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Tinubu Does Not See Any Need for Protest, Says Info Minister, Idris Mohammed

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President Bola Tinubu has said that he does not see any need for a planned protest, scheduled to hold between August 1 and 10, 2024 across the federation while urging the youths to exercise patience as he is already addressing the issues raised, assuring that government will promptly react to all their grievances.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the revelation while briefing newsmen after a routine meeting with the president at the State House, Abuja.

He said: “Mr President has asked me to again inform Nigerians that he listens to them, especially the young people that are trying to protest.

“Mr President listens to them; he takes what they say seriously and he is working assiduously to ensure that this country is good not just for today but also for the future.

“On the issue of the planned protest, Mr President does not see any need for that; he asked them to shelve that plan and he has asked them to await government’s response to all their pleas; he has listened to them like I said.”

The minister further disclosed that intervention measures had been taken by the Bola Tinubu administration including the new minimum wage of N70,000 already passed by the National Assembly, trucks of rice already dispatched to all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as well as the Student Loans Fund launched recently by the president.

His words: “A lot is happening, only today, the National Assembly has expeditiously passed the bill on national minimum wage; you can see how the president is working. It was transmitted only yesterday, today, it has been passed.

“A lot of other interventions that the president has also put in place are also going to be looked at expeditiously in the interest of Nigerians. So there is no need for strike. The young people out there should listen to the president and allow the president more time to see to the realization of all the goodies he has for them.

“Highlights of other policies to cushion the effect of hardship Nigerians are feeling are in town. For example, you saw that the Federal Government approved grains and rice for state governments, it was delivered to them expeditiously.

“Also, the Federal Government, like I said that time it is just the necessary first step. Government is going to continue in that direction, supporting them and assuring them that whatever intervention the Federal Government has put in place go to those that should benefit, it is very important that is being put out.

“The Federal Government is looking at strategies that every intervention would go directly to those who benefit from those interventions, not middle men intervening along the way.

“You heard about the Student Loans Board launched by Mr President. Mr President is very passionate about the fact that everyone will have the opportunity to go to school. It is no longer a time for all of us to stay back and see our able bodied young men and women that have passed the examinations to go to tertiary institutions that have not been able to do that because their parents are not able to pay for their fees. This is now a thing of the past, government is very very desirous to ensure that happens.

“You know the provision that was made to the NELFUND already; we have in excess what is required today and the more that people are requiring that the more the president will also give.”

Idris also disclosed that government will soon come up with a scheme that will accommodate all unemployed graduates nationwide, while stressing the fact that President Tinubu was committed to running an inclusive government.

According to him, “There is also the intervention the president is making for young men and women who have finished school and who are yet to get employed post NYSC. For example, there is a scheme the government is perfecting now and that will be pushed very fast so that all those young men and women who have finished school, graduates of universities and polytechnics that are not able to get jobs, they will continue to be supported by the government until such a time that those jobs are offered to them.

“The whole idea is that no one is left behind. It is an all inclusive government and the president is determined to ensure that no one is left behind in this attempt to march Nigeria towards progress.”

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Just In: EFCC Arrests Former Delta Gov, Ifeanyi Okowa

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested a former Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa.

The former governor was arrested on accusations of misusing funds derived from resource allocation.

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NASU, SSANU Suspend Strike for Four Weeks

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The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have announced suspension for a month, of the ongoing nationwide indefinite strike over withheld salaries.

The unions, in a joint statement on Sunday, said the suspension of the indefinite strike will take effect on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

The statement was signed by Prince Peters Adeyemi, General Secretary of NASU and Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, National President of SSANU.

The strike was commenced on the Monday, October 28, 2024 as a result of what the unions called “government’s insensitivity to the plights of our members in respect of our legitimate demands.”

The statement read: “The National leadership of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU acknowledges and commends our members in the Universities and Inter-University Centres for their unwavering resolve, unrelenting determination and steadfast support for the ongoing strike action.

“You will recall that the ongoing strike action foisted on us commenced on the Monday, 28th October, 2024 as a result of government’s insensitivity to the plights of our members in respect of our legitimate demands

“During this industrial struggle, we have had several extensive and exhaustive deliberations with the officials of the Federal Government of Nigeria including the new Minister of Education, the Minister of Finance, the outgoing Minister of State for Education, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, the Accountant-General of the Federation and the leadership of the Department of State Services

“These high-level engagements culminated into extracting an irrevocable commitment from the Federal government that the 2 months of the 4 months withheld salaries would be paid in staggered form. One month by the end of October, 2024 (which has largely been done), then the second month to be paid by the end of November, 2024.

“Arising from the above and in view of the level of commitment exhibited by the new minister and the leadership of the Department of State Services, the leadership of JAC, after several contacts and other patriotic considerations, hereby directs that the ongoing indefinite strike be suspended for one- month effective Tuesday, 5th November, 2024.

“Branch leaders of both NASU and SSANU are hereby directed to convene a joint Congress in their respective campuses on Monday, 4th November, 2024 and intimate members of these development and urge them to resume work on Tuesday, 5th November, 2024.

“We wish to also reiterate that discussions on the remaining 2 months, the N50 billion Earned Allowances, Arrears of 25/35 per cent and the Wage Award have been revisited and are undergoing deliberations.

“Thank you for your usual understanding and cooperation in this regard; we appreciate your total commitment and resoluteness during this struggle.”

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Otti Gives Abia LG Election Clean Bill of Health As ZLP Wins 15, YPP 2 Councils

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Abia State governor, Alex Otti, has expressed satisfaction over the smooth electoral process in Saturday’s local government elections in the State.

Otti spoke in an interview with journalists after casting his vote at Ahiafor Umuru-Umuehim Nvosi Polling Unit 017 in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.

He also expressed satisfaction with the voter turnout and orderly conduct of the exercise. The governor was accompanied to the polling unit by his wife Priscilla, who also voted in the same unit.

He said that, aside from minor disruptions in Obingwa and Ohafia LGAs, the process was largely peaceful, with security agencies deployed to maintain order where needed.

He encouraged the electorate to always vote for credible candidates, who could deliver their campaign promises.

He also reiterated the importance of choosing leaders based on competence, rather than political affiliation.

Otti said that council elections were particularly significant because they impact rural communities directly, allowing residents to elect candidates they know and trust.

“The point remains that political parties are platforms for running elections and like you would notice, a lot of political parties have problems but irrespective of that, we have advocated that people should vote candidates that are credible and competent to deliver.

“If you want to continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy, if you want to continue to enjoy performance then, you need to vote people like that.

“I believe that this election would synchronize with that call I’ve been making because people have also been talking about it, that they are going to vote people who have capacity.

“And it’s a local government election. We all know our people,” Otti said.

He further expressed the hope that the elections would reflect the people’s desire for capable leadership and reinforce the delivery of democratic dividends at the grassroots level.

The local government election, which suffered initial hiccups over the late arrival of materials and officials, later gathered momentum.

Meanwhile, the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) won a total of 15 council seats while the Young Progressives Party (YPP) won two local government areas.

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