NewStats: 3,265,214 , 8,186,027 topics. Date: Friday, 13 June 2025 at 09:44 PM o1a35

Media stakeholders, on Friday in Lagos, honoured the departed media leaders, with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo eulogising a former Information Minister, Prince Tony Momoh.

Those honoured were Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Mallam Wada Maida, Prince Tony Momoh, Mallam Ismaila Isa, Chief Gbolabo Ogunsanwo, Mr Bisi Lawrence, Mr Eddie Aderinokun, Mr Ben Egbuna and Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the late media leaders were honoured at an event to celebrate their life and times.

The event tagged “An Afternoon of Tributes – Honouring the Dead, Inspiring the Living” was organised by the Nigerian Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON).

Vice President of Yemi Osinbajo remarked that the former Minister of Information and Culture, Prince Tony Momoh’s battle for press freedom warned him praise in the constitutional annals of Nigeria.

He recalled Momoh’s argument that journalists had the constitutional obligation to hold the government able at all times.

Osinbajo noted that Momoh was one of the founding of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Chief Segun Osoba, former governor of Ogun said that the contributions of former Gov. Lateef Jakande of Lagos State to the media profession was too monumental to be documented.

Osoba said that Jakande’s success and contributions to journalism exceeded his contributions to government.

“He was the first president of NGE, the first president of NPAN, the first African to be the Chairman of the International Press Institute that is made up of editors all over the world and publishers,’’ he said.

Mr Kabiru Yusuf, President, NPAN said the event was aimed at ing and celebrating “media titans” who ed on.

“They lived an eventful and impactful life.

“There are traces of them everywhere; in the families that they raised, the colleagues they mentored and the institutions they led.

“That is why we do not think of them in the past tense but in the present and future,’’ Yusuf said.

Mr Nduka Obaigbena, Publisher, Thisday described Malam Wada Maida, Past President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) as a quiet operator, who was always effective in his endeavours.

Obaigbena added that Maida, who was also a former Managing Director and Chairman of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) helped to revive the NGE in 1988.

“When he left NAN, he built a headquarters for them, organised the entire place and decided to go into private business.

“He was one of the early investors in Daily Trust Newspapers and also the key investor in People’s Daily,’’ he said.

Also, the Chairman, Vanguard Media Ltd, Mr Sam Amuka described the former President of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Malam Ismaila Isa, as a man who spent his life servicing other people’s lives and organisations.

He added that Isa, who was also a patron of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), was a blessing to the Nigerian media.

“He used his influence to raise funds to rebuild the new NIJ House in Victoria Island at no cost to the NIJ,’’ he said.

The Chairman, Channels Television, Mr John Momoh also paid tributes to the former Director-General, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Mr Sam Egbuna, whom he described as a thoroughbred journalist whose footprints can be felt in both private and public space.

According to Momoh, Egbuna, who was also an Executive Director of Voice of Nigeria (VON), believed in doing the right things, doing things right and practising journalism with integrity.

“He was a living proof on how a fine journalist should be; a good friend to many.’’

The Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Publications Ltd, Mr Lanre Idowu described Mr Eddie Aderinokun, former Editor, Daily Express as a multi-talented artist, who was at home in journalism but also in music and sports.

Idowu said that Aderinokun was a man of high standards in lifestyle, home life and profession.

He noted that Aderinokun wrote nine poetries, including ‘Ebony of Snow’, ‘Indigo Tears’ and ‘Dark Things are Here’.

In his tribute, Mr Tony Akiotu, Managing Director, Daar Communications Ltd described Mr Bisi Lawrence, former General Manager, Lagos State Broadcasting Corporation as a man, whose istrative and organisational skills were matchless.

Akiotu said that Lawrence, popularly known as “Biz Law” was an inspiration, an enigma, a man who paid respect to details and one who would settle for nothing less.

“His contribution to sports remains legendary,’’ Akiotu said.

The Editor-in-Chief, Leadership Newspapers, Mr Azubuike Ishiekwene described Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah, former Publisher of the Newspaper as a man who believed Nigeria was stronger and better together.

“He abhorred drawing attention to himself; he is a man of infectious zeal, boundless energy and patriotic.

“He was a bridge-builder and an ardent believer in one Nigeria,’’ he said.

Mr Lade Bonuola, Consultant, Guardian Newspapers Ltd described former Publisher, New Nation, Gbolabo Ogunsanwo, as a man who paid great attention to human capital development, with an assurance of staff keeping their jobs while still schooling.

He said Ogunsanwo, who was also a former Editor at Sunday Times was known for keeping public officials on their toes by demanding ability.
(NAN)



https://thenationonlineng.net/nge-nuj-others-honour-departed-media-leaders-pays-tributes/

–Set up 10-member c’ttee

The Federal Government yesterday brokered a truce between the Kaduna State Government and the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, in the ongoing face-off between the two parties.

Recall that the Federal Government through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige had on Wednesday sent an invitation letter to the two parties for a meeting to resolve the unrest between the two.

At the conciliation meeting which lasted for about five hours, at the Minister’s office in Abuja, the two parties reached an agreement.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the two disputing parties and top officials of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Senator Ngige said they exhaustively and extensively deliberated on all the issues in dispute, bordering on the retrenchment of workers by the Kaduna State Government.

He said they agreed that all the listed issues fall within the ambit of redundancy and it was resolved that the principle of redundancy as stated in Section 20 of Labour Act, Cap L1 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria should apply.

According to the Minister, the contentious issues that were looked into included the compulsory retirement of workers on Grade Level 14 and above and those who have attained the age of 50 years irrespective of Grade Levels, the reduction of staff strength of Local Government to 50 in each of the 23 local government areas and casualisation of workers on Grade Level 1-6.

The Minister said the meeting also recognized that the current ime was caused by a communication gap between the State Government and NLC occasioned by both the local chapter and even the Kaduna State Government officials.


He said in view of the foregoing, the meeting resolved to constitute a ten-man Bi-partite Committee, comprising six representatives of the Kaduna State Government and three officials of NLC to engage further with the objective of reverting back with a work plan on how to resolve the ime between the State Government and the NLC.

He said, “The meeting resolved that the Committee should have as Chairman, the Head of Service of Kaduna State Government and assisted by a Deputy National President of the NLC. The Committee is expected to revert with the work plan for peaceful resolution of all issues in contention to the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment by Tuesday, 25th May, 2021.

“The work plan is to itemize the structure and sub-structure in the state Local Government of their activities, time of commencement as envisaged, final tenure of the Committee or make recommendations if in its wisdom it thinks that the committee should be a Permanent Standing Committee.”

“In conclusion, it was agreed that there should be no further industrial action on these issues and no worker shall be victimized on of his or her participation in the industrial action.”

The signatories to the MoU were the Head of Service, Kaduna State Government, Bariatu Yusuf Mohammed, and Commissioner for Local Government, Ja’afaru Ibrahim Sani, NLC President, Ayuba Wabba and Deputy President, Najeem Usman.

Others are the Director, Trade Union Services, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mrs. Omoabie Akpan, and Director of Finance and s, Aloy Muoneke who represented the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/05/fg-brokers-truce-between-kaduna-government-nlc/

•NGF silent on Asaba Declaration •’Removal of petrol subsidy in order’

Governors have agreed to grant autonomy to the Legislature and the Judiciary.

This is in line with Executive Order 10 signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

They however, gave two conditions to smoothen the implementation of the decisions. These are: Immediate termination of the ongoing strike by judicial workers and the disbandment of the Presidential Implementation Committee on the Autonomy of State Legislature and Judiciary.

The governors said ending the strike would enable states to fine tune the legal framework to back the decisions.

They accused the Autonomy Committee of “acting as a permanent committee basically misguiding and overheating the relationship between State Governments and the other arms of government”.

These positions were taken at yesterday’s meeting of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), presided over by its Chairman and Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi.

Other decisions taken at the meeting include the need to achieve debt limit and sustainability as well as for the full deregulation of the downstream oil sector/withdrawal of subsidy.

The ‘Asaba Declaration’ issued after the Southern governors meeting was not discussed at the parley “because it was not on the agenda,” it was learnt last night.

The Asaba summit endorsed restructuring, national dialogue, total ban on open grazing and review of revenue allocation.

A governor said: “Most of the demands in the so-called Asaba Declaration had been endorsed by the NGF since March. There was no need to revisit them.”

The communique of the meeting, which was signed by Dr. Fayemi, focused on several matters of national concern and how to reduce tension.

The communique reads in part: ”On the Executive Order 10, talks have reached an advanced stage with the Ministry of Labour, Conference of Speakers, National Judicial Council and the NGF.

“ All parties are working earnestly to resolve the issues surrounding the implementation of the order.

“ There are however legal aspects of the order that need to be tied up, but which cannot take place if officials responsible for these final processes are on strike.

“ Governors are happy to implement the demands of the Judiciary and the Legislature.”

After considering the report of a committee headed by Governor Nasir El-Rufai, they agreed that petrol subsidy was unsustainable.

The communique added: “His Excellency, Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai gave a briefing on the appropriate pricing of Motor Spirit (PMS) in Nigeria, calling for full deregulation.” “He noted that between N70billion and N210billion is estimated to be spent every month to keep the PMS price at N162/litre, a situation that is completely unsustainable.”

Although the governors pledged to mediate in the face-off between Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Labour, they also resolved to stand by the governor.


The Forum said:” On the Labour crisis in Kaduna State, the NGF noted that it stands with the Governor of Kaduna State in his quest to improve the productivity of workers and their rights for a better quality of life.

“NGF recognises that what is happening in Kaduna State, will reverberate in each of the States and encourages the Governor of Kaduna and all other governors to remain steadfast in the pursuit of human rights protection while ensuring that actions taken do not undermine the safety and security of lives.

“NGF appeals to both parties in Kaduna State to resolve the issues in the interest of the State as the protection of human rights for the collective good of all citizens and growth of our dear country, Nigeria, is what matters most.”

Concerning debt limit sustainability, the governors, after being briefed by the World Bank representative, agreed to give December 31, deadline to 13 states yet to the legislation to do so.

The NGF said:”The Forum also received presentations from the World Bank led by the Country Director for

Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, in the company of Prof. Foluso Okunmadewa, Sector Leader of the Human Development Team, and Yue Man Lee, Task Team Leader for the States Fiscal

Transparency, ability, and Sustainability (SFTAS) – Program-for-Results (PforR) on the Nigeria Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus – Program for Results (Nigeria CARES) and SFTAS.

“The World Bank team commended the commitment and actions of State Governors for establishing and resourcing CARES programme State Coordinating Units under their Ministries of Planning, and requested for their additional in areas such as the adoption of a Fund Release Policy for improved predictability of resources flows to CARES Delivery MDAs; adoption

and institutionalization of protocols for reporting, management and investigation of fraud and corruption in MDAs implementing CARES; and the release of 2021 State budgets to MDAs for the commencement of CARES-related activities.

“ The Bank also urged the of Governors to ensure that their Ministries of Finance and Ministries of Justice fast track the execution of subsidiary agreements for the CARES programme.

“ Under the SFTAS Programme for Results, 23 States have already ed strong state-level debt legislation which stipulates: 1) responsibilities for contracting state debt; 2) responsibilities for recording/reporting state debt; and 3) state fiscal and debt rules/limits. “To help Nigeria successfully meet the World Bank Sustainable Debt Financing Policy (SDFP) by strengthening debt management, debt transparency and fiscal responsibility at the state-level, a strong collective commitment was made for the remaining 13 States to such state-level debt legislation by 31 December 2021.”

The governors resolved to sustain the COVID -19 protocols and vaccination programme.

“ The Governor of Delta State, H.E Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, who is the Chairman of the NGF Sub-Committee interfacing with the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 provided an update to the Forum on the activities of the PSC, and informed of the expected commencement of the istration of the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the country, starting with those who received the first batch of the vaccine.

“The Governor noted thatthe PSC is currently working to get additional vaccine doses for the country.

“ The NGF agreed on the need to continue to maintain COVID public health guidelines and vaccination protocols to ensure that the transmission of the virus is kept at the lowest level possible.”

https://thenationonlineng.net/governors-okay-debt-reduction-judicial-legislature-autonomy/

...says agencies fail to remit N1.2 trillion to CRF

The Fiscal Responsibility Commission has accused government agencies of practically truncating the process of ability and transparency in handling government revenue by failing to abide by the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

The Commission said over N1.2 trillion in revenue was still being withheld by defaulting agencies that have refused to remit their 80 percent operating Surplus to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, adding that several MDAs still persist in defaulting and practically keeping money away from government reach for funding of its budget.

The Commission said over 60 percent of government agencies have always failed to associate their annual budget with the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, the template for which annual federal government budgets is prepared.

Chairman of the Commission, Victor Muruaku who spoke while addressing Assembly Correspondents also indicted about 32 government agencies for failing to submit their audited to the Commission to enable it calculate their operating Surplus which is supposed to be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.

Among the agencies are the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, Bank of Agriculture, Bank of Industry, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, National Broadcasting Commission, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board, National Integrated Water Resources Management Commission, National Sports Commission, istrative Staff College of Nigeria and National Business and Technical Examination Board among others.

The FRC Chairman said that while the Fiscal Responsibility Act provide for offences, it failed to make provision for sanction and punishment, thereby making implementation difficult

Muruako said by the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007, government owned enterprises and Corporations are supposed to remit 80 percent of their operating Surplus to the CRF at the end of every year to make money available for government to fund the annual budget.

According to him, through the persistent and continuous engagement of MDAs by the Fiscal Responsibility Commission and especially with the of the National Assembly, the Federal Government’s share of Operating Surplus from these Corporations has continued to increase over the years.

“From our records, the total figure paid as Operating Surplus since the establishment of the PRC to date is beyond N2.15 trillion which, by the way, could not have been possible without the Act and the Commission, given that there would have been no law, rule, regulation or institution requiring such returns.

“Sadly, many MDAs still persist in defaulting and practically keeping money away from the federal government’s reach for funding its budgets. Our records indicate that over N12 Trillion is still in the hands of defaulting MDAs.

“These figures are confirmed from our analysis of the annual audited financial reports submitted to our Commission by the concerned Agencies. Much more is yet out there in the hands of MDAs that either have failed to dutifully audit their s or that have done so but choose not to forward copies of their audited financial reports to the Commission as required by law.”

He disclosed that some of the agencies have also developed the habit of writing to withdraw their audited after the Commission must have calculated their operating Surplus which is done after the agencies has submitted such audited .

He said further that from the agency’s verification of government capital projects, it was discovered that 60 percent of Government agencies often undertaking more projects than they can handle because they fail to abide by the approved MTEF.

He also said that the penchant of approving new contracts by new government to the detriment of existing contracts as well as inadequate funding has led to several abandoned projects across the country.


https://thenationonlineng.net/government-agencies-truncating-transparency-in-handling-revenue-says-frc/

•Labour warns against plan

•LCCI: we need innovative policy on petroleum


Subsidy on petrol will soon be withdrawn, Minister of State for Petroleum Timipre Sylva, said yesterday.

The minister told reporters there is no going back on the decision because the government can no longer afford it.

Sylva explained that although withdrawal of subsidy will be painful initially, it will pay off for the poor in the long run.

According to him, the present arrangement favours a few rich individuals and firms.

Labour yesterday described the plan to remove subsidy as an attempt to punish the people for government’s inefficiency.

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) said although desirable, government needs a stable policy in the petroleum industry.

The minister lamented that but for the provision of cash from signature businesses from Marginal Oil fields by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the shortfall in remittance into the Federal last month would have been unbearable for the Federation Allocation Committee (FAAC).

Not forthcoming on the actual augmentation figure and how long the DPR will continue to intervene, Sylva said: “I cannot say exactly what the figure is. I will have to check with the DPR to get you the figure. Of course, you know that the DPR has always contributed to the federation revenue because they collect royalties and so on

“But as to filling the gap, it will not always be there, it is not as if the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said that after last month, they will not be able to. You may not know when next they will announce it. So, you cannot say that they (DPR) will continue to fill in the gap.

“NNPC announced that they could not make contributions to FAAC and the DPR came to the rescue.

“Luckily the DPR was in the position to step in and the marginal field revenues were used to fill the gap.

Sylva added: “Labour and the Federal Government are not on different pages. Even Labour understands but what we have agreed is that we need to have an alternative and the process of putting it in place is what is ongoing.”

The minister, who spoke to reporters in Abuja, said: “Subsidy removal will come with some pains but the question is, can we continue with petroleum subsidy as a country? If we cannot continue, what options do we have?

“I think the best is take out subsidy. From the government of ex-Military President Ibrahim Babangida in the 80s, it has defied all efforts to withdraw petrol subsidy. Diesel is now deregulated, Kerosine is now deregulated but petrol has defied deregulation. Should we continue with this subsidy?

“The Federal Government does not lack courage, our President does not lack political will.

“ Who is really benefitting from subsidy? It is confusing. Some people are benefitting but certainly not the common man. Though it does not really benefit the common man, when you try to remove it, the common man comes out to defend it.

“ Now, can we carry on with subsidy if you consider the amount of money swallowed by subsidy? If you want to carry on with subsidy, how do we get the money to fund it? The best way out is to take out subsidy because if we don’t, we will continue to beg the question,” he said.

“It was practiced for a few months, but when the prices began to move up, some people started threatening and we had to return to it.

“ This is a democracy and having deregulated for a few months, we had to step back because this government has listening ears,” he said.

“The price differential is a major incentive for smuggling and it is very difficult to police the borders. We must find a way out of it; if not, you will continue to keep your price down in Nigeria while the neighbouring countries will continue to feed fat on subsidised fuel from Nigeria,” he said.

“The PIB is fully on course. We’ve had many meetings with the National Assembly and other stakeholders. Although the National Assembly had earlier promised to it in April, but that did not work, I believe that the age will not go beyond June,” he said.

He said the istration of President Buhari had attracted about $16.3billion Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the oil and gas sector.

He explained that the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline which had been on the drawing board will cost $21billion.

He said the Federal Government will soon disengage from managing refineries.

The refineries will either be handed over to Operation and Management Contractors (O and M) or allow Nigerians to decide if the government should sell them or go public at the stock exchange.

“The refineries in Nigeria have been the weeping babies of the industry but we believe that it is important that they are at least made functional before we can say this is the direction to take.

‘So if you have a dead refinery, how do you sell a corpse? It doesn’t make sense. Some people say no it is a dead refinery, so why are they fixing it? So what am I going to do with it?

“Is it not better for me to at least resuscitate the dead refinery then look for the option of what to do with it? If I sell it, they will say he is selling a dead refinery but now you say let me resuscitate before selling and they say why are you resuscitating it? So whatever you do they will talk.

“The so called dead refineries were sold by the istration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, they shouted and it was reversed.

“So now we said this time let’s try and fix it and they said why? So you can see the dilemma.

“What we want to do is ensure that the refineries are functional and when it is, the first thing we want to do is not to run it as a government. We want to put an O and M contractor.

“At some point, we will put out the ment for professional refinery managers to bid for managing it. So, it is not going to be subject to government issues anymore when it begins.”

https://thenationonlineng.net/why-petrol-subsidy-will-be-removed-now-by-minister/

Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai has declared Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) leaders who coordinated the shutdown of the state in protest over mass sack of workers as bandits.

He vowed they will be prosecuted, accusing them of unwanton destruction of public properties and disruption of peace.

Their actions, according to the Governor, were equivalent to the actions of bandits terrorising the state.

He also ordered the sack of all nurses in the state below Grade Level 14 and lecturers of the Kaduna State University (KASU) for ing the five-day warning strike.



https://thenationonlineng.net/breaking-el-rufai-declares-nlc-leaders-bandits-sacks-nurses-kasu-lecturers/

Twenty-three governors have keyed into the call for restructuring, following yesterday’s decision by governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Six PDP governors from the North, have ed the clamour by the 17 governors from the South who also canvassed a national dialogue and decentralisation of police at last week’s Asaba meeting.

The PDP governors are Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Dairus Ishaku (Taraba), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Balla Mohammed (Bauchi) and Bello Mattawale (Zamfara).

At different fora, Governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Bello Masari (Katsina) and Babagana Zulum (Borno) had reiterated their clamour for devolution of policing to enable the governors, who are state chief security officers, to effectively tackle insecurity.

Yesterday, it was learnt that the 36 governors were planning a t meeting to deliberate on the state of the nation, particularly the worsening insecurity.

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) ed the Southern governors’ call for a ban on open grazing, stressing that the activities of some unscrupulous herders who invade farms and destroy crops cannot be condoned.

Also, the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) demanded for a law to back the governors’ resolution on open grazing.

The Oodua Youths Coalition (OYC), in a statement, urged the Southern governors to hasten the implementation of their Asaba resolution.

However, former House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Chibudom Nwuche called for a t meeting of the Southern and Northern governors to find a common position on the Asaba Declaration.

Rising from a meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, PDP governors called on President Mohammadu Buhari to immediately send an Executive Bill to the National Assembly to amend the constitution to devolve more powers to the states to enable them tackle security under the state police.


The PDP governors also aligned with the Southern governors on the ban on open grazing, urging the President to call the meeting of the Nigerian Police Council, which comprises Mr President, all governors and other critical stakeholders, to evolve and implement strategies for combating the threats to national unity.

The call formed part of a six-point communique issued at the end of the PDP Governors’ Forum meeting held at the Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan.

Twelve governors were present at the meeting. They are: Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom State), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Ortom (Benue) and Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta).

Others are Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) and Deputy Governor Mahdi Mohd (Zamfara).

The PDP governors urged the Federal Government to take bold and deliberate on steps to ease the tensions in the country and concentrate on projects and policies that would promote national unity and cohesion.

Chairman of the Forum, Governor Tambuwal, read the communique after a closed door session, which lasted about three hours.

He said the essence of the consultative meeting was to further review the state of the nation and take practical steps to tackle the worsening security situation and reposition the economy.

The communique reads in part: “The meeting called on Mr President as the Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of Nigerian Armed Forces to immediately send an Executive Bill to the National Assembly to amend the Nigerian Constitution to devolve more powers to the States with respect to security arrangements culminating in some form of State Policing and the general security architecture.


“In the interim, Mr President should summon an immediate meeting of the Nigerian Police Council, which comprises Mr President and all State Governors and other critical stakeholders to evolve and implement strategies to combat the present threats to our union, especially with respect to policing. The meeting agreed that the Police Force still remains the appropriate institution to secure our democracy and should not be subjected to personal attacks. The welfare, training, equipment, funding of all security agencies should be given priority.

“The meeting s the earlier position taken by the Nigeria Governors Forum, Northern Governors Forum and recently by the Southern Governors Forum to adopt ranching as the most viable solution to the herders / farmers clashes in Nigeria; the restructuring of the Nigerian federation to devolve more powers and functions to the States; and reform of various civil institutions to achieve efficiency and equity for all sections of Nigeria.

“The meeting ens all Nigerians to work together to achieve peace and harmony with one another, devoid of discrimination based on ethnicity, religion and other cleavages. To this end, the meeting called on the incompetent and rudderless APC Government to take bold and deliberate steps to de-escalate and lower tensions in our country, and concentrate on projects and policies that will enhance and promote national unity and cohesion.

“The meeting re-iterated our earlier call for the National Assembly to expedite action on the age of the Electoral Act that will ensure a free and fair election, including provisions for electronic accreditation and electronic transmission of votes.


ACF not opposed to ban on open grazing

Throwing his weight behind the call for ban on open grazing, ACF Chairman and former Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe, in a statement, said: “The ACF does not see any reason to object to a decision taken in the best interest of all.

According to him, “the crisis emanates from the belief by most herdsmen that they are free to enter any farm, eat up the crops and rape or kill any one raising objections. Nobody or society can accept that.

“The current high price of garri is one obvious reason of this behavior. Few cassava farms cannot grow to maturity before it is harvested by the farmers. So food security is already being threatened”.

Ogbe, however, advised the governors not to think that merely banning open grazing will end the crisis.

He added: “The bulk of the violent herders are the ones marching in from neighboring African countries in large numbers, thousands at a time and showing no regards to boundaries, whether state or regional. They have to be stopped.

“Therefore, the Umar Abdullahi Ganduje formula must be adopted to stop the entry into Nigeria of cattle from West Africa. The solution is for Nigeria to seek an Amendment to Article 3 of the ECOWAS protocol, especially as regards the free movement of cattle and other livestock without special permits.

“If this is done, we have over five million hectatres of land in old grazing reserves left, enough to accommodate over 40 million cows, if well grassed and watered.

Ogbe added: “Northern governor’s should immediately look into this and see the viability. Within those spaces, ranches can be developed for lease to Nigerian herders so that this matter can be brought to an end. Thereafter any herders found roaming cañ be penalized.

“Our ECOWAS neighbours can find ways to deal with their own issues the way they deem fit. We can seek from AFDB, the World Bank EU or the Kuwait Fund or any source willing to us in resolving this problem. Hurling abuses, trading suspicion and threatening warfare as is currently the trend will only produce grief and disaster.”


The CLO in Akwa Ibom State demanded for a law to back the resolution of Southern governors to stop open grazing in the region.

It urged the governors to cause their Houses of Assembly to initiate law banning opening grazing by herdsmen.

In a statement by its chairman, Mr. Franklyn Isong, and secretary Comrade Christopher Ekpo, in Uyo, the state capital, the group condemned recent attacks and killings of security operatives in the state.

Former Representatives Deputy Speaker Nwuche called for a t meeting of Southern and Northern governors to address the Asaba resolutions.

Nwuche said that the t meeting has become necessary for the governors to find a common position on the resolutions.

The former deputy speaker, in a statement in Abuja, said the meeting will enhance national unity, equity, justice and fair play among the component parts of Nigeria.

He also commended the Northern governors for the various meetings they had held to strengthen the unity of the North and to chart a common course for the northern region.

Also, Southwest youths under the auspices of OYC has urged the six governors to implement Asaba Delcaration.

The youths said Northern leaders must understand that the dangerous situation in the country called for urgent and drastic solution.

President of OYC, Comrade Oluyi Tayo, who spoke at a press briefing in Akure, Ondo State capital, urged President Buhari to take action on the declaration.

He said the attack by Governor Yahaya Bello on the Asaba declaration was meant to create and imaginary battle between the President and the Southern governors.

He said: “While waiting for these Governors to stay true to their demands and see to its logical conclusion, we demand that the Southwest Governors implement these suggestions and positions in their respective states for equity and fairness.”

https://thenationonlineng.net/governors-seeking-state-police-restructuring-now-23/

The Senate is rumbling. Reason? Senate President Ahmad Lawan’s disapproval of South governors’ resolution at last week’s meeting in Asaba, Delta State.

In what has now become famous as the ‘Asaba Declaration’, the 17 southern governors called for urgent dialogue to resolve lingering national question.

They also called for restructuring and review of revenue formula, among others.

But Lawan, speaking to reporters after the Eid prayers at Aso Villa on Thursday lashed out at the governors.

He cautioned them against “regionalism”, saying the restructuring they were calling for should have started from their states. He accused them of diminishing the local government istration.

But the comment raised tempers among senators, who felt the president of the Senate failed to consider the feelings of other before speaking out.

Lawan was unmindful that senators from the South collectively ed the position of their governors.

Ahead of today’s resumption of plenary, senators started meeting in groups, discussing how to harmonise positions in response to Lawan’s outburst.

Sensing a rancorous session, the Senate President has called for an Executive Session today before proceedings are thrown open to the public.

It was learnt that the Executive session will allow the leadership to manage senators’ anger.
“The Senate president will also use the opportunity to explain that what he said was his opinion,” a source said.

Some senators are also unhappy that the Senate President spoke “as if the Senate is an appendage of the Executive.”

Sources at one of the covert meetings told our correspondent yesterday: “We have agreed to ask our Senate President to retract his comments and offer a public apology because his thoughts are not in line with the realities facing the nation.

“He should have been more circumspect in his reaction to issues. He is the Senate President. He ought to be measured in his comment.”

Another senator said: “Since Lawan came up with his comments, we have been under pressure to challenge him on the floor of the Senate in order to define where every senator clearly stands.

“We want posterity to judge all of us. It is time to call a spade a spade.

“Lawan has reopened old wounds. His comment is distasteful. We want to disown him on Tuesday because he did not speak for the Senate.”

There were fears last night that some governors, who felt insulted by Lawan’s position, were fueling the tension.

A senator, who denied that governors were influencing senators, said: “The fact that we agree with our governors does not mean we are their lackeys.
“Did Lawan gauge the mood of the nation before talking? We are on the same page with our governors because their demand is in the interest of the people.”

A pro-Lawan senator, however told our correspondent, that: “The Senate President merely expressed his opinion which he is entitled to.

“ And in any case, what he said is the truth. What restructuring are governors talking about. Have the governors allowed autonomy for the State Legislature, Judiciary and Local Governments? Let the governors cast the first stone.

“Also at the level we are now, is the solution to our problem regionalism or national integration. His comments did not offend anyone. He only raised posers. The fact is that our democracy can be more meaningful and impactful if the governors allow it to thrive at the state and local government levels.

“Let them come up with issues over Lawan’s comments. We will debate it no come to an agreement.”

A ranking Senator who confirmed the tension ahead of today’s resumption, said: “ Lawan’s comments generated disquiet but we are trying to manage it to avoid crisis. He holds the gavel and anything he says is weighty. Some senators are really angry with him.

“What we are trying to do is to manage the tension at the Executive Session where the Senate President will be able to clarify things. We do not want the situation to degenerate.

“It will be a frank Executive Session. We will surely tell him the home truth, especially the need to talk less.

A senator said: We have been notified of an Executive session on Tuesday.”

Lawan has been receiving harsh criticisms over his comments.

https://thenationonlineng.net/lawans-anti-restructuring-outburst-upsets-senators/

THE President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, has faulted calls for restructuring by Southern governors.

He said elected leaders ought not to champion such calls but rather concentrate on working hard to first restructure their states before asking the Federal Government to do so.

Lawan, said this in an interview with State House correspondents, in Abuja, on Thursday, after observing the Eid-el-Fitr prayers at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa.

He said, “I believe that, as leaders, especially those of us who are elected into office should not be at the forefront of calling for this kind of thing (restructuring).

“Because, even if you are a governor, you are supposed to be working hard in your state to ensure that this restructuring you are calling for at the federal level, you have done it in your state as well.

“What you may accuse the Federal Government of, whatever it is, you may also be accused of the same thing in your state.

“So, we are supposed to ensure that we have a complete and total way of ensuring that our systems at the federal, state and even local government levels work for the people.
“We must allow people to participate in governance so that whoever feels he has something to offer to make Nigeria better does so freely without any let or hindrance.”

The Senate president further said, “The President is reaching out to all the stakeholders. And I believe that as leaders, particularly those of us who were elected at all levels of government, we should avoid partisanship.

“We should avoid regionalism. We are all leaders and we are in this together.

“The solutions to our challenges must come from us regardless of what level of government we are.

“Whether at the federal, state or the local government level.

“I believe that Nigeria is going to come out of these challenges stronger.” He also called for for the federal government.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, also called for a national spirit of oneness, saying that “If truth be told, we all have equal shares in the blame for what’s happening today.

https://punchng.com/restructure-your-states-stop-regional-campaign-lawan-tells-govs/

The Federal Government has reintroduced COVID-19 restrictions across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This new directive is to take effect by midnight of Tuesday, a member of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, Dr Mukhtar Mohammed, declared.

Mohammed, who is the Head of Technical Secretariat of the PSC, made the announcement while briefing reporters on Monday in Abuja.

With the restrictions imposed, mass gatherings in public spaces have been restricted to 50 people at any given time.

Access to government institutions would also be denied to anyone not wearing a face mask while government meetings and travels have been limited to the virtual platform.

According to Mohammed, the government has directed that bars and nightclubs should remain closed and the nationwide curfew will be in force until further notice.

He added that only essential international travels would be encouraged, and all existing protocols must be strictly adhered to.

The PSC member, however, stated that there was no limitation to intra-state travel.



https://www.channelstv.com/2021/05/10/breaking-fg-announces-phase-iv-of-covid-19-lockdown-to-take-effect-from-tuesday/

References:
18 New COVID-19 Cases, 10 Discharged And 0 Deaths On May 3


https://twitter.com/NCDCgov/status/1389343157385584653?s=19


https://twitter.com/NCDCgov/status/1389343235584233476?s=19

Ok

clemmonce:
gud evening guys. i hav a question to ask it has been bothering me for sometime so i have decided to ask the educational gurus in the house.
i am a student of unilag DLI i presently hav a G.P of 3.1 and i am in 400level i hav one more year left i want to knw is it stil possible for me to graduate with second class upper 2.1.

Sorry bro!
2:1 with this cgpa is mission impossible.

Anyway check my signature

The Work Experience Program is one the series of economy sustainability projects being implemented as an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development in Nigeria.

Recently a clinical study and analysis of various surveys on the Nigerian youth, with respect to employability skills, was carried out alongside series of one-to-one interactions. In reaching a conclusion, it was established that one of the challenges of unemployment is the acute absence of practical workplace skills and experience.

In order to bridge this gap, the Ministry has initiated the Work Experience Program (WEP) to ensure that young people acquire a level of experience and hone their employability skills, to make them suitable for employment and to acquire the required skills for self-development and crucial to thriving in the 21st Century world of work. These skills include Mentoring, Networking, how to gain Scholarships, knowledge of world Competitions, Employment, Training and Business Startups.

The Work Experience Program (WEP) initiative is a three-month internship programme that will provide participants with the opportunity to gain relevant firsthand knowledge, develop skills and workplace competencies that will greatly increase their potentials for a successful employment.

The Work Experience Program (WEP) aims to ensure that young people acquire a level of experience and hone their employability skills, to make them suitable for employment and to acquire the required skills for self-development and crucial to thriving in the 21st Century world of work.

Benefits to Successful Interns
Provides you with an opportunity to relate career courses with workplace scenarios.
Gives you valuable insight into the diversity of employees in the workplace.
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Provides you with appropriate knowledge, skills, and attitudes concerning both paid and unpaid work.

Eligibility
To be eligible for this training programme, candidates must:

be a Nigerian citizen between the ages of 18 to 35 years
possess a valid government-issued means of identification
willing to undertake some travel if selected and the physical training location is not in their state of residence
be a graduate of tertiary institution (BSc/HND)

https://fmysd-esp.com/work-experience/

Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan in severe pain.

I like listen to him and Secondus. They have been in severe pain and sadness since emergence of Buhari. This sadness overwhelm both and you could easily see it in their expression.
Meanwhile Buhari doesn't know they both exist. What an agony for both.

This istration is something else
Lie Mohammed to information ministry good in telling lies
Sadiya

The agency in charge of the country's vaccination campaign did not say in its announcement when inoculations would begin, but the first doses are to be istered to frontline healthcare personnel.

Happy Birthday Sir!

What is the payment structure stated on the appointment letter? E.g Conhess, Conmess etc.

But that grade level 03 is for O'level certificate. Meaning that they intend to employ you with your O'level certificate only.

Your take home every months for the next three year is 33-38k.

golamike:


Na dem send you to bet?

Are you saint?

Yeyeman! Why do you ban protest in first place??

Errant nonsense

Johnnyessence:
keep deceiving yourself here ,Kogi state and bayelsa State are pdp . The electorates are more wiser by the day.

Otondo