes that Senator Akume’s wealth of experience in governance being brought to the table would enormously assist President Tinubu in advancing the Nigerian Project, having been a Permanent Secretary in the Civil Service, Former Governor, Senator and Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs.

Prof. Akoh believes that Dr George Akume has the necessary prerequisites to assist Mr President in handling the complex socioeconomic challenges facing the country as demonstrated in the positions he had held inter-alia.

The APC Chieftain, in the same manner, extended his heartfelt felicitation to the outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila on his appointment as Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

Akoh acknowledged that the appointment of the youthful and

experienced Gbajabiamila is a reflection of President Tinubu’s promise to feature the youths in his administration.

He expressed happiness that President Tinubu, in his usual ingenious manner, understands the numerous challenges ahead and the need to bring capable hands to the table in other to foster national unity amongst the country’s numerous ethnic nationalities for harmonious coexistence and progress.

The Founder of Peace Corps of Nigeria and President of Ambassador Dickson

Akoh Foundation said their appointments are not only well deserved but a true reflection of reward for hardwork, coupled with the belief that they would deliver in whichever responsibility they are bestowed.

Akoh, as a democrat and detribalised Nigerian who believes in purposeful synergy used the opportunity to express his readiness to collaborate with government authorities in his effort to advance the cause of peace, security and the onerous advancement of the socio-economic empowerment of Nigerian youths.

Bishop urges Tinubu to revive Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mills for economic diversification

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Bishop of Diocese of Kaduna, Anglican Communion, Timothy Yahaya has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to as a matter of reality, declare state of emergency in Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mills, saying that it was high time the nation’s economy was diversified to stop depending on oil sector.

Bishop Yahaya who fielded questions from Reporters on Sunday at the end of a 3-day Synod of the church described Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mills as a Diamond Mine that has been neglected for several years, adding that a lot of people will be lifted out of poverty if the Mills is revived to boost the economy.

However, the Anglican Cleric blasted Nigerian leaders over recent completion and commissioning of Dangote refinery in Lagos, saying that what a whole country cannot achieve, an individual has achieved, only for the nation’s leaders to play politics with oil, the mainstay of the country’s economy to the detriment of over 200 million population.

Dangote refinery is owned by the Kano born business mogul, Aliko Dangote, and it was commissioned early last month by the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to him the nation’s leaders should bury their heads in shame for failing to provide such huge functional economic value and benefits to the teeming population of the country over the years.

The theme of the third session of the 22nd Synod was titled, “The God of Restoration”.

“Another thing that I must talk about is that if Dangote can build a refinery, a world class refinery, the biggest of its kinds in the world, it is a shame to the leaders of this country. You mean an individual can do what 200 million people cannot do? And today’s fuel has become politics in our country. The reality of what is happening in the oil sector can only be imagined, the rot and corruption in that sector, only God can deliver this country.”

Kana calls for harmony between doctors, nurses

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana has called on the Nigerian Medical Association and the association of Nigerian nurses and midwives to work together harmoniously for better service delivery.

A statement issued yesterday by Victoria Agba-Attah Director (Press & Public Relations) said Dr. Kana made the call when

the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives paid a courtesy visit on him on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at Ship House, Abuja.

Speaking during the meeting, the permanent secretary said that partnership between doctors and nurses would bring about better service delivery which would translate into a healthy growth of the Nation.

He explained that the Ministry of Defence has repositioned its

health sector by establishing only one Armed Forces Medical Corps to reduce the healthcare problems peculiar to personnel during war and the public at large.

Dr. Kana added that the new system would encourage adequate training and retraining of health workers for improved professionalism.

Earlier in her remarks, the chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Abuja chapter,

Comrade Deborah Yusufu appreciated the Permanent Secretary for his support and timely intervention in the Affairs of the Ministry of Defence unit of the Association.

She commended the Permanent Secretary for ensuring that the uniform allowance of the Nurses in the MOD unit was paid for two years, pointing out that they have enjoyed the privilege courtesy the Permanent Secretary.

WaterAid calls for direct policies on menstrual health

By Maryam Abeeb ]

While celebrating the World Menstrual Day,WaterAid Nigeria has called on the federal government to focus more on the menstrual hygiene of girls by formulating direct and clear policies.

The project manager, WaterAid Nigeria, Nanbam Michael made this call during an interview with pressmen at the sensitization programme for schools girls in FCT, Abuja as part of commemoration of 2023 World Menstrual health and hygiene day.

The programme was organised by Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with other non governmental agencies such as , WaterAid, UNICEF, PG, Yagazie Foundation among others for teenage girls in secondary schools.

She explained that the it is the right of girls and women to be adequately informed about menstrual hygiene.

According to her, WaterAid is

supporting the Federal Ministry of human affairs as part of the national technical group working on the guideline for menstrual hygiene.

“Generally,, to start from why the Nigerian government needs to focus on this day. This day is recognized by the United Nations General Assembly as a human rights. It is the rights of the girls and women to have all information and materials for menstrual hygiene. And then for the government of Nigeria, they are committed to the SDG goals and the SDG goal especially called Six 6.2 to be precise that talks about hygiene and sanitation having access to hygiene and sanitation and then paying special attention to the needs of women.

“And their menstrual hygiene is one of that special attention to the needle. So the government of Nigeria says they are committed to achieving achieving the SDG goal they should be committed to this day. And then what kind of commitment are we expecting

from the Government of Nigeria? We need to have policies, policies that have direct and clear instruction about what to do about menstrual hygiene.

She stressed that menstrual hygiene should not be taken for granted because if not well managed can cause vagina infection for the girls and it could lead to lifelong infection in terms of reproductive health.

Also, the Water Sanitation Hygiene, WASH specialist, UNICEF, Job Omonyi also disclosed that the multi cluster indicators for 2021 revealed thT about girls or females aged between 15 and 24 as high as 17% are not participating in active social economic activities as a result of the limitation placed on them by menstruation.

He noted that most girl find it difficult to join others whenever they are menstruating, and this makes them loose opportunity of learning and making income . According to him, UNICEF is making efforts in providing information that will help in

breaking the silence so that people don’t feel stigmatized, rather, they should be proud that they are not sick and that they are normal people.

Further speaking, Chairman of Yagazie Foundation, Kennedy Ezirim has called for more access to adequate facilities that will help menstrual management.

He noted that this will help reduce the mortality rates when it comes to women and girls, adding that in recent years a lot of lives have been lost people died as a result of improper menstrual care.

The Director, child development department, ministry of Women Affairs, Ali Madugu stressed that “We want to demonstrate how committed the ministry that because the ministry is committed in ensuring that every child, every child, particularly females get to make girl child. Most have the opportunity to have a good sanitary party when she is menstruating. And that can only be achieved. If we intensify our campaign as a tradition and bringing our partners together.

Sen. Ibrahim Shekarau; Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima; Senate President, Sen. Ahmad Lawan; Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero and Speaker, House of Representative, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, during the commissioning of the National Assembly Mosque, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Benue journalists laud Akume’s appointment as SGF JAMB warns public against recruitment fraudsters

Maryam Abeeb

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has warned the genes public against unwholesome activities of an employment syndicate operating in Akure, Ondo State, which claims to have been contracted to recruit staff for the Board using a dedicated social media account.

This was made known by the Acting Director Public Affairs, Fabian Benjamin in a statement in Abuja.

The board enjoined t members of the public to disregard such information as it is currently not recruiting in any of its offices nor has it contracted anyone or organisation to do so on its behalf.

It reads,” The attention of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has been drawn to the unwholesome activities of an employment syndicate operating in Akure, Ondo State, which claims to have been contracted to recruit staff for the Board using a dedicated social media account.

“The syndicate, operating under “Akure Job and Business Advert Forum”, located at Quarters 92 Alagbaka Estate, Near CBN Office, IBB Avenue, Akure, Ondo State, is using the name of JAMB, Ondo State Office, to advertise job vacancies into secretarial and clerical positions in the Board.

“The Board, is by this disclaimer, advising all members of the public to disregard such information as it is currently not recruiting in any of its offices nor has it contracted anyone or organisation to do so on its behalf. Anybody doing business with the above-mentioned platform or similar ones, does so at his/her own risk. Furthermore, stiff legal actions will be taken against anyone found culpable of such nefarious acts.

“Members of the public are, therefore, advised to be wary of the shenanigans of mischief makers out to defraud halpess job seekers as all notifications by the Board are made only through its approved.

The Conference of Benue Journalists (CBJ) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his appointment of Senator George Akume as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), describing the choice as a demonstration of expertise in leadership recruitment.

CBJ President, Dr Emmanuel Anule, stated this on Sunday in a congratulatory

message to Senator Akume on behalf of the group in Abuja.

Anule said that the President made a perfect decision by picking one of Nigeria’s best for the position.

“The appointment of the former Benue State Governor and Minister, our Illustrious son, was well deserved, considering his excellent pedigree, antecedents, and knowledge in public

administration.

“The choice of Akume as SGF will undoubtedly assist the President Tinubu-led administration to deliver good governance to Nigerians through its “Renew Hope Agenda.”

“We therefore, commend the president for finding the Tarka-born politician worthy for this appointment. This development has revealed that

this administration is prepared to uphold the democratic principles of inclusivity.

“ Let me therefore, on behalf of the entire CBJ members across the country congratulate Senator George Akume on his appointment as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Accept our best wishes,” he said.

5 million Jobs targeted as Icreate African Organise their annual skills conference

TheNigerian and indeed the African Construction sector is in for good as a non Governmental organization specialist in training and equiping young Africans with various skills in the construction industry has hold it annual skill event in Abuja targeting thousand's of Youths out of labour market and to be selves alliance through skill acquisition that will make them the best and useful in the construction sector such carpentry, tileling, technicians, painters etc.

With the Theme: "Skills Change Lives", the founder I

Create African, Mr Bright Jaja said this skill clinic will affect so many young men positively down the radar impacting on our Economy well being as a Africans. According Jaja our thinking most change our young people must embrace skills instead of white collar Jobs that is not really available as our mineset much change. Skill is the new direction to go and this has produce great men and women that Creating wealth fot themselves and the society.

The 2023: Celebrating Construction Excellence and

Innovation, powered by Skillers and sponsored by Giz, Bosch, Berger Paint, BOI, and Royal Ceramics. The Builders Show 2023 is an exceptional gathering that showcases the talent, skills, and innovation within the construction industry. It provides a platform to celebrate construction excellence, explore new technologies, and engage in insightful discussions on advancing the sector.

In his remarks, the key note speaker, the Director Employment and wages, representing the Federal Ministry

of Labour and employment, Mr Nyamali John, applaud the Management of I create African for what they have done toward skills and employment generation assured them that the Ministry will continue to partner with them and other Organisations for the purpose of providing decent jobs for Nigerians.

More than 12 skills Project are to be contested and the winning prize for the 1st country that will emerge in the skill competition will go home with 10 thousand dollars prize.

From left: Bashorun of Lagos, Alhaji Sikiru AlabiMacfoy; former Solicitor General of Lagos State, Mr Lawal Pedro; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; former Special Adviser on Religion Matter (Muslim), Alhaji Abdullahi Jebe; son of the Deputy Governor, Qusim Hamzat; and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing in Lagos, Kamal Olowosago, during the Special Thanksgiving/ Jumat Service for the 2023 inauguration of Gov. Sanwo-Olu and his deputy at Lagos State Central Mosque in Lagos Island on Friday (2/6/23).

Kano governor appoints Accountant-General, 4 heads of agencies

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

Kano state governor, Abba Yusuf has appointed Abdulkadir Abdussalam as the new Accountant General of the state.

This is contained in a statement by Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa yesterday.

He said the governor had also appointed Garba AhmedBichi as the new Managing

Director of Kano State Water Board.

Yusuf, according to the statement, had appointed Dr. Rahila Mukhtar as Executive Secretary, Kano State Healthcare Contributory Management Agency, KCHMA.

Hassan Baba Danbaffa had been appointed as Managing Director, Kano State Road Maintenance Agency, KARMA.

The governor also appointed Arc. Ibrahim Yakubu, Managing Director, Kano State Urban Planning

and Development Authority, KNUPDA.

Dawakin-Tofa stated that the swearing-in ceremony of the appointees would be announced soon to enable them assume office immediately.

Niger Gov. urges traders to vacate market on Suleja-Madala road

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger state has ordered that anyone

found selling along the SulejaMadala road should vacate or be arrested and prosecuted for breaking the law.

Governor Bago gave this instruction as his second executive

order upon assumption of office.

The Governor, who insisted that the road is no longer a trading post or market centre for anyone further maintained thet cars parked along the road would

equally be impounded to serve as deterrence to others.

He reiterated that the goal was to ensure undisturbed traffic flow along the Suleja-Abuja highway where the market is situated over

the years that has claimed lives and property of the marketers and motorists.

He also revealed that while plans are underway to relocate the market to a safer nearby location.

Now that Tinubu is on throne

Nigeria now has a brand new president, the 16th since independence in 1960. He is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a former state governor. He took over from former President Muhammadu Buhari whose constitutional two-term tenure ended on May 29. Like the latter, Tinubu is of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Tinubu won the Feb. 25 presidential election with a hefty 8+ million votes, leaving other contestants trailing far behind. His tally was two million more than the 6 million received by Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP)

Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi of Labour Party. The two are in court, asking that the victory of Tinubu be overturned in their favour. The legal contest, however, did not stop Tinubu’s swearing-in. The electoral act gives 180 days for the legal challenge to be concluded.

In a farewell broadcast to the nation, President Buhari, referring to his successor by name, said: “I congratulate you on the realisation of your dream, which was propelled by a burning passion to put Nigeria amongst the leading

Between “Reviving” the hope of the people and “Recovering”the nation

By Abdu Labaran Malumfashi

nations of the world. You have indeed worked for this day and God has crowned your efforts. I have no doubt that your passion for excellence, reliance on competence, fairness in relationships, commitment to equity, loyalty to the country and desire for Nigeria to be globally relevant would come through for you, under God’s guidance, as you lead our country to levels higher than I am leaving. You are the best candidate among all the contestants and Nigerians have chosen well.”

There has been a torrent of support from world leaders for the Nigerian President to the discomfort of those who ran against him and lost. President Joe Biden of the United States, for one, had sent a high powered delegation to Nigeria for Tinubu’s installation. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair had earlier visited, pledging his full support for the then incoming Tinubu presidency.

The immediate past president of Kenya, Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, attended the presidential inauguration in Abuja. He told Tinubu,

OUR PEOPLE OUR MISSION

player in the industry by putting the people first, upholding the truth, maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards while delivering value to our stakeholders”

Chief Operating Officer /Editor, Hameed M. Bello, PhD

Manager, administration

Hassan Hammanyaji

HEAD, ADVERT Patrick UGAMA

It has been some month when I was last in Abuja. But what assailed my eyes when I visited the Federal Capital last Monday was the pictures of the presidential candidates of the two leading parties and their running mates.

With the pictures are the slogans: “Reviving the people’s hope” (by the All Progressives Congress APC) or the ruling party in the country) and “Recovering the nation” (by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, or the main opposition party in the country).

I do not know about you, but I do know who gave us hope, and also who made it almost impossible to realise that hope into reality.

I also know who had said that “they would make the country ungovernable” if they didn’t win the 2015 Presidential election. They did not win the presidency, and the rest, as the saying goes, is ‘history’.

The wilful ungodly conduct of some people nearly killed the nation, which is why they want to bring it back to life.

The question begging for answer is: who is to trust between the one who wants to add to my hope and the one who wants to bring back the nation from the near-death they had left it.

Perhaps, they want to recover the nation so that they could kill it COMPLETELY?

Because, by the time they are thorough with their vengeance on some people and the rampage on the economy of the nation, not much will be left of the country.

Again, I do not know about you, but I do know that the one to choose between them.

BECAUSE, while the former attempts only to revive a hope that was, in the first place, not raised by him, the later will ONLY kill the country completely if they get the chance again.

Don’t tell me that he was not incharge of the country at the time I referred to, because he was, more or less.

His former boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo has alleged that his number two, and current PDP cadidate, Alhaji (although he once warned against calling him ‘Alhaji’) Atiku Abubakar, it was who persistently begged him to hand over ‘Bakassi Island’ to Cameroon.

Obasanjo also challenged his

former number two (2) to dispute him, and he will come out with the evidence that Atiku did and succeeded in pressurising him to hand over Bakassi Island to Cameroon, a thing no country worth its name would ever contemplate doing.

The two Presidential Candidates are also stupendously rich, so said the London Economist, Magazine about three (3) years ago.

Listing the 10 richest Nigerian Politicians, the magazine named both of them on the list as being Dollar Billionaires, who made their money under different circumstances (explanation is my own).

While the APC’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu or the Jagaban Borgu, is from a wealthy family, and a one-time Governor of Lagos State, at which time he made the state to be self-sustaining, without waiting for the monthly hand out from Abuja. He made Lagos State into the success story that it is today.

The same thing can not be said about Atiku (not his fault for not coming from a wealthy family). This writer is also from a very poor family, in terms of money, though.

Atiku had started public service in the Customs Service, where he retired as a very rich man, before he became Governor of his Adamawa State, before he even take over the rain of affairs in his state.

Of importance to us is his leaving Nigeria almost on its knees, but him as a Dollar Billionaire after Eight (8) years as a Vice President.

Another question begging for an answer is: where did all their money come from?

While we have earlier explained part of the source of Tinubu’s wealth, what we have not said was his claim of having invested in the American Apple Company, makers of the iPhone, among other products, while he was in that country.

This act in itself is enough to make one stupendously rich even without the benefit of inheritance.

As I was writing this piece, a friend of my Daily Trust days, who is unaware of my health challenge, called to ask for “any kind of assistance” from me.

I told him about the tragedy that befell me long before I was struck down by a stroke, although the complete story of my sojourn in the Katsina Government House is for another day.

Malumfashi is DG Media in the Katsina Government House Katsina.

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OUR VISION

“To be the market place of ideas and the leading

Tinubu won the Feb. 25 presidential election with a hefty 8+ million votes, leaving other contestants trailing far behind

Will President Tinubu make Nigerians love their leaders?

By Paul Aboh

Nigerians do not believe in their political leaders anymore. There is growing intense pressure among the people. The economic downturn is hurting most families and the minuses are setting in. Society is decaying. Nigerians are disenchanted with the difficult situation as it is at present.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government was an unmitigated disaster. In 2015, his government came in with a lot of promise. But after eight years in power, it failed to revive the comatose economy. He failed to resolve Nigeria’s manifold security challenges. He left behind dilapidated infrastructure and a hungry people eating from dustbins. And the result is an angry populace; very very unhappy about his taciturn disposition and his unconcerned propensities and insensitivity to the plight of the masses.

History will not be kind to Major General Muhammadu Buhari and the government he ran for eight solidly wasted years. Definitely, Nigerians will not miss Buhari. Corruption and poverty are widespread because of his crude leadership style. And families have been ripped apart by the manifold effects of an underperforming economy. Divorce rates are high as a lot of spouses lose out on hitherto healthy relationships. Many wives have had cause to walk out of their matrimonial homes so as to search for so-called greener pastures. A lot of men cannot provide the basics for their children and longsuffering partners. And just as Chinua Achebe observed in his classical novel, “Things have fallen apart” and the center cannot just hold for most families thereby making the people angry, bitter and disillusioned.

Over 95 million Nigerians live below the poverty line. The masses feel they have been ignored and abandoned.

And so they have the right to seek for their rights. Maybe if our leaders’ heads weren’t buried in the sand of ignorance and they took the time to understand, instead of judging and thinking it won’t happen to them because they have the perfect family, perfect and stable income, life would be a little bit tolerable. This hits close to home for me, for family, friends and neighbours who live under this shadow of lack, poverty and deprivation. Millions of Nigerians are unemployed, underemployed, hungry and poor in a country that is richly blessed by God, but massively and illicitly harvested by mostly greedy and heartless politicians and exploited by some opportunistic religious potentates. Indeed, Politics and Religion, in Nigeria have become the Opium of the people.

The harsh economic situation has also disconnected friends and allies. In the most difficult moments of life you come to realize who your true friends are, and the people who really appreciate you. Most family and friends disconnect with you once your economic fortune nosedives. They vote with their feet and walk away treating you like a leper.

I decided to pen this message in support of all those who continue to battle psychologically with the ill treatment they receive from so-called friends and family whenever they are perceived to belong to the wrong side of the economic ladder. This is to tell you that you aren’t abandoned. Help is coming. God will send helpers. He will not let you down. When the children ask for bread, the father will not give them stones.

Nigerians do not believe in their political leaders anymore. There is growing intense pressure among the people. The economic downturn is hurting most families and the minuses are setting in. Society is decaying. Nigerians are disenchanted with the difficult situation as

it is at present. Where will help come from?

Our religious bodies have a big role to play in helping to checkmate these ugly economic trends. Nigerians are tired of eating from the crumbs that falls from the rich men’s table. We don’t need piecemeal attention but consistently consistent proactive action to eliminate poverty completely. Our Politicians have failed us. They mostly are interested in amassing personal wealth for the direct benefit of a select few. Folks can be trained and financially and materially empowered to help jumpstart their domestic economies. When we empower the women, we help build sustainable families. And on the long run, no one will come and beg from you. Millions can be taken off the poverty ladder in this process. The crime rates will reduce, prostitution and drug abuse will reduce and several vices will be eliminated drastically.

More economic health awareness is urgently needed. Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean people aren’t suffering. Go to the villages, slums, ghettos and towns of your City. The people need help. The people are suffering. They need Good Samaritans. And yes, you could be one.

Please, try to spare a little of your time with someone who may just want to talk (about anything). Talking can help us all cope a little more, keeping things bottled up just makes it worse. Most people will say, “if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me, I’ll be there to help you” but will they?

Finally, the pertinent question now is: will the newly crowned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu change the narrative, govern well and make Nigerians begin to have faith in their leaders in view of Buhari’s eight years maladministration? Only time will tell!

Paul Aboh, a public analyst, writes from Abuja

Three strategic questions for BRICS in the multipolar world

By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh

South Africa, as per stipulated approved guidelines and rules, holds the rotating presidency of BRICS, the organization of five emerging developing countries made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The BRICS is a model organization of genuine multilateral diplomacy. Its structure is formed in compliance with the 21st century realities.

At the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) foreign ministers meeting in Cape Town early June, there were high expectations. The first on the agenda was International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant issued from The Hague for Russian President Vladimir Putin if he travels to the country. From historical perspectives, South Africa and Russia have close relationships from the time of the former’s political and liberation struggle, and with developments until it joined BRICS in 2010.

On the unofficial levels, Putin has worked out friendship with both former President Jacob Zuma and the current South African Cyril Ramaphosa. We know very well that this strategic relationship is (un)doubtlessly influencing politics between the two countries and of course, the two plus China in BRICS.

Putin is the target of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant over accusations that Russia unlawfully deported Ukrainian children. A member of the ICC, Pretoria, which has close diplomatic ties with Moscow, would be expected

to arrest Putin if he sets foot in the country.

The South African government previously drew international criticism in 2015, when it refused to execute an ICC arrest warrant for thenSudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who had been indicted for war crimes and genocide, while he was attending a meeting of African leaders in Johannesburg. South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeals ruled that the government had acted unlawfully and the ICC found that it had failed to failed to comply with its international obligations.

Reading further around reports which emerged from the foreign ministers meeting, there was the both local and foreign media, including Reuters, AP, AFP and Bloomberg said South Africa was now considering switching the venue of an upcoming summit of BRICS leaders to another country. This move that would resolve its dilemma over whether to execute an international arrest warrant for Putin. In fact one highly possibility is to task China to host the BRICS leaders summit in August.

But the Department of International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor’s spokesman, Lunga Ngqengelele, said that as things stand, the summit will be held in Gauteng province, where the commercial hub of Johannesburg and the capital, Pretoria, are situated. “As far as we are aware, we have announced the summit venue as Gauteng, South Africa. That is what we know as of today.” according to Lunga Ngqengelele.

Secondly, the BRICS foreign minister are concerned about new currency that could be used to dodge sanctions. The BRICS National

Development Bank specially created bank to provide guidance on a how a potential new shared currency might work, including how it could shield other member countries from the impact of sanctions such as those imposed on Russia. The foreign ministers already discussed, at length, long before the meeting but how the bloc can win greater global influence and to challenge the United States still remained for future.

The BRICS are looking to “ensure that we do not become victims to sanctions that have secondary effects on countries that have no involvement in issues that have led to those unilateral sanctions,” Naledi Pandor, South Africa’s minister of international relations, told reporters after the meeting. Proposals are being considered by officials at the New Development Bank, the Shanghai-based lender created by BRICS nations, and the bloc “will be guided to them as to what the future models might be,” Pandor said, without providing further details.

Thirdly, plans for expansion. In fact, BRICS activities have expanded during the past few years. Countries participated in the Outreach and BRICS plus segments of the organization. There are also a number of African countries including Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Senegal have also shown interest. Egypt has already been involved for a fairly long time. Last December 2022, Egypt, the decision on its accession to the New Development Bank was made by BRICS.

The prospect of adding more members was first raised at last year’s summit in China and 13 nations

Joe Biden’s fall and Nigeria’s shake

By Festus Adedayo

These falls and tottering may mean nothing to other world leaders, but they should to President Tinubu. As an African, Tinubu should look back, like Biden did, to his teleprompter. Falls and tottering humanize us as the living. They show that we are mere pencil traces on a paper which can be erased in a twinkle of an eye. They guide us to remember our humble past.

America was a pitiable sight last Thursday. That great country was crouched on the bare floor. It fell like a huge hippopotamus. President Joe Biden’s legs were wrapped over each other like a malevolent viper that had just had its backbone yanked apart by an irreverent bullet. America looked helpless. The edges of Biden’s blue suit raised their hands up in surrender, leaving the world gaping through his now visible white singlet. The only thing on him that seemed unfazed by the fall was his blue fez cap. For the first time ever, cameras pierced through the underneath of Biden’s black shoes. Those shoes lay on their sides, even as a Biden security aide was pictured attempting to lift America up. Looking at the faces of the guests on the podium, you could see palpable shock and fright. America fell!

Biden had tripped and fallen immediately after handing out the last diploma at a U.S. Air Force Academy graduation ceremony in Colorado. After he fell, the president caught himself with his hands and immediately got up on a knee. He looked backwards towards a sandbag which supported the teleprompter he used. This confirms the universality of that Yoruba proverb which says, when a child falls, he looks forward to a remedy but when elders do, they look backwards to the roots of the fall. Three of Biden’s aides then sprightly sprang up to his rescue, helped him up as he walked back to his seat. He then sat down as if nothing had happened. Back at the White House, the president joked, “I got sandbagged.”

Olusegun Obasanjo didn’t have such joke as riposte. He had a sound rebuke. In 1995 circa, he had attended a political event at the Gateway Hotel, Sango-Ota, Ogun State. He was ostensibly under the weather but reluctantly elected to come and honour organizers of the event, in spite of his failing health. As he sat on the high table, with the event afoot, human nature took its toll. Vomit daringly coursed through his esophagus, irreverently unmindful that this was once a Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. This was an office that imbues its occupant with power of life and death. Like the Yoruba Anikulapo, he had death imprisoned inside his pouch. Obasanjo momentarily grabbed one of the cups in his front on the high table, inside of which was hemmed a serviette paper. By then, the goddamn vomit had burst the door of his mouth open and was ready to spill the content of its cistern. Obasanjo merely offered the glass cup as sacrifice to this rude guest. Then, the vomit forcefully gushed out of his guts.

Ace photographer of the then Third Eye and later, Tribune newspapers, Tomi Adegbite, just like those photographers in Colorado who clicked on as America fell, sprang up his feet and unto the scene. He immediately drew out his camera. Click-click-click, this audacious professional thumbed the button of his camera, photographing Nigeria’s ex-Head of State at his most vulnerable moment. Obasanjo couldn’t care. He soberly attended to the unseen hand that ruled him at that moment. After his Lord and Master, the vomit, had finished its assignment and the cup was filled up, the ex- Commander-in-Chief of

the Armed Forces looked up to behold the photographer. “Ta lo ran e ni’se? Foto lo de nya loju ara e yen o?” – Who sent you? You must think you are taking a shot? he demanded. It was indecipherable. Was it a question, threat or a remark? The photographer didn’t wait to give a reply. As the Yoruba would say, he “na papa bo ra” – literally, disappeared into void. Like Biden’s photo, this too was later published in the Third Eye.

The Biden fall became a piece of narrative to justify Nigeria’s tottering last week. It was spearheaded by those who believe in the Messiahnism of the current landlord of Aso Rock. A few days before Biden’s, Nigeria almost fell too. It was on May 29, 2023 at the Eagle Square. A clandestine video recording said to be of President Bola Tinubu at his swearing-in, went viral. As celebration enveloped Nigeria and the atmosphere of conviviality wrapped the Eagle Square, the president allegedly made for the podium to address the world. From the video, we saw a president who shook tremulously like a stormpropelled chandelier. His ADC briskly fled after him as he tottered like one in the dark, seeming to want to fall. Or, could the president have been drunk that early morning? This reminded the audience of the biblical apostles accused by their Jew brethren of being drunk early in the morning. The charge was later disputed by Peter the apostle who reminded them that Jews seldom drank alcohol before nine in the morning. So, was Nigeria’s president drunk on the day of his joy?

Or, was he drunk on something? Or, ill? After his fall last June in America, Biden’s doctors came out to tell the world that he does not drink alcohol nor use tobacco and exercises “at least” five times a week. The fall came as Biden dismounted his bicycle and snared a foot in a toe clip of the cycle. He had taken a weekend trip to the Gordons Pond area of the Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Just as he did in Colorado, Biden stood up immediately, waved and said, “I’m good. I got my foot caught up.”

Immediately, his doctors declared him healthy and fit for duty after they conducted physical examination on him. The White House thereafter issued a release saying the president did not require any medical attention. Nigerians were not that lucky. After Nigeria tottered at the Eagle Square last Monday, mum was the word. There was even no official reaction to the viral video. We expected to be told, as usual, that the video was photo-shopped; and that some shaky and tremulous character, not our president, was imported into that viral video. Neither did we get a medical reaction similar to the one from Biden’s physicians telling us that “President Tinubu does not drink alcohol nor use tobacco or any other harmful substance and exercises on the treadmill ‘at least’ five times a week.”

Tinubu wasn’t the first leader of a people to totter that pitiably. Indeed, he has no reason to worry about falling. Falls have almost become an imprimatur of the world presidency. One world leader, who once fell or nearly fell, was Boris Johnson. Curated by the British press as having a nonchalant approach to governance with his hair uncombed and shirts flown out, untucked, in 2015, Boris hit tabloid headlines as he slipped at a charity tug-of-war game organized for a World War I commemoration event holding at the Thames River. Clenching his teeth and grimacing, Johnson pulled hard in the game as he fell, losing his footing on the muddy grass. He exclaimed, “oh bugger!”

Then another photograph emerged. It was of President Tinubu

at a meeting with CBN and NNPCL heads. He was cosseted by his wife, Remi. Though they claimed it was not an official meeting, what was Mrs. Tinubu doing at an official meeting presided over by her husband? Was Nigeria about to witness an imperial presidency where the queen and king reigned? This question accompanied the viral photograph of the event. It reminded me of one verse of the Ifa corpus that inveighed leaders who import their women into the theatre of power.

The narrative went thus: The Olufimo, who was a king, got pestered by his newly wedded wife to take her to the Oro cult, a ritual that forbade the presence of women in traditional Yoruba society. When the pestering became almost like a pestilence, Olufimo, in the bid to wave off a far more pestilential matrimonial crisis, had no choice than smuggle the woman into the Oro groove. He did this by hiding her inside the apere – the traditional seat of the king. As the initiates gathered for the ceremony, the babalawo struck the chord of the Ifa deity thrice on the pouch but the deity refused to communicate with the initiates as it used to do. Then, the Ifa priest sought the face of the god in a different way and commanded that the Olufimo’s apere be ransacked for the cause of the blockage of communication by the Oro cult from the living. The Ifa narrative expressed this thus in Yoruba –Ohun lo di’fa fun Olufimo Akoko ni’jo ti o f’aya e j’oye; ape’fa, ifa o je o, a p’oro, oro o mi titi o, e je a ye’nu apere oba wo. The Olufimo and his wife were then beheaded for the sacrilege they brought upon the land.

On the social media, Nigerians did their own “beheading” via commentaries dragging the First Family. Questions were asked on the nature of this unfolding government. Would the First Lady be attending Executive Council meetings too? Was this part of the un-communicated handover note that Mrs. Aisha Buhari left for the pastor? “Learn lessons from my isolation in the Villa. Take charge, from the word go!” Was that what she said? Or was that Nigerian Christians’ own way of achieving a Muslim/Christian presidential parity?

Some very naughty persons however reasoned that the First Lady was cosseting her husband all over the place not necessarily to flaunt her feminine power but to physically monitor his fragile health. Didn’t Yoruba say that the plate is not displaying arrogance when it diffidently insists that it must have its own soup poured right on its face? – oju awo l’awo fi ngb’obe. No one, not even a doctor, can decipher when the indicators are going wrong like the woman who had witnessed the indicators slide dangerously in the past.

Did President Gerald Ford’s wife, like Remi, dot on him too after he fell? Ford fell exactly the same day, 48 years earlier from the day Biden fell in Colorado. On June 1, 1975, Ford had been captured in a photograph flung on the floor yakata like a castrated puppy. The very embarrassing event had occurred overseas as the president disembarked the Air Force One in Salzburg, the rainy Austrian city. His wife beside him, Ford, who was by then 61 years old, had lost his balance as he walked down the wet steps of the aircraft. He then skidded off down the remaining stairs. The almighty president of America ended up folded in a heap by the tarmac. Flummoxed, officials stampeded round themselves to get America back on its feet. Later while delivering his speech, Ford had said: “Thank you for your gracious welcome to Salzburg, and I am sorry I tumbled in.” Festus Adedayo is a Public Policy Analyst.

Will President Tinubu make Nigerians love their leaders?

By Paul Aboh

Nigerians do not believe in their political leaders anymore. There is growing intense pressure among the people. The economic downturn is hurting most families and the minuses are setting in. Society is decaying. Nigerians are disenchanted with the difficult situation as it is at present.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government was an unmitigated disaster. In 2015, his government came in with a lot of promise. But after eight years in power, it failed to revive the comatose economy. He failed to resolve Nigeria’s manifold security challenges. He left behind dilapidated infrastructure and a hungry people eating from dustbins. And the result is an angry populace; very very unhappy about his taciturn disposition and his unconcerned propensities and insensitivity to the plight of the masses.

History will not be kind to Major General Muhammadu Buhari and the government he ran for eight solidly wasted years. Definitely, Nigerians will not miss Buhari. Corruption and poverty are widespread because of his crude leadership style. And families have been ripped apart by the manifold effects of an underperforming economy. Divorce rates are high as a lot of spouses lose out on hitherto healthy relationships. Many wives have had cause to walk out of their matrimonial homes so as to search for so-called greener pastures. A lot of men cannot provide the basics for their children and long-suffering partners. And just as Chinua Achebe observed in his classical novel, “Things have fallen apart” and the center cannot just hold for most families thereby making the people angry, bitter and disillusioned.

Over 95 million Nigerians live below the poverty line. The masses feel they have been ignored and abandoned. And so they

have the right to seek for their rights.

Maybe if our leaders’ heads weren’t buried in the sand of ignorance and they took the time to understand, instead of judging and thinking it won’t happen to them because they have the perfect family, perfect and stable income, life would be a little bit tolerable. This hits close to home for me, for family, friends and neighbours who live under this shadow of lack, poverty and deprivation. Millions of Nigerians are unemployed, underemployed, hungry and poor in a country that is richly blessed by God, but massively and illicitly harvested by mostly greedy and heartless politicians and exploited by some opportunistic religious potentates. Indeed, Politics and Religion, in Nigeria have become the Opium of the people.

The harsh economic situation has also disconnected friends and allies. In the most difficult moments of life you come to realize who your true friends are, and the people who really appreciate you. Most family and friends disconnect with you once your economic fortune nosedives. They vote with their feet and walk away treating you like a leper.

I decided to pen this message in support of all those who continue to battle psychologically with the ill treatment they receive from so-called friends and family whenever they are perceived to belong to the wrong side of the economic ladder. This is to tell you that you aren’t abandoned. Help is coming. God will send helpers. He will not let you down. When the children ask for bread, the father will not give them stones.

Nigerians do not believe in their political leaders anymore. There is growing intense pressure among the people. The economic downturn is hurting most families and the minuses are setting in. Society is decaying. Nigerians are disenchanted with the difficult situation as it is at present.

Where will help come from?

Our religious bodies have a big role to play in helping to checkmate these ugly economic trends. Nigerians are tired of eating from the crumbs that falls from the rich men’s table. We don’t need piecemeal attention but consistently consistent proactive action to eliminate poverty completely. Our Politicians have failed us. They mostly are interested in amassing personal wealth for the direct benefit of a select few. Folks can be trained and financially and materially empowered to help jumpstart their domestic economies. When we empower the women, we help build sustainable families. And on the long run, no one will come and beg from you. Millions can be taken off the poverty ladder in this process. The crime rates will reduce, prostitution and drug abuse will reduce and several vices will be eliminated drastically.

More economic health awareness is urgently needed. Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean people aren’t suffering. Go to the villages, slums, ghettos and towns of your City. The people need help. The people are suffering. They need Good Samaritans. And yes, you could be one.

Please, try to spare a little of your time with someone who may just want to talk (about anything). Talking can help us all cope a little more, keeping things bottled up just makes it worse. Most people will say, “if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me, I’ll be there to help you” but will they?

Finally, the pertinent question now is: will the newly crowned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu change the narrative, govern well and make Nigerians begin to have faith in their leaders in view of Buhari’s eight years maladministration? Only time will tell!

Paul Aboh, a public analyst, writes from Abuja

Benue PDP congratulates Fr. Alia on inauguration as Governor

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has congratulated Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, over his successful inauguration into office as the 6th civilian Governor of the state.

The party in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary Bemgba Iortyom on Wednesday prayed God Almighty to sustain the new Governor and give him the wisdom and grace needed for the task he has undertaken.

Bemgba also, said the PDP has now assumed the station of the main opposition bloc in the state, with all sense of duty, maintaining that they will discharge the responsibility with utmost sense of patriotism to Benue, Nigeria and humanity at large, in the belief that good governance is a combination of the workings of the government on seat and the activities of a robust opposition to it.

“Hear him “our conduct will be guided by a consciousness of our rich culture and heritage as the most successful political party, both at the national level and here in the state, since Nigeria’s independence in 1960.

“In Benue State PDP having held and discharged the popular mandate of governance in 21 out of the 24 years of the current democratic dispensation since 1999, can proudly lay claim to almost the entirety of the developmental legacy on ground within this period.

This is a legacy as was laid from 1999 to 2007 under Governor George Akume, then built upon from 2007 to 2011 under Governor Gabriel Suswam, and consolidated upon in the last 5 years of the administration of Governor Samuel Ortom when it came under the party’s control.

Our great party is satisfied that the governmental administrations which held sway under its sponsorship have left in place a solid pedestal upon which to further the advancement of the Benue project by the new administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia.

“From the security architecture painstakingly rigged into place (the Livestock Guards and the Community Volunteer Guards) audaciously signposted in the Anti Open Grazing Law, against monumental daunting odds, to the depth of interventions in the educational, health care and agricultural sectors of the economy, to the the asphalted roads in Makurdi metropolis and elsewhere in the state for ease of travel, to the quality of the official residential and work accommodation bequeathed to the new Governor, PDP has ran its lap of the race and handed over the baton as required under law.

“Our great party will not flinch from its duty of keeping the new administration on its toes all of the time, the sole purpose being to get it to work maximally within the span of time allowed it.”

Nigeria to strengthen bilateral relations with Zimbabwe

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Defence Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana has said that Nigeria will continue to strengthen military bilateral relations with the Zimbabwe Federation.

A statement issued yesterday by Victoria Agba-Attah Director (Press) at the ministry, said Dr. Kana stated this when he hosted a delegation of Zimbabwe National Defence University participants who are on a strategic/ familiarisation tour to Abuja.

According to him, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Zimbabwe Federation have a bilateral understanding on Military relations which was

instituted in the early 1980s when the Zimbabwean Federation attained Political Independence during the administration of the Nigerian second Republic of President Shehu Shagari in which Nigeria played a central role in their Independence struggle.

Dr kana said that there was no signed agreement or Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Defence cooperation between both countries. He however pointed out that a draft MoU on Defence cooperation can be initiated between the two countries in areas of training of Zimbabwean Armed Forces Personnel in Nigeria, exchange of directing exchange of directing staff as well as students from

military institutions of both countries, participation of both countries personnel in joint military training, exercises and partaking in seminars, conferences and symposium of Defence interest.

He hinted that the strategic/ familiarisation visit by the Zimbabwe National Defence University Participants would open more high-level talks that would culminate into a more reinforced military cooperation as a working tool for future collaboration between the two countries.

Earlier in his remarks, the Leader of the delegation, Brig. Gen. Tendai Elliot Stanley commended the Permanent Secretary on the military cooperation between

both countries.

Tendai said that the delegation comprised of 28 members: a team leader, 10 directing staff and 17 participants.

He appreciated the Permanent Secretary for granting them an audience, adding that their tour to some countries which included Nigeria was to seek information on the activities of the Defence sector.

In his vote of thanks, lieutenant Colonel Isaac Bukaro commended the Ministry of Defence for hosting the delegation.

He said that the knowledge they have gained from the interactive section would be strategically put to practice in the Zimbabwe Defence University.

Nigerian Institute of Surveyors task members on professionalism

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Kaduna State Council has Charged members to keep upgrading and expanding their professional prowess, through training, if they must remain useful and relevant in the ever-changing world.

The Chairman of the State Council Surv Daudu Andrew asserted this during the Oath taking of new exco and induction of new members into the instruction held in Kaduna on 3rd of June, 2023.

According to him professionals in the sector should consistently seek to improve themselves for adequate competition, saying surveyors must eschew all tendencies capable of undermining the professional ethics in the overall interest of the people and

country at large.

Surv. Andrew called on the Kaduna State Government to ensure their inclusion of the menbers of the institution in government projects. Stressing no projects can stand the test of time and no Certificate of Occupancy Is free from litigation if there is No surveyors contribution.

He said Kaduna state is the number two on the National ladder of the institution in terms of dues payments.

He stressed that the current leadership of the Institution is working in sync with the government and its agencies to create the necessary environment for growth, peace and harmony within the profession that will reduce land litigations in the state.

It is in the light of this fact that I call on all members of this great Institution to see one another as

stakeholders by joining hands together to make the Institution great With the steadfast support and productive partnership, I am confident that we are well on our way towards actualising our set objectives of tapping out limitless potentials for the growth and development of our great members.

In her remarks, the National Financial Secretary of the Institution Surv Mrs. Oladunni Opatoyinbo said the leadership at the National level will continue to provide leadership and sustain the good qualities and service that has brought the Surveyors to this point today.

“ I challenge you to be instruments in improving and perpetuating the positive gains we are already experiencing. The future could be a lot better,” She stated.

Similarly Surv. Maikano Samson the Chairman of the planning Committee, said said 14 members were elevated by the Institution and inducted. According to him the number of Surveyors inducted by the State is the total number of memberships of some state, an indication that the Kaduna state council is on course.

In his remarks the State Treasure of NIS Surv. Ephraim Musa tasked newly inducted members and Associate members to explore the open space of change to be able to identify, embrace and bring in greater values for the long term benefit of the profession and the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors Surv. Musa therefore urges them to distinguish themselves through dint of handiwork and professionalism.

President Bola Tinubu (M) Chairman, Progressive Governors Forum Gov Hope Uzodimma of Imo State (5TH R) and other members of the Progressive Governors Forum during their first meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday (2/6/23)

Betara congratulates Gbajabiamila, Akume on appointment as Chief of Staff, SGF

By Christiana Ekpa

Top speakership Aspirant for the 10th House of Representatives and Chairman House Committee on Appropriation, Rt. Hon. Muktar Betara Aliyu (OON) has congratulated the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila as the new Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Hon. Betara in his congratulatory mesasge signed by him described the Speaker as a true Democrat whose service to humanity will continue to foster a good working relationship with the Executive and the legislature.

While felicitating with the Speaker, he prayed Allah to continue to grant him wisdom and protection to contribute his quota to the development of the country.

He said: “my earnest desire is to work with the Chief of Staff, Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila to bring about the desired renewed hope Nigerians clamour for.

“I am indeed glad that my President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR as a Democrat will also work with the Legislature to provide dividends of democracy to the populace.

“For me,the choice of Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila will work in harmony with the Legislature and the country at large irrespective of tribe and religion to bring about the dividends of democracy the people yearn for.

In a related development, the Speakership Aspirant, Hon. Muktar Betara Aliyu congratulated the Secretary to the Government of the Federation(SGF) and immediate past Minister of special duties, Senator George Akume describing him as a reliable fellow compatriot who will serve his fathers land in honesty.

Hon. Betara also felicitated with the former Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, Ibrahim Hadejia on his appointment as the Deputy Chief of Staff to Mr. President.

He prayed Almighty Allah’s divine wisdom, protection and good health to lead Nigeria.

Akpabio’s Senate presidency ‘ll stabilize National Assembly – Group

By Ochiaka Ugwu

ANon- Governmental Organization (NGO), Concerns Citizens for Democracy and Development Initiative had thrown its weight behind the aspiration of former Governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Sen. Godswill Obot Akpabio as the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The group in a press statement released in Abuja Thursday by Hosanna Abel and Ubong Nelson Ikie, National Coordinator and National Secretary respectively noted that Akpabio’s Senate Presidency would serve as a

channel to resolve all lingering issues and restore confidence in the legislative arm of government.

According to the statement, “With Akpabio at helms of the affairs of the National Assembly as the senate president be assure that his intellectual wherewith out will make us compete in the comity of nations.

“Openness, transparency, integrity, inclusiveness and purposeful leadership will be the order of the day when elected as the president of the senate.

:As a way of promoting our diversity, Senator Akpabio as a true epitome of National Unity and integration, if elected as

Senate President will religiously be committed to the true spirit of National Unity and integration as well as promoting African Solidarity and other core mandate with his other colleagues at the regional level i.e the present upheavals in Sudan etc.

“With Senator Akpabio as Senate President the clamoring issues of the affirmative action on 35% women inclusion in politics and governance shall be given top priority, as well as laws that will protect the vulnerable will be taken care of.

“Senator Akpabio is a team player as well a resulted oriented

leader and personality, whose records speaks for its self and will help galvanize stability and effective synergy between the Executive and the legislature for the common good of all Nigerians” the statement read in part.

“It is in the above submission that we are urging Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora to engage their elected legislators to elect Senator Godswill Akpabio in becoming the Senator President and the chairman of the National Assembly of the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria and we won’t regret” the statement concluded.

Youth members of Faith Booster Ministry Int’l (FBMI) performing during the Ministry’s 11th anniversary and the 50th birthday of Presiding Pastor Sunday Agada, at the ministry’s auditorium in Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja on Sass

Subsidy: Ndume begs NLC to call off planned strike

By Musa Baba Adamu

Former Leader of the Senate, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has called on the national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), to call off the planned strike, expected to commence next Wednesday.

Ndume in a statement made available to newsmen, urged Labour leaders to return to the negotiation table and sort out areas of disagreements with the Federal Government before opting for the industrial action.

The Director-General of Akpabio for Senate President Campaign Organisation, also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to personally meet with Labour leaders and assure them of the benefits of removing the subsidy.

“This fuel subsidy removal is something we must do now or never,” he noted. “We need to open the wounds now and begin to heal them. The Nigeria Labour

Congress (NLC) needs to work with the government and see how the effects can be minimised. If we don’t remove the subsidy now, some people will continue to milk this country. NLC should go to the negotiation table with the Federal Government.”

Urging the leadership of NLC to jettison the planned industrial action, Ndume said: “The NLC should not go on a strike first before negotiation. They should not make that mistake. Beside, there is no budget for subsidy. Where will the money come from?

“I call on President Tinubu to personally meet with Labour leaders and resolve the issues. He should also assure them that things will be all right.”

Meanwhile, the Borno South senator, has revealed that with the appointment of Senator George Akume, agitation by leaders from the North Central Zone about the non-inclusion of the region in the appropriation of 10th National Assembly leadership positions,

will fizzle out.

He said President Tinubu has demonstrated that his campaign mantra “Renewed Hope”, has come to stay.

The Senate Committee chairman on Army, said all the appointees so far announced by President Tinubu are senators and a Speaker of the House of Representatives.

He said the administration of President Tinubu will be rancorfree, especially its relationship with the National Assembly, unlike previous ones that undermined the National Parliament.

He said: “I want to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for keeping to his campaign mantra, ‘Renewed Hope’. This is the first time politicians are appointed by a President to head key positions in government. This will be a rancorfree administration. All the appointees so far are grassroots politicians.

“George Akume was a governor, minister, a senator

and now the Secretary to Government of the Federation. President Tinubu is a senator. Kashim Shettima is a senator. The First Lady is a senator. Femi Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff to the President is a veteran parliamentarian. Even the Chief of Staff to the Vice President, Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, is a senator too.

“It means there won’t be any reason to have any rancor with the National Assembly. The Executive will be run by former members of the National Assembly, unlike previous governments run by so called technocrats who brought in consultants to steal our money. This is truly democracy at work.

“This has now settled the agitation by stakeholders from North Central. They’ve gotten the lion’s share now. Akume’s appointment has put everything to rest. He will become one of the most powerful people in government.”

POLITICS

Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba promises to pay gratuities

By Musa Baba Adamu

Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has promised to start paying gratuities to all retired state and local government workers in the state.

Speaking with newsmen in Jalingo, the governor said that he would soon start paying all retired civil servants their gratuity and pension in order to reduce the hardship being faced by retirees following non-payment of their benefits.

He expressed the need for proper auditing of the government’s spending in order to stop leakages, directing that auditing work must be taken with all seriousness in order to ensure prudent management of public funds.

In the last week of the previous administration of Gov Darius Ishaku, the Taraba State chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) alleged that the state government owed retired civil servants N22 billion in unpaid gratuity while hundreds of retired primary school teachers and local government workers who retired several years ago were yet to be enrolled for pension payment.

The state NLC also accused the administration of Gov Ishaku of diverting N800 million deducted from workers’ salaries and meant for multi-purpose loan schemes and the National Housing Scheme.

Gov Makinde appoints Omolewa as Oyo Park Management System Chairman

By Musa Baba Adamu

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has announced the appointment of Alhaji Oluwatomiwa Omolewa as Chairman, Park Management System (PMS) in the state.

Makinde announced the appointment on Sunday through his Chief Press Secretary, Sulaimon Olanrewaju.

Recall that the PMS was dissolved a few weeks ago.

Makinde has, however, announced the appointment of Omolewa who had earlier served as Secretary of the PMS.

The governor also named Alhaji Kasali Ajisafe Lawal as the secretary of the PMS.

He said that the appointment was part of the reorganization of the PMS embarked upon by the state government.

“Oyo State Government has announced Alhaji Oluwatomiwa Omolewa, former Park Management System (PMS) Secretary, as the new Chairman.

“Alhaji Kasali Ajisafe Lawal is to serve as the secretary”.

Kogi APC guber candidate Ododo unveils teacher as running mate

The Kogi State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Usmam Ododo, unveiled a primary school teacher, Salifu Joel, on Sunday as his running mate for the Nov. 11 election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Salifu Joel is the current chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and the treasurer of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kogi State.

Gov Yahaya Bello, who spoke at the event at the Government House, said that the choice of Joel, a class teacher and unionist, as the deputy governorship candidate of the APC, was borne out of the party’s desire to carry

everybody along in its quest for the development of the state.

Gov Bello assured that he would leave no stone unturned to ensure that the APC wins the governorship election in the state.

According to him: “APC will follow and abide by all the existing electoral laws to win the November 11 election, moreso that my administration has performed creditably well in the areas of infrastructure provision, quality education, and healthcare delivery, among others.”

The governor claimed that his administration has shown competence, dedication, and commitment to the Kogi people in terms of performance and therefore is entitled “to also

ask for their votes in the next governorship election.”

Bello warned: “In this dispensation, we won’t tolerate any politics of bitterness nor condone any act of political violence because Kogi as a state is bigger than any personal interest.”

The state’s APC chairman, Abdullahi Bello, commended the selection of the running mate for the party’s governorship candidate from a very critical section of society.

The deputy governorship candidate in his response said: “I am short of words for me as a classroom teacher to be nominated as the running mate and deputy governor to the APC guber candidate.”

Speaking further, Joel, who said he heartily accepted the position, assured that he will “do all I can to ensure that our party becomes victorious in the forthcoming governorship election.”

In their goodwill messages, the National President of TUC, Audu Anaba, Gabriel Amari, and Edoka Onu, respectively present and past NLC chairmen, commended the emergence of a member of labour unions as Ododo’s running mate.

They assured the governor of their total support and promised to mobilise votes for the Ododo/ Joel ticket to ensure that the duo emerge as the next governor and deputy governor of Kogi State. (NAN)

Subsidy: APC chieftain says NLC planned strike selfish, unpatriotic

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

AChieftain of APC in Kwara State, Comrade Abdul-Rahoof BelloLàbẹ́làbẹ́, has advised the Kwara State Labour Unions to disobey the unlawful directive by the NLC to embark on nationwide protest on Wednesday, against fuel subsidy removal.

Comrade Bello, said in a signed statement that such call to action was not only politicallymotivated. It is subversive and smacks of attempt at frustrating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts on ending the ‘subsidy scam’ that has pushed Nigeria to the precipice of bankruptcy, he added.

He said,”President Bola Tinubu announced recently that his administration inherited ‘liabilities’ from President Buhari, which could have made it impossible for any ‘unprepared’ successor to move the nation forward, but never a hardliner like

him who begged for the job and thus, deserved no pity!

“Was the NLC unaware that government had been borrowing to pay workers’ salaries and fuel subsidies? Isn’t it nasty that the NLC is pretending knowing that Nigeria has been groaning under accumulated debt burden? Isn’t it an open secret that Buhari administration left about #77trilion debt (local and foreign), which had to be serviced with about 96% of our dwindling national income?

“With this lurid and grim picture of our economy, President Tinubu was unmistakable in his inaugural speech that some ‘tough’ decisions on economic surgery have to be taken to save our beloved country from collapse now!

“Delay is dangerous, otherwise, workers; pensioners; education; healthcare; infrastructure; security and other developmental projects would suffer irreparable damage.

“Despite this, the NLC cannot see any plausible solution than calling out workers to the street instead of exploring the robust opportunity provided by President Bola Tinubu for negotiation and intellectual engagement.

“Isn’t it settled in Law that ‘strike action’ should be the last resort only when other options have failed? Therefore, calling out workers to the street by NLC/ TUC while negotiating with the government, was not only hasty and cheap blackmail, but in bad faith.

“If the NLC cannot claim to be the sole beneficiary of whatever effects of the subsidy withdrawal, it would be irresponsible of the NLC to attempt to sacrifice the long-lasting national interest on the altar of cheap publicity and myopic political interest of its leadership!

According to Comrade Bello, a sense of duty dictates that people of good conscience make passionate appeal to Kwara

State workers to disregard the call to strike action slated for Wednesday. This is necessary as a mark of respect to Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrasaq as Chairman Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

“In his capacity as NGF Chairman, Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrasaq has led his colleagues to a meeting with President Bola Tinubu where agreement was reached to review workers’ salaries, amongst other palliative measures to cushion the negative effects of subsidy withdrawal to the Nigerian people.

“The greatest honour the Kwara workers can do to the Governor was to ignore the ‘strike action’, to reciprocate his good rapprochement with the NLC in his State.

“Kwara NLC should understand that any protest or industrial action against fuel subsidy removal is an ill-wind that blows no worker any good – It is unpopular!” he said.

L-R: Co- Partner, I Create African / Big Brother 9ja, Cross Okonkwo, Chief Operating Officer, Berger Paints Nigeria PLC, Mr. Celestine Aruoture, Head of Component GIZ German Cooperation, Patricia Kormawa, the Representative of the Nigerian Institute of Architecture, Arc. Minah Mini Briggs, the Convener, “Builders Show 2023” / Founder I Create African, Mr Bright Jaja and others, at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Builders Show, held in Abuja . Photo:. Justin Imo-owo

PDP Govs Forum Chairman: Abbas congratulates Mohammed, Fubara

By Christiana Ekpa

Frontline candidate for the speakership position in the incoming 10th House of Representatives, Tajuddeen Abbas of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has congratulated the governors of Bauchi and Rivers ẹtates, Bala Mohammed and Siminalayi Fubara, on their emergence, respectively, as the chairman and vice chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum.

Abbas said he was elated that the two leaders were elected by their colleagues to pilot the affairs of the PDP Governors Forum, noting that their emergence is a testament to their leadership qualities and readiness to serve the people.

In a statement from his campaign office, the lawmaker, who represents Zaria Federal Constituency in Kaduna State, said he was convinced that the two governors would give their best in their new assignments.

He lauded the combination of Bala Mohammed and Siminalayi Fubara, saying not only are they deserving of their new positions but that they are also a perfect match for the task ahead of them.

The speakership candidate noted with joy the contributions of the two governors to nationbuilding, which he urged them to sustain, and also enjoined them to work with their colleagues from the other political parties to put Nigeria first.

While wishing them success in their assignment, Abbas called on their colleagues, both in PDP and other political parties, to give them the maximum support to succeed.

We’ll take charge if you remain audio opposition – LP’s Ogene warns PDP

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The member-elect in the House of Representatives for Ogbaru Federal Constituency and leader of the Labour Party, LP, caucus of the 10th National Assembly, Victor Afam Ogene has expressed the readiness of his party to work with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, if it would take charge of visible opposition in the country.

However, Ogene warned the PDP that the Labour Party would lead the charge on behalf of the Nigerian people to create a new nation if it stays on the “audio side” and remains an opposition party in name.

He made the assertion during the one-day retreat for elected officials under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Bauchi State.

Several lawmakers under the Labour Party, LP, the Young Progressives Party, YPP, and other opposition minority parties were conspicuously present at the event.

Ogene said the 35 memberselect produced by the LP in the forthcoming 10th Assembly couldn’t have been possible if not for the mistakes by the PDP.

He said, “Let me thank the PDP, it is because of you we are here. If PDP didn’t make the mistakes it made, probably the

35 strong members-elect of the Labour Party in the forthcoming 10th Assembly wouldn’t have been. So thank you.

“I also want to say another thank you for bringing us to this retreat. My members and I thought we were coming for the retreat of the minority parties, which is actually what it’s supposed to be.

“I think what’s binding us together is the fact that we are all in the opposition. And being in the opposition doesn’t necessarily mean dissent, it means keeping the governing party on its toes.

“Talking about the House of Representatives, section 50 1B of the constitution says that

members are to choose the Speaker and Deputy Speaker from among themselves. Even though that function is yet to be discharged, some people have chosen Speaker and Deputy Speaker for us, and we are watching.

“There’s an audio opposition and there’s visible opposition. If PDP is ready to lead the charge of visible opposition, we are ready to go along with them. But if they want to stay on the audio side and be an opposition party in name, then I can assure you that the Labour Party, just as small as we are, 35 members-elect, will lead the charge on behalf of the Nigerian people to create a new Nigeria.”

Rep Buba lauds Gbajabiamila on new appointment

By Musa Baba Adamu

Following the announcement of House Speaker, Femi Hakeem Gbajabiamila, as Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, member representing Gombi/Hong Federal Constituency, Yusuf Buba Yakub, has described the choice of as a continuation of the noble service the Speaker has been rendering to the nation in the last twenty years, using the platform of the National Assembly.

In a release he personally signed and made available to newsmen at the National Assembly, the Adamawa-born House Committee

Chair on Foreign Affairs said Gbajabiamila has for years remained a pragmatic and highly-dedicated personality that is continuously driven by his beliefs and convictions to achieve the best for Nigeria and its people.

He congratulated the Surulere 1 Federal Constituency 5th term lawmaker on the new feather added to his cap. While expressing the conviction that Rep Gbajabiamila would again excel in his new job,given his experience,dogged industry and all-round knowledge, Buba prayed for the strength, health and support by all for the tasks ahead.

“As always, Your Excellency, my Great Leader, I have the honour to write and rejoice with you on your appointment as Chief of Staff to His Excellency, our dear Mentor and Leader of the greatest political Party in Africa, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the People’s True President.

“To say the least, this appointment,which is a continuation of the noble service you have continued to render to our great country as Speaker,House of Representatives these past four years, has hardly come to any of us who know you as a surprise. You have remained that pragmatic and highly-dedicated personality

that is continuously driven by your beliefs and convictions to achieve the best for our land and our people. Again,to us,you have always been that leader and visionary who has for so many years sold your strength, your talent , time and treasure to the development of our dear country and people,using the platform of the Legislature.We trust that on this new assignment all your finest parts shall again be brought to bear.

“With this new feather to your cap,Sir,I dare say that God has, indeed, placed your path on the path of exceeding rewards.He will not finish with you until He places you on the apogee of your fondest

dreams.

“For myself,my personal family and, indeed, on behalf of the people of Gombi/Hong Federal Constituency, for whom you have remained these past eight years a most benevolent facilitator of developmental vision at the House of Representatives, we congratulate you on this new height and pray that you receive the strength, the wealth of health and all the support you need to, once again, excel as Chief of Staff to Mr President.

“Once again,Your Excellency,Mr CoS,please, accept our great wishes and our humble congratulations,” he said.

Niger: Appointments into my cabinet will be on merit – Gov Bago

By Christiana Ekpa

Niger State Governor,

Hon Mohammed Umar Bago, has reassured that appointments into his cabinet will be based on qualifications and not by favouritism in the state, saying he will be fair and just to all.

Bago stated this through his deputy, Comrade Yakubu Garba, at a Special Thanksgiving Service to mark their inauguration at St. Michael Catholic Cathedral Church, Minna.

He said, “We will be fair and just to all persons in the state, but please put us in your prayers. We

will appoint and engage only those who merit it. I can assure you this, our appointment will not be based on favoritism but on merit”.

Bago also called on Christians in the state to continue to pray for security agencies confronting bandits and other vices, while urging citizens to be security

conscious at all times.

The Governor further assured that his administration will revisit the call for the re-introduction of Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) across schools in the state, which will go a long way in affecting the morals of children positively.

Earlier, during the homily, the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Niger State, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna had called on the Governor to reintroduce CRK in schools across the state.

Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat with the Manager, NNPC Service Station in Awolowo Road Ikoyi, Mr Bayo Obisesan, during Deputy Governor’s inspection of fuel stations ascertaining their compliance on the new pump price, in Lagos State on Friday (2/6/23).

Am greatly honoured,’ Adesina says after UN appointment

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

ThePresident of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina has accepted his appointment by the United Nations in the fight against malnutrition.

On June 1, UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres picked Adesina and 21 other leaders to spearhead the fight against malnutrition in all its forms as members of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement Lead Group.

Appointed alongside the AfDB boss were two other Nigerians – Vice President of the Islamic Development Bank, Mansur Muhtar, and Executive Chair, Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition, Ndidi Nwuneli.

Taking to his Twitter handle on Sunday, Adesina said he is greatly honoured by the appointment in the quest to end malnutrition globally.

“I am greatly honored by United Nations Secretary-General @antonioguterres appointing me among Global Leaders to tackle global malnutrition. Thank you, SG. I look forward to helping to deliver on this agenda,” he twitted.

I am greatly honored by United Nations Secretary General ẹẹ@ antonioguterresẹ appointing me among Global Leaders to tackle global malnutrition. Thank you SG. I look forward to helping to deliver on this agenda.

Initiated in 2010 by the former Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, the SUN Movement continues its drive to improve nutrition for all people, everywhere, with the stewardship of 22 appointed global leaders who are committed to fighting malnutrition in all its forms as members of the SUN Movement Lead Group.

With the latest appointment, these prominent figures are committed to championing nutrition and steering the SUN Movement and its mission to eradicate malnutrition in all its forms by 2030.

Some three billion people, almost half of all humanity, cannot afford a healthy diet. And two-thirds of children lack the diverse diets they need to thrive.

Market deepening and diversification will engender growth- SEC

By Abubakar Yunus, Abuja

The Securities and Exchange Commission has expressed its determination to deepen and diversify the capital market in a bid to create more wealth for investors and Nigerians as well as stimulate economic growth.

This was stated by Director General of the SEC, Mr. Lamido Yuguda during an interview weekend.

He stated that when capital markets are developed, the entire engine of saving and investing and allocation of resources to the projects that have the highest expected returns is made easy.

“And if you do that effectively, you will see that you will create more jobs in the economy, you will create more revenue for the government and make life easier for all investors.

“When that happens, you then have a lot of interested parties that want to put in their money to help the market develop”he said.

The SEC DG said in a bid to develope the market, the SEC saw the need to have a forum where the Commission could interface with issuers in a bid to discourage delisting.

“When issuers delist, they do because of certain issues. So we decided to engage Nigeria Employers Consultaive Association, NECA and set up the securities Issuers Forum. This was done to sit and discuss the issues and find solutions to them.

Yuguda said that the Commission is working hard to look at the various issues and ensure that the problem of delisting by companies is brought under check.

The SEC DG disclosed that the Commission has put in place various other incentives to encourage companies to list as listing provides enormous benefits to both the companies and investors.

“Listing enhances higher investor protection. This collaboration with NECA has been

very fruitful and that has given confidence to many of the players. We have started getting interest from the big players.

The SEC Boss stated that some strategic listings have happened in the market in recent times and the Commission is encouraging the diversification of the equity market by listing companies within Power generation, Telecommunications and foods.

According to him, “We have had some strategic listings like the IPO of MTN, BUA Foods etc and asset class creation or new products like Derivatives have further helped diversify the listings from the huge leaning on the financial sector (Banks and Insurance) several years back.

“The problem with this market is when the big players do not list. So we started getting interest from the big players like MTN. And they decided to come in a very imaginative way. They decided to do the offer electronically so that people having telephones could

subscribe without having to go through an intermediary.

He assured that the Commission would continue to collaborate with various market stakeholders to support impactful innovation in the capital market.

“For example, our keen support of the innovation by the Issuing House to the MTN IPO in 2022, Chapel Hill Advisory, further promoted the benefits of electronicIPO (e-IPO) which made it possible for over 100,000 new accounts to be opened on the CSCS, most of which belong to youths and women- key subsets of our demography which is considered critical to sustainable growth

“Information Technology and FinTech is fast becoming Nigeria’s new oil, and we continue to support the participation of FINTECHs in helping the Capital Market attract the youth, and to help ease onboarding and ‘democratise’ access to wealth management services” he added.

NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Yusha’u Dogara Ahmed during his visit to Corps Member Onuoha Elvis Udodiri AK/22B/2148 who is on admission at the Ibom Hospital yesterday in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State. Photo: NYSC

Expert: New petrol pump price may push inflation to 30% in June

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

Yemi Kale, partner and chief economist at KPMG Nigeria, says the new prices of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, may add about 6 percent to Nigeria’s inflation rate.

The consumer price index (CPI), which measures the rate of change in prices of goods and services, climbed to 22.22 percent in April 2023 — the fourth

consecutive surge in Nigeria’s inflation figure since the year started.

Analysing the implications of the new petrol price on the country’s inflation figure, Kale said the inflation rate may increase to 30 percent in June 2023.

However, the former statistician-general of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said the CPI for May would not be impacted.

“Using the NBS CPI model+my macro model, the new PMS prices may add about 6 percent to CPI in June over whatever is reported in May, holding other things constant,” he tweeted.

“April was 22.22 percent and May is unknown and won’t be affected. So, June will be somewhere about 30 percent. Not as bad as I expected.”

In his inaugural speech on May 29, President Bola Tinubu declared that the petrol subsidy

payments had stopped.

The president’s statement shook up the country, forcing his media team to later clarify that the implementation of the policy would commence in the present month.

Still, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited adjusted the pump price of petrol across its retail outlets — a situation typical of a subsidyfree regime.

The national oil firm said the

new pump price was in tandem with market realities.

Speaking on the situation, Mele Kyari, NNPC’s group chief executive officer (GCEO), on Thursday, said the removal of the petrol subsidy would promote competition and regulate consumption.

Meanwhile, Peoples Daily had reported that the spike in the commodity’s price is sapping commuters of additional funds as transportation cost doubles.

‘I

Probe missing $2.1bn, N3.1trn subsidy payments or face legal action, SERAP tells Tinubu

By Abubakar Yunus, Abuja Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project

(SERAP) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to “set up a presidential panel of enquiry to promptly probe the grim allegations that US$2.1 billion and N3.1 trillion public funds of oil revenues and budgeted as fuel subsidy payments are missing and unaccounted for between 2016 and 2019, as documented by the Auditor-General of the Federation.”

SERAP urged him to “name and shame anyone suspected to be responsible for the alleged widespread and systemic corruption in the use of oil revenues and the management of public funds budgeted as fuel subsidy, and to ensure their effective prosecution as well as the full recovery of any proceeds of crime.”

SERAP also urged him “to promptly, thoroughly, independently, transparently and effectively probe all fuel subsidy paid by successive governments since the return of democracy in 1999, and to use any recovered proceeds of crime as palliatives to address the impact of any subsidy removal on poor Nigerians.”

In the letter dated 3 June 2023 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “There is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for these serious allegations. There will be no economic growth or sustainability without accountability for these

human rights crimes.”

SERAP said: “Your government should urgently act to follow due process of law in any policy to remove fuel subsidy, ensure that suspected perpetrators of these crimes against Nigerians are brought to justice and full recovery of any missing public funds.”

SERAP also said, “Arbitrarily removing fuel subsidy without addressing outstanding accountability issues in the alleged mismanagement of oil revenues and fuel subsidy payments would amount to punishing poverty and further impoverishing the poor while letting high-profile officials and non-state actors get away with their crimes.”

The letter, read in part: “Any removal of fuel subsidy should not be used as a ploy to keep the poor in poverty while those who allegedly stole oil revenues and fuel subsidy payments keep their ill-gotten wealth.”

“Allegations of corruption in oil revenues and fuel subsidy payments suggest that the poor have rarely benefited from the use and management of the revenues and payments.”

“Poor and socio-economically vulnerable Nigerians should not be made to continue to pay the price for the stealing of the country’s oil wealth while state and non-state actors pocket public funds.”

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 3 days of the receipt and/ or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate

legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”

“The proposed panel should be headed by a retired justice of the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal, and its members should include people with proven professional record, and of the highest integrity that can act impartially, independently, and transparently.”

“A comprehensive approach that prioritises accountability and full recovery of missing crude oil and public funds is required to address the problems of the implementation of fuel subsidy since 1999.”

“According to the audited reports between 2016 and 2019 by the Auditor General of the Federation (AGF), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) failed to remit N663,896,567,227.58 into the Federation Account. The AuditorGeneral fears that the money may be missing.”

“The NNPC also reportedly failed to account for the allocation of crude oil to refineries in 2019. 107,239,436.00 barrels of crude oil were lifted as domestic crude without any document. The Auditor-General fears that the crude valued at N55,891,009,960.63 may have been diverted.”

“The NNPC in 2019 also failed to remit N1,955,354,671,268.66 and N55,157,702,848.74 of generated revenues into the Federation Account, contrary to Section 162(1) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended]. The Auditor-General fears that the

money may have been diverted.”

“The NNPC also failed to account for N4,572,844,962.25 of ‘domestic gas receipts’, thereby ‘reducing the distributable revenue in the Federation account.’ The Auditor-General wants the money remitted.”

“The NNPC also in 2019 failed to account for 22,929.84 litres of PMS pumped from refineries and valued at N7,056,137,180.00. The Auditor-General fears that the PMS may have been diverted.”

“The NNPC also ‘illegally classified’ 239,800 barrels of crude oil valued at N5,498,045,220 as ‘crude oil losses.’ The AuditorGeneral fears that the crude oil may have been diverted.”

“The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in 2019 also reportedly failed to remit US$1,278,364,595.49 in revenue to the Federation Account. The money was deducted by the NNPC from the Oil and Gas Royalty assessed by the DPR.”

“The DPR in 2019 also deducted N19,840,081.29 as ‘stamp duty’ payments from contractors and consultants but the DPR instantly paid back the money to the contractors and consultants instead of remitting it to the treasury.”

“The DPR in 2019 also paid N137,225,973.35 to contractors and consultants for various contracts and consultancies but failed to deduct stamp duty. The Auditor-General wants the money recovered.”

“The DPR also paid N11,856,088,271.92 as salaries for 2019 but failed to deduct N118,560,882.72 as contribution

of 1% Industrial Training Fund (ITF). The DPR in 2019 also failed to transfer US$35,738,342.95 year balance. The Auditor-General wants the money recovered and remitted.”

“The DPR in 2018 also withdrew without any explanation US$759,387,755.10 from DPR Signature Bonus Account rather than paid the money into the Federation Account.”

“Subsidy records show that N443,940,559,974.80 was paid as total subsidy for 2016 but the money was not budgeted for. The payments were for outstanding Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) commitments for year 2015.”

“However, there was no payment in 2016. Only outstanding payments for previous years 2014 and 2015 and interest payments were made in 2016.”

“The Auditor-General fears that the oil marketers that received the subsidy payments may not have been ‘eligible to draw from the Petroleum Support Fund as the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Authority (PPPRA) failed to provide any document on the payments.’”

“N39,141,210,181.74 was also paid from the Federation Account in 2016 to different Oil Marketers in 26 transactions, being Payments of Interest and Foreign Exchange Differential on Subsidy but without any document.”

“The NNPC also made ‘zero profit’ and recorded ‘losses from its joint ventures in 2016. This is contrary to expectations that profits should be made from the joint ventures.’”

By Abubakar Yunus Abuja

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has rejected an application by Nigeria Air to proceed to phase two in the process of obtaining its air operators certificate (AOC).

In a letter seen by TheCable, dated June 2, 2023, NCAA said due to the unavailability of a “formal application form” and other “necessary documents”, the certification process cannot progress to phase two.

“The authority is in receipt of your letter dated May 25, 2023, on the above subject matter,” NCAA said.

“Quite contrary to our earlier letter of 16th May 2023, which enumerated the documents to be submitted with the formal application form OPS 002, your letter of request to proceed to phase two has no inclusion of a formal application form and the necessary documents referenced in the formal application form.

“Hence, the certification process cannot progress to phase two without these required documents.

“Please be reminded that your post holders’ letters of commitment to Nigeria Air have a tenure of three months and as such expire now. “

A year ago, the federal government granted an air transport license (ATL) to Nigeria

Air to commence operation.

NCAA rejects Nigeria Air’s request to proceed to phase two of AOC acquisition NCC begins issuance of licences to mobile virtual network operators

But the proposed national carrier has been unable to complete the requirements for the issuance of the AOC, which — among other requirements for an airline to operate — is a note of authority issued to airlines that fully guarantees them the right to begin air services.

There are five stages involved in acquiring the AOC, according to NCAA.

In phase one, NCAA appoints a certification team and processes the pre-application statement of intent form (AC-OPS 001). Discussions on all regulatory requirements, the formal application and attachments, and any other related issues will take place.

This process usually takes a week to complete.

Moving to the second phase, a formal application for intending entrants where documents and manuals (including the curriculum vitae of key management personnel) must be submitted for evaluation. The minimum timeframe for the formal application phase is two weeks.

The third stage involves a document evaluation, where the NCAA will review the applicant’s manuals and other related documents and attachments to ensure conformity with the applicable regulations and safe operating practices.

The minimum timeframe for the document evaluation phase is three months.

From there, NCAA’s scrutiny moves to the fourth stage: the demonstration and inspection — a key phase of the process carried out only after a satisfactory documentation evaluation phase.

In this stage, a thorough audit by the certification team at the applicant’s premises will be conducted to ensure that the proposed procedures are effective and that the applicant’s facilities and equipment meet the NCAA’s regulatory requirements.

Also in phase four, other demonstrations like the emergency evacuation and ditching will be carried out, and after successes in these exercises; a demonstration flight will be carried out. The minimum timeframe for the demonstration and inspection phase is two months.

The fifth and final phase is certification and this means once the airline has met the regulatory requirements of the civil aviation (air navigation) regulations, the NCAA will issue the AOC with the appropriate specifications and ratings.

The minimum timeframe for the certification phase is one week, and after the issuance of the AOC, the applicant can engage in commercial aviation activities in Nigeria.

On May 26, 2023, the federal government unveiled Nigeria Air in the country’s capital city amid controversy over its ‘inaugural’ aircraft.

Prior to its launch, domestic aviation firms, under the aegis of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), had opposed the floating of the airline over uncertainties in its ownership structure — a conflict that began soon after Ethiopian Air was announced as the preferred bidder for Nigeria Air.

A federal high court in Lagos consequently restrained the government from floating the airline.

As a result, the airline missed its operation deadline several times.

However, Hadi Sirika, former minister of aviation, continued to reiterate that the national carrier would fly before May 29.

When an aircraft intended for the use of Nigeria Air landed in Abuja on May 26 — three days to the end of Sirika’s tenure — the minister assured that a demonstration flight (usually in the fourth stage) would commence soon.

“So, this airplane will be here and we will commence the demonstration flight to show that we can do it. It is normally around 0-40 hours but it can be less. It can be five or even two hours and this is to ensure that we are able and have the capacity to do it,” he had said.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it has begun the issuance of licences to mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) in the country.

An MVNO is a company that does not own a mobile spectrum license but sells mobile services under its brand name using the network of a licensed mobile operator.

Mohammed Babajika, director, licensing and authorisation, NCC, spoke during a recent two-day stakeholders consultative forum ‘Talk-To-The Regulator’, held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.

He disclosed that the commission has finalised the framework for MVNOs and was currently in the process of licensing them.

Babajika said the licensing of MVNOs will improve the telecommunication output of the country, enable the expansion and availability of quality mobile coverage and close the gap between the unserved and underserved population in Nigeria.

“While the commission is fully committed to discharging its mandate, it can only achieve this with the cooperation and support of licencees,” Babajika said.

METRO

Finally, FCTA bulldozers demolish 30-yr-old UTC market for development

By Stanley Onyekwere

At last, bulldozers from the Development Control Department of the FCT Administration at the weekend pulled down the Area 7 Shopping Complex, popularly known as the Union Trading Company (UTC) market, thereby paving way for the commencement of its proposed remodelling, two years after an agreement was signed by Abuja Investment Company Limited on behalf of the FCT Administration with Urban Shelter Limited, in 2021.

It was gathered that there had been long standing pockets of resistance from a section of the over 30-year old UTC Market stakeholders, despite amicable resolutions backing the process for rebounding of the place.

However, as the UTC Complex finally goes down in ruins, the FCT administration insisted that the structure was over due for restructuring to fit into a Shopping Complex model required to grow Small and Medium Entreprises (SMEs) to address global business needs and challenges.

According to a Deputy Director, Monitoring and Inspection, Department of Development Control, Hassan Ogbole, the structures were defective, hence the need to upgrade it to the standard that will meet global business standards.

Ogbole revealed that provision for temporary place had been made for the traders and other occupants of the Complex to enable reconstruction of the place.

He also disclosed that adequate notices have been given to the occupants of the place , to enable them move out and allow the construction to start, but many of them refused to vacate, while some deliberately refused to move out.

According to him, “The place is in state of disrepair, the place is no longer habitable for occupation and

business activities. The place has to give way for a New development.

“The company handling the development has informed

Development Control and we are here to enforce compliance. We have given them enough notices for them to remove their goods, to

enable us start the work”.

Also speaking, the Secretary, Command and Control, FCTA Department of Security, Peter

Olumiji said demolishing the Complex was also needed to curtain the security challenges in the Area.

Olumiji noted that apart from restructuring the place to meet global standards, there was need to curtail the criminal activities prevalent in the place.

He disclosed that plans to remodeling the place, was carefully designed to end the thuggery that rubbishes the image of the place, especially faking of official documents.

For one of the affected traders, Samuel Onuchukwu, the traders and other occupants of the Complex were worried, because the temporary site provided for them, is not properly secured for business activities.

He disclosed that many of the traders were yet to remove their belongings from the shops and offices, when the the bulldozers stormed the place.

According to him, they woke up early Saturday morning to learn that the whole UTC area had been barricaded, and demolition going o , with some goods still entrapped.

Meanwhile, the technical coordinator, Urban Shelter Limited, Engr Ayodele Kolawole, during the inspection of the temporary market site, recently, said necessary measures have been put in place to ensure that no body is disrupted of his or her livelihood or be short changed.

He revealed that there are 480 shops in the temporary relocation site for UTC traders and shop owners who had over 472 shops in the place earmarked redevelopment.

Kolawole revealed that the remodeling, which will last for the period of two years would be done in phases, as part of the resolutions reached with the traders, shop owners, Abuja market management, Urban Shelter Limited and Abuja Investment Company.

FCT-APC Youth protests considering Candido, exAMAC Chair for appointment in Tinubu’s regime

The FCT APC Youth For Good Governance and Sustainable Development (YGG-SD) has declared that former Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abdullahi Adamu Candido should not be considered as of those to be appointed for any position in the President Bola Tinubu’s led Federal Government.

YGG-SD alleged that it was Candido, the immediate past Mandate Secretary, Transportation, FCT Administration, whose antiparty activities contributed to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) lossing AMAC to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the recent FCT Area Councils

election.

Declaring this stance at a press briefing at the weekend, Coordinator, FCT YGG-SD, Hon.

Muhammad Kabir Abubakar, disclosed that the group was reliably informed that Candido’s CV is one among others to be considered for Ministerial appointment or any other appointment in the Tinubu’s administration.

Abubakar said: “If this really become true, members of APC in FCT must have to believe that, the only language APC leadership understand better is anti-party activity. This will surely reduce the morale and contribution spirit of most of our serious minded APC stakeholders in FCT and give

reason to many APC members that anti-party activities is a serious business and it pay with big reward”.

He recalled that the group had on the 5th of January, 2023, wrote protest letter addressed to APC National Chairman, Sen. Dr. Abdullahi Adamu, was copied to so many personalities and stakeholders within the APC leadership and family, notifying them on the anti-party activities of Candido, which was not acted upon, and that gave him the opportunity to do more harm to APC during the 2023 Presidential election.

While stressing that political appointment and reward should be done based on political

participation and political patronage, not because of political pressure, the group called on President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and Sen. Abdullahi Adamu to take act on its letter of notification on Candido’s anti-party activities, which contained clear facts and proof.

“We are hundred percent in support of appointing someone for Ministerial appointment from FCT, because it deserved to have a Minister, but not someone like Hon. Abdullahi Adamu Candido.

“If all members of APC in FCT Work against the party the way Hon. Candido did, APC in FCT would have not scored the 90,902 votes scored for APC during the

February 25th 2023 Presidential election.

“Therefore, Candido’s CV should not be considered as of those to be appointed for any given position from FCT, and leadership of our great party, the APC at the National Secretariat should look at FCT APC party Executive issues.

“Most of those parading themselves as party leaders in FCT has their name not featured and recognized at the National Secretariat. We have two different APC Party Executives in FCT, we need to know which one is the genuine and recognize by authority”, FCT YGG-SD Coordinator added.

The hitherto UTC Shopping Complex now in ruins.

Leipzig violence: Clashes in German city over jail term for woman who attacked neo-Nazis

Demonstrators in the eastern city of Leipzig set up road blocks, lit fires and threw stones at officers, police said.

Lina E was sentenced to five years in jail, but released pending an appeal as she had been detained since 2020.

The protest in the city, where Lina E had studied, had earlier been banned.

A police spokesman said around 1,500 people turned up anyway, claiming around a third of those were “prone to violence”, the Reuters news agency reports.

Saturday’s violence followed similar scenes the previous night, when several hundred people lit bonfires in the street and thrown stones from buildings onto police vehicles.

Lina E was regarded as a leader of a far-left group responsible for carrying out a brutal campaign of violence against the extreme right over several years, including attacks with hammers, iron bars and baseball bats.

After Lina E was found guilty, there were far-left protests in several cities and police were targeted with bottles and fireworks and baseball bats.

Three men convicted alongside her were also given jail sentences

on Wednesday. Other Germans were angered by the decision to release Lina

E, after two-and-a-half years in custody - believing the decision implies violence against the

extreme right is acceptable. She is said to be unwell and has had to hand in her identity

Prince Harry, hacking claims and the royal court case of the century

It promises to be an electrifying moment as he gives his evidence and faces questions this coming week from lawyers in London’s High Court about his allegations of phone hacking.

Prince Harry has said that changing the media landscape is his “life’s work” - and this gladiatorial courtroom encounter could be one of his own defining moments.

He has two of the key requirements for this legal battle: First, a single-minded determination to keep going without settling, and second, being rich enough to take the financial hit if he loses.

But giving evidence in person in this Mirror Group Newspapers hacking trial will have big risks for him. He will face the type of open, public and tough questioning that is a long way from any previous royal interview he has taken part in.

“This isn’t like taking questions from Oprah Winfrey in a celebrity interview,” says Tim Maltin, managing partner of Maltin PR, which specialises in high-profile reputation management.

“It is a hostile encounter with a highly-skilled crossexaminer armed with a battery of techniques to undermine your credibility.

“Giving evidence is daunting… and cross-examination is far more

often traumatic than cathartic,” he says.

Prince Harry is likely to face detailed questioning about highly personal news stories which he claims were obtained through unlawful means - an allegation which the newspaper group disputes.

He could face gruelling questioning about stories relating to his relationships, his girlfriends, his mother Diana, the treatment of Meghan and his life growing up in the Royal Family.

There have already been challenges to the allegations of Prince Harry and his cocomplainants. Lawyers for Mirror Group have said the evidence of hacking is “slim” in some cases and “utterly non-existent” in others.

Prince Harry’s own memoir, Spare, might be turned against him, with its accounts of drug taking and family tensions.

Historian and author Sir Anthony Seldon thinks Prince Harry is ill-advised to be appearing in court like this.

“Harry should never be there,” he says, arguing that the Royal Family should rise above such fights.

“Harry’s standing and trajectory will only be harmed, whatever the outcome. The public is losing sympathy with him and his constant protestations of

victimhood,” says Sir Anthony.

“Harry and Meghan’s continuing hard luck stories only make William and Kate look much better in every way,” he adds.

But royal commentator Pauline Maclaran thinks taking a stand like this could boost Prince Harry’s popularity, particularly among young people.

Rather than being accused of being privileged or entitled, she says in this court case “he’ll be seen as the underdog, and that’s a good position to be seen in”.

“Many young people will see him as quite a heroic figure, fighting the establishment,” says Prof Maclaran, an academic at Royal Holloway, University of London.

“It could be good for Harry in the long run, even though the older generation will be tuttutting,” she says.

As for the rest of the Royal Family, they will be “watching with an element of horror”, she says.

A previous hacking case this year against News Group Newspapers already produced the bombshell claim that Prince William had reached a private settlement with the newspaper publishers.

And Prof Maclaran expects more focus on the Royal Family’s dealings with the press in a way

that could prove “uncomfortable” for Harry’s royal relatives.

The Newsnight interview with Prince Andrew in 2019 only lasted an hour - but it is still providing material for news four years later. So it is not surprising if there is royal anxiety about Prince Harry facing days of giving evidence.

There is going to be intense global interest in this court case. Harry and his wife Meghan provoke strong reactions among supporters and critics, and the eyes of the world will be watching.

Royal historian Ed Owens says the public will be fascinated by this combination of “courtroom drama and royal soap opera” and the prospect of a royal “pulling back the curtain” on the relationship between the tabloid press and the monarchy.

Not only does this case aim to expose evidence of hacking, but the stakes are made even higher by the argument that senior executives must also have known what was going on.

How will Harry react when his claims are challenged and put under the microscope? Will he start getting irritated? Will it be upsetting for him to talk about the press intrusion which by his own account has dogged him since childhood? How will he handle the pressure?

It is very unusual to see a royal appearance in a witness box.

The last senior royal to give evidence in this way was in the 19th Century, when Edward VII, as Prince of Wales, appeared in two cases - one in a dispute over card cheating and the other in a divorce case, in which the prince denied any “improper familiarity”.

In 2002, Princess Anne appeared in court to plead guilty after her dogs bit two children.

But those were very brief and different types of court appearances.

Part of the mystique of the monarchy is in saying little and answering less. Prince Harry is breaking the unspoken taboo about a royal going into the witness box to face what could be very embarrassing questionsbut it is something that he clearly feels is worth the risk.

His grievance with the excesses of the press is deeply personal and emotional.

This is a court confrontation that you could almost trace directly back to the death of his mother Diana, in a car crash in Paris in 1997 when she was being pursued by paparazzi.

He has repeatedly connected that moment to his battle with the tabloid press.

It is his day of reckoning. His high noon in the High Court.

Source: BBC

card and passport while she waits for the result of her appeal.

Nigeria- Belgium-Luxembourg Business Forum kicks off Wednesday

By Ochiaka Ugwu

All is set for the Nigeria –Belgium –Luxembourg Business Forum holding in Luxembourg and Brussels from June 7th to 9TH, 2023.

The Business Forum is an initiative of the Embassy of Nigeria in Belgium in conjunction with Belgium Luxembourg Nigeria Chamber of Commerce (BLNCC) , Afrinex, and A-Law.

The event which will bring together key industry players and government officials will focus on agric-business, renewable energy, health, construction/ infrastructure, financial services and other sectors of the economy.

Presentations on investment opportunities in Nigeria will be made by Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and other government agencies.

As at Friday, more than 130 participants from the three countries have registered to participate at the event which will be the first major investment drive in the life of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Nigerian Ambassador to Belgium, Mr. Obinna Chiedu Onowu and his team have been working tirelessly in the last four

months, not only to ensure the success of the Business Forum, but to also see that it translates to Foreign Direct Investment for Nigeria.

According to Ambassador Onowu, the Business Forum is coming at the right time with the full deregulation of oil downstream sector by the Federal Government, particularly removal of fuel subsidy

He said the Forum would lead to improvement in the level of interaction among businesses in the three countries in the non-oil sector, increase bilateral trade relations, and promote investment opportunities among them.

In his words: “The Business Forum will provide a good avenue for match making which is currently a major challenge. It will deepen ties especially in the key sectors, such as education,, transportation, agriculture, healthcare, renewable energy, information technology, trade, entertainment and services

“It will not only lead to an improvement on the subsisting commercial relations among Nigeria, Belgium and Luxembourg, the Forum will also attract Direct Foreign

in

He disclosed that foreign trade report for the fourth quarter of 2022 by the National

Bureau of Statistics of Nigeria indicates that the Kingdom of Belgium ranks among the major countries of origin of imports to Nigeria, adding “ the kingdom has been consistent within this ranking for almost two years’’

Onowu said further” records with the Belgian Foreign Trade Agency indicates that for the first month of 2023,Nigeria ranked the 16th client in trade volume (export into Nigeria) amongst Belgian trade partners which amounted to 511.8 million Euros and 60th supplier in trade volume (import into Belgium ) in the sum of 43.5 million Euros

“Trade balance between both countries stands at 468.3 million Euros in the favour of Belgium. As it is Belgium is strategic and an important trade partner for Nigeria. Trade is majorly in the oil sector that is for Nigeria while mineral products, Chemical, machinery and equipment are the major items received from Belgium.”

On Luxembourg, the Ambassador notes that the country has a reputation of being a solid financial hub which makes it strategic trade partner to Nigeria.

Sudan conflict: Caesarean by phone light - giving birth in a warzone

All but a few hospitals in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, have closed down because of the conflict raging there. Those that remain open often run out of power, making giving birth an even more stressful experience than usual for both the women and the healthcare workers trying to help them - especially if surgery is needed.

“We’re relying on lights from mobile phones to perform a Caesarean,” obstetrician Dr Howaida Ahmed al-Hassan said on a video shared with the BBC.

She recorded the footage as she was operating on a motherto-be.

Her gloved hands can be seen applying pressure to the patient’s chest and stomach as the Caesarean takes place.

The medics present - all women - surround Dr Hassan and hold their phones up to illuminate the area where an incision has been made.

Dr Hassan was one of the handful of obstetricians who remained at Alban Jadeed Hospital, in the north of Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, for three consecutive weeks after heavy fighting erupted between military factions in April.

In the video she sent to the BBC, she showed wards with

nurses assisting mothers giving birth under extremely tough conditions.

“The situation is really bad. We’ve stayed in the hospital for days and days. We’ve completely lost any sense of time. We don’t know if it’s day or night,” Dr Hassan said.

“There is minimum medical staffing in the hospital, and in many cases the electricity cuts out and we have no gasoline to operate the generators for Caesareans.”

‘High-risk births’

She said the maternity ward in her hospital was packed with women in dire need of emergency obstetric care, many requiring Caesareans.

“We have taken high risks performing these Caesareans in dimly lit operating theatres. We do not have enough resources.

“We work in the absence of general anaesthesia consultants and specialists. We’ve had to discharge women only 10 hours after each Caesarean delivery.”

In April, the UN Population Fund estimated 219,000 pregnant women were believed to be at risk, as heavy fighting raged around Khartoum, interspersed by fragile and failed ceasefires.

Near the beginning of the fighting it said that around

24,000 would give birth “in the coming weeks”.

Bashayer al-Fadil was one of those women. She had a Caesarean just days after clashes erupted in Khartoum.

On a video call with the BBC she could be seen cradling her one-week-old baby girl, Omayma.

She said she was lucky to find a hospital that was still open and she was admitted amid sporadic gunfire.

“Explosions could be heard in the streets,” Ms Fadil said.

Most hospitals in her area were not functioning, so she was only able to give birth in a hospital thanks to her network of contacts.

Only one out of every six hospitals in Khartoum is working at full capacity, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

“I was trying to look for any hospital that would admit me for a Caesarean and I was lucky enough to find the hospital with help from my doctor and friends.”

On the delivery day, Ms Fadil said she and her husband had to run through gunfire that swept across their neighbourhood, until they arrived safely at the hospital.

“I have given birth in tough

circumstances. Even the simplest things, like water, were not available.”

The new mother has not been able to get a birth certificate for her baby, nor give her essential vaccinations, as the violence continues to rage.

Ms Fadil’s experience is not isolated. She said dozens of her pregnant friends had had difficulty getting to hospitals, and many had suffered miscarriages.

Omdurman Maternity Hospital, one of the largest of its kind in Sudan, closed its doors a few days after the clashes began.

Dr Kameel Kamal, a consultant gynaecologist there, told the BBC that most maternity hospitals in Sudan were now out of service. As a result, thousands of pregnant women faced dangerous complications, he said.

“Although there are no official statistics, we estimate large numbers of pregnant women are left to scream [in pain] in their homes.

“I’m sure there are lots of home deaths, haemorrhages, miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, breech births, still births and many cases [of patients] who cannot get access to treatment,” he said.

Dr Kamal warned that the fighting was taking a “disastrous toll” on pregnant women in Sudan.

Even before the conflict began, Sudan had among the highest number of maternal deaths in the world, according to the WHO.

‘We create lives, they kill us’

Midwives are still playing a vital role with some continuing to make home visits.

Midwife Mawaheb, who did not give her surname, told the BBC she had helped around seven women have safe natural deliveries since fighting broke out.

“When I receive a phone call to be asked if I can help a woman in labour, I immediately head towards this woman’s house without hesitation.

“In most cases, labour goes smoothly. If there is a problem or complication, I send the woman to the nearest functioning hospital,” she said.

Despite the mounting odds in hospital, obstetrician Dr Hassan said medical staff try to keep spirits high and celebrate babies being delivered safely.

“We create lives, they kill us. We help two souls stay alive - a mother and a baby,” she said.

Source: BBC

Investment to Nigeria both

the oil and non –oil sectors of the economy”.

Nigerian Ambassador to Belgium, Mr. Obinna Chiedu Onowu

Subsidy: Like NLC, TUC demands return to status quo, presents list of demands to FG

By Egena Sunday Ode

The negotiations between the federal government and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) made progress Sunday evening as the union presented a list of its demands to government, with minimum wage review leading the list.

Speaking to newmen after the meeting, which lasted about two and a half hours, both sides disclosed that negotiations would continue from Tuesday this week, when the federal government side, which said it would be taking the demands to President Bola Tinubu, is expected to come with government’s position.

Besides the demand for a review of the minimum wage, it was gathered that the TUC also demanded a tax break for Nigerian workers even as it said it would leave the remaining items on the list undisclosed until after the government representatives must have relayed the list to the President and come back with positions.

The meeting followed an earlier one held last week Wednesday, along with the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in attendance.

Although not present at the Sunday meeting, the government assured that it is engaging with the umbrella Labour union, the NLC, which had recently announced a nationwide strike, starting from Wednesday this week.

The NLC had insisted that the government must revert to the previous petrol pump price before it could continue negotiations.

Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, the spokesman of the government’s side, Mr Dele Alake, expressed satisfaction at the proceedings, giving a hint that

the demands by the TUC were not impracticable, but noted also that the President must be allowed time to consider them.

He said government would look into the issue of minimum wage, since the removal of subsidy has the immediate consequence of reducing the purchasing power of the people, adding that government would be putting a tripartite committee together to study all dynamics relating to the subsidy.

“Well, as you all know, we had this reconvened meeting today as we promised you few days ago when we had the initial meeting with the Labour movement. We said we were going to reconvene today to keep the engagement on, in order to diffuse the tension in the land as a result of the withdrawal of subsidy, which is a reality. Now, we are very happy to announce to Nigerians that this engagement has been very productive.

“The TUC that attended today’s meeting presented a list of demands and those demands we have studied and we are going to present to Mr President for his consideration. But those demands we can announce to Nigerians that a lot of the items on the list are not impracticable. What we need to do is to study the numbers very well, then we have asked the TUC to also give us a leeway to consult very exhaustively and reconvene on Tuesday to actually look at the numbers’ viability, practicability of all the items that have been presented to us.

“Now, most important and top priority on the list, which the government is also looking at very seriously and the President has announced before, is the issue of the minimum wage, which the Labour movement has demanded

is the consequential impact of this removal of subsidy.

“So, government is look at that and Mr President is most likely going to constitute a tripartite committee that is a committee of federal government, including the state and then the organised Labour and the private sector.

“Now, this is a tripartite arrangement, it will be a committee that will study all the dynamics of a wage increase in percentages, the numbers and the categories that will be affected. So by Tuesday, when we come back to reconvene to meet with the TUC again, we should have very concrete items to present to the world. But the most important thing for today is that we are making appreciable progress with the Labour”, Alake said.

When asked to disclose the demands, the spokesman said “it is a list but we are not going to be listing all of them now. The most important is the minimum wage that is increase of minimum wage. Because, when this thing is removed, the argument of Labour is that there is an immediate impact on the workers, on the purchasing power because price of fuel has gone up.

“So, that will necessarily reduce the purchasing power of the average worker. So, the next thing of immediate consequence is to increase the purchasing power of the worker. So, that to me and to all of us on this side is the top most priority on the list. There are other things like the tax holidays which some categories of workers will be beneficiaries. But the most important is the minimum wage”, he said.

On whether the team is also negotiating with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said “no. We are not, but we are making

efforts to reach NLC. We all agreed that we are going to meet here, but again, in this game there are dynamics. Sometimes, they could be meeting with their own executives and not able to meet with us, or they could want to postpone or they have not actually articulated their list of demands as the TUC. But we cannot second guess why they are not here. But efforts are being made to reach them, we are not isolating them at all”, he said.

On whether the meeting discussed the claim that NLC was working for the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the just concluded elections, Peter Obi, Alake declared “no not at all. It has no relevance to the discussion on the concrete terms of the welfare of the workers. Our discussion was majorly on the welfare of workers, how to cushion the impact of this subsidy removal on workers that’s all. Not on any political partisanship.”

Also speaking to journalists, President of the TUC, Festus Osifo, said his team attended the meeting as directed by the union’s National Executive Council (NEC), saying they had submitted their list of demands and would be expecting a feedback by next Tuesday.

Asked if the TUC was satisfied with the discussion so far, Osifo said “yes, we have presented the list of our demands to them and they received it in good faith that they will go back to their principal and come back to us on Tuesday.

“So we’re hopeful that the demands that we have presented will be reviewed in the best interest of Nigerian workers and the entire Nigerian masses”, he said.

Asked what the demands are, he said “the demands are so long, they are so many, part of it is

the demand for a (review) of the minimum wage and we stated that for us, quite apt that the minimum today is not a living wage, as we all know. The value of the minimum wage since it was negotiated, has plummeted to a very abysmal level, as it is today.

“Because they are going back to Mr President, we also think that we should also give them that benefit of doubt because the things we presented to them the last time, they did not also reveal it before the press so it is also quite apt for them to go back, maybe when we meet on Tuesday, we can dissect them one after the other and be much more specific”, he said.

It would be recalled that the Organised Labour, including the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) held a meeting with the government last Wednesday, which ended in a deadlock.

The federal government’s team is being led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume. Others are the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefie; former Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari.

Also in the meeting are the Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Zacch Adedeji; Executive Vice President, Downstream, of the NNPCL, Yemi Adetunji; former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake; Hon James Faleke, amon others.

The Seven-man TUC team was led by Osifo.

From left: Governors Umar Bago of Niger State; Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos; Dapo Abiodun of Ogun and Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa during the first meeting of the Governors Forum with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday (2/6/23)

Taraba Gov declares state of emergency on basic education

By Maryam Abeeb

The Governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas has declared a state of emergency on basic and postbasic education in the state.

The Governor made the announcement during a media interactive session in Jalingo.

He noted that his administration would ensure compulsory and free quality education for all.

He explained that the deplorable state of education had given him concern.

According to him, his administration would boost the training and retraining of teachers in the state.

He assured the people of the protection of lives and property, adding that security would be his top priority.

The governor also promised to adopt a peer review mechanism in the allocation of projects to local government areas, stressing that people would be allowed to choose their areas of priority for developmental projects.

“We shall consult the people of various local government areas to decide on projects that are good for them.

They are the ones who voted for us and, as such, we should engage them in project locations. This would make us serve them better,” he said.

FG to ban underage from writing Common entrance examination

By Maryam Abeeb

The Federal Government has banned underage children from participating in the National Common Entrance Examination for admission into the Unity Schools across the country.

Government has accordingly directed the National Examination Council (NECO) to put strict measures in place to prevent the underage persons from registering for the examination, including making birth certificate compulsory as registration requirement.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr David Andrew Adejo, gave the directive on in Abuja while monitoring the conduct of the 2023 Common Entrance Examination into the 110 Federal Government Colleges across the Federation.

A total of 72,821 candidates sat for the examination on Saturday nationwide.

Adejo noted that to get into secondary, a candidate should be at least 12 years, adding that one could be eleven plus during the examination and by September,

such a person would have attained the age of 12 years.

The Permanent Secretary after monitoring the exercise at the Federal Government Girls College, Bwari, and Government Day Secondary School, Bwari, said he was unhappy to see many underage person taking the examination.

He insisted that less than eleven years was unacceptable, disclosing that Airforce School, among others do not accept candidates less than twelve years for admission into their schools.

Adejo said: “This year, I have advice for parents and I beg you, take this advice to any single home you know. We are killing our children by allowing underage children to write the Common Entrance Examination.

“I saw children that I know that are not up to 10, and three of them accepted that they are nine years old. We are doing many things; one, we are teaching the children the wrong values. Education is not about passing exams. Education is teaching, learning and character formation

“I beg the parents, let these children do the exams when they

should. We don’t get value by pushing your child too far. Most of the times if a child starts too early, he or she will have problems later in life.

“Education is designed in such a way that at any particular stage in life, there are messages your brain can take and understand and be able to use. We are moving from education that is reliant on reading textbooks and passing exams.

“We are getting to a stage where education is what can you use your knowledge to do for the society. You put a small child to go through all the rigours, by the time he finishes secondary, getting to University becomes a problem. I had that experience with a friend. Till date that friend did not get into a University, simply because he was put into school earlier than age that he was supposed to be put into school.

“Let our children get to appropriate age before writing this exam and we are going to make sure NECO put in place appropriate checks. We didn’t want to get to where we will say bring birth certificate but that is the stage we are going to now. In

registering also upload the child’s birth certificate, so that at our own end, we are able to cut some of these things,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary also noted that the efforts of the Federal Government and other stakeholders in encouraging girls education is yielding fruit, saying the number of girls that registered for the Common Entrance Examination this year is 38,000 far above the previous years.

Registrar of NECO, Professor Dantani Wushishi, said the conduct of the examination was generally smooth and orderly, saying from the reports gotten from across the country, the examination went on hitch-free.

While confirming that 72,821 candidates registered for for the 2023 National Common Entrance Examination, Wushishi disclosed that Lagos State had the highest number of enrollment followed by FCT, while the State with lowest registration, Kebbi, has about 115 registered candidates.

He noted that the Council would put in place mechanism to check some of the noticeable gaps caused by upsurge in registration a day to the examination.

WAEC laments on supervisors aiding malpractice

By Maryam Abeeb

The West African Examination Council has expressed worries on supervisors who are supposed to take questions to examination centres are aiding and abetting malpractices across the country.

The Head of National Office, Nigeria, Mr Patrick Areghan, said this while monitoring examination in Abuja.

He identified 56 rogue website operators that leaked its West African Senior Secondary Certificate

Examinations.

Areghan said that the identified rogue website operators would be prosecuted by the police in due course, saying “Some gullible parents and students will go for it and destroy themselves because there is no way they can get our questions,” he said.

“In all, we have made arrests of no fewer than 15 persons comprising candidates, supervisors, school proprietors, and others connected with the malpractices.

“Supervisors are our problems, they make a lot of money from this. The exam is taking place in over

21,000 secondary schools in Nigeria with only 2,000 staff strength, how many centres are we going to man?

These supervisors are teachers given to us by state ministries of education and when they come, they make it a business.

We are not in control of social media, small boys post questions for advertisement and ask candidates to subscribe on their websites and then they give them fake questions,” he added.

“We have a regulation to release papers to supervisors one hour before commencement time to enable them

to go from the collection point to the administrative point because of distance in some schools.

“But what they do is to snap the question papers and send them to their syndicate groups.

“Candidates are already in the exam hall and you are posting the questions. Sometimes, they change the front of the questions and add 2023 for exam questions of 2020,” he said.

The WAEC head said that the council had put in place technology to detect any form of maleficence from any location.

Why are people leaving Russia, who are they, and where are they going?

Hundredsof thousands of Russians are estimated to have left their country since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We look at who they are, where they are going, and why they are leaving.

Svetlana is in her early 30s and originally from a small town. She moved to Moscow at 18 to study physics at university. After graduation she worked as a product manager for various companies.

“I never thought I’d have to leave, I planned to retire in Moscow,” she says, “I love Russia and I enjoyed my life.”

Russians had been leaving even before the Ukraine war, including those who disagreed with Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and with new laws that made it easier to punish dissent. Many settled in the Baltic states and other EU countries, as well as in Georgia.

For Svetlana, the full-scale invasion of Ukraine of 2022 was a turning point.

“When the war started, I realised that it would not be over soon and also that people would not come out to protest. I felt both emotionally and rationally it made sense to leave,” she says. She is now in Belgrade, Serbia’s capital.

“I wanted to put as great a distance between myself and the authorities as possible.”

Many Russians shared her feelings and what had been a trickle turned into a stream.

The first wave came in March and April last year - new emigres told the BBC they were against the war, and disappointed more Russians did not come out to protest. Feeling isolated and at risk, they felt it was safer to leave.

President Putin began a military mobilisation in September 2022. Described as “partial” by the authorities, in reality it meant most men were at risk of the draft.

Numerous reports followed of poor training and insufficient kit provided to the newly conscripted.

Men and their families started leaving in droves, creating days’-long queues on the Russian borders with Georgia and Kazakhstan.

The Russian president’s official spokesman Dmitry Peskov has denied Russians were leaving en masse to avoid being drafted.

In April Russian authorities introduced an “online call-up”, where new conscripts could be added to a digital register rather than be handed the papers by hand - he also denied the new system was designed to stop the flow of men leaving.

How many left - and where to?

There are no exact figures on how many people have left Russiabut estimates vary from hundreds of thousands to several million.

In May the UK Ministry of Defence estimated 1.3 million people leaving Russia in 2022.

Other estimates of figures from various sources confirm the trend.

Forbes magazine cited sources inside

the Russian authorities as saying that between 600,000 and 1,000,000 people left in 2022. The Bell and RTVi - both independent Russian mediapublished comparable figures.

Leaving Russia is relatively easy, as long as you have money and have not been called up to the army. But finding a permanent place to stay is hard.

In the months following the start of the war many countries, mostly the EU and the US, made it difficult for Russians to apply for visas unless they already had family there or were travelling for work.

In many other countries - such as Georgia and Armenia - Russians faced no such restrictions and could come and go as they please. They still can.

Other countries, including Kazakhstan, changed their laws earlier this year, reportedly to stem the flow of Russian immigrants by limiting how many days they can stay as tourists.

Without a prospect of returning to Russia, more and more people need to apply for residency to be able to work in the countries they are settling in - though many are finding ways to keep working remotely for Russian employers.

We know that in the past 15 months, around 155,000 Russians received temporary residence permits in, collectively, EU countries, in several countries of the Balkans, Caucasus and Central Asia.

Nearly 17,000 have applied for political asylum in EU countries but only around 2,000 have received it, according to the European Union Agency for Asylum.

The Russian Interior Ministry says 40% more have applied for foreign passports in 2022 than in the year before.

‘I was terrified of being sent to kill other people’

Since the start of this war we have spoken to dozens of Russians who have left.

They come from different walks of life. Some are journalists like us, but there are also IT experts, designers, artists, academics, lawyers, doctors, PR specialists, and linguists. Most are under 50. Many share western liberal values and hope Russia will be a democratic country one day. Some are LGBTQ+.

Sociologists studying the current Russian emigration say there is evidence that those leaving are younger, better educated and wealthier than those staying. More often they are from bigger cities.

Thomas is from St Petersburg.

“I am a pacifist and was terrified of being sent to kill other people. I’ve been against Russia’s policy towards Ukraine since 2014. Invasion and killing of civilians is unacceptable,” he says.

After the start of the full-scale invasion he posted anti-war messages on social media and joined street protests, he says. As a gay man, he was also concerned for his safety.

“After Russia adopted laws on ‘ban on gay propaganda’ and on ‘fake news’ about the Russian army I knew that the threat to my life and freedom had increased,” he says.

Thomas applied for political asylum in Sweden and tried to explain to the authorities there why returning to Russia would be dangerous. His application was turned down but he appealed against the decision.

“Since I only have the right to limited time with a state lawyer, I am working on gathering evidence for my case on my own.”

For Sergei, a native of the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, it is a different set of problems. He is now in Tbilisi, Georgia. The day Russia invaded Ukraine, he phoned several of his friends and they all agreed the war was bad news.

“Whatever happened next, the economy was going to go down,” he says. “A week later we all met up and decided we needed to prepare to [leave].”

As days went on, Sergei says, the war got closer.

“We saw a lot of military kit on its way to Ukraine. Hospitals were full of wounded. Rostov airport was closed for civilian flights but there were lots of planes and we knew where they were going.”

In September after Putin’s mobilisation speech Sergei’s mother, who had criticised him for not being

sufficiently patriotic, phoned him and said: “Pack your things and go.” Sergei drove all night to Georgia, where he now lives.

“My wife and child are still in Russia. I have to pay their expenses and accommodation out there and my own here. I work two jobs - one remotely for my company in Russia and one here, for a friend’s small business.”

Sergei says he is saving money to get his family out of Russia to another country. His wife, who had been reluctant, now agrees they need to look for a new life elsewhere, he says.

What does this mean for Russia?

The Russian authorities tried to downplay the impact of hundreds of thousands of educated and well-off people leaving the country along with their money, but the economic impact is evident.

Russia’s largest private bank, Alfa Bank, estimates that 1.5% of Russia’s entire workforce may have left the country. Most of those who left are highly skilled professionals. Companies complain of staff shortages and hiring difficulties.

Russia’s Central Bank reported in the early stages of the war that Russians withdrew a record 1.2 trillion roubles (around £12bn / $15bn) from their accounts. This is a scale unseen in Russia since the 2008 financial crisis.

Economist Sergei Smirnov from

the Russian National Academy of Sciences believes that, as a general trend, higher skilled individuals will continue to look for ways to leave.

“There will be increasingly more demand for people to be able to fix cars or make shoes. I don’t like apocalyptic scenarios but I believe this will lead to productivity within the Russian economy continuing to fall over time.”

The economist points out that these trends will primarily affect large cities, such as Moscow, St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg.

“Most of the Russian territory will not be aware of these transformations because standards of living in smaller cities, towns and villages have always been low and will continue to be in the future.”

Meanwhile Svetlana, in Belgrade, has no plans to return to Russia.

“I am working for a start-up based in Moldova but recently I applied for a job in the Netherlands.”

Sergei in Tbilisi is applying for jobs in Europe. For now his life is tough: “I don’t have any days off, sometimes I don’t have enough time for a night’s sleep, I nap in the car.”

And Thomas in Sweden hopes he won’t be forced to go back to Russia where he fears homophobic abuse. He is learning Swedish to be able to get any job at all.

Source: BBC

The Russian authorities tried to downplay the impact of hundreds of thousands of educated and well-off people leaving the country along with their money, but the economic impact is evident.

“

When President Putin announced a military mobilisation last September, thousands of Russians rushed to the border.

President Putin’s spokesman denied the authorities were trying to stop men leaving the country.

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4.TO MEDIATEAMONG THE COMPONENTS COMMUNITIES THERE ISADISPUTE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : FRANCIS AMADI ESQ.

PUBLIC NOTICE

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COLLEGE OGBOMOSHO

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1.ADELEKE BABATUNDE AYOADE

2.ADEWUYI ADEDIRE ABAYOMI.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.TO PROTECT THE INTEREST OF ITS MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

RESCUE HANDS INITIATIVE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND EMPOWERMENT OF THE UNDERPRIVILEGED

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. STEPHENS CHIDINMA FAVOUR ( CHAIRMAN)

2. OZIOMA IVANA TREASURE

3. STEPHEN BISHOP- GREAT MMESOMA - SECRETARY

4. IKAPE JAMES IKAPE

5. AKENOVA CESNABMIHILO OGI

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO RESCUE VULNERABLE AND UNDERPRIVILEGED YOUTHS AND CHILDREN OFF THE STREET AND BASIC SHELTER, FOOD, AND CLOTHING FOR THEM.

2. TO REDUCE POVERTY BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN TOACCESS FORMALEDUCATION, VOCATIONALAND SKILLACQUISITION

3. TO PARTNER WITH RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS AND MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS TO PROVIDE FREE HEALTHCARE FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED COMMUNITIES.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

CANDEL HEALTHY EYES FOR ALL FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1.BAKARE CAROLINE EJIEHIOKHIN - CHAIRMAN

2.BAKARE BABATUNDE

3.ITSUELI MARY ENOREDIA -SECRETARY

4.ONAGHINON ONOISE JOCELYN.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.TO REGULARLY ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING OPHTHALMOLOGIST, GOVERNMENT,NON GOVERNMENTALORGANISATIONS PRIVATEAND CORPORATE BODIES ON THE PROBLEMSAND SOLUTIONS OF THE VARIOUS CAUSES OF BLINDNESSAND VISUAL IMPAIRMENT IN NIGERIA.

2.TO PREVENT AND ELIMINATE AVOIDABLE BLINDNESS AND VISUAL IMPAIRMENT IN NIGERIA

3.ORGANISE REGULAR EYE OUTREACH/EYE CAMPS WITH FOCUS ON UNDER SERVED COMMUNITIES

4.PROVISION OF FREE AND OR HIGHLY SUBSIDIZED HIGH QUALITY HIGH VOLUME EYE

SURGERIES

5.PROVISION AND DISPENSING OF CORRECTIVE MEDICATED SPECTACLES TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS.

6.PUBLIC ENLIGHTENMENT PROGRAME/STRATEGIES GEARED TOWARD PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF THE COMMON CAUSES OF BLINDNESS AND VISUAL IMPAIRMENT IN NIGERIA. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRARGENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

BALARABE FAMILY ASSOCIATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAME ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART F OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 2020

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1. MOHAMMED BATURE (CHAIRMAN)

2. SHAFII UMARU KATSINA (SECRETARY)

3. ALIYU MUHAMMAD SIRAJO

4. MUHAMMAD MASHI HAMBALI

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO FOSTER PEACE, UNITY, EQUITY AND PROGRESS AMONG FAMILY MEMBERS.

2. TO ENGAGE IN CHARITY WORK AND CARE FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGE IN THE SOCIETY.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : BARR. MOHAMMED ATTAHIRU 08036492700.

PUBLIC NOTICE

BALARABE FAMILY ASSOCIATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAME ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART F OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 2020

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1. MOHAMMED BATURE (CHAIRMAN)

2. SHAFII UMARU KATSINA (SECRETARY)

3. ALIYU MUHAMMAD SIRAJO

4. MUHAMMAD MASHI HAMBALI

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO FOSTER PEACE, UNITY, EQUITY AND PROGRESS AMONG FAMILY MEMBERS.

2. TO ENGAGE IN CHARITY WORK AND CARE FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGE IN THE SOCIETY.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : BARR. MOHAMMED ATTAHIRU 08036492700.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. DR SALIHU BAKARI GIREI.

2. AISHATU SALIHU BAKARI

3. ASHRAF SALIHU BAKARI

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND CARE TO ORPHANS TO ADDRESS THEIR CRISIS.

2. TO ESTERBLISHED A WELL EQUIPPED ORPHANAGE AND SHELTER FOR ORPHANS.

3. TO PROVIDE SOUND EDUCATION AND SCHOLARSHIP TO ORPHANS

4. TO PARTNER WITH HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE HEALTHCARE AND NUTRITION TO ORPHANS.

5. TO TRACE AND REUNITE ORPHANS WITH THEIR EXTENDED FAMILIES. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT

PUBLIC NOTICE

EGBETA INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN DIASPORA ASSOCIATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. OGBOMON THOMAS OLUFEMI-CHAIRMAN

2. ROTIMI OMO-SECRETARY

3. OWIE ZAINAB

4. OBASOHAN GREGORY

5. IYRE HAPPY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.TO ENHANCE, PROMOTE, AND PROTECT THE INTERESTS AND WELFARE OF MEMBERS IN DIASPORA.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

OKABA OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. MOMOH FATIMA ONUMA - CHAIRMAN

2. USMAN JULIET TALATU - SECRETARY

3. KAIMO KPAADOO CECILIA - TRUSTEE

4. BABALOLA HASSANA FAITH - TRUSTEE

5. ABUTU JULIANA EBAMU - TRUSTEE

6. ALIYU RABI ANAIYE - TRUSTEE

7. ATU JANE OMOJO - TRUSTEE

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO FACILITATE SUCH SOCIAL INTERACTION AMONGST THE FORMER STUDENTS

2. TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED REFLECTION IN THEIR LIVES OF THE MORAL, RELIGION AND OTHER NOBLE IDEALS OF THE SCHOOL

3. TO ACT AS MENTOR TO YOUNGER GENERATION

4. TO ORGANIZE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS

5. TO ENSURE THE PROGRESS OF THE ASSOCIATION AND HER MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

OKABA OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. MOMOH FATIMA ONUMA - CHAIRMAN

2. USMAN JULIET TALATU - SECRETARY

3. KAIMO KPAADOO CECILIA - TRUSTEE

4. BABALOLA HASSANA FAITH - TRUSTEE

5. ABUTU JULIANA EBAMU - TRUSTEE

6. ALIYU RABI ANAIYE - TRUSTEE

7. ATU JANE OMOJO - TRUSTEE

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO FACILITATE SUCH SOCIAL INTERACTION AMONGST THE FORMER STUDENTS

2. TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED REFLECTION IN THEIR LIVES OF THE MORAL, RELIGION AND OTHER NOBLE IDEALS OF THE SCHOOL

3. TO ACT AS MENTOR TO YOUNGER GENERATION

4. TO ORGANIZE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS

5. TO ENSURE THE PROGRESS OF THE ASSOCIATION AND HER MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALVATION OF GRACE CHRISTIAN CENTRE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. DUDU ORITSE-TSEYISAN ORIS - CHAIRMAN

2. DUDU LILIAN AGHOGHO - SECRETARY

3. OBULU ESTHER

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. MAKING DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS FOR CHRIST THROUGH THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL.

2. TEACHING THE BODY OF CHRIST, THE POWER OF HIS GRACE

3. BUILDING A PEOPLE OF POWER AND PRAISE IN CHRIST.

4. PROPAGATING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

Ange Postecoglou: Tottenham expected to open talks with Celtic manager about vacant manager’s role

Tottenham are expected to open talks with Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou about becoming their new boss in the next few days.

The 57-year-old would not discuss his future after Saturday’s Scottish Cup final victory over Inverness.

That victory saw Postecoglou’s Celtic side complete a domestic treble.

Tottenham are refusing to comment on the situation, however, wellplaced sources have told BBC Sport Postecoglou is likely to join the London club.

It is anticipated Spurs officials will outline their plan for the future and explain to Postecoglou why they think he is the right man for the job.

The Premier League club are wary of being seen to be too optimistic given the speculation that grew around their interest in Feyenood’s Arne Slot, only for the Dutchman to decide he wanted

to stay with the Eredivisie champions.

But Spurs are also keen to avoid a repeat of the saga of 2021 when they spent weeks trying and failing to land a succession of targets to replace Jose Mourinho.

They eventually appointed former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo, who was promptly sacked after just 17 games in charge.

Postecoglou’s reputation growing

Postecoglou confounded early scepticism by winning five out of six domestic trophies during his two seasons at Celtic.

In the process, he has become a crowd favourite at the club.

The Greek-born former Australia boss would enter the Premier League with a burgeoning reputation and a recent CV that is laden with success on different continents.

Postecoglou has emulated Jock Stein, Martin O’Neill, Brendan Rodgers and Neil Lennon to secure a clean sweep of domestic honours for Celtic this term.

And despite his limited experience of coaching in European football he has won admirers for the style of football Celtic have played.

Postecoglou’s impressive rebuilding job at Parkhead saw him topple a Rangers side that finished 25 points clear in the 2020-21 season and win two league titles. It matched the two A-League championships he collected at Brisbane Roar before taking charge of the Socceroos in 2013.

A four-year tenure saw Postecoglou take the Australian national side to the 2014 World Cup, win the Asia Cup in 2015 and then steer them to Russia 2018 before resigning. The following year he led Japan’s Yokohama F Marinos to

their first J League title in 15 years.

His arrival in London would end chairman Daniel Levy’s very public and frustrating search for a new boss.

Antonio Conte left the club in March, while Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason also took charge in a turbulent end to a campaign that saw Spurs miss out on European football next term.

Since Conte’s exit, a host of highprofile managers have been linked and then distanced themselves from the Tottenham job.

The Italian’s 16-month spell ended with Conte criticising his own players and the club’s culture after a 3-3 draw against bottom side Southampton.

Stellini, who had been named interim boss, then departed after a 6-1 thrashing at Newcastle as Spurs concluded the season by winning just three of their final 11 matches.

Source: bbc.com

Prior to Celtic, Ange Postecoglou’s only other experience of coaching in Europe was a nine-month spell at Panachaiki in the Greek third tier

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE LEARNERS OF CHRIST CENTRE FOR MISSION AND DISCIPLESHIP

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. OMOSEBI DANIEL TAYE - CHAIRMAN

2. OMOSEBI FUNMILAYO TAIWO - SECRETARY

3. OWOYEMI JACOB OLUWADARE

4. ISHOLA SEGUN SAMUEL

5. OSARA EDWIN EHIMARE

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :.

1. REACHING THE UNREACHED, DISCIPLE THEM AND PRESENTING THEM PERFECT IN CHRIST JESUS

2. TO PROVIDE FOR PREACHING, TEACHINGAND FOSTERING THE GROWTH OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION IN ALL PLACES, AND TO LICENSE AND ORDAIN MINISTERS

3. TO CARRY ON THE WORK OF EVANGELISM

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : CHAIRMAN

AFASULE FOUNDATION, CAC/IT/NO.154848

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1.BABATUNDE BOLAJI BERNARD (CHAIRMAN)

2.BAI KENNETH TERNA

3.GREEN DAGOGO ADA (REMOVED)

4.ONWUKA KEN (REMOVED)

5.TOLOFARI GEORGE (REMOVED)

6.AKUME AONDOHEMBA MICHEAL

7.TARKA KWAGHVE CHRISTOPHER

8.NDUKA OGADINMA ENYIOMA

THE NEW TRUSTEE IS :

1. BABATUNDE AMINA TOLULOPE

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS APPLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

AL - SUBUR ISLAMIC WELFARE FOUNDATION, CAC/IT/NO. 178098

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR APPOINTMENT OF NEW SECRETARY, RE-APPOINTMENT AND REMOVAL OF TRUSTEE IN THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE RE-APPOINTED TRUSTEES ARE :

1. SANUSI LATEEF ADEOLA

2. SANUSI OLAYINKA AMINAT

3. SANUSI HABIBAT

4. SANUSI ABDULRAFIU KEHINDE

THE REMOVED TRUSTEES ARE :

1. SALAKO MONSURAT OLOLADE

2. DARANIJO KUDIRAT ABOLANLE

THE APPOINTMENT OF SECRETARY ON THIS ISSUE IT WAS UNANIMOUS AGREED BY THE TRUSTEES THAT SANUSI HABIBAT BE APPOINTED AS SECRETARY OF THE FOUNDATION. THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY. ADDRESS : AL - SUBUR ISLAMIC WELFARE FOUNDATION 27, NEW ROAD, IJEBU-ODE, OGUN STATE.

PUBLIC AUCTION

IN ORDER TO DECONGEST D’ DIVISION DUTSEN TANSHI OF FOUND, RECOVERED, ABANDONED, UNCLAIMED AND PROPERTIES WHICH HAVE OVERSTAYED IN POLICE CUSTODY AND ARE DUE FOR PUBLIC AUCTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 31, CAP 2 VOL. 13 POLICE ACT AND REGULATIONS LRN, 2014, APPROVAL WAS OBTAINED FOR THE DISPOSAL BY THE WAY OF PUBLIC AUCTION THE UNDER LISTED PROPERTIES TO INTERESTED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AS FOLLOWS:

S/N DESCRIPTION OF ITEMS REG NO.

1 JINCHENG AX100 MOTORCYCLE

PUBLIC NOTICE

DIVINE REST INT’L MINISTRY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1.IMO CHIMDI NWANOSIKE - CHAIRMAN

2, IMO EUCHARIA CHIGOZIE - SECRETARY

3. ORJI NGOZI BLESS

4,ORJI JOSEPH

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

SAINT JOHN’S COLLEGE FUGAR OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION, CAC/IT/NO 89008.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR CHANGE OF TRUSTEES UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE :

1. CHIEF RICHARD LAMAI

2. OYAKHAMHOR EUGENE DIRISU IDEMOH

3. CAPT. ALBERT ORITSEMEYIN OTUEDON

4. DEACON PHILIP OMOKHOGIE ITSEDE

5. EDDIE OBOZEGHIE IGBANOI

THE NEW TRUSTEES ARE :

1. SAMUEL OTSEILU ZIBIRI

2. DR. MICHAEL AYEGBENI OGHIADOMHE

3. SEWEJE OLUSOJI CLEMENT

4. DAVID AGBARUMHI KADIRI

5. DR. JAY OSI SAMUELS

6. ETSEKHUMHE SOLOMON CHRIS

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS APPLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : GODWIN I. IMAKHAI ESQ 08054145214.

MRS. ONYINYE

I,FORMERLY KNOWN AS NDIONU FLORENCE ONYINYE, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS MRS.ONYINYE FLORENCE NDIONU EHIDO. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

CONFIDENCE

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS CONFIDENCE STANLEY, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS CONFIDENCE JOHN GAWOSIN. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

ABDULLAHI

I,FORMERLYKNOWNASBAPPAHIBRAHIMDALHANOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ABDULLAHI IBRAHIM DALHA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

PUBLIC NOTICE

UNIQUE ACHIEVERS AND PACESETTERS HUMANITARIAN INITIATIVE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1.AIYENIGBA OLUWATOSIN FEYISAYO-CHAIRMAN 2.PETER-AKRAWA FAUSAT OMOTOLA - SECRETARY

3.MUSA DOCTOR KADAGANA

4,JUBRIL RUKAYAT FOLASHADE 5.QUADRI GANIYU OLATUNJI

6.MOYOSOREAHMED SHEHU 7.AJAYI MUSTAPHAABIODUN 8.ODUNUGA OBADARE LADUN

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT HUMANITARIANU CRISIS,AND ENGAGE INDIVIDUALS,ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENTS. IN EFFORTS TO ALLEVIATE SUFFERING AND ADDRESS UNDERLYING CAUSES

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

KINGDOM MIGHT INTERNATIONAL GOSPEL CENTRE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. DEMASH AHMED YAKUBU

2. ANDREW YAKUBU

3. RUTH KUKAH HARUNA

4. BLESSING MOSES

5. GEOFFERY TEBEDA

6. CLEMENT AGWALBA

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO GATHER PEOPLE WHO SHARE SAME BELIEFS, TO FELLOWSHIP TOGETHER

2. TO BUILD THE SPIRITUAL LIFE OF ITS MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY

3. TO BUILD THE LIVES OF IT’S MEMBERS IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.

4. TO TEACH AND TRAIN PEOPLE IN THE WAYS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

ZABARMA DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION MUSHIN

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. SALISU ISMAILA - CHAIRMAN

2. MUHAMMED ABDULBAKI - SECRETARY

3. MUSTAPHA IDRIS

4. UMARU ABDULLAHI

5. AYUBA MAHIRU ABUBAKAR

6. SALISU BASHIRU YARIMA

7. LADAN ABDULLAHI

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO EDUCATE THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ABOUT DRUGS ABUSES AND VIOLENCE.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

MARIAN OMOLARA ODUNJO FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1.ODUNJO OLUMUREWA

2.FALOLA TOCHUKWU GLORIA

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT THAT SUPPORTS THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN NIGERIA.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

GREAT MEN AND KINGS CLUB

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. OKONKWO CHUKWUEMEKA CHRISTOPHER

2. OBUTTEH CALEB NNABUIKE

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO PROMOTE MUTUAL EXISTENCE AMONGST MEMBERS.

2. TO PROMOTE SOCIAL INTERACTION BETWEEN PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT SOCIAL CLASS

3. TO HELP THE LESS PRIVILEGE.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

WOIKIE WOKO DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

1. ENGR. WOKO, WOIKIE (CHAIRMAN)

2. BARR. WOKO, TIMIIBIERI GOANS (SECRETARY)

3. MRS. WOKO, IZIBEBOONO (MEMBER)

AIMS & OBJECTIVES

1. TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL, INTELLECTUAL, MORAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND SCHOLARSHIP IN SOCIETY.

2. TO GIVE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIP AWARD OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, PUPILSAND OTHERS THAT HAVE RECORD OF EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCES AT SCHOOLS OR OTHER ENDEAVOURS.

3. TO PROVIDE FREE AND QUALITATIVE EDUCATION; FREE HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND FREE BASIC SOCIAL AMENITIES TO ORPHANS, VULNERABLE CHILDREN, PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED CHILDREN AND PERSONS AND OTHER LESS PRIVILEGED CHILDREN AND PERSONS IN SOCIETY.

4. TO ORGANISE HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SEMINARS, SYMPOSIUMS, WORKSHOPS, SKILL ACQUISITION PROGRAMMES, TALENT DISCOVERY PROGRAMMES IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE HUMAN CAPITALDEVELOPMENT IN DESIRABLE PERSONS IN SOCIETYAMONG OTHERAIMS TO REDUCE POVERTY IN SOCIETY.

5. TO CARRY OUT DEVELOPMENTAL, HUMANITARIAN AND VOLUNTEER SERVICES IN SOCIETY AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

6. TO ORGANIZE PROGRAMMES, ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACHIEVING THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE FOUNDATION.

7. TO SYNERGIZE WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS WITH SIMILAR OBJECTIVES FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACHIEVING THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE FOUNDATION. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRARGENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY

OKEOSISI

PUBLIC NOTICE

DUNUKOFIA FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HASAPPLIED TO THE CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC),ABUJAFOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020). THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. NWADIGWE MICHAEL CHINEDU

2. NWADIGWE CHINENYE BLESSING

AIMS/OBJECTIVES:

1. TO HELP THE POOR AND THE NEEDY

2. TO PROMOTE CHARITY AND WELFARE ACTIVITIES

3. TO PROVIDE FREE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORTIVE MATERIALS FOR STUDENTS

4. TO PROMOTE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT

5. TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND PROMOTE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

WHEREAS the person whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date place stated in the said in the column.

AND WHEREAS the person(s) whose name (s) and address(s) and relation(s) to the deceased are set out in the second column hereto has/have applied to the High Court of Justice, Nasarawa State for the grant of Letters of Administration of the Real and personal properties/estate of the said deceased.

NOTICE: IS HEREBY GIVEN that Letter of Administration (without will)will be granted to such applicant/applicants unless a “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT” the grant is file in this Registry within Twenty- One (21) days from the date hereof.

NAME OF DECEASED PERSON

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF NASARAWA STATE OF NIGERIA IN THE PROBATE DIVISION SCHEDULE

NAME(S) AND ADDRESS (ES) OF APPLICANT(S)

Mohammed Noma Mohammed late of Lafia, Died on the 15th day of May, 2023 at Lafia

Ja’afaru Rabiu late of Lafia, Died on the 25th day of September, 2018 at Nassarawa Eggon

Allu James Namo late of Lafia, Died on the 29th day of October, 2022 at Lafia

Attah Agunmbo Vincent late of Nassarawa Eggon Died on the 25th day of April, 2023 at Nassarawa Eggon

Hassan Ayuba Elijah late of Lafia, Died on the 25th day of January, 2023 at Lafia

Danlami Madaki late of Wakwa, Died on the 22nd day of December, 2022 at Wakwa

Liman Abubakar late of Kwandare, Died on the 21st day of November, 2020 at Kwandare

Angba Larai late of Lafia, Died on the 17th day of August, 2022 at Lafia

Gambo Tella late of Adudu, Died on the 28th day of April, 2023 at Obi

Sunday Madaki late of Sabon Ruwa, Died on the 19th day of February, 2023 at Garaku

Ishaya Ayalo late of Lafia, Died on the 20h day of September, 2021 at Keffi.

Maimako Yahaya late of Lafia, Died on the 20th day of November, 2022 at Lafia

Shammah Tabitha late of Akwanga, Died on the 30th day of June, 2022 at Lafia

Ali Mako Iliyasu late of Akwanga, Died on the 9th day of March, 2023 at Akwanga

Jacob Okudi late of Lafia, Died on the 30th day of March, 2023 at Lafia

Ubandoma Khalid Mohammed late of Lafia, Died on the 22nd day of November, 2022 at Lafia

Ibrahim Umar Doshiro late of Nasarawa, Died on the 13th day of October, 2022 at Nasarawa

Tepshak Haruna late of Mankwar, Died on the 18th day of December, 2022 at Mankwar

Jibrin Usman late of Ubbe, Died on the 14th day of November, 2021 at Akwanga

Mohammed Ibrahim Sunusi late of Lafia, Died on the 14th day of April, 2020 at Lafia

Anor Yohanna late of Yelwa, Doma, Died on the 28th day of December, 2022 at Yelwa, Doma

Alogla Gilbert late of Lafia, Died on the 12th day of October, 2022 at Jos

Muhammad Muhammad Danjuma of Lafia the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Hadiza Ibrahim of Lafia the lawful Widow of the said deceased.

James Martha of Lafia the lawful Widow of the said deceased

Attah Abimiku Vincent of Nassarawa Eggon the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Elijah Emmanuel Ayuba of Lafia the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Usman Aishatu Dahiru & Danlami Muhammad both of Lafia the lawful Widow & Son of the said deceased respectively.

Ramatu Abdulmumin of Kwandare the lawful Widow of the said deceased.

Usman Innocent Musa of Lafia the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Usman Bala Adamu of Adudu the lawful Son of the said deceased

Nelly Carolin of Akwanga the lawful Daughter of the said deceased

Iliya Christopher of Lafia he lawful Brother of the said deceased

Abdullahi Muhammad Sanusi of Lafia the lawful Brother of the said deceased

Shammah Gloria Wado of Akwanga the lawful Daughter of the said deceased

Iliya Rakiya Audu of Akwanga the lawful Widow of the said deceased.

Jacob Asoloko Ayaka of Shabu the lawful Son of the said deceased

Abdullahi Nafisat of Lafia the lawful Widow of the said deceased

Ibrahim Umar Doshiro of Nasarawa the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Tepshak Mwaret of Mankwar the lawful Widow of the said deceased

Paul Jibrin of Ubbe the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Ahmad Idris of Lafia the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Allu Yohanna & Moses Godiya both of Yelwa, Doma, the lawful Sons of the said deceased

Dingba Patience Mandi of Lafia the lawful Widow of the said deceased.

Justina Ali late of January, Died on the 14th day of January, 2023 at Keffi

Umar Hashimu late of Lafia, Died on the 6th day of February, 2023 at Lafia

Embu Halima Jummai late of Lafia, Died on the 11th day of October, 2022 at Nassarawa Eggon

Mohammed Ibrahim late of Lafia, Died on the 28th day of March, 2023 at Nassarawa Eggon

Dauda Ahmed Aguma late of Nasarawa, Died on the 13th day of August, 2021 at Lafia

Sule Umaru late of Doma, Died on the 3rd day of May, 2023 at Lafia

Masaga Mohammed late of Lafia, Died on the 25th day of February, 2023 at Lafia

Abubakar Sani late of Gwantu, Died on the 3rd day of March, 2021 at Gwantu

Anzaku Yakubu Bawa late of Lafia, Died on the 24th day of October, 2022 at Lafia

Numsoor Vitalis Aondogu late of Doka, Died on the 28th day of November, 2022 at Enugu

Agi Peter Samuel late of Akwanga, Died on the 11th day of August, 2022 at Adija

Otman Musa Yakubu late of Lafia, Died on the 2nd day of March, 2023 at Lafia

Haruna Samson late of Keffi, Died on the 4th day of August, 2022 at Abuja

Ugahn Mathew Uter late of Kalaohi, Died on the 17th day of December, 2022 at Keana

Rifkatu Z. Joel late of Gunki, Died on the 12th day of July, 2022 at Nasarawa

Republication

Samuel Maidoki Maikasuwa late of Nasarawa, Died on the 7th day of November, 2022 at Nasarawa

Musa Abubakar late of Lafia, Died on the 28th day of November, 2022 at Lafia

Adinde Herbert Ikemefuna late of Lafia, Died on the 14th day of November, 2021 at Abuja

Elayo Aliyu Iskilu late of Lafia, Died on the 28th day of August, 2021 at Lagos

19NA/78/1885/LCPL Gado Danlami late of Masaka, Died on the 8th day of March, 2021 at Maiduguru

(Esther M. Ejeh. Esq.)

PROBATE REGISTRAR

NASARAWA STATE OF NIGERIA, LAFIA

Haruna John Lewu of Keffi the lawful Widower of the said deceased.

Hashimu Hamza & Hashimu Iklima Umar both of Lafia the lawful Son & Daughter of the said deceased respectively.

Embu Jesse Amewori of Nassarawa Eggon the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Adamu Mohammed Dallah & Muhammed Muhammed Dallah both of Lafia the lawful Sons of the said deceased.

Benjamin Ayileni Dauda, Lami Dauda & Ladi Peter Dauda all of Nasarawa, the lawful Son & Widows of the said deceased respectively.

Sule Hashimu Onawo of Doma the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Danlami Mohammed of Lafia the lawful Son of the said deceased

Bello Awawa Joseph of Gwantu, the lawful Brother of the said deceased

Esther Y, B Anzaiga of Lafia the lawful Widow of the said deceased

Jacob Numsoor of Doka, the lawful Brother of the said deceased

Augustine Charity Anyame of Akwanga, the lawful Widow of the said deceased.

Musa Yakubu Yakubu of Lafia, the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Victoria Philemon Landis of Abuja the lawful Widow of the said deceased.

Mathew Raphael Tersoo of AKalachi the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Stephen Lauba Joel of Nasarawa the lawful Son of the said deceased.

Republication

Samuel Rose of Moroa the lawful Widow of the said deceased.

Hafsat B. Usman & Aiha Abubakar both of Lafia the lawful Widow Daughter of the said deceased respectively.

Onuwuka Leticia Ifeyinwa & Igboanu Chiwendu Augustine both of Lafia the lawful Widow & Daughter of the said deceased.

Muhammad Hauwa Akuki & Abubakar Aliyu Elayo both of Lafia the lawful Widow & Brother of the said deceased respectively.

Friday Gado of Karu the lawful Brother of the said deceased.

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Guest Columnist

ACMilan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic has retired from football at the age of 41, bringing to an end one of the modern era’s most glittering careers.

“I say goodbye to football but not to you,” the Swede told the San Siro crowd after Sunday’s last game of the season.

Ibrahimovic had already announced he would leave the Italian club.

He scored 511 goals for clubs including Paris St-Germain, Manchester United and both AC and Inter Milan, winning league titles in four countries.

Ibrahimovic began his second spell with AC Milan in early 2020, having won the Scudetto with them in 2011, and helped them win the title again last season.

But he played only four times and started one match for the Serie A side this term - and scored one goalfollowing a series of injuries, and his contract was set to expire this month.

“There are too many emotions for me right now. Forza Milan and goodbye,” an emotional Ibrahimovic said, holding back tears.

“The first time I came here you gave me happiness, the second time you gave me love.

“You welcomed me with open arms, you made me feel at home, I will be a Milanista for the rest of my life.”

Ibrahimovic won 34 trophiesincluding 14 league titles - in a career that began in the last century, and was nominated for the Ballon d’Or 11 times.

The one major club trophy that eluded him was the Champions League, with his only European title coming with Manchester United in the shape of the 2017 Europa League.

The striker also retires as Sweden’s all-time top scorer with 62 international goals in 122 matches.

He quit the national side after Euro 2016 but returned in 2021 for their unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaign.

“I’ve been doing this all my life. Football made me a man. It allowed me to know people I otherwise would never have known. I’ve travelled the world thanks to football. It’s all thanks to football.”

Source: bbc.com

Taye Taiwo and Oduamadi

After many years of subsidy payment which gulped trillions of naira since it was introduced in 2000, the new administration of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has finally phased it out. On May 29, after he was sworn in as the 16th president of Nigeria, Tinubu in his inaugural speech stated that, “Subsidy is gone”. The speech which indicated the policy direction of his administration on subsidy payment sparked panic in the country. Petroleum marketers hurriedly adjusted the pump price of petroleum. The NNPCL released its template ranges between #480 and #550 which sealed the fate of subsidy payment. The last administration of former president, Muhammadu Buhari, set June this year as the deadline for subsidy removal. The former minister of finance, Zainab Ahmed Shamsuna,stated that, government had only made provision for the payment of subsidy from January to June 2023. Little wonder, nigerians were not surprised with president Bola Tinubu’s inauguration gift. What bother many nigerians is the timing of the removal which they consider as wrong. Ordinarily, the government should have waited until the end of June, which the subsidy fizzled out.

Since the removal of petroleum subsidy penultimate last week, nigerians have been groaning in hardship. The transportation fares have jumped to 300% . Fears have also griped nigerians on the likely hyperinflation in which the price of good and services will skyrocket beyond the reach of the common man. Though, the world Bank approved the whopping sum of $800,000 to be shared

LAGOS: 08074420617

By Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua

to nigerians as palliatives in other to cushion the effects of subsidy removal, it seems, the government has not worked out modalities for the instant payment.

While Buhari administration had resolved to pay #5000 to 10millions nigerians for the period of six months through social register, no one knows if Tinubu administration will agree with this plan. The subsidy removal has also come at a time when civil servants are grappling with inflation and high cost of living in the country. The N30,000 minimum wage is not descent and appears too small to enable civil servants meet up with his responsibilities suche as: buying food, paying rent and settling school fees for their children. Even with the implementation of N30,000 minimum wage, some states governors have not implemented it. One imagines how these frustrating or dejecting states workers can cope up with the present realities. I have never hidden my support on subsidy removal through my numerous published articles. The subsidy scheme is nothing but daylight robery. It has been fraught with corruption. Some highly connected people received the payment of billions for fuel not imported. Additionally, even with the final burial rite of subsidy payment last week, no nigerian can tell you the àctual daily fuel consumption capacity of the country. The figures released by the NNPC were often suspicious. That was why, trillions of naira ended up in the pocket of

fictitious importers. The lack of transference in the management of subsidy payment is what has pushed government to mull the idea of scrapping the scheme. Subsidy payments amounted to trillions forced successive government to incur high public debt. With government spending more than 100% of its revenue for debt services, it has no option than to stop the fraudulent subsidy payments.

President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has taken the bull by the horn by removing the subsidy which his predecessors failed to do. He also promised to channel the resources into infrastructure, health and education. This plan if implemented, would go along ways towards improving the living condition of Nigerias and should be supported.

The challenges Tinubu government will face are: how to roll out the palliatives to Nigerians and how to go about reviewing the current minimum wage to reflect the realities. The organized labour union had a meeting with the government respresentatives last week. The president has restated his commitment and promised to give nigerian a descent salary. This a good assurance! The millions naira question begging for answer is, how soon? The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) which protect and champion the right of Nigerian workers have directed their members to get ready for strike next week,Wednesday. The purpose of the strike is to force government to reverse to old price. This is to say,strike is looming in the

country. But will government vow to labour’s pressure and maintain the status quo? The labour threat like it’s previous ones, will be resolved through negotiation.

No doubt, transportation sector has been seriously hit by the subsidy removal. Many Commuters have to suspend their journey due to the astronomical raise of fares. For meantime, the government should purchase and flood the country with buses to cushion difficulties commuters experience. There is the need for government to, in the long run, continue with its train services and expand it where necessary. These buses and trains will provide cheap and affordable transportation services to Nigerians. The NNPCL Managing Director, Mele Kyari, should match his words with actions. Kyari, recently stated two of the fours refineries will be fixed this year to provide enough fuel for national consumption.

Furthermore, another one will be revived next year, while the fourth one is expected to be repaired in 2025. Indeed, this is a cheering news. With Dangote new refinery couple with four functional national refineries, Nigerians will have caused to smile very soon.

Mustapha Pambegua writes in from Kaduna state.

Ibrahim

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TUC demands minimum wage increase, tax holiday, others Wahala dey!