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Ex-Aviation Minister Stella Oduah accused by NGO of siphoning public funds through series fictitious empowerment projects

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According to a report by a non-governmental organization, the Nigerian government’s proposed budget for 2022 is littered with frivolous items worth billions of naira inserted by Senator Stella Oduah of the Anambra North Senatorial District in the Senate.

Oduah is allegedly using her position as the Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations to siphon taxpayers’ money, according to the NGO in a letter to TELEVISION NIGERIAN.

Abubakar Galadanchi, the organization’s Executive Chairman; Barrister Ossai Festus, the Project Director; and Oluwole Idris, the Protem Secretary, all signed the letter dated January 20, 2022.

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President Muhammadu Buhari presented the Joint Session of the National Assembly with a budget of N16.39 trillion for 2022 in October 2021.

But the NGO in the letter urged the President and the Minister of Finance not to fund and implement “these fictitious training and empowerment line items of a total of N4,123,965,973.”

The letter read, “We are a non-governmental, non-profitable and non-partisan organisation committed to eradicating corruption and also campaigning for good governance in Nigeria.

“Sir, we bring to your attention the continuous siphoning of Nigerians’ hard-earned and taxpayers’ money by Senator Stella Oduah using Nigerian budget as a tool through her office as Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations.

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“This she did seamlessly in 2020 and 2021 budgets by padding and inserting several fictitious training and empowerment line items in the 2020 and 2021 budgets. She inserted these fictitious training and empowerment line items to siphon billions of naira of taxpayers’ money through the instrumentality of padding the budgets. She has done it successfully unchecked and unencumbered in the 2020 and 2021 budgets and their implementation/execution without batting an eyelid.

“Sir, this 2022 budget that was recently passed into law by the National Assembly, Senator Stella Oduah (just as she did in 2020 and 2021 budgets) inserted and padded several fictitious training and empowerment line items running into billions of naira.

“These inserted/padded training line items in 2022 budget she intends to nominate companies she is interested in and use them as a conduit to siphon 90% of the budgeted amount with strong collusion with the agencies the training and empowerment line items are domiciled.

“Sir, our investigation revealed that Senator Stella Oduah has done this severally in the 2020 and 2021 budgets and successfully siphoned the money, hence she became more emboldened to insert/pad more of these fictitious training and line items in the recently passed 2022 budget with the ulterior motive to siphon over four billion naira of taxpayers’ money.

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“Sir, it is very disheartening that Federal Government would go to the international market/financial Institutions to borrow money in order to fund the budget so that critical infrastructures can be done by your administration, while Senator Stella Oduah will in turn siphon part of this money using fictitious training and empowerment line items in the budget.

“We hereby attach (as Annexure ‘A’) for your perusal the list of projects and fictitious training and empowerment line items totalling N4,123,965,973 (Four billion, one hundred and twenty-three million, nine hundred and sixty thousand, nine hundred and seventy-three naira) that Senator Stella Oduah inserted into 2022 budget as passed by the National Assembly.

“Also attached as Annexure ‘B’ is the list of capital projects and items totalling N1,512,896,667 that Senator Stella Oduah inserted into the 2022 budget. We request for you to intervene and assist to mobilise and corroborate with other civil society organisations and mount pressure on the Federal Government to halt funding and implementation of these several fictitious training and empowerment lines in 2022 budget total of four billion, one hundred and twenty-three million, nine hundred and sixty-five thousand, nine hundred and seventy-three naira (N4,123,965,973) as listed in the attached Annexure ‘A’.

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“This can be done by a continuous pressure President Buhari and Minister of Finance and Planning, not to fund and implement these fictitious training and empowerment line items of a total of N4,123,965,973 (as listed in Annexure ‘A’ ) that Senator Stella Oduah inserted in 2022 budget.

“May we inform You Sir that taking the urgent step to halt this sacrilege and continuous rip off of our collective wealth by Senator Stella will save our country billions of naira she intends to siphon with strong collusion with the agencies she domiciled the projects.”

The group listed 34 alleged “fictitious training and empowerment lines inserted into the 2022 budget to siphon taxpayers’ money”.

They include “ERGP12179945: Training and empowerment of women and youth on the utilisation of Red Clay soil for low-cost housing projects in Anambra East Ogbaru (50m), Ayamelum and Onitsha south (50m), Okpoko and Anambra West (50m), Oyi and Onitsha North (50m), Anambra North Senatorial District, Secretary to the Government of the Federation 200,000,000.

“ERGP202201174 Strategic empowerment of women and youths in Anambra North Senatorial District, Anambra New N200,000,000.”

Others listed include: “ERGP10180183: Skill Acquisition Training on New Methodology of Fish Management and Process in Anambra North. Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development N76,000,000.

“ERGP10180183: Skill Acquisition Training on New Methodology of Fish Management and Process in Anambra North Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development N76,366,034

Read Also:  Fuel queues: group petitions the NNPC, petroleum minister over artificial scarcity

“ERGP10180085: Training of women and Youth on Aquacultural Management with Startup in Anambra North, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development N76,366,034.

“ERGP5180114: Skill Acquisition Training and provision of Fishing Tools and Artilleries For Local Farmers in Anambra North. Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development N95,000,000.”

Fuel queues: group petitions the NNPC, petroleum minister over artificial scarcity

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Concerned Nigerians, a civil society organization, has accused Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, and Mele Kolo Kyari, Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), of complicity in the resurgence of fuel queues in filling stations across the country.

The group also claimed that the NNPC is aware of independent petroleum marketers who are artificially scaring the country’s petroleum supply.

It warned that hoarding fuel could throw the country’s economy into disarray, as it could lead to inflation.

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The petition was signed by the National Coordinator, Deji Adeyanju in Abuja on Tuesday and copied to the Minister of Petroleum Resources and the Group Managing Director of NNPC. Recall that the Federal Government extended the timeframe for removal of fuel subsidy by additional 18 months, a development that had initially caused panic buying of petroleum products among Nigerians.

Adeyanju wondered why regulatory bodies have not been intervening in the situation, especially not deeming it fit to prevail on independent marketers. He lamented long queues across filing stations in the nation’s capital, adding that the marketers always shut down their gates by 6:00pm.

“As you may already know, in recent months, independent marketers of petroleum products have engaged in speculative acts of hoarding petroleum products, particularly PMS, in a bid to criminally increase the prices, cause artificial scarcity and plunge the country into widespread economic chaos.

“For example, filling stations across the nation’s capital are littered with long queues of vehicles seeking to purchase fuel, while the independent marketers ensure that their filling stations are shut for the day by 6pm.

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“What is, however, deeply worrisome is that the regulators have not deemed it necessary to call these independent marketers to order but continue to allow them take advantage of Nigerians. At a time when Nigerians are going through excruciating pain, an artificial fuel scarcity is the last thing they should worry about,” he stated.

Cult groups clash at Kwara University, resulting in two deaths, ten arrested

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As alleged rival cultist groups from Kwara State University, Malete, clashed in a battle for supremacy, one person, identified as Ajibiye Ridwan, was killed.

According to reports, the bloody fight between cult groups in Malete’s Tarmac area saw the use of guns and other weapons, sending the students community into a panic.

The deceased’s remains have been deposited at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital’s morgue, while seven suspects have been arrested, according to the police.

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Meanwhile, Ajayi Okasanmi, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), has confirmed the death of an unidentified young man who was discovered in a pool of his own blood.

The man was shot by suspected cultists along Taiwo Road, Ilorin on Saturday.

He said three suspects were arrested over the incident, adding that one motorcycle and a tricycle used by the suspected cultists were also recovered.

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“The Commissioner of Police, Tuesday Assayomo, has ordered a discreet investigation into the case as well as other cult-related cases in the state,” he said.

Peter Osugo, veteran journalist, sports administrator, dies.

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Pa Peter Chukwuma Osugo, also known as PECOS, was a well-known sports administrator and journalist who died at the age of 92.

According to a statement signed by one of his children, Leo Osugo, the nonagenarian passed away on January 24, 2022.

Osugo, also known as Jet Forces, was a former Sunday Times editor and team manager for the National Team and the Stationery Stores Football Club, which is now defunct.

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On April 21, 1929, in Port Harcourt, the polymath who excelled in geology, politics, journalism, and sports was born.
Osugo grew up in northern Nigeria and had most of his elementary school education in Minna, Niger State, before proceeding to St. Gregory’s College, Obalende, Lagos, where his talent as an athlete and sportsman was identified and nurtured by the school principal, Fr. Moran.

He represented St. Gregory’s College and the then Lagos Colony in the 440 yards (400 metres) race. He held the Nigerian record in this event for many years.

Osugo joined the Nigeria Geological Survey in Kaduna as a technical assistant before finding his true calling as a journalist. He joined the West African Pilot as a reporter and became Lead Writer before joining the Daily Times. He was Sports Editor and later Editor of the Sunday Times, which became the largest selling newspaper in Nigeria by 1975.

His incisive writings on Nigerian and global sports coupled with his previous background as an elite athlete came to the attention of a new breed of Nigerian entrepreneurs, notably the late Israel Adebajo, who had acquired the Stationery Stores Supply Company in Apapa and wanted to start a football club to promote the company brand.

Adebajo approached PECOS to become the Team Manager of Stationery Stores Football Club, which became the lightning rod for Nigerian football with a fanatical Lagos and national fan base.

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PECOS was invited to become the Team Manager with up to nine Stores players in the national team. He is credited with renaming the Red Devils to the Green Eagles before its metamorphosis to the current Super Eagles.

Pa Osugo is survived by his brothers, sisters, children, grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Boko Haram: Gov Zulum chastised for claiming that terrorists truly repentant

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Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has been chastised for claiming that the repentant Boko Haram terrorists are ‘truly repentant.’

HURIWA, the Nigerian Human Rights Writers Association, said the governor should hide his face in shame for defending terrorists.

Zulum recently stated that he believes that more than 90% of Boko Haram members who have surrendered to the military are truly repentant.

He said this as the Buhari administration and the Nigerian armed forces have been chastised for granting amnesty to terrorists.

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Governor Zulum was reminded by the group that millions of victims of heartbreaking terror campaigns have been scattered around the world as refugees and internally displaced persons for more than a decade.

“What then is the concept of government and the dispensation of justice, including bringing killers to face the long arm of the law and for the victims to receive social justice and closure to their sufferings?

“HURIWA thinks this Federal government has been so unfair to the victims if terrorism in Nigeria”, the group said in a statement signed by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, its national coordinator and made available to TELEVISION NIGERIAN.

The rights group called on the Federal Government to perish the idea of implementing the unconstitutional programme of reintegration of terrorists.

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According to HURIWA, the move will rubbish the essence, significance and the place of the grundnorm in the society, “and has made Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari look like a Banana republic in the eyes of the international community.”

Deputy Governor of Zamfara served impeachment notice by Zamfara Assembly

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The deputy governor, Alhaji Mahdi Aliyu Gusau, has been served with an impeachment notice by the Zamfara State House of Assembly.

Hon. Shamsu Haske, chairman of the House Standing Committee on Information, told reporters in Gusau that the deputy speaker had submitted a notice to the speaker last week seeking Gusau’s impeachment.

He claimed that two-thirds of the members had already signed the petition to remove the deputy governor.

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He claimed that the Assembly had previously invited Gusau to speak on some critical issues concerning his official duties, but that he rushed to court and obtained an order urging the parties to maintain the status quo.

he lawmaker said the order has expired and therefore the Assembly as an independent body ought to discharge of its responsibility.

Haske said, “His Excellency, the deputy governor in person of Barr. Mahadi Aliyu Gusau under the provisions of Section 128 and 129 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) mischievously approached the Federal High Court in Abuja alleging that this House is in the process of impeaching him.”

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He said the court in its wisdom ordered the parties to maintain the status quo.
The lawmaker accused the deputy governor of refusing to honour the invitation of the House. According to him, the allegations against Gusau are abuse of office, breach of Sections 190 and 193 (1), (2) (a)(b)(c), of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) as well as criminal self-enrichment using public funds.

According to him, this included criminal diversion of state funds.

Also yesterday, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said no responsible parliament would act against a court decision.

He spoke against the background of the Zamfara Assembly playing ignorance of the court order in the deputy governor’s case.

At a consultation meeting with the PDP delegates, Tambuwal who is aspiring for party’s presidential ticket wondered how a parliament was promoting illegally in the case of Gusau.

Tambuwal said, “It seems like there is no law in the country or completely displaying ignorance of the assignment as in spite of court order to maintain the status quo they are trying to act illegally.”

Read Also:  How Ganduje’s Journey to Kano APC’s Become an Outsider

He advised political leaders to understand the tenets of leadership and respect them as nobody can change one’s destiny in life.

Tambuwal recalled that in 2015 when President Muhammadu Buhari took over power, Nigeria was faced with a series of crisis but instead of reducing hardship among the people, the situation had become worse than what the APC government inherited.

Also on the team, former Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa said it is time for the kick start for the preparations of the 2023 elections.

He recalled that in 2019 out the seven contestants of the PDP Presidential ticket from the Northwest Tambuwal was the second in votes.

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“The five presidential aspirants from the Northwest, six of us decided to step down and back Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal for the PDP presidential ticket being him young and energetic,” he added.

How Ganduje’s Journey to Kano APC’s Become an Outsider

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Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state may be drowning in a sea of adversity.

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State is having the time of his life. While he isn’t a stranger to troubled waters, the difference this time is that the people threatening to drown him are ostensibly comrades from the same political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ganduje’s challenges are largely self-imposed, having served as deputy governor for eight years and now as the incumbent governor for close to seven years.

Political pundits expected the governor to have mastered the intrigues of Kano politics from being an insider for so long, but he has made so many apparent costly mistakes that have taken control of the party out of his hands.

The jostle for control of the party started when the governor unilaterally allotted positions for the 2023 national elections to certain persons without consulting other stakeholders in the party. Some serving members of the National Assembly from Kano State whose offices were traded off by Ganduje were baffled that such weighty decisions could be taken behind them. After several failed efforts to get the Kano governor to rescind his decision, they came together in an alliance now known as the G-7.

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Emergence of the G-7

The group includes Senator Barau Jibril, representing Kano North, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, representing Kano Central, Bashir Dalhatu of Buhari Support Organization, Sha’aban Sharadda, memberof the House of Representatives, representing Kano Municipal, Tijjani Jobe, member of the House of Representatives from Dawakin Tofa, Rumin Gado and Tofa, Nasiru Auduwa Gabasawa, representing Gabasawa and Gezawa and Ahmad Haruna Danzago Kano State Chairman of APC.

There was clearly no need for Ganduje to allow the birth of G-7. He was supposed to sit them down and identify those who could go for higher appointments in Abuja or those to be nominated for gubernatorial or other appointments within the G-7, but he chose to abide by the advice of the chairman of the party produced by his faction, Abdullahi Abbass.

What could have been managed by the governor with the political sagacity that he was credited with was allowed to become a full-blown crisis. Once the case went to court, the line of differences was clearly drawn and there appears to be no going back; not when the matter has gone all the way to the Supreme Court, which decided in favour of the G-7. The Kano Governor lost the court battle at every stage. The Supreme Court has handed over the leadership of the party to Shekarau, while Ganduje is left with Abass, the factional chairman of the party, but the court has ruled that Danzago is officially the chairman of the party at the state level. Effectively, the structure of the APC in Kano is in the hands of Shekarau, a former governor of the state and a serving Senator.

Although the APC Reconciliation Committee has made many public and secret efforts to make peace between the G-7 and Ganduje, it looks like the ship has left the harbour. What is noticeable everywhere in Kano, at the moment, is that the G-7 is in charge of the party. The people on the streets have turned their back against Ganduje, who has committed so many blunders that portray him as one without good advisers. On the other hand, it could be that the governor opted to act independently and refused to listen to anyone else. Whether he acted alone or in cahoots with others behind the curtain, he should have seen what was coming at him. As things stand today, the problem has become hydra-headed and too big to be solved in one day or one week. It is no comfort to Governor Ganduje that the selection process of the political parties for their flag-bearers in the 2023 national elections is around the corner.

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From feelers in Kano political assemblies, members of the G-7 were incensed by the Kano governor’s thoughtless actions after they spent their monies, time and reputation to side with him in his various trying times. Whatever came up against Ganduje, they made sure those problems were solved at their own level. They joined forces and resources, with their intellectuality to make sure Ganduje emerged as a governor, a second time. Having done so much to support his person and administration, the least they expected from him was appreciation. Rather, what they got was a stab in the back and a blunt refusal by Governor Ganduje to reach an understanding with them when the opportunity was open, before they headed for the courts.

What further irked the G-7 was the effrontery of the governor’s wife to publicly state that Hon. Murtala Sule Garo, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs would succeed her husband. Expectedly this created negative reactions in the state. The First Family of Kano was forced to by overwhelming public opinion to backtrack, but the governor’s body language disclosed something else. The apology did not quite seem to come from the heart.

Perhaps, if Ganduje had chosen a better candidate and carried the G-7 along, the people of Kano may have agreed to his choice. Rather than use his vast knowledge of politics in the state to cement relationships, Ganduje thought he could use the carrot and stick approach, unmindful of the fact that members of the G-7 individually and collectively command so much respect and are financially comfortable.

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From the G-7 fold, Senator Barau Jibril has a lot going for him. Since Shekarau can’t be governor again, the lot may fall on Jibril, whose political machinery in Kano is so strong that even if he were to contest against a sitting governor, he will come tops. He is powerful and the people of Kano are with him. Along with his compatriots in the G-7, they made so many covert efforts and used their money to buy copies of the videos that were supposed to be published to embarrass the Kano Governor. They covered his shame when it mattered.

Window for a Truce?

If the calculation does not work out well for Ganduje, he may go with his tail between his legs to beg for a soft landing. Recently, his acolytes who used to abuse former governor Rabiu Kwankwaso on radio have indicated that if the opportunity presents itself, they are ready to apologise to the Kwankwasiyya leader. Ganduje has recently paid condolence visits to Kwankwaso on the death of his brother. Watchers of the political scene in Kano were also surprised when all the feuding Kano politicians gathered and exchanged pleasantries at the wedding of Shekarau’s daughter. These were not likely to happen in the past when there was no love lost between these politicians. Governor Ganduje has recently been going everywhere with Abdulsalam Abdulkarim Zaura, a wealthy businessman and politician, who is a known ally of APC National Leader, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose presidential ambition is openly supported by the Kano Governor. However, many are quick to point to the fact that the late former governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi’s daughter is married to Ganduje’s son. Tinubu was Ajimobi’s political godfather. Zaura is believed to have the money to match Jibril if they have to fight for the APC governorship ticket in Kano.

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But power play is largely about interest, not family ties. So, where there are threats to expose the Kano governor’s dirty deals, he may be pressurized to consider the skeletons in his cupboard than who his son is married to.

COVID-19: Federal GovernmReceives 2m J&J Vaccinent e Doses

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Bottles of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson Janssen Covid-19 vaccine await transfer into syringes for administering at a vaccine rollout targetting immingrants and the undocumented in Los Angeles, California on March 25, 2021. - The US is calling for a pause on April 13, 2021 on administering the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine due to blood clotting concerns. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

The European Union delivered two million doses of Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to the federal government yesterday, bringing the total doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine available in the country to around 51 million.

“With this current donation of 1,936,050 doses by the European Union, the total number of doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine available to Nigeria is about 51 million doses,” Dr. Faisal Shuaib, executive director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), said during the official handover of the vaccine in Abuja. Nigeria currently has 12,916,450 doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccines in the country.”

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Shuaib reiterated that the country would be focusing the J&J vaccines at the moment on those who are in the hard-to-reach areas (riverine areas, desert areas and security-compromised areas).

“This is because the Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only a single dose for full vaccination. This way our health workers will be able to do what is called a ‘touch and go’ without compromising their safety,” he said.

On the number of people vaccinated so far in the country, Shuaib said, “I am glad to inform you that Nigeria has vaccinated 15,792,392 (14.1%) of her eligible population with the 1st dose.”

Stressing that the availability of different vaccine brands does not mean that some categories of people are selected for high quality vaccines, Shuaib noted that all COVID-19 vaccines approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) are safe and can deliver adequate protection against the disease.

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“While choice of vaccine is left for eligible persons to make, it is important to note that no particular vaccine brand is preferable to the other,” he said.

NYSC member convert dilapidated building to clinic in remote Adamawa state village

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A member of the National Youth Service Corps, Ihenyen Ehinome Joy (AD/20B/1932), serving in Adamawa State, converted an abandoned building to a Clinic in Kpogno Community, a remote village in Girei LGA of Adamawa State.

The idea of the Clinic came up when the corps member was participating as an enumeration officer in the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) which entailed corps members touring remote villages of the state to enumerate and register Primary School pupils for the school feeding Programme.

While registering the pupils in this village (Kpogno), Joy observed that several people, particularly the children and the elderly, were not looking healthy enough.

After some enquiries, she realized that the rural dwellers had to travel 14 kilometers away to access the nearest Clinic at another village called Borong.

She became disturbed and took it upon herself to change the ugly situation.

Using her orientation on NYSC’s Community Development Service (CDS) Programme, she strategized, secured the necessary support and approval of the NYSC scheme, mobilized the relevant stakeholders, particularly the Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and most importantly collaborated with the people of the community.

Seeing and trusted her as a messiah, the Community happily and willingly donated a four bedroom dilapidated building for the project in addition to other contributions towards its success.

And finally it is mission accomplished for Copa Joy!!! As the people of Kpogno Community no longer have to travel 14 kilometers to access simple medical care.

Copa Joy, an indigene from far away Edo State, Ekpoma LGA, has come to their rescue through the human scheme, NYSC.

To ensure continued sustenance, management and viability of the health care centre, corps member Joy partnered with the State Primary Healthcare through the Girei LGA PHC which is to continue providing drugs, services as well as other medical consumables and non consumables.

NYSC Trust Fund: Unemployed graduates back bill, laud NASS, NYSC for prioritizing job creation

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The Coalition of Unemployed Graduates in Nigeria (CUGN) has applauded the bill seeking to create the National Youth Service Corps Trust Fund, noting that it has the potential to generate one million jobs annually if passed into law.

The group, which made this known today at a press conference in Abuja, also said the Trust Fund will potentially address youth unemployment and enhance economic prosperity.

In his address, convener, Comrade Emmanuel Odenmalu, said the Trust Fund is a unique opportunity for the country to harness the potentials of its bustling youthful population for sustainable growth and development.

According to Odenmalu, if passed, the NYSC Trust Fund will provide “funding mediums for our teeming youths in the country in furtherance of its Skill and Entrepreneurship Development initiative for corp members while in service and after service”.

Comrade Odenmalu, therefore, thanked the NYSC for conceiving the idea, adding that it is a “function of strategic thoughts on rejigging our job creation drive towards socio-economic development”.

While commending the National Assembly for ensuring that the bill passed second reading, the group urged the legislators to ensure its speedy passage.

The youths, however, urged “Nigerians from all walks of life to lend their support to the proposed NYSC Trust Fund bill as the benefits are innumerable and of great concern to the teeming youths in the country”.

Read full statement below:

We welcome you all to this press conference in light of the recent happenings in the country regarding the efforts of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in addressing youth unemployment in the country.

We must admit that these are indeed trying times in the country with the escalating number of graduates from our tertiary institutions without meaningful forms of employment. These figures keep rising daily, and it is expedient that concerted efforts must be made to address this societal challenge.

We must also admit that Nigerian youths are industrious and able to bring about innovations that translate to wealth creation. In our opinion, this has not been possible because successive governments did not create an enabling environment neither were policies introduced to address the national concern.

This consequently gave rise to more and more unemployed graduates roaming the streets searching for jobs that have remained elusive. The attendant implication is the resort to crime and other forms of criminality to make ends meet.

As an association, our joy knew no bounds when the National Youth Service Corps leadership proposed a Trust Fund to aim to provide funding mediums for our teeming youths in the country in furtherance of its Skill and Entrepreneurship Development initiative for corp members while in service and after service.

It is thus a statement of the fact that the NYSC Trust Fund, when passed into law, has the potential to create one million jobs annually. This is on the heels that universities and polytechnics admit close to 2 million students each academic year and produce about 600,000 graduates.

A cursory analysis of the number of graduates that passes through the NYSC scheme yearly and if a modest 300,000 of such graduates are equipped with skills and funds to startup businesses; the impact would be tremendous as the multiplier effect would be felt across the country.

It is instructive to state that we might not understand that once this number of agile population is left in limbo, the effect would also be felt across the country most negatively.

The Coalition of Unemployed Graduates in Nigeria sees the NYSC Trust Fund as that unique opportunity for the country to harness the potentials of the bustling youthful population in the country into strength in our quest for sustainable growth and development.

The urgency of now requires that all hands be on deck to address the unemployment crisis in the country. And the unique offering proposed in the NYSC Trust Fund is a source of joy for the Coalition of Unemployed Graduates in Nigeria.

Our opinion is that the NYSC Trust Fund is long overdue. The benefits that would be derived would go a long way in addressing youth unemployment. It would also contribute a great deal to economic prosperity in the country.

We are using this medium to express our gratitude to the leadership of the National Youth Service Corp for proposing this brilliant initiative which, in our opinion, is a function of strategic thoughts on rejigging our job creation drive towards socio-economic development.

It must also be stated that the contributions to the national development of the youths would take centre stage as the country would record tangible innovations and businesses that would set the country on the path of greatness once again.

We must not fail to appreciate the members of the National Assembly in their laudable efforts in ensuring that the NYSC Trust Fund bill scaled second reading. The robust deliberations on the floor of the House of Representatives indeed give hope to the millions of youths that stand to benefit from this laudable initiative if passed into law.

We do not doubt the commitment of the National Assembly as the passing into law of the NYSC Trust Fund is a national concern that must be accorded the necessary urgency it deserves. We also wish to inform the members of the House of Representatives to be open-minded when it receives submission from well-meaning Nigerians at the public hearing of the bill due to the avalanche of positive reviews arising from the introduction of the bill in recent times.

We, therefore, call on Nigerians from all walks of life to lend their support to the proposed NYSC Trust Fund bill as the benefits are innumerable and of great concern to the teeming youths in the country.

As an organization, our support remains unflinching. We wish to state that this is indeed one of the best decisions by the Muhammadu Buhari administration in addressing youth unemployment in the country.

We remain optimistic that at the end of the day, the NYSC Trust Fund bill would receive the speedy attention that it deserves as it has been well received by the generality of Nigerians, especially parents and guardians that toiled day and night to ensure a better future for their children.

We once again commend all concerned stakeholders and make a passionate appeal to all and sundry to key into this game-changer in ensuring that Nigeria experiences a rebirth in our desire to translate the hopes and aspirations of our teeming youths into tangible realities.

We thank you all for your time and attention.

God bless.

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