Kaduna bombing: NGF demands probe, group warns troublemakers.

Kaduna bombing: NGF demands probe, group warns troublemakers.

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq

The Nigeria Governors Forum has called for thorough investigations into the accidental drone attacks at Tudun Biri, Igabi Local Government, Kaduna State, which killed over 100 persons.

The Chairman of the NGF and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazak, made the call during a condolence visit to Kaduna on Thursday.

AbdulRazak said he visited on behalf of the 36 governors of the federation, adding that the incident must be probed and anyone culpable brought to book.

The Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, thanked the NGF Chairman for the show of support and solidarity in the state’s moment of grief.

He also expressed appreciation to his colleague for visiting Kaduna to condole with the government and people.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the December 3 accidental air strikes killed over 100 and left many others injured.

Meanwhile, a group, Kaduna State Patriot and Good Governance Forum, has warned against the exploitation of the Kaduna tragedy for parochial gains.

The President of the group, Awwal Aliyu, spoke at a press conference in Kaduna on Thursday against the backdrop of a N33bn lawsuit said to have been instituted by one Dalhatu Salihu against the Federal Government over the incident.

Aliyu urged the Tudun Biri community to be wary of those he described as “conflict entrepreneurs” cashing in on the incident for the sake of benefiting from it.

He said, “We are aware of a lawsuit filed by one Mukhtar Usman Esq, counsel for one Alhaji Dalhatu Salihu, who is claiming to have done so on behalf of the villagers. They are demanding an apology in three national dailies and N33bn compensation.

“While it is the villagers’ right to seek legal redress, we wish to caution them to be wary so as not to fall into the trap of idle lawyers who don’t genuinely care about their predicament but rather are more concerned about dispossessing them of the little assistance they have got from good-spirited individuals.

“While acknowledging the strides made in addressing this unfortunate incident by different groups and stakeholders, we want to urge lawyers and politicians to refrain from politicising the situation.

“It is crucial that we maintain a united front and work towards resolving these challenges collectively, rather than exploiting them for personal or political gain. They should also be wary of taking briefs from urban jobbers who don’t have a direct connection with the victims they claim to be fighting for.”

Niger gets $25,000 S’Korea grants for water projects.

Niger gets $25,000 S’Korea grants for water projects.

The Niger State Government says it has received $25,000 in support from South Korea to rehabilitate three bi-water schemes and installation of solar-powered boreholes in the state.

The Secretary to the Niger State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, disclosed this during the launching of the second phase of the state urban policy in Minna.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the financial support was through the UN-Habitat to implement the state urban policy.

Usman said the fund was to rehabilitate three bi-water schemes at Beji, Tungan Mallam and Kataergi towns and installation of solar-powered borehole, a 7.5KVA solar inverter and at Kuta General Hospital.

“UN-Habitat in 2022 provided financial support of $50,000 to the state to implement two demonstration projects in different parts of the state. It has provided $25,000 to implement another two demonstration projects.

“The second phase is designed to improve water supply and encourage hygiene practices in towns,” the SSG said.

He urged beneficiary communities to work together with the implementing agencies to ensure smooth implementation and sustainability of the projects.

The Chief of Policy Legislation and Governance Section of UN-Habitat, Remy Sietchiping, said the organisation was committed to supporting Niger’s drive to build resilient smart cities with adequate water supply for the growing population

Edo Rep pays 10,000 indigent students WASSCE fees.

Edo Rep pays 10,000 indigent students WASSCE fees.

Anamero Dekeri

Succour came the way of 10,000 indigent students in Edo State, as the member representing Etsako federal constituency of the state in the House of Representatives, Anamero Dekeri, announced free registration for next year’s Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations.

The House of Representatives’ member said the beneficiaries of the gesture cut across the three senatorial districts of the state, on equal basis, adding that the gesture was aimed at removing the financial constraints which previously hindered and cut short the dreams of many deserving students from pursuing and getting quality education to an acceptable level.

Dekeri said, “It is imperative to bring to your notice the final modalities that have been put in place for the equitable distribution of the 10,000 WAEC forms that I have earlier proposed to pay for indigent students in Edo State, who are billed to sit for the examinations next year.

“This initiative is aimed at ensuring equitable access to education for Edo State children. This is to reiterate my commitment to providing opportunities for every child to thrive and actualise his/her individual careers, as education remains the pivot for the development and prosperity of any society and nation.”

Dekeri, who is also an aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Congress for next year’s governorship election, noted that the gesture was devised to bridge the gap between the poor and the rich and alleviate the burden placed on economically disadvantaged families.

He added, “Education should be a fundamental right, accessible to every child, regardless of socio-economic background. Therefore, it is my firm belief that the initiative will empower the indigent students of the state, enable them to compete on a level playing field and unlock their full potentials.”

He called on stakeholders, including government agencies, educational institutions, civil society organisations, and philanthropic individuals to join hands with him to make this vision a reality, by pulling resources together to leverage on “our collective strengths to make a lasting impact, breaking shackles of poverty and transforming lives through education.”

He said, “This distribution of free enrollment initiative for SSCE students in public schools will not only alleviate the financial burden facing families, but will also foster a strong and educated workforce, drive economic growth and ensure brighter future for people of the state.”

CBN directs banks to raise financial products quality.

CBN directs banks to raise financial products quality.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed banks to raise the quality of their products and services to attract more people into the financial system.

CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, disclosed this at the release of the 2023 EFInA Access to Finance (A2F) Survey results in Lagos.

He said: “As an ecosystem, we must redouble our efforts to develop innovative solutions to enable inclusion and be intentional about how we do it.

For instance, the access points effective for included populations might not be suitable for those currently excluded. The products and services that we have developed to get us this far will need refinement to ensure that they are fit for purpose for the next phase of this journey.”

According to him, the Nigerian financial system has evolved with significant improvements in size and depth, especially in the areas of market development, products, instruments, and payment infrastructure, among other things, thus, reinforcing the need for us as regulators and stakeholders to constantly keep pace with these emerging developments in a sustainable manner.

Cardoso, who was represented by, CBN Director, Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department, Chibuike Nwagerue, lauded all financial inclusion stakeholders for the efforts made and the progress achieved.

“However, to achieve the target of 95 percent financial inclusion, we must all move from collaboration to concrete commitment. To that effect, I call on all Financial Inclusion implementation agencies to set up specific functions or units dedicated to financial inclusion in their various organizations. This we believe, will provide the necessary ownership and commitment required to achieve our collective goal,” he said.

Cardoso, who spoke on the theme: Building a More Inclusive and Sustainable Economy: The Role of Financial Inclusion” said financial inclusion is a key developmental objective and a global initiative recognized by several countries worldwide.

“To buttress the importance of Financial Inclusion to National development, over 68 countries have developed and are currently implementing a National Financial Inclusion Strategy. At its core, financial inclusion provides the opportunity for equitable distribution of financial resources to support economic growth. It also contributes to the attainment of the Central Bank’s goals of monetary policy and price stability. An inclusive financial system that allows broad access to a wide range of formal financial services is essential for better transmission of monetary policy and in the attainment of its objectives,” he said. The report, which shows the Northern Nigeria has the least access to financial services.

The report disclosed that exclusion from financial services continues to be most severe in Northern Nigeria, at 38 per cent in the North East and 47 per cent in the North West compared to only five per cent in the South West and 10 per cent in the South South.

The A2F survey is Nigeria’s primary source of financial inclusion data and is designed to assess access to and use of financial services for the adult (18+) Nigerian population. The methodology for the 2023 survey has been updated to reflect changing population dynamics, and 2018 and 2020 data also updated using the same methodology to enable comparison.

The 2023 results show that 26 per cent of Nigerians are financially excluded, down from 32 per cent in 2020, demonstrating clear progress towards the Nigeria Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS 3.0) recommended target to reduce levels of financial exclusion in Nigeria to 25 per cent by 2024.

The report said usage of broader financial services remains limited demonstrating the urgent need to focus on the quality and impact of inclusion. While credit use doubled to is six per cent, pension and insurance use remained at eight per cent and three per cent respectively, well below 2024 target levels.

Commenting on the results of the Survey, EFiNA Chair Dr Agnes Martins said: “We are seeing encouraging progress towards the NFIS 3.0 recommended goal to reduce exclusion to 25 per cent by 2024, and we must acknowledge all the good work that has gone into making this happen. However, we also have to be clear that 26 per cent exclusion means that 28.8 million adult Nigerians continue to be completely excluded from the financial system.

Belief in one country will put Nigeria on right path~ Says Tinubu.

Belief in one country will put Nigeria on right path~ Says Tinubu. 

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, December 14, said that nationhood and belief in one country will put Nigeria on the right path.

Tinubu made this assertion in his speech at the lecture/Colloquium in Abuja to mark Senate president Godswill Akpabio’s 61st birthday.

The theme of the event was “Legislative Agenda for National Development.”

Tinubu described Akpabio as a man who is committed to the value of national development.

He said: “The opportunity you (Akpabio) offered us to listen to the lead speaker and his recommendations will be definitely looked into for a more deeper legislative activity and collaboration between all of us.

“We will work together. While we consider the affairs of this country, the nationhood and the belief in one country will put us on the right path.

“Having you as a partner and I think (Tajudeen) Abbas as a partner, as the Speaker, is good enough for me to succeed.

“Inshallah, we will succeed. I appreciate Godswill Akpabio, God will help you, God will guide you.

“I believe in the person of Godswill Akpabio; he is truly Godswill.

“I know him as as a governor, as a commissioner in Akwa-Ibom. We share the same vision even though he was a commissioner, he is extremely inquisitive.

“He transformed Akwa-Ibom tremendously. He built one of the most effective drainage systems in Akwa-Ibom. Today, up till now, no matter how heavy the rain is, you will never find casualties.

“All the other beautiful things you (Akpabio) did, the stadium, the hotel, that caring for the lives of the people of Akwa-Ibom, is exceptionally great.

“On this occasion of your birthday anniversary, I’m delighted to join your family, friends, colleagues and Nigerians from across the country wishing you long life, good health, peace, satisfaction and gratitude for abiding grace of God Almighty.”

On his part, Akpabio said that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration “is real and this government is a corrective government.

“Our legislative agenda is going to be people-centred,” he said.

He also said that the National Assembly would consider the recommendations spelt out by the guest speaker.

“We have taken note that we should unbundle INEC; we have taken note that we should involve our traditional rulers.

“We have taken note that most of the colonial laws are still in existence by virtue of the constitutional law given to us. We will work on these things,” he said.

Similarly, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas said that Akpabio, throughout his distinguished career, showed valuable assistance, strategic thinking and innovative leadership.

The Chairman of the occasion and former Senate president, Anyim Pius Anyim noted that Akpabio has a date with destiny.

“You have emerged as President of the Senate at a time so much dexterity is required to redirect the course of our nation, reset our national agenda, and re- envision our future as a people.”

Anyim insisted on the need to align legislative agenda with the executive agenda.

He said that the agenda when properly aligned, would reset national priorities, bench mark national interest and redefine development.

Earlier, the Guest Speaker and former President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr Olisa Agbakoba SAN, said the country must to tackle insecurity, to restore peace and development.

Agbakoba said: “The first question is how can we find peace. Is it by armed force? It will be by executive and legislative processes.

“We can’t win, in my opinion, the war by armed force. So I will suggest to the National Assembly to consider the possibility of inviting the ethnic nationalities, the owners of Nigeria.

“The traditional rulers that are being ignored, I believe they have a hand in the constitutional process. If this is done we will achieve peace.

“Together with our traditional rulers who I think are being ignored in the process, we might be able to resolve these Boko Haram IPOB crisis.”

He also insisted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “is doing far too much” and therefore must be unbundled.

According to him, “INEC is doing far too much. In the (Mohammed) Uwais report, we recommended creating the Electoral Offences Commission.

“I urge the 10th National Assembly to simply enact the recommendations. The Electoral Act makes a mockery of democracy, so we can correct that by passing all the recommendations of the Uwais Panel.”

The Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau who was also the Host of the event said that the colloquium was the culmination of events to mark the 61st birthday of Akpabio.

He described Akpabio as a leader par excellence who was always willing to give his quota to the development of the country.

“Hence the decision to organise this colloquium in order to contribute to the effort of the Senate and the entire Nigeria towards giving Nigerians the best.

“Leading to the transformation of our dear country in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“The 10th Senate feels that as we work with the President of this country to lay the foundation for the Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration, the time has come for us to draw attention to the critical mandate imposed on the Senate and the National Assembly by the Constitution.

“And to engender an inclusive process of executing the mandate by working with a broad section of our society to design a legislative agenda for national development.”

Barau further said that the National Assembly was in the process of reshaping the Constitution and legal frameworks that would make good governance a way of life and democratic consolidation the legitimate expectations of the people.

Dignitaries that graced the event include the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and traditional rulers and members of the diplomatic corps.

We will institutionalise youth leadership programme – Speaker Abbas.

We will institutionalise youth leadership programme – Speaker Abbas.

Rt  Honorable Tajudeen Abbas 

The speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has announced that under his leadership, the 10th House intends to institutionalise the Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI) initiated by his predecessor as an institution for leadership training for young Nigerians.

The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, made this known in a statement on Thursday evening in Abuja.

According to the statement, Speaker Abbas, while addressing the second cohorts of the LMI at the National Assembly at an interactive session on Thursday, was optimistic that the mentorship scheme would turn the training into good leaders in the future.

At the session were the Deputy Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga; the Executive Secretary, National Assembly Library Trust Fund, Hon. Henry Nwawuba; Director, LMI, Chimdi Neliaku; and the Chief of Staff to the Speaker, Prof. Jake Dan-Azumi.

“I hope that the experience garnered from this mentorship programme will be a source of inspiration to you and spur you into a sojourn in the legislative field either as legislators, legislative aides, staff, or professionals providing experts’ advice to legislators and legislative committees,” Speaker Abbas said.

The speaker commended the initiator of the LMI, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for exposing the youth to the federal parliament.

Gbajabiamila initiated the LMI as Speaker in the 9th National Assembly.

Speaker Abbas said: “My deepest gratitude goes to my predecessor, who initiated this mentorship programme as a way of exposing younger ones into the legislative tradition of our nation.

“I pledge the resolve of the 10th House to sustain this laudable initiative and strengthen it even further. We will continue to identify with the initiative, expand it and provide all necessary support to institutionalise it even beyond the 10th House. As I look forward to witnessing your growth and contributions to our nation’s governance, I urge you to make the most use of this rare opportunity.” 

While congratulating the cohorts for being part of the mentorship programme, the Speaker said it was a demonstration of their passion to understand the intricacies of the legislature.

“As you embark on this journey as part of the second cohort of the Legislative Mentorship Initiative, I urge you to embrace this opportunity with open minds and receptive hearts. Your selection into this cohort is a clear recognition of your strong desire to learn and grow within the realm of legislative governance. I have no doubt that it will serve as a springboard for even greater contributions to the cause of national service.

“As you undertake this mentorship programme, I encourage you to approach each day with curiosity, humility, and a willingness to learn from those who have walked this path before you. The knowledge and insights you will gain during this experience will undoubtedly shape your understanding of our legislative processes and equip you with the necessary tools and skills for future callings. 

“I am confident that each of you possesses the potential to become future leaders who will uphold the values of integrity, empathy, and dedication to public service. As you engage with seasoned legislators and mentors, I urge you to seize every opportunity to glean wisdom from their experiences and perspectives,” Speaker Abbas said.

While noting that the House is made up of members elected from 360 federal constituencies across the country, Speaker Abbas said: “This is the most diversified so far in the history of the National Assembly in terms of party representation as it has members elected from eight political parties.”

He added: “The 10th House is the most youthful in the history of the National Assembly, with the majority of its members within the IPU benchmark for young parliamentarians at 25–45 years old. The 10th House has the highest turnover rate in the history of the House, with 277 first time members. The House has 10 leadership positions and identifies itself as the ‘People’s House.”

The Director of LMI, Neliaku, earlier in her opening remark, noted that the 45 “distinguished, young emerging leaders” were drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, with a 60-40 gender ratio.

“These young leaders have been selected from the pool of over 5000 applications for this programme. So, before you, Your Excellency, are the best of the best that Nigeria has produced,” Neliaku noted.

Speaker, LMI Parliament, Bernice Abeku, in her vote of thanks after Speaker Abbas had answered a series of questions from the trainees and took a photograph with each of them, thanked the speaker for identifying with the youth.

Welch to become Premier League’s first female referee.

Welch to become Premier League’s first female referee.

In Pic: Rebecca Welch

 

Rebecca Welch will become the first female referee for a Premier League fixture when she officiates Fulham’s match against Burnley on 23 December.

Welch, 40, began refereeing in 2010, and in January became the first woman to referee a men’s Championship game.

Sam Allison will also take charge of a top-flight match in December, making him the Premier League’s first black referee for 15 years.

In Pic: Sam Allison

He will oversee Sheffield United’s match against Luton on 26 December.

Uriah Rennie – the league’s last black referee – retired from officiating in English football’s top four divisions in 2009. The EFL’s last non-white referee – Jarnail Singh – retired in 2010.

“These are pivotal moments for Rebecca and Sam, who are two officials of real quality,” referees’ chief Howard Webb told BBC Sport.

“They deserve their opportunity.”

In July, the Football Association laid out plans to recruit 50% more referees from “historically under-represented” backgrounds by 2026, targeting an increase of 1,000 women referees and 1,000 black or Asian referees at all levels of football in three years.

Currently, 8% of officials are of black or Asian ethnicity, but only 3% in professional football. No black or Asian referee has taken charge of a Premier League game since Rennie’s final match in 2008.

Former firefighter Allison, who has previously spoken about encouraging more officials from under-represented backgrounds, was promoted to the Football League in 2020 and was moved up to the Championship earlier this year.

Welch has also refereed in the Championship this year, as well as taking charge of Women’s Super League and Women’s Champions League matches and refereeing at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in the summer.

She was the first woman to take charge of an FA Cup third-round tie in 2022 after being added to the EFL’s national list for men’s football, which oversees both League One and League Two fixtures.

Welch made history in November when she became the first woman to be involved in the Premier League in a refereeing capacity, taking up the role of fourth official when Manchester United beat Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage.

“Rebecca has been exposed to some big games and I am really confident she will deliver a game in the Premier League and be a really good model for women and girls to think refereeing is for them,” said Webb.

“Sam deserves his chance as well. Maybe that will serve as a role model for other young people who maybe previously thought refereeing might not be for them.

“Hopefully they can show that refereeing can be for anybody – if you have the love of the game and the qualities required, you can make it to the very top.”