Category: General News

Anthem

By Monday Ajogun

Onitsha (Anambra), June 23, 2024 (NAN) The Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) says the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate has never commented on Nigeria’s new National Anthem.

It said that reports that Obi had been among detractors, who had been vocal against alleged expenditure on the new National Anthem is “false”.

This is contained in a statement by its spokesperson, Dr Yunusa Tanko, obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) on Sunday in Onitsha.

According to the group, reports that an alleged sum spent by the Federal Government on the new national anthem that had attracted Obi’s criticisms should be disregarded.

“POMR wishes to state clearly that while Obi has been a critic of wasteful spending of public funds, he has not said a word directly or indirectly on the new national anthem.

“Most of Obi’s statements are based on verifiable facts and he never embarked on frivolous remarks.

“POMR has been made aware of some hirelings whose assignment is to push out funny statements and attribute them to Obi to finally discredit his laudable opinions on national issues.

“We, therefore, wish to alert the general public especially, media houses to be wary and watch out for such induced materials.

“Peter Obi’s media office can always be reached for any clarifications,”  he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

AJOM/CHOM/MNA

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Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Maureen Atuonwu

Alia to construct Achoho-Awajir-Oju road
Construction

By Emmanuel Antswen

Oju (Benue), June 23, 2024 (NAN) Gov. Hyacinth Alia, has announced plans to contract the construction of Achoho- Awajir- Oju road.

Alia made the announcement on Sunday, while addressing the All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters from Oju/Obi Federal Constituency in Oju Local Government Area (LGA), of Benue.

He said his administration had resolved to bring development to all nooks and crannies of the state.

He said his administration would construct Achoho- Awajir- Oju road to connect Oju, Konshisha and Gwer East LGAs.

He said when constructed, the road would boost economic activities, improve the people’s social life and ease movement of agricultural produce to the urban areas.

He said with good access roads, the security situation in the state would also improve.

The hovernor therefore, enjoined the people of the constituency to form cooperatives with not less 15 members constituting each society, to benefit from the government:s incentives and support in the agricultural sector.

Sen Barnabas Gemade, Chairman, Benue APC Elders Forum, on his part, urged the people to support Alia’s administration for more dividends of democracy to come to their area.

“Gov Alia is a true leader. He is a priest and has come to change the Benue narrative by breaking the shackles of underdevelopment and restoring growth in the state.

“You should all support and protect him jealously, on our part as fathers, we will give him the maximum fatherly protection devoid of harm,’” he said.

Member representing Oju/Obi Federal Constituency, Mr David Ogewu, assured the governor of his support and the entire people of his constituency for him to succeed.

“Our dear governor, I believe in you, my people are confident in you because you are a product of the Church who has answered the cries of Benue masses to come and salvage the state and restore its lost glory.

“What you are doing for the state is the true reflection of your answer to the masses’ cries,” Ogewu said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

AEB/DOR
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Edited by Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

Cholera

By Idris Olukoya

Lagos State, June 23, 2024 (NAN) Mr Akeem Olaewe, Director, Environmental Health in the Lagos State Ministry of  Environment and Water Resources, has urged residents of the state to heed the directive, control and prevention measures by government to curtail the spread of cholera.

Olaewe said this while addressing newsmen on Sunday, during the decontamination and fumigation of hostels in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the intervention is in preparation toward the NYSC 2024 Batch ‘B’ Stream 1 Orientation Course.

He said that the government through the Ministry had embarked on sensitisation and public awareness campaign across the state.

He said that residents had been alerted and urged to be wary of the outbreak of cholera in some parts of the state.

He urged everyone to embrace wholesome hygienic practices.

Olaewe said that all practices such as open defecation, drinking untreated water from unclean sources, improper disposal of refuse and washing of hands without soap must be stopped.

According to him, this is because cholera only thrives in unhygienic conditions.

He appealed to members of the public to ensure that proper toilet facilities are provided in residences and when people are outdoor, public or mobile toilets toilets must be used.

Olaewe also urged residents to properly bag and dispose of their refuse through Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) approved PSP operators, to prevent flies from feasting on the wastes.

He listed some of the measures put in place for public awareness and campaign on cholera prevention to include door to door sensitisation around neighbourhoods and estates by environmental health officers.

Others are public awareness campaigns to markets, schools, NYSC camps, public places, police barracks, and motor parks among others.

The environmental health officer said that awareness campaigns are also being stepped up in the mass media through jingles in English, Yoruba and Pidgin, to drive the message to the hinterlands.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

SIO/ISHO/FAA

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Edited by Yinusa Ishola/Folasade Adeniran

Wage
By Olatunde Ajayi
Ibadan, June 23, 2024 (NAN) Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has kicked against the call by some politicians for decentralised minimum wage negotiations.

Secretary of NLC in Oyo State, Mr Adebayo Aribatise, in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Ibadan, said that decentralising minimum wage negotiations would put workers in some states at a disadvantage.

NAN reports that some politicians had, of recent, called for decentralised minimum wage negotiations.

One of them, Dr Kayode Fayemi, stressed the need for allowing states to conduct wage negotiations with their labour unions, separate from that of the Federal Government.

Fayemi, a former Governor of Ekiti, said that the position of Nigerian Governors’ Forum, of which he was once the chairman, was that states should be allowed to have negotiations with their labour unions, as ‘fingers are not equal’.
Explaining the broader implications of a centralised minimum wage, the former governor noted that only a small percentage of the population benefits directly from minimum wage negotiations.

However, Aribatise frowned at decentralising minimum wage negotiations, saying that it was not ideal for the country.

He noted that some states in the country had not yet fully implemented the old N30,000 minimum wage despite the efforts put in place by NLC at the national and state levels.

Besides, the labour leader said that some governors would abuse the privilege if they were allowed to negotiate minimum wage with their states’ workforce.

“The fact remains that the law binds states to pay national minimum wage. It is expected that the federal government will continue to set the minimum wage. If not, some governors will continue to do as they like.

“Some governors will bastardise the agreement if we allow it and junior workers will continue to earn nothing worthwhile,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
TUN/WAS
Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

NGO sensitises 180 Zamfara residents on accessing justice

Sensitisation

By Ishaq Zaki

Gusau, June 23, 2024 (NAN) A Zamfara-based NGO, Voluntary Aid Initiative (VAI), has sensitised 180 residents of Zamfara communities on how to address barriers on access to justice.

The Project Officer to the NGO, Mr Buhari Ya’u, disclosed this to newsmen in Gusau on Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sensitisation programme was themed: “Awareness and Advocacy Campaign program for increased access to Justice aimed at addressing the identified the barriers on access to Justice”

Moriki said the sensitisation took place in Tsafe, Bilbis, Birnin-Magaji and Nasarawa-Godel communities under Birnin Magaji and Tsafe Local Government Areas of the state, respectively.

“The sensitisation was conducted in collaboration with International Alert under a Project Promoting Stability, Access to Justice and Accountability in North West,” he added.

According to him, the Country Director of International Alert, Paul Nyulaku, supervised the sensitisation programme.

Nyulaku was represented by the National Project Manager, Mr Sunday  Jimoh, accompanied by the National Gender Equity and Social Inclusion Officer of the NGO, Mrs Fatima Inusa.

He commended the targeted communities for their active participation that ensured  the success of the project in the state.

“You know, the International Alert is implementing a project entitled: “Promoting Stability, Access to Justice and Accountability’ in Zamfara and Kaduna States.

“The project aimed at inclusive participation of community groups in alternative dispute resolution to reduce the prevalence of community-level violence.

“The project also aims at providing marginalised groups, especially women with opportunities and platforms to make their voices heard and advocate for their concerns.

“This project is also to create a favourable environment for women and other vulnerable groups by dealing with prevalent sexual and gender-based violence.” Nyulaku explained.

A total of 180 participants were drawn from across the four communities including religious and community leaders, youths, women groups, people with disability and minority groups among others.

He said, “You know, in each of the four communities we selected 30 women and 20 men who participated in the sensitisation program”.

“The participants were sensitized on how to address barriers and other challenges hindering access to justice with a view of reducing Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in the society.

“We are hopeful that our participants were willing and ready to cascade all the messages to their respective communities,” Nyulaku added.

He appealed to the stakeholders to work as a team to sensitise other community members on how to seek for justice especially on issues related to SGBV, among others.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

IZ/BRM

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Oyetola as Osun APC leader, square peg in square hole — Abubakre

Leader
By Abigael Joshua

Abuja, June 23, 2024 (NAN)
An Osun elder statesman and former Vice Chancellor Al-Hikmah University, Prof. Razaq Abubakre has described the choice of former governor, Adegboyega Oyetola as leader of APC in the state as “putting a square peg in a square hole”.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Abubakre who is also a former Federal Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission, recalled that the choice of Oyetola was adopted unanimously by the Prof. Adewoye Committee on repositioning the APC in Osun State.

He said the adoption which was at a meeting of the Party in the Tinubu – Shettima House in Osogbo,
“was not contradicted by any known legitimate member of the Party as far as our knowledge goes”.

Abubakre said by this action, the leadership of Oyetola has been validated by all APC stakeholders in Osun State.

“The manner in which the leadership and membership of the party unanimously confirmed Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola’s leadership, is a vote of confidence in his unalloyed trajectory of support for rebuilding the Party.

“Oyetola’s humility, patience, straight behaviour and generosity are the necessary assets to enable him by the grace of God The Almighty, to steer the ship of the Party to a glorious harbour.

“The outstanding show of solidarity with the wish of the Party by the National Secretary of the party, Senator Ajibola Bashiru on the choice of the leader is instructive,” he said.

Abubakre urged major APC stakeholders like another former governor of the state, to embrace the party and align with members to ensure that the party remains united and formidable.

He also appealed to the foundation Chairman of the Party, Chief Adebisi Akande, to serve as chief reconciler between aggrieved stakeholders on one hand and president Ahmed Tinubu and Oyetola on the other hand.

“As for the Party, there can only be more incidents of return to the mainstream of the Party like Senator Mudashiru Hussein had done as well as many other big fishes defecting from the ruling party, PDP in the state,” Abubakre said.

He called for more dedication among local government chairmen of Osun APC, the state executives of the Party and Egbe Agba Osun (Elders of Osun) led by its Chairman, Sola Akinwumi.

According to Abubakre, for Osun APC members and stakeholders, the time to work harder for the Party is now.

“Both the leader, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola and the indefatigable State Chairman of the Party, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, are equally up to the task.

“May God enable the party to secure victory in all polls better than ever before,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

AIJ/ORO
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Edited by Razak Owolabi