Ekiti Govt. To Employ Cluster Farming Approach For Improved Productivity And Access To Markets.

Ekiti Govt. To Employ Cluster Farming Approach For Improved Productivity And Access To Markets. 

Ekiti State Government has outlined plans to implement cluster farming amongst cooperatives and communities during the planting season as part of efforts to improve productivity and create access to markets in 2024.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Ebenezer Boluwade who made this known in Ado Ekiti, said that the scheme tagged operation Community-Commodity-Cooperative (CCC) is a potential game changer that can significantly improve the efficiency of smallholder farmers.

Hon. Boluwade said that cluster farming would enhance food security within the state and significantly allow smallholders to pool their resources together which would lead to increase in productivity. 

According to him, cluster farming would also engender proper coordination and collaborations that would make marketing products less stressful, adding that it would similarly reduce transaction costs as well as lower information asymmetries and improve bargaining power.  

 

Stressing that cluster farming would boost efficiency of smallholder farmers and shape their productivity; Boluwade said that implementing cluster farming would help propel smallholder farmers into commercialization as high yield commodities would be planted on the clusters and subsequently linked to off takers.

Boluwade said that under the scheme, communities or cooperatives that have unencumbered land would send an Expression of interest for cluster based land clearing operations to be done by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

He stressed that the land slated for farming by any community or association must however be free of any encumbrance with a letter of no objection from the traditional rulers in the area.

 

Other conditions spelt out by the Commissioner include crops of commercial advantage must be identified to be planted, land with water bodies will be preferred and a minimum of contiguous (sharing a common border) 10ha of land.

He called on all interested cooperatives and communities to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the State Government by applying through the State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security or any of the Extension Officers in all the Local Government Areas of the State to be part of the programme.

Adeleke approves N15,000 for civil servants as monthly subsidy palliative.

Adeleke approves N15,000 for civil servants as monthly subsidy palliative.

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has approved a monthly allowance of N15,000 to be paid to all civil servants in the state as a palliative for fuel subsidy removal.

The governor has also approved a monthly relief of N10,000 for pensioners to alleviate the hardships resulting from the removal of the fuel subsidy.

The circular containing Governor Adeleke’s approval was issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Capacity Building, dated November 28th, 2023, and bears the reference number BHR&CB/08/LIR/23 and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Sunday Fadele.

The circular addressed to all the MDAs titled, “Implementation of Palliatives for Active Workers and Pensioners in Osun State” stated that sequel to negotiation meetings with labour movement in the state, Adeleke approved the sum of money.

According to the circular, “Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, has graciously approved the monthly payment of N15,000.00 to each active worker and N10,000.00 to each pensioner in Osun State as palliatives to assuage the pains being experienced as a result of removal of petroleum subsidy by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“The payment, as approved, is to commence from the month of December 2023 for a period of six (6) months.

“While acknowledging and appreciating the understanding of Osun State workers and pensioners for their show of understanding regarding the efforts of the State Government in the last one year to improve tremendously on their welfare, being the first on the 5-Point Action Plan, the present administration will continue to ensure that its commitment to the welfare of workers is met at all times.”

The circular added that the gesture of government is expected to spur workers in the State to be more diligent and committed to their duties.

Federal Government pledges to improve NYSC camps nationwide.

Federal Government pledges to improve NYSC camps nationwide.

The federal government has pledged to improve the conditions of the orientation camps operated by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) nationwide.

Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, gave the assurance during an unscheduled visit to the NYSC orientation camp in Yikpata, Kwara State on Tuesday, November 28.

In a statement by the Head of Press and Public Relations, FMYD, Maryam Umar Yusuf, on Wednesday, November 29, in Abuja, Olawande bemoaned the deplorable condition of some NYSC camps nationwide, pledging to engage with all relevant authorities to transform the Kwara State orientation camp and others nationwide.

He apologised to corps members over the deplorable condition of their camps, describing it as an unacceptable situation that must be looked into by all relevant stakeholders

The minister thanked the corps members for their resilience, pledging that the President Bola Tinubu administration would not fail them.

The statement reads: “If I can be a Minister, you all can become whatever you wish to be, and the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will continue to encourage young people, and putting youth in charge of youth affairs is just one of such encouragements.

“Where do you go from here? How do you live decent lives as a graduate? These are some of the questions the Tinubu administration will answer for the youth. We’ll not fail you.”

The State Coordinator of NYSC in Kwara State, Onifade Olaoluwa expressed his happiness over the minister’s visit, describing it as a morale booster.

He said: “We are happy with the visit of the Hon. Minister of State for Youth Development and equally excited with the prospects of his pledge to rejig the NYSC and improve its operations, especially as it concerns the camp facilities.”

JAMB releases dates for 2024 UTME.

 JAMB releases dates for 2024 UTME.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced dates for the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The board said sales for forms for the examination will start on January, 15 and end on February 26.

In a statement by JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor (PAC), Fabian Benjamin, the board said the main UTME will be held from 19th to 29th April 2024.

The statement reads: “Based on the series of recommendations emanating from a two-day Information Technology (IT) and Management Retreat held between 26th and 28th, November 2023, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has fixed 15th January to 26th February 2024, for the sale of its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) application document.

“Meanwhile, 7th March 2024, has been slated for the 2024 MOCK-UTME, while the main UTME will hold from 19th to 29th April 2024.

“Candidates are expected to print their examination slips as of 10th April 2024. Candidates are enjoined to take note of these dates and other advisories issued by the Board in relation to the administration of the examination. They are also to visit the Board’s website @www.jamb gov. ng for any other information.”

Old, New Naira Notes To Co-exist Till Further Notice – Supreme Court Rules.

Old, New Naira Notes To Co-exist Till Further Notice – Supreme Court Rules.

The Supreme Court has ruled that both the old and new naira notes will co-exist as legal tender in the country until further notice.

It's recalled that the Supreme Court’s extension of the deadline for the use of both currency notes till December 31, 2023.

However, in a ruling by a seven-man panel led by Justice Inyang Okoro, on Wednesday, the court said both the old and new banknotes should remain in circulation, pending when the federal government, after due consultation with relevant stakeholders, takes a decision on the matter.

The court made the order after hearing an application that was moved on behalf of the federal government by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

The Supreme Court maintained that evidence before it established that a purported notice on the monetary policy was through “mere press remarks” by governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele.

It held that such remarks did not qualify as “reasonable notice” to the states as envisaged under section 20(3) of the CBN Act.

Besides, the court invalidated the directive President Buhari gave in the broadcast he made on February 16, which allowed only the old N200 note to remain a legal tender until April 10.

While accusing President Buhari of disobeying the interim order it made on February 8 which directed that the old banknotes should remain in use till the determination of the case before it, the Supreme Court stressed that the President, by going ahead to ban the old banknotes, acted in a way that was inimical to democratic governance.

According to the court, having acted in disobedience to its order, the federal government lost its right to be granted an audience before it.

Following the end of the last administration, the President Bola Tinubu-led government re-applied to the Supreme Court for an indefinite extension of its December 31 deadline.

President Tinubu: Security, Job Creation, Poverty Reduction Top Priorities Of 2024 Budget.

President Tinubu: Security, Job Creation, Poverty Reduction Top Priorities Of 2024 Budget.

President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria's national defence and internal security, local job creation, macro-economic stability, investment environment optimization, human capital development, poverty reduction, and social security are some of the top priorities of the 2024 Budget of Renewed Hope.

Addressing a joint session of the National Assembly on the 2024 Federal budget proposal on Wednesday in Abuja, President Tinubu said the nation's internal security architecture will be overhauled to enhance law enforcement capabilities with a view to safeguarding lives, property, and investments across the country.

He said the proposed budget prioritizes human capital development, with particular attention given to children, because human capital remains the most critical resource for national development.

"To improve the effectiveness of our budget performance, the government will focus on ensuring value for money, greater transparency, and accountability. In this regard, we will work more closely with development partners and the private sector.

"To address long-standing issues in the education sector, a more sustainable model of funding tertiary education will be implemented, including the Student Loan Scheme scheduled to become operational by January 2024," the President affirmed.

Speaking on the economy, President Tinubu said a stable macro-economic environment is crucial in his administration's bid to catalyze private investment and accelerate economic growth; hence, his government shall continue to implement business and investment friendly measures for sustainable growth.

"We expect the economy to grow by a minimum of 3.76 percent, above the forecasted world average. Inflation is expected to moderate to 21.4 percent in 2024. In preparing the 2024 Budget, our primary objective has been to sustain our robust foundation for sustainable economic development. A critical focus of this budget and the medium-term expenditure framework is Nigeria's commitment to a greener future.

"Emphasizing public-private partnerships, we have strategically made provisions to leverage private capital for big-ticket infrastructure projects in energy, transportation, and other sectors. This marks a critical step towards diversifying our energy mix, enhancing efficiency, and fostering the development of renewable energy sources. By allocating resources to support innovative and environmentally conscious initiatives, we aim to position Nigeria as a regional leader in the global movement towards clean and sustainable energy.

"As we approach the COP28 climate summit, a pivotal moment for global climate action, I have directed relevant government agencies to diligently work towards securing substantial funding commitments that will bolster Nigeria's energy transition. It is imperative that we seize this opportunity to attract international partnerships and investments that align with our national goals. I call upon our representatives to engage proactively to showcase the strides we have made in the quest to create an enabling environment for sustainable energy projects.

"Together, we will strive for Nigeria to emerge from COP28 with tangible commitments, reinforcing our dedication to a future where energy is not only a catalyst for development but also a driver of environmental stewardship," he said.

The President said a conservative oil price benchmark of 77.96 U.S. Dollars per barrel and a daily oil production estimate of 1.78 million barrels per day were adopted after a careful review of global oil market trends, and that a Naira to U.S. Dollar exchange rate of 750 naira per U.S. Dollar was adopted for 2024 as well.

Giving a breakdown of the 2024 Appropriation Bill, the President said: "Accordingly, an aggregate expenditure of 27.5 trillion naira is proposed for the Federal Government in 2024, of which the non-debt recurrent expenditure is 9.92 trillion naira while debt service is projected to be 8.25 trillion naira and capital expenditure is 8.7 trillion naira. Nigeria remains committed to meeting its debt obligations. Projected debt service is 45% of the expected total revenue.

"The budget deficit is projected at 9.18 trillion naira in 2024 or 3.88 percent of GDP. This is lower than the 13.78 trillion naira deficit recorded in 2023, which represented 6.11 percent of GDP. The deficit will be financed by new borrowings totaling 7.83 trillion naira, 298.49 billion naira from Privatization Proceeds, and 1.05 trillion naira draw down on multilateral and bilateral loans secured for specific development projects."

President Tinubu said his administration remains committed to broad-based and shared economic prosperity, adding: "We are reviewing social investment programmes to enhance their implementation and effectiveness. In particular, the National Social Safety Net project will be expanded to provide targeted cash transfers to poor and vulnerable households."

He also said efforts will be made to further contain financial leakages through the effective implementation of key public financial management reforms.

The President commended the patriotic resolve of the 10th National Assembly to collaborate with the Executive on the mission to renew the hope of Nigerians and deliver on the promises made to Africa's largest population. 

"As you consider the 2024 Budget estimates, we trust that the legislative review process will be conducted with a view to sustaining our desired return to a predictable January-December fiscal year. I have no doubt that you will be guided by the interest of all Nigerians. We must ensure that only projects and programs with equitable benefits are allowed into the 2024 Budget. Additionally, only projects and programs that are in line with the sectoral mandates of MDAs and those which are capable of realizing the vision of our administration should be included in the budget," the President declared.

Appeal Court dismisses Cole’s, Ekwu’s, Itubo’s, Briggs’ suits against Fubara’s victory.

Appeal Court dismisses Cole’s, Ekwu’s, Itubo’s, Briggs’ suits against Fubara’s victory.

The Appeal Court sitting in Lagos has affirmed the election of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18 governorship poll.

In a unanimous decision, the court dismissed four separate appeals filed by Tonye Cole of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Beatrice Itubo of Labour Party (LP), Innocent Ekwu of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), and Lulu Briggs Dumo of Accord Party (A).

In the lead judgment, Justice Olabode Adegbehingbe held that all the appellants failed to prove the allegation of non-compliance with the Electoral Act against Fubara.

The court faulted the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal for dismissing Cole’s appeal on the ground that the APC that sponsored him had withdrawn its petition against Fubara’s victory.

The court also held that the fact that APC withdrew its petition against Fubara’s victory did not prevent Cole from pursuing his appeal.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Fubara, who polled 302,614 votes, the winner of the election.

Cole came second with 95,274 votes, while the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Senator Magnus Abe, and Itubo came a distant third and fourth with 46,981 and 22,224 votes.

Not satisfied with the declaration of Fubara as the winner of the election, Itubo, Cole and Ekwu filed petitions before the tribunal challenging the result.

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Delivering judgment on Cole’s appeal, Justice Adegbehingbe held that APC and Cole did not file a joint appeal, adding that a political party cannot compel its candidate to file an appeal, neither could a candidate compel a political party to do the same.

Also, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has dismissed the appeal of Sani Yahaya of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) challenging the election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Kefas Agbu, as governor of Taraba State.

Yahaya and his party had challenged the result of the March 18 governorship election on the grounds of non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

The NNPP candidate also alleged that Agbu did not score the majority of lawful votes cast.

But delivering judgment yesterday, the appellate court held that the reliefs sought by the NNPP candidate were inconsistent, having faulted the outcome of the polls on grounds of non-compliance with the Electoral Act, yet praying the court to declare him the winner of the same election.

In a unanimous decision, the court dismissed the appeal of the NNPP for lacking in merit as did the tribunal on September 30.