Obaseki orders reaccreditation of 6,500 vigilantes.

Obaseki orders reaccreditation of 6,500 vigilantes.

The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has ordered the reaccreditation of all operatives of the state’s Security Vigilante Network, numbering about 6,500.

The governor on Monday said it was a renewed effort to strengthen the state’s security architecture to combat crimes and ensure the security of lives and property of residents.

Obaseki gave the order during a security briefing at the Solomon Arase Command and Control Centre in Benin City, the Edo State capital, in the company of all security chiefs in the state.

The governor said, “We are having this security briefing this morning to let the public know the measures that security agencies and the Edo State Government are taking to secure lives and property in Edo State.

“We all are aware of the security challenges in the state this weekend, particularly in Edo North, where in the guise of burial some citizens resulted to arson and assault on security agencies in Oja village.

“The government can’t fold its hands and allow a breakdown of law and order in the state as appropriate actions will be taken and we have resolved to deal with what happened last Saturday. We will not accept a situation where citizens attack members of the security agencies, it’s not acceptable. As a government, we will deal with those involved in the incident.”

On reaccreditation of the vigilante in the state, Obaseki said, “We heard some kidnappers took over a checkpoint and attacked some policemen on patrol, but none lost their lives in the incident, and this has prompted the government to commence a total revamp of the vigilante structure.

“Commencing today, only the vigilante personnel trained in the Nigerian Police Training School under the arrangement with the Edo State Government will be allowed to serve in Edo State. All vigilante groups and persons trained so far, about 6,500 men, are required to report to the Police Staff College where they received training for accreditation. The commander will be issuing instructions on the specific dates for reaccreditation.”

He added, “After the reaccreditation, anybody or group acting as vigilantes without being trained by the Edo State Government will be dealt with like criminals. Come out for the exercise, as we want to re-identify them and put them in our security information system software that we have developed. It will help monitor and track their activities.”

Kebbi spent N9bn in eight months to reposition education -Gov.

Kebbi spent N9bn in eight months to reposition education -Gov.

Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, says his administration has within its first eight months in office spent over N9billion in repositioning education.

He disclosed this at the flag-off of the National Campaign on Out-Of-School Children in the Geo-Political Zones in Nigeria held in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.

A statement signed by his media aide, Ahmed Idris, and made available to our correspondent said the governor explained that the sum was spent on the construction of classrooms, provision of motorised boreholes and hand-pumps, construction of toilets, provision of furniture, renovation of dilapidated classrooms as well as provision of textbooks and writing materials.

The statement read, “2,000 teachers were trained to improve their pedagogic competence for effective teaching in schools, adding that six mega schools were being constructed to provide access to education by Almajiris and other categories of out-of-school children in the state.

“717 Post-Basic Literacy Centres were established across the state for post-basic literacy programme for the Almajiris that had already undergone basic literacy programme under Better Education Service Delivery for All.

“BESDA programme, Kebbi State recorded tremendous success in terms of enrolling the different categories of out-of-school children into schools through the instrument of non-formal learning centres.

“Not less than 3,945 learning centres were established comprising Almajiri, Girl-Child and Nomads Children and more than 500 learners have been enrolled in a basic literacy programme.

“This has let Kebbi attain an enviable position amongst the 17 BESDA participating states in terms of achievement of rewards.”

In his speech, the Minister of State, Education, Dr Yusuf Tanko-Sununu, urged the Kebbi people to appreciate the new administration by supporting its policies and programmes and rendering good advice that would take the state forward.

He appealed to individuals and groups to key into the national campaign on out-of-school children and other issues related to education “as government alone cannot do it.”

Tanko-Sununu advised the state government to establish a strong foundation by constructing more classrooms and recruiting more teachers to make it easy for the Federal Government to come in and assist.

The minister urged the governor to ensure the recruitment of professional teachers who duly registered with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria.

While applauding the governor for increasing allocation to education in the 2024 budget, the minister also advised him to talk to traditional rulers in the state to see how teachers’ respect would be restored.

The Director of Basic Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Falake Olatunji-David, said the programme was the third phase of the several interventions embarked upon by the ministry to ensure a substantial reduction in the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

She lamented that a recent study shows that Nigeria accounts for one out of every five out-of-school children in the world and 45 per cent of out-of-school children in the West African sub-region.

The director appealed to spirited individuals in the state to aid the less privileged in the community by adopting the children and youths “who are of school age and supporting the education of such.”

In December 2023, the governor flagged off the construction and upgrade of 120 secondary schools across the state valued at N8.9bn.

Speaking at the ceremony which was held at Bubuche in Arugungu Local Government Area, the governor said the gesture was meant to reposition the education sector in the state.

He explained that the programme, which was under the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment in collaboration with the World Bank and Dominat Engineering Limited aimed at promoting the education sector by providing a conducive learning environment for children.

“This flag-off will occasion the constitution of new schools designed to upgrade 120 schools from primary school to junior secondary and junior secondary to senior secondary schools under AGILE,” he said.

Oyo lists 3,000 households for cash transfer.

Oyo lists 3,000 households for cash transfer.

The Oyo State Government announced on Tuesday that no fewer than 3,300 households would benefit from its COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus programme for the poor and vulnerable residents of the state.

The state’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday.

According to Oyelade, the vulnerable persons, comprising disadvantaged individuals ranging from the aged, chronically ill, physically challenged, urban poor, and widows, were drawn from the 33 Local Government Areas of the state.

Oyelade said, “It should be recalled that in 2019/2020, a global pandemic called COVID-19 ravaged the world, with a large proportion of citizens, especially the poor and vulnerable households/individuals, facing challenges on multiple fronts such as loss of labor, income, food, and security, etc.

“The sum of N10,000 per month is to be given for a year to the Social Transfer component beneficiaries to aid their consumption and reduce stress. The transfer, which is card-based, will be paid N20,000 bi-monthly.

“The beneficiaries were drawn from all the 33 LGAs in the State from the data mined from the State Operation Coordinating Unit. A cash transfer of N10,000 per month to the beneficiaries in the 3rd phase of the program will commence after the ongoing training of the facilitators.”

He further explained that the OY-CARES program was an emergency operation from the Federal Government, which was adopted by the Oyo government and designed to support budgeted programs of expenditures and interventions at the state level.

He concluded that the programme would target “existing and new vulnerable and poor households in the agricultural value chain, as well as Micro and Small Enterprises affected by the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Lack of patriotism, cause of Nigeria’s challenges — AbdulRazaq.

Lack of patriotism, cause of Nigeria’s challenges — AbdulRazaq.

The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has urged Nigerians to always consider the nation first in whatever they do to strengthen unity and promote peace.

He called on all citizens to have an attitudinal rebirth for the country to move forward, saying the Nigerians’ patriotism level has dropped.

The governor gave the advice when the National Institute of Public Relations President, Dr Ikechukwu Neliaku, led a delegation of the institute to the Government House on a courtesy visit.

“We need to look at our heritage and value system. Our core values are fundamental. In a situation where a mechanic converts the seat of an Okada (motorcycle) to carry an AK-47 you will not report it.

“Our values have dropped. Our responsibility includes supporting the security agencies with useful information and acting intelligently to support the security agencies. Those are parts of the issues we should look at in our values,” the governor was quoted as saying in a statement by his spokesman, Rafiu Ajakaiye, on Tuesday.

The governor said Nigeria’s challenges could be blamed on a lack of patriotism and a poor value system.

“The challenges we have to do with rebirth and attitude. The insecurity we have has a lot to do with rebirth. The foreign exchange issue is connected to this also.

“Rebirth is about citizens’ education on patriotism and loyalty to the national flag, and commitment to its good.

“Nigerians are no more as patriotic as we used to be. We are only patriotic the day the Nigerian National Football team plays; this has to change.

“The rebirth effort will answer these questions. Our loyalty should be to our flag. Once we are patriotic, many issues will be resolved,” he said.

Speaking, the NIPR president commended the administration’s investments in critical infrastructure and projects that can drive rapid economic growth and make the state a hub.

Neliaku said some of the ongoing legacy projects in the state, such as the Innovation Hub and International Conference Centre, are strategic and would place Kwara on the global map.

“We have noted that you are doing some legacy projects. Some people come, they do projects and all that. But when leaders are not conscious of their legacy after they have left offices, their image goes down.

“And because we are managers of image and reputation, we look out for those who are planting seeds of legacies.

“The projects that really caught our fancy are the ICT Innovation Hub and International Conference Centre, among others. This is very, very important.

“You are building an International Conference Centre in Ilorin. For those who do not understand what that means, you are opening up Ilorin for global attention.

“You are building Kwara state as a regional hub. We also notice your fiscal responsibility and prudence in managing governance affairs,” he said.

AbdulRazaq said the choice of his legacy projects was to position Kwara as a hub for the service economy, which attracts investments and creates jobs for the people.

“What we are trying to do here is to build an ecosystem, a hub for conferencing. You have sold the idea of conferences in just a few words.

“But why are we building a conference centre here? People really need to understand that a conference centre and hotels are a catalyst for national development as it births a strong service economy,” the governor said.

Abiodun congratulates new Ogun Speaker, Elemide.

Abiodun congratulates new Ogun Speaker, Elemide.

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has congratulated the new Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Oludaisi Elemide, and other lawmakers for ensuring a rancour-free process.

The governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, spoke when he received 19 members of the House who accompanied the new Speaker on a courtesy call on him on Tuesday in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

He commended the seamless manner in which they elected the new Speaker, reaffirming that the lawmakers have the right to decide who would lead them in democratic settings.

He said, “It is worthy of note that the executive has not interfered in the process to make sure that you are comfortable in what you want to do, that led you to make your decision. And we support you in the decision that you make.

“You have gone through the process in a way that is exemplary. This is not the first time in this country that members of a particular legislature have decided to change their leader.”

He emphasized that the executive arm will continue to adhere strictly to the concept of separation of power and the rule of law in its relationship with the House of Assembly.

The governor pledged that his administration would support and work closely with the legislature to maintain the harmonious relationship that has existed in the last four and a half years.

The new Speaker, Elemide said the House would continue to compliment the executive and avoid the unnecessary mudslinging that may hinder the progress of the state.

“We are not going to fight, and neither are we going to compromise the executive. In the legislature, there is room for lobbying. We will lobby where we need to lobby, we will assert where we need to assert, and we will let the whole people of the State know that we are there for them.

“To my colleagues, I would not want to betray their confidence that they have in me. It is going to be we and not I. I am just the first among equals, and we were voted in from our various constituencies. I will take cognisant that we are equal.

“I will be there to speak for them, and I will speak whatever they put in my mouth,” Elemide concluded

Earlier, the Assembly had on Tuesday ratified the impeachment of Olakunle Oluomo as the Speaker with all 22 members present at plenary voting in support of the impeachment.

At the plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Bolanle Ajayi, Hon Musefiu Lamidi, representing Ado-Odo/Ota II read the report of the committee set up by the House on Monday to investigate the allegations levelled against Oluomo.

Lamidi noted that the committee made it clear to the former speaker that the committee was not on a witch-hunting mission but for a fair hearing on allegations levelled against him.

“The speaker said some of the committee members does not have the right to be a member of the committee to investigate him since they were among the 18 members who originally signed the impeachment notice.

“Having observed that the committee turned down his request, he walked out on the committee to avoid responding to further questions from the committee.

“The committee observed that the attitude of the speaker shows that he has no regard for the committee and by extension the House of Assembly.

” His attitude is a clear admittance of the allegations contained in the impeachment notice served on him which includes financial impropriety, high handedness and lack of focus among others,” he said.

Lamidi, however, said that the committee found him guilty of all allegations levelled against him and consequently recommended that he should be impeached.

Lamidi, thereafter moved the motion for the adoption of the report which was seconded by Oluseun Adesanya

The deputy speaker threw the resolution back to the house and the 22 Members in attendance affirmed the removal of Oluomo as the speaker through the majority vote.

“With the majority vote of 22 members, I hereby confirm that Oluomo stand Impeached and removed as the speaker of the Ogun House of Assembly,” she said.

A House Member, Adegoke Adeyanju, popularly called Awoso, representing Yewa North 1, thereafter, nominated Oludaisi Elemide, an APC lawmaker representing Odeda as the new speaker and seconded by Adeniran Ademola representing Sagamu II.

Elemide took Oath of Office and was officially sworn in to replace the impeached Speaker on Tuesday.

The new Speaker, Elemide promised all-inclusive leadership, urging the members to see themselves as one and work in unity for the progress of the state.

The deputy speaker had read a letter of impeachment notice served Oluomo which was signed by 25 members out of the 26 House of Assembly members.

Wike approves N30bn to rehabilitate schools in FCT.

Wike approves N30bn to rehabilitate schools in FCT.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike on Tuesday, January 30, approved N30.9 billion for massive rehabilitation of schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Mandate Secretary, Education Secretariat, FCT Administration, Danlami Hayyo, disclosed this while briefing reporters in Abuja.

Hayyo said the approval of the funds was a testament to the priority the minister placed on the education sector.

He said out of the fund, N13.3 billion was approved for the renovation and rehabilitation of 40 schools, which would be completed in 100 days.

Hayyo added that N13.1 billion was also approved for an accelerated whole-school rehabilitation approach, beginning with 18 schools.

He explained that the whole school rehabilitation approach was designed to rehabilitate the entire school infrastructure and facilities, including toilets, hostels, dining and provision of furniture and water.

He further said four schools would also be renovated in the second batch of the whole-school rehabilitation approach at the cost of N4.5 billion.

He identified the schools as Government Science Technical College Kwali, Government Science Technical College Maitama, Government Secondary School Kuje and Government Secondary School Wuse II.

The mandate secretary said all the projects would be completed before May 2024 and would be part of the project that would be commissioned by President Bola Tinubu to mark his one year in office.

The mandate secretary also commended the minister for addressing the lingering crisis between primary school teachers and the Area Council Secretariat.

He explained that the minister has committed to settle 40 percent of the N7 billion minimum wage arrears owed to the primary school teachers by the six area councils.

Hayyo further said the area councils would settle the remaining 60 percent of the amount, which would be paid within the next three months.

He said the amount to be paid by the area councils would be deducted from the source to ensure compliance.

Hayyo, who assured that all necessary procurement procedures would be followed, complained that the renovations were massive because the previous administration did not do much in the sector.

“The previous administration neglected the education sector. No meaningful intervention by the previous administration in the education sector of the FCT.

“That is why a huge work is going to be done by the current administration. That is why the minister took education as a serious matter and earmarked about N30 billion,” he said.

Wizkid, Tems excluded as Grammy releases African award winners’ list.

Wizkid, Tems excluded as Grammy releases African award winners’ list.

The organisers of the prominent Grammy Awards have put forward a list of African musicians who have gone home with a golden gramophone.

This move is done ahead of the 66th Grammy Awards which will be happening on February 4, 2023.

The ceremony would stream live on CBS and on-demand on Paramount +

In the list, the late South African singer, Miriam Makeba, came first as the first African to win a Grammy award in 1966 for ‘Best Folk Recording(with Harry Belafonte) followed by Nigerian pop singer, Sade Adu, who became the first Nigerian to bag the award in 1986 for ‘Best New Artist’.

The second to last name on its list was Burna Boy, who won the award for ‘Best Global Music Album’ in 2021. 

The list of only 10 names, however, did not carry Nigerian singers, Wizkid and Tems which has caused a stir online.

Wizkid in 2021, won his first-ever Grammy award for his role in ‘Brown Skin Girl’, a 2019 song by Beyonce in the ‘Best Music Video’ category while in 2022 Tems won her first-ever Grammy award in the ‘Best Melodic Rap Performance’ category for her role in ‘Wait for U’, the hit song by Future featuring Drake.

Below is the full list:

1. Miriam Makeba (South Africa) — Best Folk Recording (with Harry Belafonte) – 1966

2. Sade Adu (Nigeria/UK) — Best New Artist – 1986

3. Ali Farka Touré (Mali) — Best World Music Album – 1994

4. Cesária Évora (Cape Verde) — Best Contemporary World Music Album – 2004

5. Youssou N’Dour (Senegal) — Best Contemporary World Music Album – 2005

6. Angélique Kidjo (Benin/France) — Best Contemporary World Music Album – 2008

7. RedOne (Morocco) — Best Dance/Electronic Album – 2010

8. Tinariwen (Mali/Algeria/Libya) — Best World Music Album – 2012

Read Also: Burna Boy to perform at 2024 Grammy Awards

9. Burna Boy (Nigeria) — Best Global Music Album – 2021

10. Black Coffee (South Africa) – Best Dance/ Electronic Album — 2022

Speaking on Burna Boy, the award organisers wrote: “Femi Kuti, King Sunny Adé, Babatunde Olatunji, and his rival WizKid had all received GRAMMY nods before Burna Boy became the first Nigerian male artist to grab a golden gramophone for original work. The Afrobeats megastar earned the prize for Best World Music Album in 2021 for his album Twice as Tall.”

The Nation reported that Burna Boy aside from being a nominee, would be performing on stage on Sunday in Los Angeles during the show alongside other artists including Luke Combs, Travis Scott, Billie Eillish, Dua Lipa, and Olivia Rodrigo amongst others.