Lagos begins payment of N3.1bn to pensioners.

Lagos begins payment of N3.1bn to pensioners.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the state would disburse N3.1bn to over 1,000 retirees who served the state meritoriously starting from next week.

It was gathered that beneficiaries were under the Contributory Pension Scheme.

Sanwo-Olu said the sacrifices of the pensioners had not gone unnoticed.

He added that the administration had disbursed over N60bn pension to 17,000 retirees.

The governor made this known, on Friday, via his X handle (@jidesanwoolu).

The tweet read, “I’m happy to share some news with you that I hope will put smiles on the faces of families. Next week, we’re set to disburse N3.1bn under the Contributory Pension Scheme to over 1,000 retirees who have served our state tirelessly. Your sacrifices have not gone unnoticed.

“Prioritising the welfare of those who’ve shaped Lagos’ history is not just a commitment; it’s our legacy. Your trust is paramount, and together, we’re constructing a Lagos that champions its own.”

Sanwo-Olu appreciated the unwavering dedication of the retirees and workers in the state. Let’s keep building a stronger, caring Lagos together.

Recall that the Director-General of Lagos State Pension Commission, Babalola Obilana, in August 2023 disclosed that the state government paid N2.017bn as retirement benefits to 644 retirees at the 101st batch Retirement Bond Certificate presentation for retirees in the state.

EFCC declares Emefiele’s wife, three others wanted.

EFCC declares Emefiele’s wife, three others wanted.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday declared Margaret Dumbiri Emefiele, wife of embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele wanted.

Also declared wanted by the anti-graft agency were Eric Ocheme Odoh (m), Jonathan Omoile (m) and Anita Joy Omoile (f) for alleged for allegedly conniving with the immediate past CBN governor to convert “huge sums of money” belonging to the Federal Government.

The EFCC, in a public notice, also accused the wanted persons of committing felony to wit: obtaining money by false pretences and stealing, contrary to and punishable under Sections 411, 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.”

It asked people with information on the whereabouts of the wanted persons to contact any of its offices or call 08093322644.

The former CBN governor is currently standing trial on 20-count amended charges bordering on conferment of corrupt advantages, conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery and obtaining by false pretences to the tune of Six Million, Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand United States Dollar ($6,230,000.00).

Tinubu Congratulates Fayemi On 59th Birthday.

Tinubu Congratulates Fayemi On 59th Birthday.

By Olamide Akinwumi.

President Bola Tinubu extends warm wishes to former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on his 59th birthday, celebrated on February 9, 2024.

Dr. Fayemi, a former Minister of Solid Minerals Development and recipient of the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), is renowned for his exemplary leadership and numerous accolades.

A stalwart leader with defining hallmarks, Dr. Fayemi has demonstrated remarkable leadership both in government and as a pro-democracy advocate over the years, notably serving as the former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum.

President Tinubu lauds Dr. Fayemi for his unwavering dedication to service and tireless pursuit of knowledge for the betterment of society.

As the former governor commemorates his birthday, the President extends wishes for continued prosperity, good health, and strength in the years ahead.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, relayed the President's message.

This heartfelt congratulatory message highlights the deep respect and admiration for Dr. Fayemi's contributions to governance and national development.

About 2 billion people watching 2023 AFCON — CAF president.

About 2 billion people watching 2023 AFCON — CAF president.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) President, Patrice Motsepe, on Friday in Abidjan said about two billion people globally are watching the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire.

Motsepe disclosed this at a news conference, ahead of the AFCON final on Saturday.

He described the feat as an achievement that Africans should be proud of.

“We have had close to two billion people watching AFCON globally. We should be proud as Africans and the next one will be even better.

“The success of Africa depends upon Africa working together, trading together, and in football, countries competing and playing together,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the organisation of the tournament has so far been top notch, with six beautiful stadia across five cities hosting the continental showpiece.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will lock horns with hosts Cote d’Ivoire in a block burster final on Sunday at the 60, 000 capacity Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Ebimpé in the outskirts of Abidjan.

While the third-place match on Saturday between South Africa and DR Congo is slated for the iconic Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny also in Abidjan.

Infractions: LASEPA shuts 250 worship places, nightclubs, others.

Infractions: LASEPA shuts 250 worship places, nightclubs, others.

Lagos State Government has revealed that at least 250 organisations, including industries, worship places and night clubs have been sealed for noise pollution and other environmental infractions over the last three months across the metropolis.

The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA, said the action was part of efforts to achieve an improved, safer and sustainable environment in the state.

LASEPA General Manager, Babatunde Ajayi, disclosed this during the agency’s one-day capacity-building training for its accredited consultants across the state in conjunction with the Climate Transition Academy, held in the Central Business Development Area, Ikeja, Lagos.

Ajayi said LASEPA has embarked on a lot of reforms geared towards achieving a noiseless, cleaner, safer and pollution-free Lagos. He said that the training was to update the consultants’ knowledge of current trends in addressing global climate change challenges and other environmental problems for sustainable development.

Ajayi, therefore, charged the accredited consultants to support the state government’s bid to deliver a safer, healthier and sustainable environment through the adoption of Environment Social Governance (ESG) global model in tackling identified environmental challenges.

According to him; The training of LASEPA accredited consultants has become necessary so as to update their knowledge and increase their capacities in the application of the global standard model in managing environmental issues, especially climate change problem and their associated greenhouse gas emissions.

“In achieving our ministerial mandate, the agency would strengthen its enforcement measures to ensure compliance with government regulations towards achieving a cleaner and sustainable environment in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S development agenda of the state.”

Earlier, Executive Director, Carbon Limits Nigeria, James Ogunleye, who spoke on behalf of other facilitators, stated that the programme would help to expose LASEPA-accredited consultants and broaden their knowledge of current global practices in a sustainable environment.

Ogunleye, noted that there was a great departure from the old practice of consultants just knowing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Environmental Audit Report (EAR), and Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA) to qualify as a consultant.

Fashola urges landlords to collect monthly rents.

Fashola urges landlords to collect monthly rents.

Former Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has called for the review of tenancy laws in states to compel landlords to collect rents monthly.

The former governor of Lagos state spoke at the launch of his book titled: “Nigerian Public Discourse: The Interplay of Empirical Evidence and Hyperbole,” in Lagos.

He also reflected on the burden of housing surplus in rural areas whereby their owners are confronted with deficit in cities, thereby predisposing them to renting houses.

Fashola said payment of rents for up to three years or more by tenants to landlords should be discouraged, adding that it is overwhelming to tenants. 

He pointed out that many houses are unoccupied due to the way rents collection are structured and collected.

Fashola said: “If you do not understand how dramatic and painful that three, four or five years rent has become to our nation, we have not consciously done anything to it.

“Can we bring it down from three years to one year? Can we hopefully bring it down to six months? Can we let it coincide with when people get paid? At the end of the month instead of in advance?"

The former minister and author also described data as the most important currency in the world, which no central bank could print. 

In his view, accurate data should be utilised for better planning in the country.

He said: “Accurate data will help us determine how many we are, what amount of water we need, what quantity of food; data makes this very important. Accurate data therefore will be beneficial for us.

”Life without shortage of basic needs, like food, like water, like shelter and energy will be a good life, and data is critical to this objective.”

The book was reviewed by Opeyemi Agbaje, an author and academic.

A panel of experts discussed the importance of data to development at the book launch.

They agreed that data should be used as basis to form policies and decisions, which would bring about changes that would make impact on the people.

The panelists were Tolu Ogunlesi, a former Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Digital/New Media; Mrs Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, a Social Entrepreneur; and Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie, a lawyer and historian.

At the ceremony were Presidential Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, who represented President Bola Tinubu; former All Progressives Congress (APC) Interim National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande, wife of the author, Mrs Dame Abimbola Fashola, Lagos Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat; and Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, former Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on Sustainable Development Goals, former Deputy Governor Sarah Sosan, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Lagos House of Assembly Speaker, Yemi Ikuforiji; former Attorney-General and Commissioners For Justice, Supo Sasore and Moyosore Onigbanjo, a former Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria, Mrs Ibukun Awosika; traditional rulers, politicians and students. 

Fed Govt begins social intervention to alleviate suffering of Nigerians.

Fed Govt begins social intervention to alleviate suffering of Nigerians.

The federal government has rolled out special intervention to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians in the area of health care, food prices and other areas of life.

The Minister, Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Zaphaniah Jisalo spoke at the official commissioning and presentation of vital medical equipment to selected healthcare institutions in Nigeria organized by the National Lottery Trust Fund in Abuja.

He said: “The government is not stopping in Abuja alone, it will extend to other parts of the country, and the 2024 budget will capture all of these. This is one of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s agenda of renewed hope, we assure Nigerians of this hope by providing all health materials and equipments to health centers at the primary and secondary level, it will get to wards and local governments.

“Without health there is little we can do as humans. We urge all beneficiaries to maintain these equipments, the government is in the season of generating revenue so more of these interventions will come.

Speaking, the Executive Secretary/CEO, National Lottery Trust Fund, NLTF, Bello Maigari, noted that the fund plans to cover the 36 states of the federation. This is all in a bid to improve access to quality healthcare.

These projects, he said, were initiated and funded through proceeds raised from the lottery and gaming sector, adding that Nigerians hope to benefit from the investments in all areas including the health sector. 

He added: “This ground breaking event is one of many of its kind since the beginning of our programme intervention in health in the last few years. Our plan is to cover the entire 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital working to improve access to quality healthcare services and providing a platform that promotes highest standard of care to our rural people.”

Some of the medical equipment include medical waste incinerator, blood bank refrigerator, ultrasound machine, dialysis machine, ambulance vehicle, electric ICU bed, wheelchairs and an autoclave, amongst others.