With the July disengagement of Batch A and B N-Power beneficiaries, approximately 83% of them did not receive their N-Power device, newsmen survey uncovered.

Recall that Batch A beneficiaries exited the programme on June 30 after four years in the famed scheme, while their Batch B counterparts officially made their exit on July 31st – after two years.

Meanwhile, a chunk of these Nigerian youths did not get their promised package.

The N-Power Volunteer Corp involves a massive deployment of thousands of Nigerian graduates, paid N30,000 (78 US Dollars) monthly stipend, who assists to improve the inadequacies in Nigeria’s public services in education, health, and agriculture.

At the time of its inception in 2016, all the N-Power Batch A and B beneficiaries were afforded the opportunity to select and own electronic devices for continuous learning; depending on the selected vocations of entrepreneurship, and to boost the knowledge economy.

The last set of beneficiaries (2018) of the famed scheme regularly take to social media to express their displeasure with the government on her failed promise regarding the device.

Indeed, many (not all) of the graduate pioneer set got their selected device, however, not a single person among the set recruited last received the device.

Recall that in a statement earlier this year by Sadiya Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, the ministry admitted that Batch B beneficiaries (about 300, 000 enrolees) did not receive the tablet device.

Even so, findings revealed that some Batch A beneficiaries did not get their device.

“The Ministry is aware that Batch B beneficiaries have not received the tablet device, however, the prevailing economic exigencies exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic has made this untenable. This is regretted,” the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs had stated.

After two years in the programme, the entire 300,000 volunteers of Batch B who were exited in July did not get their device.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has reaffirmed his commitment to the ongoing reforms in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) especially as it concerns the activities of the Federal Anti-robbery Squad (FSARS) and other Special Tactical Units of the Force.

The IGP made this known during a courtesy call by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, on Monday, 5th October 2020, at the Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja.

The IGP called on the citizens to exercise patience as the reforms in FSARS, others are still in progress, noting that all the announced measures aimed at checkmating a future occurrence of extra-judicial activities by some personnel of FSARS and other Tactical Units of the Force will be followed to the end. He reiterated that some of the officers who have been found to be unruly and unprofessional in their dealings with the citizens, particularly the youths, have been arrested and are already facing disciplinary actions.

Minister of Youths And Sports Calls For Stronger Collaboration

In his remarks, Dare commended the IGP for his prompt response in tackling the issues and called for stronger collaboration and mutual understanding between the police and the youths.

The support for Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s representative for the job of Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) – has increased among European countries.

Okonjo-Iweala made it into the final five which will be trimmed down to two after which the candidate to occupy the Director-General position will be announced on November 7, 2020.

Okonjo-Iweala made it into the final five alongside Amina C. Mohamed of Kenya, Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Liam Fox of the United Kingdom after the delegates of the WTO pared the list of eight candidates by eliminating Jesus Seade Kuri of Mexico, Tudor Ulianovschi of Moldova, and Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh of Egypt.

Now, Okonjo-Iweala’s chances of making it into the final top two spot is high, as countries in the European Union are throwing their weight behind her.

Okonjo-Iweala’s nomination by Nigeria had initially been protested by Egypt after its representative, Mamdouh, said her nomination was done after the nomination deadline.

Nigeria had replaced Yonov Frederick Agah – its initial candidate – in June. This decision was protested by Egypt and AU’s Office of Legal Counsel.

However, the WTO said substituting Agah for Okonjo-Iweala was within the timeframe for nomination. Since her nomination, prominent leaders have voiced their support for Okonjo-Iweala.

Okonjo-Iweala isn’t the only candidate receiving support from the European Union, as South Korea’s candidate, Yoo Myung-hee is also being supported by representatives of the European Union.

Prominent Leaders Backing Okonjo-Iweala
Former UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown said Okonjo-Iweala is suitable for the top job at the trade organisation, hence, his support for her. Brown said the former managing director of the World Bank is known for handling “the toughest of jobs” and delivering results.

While speaking about her qualities, Brown also pointed out her global recognition which has also seen her linked to the president of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before David Malpass was elected..

Kenya’s former Director of Anti-Corruption Commission, Patrick Lumumba, chose Okonjo-Iweala over fellow citizen, representative of Kenya, Amina Mohamed, whom Okonjo-Iweala is competing against.

Eloi Laourou, the candidate submitted by the Benin government – as the country’s representative for the WTO Director-General job – was withdrawn by the Republic of Benin, in support of Okonjo-Iweala.

However, despite the division among African countries to tender one strong candidate, Okonjo-Iweala is gathering the needed support globally.

The most recent support Okonjo-Iweala got was from Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote. Dangote said the global trade organisation needs the skills and experience Ngozi-Okonjo possesses. According to the businessman, Ngozi-Okonjo has the ability to mitigate the obstacles WTO faces.

The Acting Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Eyitayo Oyetunji, announced that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the sum of N10 billion for the continuation of the enumeration area demarcation in the remaining 546 local government areas of the country. 

Making this announcement at a press briefing on Monday, Oyetunji revealed that Buhari also approved the sum of N4.5 billion to be added to the 2021 budget for the completion of the exercise in preparation for the next population census.

More to follow…

Ahead of the Ondo State Governorship election, 11 political parties in the state has announced that they will be working with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to ensure that Eyitayo Jegede emerges victorious at the poll.

Declaring support for Jegede the parties revealed that their decision was taken to ensure that Rotimi Akeredolu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) was defeated at the polls

The chairmen of the concerned political parties converged on PDP secretariat in Akure, the state capital on Monday to jointly sign a statement for their action.

Speaking for the chairman of the 11 political parties, the state Chairman of Social Democratic Party (SDP) Dele Ogunbameru described the Akeredou led administration as a calamity in the face of things.

“The political parties participating in Ondo 2020 governorship election in Ondo State have resolved to support the PDP candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, for the poll. We are committed to good governance in Ondo State, which we believe can only be offered by the PDP at this present austere period.

“There is no gainsaying that the present political leadership in Ondo State can best be described as nothing but a calamity in the face of things. This collaboration is an organised effort to save Ondo State from the political quagmire and the undesirable socioeconomic predicament of our people.

“The political party leaders, therefore, resolved to work as a team in tandem with the PDP’s well-captured manifesto for the welfare of the good people of Ondo State,” Ogunbameru said.

Reacting to the development, the state chairman of PDP Fatai Adams urged the parties to go back to their respective areas and work for the victory of PDP.

“Your support is all we need to take Ondo State to the level and deliver the state from shackles,” Adams said.

The parties that have promised to work with the PDP includes  Accord Party, Social Democratic Party, African Democratic Party, Action Alliance, African Action Congress, and All Peoples Grand Alliance

Others are New Nigeria Peoples Party, National Redemption Movement, All Progressives Movement, All Peoples Party, and Young Peoples Party

Lawmakers at Lagos State House of Assembly have approved N153 billion for construction of Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) also known as Red Line and the Blue Line aimed at easing traffic gridlock across the state.

They explained that the approval become imperative following Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s request in line with the mega-city plan and that the project would also serve as viable alternative means of transportation necessitated the decision.

The lawmakers unanimously approved the amount after adopting the report of the House Committee on Finance as submitted by its Chairman, Rotimi Olowo, during plenary on Monday.

It would be recalled that Sanwo-Olu had on September 14, 2020, sought approval of the assembly for the amount to enable the government finance the construction of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit( LRMT), from Marina to Agbado (Red Line) and from Mile 2 through Alaba, Iganmu to Marina (Blue Line).

While N93 billion of the sum would be sourced through Differentiated Cash Reserve Requirement (DCRR) Central Bank of Nigeria( CBN) Intervention Facility from First Bank of Nigeria(FBN), United Bank for Africa( UBA), and Zenith Bank for the Red Line the N60 billion would be sourced from DCRR CBN Intervention loan funds for the Blue Line.