Ikpeazu Commissions Half-Way Home, Restates Commitment To Vocational Education

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September 29, 2020

The President General of the Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief John Nnia Nwodo has extolled the efforts of Abia governor, Okezie Ikpeazu in promoting indigenous entrepreneurship.

Chief Nwodo while describing the Governor as a champion of the promotion of indigenous entrepreneurship called on Ndigbo to be proud of his efforts in this area.

Chief Nnia Nwodo made this remark on Tuesday at the Presidential Lodge of the Government House Umuahia after meeting with the Governor in company of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and the Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe (Agbogidi).

In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onyebuchi Ememanka made available to ABN TV, Chief Nwodo further described the efforts of Governor Ikpeazu in the promotion of the productive ingenuity of Ndigbo as trailblazing, advising the people of Abia State to continue to support the administration of the Governor.

The statement read in part, “The Ohaneze Ndigbo Leader noted that Aba is a home for all Ndigbo and the work the Governor has done and continues to do to provide an enabling environment which allows our people to showcase their prowess in manufacturing and economic activities is something for which Ndigbo will remain grateful to the Governor.

“He stated that the team was in Abia State to discuss key issues affecting the Igbo nation and in particular, the establishment of an Igbo Stabilization Fund which will assist in the development of our region.

“In his contribution, the Chairman of the Ohaneze Ndigbo Council of Elders, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu thanked the Governor for the warm reception accorded the delegation and for his untiring efforts in the area of the promotion of indigenous economic development.

“Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe (Agbogidi) assured Governor Okezie Ikpeazu that history will be kind to him for the impetus he continues to provide for our people to chart new courses in economic development. According to the Obi, Ikpeazu has pushed the narrative of locally produced goods to the front burner of national discourse. He prayed for the Governor and the people of Abia State. He particularly thanked God for sparing the life of the Governor against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Governor and the three man delegation earlier met behind closed doors”.

Court Dismisses Suit Seeking To Sack Gov. Uzodinma

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September 29, 2020

A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to sack Imo state Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma.

Justice Okon Abang dismissed the suit in a ruling on Tuesday after the plaintiff applied to withdraw it on the grounds that issues submitted for determination were already before the Supreme Court.

Justice Abang described the suit as a mere waste of the court’s time and awarded cost at N500, 000 each in favour of 1st, 2nd and 7th defendants.

The candidate of the Reform and Advancement Party (RAP) in the last governorship election in Imo State, Kingdom Nnamdi Okere, had filed a suit asking the court to stop Uzodinma from further acting in the capacity of governor.

The plaintiff had prayed the court to among others, interpret the provision of section 177(c) of the Constitution, vice-a-vice the circumstances relating to Uzodinma’s emergence as governor.

Although parties in the suit have all filed the processes, they were all represented in court on Tuesday, with the exception of the Action Alliance (AA).

On Tuesday, plaintiff’s lawyer, Ifeoma Ogufo, informed the court that she has applied to discontinue the suit and that the defendants had been served.

Lawyers to the defendants, including M.A. Aguda (for Uzodima) did not oppose the application but described the suit as a distraction and asked the court to award costs against the plaintiff.

BREAKING: Ekiti Assembly Upgrades College Of Education To University

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September 29, 2020

A bill seeking to upgrade the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti to a full- fledged University of Education, Science and Technology has been passed by Ekiti Assembly.

The House, at its plenary on Tuesday presided over by Speaker Funminiyi Afuye, unanimously passed the bill into law following a holistic consideration of the report of its committee on Education, Science and Technology.

While presenting the report, the Committee Chairman Hon. Kemi Balogun said the upgrade of the institution to a university would stimulate the economy’s need for requisite technical and scientific skills.

She added the upgrade would also address demands for technology-oriented tertiary education the state required to function in the overall interest of its citizenry.

According to the report, the Transitional Provision of Section 38 would give room to existing students of the College of Education lkere- Ekiti after effective date of the Law to complete their course of study as stipulated.

The report after been ratified by the Committee of the House was read by the Clerk of the House, Mr Tola Esan and unanimously passed.

The Executive bill was titled: ”A Bill for a Law to provide for the Establishment, Incorporation, Constitution, Powers and Functions of the University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti and Other Matters Therewith.”

Speaker Afuye and member representing Ikere constituency 2 Tunde Idowu, praised Governor Kayode Fayemi and their colleagues for their contributions towards the speedy passage of the bill.

Afuye and Idowu, who hails from Ikere-Ekiti, in Ikere Local Government Area, assured the new University of Education, Science and Technology would bring about social and economic development to Ikere-Ekiti, the state, Nigeria and the world at large.

Buhari Asks Senate To Confirm 8 New Supreme Court Justices

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September 29, 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the Senate to approve the appointment of eight new Supreme Court justices.

The letter read by the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, at plenary on Tuesday, said the appointment was based on the recommendations of the National Judicial Council.

Buhari said his action was “in pursuant to Section 231 (2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and upon the advice of the National Judicial Council according to their ranking and seniority in the Court of Appeal.”

The nominees are, Lawal Garba, (North West), Helen Ogunwumiju (South West), Abdu Aboki (North West), and M M Saulawa (North West).

Others are, Adamu Jauro (North East), Samuel Oseji (Souty South), Tijani Abubakar (North East), and Emmanuel Agim (South South)

Buhari, also on Tuesday, sought the Senate approval for the appointment of non-career ambassadors designate.

They are Muhammad Manta (Niger) and Yesufu Yunusa (Yobe).

The nominees according to Buhari, would replace Air Commodore Peter Gana (retd.) and Alhaji Yusuf Muhammad who were earlier nominated to the Senate for confirmation.

BREAKING: William Troost-Ekong Joins Watford

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September 29, 2020

Nigerian international defender William Troost-Ekong has completed a permanent transfer to Watford.

The Hornets announced Troost Ekong’s signing in a statement on Tuesday.

The statement was titled ‘Official: Hornets Sign Troost-Ekong & Youngster Touré’.

The 27-year-old centre-half, who has 42 caps and represented his country at the 2018 World Cup, has signed a five-year contract with the Hornets and becomes the latest new addition to Vladimir Ivić’s squad.

Troost-Ekong has spent the past two years in Italy with Udinese, playing 66 times for the Serie A side since his arrival from Turkish Süper Lig outfit Bursaspor in 2018.

Born in the Netherlands, he began his senior career in the Eredivisie with Groningen and Dordrecht before spells in Belgium and Norway, with Gent and Haugesund respectively.

The statement added, “A former Netherlands youth international, Troost-Ekong made his senior international debut for Nigeria in 2015 and has since proven himself to be an important part of the Super Eagles’ defence, playing three times at the World Cup in Russia and making six appearances at last year’s African Cup of Nations in Egypt.

“He will wear squad number 5.”

October 1st Public Holiday, FG’s Way Of Succumbing To Sit-at-home – IPOB

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September 29, 2020

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has claimed that the October,1 public holidays announced by the Federal government is a pretence of succumbing to its sit-at-home directive.

Media and Publicity Secretary of the group, Emma Powerful disclosed this in a statement he made available to Daily Sun in Owerri yesterday, he noted that the holidays will make it easy for people to observe the independence day celebration in their various homes.

“Federal Government of Nigeria bow to IPOB pressure and will now join tormented and terrorised masses in observing October, 1st sit-at-home.

“After boasting how they would celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of their existence as a glorified British company, Aso Rock have realised the potency of IPOB’s sit-at-home, so they quickly joined the masses by announcing an impromptu public holiday on October, 1.

Meanwhile, IPOB has mocked governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi who it said had threatened its members on the directive in his State, emphasising that the public holidays by the federal government would thwart his earlier threat countering the sit-at-home directive.

Powerful said, “Dave Umahi, now that your masters in Abuja have conceded to the might of IPOB, can you now see you have no choice other than submitting your treacherous self to the will of the people by staying put in your house on 1st, October 2020.”

Source

“94 Trillion Unremitted To Federation Account” — Falana-led Coalition Writes Buhari

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September 29, 2020

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The Alliance for Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), a coalition of 70 labour and civil society organisations (CSOs), says it has discovered N94.3 trillion which was unremitted to the federation account.

In a letter dated September 28 and addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Falana, interim national chair of the coalition, said the unremitted money can fund the national budget for more than eight years.

The group maintained that “revenue leakages” have shown that the federal and state governments have the funds to ensure better welfare for the people, and as such, ASCAB will start campaigning for another increase in the minimum wage next year.

“ASCAB rejects the argument of no money to provide basic goods for the masses.

“The wealth of Nigeria, as measured by the GDP, is now three times higher than it was in 1998, but the minimum wage is only worth half of its value then, and at least eight states have yet to fully pay the legislated N30,000 that was agreed to be paid from July 2019,” Falana said.

“As a result, the National Bureau of Statistics recently reported that 40% of Nigerian households have to survive on N11,500 a month or less, when the average per capita GDP is now around N75,000 a month.

“The Federal Government claims it cannot afford the ‘fuel subsidy’, state governments claim they cannot afford the minimum wage.

“In contrast, ASCAB has shown that the Federal Government has money owed to it of nearly N95 trillion.

“Assuming the revised federal budget for 2020 of N10.8 trillion is constant, the N95 trillion would fund the total federal budget for over eight years.

“Annexure 1 to this open letter is the tabulated N95trn revenue leakages. We demand a Committee of representatives of Labour, civil society organisations and government to keep track of the revenue leakages.

“Moreover, we argue that in the first quarter of this year, the government’s oil income was the highest since 2014.

The second-quarter figures were very slightly lower, but the August figures were 5% higher than the rate in the first quarter of the year.

So, state governments have plenty of money to pay a decent minimum wage and fund proper budgets for public education and health.”

Source

Water Resources Bill Is RUGA In Disguise – Igbo Group

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September 29, 2020

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A foremost Igbo group, Association of South East Town Unions (ASETU) has described the Water Resources Bill lying before the National Assembly as Rural Grazing Areas (RUGA) agricultural programme in disguise.

The group made the remark in a statement signed by its National President, Chief Emeka Diwe and National Publicity Secretary, Gideon Adikwuru.

The union in a release noted that the explanation by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed that the said bill has no relationship with RUGA ended up convincing all that there was more to the bill than meets the eyes.

It submitted that Igbo land would not cede any part of its land or water body for the purposes of RUGA agricultural programme.

According to the union, “The Water Resources Bill if passed into law gives the federal government ownership not only over water and underground resources but control over 3KM from waterfronts.”

It further envisaged the bill as a near disaster one, arguing that there is hardly any community in Igboland where water bodies are not found.

The bill, according to the release, violates the Land Use Act and entails that the Federal government will authorize or give license to persons who may want to sink boreholes anywhere in Nigeria.

The group, however, charged all Nigerians of Igbo extraction to speak against the bill, especially now that it is still pending at the National Assembly.

Source

P&ID: UK Court Orders Release Of $200 Million Guarantee To Nigeria

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