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FG postpones students loan launch indefinitely

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FG postpones students loan launch indefinitely

The Federal Government has postponed the launch of the Nigerian Students Loan Scheme indefinitely.

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Akintunde Sawyer, made this known during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday.

In June 2023, President Bola Tinubu signed a bill to start a Students Loan Fund that would give interest-free loans to Nigerians for higher education.

A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, proposed the bill and it was supposed to start between September and October 2023.

Meanwhile, Tinubu said the programme would begin in January 2024, after missing the October deadline.

In January, Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu, said at a meeting that preparations for the program were finished. This included making the Student Loan Scheme website and planning how to start the programme.

Also, Tinubu told leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students that the programme would start once they added more features, like vocational studies.

However, barely 48 hours before the launch, Sawyer said the loan scheme was postponed due to some corrections that were being made around the launch.

“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to commit to a specific date. We are sort of waiting to ensure that all the stakeholders are aligned to make sure that nobody is blindsided, then we can actually roll this out in a meaningful, comprehensive, wholesome and sustainable way,” he said.

Aruna retains African No.1 spot in ITTF rankings

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Aruna retains African No.1 spot in ITTF rankings

Quadri Aruna maintained his status as the best-ranked African player in the world, occupying the 11th position ahead of African Games champion Omar Assar of Egypt, who is ranked 22nd in the world while compatriot Offiong Edem leads the rise of African players in the 2024-week 11 rankings released by the International Table Tennis Federation on Tuesday.

The latest rankings follow the conclusion of the table tennis event at the ongoing 13th African Games in Ghana.

Edem, who won bronze in the women’s singles event in Ghana, gained 45 steps up to be rated 97 as the best-ranked female Nigerian player in the world.

However, the biggest mover in the world is Algeria’s Lucie Mobarek, who was unranked before the African Games but moved by 544 steps to be ranked 103 in the world as the highest-ranked Algerian female player globally, while bronze medallist in the men’s singles event and Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw moved by 26 steps to be ranked 67 in the world.

Egypt’s Dina Meshref and Hana Goda are still the best ranked African female players at 26 and 30 respectively.

Men’s singles quarter-finalist Khaled Assar of Egypt gained 146 steps to be rated 145 in the world.

The biggest beneficiaries are Tunisian trio Wassim Essid, Youssef Ben Attia and Khalil Sta, bronze medalists in the men’s team event who gained steps in their world rankings.

Teenage sensation Essid gained 83 steps to be ranked 206, while Ben Attia and Sta gained 221 steps to be ranked 237 and 238 respectively.

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Nigeria, Uganda battle for cricket bronze

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Nigeria, Uganda battle for cricket bronze

Nigeria will go head-to-head against 18th-ranked Uganda in the third-place match of the women’s cricket event at the ongoing African Games in Ghana as the event’s debut reaches an exciting climax at the Achimota Cricket Oval in Accra on Wednesday (today), According Sports Extra reports.

The Female Yellow Greens lost by five wickets against Zimbabwe in the semi-finals while Uganda lost by 50 runs against South Africa to set up the clash and leave the first two teams on the continent to also slug it out for silver and gold.

With nine places between Nigeria (27) and Uganda (18) in the T20 rankings, the Female Yellow Greens will not be buoyed by the credentials of the Victoria Pearls, having faced and conquered a higher-ranked opponent in Namibia during the group stages.

“I must commend my teammates for their efforts so far. Everything we have done individually and as a team has kept us in the competition so far.  We will come back stronger to play on Wednesday (today),” Female Yellow Greens captain, Blessing Etim, said.

Uganda captain, Consy Aweko, who achieved her 100 wickets career record in T20i, said she’s looking to get the bronze for consolation.

“We did what we wanted to do, but we gave out a lot of runs. They took their chances and got the win. We have another day for my batters to come show us what they have to get us a medal,” Aweko said after their loss to South Africa.

Nigeria and Uganda met recently at the T20 World Cup qualifiers last December with the Victoria Pearls winning by six wickets.

The third-place match between Nigeria and Uganda will be played at 10am Nigerian time while the final between South Africa and Zimbabwe will follow by 3pm.

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Lifters shine as Female Yellow Greens eye AG bronze

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Lifters shine as Female Yellow Greens eye AG bronze

Team Nigeria won six more gold medals in the weightlifting event of the ongoing African Games in Ghana on Tuesday through Ruth Ayodele and Joy Eze, who won three each in the 64kg and 71kg respectively.

After Monday’s routine,  which saw Edidiong Umoafia open the floodgates with three gold medals, the lifters returned to the GCB Hall of the University Ghana and took Nigeria’s tally to 15 in the event.

Ayodele is competing in her first African Games and claimed her three gold in the 64kg lifting 94kg snatch, 114kg clean & jerk, totaling 208kg while Eze

Eze, in her second appearance at the Games also followed suit with three gold medals in the 71kg, lifting 90kg snatch, 117 clean & jerk to get a total of 207kg.

On Monday night, Folashade Lawal and Adijat Olarinoye were also in action, winning three gold each in the women’s 55kg & 59kg respectively after Umoafia had won three earlier in the day.

Altogether, the five athletes won a total of 15 gold medals for Nigeria in the weightlifting event and took Nigeria’s tally to 22 gold medals.

Although Team Nigeria had 16 gold as at the start of Day 5 on Tuesday, the six more gold medals still leave them second in the medals table after Egypt, who lead with 48 gold medals.

Meanwhile, Nigeria go head-to-head against 18th-ranked Uganda in the third-place match of the women’s cricket event at the Games as the event’s debut reaches an exciting climax at the Achimota Cricket Oval in Accra on Wednesday (today).

The Female Yellow Greens lost by five wickets against Zimbabwe in the semi-finals while Uganda lost by 50 runs against South Africa to set up the clash and leave the first two teams on the continent to also slug it out for silver and gold.

With nine places between Nigeria (27) and Uganda (18) in the T20 rankings, the Female Yellow Greens will not be buoyed by the credentials of the Victoria Pearls, having faced and conquered a higher-ranked opponent in Namibia during the group stages.

ILO advocates social protection for domestic workers

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ILO advocates social protection for domestic workers

The International Labour Organisation has called on governments to implement policies that will guarantee labour rights and social protection of domestic workers.

The ILO, in a report titled “From Global Care Crisis to Quality at Home: The Case for Including Domestic Workers in Care Policies and Ensuring Their Rights at Work”,  said that domestic workers played an integral and increasing role in care provision but lacked access to social protection.

It urged governments, workers’ and employers’ organisations to ensure domestic workers have access to labour rights and social protection.

This comes at a time of growing global demand for paid care, with an increasing number of countries facing a crisis due to large unmet care needs and ageing populations.

The ILO estimated that women accounted for three-quarters of the 75.6 million domestic workers globally.

“Given the disproportionate presence of women, the rights of domestic workers are key to the achievement of gender equality.

“In the face of significant labour shortages, countries are looking to improve female labour market participation, which is often dependent on the existence of sufficient quality care services,” it said.

According to ILO, this requires that care jobs, including domestic work, are of sufficient quality to attract jobseekers.

It explained that domestic workers hired either directly by a household or through a public or private service provider played an integral role in care provision.

“Even when only counting those employed directly by households, domestic workers account for at least 25 per cent of all paid care workers, including nurses, teachers, doctors, and personal care workers,” the report further stated.

It further said that the share of domestic workers among care workers was much higher in countries with little investment in the care sector.

“Yet domestic workers often do not have access to labour rights and social protection, and they lack access to care rights and services for themselves and their families, for instance, maternity protection, child benefits, childcare and long-term care services,” the report said.

It noted that those gaps in protection and access to services were more pronounced among domestic workers who face multiple forms of discrimination, based on migration status and ethnic or indigenous origin.

The ILO projected that by 2030, 1.9 billion children under the age of 15 and 200 million older persons at or above the age of healthy life expectancy would need care.

“However, this represents a combined increase of 200 million people in need of care, compared to 2015.

“In addition, the United Nations anticipates an increase in long-term care needs with the proportion of older persons (aged 60 or more) in the global population expected to rise from 13.5 per cent in 2020 to 21.4 per cent by 2050 and 28.2 per cent by 2100,” it indicated.

According to the ILO, due to demographic changes, the care economy is expected to grow in line with increased demand.

“If investment meets demand and guarantees decent work to care workers, the care economy could create an estimated 300 million jobs by 2035 and reduce gender inequalities,” it stated.

Plateau gov signs executive order on illegal buildings, traffic

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Plateau gov signs executive order on illegal buildings, traffic

Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, on Tuesday, signed an Executive Order to control illegal buildings and vehicular traffic in the state

The General Manager of the Jos Metropolitan Development Board, Hart Bankat, disclosed this at a press conference in Jos on Tuesday.

Bankat said the Executive Order No. 003, 2024 became imperative considering the indiscriminate manner in which buildings were being erected in the state.

The state government had on Monday  shut down some illegal structures in Jos, the state capital.

The owners of the structures were said to have built on government land without the requisite approval from the regulatory authorities.

During the clampdown ,the state’s task force also  arrested 17 persons at a construction site located at the Old Legislative Quarters along the Bauchi Ring Road in Jos.

Speaking on the executive order, Bankat said, “The growing population in Plateau State has led to an increase in vehicular traffic and the haphazard construction of buildings, which has resulted in congestion and safety hazards in our cities. In order to address these challenges and ensure the sustainable development of our state, Governor Caleb, Mutfwang has issued Executive Order No. 003, 2024.

“This executive order aims to regulate the construction of buildings and the flow of vehicular traffic in Plateau State. Under this order, all new building projects must obtain the necessary permits and comply with building codes and regulations. Unauthorised constructions will be demolished in accordance with the law.”

Bankat said the executive order also aimed to streamline vehicular traffic by implementing traffic management measures, “such as designated parking spaces, traffic lights, and road signage. Violators of traffic rules will face strict penalties, including fines and vehicle impoundment.”

“We believe that by enforcing this executive order, we can improve the quality of life for all residents of Plateau State and create a safe and organised urban environment”

The General Manager urged all residents to cooperate with the authorities and adhere to the provisions of Executive Order No. 003, 2024.

President’s wife opens digital economy centre in Oyo

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President’s wife opens digital economy centre in Oyo

 The wife of the President, Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday, inaugurated a digital economy centre and e-learning facilities donated by her to Ogbomoso Girls High School, Ogbomoso in Oyo State.

She promised that more digital centres would be built in the other states of the federation to enhance the empowerment and training of women in digital literacy.

Represented by the wife of the Oyo State Governor, Tamunominini Makinde, Mrs Tinubu said Nigerians must recognise the role of technology in advancing gender equality by ensuring full participation of women in the digital revolution through access to technology.

She said, “The Renewed Hope Initiative in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency under the National Digital Gender Inclusion Strategy will be extending support to equip more centres in the remaining states of the federation.

“The NITDA will expand opportunities for digital literacy and empowerment by building and equipping three ICT centres in other parts of the country this year. As we speak, one of the centres is currently being inaugurated in Bauchi State.

“Technology has become a positive tool in our world, shaping everything through communication, and commerce, to education and healthcare, therefore, in the derivation of the digital economy, our women must not be left behind.”

In her remark, the Principal of the school, Zainab Odekunle, said the project would benefit both the teachers and students.

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Kwara IRS rejects personal income tax payment through unions

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Kwara IRS rejects personal income tax payment through unions

The Kwara State Internal Revenue Service has said that the existing tax laws in the state do not allow payment of Personal Income Tax through associations, unions or umbrella groups representing business owners in the state.

The Executive Chairman of KW-IRS, Mrs Shade Omoniyi, stated this in a statement she signed and made available to our correspondent on Monday.

 “Our taxpayers are once again reminded that in accordance with Section 54 (1) of the Personal Income Tax 2011 as amended, which mandates every taxable person in the state to be assessed individually upon the expiration of the time allowed to file a return as mandated by Section 41 of the Act, we are not allowing the payment of Personal Income Tax or its equivalent through any existing or prospective associations, unions, or umbrella group(s) representing artisans or business owners,” she said.

The KW-IRS boss noted that the revenue service had observed that compliance with payment of Personal Income Tax was low.

“We observe the improved level of tax compliance in the state and the growth in the number of taxpayers over the years, especially among low-income earners. We truly appreciate our stakeholders for their continuous support and commitment to the revenue drive in the State.

 “Nevertheless, the service has observed that compliance level is low for some of the high net worth individuals within the state. Taxpayers, particularly HNIs,  are reminded of their right to submit objections to the assessment presented to them as stated in Section 58 of the Personal Income Tax Act 2011 (as amended by the Finance Acts 2019 and 2020), which is then subject to reviews,” she said.

 Omoniyi also urged taxpayers to pay all tax liabilities and file needed tax returns.

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US general, senior officials hold talks with Niger junta

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US general, senior officials hold talks with Niger junta

A United States general and top officials visited Niger Republic on Tuesday to see the military junta.

Their visit was to renew contact after the coup leaders ousted the elected leader, Mohamed Bazoum, who booted out French forces and moved closer to Russia.

The commander of US Africa Command, General Michael Langley, was part of the delegation that is visiting Niger on Wednesday, the State Department said.

Top diplomat, Antony Blinken, on March 15, 2023, embarked on an official trip to the Niger Republic.

Blinken’s visit came as the West African country emerged as an increasingly significant partner to the US and its European allies in the Sahel region, following successive coups in Mali and Burkina Faso and the growing influence of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group.

Just four months later, the military deposed Bazoum and put him under house arrest. The junta took a hardline against former colonial power France, forcing the withdrawal of French troops in place for nearly a decade.

Niger’s military, which had worked closely with the United States, has not demanded a similar pullout of US forces.

But the junta has sought cooperation with Russia while stopping short of the full-fledged embrace of Moscow by military-run neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso.

Also joining the delegation in Niger were Molly Phee, the top State Department official for Africa, and Celeste Wallander, the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs.

Earlier, the Economic Community of West African States imposed economic sanctions on the country

The sanctions were, however, lifted three weeks ago following the intervention of Nigeria’s ex-military head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon.

The President, ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, said the decisions were taken in the interest of unity and security in the African sub-region.

However, in a brief statement, the State Department, said the US delegation will hold talks with the junta on “Niger’s return to a democratic path and the future of our security and development partnership,” as quoted by AFP.

The United States still stations some 1,000 troops in Niger at a desert drone base built for $100 million, although movements have been limited since the coup and Washington has curbed assistance to the government.

Aiyedatiwa declares gov bid, gets Reps, 18 lawmakers’ endorsement

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Aiyedatiwa declares gov bid, gets Reps, 18 lawmakers’ endorsement

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Tuesday, formally declared his intention to contest the November 16 governorship election in the state.

Aiyedatiwa, surrounded by his loyalists and supporters, made the declaration at the Gani Fawehinmi Arcade, Akure, amid fanfare.

Aiyedatiwa, who became the governor of the state on December 27, 2023, following the demise of his principal, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, will be contesting the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress at a primary coming up in April.

His formal declaration was graced by some elders and leaders of the Ondo State APC, including former Ondo North Senatorial District senator, Ajayi Boroffice; a member of the House of Representatives, Mr Abiola Makinde, members of the state House of Assembly, representatives of the State Working Committee of the party, among others.

Speaking at the event, Aiyedatiwa said he sought to retain the governorship seat to continue from where his late principal stopped, particularly in the area of welfare of the people,  infrastructural development and security of the state.

He said, “Distinguished citizens and party faithful, I must reecho what our late leader had always wished for in his lifetime. It was his wish that I succeed him, not in death though, as the next governor of the state.

“He (Akeredolu) was a courageous and visionary leader who had no time for pretense and so he expressed this wish at different fora in both public and private. All was with one conviction and implicit confidence in me to carry on the torch of accelerated development which he lighted first in 2017 and later renewed under a joint ticket for both of us in the 2021 gubernatorial election.

“My dear people of Ondo State, the gubernatorial primary election is at hand. Your vote is a potent weapon that must be wisely used. We must reject those who seek to buy our conscience with money. We must stop those who seek to govern this state with muscles. That is not what our late legends and founding fathers, who once governed this state, handed to our generation.”

In his remarks, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr Olamide Oladiji, who spoke on behalf of the majority members of the Assembly, said 18 of of the 26 state lawmakers were ready to support the governor.

“We have about 18 members of the Ondo State House of Assembly here with Governor Aiyedatiwa. The Ondo House is for Aiyedatiwa, even those who are not APC, they are in the same struggle with us. My advice to our leaders across the 18 local governments is, go back to your local governments and do the needful. Let the reconciliation continue;  come April 24 ( primary), we will deliver for Honourable Aiyedatiwa. On behalf of the honorable members of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr Governor, congratulations in advance.”

A member of the House of Representatives, representing Ondo East/Ondo West Federal Constituency Mr Abiola Makinde, said all the members of the House of Representatives from the state had endorsed Aiyedatiwa as the governor.

“This is my second time as Rep; it’s not easy to hold a public office. Aiyedatiwa is the right man to govern our state for the next four years. He has done well in the few weeks of taking over the office. He will do well in four years. We, members of House of Representatives from Ondo State, have endorsed Governor Aiyedatiwa.”

At the APC governorship primary scheduled for April 24, Aiyedatiwa will be slugging it out with other aspirants, such as a former Commissioner for Finance, Mr Wale Akinterinwa; a former member of the House of Representatives, Mayowa Akinfolarin; a former Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Oladunni Odu; and a former Special Adviser to Governor Akeredolu on Health, Prof Francis Faduyile.

Others include a former governorship aspirant of the APC, Chief Olusola Oke; a former Chairman of the Ondo State Oil-producing Areas Development Commission, Mr Gbenga Edema; Senator Jimoh Ibrahim; Dr Paul Akintelure and  Brig. Gen. Olamide Ohunyeye (retd.).

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