Lagos Hosts Youth Forum December 29

December 23, 2015

The Lagos State Government has concluded plans to gainfully engage youth across the State in what is designed to be the first in series of interactive sessions on government’s policies and programmes.
The interactive session, tagged: ‘Peace in the world: The role of Lagos State Youth’ is billed for December 29th, and will hold at the Onikan Youth Centre in an atmosphere of fun and merriment.
According to the Chief Convener, the State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, the forum will not only provide a platform for interaction between the youths and representatives of the State Government but also enable government get feedback and clarification on its policies and programmes as it affects the youth.
“The platform will also afford the youths the opportunity to learn and air their views about the present administration’s policies and programmes while also discouraging them from constituting a nuisance or falling victim of associated risk especially during the festive season.”
She advised members of all youth organisations who have registered with the ministry as voluntary and non-voluntary youth organisations in the State to take advantage of the programme as it is strictly by invitation.
Meanwhile, Special Adviser to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh, has said that the state is set to build and develop intellectual capacity of the people and to avail them the opportunity of contributing to discussions on developments.
Speaking at the annual Lagos State Quiz Competition among adult learners from various Literacy Centres in all the Local Government and Local Council Development Areas in the State held recently at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, the Special Adviser said that more Literacy Centres will be created in each Locality to give all the citizen equal opportunity to benefit from the Government programme which would be tag “KICK ILLETRACY OUT OF LAGOS”.
According to him: “Lagos State Literacy Level is 87% and the Government is planning to move it up to at least 95% within the next three years. We intend to embark on lots of publicity campaign and create necessary awareness to enlighten the people of Lagos State about these Centres.”
He enjoined all Lagosians to support the State Government in its effort to reduce illiteracy level to the barest minimum, even as he admonished the facilitators of the Literacy Centres to be more committed to their duties.
He assured them of a better welfare package in the coming year in order to boost their morale.
Earlier, the Director of the Agency for Mass Literacy in the State, Mrs. Fola Amore commended the present administration for its support and commended all Heads of Education Department in various LG and LCDAs for their effort on improving Adult Literacy in the State.
She however enjoined them not to relent in their effort to ensure that illiteracy become a thing of the past in Lagos State. [myad]

Heaps of Refuse Dumps Take Over Part Of Niger State

Greenbarge Reporters

December 23, 2015

Heaps of refuse dumps have taken over some parts of Niger state. The dumps are found in a community around Gauraka Township of the Tafa Local Government of the State. Residents are complaining that the refuse dump at the Gauraka Primary Health Centre/police station has responsible for the many ill health faced by the people in the community. One of the residents, Waidi Olayiola said that the refuse dump has caused havoc, adding that it has not only affected the health of the people but that offensive smokes being released from the dump has been choking the people around the area. Information reaching us indicated that the matter has been reported to the Tafa Local Government council but nothing ass done to clean up the area. A youth leader, Mallam Danlami Muhammad Tella hinted how decomposing body of dead dogs and rotten animals have littered the area, ooding out offensive odour. Another resident, Mallam Habu Shehu appealed to both the ministry of Environment and that of Health to intervene swiftly and help evacuate the refuse in the community. Director of the Young, Doctors Academy, Abubakar Jibrin also appealed to the ministers of health and environment to intervene come to the aid of the community. [myad]

PDP Describes 2016 Budget As ‘A Big Fraud’

Greenbarge Reporters

December 23, 2015

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the N6.08 trillion 2016 federal budget presented by President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday to the joint session of the National Assembly as a big fraud and executive conspiracy tailored towards mortgaging the future of the nation.

The party queried Buhari’s decision to borrow N2 trillion, the biggest in the history of the nation as the “height of recklessness and deceit from a government that trends on propaganda”.

In a statement in Abuja, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, berated the Federal Government for trying to use their “bogus” welfare programme and “phantom” capital projects as cover and conduit to syphon the funds to satisfy partisan interests, particularly to settle huge campaign debts.

“It is obvious that this budget is an extension of the campaign promises of the APC government, presented as a manifesto filled with bogus promises which implementation will be inconclusive, thereby allowing the APC to once again deny their promises.

“There has never been any known economy in the world where government deliberately mortgage the future of its nation by borrowing excessively to finance partisan interests while hiding under bogus welfare programmes. This is moreso important as the APC in reeling out their bogus campaign promises never informed Nigerians that they would mortgage their future through excessive borrowing.

“We have it on good authority that this is the first in the series of APC borrowings which would leave the future generation of Nigerians under the burden of huge debts after four years,” PDP said.

The PDP also said the budget clearly showed that after seven months in power, Mr. Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress was yet to differentiate between governance and campaign propaganda.

“By all standards, the 2016 budget, the first major economic policy outing of this government, is completely unrealistic and duplicitously embellished with impractical predications, a development that confirms fears by economy watchers and investors that this administration is obviously ill-equipped for governance.

“We are indeed shocked that President Buhari and his minister of information have come up with two different reasons for the current fuel crisis in the country. While we appreciate the President’s apology, we think it is high time he called this minister to order as his excessive propaganda and blame game are ridiculing this administration and the image of the nation.

“Furthermore, it is instructive to note the official endorsement of Mr. President to the devaluation of the naira as against his campaign promise of firming up the value of our currency even to the much vaunted one naira to one dollar.

‘Does it mean that Mr. President lied his way to power, or that he did not understand the complexities of governance when he was making his false promises to Nigerians?

“In future, there is need to regulate campaign promises so that we will not end up with a government that promises to climb Mount Everest with bare hands and end up mortgaging our future with orchestrated borrowings.

“Finally, we want to request Mr. President to once again to involve experienced and well-tested hands in the management of the economy and budgeting processes.

“This economy is not for Mr. President, neither is it for the APC. The progress of the economy is for all Nigerians and as such, due care should taken to save ourselves from unrealistic and deceptive programmes.” [myad]

$108.7 Million, N2 Billion Alleged Fraud: EFCC Charges Tompolo, Akpbolokemi To Court

Greenbarge Reporters

December 23, 2015

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a 40-count criminal charge of unlawful conversion against a Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), and a former boss of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi over alleged conversion of $108.7 million and N2 Billion. The case was filed yesterday at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

The said money, according to EFCC, belonged to NIMASA and was allegedly stolen by the accused persons, which also included three others as well as five limited liability companies.

The other accused are: Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, Odimiri Electricals Limited, Kime Engozu, Boloboere Property and Estate Ltd, Rex Elem, Destre Consult Ltd, Gregory Mbonu, and Captain Warredi Enisuoh.

The suit, FHC/L/5539C/15, was filed on behalf of the EFCC by its prosecutor, Festus Keyamo. In 16 of the counts, the agency alleges that Ekpemupolo, Akpobolokemi, Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, Odimiri Electrical Ltd, Boloboere Property Estate, Kime Engozu and Simon John Adomene, who is currently at large, conspired amongst themselves between 2012 and 2014 to commit the offence, knowing that the two sums of money were proceeds of stealing.

In counts 17-38 of the criminal charge, Rex Elem, Gregory Mbonu and Destre Consult Ltd are alleged to have converted the sum of N106.8m, property of Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, despite knowing that the sum was derived from official corruption.

In counts 39 and 40, the EFCC alleges that Captain Warredi Enisuoh converted the sum of N8million, property of Global West Vessel Specialist, knowing that the money was derived from official corruption.

The offences alleged to have been committed by the accused are contrary to, and punishable under the Money Laundering Act of 2012.

It would be recalled that Mr. Akpolobokemi is currently standing trial in two different courts of the Federal High Court in Lagos for other offences. [myad]

EDITORIAL: The 500,000 New Teachers Buhari Promised

Greenbarge Reporters

December 23, 2015

One of the highlights in the N6.08 Trillion federal budget for 2016 as presented to the joint session of the National Assembly yesterday, December 22, by President Muhammadu Buhari, was the promised teaching job for 500,000 unemployed graduates across the country.
The President, who described his determination to partner with State and Local Governments to recruit, train and deploy 500,000 unemployed graduates and NCE holders as an emergency measure, said that such measure is being aimed at addressing the chronic shortage of teachers in public schools across the country.
These graduate teachers, Buhari explained, will be deployed to primary schools, thereby, enhancing the provision of basic education, especially in the rural areas.
Indeed, if there is any one policy of the government that has sought to address three national challenges in one fell swoop, it is this proposal for the employment of half a million fresh teachers, especially at the primary school level.
First and foremost, the move would address the issue of unemployment itself. As a matter of fact, the nation has been producing thousands and thousands of graduates every year, even as the employment opportunities get thinner, no thanks to many factors, one of which is the closure of many vibrant factories and industrial estates. There is no gain saying the fact that the situation of graduate unemployment has been posing a serious embarrassment not only to the parents and relations of the graduates, but to the collective interest and pride of the nation.
The situation became more insulting to our collective sensibility when unemployment suddenly became an object of political maneouvre in the past governments, so much that even the graduate unemployed themselves fell flat for it.
The Buhari’s pronouncement and its eventual practicalisation would go a long way to produce multiple productive effects on the family of the beneficiaries. One person so employed, for example, may end up feeding or caring for an average of four people down the line, which translates into smiles being put on the faces of no fewer than two million Nigerians.
The measure would also have positive and multiple effects on the education itself. Besides the fact that it would address shortage of manpower in the system, it would also improve poor academic works in most cases.
We in Greenbarge Reporters were gladdened by the President’s specific reference to primary school education as the target for the half a million teachers to be employed. It is at this foundation level that the nation’s education began to limp and which has contributed largely in baking half-literate graduates of higher institutions. This is also why the inclusion of training or capacity building for the 500,000 new teachers is seen by many as a far reaching progressive move to salvage the entire education sector. It would have amounted to pretending on the part of the government to talk of quantity (employing more teachers) without looking into quality (capacity building or training). Frankly, the Nigerian public school education has been infested by so many negative challenges that it is almost difficult for one to know where to start from.
For a long time, the quality of the products of the nation’s public schools, from the basic to the tertiary levels, has whittled down to glorified ‘educated’ with no ‘substance’.
This, and other factors might have brought about the seeming disdain with which members of the public and the government treat teachers. As a matter of fact, teachers are today, still the least respected even from the point of view of take home pay, so much that no student would pray to become a teacher in his or her life.
Where a medical officer receives, for instance, huge amount of money as salary, his counterpart in the teaching profession and on the same level, receives less. This situation still discourages many people from taken to teaching; even those who go through pure teachers’ training come out to embrace jobs in another field entirely.
It is hoped that the Buhari government would address comprehensively, the challenges that are facing the education sector, especially, the remuneration for teachers. This is the sure way of making his offer of teaching job to 500,000 graduates more attractive and exciting. [myad]

APC Excited By The Social Welfare Package In 2016 Budget

Greenbarge Reporters

December 22, 2015

All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed joy in the social welfare package contained in the 2016 federal budget as presented today, to the joint session of the National Assembly, by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The party’s national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun described the budget as unprecedented ‘Budget of Change.’

Chief Odigie-Oyegun said that the budget was an assurance that many of the promises made to the Nigerian electorate by the Party in the course of the 2015 presidential campaign will be fulfilled.

This, he said, was because provisions for these are contained in the proposed 2016 National Budget.

In a statement today in Abuja, Odigie-Oyegun ‎said that the present administration’s pro-people policies will be implemented “full blast” in the coming 2016 financial year.

“In fulfilment of APC’s election promises to the Nigerian electorate, the Party, the party welcomes the proposed Social Welfare Programmes contained in the proposed 2016 National Budget submitted to the National Assembly. President Buhari has proposed N500 billion to pay unemployed Nigerian graduates (post-NYSC grant) and feed school children, amongst other social welfare programmes in 2016.

“A phased Social Welfare Programme created to cater for a larger population of the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians upon the evidence of children’s enrolment in school and evidence of immunization has also been proposed to the National Assembly.

“President Buhari has also promised that 500,000 new teachers would be recruited.

“Compared to the last 16 years of locust, Nigerians are getting a much better deal from the seven-month old APC-led administration. On the strength of these proposals, the future holds more dividends of democracy for Nigerians.” [myad]

Don’t Hide Under Human Right To Infringe On Right Of Others, Police Boss Cautioned

Greenbarge Reporters

December 22, 2015

The Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has cautioned groups agitating for one type of human rights or the other to also respect the rights of others.

He solicited the support and assistance of religious leaders to help drum it in the ears of their followers that it does not pay to be antagonistic towards the constituted authorities.

Arase who received a delegation of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs on a courtesy call in his office at the Force Headquarters in Abuja today, stressed the commitment of the Force to the protection of lives and property and adherence to the tenet of fundamental human rights.
He emphasized that the Police and other security agencies are conscious of Nigerian citizens’ fundamental rights and would protect them.
The Inspector General of Police told the delegation that lawyers, relatives and friends can visit the leader of the Shiite Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, and other members of the sect being held in police custody.
He added however, that those wishing to visit Zakzaky and others must observe “necessary legitimate procedures” even as he assured them of professional investigation of the incident.
He appealed to the Islamic body to use its reputable and respected platform to caution all groups in the country that while they have the constitutional rights to express their views, it should not circumscribe the rights of others.
The head of the delegation and the Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Professor Ishaq O. Oloyede, appreciated the leadership qualities of Arase and the Force Management Team.
Oloyede thanked the Force for the cooperation extended to the Islamic body even as he sought for the mediation in the clash between the Shiite Islamic group and the military, which occurred recently in Zaria, Kaduna State.
He asked Arase to look into the immediate and remote causes of the incident with a view to avoiding such in future. He appealed for medical assistance to those detained in connection with the incident. [myad]

Make The Dying Live, Aredgesola Charges Hospital Board

Greenbarge Reporters

December 22, 2015

The Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has inaugurated a nine-man governing board for the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital in Osogbo, headed by Professor Wole Atoyebi, with a charge that the board should make those who are expected to die in the hospital is made to live.

The Governor while inaugurating the Board at the EXCO lounge of the Governor’s Office in Abeere Osogbo, said that the board is being inaugurated at a time when public finance is at its lowest point on account of falling oil price and uncertainties at the global economy.
Aregbesola charged the board to run the hospital as a world class one without passing undue burden on patients, adding that in addition to the statutory responsibilities of the Board, members will be required to think for the hospital and make it a centre of medical excellence by national and global standards.
He charged the Board to change their mindset of what an hospital should be and let LAUTECH be a miracle centre where those expected to die would live.
The Governor also enjoined them to secure funding for the hospital without passing the burden to patients beyond what it is at the moment even as he said that there is the need to have harmonious relationship with workers and trade unions.
“I am glad the chairman of the Board is himself a labour titan and the chairman of the medical association is on board. While not discounting the right of the people to association, industrial actions should have no place in a hospital where the difference between life and death is a matter of seconds.
“It is a sign that we are fast losing our humanity when caregivers look on indifferently and on purpose while people die. ‎
“The board must also be on board our administration’s renewed efforts at work ethics. This is why work must yield a higher value of result than the input. The surplus value between input and result is called profit.
“This is not a problem at the private sector; it is indeed the raison d’etre of enterprise where every worker hired is expected to add value.”
The Governor said that in spite of recent financial challenges facing the state, he will continue to fulfill his obligations, especially to critical institutions like LAUTECH and other hospitals.
Aregbesola said that government has employed multifaceted approach towards achieving her goal of providing healthcare for the people, adding that measures taken cover such health-related areas as provision of potable water supply to people, especially in the rural areas to promote personal hygiene.
Speaking after the inauguration of the Board, Atoyebi thanked the Governor for the confidence reposed in them, saying they will leave no stone unturned at taking the hospital to an enviable height.
He noted that his team will heed the charge of Aregbesola that they hit the ground running immediately, saying they will be working round the clock to transform health institution in the state.
He said: “We are going to do all the needful because this is our state.
“The teaching hospital in Osogbo is supposed to be the best where people will come and get solution to their health problem.
“We are going to be serious and I have no doubt in my mind that with the calibre of people you have put together on this Board, the hospital will be moved to higher ground.”
Also speaking, Lasisi promised to work with the Board to move the hospital forward.
He held that the hospital henceforth will take to its responsibilities and occupy its rightful position among teaching hospitals in the country.

Members of the Board are Dr. Kayode Akinlade; Dr. Ademola Akintolu Onifade; Oba Folorunso Agboade Makanju Olaniyan; the Acting Chief Medical Director LAUTECH, Prof. Akeem Lasisi; and the Permanent Secretary of the Osun Ministry of Health, Dr. Temitope Olalekan Oladele.
Others are the Chairman of Osun State branch of the Nigeria Medical Association, Dr. Surajudeen Ogunyemi; the Provost, College of Medicine, LAUTECH, Prof. Samuel Sunday Taiwo; and the Chairman for eh Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Daniel Adebode Adekanle. [myad]

Mrs. Aisha Buhari Pleads To Nigerians To Assist HIV Patients

Greenbarge Reporters

December 22, 2015

Wife of the President Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to corporate organizations and well meaning Nigerians to assist in taking care of the HIV/AIDs patients in the country.

The President wife, who spoke when he visited the HIV patients in the National Hospital, Abuja, during which time she donated assorted food items said said that the health of every Nigerian is very important, requiring attention.

She acknowledged the intervention of the private sector and international partners but that but more efforts are required to ensure that Nigeria attains a zero level in areas that pose threat to the health of the citizens. [myad]

Osun Offers Free Train For Christmas, New Year Holiday Makers

Greenbarge Reporters

December 22, 2015

The Director of Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of Governor Agbeni Aregbesola of Ekiti Osun state, Semiu Okanlawon has announced in Osogbo, that the state government has offered to provide free Christmas and New year train services for its citizens‎ who would want to return home to celebrate with their relatives.

Okanlawon said that the free train service is in continuation of the commitment of Aregbesola’s administration to making life more meaningful for the people of the state.

He added that the free train ride would be offered between Thursday and Sunday of Christmas and New year, urging indigenes of Osun to maximize the opportunity.

“The train would, by 11.00 A.M on Thursday the 24th of December 2015, convey people from Lagos to Osogbo. The return journey to Lagos from Osogbo will be Sunday the 27th of December by 11 A.M.

“The train will also resume the services of conveying people from Lagos to Osogbo for the New Year celebration by 11 A.M Thursday December 31st 2014 and by same 11 A.M on Sunday 3rd of January 2016 return to Lagos from Osogbo”.

Okanlawon said the gesture by the Aregbesola-led administration is aimed at facilitating a stress-free homecoming for the people during the celebrations.

The state government had, since 2011, been making such similar arrangements for people of the state, to travel home during festive seasons.

The gesture had according to the Nigerian Railway Corporations, helped many Nigerians to restore their hope in the viability of railway as a reliable means of transportation in the country.

While wishing Christmas and New year holiday makers successful journey back home, the statement urged them to take advantage of their homecoming to have a feel of the developments of the state and various tourists sites that abound in the state. [myad]

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