By Salisu Sani-Idris

Vice-President Kashim Shettima on Friday reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s determination to address, support and empower more Nigerian youths to excel in their careers.

Shettima said this when he received the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) youth wing in Abuja.

The wing was led by the party’s National Youth Leader, Mr Dayo Israel, during the visit.

He said Tinubu holds Nigerian youths in high esteem, adding that his commitment was evident in his appointments and the administration’s policies and initiatives.

Shettima said some of the initiatives are the Youth Investment Fund, Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) programme, and the National Youth Development Bank.

He added that apart from addressing genuine concerns affecting the youths, the administration’s focus on young persons was premised on the trust and confidence Tinubu has in them.

He explained that “the youths are the lifeblood of any nation and Mr President acknowledges this fact.

“I want to assure you that President Bola Tinubu has the best interest of the youths at heart.

“Tinubu has demonstrated this in most of the programmes that this administration is doing and has undertaken to do.”

The vice-president further expressed confidence in the ability of the present administration to address all concerns raised across different quarters.

He appealed for more time for the government’s plans and programmes to begin to manifest and commended the leadership of the APC youth wing for the commitment and patience.

Shettima gave the assurance that all the group’s requests would be addressed in due course.

Earlier, the APC National Youth Leader had thanked the vice-president “for the love and commitment to the affairs of young people in the country.”

He informed Shettima of the body’s programmes aimed at engaging youths in the country, regardless of their socio-political backgrounds.

According to him, the APC Youth Wing has developed a four-year strategic plan to help young Nigerians to understand and overcome challenges.

The plan, he said, would also help the younger generation to harness opportunities across diverse fields within and outside the country.

He listed the Enterprise-Skills Development Training (EDET) Programme, Workplace Readiness and Employability Skills Training Programme (WREST-P), among others, as some of the initiatives to engage youths across the country.

Israel also requested the presence of the vice-president at the forthcoming Progressive Youth Leadership Summit with the theme “Shaping the Future We Want: Restiveness, Inclusion, Development, Action.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

By Adeyemi Adeleye

A former Presidential Spokesperson, Dr Doyin Okupe, says President Bola Tinubu has not disappointed Nigerians in his address to the nation on the nationwide protests on Sunday.

Okupe, a former Director-General of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council, made this remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, while reacting to the president’s broadcast.

“President Bola Tinubu’s speech has not disappointed Nigerians in that for the first time, the president clearly stated the daunting economic situation his administration met on ground at inception.

“He also amplified the strenuous efforts made by his government to reduce the prevailing crippling and stagnating debt servicing ratio from 97 per cent of earned revenue to 68 per cent.

“In truth, this has been the major cause of our present economic woes and sufferings.

“It is now self-evident that if the fuel subsidy was not removed, it would have been impossible for the government to function.

“And the government will not be able to meet its obligations, without continuing the profligacy of massive and sustained borrowing to fund the subsequent national budgets,” Okupe said.

According to him, the speech highlighted to Nigerians’ delight, the giant and commendable strides of achievements already accomplished by this administration within 14 months of its existence.

Okupe said: “Some of the most outstanding achievements of this administration, as contained in the speech, include “the more than doubling of the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 per month.’’

He talked about Tinubu’s implementation and commitment of more than N45 billion to the students loan scheme and the raising of the national oil production capacity to more than 1.6 million barrels per day.

Okupe also highlighted the massive funding of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which, he said, were the engine of economic growth of any country.

He commended the president for the provision of billions of Naira directly targeted at relieving the current hardship on the poor as well as the massive funding of various youths developmental programmes and projects.

Okupe also applauded the Federal Government for the huge investment deployed toward infrastructure and agriculture.

He said: “It is also worthy to note from the speech the government’s commitment to reduce the prevailing high cost of living and also bring down the food inflation.

“This is through the temporary massive importation of foods and removal of tariffs and other import duties on  foods, drugs and medical supplies, amongst others, for the next six months.

“I personally believe that this administration’s scorecard or performance compares very well if not better than those of many administrations before it.”

He said that the increased amount of funds that Tinubu’s administration had directly made available to the states and local governments must make Nigerians to look beyond the Federal Government.

Okupe said that Nigerians must make the sub-nationalities to be more accountable for the huge sum of revenue inflow they receive from the federation account and other Federal Government intervention funds.

“It is pertinent that we recognise that the Federal Government revenue is shared with 49 per cent going to the Federal Government while approximately 48 per cent goes to the states and local governments leaving some three per cent for ecological funds and derivation,” he said.

Okupe commended the president for recognising the rights of the Nigerian youths and indeed all citizens in general to protest.

He said: “It is also gratifying that the president publicly acknowledged that he has heard their demands loud and clear.’’

“I will therefore, with all humility enjoin our youths and the citizens at large to exercise patience and restraint and embrace the opportunity for dialogue which Mr President has offered.

“This long-awaited but endearing speech has rekindled our renewed hope for a brighter, better and prosperous future for all Nigerians.”

NAN reports that the president in his broadcast on Sunday on the nationwide protests reiterated his government’s commitment to addressing the concerns raised by citizens.

The president enjoined the protesters and the organisers to suspend further protests and create room for dialogue, which he said he had always acceded to at the slightest opportunity.

The protest, which started on Thursday, crippled socio-economic activities across states as motor parks, shops, malls, markets and roads were deserted.

The first day of the protest recorded violence and looting in some states like Niger, Kaduna, Jigawa, Abuja, amongst others.

The protest, planned to end on Aug. 10, is aimed at drawing the attention of the Federal Government to challenges faced by citizens. (NAN)

Edited by Benson Iziama/Adeleye Ajayi

By Femi Ogunshola

The Consolidated Alliance for Grassroots Mobilisation (CAGraM), has launched a smart card to mobilise and track votes and curtail election rigging in the country.

Mr Nwosu Emmanuel, Executive Secretary of CAGraM, said this in Abuja at the unveiling, data capturing and issuance of membership smart cards to leaders on Thursday  in Abuja.

“Our target is to have between three to five million members on this platform by 2026, and by 2031, we will hit the target of 30 million, and with this, we will deliver the next president in 2031.

“This is a project that will never stop; it will expand across the country. What we have done today is to unveil the smartcard.

“We are going to deploy this throughout the state and the data capturing will take place at the state level down to the local governments,” he said.

He said that the group was only complimenting the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC), and not taking over its role.

Emmanuel said that the initiative would help mobilise the people at the grassroots across the country.

He said that a situation where some sell their votes was unacceptable, adding that they were unaware of the damages they do to themselves.

He said that the smart card would also enable people at the grassroots to have access to democratic dividends, by being able to meet their representatives and place their demands.

“We want to challenge INEC by saying that the day integrity comes to our electoral process, the political class will be unbearable to the masses.

“With CAGraM  smart cards, the voice of the grassroots will now be heard loud and clear, and their votes will count at all elections,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr. Silas Agara, the Director -General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), commended the group for leveraging technology to change the electoral process.

He was represented by Mr. Edmond Onwuriri, Director of Planning Research and Statistics at NDE.

“We are glad that Nigeria is leveraging technology to deal with our problems. We believe this will not be open to abuse, as those losing elections will not feel manipulated,`he said.

He said that the move would help deepen democracy as people would now regain confidence in the electoral process, as opposed to what was obtainable in the past years.

Mr. Yusuf Dantalle, Chairman, Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), said the country had faced numerous challenges in an attempt to conduct free, fair, transparent and credible elections since 1960.

“In particular, are the past years of uninterrupted democracy. It is important to note the number of registered voters and turnouts in presidential elections from 1979 to 2023.

This, according to him, would underscore the urgent need for the mobilisation of eligible voters for elections in the country.

He said that the statistics showed a downward trend in voter turnout, particularly from the 2007 to 2023 presidential elections, adding that voter turnout in recent years has been glaring.

“In view of this, IPAC welcomes this innovation in grassroots voter mobilisation using smart cards and technology.

“We hope that the security of the personal data provided would be guaranteed as members’ voting patterns would be extracted from their permanent voter card linked to the device,”he said.

This, according to him, is because the electoral laws provide for the confidentiality of citizens’s votes cast.

CAGraM  is a political group focused on political and social emancipation of rural dwellers across the country, set to reinvent grassroots mobilisation through technology.(NAN)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

By Naomi Sharang

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, says the National Assembly will ensure that every Nigerian has access to quality healthcare.

Akpabio stated this at a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) held in Abuja on Wednesday.

The public hearing included: “A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal Orthopaedic Hospital, Toro, Bauchi State (Amendment), Bill, 2024 and National Eye Centre Doma, Nasarawa State (Establishment) Bill, 2024”.

Akpabio, who was represented by Sen. Osita Ngwu, while declaring the event open, said that lawmakers must ensure every Nigerian has access to the care he or she needed.

“We must ensure that every Nigerian has access to the care he needs, when he needs it.

“By supporting these bills, we are fulfilling our constitutional mandate and demonstrating our dedication to the health and welfare of our people.

“By this public hearing, I’m reminded of our immense responsibility as lawmakers to shape the future of healthcare in Nigeria.

“The bills before us are not just pieces of legislation; rather, they are the building blocks upon which we will build a stronger, more resilient healthcare sector that can meet the needs of our people.

“These bills sponsored by distinguished colleagues of this senate, is a testament of their foresight, passion and unwavering commitment to the well-being of our citizens,” Akpabio said.

According to him, in a country where access to quality healthcare remained a challenge for many, establishing specialised institutions such as orthopaedic hospitals and eye treatment centres was not just a necessity but a moral imperative.

Akpabio also said that the state of the health infrastructure in Nigeria was a matter of grave concern, adding that we lag behind other developing nations in terms of modern medical facilities and resources.

“This is a stark reality and we cannot afford to ignore it. The introduction of legislation to develop and manage our health care infrastructure is a crucial step toward bridging this gap and bringing our health care systems into the 21st century.”

Sen. Shehu Buba (APC-Bauchi) sponsored a bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of the Federal Orthopaedic Hospital, Toro, Bauchi State.

Buba said that the hospital when established would proffer comprehensive orthopaedic care for joint replacement, fracture and arthritis which essentially, was what the people of the north-eastern part of the country lacked, particularly Bauchi State.

“It will also bring health care closer to the people at a reduced cost compared to private hospitals and will equally drastically reduce health tourism to other countries.

“It will stimulate economic growth, foster inter-regional integration and create job opportunities.

“It will also deter patients from patronising traditional bone setters, who enjoy patronage in the absence of specialised orthopaedic hospital,” he said.(NAN)

Edited by Modupe Adeloye and Abiemwense Moru

By Kayode Adebiyi

Chief Samuel Onuigbo, a former member of House of Representatives, says in spite of challenges Nigeria has turned the curve in pursuit of good governance through a democratic government.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday that the country was fine-tuning its `democratic skills` and learning from past mistakes.

He spoke against the backdrop of 25 years of interrupted democracy and the annulled watershed June 12 1993 presidential election which birthed the present democratic dispensation.

Onuigbo is a member of the Board of the North East Development Commission representing the South East.

“For instance, the judiciary was dormant during the military rule, same as the legislature, which is the first victim of military intervention.

“Also, there has been an improvement in the running of a unified local government system. Yes, there are challenges in the areas of autonomy, elections and fiscal allocation.

“Hopefully, we will have a local government system that functions and serves the wishes and aspirations of people at the grassroots.

“After a quarter of a century of unbroken democracy, agitations such as resource control and true federalism persist among Nigerians“ he said.

Onuigbo, who sponsored the Climate Change Act, said recent agitations for restructuring were part of the democratic process.

He said such agitations will not go away because they reflect inconsistencies in sub-national governments which compel the citizens to demand what they considered fairness and equity.

“What I can tell you is that democracy is a work in progress. The aim is to achieve and attain good governance for everybody.

“During military rule, politicians are forced to leave. So, the task of protecting our democratic process is for everybody.

“Those who are looking up to our leaders should also support the system and help us to continue to build,” he said.

On whether the legislative arm of government sometimes acts as an appendage of the executive, Onuigbo said the independence of the legislature was guaranteed.

However, he said collaboration and partnership with the executive was important for dividends of democracy to be delivered to the people.

He also told NAN that there were misconceptions about the budgetary allocation to the legislature.

He attributed it to prolonged military rule during which the legislature was a major casualty.

He said, for years during military rule before the return to democracy in 1999, there was no proper development for the law-making arm of the government.

“There was no structure, no legislative institutions; no commission, no library, no institute for legislative studies, and so on.

“Remember that the National Assembly is an arm of government, not a department of the executive.

“If you compare the budget of NASS to that of only one ministry, which is not an arm of the government, people won’t be scrutinizing the budget of NASS as they are doing now.

“It is up to the media to educate the people on this misunderstanding, because this is what we need to explain,” he said.

He said the legislature, as an arm of government, was still growing after disruptions during the military.

On the calls in some quarters to the adoption of unicameral legislature as against the current practice of bicameral legislature, as a cost-saving measure, Onuigbo said the main issue was the type of legislature in use.

He said the most important thing was to ensure that the best hands were elected to represent the people and that the legislatures should deliver on their responsibilities.

“If their people deem them fit to represent them, then it should be an honour to serve on a part-time basis.

“When someone is called upon to serve, it is expected that such a person goes there with ideas, policies and ways to help his or her people,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Uche Anunne

By Femi Ogunshola

Read More

Mr Kayode Ojo

By Adedeji Egbebi
Mr Kayode Ojo, Chairman, Governing Council of the Federal University of Technology, Oye-Ekiti(FUOYE), has condemned the rising insecurity and killings in Ekiti State.

Ojo, who spoke through his Media Aide, Deji Aiyelabowo, on Saturday in Ado-Ekiti described the recent killings in the state as senseless, cruel and barbaric.

He urged the security agencies to do everything possible to arrest the killers and face the wrath of the law.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that three persons were recently killed by gunmen at different locations in Ado-Ekiti metropolis.

A commercial motorcycle ticket agent was shot dead close to the former Police Headquarters, Okesha, a POS operator was killed at Adebayo area and a rice hawker was killed close to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps office at the popular Oja-Oba by yet to be arrested persons operating on motorcycle.

Ojo observed that the seeming helplessness of the police in crime control and prevention in the state was worrisome.

“This despicable act must be condemned by all right thinking Nigerians, not only Ekiti residents.

”No doubt, the few criminals in our society are looking for opportunities to discourage or create fear in the minds of the people in the state so that evils can flourish. We must not allow this.

“We must not allow evils to flourish in the society and security agencies must be alive to their responsibilities by exposing criminals from within.

“Let the community fish out the criminals who carried out these dastardly act and hand them over to security agencies.

“The killers are human beings, who are supposed to be traceable. They are not spirit, hence, all efforts should be made by all who are supposed to do the needful,” he said.

Ojo, who is an All Progressives Congress chieftain in Ekiti State, called for holistic measures to put the barbaric act under check before degenerating to uncontrollable situation.

“There is need for all security agencies to work together as a team to form a formidable body to put an end to the ugly development in the state.

“The security agencies in the state should come together to work out a more professional modality to put an immediate halt to it.

“The police and other relevant security agencies must work together to bring the culprits to book to serve as deterrent to others,” he said.

While commiserating with the families of the victims, Ekiti people, the government, Ojo prayed God to console them over the loss.

He urged residents to always be their brothers’ keepers, urging them to always be security conscious.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Ojinaka/Tayo Ikujuni