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Women Group Supports “Change Begins With Me” Campaign

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Women Group Supports “Change Begins With Me” Campaign
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed poses with representatives of the NCWS
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed poses with representatives of the NCWS

The National Council of Women’s Societies, NCWS, has committed to partner with the federal government on the newly-launched national re-orientation campaign “Change Begins With Me.”

National President of the group, Gloria Shoda, announced the decision in Abuja when she led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed.

She said, “We crave the indulgence of the Minister to direct the NOA (National Orientation Agency) at the federal and state levels to co-op members of the NCWS during the advocacy campaign, ‘Change Begins With Me’.”

“This is important to us because a lot of Nigerians tend to view the campaign as having a political undertone, whereas it is meant to provoke Nigerians to change from negative behaviours and embrace discipline and patriotism; it is meant to be a value added initiative for a better Nigeria.”

The NCWS president also appealed to the government to set up a special task force to curb the cases of rape and child molestation, which she said have become rampant in the country.

In his reply, the information minister pointed out that the “Change Begins With Me” Campaign was not meant to put a burden on Nigerians, rather it is a deliberate effort to change citizens’ attitude for the good of the country.

“We are particularly pleased that you have stretched your hand of fellowship to our new campaign ‘Change Begins With Me’,” Mohammed said.

“It’s laudable that you want to join us because from the way you spoke, you understand that this ‘Change Begins With Me’ Campaign is about national rebirth; it’s about going back to those values that made women to be able to bring up their children in a godly manner.”

The minister noted that the truth about the Campaign is that it started from the top to the bottom, contrary to criticisms from some quarters.

He said, “People have criticized the campaign; some have said the campaign ought to start from the top and we agreed simply because they have not even followed the campaign.

“The campaign actually started from the top because the best campaign is that campaign that you do what you are preaching,

”This government is leading by example, especially Mr. President, the Vice-President and Ministers.

“This is the least ostentatious cabinet you can ever have. We are all living and showing good examples. We obey traffic rules, queue up at airports and public places; we get to work early and close late,” he said.

Mohammed expressed optimism that despite the criticism, Nigerians will soon imbibe the tenets of the campaign and make it a huge success.

“This campaign is going to succeed. The campaign is not asking Nigerians to do anything extra; we are not putting any burden on any person. What is our campaign? We are saying Nigerians must first of all resolve that the change we are looking for is in each and every one of us; that all of us must change what we are doing from the negative to the positive,” he said.

The NCWS, an umbrella body of women’s societies in Nigeria, was formed in 1958 to promote gender-related issues.

LAUTECH To Re-Open Soon

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LAUTECH To Re-Open Soon

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By Samuel Malik

The age-long problems affecting the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomosho in Oyo state, jointly owned by Oyo and Osun states, are almost over and normal academic activities will resume in the next two weeks, as the two state governments have renewed their commitments to the school.

The www.icirnigeria.org also gathered that a major announcement on the future of the school is expected to be issued jointly by the two states in a few days’ time. The states, however, are refusing to confirm or deny the information, only volunteering that the school’s resumption is “very, very close”.

LAUTECH has been closed down since June 13, when the school management asked students to proceed on an indefinite break “until further notice”, as uncertainty over the long time future of the school, particularly with regards to funding, reached a critical level.

But a highly placed university source, who did not want to be named, confirmed that Governors Abiola Ajimobi and Rauf Aregbesola of Oyo and Osun states respectively met recently and agreed to work towards a peaceful resolution of the problem.

“There is high hope that we are returning sooner than expected. Management has been meeting and I am also aware that the two governors are doing their best to see that the situation is resolved so that our students can come back to campus

“The two governors have agreed to find a common ground and it is expected that within the next two weeks, students will be asked to resume,” the source said.

Confirming the development, the public relations officer of the school, Lekan Fadeyi, said with the progress made by the two governors, the school would soon resume.

“There is high hope that we are returning sooner than expected. Management has been meeting and I am also aware that the two governors are doing their best to see that the situation is resolved so that our students can come back to campus,” Fadeyi said, adding that while he could not give a specific date, “it is going to be very very soon and things will take a commendable shape”.

Our findings revealed that Osun state has failed to meet its financial obligations to the school for some time, after allegedly removing the institution from its payroll. This forced the Oyo state government to also withdraw its support, saying it was not ready to solely finance the school. Recently, Oyo state released some money to the school but directed that it must not be spent until Osun state also released its part of the funding.

But there are indications that Osun is now willing to pay its dues.

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A sourced stated: “We met with the state government officials and they told us they have put us back into their payroll and will fulfil their end of the deal soon. The states thought we could sustain ourselves but they have been proved wrong. The person in charge of Osun state’s payroll confirmed that LAUTECH has been added.”

Fadeyi also confirmed that Osun state has agreed to resume funding the school, saying the present economic situation in the country might have affected the state.

“Yes (the state is putting LAUTECH back on its payroll) but there has never been a time the state government said it was not going to meet its obligations. Like every other institution, and when I say institution I mean state, federal government inclusive, the economic recession is affecting everybody. The state admitted that as a visitor and co-founder of the school, it has some obligations that must be met. Maybe because of the economic situation of the state, we had some inability to pay but the governor has said that they will resume payment very soon and we have no reason to doubt him,” he pointed out.

The Special Assistant to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Youth and Sport, Bolaji Repete, confirmed that the two states are talking and that a resolution is near.

He said: “The two state governments are working together to resolve the crisis and I can assure you that very soon LAUTECH will be reopened.

“Oyo state government has been so responsible when it comes to the welfare of LAUTECH as a whole but you cannot blame Osun state. Everybody is aware of what is going on in Osun state, so I cannot condemn or criticise Osun state government for not being able to pay or meet their own obligation concerning LAUTECH,

“As far as I am concerned, Oyo state government has been meeting up its own obligation in its own little way. The issue is not all about Oyo state. Oyo state has played its own part, so I think Osun state government should also help in order to resolve the issue.”

The Commissioner for Information in Osun State, Sunday Akere, also confirmed that talks are underway and a statement is expected soon. He admitted there are issues between the two states but said there is need for the issues to be sorted out in order for students to return to the classrooms.

“The two states are joint owners of the school and although we may have some issues but definitely in the interest of students and the generality of the people of the two states, we belong to the same party, we must work to resolve the issues and get things going. Officials of the two states are working and talking and we know that very, very soon the areas of contention will be sorted out,” Akere said.

Findings by the www.icirnigeria.org revealed that funding has been at the centre of the crisis in LAUTECH.

Since Ajimobi and Aregbesola became governors, LAUTECH has not received capital expenditure from the two states, with the school depending solely on its internally generated revenue and whatever fund it can get from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.

“The school is not properly funded and that has been the genesis of whatever problem exists now or in the past,” the source said.

“Since two years ago, the two states stopped giving the school subventions and the school has been on and off. Whatever it generated from its IGR, it used to pay salaries. This time around, money has dried up completely from the coffers of the university and that was why it had to close shop.”

The two governors, the source said, called the school management to say they could not give it 100 percent of its recurrent expenditure. They could only afford 70 percent and asked the school to generate the balance internally.

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So, what Oyo state was said to have released last month was its 50 percent of the 70 percent recurrent expenditure, with the expectation that Osun would release the other 50 percent.

On September 9, parents and indigenes of Ogbomosho, apparently dissatisfied with Osun state’s role in the school, protested the continued closure of the school and called on the Oyo state government to take full ownership of the school.

This website gathered that part of the reason for the protest was that Oyo state had been consistent in the last few months in making its contribution, but Osun had continued to default.

Akere, however, condemned the protest, saying the people had no right to determine for the states what should happen to the school.

According to him: “It is not for the indigenes of Ogbomosho to decide what should be done or not. The institution belongs to the two states and the fact that it is cited in Ogbosmosho does not give indigenes of Ogbomosho the prerogative to decide for the government.”

Repete agreed that the protesters should not dictate to the two states what should happen to LAUTECH.

“LAUTECH is situated in Ogbomosho, so they have the right to protest and demand for whatever they want but as a government, we have to look at the merits and demerits of their protest, then the government will issue a statement concerning that,” he said.

With the two states said to be working assiduously to reopen the school, Repete said whatever the reasons for the protests, everything would be settled when the two states issue a joint statement as soon as Friday.

“Immediately the two states issue a statement, I think before Friday, denying or rejecting the call for sole ownership, I think the strike will definitely die a natural death,” he said.

 

INEC Begins Nationwide Re-distribution Of Uncollected PVCs

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INEC Begins Nationwide Re-distribution Of Uncollected PVCs
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INEC said there are over 12 million unclaimed PVCs

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said it had directed its states’ offices to recommence the distribution of unclaimed Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, to their owners.

Nick Dazang, Deputy Director of Voter Education and Publicity in the commission, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN,on Wednesday, in Abuja.

He said that the exercise will be an ongoing one in order to ensure that uncollected PVCs were distributed to their owners.

“It will be recalled that after the 2015 general election, we had over 12 million uncollected PVCs,” Dazang said.

“What the commission did was to direct all states of the federation, including the FCT to strategise ways of distributing the uncollected PVCs that are with them.

He added that there was no deadline attached to the directive, rather each state is at liberty to decide on the modality for the distribution.

Earlier in June this year, INEC hinted that plans were underway to distribute the over 12 million uncollected PVCs before the end of the year.

House In Rowdy Session Over Dogara, Jibrin

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House In Rowdy Session Over Dogara, Jibrin
Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Abdulmumin Jibrin
Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Abdulmumin Jibrin

The House Of Representatives was thrown into a rowdy session on Wednesday, following suspected moves to suspend Abdulmumin Jibrin.

Speaker Yakubu Dogara had recognised Emmanuel Orker-jev, Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, to speak and he moved a motion on breach of his privilege and that of the House by the embattled former Chairman of the Appropriations Committee.

Oker-Jev spoke amidst heavy shouts of ‘no no’, supposedly from members of the Transparency group.

He said that the budget padding allegations raised by Jibrin, had brought the House under heavy criticism.

At that point, Jibrin was reported to be pacing around the chamber under the close watch of the sergeant-at-arms.

The motion was however passed and referred to the ethics and privileges committee, to look into the matter while Dogara loyalists kept shouting “Dogara, Dogara.”

Another member, Aliyu Madaki was recognised to speak, but he was barely heard, as many of the lawmakers were screaming all at the same time.

Brief calm however returned to the house and Madaki was allowed ‎to speak.

He pointed out that the motion by Oker-Jev was not seconded by any legislator, and reminded Dogara that there was a call for him to step down on account of the allegations brought against him by Jibrin.

Dogara said‎: “We all know who seconded the motion. The allegations were against the house; if I must resign, I will wait for you to tender in your resignation first.”

At this point the House became rowdy once more as some Dogara-loyalists started hailing the speaker at the top ‎of their voices and distributing faze caps and mufflers with the inscription: “I stand with Dogara.”

Aisha Buhari Asks World Leaders To Stop Infectious Diseases

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Aisha Buhari Asks World Leaders To Stop Infectious Diseases
Wife of the president, Aisha Buhari and US First Lady, Michelle Obama at the UN General Assembly
Wife of the president, Aisha Buhari and US First Lady, Michelle Obama at the UN General Assembly

Wife of the Nigeria president, Aisha Buhari, has called for combined efforts by nations of the world in order to curb the challenges posed by infectious diseases.

She said this in her speech at “The Stop Tuberculosis Partnership Opening Dialogue” on the sidelines of the ongoing 71st United Nations General Assembly in New York, the United States.

The president’s wife addressed an audience made up of medical professionals, non-governmental organisations, community representatives, the academia and chief executives of pharmaceutical companies.

She noted that the rise of infectious diseases could also spread fear and panic as well as “impact the very core of society as shown by the recent Ebola epidemic.”

Buhari pointed out that Nigeria is one of the worst hit nations by Tuberculosis in Africa, with almost 600,000 people living with the disease.

She added however that no disease in history had crossed as many borders and inflicted as much damage as tuberculosis, hence the need for world leaders to include it as part of the challenges confronting the global community.

“A comprehensive national TB surveillance survey conducted in 2012 revealed the burden to be much larger than previously thought with about 300,000 additional TB cases, and a 400% increase in mortality numbers,” the president’s wife stated.

She expressed delight that ‘Stop TB Partnership’, tuberculosis “is beginning to receive a more deserving label “as a global emergency that demands a political response at the highest levels.”

The first Lady backed the recent call by the South African Minister Matsoaledi for a United Nations High-Level meeting on TB in September 2017.

She pledged to mobilise other first ladies across the world and wives of Nigeria’s governors to commit to the efforts at ending tuberculosis.

Boko Haram, Herdsmen Rank Among World’s Deadliest Groups

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Boko Haram, Herdsmen Rank Among World’s Deadliest Groups

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A Report By The 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative And The Stefanus Foundation, Based In The United States And Nigeria Respectively, Has Revealed That The Boko Haram Terrorist Group In The Northeast, Ranks Highest On The List Of The Most Deadly Terrorist Groups In The World.

They are followed closely by the “Fulani Militants” who are placed fourth, behind ISIS and Al-Qaeda.

“Global Terrorism index shows that Boko Haram is the world’s most lethal terrorist group, followed by ISIS, while Al-Qaeda ranks third and the Fulani militants mostly in the middle belt rank 4th,” said Mark Lipdo, Executive Director of the Stefanus Foundation.

Lipdo, made this known while addressing newsmen in Abuja, adding that a research conducted by the groups revealed that over 14 million Nigerians have been directly affected by humanitarian crises in the North-east region of the country.

“14.8 million Nigerians from Northeast are directly impacted by the crisis. Officially, there are 2.2 million Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs. Unofficially, there are five to seven million IDPs,” he said.

He noted that the terrorism in the Northeast has had devastating impacts on education in the region as hundreds of teachers were killed, thousands were displaced, about 1500 schools closed down, and almost 1 million children denied the opportunity of accessing education.

He added that research showed that 13,000 churches were abandoned, closed down or destroyed, 2000 children abducted and 10,000 boys forced to join Boko Haram.

Elijah Brown, Vice President of the 21st Wilberforce Initiative, stated that the number of IDPs in the country were more than 2 million as at December 2015, “the third highest figure in Africa and the seventh in the world.”

Brown called for immediate action to check the menace of herdsmen/farmers clashed in the country as the ugly development was having a terrible effect on the middle belt and the country at large.

“Without intervention, the crisis in the Middle Belt will continue to escalate; this could affect other countries in West African region like the Republic of Benin, Chad, Cameroon, Mali, and Niger,” he said.

Leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, who were present during the report presentation called on world leaders to come to Nigeria’s assistance to tackle the humanitarian challenges caused by terrorist activities across the nation.

Samson Ayokunle, president of CAN, said that “The situation (in the northeast) is looked upon by international bodies as the biggest humanitarian disaster all over the world.

“A disturbing fact about the problem is that it has not received substantial humanitarian response from the world’s most powerful nations as other disasters of relatively smaller degrees in other parts of the world.

Ayokunle made a passionate appeal to the international community “to come to the aid of Nigeria in seeing to the end of insurgency.”

Nigeria Records N4.17tn Debt Increase In One Year

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Nigeria Records N4.17tn Debt Increase In One Year
President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo-Udoma and Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun
President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo-Udoma and Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun

Statistics from Nigeria’s Debt Management Office, DMO, shows that the country’s debt profile stood at N16.29 trillion in June this year, indicating a N4.17 trillion increase from the N12.12 trillion it was in June 2015.

The figures represent 34.41 percent increase in the total debt of Nigeria within the period in review – June 2015 to June 2016.

According to a PUNCH report, a breakdown of the country’s debt profile shows that external debt by the federal and state governments stood at $11.26 billion or N3.19 trillion as of June 30, 2016; from $10.32 billion or N2.03 trillion in July last year.

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s official exchange rates of N283 to $1 as of June 30, 2016, and N197 as at December 2015 were used to arrive at the naira equivalent of the foreign debt status, according to the DMO.

As at June 2016, “the domestic debt of the Federal Government stood at N10.61 trillion as of June this year, up from N8.4 trillion a year ago,” the PUNCH reported.

“This means that within 12 months, the Federal Government’s domestic debt profile rose by N2.21 trillion or 26.31 per cent.”

Also, the domestic debt of States as at the end of June this year, was put at N2.5tn, showing a 47.93% or N810 billion increase from the N1.69tn it was in July 2015.

The report stated that “FGN Bonds remained the dominant instrument for borrowing from the domestic market, as it accounted for N7.47tn or 70.46 per cent of the Federal Government’s domestic debt profile.”

It is followed by the Nigerian Treasury Bills which accounted for N2.9tn or 27.36 per cent of the Federal Government’s domestic debt profile.

While Treasury Bonds accounted for N230.99bn or 2.18 per cent of Federal Government’s domestic borrowing.

The PUNCH also reports that a DMO document, ‘Nigeria’s Debt Management Strategy 2016-2019’, revealed that at least 30% of the nation’s domestic debt would fall due within a one-year period.

It added that refinancing the 30% component of the domestic debt posed high risk to the economy because of high interest rate.

It would be recalled that Monetary Policy Committee of the CBN, on Tuesday, voted unanimously to retain interest rate at 14 percent for the second month running.

CBN governor Godwin Emefiele explained that the apex bank was certain that cutting rates without appropriate fiscal plans may not help the economy.

The move was against the pleas by the Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, that interest rates should be lowered so that government will not have to pay more in servicing its domestic debts.

US President Expresses Confidence In Buhari Administration

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US President Expresses Confidence In Buhari Administration
President Muhammadu Buhari met with US president, Barack Obama on the sidelines of the ongoing, UN General Assembly in New York
President Muhammadu Buhari met with US president, Barack Obama on the sidelines of the ongoing, UN General Assembly in New York

President Barack Obama of the United States has expressed confidence in the ability of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to overcome the challenges facing the country.

Obama stated this when he met with Buhari on the sideline of the 71st edition of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

He described Buhari as a man of “integrity and honesty.”

He said: “We have confidence in your leadership.

“There are some difficulties you face, but this administration is willing to assist in the short time we have left.

“You have made real progress in defeating the brutal organization called Boko Haram, and that was achieved because of your leadership.”

Obama said America would be willing to assist Nigeria “in defeating Boko Haram and the resolution of the Niger Delta crisis, which he said would “help ramp up oil production and increase revenue.”

He also promised commitment to resolving the humanitarian crisis in the North East and recovering Nigeria’s stolen money stashed in foreign banks.

The American President said his country looked forward to a framework for sustained partnership between it and Nigeria, which he described as a big and important country in sub-Saharan Africa.

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President Buhari had earlier assured the US president and the international community that Nigeria will soon become self-sufficient in food production.

He said that the farming season was good this year and there is hope for a good harvest.

“Nigeria is on the road to food self-sufficiency soon,” he said.

“We shall be able to feed ourselves, and utilize the billions of dollars spent on importing food on other productive areas.”

Buhari also told the American President that Nigeria is making steady progress towards resolving the problem in the Niger Delta region which has led to economic sabotage on a grand scale.

He said: “We are making definite progress on how many factions of the militant groups exist, their leadership and operational basis, and we have equally sought the cooperation of the oil majors.

“In a short while, I believe the issues would be resolved.”

The Nigerian president thanked America for its numerous assistance in the fight against insurgency.

He acknowledged that through provision of armaments, training for Nigerian troops, and sharing of intelligence, the nation’s military has been able to degrade the Boko Haram in the Northeast.

He however said the country would welcome more support in tackling the humanitarian crisis currently ravaging the region.

Buhari reiterated that his administration would not let-up on its major campaign promises of improving the nation’s security, fighting corruption and revamping of the economy.

He wished President Obama a happy retirement, as he gradually winds down on his tenure in office.

Yar’adua’s Aide’s Family Cries Out Against Detention

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Yar’adua’s Aide’s Family Cries Out Against Detention
Former first lady, Turai Yar'adua
Former first lady, Turai Yar’adua

Family of Yusuf Sarkin-Gida, a 60-year old domestic staff of Turai Yar’Adua, widow of late President Umaru Yar’Adua, has cried out over his detention by the Katsina State Command of the Nigerian Police.

Sarkin-Gida was arrested by the police over missing items worth N91 Million.

Usman Abdullahi, the Katsina state police commissioner, told newsmen on Tuesday that the 60-year-old Yusuf Sarkin-gida was arrested after a complaint to the police by the former first lady two weeks ago that items worth N91 was missing from her house.

Abdullahi explained that “The suspect is the custodians of all the keys and property of Hajiya Turai Yar’adua for the past forty years.

“There are 37 boxes in the custody of the suspect, but only 27 boxes are in the store.

“The several items in the 27 boxes are completely missing and the suspect has failed to give full explanation on the goods and items in the boxes,”

The police chief pointed out that Sarkin-gida had served the Yar’adua family for the past 40 years even before the late president became governor of Katsina State.

He said the suspect was assisting police investigation on the missing items.

But a spokesman of the Sarkin-Gida family, Mohammed Yusuf,  said their father was innocent of the crime he was accused of.

He said the arrest and detention of their father before the Eld-el-Kabir celebration had thrown the family into confusion.

Yusuf appealed to Human Rights groups to come to the aid of their father.

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