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Kogi Teachers Reject 20 Percent Salary Payment, Threaten Industrial Action

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has called on the Kogi State to restore full payment of salary and allowances to its members or face industrial dispute.

The chairman of the state branch of NUT, Thomas Ayodele, who spoke in Lokoja during the union’s yearly solemn assembly, said that his members could no longer accept a salary of between 20 per cent and 30 per cent being paid to them since the beginning of the year.

Thomas Ayodele said the underpayment, inconsistent percentage payment and omissions that have so far characterized the payment of primary school teachers’ salary must stop forthwith.

The chairman called on the state Ministry of Local Government and all the 21 local governments in the state to make necessary adjustments and make salary of teachers first line charge as directed by the state government since July 2017.

The union insisted that local governments hands off payment of teachers’ salary henceforth, saying that the State Universal Basic Education Board, which is constitutionally saddled with this responsibility, be allowed to perform its function.

Ayodele also called on the state government to undertake the harmonisation of teachers’ payroll to include all pending cases currently being reviewed by SUBEB, in conjunction with the office of the state Head of Service.

While demanding immediate payment of all outstanding salary and allowances of teachers, the union requested that adequate instructional materials be provided in all schools to enhance teaching and learning.

He appealed to his members to remain calm, as efforts were being intensified to resolve salary and other issues with relevant authorities. [myad]

Gov Obaseki Revamps Ogbemudia Stadium In Benin City

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has begun the revamping of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin city to meet international standard as part of the overall reform of the sports sector in the state.

Speaking on the project, the governor said that the walls are being reinforced with concrete pillars and all the roads and drainage system in the area hosting the stadium are undergoing reconstruction.

“Edo people deserve a world class stadium. Our contribution to sports globally is common knowledge both in the number and quality of athletes Edo State has produced for the world stage. We also want to provide standard playing fields for our young ones whose turn it is to replicate the success stories of yesteryear.

“Sports is a huge industry with allied businesses that can take most of our idle youths away from the streets. We want to produce more Victor Moses, Julius Aghahowa, Austin Eguavoen, Osazee Odemwingie and Odion Ighalo.”

He said part of the reforms of the state’s sports sector includes the rebranding of Bendel Insurance and the club’s restructuring to ensure that the club can overcome funding, administrative and other challenges.

The 20 mini-stadia that will be spread across the state will serve as talent grooming and skills honing  ground for youths in the 18 local government areas.

On completion, the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium’s tartan tracks and the offices will be modernised while the synthetic grass in the pitch would be replaced with natural grass. The gymnasium and the lawn tennis courts would also be upgraded to international standard.

There will be a roof over the entire stand of the stadium. The trusses that will support the roof are being erected already.

The swimming pool is part of the project but it will be done in the second phase. The entire renovation work will be completed by October.

Bendel Insurance of Benin will now play its home matches at the University of Benin football field as a result. [myad]

Offa Armed Robbery: Police Arrest 12 Prime Suspects

A high-powered Police Investigation Team deployed in synergy with the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department to carryout discreet investigation into the banks robbery, in Offa, Kwara state, have arrested 12 prime suspects.

According to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer in Abuja, ACP Jimoh Moshood, those arrested including the nine suspects who were directly involved in the Banks Robbery and attack on a Police Station in Offa, Kwara State.

He gave the names of those arrested as 29 years old Adegoke Shogo, a native of Offa. He was said to have been arrested in Offa after the bank robbery and the attack on the Police Station.

The police said that Adegoke is also drug baron as well as an Indian hemp dealer in Offa. According to intelligence gathered from cultivated and reliable informant, Adegoke is alleged to be one of the sponsors of the robbery attack and the Police Station in Offa, and that he has made useful statements to the roles he played in the armed robbery.

Another one is 35 years old Kayode Opadokun, who is a native of Offa. He was found out to have been released from Prison Three months ago after serving only eight months of his sentence years for armed robbery. He was said to be a notorious armed robber and confirmed gang member of the Offa bank robbers.

The police said that a barrette pistol and six rounds of live ammunition were recovered from him. He has admitted to the criminal roles he played in the Offa banks robbery.

The 36 years old Kazeem Abdulrasheed, also a native of Offa Kwara, and gang member from whom a Victim’s phone was found is also among those arrested even the 27 years old Azeez Abdullahi, a native of Offa is also a gang member from whom a victim’s phone and SIM cards were recovered.

Others arrested are 39 years Alexander Reuben, a native of Isoko Local Government Area of Delta state who is described as a notorious, deadly and hardened bank robber from whom GMPGs, rocket launchers and several rifles were recovered in 2015. He was released from prison in December 2017. He was arrested on the 11th April, 2018 in Lagos; the 28 years Jimoh Isa, a native of Okene Kogi State who was indicted by Technical intelligence generated on the Bank Robbers. He was arrested on the 11th April, 2018 in Lagos.

“Three (3) suspects namely Azeez Salawudeen 20yrs, Adewale Popoola 22yrs and Adetoyese Muftau 23yrs from whom Two (2) phones and SIM cards belonging to victims were recovered have also made confessional statements admitting to the various roles they played in the commission of the crime.” [myad]

Buhari To Remaining Chibok Girls’ Parents: Expect Good News In Due Course

President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the parents of the school girls that were abducted from Government Girls Secondary School Chibok, Borno State, to expect good news about the safe release of the girls in due course.

He said that four long years since they were taken away by terrorists, his government is at the verge of securing their release and safe return to the parents.

President Buhari, in a statement by his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu in commemoration of the fourth anniversary of the sad incident, prayed that the event at the daughters’ school today will go well.

He asked the parents to keep their hopes alive on the return of their daughters, saying that the recovery  of more than a 100 of the girls that were kidnapped through the Federal Government’s determined effort should give confidence that all “hope is not lost”.

President Buhari stressed that the government is focused and determined to see the girls return to their homes, even as he called on the parents to be expectant of more good news in due course.

“We are concerned and aware that it is taking long to bring the rest of our daughters back home, but be assured that this administration is doing its very best to free the girls from their captors.

“Unfortunately, the negotiations between the government and Boko Haram suffered some unexpected setbacks, owing mainly to a lack of agreement among their abductors, whose internal differences have led to a divergence of voices regarding the outcome of the talks. We know that this is not the news parents want to hear after four whole years of waiting, but we want to be as honest as possible with you.

“However, this government is not relenting. We will continue to persist, and the parents should please not give up. Don’t give up hope of seeing our daughters back home again. Don’t lose faith in this government’s ability to fulfill our promise of reuniting you with our daughters.

“Don’t imagine for a moment that we have forgotten about our daughters or that we consider their freedom a lost course.”

President Buhari made it clear that as long as he remains the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the Chibok girls will never be forgotten and all will be done to have them reunited with their families. [myad]

Boko Haram And The Power Of Educated Girls, By Stella Oduah

Four years have passed since 14th April 2014 when 276 girls were abducted in a girl’s secondary school in Chibok, Borno state in the northeast of Nigeria by the Boko Haram Terrorist group. The outpouring of emotions was unlike anything I have experienced in my lifetime.

Fast forward to 19th February 2018, about 110 schoolgirls were abducted in the Government Girls Science Technical College in Dapchi, a small community in Yobe state, by a faction of the terrorist group. Most of the girls secured their freedom after a series of back-channel negotiations between the sect and the Nigerian government. While image-makers of the President Muhammadu Buhari led government cheered, and declared victory, I was filled with mixed feelings.

I was delighted in part as mother to see the girls reunited with their parents, but saddened on the other as a Nigerian catholic Christian as reports got in that Leah Sharibu, one of the abducted girls remained a captive due to her defiance to the instruction by the terrorists that she renounce her faith.

As as a public official, I am afraid to say that while we continue to make progress on the territorial front, Boko Haram appears to be winning on their own ideological turf. The girls were returned but not without a warning: “Don’t ever put your daughters in school again.”

A news magazine interview with some parents and students of the school in Dapchi confirmed my fears. One of the girls interviewed, Rakiya Adamu, vowed never to return to school. She was not among one of the abducted school kids. Abdullahi Kawi, a father of one of the girls wants his daughter to go back to school but under conditions that security must be provided in the schools.

Many expert observers of the Dapchi abduction find parallels with the tragedy that befell the Chibok schoolgirls about four years ago. Boko Haram is clearly threatened by the power of educated girls and seeks to destroy them. But the biggest difference this time, is that the sect has stealthily evolved from the dark, evil terrorist group that they really are, into a faux reasonable group with some grievances. They received hero’s welcome as they returned these girls to the community while government officials were stoned during an earlier assessment visit.

Nigeria’s President, Mr. Buhari appears to have fallen for this charm offensive by the group. He offered amnesty — a move that I am totally opposed to — and which I believe, resonates with most people in my country and most especially my constituency.

Boko Haram is more of an ideological group that is opposed to education and civilisation than an expansionist group seeking to control territory. Winning for them would mean that our women and girls do not receive education. Winning for them would mean that our girls get married and pregnant early.

Nigeria has about 10.5 million out-of-school children, making our country the world’s worst afflicted with 60% of these being girls.

The larger fraction is concentrated in the Northeast of Nigeria where the Boko Haram devastation has led to the destruction and shutdown of educational facilities. The situation is worse than imagined.

We have no other choice — our schools must be secure or we would see more people stay out of schools even where they are available.

But the reality is that the current capabilities of the Nigerian security apparatus will not do. The Nigerian Police Force is acutely understaffed while the military has maintained that the same circumstances would make it almost impossible for it to secure all the schools in the region.

The $100m safe schools initiative championed by former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown in partnership with the Nigerian government under the administration of my boss, the former President Goodluck Jonathan seems to have stalled under this current administration. Donors including the Nigerian government contributed about $20m towards this project but the status is now difficult to track.

This is why I am presently consulting with my colleagues at the Nigerian Senate to proffer a legislative solution to the issue of school safety. A number of proposals that I am considering include the creation of a Safe Schools Guard. This would not be another agency of government. The proposal would seek to grant legal backing for security agencies to provide some form of military training to community vigilantes who would get commissioned into the guard. This could help to provide the much needed security for our schools without putting a drain on public expenditure.

The return on investment on girl child education is immense. Once women are educated, they are more economically empowered to invest in their families and dislodge poverty, which has become the biggest lever for Boko Haram recruitment in the region. A global study showed that educating girls will reduce child marriage by about 64% in sub-Saharan Africa.

This is why the government of Nigeria and her international partners must by all means ensure that every available resource is deployed to make sure our girls can be safe in schools. Even Boko Haram understands the power of an uneducated female child. What are we waiting for?

Senator Stella Oduah, is the President of ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians and the vice-chairman Senate Committee on Women Affairs. She tweets via @SenStellaOduah.

Stella Adaeze Oduah is Senator Representing Anambra North Constituency, Vice-chairman, Senate Committee on Women Affairs; President, ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians; Former Aviation Minister (2011-2014). [myad]

Ibadan Dioceses Regrets That Nigeria Is Not Yet A Nation

The Ibadan Diocese of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), has come up with a verdict that Nigeria is still not a nation as it is in the doldrums battling to be a nation

In a communiqué signed by the Most Rev Joseph Akinfenwa at the end of its second session of the 22nd Synod of the Diocese held at St David Anglican Church Ijokodo in Ibadan, the church said that Nigeria can only be a  nation when the yearnings of component or federating units are addressed rather than suppressed.

On 2019 elections, the synod called for prayers for peace even as it advised politicians to eschew violence and brigandage and that they should approach the elections with the spirit of sportsmanship.

On the issue of restructuring, the synod wanted a return to the 1963 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and calling for each federating unit to consolidate “on their comparative advantage to generate funds for self sufficiency.”

The synod therefore sought for a revisit of 2014 Confab Reports and implementation of same and wishes for God fearing leadership to actualize the Nigerian project.

The communiqué states: “there is tension everywhere because of too much divergent opinions to issues as we don’t want the same thing , as what a section wants is inimical to to the interest of another section and nobody is ready to shift ground for the other.”

The Synod regreted that “there is no justice in the land and it is difficult to preach righteousness – reasons why people now resort to self-help when they cannot get redress by just means.”

It said that solution cannot be achieved in a nation with brutalized economy, adding that trading blames has kept on worsening the situation. [myad]

2019: Nigerians In Diaspora Condemn Protest Against Buhari In London

The Association of Nigerian Entrepreneur under the umbrella of Nigerians in Diaspora have condemned in its totality, attempt by those they described as “some hired foreigners” to chant anti-President Muhammadu Buhari’s songs in the United Kingdom.

Chairman of the Association, Mr. Charles E Sylvester, in a statement from London, said that the declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari to contest the 2019 Presidential election is a welcome development which a lot of Nigerians have been waiting anxiously to receive.

Sylvester, who is also the Coordinator of Buhari Diaspora Support Organisation, said the London protest was planned by corrupt politicians and the opposition to embarrass the president during his visit to the UK.

“We categorically state that they do not represent the views of majority of Nigerians in the UK, who are supporting the PMB administration to make our country greater.

“We support the president and the Vice President in their efforts to make Nigeria greater. They have been doing a good work despite various challenges and obstacles.

“We condemn the plans of corrupt politicians and the opposition to try and embarrass our president during his visit to the UK.

“The recent gathering of hired foreigners to chant anti PMB slogans is pathetic and condemnable. Nigerians in the Diaspora support president Buhari in his 2019 presidential bid.

He listed some of the PMB top 10 achievements which he said are verifiable to include; implementing reforms in the civil service which led to the elimination of over 30,000 ghost workers, thereby saving the country billions of naira monthly and massive investments in agriculture such as Anchors Borrowers Programme to improve local produce, improving fertilizer distribution and access across states through the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative. Reduction in rice imports as a result of government’s policies that have encouraged massive rice production across Nigeria.

Others are increasing external reserves to $47 billion which surpassed the ERGPs target of $30.56 billion despite global low oil prices and production challenges, the introduction of the One Primary Health Centre per ward programme of the Federal Government and effective implementation of the Treasury Single Account as well as increasing government revenue by over N3 trillion in addition to entrenching transparency and accountability.

Sylvester continued; “The establishment of MSMEs Clinics, a small Business support programme to support entrepreneurs and small businesses in different states, reforms by the Federal Government to inspire start-ups to cut unemployment as well as saw Nigeria rise 24 places on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business ranking, earning the country a place on the List of Top 10 Reformers in the world.

“Social Investment Programmes (SIP), N-Power Volunteer Scheme creating jobs for over 200,000 (and still counting), unemployed graduates in all the 36 states and the FCT and Government Enterprise and Empowerment (GEEP) Scheme which commenced in November 2016 in collaboration with the Bank of Industry, where soft loans ranging from N10, 000 to N100, 000 were given to over 189,000 market women and traders across different states.

“Home Grown School Feeding Programme, where almost three million school children are being fed, while tens of thousands of cooks have been engaged in their respective states and the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme, under which about 25,000 less privileged Nigerians so far are now being funded with the monthly N5,000 stipend in 9 pilot States (Bauchi, Borno, Cross Rivers, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Osun and Oyo). More beneficiaries are expected to be added in more states.

“The Nigeria Customs Service recorded its highest revenue collection, crossing the One Trillion Naira (N1, 000,000,000, 000) mark;* the target for 2017 was 770 billion Naira (N770,573,730,490) and 2016 collection was just under 900 billion (N898,673,857,431.07) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB), under the new management appointed by President Buhari in 2016, remitted N7.8 billion to the coffers of the Federal Government, a staggering distance from the N51 billion remitted by JAMB between 2010 and 2016,” Sylvester stressed. [myad]

CBN Begins Disbursement Of N26 Billion Agribusiness Fund To MSMEs

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee has commenced disbursement of N26 billion Agribusiness Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS) fund to the first set of beneficiaries.

The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele at the inauguration of the scheme in Abuja today, Thursday, said that the fund was set up by the Bankers Committee at its 331st meeting held on February 9, 2017.

He said that the main purpose was to improve access to affordable funding for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), particularly those operating in the informal sector of the economy.

Emefiele recalled that as commitment to the successful implementation of the scheme, all Money Deposit Banks (DMBs) voluntarily agreed to contribute five per cent of their Profit After Tax annually.

He said their contribution was to be used to fund eligible projects under the scheme.

Emefiele commended the commitment of the DMBs to support the scheme, adding that by the end of next year, the disbursement rate of the fund would have risen to N60 billion.

He also said the fund would be disbursed to youths, who had been trained on various entrepreneurship, vocational and management skills across the country by Entrepreneurship Development Institutions and Centres.

According to him, the centres are the Fate Foundation, Lagos Business School, House of Tara and Thrive Agric.

He said unlike other intervention scheme where the funds were disbursed in cash, beneficiaries under the agribusiness programme would be given equipment that were commensurate to the required amount based on their trade areas.

“In Nigeria, the challenges of youth unemployment and restiveness must be confronted with strategic innovative thinking to provide sustainable solution.

“No matter how daunting the challenge may seem, I believe that with unity of purpose, we can fight this scourge together.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that one of the most effective ways to tackle this scourge, is through entrepreneurship development and easy access to affordable funding.

“Yet, access to funds has been an Achilles heel on entrepreneurship development in the country today.

“A situation often credited to financial intermediaries’ apathy to youth entrepreneurship and startups, which are usually perceived as being too risky, lacking relevant managerial skills and not possessing,’’ he said.

Emefiele said that the AGSMEIS scheme would be implemented under three broad components, direct, indirect and developmental components.

Under the direct component of the AGSMEIS, the CBN governor said beneficiaries could access loans to a limit of N10 million at an interest rate of five per cent per annum and a maximum tenor of up to seven years.

In addition, he said that there was also a moratorium period of 18 months on principal and six months on interest element, depending on the nature of the business.

Under the indirect component of the scheme, the CBN governor said beneficiaries could access equity and quasi-equity investments of up to ten years with an initial lock up period of three years before divestment.

He explained that the developmental component of the scheme would be used for capacity building and technical assistance to support beneficiaries.

Emefiele said also that the apex bank would step up its developmental objectives so as to reduce the level of unemployment and create wealth that would support the growth and development of the economy.

He said that under the CBN Anchor Borrowers Programme, which was launched in Nov. 2015, the bank had disbursed N80 billion to 358,000 small holder farmers in 34 states, cultivating eight commodities.

The highlight of the event was the disbursement of materials worth N133 million to first set of 358 beneficiaries to start businesses in their chosen fields.

Emefiele stressed that the money is not free as the beneficiaries would be strictly monitored to ensure repayment.

PDP Cries Out To European Union: APC, INEC Will Rig 2019 Polls

Prince Uche Secondus

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has cried out to European Union (EU) to save Nigeria from the planned rigging of the 2019 general elections by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, who spoke when the EU delegate, led by Ketil Karlsen visited him in his office in Abuja, said that his party is concerned at the emerging signs showing that 2019 election might be rigged.

According to Secondus, indicators on ground shows that the APC and INEC are not preparing to conduct free and fair election in 2019, which he said, will truncate the hard earned democracy nurtured for 16 years by the PDP administration

In a statement from the National Chairman’s media office signed by his media adviser, Ike Abonyi, Secondus was quoted as telling his visitors that the government and its agencies are not realistically preparing for free and fair election.

“What we see is marshal system of framing up opposition leaders and trying to intimidate them. They are not ready to observe the rule of law and there is no democracy without rule of law.

“We conducted election in 2015, the party and the Presidential candidate did not go to court, we had smooth transition because we believe in the rule of law

“Nigeria as the largest black nation in the globe cannot afford crisis because of the huge effect it would have in the continent and the entire global democratic community if democracy is truncated.”

Secondus appealed to European Union and other international partners to keep a watch on Nigeria ahead 2019 and put pressure on the government and INEC for a free, fair and credible election.

He said that the European Union’s visit is coming at the appropriate time given that President Muhammadu Buhari has just indicated interest to re-contest for a second term in 2019.

Secondus said that the PDP is mobilizing its members and other Nigerians ahead of the election through its rebranding project that is targeted at youths and women. [myad]

Happy Youths March Into Future

Hundreds of the 2017 Batch of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, today, Thursday 12 April, staged a passing out ceremony in Kubwa, FCT, the orientation camp of the NYSC. They were reminded that the future they are passing out into looks bright only if they stand up to be creative in the skills they have acquired.

Miss Hanatu Isyaka, one of the Corps members that passed out of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), in Kubwa, Abuja today, Thursday, April 12.

Hanatu Isyaka (second from right), her sister, Hajara Yusuf (second from left), Yusuf Ozi Usman (First right) and Hanatu’s friend at the NYSC passing out ceremony in Kubwa, Abuja. [myad]

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