Unemployment: NILDS recommends agric villages for job creation

The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILS) has recommended the establishment of agricultural villages to create jobs and the boost food production.

Director General of NILDS, Prof. Ladi Hamalai disclosed this at a one-day agro-investment policy dialogue with legislators in the House of Representatives as well as researchers.

Speaking at the meeting, Prof. Hamalai noted that there has been some growth in agriculture in the past years.

She however lamented that the growth, as little as it may be, has not translated into job creation adding that Nigeria must take fast steps to translate agriculture into jobs and into food.

For Hamalai, she suggested the establishment of agricultural villages will not only attract youths and thereby creating jobs but will also help provide adequate food especially in view of the projected population growth by 2050.

Nigeria may be World most populous country in 2050 and we stand a huge risk if we dont grow agriculture through agric villages so as to create jobs.

The Federal Government should partner donor agencies to create agricultural villages to attract youths to come into agriculture.

We can establish them in all the geo political zobes. Even if it is one that can be established, youths and investors will come in and it will grow from there.

We also need to link research with policy and policy implementation using the agric villages to drive the implementation, she said.

She expressed optimism that the National Assembly will assist the institute in passing the right laws that will drive the policies.

Speaking at the Dialogue, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Agricultures, said that the meeting will provide a platform for partnership between the National Assembly and Research communities.

He said that Nigeria was yet to fully utilize the opportunities that abound in agriculture and its value chains.

Less than 40 per cent of Nigerias 84 million hectares of arable land are cultivated while over 19 million youths remain unemployed.

This may be as a result of underdeveloped agricultural value chain, weak institutions, gross underfunding, policy inconsistencies, poor infrastructure, unconducive operating environment among others.

This dialogue will afford the legislature and researchers to interact and discuss the various findings from research carried out by NILDS and other partners.

Budgetary allocations to the agricultural sector has been less around 2 per cent for several years and this is a far cry from the 10 per cent bench mark in the Maputo Declaration, he said.

He added however that the 2018 budget captures investments in the agricultural value chains adding that it was important that more funds be devoted to agriculture.

Source: NAN

Thirty-four state chairmen of the Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), in what political pundits termed a big blow to the Uche Secondus led PDP.

And the ceremony was held at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, contrary to the statement by the publicity secretary that they should join the party in their wards.

Among the former PDP big guns that joined the APC were Sen. Hope Uzodinma, Sen. Gbemisola Saraki and Sen. Teslim Folarin.

The defectors were led to the APC National Secretariat, Abuja by Dr Cairo Ojougboh where they were received by the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

Ojougboh, who was the Deputy National Chairman of the Sheriff faction of the PDP, said the decision of the defectors to join the APC had been on for seven months.

Odigie-Oyegun, who received the defectors in company of governors of Kaduna, Kano and Kogi states and the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF) Boss Mustapha, described the development as the first in the history of the party.

This is the first time this magnitude of event is happening since the amalgamation of the party and since the APC came into being.

It is the first time we are receiving a total party with all the structures all over the nation fusing into the APC.

We have three of our Governors from three of our most potent states and the SGF to be here and to receive you all, because seeing is believing, he said.

Odigie-Oyegun added that the movement of the defectors to the APC gave lie to the fact that PDP was a vigorous and leading party, adding that people did not join a losing party.

He advised the defectors to ensure that they formally register as members of the party at the ward level, assuring that they would be accorded same privileges like old members.

Fortunately, you are men and women of quality, attainment and achievement, and so it will be easy for you to fit into your proper place and role in APC Odigie-Oyegun said.

He, however, gave the defectors the partys Constitution to study and for them to be abreast with it.

Sen. Uzodinma, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, thanked the APC leadership for accepting them into the party.

The Senator represents Imo west in the Senate.

We have seen the goings on in our country.

We think that as a country, it would take the very good sense of judgment and the participation of all of us to solve the problems of our people and develop our country.

We are here, officially, to let everyone know that we are now collapsing into APC.

We ask for only one thing, the enabling environment and equal participation which you had graciously approved, Uzodinma said.

He added that the coming of the defectors was deliberate, saying that it was to become part of the population of the APC and part of governance of the country.

He also said that their entrance into APC would change the narrative for the better and in the interest of their people.

Gov. Umar Ganduje of Kano state, who also spoke at the occasion, said the defection was historic because the most accepted faction of the PDP joined APC.

It is our luck that we are taking the better part of PDP, he said, adding with the new entrance, APC was sure of victory in 2019 general elections.

He assured that being politicians of repute, the new members were in a familiar terrain.

Source: NAN

Dr Cajetan Iheanacho, Department of Mass Communication, Imo State University, Owerri, has urged media practitioners to expose incidence of underage voting to enhance the integrity of electoral process in the country.

Iheanacho made the call at a two-day workshop on Responsible Media Coverage of Elections, organised by the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), and facilitated by Hammersmith Training Consult L.t.d, on Thursday in Owerri.

He stressed the need for the media to ensure thorough coverage of process of election at the Polling Units to guide against electoral fraud, adding that media must play the role of watchdog to salvage the nations democracy.

Iheanacho, who said that the role of the media in ensuring credible elections could not be overemphasised, urged Journalists to change the face of the political terrain in the country.

Speaking on the paper titled, Media Core Roles in the Context of Elections, the lecturer said that no nation could function effectively without the media, adding that the media was crucial for nation building.

He, therefore, enjoined journalists to help in making ways for things to change for the general improvement of the Nigerian citizens by ensuring neutrality, fairness, objectivity and impartiality in their daily reportage.

Iheanacho also admonished media professionals to give equal coverage to all political parties and candidates during campaigns.

He stressed the need for newsmen to always verify allegations against political actors before going to press.

Similarly, he advised journalists to avoid publishing inaccurate or misleading information, saying ensure to scrutinise any information you have before publication.

In her remark, Mrs Stella Jubrin, Director, Research and Documentation, NPC, stressed the need for media practitioners to adhere strictly to the Code of Ethics of Journalism to counter hate speech.

She noted that media professionals had a responsibility to build and nurtured the nations democracy by providing platforms for citizens to make informed decisions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 70 persons are presently attending the workshop; most of them were drawn from the print, broadcast and online platforms across five states in the South East region.

Source: NAN

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has ordered a speedy retrial of the case between NFF President Amaju Pinnick and embattled NFF Factional leader, Chris Giwa, at the Federal High Court Jos.

Delivering the judgment, the Supreme Court held that the Appeal Court which gave judgment in favour of Pinnick after the High Courts ruling in 2015 which favoured Giwa, did not follow the principles of law in giving its decision.

It affirmed that it is only the High Court that can rule on the substantive case.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Giwa is contesting the authenticity of the Pinnick-ledExecutive of the NFF and has dragged the matter to the apex court having already lost out at the Appeal Court.

It would be recalled that Giwa was elected as NFF President in August 2014 in Abuja, while Pinnick was given same mandate at a separate congress held in Warri, Delta State, on Sept. 30 the same year.

Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Zurich, Switzerland later ruled in favour of the Pinnick-led board.

The latest development may truncate Nigerias participation at the Russia 2018 World Cup after been drawn in Group D alongside Croatia, Iceland and Argentina because FIFA detest government interference or court cases in football administration.

Source: NAN

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Dr Cajetan Iheanacho, Department of Mass Communication, Imo State University, Owerri, has urged media practitioners to expose incidence of underage voting to enhance the integrity of electoral process in the country.

Iheanacho made the call at a two-day workshop on Responsible Media Coverage of Elections, organised by the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), and facilitated by Hammersmith Training Consult L.t.d, on Thursday in Owerri.

He stressed the need for the media to ensure thorough coverage of process of election at the Polling Units to guide against electoral fraud, adding that media must play the role of watchdog to salvage the nations democracy.

Iheanacho, who said that the role of the media in ensuring credible elections could not be overemphasised, urged Journalists to change the face of the political terrain in the country.

Speaking on the paper titled, Media Core Roles in the Context of Elections, the lecturer said that no nation could function effectively without the media, adding that the media was crucial for nation building.

He, therefore, enjoined journalists to help in making ways for things to change for the general improvement of the Nigerian citizens by ensuring neutrality, fairness, objectivity and impartiality in their daily reportage.

Iheanacho also admonished media professionals to give equal coverage to all political parties and candidates during campaigns.

He stressed the need for newsmen to always verify allegations against political actors before going to press.

Similarly, he advised journalists to avoid publishing inaccurate or misleading information, saying ensure to scrutinise any information you have before publication.

In her remark, Mrs Stella Jubrin, Director, Research and Documentation, NPC, stressed the need for media practitioners to adhere strictly to the Code of Ethics of Journalism to counter hate speech.

She noted that media professionals had a responsibility to build and nurtured the nations democracy by providing platforms for citizens to make informed decisions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 70 persons are presently attending the workshop; most of them were drawn from the print, broadcast and online platforms across five states in the South East region. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Rukayat Adeyemi

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is to chair the 22nd Convocation Lecture of the Lagos State University (LASU) as the institutionplans students graduation forMay 23 and May 24.

The universitys Spokesman, Mr Adekoya Martins, made the disclosure in aninterview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.

Martins said that arrangements for 2016/2017 Convocation were in top gear.

He said that Obasanjo would be the Chairman of the Convocation Lecture to be delivered on May 22 by Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission.

According to the spokesman, the lecture is entitled: Role of Education in Promoting Social Cohesion and Peace: Opportunities and Challenges for Nigeria.

He noted that LASU held convocations in March, saying that the 2018 edition was rescheduled due a nationwide strike by non-academic university workers.

NAN reports that the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the National Association Academic Technologists (NAAT) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) embarked on an indefinite strike on December 4, 2017 under the aegis of Joint Action Committee (JAC).

The union blamed the strike on governments non-implementation of some parts of an agreement it had with JAC on Sept. 20, 2017.

Following understanding JAC had with agreement the government, the workers, however, suspended the strikeon March 15.

Martins told NAN that activities heralding the convocation would beginon May 17.

He told NAN that the convocation cup competition for staff would take place on May 17, Jumat service, May 18 and a special thanksgiving service, May 20.

There will be Coconut Breaking Festival and command performance on May 21, according to Martins.

The official told NAN that award of first degrees in all faculties would take place on May 23 while higher degrees and honorary doctorate degrees would be awarded on May 24.

Source: NAN

By Glory Abuh-Adejoh

The National Industrial Court, Abuja, on Friday ordered the Kogi Government to pay a civil servant, Ameh Onoja, whose salary was stopped in March 2014.

Onoja had approached the court to seek redress when he was told that his salary was stopped because he had attained the compulsory retirement age.

Justice David Isele in his judgment, held that evidence before the court showed that the claimant had not reached the mandatory retirement age of 60.

Isele also said neither has the claimant spent 35 years in service as required by civil service rule before retirement.

The court went further to order the restoration of the claimants monthly salary of N153,298 from March, 2014 till date within one month.

Daniel Onuh, the claimants counsel told the court that his client was born on Oct. 1, 1960.

Onuh also said the claimant joined the civil service in 1983 as a class teacher with the Benue government and in 1995 transferred his service to Kogi.

Onuh said his client is still serving as the Vice Principal (Academics) of Ogugu Community Secondary School, in Olamaboro Local Govt. Area of Kogi State.

He said since no disciplinary action has been instituted against the claimant for any misconduct, and he has not received any dismissal letter, he is entitled to his salary from when it was stopped till date.

Also joined in the suit are the Kogi Civil Service and Ministry of Justice.

Source: NAN

By Blessing Ibegbu

A housewife, Mrs Sandra Ekpa, on Friday begged an Upper Area Court in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, to dissolve her three-year-old marriage because her husband allegedly practices juju and also denies her sex.

Ekpa told the court that her pastor husband, Gideon Adejoh, had ruined their marriage and killed the love she had for him.

She said that she married Adejoh on April 18, 2015 according to native laws and custom of the Igala people in Kogi.

She said that the union was blessed with a child.

Shortly after our marriage, my husband began to do awful things in the house like practicing juju and seeking extra-powers.

In addition, my husband stopped having sex with me ever since I gave birth to my baby, who is a year and six months old now.

I have made all efforts to see that he changed for good but all proved abortive, rather he kept telling me to pack and go if I cannot stay.

The divorce-seeking woman told court that there was no longer love in the marriage and as such I cannot continue again because I have lost the love and affection I had for him.

She pleaded for immediate dissolution of the marriage and for the court to grant her custody of the only child from the union.

Ekpa also asked the court to compel the respondent to pay her N30, 000 monthly for the childs upkeep.

However, Adejoh denied the allegations, pleading with court to give him time to enable him and his wife to discuss and appraise the issues.

The Presiding Judge, Mr Ibrahim Shekarau, adjourned the case until May 3 to allow the parties settle out of court.

Source: NAN

A Kubwa Grade 1 Area Court on Friday sentenced 30-year-old man Musa Jimoh to five strokes of the cane for stealing a standing fan.

The Judge, Mohammed Marafa, however, warned Jimoh, who was charged with one count of theft, to be of good behaviour and to desist from committing crime.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Babajide Olanipekun, had told the court that Jimoh dishonestly stole a Binatone standing fan from Peace Mass Transit Company, Mpape, Abuja, on April 8.

Olanipekun said that Jimoh took the fan to Byazhin Kubwa, Abuja, in an attempt to sell it but was caught and arrested on April 10 and the fan recovered from him.

He said that the offence contravened Section 286 of the Penal Code.

Jimoh pleaded for leniency, saying that he stole the fan in order to use the proceeds to travel for his late mothers burial.

Source: NAN

The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki has visited the female Sergeant-at-Arms, Mrs. Sandra Davou who was assaulted during the invasion of the Senate on Wednesday.

The Senate was invaded on Wednesday by hoodlums suspected to have been led by the suspended Senator, Ovie Omo-Agege, and the mace which is the symbol of authority of the senate was snatched and stolen from the complex.

Mrs Davou who bravely stood her ground to protect the sanctity of the senate and its staff of authority, was assaulted by the hoodlums who also attempted to kidnap a senator before making their way out of the complex.

The President of the Senate who was in Washington DC at the time to attend some of meetings by the World Bank and IMF, just returned and went to the home of the brave staffer to pay her a visit.

Saraki was accompanied on the Visit by the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu.

See Pictures from the visit below:

While in Washington, Saraki condemned the attack while commending his colleagues in the Senate and others in the House of Representatives for standing up in solidarity to defend democracy in Nigeria.

He also called on the security agencies to ensure that the culprits are brought to Book.

Meanwhile, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege who was alleged to have orchestrated the attack and was arrested by the police on the day of the attack, has been released.

The Senator also got an injunction from the court preventing the Police, DSS and the Attorney General from arresting him or ordering his arrest.

Source: NAN