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Delta gov to swear in newly elected LG chairmen Monday

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Delta gov to swear in newly elected LG chairmen Monday

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, will, on Monday, July 15, 2024, swear in the newly elected Chairmen of the 25 local government councils in the state.

This follows Saturday’s Local Government elections conducted by Delta State Independent Electoral Commission for Chairmen and Councillors in the 25 local government areas of the state.

A terse statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Protocol, Government House, Mr A.N. Tetsola, released on Sunday and made available to journalists, noted that the swearing-in ceremony will commence at 10 am at the Event Centre, Asaba.

The statement partly reads, “Kindly be informed that His Excellency the Governor will preside over the Swearing-in Ceremony of the Newly Elected Chairmen and Vice of the 25 LGAs in the State on Monday 15/7/24 at Event Centre Asaba at 10 am.

“You are most respectfully invited to the ceremony, pls”.

Meanwhile, the former chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Dr Michael Tidi, has lauded operatives of the Delta State Police Command and other security agencies for the security arrangements put in place at Saturday’s local government elections in the state.

“The professional conduct of the security agencies, including the DSS and NSCDC, contributed a lot to the peace recorded before, during and after the polls across the State,” he said.

Tidi, while appraising the security arrangements during the Council poll, noted that “the operatives did well”.

“We have to commend the Commissioner of Police, the DSS and the NSCDC for deploring their personnel at all polling units, which, in effect, helped in ensuring that the exercise was not only peaceful but hitch-free”, Tidi stated.

The former council chairman also commended Deltans “for contributing to the growth of democracy in the state by exercising their franchise and shunning acts of illegality as manifested during the exercise.”

Soldiers nab two terrorists, recovers motorcycles in Taraba

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Soldiers nab two terrorists, recovers motorcycles in Taraba

Troops of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army and Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, have again apprehended two notorious terrorists in Taraba State.
The Brigade’s Public Relations Officer, Oni Olubodunde said the feat was achieved after a fierce shootout with the terrorists on 11 July 2024.
In a statement made available to journalists in the state on Sunday, he said the shootout took place at Geshi Village along Rafin Kada road in Damisa Ward of Donga Local Government Council of the State.
The statement noted that the operation led to the recovery of two motorcycles used by the criminals.
He said, “The operation, conducted by the troops deployed in Akate in Donga Local Government Area, occurred following intelligence reports that revealed an attack in Geshi Village by armed terrorists.
”Acting on this information, troops swiftly mobilized to the area and engaged the armed men in a fierce exchange of gun battle, ultimately overpowering the terrorists with superior firepower, subduing them and forcing the criminals to flee in disarray into the bush with gunshot injuries.
Troop continued to explore the success by pursuing the miscreants and arrested 2 terrorists with their motorcycles. The captured terrorists are currently under custody for interrogation.” The statement read.
While commending the troops for their bravery, swift response, and dedication to duty, the Brigade Commander, Brigadier Kingsley Uwa, urged them to sustain the effort to get rid of the undesirable elements making life cumbersome for the people of the state.
“This operation is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our troops to ensure the state is free of kidnapping, banditry, and other criminality in our society”, he said.
He affirmed that the Brigade will continue to intensify efforts to rid Taraba State of criminal elements, urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities.
In another development, troops of Headquarters 6 Brigade while on routine patrol within the Jalingo metropolis, found a 9-year-old pupil named Dorothy Kwatsumen wandering around in her school uniform at Gongomaliki area in Yorro council.
A preliminary investigation to determine the name of her school and the location of her parents or guardians proved abortive.
The nine-year-old girl, whom the army said was moved immediately to the Brigade headquarters for custody until her parents were located, said she was a pupil of Glory Children Academy.
At the time of filing this report, the girl was said to have been reunited with her family.
Soldiers nab two terrorists, recovers motorcycles in Taraba

No one can stop Alia’s second term, says Gemade

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No one can stop Alia’s second term, says Gemade

A former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Barnabas Gemade, has declared that no politician in Benue State has the power to stop the incumbent governor, Hyacinth Alia, from getting a second term ticket.

Gemade, who once represented the North East Senatorial district of the state at the Senate, said that some politicians in the state are always in the habit of stopping serving governor from securing second term ticket but always failed in their bid.

He unequivocally declared that nobody would stop Governor Alia from getting a second term of office.

Gemade was one of the gubernatorial aspirants on the platform of the All Progressive Congress in 2023 but lost at the party primary to Alia. He also challenged the outcome of the primary to the Supreme Court but lost.

Gemade, who spoke at the reception held for board members recently appointed by President Bola Tinubu, accused the politicians of using their positions to oppress their opponents

Thirteen people from the state got board member appointments, but only seven of them attended the reception held at Benue Hotel, Makurdi, on Saturday.

He said, “In fact, even this time, except for the timely intervention of President Bola Tinubu, we would have gone with a very skewed appointment in the tertiary institution board.

“The first list that came out, maybe an event like this would not have been held here in Benue. But the governor, in his wisdom, stood up to the occasion and made sure that his impact was felt by stepping into the gap immediately and ensuring that some Benúe people that are the right people were appointed to these positions.

“You will agree with me that when the announcement was made the second time, there were 13 Benúe indigenes on that list. You seven people standing here today, show clearly that this is not all that were appointed. The others are not here.

“The governor is not the kind of person who will do what people who are very inconsiderate, so for our people, when he had this opportunity, he made sure that he had seven people going to that place to allow room for the remaining six or so, for other people who have made office to allow them to appoint people.

“Some, when they have the opportunity, they must make sure that if you are the kind of person who does not worship them, they must make sure you never get on that list.”

He added, “Nobody whatsoever is going to stop Governor Alia from making eight years of governorship.

“There are people in this state who tried to stop people from being governor but there are also other people who tried to stop governors from having a second term, and there are people here who made sure that governors have a second term.

“So, those who try to make sure a governor doesn’t have a second term must know that we are always here to make sure governors have a second term.

“And this particular governor deserves a second term more than anyone before him. And that is what is going to happen.”

Time for England’s Three Lions to roar

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Time for England’s Three Lions to roar

With anxiety to end a 58-year search for success, it’s high time the Three Lions of England came out of their cage to roar on their biggest continental outing yet.

England face Spain in the Euro 2024 final on Sunday, July 14, at Berlin’s Olympiastadion — their second successive European Championship final after their Euro loss to Italy four years ago on home soil.

They lost the final to the Azzurri on penalties after a 1-1 full-time draw. The trio of Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho missed their spot kicks.

With a few hours to kick-off, the English men’s team has been presented with another golden route to victory, to write their names in the indelible sand of the nation’s rich football history.

The match venue will no doubt be painted in mixed colours of white and red as supporters from both sides have flooded the streets of Berlin in anticipation of the much-coveted continental trophy.

The English team last won a major trophy on July 30, 1966, when Sir Alf Ramsey’s side won the World Cup.

England have “qualified for 20 major tournaments under 11 managers without ever escaping the storyline of disappointment,” the BBC said.

Gareth Southgate’s squad boasts of some of the biggest names in world football; the likes of Jude Bellingham, Saka, Harry Kane, Kyle Walker, Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, among others.

However, it’s no understatement that the country’s performance so far has been nothing short of a disappointment, at least not the one you would expect of a younger squad with an average age of 26.1 years.

The squad equally has seven Champions League winners.

With an average run of only three wins across six matches played so far, England scored seven goals in contrast to Spain’s 13.

“I’m not a believer in fairy tales but I am a believer in dreams.

“Fate, the run that we’ve had, the late goals, the penalties, that doesn’t equate to it being our moment,” Southgate admitted during a pre-match conference on Saturday.

“We have to make it happen tomorrow and perform at the level that we need to perform,” the manager charged.

The Three Lions were twice on the brink of elimination before their eventual 2-1 wins in both last two matches.

The first one came during the Round of 16 match against Slovakia. Bellingham secured a stoppage-time equaliser with an overhead kick landing into the bottom right corner of the post.

Kane’s header in the first of the extra 30 minutes sealed the victory for the Three Lions, guaranteeing their progression in the tournament.

Afterwards, Southgate’s charges faced the Netherlands in the semi-final, another hurdle to scale in the semi-final.

Dutch sensation, Xavi Simons unleashed a stunning shot in the 7th minute before it was cancelled by Kane with a well-placed penalty kick. As the attack went underway, with pressure mounting before the end of normal time, Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins came on to rescue the Three Lions.

Watkins received a through ball from fellow substitute, Palmer, before slotting the ball into the Dutch goalpost.

— Ready to swap career for Euro win —

In a final pre-match conference on Saturday, Kane had stated his readiness to win the Euro championship glory with England.

He said, “It’s no secret I haven’t won a team trophy, and every year that goes by, I’m more motivated to change that.

“Tomorrow night, I have the chance to win one of the biggest you could ever win and make history with my nation.

“No question I’d swap everything I’ve done in my career to have a special night and a win tomorrow evening.”

As the hands of the clock go tick-tock, so does the wait for Southgate and his charges for glory in faraway Berlin draw close.

NCWS urges Senate to urgently pass Bill on extra legislative seats for women

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NCWS urges Senate to urgently pass Bill on extra legislative seats for women

The National Council for Women Societies, NCWS, has commended the House of Representatives for passing for second reading a bill seeking to amend the constitution to create extra legislative seats for women in the National and State Assemblies.
It also urged the senate to follow suit and pass the bill without delay so that Nigeria can join the ranks of countries that have made significant strides in promoting gender equality in governance.
Recall that a constitutional amendment bill to improve women’s representation in parliament through the introduction of special seats, on Tuesday scaled second reading in the House of Representatives.
The Acting National President of NCWS, Geraldine Etuk, reacting to the development through a statement on Sunday, said the passage of the bill was a landmark achievement and a significant step forward for gender equality and representation in Nigeria.
She said, “The NCWS applauds the House of Representatives for taking this bold step towards empowering women and promoting inclusive governance.
“The passage of this bill is a testament to the tireless efforts of women’s rights advocates and organizations, including the NCWS, who have worked tirelessly to promote gender equality and challenge the status quo.
“We urge the Senate to follow suit and pass the bill without delay so that Nigeria can join the ranks of countries that have made significant strides in promoting gender equality in governance.”
NCWS urges Senate to urgently pass Bill on extra legislative seats for women

Alleviate hardship, CONUA urges Tinubu

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Alleviate hardship, CONUA urges Tinubu

The Congress of University Academics has urged President Bola Tinubu to expedite action on policies to alleviate the hardships caused by the removal of the oil subsidy and the floating of the naira.

In a communique released after the CONUA National Executive Committee meeting held at the University of Benin from July 12 to 14, the association’s National President, Niyi Sunmonu, urged the President to announce a commensurate minimum wage to cushion the effects of the policies.

The CONUA president also emphasized the importance of addressing the welfare of its members, criticising the withholding of three and a half months’ salary due to a strike action undertaken by a sister association.

He said, “The NEC reviewed the state of the nation and noted the excruciating pains Nigerians have been going through as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy since May 29 2023 and the subsequent policy of floating the naira.

“The union further notes that President Bola Tinubu has assured the nation that a series of measures are being put in place to alleviate the suffering of the people.

“We urge the President to expedite action on those measures, particularly the announcement of a commensurate minimum wage and other measures that will cushion the effect of this untold hardship being currently experienced by the citizens.

“The continued withholding of the three and a half months salary of members of CONUA due to the strike action embarked upon by a sister academic staff union in the Universities is rather unfair. CONUA, as a union, has consistently maintained that it never declared and was not part of the strike action.”

He added that, “What the government has done was to lump together those who embarked on strike with those who did not! This is unjust and is tantamount to punishing the innocent along with the guilty. Through its unwarranted punishment of CONUA members, the government is inadvertently promoting the use of strikes as means of pursuing workers’ demands.

“CONUA-NEC therefore notes with apprehension that failure to process and pay these outstanding salaries could throw the universities into serious crises and jeopardize the peace currently being enjoyed.”

The CONUA president also called on the government to address promotion arrears spanning seven years for some academic staff.

He noted that arrears of Earned Academic Allowance for 10 sessions were owed, with payments made only for 2013, 2017, 2019, and 2022.

He further stated, “It was discovered that when the payment of the four months (March, April, May, and June 2022) salaries out of the seven and a half months of pay withheld by the government as a result of the strike action embarked upon by the other union was paid, through the Presidential prerogative, the third-party deductions were not released and up till now they have not. Information on its whereabouts and when it would be released was not provided by the Federal Government.

“The NEC is demanding, unequivocally, that the agencies of government involved be directed immediately to release these third-party remittances, without further delay.

“The 2014 Pension Act was intended to stop the humiliation and misery of pensioners who characteristically had problems with getting their pension entitlements years after retirement.

“Retirees under the 2014 act therefore looked forward to timeous payment of their entitlements upon the conclusion of necessary documentation. The FG has failed to pay pension entitlements for over one year after retirement.”

Sunmonu also called on the Minister of Education to facilitate the inclusion of CONUA in all TETFUND programs and committee compositions involving academic unions, describing the present situation as discriminatory.

The union also drew the attention of the Ministers of Education as well as Labour and Employment to the remuneration of academics, which has remained stagnant since 2009 despite the steady rise in the cost of living.

While criticising the recent hike in electricity tariffs, CONUA argued that universities should be granted special status regarding these tariffs because they are not income-generating institutions. In the short term, and in the long term, the Federal Government should work with relevant university departments to generate electricity.

CONUA also condemned the Federal Government’s proposal to hand over universities to investors, noting that the move would cripple the universities.

Osogbo Building Collapse: Gov Adeleke warns against construction without approvals

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Osogbo Building Collapse: Gov Adeleke warns against construction without approvals

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has warned developers and residents against the construction of houses without approved building plans.
This is as Governor Adeleke also threatened to bulldoze badly built houses posing a threat to human safety.
Adeleke in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed was reacting to a recent building collapse in the Ayetoro area of Osogbo.
In the statement made available on Sunday in Osogbo, Governor Adeleke emphasised that the importance of securing approvals for building plans is to ensure the standard of construction and avoidance of needless deaths and injuries.
He said a building plan is not an optional step in the building construction process as it stops substandard houses that frequently collapse and pose safety risks to the occupants and the environment.
He said, “I am using this medium to direct the Ministry of Lands to step up enforcement of approved building plans by developers and residents. Our officials must go to the estates and development areas to ensure houses are constructed according to approved plans.
“We need to save lives by ensuring that houses are built according to standard. We must also be proactive by testing the strength of houses before a human tragedy occurs. Substandard houses once identified should be pulled down before fatal collapse.
“We will sanction those who refuse to comply with the condition of approved building plans. I further direct relevant agencies to pull down substandard houses before they wreak havoc. We must not wait for lives to be lost before we act.”
TVN gathered that a building had caved in in the Sabo area of Osogbo, Osun State capital, on Sunday morning.
As a result of the disaster, residents of the area were panic-stricken.
Eyewitness reported that a loud sound was heard in the neighbourhood as the building suddenly went down.
It was reported that some people were in the building when it suddenly collapsed.
The eyewitnesses also confirmed that personnel of the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, promptly responded to a distress call from the scene of the incident.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Security Civil Defense Corps(NSCDC), Osun State Command, Kehinde Adeleke confirmed the collapse.
She said, “The said building collapsed at about 07:30 hrs today Sunday 14th July 2024 entrapping 5 people.
“Two people have been rescued so far while the remaining three are entrapped under the decking that requires the use of a crane.
“While we await the crane, people are doing all they can within the physical human capacity to break the decking and connected rods. The LGA chairman and his team were around and they went to see how the crane could be brought down. On ground are the SSG who just arrived, NSCDC, Police commissioner of police and the team, OSEMA, and other government dignitaries.”
Osogbo Building Collapse: Gov Adeleke warns against construction without approvals

Ogun dredges rivers, streams to prevent flooding

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Ogun dredges rivers, streams to prevent flooding

The Ogun State Government has embarked on a flood and erosion control intervention exercise to prevent the loss of lives and properties in the state.

In a statement on Sunday, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Flood and Erosion Control, Femi Akinwunmi, said the exercise involves the dredging of river and stream courses as well as the desilting of drainage channels statewide.

Akinwunmi stated that the exercise, which commenced in various parts of the state days ago, is complementing its annual flood mitigation efforts in various parts of the state.

He said the rivers and streams undergoing dredging to avert river flooding in the state include the Opa-Aro River in Isheri, Ifo Local Government Area; Oke Afa Stream in Magboro, Obafemi Owode LGA; Giyanu Stream in Ilase, Ipokia LGA;  Sokori River and its tributaries and Labaiwa stream in Abeokuta North and South LGAs.

He said it will soon be the turn of Onibuku Stream in Iju in Ado Odo LGA, Odo Funfun River in Oja Odan in Yewa North LGA, Sensen River in Sagamu LGA and Yemule River in Ijebu -Ode LGA among others lined up to be dredged soon.

Aside from the dredging, Akinwunmi said the state government has also commenced massive desilting of drainage channels across the state, notably in the state capital, Abeokuta, Sango-Ota, Ijebu-ode and Ilishan, with other cities and towns also slated for desilting soon.

He said, “The dredging of these rivers and streams and desilting of the drainage channels are meant to improve their water-carrying capacities through the removal of sand as well as free them from refuse dumped indiscriminately into them, which inhibits the free flow of rainwater that brings about backflows that results into flooding and its unpalatable consequences.

“As a responsible government that cares for the well-being of its residents, the administration had no choice but to take on this responsibility to avert predicted river flooding in the state this year and free its residents from any of its consequences as rainy season should be a blessing to the people and a curse.

“We, therefore, appeal to residents of the state to play their part by desilting all drainage channels in front of their businesses and houses while those in the habit of dumping waste or refuse into these drainages whenever it rains desist as the long hands of the law will soon catch up with them. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.”

He also warned traders in markets and streets who placed planks and makeshift structures on top of drainage channels to remove them forthwith to avoid violating the state environmental laws, which might lead to possible prosecution.

Organized labour shifts date for indefinite strike in Abia to July 28

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Organized labour shifts date for indefinite strike in Abia to July 28

The organized labour has picked July 28, 2024, as the new day to embark on an indefinite strike in Abia State if the state government fails to keep to its agreements.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Okoro Ogbonnaya and the Trade Union Congress, TUC Chairman in Abia who briefed the press on Sunday evening, advised civil servants in the state to continue their duties until July 28, when the relaxed strike notice would be reviewed.
The labour leaders who advised the Abia State government to keep to the Memorandum of Understanding it reached with them during their two-day negotiations, warned that no further notice would be given to the Abia State government before the workers down tool on July 28.
The labour leaders who commended the state government for its efforts in developing the state and for paying the pensions of retired workers, however, said the interests of civil servants must be carried along in this time of economic hardship.
While demanding that gratuities of retired civil servants be paid, the leaders of organized labour said no agreement was reached with the government concerning payment of gratuities during the negotiations.
They supported Governor Alex Otti for reversing some command promotions that did not follow the due processes in civil service.
Ogbonnaya said some civil servants were allegedly promoted from grade level 8 up to grade level 13, by the previous administration, far above their supposed superior officers.
He noted that the organized labour has accepted the proposal by the state government to pay a N15,000 wage award to Abia civil servants for three months.
Organized labour shifts date for indefinite strike in Abia to July 28

No agency can take police up on CMRIS certificate -FPRO

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No agency can take police up on CMRIS certificate -FPRO

The Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has faulted the report that the Nigerian Bar Association has given the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, a seven-day ultimatum to reverse the Central Motor Information System Certificate issuance to motorists.

He said no agency can take the police up on the initiative.

This was disclosed in a statement on X.com on Sunday.

The statement revealed that the police have the right and powers to initiate any approach to curb crimes and criminality in Nigeria, as it is applicable in other climes.

The statement further revealed that the police have been issuing CMR for decades, so it’s not a new strategy or document.

The statement reads “This is unfounded, fake, and misleading. The NBA as a body will react to this. Stop spreading fake news. Who are those who made the statement or declaration, and in what capacity?

“I challenge you to share the press statement with me, then we can talk.

“Do your investigation on this. The police have the right and powers to initiate any approach to curb crimes and criminality in Nigeria, as it’s applicable in other climes.

“The police have been issuing CMR for decades, so it’s not even a new strategy or document.

“No agency can take the police up on this initiative. They will rather key into it, harmonise the system for the good of the country, and its citizenry.”

The NBA Section on Public Interest had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum to Egbetokun to stop the directive requiring vehicle owners to register and obtain a CMRIS certificate for a fee of not less than N6,000.

NBA-SPIDEL questioned the legal basis for the Nigeria Police Force’s issuance of the CMRIS Certificates, stating that no law had granted the police the authority to issue such licences or certificates to vehicle owners following vehicle registration at the appropriate offices.

It made the call in a letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police, and co-signed by NBA-SPIDEL Chairman, John Aikpokpo-Martins; and Secretary, Funmi Adeogun.

It stated, “Any such certificate being issued by the Nigeria Police Force without legal backing is outright illegal, null, and void, and therefore of no consequence.”

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