Troops of the Nigerian Army deployed for Counter-terrorism operations in the North East, in collaboration with the Hybrid Force and the Civilian Joint Task Force on Saturday 18 May 2024 made a significant stride in the ongoing operations, neutralizing several terrorists’ threats.
The troops acting on credible intelligence on the movement of the terrorists to carry out their nefarious mission, laid an ambush around the Lawanti area and neutralized 6 of the terrorists in the firefight that ensued. After overpowering the terrorists in the gun battle, the dogged troops recovered one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) and 40 rounds of 7.62 x 51 mm belted ammunition.
In a separate ambush operation, troops acting on actionable intelligence, set up an ambush at suspected terrorists’ crossing point near Shetimari, Sabon-Gari, and the Amarwa Bulamari Exchange Point in Bama Local Government Area. The troops successfully engaged the terrorists, neutralizing one, while others fled the scene. Troops are on the trail of the fleeing terrorists.
Troops’ morale remains high, as they join forces to more committedly combat terrorism and ensure the safety and security of the region and other troubled areas of the country.
We urge members of the public to continue to cooperate with the troops, as they conduct their operations to protect the citizenry against the nation’s adversaries.
Organised Labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, has said it will not accept the N48,000 minimum wage offer proposed by the Federal Government.
The organised private sector had proposed an initial offer of N54,000 as a monthly living wage.
The unions had on Wednesday dumped the minimum wage negotiation after the Federal Government offered to pay N48,000, a figure far below the N615,00 the unions were demanding as the new national minimum wage.
After abandoning the session, the furious labour leaders in an emergency press conference vented their displeasure with the offer, stating that it was “an insult to the sensibilities of Nigerian workers”.
This was the second time in two weeks that the negotiation had run into trouble.
The last session, held on April 29, was deadlocked after organised labour insisted on N615,000 minimum wage.
The Federal Government disagreed with labour’s demand, stating that it was unreasonable.
The National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, stressed that the amount was arrived at after analysing the current economic situation and the needs of an average Nigerian family of six.
He blamed the government and the OPS for the breakdown in negotiation, saying, “Despite earnest efforts to reach an equitable agreement, the less than reasonable action of the government and the organised private sector has led to a breakdown in negotiations”.
Ajaero had, in an earlier interview on the matter, said, “Living wage is such that it will, at least, keep you alive. It is not a wage that will make you poorer and poorer. It is not a wage that will make you borrow to go to work. It is not a wage that will lead you to be in the hospital every day because of malnutrition. For that living wage, we have tried to look at N615,000.
“Let me give you a breakdown of how we arrived at that figure. We have housing and accommodation of N40,000. We asked for electricity of N20,000 — of course, that was before the current tariff increase. Nobody can spend this amount currently. We have a utility that is about N10,000. We looked at kerosene and gas, that is about N25,000 to N35,000.”
Explaining further, the NLC president said, “We looked at food for a family of six. That is about N9,000 in a day. For 30 days, that is about N270,000. Look at health. With the N50,000 provided, there will be no surgery or whatever. For clothing, we looked at N20,000. For education, N50,000. I don’t know about those who tried to put their children in private schools, they will not be able to cope with this amount. We also have sanitation of N10,000.
“I think where we have another bulk of the money is transportation. This is because the workers stay on the fringes and because of the cost of petrol, which amounted to N110,000. That brought the whole living wage to N615,000, and I want anyone to subject this to further investigation and find out whether there will be any savings when you pay somebody at this rate.”
Explaining why the unions would not accept the proposals by the FG and OPS, NLC’s National Treasurer, Mr Hakeem Ambali, said the expectation of labour was cut short with the Federal Government’s N48,000 offer.
He stressed that labour would only come back to the negotiation table when the FG shifts ground and consider paying workers a ‘worthy’ wage.
He said the government must consider food inflation, electricity tariff hikes and the removal of fuel subsidy before coming up with any amount as the minimum wage.
“Our government and employers of labour must show seriousness towards prioritising workers’ welfare and better remuneration. This is because this hardship that is meted out on Nigerians was caused by the policies of the government. All other employers are already benefitting from the increase in allocation in the state and local government.
“Retailers have also increased the price of their goods. Transporters have also increased their rate. Electricity tariff has also been increased. It is only the salary that is static and something urgent must be done. Labour is of the opinion that the right thing must be done. Government must show seriousness towards resolving this issue because it is no longer easy to live in Nigeria as a worker.
“That is why Labour condemned the N48,000 suggestion. Is it meant for feeding alone? If we have a family of six and they are fed with N500 per meal, that will give us N90,000 in a month. This is not adding transport, medical bills and rent. So, the government must also come up with a reasonable minimum wage regime that will address the economic crisis in the country,” he added.
The national treasurer also said FG had refused to engage the main issues on why the N30,000 was no longer sustainable.
He said, “It is not that someone will just tell us, ‘We will give you N100,000 or we will give you N150,0000.’ We will not accept it. There must be empirical data to support it. That is seriousness and collective bargaining.
“We are all living in Nigeria; we are not strangers. How much does it take to go to work for an average worker? How much is rent today? How much is feeding? Our conclusions must be logical.”
Reacting to the position of some experts who proposed N100,000 as a reasonable wage considering the current economic realities, Ambali said anyone who said that was not an expert.
“Those experts must be among the bourgeoisie because how can N100,000 be enough for the worker? Even treating malaria now is a problem for a Nigerian worker. By the calculation of labour, it means no one would be able to live or afford to take care of his family.
“That is why the government was unable to produce something substantial at that meeting because the issues backed by labour are backed by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics. The World Bank said the poverty index is about $2 per person.
“If we have six persons in a family, that is $12 per day. If we multiply $12 by 30 days, using the current exchange rate, we know what we are talking about.
“The government must address both the issue of minimum wage and the galloping inflation rate in the country and put up social policies that would take care of the vulnerable in the society, and not look for a way to pilfer and deep their hands into contributory pension funds, which so many employers are not even paying anyway.
“We believe that the new minimum wage must be a total rework of the workers’ welfare package,” he added.
When asked what organised labour would do if its demands on minimum wage were not met by the government, Ambali said workers might withdraw their services as they would not be able to cope.
He said, “It may not be a strike but it could be withdrawal of services. This is because if workers can no longer go to work, then they will stay at home. If workers trek to work today and trek for one week, they all will relax at home the next week because they may not be able to trek. Workers can’t continue going to work on an empty stomach. Those are the indices that will guide our engagements”.
‘Govt can pay workers’
The NLC treasurer also insisted that the government now had more money with the savings from fuel subsidy removal and could afford to pay workers a decent living wage.
He said,” The Federal Government has said the removal of the subsidy has earned the government over N1trn every month. If 50 per cent of that is reinvested in addressing poverty and the suffering of workers, it will be good.
“This is because the government is about the collective good of the people. We also know that the rate of the tax being imposed on workers is heavy. The poor are being overtaxed in Nigeria while the rich are enjoying tax holidays and exemptions.”
Ambali also called for a reduction in the cost of governance and wasteful government spending, noting that when citizens are going through economic hardship, the most reasonable thing to do is cut the cost of governance where possible.
He lamented that this was not happening in Nigeria with the government at all levels acting as if nothing had changed.
He added, “We have a large retinue of government appointees in Nigeria following elected officers up and down. There are too many. There are too many international trips. These are wastages in the system. There are some appointments that are not adding value to governance. All this should be looked at. Even the size of the cabinet is too much. Let the government reduce all these costs to address the needs of labour.”
The NLC official , however, urged workers to keep faith in the leadership of labour in the battle to get a living wage.
He said, “There is bound to be a lot of propaganda surrounding this matter. Labour leaders would be called names by politicians who will try to divide us and shift focus from the real subject matter. Workers must have confidence in their leaders. Once we are convinced that what is being offered can take an average worker home, we can sign an agreement with the government.”
Similarly, the Deputy National President of the Trade Union Congress, Dr Tommy Etim, said while labour was ready for the Tuesday meeting with the government, it was not ready to compromise on its position that Nigerian workers deserve a decent living wage.
He said, “Labour has already met and our position is very clear on this issue. When we pulled out, we wrote to the two centres (FG and organised private sector), appealing to us to come back for negotiation. They have agreed to shift their grounds and invited us for the continuation of the negotiation.
“We have given our submission. It is up for negotiations. It is based on variables which are known to them. Let them shift ground based on the variables. They have to take cognisance of the cost of accommodation, food, and other important things.
“According to the NBS, a meal is N900. That is official. When we look at what we submitted to them, we put N500 per meal. That is without meat. Let them tell us how they will arrive at whatever they will put on the table for us to consider.”
Labour’s next line of action
He also noted that labour expects the government to take definite action on the minimum wage before its May 31 deadline.
“We gave them May 31 as the deadline for this thing to be concluded. I think they are also working towards making sure the deadline is met. There are several grounds to cover. They know that we have what it takes.
“We believe they will be reasonable this time around to know that they are not playing with children. We want to see their level of seriousness before we discuss the next line of action. They should see the way labour picketed the electricity centres over the tariff. It tells you labour is united for this course. So, there is no cause for going back to the past. Labour is united and there is no going back to our unity,” he added.
Strike an option – TUC
When asked whether labour would consider going on strike over minimum wage, the TUC leader said the strike option was on the table.
He said, “That is one of the options and it is legal. No sane judge or court can give that kind of order to stop workers from exercising their constitutional rights. We are not deterred.”
A couple, Kazeem Omogoriola Owoalade (alias Abdul Qassim Adisa Balogun) and Rashidat Ayinke Owoalade (alias Bolarinwa Rashidat Ayinke), who runs a cocaine cartel from India has been declared wanted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA following the arrest of four members of the syndicate in Lagos where a Sports Utility Vehicle was recovered and two houses already traced to them sealed for forfeiture to the Federal Government. Two members of the syndicate: Imran Taofeek Olalekan and Ishola Isiaka Olalekan were arrested on April 3, 2024 following their bid to export 3.40kg cocaine on a Qatar Airlines flight going to Oman through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos. While Imran was the courier conveying the drug consignment to Oman, Ishola recruited him for the head of the cartel, which investigation has now revealed to be Alhaji Kazeem Omogoriola Owoalade whose Indian residence permit bears Abdul Qassim Adisa Balogun based in India. Efforts to dismantle his network in Nigeria paid off after five weeks of surveillance and follow up operations when another member of the syndicate, Hamed Abimbola Saheed who works directly with the baron was arrested on Tuesday 14th May at Abule Egba area of Lagos. It was indeed Saheed who lodged Imran in a hotel a day before his aborted trip to Oman and equally dropped him and Ishola at the Lagos airport the day they were arrested. During a search of Hamed house, NDLEA operatives recovered some phenacetine, a cutting agent for Cocaine, weighing 900 grams. He confessed that the recovered substance was what was left of the consignment Imran was taking to Oman the day he was arrested. His arrest led to a follow up operation at the home of the Owoalade couple at 20 Eyiaro street, Ogudu Orioke, Lagos where another suspect was arrested and a new model Toyota RAV4 SUV marked FKJ-773 JJ belonging to Rashidat and additional 400 grams of Cocaine recovered in addition to already prepared suitcases to be used for illicit drug concealment, digital weighing scales and other paraphernalia. In the same vein, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations, DOGI, attached to a courier firm in Lagos on Wednesday 15th May intercepted two parcels, containing Cocaine and Amphetamine concealed in steel bolts and shea butter. While the cocaine weighing 587 grams, was concealed in eight steel bolt screws going to China, the Amphetamine consignment packed in vape pens and hidden in shea butter was going to the United Kingdom. Attempt by Emeka Nwadiaro (a.k.a Mega) to export 3.6kg Loud, a strain of cannabis concealed in 36 water flasks to Dubai, UAE was also thwarted at a logistic company in Port Harcourt, Rivers state on Thursday 16th May while a swift follow up operation led to the arrest of the owner of the consignment, Emeka Nwadiaro in Onitsha, Anambra state same day. While NDLEA operatives in Lagos intercepted a mercedes benz bus loaded with 840kg cannabis and arrested the driver, Samuel Henry, at Olojo in Ojo LGA, Lagos, another suspect, Lawal Adam was nabbed along Otukpo road, Aliade, Benue state on Friday 17th May with 75,000 pills of opioids including tramadol and exol-5. Two suspects: Olisa Etisi, 32, and Jonathan Umeh, 25, were arrested along Owerri – Onitsha road, Imo state following the discovery by NDLEA operatives of a big gas cyclinder used to conceal six blocks of Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 3.85kg. In Borno state, 70-year-old Adamu Mohammed was arrested at Mbulamel, Biu LGA on Thursday 16th May with 2kg cannabis and 33.55grams of diazepam, while Gaddafi Sani, 27, was arrested with 30 kilograms of cannabis along Abuja-Kaduna road, Kaduna. In Yobe state, a consignment of 91.1kg opioids and 13kg cannabis going to Maiduguri, Borno state, was recovered from hidden compartments of a petrol tanker along Potiskum-Damaturu road by NDLEA officers who arrested the driver, Ismaila Ali. No less than four suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure of 2,025 pieces of improvised explosive devices (IED) materials intercepted in a Toyota hummer bus marked AGL 905 XX by NDLEA officers along Agaie – Lapai road, Niger state. While the duo of Abdulrauf Shitu Adeyemi, 46, and Asmiyu Rahim, 45, conyeying the IED materials were arrested on the spot, follow up operations led to the arrest of Husaini Abdullahi, 25, at Sokoto main market, Sokoto and Nazifi Abdullahi, 37, at Naibawa Motor Park, Kano on Friday 17th May. The Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has directed that all four suspects and the explosive materials be transferred to the appropriate security agency for further investigation. In another operation, Muhammad Lawal, 42, was nabbed at Central Market Motor Park, Katsina State with 1,000 Ampoules of Pentazocine injection. A total of 105kg cannabis was on Friday 17th May recovered from a house at Obola community, Owan West LGA, Edo state and a suspect, Gloria Oris arrested when NDLEA officers raided the area. In Kwara state, two suspects: Abdulganiyu Karaman, 55, and Sunday Abel, 37, were on Saturday 18th May arrested with 83kg cannabis and tramadol at Boriya, Baruten LGA, and Offa respectively. With the same vigour, the various commands of the Agency across the country continued with the War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitisation lecture for students and teachers of Government Girls Science secondary school, Malumfashi and Government Girls Science Secondary School, Daudawa, Katsina; Government Girls Science College, Tunga Magajiya Rijau LGA, Niger state; students and teachers of St. Theresa’s College Oke-Ado, Ibadan, Oyo state; students of Government Girls Secondary School, Tudun Wada, Kano; students of Dein secondary school, Imobi secondary school and St. Columbas Grammar School, Agbor, Delta State. While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Rivers, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Yobe, Borno, Niger, Benue, Kwara, Imo, and Edo Commands of the Agency as well as those of DOGI for their outstanding feats in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) said the efforts have further affirmed the cardinal role of NDLEA in the security architecture of the country. He equally applauded their counterparts in all the commands across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures to create a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction activities.
Femi Babafemi Director, Media & Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters Abuja Sunday 19th May 2024
Ondo state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has assured of his administration’s determination to make the state a top global destination for tourists.
Aiyedatiwa gave the assurance on Saturday while speaking at the Cross Creek’s Captain’s Inaugural Golf Tournament in Ilado, Akure south council area of the state.
The governor who was represented by his deputy, Olayide Adelami, commended the founder of the golf club, Mr Shola Abidakun, for giving back to his community and for “keying into the state’s plan of making Ondo attractive to investors and tourist destination”.
He said “the governor, who is a lover of golf, had prepared to grace the program with his presence, but for a pressing state assignment, he asked me to represent him and convey his goodwill message to the host traditional ruler, Ilado community, the founder of the golf club, and all the golfers at this important event”
The deputy governor expressed excitement over the progress made at the golf course so far, saying the governor, whom he described as a lover of sports and listening leader, will support the host community and the golf club with needed infrastructure such as road, electricity supply and completion of the ongoing health centre, to make it a world-class location for golfers.
Earlier, Captain of the Golf Club, Mr Isaac Shedowo, disclosed that Governor Aiyedatiwa has earlier been installed as the grand patron of the club, also installed the deputy governor as a patron and that the duo have been assigned holes 1 and 5 respectively.
Shedowo thanked the Governor for the support and encouragement, revealing that “most hotels in Akure have been fully booked as a result of this tournament and this will definitely boost the economy of the state”.
Founder of the club, Mr. Shola Abidakun, described the golf course as the second largest in Ondo state, as he spoke of his vision to build the golf course to international standard.
The deputy governor, who is a golfer, teed off before the tournament began and restated government’s readiness to partner with investors to move the state forward.
The event had in attendance, professional golfers from across the country, traditional rulers including the host monarch and other guests.
The raw for the quarter final of Bet9ja Ondo State Football League has been conducted with all clubs in the Super Eight assured of fairness and good officiating.
59 teams participated in the preliminary stage of the competition across the three senatorial district of the state.
The competition’s Super Eight draw held at Club Elan in Akure had all the representatives of the qualified eight teams in attendance.
The draw pitched Raw Gold FC against KB FC in the first match of the encounter while Ijapo Ages will lock horns with KFC with both matches on Monday.
On Tuesday, Real Ifon will battle Elite FC while Royal Crown will play Ashysam FC.
The semi finals will be played on Thursday while the final is scheduled for Saturday, May 25 at Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure.
Chairman of the organizing committee, Yomi Seriki said the committee did not show preference for any of the teams hence would be fair to all.
Seriki said he was happy with the way all the teams conducted themselves at the preliminary stage of the competition, stressing “though no perfect competition, but we will continue to improve.”
He urged all the teams to use internal mechanisms set up by the committee to channel any of their grievances.
Also speaking, Ondo State Football Association Chairman, Sunday Dele-Ajayi, said the teams should take the tournament serious as the winner of the competition will represent the state in next season’s Nationwide League One (NLO).
Ajayi who appreciated the sponsor for its support I the second edition of the state league said all teams and their players should be remain discipline.
He later announced prize money amounting to about two N2 million for the eight teams with the winner going home with the grand total of five hundred thousand and gave the eight quarter finalists branded jerseys.
Adebayo Adelabu, the minister of power, says the federal government has suspended the transfer of regulatory authority to state governments.
Adelabu disclosed this while speaking at the 8th edition of the Africa Energy Market Place (AEMP) conference in Abuja on Friday.
In April, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) transferred oversight of the electricity market in Ondo, Ekiti and Enugu to the state’s electricity regulatory bureau (OSERB).
The minister, however, said the transfer would be suspended due to the need for state governments, and stakeholders in the power sector to properly understand what is required to operate an electricity market.
He said adequate understanding of the transfer of regulatory oversight of the electricity market to states is imperative for the survival and sustainability of the nation’s power sector.
“Therefore, we must tread carefully, we should not be in a hurry. The market is not a mature market, it is not mature enough. With everything centralised for a single regulator, we have a myriad of issues. Now we intend to create a regulatory framework across the 36 states, it is something that we must do in a highly systematic and strategic manner,” he said.
“We need just a couple of states as a pilot, which is why I actually halted granting of further regulatory autonomy to states.”
Adelabu also said the transfer of regulatory oversight will be piloted in selected states across the geopolitical zones in the country.
“When we have each of these zones represented in the pilot and we allow it to run for three to six months, or up to a year, all the possible issues would have been reflected so that we are going to have a learning curve, and all those issues will be addressed before granting further regulatory autonomy because I have a feeling that we don’t have a comprehensive understanding of what this autonomy means,” he said.
“The fact that we gave a state regulatory autonomy doesn’t mean that it’s just about distribution of electricity but it is regulation across the value chain. Generation within your territory, transmission within your territory, and distribution in your territory, including tariff setting.
“The moment you take over the regulatory activities of Lagos state, when we talk about tariff, about subsidy, it will be on your neck as a state. I do not know the balance sheet you want to leverage to guarantee the necessary settlements on a monthly basis.
“So we all have to sit down and let everybody have a complete understanding of what this means. We will know if we are ready to have full autonomy or it will be a partial autonomy for the meantime before we achieve a mature electricity market.”
The minister further said most stakeholders underestimate the capacity required to have regulatory authorities in 36 states, and the FCT.
Adelabu also said each state needs to have a framework capable enough to protect assets and liabilities, address vandalism and consumer protection, and have enough capital for continuous investments and maintenance of infrastructures.
President Bola Tinubu will commission the 76.67km Iseyin-Fapote-Ogbomoso road, which is the latest of the road construction revolution embarked upon by Governor Seyi Makinde.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade.
According to the statement, the commissioning ceremony will hold at Randa area, Ogbomoso on Thursday 30th May, 2024, by 10am.
The Information Commissioner said the uniqueness of the latest road named after the late former governor of Oyo State Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala Memorial Expressway is that it was constructed on a rocky, water-infested virgin land that was used mainly by traders and Fulanis who traversed the path by trekking from Oke-Ogun interland to the North and vice-versa.
Prince Oyelade reiterated that the road has joined the long list of inter-zonal and intra-zonal road projects completed by the Seyi Makinde administration which runs into over 300km with many others under construction.
The information commissioner recalled that the Ibadan-Iseyin 65km road was commissioned on June 3rd, 2021.
With the commissioning of the Alao-Akala Memorial Express road, motorists can now ply the 142km Ibadan-Iseyin-Ogbomoso road on exclusively State road.
In another development, Prince Oyelade revealed the official date for the final burial ceremony of the late Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Mohood Olalekan Balogun.
The commissioner said all is now set for the final burial rites taking place on the 8th of June, 2024 at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium.
He said that the burial committee set up by Gov. Seyi Makinde is chaired by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Segun Olayiwola, while other members include the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs Toyin Balogun and the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade.
Other members are the Asipa Olubadan of Ibadanland Oba Biodun Kola-Daisi, the Osi Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Lateef Adebimpe, a former Head of Service, Chief Tajudeen Aremu who is also the Bobajiro of Ibadanland, the Oniroko of Iroko, Oba Olasunkanmi Abioye, representing the Baales and Mogaji Asimiyu Ariori, representing the Mogajis and representatives of the family of late Olubadan.
E-signed Prince Dotun Oyelade Honourable Commissioner for Information and Orientation Oyo State 18th May, 2024.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of 555 individuals to serve as Chairman and members of the Governing Council of Federal Government Tertiary Institutions.
Some notable Nigerians who made the appointments list include former Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman Attahiru Jege, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, Chief Yusuf Ali, SAN, former SGF Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, and former Minister of Budget and National Planning Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma.
Others include former state governors; Ebonyi, Chief Martin Nwanchor Elechi; Adamawa , Bala Ngalari, Zamfara, Aliyu Shinkafi; and Bauchi, Isa Yuguda.
Jega will become Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Board of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto in Sokoto State, while Olanipekun has been appointed Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Board of the University of Lagos in Akoka, Lagos State.
Ali is the new Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while Ahmed, the former SGF, is Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Board at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Udoma is the new Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Board of Bayero University in Kano, Kano State, and Ngalari is the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Board of the University of Calabar in Cross River State.
Shinkafi and Yuguda are Pro-Chancellors and Chairmen of the Governing Boards at the Federal University in Jos, Plateau State, and the National Open University of Nigeria, respectively.
The inauguration and the retreat for Chairmen and Members of the tertiary institution Governing Councils will be held on Thursday, May 30th and Friday, May 31st, 2024.
A few days ago, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) threatened a nationwide strike to protest the lack of governing councils in all federal universities across the country.
With this appointment, the ASUU’s strike threat has been successfully addressed.
The Federal Government said the student loan scheme will be rolled out in phases, starting with the federal institutions.
The Managing Director, Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Akintunde Swayerr disclosed this in an interview with Arise Television on Friday.
Swayerr said the student loan application portal will be opened on the 24th of May for loan applications.
He added that the government is currently “in the midst of a sensitization campaign to begin to let Nigerians know how the scheme will work.”
The MD noted that the loan scheme seeks to bridge financing gap for students in Nigeria enabling them to become more resourceful, eventually aiding the country.
He said, “On the 3rd of April 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed into law a monumental act that seeks to bridge the financing gap for applicants who wants to get a higher education that is tertiary level;
“…and who wants to get vocational training to get proper qualifications that enables them to be more marketable and useful to the Nigerian society.
“The fund covers 100 percent of all the fees of tertiary institutions. There’s also upkeep for the student.”
Swayerr noted that this plan will be rolled out in schemes and the first being the public institutions because of the large number of students in that sector requiring financial aid.
“We’re going to roll this plan out in phases. The first phrase will be with federal institutions then to others. It’s going to be the public sector at the beginning because that’s where we find the bulk of students that perhaps need the financing cover and are most vulnerable.
“We have a system that hopefully makes this have national spread and some degree of equal opportunities for those who have the desire, capacity, eligibility to engage in this scheme,” he said.
The Federal Government said the student loan scheme will be rolled out in phases, starting with the federal institutions.
The Managing Director, Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Akintunde Swayerr disclosed this in an interview with Arise Television on Friday.
Swayerr said the student loan application portal will be opened on the 24th of May for loan applications.
He added that the government is currently “in the midst of a sensitization campaign to begin to let Nigerians know how the scheme will work.”
The MD noted that the loan scheme seeks to bridge financing gap for students in Nigeria enabling them to become more resourceful, eventually aiding the country.
He said, “On the 3rd of April 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed into law a monumental act that seeks to bridge the financing gap for applicants who wants to get a higher education that is tertiary level;
“…and who wants to get vocational training to get proper qualifications that enables them to be more marketable and useful to the Nigerian society.
“The fund covers 100 percent of all the fees of tertiary institutions. There’s also upkeep for the student.”
Swayerr noted that this plan will be rolled out in schemes and the first being the public institutions because of the large number of students in that sector requiring financial aid.
“We’re going to roll this plan out in phases. The first phrase will be with federal institutions then to others. It’s going to be the public sector at the beginning because that’s where we find the bulk of students that perhaps need the financing cover and are most vulnerable.
“We have a system that hopefully makes this have national spread and some degree of equal opportunities for those who have the desire, capacity, eligibility to engage in this scheme,” he said.
