Fresh protest over Shaibu’s impeachment plan, cleric warns Obaseki.

Fresh protest over Shaibu’s impeachment plan, cleric warns Obaseki.

Hundreds of supporters of Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, again, took to the streets on Sunday to protest against the plan by the state House of Assembly to impeach the deputy governor over the allegation of leaking government secrets.

This was as the parish priest of St Francis Catholic Church, Benin, Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Obiyan, appealed to Governor Godwin Obaseki to halt the impeachment move.

The Edo State House of Assembly had last Wednesday commenced impeachment proceedings against Shaibu accusing him of perjury and leaking the government’s secrets.

The impeachment move is believed to be the latest development in the rift between Shaibu and his principal, Obaseki.

There had been an uneasy calm between the deputy governor and his principal since last year when Shaibu declared his interest to join this year’s Edo governorship race.

The House, at the proceedings, directed its Clerk to serve the impeachment notice on Shaibu while it gave him seven days to respond.

However, as of Sunday, The PUNCH learnt that the House had yet to serve the impeachment notice on the deputy governor.

Shaibu’s supporters, under the aegis of Edo North PDP Rescue Movement, had first protested last Thursday.

On Sunday, they converged again at the popular Jattu Junction, Etsako West Local Government with placards in the early hours of the day.

The protesters, who marched round the major streets of the local government, carried placards bearing inscriptions such as: “We say no to impeachment of Philip Shaibu”; We say no to persecution of Philip Shaibu,” among others.

The leader of the protesters, Festus Owu, advised the Assembly to focus on providing good legislation for the Edo people rather than engage “in fruitless ventures of impeachment that bring no food to the table of hungry Edo people who suffer the brunt of bad governance and poor representation in the state.”

Owu said, “Every man has the right to contest an election; Philip Shaibu has expressed his willingness to contest to be Edo State Governor and anyone stopping it is deliberately returning the state to the era of godfatherism.

“The Edo State House of Assembly should focus on providing good legislation for the people.

“Governor Obaseki few years ago said that anybody, including himself, should be stoned whenever he makes an attempt to become a godfather in the state. The governor won’t be stoned but left to be tormented by his own conscience.

“Agbebaku (Assembly Speaker) should not become a puppet and rubber stamp Speaker in the hands of enemies of our state who do not mean well for the people. Also, the silence as the NWC is questionable, unacceptable and looks like they are part of the ongoing evil in the state. I will urge the NWC to do the needful.”

Meanwhile, in a statement on Sunday, Very Rev. Fr Obiyan also called on Obaseki to halt the impeachment move.

The cleric said, “I make a humble and passionate appeal to Your Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki, I entreat you because I regard you as a civilised and enlightened man. May it not be in the annals of Edo political history that there was once a Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, impeached under your watch for his aspiration. It will be perceived as a sting of ‘betrayal’ and it will invariably redefine ‘loyalty and aspiration’ as antithetical.

“Please, don’t get me wrong because this is far more polite than you can imagine. This is the kernel of my entreaty: Leave your deputy alone to deal with his issues and resolve them without initiating impeachment.

“Reconciliation is always a prosperous option. Listen to your kind heart. I am not insinuating he must be governor. Yet, we cannot justify an impeachment without putting a wedge on the path of positive advancement in other spheres of life.”

Obiyan urged Obaseki to “talk to Edo State House of Assembly to discontinue the impeachment process.”

“Honourable members must ensure that legislation prohibits any move that bears the semblance of retaliation. Do yourselves a favour because you don’t know the next victim in sudden political twists and turns,” the cleric said.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Tony Aziegbemi, on Sunday, said the House of Assembly was an independent arm of government capable of taking care of its activities.

Aziegbemi added that the impeachment move would not scuttle efforts by the PDP National Working Committee to reconcile aggrieved members of the party ahead of the September 21 governorship election.

 Aziegbemi said, “What I can tell you is that the House of Assembly is an independent arm of government and whatever they are doing does not affect the peace move by the national body.

“The reconciliatory committee will be in Edo on March 16 and 17 and I can only imagine that they will do their best to ensure that the party remains intact as we prepare for the September 21 election.”

LASG committed to workers’ welfare, says Sanwo-Olu.

LASG committed to workers’ welfare, says Sanwo-Olu.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced that the state workers have been receiving N41,500 as the minimum wage, far higher than the N30,000 that was prescribed for workers in the country.

Sanwo-Olu made the announcement through his Head of Service, Mr Olabode Agoro, at the South-West geopolitical zone public hearing of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage in Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday.

Due to the rising cost of living and agitations among labour unions in the country, President Bola Tinubu, through Vice President Kashim Shettima, inaugurated a 37-member panel on January 30, 2024, to review the current N30,000 minimum wage.

Speaking during a public hearing, Agoro insisted that Lagos State had always prioritised the welfare of its workers in line with economic realities and as situations demanded.

He said, “The subject of the National Minimum Wage is not just a matter of social policy, it is a reflection of our dedication to ensuring that the hard-working men and women who continue the posterity of our great nation are treated with the dignity and fairness that they deserve.

“In Lagos State, we have always prioritised the welfare of our workers, recognising that a well-compensated and motivated workforce is essential to sustainable development. One notable accomplishment of the state has been the regular review of the minimum wage.

“I am proud to announce that Lagos State has implemented a minimum wage of N41,500, surpassing the standard set by many other states in the region. This step is a testament to our commitment to providing a living wage that reflects the economic realities facing our citizens.”

In 2019, the governor announced the approval of N35,000 through a circular that was issued by the then Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, as the minimum wage.

The statement had read, “In his determination to improve the welfare and well-being of public servants in Lagos State, he graciously approved the implementation of the new minimum wage (N35,000) with effect from November 1, 2019.”

UN plans $860m aid for Borno, Yobe, Adamawa.

UN plans $860m aid for Borno, Yobe, Adamawa.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says it requires at least $860m to reach 4.4 million of the most vulnerable persons in Nigeria’s northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe in 2024

OCHA revealed this in an overview of its soon-to-be-published Humanitarian Response Plan for the year.

$860m, the lowest target in four years, is expected to reach millions of locals in need of food, healthcare and shelter, among other forms of intervention in the three states. This population comprises Internally Displaced Persons, returnees and inhabitants of host communities.

However, it warned that “Humanitarian funding for Nigeria is predicted to decline significantly in 2024,” even as 63 per cent of its funding target for 2023 was unmet.

“In 2023, the humanitarian response in the BAY (Borno, Adamawa and Yobe) states has been challenged by severe funding and access limitations. Of the $1.3bn requested to assist six million people, only 37 per cent, or $479.8m, has been received at the end of October.

“This significant funding shortfall, compounded by persistent security challenges and movement restrictions, hampered delivery, leaving many acute needs unmet.

“Despite these challenges, 130 partners have reached 3.4 million people through humanitarian interventions,” the UN revealed.

OCHA said its Humanitarian Country Team “foresees an even tighter funding environment, predicting a sharp decline in humanitarian allocations for Nigeria” in 2024.

“In the face of these anticipated financial challenges, humanitarian partners aim to support 4.4 million people, setting a funding target of about $860m, which includes estimated funding requirements of $45m for anticipatory interventions to address in particular climate-related shocks such as flooding and cholera outbreaks,” it added.

Fourteen years after Boko Haram and other terrorist groups began gory campaigns in Nigeria’s northeast, OCHA says the ensuing humanitarian crisis remains one of the most complex globally.

In June 2021, the United Nations Development Programmes estimated at least 350,000 deaths from conflicts with Boko Haram since 2009. It cited damage to agriculture, water, trade, food and healthcare, concluding that “Many more have died from the indirect effects of the conflict.”

At least 66,768 lives were lost in states most hit by the conflict—Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Zamfara, Kaduna Benue and Plateau—a September 2023 survey by the Council of Foreign Relations revealed.

However, direct deaths make up only a portion of the conflict’s impact.

Boko Haram, which aims to banish Western influence and create a Salafi-Islamist state in Northeast Nigeria and the entire nation, has also displaced over three million people, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees said.

In October 2017, then-president Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the establishment of the North East Development Commission in October 2017, to lead the reconstruction and development of Nigeria’s northeast.

NEDC earmarked N31.01tn in its 10-year North East Stabilisation and Development Master Plan in September 2022.

It said the amount is to be sourced from “a robust partnership with humanitarian actors such as International Non-Governmental Organisations, INGOs, captains of industries and investors worldwide.

In its 2023 dashboard, OCHA said, “To date, the Humanitarian Response Plan is now 70 per cent funded. Of the $1.1bn requested funding, some sectors remain vastly underfunded, forcing response partners to prioritise interventions in communities ranked highest on the severity scale.

“Despite this funding shortfall, 124 humanitarian actors are responding to the most acute needs. Together, they delivered some form of humanitarian assistance to 4.7 million people since January 2022, accounting for 84 per cent of the estimated people identified for assistance.”

However, it forewarned that “if the funding deficit continues, a number of life-saving programmes across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states will have to scale down or shut down completely.”

Although the Office did not specify what areas or locations its operations suffered the most hit, it said, “certain areas remain inaccessible to humanitarian partners, diminishing the overall humanitarian footprint.”

The most capital-intensive areas in 2024 are likely to include camp coordination and camp management, early recovery and livelihoods, education, food security, health, nutrition, protection, shelter & non-food items and water, sanitation and hygiene.

From January 2022 to June 2023, OCHA said it received $9m on Camp Coordination and Management despite targeting $51.4m, $22.5m for early recovery & livelihoods despite a $133.6m target, $14.7m on education while needing $194.2m, $454.4m on food security with an initial target of $921.1m.

Health gulped $117.6m with an initial target of $221.5; nutrition, $120.2, initially targeting $277.5. OCHA received $31.7 for shelter and non-food items and $8.7m for water, sanitation and hygiene from its 123 partners.

When reached for comments, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Rhoda Iliya, declined to provide a statement.

Japa: Nigeria lost 16,000 doctors in five years – Minister.

Japa: Nigeria lost 16,000 doctors in five years – Minister.

The Federal Government on Sunday disclosed that 55,000 licensed doctors are in the country to attend to the growing population of patients following the exodus of health professionals to hospitals and health facilities abroad.

It said in the last five years, the country lost about 15,000 to 16,000 doctors to the Japa syndrome while about 17,000 had been transferred.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, disclosed these when he featured as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

Pate, who said the brain drain syndrome has robbed the health sector of its best hands, affirmed that the government is doing its best to expand the training scheme and motivate others who chose to stay back and serve their fatherland.

The brain drain phenomenon, otherwise known as ‘Japa’, has seen a generation of young doctors, health workers, tech entrepreneurs and a number of professionals abandoned Nigeria for greener pasture abroad.

But the minister reiterated that though there are 300,000 health professionals in Nigeria, only 55,000 of them are doctors.

He said, “There are about 300,000 health professionals working in Nigeria today in all cadres. I am talking about doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and others. We did an assessment and discovered we have 85,000 to 90,000 registered Nigerian doctors. Not all of them are in the country. Some are in the Diaspora, especially in the US and UK. But there are 55,000 licensed doctors in the country.

“The issue overall, in terms of health professionals, is that they are not enough. They are insufficient in terms of the skills mix. Can you believe most of the high skilled professional doctors are in Lagos, Abuja and a few urban centres? There is a huge distribution issue.

“The population of doctor overall is about 7,600 doctors in Lagos and 4,700 or thereabout in Abuja. The doctor to population ratio in Abuja is 14.7 per 10,000 population. These are numbers that you can verify. In Lagos, it is about 4.6, even though the average is 2.2 by 10,000.

“There are huge distributional issues and they are, of course, the opportunities even for some of those who have been trained to get into the market. So you have to look at it from a perspective that is holistic. Not only doctors but other cadres that are important in the delivery of health care. For doctors, we have been losing many that have been trained.”

Continuing, Pate emphasised that since the oxygen of any serious health sector is its human resource, Nigeria cannot afford to continue losing its best brains to the developed countries.

He however admitted that the Japa syndrome is a global phenomenon that equally affects other countries like India and Pakistan.

According to him, the country has lost about 16,000 doctors to brain drain in the past five years.

“Now to the Japa you talked about, it is not only limited to Nigeria. It is a global phenomenon. Other countries don’t have enough. They are asking to take more. It is not only in Nigeria. It is happening in India, Philippines and other parts of Africa. In the last five years, we have lost about 15,000 to 16,000 and about 17,000 had been transferred. We’re barely managing. That’s why expanding their training will become logical. The same thing with nurses and midwives; they are also leaving. That’s why expanding the training is important to ensure those still around are well trained.

“But there are also thousands more, which is what I was trying to hint at, who are here. And despite the opportunity to travel abroad did not leave and we don’t appreciate them. I’ll give you an example. The head of the ICU at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, a very brilliant gentleman. I met him in December and he said, ‘Four of my colleagues have left’ and I asked to know why he has not left. He said ‘Look, this is my country. I want to serve because health is a sector where there’s inherent motivation in those who select to go in there.’ People don’t just go in there because they want to have a job. They go because they’re intrinsically motivated and we have to recognise and tap into that.

“We are beginning to take steps to expand the training and work environment, taking some steps to encourage salaries and incomes commission to do certain things that will encourage them to feel at home. But even the issue of working hours that has come about recently, particularly for the junior doctors, is being addressed.”

“We are beginning to take steps to expand the training and work environment, taking some steps to encourage salaries and incomes commission to do certain things that will encourage them to feel at home. But even the issue of working hours that has come about recently, particularly for the junior doctors, is being addressed. This is because when some of their colleagues leave and they remain at home, the burden has not reduced. And so they work extremely hard. We’ve listened to that. We are looking at how we can alleviate that and with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, we are looking at how within the code of ethics and the guidelines for the physician to provide some safeguards to ensure they are treated as valuable assets so they are not burnt out,” he said.

Czech Republic’s Krystyna Pyszkova crowned Miss World 2024.

Czech Republic’s Krystyna Pyszkova crowned Miss World 2024.

Krystyna Pyszkova of the Czech Republic has clinched the coveted Miss World 2024 title during a glamorous event in India on Saturday, edging out Indian contestant Sini Shetty who made it to the top 8.

Miss Lebanon, Yasmina Zaytoun, secured the first runner-up position in the competition.

According to Press Trust of India on Saturday, Karolina Bielawska, the reigning Miss World from Poland, crowned Pyszkova as her successor at the star-studded finale.

This victory marks the second time a representative from the Czech Republic has claimed the Miss World crown, following Tatana Kucharova’s win in 2006.

Expressing her astonishment at winning the prestigious title, Pyszkova, who is in her twenties, confessed it was beyond her expectations.

During the pageant, Pyszkova’s ‘Beauty With A Purpose’ project emphasized “quality education for children,” and she pledged to utilize her platform as Miss World to amplify awareness for this cause.

Speaking to reporters after the finale, Pyszkova shared her excitement about the supportive community of Miss World contestants, vowing to continue her advocacy work.

“So far, we have helped 320 children. Through the Miss World platform, I’ll be able to help as many children as possible…

“The Miss World sisterhood is such an empowering community. I think we will be sharing this moment forever because we experienced so many things. We experienced this incredible country, India, together. I’ll be happy to come back soon,” Pyszkova told reporters here after the finale.

According to the official Miss World website, Pyszkova, a Czech model, is pursuing degrees in law and business administration and is the founder of the Krystyna Pyszko Foundation.

Fluent in English, Polish, Slovak, and German, Pyszkova advocates for sustainable development through education, citing her proudest moment as the establishment of an English school for underprivileged children in Tanzania, where she volunteered.

“Her proudest moment was opening an English school for underprivileged children in Tanzania where she also volunteered. She enjoys playing the transverse flute and the violin, and has a passion for music and art having spent nine years in an art academy,” read Pyszkova’s profile on the website.

India, which hosted the event after a gap of 28 years, was represented by 22-year-old Shetty.

The 71st Miss World pageant, featuring contestants from 112 countries, took place at the Jio World Convention Centre in BKC, with Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar and Miss World 2013 Megan Young from the Philippines as hosts.

Tourism ministry plans training for women.

Tourism ministry plans training for women.

The Ministry of Tourism is set to train and empower community women in souvenir production.

This was contained in a statement signed by the spokesperson for the National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism, Joesef Karim, on Sunday.

According to the statement, the FG would be introducing a sustainable tourism entrepreneurship programme ‘EcoGenesis Incubator’ for training and empowering women and youths that are residents in Nigeria’s tourism host communities across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

“The objective is to offer a dynamic platform that will catalyse innovation and drive economic empowerment by helping the participants to develop, articulate, and refine their skills and tourism products.

“This will eventually lift many out of poverty by leveraging on the abundant tourism opportunities inherent in our communities across the nation,” the statement said.

The first series of the ‘EcoGenesis Incubator’ programme will be the training and empowerment of women in tourism souvenir production, specifically in jewellery making and rhinestone embellishment.

The training is scheduled to be held in Makurdi, Benue State, on March 14-15, 2024.

Karim said, “On completion, the trainees will be given tourism entrepreneurial starter-packs to enable them to start their jewellery-making and rhinestone embellishment businesses targeting visitors and tourists in Benue State.”

The Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, had on International Women’s Day charged women to always contribute their entrepreneurial skills to the country’s development while urging them to use the immense potential within the tourism sector to showcase their talents, skills, and entrepreneurial spirit.

Buttressing her points in the statement, the minister said, “The EcoGenesis Incubator is a tailored Nigerian tourism enterprise development program designed specifically for women and youth residing in the heart of tourist host communities.

“Through targeted training and empowerment initiatives conducted in rural areas across Nigeria, this program aims to facilitate the emergence of local tourism businesses and service offerings, fostering sustainable development in the country.”

“We are dedicated to forging partnerships with key stakeholders, including the private sector, state governments, and local communities, to cultivate distinctive Nigerian tourism offerings and elevate Nigeria as a premier tourism destination.”

The EcoGenesis Incubator series will empower people with occupational skills and eventually lift many out of poverty by harnessing touristy opportunities inherent in tourist host communities.

In the coming weeks, the EcoGenesis Incubator programmes will be delivered in a series across the 36 States and the FCT with increasing trainees and empowerment packages

Tinubu to launch students loan scheme Thursday — Presidency.

Tinubu to launch students loan scheme Thursday — Presidency.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed this when he spoke on TVC’s Politics on Sunday.

On the programme titled ‘Counting the Cost of Presidents Tinubu’s Reforms,’ Ngelale highlighted some of the President’s welfare initiatives being implemented at the moment, saying, “Later this week, on Thursday, the President will launch the historic National Student Loan Programme.”

“This is a major form of obligation reduction for Nigerians and families and young people at a time when Nigerians are feeling the pinch. We believe this is the way to go,” he added.

On June 12, 2023, Tinubu signed the Access to Higher Education Act, 2023, into law to enable indigent students to access interest-free loans for their educational pursuits in any Nigerian tertiary institution.

The move was in “fulfillment of one of his campaign promises to liberalise funding of education,” a member of the then Presidential Strategy Team, Dele Alake, said.

The Act, popularly known as the Students Loan Law, also established the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, which is expected to handle all loan requests, grants, disbursement, and recovery.

The government initially said it would take effect in September, but it did not.

However, Tinubu had insisted that the scheme would go live in January 2024. Declaring the 29th session of the annual Nigeria Economic Summit in Abuja open on October 23, 2023, the President said, “By January 2024, the new Students Loan Programme must commence. To the future of our children and students, we’re saying no more strikes!”

He proposed N50bn for its take-off in the 2024 budget he presented to the National Assembly last November.

On February 7, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, Dr Akintunde Sawyerr, confirmed to newsmen that the much-awaited scheme would go live on February 21, when President Tinubu launches it at the State House, Abuja.

However, the launch was delayed, with Sawyerr, alongside Presidency sources, explaining that the lag time is to enable the Fund to expand its mandate to include students seeking loans for skills development, as directed by the President.

After receiving briefing from the NELFUND team led by the Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, on January 22, the President directed the Fund to extend interest-free loans to Nigerian students interested in skill-development programmes.

Tinubu based his decision on the need for the scheme to accommodate those who may not want to pursue a university education, noting that skill acquisition is as essential as obtaining undergraduate and graduate academic qualifications.

“This is not an exclusive programme. It is catering to all of our young people. Young Nigerians are gifted in different areas.

“This is not only for those who want to be doctors, lawyers, and accountants. It is also for those who aspire to use their skilled and trained hands to build our nation.

“In accordance with this, I have instructed NELFUND to explore all opportunities to inculcate skill-development programmes because not everybody wants to go through a full university education,” he had said.

Linking this directive to the delay, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga had told The PUNCH, “Don’t forget that the last time they met, the President asked them to go and expand their mandate to include those who want to learn vocational skills. That could be the reason why the whole thing was delayed; they had to increase the scope.”

On Saturday, Sawyerr also told our correspondent that the delay is due to unperfected backend systems to power the application process as the scheme is “entirely technologically driven.”

He said, “The delay in take-off was basically to enable the agency to put all necessary measures in place as the scheme is entirely technologically driven.”