By Kingsley Okoye

The Senate on Wednesday held a minute silence to honour Senator Bode Olowoporoku, who died on March 24, after a brief illness at the age of 76.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this followed a point of order raised on his demise by Sen. Biodun Olujimi (PDP-Ekiti ) who read out profile of the late politician.

Citing order 43 of the Senate Standing Rules, Olujimi noted that late Olowoporoku who was born in llawe-Ekiti, Ekiti State in 1945 served Nigeria in many capacities.

She went further that He was a thorough-bred scholar-politician who was part of the conclave of the intelligentsia that gave the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN its ideological foundation and policy direction.

Olowoporoku served exceptionally as Commissioner for Economic Planning and Statistics in Ondo State in 1979 and supervised the creation of most of the industries and commercial investment that the Ajasin administration was reputed for.

Aware that he was consumed with the idea of Ekiti emancipation and development, and so had to painfully part way with the UPN in 1981 because of what he and other Ekiti compatriots who served in the Government of Chief Adekunle Ajasin as governor of Ondo State perceived as injustice to and marginalisation of Ekiti people then.

Aware also that he later politically aligned with the National Party of Nigeria, NPN and was appointed Federal Minister of Science and Technology under the Shagari regime before the military took over government in 1983.

Notes that he was at the forefront in the agitation for the creation of Ekiti, providing extensive funding and also playing a prominent role working with the Council of Ekiti Obas and the committee for the creation of Ekiti, and utilised his robust network through his close friends Olusola Saraki and Adamu Ciroma to meet the Late Abacha for the creation of Ekiti State.

Aware that he served as senator representing Ekiti South Senatorial District between 2003-2007. Due to his love for Ekiti and its people, he offered to serve as the governor of Ekiti on three occasions but as fate would have it, he was not elected.

Notes that he was a nationalist, a proud Ekiti elder statesman and philanthropist. We will miss him dearly for his irreplaceable role as a caring father. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ayinde Olaide

The Secretary to Bauchi State Government, Alhaji Mohammed Baba, says government has temporarily stopped the salaries of 715 suspected ghost workers.

Baba said this while addressing newsmen on the outcome of Wednesdays meeting of the State Executive Council at the Government House in Bauchi.

We have their lists and the reason for stopping every salary has been clearly provided.

What the government wants to do is to ask the commissioners in charge of the different ministries as well as departments and agencies to take their own list and go back to those people, sit down and interview them.

Its fine if it is something that can be sorted out but if it cannot, then, that automatically is the kind of thing we are saying about ghost workers in the system.

Definitely, government cannot continue to pay people that do not deserve to be paid, Baba said.

He said that government discovered that the system used for salary payment in the state had been compromised.

According to him, the purpose of the briefing is to tell you the progress the government is making in addressing the salary challenges in the state.

The intention of the committee set up about four weeks ago is to have a payroll, where the state is not shortchanged.

Since we came, there has been the hue and cry that there are many ghost workers in the state payroll, the intention is to address that issue squarely.

There is a collusion between the beneficiaries and staff members to the extent that the software we are using has been opened to a lot of manipulations, therefore, we cannot rely on it, Baba said.

Also, Mr Abdulrasak Zaki, the Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, said it was discovered that the names of a lot of retired local government personnel were still appearing on the payroll.

Zaki described the developmentas totally unacceptable, saying, we are doing everything possible to see that we remove them out of the payroll.

The Commissioner for Justice, Yakubu Kirfi, said the identity of workers allegedly involved in salary fraud in the state would be revealed at the end of the ongoing police investigation. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Acha

The Christian Student Movement (SCM) of Nigeria has raised concern over the rising spate of banditry and general insecurity in the South-East.

The President of the SCM, Mrs Eberechukwu Ubesie disclosed this on Wednesday in Enugu during her inaugural press briefing as the newly elected leader of the group.

Ubesie said that the group was worried that the current state of insecurity in the region, especially, in Ebonyi, had displaced some members of certain communities from their ancestral homes.

The president, however, said that the SCM would in line with its humanitarian intervention mobilise the necessary support for such displaced persons.

We also condemn the spate of kidnap and banditry going on in the country, especially, as it affects innocent and harmless students in our schools.

We plead with the Federal Government to do all it can to scale down the level of insecurity in the country, she said.

Ubesie, who is the first female president of the SCM, said that its major thrust was evangelisation and discipleship of students in secondary and tertiary institutions of learning in the country.

She said that the group was formed in 1940 by the duo of the former Premier of the defunct Eastern Region, late Dr Akanu Ibiam and a one-time Secretary to the defunct Western Region, Chief Theophilus Ejiwumi.

The SCM has affected the lives of men and women who have contributed immensely to the development and building of Christianity and the Nigerian society, she said.

She said that the group also had the mandate of securing better future for the young people through sponsorship of skill acquisition programmes.

Ubesie said that the group would soon be launching the SCM Endowment Fund aimed at raising N1billion that would assist in catering for the needy.

Earlier, the immediate past president of the group, Mr Godwin Ogenyi, said that the SCM had in the last 81 years of its existence revived the moral standards of young Nigerians.

Ogenyi said that such people, who encountered the SCM in their respective schools, had stood out as shining examples in their chosen careers by promoting righteousness. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Eguonor Ighure

The Delta Chief Judge, Justice Marshal Umukoro, on Wednesday inaugurated the High Court of Abraka Judicial Division in Abraka.

Mr Timothy Agbaragu, the Public Relations Officer of the High Court, said this in a statement made available to newsmen in Asaba.

According to the statement, the new division which was carved out of Isiokolo Judicial Division was made up of 15 towns and villages, including Abraka Urban, Otorho, Erho, Ogbeje and Agbarha.

The chief judge said that the creation of the Abraka Judicial Division arose principally from the need to bring justicenearer to the people.

At the inception of my administration as Chief Judge of Delta State in 2015, I have committed myself to ensuring that the Rule of Law is sustained through easy access to justice, he said.

According to him, the factors that necessitated the creation of the judicial division included the fact that Abraka, as a university town, has over the years assumed urban status.

Umukoro said that the judicial division had also generated intense commercial activities and increase in criminality.

He said that over 65 per cent cases in Isiokolo Judicial Division originated from the new division and that would afford legal practitioners and clients easy access to justice.

The chief judge expressed appreciation to Gov Ifeanyi Okowa for the enormous support to the judiciary since his assumption of office as Chief Judge of Delta State in spite of the harsh economic climate.

Umukoro charged pioneer staff to uphold the code of conduct for court employees.

He cautioned that appropriate sanctions would be invoked against erring staff in line with extant rules through the Judicial Service Commission.

The chief judge decried burning of court buildings in the state, tasking youths to protect court buildings.

Umukoro implored judicial officers to abide by the Judicial Oath subscribed to.

He urged legal practitioners to always stand on the side of justice and avoid conduct that would obstruct the administration of justice.

Umukoro assured litigants of equity in the dispensation of justice without fear or favour.

The chief judge, who is a member of the National Judicial Council (NJC), advised those with credible allegations against judges to approach the NJC rather than spreading unsubstantiated allegations, rumour and blackmail against judges through the media.

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The World Bank-funded Community and Social Development Project (CSDP), has provided mini motorised water schemes, constructed one block of classrooms and health post in Kuyu and Chalgai remote communities in Gwandu, Local Government, Kebbi State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the communities, in Kebbi Central Senatorial District, are located about 75km from the State capital.

The Kuyu community, with an estimated population of over 2000 people, are mainly farmers and cattle rearers, while the Chalgai, hard to reach village, with a population of over 800 inhabitants, are mainly subsistence farmers.

Speaking to NAN, Malam Bello Magawata, the 51-year-old Chairman, Kuyu Community Project Management Committee (CPMC), said: this is the first time we have a motorised water scheme, block of classrooms and health post, since the inception of this community over 100 years ago.

He said no fewer than 1000 members of the community now fetched water from the water scheme daily, and over 500 cattle and rams drank from the borehole everyday, explaining further that hitherto the community relied on a 200m deep well for water, usually drawn by camels and donkeys.

Magawata said prior to the intervention of the CSDP in 2018, the community had its primary school operating under a tree with low pupil enrollment.

I was born and brought up in this village over 50 years ago, I have never seen or heard of any water scheme, block of classrooms or health post provided for this community.

We only see children in neighboring communities attending schools and become nurses, soldiers, engineers and all that, but we dont have such educational or health facilities.

If any member of the community falls sick or we have a pregnant woman, we usually rushed them to Gwandu Local Government in my old car, or on a donkey, and sometimes before we get to know many pregnant women lost their lives and their babies.

Magawata, who thanked the CSDP for bringing relief to the inhabitants of the community, assured that the community would do everything possible to maintain the facilities.

Similarly, the Secretary of Chalgai, CPMC, Sani Mohammed, said before the construction of the Solar Mini Water Scheme by the CSDP, the community depended on an old well dug by the former Premier of Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, in the First Republic.

Mohamed said the provision of the water scheme had improved the living condition and economic status of the people of the community.

Our animals drink water at ease and we are also building many houses now due to the availability of water. No doubt the projects have changed the fortunes of this community, he said.

Similarly, he said the provision of classrooms was a welcome relief to the people of the community, adding that in the past we used to send our children to Tambuwal and Dogon Daji Local Governments, in Sokoto state, to attend Primary school.

Also, Malam Mode Umaru of Barama community that benefited from a 1.5 km drainage project, said since the construction of the drainage the community no longer suffered flooding of their farms lands and houses.

According to him, the community used to experience flood all over the town during the rainy season, but with the construction of the drainage the flooding had been contained.

If not for the drainage, flood will have washed away all the community, Umaru said.

NAN reports that the CSDP, is one of the developmental projects in the countrys World Bank portfolios, using a Community Driven Approach, by which communities are the drivers of their project needs.

The project provided 90 per cent of the funds for projects, solely initiated by poor communities, for which they contribute the rest 10 per cent in cash and in kind.

The objective of the project is to improve the access of the poor to social and economic infrastructure, while increasing the availability and management of development resources at community level. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Fabian Ekeruche

The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) says its 54th National Board Meeting scheduled for April 26 to April 30, in Eket, Akwa Ibom will be declared opened by the Gov. Udom Emmanuel.

The BSN Manager, Media and Public Relations, Mr Benjamin Mordi, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.

Mordi said that the Meeting would commence with a Divine Service at All Nations Christian Ministry International, Eket on April 28.

He said that the meeting would be hosted by the Southern Zone of the Society, and be presided over by its President and Board Chairman, Rev. Dr. Timothy Banwo.

Among other things, the Board Meeting will discuss past and future activities of the organisation concerning Bible work as well as examine BSN accounts for the past one year.

The General-Secretary of the BSN, Dr. Dare Ajiboye, is expected to present his report for the year under review to the Board at the meeting, he said.

Mordi said that the Patron of the BSN, Gen. Dr. Yakubu Gowon, GCFR, national officers, delegates from across the country and some senior members of the management team of the Society were expected to be in attendance.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Bible Society of Nigeria is a not-for-profit interdenominational Christian organization that translates the Bible into Nigerian Languages, publishes, distributes and raises funds for the Bible work. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Afonne

The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Club Secretaries Forum of Nigeria commends the Nigeria football Federation (NFF) and the Ministry of Sports for supporting Enyimba FC to succeed in their CAF assignments.

The NPFL Club Secretaries Forum in a statement on Wednesday by its Public Relations Officer, Omon Bassey, thanked those that made the journey possible.

According to it, it is an indication of governments desire to see that football grows to an enviable height.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Enyimba International FC of Aba is scheduled to play Al Ahly Benghazi in Libya on Thursday at 10 p.m. in a CAF Confederation Cup tie.

Enyimba, popularly called The Peoples Elephant , were at risk of missing the Group A fixture in Libya as a result of flight and visa complications into Libya.

The team also suffered another blow when CAF turned down their initial request for postponement of the game.

However, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia intervened by making provision for a chartered flight to convey the team to and fro Libya.

The Ministry of Sports and the NFF also played major roles in moving the date and time of the match to Thursday, from its earlier scheduled date of Wednesday, April 21, 2021.

We congratulate the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick; LMC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, for providing technical support and assistance to the club.

This technical support came in the way of shift on date and time of the match.

Also, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, Governor of Abia, for the huge financial support to hire a chartered flight for the match in Libya.

We wish Enyimba Football Club of Aba a successful outing against the Ahly Benghazi of Libya, the statement said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has ordered Deposit Money Banks (DNBs) and Bureau De Change (BDC) operators to, henceforth, accept old and lower denomination U.S dollars as legal tender.

The apex bank gave the order in a circular signed by its Director of Currency Operations Department, Mr Ahmed Umar.

Umar said that the CBN had been inundated with complains of the rejection of old or lower denomination U.S dollar deposits in the banks.

He said that the CBN would sanction any of the concerned stakeholders, who refused to accept such denominations of the currency from their customers.

The CBN had, in recent times, been inundated with complains from members of the public on the rejection of old/lower denominations of the US dollar bills by DMBs and other authorised forex dealers.

All DMBs and authorised forex dealers should, henceforth, accept both old series and lower denominations of USD that are legal tender for deposit by their customers.

The CBN will not hesitate to sanction any DMB or other authorised forex dealers who refused to accept old series or lower denominations of the USD bills from their customers, he warned.

The director also cautioned forex dealers to desist from the habit of defacing or stamping dollar banknotes, as such notes always failed authentication tests during sorting. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Maureen Okon
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Abuja has donated Coronavirus (COVID-19) medical equipment to the Federal Government, to help in the fight against the pandemic, a statement from the embassy on Tuesday, in Abuja, has said.

According to the statement, the donation is part of the Kingdoms efforts at the international level to combat the spread of the pandemic.

It said that the Kingdom donated relevant medical equipment worth one million dollars to the government.

The statement said that 23 ventilators has been donated, however, the date for the remaining equipment would be announced later.

It said that the remaining equipment include: Surgical Sterile Gowns 25,000 pieces. Non-Surgical Sterile Gowns 125,000. Mask (KN95) 188,000. Surgical Masks 1, 606, 700 and Nitrile Gloves 9,500.

This is part of the donation by the Kingdom, which amounts to million to support the international efforts aimed at combatting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also, the Kingdom has earmarked million as aid in kind to 26 countries, the statement added (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Mustapha Sumaila
The Town Hall Meeting on National Security organised by the Federal Government has recommended that state police should be supported by the National Assembly as well as the House of Assembly in states.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this in Abuja at a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) flagship interview programme, NANForum.

He said the meeting made the recommendation based on the consensus that state police would give governors better leverage in the handling of security issues within their domains.

Mohammed said the recommendations from the town hall meeting held on April 8 in Kaduna would be presented to the National Economic Council (NEC) at its meeting on Thursday.

NAN reports that NEC is a decision making body presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and has all the 36 governors, FCT Minister and some ministers as members.

The minister also disclosed that the town hall meeting recommended decentralisation and reformation of the judiciary, adding that this should be done through constitutional amendment.

Autonomy for local governments, he said, was also adopted at the town hall meeting.

Another resolution is that every level of government must ensure that every child of school age has compulsory and free primary education.

One of the discussants took us back to 1973 under Gen. Yakubu Gowon regime when there was a national retreat; at that national retreat, it was resolved to come up with just one national pledge.

They pledged to ensure that Nigerians will not go through any civil war again and at the end of that retreat, government came up with this single pledge that all children born after the end of civil war must have free and compulsory primary education, he said.

The minister noted that the call for compulsory and free education was reinforced at the meeting.

Mohammed added that acquiring basic education would help in reducing banditry, kidnapping, insurgency and other social vices. (NAN)

Source: NAN News