Category: General News

Third Republic lawmakers beg Tinubu to pay their outstanding allowances

Lawmakers
By Victor Adeoti
Osogbo, June 2, 2024 (NAN) Members of the House of Representatives in the botched Third Republic have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the payment of their outstanding salaries and allowances.

The former lawmakers from the South-West states of Osun, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo and Lagos, made the plea during their meeting in Osogbo on Sunday.

Mr John Fasogbon, the spokesperson for the lawmakers, while speaking with newsmen, said that the president, who was elected senator on the platform of the Social Democratic Party(SDP) between 1992 and 1993, was part of their set.

Fasogbon, who represented Ife Federal Central Constituency, appealed to the president to use his good office to ensure the payment of salaries and allowances owed them.

“We want to appeal to our amiable President, who is a listening and caring leader on the payment of our entitlements for the period of 1992-1993, when we were at the Federal House of Representatives.

” Mr President was also at the Senate then, serving our dear country meritoriously.

“Some of us have died as a result of lost hope, while many are in abject poverty .

” We appeal to the president as our father and leader to come to our rescue before it is too late.

“We served the country meritoriously in our time and we should not be denied of our entitlements” he said.

Fasogbon, also appealed to the president to follow the foot steps of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, who honoured Chief MKO Abiola and his running mate, Baba Gana Kingibe, and do the same for the former lawmakers.

Fasogbon, however, commended the president on his achievements in all sectors in one year of his administration, noting that the various polices of the government would start yielding positive results soon.(NAN) (www.nannnews.ng)
VE/IKU
Edited by Tayo Ikujuni

Homes
By Abiodun Azi
Lagos. June 2, 2024. (NAN) Some Nigerian women have narrated the huge economic challenges confronting them in sustaining homes.

The women expressed their views in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday.

A Mother of four, Mrs Abiola Dipeolu, said that presently, the family spent a lot of money to keep the home going.

Dipeolu said that when she newly got married, she usually saved some money from the monthly allowance she received from her husband.

She said that the reverse was the case now, saying that what she received as feeding allowance hardly sustained the family for two weeks.

“I have to wake up as early as 4.00 a.m. to begin the hustle for the day and close by 6.00 p.m.

“Marriage is boring and uninteresting because the time for husband and wife to be together has been put into hustling” she said.

A Mother of three, Mrs Ronke Adu, said that she could not remember the last time she got financial support from her husband.

Adu said that the financial responsibilities had been shared and each of them took up his or her responsibilities.

She said that the present economic challenges had rendered some husbands mere figure heads in spite of the energy they put up on daily basis to make ends meet.

She noted that she had to do menial jobs like sweeping of compounds, cooking soup for the elderly and home cleaning on daily basis to make ends meet.

Expressing her views, a Mother of two, Mrs Busayo Adamolekun, said that she was a fashion designer by profession but when the reality dawned on her, she dropped her working tools and ventured into food selling.

Adamolekun said that food was one of the businesses now thriving.

She said her husband had to join the food business and closed his business centre because he no longer received patronage.

She said that some women took up the main financial expenses at homes, while their husbands only rendered support.

A Civil Servant and a Mother of three, Mrs China Okeke, said that it was a pity that the economy turned this way.

Okeke suggested that managing the home financially needed prudence.

“As a civil servant, I had to obtain loans to keep the home going,’’ she said.

She explained that the take-home pay was not enough.

A Grandmother and Pastor, Mrs Adefunke Clement, said that many women came to the church for financial help.

Clement said that there was no day a woman would not come to the church soliciting for meal.

She said that before now, the church used to have philanthropists who donated voluntarily, saying that now the church authorities had to announce before getting few donations.

“Women are going through a lot to put food on the table.

“Some go into four or five menial works on daily basis to keep the home going,’’ she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Adeleye Ajayi

Teledalase, a Lagos community cut off from the city

Bridge

By Kazeem Akande

Lagos, June 2, 2024 (NAN) Teledalase community in Maidan Orile, Ikosi-Isheri Local Government Area, Lagos State, has been cut-off from the city for two years, with no hope of reconnection, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

According to residents of the community, the big carnal, which passes through the community needs to be dredged to ensure free flow of water when it rains.

They said the Maidan Footbridge, which was used by residents to cross to the other side of the LGA, collapsed two years.

The residents also alleged that they had experienced different environmental challenges in the last two years and had written and consulted some government representatives.

They say situation is worse because their children cannot go to school during the  rainy season, for fear of being drowned in the carnal, they also revealed that many had become homeless in the community due to flooding.

NAN observed that due to the collapse of the footbridge, residents of the community had to pay to be taken by canoe, whenever they needed to go to the city for school, hospital, market or even business.

The Community Leaders and Residents of Teledalase, told NAN that they had been appealing to government to come to their aid, by fixing the collapsed bridge, which disconnected them from the larger society.

Mr Alepro Ehijapor, the Chairman Community Development Committee (CDC) in Araromi Community of the area, told NAN that the stress of commuting from the area was stressful as well as painful especially for the elders in the community.

“We have been abandoned by the government and that’s why we are appealing for quick resolution before the situation becomes worse,” he said.

The community leader, also added that it was an enormous risk to transport pupils by canoe to school daily, and appealed to the government to rescue the community.

Ehijapor also urged government to build a big embarkment, to prevent the flood from over flowing it’s banks into the community.

“We want government to build an embarkment to prevent the flood from over flowing it’s banks into the community during heavy rains, as majority of the houses are already affected.

“Our school children are also at risk of not getting education, because most of them do not bother going to school when the carnal overflows, during rainy seasons,” he said.

Mr Adebayo Kareem, a Former Community Development Council (CDC) Chairman of Araromi Weigh Bridge in the community, also said that the environmental challenges was beyond the Community Development Associations (CDAs) and CDC.

“It’s beyond our capacity, the collapsed bridge and flooding are major challenges that are threatening the existence of the community.

“These problems have rendered many homeless because when there is rainfall, many residents leave their houses and seek shelter elsewhere.

“At the same time the bridge, which is the major entrance to the community has collapsed since 2022 without repair.

“Many of the residents have resorted to going out by canoe, they pay N50 per head, to enable them cross to the other side of the community.

“This is what we do to get to our places of work, this puts our lives at risk on daily basis,” he said.

Mr Dennis Olakitan, also a resident of the community, told NAN that he could not go out for the fear of canoe rides.

According to him, he has phobia for water transport, so, I find it difficult to leave my home all my legs have swollen because am indoors for months.

“We are living in isolation and fear in this community, majority of the elders cannot go out because of the collapsed footbridge.

“We beg the government to come to our rescue and save us from the life of isolation we are leaving.

Mr Abayomi Oguntimehin, also a resident, said that residents were tired of using canoe before they can connect with the outside world.

“The collapsed footbridge has disconnected us from the major road.

“We are calling and begging the government, to rescue us from this environmental hazard and find a lasting solution to our problems in this community.

“This is rainy season, some of our school children are at home for fear of the carnal, we really need urgent attention to these issues,” he said.

NAN reports that the Maidan footbridge, which sits between Oniyanrin Street and Maidan Orile, enroute Agility Bus -stop in the Mile 12 area, collapsed on July 8, 2022, after a downpour and has not been repaired till date. (NAN)

AKA/IFY

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Edited by Ifeyinwa Omowole

Teachers
By Oluwakemi Oladipo/Millicent Ifeanyichukwu

Lagos, June 2, 2024 (NAN) Glamourising  teaching will be a major way  to attract the youth to the profession, some education administrators have said.

The administrators said on Sunday that scholarship awards, automatic employment  improved salary and stipends would attract more people into teaching.

They spoke in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) against the backdrop of dearth of qualified teachers, especially in core subjects, in many schools.

According to the 2022/2023 Universal Basic Education Commission National Personnel Audit Report, there is a shortage of 194,876 teachers in public primary schools in Nigeria.

The report shows that only 499,202  of the 694,078 teachers required at the primary school level were available.

Dr Wahab Afeez, Provost, Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos, said that decline in enrolment  of students for the Nigeria Certificate  in Examination (NCE) and Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) Programmes  was getting worrisome.

Describing the situation as unhealthy and disturbing for the teaching profession, Afeez said there was an urgent need for governments to step up efforts in tackling the trend.

According to him, the development is gradually exposing the country to unqualified and unprofessional teachers who may put the future of students at risk.

The provost also appealed  to the Federal Government to  consider improved welfare package for students in colleges of education  to attract more Nigerians into the teaching profession.

He also  called on  the federal and state governments to consider  scholarship awards to prospective students to boost enrolment into colleges of education.

Azeez said that the Committee of Provosts was  making efforts to address dearth of qualified teachers.

“In the 2022/2023 academic session, we enrolled 382 NCE students and 30 PDE students.

“For this current  2023/2024 academic session, we have 353 students enrolled for the NCE and 43 for the PDE.

“When compared to what obtained in the previous academic years in the institution, you will discover that the  number has dropped.

“On our part, in 2022, we mounted programmes such as Primary Education Studies (PES) as a new NCE course, while PDE programmes are in line with the previous Technical Teachers Certificate,” he said.

Afeez said that all the courses were designed to enable the college to  produce well-trained teachers.

Prof. Bidemi Lafiaji-Okuneye, Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University of Education, Otto/ Ijanikin (LASUED),  urged  the federal and state governments to consider  re-introduction of  payment of stipends to students in colleges of education, aside scholarship.

According to her, there is also the need to give students automatic employment after their training as teachers.

“Teachers reward is no longer in heaven, but on earth. Teachers needs to be celebrated more and taken care of, with enough benefits.

“Back in the days, governments used to give students those benefits, while  they were undergoing training as teachers, which were definitely part of the attraction to the profession.

“Whatever made them to stop that process, I definitely do not know,  but governments needs to go back to the good old days.

“Governments can also give scholarships to our youth to study education, which can help to attract more youths to the programmes.

“Governments and private school owners must intensify efforts to increase  salaries and welfare packages as well as  other benefits for teachers,” she said.

The vice-chancellor said  that no fewer than 8,500 graduates had so far been produced by the institution in the last five years.

According to her, the institution admits about 2,000 students yearly.

She noted, however, that some left after the first year, to rewrite  the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

According to her, this is because the interest of the students is in getting admission into the university, rather than college of education.

“Before our transmutation from college to university, we discovered that a lot of students who came to the college of education could not get placement into the universities of their choice. They saw it as a last resort.

“Now that we are a university of education, the number of interested or prospective candidates have increased tremendously, so much that we cannot admit all.

“For instance, over 8,000 candidates applied to this institution last session to study various education courses, but of this number,only the best 3,500 could get admission due to the quota given to us by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

“We had to write to JAMB to increase the quota for admission, which made us  to admit about 4,500 students in the last admission process.

“This is our second year as a university, we currently have over 7,000 students at both the 100 and 200 levels,” she said.

Lafiaji-Okuneye warned that  employing unqualified teachers in schools would lead to under-development of students, under-development of schools and under-development of teachers.

“Teacher’s training is about the passion, deeply knowing how to teach  to make students to develop interest in all subjects.

“Governments should have good standards for teachers so that only qualified teachers can be attracted to the teaching profession today and in the future,” she said.

Lafiaji-Okuneye said that LASUED was endowed with quality manpower and  adequate infrastructure to broaden, deepen and strengthen the teaching profession in Lagos and Nigeria at large.

The Principal, King’s College, Lagos, Mr Andrew Agada, said that qualified teachers had since been identified as key tools in achieving effective teaching and learning outcomes.

According to him,  the success of any human  endeavour, particularly in the sphere of education, is  linked to the quality of individuals performing the responsibilities. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
OKG/MIL/CCN/IGO
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Edited by Chinyere Nwachukwu/Ijeoma Popoola

Services

By Ehigimetor Igbaugba

Calabar, June 2, 2024 (NAN) The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says it will construct jetties and provide safe ferry services in communities not connected by roads in the region.

The Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, made the disclosure at the inauguration of Abitto Luxury and Maritime Safety Boat in Calabar on Saturday.

Ogbuku, who described the Abitto ferry services as a game-changer in transportation business, said that NDDC would partner the group to connect communities in the region.

He noted that the partnership would provide safe means of transportation in the communities and stimulate their local economy.

“We have so many communities in the region that are not connected by roads, so we can collaborate with Abitto to extend these services to them

“For the Niger Delta to develop, we will not wait for foreigners, we shall use what we have to stimulate our local economy,” he said.

In his speech, the chairman of Abitto Global Services, Mr Richard Akinaka, said that the idea was to provide transportation services and reduce the travel time between Calabar and Uyo.

“This is very important, especially against the background of the bad state of Calabar-Itu road.

“We emerged as a result of the need to provide comfortable means of transportation and to create employment opportunities.

“I am proud to announce that about 90 per cent of the entire infrastructure, including the boats were built by us here in Calabar,” he stated.

Speaking at the occasion, the Senator representing Cross River South at the National Assembly, Asuquo Ekpenyong, said the ferry services would reduce the travel time between Calabar and Uyo to about 30 minutes.

“With this, you are creating jobs and promoting commerce. This is clearly a good omen” he said.

Ekpenyong said that it had become expedient to return to natural means of transportation owing to the depreciation on the roads.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

ESI/EBI/AZU

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Edited by Benson Iziama and Azubuike Okeh

IBB lauds NIPR management for upholding mission, vision of Institute

Commendation

By Rita Iliya

Minna, June 2, 2024 (NAN) Former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, has commended the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) for upholding the mission and vision of establishing the Institute by his defunct administration.

Babangida stated this when he received the members of NIPR led by its National President, Dr Ike Neliaku, on a courtesy in his residence  in Minna on Saturday.

The visit was part of the activities lined up to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the institute.

Babangida explained that NIPR was the only institute that had brought its wisdom to bear in the affairs of the nation.

“I have always believed that we have to write a new narrative for this great country, I want to commend NIPR for trying to provide a better society for all.

“The institute’s strength has gone high, as time goes by, our society will be a place that everybody will be proud to belong,” he said.

According to him, wherever he goes, he always advocates that other countries should copy what NIPR is doing.

Babangida congratulated the institute for being steadfast in implementing what the country expected from them to do, adding that he was proud that NIPR was living to expectations.

Earlier,  Neiliaku said the visit was part of the activities to mark the 60th anniversary of the institute that was established in 1963,

He added that IBB gave the institute a law which had become the strongest enforcement in public relations all over the world 34 years ago.

“The child you gave to us 34 years ago became 60 years old in 2023, but because of the general elections, we couldn’t celebrate last year and I will like to inform you that your efforts and sacrifice are not in vain,” he said.

The NIPR boss said that the institute had initiated the ‘Rebirth Nigeria’, in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

Neliaku said that the programme was established on four pillars of  citizens’ education, value reorientation, promotion of made- in- Nigeria goods and services as well as the promotion of service delivery.

He disclosed that the institute was establishing a University of Public Relations and Leadership in Nasarawa State and had already gotten support from the state government.

In the same vein, the members had earlier visited the Emir of Minna, Dr Farouk Bahago, to solicit for the royal father’s support, adding that the institute attached greater importance to the traditional institutions.

Responding, Bahago thanked the institute for recognising the traditional institutions and the vital roles they play in the country.

Also, Gov. Umaru Bago of Niger has applauded the foresight of Babangida in signing the 1990 Decree that gave birth to the Chartered of Nigeria Institute of Public Relations NIPR in the country.

Bago, represented by Alhaji Abubakar Salisu, Head of Service, appealed to NIPR to support the ‘New Niger Agenda’ that cuts across infrastructural development, provision of security and agricultural revolution for food security.

Also, the Minister of Information, Allaji Mohammed Idris, represented by Jibrin Ndace, Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), said he aligned with the vision of the institute in shaping the society.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the activities for the 60th anniversary commenced with a road walk and planting of sixty trees at the three arms zone in Minna.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

RIS/BAB/BRM

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Edited by Mohammed Baba Busu/Bashir Rabe Mani

As prices soar, Nigerians change fashion style

Cost

By Kemi Akintokun

Lagos, June 2, 2024 (NAN) Nigerians are known for being fashionable, with fabrics tailor-made in classy designs, this is gradually changing due to increase in the prices of fashion accessories. nationwide,

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  visited various markets within Lagos metropolis and spoke with designers and their customers.

NAN reports that there has been a significant increase in the prices of tailoring materials.

A stop at the popular Oshodi Market, where both wholesalers and retailers usually get materials from, reveals that prices of items like thread, zipper, dull face, taffeta and Aba linings, increased by over 50 percent.

Dull face and Taffeta, which were sold for N500 and N800 respectively, now sell for N700 and N1100 , while a pack of thread, which sold for 500, now sells for N800 to N1000 depending on the brand.

At the popular Idumota Market, which is home to both tailoring materials and varieties of trimmings, the price increase was not different from the other markets.

Some fashion designers, who spoke with NAN expressed views on the impact of the increase in tailoring materials.

Mrs Yvonne Ideho, the Creative Director, of Yvonne’s Place, Ketu, Lagos, said the increase in prices had reduced the profit margin in clothes making.

Ideho said:” With this current situation in the country, the profit in clothes making is not what it used to be, compared with 2022 and early 2023.

“I don’t over charge my customers, in order to remain in business which is better than not having any income,” she said.

In the same vein, Mrs Omotola Gabriel, a fashion designer in Ikotun, said patronage in the last two months had reduced.

Gabriel, who owns Shiloh Stitches Fashion, specialising in female and male clothing, complained that the number of jobs she got in April and May was not encouraging, owing to amount of bills she paid monthly.

“Business has not really been encouraging for some months, due to the increase in the prices of tailoring accessories.

“Many customers, who sew up to five, seven clothes in a month made only one or two outfits.

“Some of the customers I called to know why they had not made any outfit in the last few months, said they had more pressing needs to attend to.

“I am hopeful that things will get better in the country,” she added.

Speaking also, Joseph Azubuike, who also make clothes for both sexes, noted that patronage from his female clients had reduced.

Azubuike, who runs a fashion business in his apartment in Igando, said the few female clients who patronise him now opt for styles with less charges.

Azubuike said: “My male clients still patronise me as regular but I make more money sewing female outfits because of the styles involved.

“Now, my female customers prefer to sew simple styles like boubou that won’t cost more than N5000, unlike when I charged them N20,000 and even more based on the accessories on the dresses”.

Meanwhile, Mrs Taiwo Oduwole, an accountant, told NAN that she had reduced the number of clothes she made monthly.

According to Oduwole, her main priority is to ensure that her children are well fed and ensure their school fees are paid promptly.

“The last time I took any clothes to my tailor was four months ago because I used to like clothes with accessories, which costs between N15000 to N30000 to make.

“The cost of buying rice, garri and pepper to feed the home is my main objective right now, not sewing.,” she said.

Also, Yewande Adekunle, a Banker, said she no longer made sophisticated clothes because of the charges.

Adekunle said:  “I still patronise my tailor but I do more of simple outfits these days.

“The cost of sewing beautiful and well accessorised outfits is high,” she said. (NAN)
KOA/IFY

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Edited by Ifeyinwa Omowole

Clerics laud Aliyu for donating 10 buses to religious groups