Category: General News

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NYSC urges outgoing corps members to effectively utilise acquired skills

PoP

By Stephen Adeleye

Lokoja, June 13, 2024 (NAN) The Kogi Coordinator of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Femi Osungbohun, has urged outgoing corps members to effectively utilise the acquired skills during their one year mandatory national service.

Osungbohun gave the advice at the Passing-Out-Parade (POP) ceremony for 2023 Batch ‘B’ Stream l Corps members on Thursday in Lokoja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that POP marks the end of a year-long journey of serving the nation, which is a mandatory requirement for Nigerian graduates.

According to Osungbohun, a total of 825 deserving corps members of 2023 Batch B Stream l, have successfully completed and met the necessary requirements for the one year national service to their fatherland.

Osungbohun urged the corps members to effectively utilised all the acquired skills under the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Department (SAED), to be self-reliant and employers of labour.

“I am sure with the kind of positive impacts the NYSC has made on you during your service year, don’t just sit back and expect government to do everything for you.

“Opportunities abound everywhere with your education and the various skills you have acquired.

“The hour has come when the advantages of all the NYSC SAED programmes, should live with you, because there is no white collar job anywhere.

“The skills should be able to empower you to be self employed and be employers of labour,” he said.

Osungbohun stressed that the NYSC operatives were always very happy that yet again they had been able to tutor and mentored a very critical segment of the society for nation building.

He added: “The 825 corps members that are leaving service today, we are proud to say that individually and collectively they are going out into the society to make positive impacts”.

NAN reports that three worthy corps members who distinguished themselves in their various assignments during their service year, received Letters of Commendation from NYSC.

They were: Serah Ogundeji – Oyo; Dr Adeniyi Ayomide – Ondo; and Hamza Babatunde from Ogun State. They all expressed their gratitude to NYSC for the opportunity to serve the nation in that capacity. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
ASA/IAA

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Stealing
By Funmilayo Okunade
Ado-Ekiti, June 13, 2024 (NAN) The police on Thursday arraigned a 32-year-old man, Babatunde Olaoluwa, before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing cell phones.
The defendant, of no fixed address, is facing a four-count charge bordering on stealing.
The Police Prosecutor, Insp Olasunkanmi Bamikole, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on April 12 at about 10:15 a.m. at C.A.C., Oke-Isegun in Oye-Ekiti.
Bamikole said that the defendant stole one Tecno Spark 10c phone, valued at N100,000, belonging to one Akinwunmi Joshua.
He said that on April 7, at about 12 noon at the same church, the defendant also stole one Tecno POP 8, valued at N100,000, belonging to one Ajiboye Eniola.
The prosecutor further stated that on March 24, at about 11 a.m. at the same church, Olaoluwa equally stole an iPhone 11 phone, valued at N300,000, property of one Adewunmi Emmanuel.
He also said that on April 7, at about 9 a.m. at the same church, the defendant stole an Infinix Smart 7 phone, valued at 120,000, belonging to one Abegunde Rachael.
According to him, the offences contravened Section 302(1)(a) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
Bamikole asked the court for adjournment to enable him to study the case file and present his witnesses.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him.
Counsel to the defendant, Mr Tunmise Akinwumi, urged the court to grant the defendant bail, with a promise that he would not jump bail.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Saka Afunso, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N100,000, with two sureties in like sum.
Saka said that one of the sureties must be a relation to the defendant.
He, thereafter, adjourned the case till July 11 for hearing. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
FOA/WAS
Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

Lawmakers
By Mujidat Oyewole
Ilorin, June 13, 2024 (NAN) Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has rejoiced with lawmakers representing the people of Kwara in the 10th National Assembly, as they mark one year in office.
This is contained in a statement issued by the emir’s Spokesman, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, and made available to newsmen on Thursday in Ilorin.
Sulu-Gambari particularly congratulated Sen. Saliu Mustapha, Kwara Central Senatorial District; Hon. Yinka Aluko, Ilorin South/East Federal Constituency and Hon. Mukhtar Shagaya, Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency.
He applauded them on the ‘landmark achievements’ which they had recorded since their inauguration in 2023.
The royal father, who is also the Chairman, Kwara Traditional Rulers’ Council, described the lawmakers as frontline politicians who are well-equipped with wisdom and charisma.
According to him, the qualities possessed by the legislators are those required for quality legislative functions that would bring dividends of democracy to the grassroots.
The first-class traditional ruler thanked the lawmakers for the numerous empowerment programmes, job opportunities and projects facilitated to the state.
He urged them not to relent in their efforts at ensuring quality representation at the national assembly.
Sulu-Gambari also urged them to sustain the robust working synergy with Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in order to facilitate more development projects and human capital opportunities into Ilorin emirate and beyond.
He prayed Allah to continue to strengthen the legislators in their meritorious service to the community, the state and the country at large. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
MOB/WAS
Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

Electoral reforms crucial for true democracy says Banire

Democracy

By Aderonke Ojediran

Lagos, June 13, 2024 (NAN) Dr Muiz Banire, a lawyer and activist says for Nigeria to operate a truly democratic government, a comprehensive electoral reforms must be put in place.

Banire said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, on Thursday in commemoration of Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

”Frankly speaking I’m not too sure that we have democracy in Nigeria; I have always contended that what we have at best is civil rule.

”What we are practicing is not democracy, democracy is set generally to be where majority interests thrives but can you really say that now?

“Go and look at the statistic of how many people always vote in each election, majority are not voting so how can that represent the interest of the majority to say leaders in the country were democratically elected.

“For me there’s none, let’s say we have civil rule because we don’t have military men in charge so we can describe it as a rule”, he said.

On what could be done to further authenticate the future of the country’s democracy, Banire a former Commissioner for Transportation in Lagos State called for reorientation of the electorate.

“One of the fundamental things that we need to do is to enlighten the populace about the importance of voting, Nigerians still see it as a product or merchandise that you can sell and get money.

“They don’t see the correlation between their lives and the vote and until they start appreciating that a singular vote that they have is their life, we are not heading anywhere.

“Fundamentally that is the first thing to do, alternatively which some people will say is extreme, is to qualify the right to vote, meaning that not everybody should be voting”, he added.

Banire, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), further told NAN that it took developed countries centuries before ascending to the fact that everyone from age 18 had the franchise to vote.

According to him, the fact that you are 18 does not make you entitled to vote, you must have a stake, like I say to people it took America more than 200 years for them to start allowing everyone to vote, our own we just allow everyone to vote.

“Those who don’t know their right from left determine the future of others that’s the challenge.”

On the recent call for a parliamentary system of government, the activist told NAN that he believed in the advocacy for a unicameral system of legislature.

”Nigeria presently operates a bicameral legislature made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

“But I share their position of those advocating for a unicameral system of legislature. We need to totally overhaul.

”I am one of the apostle of parliamentarianism, because what we are practicing in the country now is too expensive and the economy cannot absolve or sustain it.

“That is why the economy is not progressing because of the pressure on it,” he said.

On immortalising Abiola, Banire, said that nothing was too much for someone who paid the supreme prize.

“Not really, when somebody pays the supreme prize it can never be enough, more can still be done,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

OAF/DCO/EAL

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Edited by Deborah Coker/Ekemini Ladejobi

Eid-el-Kabir: FRSC Ogun begins special patrol June 14

Patrol

By Ige Adekunle

Sango-Ota (Ogun), June 13, 2024 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogun Command, will commence a special patrol between June 14 and 21 to ensure accident free celebration during the forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir festival.

Mr Anthony Uga, the Sector Commander of FRSC in Ogun, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Ota, Ogun.

Uga said the Corps would deploy over 900 personnel for the exercise to ensure sanity on the highway during the festive period.

The sector commander said both the Regular and Special Marshals had been mobilised to make the exercise a successful one and ensure safety of lives and property during the period.

He added that logistics like patrol vehicles, ambulances and towing vehicles, among others, had been deployed to respond to emergency cases in the state.

“We are appealing to motorists to cooperate with FRSC personnel and other sister agencies to control traffic gridlocks so that they can get to their various destinations safely.

“In addition, they should obey extant traffic rules and regulations to prevent avoidable crashes during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration,” he said.

Uga said the presence of the personnel would be felt on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Benin-Ore Expressway, Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode Road, Abeokuta-Ibadan Expressway, Abeokuta-Lagos Expressway and Ota-Idiroko road, among others.

He reiterated the commitment of the FRSC to collaborate with other sister agencies to make all the majors roads safer during, before and after the Eid-el-Kabir celebration. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

IGE/MZM/

Edited by Okon Okon/Salif Atojoko

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English players’ union joins legal action against FIFA over breaks

Players

London, June 13, 2024 (NAN/dpa) The Professional Footballers’ Association has joined a legal action against FIFA to protect players’ rights to guaranteed and protected breaks.

The English players’ union will be a co-claimant in a case to be heard in the Belgian courts, alongside its French counterpart UNFP and the European division of world players’ union FIFPRO.

The news comes after FIFPRO and the World Leagues Association warned FIFA in May they would take legal action if it did not reschedule the 32-team Club World Cup due to be played in the United States next year.

From a union perspective, the scheduling of that tournament is seen as a tipping point for the football calendar and players’ ability to take a meaningful break between seasons.

The case will be fought by the unions by Jean-Louis Dupont, who was part of the legal team which secured the landmark Bosman ruling in 1995 which revolutionised the transfer market.

The PFA said the Brussels Court of Commerce would be asked to refer the case to the European Court of Justice.

PFA chief executive Maheta Molango said: “This is an important moment for players and for their rights as employees.

“Everyone across football knows that the fixture calendar is broken to the point that it has now become unworkable.” (NAN/dpa)(www.nannews.ng)

JPE

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