Shettima to represent Tinubu at G77+China leaders' summit in Cuba.

Shettima to represent Tinubu at G77+China leaders' summit in Cuba.

Vice President Kashim Shettima will be representing President Bola Tinubu at the G77+China Leaders' Summit which will be held in Havana, Cuba from 15 to 17 September.

This was revealed in a statement on the president's official X handle on Wednesday, September 13.

Part of the statement reads: "He will be joining other world leaders, including the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres at the Summit to deliberate on development issues facing members mostly from the global south. The Summit will equally explore proactive ways of addressing challenges facing the development of the member states leveraging science, technology and innovation to enhance socio-economic growth.

"Also, Vice President Shettima will on the sidelines of the summit hold bilateral meetings with other world leaders to promote Nigeria’s trade and investment relations in line with the economic development diplomacy of the Tinubu administration.

"The Havana Summit is being hosted by the President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel in his capacity as Chairman of the G77 and China, under the theme: “Current Development Challenges: The Role of Science, Technology and Innovation.”

OAU Announces Adjustments to Student Fees for 2023 Academic Session.

OAU Announces Adjustments to Student Fees for 2023 Academic Session.

The authorities of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, have made significant adjustments to the fees structure for students attending the institution in the upcoming 2023 academic session.

In a press release issued by the University's Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, the revised fee schedule outlines the changes that students across various faculties can expect.

For students enrolled in the Faculties of Arts, Law, and Humanities, 'freshers' will now pay a fee of #151,200, while returning students within these faculties will be required to pay #89,200.

In the Faculties of Technology and Science, new students will have a fee of #163,200, with returning students in the same faculties paying #101,200.

Students admitted to the Faculties in the College of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Pharmacy will experience adjusted fees as well. New students in these faculties will pay #190,200, while returning students will pay #128,200.

The decision to adjust the fee structure was reached during an emergency meeting of the University Senate held on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.

The university's management has expressed its best wishes for students, hoping for their resounding success in their academic pursuits.

It's important to note that the fee adjustments apply for the upcoming academic session and are subject to change in subsequent sessions.

NLC threatens indefinite strike, gives one week ultimatum.

NLC threatens indefinite strike, gives one week ultimatum.

The organised labour on Tuesday threatened to begin an indefinite strike should the Federal Government fail to meet its demands at the end of a 21-day ultimatum which will expire in approximately one week’s time.

The workers union said the proposed strike was necessary following the failure of the Federal Government to provide palliatives to assuage the Nigerians hardships as a result of the fuel subsidy removal.

The Nigeria Labour Congress said the industrial action which may commence any day from next week would lead to an indefinite shutdown of commercial and economic activities across the country.

Speaking on Tuesday, the National Assistant General Secretary of the NLC, Mr Christopher Onyeka, said the FG was wrong to share a bag of rice to a dozen citizens while reportedly giving N100m palliative to each member of the National Assembly.

The union had on September 1 handed down a 21-day ultimatum to the FG over the delay in sharing of palliatives, saying it might be compelled to declare an indefinite labour action if its demands were not met.

“If the government fails to provide the appropriate responses to our demands, we encourage you to maintain your steadfast resolve. The same passion and determination that fuelled this warning strike will be crucial if we find ourselves compelled to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike,’’ the labour body said in a letter to the FG.

To demonstrate its seriousness, the NLC mobilised workers for a two-day warning strike on September 5 and 6, partially grounding social and economic activities in several states with banks, ministries, agencies and departments closed to the public in some states.

The NLC leadership had said the action was in preparation for a total shutdown which would start at the expiration of the ultimatum next week.

Among other demands, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress were asking for wage awards, implementation of palliatives, tax exemptions and allowances to the public sector workers and a review of the minimum wage.

Though the FG made a commitment to restructure the framework for engagement with organised Labour on palliatives, the eight-week timeframe set for the conclusion of the process expired in August with no action whatsoever.

The committees were given eight weeks to conclude their assignment and hasten the implementation of the framework in cushioning the effect of petrol subsidy removal on Nigerians but weeks after the timeframe expired, the sub-committees had yet to meet or actualise their mandates.

President Bola Tinubu had since June 19 set up the Presidential Steering Committee and various sub-committees to discuss the framework to be adopted on the palliatives.

The sub-committees had been created to implement FG’s palliative package in areas such as Cash Transfers, Social Investment Programme, Cost of Governance, Energy, and Mass Transit and Housing.

This was a fall-out of the President’s closed-door session with the leadership of the NLC and the TUC during a nationwide protest by the organised labour.

Credit: The Punch

Oyebanji's Wife Offers To Teach ABUAD Student's.

Oyebanji's Wife Offers To Teach ABUAD Student's.

..…Afe Babalola: Ekiti First Lady's Gesture Has Increased My Respect For Her.

In a rather unprecedented gesture, the wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has offered to serve as a lecturer at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) on part-time basis to impart knowledge on students and give them academic mentorship.

Dr. Oyebanji who paid a courtesy visit to ABUAD promised to partner the university in terms of providing community service to the institution when needed as a gesture to give back to the university being an academic herself.

Speaking while being received by ABUAD Founder/Chancellor, Aare Babalola; Vice Chancellor, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde and other members of the management team, Dr. Oyebanji said her gesture would enable her contribute her own quota to the development of one of the fastest growing universities in Africa.

The Ekiti Governor's wife who is a senior lecturer in the Department of Education Management at the University of Ibadan (UI) has over 85 publications in  reputable journals to her credit and she had produced six PhD graduates and several others at Master's and undergraduate levels.

Apparently impressed with the gesture of Ekiti First Lady who is awaiting her Associate Professorship at UI, the authorities of ABUAD immediately approved her kind gesture noting that the gesture will go a long way to motivate the students to learn. 

The First Lady also used the opportunity to canvass support for her pet project, Widows and Orphans Hope (WAOH) Project which would be officially unveiled in October during the first anniversary of her husband, Governor Biodun Oyebanji in office.

Dr. Oyebanji said she recognized Aare Babalola as a father, a philanthropist and an important stakeholder in Ekiti State whose support would be needed and appreciated for the WAOH Project hence the need for the visit.

She stated: "It's a new programme where we have registered over thirty thousand active and non-active widows and orphans. The WAOH project will afford us the opportunity to touch the lives of the vulnerable people in the state.

"We have just had our Back to School Programme where we gave schoolbags and other educational materials to indigent pupils, majority of who are orphans."

ABUAD Founder, Aare Babalola in response to the First Lady's request for support for WAOH Project, made an instant but substantive personal donation to the project; promising that the university would donate more in due course.

Aare Babalola said she has always respected Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji as the wife of the governor, but she now earns his respect the more for her level of achievements in academia through her contributions to knowledge in her field of Educational Management which is being  acknowledged locally and globally by the impact she makes through her numerous research publications. 

The ABUAD Founder said: "You are not that type of First Lady that will be moving about, junketing for ceremonial activities. I have known many governors' wives who only attend ceremonies, but you are truly a First Lady.

"You are the first First Lady in Nigeria that I know that will be teaching in a university (while in office). Do you know the effect it will have? Do you know the impact you will be making? This will surely have an impact on students looking at the First Lady teaching them. It will motivate them to learn."

Speaking on WAOH Project, Aare Babalola said: "You have started a pet project, I have always been interested in philanthropic activities. I am going to contribute to the pet project now personally and the university will add to it.

"Don't think you must have billions of Naira before you can help others. No matter how little, just help people and God has a way of replenishing it. Your giving out means a lot." 

The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Peju Babafemi, who accompanied the First Lady during the visit, also informed Aare Babalola of the celebration of the International Day of Older Persons being celebrated across the globe every October, the honourable commissioner used the opportunity to invite the elder statesman to  grace the program the programme.

Immigration Clears 60,000 Passport Backlogs In 4 Days – Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

Immigration Clears 60,000 Passport Backlogs In 4 Days – Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior.

The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has confirmed the clearance of almost 60,000 passport backlogs within four working days.

This is in response to the directives given to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) last week Thursday by the minister, to clear all pending passport applications.

Alao Babatunde, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister, quoted Tunji-Ojo as disclosing this on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, on a courtesy call.

According to him, the visitation was informed by her ministry’s need to collaborate with the interior ministry to drastically reduce human trafficking and other related challenges.

“We are not just working on humanitarian endeavours as human trafficking, our NIS must help us change the story, completely.

“When we came on board, the passport crisis was an embarrassment. And, we said: it cannot continue.

“As of this morning, I can tell you that about 60,000 passport backlogs have been cleared, specifically 59,906.

“On Wednesday, September 6, 2023, when I gave the 2-week ultimatum, we had over 200,000 backlogs.

“We have recorded progress, and I maintain my word, that those backlogs must be cleared.

“So, you can be assured that our ministry is ready to work with you on any solution we consider thoughtful and progressive like the ones you have shared.

“We may only have to expand it to include the welfare of inmates in our correctional homes as they are Nigerians as well.

Native Reporters

Ekiti State APC Announces Advisory Committee for Local Government Primary Elections.

Ekiti State APC Announces Advisory Committee for Local Government Primary Elections.

In a significant development, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has unveiled the composition of its Party Advisory Committee for the upcoming Local Government Primary Elections. This crucial committee will play a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth and fair conduct of the elections.

The newly appointed advisory committee members are as follows:

Chief Samuel Abejide - Chairman

High Chief Jide Awe - Co-Chairman

Barrister Adeyeye (APC State Legal Adviser) - Secretary

Rt. Hon. Tope Ademiluyi - Member

Hon. Adetunji Stephen - Member

Hon. Femi Awe - Secretary

High Chief Mrs. Ronke Okusanya - Member

Alhaja Hon. Madam Mariam Ogunlade - Member

This esteemed group of individuals represents a diverse cross-section of the party and its leadership in Ekiti State.

Barrister Paul Omotosho, the APC State Chairman, made this exciting announcement. He called on all party members to cooperate fully with the committee to ensure a seamless and transparent electoral process. Further instructions will be communicated to all concerned parties as the elections draw nearer.

The unveiling of this advisory committee underscores the APC's commitment to upholding the principles of democracy and inclusivity within the party, as it prepares for the upcoming Local Government Primary Elections in Ekiti State.

President Tinubu Orders Swift Payment of Insurance Entitlements to Fallen Soldiers' Families.

President Tinubu Orders Swift Payment of Insurance Entitlements to Fallen Soldiers' Families.

In a commendable display of commitment to the welfare of the nation's heroes, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a directive for the prompt settlement of insurance entitlements owed to the grieving families of officers and soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the nation.

This uplifting announcement was conveyed by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, during the inaugural session of the combined second and third quarters COAS conference, held on a serene Tuesday in Abuja.

The directive from President Tinubu stands as a testament to the government's unwavering dedication to honoring the fallen soldiers' contributions and ensuring their bereaved families receive the support they rightly deserve. This compassionate initiative not only recognizes the sacrifices made by these brave individuals but also extends a compassionate hand to those they have left behind.

The move to expedite the payment of insurance entitlements showcases the administration's commitment to the welfare of military personnel and their families, underscoring the principle that the nation stands firmly by those who have sacrificed for its security.

As the nation continues to mourn the loss of these courageous servicemen and women, President Tinubu's directive serves as a beacon of hope, providing solace and support to the families of our fallen heroes during their time of need.