Ex Minister, Dare commends Tinubu on student loans Bill

By Christiana Ekpa

The immediate past Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the student loans bill sponsored by immediate past Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamia.

The legislation, which is now signed into law known as “An act to provide for easy access to higher education for Nigerians through interest-free loans from the Nigerian Education Bank” will enable Nigerian students in higher institutions of learning to have access to financial assistance.

The loan can be accessed for the purpose of paying school fees, accommodation, textbooks, research, education materials or any other purpose that’s justified by the institutions and the amount will differ from student to student and course to course.

Reacting to the development, Dare thanked Tinubu for being a father to Nigerian Youth by signing the bill saying it will allow them to have access to affordable education.

Via his Twitter page, he said, “On Point ! President Tinubu Signs the Students Loan Bill, SLB. Thank you for being a father to the youth. Affordable education will help take our youth out of the path of poverty and give them a chance to succeed.”

We will recall that Chief Dare during his tenure as Minister facilitated the increment of NYSC allowance from N19,500 to N33,000 and also facilitated the establishment of a N75 billion Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), where the Youth can access loan from N250,000 to N3million among others.

He has been an advocate of a Youth Entrepreneurship Bank in Nigeria and in April this year, the African Development Bank sent a team to Nigeria for discussions hosted by the Ministry of Finance. A Technical team was thereafter set up to work out the modalities.

The ex-minister has also demonstrated his unflinching support for the Nigerian Youth and showed his implicit confidence in their innovative talents, potentials and industry by regularly engaging with them and pleading their case with the former President, Muhammadu Buhari. He was also instrumental in recalibrating the Nigerian sports by pushing through the National Sports Industry Policy, which is set to unlock billions of dollars for the Nigerian economy.

Yakubu Dandali emerges Speaker of Kwara 10th Assembly

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Salihu Yakubu Danladi was yesterday re-elected as the Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly for the second term, after which the inaugural session of the 10th Kwara Assembly was held in Ilorin.

He urged fellow lawmakers to justify the confidence reposed in them by their constituents and get to work immediately, to ensure ‘‘effective and efficient performance of their constitutional responsibilities.

Danladi who won a second term in March this year, said Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had provided good governance in the state in the last four years, adding that “we are proud of him and we will give his administration the needed legislative support.”

He said the responsibility of overseeing the Ninth House of Assembly was placed on his shoulders four years ago and choosing him as head of the Tenth House of Assembly was therefore a reassurance of a vote of confidence and support for what he had done for the people of Kwara State.

He thanked members of the House of Assembly for electing him as Speaker, describing it as a demonstration of great trust and confidence in his leadership.

He urged them to use the opportunity of their membership of the House of Assembly to foster unity and progress and promote peace and good governance, noting that though the challenges ahead are enormous, Governor Abdulrazaq has laid a sound foundation through his visionary leadership.

Yakubu Salihu Danladi, who was unanimously re-elected, was nominated by Abdullahi Halidu Danbaba of Kaiama state constituency at exactly 10.56am and the nomination was seconded by Arinola Lawal.

Ojo Oyebode Olayiwola of Oke- Ogun state constituency was also elected as Deputy Speaker, to replace Raphael Adetiba, who lost his seat.

Olayiwola was nominated by Hon Razaq Olatunde Owolabi of the Share/Oke-Ode state constituency.

The Magaji Family in the AgboOba area of Ilorin also had the House Leader position retained by them as a member of the family, Oba Abdulkadri Magaji of Ilorin Central state constituency, was named as the new House Leader.

His elder brother, Magaji Abubakar Olawoyin was until his death on Monday, January 9, 2023, the House Leader.

Abolarin Ganiyu of Ekiti state constituency is the new Chief

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Amember of All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) representing People With Disabilities (PWD), Hon. Tolu Bankole has felicated with the new leadership of the National Assembly, even as he urged them not to use their position to amass wealth at the detriment of Nigerians.

In a statement signed and made available to journàlists yesterday, the chieftain felicitated the presiding officers and implored them to focus on legislative agendas that would improve the socioeconomic life of Nigerians.

“I celebrate this seamless milestone and felicitates with the Senate President/Chairman and Honourable Speaker, House of Representatives/

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly – Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio (CON) and Rt Honourable Tajudeen Abbas (MON) respectively on this historic occasion.

“I congratulate the Deputy Senate President, Distinguished Senator Jubrin Barau and Deputy Speaker, Rt Honourable Benjamin Kalu for being a part of the team who will steer the affairs of the legislative branch for the next four years.

“On this occasion, I also rejoice with all Nigerians for being witnesses to history.

“We must remind ourselves on the need to remain focused on legislative agenda for the emancipation of our people. You are in the saddle as a result of people’s trust across the length and breath of Nigeria. This is the moment to be circumspect, roll up your sleeves and all hands must be deployed on deck to alleviate poverty, push back insecurity, unemployment and the likes through innovative legislative actions” he said in part.

He urged the National Assembly to work as a team with the executive arm without compromising the tenet of separation of powers. He added that in the end, Nigerians are not interested in the number of bills but in the changes in there day to day lives.

“The tenth Assembly leadership must work as a team with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration while maintaining the delicate balance of separation of powers. Your loyalty must be to Nigerians who will judge your success not by the number of bills passed but when majority of Nigerians attest to the socioeconomic good arising from the laws. In other words, the good must be seen and felt by Nigerians.

“Your oversight functions and legislative interventions must support all policies that will make Nigerians happy, better and prosperous. The elite must be willing to lead sacrificially to close the near infinite gap between the masses and the rich in our bid to achieve development. Money is not passport to heaven.

“Also, all international economic policies that will make Nigerians poorer should be jettison no matter the intention” Bankole added.

He solicited support for the Persons with Disabilities in there quest for inclusion in Nigeria. “The National Assembly should expect robust engagements from Persons With Disabilities, PWDs, as we in return expect your support on all matters of inclusivity. We are better together in love”, he added.

Speaker, House of Representatives after his emerges as 10th Speaker of the House, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, taking the Oath of Office before the clerk of the National Assembly, Alh. Magaji Sani Tambuwal, during the Inauguration of the 10th Assembly, yesterday in Abuja.